Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
04 Dec.2016: 3 Rabiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:53
INDIA
Delhi does a fine balancing act with Iran, Qatar: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-delhi-does-a-fine-balancing-act-with-iran-qatar-2279468
New Delhi(Iftikhar Gilani):In 1930, famous poet Iqbal visualised Tehran becoming the Geneva of the East. The Swiss city was then the headquarters of the League of Nations. Of late, New Delhi is turning to be a centre for international diplomatic engagements, with the city on Saturday hosting the PM and Foreign Minister of arch-rivals Qatar and Iran – Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and Mohammad Javad Zarif, respectively. Qatar, an important member of the Saudi Arabia-led Sunni Arab alliance, is also an active supporter of the US-led campaigns in the region. It also hosts a Taliban office in Doha. Iran, the only Shia Muslim country in the world, disagrees with almost everything with Arab Gulf states, ranging from Opec's oil production to the US role in the region as well as conflicts in Syria and Iraq.Both the visiting dignitaries spoke about ways to curb terrorism. During the bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi, Sheikh Abdullah talked about enhancing cooperation and agreed on a joint action to tackle money-laundering and terrorist financing.Later, Zarif anaylsed the fight against terrorism and ways to curb the global menace of extremism. His punchline was to introspect within and provide a vent to dissents and frustrations through democratic means — a panacea for terrorism. He also asked for giving the youth the hope for a better future to prevent them from ending up as suicide bombers.He described alienation and deprivation as the root cause of radicalisation, blaming the big powers for creating a monster through their policies. "We are paying the price for the misplaced perception that Cold War was won by the West," said Zarif. Speaking on issues like Syria, he said time is long gone for any imposed solution in Syria. He hinted that his country would support an inclusive govt to end the conflict in the region.Referring to Iran's commitment to develop trade with India, he said Chabahar marks an excellent venue for cooperation with India and Afghanistan. The Iranian Foreign Minister is accompanied by a 38-member delegation from his country's Chamber of Commerce, 15 knowledge-based companies and eight trade banks to participate in the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference. He stopped in Delhi to address a gathering of strategic experts on way to Amritsar.Earlier, at the swanky Hyderabad House, India and Qatar signed 5 agreements on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports, technical cooperation in cyber space and crime, letters of intent on e-visas for businessmen and tourists, and an MoU between the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of Qatar and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Another MoU for greater collaboration in port management was also signed.Modi said the visit of the Qatari PM showed the growing bilateral ties with Qatar, which India has always regarded as a "valued partner". On energy cooperation, Modi said: "We should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include joint ventures, research and development and exploration."Indian companies are ready to invest in both upstream and downstream projects in the hydrocarbon sector," he said.Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India, accounting for 66% of the total imports in 2015-16.Qatari leader invited India to participate in infrastructure and investment development in his country, ahead of FIFA World Cup in 2022. NSA Ajit Doval also called on the Qatar PM. DNA
Iran offers to 'mediate' between India and Pakistan
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/iran-offers-to-mediate-between-india-and-pakistan-116120300874_1.html
New Delhi: Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his country's willingness to mediate between India and Pakistan, if both countries wanted Iran to play a role. "Iran is a close friend of India as well as Pakistan. We would like the relations between our friends to improve. We are ready to do whatever we can, if both our friends so desire," he said while answering a question.Dr. Zarif was delivering a special address on "Fighting against terrorism and extremism as a global menace", organised jointly by Observer Research Foundation and the Embassy of Iran in Delhi on Saturday.Saying the "era of hegemony is now gone", Dr Zarif cautioned the newly elected US leadership of the dangers of trying to make the country great once again.The new leadership should not try to make the US great again, Dr Zarif said, noting that no country can now exercise hegemony either globally or in the region.He said America's war against Iran, Afghanistan and now Syria forced people to take to violence to fight their oppression.Dr Zarif also accused some nations of supporting perverted versions of Islam through their allies which led to spread of extremism and violence.He also hoped that the multilateral nuclear agreement between Iran, US and other P-5 nations would continue despite the threats from the newly elected US President during the election campaigns. ANI
N-deal is not in jeopardy after Trump:Iran Foreign Minister
http://thewire.in/84323/nuclear-deal-not-jeopardy-trump-says-iranian-foreign-minister/
India,Afghanistan plan air cargo link over Pakistan:Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/india-afghanistan-idINKBN13S09F
Amritsar: India and Afghanistan are planning to set up an air cargo service to help increase trade that both say is stymied because of their tense political relations with Pakistan that lies between them, Indian and Afghan officials said on Saturday. The cargo service will aim to improve landlocked Afghanistan's connectivity to key markets abroad and boost the growth prospects of its fruit and carpet industries while it battles a deadly Taliban insurgency, Indian officials said.An announcement on the service is expected after a meeting between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian PM Narendra Modi on Sunday in the northern Indian city of Amritsar, a short distance from the Pakistan border. 2 leaders are attending the Heart of Asia conference aimed at stabilising Afghanistan.Afghanistan depends on the Pakistani port of Karachi for its foreign trade. It is allowed to send a limited amount of goods overland through Pakistan into India, but imports from India are not allowed along this route.
Simplistic to blame a country, says Sartaz Aziz; rakes up Indo-Pak ties
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/simplistic-to-blame-a-country-says-sartaz-aziz-rakes-up-indo-pak-ties-4410130/
Amritsar;Under severe attack over terrorism emanating from its soil, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz on Sunday hit back saying it is “simplistic” to blame one country even as he raked up the issue of strain in Indo-Pak ties at the Heart of Asia (HoA) conference on Afghanistan.Aziz asserted his attending the meet despite “escalation” along the LoC was testimony to Pakistan’s “unflinching” commitment for lasting peace in Afghanistan and expressed unhappiness over cancellation of SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November, terming it as a setback to regional cooperation. He did not mention the issue of J&K.PTI
Pakistan says ready to talk, won’t raise Kashmir at Afghan forum
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-says-ready-to-talk-wont-raise-kashmir-at-afghan-forum-heart-of-asia-conference-sartaj-aziz-4409455/
Ashraf Ghani slams Pakistan on terror, tells it to end ‘undeclared war’:PTI
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ashraf-ghani-slams-pakistan-on-terror-tells-it-to-end-undeclared-war-4409979/
'Don't blame one country for terror', says Pakistan's Sartaj Aziz, after being snubbed by Afghanistan
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dont-blame-one-country-for-terror-says-Pakistans-Sartaj-Aziz-after-being-snubbed-by-Afghanistan/articleshow/55789216.cms
Modi-Aziz handshake in Amritsar sets Pak media abuzz
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-aziz-handshake-in-amritsar-sets-pakistani-media-abuzz/story-Lsy0ATQpubTVj2nPA6tW4K.html
Heart of Asia Summit ends in Amritsar, India, Afghanistan issue joint declaration
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/heart-of-asia-summit-ends-in-amritsar-india-afghanistan-issue-joint-declaration/463803/
India-US defence ties closest ever: US defence secretary
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-US-defence-ties-closest-ever-US-defence-secretary/articleshow/55785847.cms
Washington: Days ahead of his visit to India, US defence secretary Ashton Carter on Sunday said that the defence relationship between the world's two largest democracies has never been as close it is now."US-India defence relationship is the closest it's ever been. Through our strategic handshake — with America reaching west in the rebalance, and India reaching east in what PM Narendra Modi calls his Act East policy — our two nations are exercising together by air, land, and sea like never before," Carter said.PTI
Lakhs of Muslims mobilise in Marathwada for reservation, Muslim Personal Law
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslims-mobilise-in-marathwada-for-reservation-4409544/
Mumbai:In the backdrop of the ongoing Maratha unrest in Maharashtra for reservation in jobs and education, there has been a massive mobilisation of the Muslim community in Marathwada for the same cause. Lakhs of Muslims were seen carrying out silent marches on Friday in Sillod, Aurangabad. Other major cities of Marathwada, including Nanded and Latur, have also seen similar marches recently. Their next rally is slated to be held in Beed.The protests, led by Muslim Aarakshan Sangharsh Kruti Samiti — an umbrella organisation of all Muslim political, social and religious organisations — have demanded 10% reservation for Muslims and the protection of Muslim Personal Law, among other privileges. Marathwada has the second highest concentration of Muslims in Maharashtra after Mumbai. Muslims, who make up 11.5% of Maharashtra’s population, constitute over 15%of Marathwada’s population. One of every third person in the eight major cities and towns of Marathwada is a Muslim.“These are peaceful silent marches to pressurise the govt for our demands. These are not political rallies but a movement that has grown from the community,” a convenor of the Muslim Aarakshan Sangharsh Kruti Samiti said. indian express
NCP would raise Muslim quota issue in House: Munde
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ncp-would-raise-muslim-quota-issue-in-house-munde-116120300791_1.html
No out-of-court settlement in Babri case, says Muslim body: Tribune India
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/no-out-of-court-settlement-in-babri-case-muslim-body/332116.html
New Delhi:The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), a prominent Muslim organisation, today rejected any possibility of an out-of-court settlement of the Babri Masjid dispute.At JIH’s monthly press meet here, its president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said: “As the Babri Masjid demolition completes 24 years, we resolve to continue the peaceful struggle for restoration and reconstruction of the masjid in cooperation with the AIMPLB, human rights organisations and justice-loving people of all religions. We rule out any possibility for an out-of-court settlement towards resolution of the Babri Masjid case.”Umari said Dec.6, 1992, was one of the darkest days in the history of India. “Unfortunately, the perpetrators of the demolition are still walking free and successive govt s have not arrested anyone. The Liberhan Commission presented its report in June 2009 after 17 years but no practical steps were taken thereafter. The case is pending before the Supreme Court and we are hopeful of a verdict in its favour,” he said.Jamaat-e-Islami Hind secretary general Muhammad Salim Engineer expressed skepticism over the govt’s claim to curb the circulation of black money by demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. “We are not convinced by the govt’s claim that the scheme will curb black money. If black money was to be curbed, why the govt has introduced notes of Rs 2,000?” he said. tribuneindia
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind against out-of-court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute:India Today/PTI
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jih-against-out-of-court-settlement-of-babri-masjid-dispute/1/826190.html
JIH against out-of-court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute: Business Standard /PTI
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/jih-against-out-of-court-settlement-of-babri-masjid-dispute-116120300710_1.html
JIH against out-of-court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute: New Indian Express
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2016/dec/03/jih-against-out-of-court-settlement-of-babri-masjid-dispute-1545333.html
JIH against out-of-court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jamaat-e-islami-hind-jih-against-out-of-court-settlement-of-babri-masjid-dispute-4409045/
JIH against out-of-court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute: The Statesman
http://epaper.thestatesman.com/c/15110108
Jamaat rejects any out of court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute: theindianawaaz
http://theindianawaaz.com/jamaat-rejects-out-of-court-settlement-of-babri-masjid-dispute/
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind rejects out of court settlement of Babri Masjid dispute: risingkashmir
http://risingkashmir.com/news/jamaat-e-islami-hind-rejects-out-of-court-settlement-of-babri-masjid-dispute
Vigil hiked as Babri anniversary, Milad fete approach
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Vigil-hiked-as-Babri-anniv-Milad-fete-approach/articleshow/55779592.cms
Hyderabad: With calls being given to observe the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6 as "black day" and celebration of Milad-un-Nabi on December 13 arriving in rapid succession, the police are geared to keep vigil in South Zone areas along with a perceptible increase in its presence. The South Zone police, which covers major chunks of Old City, has witnessed an undercurrent of resentment in the recent past on account of "objectionable" images related to the community floating in cyberspace. "We are cautious and alert. It is likely that Darsgah-e-Jihad-o-Shahadat will try to organise protests. We will take action against people who do not stick to a democratic manner of protest. We will exercise the utmost restraint with those who stage protests within the boundaries of law," said DCP (SZ) V Satyanarayana. The possibility of some sections raising protests against the encounter of Viquaruddin Ahmed has not been ruled out, he said. Ahmed was killed along with four other undertrials in Nalgonda in April 2015. While cops have ruled out giving permission for loud music from sound mixers, popularly referred to as 'DJs', no new permissions for tributary processions in neighbourhoods with a mixed population have been given. "In the past we saw trouble at Moghalpura and Chhatrinaka. We have not given permission to people who wanted to take out a procession from such areas," Satyanarayana said, even as he anticipated a sharp rise in number of participants in Milad.TOI
‘Forbid fete on Black Day’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Forbid-fete-on-Black-Day/articleshow/55778290.cms
Mangaluru: Members of Mangalore Central Committee submitted a memorandum to city police commissioner M Chandra Sekhar demanding action against groups celebrating vijayotsava in the city to commemorate the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6. Committee president Ali Hassan and convener Abdul Azeez urged police to prevent any victory celebrations of Babri Masjid demolition in the name of religious rituals. Committee members stated in a memorandum, "While one section of the society celebrates the demolition of Babri Masjid, another community observes Black Day on Monday. Such victory celebrations breach communal harmony and lead to divide in the society." timesofindia
Katiyar brings up Ram temple issue
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Katiyar-brings-up-Ram-temple-issue/article16757228.ece
Lucknow: Days before the 24th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, the BJP has raked up the issue of Ram Mandir in poll-bound UP.Addressing a parivartan rally, Vinay Katiyar, Rajya Sabha member of the party, has said that a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be constructed once UP gets a CM like Kalyan Singh, under whose rule Babri Masjid was demolished. “I am often asked when will the Ram Mandir be constructed. I want to tell those people, the construction for the Ram Mandir will be started the day we get a CM like Kalyan Singh. Kalyan Singhji was the CM when the structure [Babri mosque] was demolished,” Katiyar said in Aligarh.thehindu
DEMONETISATION
RBI to soon issue Rs 50, Rs 20 notes; old notes to remain legal tender
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-to-soon-issue-rs-50-rs-20-notes-old-notes-to-remain-legal-tender/
New Delhi: RBI will shortly issue new notes of Rs 50 and Rs 20. Rs 50 notes will be without inset letter in both the number panel while the Rs 20 notes will have inset letter ‘L’ in both the number panels, bearing signature of Urjit R Patel, Governor, RBI, and the year of printing ‘2016’ printed on the reverse of side.The design and security features of these banknotes will be similar to old notes of the same denomination. While there is no change in the colour at the reverse, colour at the obverse is lighter. As a major relief, the old notes have not been demonetised and will continue to be legal tender. indianexpress
20 Crore Middle Class Youth Will Be Jobless Due to Automation by 2025: Mohandas Pai
http://profit.ndtv.com/news/tech-media-telecom/article-20-crore-middle-class-youth-will-be-jobless-due-to-automation-by-2025-mohan-das-pai-1632831
New Delhi: About 20 crore middle class young people would have no jobs or less jobs by 2025 due to increasing automation and improvement in technology,industry veteran TV Mohandas Pai said today. "By 2025 there will be 200 million young people in the age group of 21-41 with no jobs or less jobs and nobody knows what to do with these people. Govt policy does not know what to do as they don't have proper data," Pai, who is the Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services, said."We are going to have demographic nightmare," he said.About 52% of people, compared to 62% 10 years earlier, are employed in agriculture and number of population which depends on services and industries is growing at 10%,Pai said. "Disparity between people in agriculture and in service industry is widening and that is getting social attention all across India which has led to various agitation across states,"he said.He said that companies are looking at automation, developing artificial intelligence in machines which have potential to replace process based jobs. NDTV
W. Bengal: People watch as 45-yr-old man dies of heart attack in ATM queue
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-atm-west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-modi-kolkata/1/826035.html
Kolkata: Demonetisation led to another tragic incident in Hooghly district of West Bengal. A 45-year-old man died of heart attack while standing in a queue outside an ATM here today. The deceased was a state govt employee, Kallol Roy Chowdhury, who was posted in Cooch Behar district.Incident took place near Bandel station in Kolkata at around 7.30am.Chowdhury had got down at the station while he was on his way back to his home. He was supposed to withdraw cash and catch another train for Kolkata at the Bandel station. At Bandel, Roy Chowdhury went to withdraw some cash from ATM outside the station. While standing in a queue he suddenly complained about chest pain and collapsed. According to eye witnesses, he kept lying on the road for at least thirty minutes but no one came to help him because nobody wanted to give up on their chance to withdraw money. Security guard posted at ATM realised that Roy Chowdhury was not responding. The guard later he rushed Chowdhury to the Chinsurah Imambara Hospital in an auto rickshaw where doctors declared him brought dead."He was standing in queue to withdraw cash. When we saw him falling to the ground we called a local doctor who advised us to immediately rush him to the hospital," said one of the eye witnesses. India today
Tamil Nadu: 70 year old farmer dies waiting in bank queue
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-70-year-old-farmer-dies-waiting-in-bank-queue/
Go digital, even beggar using swipe machine: PM Modi
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/55773596.cms?from=mdr&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
50 chartered planes to ferry VVIPs to Nagpur for Gadkari’s daughter’s wedding
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/50-chartered-planes-to-ferry-vvips-to-nagpur-for-gadkari-s-daughter-s-wedding/story-y8xqptNW2NkL0nenpcB9VJ.html
Over 10,000 guests, most of them VVIPs like Union home minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Union ministers and CMs, will be flown to the city in 50 charter flights on Sunday evening. The reason —wedding of Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s daughter.VVIP guests’ list also include LK Advani and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Believe it or not, air tickets from any place to Nagpur on December 3 and 4 are not available.Among the other VVIP guests are RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, filmstars Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla.The wedding will be solemnised at Rani Kothi in Nagpur.But there are murmurs of disapproval of such a lavish display of wealth, particularly when Modi govt demonetised high-value currency notes. “Such a lavish wedding supposedly goes against the RSS ethos, as Gadkari was groomed in RSS culture and is still a swayamsevak,” said a senior swayamsevak on condition of anonymity.HT
Gadkari’ daughter ties knot at glittering ceremony, ministers, politicians attend function
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gadkari-daughter-ties-knot-at-glittering-ceremony-ministers-politicians-attend-function-4410140/
Andhra IAS officer spends Rs 500 on her wedding, returns to duty within 48 hours
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/andhra-ias-officer-spends-rs-500-on-her-wedding-returns-to-duty-within-48-hours/story-zJ84eRxrA6vVVrssKhrzPM.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=recommended-for-you
OTHERS
Persecuted in Myanmar, Rohingya Muslims find new home in Jammu:HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/persecuted-in-myanmar-rohingya-muslims-find-new-home-in-jammu/story-NOv2VcEw2PyNW4Y28E1w7M.html
Words fail 70-year-old Mohammed Younus and a much younger Shah Alam when they try to explain how lucky they are to be alive and, perhaps, safe.They are among hundreds of Rohingya Muslim migrants from Myanmar, who have taken shelter in and around J&K’s winter capital.“4 years ago, I came to Jammu. The junta in Myanmar had unleashed the gravest atrocities on Rohingyas and the world was silent. They are raping our girls and women, setting our houses on fire, firing at us as if we are sitting ducks, and chopping people into pieces,” Younus said.As a mark of proof, he lifted his shirt to show bullet scars on his torso. Rohingyas, a stateless ethnic group loathed by many of Myanmar’s Buddhist majority, were forced to leave their homes since a bloody crackdown by the army in their home state of Rakhine. Many came to India, with nothing but the clothes they were wearing and with horrifying stories of rape, torture and murder. Several Rohingya families —majority with UNHCR cards and some without papers —have found Jammu a safe haven.“I work at a scrap-dealer’s shop; my wife and eldest daughter work as domestic helps. We have to pay Rs 500 a month for the shanty and Rs 200 for electricity. Some NGOs help us. Life is not easy, but at least we are alive here,” said 45-year-old Shah Alam in a pidgin mix of Hindi and Urdu.
J-K journalist booked for report naming forces
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-journalist-booked-for-report-naming-forces-4409482/
Srinagar: J&K Police has registered a case against a journalist of banned newspaper Kashmir Reader for a Sept.28 report on crop-burning, in which villagers were quoted as blaming “govt forces” for the alleged arson.A case under Section 505, pertaining to publication or circulation of “statements of conducing public mischief”, has been registered against Ishfaq Reshi, who was a trainee reporter with Kashmir Reader, which was banned by J&K govt on Oct.2.Reshi is a student of convergent journalism at Central University of Kashmir and has been associated with the paper since April 2016.Reshi was presented before a Munsif court in Magam on Friday and directed to apply for bail from the sessions court in Budgam. “I was in police detention during the day (on Friday) and allowed to go home in the evening,”Reshi said. “There were allegations from villagers. I had gone on the ground to verify the facts and reported the same.”The report had appeared in the newspaper as a front-page banner, along with 3 photographs, and quoted residents of Budran, Aadina, Kanihama and Mazhama villages in Budgam as saying that “police, paramilitary troopers and soldiers (had) fired incendiary projectiles into the harvested rice crop that had been left to dry in sun”.In a statement on Sept.30 rebutting the story, J&K Police Media Centre had said “incident has been maliciously linked with forces”. “Some anti-social elements set on fire 2 haycocks at village Adina, Magam. On the receipt of the complaint, police took cognizance and lodged an FIR no. 159/16 in police station Magam and investigation has been taken up.”Sub-divisional Police Officer, Magam, Syed Fayaz Ahmad said that Reshi had circulated a “fake news” regarding the incident. “It was a normal case of burning for which he had blamed the forces. We produced him before the Munsif court on Friday. He was not under arrest,” SDPO Ahmad said.Questioning the case against Reshi, Mir Hilal, Editor of Kashmir Reader, said, “The story in question is similar to what others reported. If there are similar stories in other publications too that were also rebutted by police, why is there an FIR only against this story? They did not send any rebuttal to us and the statement issued two days later did not specifically mention our paper.” indianexpress
Dowry death social crime but can’t convict husband without proof: Delhi court
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dowry-death-social-crime-but-can-t-convict-husband-without-proof-delhi-court/story-BtRstRSikwycaGqzXYnRhI.html
It is a heinous crime to hang one’s wife to death but a husband cannot be convicted without any reliable evidence, a Delhi court has said while acquitting a man and his family members in a murder and dowry death case.The court freed the man, his father and two sisters, all residents of east Delhi, saying there was no cogent evidence that the woman was subjected to cruelty or harassment for demand of dowry.“While it is proved that husband being the companion in the house ought to be able to explain as to the circumstances under which his wife was found lying hanged in the bedroom but there also exists an obligation on the part of the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt...“Undoubtedly, it is a social and heinous crime to have the wife hanged to death but without any proper and reliable evidence, the court cannot by itself justify its conclusion of murder by the husband,” additional sessions judge Sanjeev Kumar Malhotra said.PTI
High court declines to interfere in probe against Zakir Naik
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/High-court-declines-to-interfere-in-inquiry-against-Zakir-Naik/articleshow/55783514.cms
Mumbai: Bombay high court declined a plea to set up a high power committee headed by a retired judge to examine whether Zakir Naik's speeches constitute an offence.A bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka on Dec.2 heard a PIL by Sohail Shaikh which said on the basis of information given by Bangladesh, NIA and other agencies have begun a probe against Naik. Terming the investigations illegal, Shaikh said the govt must appoint a committee and only if it finds something they should proceed against Naik.The bench agreed with the Centre's advocate Sandesh Patil that PIL is not maintainable at the instance of Shaikh. Dismissing it, the judges said no interference is called for in the inquiry which is going on.TOI
AMU students protest against ban on Zakir Naik
http://twocircles.net/2016dec03/1480781996.html#.WEP3jxp97IW
Students of AMU took out a march opposing the ban imposed on Zakir Naik on Friday.The march call was given by AMU Students’ Front, even as the office bearers of AMU Students Union stayed away from the protest. The march began after Namaz-e-Juma from university mosque and passed through university before culminating at Bab-e-Syed. A small meeting was also held before dispersing.Students carried banners and placards opposing the ban on Naik. They claimed that Muslim intellectuals are being singled out by the govt and action is taken against them. They also denounced several media outlets for projecting wrong pictures of Muslims. University proctorial team was also present during the march. The students demanded that ban on Naik should be lifted and govt should stop its action of witch hunting.TCN
Why target Zakir Naik ? Indian constitution allows propagation of religion: Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
http://www.siasat.com/news/target-zakir-naik-indian-constitution-allows-propagation-religion-1079100/
Life term convict Afroz Khan goes from jail to jail to de-radicalize others: timesofindia
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Life-term-convict-goes-from-jail-to-jail-to-de-radicalize-others/articleshow/55781144.cms
Mumbai: Afroz Khan, serving a life term in the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case, is emerging as the state's poster boy in its fight against radicalization.Qaidi number C-299 in Navi Mumbai's Taloja jail, Khan speaks against the use of Muslim youngsters by anti-national forces. He is now taken to prisons across the state to narrate his story of how he was used in a fight against the country.Khan, 36, is eloquent and fluent in Hindi, Marathi, Urdu and English. Terror outfits disturb him. "I know how anti-national people misguide Muslim youths, ruin their careers, destroy their lives and carry on with their subversive plans. I have been meeting Naxalites, suspected Indian Mujahideen and IS operatives, among others, in jail. I narrate my story and tell them how I lost my life to these anti-national elements. I am trying to ensure that no one falls into these terror organizations' trap," Khan, in a white kurta-pyjama, told TOI inside Taloja jail.It was the brainchild of Rajvardhan Sinha, inspector-general of police, prisons, to enrol Khan in the fight against terror. "Since he narrates his own story, it makes an impact on other prisoners. He says his life was destroyed after he took the wrong path.Now he says he wants to work for the country. He meets inmates to convince them to not repeat his mistakes. We plan to send him to more prisons."A Beed resident and a pharmacist by profession, Khan had surrendered before a Mumbai court on June 13, 2006. He was accused of conspiracy in the arms haul case in which the state ATS had arrested 22 people. This August, Khan and six of his associates were sentenced to life for their role in the case.TOI
Karnataka: Muslim bodies demand police action in Igoor mosque case
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/584660/muslim-bodies-demand-police-action.html
Madikeri: Condemning the delay in arresting the people involved in burning of Qur’an at Igoor mosque at Somwarpet taluk recently, Kodagu Zilla Muslim Samaj has warned of severe protests. Setting a deadline of one week for the police to nab the culprits, the Samaj has warned of putting up a show of strength by organising a mammoth convention of 25,000 people, followed by ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo’ in coming days. Addressing protest meet, organised opposite Gandhi Mantapa here, working president of Samaj, PM Khasim said, “While a mosque was stoned in Kushalnagar two months ago, a car belonging to a community leader was also damaged in stoning, yet there is no action by the district police. Saying that the police authorities have refused to give consent, thus thwarting their plans to organise a massive protest meet, Khasim said ‘We were not born in Pakistan, and have equal rights in India’.Without taking names of any organisations, Khasim who likened the situation to attempts to stone honeycomb, warned against testing the patience of peace-loving community. He also expressed his anguish over District Minister MR Seetharam and MLC Veena Achaiah for not visiting the mosque even after several days of the incident. deccan herald
Assam:'Bangladeshi' tag haunts Muslims in Darrang chars
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Bangladeshi-tag-haunts-Muslims-in-Darrang-chars/articleshow/55787578.cms
Guwahati: 9-year-old Malekuddin, a resident of Dhalpur char (sand bar), has been spending sleepless nights after receiving an eviction notice from a local court in Darrang district. A Class IV-student at a madrassa in nearby Dalgaon, Malekuddin has no idea about what led to the sudden crackdown. Malekuddin is not alone. Members of the minority community living along the fertile Sipajhar riverine area of Darrang district are a worried lot. Increasing tension between them and the local Assamese over the past couple of months has culminated in a malicious poster campaign. Several posters, of unknown origin, have been circulated in the area in which members of the minority community have been labelled 'Bangladeshi migrants'.While his elderly neighbours attribute the growing unease to the installation of BJP in Dispur, Malekuddin, who has no idea about the persecution faced by his forefathers in Darrang during the height of Assam Agitation, could only hope for a miracle."I don't know anything about politics. My request to the govt is to allow us to live peacefully in our homes. My family makes a living by cultivating corn but we didn't dare to farm this year because of this eviction notice," said the weary youngster who, along with some of his neighbours, was in Guwahati on Saturday.Interestingly, the eviction notice was addressed to the nine-year-old boy, not his father or any other older family member.TOI
Ashraf Ali Talukdar, head of Mohimari Senior Madrasa: Shifting of holiday will create problems…So many other issues need govt attention
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ashraf-ali-talukdar-head-of-mohimari-senior-madrasa-shifting-of-holiday-will-create-problems-so-many-other-issues-need-govt-attention-4409321/
Assam madrassas break no laws by taking off on Friday, but for BJP it is an ‘issue’ that must be tackled: TCN
http://twocircles.net/2016dec04/1480827150.html#.WEQBRBp97IU
AP wakf board headless as govt fails to hold polls
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/AP-wakf-board-headless-as-govt-fails-to-hold-polls/articleshow/55779593.cms
Hyderabad: AP State Wakf Board has become headless with the state govt failing to hold elections or extend the term of the competent authority.Minorities welfare commissioner Shaik Mohammed Iqbal was appointed the competent authority on Oct.30, 2015. It was extended on May 6 for a period of 6 months. The competent authority, in the absence of an elected board, looks after the day-to-day affairs of the Muslim endowments body. His tenure ended on Nov.5. Govt did not issue orders appointing a new competent authority or extending the term of Iqbal. timesofindia
Malappuram:Vemula's mother visits Faisal’s mother,family
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2016/dec/04/rohit-vemulas-mother-visits-faisals-mother-and-family-in-malappuram-1545584.html
Malappuram: Radhika Vemula, mother of the deceased Dalit research student Rohit Vemula, paid a visit to the family of Faisal who was killed for allegedly accepting Islam at Farooq Nagar, Kodinhi here.Consoling Faisal’s mother Meenakshi, Radhika said she could identify Meenakshi’s grief with that of hers. She said that she lost her son to a dictatorial govt being controlled by Sangh Parivar.“Govt is under the control of Sangh Parivar. They are suppressing the minorities and are taking away their rights. We are purposefully targeted by those holding the power at the Center,” Radhika alleged.She also asked Meenakshi to be brave and live the rest of the life for the family of Faisal. new indian express
Mewat gangrape: After rape, the long, lonely battle
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mewat-gangrape-after-rape-the-long-lonely-battle-4409320/?google_editors_picks=true
Haryana: “keep thinking about it all day, I feel scared all the time.”Married at the age of 15, and a mother by the time she was 18, she has rarely questioned decisions taken by others for her, she says.Not this time. Gangraped on the intervening night of Aug.24-25 along with her 14-year-old cousin by four men in Dingerheri village in Haryana’s Mewat district, she asserts, her face blank, “I will fight and my husband is fighting too. I want the perpetrators to be hanged.”Since the incident, the 19-year-old has moved to her uncle’s home, along with her mother. “My parents-in-law haven’t talked to me since that night. I can’t go to my village either, as there is all kind of talk. So I have come here,” she says.It’s a semi-constructed two-storey home, with a few buffaloes tied to a pole in the courtyard. Fiddling with the ends of the dupatta covering her head, she says what keeps her going is the occasional visit to the market nearby. “Life goes on, that’s it.”Her husband now shuttles between the house she stays in and his parents’ home in Hatim village. 25-year-old says the rape shattered all that they had planned.indianexpress
Union minister Giriraj Singh calls for mass sterilisation to control population
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/union-minister-giriraj-singh-calls-for-mass-sterilisation-to-control-population/story-6uY29EuTVNzpf1a33WgntN.html
Union minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday said after ‘notebandi’ (demonetisation), there is an urgent need to make laws for ‘nasbandi’ (sterilisation) in the country.Singh, who is the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises, is the second senior BJP leader who has advocated sterilisation after demonetisation.Last week, ex Union minister and senior BJP leader Sanjay Paswan said sterilisation will help control population of the country.Singh, BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from Nawada in Bihar, advocated the move across sections of society to control the nation’s “population explosion”. He said India has 16% of world’s population, and continues to grow at the rate of Australia’s population every year. “The country is facing population explosion, it has to be controlled soon.”HT
No to use of pellets on animals; yes to pellets on Kashmiris: Rouf Dar for TwoCircles.net
http://twocircles.net/2016dec03/1480783470.html#.WEPwvxp97IW
UP has highest number of convicts, over 55% of undertrials are Muslims and Dalits: NCRB
http://www.firstpost.com/india/up-has-highest-number-of-convicts-over-55-of-undertrials-are-muslims-and-dalits-ncrb-3086886.html
WORLD
‘UN please do something’: Malaysian PM leads protest against Rohingya ‘genocide’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/un-please-do-something-malaysian-pm-leads-protest-against-rohingya-genocide/story-b1NdrfByK1ruee5oI5XtmO.html
Malaysian PM Najib Razak led a protest rally Sunday against what he called a “genocide” of Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority, as he urged Asian neighbours and the world to step up the pressure to stop the violence.Najib said the rally at a stadium in suburban Kuala Lumpur will send a strong message to Aung San Suu Kyi’s govt that “enough is enough.” “UN please do something. World cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place,” Najib said to loud cheers from thousands of Muslims, including Rohingya refugees. “World cannot say it is not our problem. It is our problem,” he said.The plight of Rohingya in predominantly-Buddhist Myanmar has galvanized Muslims in Southeast Asia and beyond.Denied citizenship although they have lived in Myanmar for generations, Rohingya have faced persecution that exploded in intercommunal violence in Rakhine state in 2012 that left hundreds dead and forced more than 100,000 into squalid camps.AP
Malaysia's PM leads protest against 'genocide' against Muslims in Rohingya
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/genocide-of-rohingya-burma-aung-san-suu-kyi-malaysian-pm-najib-razak-leads-protest-against-a7454656.html?cmpid=facebook-post
Egypt upholds law banning protests
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161203-egypt-upholds-law-banning-protests/
Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court upheld today a law that effectively bans protests, settling a years-long court battle and protecting the law from further challenges.middleeastmonitor
Egypt court rules parts of protest law unconstitutional
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/egypt-court-rules-parts-of-protest-law-unconstitutional/698463
Syrian forces seize half of Aleppo's east from rebels
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/syrian-forces-seize-aleppo-east-rebels-161203131810613.html
Govt forces continue to advance in the besieged city of Aleppo, pushing opposition forces out of several areas in the latest twist in the 6-year-old Syrian conflict. aljazeera
Iran has shares in German firm producing top secret Israeli weapons
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161203-iran-has-shares-in-german-firm-producing-top-secret-israeli-weapons/
An Iranian govt firm owns shares in a German company which manufactures Israel’s most classified weapons, including submarines and Sa’ar 6 Class corvette warships for the Israeli navy, Israeli news website Ynet News revealed yesterday. Israel claims that it has been doing its best to avoid deals with international firms that have connections with Iran, but the Israeli website said that it came to light that Israeli money ends up in Iranian hands through this German firm.According to Ynet News, the Iranian Foreign Investment Company (IFIC) holds nearly five % of shares in the German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), further noting that the IFIC is the Iranian govt ’s main avenue for investing abroad.It also reported Israeli fears about the level of access the Iranian shareholders would have to one of the most classified projects for the Israeli military.Based on an interview conducted with IFIC’s Farhad Zargari, The Business Year revealed that that Iran owns 4.5 % of ThyssenKrupp shares.“As the central body responsible for foreign investments for the govt , the IFIC has a huge responsibility in strengthening Iran’s world economic relations,” Zargari told The Business Year. middleeastmonitor
Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Church sacks Palestinian archbishop
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161203-jerusalems-greek-orthodox-church-sacks-palestinian-archbishop/
Patriarch Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem has sacked Archbishop of Sebastia Attalla Hanna, a statement issued by office of the Archbishop said yesterday. “Patriarch Theophilos and his Holy Gathering decided today to stop the salary of Archbishop Attalla Hanna,” the statement said, noting that Hanna is the only Palestinian archbishop in the Greek Orthodox Church.The statement cited “the latest stances” of the Archbishop Hanna and his “clear support” for many other issues, stressing that this measure aimed to “blackmail him and put pressure on him and all the Arab clergymen.”Meanwhile, the statement noted that the salaries of other Arab clergymen were “arbitrarily stopped” by Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox in Jerusalem.In addition, the statement said that the Orthodox Church took several other “punitive” measures against Arab clergymen such as moving Archimandrite Christophoros from his monastery in Jordan to Jerusalem. Middleeastmonitor
Over 1,300 Israelis storm Al-Aqsa in November: Official
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/over-1-300-israelis-storm-al-aqsa-in-november-official/698773
Jerusalem: More than 1,300 Jewish settlers and Israeli security forces stormed East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last month, according to a Palestinian official.For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. Anadolu agency
Syrian forces seize half of Aleppo's east from rebels
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/syrian-forces-seize-aleppo-east-rebels-161203131810613.html
Govt forces continue to advance in the besieged city of Aleppo, pushing opposition forces out of several areas in the latest twist in the six-year-old Syrian conflict.Syrian warplanes, artillery, and mortar rounds on Saturday pounded opposition-held areas in eastern Aleppo, killing at least three people, according to opposition activists.Syrian state media reported govt and allied troops were moving in on new neighbourhoods, pushing a kilometre deeper into the rebel-held enclave.Syrian army spokesman Brigadier General Samir Suleiman said the military has regained control of 45 to 50 % of east Aleppo, and he accused rebels of hiding among civilians.The advances have caused massive displacement. UN estimated more than 31,000 have already fled their homes, either to govt or Kurdish areas, or deeper into the besieged enclave.
8 killed as Syrian jet shells civilians fleeing Aleppo
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/8-killed-as-syrian-jet-shells-civilians-fleeing-aleppo/698638
IS exploits rain, hits Iraqi militias west and south of Mosul:AP
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/islamic-state-exploits-rain-hits-iraqi-militias-west-and-south-of-mosul/story-fo3Qf94jBjsl3OJuNsvlVM.html
Islamic State militants have staged near simultaneous attacks on positions of state-sanctioned militias west and south of Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, apparently taking advantage of bad weather conditions that normally disrupt air support, 2 militia officials said on Saturday.One official said IS militants breached the defenses of Shia militiamen at a village west of the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar. Reached by telephone near Tal Afar, he said the attack on the village of Sharea took place Friday night. Fighting continued into Saturday, he added, without giving details. On Saturday, an IS statement said the attack on the village began with a suicide car bombing that killed and wounded “dozens” of militiamen. A “multi-pronged” attack on the village followed, forcing the militiamen to flee, it added.IS fighters seized from the militiamen 9 all-terrain vehicles fitted with machine guns, two Humvees, weapons and munitions, according to the statement.In the second attack, the militants targeted a Sunni tribal militia deployed in the town of Shirqat south of Mosul on Friday night, according to an official from the militia. He gave no details and IS had no immediate word on the attack.Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.Bad weather persisted in northern Iraq on Saturday, with thick fog, rain and a dust storm. Such conditions normally reduce to a minimum air activity by the Iraqi military or the allied US-led coalition.
Russian security service says it killed IS ’emir’ in raid:AFP
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/russia-security-service-says-it-killed-islamic-state-emir-in-a-raid-4409565/
Moscow:Russia’s FSB security service on Sunday said it had killed an “emir” of the Islamic State group in the North Caucasus along with 4 other militants in a raid in the Dagestan region. The FSB said in a statement that “among the neutralised bandits was the head of the Caucasus region’s branch of the Islamic State Rustam Aselderov, and four of his close associates.”35-year-old warlord pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Dec.2014, the first major militant to do so in the Caucasus. IS has since claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on police in Dagestan.IS named Aselderov, also known as Sheikh Abu Mohammad al-Qadari, the governor of a new province after Islamist militants in the region pledged allegiance to the jihadist group. The Russian North Caucasus is one of the major sources of foreign jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq. AFP/indianexpress
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:01 PM)
