Evening NEWS DIGEST
28Feb.2017: 30Jamadiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:128
INDIA
Students, teachers from DU, JNU, Jamia hit streets, ABVP says DU environment being spoiled
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ramjas-college-protest-march-abvp-violence-delhi-university-jnu-jamia-4548080/
New Delhi:The protest march in Delhi University against alleged ABVP violence at Ramjas College concluded Tuesday after a day of speeches and sloganeering. The protest march began from SGTB Khalsa College and went on in the direction of the Arts Faculty. Members of the Congress-backed NSUI were sitting on a hunger strike outside Arts faculty. Students from various Delhi University colleges joined the protest. While earlier protests were backed by Left student unions, the protest today was full of students unaffiliated to any political ideology. “We are not here to support AISA or ABVP but have come to show our solidarity for the freedom of speech and expression,” said a student from Khalsa College who wished not to be named. The protest today was later joined by various politicians. Sitaram Yechury and D Raja joined from CPI while Yogendra Yadav also pledged support. Students and teachers from JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and Amdedkar University also attended the march. Ex-JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was also present at the march and raised slogans against ABVP at the event. Kanhaiya was one of the 3 JNU students arrested last year in the sedition case. Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of the slain soldier in Kashmir who had raised her voice against ABVP and started the campaign ‘Not Afraid of ABVP’ was also slated to join the march. However, following rape threats and verbal attacks since her campaign, she chose to withdraw from the march and did not attend it. indianexpress
Ramjas protest LIVE updates: Give us azaadi from ‘ABVP gundagardi,’ demand students
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-university-protest-live-updates-abvp-aisa-march-ramjas-4547530/
Gurmehar Kaur’s protest against ABVP violence: LSR College backs their student
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gurmehar-kaurs-protest-against-abvp-violence-lsr-college-backs-their-student/
Delhi Police file FIR following DU student Kaur’s complaint of rape threats
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-police-file-fir-following-du-student-gurmehar-kaurs-complaint-of-rape-threats/
After War Veterans, Sikh Group Comes Out In Support Of Gurmehar Kaur
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/02/28/war-veterans-join-forces-to-support-gurmehar-kaur-and-call-out-s/?ncid=fcbklnkinhpmg00000001
Now, Kargil Martyr Saurabh Kalia's Father Backs Kaur
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/02/28/now-kargil-martyr-saurabh-kalias-father-backs-gurmehar-kaur/?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
Violence: Global academicians condemn Ramjas
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/state-tolerated-violence-global-academicians-condemn-ramjas/1/893577.html
New Delhi:Academicians from universities across the globe, including Coulmbia, Cambridge, Trinity College and New York University, have condemned the recent Ramjas College clashes as "State-tolerated violence".In a joint statement, the academicians said no progress is possible in a country if the young people are "not permitted" the full freedom to discuss difficult and pressing issues. "The issues that will matter to them long after the political leadership in the country has passed on," they said."We stand against the rule of state-tolerated violence on college campuses," the statement said. The signatories include professors from Columbia, Cambridge, University of Pensylvannia, University of Toronto, Trinity college, University of California, New York University and University of Göttingen, among others.PTI
AMU students, teachers march in solidarity with DU
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ramjas-amu-students-teachers-march-in-solidarity-with-du/
Around 500 students and teachers of AMU on Tuedsay held a public meeting and a march in solidarity with the violence at Delhi University’s Ramjas College. The march “for the cause of free speech and the right to express opinions” started from the university’s Arts Faculty and culminated at Bab-e-Syed, the university gate, where some teachers and students addressed the gathering and recited poems. indianexpress
DU protest LIVE: NHRC issues notice to Delhi top cop over police excesses in Ramjas College
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/live-gurmehar-kaur-kargil-martyr-daughter-aisa-march-ramjas-college-protests/1/893036.html
We beat teachers too: an ABVP footsoldier's confession
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/we-beat-teachers-too-full-text-of-of-an-abvp-footsoldier-s-confession-117022800483_1.html
Modi's graveyard politics gets a Sakshi Maharaj twist: Muslims should also be cremated
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-graveyard-politics-sakshi-maharaj-muslims/1/893122.html
New Delhi:Days after PM Narendra Modi made his infamous 'qabristan-shamshaan' remarks at an election rally in UP, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has taken a leaf out of his book and suggested Muslims should also be cremated since there is not enough land for graveyards."Whether it is named qabristan (graveyard) or shamshaan (crematoriums), nobody needs to be buried.There are 2-2.5 crore Hindu saints in this country who should have a memorial after their death. That will require land. There are 20 crore Muslims, all of them need a grave. Where is the land in Hindustan?" Maharaj said today.At a rally in Fatehpur earlier this month, Modi had said, "If you create qabristan in a village, then a shamshaan should also be created. If there is uninterrupted electricity in Ramzan, it should also be given during Diwali. There should be no discrimination."The statement had triggered a storm, with the Opposition accusing Modi of trying to communalise the crucial 3-cornered UP contest.IndiaToday
Muslims should be cremated: Sakshi Maharaj
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/muslims-should-be-cremated-sakshi-maharaj/370635.html
From PM Modi to Akhilesh, all leaders are nervous about a hung Assembly in UP
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-speeches-of-pm-modi-to-akhilesh-make-it-clear-all-leaders-are-nervous-about-possible-hung-up-mandate-2337627
Hung mandates are like redoing an exam, you have to go through the entire charade of pretending to care for your text books one more time. While sometimes it can invigorate the zeal to excel, often it leads to sloth and a callous approach which could cause an even more disastrous outcome. Same is the case with our politicians, especially when 400-odd Assembly seats are in contention. Perhaps it is not a surprise then that as we move excruciatingly slowly towards the end of the UP polls, top leaders have started to warn voters about not throwing up a hung mandate.UP, a state of over 20 crore citizens is truly a mini-India. From urbane Noida to the heavily rural Devipatan zone, it is a sea of humanity of differing ideologies, religions, cultures and aspirations. So in the absence of a discernible Modi wave or pro-incumbency towards Akhilesh- it is a joust for each seat in India’s dusty heartland. While the actual results will only be known on March 11, it’s widely believed that BSP has pulled above its weight thanks to weaning away Muslim votes from the SP-Congress alliance. While it can also mean a potential gain for BJP with no concentrated Muslim block voting against them, the saffron party is bearing the brunt of the Jat-unrest in western UP. Hence a possibility of a classic hung assembly can’t be ruled out with none of the parties giving an indication of breaking away from herd.Both Akhilesh and Mayawati have expressed such concerns during the campaign trail. DNA India
HC denies parole to Ansari for campaigning in UP polls
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/hc-denies-parole-to-ansari-for-campaigning-in-up-polls/article17380023.ece
The Delhi High Court on Monday denied parole to BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari to campaign in the ongoing UP elections.The court observed that the right to contest the election does not give the candidate the get right to be released from jail for canvassing. His right to campaign is subservient to the constitutional mandate of holding free and fair elections.“Even though a person with criminal background and antecedents would not be a desirable person to contest the elections, the legislation does not debar him from contesting the elections. However, the right to contest the election cannot imply that the candidate gets a right to be released from jail for canvassing as a candidate for being elected,” Justice Gupta said. thehindu
Digvijaya booked for social media post saying madrasa, RSS schools spread hatred
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/digvijaya-booked-for-social-media-post-saying-madrasa-rss-schools-spread-hatred/story-K6vraC7aokwWu1QhKEu5gK.html
Hyderabad: AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh was booked by police here on Monday over his alleged post about the madrassas (seminaries) and the RSS-run Saraswati Sishu Mandirs.Police registered the case under section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of IPC against the Congress leader.A complaint in this regard was lodged by Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan, said Dabeerpura police inspector C Venkanna Naik. “We have registered a case under section 295 A of IPC and are investigating,” the officer told PTI.PTI
Hundreds of women March in Deoband against Tarek Fatah and Zee TV; FIR filed in Bulandshahar
http://caravandaily.com/portal/hundreds-of-women-march-in-deoband-against-tarek-fatah-and-zee-tvs-mischief-fir-filed-against-tarek-fatah-and-zee-tv-in-bulandshahar/
Deoband:Hundreds of women in the historic town of Deoband marched in protest against the presence and hate-mongering of Islamophobe Tarek Fatah. Maintaining a dignified silence, protesters held placards in their hands that read, “Tarek Fatah is a Pakistani agent”; “Down with Tarek Fatah”; “Tarek Fatah go back”;“Tarek Fatah is a disdained figure”; “Arrest Tarek Fatah”; “Ban Zee News”; “Stop Spreading Sectarianism”; “Arrest Tarek Fatah” and “Long Live Ganga Jamni Culture”. They walked from Mohalla Abul Barakat, a locality in the vicinity of known Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, to local police station where they handed a four point memorandum to the deputy superintendent.The memorandum addressed to President and PM said, “India is a secular country in the development of which all Indians, regardless of their religious backgrounds, have played an important part. Majority of its citizens believe in living peacefully and share each other’s moments of sadness and happiness.”The memorandum urged the President and the PM to, “1) Cancel Tarek Fatah’s Visa; 2) Bar his entry into India; 3) Order the related authorities to file a case against Zee News and its owners for recording and telecasting and continuing a program that is spreading hatred; 4) Impose immediate ban on this program, proscribe and destroy all the recordings of this program so that no other channel can dare allow a Pakistani to spread communal hatred in this country in future.”The demonstration was organized by the students and staff of madrassa and seminary Mahad Aaisha Siddiqa Qasimul Uloom lil Banat, who were joined by hundreds of other residents of the town.In the meanwhile, Muslims campaigning for the ban on Fatah who have made several attempts to file FIR against Zee TV and Fatah but faced hurdles succeeded in registering one at Khurja police station in Bulandshahr.Caravan News
In orange cycles for Rajasthan school girls, Congress sees saffronisation bid
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-orange-cycles-for-rajasthan-school-girls-congress-sees-saffronisation-bid/story-a4syHvtCJF1zZvmeFrUD6J.html
Kota: Amid allegations of “saffronisation of education”, the Vasundhara Raje govt in Rajasthan has started free distribution of bicycles – painted in orange colour — among school girls. A group of class 9 girls at a govt school in Kota have now been gifted the new bicycles under a state govt initiative to check the drop out rate.Sources in the state education department informed that 6,283 bicycles would be distributed to as many beneficiaries at 297 govt secondary schools in Kota alone. Gehlot said that the decision to change the colour of the bicycles was taken by state govt and only “higher ups can inform” why it was done, but added “new colour has made the bicycles look more attractive and distinguishable”. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has termed the move to change the colour of bicycles as another attempt at saffronisation of education in the State. HT
No mechanism to stop uploading of obscene contents: Govt to SC
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-mechanism-to-stop-uploading-of-obscence-contents-govt -to-sc-4547057/
New Delhi:The govt Monday raised its hands before the Supreme Court and conceded that as of now there is “no mechanism” to prevent uploading of obscene contents like videos of sexual violence on websites, before these are uploaded. The submission came before a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and UU Lalit which asked “what is the stand of the govt”, after internet service provider Google said there cannot be a “reasonable prevention” before such contents are uploaded on websites. “Today, there is no mechanism to prevent it before it is uploaded on the websites,” the lawyer appearing for the Centre said, prompting the bench to ask, “why is there no such mechanism?” Responding to the query, govt said, “somebody has to tell us about it (uploading of such contents). There are preventive mechanisms.”PTI
Citizen (Gujarat riot refugee) Nagar: After 15 yrs, no govt school, no hospital, no piped water: indian express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/citizen-riot-refugee-nagar-after-15-yrs-no-govt-school-no-hospital-no-piped-water-gujarat-riots-naroda-patiya-godhra-narendra-modi-4547247/
Ahmedabad:“28-2-2002 Godhra Rayot, Naroda Patiya, efackter visthapit cooloni (Rehabilitation Colony for those affected by 28-2-2002 Godhra riot from Naroda Patiya),” reads the scrawl on a black signboard at the entrance to Citizen Nagar. In the backdrop is a huge black mound that rises almost 135m high. This is where Ahmedabad dumps its garbage. “And here, Citizen Nagar, is where we have been put since 2003,” says Nadeemuddin Saiyyed, 52, one of the earliest residents of the colony that was set up on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Citizen Nagar is where 116 families from Naroda Patiya — and some from Gulbarg Society — were resettled in 2003 after over 100 were killed in these colonies on Feb.28, 2002.Now, 15 years after riots, little has changed, say residents, except that the landfill behind them has got bigger, darker and the smouldering fires there more frequent. Rows of shanties — one room-kitchen-toilet quarters with corrugated tin sheets for roofs — line either side of a 10-foot-wide road that’s slushy with sewage. Colony has no corporation schools for its 100-odd children, no health centre and no piped water. Built by the Kerala State Muslim League Relief Committee and the Citizen Relief Service of Shah-e-Alam, initially 30 families moved in to Citizen Nagar — it now has a population of around 800.
2002 riots: Don’t wish to pursue Kalol case, say Orphans
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/godhra-2002-riots-dont-wish-to-pursue-kalol-case-say-orphans-4547321/
Kalol/panchmahals: 23-year-old Amirul Sheikh has vague memories of his house being burnt during the 2002 riots, “the tempo” in which he was fleeing with his parents being overturned by the attackers and him hiding in the farms behind his house. He also remembers losing sight of his brothers Moeen, 18, and Imtiaz, 19, and finding himself alone at a temple on the banks of river Ghuma for three days and a woman who took him to another temple in Kalol town. It was at this temple where his fuyee (father’s sister) found him and united him with his two brothers. Their parents — Razzakbhai and Mumtaz — were among the 14 killed by a mob outside Ambica Society on the main road in Kalol town when they were fleeing from the attackers from their village in Delol on Feb.28, 2002. All the deceased were members of one large family who resided together. indianexpress
Remembering 15 years since Gujarat riots
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/remembering-15-years-since-gujarat-riots
Rajkot brothers remanded: ‘Ramodia brothers belonged to respectable family’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/isis-gujarat-lone-wolves-ramodia-brothers-belonged-to-respectable-family-4547296/
Rajkot: Even as brothers Vaseem and Naeem Ramodia were sent to a 12-day police remand by a local court, those close to the family say that the Ramodias are a respectable family and that they never knew about any trouble till the Gujarat ATS arrested the duo. Vaseem (30) and Naeem (27) were arrested by ATS on Sunday for allegedly planning IS-inspired lone-wolf attacks in the state. 2 are son of Arif Ramodia, a retired employee of Saurashtra University, Rajkot. Ramodia senior retired as English stenographer from general dept.of Saurashtra University on June 14, 2015. He is also a cricket umpire associated with Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA), Rajkot, for last 20 years and has been officiating in district-level matches. Those who know Arif say they regard the Ramodias as a respectable family. “Arif Ramodia never complained about any issues. He retired from Saurasthra University from a good post and the family was doing well financially also. His brothers are also businessmen. The entire family that I know of is a respectable one,” said a close friend of Arif, requesting anonymity. Vaseem had met Jaydevsinh Jadeja, a Rajkot-based supplier of surgical equipment in June last year in response to an advertisement given by the businessman for hiring a salesman. Jadeja said on Monday that his impression of Vaseem was that of an educated man coming from a good family. “He told me his garment business in Bhavnagar did not take off, and therefore he was in search of a job. When I told him that he was a software engineer by training whereas I was looking for a salesman, he told me he never made it big in that field and that he was ready to work as salesman for salary of Rs10,000,” Jadeja said. Jadeja, who is also president of Yuva Kshatriya Samaj, further said that he knows Arif Ramodia also and that the father had requested him to give an opportunity to his son. “We organise cricket tournaments where we invite Ramodia bhai to officiate in matches. After his son met me, he rang me up and informed that Vaseem was his son and that there will be no harm if I hired him. In the meantime, a smart young man also appeared for the interview for that post. I preferred him over Vaseem,” Jadeja added.Indian Express
Rajkot Bar Association passes resolution not to defend ISIS suspects
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gijarat-ats-rba-passes-resolution-not-to-defend-suspected-isis-operatives-4547063/
Rajkot: Rajkot Bar Association (RBA) on Monday passed a resolution that none of its members would defend the 2 ISIS suspects arrested by Gujarat ATS, RBA secretary Manish Khakhar said. However, a Jamnagar-based lawyer Imtiyaz Kotecha has come forward to defend 2 brothers — Wasim Ramodiya and Naeem, he said.“We have passed a resolution that none of our members will defend those involved in anti-national activities and therefore no lawyer of RBA will defend the two suspected ISIS operatives Wasim and Naeem in the court,” Khakhar said.RBA also praised the Gujarat ATS team and Rajkot City Police Commissioner Anupamsinh Gehlot for busting ISIS network in Saurashtra region.“Regarding Kotecha, we cannot say anything as he is not a member of RBA. PTI
3 acquittals before ex-SIMI head Nagori’s first conviction
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/safdar-nagori-three-acquittals-before-former-simi-heads-first-conviction-4547185/
New Delhi: Safdar Nagori, the former head of the SIMI, was convicted for the first time on Monday. 84-page judgment that convicted him followed the 48-year-old’s acquittals in 3 cases over the last few years. “There are several lacunae in the judgment and we will appeal against it on legal points,’’ his advocate Rahman Khan said.In 2015, Safdar was among 17 Muslim men, including 5 SIMI men who were sentenced to serve life on Monday, who were acquitted by a trial court in Hubli. Safdar’s advocate said he was acquitted in two other cases in Madhya Pradesh. Advocate said his client was an accused in at least two cases, including the blasts in Ahmedabad.Besides Safdar, 3 other accused hailed from Madhya Pradesh. Kamruddin Nagori is from Ujjain, Qamran from Khandwa and Aamil Parvez from Unhel in Ujjain district. Aamil’s brother Zadil was recently picked by Maharashtra ATS from Indore. indian express
2 seek discharge in 2008 Malegaon blasts case
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bomb-blast-two-seek-discharge-in-2008-malegaon-blasts-case/
Mumbai: 2 of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts have sought discharge from the case. The submission for discharge was made before the special court hearing arguments on framing of charges. Shivnarayan Kalsangra and Shyam Sahu had been released on bail in 2011 after a Bombay HC order. Advocate Prashant Maggu, representing the two, submitted before the court that the High Court in its bail order had stated that sufficient material was not available to show their involvement in the blast. indian express
Kerala police clueless on death of 'IS recruit', ascertaining veracity of news
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-police-clueless-on-death-of-is-recruit/article17379609.ece?homepage=true
Kasaragod: A day after a message reached Hafeezuddin's close relatives that the youth, who was among the 17 from Kerala who are suspected to have joined the IS, was killed in a drone strike, the police are ascertaining the veracity of the information.Special Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police VT Assainar, however, said. that a ‘WhatsApp’ message, said to have been received by a relative of Hafeezuddin (26), a native of Padanna near Cheruvathur in Kasaragod district, showed the photo of the youth's body lying on the ground. “The local police could not as yet ascertain the whereabouts of the persons who went missing under mysterious circumstances in June last and are said to have joined the IS later,” Assainar said, adding that only Central agencies like the NIA could get any information, a stance maintained by Superintendent of Police KG Simon too.Meanwhile, a large number of people, including close relatives, were silently visiting Hafeezuddin’s residence as the youth’s father Abdul Hakeem reached home from Abu Dhabi.the hindu
Innocence Network: After freedom, the fight for justice
http://www.hindustantimes.com/weekend/after-freedom-the-fight-for-justice/story-Gcg33k19seHL5ksoc3w5VL.html
Wahid Shaikh is a 40-year-old teacher in Mumbai’s Abdus Sattar Shuaib Primary School. He started working in 1999 but he is still new here, familiarising himself with the staff and students. Shaikh was away for a decade, a period from which he carries memories of a broken arm, being blindfolded for long stretches, and nights of mental and physical trauma. Shaikh was in prison since Sept. 29, 2006 on the charge of harbouring some of the accused in the June 2006 Mumbai train blasts that killed 188 and left 829 injured. “I was in custody for three months before I was finally sent to jail,” he recalls. “There, I got to know the charges against me for the first time.”Prison is where Shaikh met 12 other inmates who had also been accused of the crime. Their experiences of being tortured into admitting guilt were horrifying similar to his own. “That is when we made up our mind to fight this injustice and not agree to any falsehood thrust upon us, whatever the degree of torture,” he says.It was a long wait. Shaikh was released in April, 2015, after a special court acquitted him of all charges. Always innocent, now free again, his life is far from the one he dreamed of in prison. Upon release, he has worked alongside organisations like the Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind, to fight a legal battle for other accused. In 2015, Suhail KK, an activist with the research and advocacy group Quill Foundation, introduced Shaikh to the Innocence Network, a collective inspired by similar initiatives across the world that offers pro bono legal aid for those wrongfully imprisoned, which was then taking shape.To highlight the plight of those who have been wrongfully prosecuted, the network held its first tribunal in October last year. 15 victims from across the country shared their testimonies with a panel that included academics like Nandini Sundar, chairman of 20th Law Commission of India, Justice AP Shah and filmmaker Saeed Mirza among others.HT
Protesters in Valley: Pellet guns to return to J&K, with a tweak
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/protesters-in-valley-pellet-guns-to-return-to-jammu-and-kashmir-with-a-tweak-4547286/
New Delhi: The use of pellet guns, which led to considerable injuries during street protests in Kashmir last year, is set to make a comeback. Paramilitary forces have found that the less lethal alternative PAVA (pelargonic acid vanillylamide) shells are not really effective in scattering protesters. CRPF Director General K Durga Prasad told reporters Monday that a modified version of the pellet gun will be used to break up any protest before and during anti-militancy operations. “The force has taken the decision to modify pellet guns, with the help of BSF, to minimise injuries,” he said. Pellet guns were widely used in the Valley during the protests that followed the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani in July last year. Hundreds were injured by the pellets, many with serious injuries in the eyes. Following an outcry, the use of pellet guns was stopped, replaced by the chilli-based PAVA shells. indianexpress
How a CRPF bullet ended the dreams of a Kashmiri youth who wanted to be a teacher
http://twocircles.net/2017feb27/405470.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Separatists, religious groups assail MHA's‘Kashmir report’
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/separatists-religious-groups-assail-mhas-kashmir-report/article17380021.ece
Separatists and religious groups on Monday expressed resentment over a Ministry of Home Affairs' report suggesting a close watch on moulvis (priests), masjids (mosques) and the media in the Valley in the wake of growing alienation. Supporters of the Hurriyat factions and JKLF held a sit-in protest at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to protest against “growing intimidation”.In a joint statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik described the MHA proposals as “an act of bullying the Kashmiri nation”.“Union Home Ministry is threatening people of Kashmir of dire consequences. We are told that our moulvis, masjids and its committees will be penalised. The revival of the police’s special operation group is also being proposed so that more oppressive steps are taken against Kashmiris. However, New Delhi will not succeed in breaking our resolve,” read the statement.Socio-religious group Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) termed the MHA move as “a direct interference in the religious matters of Muslims in Kashmir”.“The move is tantamount to blatant violation of the fundamental right of religious freedom. These suggestions are not acceptable. If the human race is desirous of creating a peaceful and just world, it is achievable only by establishing an Islamic system of life,” said a JeI spokesperson. the hindu
J&K Jamaat decries report about Masjid, Madrasas control
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/story/242377.html
India, China seek common ground on Afghanistan
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-china-seek-common-ground-on-afghanistan/article17379581.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi: Despite differences on a number of issues, including over NSG, UN designation of Masood Azhar as a terrorist, and the China-Pak Economic Corridor, India and China began to look for a “common ground” on Afghanistan during Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar’s visit to Beijing last week, official sources told The Hindu.Officials reportedly even discussed the possibility of “joint development projects” that could be undertaken despite economic rivalries between the two countries in other parts of the subcontinent.Foreign Secretary’s visit, which saw a restructured “Strategic Dialogue” with Chinese executive Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Yesui, also witnessed an effort by both sides to “stabilise India-China relations” at a time the world is experiencing a new “volatility,” a senior official said. thehindu
Data brokerage: All your personal data up for sale for less than a rupee
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/data-brokerage-all-your-personal-data-up-for-sale-for-less-than-a-rupee/articleshow/57385823.cms
Bengaluru/New Delhi: If data is the new oil, then there is a gigantic oil spill all around you. Your personal data — be it your residential address, your phone number, email id, details of what you bought online, age, marital status, income and profession — is all up for sale. Most of this personal data is sold for less than a rupee per person — the cost of a chewing gum.Over one month, ET approached companies called 'data brokers' — who hawk their services on online listings and sell personal information — posing as a prospective buyer. For anywhere between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, we were offered personal data of up to 1 lakh people in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi.The lists up for sale are creative and granular. One data broker said he could get lists of high net worth individuals, salaried people, credit card holders, car owners and retired women in any given vicinity.Some brokers sent free samples: excel sheets with personal data of people in Bengaluru, split by address and income profiles..ET /toi
Most ATMs in India use outdated tech, prone to fraud
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/most-atms-in-india-use-outdated-tech-prone-to-fraud-lack-basic-security-features/story-DExaNC904Ujo3B8397iMVI.html
3 of 5 ATMs in India use outdated technology and lack basic security features, making them prime targets for fake currency, banking experts say.Cash loaders don’t use the “one-time combination” (OTC) method –technology that is commonplace in developed countries – to operate most of these machines. Making things worse is the fact that most of the country’s 220,000 ATMs are not monitored by working CCTV.The poor security allows cash loaders to use the ATMs whenever they want, without any monitoring. This, experts say, indicates that crises such as the recovery of 5 fake Rs 2,000 notes carrying the “Children’s Bank of India” mark from a south Delhi ATM last week are disasters waiting to happen.“We have urged the banks several times to install OTC locking system at the ATMs so that monitoring improves, unfortunately most banks do not pay heed,” said NSG Rao, secretary of Cash Logistics Association. He said that banks had no data on whether the CCTVs installed in ATMs were in working condition.ATM security is under the spotlight after a string of cases of fake currency recovery from various parts of the country – some of the banknotes photocopied or high-quality replications – months after the govt introduced new Rs 2,000 notes after scrapping old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
Unions go ahead with bank strike, services suffer
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/unions-go-ahead-with-bank-strike-services-suffer/articleshow/57386864.cms
New Delhi: Branches of public banks remained either closed or non-operational on Tuesday as staffers and officers went ahead with their day-long strike pressing for various demands, including accountability of top executives in the wake of mounting bad loans.Services like cash deposits and withdrawal from branches and cheque clearances have been hit hard by the strike, which has been called under the aegis of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). "The strike has been forced on us because of adamant and insensitive attitude of the bank management and IBA. They even did not bother to talk on providing compensation for extra hours put in by bank staff during the demonetisation period," AIBEA general secretary CH Venkatachalam told PTI. UFBU is an umbrella body of 9 unions, but two of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh affiliates -- National Organisation of Bank Workers and the National Organisation of Bank Officers -- are not part of the stir.PTI
India Q3 GDP growth seen slowing to about 6% on demonetisation
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/india-q3-gdp-growth-seen-slowing-to-about-6-on-demonetisation/story-ps0YgZCqAJNdEGNreTocQK.html
The demonetisation drive may have slowed India’s economic growth to about 6% or lower during Oct-Dec.from 7.3% in Sept.quarter.While a Reuters poll of 30 economists forecast Q3 GDP growth at a 3-year low of 6.4%, some analysts fear a sharper slowdown to less than 6%.The actual number could be even lower given CSO numbers will not capture the output of small businesses immediately.An upward revision in 2015-16 GDP numbers will also have an adverse statistical base effect on Q3 numbers.“We are projecting the Q3 GDP growth at 5.8%. Some of manufacturing sectors including consumer goods, coupled with construction and trade has been impacted die to the demonetisation. We also have to factor in the upward revision in GDP numbers for 2015-16,” said Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economic advisor at the State Bank of India.HT
MP: ATM dispenses Rs 500 notes without serial numbers
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/madhya-pradesh-atm-dispenses-rs-500-currency-notes-without-serial-numbers-4547621/
New Delhi:Adding to the series of new bank notes with errors, an ATM in Damoh district in Madhya Pradesh has dispensed new Rs 500 notes without serial numbers. The police were informed and SBI ATM was sealed after 2 residents of the district had withdrawn two Rs 500 notes each and none of the notes bore serial numbers. There were 2 similar cases in Damoh last week. The bank told the complainants that it was not possible to exchange the notes immediately, and those facing the issue have to file a complaint with the bank.On Feb.22, an SBI ATM in South Delhi’s Sangam Vihar dispensed fake Rs 2,000 notes which read ‘Children bank of India’ instead of Reserve Bank of India and ‘Guaranteed by Children’s Govt’ instead of Guaranteed by Central Govt. indianexpress
Key NHRC post vacant as ministers campaign, SC told
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/key-nhrc-post-vacant-as-ministers-campaign-supreme-court-told/articleshow/57384118.cms
New Delhi:The govt told the Supreme Court on Monday that selection of an eminent person for a vacant NHRC post was delayed as key ministers were busy campaigning for the elections to five states.The SC had taken strong objection to the Centre's inability to find an eminent person to fill NHRC member's post that fell vacant in March 2014. It had asked the Centre in September last year to give details of the meetings held by the selection committee. Timesofindia
Ministry seeks ban on BBC correspondent, crew's entry into India for five years, revocation of visas
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/moef-recommends-ban-on-bbc-from-filming-in-tiger-reserves/article17381626.ece?homepage=true
WORLD
Muslim groups in Kansas solidarity- Advocacy wings echo Sunayana's view that Srinivas fell to hate crime
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170228/jsp/frontpage/story_138208.jsp#.WLUrUIF97IU
New Delhi: Muslim human rights advocacy groups in America have provided some of the loudest support for the calls from Srinivas Kuchibhotla's wife and friends to call the attack on the slain Indian avionics engineer a hate crime.Among them are the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil liberties group in the US, and the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an influential group that helped facilitate the Washington-Tehran thaw under the Barack Obama administration.Their support for Sunayana Dumala's description of her husband's killing as a "hate crime" comes at a time the Indian American community has been divided over President Trump's attempts at curtailing immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.Many South Asian human rights groups and Hindu American Foundation, an advocacy group for the religious community in the US, have criticised the immigration ban, now suspended by a federal court. But the Republican Hindu Coalition, led by Trump adviser and funder Shalabh Kumar, has supported Trump restrictions.The calls from bodies like the CAIR and the NIAC also come at a time the Indian govt 's diplomatic calculations have stopped it from publicly calling the attack a hate crime, despite privately airing concerns to US federal and state officials. telegraphindia
White House breaks silence on killing of Indian techie, says it's 'disturbing':TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/white-house-breaks-silence-on-killing-of-indian-techie-says-its-disturbing/articleshow/57387410.cms
New Delhi: After almost a whole week's silence, Donald Trump's White House today touched on the murder of an Indian techie in Kansas, only to say that "early reports out of Kansas are...disturbing."White House press secretary Sean Spicer made a passing reference to what many are calling a hate crime, while he was condemning attacks on Jewish community centres across the US."And while we're at it, I don't want to get ahead of the law enforcement, but I was asked the other day about the story in Kansas -- shooting in Kansas. And while the story is evolving, early reports out of Kansas are equally disturbing," Spicer said.Meanwhile, Indian Embassy in US has issued a demarche on the incident to the US Dept.and has called for a speedy investigation.ANI
Bernie Sanders: Israel needs to end its 50-year occupation
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/bernie-sanders-calls-ending-50-year-israeli-occupation-401081581
Democratic Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has called for an end to the “50-year occupation” of the Palestinian territory by Israel in a speech on Monday, saying that Washington should pursue policies that would ensure a “prosperous future for Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians alike”. Middleeasteye
Russia pledges to veto UN sanctions resolution on Syria
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/russia-pledges-to-veto-un-sanctions-resolution-on-syria/articleshow/57386880.cms
UN: Russia pledged to veto a Western-backed UN resolution Tuesday that would impose sanctions on 21 Syrian individuals, organizations and companies allegedly involved in chemical weapons attacks in the war-ravaged country.The draft Security Council resolution would also ban all countries from supplying Syria's govt with helicopters, which investigators have determined were used in chemical attacks.The resolution, initially sponsored by Britain and France, was recently joined by the new US administration of President Trump.AP
Syria opposition calls for Russian backing in Geneva
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/syria-opposition-calls-russian-support-geneva-170227204410453.html
Geneva, Switzerland - Syria's main opposition group has urged Russia to put pressure on the govt of President Bashar al-Assad to shore up faltering efforts to end the conflict.The rebels' comments on Monday at a fourth round of UN-backed talks in Geneva came as a ceasefire at home fell apart. High Negotiations Committee, the main opposition group at the UN-sponsored talks, said it expects to meet a Russian delegation on Tuesday in the Swiss city."We hope ... that we will see real, positive and constructive support to the political process," said lead opposition negotiator Nasr al-Hariri after holding talks with Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy for Syria. aljazeera
Chair of Russian Federation Council says demands for Assad to go are unacceptable
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170228-chair-of-russian-federation-council-says-demands-for-assad-to-go-are-unacceptable/
Chair of Russian Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, has called the demand for the immediate departure of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad “unacceptable”. The people of Syria, she insisted, should decide their own destiny through a democratic process. middleeastmonitor
Palestinian prisoners urged to boycott Israeli courts
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/02/palestinian-prisoners-urged-boycott-israeli-courts-170228052245774.html
Palestinian officials have called for a boycott of Israel's military court system after Nael Barghouti, a Palestinian freed in a prisoner exchange, was rearrested and sentenced to a life term plus 18 years. Palestinian Prisoners' Club director, Qadura Fares, told Al Jazeera that the military court system was discriminatory against Palestinians, citing 2 recent high-profile cases to pass through the courts." Aljazeera
Israel indicts Palestinian women for preventing settlers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170228-israel-indicts-palestinian-women-for-preventing-settlers-from-entering-al-aqsa-mosque/
Israeli Magistrate’s Court has indicted two Palestinian women, Sahar Al-Natsheh and Abeer Fawaz, on charges of preventing settlers from entering a “sacred place”. The women are both from Jerusalem.The incident in question happened in 2014 when the two women stood up to groups of Jewish settlers who stormed into Al-Aqsa Mosque and included Knesset member Shulamit Muallem of the extreme-right Jewish Home party.According to Qudsuna for Human Rights Foundation, the court regards Al-Aqsa Mosque as a holy place for Jews. In a press release, the foundation pointed out that the court had used Jewish religious terminology to bestow a Jewish character on the mosque. It warned against the use of such vocabulary and tools to Judaise the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa without any legal basis. middleeastmonitor
Israel renews administrative detention of Hamas official yet again
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170228-israel-renews-administrative-detention-of-hamas-official-yet-again/
Israeli occupation authorities renewed the administrative detention of a Hamas leader from Nablus on Monday, Quds Press has reported. This is the third consecutive time that Adnan Asfour has been kept behind bars by the Israelis with neither charge nor trial.Asfour’s family told Quds Press that the occupation authorities let his lawyer know of the decision to renew the administrative detention order for another four months. He had been scheduled to be released on 3 March before the renewal decision was announced. middleeastmonitor
UNRWA suspends senior employee after allegation of Hamas membership
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170228-unrwa-suspends-senior-employee-after-allegation-of-hamas-membership/
UN agency working with Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has announced that it has suspended a senior employee in Gaza due to allegations that he has joined Hamas, Safa news agency reported on Monday. According to UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness, Suhail Al-Hindi has been suspended “pending the outcome of an investigation” into the allegation.Safa said that the UN agency had “responded to Israeli correspondence” related to Al-Hindi, who is the chairman of the Association of Palestinian Workers of UNRWA in Gaza. Recent media reports claimed that he has been elected as a member of the Hamas political bureau in the coastal enclave. middleeastmonitor
Jailed Brotherhood spokesman disciplined for New York Times article
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170228-jailed-muslim-brotherhood-spokesman-put-in-disciplinary-cell-over-new-york-times-article-mother/
A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood has been moved to a disciplinary cell in Egypt’s notorious Al-Aqrab (Scorpion) Prison after writing an article for the New York Times. Gehad El-Haddad was arrested in Cairo in Sept., 2013, two months after the military coup against the Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, country’s first democratically-elected civilian president.Since Morsi’s overthrow, the Egyptian authorities have launched an unprecedented crackdown on the Islamic movement, listing it as a terrorist organisation and detaining hundreds of its leaders and members.Haddad is now serving two life sentences in Al-Aqrab Prison on charges including espionage. The prison has been criticised by local and international human rights organisations for its inhumane conditions.Last week, Haddad wrote an article for the New York Times: I Am a Member of the Brotherhood, Not a Terrorist. middleeastmonitor
Helmand: Taliban kill policemen and confiscate weapons
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/helmand-taliban-kill-policemen-confiscate-weapons-170228083738161.html
Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan attacked a checkpoint with firearms and hand grenades, killing 11 policemen and confiscating weapons and ammunition.But a provincial official said Tuesday's attack in Helmand province's capital Lashkar Gah could be an "insider attack" as one of the guards was still missing."An investigation is ongoing to find out if someone from inside has defected to the Taliban and paved the way for this crime," he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Jazeera group was responsible for the attack, saying it killed 11 policemen and "claimed the area and weapons".
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:59 PM)
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