Evening NEWS DIGEST
8 Feb.2017: 10 Jamadiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:111
INDIA
Delhi Legal Service Authority to train lawyers on Muslim personal law: india today
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/muslim-personal-law-muslim-delhi-legal-service-authority-training-for-lawyers/1/877488.html
New Delhi: Reports on lack of understanding of Muslim personal law and rising number of cases involving its use have prompted the Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA) to conduct training sessions for its empanelled lawyers. This is the first time that the Authority held any training session on Muslim personal law. Dharmesh Sharma, Member Secretary, DLSA, said,"As the number of cases pertaining to Muslim law are comparatively less, we realised that our lawyers were facing difficulties while dealing with them. As advocates do not have the requisite exposure to Muslim law, it was decided to hold a training session.""Muslim personal law has several provisions to provide remedies to a woman, but due to lack of understanding, they are not being used," he added. DLSA has so far conducted two training sessions with Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Najmi Waziri. During the sessions, participants were sensitised on the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Divorce) Act, cases related to inheritance of property by a woman, inter-religious marriage, law on maintenance, guardianship and adoption.Lawyer Chandra Shekhar Yadav said, "I keep dealing with various cases pertaining to Muslim law. However, every case seems to be a little complicated as they do not come under usual practice. One such case that came to me was of a man divorced under Muslim law who was being asked for the decree when the fact is that law has no mention of decree. We had to file a suit which was decided in 8 months."Several queries were raised primarily by family court lawyers at the training sessions, especially in matters of property dispute and divorce cases filed on the basis of cruelty. Lawyer Vikram Singh said, "I did not know that Muslim law has defined cruelty. If a woman is seeking divorce under Muslim law, the reasons cited before the court has to match the ones listed."With a surge in demand for lawyers with hands on experience in Muslim personal law, DLSA will also organise legal literacy camps, especially in Muslim-dominated areas.
SC to hear triple talaq case filed by Shayara Banu today
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/sc-to-hear-triple-talaq-case-filed-by-shayara-banu-117020800076_1.html
New Delhi: Supreme Court will today hear the athe triple talaq case filed by Shayara Banu.Bano stirred a hornet's nest after she moved the Supreme Court to challenge the triple talaq under Muslim personal law. She also wants to outlaw polygamy within a Muslim marriage.ANI
Allahabad HC dismisses plea on singing of national anthem in courts
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/hc-dismisses-plea-on-singing-of-national-anthem-in-courts/articleshow/57010217.cms
Lucknow: Declining to issue any directions for making singing of the national anthem in the high court and its subordinate courts mandatory, Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court has said that there is no law and, in fact, there has been no tradition of singing of the national anthem either inside courts or in its offices as a matter of daily routine either in this HC or any other of the country or even Supreme Court. "We dismiss this petition with the faith and hope that everybody concerned would continue to respect the national anthem as desired and as expected, but we find ourselves unable to issue any such compulsive direction by way of a mandate as prayed for in this writ petition", said a bench of Justice A P Sahi and Justice Sanjai Harkauli. HC issued the order on Friday, which it had reserved on Jan.25. The HC had, however, already said on the last date that it was setting aside the PIL, but it would issue a detailed order on Feb.3. PIL was moved by local lawyer SK Gupta seeking a direction to every court in the state to ensure singing of national anthem before work every morning. Delivering the verdict,bench observed,"Recital of a national anthem cannot be equated with such a divine prayer so as to compel its recital by the officials of a public institution as a routine exercise so as to instill any patriotism or sense of duty. In our opinion, the performance of a duty is more essential, as work is real worship. To respect the national anthem is to believe in it and believe in the true ideals of our Constitution. A performance of a daily singing of the national anthem in courts may not by itself be a reflection of Constitutional respect."TOI
RBI to raise weekly withdrawal limit for savings accounts to Rs 50,000 from Feb 20, no limit from March 13
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/reserve-bank-of-india-weekly-withdrawal-limit-banks-atm-demonetisation-remonetisation-4514031/
New Delhi: In a major relief to people across the country, RBI announced on Wednesday that the weekly withdrawal limit from savings account will be raised to Rs 50,000 from Feb.20, while adding there will be no limit from March 13 onward. RBI has last month retained the weekly withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 on savings bank accounts despite Election Commission asking it to relax the weekly limits for candidates contesting the Assembly elections in 5 states.“The limits on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts continue to be in place. In line with the pace of remonetisation, it has now been decided to remove these limits in two stages,” said RBI Deputy Governor R Gandhi.“Effective Feb.22, 2017, the limits from cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts will be enhanced to Rs 50,000 per week from the current limit of Rs 24,000 per week (and) effective March 13, 2017, there will be no limits prescribed by RBI on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts.” Meanwhile, RBI Governor Urjit Patel today cut the economic growth forecast to 6.9% for the current fiscal from 7.1 per cent estimated earlier, even as he said the economy will bounce back to 7.4 per cent rate next fiscal. The central bank also kept key interest rates unchanged saying it wants to assess how the transitory effects of demonetisation on inflation and the output gap play out. indianexpress
From Feb. 20 to March 12, you can withdraw ₹50,000 a week
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/From-Feb.-20-to-March-12-you-can-withdraw-%E2%82%B950000-a-week/article17245938.ece?homepage=true
RBI keeps lending rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/rbi-keeps-lending-rate-unchanged-at-6-25-per-cent-4514284/
ASSEBLY POLLS & POLITICS
With Jat-Muslim unity, Thana Bhawan rises above Shamli’s shame for UP polls: The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-2017/With-Jat-Muslim-unity-Thana-Bhawan-rises-above-Shamli%E2%80%99s-shame/article17245334.ece
Thana Bhawan: “Every time there is a test/We have always sacrificed our lives/Abdul Hameed wrote the history of Hindustan with his blood,” Ghayas Khan recites a poem to a gathering of over 200 people, mostly Jats, in a dimly lit courtyard of Hatthi Karonda, a Jat-majority village in the Thana Bhawan constituency of the riot-affected Shamli district in western UP.After Khan comes Sudhir Panwar, the Jat candidate of Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance in Thana Bhawan, to address the gathering that had waited for two hours to listen to him.“Look, I left the comfort of academia because I want to begin a new kind of politics that does not involve killing each other, which is about Jats and Muslims and everyone together, and which is defined by development and not communal politics as it is by the sitting MLA,” he said to cheers and claps.Jats and Muslims sitting together and talking about the pre-riots unity between their communities is a picture that was difficult to imagine in the immediate aftermath of the Muzaffarnagar riots, but is now indicative of the changing political fault lines and shifting loyalties. It’s being seen for the first time in the past three years in the riot-affected region.
UP polls: Will Dalits abandon BSP for BJP in UP polls? Iftikhar Gilani spl story
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-up-elections-2017-will-dalits-abandon-bsp-for-bjp-in-up-polls-2314328
Bijnor: In the early hours of the morning, a little away from the Bijnor-Moradabad national highway, braving cold a group of RSS 'pracharakas' — after their routine morning exercise — are engaged in an animated discussion with inhabitants of a Dalit locality of Behairpur village in Hafizabad block.Armed with pamphlets reading — "Voters should vote for those who work for national interest the pracharakas are trying to convince village headman Om Prakash Valmiki to lead his community to vote for the BJP and PM Modi once again, as they did in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.They are also reminding Valmiki that it was Modi last year, who announced the provision of loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore for setting up new enterprises for SC/ST entrepreneurs. 'Pracharak' then tries to explain the virtues of the just launched digital payment app BHIM —Bharat Interface for Money — named after Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar to highlight the central govt's love for the welfare of Dalits. But Valmiki directs a pointed question to him. "During the last Lok Sabha polls we were promised that to return for our support to Modi, all upper castes would vote with us in the assembly to anoint Behenjji as chief minister," he replies. DNA India
Govt raising triple talaq issue to woo Muslim women voters: Woman group AIMWPLB
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-govt-raising-triple-talaq-issue-to-woo-muslim-women-voters-aimwplb-2313482
A woman group, All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) on Monday dubbed Central Govt's stand to ban triple talaq as a ?vote bank politics?, saying the issue is brought to notice to woo the Muslim women voters ahead of the assembly elections. AIMWPLB chief Shaista Amber however appealed to all the political leaders not to bring the triple talaq matter in their election manifesto. Dnaindia
Triple talaq: EC should take action against BJP, demands Shaista Amber
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/uttar-pradesh/news/triple-talaq-ec-should-take-action-against-bjp-says-aimwplb/articleshow/57026404.cms
Cong demands action against BJP over triple talaq,temple issues
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-cong-demands-action-agnst-bjp-over-triple-talaqtemple-issues-2316175
No winnable BJP Muslim leader in UP: BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain
http://indianexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/no-winnable-bjp-muslim-leader-in-up-shahnawaz-hussain-4512743/
Mathura:BJP has not put up any Muslim candidate in UP as none of them were found winnable, party leader Shahnawaz Hussain has said. Asked why no Muslim candidate has been given ticket in UP for the elections, he said this time the party did not have a Muslim leader who can be considered a winning candidate. BJP national spokesperson said the central election committee of the party, of which he is a member, takes a decision on ticket distribution to candidates.PTI
Malegaon blast accused Upadhyay cites noteban, says difficult to pay police team
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/terror-accused-cites-noteban-says-difficult-to-pay-police-team-4513200/
Mumbai: Major (Retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, an accused in Malegaon blasts case, has cited demonetisation as a ground for his inability to pay the police accompanying him to UP. Upadhyay, lodged at Taloja central prison in Navi Mumbai, has been granted permission by a special court in Mumbai to contest in the upcoming UP state elections. On Saturday, the court directed the Taloja superintendent to take Upadhyay to his constituency in UP for campaigning under the custody of a police escort party for not more than 3 weeks. Though Upadhyay had sought for the charges of the escort party to be waived off completely or for a part-payment in advance, it was rejected by the court. Indianexpress
AMU Students' Union Prez rallies behind BSP, says SP has let down the Muslims
http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/amu-students-union-prez-rallies-behind-bsp-says-sp-has-let-down-the-muslims-1486557694.html
AMU has always played a significant role in determining who the Muslims of Aligarh will vote for. And this time, the university has decided to rally its forces behind Mayawati's BSP instead of the Samajwadi Party. This major shift in political support is due to many factors, explains AMU Student Union president Faizul Hasan. Faizul Hasan said, "We supported the Samajwadi Party during the last Vidhan Sabha elections in 2012 because we felt that the party had many clauses in support of Muslims in their manifesto. But in the last 5 years, Muslims in UP have been let down." catchnews
Split in Muslim votes may work as advantage BJP
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/57036021.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Rajya Sabha: Fiery PM Modi blasts Indira Gandhi, Manmohan, passionately defends demonetization
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-live-narenda-modi-in-rajya-sabha-demonetization-will-help-honest-people-congress-didn-t-have-guts-to-implement-it-2316342
PM Modi is speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, replying to thanks motion on President's Address to the Parliament. His primary focus in the initial parts of the speech is about demonetization.Modi said, " I can't deny that inconvenience was a bad thing, that it caused convenience, and that's why the fight against black money isn't political. It's not to oppose anyone, it's not the cause to fight against political. it's our duty to fight against black money. It's also true that the parallel economy is hurting the poor the most. It takes away things from the poor. It's not like no one tried before. The endgame is to fight black money. We can't shove it under the carpet. Jaali note, aankre is just about jaali note reaching banks, it never reached banks before and terrorists, naxalist, use the black notes."DNA
Sasikala herds MLAs, Panneerselvam claims they will back him
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sasikala-herds-mlas-panneerselvam-claims-they-will-back-him-4514281/
Chennai:AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala Wednesday appeared to be having majority of MLAs with her, a day after the revolt by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam who claimed that they will back him in the trial of strength in Tamil Nadu Assembly.However, her wait to get sworn-in as chief minister was far from ending with Governor Vidyasagar Rao still staying put in Mumbai and giving no indication of his plans to come here. After the midnight rebellion, Sasikala called a meeting of party MLAs at the party headquarters in a show of strength this morning and later herded them in buses to undisclosed destination in a bid to keep the flock together.There were unconfirmed reports that AIADMK would even parade the MLAs before the President if the Governor delays the swearing-in of Sasikala. In an act of defiance, Panneerselvam said an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court judge will be set up to probe the “doubts” surrounding the health condition and demise of Jayalalithaa.PTI
Judicial inquiry will be ordered into Jayalalithaa's death: Panneerselvam
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Judicial-inquiry-will-be-ordered-into-Jayalalithaas-death-Panneerselvam/article17245711.ece?homepage=true
AIADMK MLAs out of bounds amid speculation of ‘poaching’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/I-was-forced-to-resign-Chief-Minister-O.-Panneerselvams-revolt-against-party-leadership/article17242766.ece?homepage=true
Sasikala calls Panneerselvam a liar, says his interactions with Stalin destroyed meaning of Amma’s sacrifice
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/sasikala-calls-panneerselvam-a-liar-says-his-interactions-with-stalin-destroyed-meaning-of-ammas-sacrifice/articleshow/57039217.cms
AIADMK crisis: Panneerselvam colluded with the party which Amma fought against, says Sasikala
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aiadmk-crisis-live-updates-panneerselvam-sasikala-jayalalithaa-governor-vidyasagar-rao-4513572/
Support to Panneerselvam was issue-based: DMK
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/support-to-o-panneerselvam-was-issue-based-dmk-mk-stalin-4514225/
Refuting AIADMK’s allegation that it was aiding Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in his revolt against his party’s leadership, DMK today said its support to him was issue-based. “We had never extended our support to Chief Minister Panneerselvam. We supported the Panneerselvam-led government on certain people’s issues, on certain policies and Bills,” DMK working president M K Stalin said.PTI
Ruckus in West Bengal Assembly, Congress MLA Abdul Mannan badly injured
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ruckus-in-west-bengal-assembly-congress-mla-abdul-mannan-badly-injured/
New Delhi: Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan was badly injured in a ruckus over Property Damage Bill in West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday. He was rushed to the nearest hospital where he is undergoing treatment. The ruckus took place after the Opposition demanded more amendments in the bill. indianexpress
OTHERS
At BHU, boys can have non-veg food but not girls
http://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/2017/02/07/at-bhu-boys-can-have-non-veg-food-but-not-girls-vc-girish-chandra-tripathi-rss-exposed-jdu-ali-anwar-ansari
Non-vegetarian food is not allowed in the girls’ hostels at Banaras Hindu University, a central university, while there are no such restrictions for boys, said JD(U) Member of the Rajya Sabha, Ali Anwar Ansari during Zero Hour on Monday. The issue was raised during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Monday with no response from the Govt. There was no response from the Treasury benches even as the MP listed several indiscretions of the VC. MP drew attention of the HRD Ministry and sought the Government’s intervention while citing some of them. He cites "Prospectus of the BHU holds out the promise of a 24-hour cyber library. But a year ago VC stopped the library from functioning at night. Some students sat on a dharna in protest and 9 of them, most of them Dalits, OBCs and from minority communities, were expelled from the college. Besides the bar on non-veg food, girls at BHU are being prevented from using mobile phones after 9 pm. They are also subjected to curfew hours and asked to report to their hostels before 8 pm. Students are being forced to submit an affidavit at the time of admission and commit that they would not take part in any protest or agitation in the campus."National Herald india
Muslims banned in University of Hyderabad, security officials defend ban: Siasat report
http://www.siasat.com/news/muslims-banned-university-hyderabad-security-officials-defend-ban-1126862/
Hyderabad: Entry of Muslims has been banned on the campus of University of Hyderabad. It was revealed when a student of HCU, Zunaira recorded her complaint with the registrar of the university. When Chief Security Officer, TV Rao contacted, he confirmed it and said that a decision has been taken to ban the entry of the Muslims on the campus of the university. He gave the reason that there was a news that the students wanted to convene a meeting against the statement made by US President, Donald Trump. However, no permission has been given for such a meeting.A student of MANUU arrived at HCU campus to deliver medicines to one of his companions but he was not allowed to enter the campus. He showed his identity card and said that he is a student but he was refused entry. The security officer of the campus told that large number of Muslims are visiting the university. They may create problem. It was therefore decided not to allow any Muslims on campus.
Karnataka: Burqa, saffron shawls to coexist Shivamogga College
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2017/feb/08/burqa-saffron-shawls-to-coexist-at-sahyadri-college-1568280.html
Shivamogga: After tension for 5 days over dress code, classes resumed in Sahyadri Arts and Commerce and Science Colleges on Tuesday amid tight police security. After 2 days of protest by students against wearing burka despite there being a proper dress code, the college administration had declared three days of holiday till Monday. After a discussion with the district administration, police, university and student representatives, the college allowed the students to wear burka and saffron shawls with the uniform. On Tuesday, the classes started as usual amid tight police security. Muslim girls came to college wearing burqa while some students wore saffron shawls. In order to avoid outsiders from entering college premises, students who have the identity cards were only allowed inside the college campus.To identify the illegal activities inside the college campus, college admin.has installed additional CCTV cameras. ASP Vincent Shantakumar, DySP Manjunath Shetty and other officers beefed up the security arrangements to avoid any untoward incidents. IGP (Eastern Range) MA Saleem visited the college and took stock of the situation.Meanwhile, the police have served a notice to the college administration to implement the dress code strictly to ensure law and order situation in the college and avoid the entry of outsiders into the college campus. Dress code to continue College principal said that based on the request of the students in the meeting held with the district administration and police department, it was decided to continue the uniform and allow students to wear burka and saffron shawls over the uniforms. newindianexpress
Telangana: Jamat-e-Islami Hind demands NEET in Urdu, other regional languages
http://www.siasat.com/news/jamat-e-islami-hind-wants-neet-urdu-regional-languages-1126712/
Hamid Mohammad Khan, head, Jamat-e-Islami Hind, Telangana and Odisha zone, has demanded that NEET-2017 be conducted in Urdu and other regional languages. Khan questioned the authority of CBSE for not allowing students of Urdu and other mediums in the NEET examination though there are 22 scheduled languages incorporated in the Constitution. “It is strange to know that because of the inability of the CBSE to conduct the NEET, it has excluded some of the important languages like Urdu, Malayalam and Punjabi this year”, he deplored. Siasat
UP:Seeking justice for Najeeb, hundreds protest
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/seeking-justice-for-najeeb-hundreds-take-out-protest-march-in-badaun
Badaun: Hundreds of people on Wednesday took out a protest march from missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed's home to the office of District Magistrate. Led by Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees, marchers, who included students from JNU and AMU and members of SIO, were demanding justice for Najeeb who mysteriously disappeared from his JNU hostel room in Delhi in Oct last year, a day after his scuffle with some members of ABVP. Addressing the gathering outside the DM office, Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees said: "I got this courage to fight for Najeeb from the students of JNU. This march is not just for Najeeb; this is for all. Najeeb is the son of India."Several present and former student leaders from JNU had gone to Badaun to attend the protest march. indiatomorrow
JNU rejects reports of reduction in academic intake
http://www.ndtv.com/education/jnu-rejects-media-reports-about-reduction-in-academic-intake-1657366
New Delhi: JNU today rubbished media reports about a massive cut in admission intake. The University on Wednesday asserted that there is no reduction in academic seats in any school or department of the premier education institution. The announcement comes amidst several media reports which claimed that the university had reduced number of seats in various Schools and Departments at JNU. Official announcement has been made to dissipate any doubts about the number of available seats at the University. According to the media reports doing the rounds, the university had supposedly made cuts to the available seats for M.Phil. and PhD courses. The media reports also claimed that the university had decided to scrape admission in certain departments for the upcoming academic session. NDTV
JNU students up ante, over 3,000 turn up for ‘referendum’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/jnu-students-up-ante-over-3k-turn-up-for-referendum/articleshow/57028111.cms
SC bench invokes contempt proceedings against sitting HC judge for 1st time
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/for-the-1st-time-sc-bench-invokes-contempt-proceedings-against-sitting-hc-judge-4513601/
Delhi: For the first time in judicial history of this country, the Supreme Court Wednesday issued a notice of contempt to a high court judge for writing letters, levelling allegations of corruption against several sitting and retired apex court and high court judges. A bench comprising the seven senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India, also directed Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan to remain present in court on Feb. 13 to respond to the contempt notice. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar, further ordered for withdrawal of all judicial and administrative works from Justice Karnan and asked him to return all files in his possession to the Registrar General of the High Court. During the hearing, the bench said that it was a matter of “vital importance” since for the first time, the apex court was issuing contempt notice to a sitting high court judge. “We have to be very careful. We will seek the assistance of the Bar to know how we should proceed,” said the bench. indianexpress
In a first, SC slaps contempt charge on sitting SC judge
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/in-a-first-supreme-court-slaps-contempt-charge-on-sitting-high-court-judge/articleshow/57029949.cms
BSF Jawan’s video: Family to file habeas corpus petition as Tej Bahadur ‘goes missing’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bsf-jawan-video-family-to-file-habeas-corpus-petition-as-tej-bahadur-goes-missing-4514074/
Ahmedaba/new Delhi:The family of BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, whose video complaining of poor quality of food being served to the jawans went viral, will soon file a habeas corpus petition as they have no information of his wheareabouts. Yadav’s brother-in-law Vijay said the family is trying to contact him and even wrote two letters to the BSF, but has not got any reply. “Yadav last spoke to his wife and said that the BSF officials are taking him to an unknown location. But couldn’t speak further. We have sent two letters to the DIG, but have not got any response so far,” said Vijay.Indian Express
China defends blocking US’ proposal to impose UN ban on Masood
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/masood-azhar-ban-united-nations-india-pakistan-4514236/
Beijing:China on Wednesday defended its decision to block US’ proposal in UN for Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, saying the “conditions” have not yet been met for Beijing to back the move. Replying to a spate of questions on China putting a technical hold for the third time on attempts to list Azhar as a global terrorist, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here that Beijing resorted to this move to allow the “relevant parties” to reach a consensus. “Last year 1,267 Committee of UNSC discussed the issue regarding listing Masood (Azhar) in the sanctions list. There were different views with no consensus reached,” Lu said.PTI
Flip-flops, twists and NIA-ATS showdown plague 2008 Malegaon blasts case: HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/flip-flops-twists-and-nia-ats-showdown-plague-2008-malegaon-blasts-case/story-2iidkVdT0QH7qFmrFxUWpO.html
Mumbai:Besides ceaseless twists and turns, the strained ties between the Maharashtra ATS and NIA have dubiously characterised and, to some extent, derailed the 2008 Malegaon blasts case.NIA denounced almost all ATS claims in the court, saying that the witness statements were extracted under duress or the evidence was not admissible.Another point of contention between the two was the applicability of charges under the MCOCA. ATS pursued the case with the stringent MCOCA charges while the NIA dropped them and exonerated Pragya Singh Thakur and five others.ATS’ silence in the last two hearing before the Bombay high court has perplexed many, especially at a time when the NIA accused it of having coerced and manipulated witnesses. When asked by the court to clarify its stand over Thakur’s bail in the last hearing, the ATS said since the “probe had been taken over by the NIA and it was for the NIA to oppose… her plea”.Earlier this week, the Bombay high court asked the trial court to share audio and video recordings — 11 CDs, 2 DVDs and phone calls — of conversations or meetings among those charged in the case. These tapes, the court observed, “can be crucial evidence to establish” Thakur’s role. Strangely, ATS no longer ‘remembers’ which tapes it had submitted before the trial court.Besides the confessional statements that ATS relied upon were later rendered inadmissible. Revelation by ex NIA prosecutor that she was asked to go slow in the case also cast shadow.HT
Panel on Haj policy may submit report in 3 months:Govt
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/panel-on-haj-policy-likely-to-submit-report-in-three-months-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-4513923/
New Delhi:A 6-member committee set up to look into ways for improving Haj policy is expected to submit its report in two to three months, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Wednesday. The panel is to give a report on ways to improve Haj policy and also look into issue of subsidy for the pilgrimage in light of 2012 Supreme Court order on gradually reducing and abolishing it by 2022.PTI
Trying to flee gaurakshaks, men enter NSG premises
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/trying-to-flee-gaurakshaks-men-enter-nsg-premises-4513073/
Gurgaon: 2 cases have been registered against 3 unknown men at 2 separate police stations in Gurgaon, after they scaled the boundary wall of NSG premises in an attempt to escape from gaurakshaks who were on their heels. According to police, the incident took place at 8.30pm, when gaurakshaks posted near NSG spotted a Tata car coming from Tauru, and signalled for it to stop. The passengers in the car, however, increased the speed of the vehicle and sped past gaurakshaks, before abandoning the vehicle in a deserted field nearby and escaping on foot.“In their hurry to escape, they seem to have scaled a boundary wall of the NSG and entered its premises. However, when a guard posted in the area spotted them, they fired some shots in the air before fleeing the scene,” said ASI Suresh Kumar, IO of one of the two cases. indian express
Delhi Police planning tectonic shift in phone tapping:TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-police-planning-tectonic-shift-in-phone-tapping/articleshow/57036341.cms
In a major revamp of the way it eavesdrops on phone chatter, Special Cell of Delhi Police, which primarily deals terror cases, is enhancing its call interception system. Officers have confirmed that the highly secretive project is being executed on a priority and the force is in the final stages of the process to procure advanced law enforcement monitoring facilities.
Centre shuts health mission gate on Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/centre-shuts-gate-on-bill-melinda-gates-foundation/articleshow/57028697.cms?from=mdr
New Delhi: Centre has shut the gate on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on a critical national health mission, and possible conflict of interest issues arising from foundation’s “ties” with pharmaceutical companies is one of the reasons. All financial ties of the country’s apex immunisation advisory body, NTAGI, with the Gates Foundation have been cut off. NTAGI Secretariat will be now fully funded by the central government, the health ministry confirmed to ET.economic times
WORLD
Syrian grand mufti 'given power to approve thousands of executions'
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/senior-syrian-cleric-approved-execution-thousands-syrian-prison-1552206366
Syria's grand mufti, who toured Europe last year and addressed Irish MPs, has been exposed as one of three men who signed execution orders for thousands of political prisoners in a Syrian jail, a human rights investigation has said. According to a report by Amnesty International, Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun was deputised by President Bashar al-Assad to approve the execution of up to 13,000 inmates in Saydnaya prisoner over the last 5 years. Hassoun, highest Islamic authority in Syria, addressed the Irish parliament's foreign affairs committee last year after he was allowed entry into Ireland as part of a religious delegation urging the EU to reduce sanctions imposed on the Syrian govt.His entry to Ireland came as a surprise after the mufti had previously said that he would "train suicide bombers" to launch attacks in Europe and US if the west launch air strikes on "Syria and Lebanon". Hassoun has been a staunch supporter of the Syrian government since the start of the civil war and has been pictured on numerous occasions with Assad. Dr Ali Selim, who is a senior member of Islamic Cultural Centre in Ireland, said that Hassoun's involvement in approving the executions of political opponents "gives legal justification for all the crimes perpetrated in Syria"."The killers are not only the people who carry guns but also everyone contributing to the process.Mufti of Syria takes full responsibility for every incident of murder in Syria," Selim told MEE. The Irish foreign affairs office told MEE that it did not invite Hassoun to speak and that the decision was made by a private committee.Middle East Eye
Land grab law 'allows theft, stalls peace process'
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/israel-land-grab-law-ends-hope-state-solution-170207143602924.html
An Israeli land grab law that retroactively legalises thousands of settlement homes in the occupied West Bank legitimises theft, violates international law and ends the prospect of a two-state solution, according to politicians, legal experts and human rights groups.The so-called "Regulation Bill" drew immediate condemnation after it was voted in by members of the Knesset late on Monday with a 60 to 52 majority.The law applies to about 4,000 settlement homes in the West Bank for which settlers could prove ignorance that they had built on privately owned Palestinian land and had received encouragement from the Israeli state to do so. aljazeera
Germany Bashes Israel: Land-grab law deeply shakes our faith in Israel's commitment to peace
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.770428
Germany severely condemned a new Israeli law which enables expropriation of private Palestinian land on Wednesday, saying that that the law's enactment by the Knesset on Monday has shaken Germany's faith in Israel's commitment to peace. "Many in Germany who stand by Israel and feel great commitment toward it find themselves deeply disappointed by this move,"German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.haaretz
Caught on cam: Israeli minister uses onion to fake crying to lament Rabbi's death
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/israeli-minister-onion-fake-crying-viral-video/1/876702.html
New Delhi:Onions, when cut, are known to cause stinging sensation in the eyes of people around and induce tears. Often, the technique is used by husbands to fool wives, but an Israeli minister used the vegetable to fake tears for a news channel. Israel's Interior Minister Ayre Deri was seen rubbing onions in his eyes before venturing into a full-fledged drama of faking crying. He was trying to express his grief in the passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in 2015, but the video was uploaded on YouTube only a couple of days back. indiatoday
Trump ban: Tough questions in US appeals court hearing
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38902650
A US appeals court has posed tough questions at those challenging and defending Trump's controversial travel ban. Ban order for all refugees and visitors from Muslim nations, until it was halted last week.3-judge panel raised questions over the limits on the president's power and Trump's evidence to link 7 countries to terrorism. But it also asked whether the measure could be considered anti-Muslim.bbc
Court: Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ promise is ‘evidence’ against executive order
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/8/court-donald-trumps-muslim-ban-promise-evidence-ag/?
Over 650,000 people have joined a campaign to impeach President Trump
http://time.com/4662800/campaign-impeach-president-donald-trump/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook
A campaign to impeach President Donald Trump now has more than 650,000 signatures. The online petition, which is spearheaded by two nonprofit advocacy groups, Free Speech for People and RootsAction, was created the day of President Trump's inauguration, Jan.20. The campaign said that as of noon on Feb. 7, its petition had 655,363 signatures. Trump has issued a number of controversial executive orders, including an immigration ban against people from Muslim- countries that was temporarily blocked by a federal judge.Time
Trump makes false statement about US murder rate to sheriffs’ group: washingtonpost
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/02/07/trump-makes-false-statement-about-u-s-murder-rate-to-sheriffs-group/?utm_term=.8739b1324e1d
President Trump met Tuesday with a group of sheriffs from National Sheriffs Association, a group that consists of more than 3,000 sheriffs from around the country. And to this sworn group of law enforcement veterans, with reporters taking notes, he again repeated a falsehood about the murder rate in America. Trump told the sheriffs, “murder rate in our country is the highest it’s been in 47 years.” He blamed the news media for not publicizing this development, then added, “But the murder rate is the highest it’s been in, I guess, 45 to 47 years.”
UK: Man ‘kicked pregnant Muslim woman in the stomach causing her to lose unborn twins’
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2800271/man-kicked-pregnant-muslim-woman-in-the-stomach-causing-her-to-lose-unborn-twins/
A man was charged today charged over a race attack on a pregnant woman who later lost her unborn twin babies. David Gallacher, 37, is accused of assaulting the mum-to-be by kicking her in the stomach as she walked close to a mosque. He also allegedly attacked a man who tried to intervene during the incident in Milton Keynes, Bucks., last August. The unnamed woman, who is a mum-of-four, was forced to flee her home in fear as a result of the assault. Her 40-year-old husband also had to give up his job as a taxi driver to stay home and reassure his traumatised wife. Gallacher was today charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, assault by beating and two counts of racially/religiously aggravated assault. He has also been charged with three counts of assaulting a constable as they arrested a man in a separate incident on Sept.14 last year. The sun UK
Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders posts fake photo of rival with 'Shariah for Netherlands' message
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-dutch-anti-islam-mp-geert-wilders-posts-fake-photo-of-rival-with-shariah-for-netherlands-message-2314247
Dutch anti-Islam MP Wilders triggered a row over fake news with a biting Twitter message showing a photo-shopped picture of another party leader surrounded by radical Islamists. Some 5 weeks ahead of key elections in The Netherlands, Wilders posted the fake picture of D66 leader Alexander Pechthold supposedly rallying with Muslims holding up signs reading: "Islam will conquer Europe" and "Shariah for Netherlands."PTI
Putin orders air force to prepare for 'time of war'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-russian-air-force-russia-war-tass-snap-check-sergey-shoigu-a7566761.html?cmpid=facebook-post
Russia's air force has been ordered to prepare for a "time of war". President Vladimir Putin has ordered a "snap check" of the country's armed forces, accoording to defense minister Sergey Shoigu. As well as checking whether agencies and troops are ready for battle, the same order will ensure that systems are ready to fight, according to state news agency TASS. Those preparations have already begun, according to Russian ministers."In accordance with the decision by the Armed Forces Supreme Commander, a snap check of the Aerospace Forces began to evaluate readiness of the control agencies and troops to carry out combat training tasks," he said, according to TASS. Independent
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:30 PM)
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