Evening NEWS DIGEST
24 April 2017: 26 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:173
INDIA
Only way out of Kashmir crisis is to resume dialogue process initiated by Vajpayee: Mehbooba Mufti
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-cm-mehbooba-mufti-meets-with-pm-narendra-modi-4625877/
New Delhi: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti met PM Narendra Modi on Monday at his residence and briefed him about the deteriorating security situation in the state. PDP chief is on a visit to New Delhi to meet with Govt functionaries over the Kashmir crisis. Speaking to media after the meeting, Mufti stressed on the need for a discussion with the parties concerned to improve the situation in the state. “It is important to hold talks at the latest…There is a need for conducive atmosphere for talks, and for governance,” J&K CM said.Mufti said she also discussed the low voting percentage in the Srinagar bypolls with PM Modi. “I discussed the issue of less voting percentage in recent elections, and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with PM Modi,” she said, according to news agency ANI. PDP leader said she also raised the issue of control over water resources in the state. “I pressed that J&K doesn’t have control over water resources, and how losses caused by Indus Waters Treaty can be compensated,” she said.Mufti said PM Modi has assured her that he would follow the policies laid down by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to resolve the Kashmir issue. “Modi ji has repeatedly said he would follow in Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s footsteps, whose policy is of reconciliation not confrontation,” she said, according to ANI. CM, too, reiterated that the only way out of the crisis was to resume the dialogue process initiated by Vajpayee.PDP leader also met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today at his residence.indianexpress
‘Centre should seriously think about welfare of J&K’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mehbooba-meets-modi-rajnath-over-kashmir-situation/article18198879.ece?homepage=true
Students protest again in Srinagar, raise 'Azadi' slogans
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/students-protest-again-in-srinagar-raise-azadi-slogans/articleshow/58342143.cms
New Delhi: Massive clashes erupted in Srinagar's Lal Chowk area on Monday after students from three adjacent educational institutions staged a protest and resorted to stone pelting.According to the police, the students of SP College, Govt College for Women and SP Higher Secondary school assembled on the Maulana Azad Road and clashed with the security personnels on duty. "At least six students have been detained to foil the clashes," a senior police official said, adding, "Scores of girl students participated in the protest."The girls also raised pro-freedom slogans, he said.The forces fired tear smoke shells on the stone pelting students resulting in chaos in the city center.Meanwhile, three photojournalist, Basit Zargar, Habib Naqash and Danish Ismail were among the injured during clashes outside SP school.The colleges opened in Kashmir valley today after remaining closed for a week following protests across Kashmir against the police action on Govt Degree College Pulwama on April 15.Over fifty students were injured in clashes with security forces in Pulwama college, as security forces fired tear gas and pellets to disperse angry students.The students were protesting against alleged highhandedness of security forces outside govt-run degree college in Pulwama. timesofindia
After threats, Kashmiri scholar says won’t return to BITS-Pilani
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-threats-kashmiri-researcher-rules-out-return-to-bits-pilani-4625589/
Chandigarh: Hashim Sofi spent only 20 days on the campus of Birla Institute of Technology & Science(BITS), Pilani after joining as a research fellow in the pharmacy department. Today, the 27-year-old from north Kashmir’s Bandipora is back home, saying he doesn’t want to return following alleged death threats and harassment at the hands of unidentified people in the college hostel on Friday. Hashim, who reached his home in Bandipora on Saturday, told The Indian Express over phone that on Friday morning he discovered threats and hate messages on the door of his hostel room. “I immediately informed the hostel superintendent and asked him to look into it. There were very unfortunate words…that had been written…,” he said.Although the faculty assured Hashim of an investigation into the hate messages, his harassment did not end with the messages on the door. “It was a double shock for me when I saw that even my clothes that I had left in the balcony after washing had words like ‘anti-national Kashmiri’ written on them. This was about 30 minutes after I had read the messages on the door.” indianexpress
J&K: PDP leader Abdul Gani Dar shot dead
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-pdps-pulwama-leader-abdul-gani-dar-shot-at-says-police/
New Delhi: PDP’s Pulwama district president Abdul Gani Dar was shot dead in a suspected militant attack Monday. Dar, who reportedly took bullets on his chest, was first taken to a local hospital and then moved to a Srinagar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. PDP leader is said to be on his way in to Srinagar when his car was waylaid.The attack on the PDP leader comes hours after J&K CM and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti met PM Narendra Modi as well as Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the unrest in the Valley. Mufti stressed on holding talks even as she underlined a dialogue process with all stakeholders was not possible amid stone-pelting and firing of bullets. She, however, claimed that the situation in the Valley will be brought under control in 2-3 months. Indianexpress
Chhattisgarh: Maoists kill 26 CRPF men in encounter
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/04/24/11-crpf-personnel-killed-in-encounter-with-naxals-in-chhattisgar_a_22053092/
Sukma (Chhattisgarh): 26 CRPF personnel were killed and seven others injured in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma area, sources said.7 injured CRPF personnel have been shifted to a hospital in Raipur in critical condition, while according to sources, seven soldiers are still unaccounted for. Rescue operations are underway.As many as 90 CRPF jawans of the 74th Battalion were a part of road opening party when they were attacked by Naxals. Their weapons were also looted. huffingtonpost
Suspected Maoist rebels kill 24 soldiers
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/chhattisgarh-suspected-maoist-rebels-kill-12-soldiers-170424124924656.html
Turkish President Erdogan to visit Jamia
http://www.okhlatimes.com/turkish-president-erdogan-jamia/11340/
Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Jamia Millia Islamia soon, according to sources. It is understood that during his 2-day visit to India, Erdogan is to come to Jamia also where he is to be honoured. According to a daily report, his tour is to begin from April 30.During his visit, India and Turkey are going to explore ways to strengthen anti-terror cooperation, deepen trade and investment ties.“President of Turkey is to visit the campus. And the university is to give him Honorary doctorate degree,” said Dr Mohsin Ali, coordinator and founder member of Department of Trukish language and literature.Hurriyet Daily News reported: “Erdogan will participate in Turkey-India Business Forum and will hold political talks with Indian leaders, particularly President Pranab Mukherjee. The agenda during the meeting is expected to be dominated by an improvement of bilateral economic and trade ties.” Okhlatimes
PERSONAL LAW RELATED ISSUES
Triple talaq ‘undesirable’; those practising it should be boycotted, says Mohammed Jafar at Jamait-e-Islami Hind MP meet
http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-triple-talaq-undesirable-those-practising-it-should-be-boycotted/1056614
Bhopal: Triple talaq is a ‘non-desirable’ form of divorce in Islam and those practising it should be socially boycotted. There is a need for social reform among the Muslims and the Jamait-e-Islami Hind Madhya Pradesh would soon launch a Muslim Personal Law Awareness Campaign in the state.During this 15-day-long campaign beginning April 23, the Jamait intends to contact at least 20 lakh people in big and small towns through public meetings and other means.Announcing this at a press conference here on Sunday,Maulana Mohammed Jafar, convener of the Jamait Islami Hind’s awareness campaign, Hamid Baig, president of the state unit of the Jamait and Mahnaz Ismail , state president of its women’s wing said a majority of Muslims were ignorant of the Islamic family law and that was at the root of most of the problems.Maulana Jafar said Muslims should keep the teaching of Allah and his Rasool in mind while taking decisions in family matters. He said the debate in the media and in political circles on the Muslim Personal Law was not centred on real issues.Answering a question, Maulana Jafar said the Shariat did allow for divorce but only when there was no other recourse left. He said the Quran had answers to all questions on marriage, divorce, succession and other family issues.He said if Muslims strictly followed the Shariat, they would set an example which other communities of the country would like to emulate. They said family disputes should be solved through Darul Kaza. This will reduce the burden of cases on courts.They said under the Shariat Application Act, 1937, the Shariat law had primacy over other laws and if both the parties in a dispute were Muslims, it had to be resolved under the provisions of the Shariat. He said the Constitution of India guaranteed freedom of conscience and religion, which was a fundamental right. This provision allowed Muslims to follow the Muslim Personal Law.Jafar said the demand for uniform civil code was improper and the Jamait did not support it. He also said divorce through social media was valid. freepressjournal
Socially boycott men who misuse triple talaq, say speakers at Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Nagpur meet
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/socially-boycott-men-who-misuse-triple-talaq-jih/articleshow/58331789.cms
Nagpur: "Shariat is not just a legal system but a way of life. The Indian constitution has permitted us to practice our religion and we must approach the Shariat courts to resolve disputes," said Sufiya Khan to a group of women at Godavari Nagar on Sunday. Giving an insight about Islamic law she urged them to fight against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to protect Shariat.As part of the nationwide awareness campaign on Muslim Personal Law, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) is reaching out to Muslims in city belonging to all sections of society. Starting from April 23 to May 7, the jamaat will go door-to-door, conduct activities and distribute journals about appropriate implementation of Shariat and legal remedies. The book titled 'Instructions for Talaq' will be distributed in the 250 registered mosques, so that imams can read it out after Friday prayers to spread the word, said members.On first day of fortnight-long campaign, JIH city president Dr Anwaar Siddiqui said, "We aim to flush out the misconceptions regarding triple talaq (divorce by man), khula (divorce by woman), polygamy, maintenance, haq mahr (mandatory amount paid by groom). Muslim women are getting carried away with the false idea of Shariat being unfair to them, on the contrary it favours greater rights of women and will improve the condition in India if enacted systematically." Imam of Markaz Masjid, Hafiz Shakir believes that forming strict laws will not solve the problem but correct knowledge will. He said, "Pronouncing talaq thrice in a single sitting (Talaq-ul-Biddat) is the most sinful and disproved form of divorce, but it is a valid way and we cannot make amendments in the laws enforced by the Lord. Instead, we can educate men so that they fear to commit such deed and follow the proper procedure." Unit president (west), Umar Khan said, "We don't have right to punish people who break the laws but on April 16, AIMPLB had called for social boycott of those men who misuse triple talaq and use it arbitrarily without a valid reason."TOI
OTHERS
Learning to break ceiling: From literacy to heading households, Muslim women numbers are up:HT
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslim-women-education-bukha-triple-talaq-4625330/
Mumbai:Ariba Imtiaz, the youngest daughter of Imtiaz and Safiya Shaikh, has spent a chunk of her life navigating the grimy lanes of Kasaibada, a butcher’s colony in Mumbai’s Kurla, to ensure she reached college on time. Her parents were forced to move into this ghetto from Nehru Nagar, also in Kurla, after facing threats during the 1992 communal riots following the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya.Today, Ariba is a dentist. But she wants to do more, she wants to achieve her dream of entering the civil services before getting married. In many ways, this 24-year-old represents the fraught but palpable change that is underway in the lives of Muslim women in India. With the popular narrative about Muslim women largely revolving around the Burkha and Triple Talaq, Ariba and lakhs of women like her symbolise the concerted drive by Muslim women to reclaim their space within the community and the country by using education as a tool. According to Census data available since 2001, the number of Muslim female graduates has grown at an astounding rate of 168%. National average growth during the same period — 2001 to 2011 — was lower at 115 %. This trend is ratified by figures made available by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), which shows that the growth in attendance rates in educational institutions per 1,000 persons in the age group 0-29 for major religious groups is highest for Muslim females. Significantly, this was more than the national rate in urban and rural India.“There is a rising desire among Indian Muslims for education. I have come across many cases where the male child of a family has dropped out and started working, while the family facilitates the education of the girl child,” says Dr Abdul Shaban, deputy director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences. “However, the benefit of this education in social terms can only be felt over a larger period of time. For instance, even now, not enough educated Muslim women are getting jobs in the organised sector,” says Shaban, who is also a member of a commission set up by Telangana govt to study the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims. HT
Mumbai: Hindu villagers foiled MMRDA bid to demolish mosque, threaten to vandalise temples
http://www.siasat.com/news/hindus-villagers-foiled-mmrda-bid-demolish-mosque-threaten-vandalise-temples-1174423/
On Tuesday, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) team reached Kona village adjacent to Kalyan to bull dozed the mosque but the people from the Hindus community stopped them from doing so saying that if they raze the mosque they would also vandalise their temples. The mosque of Kona village was construction in the year 2003. MMRDA had sent a notice on 7 April to mosque committee regarding the demolition. On Tuesday, the team of MMRD reached with 500 police force, 2 JCB and Poke Lane Machine machines. As soon as villagers received the information, they reached the mosques in large number. The Hindu villagers, including the Sarpanch, told the officials that if they slide even a brick of the mosque, they would themselves demolish the temple and its whole charge would be the head of the administration. The members of the Hindu community said that the mosque was constructed on NA plot and village panchayat has given permission regarding this. Villagers told the officials that the construction of mosque is valid by showing some documents related to the land. MMRDA officials were forced to returned in view of Hindu-Muslim unity. Siasat
MP: Cop thrashed as he was going to fine BJP leader’s Relatives
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cop-in-mp-kicked-punched-he-was-going-to-fine-politicians-relatives-1684729
Guna: A police constable is thrown to the ground, punched and kicked repeatedly by a group of four to five men, as many others watch. The savage attack, which was captured on cell phone cameras, was led by the family members of a local BJP leader and took place on Saturday afternoon right outside the Police Control Room in Guna, about 200 kilometre from Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal. Trouble began when three girls belonging to the family of Shobhna Raghuvanshi, the BJP block president, were stopped by the police for riding a scooter without helmets. As they were being fined for traffic violations, the girls called up their family members, police said.The BJP leader's husband, Rajiv Raghuvanshi, who is the uncle of the girls, arrived at the spot within minutes along with his supporters and a scuffle broke out in which constable Ashutosh Tiwari was pushed to the ground and roughed up.As another policeman tries to intervene, Mr Raghuvanshi is seen in a video threatening him.Two accused have been taken into custody, but not Mr Raghuvanshi."12 people barged into the control room where I was. They grabbed me by the collar and started beating me up. My staff saved me. I have bruises..." said Tiwari. ndtv
Cop In Madhya Pradesh Gets Thrashed Brutally For Issuing A Fine To A BJP Leader's Relatives
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/cop-in-madhya-pradesh-gets-thrashed-brutally-for-issuing-a-fine-to-a-bjp-leader-s-relatives-276233.html
Traffic police constable thrashed by BJP leader's family members in Guna, MP for doing his job
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-traffic-police-constable-thrashed-by-bjp-leader-s-family-members-in-guna-mp-for-doing-his-job-2412261
Kerala Police arrest 8 ‘Gau Rakshaks’ for spoiling meat, disrupting Easter celebrations
http://twocircles.net/2017apr23/408314.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
In yet another incident related to violence unleashed by cow vigilantes in India, the Aluva West Police in Kerala has arrested eight persons, all with RSS-BJP links, for trespassing into someone’s house and throwing mud into beef preparations on the occasion of Easter.The ‘gau rakshaks’ were taken into custody following a complaint was issued by Karumallur Panchayat president G D Shiju on April 17.According to police, on Easter eve, a group of RSS activists trespassed into the house of Kallarakkal Jose and threw mud in the beef curry being prepared at Jose’s house, saying ‘we won’t allow cow slaughter’. They also spoilt the raw meat stored at the house. Police said the accused barged into the residence of Biju around noon on Sunday and disrupted the Easter celebration.Jose, according to reports, decided to slaughter his 3-year-old cow after it was found incapable for delivery. Scared of threats from Sangh groups, Jose was not ready to file a complaint. However, Karumallur Panchayat president G D Shiju issued a complaint with the police seeking action.TCN
Dismayed by govt’s inaction against cow vigilantes who lynched Alwar man, say IAS officers
https://scroll.in/latest/835486/dismayed-by-Govt s-inaction-against-cow-vigilantes-who-lynched-alwar-man-say-ias-officers
Senior bureaucrats noted a ‘reprehensible attempt on the part of certain people in authority in Rajasthan and in the Union Govt to deny the incident’.Senior bureaucrats on Monday condemned the recent lynching and murder of Pehlu Khan in Alwar, Rajasthan, by cow vigilantes. Indian Administrative Services officers of the 1968 batch issued a statement, in which they called the April 1 incident “disturbing” and criticised the Govt for its action, or rather the lack of it, following the gruesome incident.The letter has urged the Govt to bring to book those involved in the heinous act. “We are also dismayed by the acts of omission and commission of the Govt following the incident, including the delay and marked reluctance in arresting all those guilty of the act,” read the statement addressed to Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje. Scroll.in
Pahlu Khan lynching: Protest demonstration held outside Rajasthan Assembly
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/pahlu-khan-lynching-protest-demonstration-held-outside-rajasthan-assembly
Jaipur: With an aim to build pressure on the state BJP Govt to take harsh action against the cow vigilantes who lynched Haryana dairy farmer Pahlu Khan earlier this month, a three-day protest demonstration began outside the Assembly building here on Monday. "The attack of self-styled Gau Rakshaks in Bahror (in Alwar district) should be investigated under the supervision of the Supreme Court,"protesters demanded in a memorandum to CM Vasundhara Raje. Eminent personalities that took part in demonstration included ex-Gujarat IAS officer Harsh Mandar, Dalit youth leader Jignesh Mewani, PUCL Rajasthan head Kavita Srivastava, Sumitra Chopra from CPM, state FDCA president Sawai Singh, Jamaat-e-Islami Rajasthan secretary Mohd. Nazimuddin and state WPI HEAD Er. Rashid Hussain.IndiaTomorrow
‘Serious’ Azmat being treated at AIIMS, New Delhi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/serious-azmat-being-treated-at-aiims-new-delhi/story-qVMH5moVS3QQAX5nXLUbHL.html
Jaipur:The condition of Azmat Khan, who was allegedly beaten up by cow vigilantes along with Pehlu Khan at Behror in Alwar district, continues to be “serious”.He is being treated at the AIIMS, New Delhi. “He has injuries in his head, fracture in spine, and his mental condition is also not normal,” Yusuf Khan, elder brother said.HT
In video of cow vigilante attack, cops watch as family begs for mercy
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/video-shows-family-attacked-by-cow-vigilante-mob-inside-jammu-police-post-1685235?fb
Jammu: In chilling videos of an attack by 'Gau Rakshaks' or cow vigilantes on a family in Reasi in Jammu, women are seen screaming and begging for mercy inside a shed as a large number of men kick the tin structure and chant slogans.The tin shed, covered with tarpaulin, was a police post where the family of Sabir Ali, stopped by a mob of self-appointed cow protectors while travelling with their livestock, had taken shelter to save their lives. Chased by the group armed with iron rods, the terrified family ran into the Police Observation Post near Talwara bridge.The mob, however, caught up with them and attacked the post as the handful of policemen - outnumbered - watched helplessly.The family of 5, including 75-year-old Sabir Ali and a nine-year-old girl, were beaten mercilessly by the men who shouted slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai".In the video, the elderly man falls to the ground, bleeding. The women rush to help him and one of them cradles his head, wailing loudly. The mob also set fire to the police post before taking away the family's cattle, which included 16 cows.The policemen are pushed and asked to clear out by the mob. ndtv
Cow-protection vigilantes held in J&K: Aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/cow-protection-vigilantes-held-jammu-kashmir-170424081028194.html
Police in northern India have arrested 11 so-called cow-protection vigilantes who attacked a Muslim family over suspicions that they were transporting cattle for slaughter.The five-member family was moving with their livestock in Jammu and Kashmir state's Reasi district when a mob assaulted them on Friday.
US may share ‘encrypted data’ on terror suspects, criminals with India: FBI
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-us-may-share-encrypted-data-on-terror-suspects-criminals-with-india-fbi-378437
US is reportedly willing to share with India "encrypted data" on the internet and social media platforms pertaining to terror suspects, organisations and other criminals through legal channels.According to a report in TOI, FBI has informed Indian agencies that it can share the “encrypted data” as part of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) that the two countries have signed.The Indian Govt and agencies have been pressing US authorities for getting access to the “encrypted data” as a large number of social media platforms, including websites and internet-based messaging applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, Google and YouTube , had their servers in the US.
Is preacher Zakir Naik holed up in Malaysia? HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/irf-head-zakir-naik-could-be-holed-up-in-malaysia-was-spotted-at-award-function-last-week/story-KSuCFqP9P3OE2IPPTC50UO.html
Zakir Naik was spotted in Malaysia last week. He was apparently presented an award by Malaysian group Perkasa for his contributions to the cause of Islam. The group put up photographs and videos online of the function. The local media has quoted Govt officials to say Naik was given permanent resident status in Malaysia 5 years ago.Indian security experts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they suspected that Naik was now holed up in Malaysia.Mumbai enforcement directorate, which recently got a non-bailable warrant against Naik, said the visit was under the scanner. “We are looking into it,” said a high-ranking Enforcement Directorate officer. India has signed MLAT (mutual legal assistance treaty) with 38 other countries, including Malaysia. Authorities said they are exploring the options under the treaty. “Efforts to bring him back will continue,” said an officer.The treaty, however, does not cover execution of arrest warrants.Malaysian officials have already hinted they would cooperate with India on the investigations.
ED seeks UAE aid on Zakir Naik’s assets
http://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/240417/ed-seeks-uae-aid-on-zakir-naiks-assets.html
Mumbai: ED will soon approach UAE authorities via a Letters Rogatory (LR) to access details related to Zakir Naik’s alleged assets located there. An LR is a request sent to a foreign court via legal channels. The ED has been conducting a money-laundering probe against Naik and entities associated with him for alleged irregularities related to the receipt of foreign donations worth Rs 60 crore. ED is investigating a money-laundering case against Naik and probe in the case has allegedly revealed that he has invested a chunk of the funds in Dubai, from where foreign donations worth Rs 60 crore were routed to India.Asian Age
Work at Chabahar Port in Iran progressing fast: Gadkari
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/work-at-chabahar-port-in-iran-progressing-fast-gadkari/article18199861.ece?homepage=true
Singapore: The work on the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran for which India will invest $500 million is progressing fast and the country has already formed a global port company there, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.“We have already formed a global port company there [Chabahar Port],” he said at the launch of a roadshow for the National High Authority of India’s (NHAI) rupee denominated masala bonds here.The Minister of road transport and highways stated that the work at Chabahar was progressing fast. Gadkari had visited Tehran in May 2015 and both the nations had inked a pact to develop the Chabahar Port.PTI
Muslims too don’t want mosque at Ayodhya site: RSS leader Indresh Kumar
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslims-too-dont-want-mosque-at-ayodhya-site-rss-leader-indresh-kumar-4626446/
New Delhi:Pitching for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Monday claimed that Muslims themselves do not want a mosque to be built at the disputed site as it will be ‘unholy’ for them. “Muslims will never accept such a mosque which is in the name of a person. All those who believe in Islam say such a mosque is unholy (napak) and we will never accept it,” he said, adding that the mosque is in the name of Mughal emperor Babur. He was addressing a seminar organised to spread awareness about the issue of national security. Claiming that a revolution for the construction of a Ram temple has started, Kumar, the head of the RSS-affiliated Muslim Jagran Manch, said all those who support peace, harmony, truth and are nationalists, will favour a temple at the Ayodhya site.PTI
Mumbai court orders community service, not jail time, for 3 convicted for rioting, assault
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-court-orders-community-service-not-jail-time-for-three-convicted-for-rioting-assault/story-44foNws1HpZNMm2zIKbspJ.html
Mumbai; In a rare case, 3 of 5 people convicted for rioting and assaulting a director of Bombay Hospital, were asked by a metropolitan magistrate to do community service for two months instead of any jail time. Additional CMM BU Chaudhari convicted Susil Dicholkar, 45, Jitendra Pawar 46, Ankush Roke, 66, Preeti Mane, 56 and Edueppa Bajrang, 46, of various charges under Indian Penal Code for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, mischief causing damage, intentionally insulting a person and criminal intimidation. Most of the charges attract up to two years in jail or a fine, whereas punishment for criminal intimidation is up to seven years or a fine. The judge, however, declined to send the five to jail considering their advanced ages. Chaudhari said, “Instead of sentencing the accused, they are released on due admonition that they shall not repeat any act of criminal nature and shall render social services of suitable nature at their workplace for an hour in a week after their working hours till June 18, 2017.”HT
Aadhaar for cattle? Each cow, progeny should get ‘Unique Identification Number’, Centre tells SC
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aadhaar-for-cattle-each-cow-progency-should-get-unique-identification-number-for-tracking-centre-tells-sc-4626063/
New Delhi:“Each cow and its progeny across India should get a Unique Identification Number for tracking,” the Centre on Monday said in its report submitted to the Supreme Court regarding cow protection and smuggling of cattle across the India-Bangladesh border. Centre told the SC that a Committee headed by the Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry has been formed, which has given out certain recommendations.With an aim to intensify a crackdown on cow smuggling, the Centre said in the report that each district should have a shelter home with a capacity of keeping at least 500 abandoned animals. It also stated that the onus of ensuring security of abandoned animals lies with state govt. “Responsibility of safety and care of abandoned animals is mainly of the State Govt ,” Centre’s report stated. indianexpress
Bihar man had no role in Kanpur: NIA
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar-man-had-no-role-in-kanpur-nia/article18196119.ece
New Delhi : One of the 3 accused arrested for planting a pressure cooker bomb on a rail track at Ghorasan in Mothari district of Bihar did not have any role in planting explosives on a rail track in Kanpur last year, NIA has concluded.Over 140 people were killed following the derailment of the Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur on November 20, 2016. The role of Pakistan’s ISI has been suspected. While an initial probe suggested “fatigue of rail tracks” as the cause of the accident, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu shot off a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh alleging sabotage. In Jan, Bihar Police arrested three persons — Moti Paswan, Uma Shanker Patel and Mukesh Yadav — for allegedly planting a bomb on the track at Ghorasan on October 1, 2016. The bomb was defused. Paswan later told Bihar Police that he had planted the explosives at the instance of his handlers in Nepal, who were working for the ISI. He had also said the ISI was involved in the Kanpur accident and he and two others had travelled to the accident site to place the IED. UP police, however, said no explosives were found on the rail track.The claims of Paswan prompted Prabhu’s letter to Singh, alleging “sabotage” and “outsiders’ role” in at least 6 train accidents. thehindu
Don’t be too critical of govt, Muslims told
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/dont-be-too-critical-of-govt-muslims-told/articleshow/58333328.cms
Faizabad: Stating that CM Adityanath Yogi's actions are aimed at establishing peace in the society, Jamiat Ulema e Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani advised Muslims saying, "Do not react to every move of the Govt ...just wait and watch, we must observe the working of the Govt for some time before forming an opinion."Addressing a convocation of a madrassa in Faizabad on Sunday, Madani said, "We should pray to God that the state Govt moves in a positive direction. Madrassas have no connection with politics and we shouldn't bother about who the elections or lost and should only teach humanity like all religions do." timesofindia
Delhi’s 13 % Muslim vote to be deciding factor
http://www.asianage.com/metros/delhi/240417/delhis-13-per-cent-muslim-vote-to-be-deciding-factor.html
New Delhi: 13 % Muslim vote in the capital could be the deciding factor in many wards. Many members of the minority community said that they went with Congress over AAP.“As BJP is not the first traditional choice for us, the only option left was among the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. Many others and I voted from my area for Congress,” said Niyaz Mathe, a resident of Jamia Nagar.Mathe said that he had voted for AAP in Delhi Assembly elections in 2015 but was not impressed by the work done by the party’s MLA till now.He added that in his area there is no dearth of issues, they range from no water supply, lack of MCD schools, and waterlogging during monsoons and has voted keeping in mind these problems.“Most of the votes from this area are going to be divided among the Congress and AAP, but Congress has an upper hand,” he said. Another voter, Nadeem Akhtar, a resident of Batla House’s ward number 104, said that while there is improvement in water situation in his area, after the AAP came to power, the candidate selected by the party from his area “does not seem credible enough.”In the 2015 assembly elections, Muslims voted en masse for AAP, but the party seems to have lost some of its vote bank.In some minority-dominated wards, even Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP have a chance.ASIAN AGE
WORLD
Egypt court rules against stripping Yusuf Al-Qaradawi of his citizenship
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170424-egypt-court-rules-against-stripping-qaradawi-of-his-citizenship/
An administrative court in Egypt has decided to halt a lawsuit filed by the lawyer Sami Sabri to strip Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi and nine other opposition members of their Egyptian nationality.Sabri said that the defendants in question incited violence and tried to destabilise Egypt but the court ruled that there is insufficient evidence to strip them of their nationalities and that the constitution safeguards them against this.A report by State Commissioner’s Authority at the Egyptian Council of State had previously revealed flaws in the lawsuit and said that if it were to be accepted this would set a dangerous precedent against people’s fundamental rights. middleeastmonitor
Egypt sentences 20 people to death for violence following ouster of president Morsi: Anadolu
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/egypt-sentences-20-people-to-death-for-violence/804085
Cairo: An Egyptian court on Monday handed down preliminary death sentences against 20 people in connection with violence following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi. The 20 were among a group of 156 people accused of attacking a police station and killing two policemen in Kerdasa near Cairo in 2013. Monday's sentences were referred to Egypt's grand mufti for a non-binding opinion, as required by Egyptian law. The court will confirm the verdicts on July 2.In 2015, a court sentenced more than 150 people to death in connection with the violence, but the verdicts were later overturned by Egypt's highest appellate court and ordered a retrial. Egypt was roiled by violence and unrest after the military deposed Morsi, the country's first freely elected president, in a 2013 military coup.
Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visits Saudi Arabia
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/egypt-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-visits-saudi-arabia-170423180404851.html
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received a royal welcome from King Salman as he landed on Sunday in Saudi Arabia for a visit to boost ties after months of tension. Salman, surrounded by key Saudi officials, greeted Sisi as he stepped off the plane in the capital Riyadh and hosted him for lunch, the official Saudi Press Agency said. Egyptian presidency announced the visit in a statement on Friday, saying Sisi's trip was in response to an invitation by Salman and aimed at "bolstering strategic relations between the two countries". It said Salman and Sisi would discuss "regional and international issues of common interest". aljazeera
Afghan army chief, defence minister resign after Taliban attack
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/afghan-officials-resign-taliban-attack-170424083406147.html
Afghanistan's army chief and defence minister have resigned following a Taliban attack on an army base over the weekend that killed more than 100 people, as the US defence secretary arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit. The attack, the biggest ever by the Taliban on a military base in Afghanistan , involved multiple attackers and suicide bombers in army uniforms who penetrated the compound of the 209th Corps of the Afghan National Army in northern Balkh province on Friday.President Ashraf Ghani accepted the resignations of Qadam Shah Shahim, the army chief of staff and Abdullah Habibi, the country's defence minister, on Monday, according to a statement from the president's office. Aljazeera
9 civilians killed in fresh Syria bombardments
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/9-civilians-killed-in-fresh-syria-bombardments/804099
Idlib: 9 civilians were killed Monday in fresh bombardments by regime and Russian forces in war-torn Syria. Russian warplanes struck a marketplace in Khan Sheikhun town in northwestern Idlib province, local journalist Hamid al-Qatini said.“4 people, including a child, were killed and six others injured in the attack,” he said. Local teams were looking for victims under the debris of destroyed buildings in the area, Qatini added.Anadolu Agency
Ex-British diplomat is director of Assad lobbying body
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170424-ex-british-diplomat-is-director-of-assad-lobbying-body/
A former British ambassador to Syria who appeared on the BBC to defend the Assad regime following the chemical attack earlier this month had taken a prominent position in a pro-Assad lobby group just weeks before the attack on Khan Sheikhoun.Retired British diplomat Peter Ford, who was the UK ambassador to Syria from 2003–2006, claimed in an interview that President Bashar Al-Assad would not have carried out the chemical gas attack on 4 April which killed nearly 100 and injuring over 500 people.It has been revealed that just weeks before the chemical attack, Ford had become a director of the British Syrian Society, a lobby group linked to Assad regime, claims the Telegraph. According to documents filed at Companies House, Ford – who has been accused of supporting the Syrian regime in the past – was appointed director of the society on 28 Feb. this year.Following chemical attack in Idlib province, Ford appeared on BBC casting doubt on whether Al-Assad was responsible. middleeastmonitor
Iraq struggling to fight Daesh in vast Anbar deserts
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170424-iraq-struggling-to-fight-daesh-in-vast-anbar-deserts/
A day after an ambush by Daesh militants killed tens of Iraqi Govt soldiers and officers and wounded many more others, an Iraqi force has launched a counterattack against the “cells…and camps of the Daesh organisation” in the vast deserts of Iraq’s western Anbar province.Khalid Al-Anzi, the mayor of Haditha, one of Anbar’s major cities in its western reaches, was cited by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed as saying that the Iraqi desert was too vast and posed geographic challenges to ever be placed fully under Baghdad’s control.Haditha’s mayor also indicated that several towns in Anbar were still under Daesh control, despite the ongoing operation in Mosul in northern Iraq. Al-Anzi said that Hasiba, Ana and Rawa, all major towns in Anbar, were still held by militant group that swept across Iraq in 2014, capturing nearly a third of the war-ravaged country.Daesh successfully managed to launch an ambush in the Anbar desert on an Iraqi military convoy over the weekend, killing and wounding around 50 troops loyal to the Govt .Iraqi forces were backed by US-led coalition airpower as they advanced on Daesh positions operating in the deserts around Anbar’s towns and villages. middleeastmonitor
Daesh overruns highway between Iraq, Jordan
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/daesh-overruns-highway-between-iraq-jordan/803861
Leading Morocco Islamist party is united, official says
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170424-leading-morocco-islamist-party-is-united-official-says/
A Moroccan minister and leading figure within Justice and Development Party (JDP), Mustafa Al-Rameid, denied yesterday factional divisions due to the formation of the new coalition Govt led by his party, Quds Press reported.Al-Rameid, who is the current human rights minister in the coalition Govt , said that the party is united and reports of divisions and factionalisation reported in the media was nothing more than “illusions.”Saying that all the senior members of the JDP are closely united and that speculators were ill-informed about the party’s inner-workings, Al-Rameid told Quds Press:Those who speak about divisions inside the Justice and Development Party are dreaming as they do not know [former PM ] Abdelilah Benkirane, or [PM ] Saadeddine Othmani or the team that was assigned to negotiate the coalition Govt . Meanwhile, he did not deny that there were differing views among members of his party regarding the sacking of Benkirane as head of the Govt by King Mohamed VI, but said that what happened was nothing more than tweets that were “exaggerated and reported by the mass media.” middleeastmonitor
Neo-fascist, Le Pen qualifies for second round of French presidential election
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170424-neo-fascist-le-pen-qualifies-for-second-round-of-french-presidential-election/
French centrist Emmanuel Macron has come out on top in the first round of France’s presidential election with far right leader Marine Le Pen in second place, which means both have qualified for the May 7 runoff vote, pollsters projections from partial results showed on Sunday.Macron won 23.7 % of the vote and Le Pen 21.7 percent, an Ipsos/Sopra Steria estimate showed. Macron got 23 % of the vote and Le Pen got 22 % in an estimate from Harris Interactive. An Ifop estimate put Macron at 23.8 and Le Pen at 21.6 percent.
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
A justice more complete: SC promises closure in Babri demolition case. But what of the perils of memory and age, the problem of delay? Professor Upendra Baxi
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-justice-more-complete-abri-masjid-demolition-case-supreme-court-ayodhya-matters-4625270/
Forget what a Hindu rashtra will mean for minorities. What will it mean for Hindus?Saba Naqvi
https://scroll.in/article/835302/up-2017-is-the-point-at-which-we-became-a-hindu-rashtra-in-spirit-saba-naqvi
‘Indian democracy will lose credibility if Kashmiris robbed of chance to dream’: New York Times editorial
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/brutal-tactics-in-kashmir-will-feed-militancy-nyt-editorial-warns-modi-Govt /story-HWSMEFbvXKfMk89uSl627N.html
Muslim Men Assaulted Over Cattle in Delhi: How The Horror Unfolded: Meghnad Bose
https://www.thequint.com/news-videos/2017/04/23/muslim-men-assaulted-over-cattle-in-delhi-how-the-horror-unfolded
Red-flagged 50 cases of alleged corruption, nepotism but no govt action: CVC
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/central-vigilance-commission-red-flagged-50-cases-but-no-govt-action-says-cvc-in-report-corruption-nepotism-high-handedness-4625573/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:39 PM)
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