Evening NEWS DIGEST (LATE)
25 April 2017: 27 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:174
INDIA
Sadhvi Pragya gets bail in Malegaon bast case; Bombay HC denies any relief to co-accused Purohit
http://www.firstpost.com/india/bombay-hc-grants-bail-to-sadhvi-pragya-thakur-in-2008-malegaon-case-co-accused-purohit-denied-bail-3402750.html
Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, granted bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Takhur, accused of plotting the 2008 Malegaon blast, but denied any relief to co-accused former Lt Col Prasad Purohit.The court directed Sadhvi Pragya to surrender her passport to NIA and not to tamper with the evidence. She has also been asked to report to the NIA court as and when required. Thakur is to furnish Rs 5 lakh bail amount and 2 sureties of same amount, according to the news agency ANI."The appeal filed by Sadhvi Pragya is allowed. The applicant (Sadhvi) is directed to be released on bail on a surety of Rs 5 lakh. The plea filed by Prasad Purohit stands dismissed," said a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar Joshi."We have said in our order that prima facie there is no case made out against Sadhvi," Justice More said while refusing to stay Tuesday's order.The court was hearing the appeals filed by Sadhvi Pragya and Purohit challenging an earlier order of a special court rejecting their bail pleas. The families of the victims, who had filed an intervening application challenging Sadhvi Pragya's bail plea, on Tuesday, sought from the court a stay on its order so that they can appeal against it in the Supreme Court. According to the investigating agencies, the blast was allegedly carried out by right-wing group Abhinav Bharat and a total of 11 persons are at present in jail in the case, including Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya.The families of some of the victims of the blast argued that the plea be denied for there exist ample evidence in the ATS' charge sheet to establish that Thakur was one of the main conspirators of the blast.Purohit, however, remained a key accused in the case.NIA has recommended prosecution against Ramesh Shivaji Upadhyay, Sameer Sharad Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Rakesh Dhawde, Jagdish Chintaman Mahatre, Prasad Shrikant Puruhit, Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ramchandra Kalsangra (wanted) and Sandeep Dange (wanted) under the IPC, UAPA, Arms Act and the Explosives Substances Act. firstpost
20 Muslims convert to Hinduism in Faizabad after being influenced by RSS leader : ABP LIVE
http://www.abplive.in/india-news/faizabad-up-20-people-convert-from-muslim-to-hindu-after-being-influenced-by-rss-leader-520087
UP: Over 20 people in UP’s Faizabad converted from Muslim to Hindu religion on Monday. The people who earlier were followers of Islam have now accepted Hinduism as their religion after being educated about the same. The conversion took place in Faizabad’s Arya Samaj temple. RSS leader Kailash Chand Srinaivastav educated the bunch of people about Hinduism and its beliefs. Finding the same interesting and being able to relate to the same, they decided to change their religion. Srinaivastav assures no pressure was put on them. Speaking on the same Sangh leader said, “The people earlier were following Hinduism only, which as 25 years ago but later their ancestors started following Muslim as their religion. The family supported each other and helped in conversion of the religion”. Leader reiterated that no pressure was levied for conversion.abplive
300 Naxals, Armed With AK-47s, Attacked Us, Says Injured Jawan Sher Mohammad
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/300-naxals-armed-with-ak-47s-attacked-us-says-injured-jawan-sher-mohammad-1685422
Raipur: Jawans of 74th Battalion of CRPF were overseeing the construction of a road in Chhattisgarh's Sukma this afternoon, when about 300 Naxals ambushed them with AK-47 guns, said Constable Sher Mohammad, who was injured in the gun battle that followed. 25 soldiers, including the company commander, died and 5 are in critical condition.Naxals first sent locals to check the location of the CRPF team, Constable Mohammad said. "Later, a 300-strong Naxal group attacked us armed with automatic AK-47 and INSAS rifle. Villagers also helped them," he said from a hospital bed. 99 CRPF soldiers fought hard. "We retaliated, gave them a fitting response," the jawan said, adding, "we were able to gun down at least 11 to 12 Naxals, I myself shot down two to three."Constable Mohammad, who is from Bulandshehar in UP , said he was shot by a machine gun fire in the waist and the knee.ndtv
PERSONAL LAW RELATED ISSUES
Muslim Personal Law Board set for talaq legal battle
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170425/jsp/nation/story_148184.jsp#.WP87mfmGO1t
Lucknow: All India Muslim Personal Law Board has hired both Muslim and Hindu lawyers to plead for it in the Supreme Court against what it calls the central Govt 's "design to undermine the Sharia law" in the triple talaq case.Board president Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadvi said neither the Govt nor any other organisation had any right to "interfere in Muslim personal law"."It is our issue and we will never allow any Govt to decide it. We have already engaged some Hindu and Muslim lawyers and more would be hired in a few days to plead our case, starting in the Supreme Court from May 11," the cleric told reporters in Kanpur yesterday.While the comment hinted at an all-out battle, Nadvi's assertion that the board had also engaged Hindu lawyers seemed to suggest that it had succeeded in convincing even non-Muslim advocates to take up its cause.AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani said the board had held "extensive discussions" with both Hindu and Muslim lawyers. "Even senior Hindu lawyers are convinced that the Govt shouldn't interfere in the personal laws of the Muslims. This is why they have agreed to plead our case on the triple talaq in the SC."Nadvi said the board's lawyers would be informed in detail about Sharia law so that they didn't make mistakes during arguments because the BJP Govt s at the Centre and in the state have been preparing "to challenge Muslim personal law in every possible manner". AIMPLB chief also indirectly suggested that women were burnt to death in Hindu families, possibly hinting at dowry cases, whereas the practice of triple talaq - that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives by repeating the word thrice - offered a solution to some problems."Talaq is a solution for some family problems. It is better to divorce someone instead of setting her on fire. But we are against triple talaq in one sitting," he said."We have already decided to ostracise those who don't follow the board's instructions. There should be a month's time between the utterance of each of the three talaqs. We are also going to start social awareness campaigns to minimise talaq. But we will not accept the Govt 's intrusion in such issues," Nadvi said."Muslim women don't need the suggestion of a Govt on the issues related to our Sharia," said Zarin Fatima, principal of the Madrassa Jamia Hafsa, Lucknow. "We agree with the AIMPLB."Speakers at a similar meeting held in Gorakhpur yesterday, under the banner of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said they would oppose "any effort of the Govt to interfere in their civil code under the pretext of opposing the triple talaq". "We are with the AIMPLB and believe that the Govt is strategically entering our lives against our constitutional liberty to practise a religion," said Afsana Khatun, person in charge of the Jamaat's Gorakhpur chapter. Telegraphindia
AIMPLB to move Supreme Court if govt talks of Sharia
http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/250417/aimplb-to-move-supreme-court-if-govt-talks-of-sharia.html
RSS leader Indresh Kumar dubs All India Muslim Personal Law Board as ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘illegal’
http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national-rss-leader-indresh-kumar-dubs-all-india-muslim-personal-law-board-as-un-islamic-and-illegal-378609
Senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar has said that standing with All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) over the issue of triple talaq was like ‘supporting devil’.Kumar, who is a patron of RSS affiliate-Muslim Rashtriya Manch, said that according to the Islamic philosophy, the AIMPLB ‘is not a legal institution and does not represent Muslims in the country’. "There is no mention of triple talaq and halala in Quran Sharif. It is not sanctioned by the Muslim holy book. It is the worst persecution of humanity and women," Kumar said here on Monday."There is no Islamic status, constitutional status or legal standing of the board...and standing with it on any issue, especially triple talaq, is like supporting the shaitan (devil)," he added.Stressing that the board was set up for Muslim vote bank politics, Kumar claimed the Congress came up with the idea of AIMPLB after the minorities drifted away to regional parties."So to retain their vote bank, the party encouraged Muslim leaders who were fundamentalists to set up a board and also gave them money," he alleged. indiatvnews
Personal Law Board is unconstitutional: RSS leader
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/muslim-personal-law-board-is-unconstitutional-senior-rss-leader/story-GQCDw5DVLInDJg6QNq7hPM.html
Triple talaq is unconstitutional says Union Minister PP Chaudhury
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-triple-talaq-is-unconstitutional-says-mos-p-p-chaudhury-2415715
Reacting on the triple talaq row, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information technology, P P Chaudhury said in India all law has to be according to the Constitution and if any religious or community law is unconstitutional it has to be amended as per the constitutional provision. There is nothing above the Constitution and according to it there cannot be any difference on the basis of religion, cast or gender. The India Constitution speaks about equality before law and equal protection of the law. If anyone speaks against the India Constitution then that religion has to amend its law according to the Indian Constitution or change its custom accordingly,? Chaudhury told the media.Chaudhury further stated that triple talaq speaks in favour of gender inequality.If the law or custom is against the India Constitution then that cannot be practiced. Moreover the triple talaq speaks in favour of gender inequality, even the Indian Constitution and our PM Narendra Modi guarantees gender equality, he added.ANI
Centre not against tribal laws: Union Minister Chaudhary
http://www.india.com/news/agencies/centre-not-against-tribal-laws-minister-2066892/
Agartala:Modi Govt is not against tribal customary laws but also favours a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Union Minister P.P. Chaudhary said on Tuesday.“BJP -led Govt is not against traditional or customary laws of tribals though it also supports the UCC,” the Minister of State for IT and Law and Justice said here.“A Parliamentary Standing Committee has submitted its report on tribal customary laws. The Union Govt is yet to take a decision on the report,” he told reporters.The customary laws are prevalent in northeastern states like Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.Tribal communities and local autonomous bodies in the northeastern states, as and when the situation requires, resolve their disputes through local customary laws.The traditional customary laws allow village and district council bodies to adjudicate most cases involving two tribal parties, groups or individuals.Only the High Court and the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over suits and cases decided by these village and district council bodies. Various Naga tribal groups opposed reservation for women, saying it will infringe on their customary laws and also violate Article 371-A of the Constitution that grants special status to Nagaland and guarantees preservation of such laws.IANS
Don’t politicise triple talaq issue: Jamat-e-Islami Hind to parties
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/dont-politicise-triple-talaq-issue-jamat-e-islami-hind-to-parties-4627056/
Ahmedabad:Jamat-e-Islami Hind, a socio-cultural organisation, on Monday asked political parties not to politicise the practice of triple talaq among the Muslims.“Talaq is a social issue and it should not be made into a political issue to suit their (political parties’) agenda,” Hasan Raza, member of the central advisory committee of the JIH, told reporters at Ahmedabad.Raza said people, including the Muslims, had little understanding of the nuances and intricacies of triple talaq. For this, the JIH has launched an awareness campaign accross the country from April 23 to May 7, 2017, he said.He appealed to political parties not to spread confusion and misunderstanding in the society over the issue of triple talaq. “It is social issue rather than a political issue for pursuing vote bank politics. Please do not create confusion in society by politicising it but educate people, including Hindus about triple talaq”, he said. In Gujarat, the JIH plans to reach out to 10 lakh people as part of the awareness campaign through nukkad meetings, public talks and distribution of literature about the Muslim personal law, said JIH Gujarat head Shakil Rajput. He said JIH volunteers would visit slum pockets to educate the poor. indianexpress
Triple talaq through social media a mode of communication: AIMPLB member
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/triple-talaq-through-social-media-a-mode-of-communication-aimplb-member/640684/
Ahmedabad: Amid a raging debate on the manner in which ‘triple talaq’ is pronounced by Muslim men in the country, an All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member today said conveying talaq (divorce) through an SMS or social media was just another mode of communication. AIMPLB member Hasan Raza said the new age practice of conveying the divorce through SMS or social messaging app Whatsapp is similar to using a postcard or a telegram in the past for the purpose. “In the past, letters or telegrams were used to convey such messages (of talaq). Now, people send an SMS using mobile phones. So, it is just a way of communicating that message. However, we need to look into the credibility of that message. Such a message (of talaq) should not be sent in anger,” he said.He, however, did not state his position on whether pronouncing talaq in such a manner was justified. Raza, who is also a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), was replying to a query on whether he found it inappropriate for a Muslim man to dissolve his marriage by sending an SMS or a WhatsApp message to his wife.He and the JIH’s Gujarat unit president Shakeel Ahmed Rajput were addressing a joint conference here.Raza said the Gujarat chapter of the JIH has launched a campaign to spread awareness about Sharia laws, particularly those governing triple talaq, in the state. He told reporters that the issue of triple talaq has been used as “a tool in the vote bank politics”.PTI
Triple talaq through social media is similar to postcard: AIMPLB member
http://www.oneindia.com/india/triple-talaq-through-social-media-is-similar-postcard-aimpl-2415543.html
‘Onus is on Muslim clerics to dispel misconceptions in Islam’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/onus-is-on-muslim-clerics-to-dispel-misconceptions-in-islam/article18202148.ece
Vijayapura: Putting on the onus on Islamic clerics to give correct information on various issues such as talaq, Mehboobali Padaganur, member of the Muslim Personal Law Board of Vijayapura district, has said that clerics should not confine themselves to merely giving sermons on the basics of Islam.“Islam does not mean only offering namaz or reading the Quran; Islam offers solutions to various critical social issues too. Clerics must educate people about these aspects to dispel misconceptions in Islam,” he said. Speaking at a programme to create awareness on Muslim personal law organised by Jamat-e-Islami Hind as part of a national-level event here on Sunday, he said that awareness was essential to understand the true meaning of Islam.Criticising the efforts being made by the Union Govt to bring in a Uniform Civil Code, he alleged that the Govt was trying to interfere in the Sharia law which is part of the Muslim personal law guaranteed by the Constitution. “What is strange is that even the British who ruled India did not interfere in Islamic affairs; this is why the British Govt then formulated the Muslim personal law in 1937. The law makes it amply clear that States shall not interfere in the personal laws of Muslims and allow the community to address the issues such as property right and talaq as per the Sharia law. But the National Democratic Alliance Govt at the Centre is making efforts to bring changes in the law which is unacceptable to Muslims,” he said. In his address, Mohammad Yusuf Kazi, district president of the Jamat, said that the NDA Govt was forgetting the fact that fundamental rights were different from Directive Principles of State Policy. thehindu
OTHERS
Barely out of teens, girls are new face of protests in Kashmir
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/barely-out-of-teens-young-girls-are-the-new-face-of-protests-in-kashmir/story-oHJ46koWLJ8KtI4r52tEmM.html
Srinagar: They are young, most of them in their school or college uniforms. Some of them wear burkhas while many of them have their heads and faces covered. Their school bags slung on their backs, now they also have stones in their hands. Young girls barely out of their teens have become the new face of protests in Kashmir, adding a new dimension to the story of a valley wracked by years of violence and brutal retaliation Govt forces.This April, the valley has woken up to fresh violence sparked by the killing of whom people describe as innocent civilians by security forces. The anger has been fanned by several video clips which purportedly show human rights abuse by security forces, including the use of a Kashmiri man as a human shield.The anger has spilled out on to the streets and young women are leading the charge.Dozens of pictures have gone viral on social media -- of groups of girls and women pelting stones on police and CRPF men. A young girl seen kicking an armoured police vehicle has drawn particular attention for the anger it represents – she is said to have reacted in the manner after a college girl was injured on April 21 in Srinagar’s Old City.“Why should we fear? Things can’t get worse than what has already happened in Kashmir. We have seen dead and mutilated bodies. We have seen many of our brothers and sisters defaced by pellets. At the most we will also die,” said Neelofar Jabeen (name changed on request), a 21-yar-old arts student of Women’s College in Srinagar. hindustantimes
Kashmir students, India police clash in Srinagar: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/kashmir-students-india-police-clash-srinagar-170424154258841.html
Kashmir unrest: Centre in no mood to talk with separatists, to go after top terror commanders
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jammu-and-kashmir-violence-separatists-mehbooba-mufti-narendra-modi/1/937482.html?google_editors_picks=true
New Delhi:J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti met PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi with a message that the Govt should restart talks with separatists for normalcy to return in the Valley. However, the Centre appears to be in no mood for discussion with Hurriyat leaders.Sources said the Govt is not in favour of talks with pro-Pakistan lobby in the Valley despite such demands from various quarters.The Govt believes that talks with separatists would yield no result as all such attempts have failed in the past.As situation in the Valley remains tense and incidents of stone pelting continues unabated, the Govt has decided to go ahead after the top terror commanders.Agencies have been directed to break the backbone of terror infrastructure in J&K .Authorities have also been asked to continue the crack down on social media inciting violence in the region. indiatoday
I sought a meeting with the PM on Kashmir, there has been no response: Yashwant Sinha
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/yashwant-sinha-veteran-bjp-leader-on-jammu-kashmir-situation-and-politics-violence-stone-pelting-4626989/
The veteran BJP leader, who led teams to Kashmir twice last year, discusses the situation and the politics in the Valley with The Indian Express. Responding to the question that how has the Govt responded to the report released by the delegation he led to Kashmir, Sinha said, "It was not a delegation, just a group of concerned citizens. There were five of us. Our first visit took place in the third week of October and we met a lot of people in Srinagar during three days. Then, in the second week of December, we went back to Kashmir. This time we travelled around, we went to Budgam, to Shopian, to Anantnag, to Baramulla, and met people. We have submitted two reports. Our findings have been reported widely by the press, especially in Kashmir. This was followed by some statements that we issued from time to time. The group was expanded at one time to cover about 25 eminent citizens, who have issued a statement on the situation." He added, "as far as the Govt is concerned, we are still waiting for a response. They need not respond to us, but they should respond to the situation. We would say they have responded to the situation, if they abide by the promises they themselves have made in the agenda of alliance between the PDP and the BJP, which is now 25 months old.I left a request for a meeting with PM , but unfortunately there has been no response." indianexpress
Kashmir needs a political solution: Ex-Army chief Malik
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kashmir-needs-a-political-solution-ex-army-chief/articleshow/58352728.cms
Ex-Army chief, General Ved Prakash Malik, was at Sarhad College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Katraj in Pune on Monday. The college has a sizeable number of Kashmiri students. He spoke to TOI's Sandip Dighe on the current situation.He said, " Situation especially and around Srinagar is in and around Srinagar is messy. A large number of people are agitating and stone-pelting incidents have increased. Women taking to the streets is not a good sign. We've to resolve this, but we can't leave everything to the armed forces. It requires active participation of politicians who should have a dialogue with the people, especially those who have suffered. We must rejuvenate a unified command." He added, " It's not solely the task of the Indian army . Conflict resolution has to be done at the political level. It's not right to place the complete burden on either the Army or the CRPF.If the Army is expected to resolve the Kashmir issue single-handedly , it cannot be done. A political solution is a final solution." timesofindia
Where are gau rakshaks now? Hundreds of cows die in Tamil Nadu due to lack of fodder and water
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/where-are-gau-rakshaks-now-hundreds-of-cows-die-in-tamil-nadu-due-to-lack-of-fodder-and-water-276338.html
Drought has not just affected the crops and farmers in the state but cattle as well. In the last five months, nearly five cows have died every day in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district. In villages of Moyar, Masinagudi, Balacola alone, nearly 300 cattle have died. The reason for the deaths is lack of green fodder and water.R Narayanan, 45, a farmer in Moyar said he had lost more than 50 of his cows to drought in the last 6 months. "Even today, nearly five cows have not returned after grazing. I will have to go check tomorrow if they are alive," he said.Another farmer at Masinagudi said, "Last week nearly 20 cattle died in the village. Revenue officials are always informed about it but no steps are taken. They do not even conduct post-mortem," said a farmer.Narayanan said often the doctor is not paid by the district authorities for conducting postmortems on the carcasses. "So, doctors refuse to come and ask us to click pictures and cut open the cows on our own. We refused to do that and dumped the carcasses," said Narayanan. "These cows were not just our livelihood but a part of our lives as well. I spent nearly 8 lakhs in the last year to get fodder for my cows. Yet, I could not save them," he said. indiatimes
Gau rakshaks attack Muslim family in Kashmir: Outdated laws used to target cow-herders in Jammu?
http://www.firstpost.com/india/gau-rakshaks-attack-gujjar-family-in-kashmir-outdated-laws-arent-helping-muslims-in-jammu-3402524.html
PDP-BJP Govt is tightening the noose around Muslims to prevent cow slaughter in the Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu region which has seen spate of mob attacks on the Muslims transporting the bovine animals for consumption.On Friday evening a mob attacked a Muslims Gujjar family in Reasi area, which has left at least five people, including two women, injured. The family members, who are distant relatives of senior PDP leader and vice-chairman of Gujjar and Bakerwal Advisory Board, Chaudhary Zafar Ali, were moving with their herd of cattle to Srinagar, when they were intercepted by a cow vigilante group at Reasi and were attacked with iron rods. Police said that eleven people, who have been booked for attempt to murder, were part of the cow vigilante brigade. Mob fury erupted as they asked from the family members the permission for carrying the cow herd from the concerned deputy commissioner or ADC, but after the Gujjars failed to furnish any authority letter they were assaulted and women were molested.Friday's incident is among the many cases reported in Jammu where a mob has attacked cow traders and in a few cases even set vehicles on fire. Earlier in September last year, a mob set ablaze a truck carrying cattle towards Kashmir from Rajouri. In December 2015, two vehicles were also set on fire at Kalakote after being intercepted by a mob as they spotted that the vehicles are transporting cattle. In October 2015, three persons, including a policeman, received burn injuries after a Kashmir bound truck carrying the cattle was attacked with a petrol bomb at Udhampur. In November 2015, a truck carrying the cattle was torched near Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. firstpost
'Gau Rakshaks' committing acts of terror: Owaisi
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/58343406.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said "Gau Rakshaks" (cow vigilantes) are committing acts of terror against innocent people and warned that continued attacks will stoke anarchy in the country. MP alleged that the BJP and its Govt did not want to stop Gau Rakshaks as they had a soft corner for them. He was reacting to the latest attacks by cow vigilantes on some people transporting cattle in Jammu and Delhi. AIMIM President said the attacks by Gau Rakshaks were increasing day by day and they had so far killed nine people and raped two women. economictimes
To mark the centenary of 1857, gau-rakshaks planned a ‘mutiny’ in 1957
https://scroll.in/article/834787/to-mark-the-centenary-of-1857-gau-rakshaks-planned-a-mutiny-in-1957
Much before emerging as the perpetrators of terror in the name of cow protection, gau rakshaks, the core cultural operatives of Hindutva, had once toyed with the idea of “a mutiny” that would mark hundred years of 1857 uprising.However, cow protectionists and Hindu revivalists, despite finding Jawaharlal Nehru’s regime insufferable, eventually did not try to execute the plan.According to police intelligence records, the plan was discussed in a series of meetings at Delhi in 1955 – two years before the centenary of 1857 uprising – by “high level leaders” of Hindu Maha Sabha, Ram Raj Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its political outfit, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. A confidential report filed by the Superintendent of Police, Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department, Patna spelt out the plan:“One of the leaders said that 1657, 1757, 1857 are famous for mutiny in the history of India, and therefore a mutiny must come in 1957. He openly said that Ram Rajya will be established in 1857 [read 1957] but not that Ram Rajya which was dreamt of by Mahatma Gandhi. Staunch Hindus will be the rulers of this Ram Rajya.” The report did not identify the leader, nor did it specify the dates when these meetings were held in Delhi in 1955.According to the report, the participants, including Ramchandra Sharma Veer, Prabhudatta Brahmachari, Dindayal Upadhyay, VD Savarkar, and “other registered communalists” who were “either personally or through their representatives present there”, also agreed to form a united front of like-minded parties to contest the second Lok Sabha election in 1957. Scroll.in
No regret over Pehlu’s death: Alwar BJP MLA
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cow-vigilantes-no-regret-over-pehlu-khan-dairy-farmer-death-alwar-bjp-mla-gyandev-ahuja-4627024/
Jaipur: BJP MLA Gyan Dev Ahuja on Monday said he had no regrets over the death of Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer who was beaten to death allegedly by cow vigilantes in Alwar. Speaking to reporters outside the Rajasthan Assembly, Alwar MLA Ahuja said, “Kanoon humko haath mein nahi lena chahiye. Lekin uski maut hui. Uske liye humko koi afsosh nahi hai. Aur afsosh karoonga bhi nahi kyunki jo gau taskar hain, gau hatyare hain, aise paapiyon ka yehi harsh hota raha hai, hota rahega (We should not take law into our hands. But we have no regret over his death because those who are cow-smugglers are cow-killers, sinners like them have met this fate earlier and will continue to do so).”Targeting the Congress for raising the issue of Khan’s death in the Assembly, Ahuja said, “Definitely he was a smuggler and we have proof of that. Why are these Congressmen crying foul, using their policy of appeasement and singing praises for the very people who are traitors of this country. They want to reward traitors and insult patriots, they are supporting cow-smugglers and killers.”Meanwhile, civil society organisations led by PUCL began a 3-day sit-in outside the Assembly seeking justice for Khan. Indianexpress
Buffaloes transporters assaulted: PFA’s Haryana chief says he trained Delhi suspects, had worked under Maneka
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kalkaji-buffalo-assault-maneka-gandhi-pfa-chied-haryana-delhi-suspect-trained-gau-rakshak-cow-protection-assault-4627037/
New Delhi: The chairman of the People for Animals (PFA) Haryana unit, Naresh Kadyan, has claimed that the two suspects in Saturday’s attack on 3 men transporting buffaloes in Delhi were trained by him — and that he had been conducting such “training” since 2005, allegedly on instructions from Maneka Gandhi, now the Union Minister for Women and Child Development. “I was asked by Mrs Maneka Gandhi to conduct the training then. I remember during the exercise we had caught a truck carrying brushes made of mongoose hair. I told the volunteers that the first thing to do in such a situation is to call the police and let them do their job,” Kadyan told The Indian Express.“Brothers Gaurav Gupta and Saurabh Gupta (accused in Saturday’s attack) were part of the exercise… I don’t know what kind of work these people now do under the umbrella of People for Animals… this is not training I gave them,” said Kadyan, referring to Saturday’s assault.According to its Facebook page — its website peopleforanimalsindia.org has been deactivated since Sunday — PFA is “India’s largest animal welfare organization”, with a network of 26 hospitals, 165 units and 2.5 lakh members.Many PFA unit members said that the Union Minister was the organisation’s “leading founding member and guide”. Websites of most of the units said these chapters were set up “under the advice of Smt. Maneka Gandhi”. indianexpress
3 transporting buffaloes assaulted at Kalkaji: 1 held, another PFA member emerges as suspect
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/3-transporting-buffaloes-assaulted-at-kalkaji-1-held-another-pfa-member-emerges-as-suspect-4626992/
Seats for ‘Hindustanis not Pakistanis’: Young men humiliate elderly man in Delhi Metro
http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/this-is-serious/seats-for-hindustanis-not-for-pakistanis-young-men-humiliate-elderly-man-in-delhi-metro-who-requested-for-a-seat-4626580/
Kolkata: In a shocking incident, an elderly man was allegedly humiliated and denied a seat in Delhi metro, allegedly for his appearance. The senior citizen approached two young men sitting on the senior citizens’ seat and requested to vacate it but they turned him down. On asking again the young men said that the seats are for “Hindustanis not for Pakistanis like you”. The man was presumed as a Muslim “because he had a beard and no moustache”, a Facebook post describing the post read.The post is now being widely shared online and has generated a lot of discussion.The incident reportedly occurred last week on Delhi’s violet line and was shared on social media by Kavita Krishnan, Secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association. Krishnan added in her post that finally a fellow passenger, Comrade Santosh Roy, intervened and came forward to help the old man. Krishnan introduces Roy as the National Secretary of AICCTU and a long-standing leader of the DTC Workers’ Unity Centre in the post.According to the post, when Roy asked the racist men to apologise to the man, they denied and also held Roy by his collar and allegedly told him to “Go to Pakistan”.Finally, the guards came into the compartment when the metro stopped at the Khan Market station and took the unruly men away. A complaint was lodged at the Pandara Road police station where they were taken.“Two young men kept threatening ‘Hamare log aa rahe hain’ (Our supporters will come). The police offered to escort the elderly Muslim gentleman home, but he went home on his own,” the post added.After the complaint, in the next few days, Roy got many phone calls saying the younger men wanted to apologise and but Roy turned it down that it’s the old man who deserves the apology. indianexpress
Naroda Patiya riots case: SIT opposes Kodnani’s plea to summon Amit Shah
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/naroda-patiya-riots-case-sit-opposes-kodnanis-plea-to-summon-amit-shah/
Ahmedabad: The Supreme Court-appointed SIT on Monday opposed former state minister Maya Kodnani’s petition in the Gujarat High Court to summon BJP chief Amit Shah and seven others in her defence in the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre case.Sentenced to life imprisonment and currently out on bail in this case, Kodnani moved the petition last week before the division bench which is hearing a set of appeal petitions, including hers.Kodnani, who has challenged her conviction and life sentence in the Naroda Patiya riots, made the plea to summon Shah and seven others as additional witnesses in a bid to prove her alibi of being elsewhere when the massacre took place. 5 of these names were mentioned in chargesheet; remaining 3, including Shah, are new witnesses.97 people were killed in Naroda Patiya area of Ahmedabad on Feb.28, 2002. Opposing Kodnani’s move, the SIT said that the petition is “a result of an afterthought, and has been filed after a gap of four years to delay the proceedings”. It argued that the appeal petitions in the case were filed in 2012, and the division bench started the hearing in Dec.2016. indianexpress
Riot victim challenges order allowing Kodnani to examine Amit Shah
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-riot-victim-challenges-order-allowing-kodnani-to-examine-shah-2414761
A victim and witness of 2002 Naroda Gam riot case on Monday filed an additional application in the high court here against the trial court's order allowing Gujarat's former minister Maya Kodnani to examine BJP president Amit Shah.Sharif Malek, the applicant, also sought a stay to the trial. Malek, who in his April 18 application, had told the HC that the order to allow Kodnani's plea was a ploy to delay the trial, today said the former minister was convicted in Naroda Patiya riots case in 2012, but she never sought to summon Amit Shah as a witness then."Kodnani seeks to summon Shah five years after she was given 28 years' life imprisonment in Naroda Patiya case....I believe that to defend herself, she is trying to take recourse to all kinds of political and other means," he alleged.Malek said judge Desai is a relative of advocate HM Dhruv, who was Kodnani's lawyer in Naroda Patiya case (Dhruv is Desai's uncle). Dhruv's junior Amit Patel is now Kodnani's lawyer in Naroda Gam case.PTI
India fifth largest military spender in 2016, says report
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-fifth-largest-military-spender-in-2016-says-report-4627395/
New Delhi: A report by military expenditure monitors Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has found that India was the fifth largest military spender in 2016. India’s military expenditure for 2016-17 was $55.9 billion.For 2017-18, the Union Budget allocated a defence budget of Rs. 3,59,854.12 crore (US$ 53.5 billion) to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley said in his budget speech “[f]or Defence expenditure excluding pensions, I have provided a sum of ₹2,74,114 crore including ₹86,488 crores for Defence capital.” Defence budget was an increase of 5.3% from the previous year. Its share in GDP was estimated to be 2.14% and it forms 16.76% share in the Central Govt expenditure. The revenue expenditure estimated was 1,75,861 crore and capital expenditure of 86,528.7 crore. indianexpress
Swamy backs Indresh Kumar's 'Muslims don't want mosque at Ayodhya' assertion
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/swamy-backs-indresh-kumar-s-muslims-don-t-want-mosque-at-ayodhya-assertion-117042500350_1.html
After Indresh Kumar claimed that Muslims do not want a mosque to be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya as they fear it will be "unholy" for them, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said the senior RSS functionary has done 'great service' by bringing the issue out.Swamy said.I it is extremely shameful that some Muslim parties think themselves to be the beneficiary of whatever loot and murders the Mughals did.ANI
Key suspect Paswan's claim that he caused Kanpur derailment is false: NIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/suspects-claim-that-he-caused-kanpur-derailment-is-false-nia/articleshow/58358200.cms
New Delhi: The claim of a key suspect behind the failed train sabotage attempt at Ghorasahan, Bihar, that he had also "planted the bomb" at Kanpur in Nov.2016, causing the Patna-Indore Express to derail, have been belied after NIA found he was in East Champaran, and not Kanpur, on the day of the accident."During investigation of Motilal Paswan's claims made to Bihar police, which had first arrested him, NIA sleuths checked his mobile records and location with the help of cellphone tower signals. It is now confirmed he was far from Kanpur on the day of the train mishap, which claimed 151 lives, ruling out the possibility of his having planted the bomb or any first-hand knowledge of the events leading to the derailment," a senior NIA officer told TOI.The officer did not comment on the reasons why Paswan may have falsely owned up role in the Kanpur derailment, which is a grave crime. However, TOI has learnt that Paswan, during questioning by NIA later, made no mention of any link to the Kanpur derailment. "We only probed his claims before the Bihar police and found that not only did he not have any idea of the approach route to Kanpur derailment site, but there were also glaring inconsistencies in his description of events leading to the accident," said the officer. timesofindia
UP ATS to monitor Indian workers in Saudi for terror links
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/up-ats-to-monitor-indian-workers-in-saudi-arabia-for-terror-links/articleshow/58349088.cms
Bijnor: Police will now be keeping a tab on the families of those who are working in Saudi Arabia or on those persons who have returned from there. This comes days after UP ATS picked up five persons from Bijnor for their alleged involvement with an IS network.Bijnor superintendent of police Ajay Sahani said, “We will keep a note of the family’s income and their activities as well. One of the persons picked up by UP ATS was Nazim Mohammad who had earlier worked in Saudi Arabia. There are always chances that these men are radicalized there.” According to the SP, there are thousands of people in Bijnor alone who have gone to Saudi to get a job, though the exact figure was being tabulated. timesofindia
Terror suspects arrested by UP ATS planned attack on Tarek Fatah:ATS officer
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/terror-suspects-planned-attack-on-tarek-fatah-4626862/
Lucknow: 4 terror suspects recently arrested by UP ATS planned to attack Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah when he would have visited India. The revelation was allegedly made during interrogation of suspects Faizan and Ahtesham, who are on 8-day police custody remand.ATS, in a joint operation with counterparts in five states, had arrested Nazim Shamshad alias Umar, Zeeshan alias Ghazi Baba alias Muzammil, Faizan alias Mufti and Ahtesham from Mumbai, Punjab, Bijnor in UP and Bihar, respectively.“We have shared information collected during interrogation with central agencies. The accused have revealed they planned to attack Tarek Fatah. They also wanted to kill any police officer in Mumbai Police,” an ATS officer said. indianexpress
Zakir's speeches had targeted Shias too: 2 Shia community leaders made statements to NIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/zakirs-speeches-had-targeted-shias-too/articleshow/58352965.cms
New Delhi: Two Shia community leaders from Mumbai have in statements made to NIA confirmed that televangelist Zakir Naik had, at events organised by his NGO Islamic Research Foundation in 2007 and 2008, "intentionally" made statements that hurt the sentiments of Hindus, Shias as well as a section of Sunnis. One such meeting addressed by him at Chunabhatti, Mumbai, had even sparked protests outside IRF office at Tandel Street and it took timely intervention by one of the two Shia leaders and NIA "witnesses", Safdar Hussain Karmali, to prevent people from burning the office.In their separate statements to NIA, Shia leaders Safdar Hussan Karmali and Abbas Ali have revealed that Naik, at an IRF gathering in Chunabhatti, Mumbai, in Dec 2007, had "intentionally" made a statement glorifying Yazid, "enemy" of their revered leader Hazrat Imam Hussain. He also made offensive statements, said Karmali, who had supplied furniture like chairs and tables for the IRF gathering, regarding Muharram and the battle of Karbala, calling the latter a "political battle" and not a "religious" battle.TOI
Need law in national interest to prevent custodial torture: SC
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/need-law-in-national-interest-to-prevent-custodial-torture-sc/articleshow/58346819.cms
New Delhi: Pointing out that there was no law on torture, the Supreme Court today said there was "extreme urgency" in national interest to frame an effective law to prevent torture and inhuman treatment of individuals in custody."We do not have a law on torture. This is a matter of national interest," a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said."Several issues are pending with the Law Commission. This is a matter which is required to be dealt with in extreme urgency. This is a matter of human rights," the bench further said.The remarks were made after Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court that Law Commission was examining the issue.The bench was hearing a PIL filed by senior advocate and former law minister Ashwani Kumar, who has sought directions to frame an effective law on the issue and empower agencies like NHRC with necessary enforcement capabilities and mechanisms to implement its orders and directions.During the hearing, the solicitor general said that the Govt has referred the matter to the Law Commission which would come out with recommendations on the issue."We have said it categorically that we have sent it (the matter) to the Law Commission and they are considering it," he said. SG also said that a Bill on the issue was in the Lok Sabha in 2010 and the erstwhile UPA-II Govt, in which Ashwini Kumar was himself a minister, could not get it passed.PTI
Prez Pranab to attend Osmania centenary celebration
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/president-pranab-mukherjee-to-attend-osmania-universitys-centenary-celebration-4627634/
Hyderabad:President Pranab Mukherjee will be in Hyderabad on Wednesday to attend the Osmania University’s centenary celebrations and the first convocation of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU).Telangana Governor E S L Narasimhan and CM K Chandrasekhar Rao will also be present at the events. According to a communication from the city police, traffic restrictions will be imposed on some routes of the city where the president’s convoy is expected to move. “Security will be tightened at the venues of the two events (Osmania University and Gachibowli). Traffic will also be diverted on some of the routes to facilitate the movement of the president,” a police official said.PTI
Conference on DaraShikoh draws experts from 6 countries
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/life-and-style/story/247537.html
New Delhi;The objective of the conference is to present Dara Shikoh''s contribution and initiatives in bringing about spiritual homogenisation of Hinduism and Islam and thereby building a cohesive social and cultural edifice of India.An upcoming conference on the spiritual legacy of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh here will see the participation of eminent scholars, academics and historians from the US, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and India.The international conference on "Dara Shikoh: Reclaiming Spiritual Legacy of India", organised by the Indian Council Of Cultural Relations (ICCR), will be held on April 27 and 28 at ICCR's Azad Bhavan here. The objective of the conference is to present Dara Shikoh's contribution and initiatives in bringing about spiritual homogenisation of Hinduism and Islam and thereby building a cohesive social and cultural edifice of India.IANS
JNU MPhil/ PhD seat cut: HC stays order upholding admission policy based on UGC regulations
http://indianexpress.com/article/education/delhi-hc-stays-order-upholding-jnu-admission-policy-based-on-ugc-regulations-4627428/
New Delhi: Delhi High Court stayed its order upholding JNU admission policy for MPhil and PhD courses based on the UGC regulations, news agency PTI reported. According to the July 2016 regulations of the UGC, a cap had been put on the number of students per professor/supervisor in MPhil and PhD courses in all varsities.According to PTI, a single judge of the Delhi High Court had held that the JNU admission policy was bound by the UGC regulations and JNU had to accept them. Delhi High Court’s findings came while it dismissed some students’ plea challenging JNU’s admission policy based on the UGC regulations. In their appeal, the students, contended that the single judge had “granted complete supremacy to the applicability of the UGC Act”, PTI reported. PTI
1 lakh madrassas to be upgraded with modern technology: Naqvi
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/1-lakh-madrassas-to-be-upgraded-with-modern-technology-naqvi/1/938022.html
Ghaziabad: Centre will upgrade one lakh madrassas in the country with state-of-art technology to provide better schooling to Muslim community, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said.Speaking at Taleem-O-Tarbiyat programme in Hindi Bhawan here yesterday, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs noted that the financial aid by the Centre in this regard has been made public by revealing the same online, so that "no mediators can gulp it"."One lakh madrassas (traditional learning centres) will be upgraded with new technology. A total of 25,000 madrassas have been identified, including 12,000 in UP , to introduce the 3 T formula of Teachers, Tiffin and Toilets," he said.The BJP leader said 100 Navodaya Vidyalaya will be opened in UP in 2018.PTI
Denied free food, Gujarat police parade restaurant owner across town in handcuffs, arrest family
https://thewire.in/128128/gujarat-palitana-police-nodia/
The family was freed a month after their arrest, when the Gujarat high court quashed charges against them. But the policemen involved have faced no consequences.Palitana, Gujarat: On March 15 in Palitana, a town in Bhavnagar district in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, policemen allegedly beat up a restaurant owner and his family for refusing to give them free food.The family of Dilipbhai Yusufbhai Nodia, 52, has been running businesses for generations now. They own six restaurants and a garment shop in Palitana.For the last four or five years, restaurants owned by the Nodias (Dilipbhai and his five brothers) had become the source of food for the police in Palitana – but free of cost. Every day, the police would order food from any of the six restaurants for individual personnel, private parties thrown by officers and even for accused people in custody. In four years, the police paid for their bills only twice, but nowhere close to the actual amount owed, the family has alleged.“In all these years, the police paid us only twice, in November last year. The business had hit a low due to demonetisation, so we had urged them to pay the bills. That is when they paid Rs 10,000 and Rs 900 separately on two occasions,” Rajeshbhai Nodia, the youngest of the Nodia brothers, told The Wire.Unable to bear the losses, Dilipbhai, the eldest brother, decided to refuse to give away food for free and asked the police to clear all pending bills – an amount of more than Rs 3 lakh.“A day after we refused to give away free food and demanded that the old bills be paid, Rawat Sinh, a police constable, came down to one of our restaurants at 10 am and said ‘Saheb ne bulaya (sir has called)’. Since Dilipbhai was not there at the time, he took Karimbhai with him to the police station,” said Rajeshbhai. thewire
2 years after being called ‘anti-national’, Aamir Khan honoured by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/two-years-after-being-called-anti-national-aamir-khan-honoured-by-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-4627191/
Mumbai: Once bashed for his comments on intolerance, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan wouldn’t have seen this day coming. But it did happen. The actor — who made a remark in 2015 that there was a rise in intolerance in the country that led to many sections calling for a boycott of his movies and others asking him to go to Pakistan — was honoured by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday. However, that was not the only element of surprise regarding this particular award ceremony. The actor, who is famous for staying away from award functions, was there to accept the honour left many with raised eyebrows. Breaking his resolution, superstar received Vishesh Puraskar at the 75th Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards. The honour was for his performance in Dangal, one of the biggest hits of 2016. indianexpress
“Muslims need constitutional protection” – Justice Sachar at Aliah University
http://twocircles.net/2017apr24/408333.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
A 2 days seminar ‘Towards Equality, Justice and Fraternity in Contemporary India : Creating a better Tomorrow Through Law’ being organised by Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi at the Aliah University, Kolkata started today with a elaborative address by Justice Rajinder Sachar, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.He talked about the growing economic disparity among Muslims and spoke for providing affirmative action to them. The Govt is deliberately targeting the community which is against the spirit of the constitution. Muslims need constitutional protection and all those who are speaking against secularism actually are working against Indian constitution. Prof T K Ooman delivered a very thought provoking address and challenged the popular notion of nation state. He openly advocated that the state must not intervene in the cultural practices of diverse communities that live in India. He suggested mere constitutional provisions will never bring fraternity among citizens unless they learn to respect cultural diversity of the people. The Govt has no right to intrude into the personal affairs and cultural practices of communities.
KCR meets PM Modi, seeks constitutional safeguard for Muslim quota bill
http://www.timesnow.tv/india/article/kcr-meets-pm-modi-seeks-constitutional-safeguard-for-muslim-quota-bill/59871
New Delhi: Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday met PM Narendra Modi to seek a constitutional safeguard for the new legislation that was brought in the state offering 12 % reservation for Muslims.KCR demanded that the bill to increase reservation in Govt jobs and education for backward Muslims be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, which will help the legislation bypass judicial scrutiny, sources stated. timesnow
WORLD
US officials in Afghanistan suggest Russia arms Taliban
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/officials-afghanistan-suggest-russia-arms-taliban-170424204006251.html
US must confront Russia for providing weapons to the Taliban for use against US-backed forces in Afghanistan, top US military officials say.According to the AP, a senior US military official speaking on condition of anonymity said in Kabul on Monday that Russia was giving machine guns and other medium-weight weapons to the group.Taliban are using those weapons in Afghanistan's southern provinces of Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan, the official said.General John Nicholson, the American commander in Afghanistan, would not provide specifics about Russia's role in Afghanistan at a news conference in Kabul alongside Jim Mattis, the US defence secretary.But Nicolson would "not refute" that Moscow's involvement includes giving weapons to the Taliban.Asked about Russia's activity in Afghanistan, where it fought a bloody war in the 1980s and withdrew in defeat, Mattis alluded to the US' increasing concerns."We'll engage with Russia diplomatically,"Mattis said. "But we're going to have to confront Russia where what they're doing is contrary to international law or denying the sovereignty of other countries.""For example," Mattis said in the Afghan capital, "any weapons being funneled here from a foreign country would be a violation of international law."Russia denies that it provides any such support to the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan until the US-led invasion in 2001.Moscow says contact is limited to safeguarding security and getting the group to reconcile with the Govt - which Washington has failed for years to advance.Russia has also promoted easing global sanctions on Taliban leaders who prove cooperative. aljazeera
Air strikes kill civilians fleeing Syria's Raqqa: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/air-strikes-kill-civilians-fleeing-syria-raqqa-170425043623186.html
Air strikes have killed at least 11 people, 7 of them children, as they tried to flee the fighting in Syria's northern Raqqa province, witnesses and a monitor said. A family was killed in a suspected US-led coalition air strike that targeted their car while leaving the city of Tabqa, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday.Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the ISIL have been locked in battle in the northern city and thousands have fled the area.A citizen journalist group in Raqqa known as Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) said at least 17 civilians were killed in the strikes on the city.US-backed SDF are trying to retake Raqqa province, ISIL's stronghold in Syria and are currently battling ISIL around Tabqa after they have captured the south of the city.SDF captured the strategic Tabqa airbase from ISIL last month. The airbase is 45km west of Raqqa. The Observatory said in a report on Tuesday that at least 1,264 civilians, including 280 children, have been killed in US-led coalition air strikes since Sept.2014. In its latest report, Observatory said at least 10,915 civilians, including 2,393 children, were killed in Govt air strikes and barrel bombs dropped by helicopters.In addition to that, 64,000 others were injured in these attacks.The casualties were a result of 30 months of air strikes and helicopter strikes.UN said in a press release on Monday that at least 39,000 newly displaced people fled to the Jib al-Shaair makeshift camp in Raqqa province, where four out of five people are staying in the open air without appropriate shelter."UN is deeply concerned for the safety and protection of over 400,000 people in Raqqa, in Syria. In past weeks, civilians have been exposed to daily fighting and air strikes which resulted in an escalating number of civilian deaths and injuries as well as damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, markets and water infrastructure," the press release said.
US sanctions Syria officials over sarin gas attack:aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/sanctions-syria-officials-sarin-gas-attack-170424174434046.html
US blacklisted 271 employees of a Syrian Govt agency it said was responsible for developing chemical weapons, weeks after a poison gas attack killed scores of people in Syria.US Treasury Dept said employees of Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Centre are experts in chemistry and related fields, or have worked in support of the centre's "chemical weapons programme" since at least 2012, or both.
US carried out more than 80 strikes in Yemen: Pentagon
http://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-carried-out-more-than-80-strikes-in-yemen-pentagon/804411
Washington:US forces have carried out more than 80 strikes in Yemen since March, the Pentagon said Monday.Speaking at a press conference, spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said they conducted a strike against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terror group on April 18th in Maghrib governorate, and another on the 23rd in Shabwah governorate."Us forces will continue conducting a series of sustained operations against the AQAP to limit AQAP's ability to hold territory seized from the legitimate Govt of Yemen," Davis added. Anadolu agency
Israel appoints country's first female sharia judge in its Muslim court:AFP
http://www.firstpost.com/world/israel-appoints-countrys-first-female-sharia-judge-in-its-muslim-court-3404034.html
Israel appointed its first female judge in its Muslim sharia court system on Tuesday, officials said, a move hailed as historic.Hana Khatib, an attorney from the northern town of Tamra, was selected by an Israeli justice committee alongside three men to become a religious judge, or qadi, in the courts ruling on personal law for Muslims inside Israel.Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, from the far-right Jewish Home party and head of the committee that selected Khatib, said the appointment of a female religious judge "should have happened a long time ago." "This is great news for Arab women and the Arab society," she said in a statement."I'm excited over the choice, and hope this is the bellwether for further appointments of women."Aida Touma-Sliman, a female Arab lawmaker from the Joint List coalition, called Khatib's appointment "a historic move" that was the result of a long legal struggle, adding it would benefit all Arabs in Israel.In Israel, family law -- divorce, marriage, endowments -- falls under the jurisdiction of religious courts, and separate systems exist for the country's different creeds.Khatib is the first woman not only for the Muslim sharia courts but for all the religious courts in Israel, as no women serve as judges in the Jewish or Druze courts. firstpost
Official: Fatah refused to take control of Gaza from Hamas
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170425-official-fatah-refused-to-take-control-of-gaza-from-hamas/
Hamas was willing to hand over the crossings and Govt of the Gaza Strip however Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refuse, a senior Hamas member said today.Speaking to writers and analysts, Salah Bardawil said: “Our people have many strong cards in the international arena, but President Mahmoud Abbas is ignoring them.”“Abbas is going to Washington without having conferred with anyone,” he added, noting that there is no other Palestinian institution that represents the Palestinian people other than the president.“We as a people, have strong playing cards and we will not surrender to such an impasse. We will support all those who support the intifada in the West Bank and if the enemy thinks of attacking us, we will teach them a hard lesson.”He called on Fatah to work hand in hand, along with all the factions, to combat the conspiracy against the Palestinians, adding that Hamas will be knocking on Egypt’s door, as well as the Arab League countries’ to ensure they fulfil their obligations. middleeastmonitor
China demands Israel not employ its workers in settlements
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170424-china-demands-israel-not-employ-its-workers-in-settlements/
Israeli Govt ratified an agreement to employ thousands of Chinese workers in Israel, after Tel Aviv agreed to the Chinese Govt ’s demand that its citizens not work in illegal settlements, Haaretz reported. Official ratification of the agreement came after years of negotiations between the two parties during which China insisted on its condition.China said the condition aimed to ensure the workers’ personal safety, but Israeli foreign ministry officials believe the real reason was political, relating to the fact that China and the rest of the international community view settlements as illegal as they are located on occupied territory. middleeastmonitor
Killing Erdoğan, civil war solution for Turkey: French professor
https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2017/04/23/killing-erdogan-civil-war-is-solution-for-turkey-french-professor-says
Istanbul: One of Turkey's options to get rid of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is to get him assassinated, Philippe Moreau Defarges, a professor and former diplomat, said during a TV program after Turkey's presidential referendum that resulted in a 'Yes' vote.The scandalous remarks of the Defarges, aired on French broadcaster BFM, also suggested that a civil war would be another option to assassinating Turkey's president.When the host of the program said an assassination can not be legitimized due to a political 'crisis', Defarges tried to justify his argument, claiming that similar situations have been observed history.Defarges also said Turkey would not become an EU member even if it signed an accession deal since each EU member state would need to approve it. Dailysabah
China bans Islamic baby names in Muslim majority Xinjiang province: independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-ban-islamic-baby-names-muslim-xinjiang-province-uyghurs-burqa-islam-jihad-human-rights-a7700646.html
Chinese authorities have banned Islamic baby names in the country’s largest Muslim province, as part of a crackdown on alleged "extremism" that monitors say restricts fundamental rights.A document entitled “Naming Rules for Ethnic Minorities” prohibits names used by Muslim parents around the world including Imam, Hajj, Islam, Quran, Saddam, Medina and Islam, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.It applies to the Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang, where the Communist Party has been imposing ever tighter restrictions on religion in what it claims is a battle against “extremism”, amid a separatist uprising by Uyghur rebels.Any babies with “overly religious” names will be barred from the hukou household registration system governing access to healthcare and education, a police official in the regional capital of Urumqi told RFA, which was founded by the US Govt and advances its foreign policy.
Hafiz Saeed not involved in Mumbai attacks: Musharraf
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world-hafiz-saeed-not-involved-in-mumbai-attacks-claims-pervez-musharraf-378565
Pervez Musharraf, ex-military ruler of Pakistan, has claimed that JuD chief Hafiz Saeed was not involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack that left 166 people dead.“I don’t think Saeed was behind the 26/11 attacks. In Pakistan, we don’t call him a terrorist,” Musharraf said.Referring to Saeed’s house arrest in Pakistan, Musharraf said, “Let me surprise you. The Hafiz Saeed issue is an issue in India, not in the United States.” “They may be talk about Haqqani and Shakil Afridi… they don’t talk about Hafiz Saeed, only India keeps talking about him,” he said, while talking about the Mumbai attacks. India TV News
Al-Azhar denies appointment of Brotherhood teachers
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170425-egypts-al-azhar-university-denies-appointment-of-muslim-brotherhood-teachers/
Cairo-based Al-Azhar University has denied media reports released by one of its professors over the appointment of 6,000 teaching assistants whom belong to the Muslim Brotherhood.The university’s media centre said in an official statement today that those teachers were not appointed during the Brotherhood’s rule and that they had been appointed during the transitional period, following the 2013 military coup, stressing that the appointment was approved by the university’s president at the time, Sheikh Osama Al-Abd. Commenting on the teachers’ relation to the Muslim Brotherhood group, the university described the allegations as a “slander,” arguing that some of them are currently working for the Egyptian Justice Ministry.The statement also noted to decision made by the ex-PM, Essam Sharaf, to appoint the university’s top graduates of the period from 2002- 2010, whom were not hired in academia at the time. middleeastmonitor
Pope to Egypt to mend ties with Islam but conservatives wary
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-pope-to-egypt-to-mend-ties-with-islam-but-conservatives-wary-2415651
Pope Francis hopes to mend ties with Muslims on his trip to Egypt on Friday but faces criticism from church conservatives for meeting Islamic religious leaders after a spate of deadly attacks against Christians.In a video message to the people of Egypt, Francis said the world had been "torn by blind violence, which has also afflicted the heart of the your dear land" and said he hoped his trip could help peace and inter-religious dialogue.Security is a primary concern less than three weeks after 45 people were killed in attacks on Coptic Christian churches in Alexandria and Tanta, claimed by Islamic State, on Palm Sunday.But Francis has insisted on using an ordinary car during his 27 hours in Cairo, continuing his practice of shunning armoured limousines in order to be closer to people.
Reuters
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Media must desist from fanning anti-Muslim sentiments: Moin Qazi
http://www.dailyo.in/voices/muslims-media-islam-communal-terrorism/story/1/16826.html
Kashmir unrest: Alienated and resentful, the youth and women of the Valley are a ticking timebomb: Sameer Yasir
http://www.firstpost.com/india/kashmir-unrest-alienated-and-resentful-the-youth-and-women-of-the-valley-are-a-ticking-timebomb-3402494.html
Is the BJP’s Sudden Interest in Abolishing Triple Talaq Really About Empowering Muslim Women? Indu Agnihotri
https://thewire.in/127767/triple-talaq-muslim-women-bjp/
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
This newspaper columnist calls for mob violence against Muslims, deletes post: Priyanka Chaturvedi -
http://www.jantakareporter.com/blog/mob-violence-muslims/118724/
A country for the cow: The chronicle of a visit to cow vigilante victim Pehlu Khan’s village: Harsh Mander
https://scroll.in/article/835315/a-country-for-the-cow-the-chronicle-of-a-visit-to-pehlu-khans-village
A Defining Image That Has Effectively Ended the Rule of Mehbooba Mufti: SEEMA MUSTAFA
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/NewsDetail/index/1/10520/A-Defining-Image-That-Has-Effectively-Ended-the-Rule-of-Mehbooba-Mufti
A Muslim Woman's Open Letter to Sadhvi Prachi on the Nikah-nama: Nazia Erum, TEDx speaker, author
http://www.news18.com/news/india/a-muslim-womans-open-letter-to-sadhvi-prachi-on-the-nikah-nama-1383395.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:57 PM)
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