Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
18 Jan.2017: 19 Rabius Sani 1438: Vol:8, No:92
INDO-PAK & SOUTH ASIA
India slams China-Pak Economic Corridor, asks China to respect its territorial sovereignty
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/zoq3BM0CHDj7HiwWhV2DrM/Raisina-Dialogue-S-Jaishankar-objects-to-ChinaPakistan-ec.html
New Delhi: In the midst of growing unease in their ties, India on Wednesday asked China to respect its territorial sovereignty and said its ascent should not be seen as a threat to China’s rise. Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar also criticised Pakistan for “blocking” SAARC, saying the regional grouping has become “ineffective” due to insecurity of one member nation. Talking about China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through Pakistan occupied-Kashmir, Jaishankar, addressing the Raisina Dialogue, envisioned as the country’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, said China should respect India’s territorial sovereignty as Beijing was “very sensitive” to matters relating to its own sovereignty. “China is a country which is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. So we would expect that they would have some understanding of other people’s sensitivity on their sovereignty,” he said, noting there was no sign of any reflection on India’s concerns over CPEC project.The foreign secretary’s comments came a day after PM Narendra Modi, in a clear message to China, said both sides should show sensitivity and respect for each other’s core concerns and interests.Modi had on Tuesday said only by respecting sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfil their promise and avoid “differences and discord”. “What we are trying to do is to convince China that our rise is not harmful to China’s rise just as China’s rise need not be to India’s rise,” Jaishankar told the gathering.Referring to Donald Trump’s election, the foreign secretary said relations between US and Russia could undergo a major transformation not seen since 1945 and that its impact was hard to predict. In this context,he said India’s relations with both US and Russia were on an upswing and an improvement in US-Russia ties was not against Indian interests.PTI
India trying to convince China that our rise won’t harm its ascent: Jaishankar
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-trying-to-convince-china-that-our-rise-won-t-harm-its-ascent-says-jaishankar/story-L2biofCV2onSXUHFr9oblK.html
China Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through illegal territory of PoK: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-illegal-territory-pak-occupied-kashmir-foreign-secretary-s-jaishankar/1/860199.html
China defends Pak corridor after Modi criticism of projects
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-narendra-modi-pakistan-occupied-kashmir/1/860334.html
Beijing:A day after PM Narendra Modi implicitly criticised China's connectivity projects for "overriding sovereignty" of other nations, Beijing said its corridor through PoK was neither aimed at India nor reflective of its position on Kashmir.China defended the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Wednesday when asked about PM's comments on connectivity and sovereignty."In his remarks PM Modi did not directly mention CPEC," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying."Regarding CPEC, this is a project that is devised for long term development and cooperation in various fields. It is of great significance in regional connectivity and trade cooperation. It is for regional peace and development."indiatoday
Chinese troops can reach Delhi in 48 hours: Chinese state TV channel
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/chinese-troops-can-reach-delhi-in-48-hours-claims-tv-channel-gets-trolled-on-twitter/512451/
A Chinese state TV channel on Tuesday proudly proclaimed that it would take China’s motorised troops just 48 hours to reach Delhi. And while this, not the first ridiculous statement to have come from the often hostile neighbours, it is as specific as one could get. Experts believe that the statement is logically incorrect and by no means can the motorised troops reach Delhi in 48 hours, considering the terrain and the Indian forces to counter them. financialexpress
Differences over NSG membership, Azhar ban issues should not be 'stumbling blocks' in ties with India: China
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/differences-over-nsg-membership-azhar-ban-issues-should-not-be-stumbling-blocks-in-ties-with-india-china/articleshow/56645467.cms
Beijing:China has said differences over India's NSG membership bid and designating of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the UN should not be "stumbling blocks" in developing ties and asserted that both sides must respect each other's core interests and major concerns.Appreciating PM Narendra Modi's remarks that the rise of India and China offered an "unprecedented opportunity" for both countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here that it is very important for both countries to have sound and stable cooperation.Asked about India's concerns over China blocking India's NSG membership bid and efforts to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Azhar banned by the UN, Hua said the 2 are multilateral issues and both sides should understand each other's positions instead of pointing fingers."I think we need to try to understand from the other party's position. Respecting each other's core interests is our basic position. We have common interests and we also have differences," she said."The key is to resolve these differences through friendly consultation, instead of pointing fingers at each other and accusing the other of neglecting core interests. For the two issues, they are specific issues, and they are not bilateral ones," Hua said."About the China blocking India's efforts to get Azhar banned by the UN for his alleged involvement in the Pathankot attack, she said, "the technical hold is to uphold the effectiveness of the committee and show some respect to the rules of procedure of the committee.""We have been following these rules in maintaining contact with other countries. And this issue will be resolved when all parties reach consensus. We need more time for more thorough deliberations so that consensus is reached," she said."This (Azhar) issue will be resolved when all parties involved reach consensus. We need more time for more thorough deliberations to reach consensus. So these two issues shall not be stumbling blocks for China-India to develop their relationship. We need to look further and seek common ground to remain and maintain our mutually beneficial cooperation and together seek a solution to these issues," she said.PTI
After PM Modi’s speech, China says NSG, Azhar issues must not be ‘stumbling blocks’ in ties
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-pm-modi-s-speech-china-says-nsg-azhar-issues-must-not-stumbling-blocks-in-ties/story-GeJ3BDrNTDySAmQCtRreAK.html
OTHERS
Smriti Irani had asked DU not to reveal her educational qualification, CIC told
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/smriti-irani-had-asked-du-not-to-reveal-her-educational-qualification-central-information-commission-told/articleshow/56647155.cms
New Delhi: Amid the row over her educational qualification, Union Minister Smriti Irani had asked the Delhi University not to disclose it to an RTI applicant, the School of Open Learning has told the Central Information Commission.The Commission has now directed the School of Open Learning (SoL) to produce before it all the records related to educational details of Irani who is the Union Textile Minister.A fresh show cause notice has been issued to the Central Public Information Officer of DU for having failed to produce the records before the Commission as directed.Irani's degrees have been caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she had given contradictory information in her affidavits filed before contesting elections in 2004, 2011 and 2014.In her affidavit for April, 2004 Lok Sabha polls, Irani had said she completed her BA in 1996 from DU (School of Correspondence as SoL was then called), whereas in another affidavit of July 11, 2011 to contest Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she said her highest educational qualification was BCom Part I, a petitioner had alleged in a city court.The matter was dismissed by the court on the ground that considerable time had lapsed in filing the complaint.The issue is, however, still alive before the CIC where an applicant had filed an appeal, saying he was not given information about Irani's educational qualification by the SoL.During a hearing, SoL's Central Public Information Officer OP Tanwar said considering that it was a third party information he had consulted Irani about the disclosure.PTI
Smriti Irani asked us to not reveal her education details to RTI applicant: DU's School of Open Learning
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/smriti-irani-degree-du-school-of-open-learning/1/860346.html
Allow inspection of Smriti Irani's board record: Central Information Commission tells CBSE
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/allow-inspection-of-smriti-iranis-board-record-central-information-commission-tells-cbse/articleshow/56629572.cms
Govt to promote mainstream education with religious teachings in madrassas
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-soon-to-introduce-madrasa-empowerment-programme/articleshow/56632232.cms
New Delhi: To encourage madrassas to promote mainstream education along with their traditional religious teachings, the union ministry for minority affairs is preparing to come out with a "Madrasa Empowerment Programme" which would involve providing free mid-day meals and other incentives including scholarships to students.A committee of experts has been set-up by the ministry to work out the modalities for implementation of the Program which will be applicable only to madrassas providing mainstream education and a list of such institutions will be drawn to ensure that the benefit reaches the deserving candidates. Program is expected to be implemented by April. It is estimated that there are around 70,000 madrassas in the country. This number includes madrassas affiliated to state Madrasa Boards and those that are non-affiliated. Minister of State holding independent charge of minority affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said demand for mid day meal and other facilities came from representatives working closely with madrassas and so it was decided to set-up a committee to draw the guidelines for implementation of the Madrasa Empowerment Program" that, he said, would be named after freedom fighter Maulana Hasrat Mohani. "This will include the mid-day meal component and scholarship among other facilities that can help improve the standard of education in madrassas and encourage the institutions to promote mainstream education," Naqvi said. Naqvi said he had held a meeting with representatives of such madrassas on Monday to discuss the issue and urged them to offer more suggestions in this regard. "We decided to work on the empowerment program which also involves providing mid-day meal to children at a meeting of the general body of Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MEAF) held on Dece. 29, 2016. MAEF general body had also decided to consider grant-in-aid scheme for the madrassas that provide mainstream education like science, maths, etc." he said. On Funding, he said that the finances for Empowerment Program may be drawn from those available with MEAF. timesofindia
Centre to launch Midday meal scheme for Madrasas: Naqvi
http://theindianawaaz.com/centre-to-launch-mid-day-meal-scheme-for-madrasas-naqvi/
Naqvi introduces minority related welfare works at annual meet of minorities commissions
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-will-establish-five-world-class-educational-institutions-for-minorities-by-2018-117011700965_1.html
"Ministry of Minority Affairs will establish 5 world class educational institutions to provide better traditional and modern education to students belonging to Minority communities by 2018", said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, while inaugurating the annual conference of state minorities commissions in Delhi.He informed that welfare schemes and programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs have been made "100% digital" which has ensured transparency in these schemes.Naqvi said that making Haj application process completely digital; launch of Haj mobile app and "cashless chaupal" are among our measures for welfare of Minorities. Centre has also approved about 200 "Sadbhav Mandap" and 16 "Gurukul" type of schools with a cost of about Rs 262 crore.Naqvi said that "a high-level committee has been constituted for this purpose. Committee is working on a roadmap including places where these institutes will be established. We are working on a strategy so that these institutes can get started in 2018."He further said -"We have proposed 40% reservation for girls in these institutions. It has been decided to start "Begam Hajrat Mahal Girls Scholarship" and "Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centre" across the country."Naqvi said that Minority Affairs Ministry, in cooperation with state Govts, is constructing schools, colleges, malls, hospitals, skill development centres etc and revenue generated will be utilized for educational and other developmental activities for Muslim community. Multi-purpose community centres "Sadbhav Mandap" are also being constructed on waqf land which will be utilized for marriage ceremonies, exhibitions and also relief centres during a calamity.ANI
DEMONETISATION
House panel criticises RBI governor for inability to answer demonetisation questions: economictimes
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/rs-9-2-lakh-crore-remonetised-till-date-rbi-governor-urjit-patel-to-parliamentary-panel/articleshow/56645451.cms
Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday criticised RBI Governor Urjit Patel for his inability to answer queries related to demonetisation. "Patel was unable to tell us how much money has come back to the banks," said Saugata Roy, TMC MP. "Governor was unable to tell us that how much old currency has come into the banks," added Saugata Roy. Sources also quoted the RBI governor, as telling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that Rs 9.2 lakh crore in new currency has been introduced into the system. Patel briefed the parliamentary panel about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch. Besides, representatives of the Finance Ministry, including from the Department of Economic Affairs, Financial Services and Revenue, briefed the Standing Committee on Finance headed by former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily. Representatives of Indian Banks Association, SBI, PNB and Oriental Bank of Commerce were also present in the meeting.
RBI Chief to MPs: Demonetisation process started last jan
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rbis-autonomy-compromised-urjit-patel-answers-lawmakers-1650163?google_editors_picks=true
India Has Replaced Only ₹9.2 Lakh Crores Worth Of Scrapped Currency So far: RBI Governor Urjit Patel
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/01/18/india-has-replaced-rs-9-2-lakh-crores-worth-of-scrapped-currenc/?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
Modi turned India into Hiroshima, Nagasaki with demonetisation bomb: Shiv Sena
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-has-turned-india-into-hiroshima-nagasaki-by-dropping-demonetisation-bomb-shiv-sena/story-9p4SK616gcWWdJFBWyHYVL.html
Mumbai:PM Narendra Modi has turned the country into Hiroshima and Nagasaki by dropping demonetisation bomb, the Shiv Sena has said in its most vicious attack on the Govt over the shock recall of high-value banknotes.The Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP at the Centre, has been critical of the Govt ever since Modi’s demonetization step that sucked out 86% of the banknotes in circulation.In an editorial in its mouthpiece, Saamana, Sena also accused Modi of taking decisions unilaterally, besides making the comparison with the two Japanese cities destroyed by atomic bombs dropped by the United States during the World War II.HT
Demonetisation woes: Too many vegetables, too little cash hits sellers hard
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/demonetisation-woes-too-many-vegetables-too-little-cash-hits-sellers-hard/story-mOZpi9ig9D19NNjzWUg48L.html
Sunil Kumar, a 31-year-old farmer in Tondala village, Kolar district, 85 km east of Bengaluru, lost Rs 300,000 in Nov.when tomato prices crashed after the Nov, 8, 2016, scrapping of 86% of bank notes, by value, and the excess supply of vegetables. Kumar, who cultivates tomatoes on his 5-acre farm, said he made a profit of Rs 30 lakh during the same time last year.The 110% drop in income from 2016 has come at a time when the weather–and so the harvest–was good this year, said Kumar. So, demonetization couldn’t have come at a worse time. With money sucked out of the market, there was a tomato glut, and prices crashed by 80%.HT
OTHERS
Rohith Vemula’s mother, students arrested as protest rocks Hyderabad varsity
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rohith-vemula-s-mother-students-arrested-as-protest-rocks-hyderabad-varsity/story-GcU38sGVp1ftvVWNIgLMDL.html
Hyderabad/New Delhi: Police arrested Rohith Vemula’s mother and a few students as protest rocked University of Hyderabad on Tuesday on the first death anniversary of the Dalit research scholar. Students staging demonstration in New Delhi were also detained by the police.Radhika Vemula was arrested late in the evening soon after she addressed protesting students outside the main gate of the university as she was denied entry into the campus.Tension prevailed at the main gate as police took Radhika and a few students into custody amid strong protest by dozens of pro-Rohith students.During her speech, Radhika said she was facing a threat to her life from the central govt. She alleged that during the last one year she and her other family members were harassed on false charges that they are not Dalits.Earlier, police arrested scores of protestors as they tried to defy the ban orders and enter the campus to pay tributes to Rohith and take part in a meeting.Activists of AAP, Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), Students Islamic Organisation (SIO),Osmania University Joint Action Committee and other student groups were among those who gathered at the main gate.Police erected barricades to stop outsiders from entering the campus.The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, an umbrella grouping of student bodies demanding justice for Rohith, was holding a meeting in the campus to mark ‘shahdath din’ (martyrdom day). The organisers invited Jaan Mohammed, brother of Akhlaq, who was lynched by a mob at Dadri in UP over rumours of beef eating, Fathima Nafees, mother of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, suspended student and Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association leader Rahul Sonpimple.HT
Police detains protesting JNU students
http://www.dnaindia.com/delhi/report-police-detains-protesting-jnu-students-2293611
Around 50 students, staging a protest commemorating the death anniversary of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, were on Tuesday detained as they tried to block the Janpath road of central Delhi. Following a protest call from JNU Students' Union, around 300 students from JNU, Delhi University, and Jamia Milia Islamia University took out a rally from Mandi House to Ministry of HRD but couldn't proceed due to police barricading at Janpath.The agitated students alleged being dragged and thrashed by the police.DNA
Human Rights Watch criticises Modi Govt over increasing attacks on Muslims and Dalits
http://twocircles.net/2017jan18/403006.html
New Delhi: Hindu vigilante groups attacked Muslims and Dalits over suspicions that they had killed, stolen, or sold cows for beef. The violence took place amid an aggressive push by several BJP leaders and militant Hindu groups to protect cows and ban beef consumption, Human Rights Watch has said in ‘World Report 2017’.The human rights advocacy group has said, “Govt’s failure to rein in militant groups, combined with inflammatory remarks made by some BJP leaders, has contributed to the impression that leaders are indifferent to growing intolerance.”The report also cites various other cases like that of March 2016, in which a Muslim cattle trader, Mohammed Mazlum Ansari and a 12-year-old boy, Mohammed Imteyaz Khan, were found hanging from a tree in Jharkhand; their hands tied behind their backs and their bodies bruised. In August, a man was killed in Karnataka state by members of a nationalist Hindu group while transporting cows.TwoCircles
Separatists slam Mufti’s AFSPA stand
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Separatists-slam-Mufti%E2%80%99s-AFSPA-stand/article17051816.ece
Srinagar: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti’s move to soft-pedal revocation of the AFSPA has separatists in the Valley up in arms.In her address to the Upper House in Jammu, Ms. Mufti, whose PDP advocates the removal of AFSPA, said, “The success of the security forces depends upon when we start revoking the AFSPA. It also depends upon when we stomp out militancy fully, and, slowly and steadily decrease the footprints of security forces.”Ms. Mufti’s remarks are a departure from the PDP’s previous stand to pursue the Centre “vigorously” for revocation of the AFSPA, which is also part of the ‘Agenda of Alliance’.While soft-pedalling AFSPA in the wake of growing home-grown militancy, Ms. Mufti pitched for connecting J&K with the outside world. The hindu
Govt re-allots land cancelled by UPA to RSS-backed body
https://thewire.in/100783/modi-Govt -re-allots-land-cancelled-upa-rss-backed-organisations/
New Delhi:Nearly 13 years after the UPA Govt had cancelled the allotment of institutional land to 29 right-leaning organisations by Vajpayee Govt in Delhi, the Modi Govt has restored the allotment of prime plots of land to most of them. The majority of 26 plots, which have now been allotted, are situated on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in the heart of the city. BJP Govt under Vajpayee had made 225 allotments. These allotments were made between 1998-1999 and Sept.2004. Since of these 125 were made to Govt and political institutions, the subsequent Manmohan Govt that came to power in 2004 did not question their allotment.However, it did constituted a committee under retired IAS officer Yogesh Chandra to review others. This one-man panel had subsequently recommended cancellation of the land allotment to 32 of the remaining 100 institutions that it believed had benefited due to their political affiliations.Of these, 22 were affiliated to the RSS or belonged to outfits backed by it such as Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Samarth Shiksha Samiti, Sewa Bharti and Swadeshi Jagran Foundation.THE WIRE
Rajasthan govt asks public libraries to keep the entire work of RSS idealogue
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-asks-public-libraries-to-keep-the-entire-work-of-rss-idealogue-4479609/
Jaipur;Over 300 public libraries across Rajasthan will soon be required to feature the entire work of Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, to further his idea of “Ekatma Manavvad” and popularise his “original thoughts on History, Sociology and Economics” among the youth. Rajasthan School Education Minister Vasudev Devnani has given out directions to make the 15-volume compendium of Upadhyaya’s work available in all 361 public libraries in the state. 15-volume “Sampoorna Vangmay” of Deendayal Upadhyay was released by PM Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and RSS leaders including, Bhaiyyaji Joshi, among others in October last year. Delhi-based Prabhat Prakashan publishes the compendium, priced at Rs 6,000. Indian express
Citing RSS presence, MA Baby backs out of Jaipur Lit Fest
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Citing-RSS-presence-Baby-backs-out-of-Jaipur-Lit-Fest/article17052421.ece
Thiruvananthapuram: M.A. Baby, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M), has decided not to participate in Zee Jaipur Literary Festival, as a mark of protest against the invitation extended to two representatives of the Sangh Parivar. “I am fully cognisant of the fact that in a democratic polity, everyone deserves to be heard and one should be willing to interact with ideological streams of different kinds. I am equally aware that it is normally unfair to decline participation in a literary festival panel on the rationale that in another session, certain personalities are invited with whom one has strong ideological differences. I would like to urge you to understand that here it is not just ‘another’ ideology but the ideology of a theocratic state of Hindu Rashtra. It is almost similar to ‘Islamic State’ and (is) already showing manifestations of annihilating democracy,” Baby said in a letter addressed to the organisers.the hindu
STATES POLLS & POLITICS
Congress veteran ND Tiwari, son join BJP ahead of Uttarakhand polls
http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/congress-veteran-nd-tiwari-son-likely-to-join-bjp-on-wednesday-ahead-of-uttarakhand-polls/story-4lGadrPgUxEvUnrdRQcN6J.html
New Delhi:Senior Congress leader from Uttarakhand Narayan Dutt Tiwari on Wednesday joined BJP, giving it a big boost ahead of the assembly election in the hill state.Tiwari’s son Rohit Shekhar too joined the BJP in Delhi in an event where party president Amit Shah welcomed them both.91-year-old leader is a 3-time CM of UP, one-time CM of Uttarakhand and also held a gubernatorial post and several key portfolios in various Congress Govts at the Centre. hindustantimes.
UP elections: After sealing deal with SP, Congress keeps list of 160
http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/up-elections-after-sealing-deal-with-sp-congress-keeps-list-of-160/story-NX3A68QHGefLoS0ddEgTWK.html
New Delhi:With the formal announcement of its pre-poll tie-up with Samajwadi Party (SP) expected within the next 24-36 hours, the Congress is giving final touches to its list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in UP .The Congress has prepared a list of 160 candidates though it is hoping to get 80-90 seats. The idea behind keeping a comprehensive list ready is to ensure that the alliance does not get stuck on the choice of constituencies.UP CM Akhilesh Yadav’s camp has indicated that it is willing to leave 115 of the total 403 seats for the Congress, the RLD of Ajit Singh and the Krishna Patel faction of the Apna Dal. Hindustantimes
‘Akhilesh -led Samajwadi Party and Congress tie-up will stop division of Muslim votes’
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/uttar-pradesh/news/-akhilesh-led-sp-and-cong-tie-up-will-stop-division-of-muslim-votes/articleshow/56631272.cms?
UP polls: Dozen clerics are face of BSP’s Muslim outreach
http://indianexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/uttar-pradesh-a-dozen-clerics-are-the-face-of-bsps-muslim-outreach-4479353/
Lucknow: In its campaign to woo Muslims, BSP has presented more than a dozen clerics to vouch for it before the community. They are taking part in BSP’s campaign to reach out to Muslims in most seats in western and central UP, while a religious teacher from a Lucknow-based seminary too has offered his support.Muslim clerics are seen as influential enough to sway the community’s vote, who account for nearly 18 % of UP. It is a constituency the BSP hasn’t tapped as well as it would have liked in the past, with Muslims wary particularly after the BSP’s previous alliances with BJP. In 2014, the BSP failed to get an endorsement by Jama Masjid’s shahi imam, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, because it did not meet his demand for a clarification about future alliances. Samajwadi Party, on the other hand, has had a long-standing understanding with clerics, including Bukhari, and Maulana Arshad Madni of Jamiat Ulema.This time, BSP’s campaign led by party general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui has involved a number of maulanas. Many of them have been constantly taking part in BSP public meetings and delivering speeches. Besides, BSP has given tickets to 97 Muslims. Maulana Qari Shafiq, 42, who has delivered speeches at nearly two dozen BSP meetings in and around Lucknow, said he is among nearly half-a-dozen clerics openly supporting the BSP’s campaign led by Siddiqui.Maulana Faryad Hussain, 43, president of Bareilly-based Sunni Ulama Council, has been taking part in BSP activities in Bareilly and Moradabad. He said a number of clerics are working with him in these areas. Hafiz Abdul Gaffar Jalalabadi, part of a BSP-backed campaign to garner support from Muslim clerics, said they have met most clerics in west UP as well as central UP and hope to get their support. Maulana Salman Nadwi, dean of information and preaching at Lucknow-based Dar-ul-Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, has offered his moral support to the BSP. “I tried to stitch an alliance of parties but that failed. So I have given my support to the BSP. The party comes from a movement that talked of uplift of Dalits and Muslims. Kanshi Ram [spoke] about the need for Dalit-Musilm unity. Although Mayawati made a wrong decision in forming a coalition with BJP, we cannot forget the movement that is behind the party,” he said.Siddiqui has twice visited the Dar-ul-Uloom. On Monday, Siddiqui, accompanied by about half-a-dozen clerics, met Lucknow-based Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad Naqvi, seeking his support. Naqvi, however,has not committed himself, sources said. indianexpress
Cops seize ‘riots’ CD from Sangeet Som’s poll campaign vehicle, MLA denies charge
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/cops-seize-riots-cd-from-sangeet-soms-poll-campaign-vehicle-mla-denies-charge/articleshow/56631516.cms
Meerut: Police seized a CD allegedly containing Muzaffarnagar riots' clippings from BJP MLA Sangeet Som's election campaign vehicle from Fareedpur village in Meerut's Sardhana area. A case was filed against the driver of election campaign vehicle and the person who took permission for the vehicle for violating section 144 CrPc. Police sources say that the CD contained clippings of clashes that took place in Kawal village of Muzaffarnagar where a minor altercation between Hindu and Muslim youth had snowballed into the riots in 2013.Meerut district magistrate B. Chandrakala said, "We got a complaint from a source that a CD with clippings of Muzaffarnagar riots is being played on the election campaign vehicle of Sangeet Som in Sardhana area. I immediately called up the SDM of Sardhana to look into the matter, who further informed police and seized the CD from the spot."Soon after the information reached the police, officials reached the spot and seized the CD from the driver of the election campaign vehicle, which had a screen attached to it and was used for broadcasting clippings in rural areas ahead of UP polls.TOI
Muzaffarnagar riots: 3 years on, police yet to chargesheet BJP candidate in 2 cases
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/muzaffarnagar-riots-three-years-on-police-yet-to-chargesheet-bjp-candidate-in-two-cases-4479394/
Lucknow: The state police are yet to file chargesheets against BJP candidate from Sardhana seat in Meerut Sangeet Singh Som in two cases related to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, three-and-half years after these cases were registered.A SIT has been probing both cases. indianexpress
Muzaffarnagar victims irked over BJP tickets to riots accused
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/muzaffarnagar-riot-victims-irked-over-bjp-tickets-to-riots-accused-say-this-is-rubbing-salt-on-wound/articleshow/56631524.cms
OTHERS
Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma set to be appointed as CBI chief
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-congress-party-is-fine-with-Govt -s-choice-for-cbi-director-2293600
New Delhi: When PM Narendra Modi led selection committee met with leader of the Congress Party Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice of India JS Khehar to appoint the next director of the CBI, many in the probe agency expected the meeting to be eventful.While it is likely that Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma will be appointment as the next CBI chief, the much expected resistance by Congress to the idea over his appointment seems to have been subdued.DNA
Delhi airport on alert: 7 ‘terrorists’ seen in army uniforms
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/vigil-tightened-at-delhi-airport-after-reports-of-7-terrorists-seen-in-army-uniform/story-KYRTk1moSLAgUCKdUaR1RI.html?home-latest
New Delhi:Security at Delhi airport and Metro stations has been beefed up following intelligence input that 4 terrorists have managed to get army uniform worn by personnel of captain and subedar rank. IB alert, which has originated from Amritsar, said: “Seven terrorists have been seen outside Chakri and Gurdaspur border posts. The group has acquired combat ranks of captain and subedar of Indian Army, which are likely to be worn after infiltration”.Apart from the airport and Metro stations, personnel on election duty in Punjab have also been asked to be on alert. Increased security vigil at the Delhi airport has, however, put passengers at an inconvenience.HT
Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam cadres apprehended from Kokrajhar, 7 rifles seized
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/multa-cadres-apprehended-from-kokrajhar-seven-rifles-seized/articleshow/56627013.cms
Kolkata: Red Horns Division of the Army and Assam Police, based on specific inputs from Military Intelligence, apprehended 3 linkmen of banned Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) on Monday night. 7 rifles were seized from them."A late nigh operation was launched on Monday in the area of Nayekgaon in Kokrajhar district. During the operation, three persons were found moving suspiciously and apprehended. They have been identified as Zehral Islam (36), Joved Ali (36) and Ajit Ali (30). All are residents of the Bongaigaon district," said Lt Col Suneet Newton, PRO, Ministry of Defence, Guwahati..TOI
NIA arrests another IS accused from : HT report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-arrests-another-member-of-hyderabad-is-terror-module/story-pLEVc1tNxUmjRXG2eFk84K.html
Hyderabad: NIA on Tuesday arrested one more accused in Hyderabad IS conspiracy case.Mohammed Irfan, a resident of Mir Alam Mandi in the old city of Hyderabad, was produced before NIA special court, which sent him to judicial custody for seven days.NIA said Irfan alias Abu Jafar was arrested for his role in the IS terror conspiracy module, exposed in the searches in Hyderabad in June last year.According to the investigation agency, he along with the other accused took part in searching of hideouts and physical training.“Investigation has revealed that Irfan also took an oath of allegiance in favour of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi,in the presence of accused Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani and Muzaffer Hussain Rizwan and he was given a kunya name, Abu Jafar by Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani,” said an NIA official.IANS
Pak link in Kanpur train accident? ATS sleuths reach Bihar, NIA team to visit Motihari
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pakistan-link-in-kanpur-train-accident-ats-sleuths-reaches-bihar-two-member-nia-team-to-visit-motihari-2293696
To enquire about the possible Pakistan link in the Kanpur train accident that claimed the lives of 140 passengers and injured over 150, a 2-member NIA team is likely to reach Bihar's Motihari on Wednesday.Bihar police on Tuesday claimed to have unearthed a suspected ISI link to target the railways with the arrest of three persons in East Champaran district of the state.ATS sleuths have already reached Patna to carry forward the probe into the untoward incident.Police claimed that the trio had confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to Pak ISI to target the railways.DNA
'Kanpur train mishap may have terror links with financial backing from a Dubai-based businessman'
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kanpur-train-mishap-may-have-terror-links-bihar-police-2293601
ISI, Dawood behind Kanpur train tragedy? Bihar police probes alleged Pakistani links
http://www.firstpost.com/india/isi-dawood-behind-kanpur-train-tragedy-bihar-police-probing-alleged-pakistani-links-3208176.html
Third custodial death revealed in Malegaon case
http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/cover-story/third-custodial-death-revealed-in-malegaon-case/articleshow/56634936.cms
Mumbai: Inspector Mujawar, who was part of Malegaon blasts probe, said he has revealed the identities of the officers involved in the custodial killings to NIA.Suspended Inspector Mehboob Mujawar, who created a stir late last month by claiming that two of the main accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case -- Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra -- were killed in police custody, has revealed that a third person was also killed around the same time by Anti-terrorism Squad officials, who were then handling the blasts probe.Mujawar was on Tuesday questioned for nearly eight hours by a National Investigation Agency team at its Cumballa Hill office. He, however, told the investigators that he did not know the identity of this third person because he was not involved in the operation to arrest him. mumbai mirror
Stop wearing short clothes to avoid rape: Imam to girls
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/180117/stop-wearing-short-clothes-to-avoid-rape-kolkatas-shahi-imam-advises-girls.html
Kolkata: Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, Syed Mohammad Nurur R Barkati has said that girls should avoid wearing short clothes if they want to protect themselves from getting raped or murdered. Asserting that boys get excited on seeing girls in short dresses, he added that girls should dress up decently to save themselves from the lust of men."Girls these days wear too short dresses and very revealing shirts. We are not stopping them from wearing dresses but, they should avoid wearing short clothes to save themselves from the lust of men," Barkati told ANI.He also said that short dresses result into rape and murder.ANI
Jallikattu protests: HC declines to interfere
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Jallikattu-protests-HC-declines-to-interfere/article17054737.ece?homepage=true
Madras High Court on Wednesday said it will not “interfere” on the issue of protests in the city against the ban on jallikattu, holding that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter.PTI
Teach children ‘Islam’, it is not a ‘terrifying religion’: Author Anita Nair
http://www.siasat.com/news/teach-children-islam-it-not-terrifying-religion-author-anita-nair-1112136/
Kolkata: Indian novelist Anita Nair, who has brought to the fore tales from Quran for children, says it is necessary for children to know that Islam is not a “terrifying religion” as it is made out to be.Talking about her recently-launched “Muezza and Baby Jaan: Stories From the Quran”, Nair said one needs to start combating negative perceptions about Islam with children.
Telangana to pressurise Modi govt for 12% Muslim quota
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/muslim-quota-telangana-cm-kcr-modi-Govt /1/860472.html
Hyderabad:Telangana will pass a bill to provide 12 % reservations to Muslims in the state and bring pressure on the Union Govt to include the law in Constitution's 9th schedule as was done in case of Tamil Nadu, CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao said today. Reiterating his commitment to provide quota to Muslims in proportion to their population, he said that if the central Govt refuses, the state would fight a legal battle.He told the state assembly that Telangana will follow Tamil Nadu model to provide 12% quota to Muslims. He clarified that the quota will not be on the basis on religion but will be based only on socio-economic backwardness.IANS
SC allows 24-week pregnant woman to abort foetus: A glimpse of the trajectory of India’s abortion laws
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-allows-24-week-pregnant-woman-to-abort-foetus-a-glimpse-of-the-trajectory-of-indias-abortion-laws-4480004/
A Bombay High Court order on a Muslim man's murder could just embolden fringe groups: Sruthisagar Yamunan
https://scroll.in/article/827011/the-daily-fix-bombay-high-court-order-on-a-muslim-mans-murder-may-end-up-emboldening-fringe-groups
Muslim man's murder: India's courts simply don't punish hate speech with the severity it merits: Jyoti Punwani
https://scroll.in/article/826977/bombay-hc-order-snatches-away-even-the-crumbs-of-justice-given-to-those-killed-for-their-religion
WORLD
Fatah and Hamas to form unity Govt
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/fatah-hamas-form-unity-Govt -170118031339203.html
Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority has agreed to form a unity Govt with rival organisation Hamas, Al Jazeera has learned. The agreement was reached late on Tuesday after a three-day negotiation in the Russian capital, Moscow.The two organisations will form a new National Council, which will include Palestinians in exile and hold elections."Today the conditions for [such an initiative] are better than ever," Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah official, said.The deal also includes the Islamic Jihad group, which had not been involved in negotiations for a long time.Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas have been at loggerheads since the latter seized Gaza in a near civil war in 2007, after it won the 2006 legislative elections. aljazeera
Palestinians killed in Israeli home demolition raid
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/palestinian-killed-israeli-home-demolition-170118043846949.html
Israeli police officers shot dead a Palestinian who they allege tried to ram them with his car during a protest against home demolitions in southern Israel.A policeman who was struck by the vehicle later died of his injuries, according to the Israeli media.Residents of the Bedouin village of Um Al Hiran, in the Negev desert, however, said that the driver was simply heading to the scene to talk with authorities in an attempt to halt the demolitions.Al Jazeera's Imran Khan, reporting from Um Al Hiran, said one other Palestinian was also killed during clashes that broke out after the incident. aljazeera
Israel plants spy cameras in Palestinian homes in W. Bank
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170118-israel-plants-spy-cameras-in-palestinian-homes-in-occupied-west-bank/
Israeli forces have planted spy cameras inside Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, a specialist on prisoners’ issues revealed on Tuesday.Speaking to Al-Resalah, former prisoner Fuad Al-Khuffash said that several Palestinian families have discovered spy cameras and other equipment planted secretly in their homes after raids carried out by the Israeli occupation forces.“These cameras and eavesdropping devices transmit and report information to the Israeli occupation authorities day and night,” he explained. middleeastmonitor
Shaikh Raed Salah ‘refused to meet Israeli PM’ before release
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170118-shaikh-raed-salah-refused-to-meet-israeli-prime-minister-before-release/
The leader of the banned Islamic Movement in Israel, Shaikh Raed Salah, said on Tuesday that he had refused to meet with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu or Interior Minister Aryeh Deri prior to his release from prison, Felesteen newspaper has reported. He left prison on Tuesday morning.Speaking to supporters in Umm Al-Fahm who had gathered to celebrate his release, Shaikh Raed revealed that Israeli intelligence officers proposed that he meet with Netanyahu or Deri, but he rejected both meetings. “Last Thursday, they moved me to the centre of the military courts and there I met an [Israeli] intelligence officer,” he said. “For 3 hours, he asked me why I have said that Al-Aqsa Mosque is in danger. My response was: I am still saying Al-Aqsa is in danger.” Middleeastmonitor
Sheikh Raed Salah released from Israeli jail
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170117-sheikh-raed-salah-released-from-israeli-jail/
OIC envoy calls for UN intervention to avoid genocide of Rohingya Muslims
http://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-rohingya-genocide-oic-idINKBN1520D0
Kuala Lumpur:UN should intervene in Myanmar's Rakhine State to stop further escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims and avoid another genocide like in Cambodia and Rwanda, said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's special envoy to Myanmar.The conflict which has left at least 86 dead and an estimated 66,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh since it started on Oct. 9, 2016, is no longer an internal issue but of international concern, said Syed Hamid Albar, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Envoy to Myanmar.Syed Hamid said the OIC should seek UN intervention. His comments come ahead of a special OIC meeting called by Malaysia on Thursday to discuss measures to deal with the conflict affecting the Rohingya minority, who are predominantly Muslim."We don't want to see another genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda," Syed Hamid told Reuters in an interview ahead of the meeting in Kuala Lumpur. reuters
700,000 in Syria have no access to humanitarian aid
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170117-700000-in-syria-have-no-access-to-humanitarian-aid/
A number of high profile international humanitarian organisations have appealed to warring parties in Syria to unconditionally let humanitarian assistance reach almost three quarters of a million people still under siege across the country, a joint statement by an UN-linked relief website revealed on Monday.The statement was signed by World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, the office of UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, the World Health Organisation and the UNHCR.“While efforts to fully implement a ceasefire in Syria continue, we again appeal for immediate, unconditional and safe access to reach the children and families who are still cut off from humanitarian aid across the country,” the statement said. middleeastmonitor
Syrian General, 8 Soldiers Killed in Tunnel Blast: Group
http://www.timesnow.tv/international/article/syrian-general-8-soldiers-killed-in-tunnel-blast-group/54360
A Syrian general and eight other soldiers were killed in a tunnel bomb outside Damascus, a monitoring group said. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebel fighters planted explosives yesterday in a tunnel in the town of Harasta, northeast of Damascus."The explosion killed a Syrian officer at the rank of general, and eight other members of regime forces, and wounded several people," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. Blast hit Harasta's department of motor vehicles, where the group had been meeting. "The building collapsed and there are still 15 people who are unaccounted for," Abdel Rahman told AFP, adding that the death toll was likely to rise as some of the wounded were in critical condition.AFP
Egyptian football star Aboutrika placed on 'terror' list
http://www.firstpost.com/sports/egyptian-football-star-mohamed-aboutrika-placed-on-terror-list-3208986.html
An Egyptian court has added former football star Mohamed Aboutrika to the authorities' terror list, his lawyer said on Tuesday, based on suspicions he financed the banned Muslim Brotherhood.In 2015, a Govt committee froze the assets of the former player for Cairo-based club Al-Ahly and Egypt's national team, two years after he retired.Govt accuses him of financing the Muslim Brotherhood, which was classified as a terrorist organisation at the end of 2013.According to an anti-terror law imposed in 2015 by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, anyone on the country's terror list is subject to a travel ban, with their passport and assets liable to be frozen.Aboutrika, one of the most successful African footballers of his generation, had publicly endorsed the presidential bid of Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi in 2012.Aboutrika's lawyer Mohamed Osman said that the court's decision was "contrary to the law" saying the retired player "has not been convicted or formally notified of any of the charges against him." firstpost
SC accepts Pak Jamaat’s petition seeking disqualification of PM Nawaz
http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/370959-SC-accepts-JIs-petition-seeking-disqualification-
Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan has accepted Jamaat-e-Islam’s (JI) petition seeking PM Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.The apex court has issued notices to all the respondents, directing them to submit their responses.During the hearing of Panama Papers case today (Wednesday), Justice Asif Saeed KHosa remarked that Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyer will continue his arguments after conclusion of arguments by Sharif’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan. Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, JI chief Sirajul Haq stated that his written arguments are ready.“We want everyone’s accountability,” he added. Haq further stressed that his party’s basic aim is to eliminate corruption from the country.Dunya News
Mankind is facing an apocalyptic moral test: evolutionary psychologist Robert Wright
http://www.businessinsider.in/mankind-is-facing-an-apocalyptic-moral-test-says-evolutionary-psychologist/articleshow/56631822.cms
Evolutionary psychologist Robert Wright sounded bleak in a couple of recent columns:"Given the growing prospect that humankind, having reached the brink of a global community, will dissolve into chaos ... you could say that our species is facing an epic moral test," he wrote at meaningoflife.tv. "In light of recent political and social developments in the United States and abroad," he wrote at the New York Times, "our work is cut out for us."Wright has argued in several books that expanding morality played a central role in human evolution, creating the framework for ever-larger, more cohesive, and more powerful societies. Today, he says, mankind needs to take at least one more big step forward.His 2010 book, "The Evolution of God," showed that we have at least come a long way already. In it, he described how religion has gradually moved toward respect for all people. For instance:- As empires emerged in the ancient world, local religions began to take on universal characteristics, with moral codes that diverse groups could follow. Most notably, the tribes of Israel united in the belief in a one true god and the robust moral code embodied in the Ten Commandments.- Christianity went a step beyond Judaism by offering salvation to anyone who converted.- Islam could be seen as another step forward, as, at least occasionally, it claimed that people of various religions could find salvation. (Speaking on the difference between Jews, Christians, and Muslims, Mohamed himself said they "are but a part of the men whom He hath created! He will pardon whom He pleaseth, and chastise whom He pleaseth.")Perhaps even more significant than the sequence of religions is how religions themselves have evolved. Islamic scriptures, for instance, contains passages that are extremely antagonistic toward the rest of the world-e.g. "Kill the polytheists where ever you find them"-and others that are extremely tolerant-e.g. businessinsider
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:12 PM)
