Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
11 Feb.2017: 13 Jamadiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:113
INDIA
BJP leader's kin among 11 arrested for running Pak ISI spy ring in MP
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/bjp-leader-s-kin-alleged-it-cell-member-among-11-arrested-for-running-isi-spy-ring-in-madhya-pradesh-271308.html
The arrest of 11 men by the Madhya Pradesh ATS on Friday is turning out to be a political blame game in the state. This after the opposition party in MP, the Congress claimed that one of the arrested men, Dhruv Saxena, who is said to be working with the BJP’s IT Cell. Though the party has distanced itself from Saxena, images of him attending an event with Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJYM district head Anshul Tiwari has since gone viral.ISI agents nabbed in MP. One of them is a BJP member, close to CM Shivraj Chauhan.These guys preach nationalism to others.BJP's trouble doesn't end there, another arrested man, Jitender Singh, kin of a sitting BJP corporators. The Congress alleged that he is also closely associated with Union Minister Narendra Tomar and MP Minister Maya Singh.While the party officially denies any links between the arrested men and the party, a BJP leader in the condition of anonymity told India Today that they are concerned about the ISI's possible infiltration into its ranks."Denying association with those arrested in public is one thing but the real problem can be gauged from the fact that one of them was holding a post in the party's IT cell and he had access to so much data and information."ATS had busted an international call racket used by ISI agents to spy on India's military operations. The spy ring facilitated calls from and to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, bypassing legal channels. indiatimes
Not a single Muslim but one BJP member among 11 'ISI agents': Digvijay mocks 'Modi bhakts'
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-not-a-single-muslim-but-one-bjp-member-among-11-isi-agents-digvijay-singh-mocks-modi-bhakts-2319322
A day after 11 people were arrested in connection with an alleged espionage racket in Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters saying the "bhakts" should know there was "no Muslim" but a "BJP member" amongst those held."There was no Muslim amongst the 11 ISI agents caught in Bhopal (yesterday). One of them is a BJP member. Modi bhakts, think something," Digvijay said in a tweet. dnaindia
‘None of accused arrested in ISI case is Muslim’
http://www.news18.com/news/politics/none-of-the-accused-arrested-in-isi-espionage-case-is-muslim-digvijaya-singh-1347653.html
Congress slam BJP over arrested ISI accused’s alleged link to BJP youth wing
https://www.thequint.com/india/2017/02/10/congress-slam-bjp-over-arrested-isi-accuseds-alleged-link-to-bjym-shivraj-singh-chouhan-youth-wing-dhruv-saxena
ISI agents arrested linked to BJP; party leaders privately express anguish over possible infiltration
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/isi-agents-arrested-in-madhya-pradesh-linked-to-bjp-party-leaders-privately-express-anguish-over-possible-infiltration/1/880043.html
Demonetisation has affected industrial growth, admits Arun Jaitley
http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/demonetisation-has-affected-industrial-growth-admits-arun-jaitley/965740
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said contraction in industrial production in Dec. was on account of the fallout of demonetisation and expansion was expected in the coming months. "Nov.and Dec.(IIP figure) cannot be the representative of period of this year. This is the demonetisation period and compared to Nov, Dec.was more challenging for the reason that in many areas old currency was allowed to operate. In Dec.it had gone away," he said.Therefore, he said, "what was available in December was that the remonetisation was still at initial stages. At the same time an integration of informal with formal and formal the just began to expand. I think in the subsequent months, you probably would see a greater indication of expansion of the formal economy". Industrial production contracted to four-month low of 0.4 per cent in Dec.with consumer durables output plummeting by over 10% and an overall decline in manufacturing. out look
Jaitley confesses, demonetisation affected industrial production
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/arun-jaitley-confesses-demonetisation/100263/
Nitish changes stance on note ban, calls it monumental mismanagement
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/nitish-kumar-note-ban/100078/
Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar, on Friday changed his stance on PM Narendra Modi’s demonetisation by calling it a monumental mismanagement.Speaking at a book launch function of former finance minister, P Chidambaram, he said, “3 months after demonetisation announcement there are diversion attempts from black money to cashless. I am in agreement with Dr Manmohan Singh; the demonetisation was indeed a monumental mismanagement.” jantakareporter
Mamata to pay Rs 50,000 to each worker who lost job due to demonetisation
http://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/mamata-to-pay-rs-50-000-to-eacg-worker-who-lost-job-due-to-demonetisation/story-s6QU11O3YMpAvfe2XDBYtJ.html
Kolkata:After constantly highlighting her opposition to the demonetisation move over the past three months in the political sphere, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has registered a ‘fiscal protest’ as well braving deep financial crisis.In the state budget presented on Friday, state finance minister Amit Mitra announced a one-time cash assistance of Rs 50,000 for all those who lost their jobs due to demonetisation. Mitra announced a demonetisation relief corpus of Rs 250 crore, an amount that can be distributed to 50,000 individuals at the most. The state is in deep fiscal crisis with debt repayment alone consuming 81% of the state’s tax revenues the next year. The fiscal deficit is projected at Rs 19,351 crore. “Demonetisation has forced thousands of skilled workers from different parts of the country to come back to the state. They are now living in pitiable conditions. We would give these workers a one-time grant of Rs 50,000 so that they can start an alternative business. An allocation of Rs 250 crore has been set aside for this in the budget,” said Mitra.HT
ASSEBLY POLLS & POLITICS
63% voter turnout in first phase of UP elections: EC
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/uttar-pradesh/news/63-voter-turnout-in-first-phase-of-up-elections-ec/articleshow/57099046.cms
Lucknow/New Delhi: 63 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in 73 assembly constituencies in the first of UP polls, the Election Commission said.A report from Baghpat said that members of different communities clashed in Baghu colony in the city when one side tried stop the other from casting their votes.In the clash, ten persons were injured and admitted to hospital, police said.In another incident in Baghpat, Ajit Singh-led RLD workers obstructed Dalit voters from casting their vote in Looyan village under Badaut area, leading to clash and FIR was lodged against three party workers.In Meerut, controversial BJP leader Sangeet Som's brother Gagan Som was detained by police for carrying a pistol inside a polling booth. According to ABP News, by the time voting ended, Noida had recorded 59 per cent, Dadri 61, Jewar (65), Bulandshahr (64), Shamli (62), Fatehabad (70.82), Mathura (67), Agra (63.94) and Fatehpur Siri (69.49). The polling percentage in Mathura improved by 8 per cent over the 2012 assembly polls.TOI/ ABP News
UP: 63%voter turnout recorded in phase 1
http://www.abplive.in/india-news/uttar-pradesh-polls-2017-polling-for-first-phase-begins-narendra-modi-appeals-people-to-vote-491641
Kairana ‘exodus’: BJP MP Hukum Singh does a U-turn, says it is law and order issue
http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national-kairana-exodus-bjp-mp-hukum-singh-does-a-u-turn-says-it-is-law-and-order-issue-368523
BJP MP Hukum Singh, who had flagged the alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana due to ‘fear of another community’ last June, today does a complete U-turn from his previous stand that it was a ‘communal issue’ and not related to law and order situation.Speaking to India TV, the controversial MP said that neither Hindus nor Muslims are an election issue here instead breakdown of law and order situation has become the area of prime concern in the region.“No leader from my party has claimed this... I had also taken note of the national president’s remark. They have only claimed exodus... there is no Hindu or Muslim issue in this,” he said.“People interpreted remark as they wanted to.... the issue was only related to law and order situation, it was about the killing of innocents, merchants, but not by any community,” he added. indiatvnews
Winnability factored, Hukum Singh's daughter Mriganka Singh makes poll debut
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/winnability-factored-hukum-singhs-daughter-mriganka-singh-makes-poll-debut-1658246
Kairana exodus theory failed to work in UP polls? BJP MP Hukum Singh takes a U-turn, says it’s not a communal issue
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/hukum-singh-says-kairana-exodus-not-communal-issue/100246/
Thana Bhawan, Sardhana & Kairana: It's a Hindu-Muslim decision as voting starts in UP
http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/thana-bhawan-sardhana-kairana-it-s-a-hindu-muslim-decision-as-voting-starts-in-up-1486794092.html
UP election: How BJP changes its narrative within 50 kms, from Hindutva to secularism
http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/up-election-how-bjp-changes-its-narrative-within-50-kms-from-hindutva-to-secularism/story-MIXSqLqEenSi9lWbTXg28I.html
Hardcore Hindutva, caste equations, and communal harmony — the BJP has separate, and disparate, narratives to woo voters of Noida, Dadri and Jewar assembly constituencies located within 50km of each other in Gautam Budh Nagar district.These three are among 73 constituencies in western Uttar Pradesh that will vote on Saturday in the first of the seven-phase staggered elections in the state.BJP’s campaign is led by party chief Amit Shah, and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal and Mahesh Sharma, who represents Gautam Budh Nagar in Parliament. The party’s poll plank is development and demonetisation, but the rhetoric boils down to local issues and sentiments in the three seats close to the national capital. In Noida, party president Shah invoked the cow slaughter narrative for the majority Hindu electorate.HT
Hold your tongue, I have your entire janam patri: PM Modi tells Congress
http://indianexpress.com/elections/uttarakhand-assembly-elections-2017/pm-modi-to-congress-hold-your-tongue-have-your-entire-janam-patri-4518060/
Dehradun: Under attack from the Congress for his remarks on predecessor Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned the party that he had a detailed dossier on them. “Mein Congress ke logon se kehta hoon: jabaan sambhaal kar rakho, warna mere paas aapki poori janam patri padi hui hai (hold your tongue, I have your entire horoscope). Mein vivek aur maryadayein chhorna nahin chahta hoon, lekin agar aap vivek, maryadayein chhor kar ke anaap shanaap baaten karoge to aapko aapka itihas kabhi chhorega nahin, aapke kukarm aapko chhorenge nahin, aapka paap aapko chhodenge nahin (I do not want to abandon reason and propriety, but if you abandon reason and propriety and speak nonsense, your history will always chase you, your evil deeds, your sins will always chase you),” Modi told an poll rally in Haridwar. indianexpress
Rahul Gandhi’s counter to PM Modi’s raincoat remark: ‘He likes to peep into people’s bathrooms’
http://indianexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/rahul-gandhis-counter-to-pm-narendra-modis-raincoat-remark-he-likes-to-peep-into-peoples-bathrooms-4518885/
New Delhi:In Lucknow to release the Congress-SP alliance’s 10-point agenda, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘raincoat’ comment, saying that he can do whatever he likes whether it is reading people’s horoscopes or peeping into bathrooms.“He likes to rake up people’s janam patris, he only knows how to Google things, he likes to peek into bathrooms. Let him do that…this election will give him a strong response,” Gandhi said at the event, attended by UP CM Akhilesh Yadav. indianexpress
UP: Lok Sabha MPs, 71 of them from BJP, could not spend Rs 333 Cr of development fund
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/uttar-pradesh-lok-sabha-mps-71-of-them-from-bjp-could-not-spend-rs-333-cr-of-development-fund?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party BJP won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on the plank of development - the party won 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh alone - and they want people of India's most populated state to vote them in the ongoing Assembly elections also for development."We are willing to do everything for the growth of UP. To change the fortunes of Uttar Pradesh, change the government in the state," asked PM Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Meerut."IndiaTomorrow
A report on the performance of MPs from UP
http://twocircles.net/2017feb10/404432.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Free smartphones, employment for youth, women reservation: 10 point-agenda of SP-Congress alliance
http://indianexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/free-smartphones-employment-for-youth-women-reservation-10-point-agenda-of-sp-congress-alliance-4518939/
In boost to Panneerselvam, veteran AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan joins OPS camp: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-aiadmk-o-panneerselvam-sasikala-ponnaiyan-jayalalithaa-4519419/
New Delhi;As AIADMK power struggle shows no signs of easing, caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam received a shot in the arm after veteran leader and party spokesperson C Ponnaiyan joined the OPS camp on Saturday. The development comes hours after Tamil Nadu Education Minister K Pandiarajan extended his support to Panneerselvam. Earlier in the day, 2 party MPs Ashok Kumar and PR Sundaram had also offered their support to Panneerselvam, giving a setback to VK Sasikala, who is trying to stake claim to form the govt. Meanwhile, Sasikala met her MLAs at the Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur where they have been allegedly corralled into, in order to prevent any horse trading ahead of a probable floor test to prove majority.On other hand, Raj Bhavan delayed its decision, plunging the state into uncertainty and prompting speculation around the possibility of Central rule.
Sasikala leaves Chennai resort after meeting MLAs, another MLA joins OPS camp
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-crisis-live-aiadmk-sasikala-natarajan-o-panneerselvam-governor-vidyasagar-rao-jayalalithaa-poes-garden-4519108/
Hours after joining OPS camp, Pandiarajan exudes confidence in getting support of 135 MLAs
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-crisis-panneerselvam-sasikala-aiadmk-jayalalithaa-pandiarajan-4519381/
SC declines urgent hearing of plea seeking to restrain Sasikala’s swearing-in as Tamil Nadu CM
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sasikala-supreme-court-disproportionate-assets-case-tamil-nadu-panneerselvam-4517146/
OTHERS
Palestinian book retraces Mumbai terror attack
http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/palestinian-book-retraces-mumbai-terror-attack/1017237
Mumbai: The book named ‘The Betrayal of India: Revisiting the Evidence 26/11’ written by Elias Davidsson, a Palestinian born, was released by Zafru lislam Khan, a Publisher of Pharos Media, on Feb.10, at the Press Club at Azad Maidan. The book talks about how the 26/11 terror attack was planned.The author who has done many investigations on terror attacks and mass murders across the world like Hijacking America’s Mind on 9/11, Djerba (Tunisisa), Istanbul (Turkey), Amman (Jordan) and the London bombing of 2005, decided to examine the Mumbai attack of Nov.2008.He intended to publish an anthology on various terrorist attacks, each of them treated within 20-30 pages. He discovered the investigation of Mumbai attack would require far more space that could be accommodated within an article.He allegedly accused the role of the IB and said that they have prior information of this terror attack but they did not do anything good to safeguard the citizen. They got the 35 mobile number which was likely to be used by terrorist on Nov. 21, 5 days before the attack but had not informed the Mumbai Police. The book intends to represent a comprehensive and critical study of 26/11 which covers the whole episode of the event, the responses of police and National Security Guard (NSG), alleged intelligence failure, the mystery surrounding Ajmal Kasab, court proceeding, and assessment of motives.His major conclusion are that India’s major institution are suppressing the truth on 26/11, India’s judiciary has betrayed its duty to seek truth and render justice.The Author could not come to Mumbai due to health issues but ensured his message was delivered by Zafrul Islam on his behalf. Freepressjournal
Indo-Israel ties go beyond just R&D: Ambassador
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indo-israel-ties-go-beyond-just-rd-ys-ambassador-daniel-carmon-4518720/
New Delhi:Indo-Israel partnership is “growing stronger” and goes beyond “R&D ties”, that country’s Ambassador Daniel Carmon on Friday said, emphasising that the two countries “don’t compete” against but “complete” each other. “India is becoming one of our important partners. We definitely have our ties in R&D (research and development) but it goes way beyond. Two weeks ago, we launched a calendar to mark 25 years of Indo-Israel diplomatic relations,” he said. He emphasised that the two countries attach high importance to their shared values, shared interests and shared challenges. He also said “we celebrate our differences” too.PTI
Kerala IS case: Preacher not named in NIA chargesheet gets bail
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-youths-join-islamic-state-preacher-not-named-in-nia-chargesheet-gets-bail-4518557/
Mumbai: A day after NIA said it did not have enough evidence thus far to chargesheet Maulana Haneef Thottimal, Kerala-based preacher was granted bail by a special court Friday. Haneef was arrested on August 13, 2016 by the Nagpada police for his alleged role in the radicalisation of some Kerala youths who joined IS. Advocate Sharif Sheikh, appearing for the Maulana, said he was likely to be released on Saturday.In its chargesheet, NIA has claimed that Haneef was a preacher at a Kerala-based mosque. Owing to his good oratory skills, the group of missing youths had started following his teachings. Haneef, Khan and IRF employee Arshi Qureshi were arrested by the Mumbai Police on the basis of a complaint by one Abdul Majeed, who claimed the men had influenced his son Ashfaq and his associates into joining the IS. Khan has also not been chargesheeted so far.He is likely to file for bail on Feb.17,after spending 180 days in custody.indianexpress
Kerala: Special court grants bail to Haneef Moulavi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/special-court-grants-bail-to-haneef-moulavi/articleshow/57088519.cms
Once arrested for terror links, undertrial techie returns as a lawyer
http://twocircles.net/2017feb10/404465.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Mumbai: 8 years after his first brush with the criminal justice system, 33-year-old Mohammad Atik is back in the system once again. This time not as a terror accused standing in the witness box seeking court’s mercy for release, but as a lawyer representing many like him awaiting justice. After having spent a little more than four years in prison and studying law post release, Atik has made a paradigm shift in his career path. From a computer engineer working with a leading IT firm to now a lawyer practicing in the courts of Mumbai, he says this journey has been a long one. Things changed for him after the Mumbai Crime Branch picked him up from his residence on Sept.30, 2008. He was one of the 23 to be arrested for their alleged links with IM. TCN
Afzal had deep dislike for Pak, ISI: Khobad Gandhy in letter to journalist
http://www.hindustantimes.com/books/the-truth-about-afzal/story-mwuY2GXYJMqMfKanRjNSQI.html
When JNU Campus became the setting for a nationalism debate in the spring of 2016 after a group of students wanted to mark the anniversary of Afzal Guru’s hanging, there was one person watching things very, very carefully… 69-year-old Kobad Ghandy, who…scanned the papers every morning during that period for the fallout of what happened that February night in JNU. And what he read – about three students being sent to jail for organizing this event to commemorate Afzal Guru, about the central university being called anti-national, about pro-Pakistan statements/slogans being made – disturbed him. And while so many across the country jumped in on the debate, no one cared for Kobad’s thoughts.What they didn’t know was that Kobad Ghandy, man accused of being a member of the banned organization, CPI (Maoist) and arrested in 2009, was perhaps the only one who knew Afzal Guru in his last 3 years and is also the only one who can describe from inside jail, how his hanging took place. ‘They all kept misrepresenting Afzal Guru,’ he told me, inside the Cherlapally jail in Hyderabad, at the end of 2016. ‘There was so much talk about Afzal being anti-national. He was not.’ Kobad should know. Guru and he became thick friends from the moment he walked into prison until 9 Feb.2012 when he was hanged. It’s not based on any solid, scientific evidence. It’s the impression of one prisoner of his co-prisoner of a high-risk ward. One was branded a Maoist ideologue, the other a convicted terrorist who plotted the 2001 Parliament attack...HT
Najeeb missing case: Delhi HC orders polygraph test of suspects
http://www.asianage.com/metros/delhi/110217/najeeb-case-delhi-hc-orders-polygraph-test-of-suspects.html
New Delhi: In order to take the investigations a notch higher, the Delhi high court has asked the police to explore other avenues of probe, like a polygraph test of persons connected with missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, as all other leads have failed to yield any result. “The student had gone missing in Oct.(2016), it is Feb.now. Nearly four months have gone by and none of the leads are going anywhere. We asked for polygraph test as the other leads have not yielded any results,” a bench of justices GS Sistani and Vinod Goel said. The bench was hearing an application by one of the 9 students, who are suspects in the case, seeking recall of the high court’s Dec.14 and Dec.22, 2016 orders. According to the application, by these 2 orders, the court was regulating the manner of investigation and therefore, prejudiced the probe and violated their rights under Articles 21 and 22 of the constitution.The student has also challenged a notice issued to him by the Delhi police to appear before the trial court today to give consent for the lie-detector test. Asian Age
Najeeb’s mother, JNU students booked in UP
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/Najeeb%E2%80%99s-mother-JNU-students-booked-in-UP/article17286976.ece
Meerut: UP Police have booked Fatima Nafees, mother of Najeeb Ahmad, and several JNU students for “violating” Section 144 while taking out a march on Wednesday in Badaun without proper permission.Students of JNU along with Najeeb’s family were participating in “Insaaf March” in Badaun, demanding that the missing student be located and justice be done to him and his family. Kotwali police station of Badaun booked Ms. Nafees, JNUSU president Mohit Pandey and 150 others for violating Section 144, which is in force in view of the upcoming Assembly polls. thehindu
Protest continues at JNU
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/Protest-continues-at-JNU/article17287373.ece
In Haryana district, Imams say no toilet, no marriage
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/In-Haryana-district-Imams-say-no-toilet-no-marriage/article17286921.ece
Nuh (Haryana): If you don’t have a toilet you can’t get married. More than 1,200 Imams from 110 villages in Punhana block of Nuh district in Haryana took this decision on Thursday to check open defecation.Brides and grooms belonging to these villages have to produce a certificate from their village sarpanch, verifying that they have a toilet at their home.Failure to produce the certificate will mean the local Imam will not solemnise the marriage.The meeting, convened by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, also decided to ban the consumption of liquor and playing of music at weddings.“Imam will solemnise the marriage only after the two families meet these conditions. The families will have to produce a certificate by the sarpanch before the wedding,” Jamiat leader Maulana Yahya Karimi told The Hindu. Karimi, the president of the organisation in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh, said open defecation was not allowed in Islam and that the religion had always emphasised the importance of cleanliness. thehindu
No brides for houses without toilets say 110 villages from 3 states
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/no-brides-for-houses-without-toilets-110-villages-declare/articleshow/57089451.cms
Bombay HC asks BMC, Collector to raze Kinara Masjid jointly
http://www.mid-day.com/articles/hc-asks-bmc-collector-to-raze-kinara-masjid-jointly/17986159
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Collector have been passing the buck over demolition of the illegal Haji Ali Kinara Masjid, built on the approach road to Haji Ali Dargah, till the Bombay High Court stepped in on Friday. The court directed them to jointly form a task force and raze the structure.Sahyak NGO had filed a PIL in HC through counsel Ashish Mehta, mentioning that MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha wrote several letters to the G ward councillor informing about the illegal structure, which comes under the Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ), but no action was taken. However, BMC counsel Anil Sakhare told the bench that the civic body had informed the deputy collector about the structure several times, but is yet to receive a response. On the other hand, the Collector said through counsel Geet Shastri that BMC should carry out the demolition as they had the required infrastructure.midday
Ansari warns of public despair fuelled by inequality
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Ansari-warns-of-public-despair-fuelled-by-inequality/article17285916.ece
Bengaluru: Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Friday called attention to the increasing economic inequality worldwide, particularly in India with all its social and political consequences, and noted that protest movements globally are being fuelled by public despair. Delivering the inaugural address, titled ‘Living in Febrile Times’, at The Huddle, a three-day conclave of ideas, he said, “We need to ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions. Can we just accept the growing insularity, intolerance and discrimination?”Rising inequality results in conflict, and threatens the stability of democracies. Surveying protests worldwide such as the Occupy Movement and Arab Spring, he highlighted the Naxalite issue: “Growing threat of left extremism, which has been repeatedly acknowledged as the gravest security threat to [the] Indian state, has its roots in economic deprivation and inequality in access to resources.”thehindu
J&K: In a first, state govt employee amongst two arrested for not standing during national anthem
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-in-a-first-state-govt-employee-among-two-arrested-for-not-standing-during-national-anthem/
Jammu;In the first such case in J&K, police said two persons, including a state government employee, have been arrested for not standing during the national anthem at a cinema hall here. The incident took place at a cinema hall in Wave Mall in Narwal area on Thursday night. Men have been identified as Javed Ahmed, 34, of Anantnag and Mudassar Ahmed, 30, of Handwara. Police said Javed is a consultant with the J&K Institute of Management, Public Admin.and Rural Development in Jammu, and Mudassar is an employee of the J&K Bank in Srinagar. indianexpress
WORLD
US moves to block Salam Fayyad as UN Libya envoy
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/objects-palestinian-envoy-libya-170211033508144.html
US has objected to the appointment of a former Palestinian prime minister to lead UN political mission in Libya, saying it was doing so to support its ally Israel.US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said on Friday that her government "was disappointed" to learn UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres planned to appoint Salam Fayyad as special representative. Fayyad served as the Palestinian Authority's prime minister from 2007-2013.It was unclear whether the objection had ended Fayyad's candidacy. US wields significant influence as one of the 5 permanent members of the UN SC. "For too long, the UN has been unfairly biased in favour of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel," Haley said. "Going forward, the US will act, not just talk, in support of our allies."UN diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AP that Fayyad was well-respected for his work in reforming Palestinian Authority and revitalising the Palestinian economy. Aljazeera
US torpedoes Palestinian as UN envoy to Libya
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170211-us-torpedoes-palestinian-as-un-envoy-to-libya/
After court setback, Trump plans new executive order to ban immigration
http://zeenews.india.com/world/after-court-setback-trump-plans-new-executive-order-to-ban-immigration_1976070.html
Washington: US President Donald Trump may sign a new executive order to reinforce his immigration ban on seven Muslim-majority countries even as the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco refused an earlier version.On being asked about immigration ban, Trump told reporters "We will win that battle. Unfortunate part is that it takes time statutorily, but we will win that battle. We also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order".He stated that in honour of the court's decision he was willing to wait till next week before taking any further action and also said that the new order would include heightened security measures. "We have very, very strong vetting. I call it extreme vetting and we're going very strong on security. We are going to have people coming to our country that want to be here for good reason," PTI quoted Trump.PTI
New leak expose Israel’s involvement in Egyptian-Saudi island swap scandal
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170210-new-leak-expose-israels-involvement-in-egyptian-saudi-island-swap-scandal/
A leaked audio recording broadcast on Friday evening by the Istanbul-based Mukameleen TV has exposed Israel’s hidden hand in ongoing discussions between the governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia over two islands in the Red Sea that sit at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, and therefore Israel’s access to Red Sea.The recordings, that appear to be from late last year, expose Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry’s telephone conversation with shadowy Israeli lawyer and negotiator Yitzhak Molcho, a close aide and relative of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.According to the recording, Shoukry is heard consulting Molcho on a proposed agreement between his country and Saudi Arabia, and also to deal with the issue of the Multinational Force and Observers, better known as the MFO, who are deployed to monitor the continuing peace agreement between Israel and Egypt since 1979.The leak appears to show the Egyptian foreign minister consulting Molcho on legal terminology of the agreement, as well as discussing correspondences between the parties to the agreement. Though Molcho is technically not a diplomat, he is a legal professional by trade and is a close confidante of Netanyahu, acting as his personal envoy in many affairs relating to negotiating deals with Arab powers regarding the Palestinian-Israeli issue and now, it seems, Arab-Arab affairs that may affect Israel.In the exchange, Egypt’s top diplomat can be seen asking Molcho’s permission to amend a phrase regarding potential breaches of the deal. middleeastmonitor
100,000 Indonesians demo against Ahok ahead of Jakarta vote
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/mass-prayer-demo-ahok-jakarta-vote-170211040259858.html
More than 100,000 Indonesians have gathered for mass prayers at Jakarta's national mosque, where religious leaders urged them to back a Muslim candidate in a vote next week to select the capital's governor.Organisers decided to hold Saturday's gathering at Istiqlal Mosque after police banned a planned street rally by those opposing incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is accused of insulting the Quran. aljazeera
Muslim woman denied teaching job for wearing Hijab wins discrimination case in Germany
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/muslim-woman-denied-teaching-job-for-wearing-hijab-wins-discrimination-case-in-germany/story-YB8xiALlQ9lwcel81QflmO.html
A Muslim woman in Germany has been awarded nearly 9,000 euros in compensation after a court ruled that Berlin city discriminated against her by denying her a teaching job due to the headscarf she wears.Muslim woman won an appeal before a Berlin-Brandenburg court yesterday in a case over her rejection for a teaching job at a Berlin elementary school.Head judge Renate Schaude was quoted by The Local as saying that the woman had been discriminated against and because her wearing a headscarf posed no danger to school peace, the discrimination against her was illegal.She was therefore awarded 8,680 euros in compensation.She had lost her initial case last year as the Berlin school argued neutrality rules meant no one could wear religious symbols in schools.PTI
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:32 PM)
