Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
23 March. 2017: 23 JamadiulAkhir 1438:Vol:8, No:149
INDIA
Aseemanand gets bail Mecca Masjid blast case set to walk out of jail soon
http://www.india.com/news/india/swami-aseemanand-granted-bail-in-the-2007-mecca-masjid-blast-case-1954770/
Hyderabad: A court in Hyderabad granted bail to Swami Aseemanand in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case. He will be released from the prison by today. On May 18, 2007, 9 people were killed and many others were injured after an IED exploded inside the mosque in Hyderabad.Ex- RSS member, Aseemanand, was charge sheeted by NIA in 2011. He, in his statement, confessed to having a role in the blast and then pulled back his statement.He is also an accused in the Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blast case.Earlier this month, NIA’s special Court in Jaipur in its verdict acquitted the main accused Aseemanand in the Ajmer blast case. India.com
Mecca Masjid blast: Hyderabad court grants bail to former RSS member Swami Aseemanand
https://scroll.in/latest/832628/2007-mecca-masjid-blast-hyderabad-court-grants-bail-to-former-rss-member-swami-aseemanand
With bail in Mecca Masjid blast case, Aseemanand to walk out of jail soon
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/with-bail-in-mecca-masjid-blast-case-aseemanand-to-walk-out-of-jail-soon/article17612186.ece?homepage=true
Babri case: SC to hear on April 6 written submissions on dropping of criminal conspiracy charge against BJP leaders
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/babri-case-file-written-submissions-we-want-to-focus-on-the-issue-says-sc-to-parties/article17602477.ece
New Delhi: A Supreme Court Bench of Justices PC Ghose and Rohinton Nariman on Thursday posted for detailed hearing the CBI appeal against the dropping of the criminal conspiracy charge against veteran BJP leader LK Advani and other top party leaders after two weeks.Bench re-assembled with Justice Nariman returning as puisne judge, but Advani's counsel and senior advocate KK Venugopal told the Bench that he was on his legs in another part-heard dispute between two factions of a Kerala church.“We will adjourn it then...” Justice Ghose said. Justice Nariman asked the lawyers present, Additional Solicitor General N.K. Kaul for the CBI and senior advocate Kapil Sibal for another party, among others, to file written submissions before the next hearing fixed for April 6, 2017.“You all file your written submissions so that we can focus on the issues in the matter,” Justice Nariman said.The conspiracy charge against Advani and leaders lsuch as ike Uma Bharti, Murli Manohar Joshi, Vinay Katiyar, Sadvi Ritambara, Giriraj Kishore and Vishnu Hari Dalmia was dismissed. thehindu
Babri Masjid case: CBI plea stays before same bench
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/babri-masjid-case-cbi-plea-stays-before-same-bench-4581263/
Babri case: Supreme Court adjourns hearing for 2 weeks
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/babri-masjid-case-supreme-court-adjourns-hearing-for-2-weeks/381114.html
CJI's advice to settle Ayodhya issue outside court unwise:CPI(M)
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-cji-s-advice-to-settle-ayodhya-issue-outside-court-unwise-2363971
Terming as "superfluous and unwise" CJI JS Khehar's suggestion to settle the Ayodhya dispute outside court, CPI(M) today said the Supreme Court must decide who owns the land where the Babri Mosque once stood."The suggestion given by CJI Khehar, asking the parties concerned in Ayodhya dispute to settle the matter through talks, is superfluous and unwise," CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement.PTI
Not averse to fresh talks for resolving Ayodhya issue:apex body of sadhus
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/not-averse-to-fresh-talks-for-resolving-ayodhya-issue-says-apex-body-of-sadhus/articleshow/57777487.cms
Haridwar: A day after the Supreme Court suggested an out-of-court settlement for the Ayodhya issue, ABAP, the apex body of akharas across the country, said that it is "not averse to initiating fresh talks for a settlement on the issue." "We can initiate talks for settlement, especially if the Supreme Court offers to act as an arbitrator," Narendra Giri, president, ABAP, told TOI on Wednesday. timesofindia
Babri Masjid dispute: Subramaniam Swamy urges Muslims to support Ram temple construction
http://www.firstpost.com/india/babri-masjid-dispute-subramaniam-swamy-urges-muslims-to-support-ram-temple-construction-3349182.html
Jamshedpur: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday urged the Muslim community to support construction of the Ram Temple at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya."Ram mandir can only be built at one place in Ayodhya where the structure of a temple was found at the disputed site following investigation by the Archaeological Survey of India," Swamy said at a function organised to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Shukhdev who were hanged on this day in 1931.PTI
Muslim litigants in Babri case say they are ‘not keen on talks again’
http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/muslim-litigants-in-babri-masjid-case-say-they-are-not-keen-on-talks-again/298311
Babri Masjid Case, India on World Happiness Index:The Wire
https://thewire.in/118227/jan-ki-baat-episode-21-babri-masjid-case-india-world-happiness-index/
Firangi Mahli welcomes SC order on Ayodhya dispute
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/aimplb-and-imam-of-lucknoe-welcomes-sc-order-on-ayodhya-dispute.html
Lucknow: Striking a discordant note, AIMPLB member and Imam of the Lucknow Idgaah Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli has welcomed the observation of the Supreme Court for an out-of-court negotiated settlement of the vexed Ayodhya dispute. On Wednesday, Mahli said, `I welcome the Supreme Court observation for negotiated settlement of the dispute. We are ready for an out-of-court settlement.” The Maulana said that there was nothing wrong if another more attempt is made for out-of-court settlement of the dispute through negotiations with leaders of both communities in the larger interest of the society and the country.“Muslims were never against Ram temple in Ayodhya. It’s the political parties who vitiate the atmosphere whenever an attempt is made for a settlement to the dispute,’’ said Maulana Firangi Mahli. dailypioneer
Will accept Ram Mandir if Sacchar committee recommendations are met: Dr Zafar Mahmood
http://twocircles.net/2017mar22/406635.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Dr Zafar Mahmood, President of Zakat Foundation of India, has suggested an 8-point agenda to the ongoing issue of Babri Masjid, saying that “Muslims can agree to the construction of Ram Mandir at the Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya” these 8 points are accepted, approved and implemented by the Gov.TCN
Ram mandir: Why I find SC giving priority to 'religion' shocking: Kamal Mitra Chenoy
http://www.dailyo.in/voices/ram-janmabhoomi-cji-khehar-babri-masjid/story/1/16314.html
Law Commission seeks abolition of death penalty
http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/law-commission-seeks-abolition-of-death-penalty/articleshow/57779528.cms
Law Commission has recommended that the death penalty be abolished for all crimes except those related to terrorism, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said the Law Commission in its 262nd report has recommended that the death penalty be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism related offences and waging war.“As Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure are in the concurrent list of 7th Schedule of the Constitution, the report has been circulated to all state Govt s and union territories for seeking their views,” he said in awritten reply. The commission had further asserted that death penalty under Section 302 of the IPC be abolished except in cases of terrorism since it does not serve the goal of deterrence any more than life imprisonment. ahmedabadmirror
Central Ministry, State Govt Depts Publicly Expose Personal Data of Lakhs of Indians: The Wire
https://thewire.in/118250/Govt -expose-personal-data-thousands-indians/
New Delhi: At least one central govt ministry and multiple Indian state Govt departments currently expose the personal information of thousands of Indian citizens through their websites – information that shouldn’t actually be available so freely.The personal data in question, in some cases, includes names, addresses, date of birth, Aadhaar card numbers, PAN card details, religion and caste. All of this information, which should be securely and safely stored, is available in the form of Microsoft Excel sheets and can be obtained by a simple Google search. This issue was first pointed out by Twitter user St_Hill, who posted an article detailing the dangers of identity theft and how personal data is improperly stored. Much of the personal information stored online corresponds with various central Govt and state Govt schemes. Departments run a number of initiatives that require the personal details of beneficiaries – in some cases including bank details, Aadhaar numbers and PAN card details – and then store them in the form of online spreadsheets on their websites.The Wire is still in process of confirming the authenticity of this data, which involves getting in touch with the people who are most likely unaware that their personal data is public, and will update this story accordingly.
As Aadhaar controversy rages, Nilekani talks about Modi govt’s move
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/as-aadhaar-controversy-rages-here-s-what-nandan-nilekani-has-to-say-about-modi-govt-move/story-NKmetudnauxJSUF3KyykUN.html
New Delhi:The Govt is right to demand Aadhaar from beneficiaries of state-run schemes such as mid-day meal or subsidies but no one should be denied entitlements because of lack of a unique identity number, Nandan Nilekani said.HT
Illegal slaughter to be criminal offence in UP?So far, neither IPC nor CrPC have any provision to deal it
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/illegal-slaughter-to-be-criminal-offence-in-up/articleshow/57783453.cms
Lucknow/ Meerut: Given CM Aditya Nath Yogi's focus on the subject, UP could soon become the first state to make illegal slaughter of animals a criminal offence.So far, neither the IPC nor the CrPC have any provision to deal with illegal slaughter; it is dealt with under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and no one is afraid of the Rs 50 penalty."While there is a specific Act to check cow slaughter, there is no law to prevent illegal slaughter of other animals," a Govt official said. Since the BJP Govt has launched an offensive against illegal slaughtering of all animals, UP's municipal corporations and nagar palikas feel there is a need for a strict law on the subject. A March 21 closed-door meeting of the UP chief secretary with principal secretaries for law, environment, urban development and animal husbandry to discuss illegal animal slaughter concluded that a specific law was needed to shut illegal slaughterhouses.Veterinary officials in UP have already advocated bringing a law to make illegal slaughter a cognisable offence. "If such a law is framed, UP would be the first state in India to make illegal slaughtering of animals a criminal offence,"an official said.According to UP Pollution Control Board estimates, only 45 slaughterhouses in UP are licensed to operate and around 140 have been ordered to close. On Wednesday , authorities shut several illegal abattoirs in an unprecedented crackdown. Seven meat-processing units in Meerut, three abattoirs in Aligarh, and one abattoir and 16 meat shops in Mathura were sealed. 7 "illegal" shops selling meat in Murga Phatak area of Mathura were demolished. Owners of meat-processing units in Meerut, however, said the units were being unfairly targeted. timesofindia
Abattoir of BSP leaders Yakub Qureshi, Shahid Akhlaq sealed
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/abattoir-of-bsp-neta-who-wanted-prophet-cartoonist-beheaded-sealed/articleshow/57783596.cms
Meerut: Among the 7 meat-processing units sealed in Meerut on Wednesday, two are owned by political heavyweights of the area.They include BSP leader Yakub Qureshi, who had gained international notoriety for announcing a Rs 51-crore reward for the head of the Danish newspaper cartoonist who had drawn a cartoon of Prophet, and Shahid Akhlaq, a former Meerut MP and former BSP leader. Qureshi's announcement of the reward in 2006 had generated considerable criticism in the country and abroad. During the recent UP assembly elections, Qureshi contested from Meerut South constituency on a BSP ticket but lost to Somendra Tomar of BJP.Both Qureshi and Akhlaq claimed that they had been unfairly targeted despite having all the documents required to operate slaughterhouses.Qureshi described action by administration as an "excess" which would create a serious unemployment problem in the city. "We have no problem if illegal slaughterhouses are closed down. They should be. But our slaughterhouse was legal. This is going to have serious repercussions as thousands of people were employed at the slaughterhouses which were sealed. Poor people are going to be rendered jobless by this move," he said. "All the meat processing units I own have every document in order, including the licences. Administration was looking for a reason to close us. When they could not find anything, they said that one of the buildings of the unit had not been built according to the plan approved by MDA, and they sealed the place," said Akhlaq. timesofindia
7 Meat Processing Plants Shut Down In Meerut Under Yogi Adityanath's Orders, Samples Sent For Tests
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/03/23/seven-meat-processing-plants-shut-down-in-meerut-under-yogi-adit_a_22008226/
Meat plants sealed in Meerut, samples sent
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/crackdown-begins-meat-plants-slaughterhouses-sealed-in-meerut-samples-sent-4581306/
UP exporters worried as crackdown on slaughterhouses
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/up-exporters-worried-as-crackdown-begins-on-illegal-slaughterhouses-1672648
Meerut: As UP Govt begins to deliver on the BJP manifesto promise on crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, many in the industry alleged disconnect between the printed word and the BJP's promises on ground. While manifesto promised shutting of illegal slaughterhouses, party chief Amit Shah has reiterated the aim to put an end to slaughter in the state once and for all. This has led to confusion among many in the industry.UP accounts for 34% of the total buffalo meat export from India, which was to the tune of Rs. 21,300 crore last year. The share of UP came to a whopping Rs. 7,273 crore. The nation exports 43% of buffalo meat that's consumed across the world.
Lucknow’s legendary Tunday Kababi reopens, but serves chicken and mutton kebabs for the first time
https://scroll.in/latest/832584/up-lucknows-legendary-tunday-kababi-downs-it-shutters-as-meat-crackdown-intensifies
One of Lucknow’s most iconic eateries, the century-old Tunday Kababi, is the latest victim of the crackdown on illegal meat shops and slaughterhouses, ordered by the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party Govt in UP . The establishment at Akbari Gate, which dates back to 1905, shut shop on Wednesday because of a scarcity of buffalo meat in the state capital, which had its four slaughterhouses sealed between 2013 and 2015.It reopened on Thursday but its menu did not include the famous “badey ka kabab” or buffalo meat kebabs. For the first time since it was established, the restaurant served chicken and mutton kebabs. “Customers are getting angry,” said Abu Baqr, who runs the Akbari Gate outlet. “It is costly to me also and has ruined our speciality.”
VHP Wants Beef Ban, Crackdown On Illegal Slaughterhouses In Jharkhand
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vhp-wants-beef-ban-crackdown-on-illegal-slaughterhouses-in-jharkhand-1672698
Ranchi: VHP has demanded that illegal slaughter houses flourishing in Jharkhand should be closed and sealed in line with neighbouring UP ."We also demand that beef should be banned in line with Maharashtra," said Pramod Mishra, VHP's Bihar and Jharkhand head to news agency IANS."Both UP and Jharkhand are BJP-ruled states. But their CM s are functioning differently. In Jharkhand, cow slaughter has been banned since 2005, but it has not been implemented effectively," Mr Mishra told IANS. IANS
Beef rumour: Gau rakshak leader not in Jaipur Rabbani hotel FIR as 'weak case registered against cow vigilantes’
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/gau-rakshak-leader-not-in-jaipur-hotel-fir/article17596520.ece
Jaipur : 3 days after cow vigilante groups swooped down on a hotel here alleging that it was serving beef, the Jaipur Police on Wednesday registered a criminal case against unknown persons for unlawful assembly, causing hurt and trespass.Civil rights groups said the case was “too weak” in comparison to the violence perpetrated on the hotel staff.Hotel Hayat Rabbani near Central Bus Stand, which was sealed after the Rashtriya Mahila Gau Rakshak Sewa Mandal activists laid siege to it on Sunday night, continues to remain closed.Though the hotel’s owner, Naeem Rabbani, mentioned Gau Raksha group leader Sadhvi Kamal Didi as the one who led the cow vigilante crowd, the FIR registered at Sindhi Camp police station did not name her as an accused.Rights’ groups have alleged that the police and municipal authorities were colluding with the cow vigilante groups.Jaipur Mayor Ashok Lahoti said the hotel would not be de-sealed until the Forensic Science Laboratory’s report on the meat samples seized from its kitchen was received. He denied that there was any illegality involved in the sealing saying the owner had not obtained licence for running the hotel or restaurant.Lahoti also said the construction of Hotel Hayat Rabbani was “illegal.” Activist groups and city residents staged a huge demonstration at Shahid Smarak on Tuesday to protest against the violence and targeting the minority community’s business.The speakers condemned the “collusion” of the State agencies in the attack on the hotel, lambasted the increasing communal nature of governance and pledged to maintain communal harmony in the city. People’s Union for Civil Liberties-Rajasthan president Kavita Srivastava said the issue was blown up with the police slapping cases of offending people of another religion on Rabbani and sending the meat to the FSL. thehindu
Beef rumours: Dadri averted, police watched mob beat us, say Jaipur hotel owner, manager
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/beef-rumours-dadri-averted-police-watched-mob-beat-us-say-jaipur-hotel-owner-manager-4578105/
Following Jaipur protest, FIR against unidentified cow vigilantes who attacked Rabbani run hotel
http://www.counterview.net/2017/03/following-jaipur-protest-fir-registered.html
IPS officer says hatred being spread against Yadavs, Muslims, Dalits as Congress MP alleges caste discrimination in UP
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-mp-ranjeet-ranjan-alleges-caste-discrimination-in-uttar-pradesh/
New Delhi: Congress member in Lok Sabha Ranjeet Ranjan on Thursday said Yadavs and some other castes were being targeted in UP, and questioned the anti-Romeo squads formed in the state.“An IPS officer has said, a particular caste is being targeted. The way hatred is being spread against Yadavs, Muslims and Dalits in UP , it is against our Constitution,” said Ranjan, raising the issue during the Zero Hour.Himanshu Kumar, a 2010-batch Indian Police Service officer attached with DGP office in Lucknow, said in a tweet that those with ‘Yadav’ surname were being targeted. He deleted his tweet later. Ranjan also slammed the “anti-romeo squads” that have been formed in UP after the assembly polls.IANS
Over 100 policemen suspended in UP after new govt takes over
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/over-100-policemen-suspended-in-up-after-new-govt-takes-over/articleshow/57790693.cms
Lucknow: Seeking to send a strong message that laxity in enforcing law and order will not be tolerated, UP police has suspended over 100 policemen since the new Govt led by Yogi Adityanath assumed office.Most of these suspensions were in Ghaziabad, Meerut and Noida. In Lucknow, seven inspectors have been suspended.PTI
On Yogi govt table, file on Yogi hate speech case
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/yogi-adityanath-uttar-pradesh-govt-table-file-on-yogi-hate-speech-case-orakhpur-radhamohan-das-agarwal-4581333/
Gorakhpur: ON a table in the Home department of the Yogi Adityanath Govt sits a request from the state police — hanging fire for two years — seeking sanction to prosecute a case where Yogi Adityanath is an accused along with 4 others including party MLA from Gorakhpur Radhamohan Das Agarwal and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Shiv Pratap Shukla. The sanction is needed to file a chargesheet against them under IPC Section 153-A on the charge of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and caste.The application by CB-CID of UP Police seeking sanction was first submitted to the Akhilesh Yadav Govt in 2015. Case pertains to communal violence on Jan27, 2007 in Gorakhpur and nearby districts after some young men, the previous night, had allegedly misbehaved with young women of a music troupe called to perform at a wedding at the local DAV college ground. The men were chased away but, police said, they mingled with a Muharram procession which was passing by.There was firing from one side which injured some in the Muharram procession. During a subsequent clash between 2 groups, one Raj Kumar Agrahari succumbed to injuries.Parvez Parwaz, 62, a former Gorakhpur journalist and activist, moved to file an FIR but the police refused. It was only after intervention of the High Court on Sept26, 2008, that he was able to file an FIR at the Cantonment police station. Parwaz alleged that the violence in Gorakhpur that lasted for about a fortnight was incited by these leaders. “To restore the case, we filed an application in the Allahabad High Court in 2015. Before taking the restoration application, the court asked the Govt about the status of the case and in the affidavit filed by the Govt on February 20, 2017, it is said that CB-CID has already sought prosecution sanction but it is pending at the level of the state govt,” said Parwaz’s counsel Farman Naqvi. indianexpress
Adityanath as UP CM a step towards Hindu Rashtra: CPIM
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/yogi-adityanath-as-uttar-pradesh-cm-a-step-towards-hindu-rashtra-cpi-m/599542/
PM Narendra Modi and RSS have taken “the most audacious step” to usher in a Hindu Rashtra by making Adityanath Yogi the UP CM , the CPI-M has said. “They have put in place, as CM of the biggest state of India, a person who has openly challenged the very precepts of the Constitution,” said an editorial in the CPI-M journal “People’s Democracy”.The CPI-Marxist said his selection “is a clear signal that the BJP-RSS combine wishes to pursue the line of Hindu consolidation as the basis of its future political strategy”. The editorial said that since becoming a MP from Gorakhpur in 1998, Adityanath became notorious for his record of Muslim bashing and direct incitement of communal violence. financialexpress
Vemula’s family being ‘ill-treated’;Congress MP Punia
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohith-vemulas-family-being-ill-treated-says-congress-mp-pl-punia-4582022/
New Delhi:A Congress member in Rajya Sabha on Thursday alleged that the family members of Rohith Vemula, who had committed suicide in the Hyderabad University, were being ill-treated. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, P L Punia said the Justice Roopanwal Commission set up to look into the suicide has not said anything on the terms of reference given to it. Instead, the panel has said Vemula was not a dalit, but OBC, and he had committed suicide due to personal despair, the Congress member said. He further said Vemula’s family was being ill-treated and has been given notice to cancel the caste certificate.Punia demanded that the mental harassment of the family should be stopped. The suicide of Vemula had triggered a political furore across the country, particularly in several universities. Vemula, a student at the University of Hyderabad, had committed suicide on Jan.17, 2016, accusing the administration of caste-based discrimination. Days before that, Vemula had been suspended from the university along with five other students for allegedly assaulting a leader of the RSS-backed ABVP.PTI
Par panel to summon RBI Governor Patel again on April 20
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/par-panel-to-summon-rbi-governor-urjit-patel-again-on-april-20-4582015/
New Delhi:A Parliamentary panel has decided to summon RBI Governor Urjit Patel again to explain how much of the junked currency has been deposited in banks post note ban and the progress made in remonetisation. The meeting of the Standing Committees on Finance, headed by former cabinet minister M Veerappa Moily, has been tentatively scheduled for April 20, sources privy to the development said.PTI
Does NIA report to Modi, instead of home minister:Digvijay
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/does-nia-report-to-pm-narendra-modi-instead-of-home-minister-asks-digvijay-singh/599537/
New Delhi;Home Minister Rajnath Singh had to face some awkward moments in Rajya Sabha, when senior Congress leader while citing dissimilarities between the reply given in the Upper House to a question put by a member to a speech by PM Narendra Modi at an election rally in Gonda.He said that both statements suggest that intelligence agencies seems to be directly reporting to the PM instead of the home minister. Digvijay Singh had recalled that while in Gonda Narendra Modi had said that the police have found a conspiracy that was hatched from other side of the border. financialexpress
India had publicly opposed China-Pak corridor; On Pak Day, Basit to screen documentary to showcase China ties
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-day-abdul-basit-china-pak-corridor-india-cpec-documentary-4581208/
New Delhi: A documentary on Pakistan’s economic reforms, highlighting CPEC, will be screened at the Pakistan Day reception here today. The screening is significant as India has made its opposition to CPEC clear publicly. New Delhi has conveyed its objections forcefully to Pakistan and China through a note verbale and meetings in the last few months. Over 1,000 guests, including Kashmiri separatists, have been invited to the Pakistan High Commission. The event would be Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s last such engagement in Delhi. He is likely to leave by March- end after a three-year tenure.Pak diplomats said some of the separatists were expected to attend the reception like previous years. In Islamabad, the Pakistan foreign ministry expressed its “serious concern” over the arrest or detention of separatist leaders and preventing them from attending Pak National Day reception. It said that these “arbitrary restrictions are against the principles of democracy and freedom of movement”. Indian express
‘Independence movement’ like in J-K can be suppressed but not finished off: Pak envoy Abdul Basit
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/independence-movement-like-in-j-k-can-be-suppressed-but-not-finished-off-pak-envoy/story-vviDzScIsbVc8WapiEViJP.html
New Delhi:An “independence movement” such as the one in J&K can be suppressed for some time but it cannot be finished off, Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit said on Thursday. He made the remarks at an event organised at his country’s high commission here to mark Pakistan Day. They came against the backdrop of a chill in bilateral ties and could anger New Delhi, which has repeatedly accused Islamabad of interfering in Kashmir.During his speech, Basit reiterated Pakistan’s position that the Kashmir issue, which had long been a cause of “acrimony”, must be resolved by the two countries according to the “aspirations of Kashmiris”.Speaking in Urdu, he said, “History is witness that independence movements are such that they can be suppressed for some time…but they can’t be finished off.”He added he hoped that the “struggle of the Kashmiris will…be successful”.Asked what he meant by “aspirations”, Basit replied, “Whatever the people of the (Kashmir) Valley want, we should go by that.”Basit further said that Pakistan wants a good and peaceful relationship with India and desires to settle all issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue.HT
‘India sending Dalai Lama to Arunachal but Beijing will decide successor’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/unfriendly-india-sending-dalai-lama-to-arunachal-but-beijing-will-decide-successor-tibetan-think-tank/story-NlNLe5bsw79KZqHUAEa2hL.html
Beijing:Calling Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama a “separatist” who wants to create an independent political entity in China, a top Beijing-based think-tank on Thursday said India should not allow him to visit “disputed areas” and emphasised that only Beijing will decide his who his successor will be, when needed.The Dalai Lama on April 1 is expected to begin a tour of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh – which China claims is part of south Tibet. He will be in Tawang between April 5 and 7 where he slated to deliver religious lectures. The Chinese Govt has already warned India that it is “gravely concerned” about the visit.On Thursday, the China Tibetology Research Centre (CTRC) sent out a sharp note of displeasure.“So Tawang is part of Tibet and Tibet is part of China, so Tawang is part of China. Not much of a question,” Lian Xiangmin, director of the CTRC-affiliated Institute of Contemporary Tibetan Studies said. “In recent years, the Indian Govt has given support or made arrangements for the Dalai Lama to visit the Tawang region. It seems to us something not very friendly,” Lian said at a rare press conference organised by the CTRC, one of eight senior scholars on Tibet deployed to field questions from reporters.HT
Indian-American Muslims welcome Teesta Setalvad’s testimony in UN against human rights violations in India
http://twocircles.net/2017mar22/406662.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Indian American Muslim Council, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has welcomed Teesta Setalvad’s hard-hitting testimony at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 15, 2017.One of India’s most recognised activists and a strident voice against hate and sectarianism, Setalvad spoke on behalf of The Advocates for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council, Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association and the Quill Foundation. Her testimony was part of a larger effort by IAMC and its partner organisations that includes a joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council for India’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) scheduled for May 4, 2017. IAMC has also made a separate joint submission with Setalvad’s organisation “Citizens for Justice and Peace,” for the same UPR.Her brief testimony was before a full session of the UN Human Rights Council, with all the UN member countries in attendance, convened to review the report of the UN Rapporteur on Minority Rights. Setalvad noted that since the UN Special Rapporteur’s 2013 General Assembly report, the following developments had taken place in India.TCN
Amnesty disappointed with probe in 1984 Sikh riots
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/amnesty-international-disappointed-with-probe-in-1984-sikh-riots-117032200942_1.html
International rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday said it was disappointed with the functioning of the SIT formed to re-investigate closed cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. "SIT has disappointed many who have struggled for justice. It has only filed four chargesheets in over 2 years, following a non-transparent process. Status report submitted to the Supreme Court does not even mention the reasons for closing the cases it had identified for reinvestigation," Sanam Sutirath Wazir of Amnesty International India said while addressing a discussion on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here.IANS
Dal Khalsa team meets UN official over issues in Punjab
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/dal-khalsa-team-meets-un-official-over-issues-in-punjab-4581385/
Jalandhar:A Dal Khalsa overseas delegation met a UN official in Geneva on Tuesday over issues related to freedom of expression, drugs, water crisis in Punjab. The delegation also apprised the UN that ever since the Modi Govt came to power in 2014, space for dissent and freedom of expression has shrunk and hate-mongering and war-mongering have become the order of the day.Party spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh, who informed the media here about the meeting between Christine Chung, Human Rights Officer looking after Asia Pacific Section, and their group representative in Geneva on Tuesday, said “the objective was to share our history and heritage with UN to provide a thorough understanding of the perspective in which we place our present demands before it”.indian express
Dhanbad ex-deputy mayor’s murder: Police lodge FIR against sitting BJP MLA
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dhanbad-ex-deputy-mayor-s-murder-police-lodge-fir-against-sitting-bjp-legislator/story-j7DB8CKpVYrF8vdUNPk4xJ.html
BJP MLA Sanjeev Singh, the cousin of Dhanbad’s ex-deputy mayor Neeraj Singh who was gunned down on Tuesday, and 5 others were booked by police late on Wednesday in connection with the murder, officials said. Motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted Neeraj’s SUV barely 100 metres from his home on Tuesday and pumped 67 bullets from an AK-47 rifle and pistols into the Congress leader and 3 others, who were with him inside the vehicle. hindustantimes
NCP leaders Nawab Malik, Dina Patil arrested for rioting
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-ncp-leaders-nawab-malik-and-sanjay-dina-patil-arrested-for-rioting-2363978
Ozarkar: Deonar Police on Tuesday night arrested NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Sanjay Dina Patil in connection with the scuffle that had broken out between the supporters of Patil and Malik during the party meeting at Chembur in Nov last year.On Tuesday, the police arrested the seven accused in both the cases filed by the supporters of Patil and Malik against each other for rioting. Confirming the arrest, Malik said "I have taken the bail from the Police Station. We have sorted out our differences and the matter stands closed for us. But as the cases have been filed, we will have to follow the court proceedings".A scuffle had broken out between NCP workers of Malik and Dina Patil at a party meeting at Chembur in Nov.2016. The scuffle took place over the selection of ward president. "We had arrested them on Tuesday night they were released on bail. We will file the supplementary charge sheet in the case within a week," said Dattatray Shinde, Senior Police Inspector of Deonar police station.Initially, the police had booked Dina Patil and Nawab Malik and 18 others for attempted murder, Arms Act and rioting after the Malik had alleged that Patil had fired at the venue from his weapon. DNA
Mumbai: 5 more persons held for rioting at Trombay
http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-5-more-persons-held-for-rioting-at-trombay/1038670
Hyderabad: HC tells backward classes panel to get views on Muslim quota
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/high-court-tells-backward-classes-panel-to-get-views-on-muslim-quota/articleshow/57788601.cms
Hyderabad: Justice A Ramalingeswar Rao of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Commission for Backward Classes to receive the objections and material against enhancement of reservations for backward sections among Muslims in the state.The judge was disposing of a writ petition filed by Sasidhar, a research scholar in law, who was opposing the inclusion of Muslims in the BCs list. According to his counsel, the Telangana Commission for Backward Classes is now asking the interested citizens to respond to the recommendations made by Dr Sudheer committee which studied the issue. He complained that he was given only three days' time to respond.He sought the data relied upon by the Sudheer committee. Asking the petitioner to file his objections before the commission by the end of this month, the judge said that the commission should consider the objections filed by the petitioner at the time of finalizing the report.
Telangana: Jamat-e-Islami Hind seeks speedy implementation of 12% quota to Muslims
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Warangal-Tab/2017-03-23/JIH-seeks-speedy-implementation-of-12-quota-to-Muslims/288462
President of Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Telangana and Odisha State units Hamid Mohammed Khan demanded that TRS Govt expedite the process of extending 12% reservations to Muslims. He said 12% quota to Muslim minorities was not the demand made by Muslims but was a poll promise made by CM K Chandrashekar Rao during Telangana agitation, which was also included in the party election manifesto. However, there was no progress made in the reservation promised to Muslims even after the Govt is close to completing three years of its term, Khan said while speaking to presspersons in Hanamkonda on Wednesday.He said Telangana State Commission for Backward Classes which was constituted to study the living conditions of backward sections of Muslims on Tuesday submitted the report to govt. The commission in its report observed that about 90% Muslims in the State were living below the poverty line and suggested the extension of 9% reservations to Muslims. Now it becomes the duty of State Govt to incorporate the commission recommendations in the Schedule 9 of the Constitution, the JIH leader noted.hans india
We have been displaced thrice, will not allow it again: Leader of Adivasi resistance against Athirapally dam
http://twocircles.net/2017mar22/406643.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
In the first part of this series, we looked at how the Athirapally dam could spell disaster for the ecology of Kerala and the Western Ghats in general. This explains why several people, including ex-minister Jairam Ramesh, CSE director Sunita Narain and others have spoken against the implementation of the project. However, it goes without saying that the biggest resistance to this project has come not from experts but the local Adivasi population of Vazhachal, and they have been led admirably by Geetha, the settlement’s Ooru Moopathi (village leader) a 29-year-old who has been at the heart of the struggle for close to a decade. Vazhachal Adivasi settlement in which Geetha resides is one of the 9 in the division spread over 70 km. Geetha’s settlement, also called Vazhachal, houses about 72 families and is at the forefront of the struggle, as they stand to lose their livelihood and their homes if the dam comes up. The other settlements are Thavalakuzhypara, Anakkayam, Sholayar, Pokalappara, Vachumaram, Perumpara, Peringalkuthu and Mukkumpuzhaa. The proposed dam will, however, directly affect only Vazhachal, as it is scheduled to come up just 400 metres away from the settlement.Twocircles
Man held for killing daughter over affair with neighbour
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/man-held-for-killing-daughter-over-affair-with-neighbour-4581286/
Agra:In a case of suspected honour killing, a man allegedly murdered his minor daughter Wednesday at Shekhzaad locality in Muzaffarnagar’s Charthawal police station area, reportedly because she was in a relationship with a youth from the same locality. The accused, Mohammad Jabbar, allegedly slit the throat of his 15-year-old daughter Gulbasan and dumped her body outside the house of Dilnawaz, a neighbour she was reportedly in a relationship with. Jabbar has been arrested. SHO, Charthawal, Sanjeev Kumar said Jabbar is a cloth merchant and sells garments in weekly markets.indianexpress
In-laws of woman who went to SC on triple talaq held
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/in-laws-of-woman-who-went-to-supreme-court-on-triple-talaq-held/articleshow/57783529.cms
Roorkee: Laksar police on Wednesday arrested 2 persons following a dowry harassment case filed by Atiya Sabri, a Saharanpur woman who had approached the Supreme Court challenging triple talaq given by her husband on a piece of paper."A Saharanpur court had issued arrest warrant against three persons under section 498A. Following the order we have arrested Wazid Ali and Saeed Ahmad, husband and father-in-law of Atiya Sabri respectively, of Jasodarpur village. Atiya's mother-in-law is still at large," said Navin Chandra Semwal, officer in-charge of Laksar police station. timesofindia
Lucknow terror operation: NIA arrests 2 suspects
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/230317/lucknow-terror-operation-nia-arrests-2-suspects.html
Lucknow: Terror suspects Atif and Danish were today arrested by NIA in connection with Lucknow terror operation. Sources in NIA said the arrested duo will be taken to Kanpur and other places in UP for further investigation.ANI
WORLD
Qatar, Turkey refuse to hand over 53 Egyptian including Sk Yusuf Al-Qaradawi to Sisi
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170323-qatar-turkey-refuse-to-hand-over-53-egyptian-to-sisi/
Egypt’s Al-Youm Al-Sabe newspaper reported that Qatar and Turkey informed Egypt of their refusal to hand over 53 alleged Brotherhood leaders and members for prosecution. The paper revealed the names of some of these figures, including the chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi.The paper, which is closely linked to the regime of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who came to power after a bloody coup in 2013, quoted yesterday “senior level sources” confirming that the Turkish and Qatari authorities informed Egypt in Jan.that they had rejected Cairo’s request to hand over 53 alleged Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members of the international organisation located in their countries for prosecution.The paper claimed that these individuals committed terrorist acts against the state or incited violence after the fall of the Brotherhood’s rule under President Mohamed Morsi in the regime-titled “June 30 Revolution”. The newspaper’s sources also claimed that all of these opposition members are members of the Muslim Brotherhood, despite their diverse intellectual and political affiliations.The unnamed sources said that the international cooperation office in the Ministry of Justice sent messages, via diplomatic channels, to nearly 80 foreign countries, including Qatar and Turkey, requesting judicial assistance and the handing over suspects located in their countries in accordance with international and bilateral agreements made with Egypt.The sources noted that some countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia handed over a number of these suspects located in their country, while seven countries did not reply as to whether or not they would hand those located in their countries over.Some of those requested to be handed over are Tarek Al-Zumar, secretary-general of the Building and Development Party, Yehia Hamed, former Minister of investment in Hesham Qandil’s pre-coup Govt , Mohammad Al-Jawadi, who is classified as a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood alliance, famously anti-Sisi religious leader Sheikh Wagdy Ghoneim and Waleed Sharabi, spokesman for the “Coalition of Judges for Egypt”.The list also included prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader, Mahmoud Ezzat, Gamal Abdel Sattar, a former University of Al-Azhar professor and the head of the Sunni Scholars Association, journalist Wael Qandil, Al Jazeera writer and political analyst Mohammed Al-Quddusi, director of news for Al Jazeera Ibrahim Mohammed Hilal as well as Al Jazeera presenter Ahmad Mansour. middleeastmonitor
Egypt takes punitive action against some 2,000 students
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170323-egypt-takes-punitive-action-against-some-2000-students/
A new report by the Egyptian-based Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, “Besieged Universities”, says that Egyptian authorities took punitive action against 2,297 student activists nationwide between 2013 and 2016. The report comes at a time when the “security grip on political activity in Egypt is at its peak”. middleeastmonitor
Sinai clashes leave 10 Egypt troops, 15 militants dead
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/sinai-clashes-leave-10-egypt-troops-15-militants-dead/778040
Cairo : 10 Egyptian security personnel, including three army officers, were killed while carrying out a security operation in Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula, an Egyptian army spokesman said Thursday.“Our forces raided a terrorist outpost in central Sinai, which led to the killing of 15 Takfiris [extremists] and arrest of seven others,” army spokesman Tamer al-Refai said in a statement. “While pursuing the terrorists, two army vehicles struck roadside bombs, leading to the martyrdom of three army officers and seven other military personnel,” al-Refai added. Anadolu Agency
Afghan Taliban signal growing strength with capture of key southern district: Reuters
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/afghan-taliban-signal-growing-strength-with-capture-of-key-southern-district/article17607405.ece
KABUL:Taliban fighters have captured the key district of Sangin in the southern Afghan Province of Helmand after security forces pulled out, leaving the district centre to the insurgents, officials said on Thursday.Helmand, which accounts for the bulk of Afghanistan's billion dollar opium crop, is already largely in the hands of the Taliban but the capture of Sangin, where US and British forces suffered heavy casualties, underlines their growing strength in the south.Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said Taliban fighters had captured police headquarters and a military base overnight, as well as quantities of military equipment after they were abandoned by retreating Govt forces.He said the area had been bombarded by foreign forces following the withdrawal of Afghan troops and police, causing heavy damage to buildings and infrastructure.Omar Zwak, the Provincial Governor's spokesman, said security forces had conducted a tactical withdrawal some 3 km from the district centre to avoid civilian casualties.Abdul Majid Akhondzada, Deputy Provincial council chief of Helmand, confirmed that after the retreat, air strikes hit the district to destroy military equipment left behind.With US President Donald Trump yet to announce a new Afghanistan strategy, the loss of Sangin underlines the challenge facing the western-backed Govt and its international partners.The top US commander in the country, Gen. John Nicholson, said last month that Afghanistan was in a “stalemate” and thousands more international troops would be needed to boost the existing NATO-led training and advisory mission. thehindu
Israel built 2,630 illegal homes in W.Bank last yr: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/israel-built-2630-illegal-homes-west-bank-year-170322170833254.html
Israel built 2,630 illegal settler homes in occupied West Bank in 2016, an increase of 40% compared with numbers from 2015. According to figures released by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday, construction was at its "second highest" in 15 years, falling slightly short of 2,874 illegal homes built in 2013.Citing the official data,Peace Now - an anti-settlement NGO - said 14,017 units were started since PM Netanyahu returned to office in 2009, though settlement construction has continued under successive Israeli leaders.
US to focus on 'elimination' of ISIL by military force
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/vows-step-fight-isil-al-qaeda-170322203954812.html
US will set up "interim zones of stability" to help refugees return home in the next phase of the fight against the ISIL group and al-Qaeda, the US Secretary of State said on Wednesday. Top US diplomat Rex Tillerson did not make clear where these zones were to be set up. He was addressing a meeting of 68 countries gathered in Washington, DC to discuss the fight to defeat ISIL."US will increase our pressure on ISIS and al-Qaeda and will work to establish interim zones of stability, through ceasefires, to allow refugees to return home," Tillerson told the gathering at the state department."We checked with the Pentagon and they say they don't have any guidance to create these zones yet," Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane reported from Washington, DC."In the past when there was talk about safe zones, that meant forces on the ground, to protect civilians, and cover from the air. But that doesn't seem to be what Tillerson is talking about as he mentions doing it through ceasefires."Defeating ISIL is the "number one US goal in the region", Tillerson said, adding the coalition will focus on "regional elimination of ISIS through military force".Wednesday's event was the first meeting of the international coalition since the election of Trump, who has pledged to make the fight against ISIL a priority. He vowed in January to set up safe zones in Syria for refugees.In a statement released after the meeting, the 68 partners underlined their "determination to intensify and accelerate... efforts to eliminate ISIS" in Iraq, Syria and beyond.They hailed progress by US-backed local forces against the group's main strongholds in Raqqa and the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. aljazeera
US-led coalition air strike in Syria kills over 30 people in school near Isis-held Raqqa: human rights watchdog
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/s-coalition-syria-air-strike-raqq-isis-school-killed-al-mansoura-human-rights-observatory-a7642781.html
At least 33 people have been killed in an air strike on a school sheltering displaced people near the Isis-held city of Raqqa, Syria, a monitoring group has said. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was believed the US-led coalition had carried out the attack.Observatory activists counted at least 33 bodies at the site of the strike, near the village of al-Mansoura, west of Raqqa, Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters.The air strike took place earlier this week, he added. The activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said the school was sheltering around 50 families when it was levelled by air strikes.
UK police: 8 arrests over Westminster attack
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/uk-police-arrests-westminster-attack-170323075501826.html
The suspect of a deadly attack outside the UK parliament in London was British-born, PM Theresa May has said, as police arrested eight people after several overnight raids across the country.In a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday, May said the attacker was once investigated by intelligence officers over concerns of "violent extremism". "He was a peripheral figure," she said. "The case is historic, he was not part of the current intelligence picture."Earlier on Thursday, police said eight people had been arrested after raids on six homes in London, Birmingham and other parts of the country in their probe into the attack, in which a man ploughed into pedestrians in a car and then went on a stabbing spree before being shot dead. aljazeera
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:01 PM)
