Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
03 April 2017: 05 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:156
INDIA
NIA gives clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Indresh Kumar, 2 others in Ajmer Dargah blast case
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-clears-sadhvi-pragya-thakur-indresh-kumar-of-ajmer-dargah-blast/story-Wd5MsSz3Lq5knsBJ4cLBGP.html
Jaipur: NIA on Monday cleared 4 people, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, of charges in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah blast.A closure report was submitted in the special NIA court in Jaipur, it couldn’t find enough evidence to build a case against the 4.“NIA filed the closure report against Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Indresh Kumar, and 2 more men, Prince and Rajendra, in the Ajmer Dargah blast case. The court will decide on April 17 whether it will accept the report,” public prosecutor Ashwini Sharma said. 3 more suspects — Sandeep Dange, Suresh Nair and Ram Chandra Kalsangra — are still on the run.Justice Dinesh Gupta expressed displeasure over NIA’s inability to arrest the trio, who figure on a list of most-wanted people in the agency’s website with cash rewards against them.The court has written to NIA DGP, asking for a progress report on efforts to arrest the three fugitives.Sadhvi has been accused of being a member of Abhinav Bharat, a Hindu extremist outfit apparently floated by military officer Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit. Indresh Kumar of the RSS is allegedly with the group.The court directed the NIA on Monday to present evidence that verifies the deaths of two other people in the case, Jayanti Bhai Gohil and Ramesh Gohil. Both men were accused in the Gujarat Best Bakery Blast in 2002. hindustantimes
Ajmer Dargah blast case: NIA clears four suspects, finds no evidence against Indresh Kumar, Sadhvi Pragya
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ajmer-dargah-blast-case-nia-clears-four-suspects-finds-no-evidence-against-indresh-kumar-sadhvi-pragya/613298/
Ajmer Blast case 2007: NIA gives clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya due to lack of evidence
http://www.newsnation.in/india-news/ajmer-blast-case-2007-nia-gives-clean-chit-to-sadhvi-pragya-article-166958.html
Acquittal in Ajmer blast case swayed Hyderabad court to grant Aseemanand conditional bail
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/swami-aseemanand-ajmer-blast-case-mecca-masjid-blast-case-national-investigating-agency/1/919304.html
Even as Telangana govt promises to file an appeal against the granting of bail to swami Aseemanand, proceedings of the Special NIA court show that the special public prosecutor appearing for NIA had opposed the bail application stating that there was "prima facie case against him and cogent evidence against him was on record".He had also expressed fear that "if released on bail there is every possibility of his nonappearance which may sub serve the purpose of speedy trial". indiatoday
Ishrat Jahan case: SC allows Gujarat govt to accept DGP Pandey's offer to quit
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ishrat-jahan-case-sc-allows-gujarat-govt -to-accept-dgp-pandeys-offer-to-quit/articleshow/57987301.cms
New Delhi: Supreme Court today allowed the Gujarat govt to accept the resignation offer of DGP PP Pandey, who is an accused in Ishrat Jahan case.The police officer wrote a letter expressing his willingness to step down forthwith if the state govt so desired.The SC court said that since Pandey had already offered his resignation, the Gujarat govt accepting it would bring an end to his term. Pandey, who is out on bail in the Ishrat encounter case, had been granted an extension until April 30.The SC bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and DY Chandrachud recorded that Pandey, in the letter, expressed willingness to step down and urged the state govt to revoke the notification appointing him till April 30. timesofindia
Parliamentary panel questions service tax exemption for Haj private tour operators
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/parliamentary-panel-questions-service-tax-exemption-for-haj-ptos-4597753/
New Delhi:A Parliamentary panel has questioned exemption given to Haj private tour operators (PTOs) from paying service tax. Standing committee on social justice and empowerment has in its 39th report suggested the govt to consider imposition of the tax on PTOs and also make the operators share details of their annual turnover. The panel also wondered why 183 of the total 484 PTOs in the country were registered from Maharashtra alone, suggesting it created “monopoly” of the operators from the state.On the other hand, it pointed out, Jharkhand has only one PTO with a quota of 50 seats. “The committee does not understand why these PTOs are exempted from paying service tax,” the panel, headed by Lok Sabha MP Ramesh Bais, has said in its report.It added, “The committee desires that imposition of service tax on the PTOs may be considered under the Tax and other Laws as is done in case of other agencies/organisations/ tour operators etc., and they may also be asked to furnish their annual turnover.”The committee’s report titled ‘Demands for Grants (2017-18) of Ministry of Minority Affairs’ was submitted to both the Houses of Parliament last month. On maximum registration of PTOs in Maharashtra, the panel noted such “monopoly” causes inconvenience to Haj applicants as they have to travel all the way to that state.PTI
Abbas to visit India a month before Modi’s Israel trip
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/palestinian-president-to-visit-india-a-month-before-modi-s-israel-trip/story-WtXtbN7wX3Rm6kiwmRxtIK.html
New Delhi: Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is likely to visit India in May, a month ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Israel in June, sources have said. Modi’s will be the first visit by an Indian PM to Israel and he is set to skip Palestine in a break from the tradition of senior Indian leaders clubbing two countries in the same trip. “We are looking at May for the visit of President Abbas to India. Discussions are underway to finalise the dates, most probably for the second half of the month,” a source told HT.Though the Modi govt is trying to put an end to hyphenating Israel with Palestine , historical legacy and India’s close ties with the Arab world makes this a delicate process. India has been steadily increasing its defence and security ties with Israel since mid 1990s, but the successive govt s have kept the ties low profile in public.However, Modi govt hasn’t been coy about scaling up its ties with Israel. But govt official insists that there is no change in India’s commitment to Palestine cause and pointed out it was the Modi govt which has done “first ever India-Palestine joint commission”. Commission was co-chaired by minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar.HT
India all set to get missile armed drones from Israel:ET
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-all-set-to-get-missile-armed-drones-from-israel/articleshow/57980098.cms
New Delhi: India's first missile armed drones that will give it the capability to carry out standoff cross-border strikes are ready in Israel, ahead of the first ever visit to the nation by an Indian PM . Heron TP-armed drones, capable of detecting, tracking and taking down targets with air to ground missiles, have been on the armed forces wish list for years, before the programme was fast tracked in September 2015,as reported by ET.Armed drones will give India the option of taking out large terrorist camps or individual targets in hostile territory with minimal risk.
Demonetisation fraud:Court bars media from reporting case
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/demonetisation-fraud-court-bars-media-from-reporting-case/articleshow/57991798.cms
Delhi:A Delhi court has barred the media from reporting a case involving two bank officials and another person for alleged irregularities relating to the conversion of old currency and supply of new notes.According to court sources, the additional sessions judge has orally barred media from reporting the matter after the counsel for the accused alleged misreporting in the case.Sources said the judge has also asked the advocates associated with the case not to brief mediapersons on any development in the matter.The court had earlier taken cognisance on the charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against accused Vineet Gupta, then branch manager in Axis Bank's Kashmere Gate branch here, 33-year-old Shobit Sinha, then manager (operations) in the bank, and Rajeev Kumar Kushwaha, suspected to be the mastermind behind floating of shell companies. The three accused are lodged in judicial custody.PTI
SBI hikes minimum balance for savings a/c, other charges
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/sbi-hikes-minimum-balance-for-savings-a-c-other-charges/story-GQOwQhTWuJ4Jzq2wq6051I.html
Counterfeiting of new notes worries agencies
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/counterfeiting-of-new-notes-worries-agencies/article17764449.ece
New Delhi:That the new 2,000 and 500 notes have the same security features as the old 500 and 1,000 ones has the security agencies worried.At a high-level meeting last week to discuss the presence of fake currency notes, officials at North Block were informed that the “covert security features” had not been changed since 2005.The Hindu had reported on Nov.11, 2016, that the security features were changed last in 2005 when notes of all denominations with new security features were introduced.An official had said then that since the decision to introduce the new notes was taken only around May 2016, there was no time to alter the security features as the entire exercise takes between 5 and 6 years. thehindu
PM focus on technology use of judiciary, CJI talks about triple talaq
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-narendra-modi-focus-on-technology-use-of-judiciary-cji-talks-about-triple-talaq-jagdish-singh-khehar-chief-justice-of-india-4597081/
Lucknow:PM Narendra Modi stressed on the use of technologies to ease judicial processes and Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar spoke about expeditiously dealing with cases related to triple talaq at the valedictory function of the 150th year celebrations of Allahabad High Court on Sunday. PM assured the CJI of complete cooperation from the govt to strengthen the judicial system.“Expenditure is made on security as well as while taking prisoners from jails to the courts.On this path what all happens everyone knows. Now that Yogji has come, maybe all that will be stopped,” Modi said.In his speech, CJI Khehar said 3 Constitution benches had been formed for the coming summer vacation. There were so many serious cases which will make impact on the life of people. One case was of triple talaq, he said. “Do not know what will be the judgment but rights of the people will be defined,” CJI said about that case. indianexpress
Kejriwal: EVMs being tampered with, all polls under threat
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/arvind-kejriwal-evms-tampering-mcd-elections-bypolls-election-commission-4597732/
New Delhi:Ahead of MCD elections in Delhi, AAP national convener and Delhi CM Monday once again expressed doubts over the security features of the Electronic Voting Machines. Claiming that the EVMs were being tampered with, Kejriwal alleged that all the voting machines that will be used in the upcoming Delhi civic elections and bypolls across the country are being brought in from UP. “There are a lot of machines in India, then why are machines coming from UP? 300 EVMs were brought in from Govind Nagar from UP for MP bypolls,” he said. “Technically, EVMs can’t be used or shifted 45 days from poll results. So what was the Election Commission’s compulsion?” He also cited the example of the recent trial of VVPAT machines conducted by the Election Commission in MP. Every vote cast during the trial left a paper trail for the BJP. EC launched a probe and suspended 3 SHOs in connection to the incident. indianexpress
MP EVM trial reignites ‘tampering’ row, EC calls for report
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-evm-trial-reignites-tampering-row-ec-calls-for-report-4595847/?google_editors_picks=true
Why biryani in your fridge can be investigated, but EVMs can't be, asks Sisodia
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/why-biryani-in-your-fridge-can-be-investigated-but-evms-cant-sisodia?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, while addressing a public election meeting on Saturday, asked why biryani in one's fridge can checked to see if there is beef, mutton or chicken in it but EVMs can't be checked even when people are loudly alleging rigging and malpractice in them.Addressing a large gathering in Okhla area of Delhi, Sisodia urged people not to take lightly the upcoming elections for Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD), rather as a fight for Idea of India."After Assembly elections in UP, Punjab and Uttarakhand, the elections for MCD, though called local elections, but are indeed for ideas. This is election for which idea India wants to go with," he said.IndiaTomorrow
Lalu demands high-level inquiry into tampering of EVMs
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lalu-prasad-demands-high-level-inquiry-into-tampering-of-evms/printarticle/57976611.cms
Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged malfunctioning of EVMs during a media demonstration in Madhya Pradesh. "It is a serious matter and there should be a high-level inquiry into the reported tampering of EVM machines in Madhya Pradesh," Lalu told media here. During an official demonstration ahead of by-elections in Ater and Bandhavgarh assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, the voter-verified paper audit trail showed the BJP as the voted party upon pressing any button on the EVM. "It is not something simple. Why did it not show any other party getting the vote," Lalu asked.Lalu also demanded that the BJP-led central govt should formulate an anti-cow slaughter law in northeastern states also.IANS
40 Muslims flee UP village in Hapur: thehindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/40-muslims-flee-up-village/article17763501.ece
Meerut: 40 members of 7 Muslim families left Upaida village in Hapur district after a communal clash last week. A small fight between the youth of 2 communities escalated, leaving 4 members of the minority community injured.Despite heavy police deployment and officials’ assurance of safety, the 40 Muslims are yet to come back to the village.According to Zakir, a resident of Upaida, a small fight took place two weeks ago between two youngsters. Last Wednesday Shaqib, Sohail, Sabu and Sameer were attacked by a group of youngsters involved in the earlier fight.According to the police complaint, on March 29, when some Muslim youngsters were coming home, four young men started teasing and abusing them. When they protested, they were assaulted.“4 accused followed them home and continued the assault. Four persons, including two women, were injured,” said Sabir, another resident of the village. “Some people in the village are trying to disturb the peace. Had the police been proactive, this would not have snowballed into a clash, forcing women and children of the affected families to leave,” Zakir told the media. Saleem, another resident, said that since the Adityanath govt came to power some people were trying to create fear among Muslims.
Odisha: 11-yr-old girl raped inside Jagannath temple in Puri
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/020417/odisha-minor-girl-raped-inside-jagannath-temple-in-puri.html
Baripada: A physically challenged minor girl was allegedly raped by a youth inside the premises of Lord Jagannath temple here, police said on Sunday.The incident took place when the 11-year-old girl went inside the temple for 'Darshan' of the Lord late on Friday night when the shrine was virtually deserted, they said.Taking advantage of the situation, a 28-year-old youth escorted her to the bathing mandap of the Lord and raped her before fleeing.The victim was rescued in a critical condition from the spot. Angry locals spotted the accused and thrashed him before handing him over to the police. Girl was admitted to SCB medical college at Cuttack as her condition worsened, police said.Baripada sub-collector SK Purohit along with police officers visited spot and has sanctioned Rs 10,000 for treatment of the girl, officials said.PTI
Adityanath assures UP govt’s support to Supreme Court to resolve Ram Mandir-Babri Masjib issue
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ram-mandir-babri-masjid-row-yogi-adityanath-assures-up-govt s-support-to-supreme-court/612819/
UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday said his govt will support the Supreme Court to resolve the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjib issue. Commenting on the issue, Adityanath said, all parties must sit together and talks are the only way to go forward, according to report. Earlier, Adityanath had welcomed the apex court’s suggestion of an out-of-court settlement of the Ayodhya dispute and said aggrieved parties must sit together to resolve it. Terming the SC’s observation as a solid one, Adityanath said “it is a welcome step.” “We welcome this and both sides should sit to resolve the differences and find a way out. Whatever cooperation they required from the state govt , we will do that,” the CM told reporters outside the Parliament.
should solve Ram Mandir Dispute through dialogue, Yogi tells RSS mouthpiece
http://www.news18.com/news/politics/should-solve-ram-mandir-dispute-through-dialogue-yogi-tells-rss-mouthpiece-1367494.html
Adityanath may face trial following Allahabad HC decision
http://twocircles.net/2017apr02/407157.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Lucknow: A city-based human rights organisation Rihai Manch has welcomed the decision of Allahabad High Court asking the UP govt to file a reply for not giving a sanction against Yogi Adityanath pending investigation in a case of spreading communal hatred under section 153 (A).Allahabad High Court has asked the state govt to file a reply within three weeks for CBCID investigation into the case against Yogi Adityanath and others under section 153 (A) in a petition filed by social activists Pervez Parvaz and Asad Hayat after anti-Muslim communal riots in Gorakhpur in 2007.In Jan.2007, tension escalated between Hindu and Muslim communities of Gorakhpur before Muharram procession. Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath sat on dharna with members of Hindu Yuva Vahini. On the night of Jan.7, 2007, Adityanath had delivered an inflammatory speech on the Gorakhpur railway station in the presence of member assembly Radhe Mohan Das and Mayor Anju Chaudhary. He had said that he would not let Muslims raise the Tazia and play Holi with their blood.TwoCircles
Ajmer urs: Sufi shrine heads demand ban on beef
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ajmer-urs-sufi-shrine-heads-demand-ban-on-beef/articleshow/57991689.cms
Ajmer: Heads of Sufi shrines gathered at the Dargah Ajmer for the annual Urs on Monday have demanded a complete ban on sale of all forms of "beef" in the country as it is causing enmity between Hindus and Muslims.The statement comes in wake of the crackdown on illegal slaughter houses by newly elected UP CM Yogi Adityanath. The crackdown spread in most of the BJP ruled states Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Gujarat.A statement was issued by the Dargah Dewan, Syed Zainual Abedin Ali Khan after annual meeting with the heads of different shrines at Khangah (a placeat the dargah) on the closing ceremony of the 805th annual Urs of the 12 century shrine in Ajmer. The joint declaration read out by Dewan says that PM Narendra Modi should give respite to crores of Muslims by solving this issue once for all and the only solution is passing an ordinance banning beef. timesofindia
Ajmer Dargah diwan urges Muslims to stop consuming beef, asks Centre to declare cow as national animal
http://zeenews.india.com/india/ajmer-dargah-diwan-urges-muslims-to-stop-consuming-beef-asks-centre-to-declare-cow-as-national-animal-1992478.html
UP: 13 cows found dead in Bulandshahr district, mandi secretary booked
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-13-cows-found-dead-in-debai-mandi-secretary-booked-4596975/
Lucknow:13 cows were found dead and 50 others fell seriously ill over the weekend in Debai area of Bulandshahr district. While the district administration suspects that the animals consumed grains laced with insecticides lying on the mandi (wholesale grain market) campus, autopsy could not pinpoint the exact cause of death. On the basis of a complaint filed by VHP district president Giriraj Varshney, an FIR was lodged against Mandi secretary Kuldeep Kumar Saini. DM has also has sought an explanation from Saini. indianexpress
Ban on cow slaughter: With Gujarat passing stringent law, Sena asks what about farmers suicide
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ban-on-cow-slaughter-with-gujarat-passing-stringent-law-sena-questions-what-about-the-farmers-suicide-2379530
With BJP-ruled Gujarat passing a stringent law making cow slaughter punishable with a life-term sentence and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh saying cow killers would be hanged, Shiv Sena on Monday hit out at BJP and asked, 'what about farmers who are committing suicide in these states?'"We congratulate those who consider cow-slaughter a crime, but what about farmers suicide. Farmers suicide should be considered as a culpable homicide and it should be clarified on who should be termed as criminal; who should be sentenced to life and hanged," said Shiv Sena, in a editorial in party's mouthpiece 'Saamana'.A day ago, Singh said those who kill cows would be "hanged" in his state. The remarks came in the backdrop of an aggressive push to protect cows by BJP-ruled states."It (killing a cow) hasn't happened in the state in the last 15 years. Has it? We will hang those who kill," he had said.The Sena editorial also claimed that after the beef ban, the international trade of beef had surged and export had increased manifold. Mentioning that since UP CM Yogi Adityanath was sworn-in, illegal slaughter houses have been closed, while meat and beef have gone missing form AMU hostels, the editorial questioned,"Would Goa CM Manohar Parrikar take a stand on hanging those slaughtering cow?"DNA
BJP ignoring farmer suicides by pushing for stricter cow slaughter laws: Sena
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bjp-ignoring-farmer-suicide-by-pushing-for-stricter-cow-slaughter-laws-shiv-sena/story-JlepwPiQPxMZXEmYYD2FXL.html
UP: Striking meat sellers look forward to court verdict for relief
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/striking-meat-sellers-look-forward-to-court-verdict-for-relief/articleshow/57980922.cms
Lucknow: As meat shops remained closed in the city for the ninth consecutive day on Sunday, striking meat sellers announced they will decide future course of action after hearing at the high court on Monday.Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court had issued notices to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and state govt on March 27, seeking explanation as to under which authority shops were forced to close down and why licences were not renewed. The LMC and the state govt have to submit their reply on Monday.All India Jamiat-ul Quresh Association general secretary, Shahabuddin Qureshi said we will decide our next move after going through the reply submitted by authorities in the court. timesofindia
Hindu boy, Muslim girl found hanging in UP village
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/hindu-boy-muslim-girl-found-hanging-in-uttar-pradesh-village-4597076/
Lucknow:Two minors, a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl from the same village, were found hanging from a tree in Sikrara police station area of Jaunpur district on Sunday morning. Police suspect that the two were in a relationship and committed suicide thinking their families would not accept it.The two, students of class 11 and 9 but different schools, lived in the same locality of Dudauli village. They had eloped about 6 months ago but were traced by the families and brought back, according to police.Sikrara station officer Arvind Kumar Pandey said it appeared that the two left their homes late on Saturday night but the family members did not notice their absence until the villagers saw their bodies hanging from a tree in the village’s burial ground on Sunday morning.“Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide. The bodies have been sent for postmortem and the report is awaited. We would be able to say more after receiving the postmortem report,” said Pandey.He said police did not find any suicide notes and the family members have also not raised any suspicion. indianexpress
Will take India to UN rights council: African envoys
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hrc-should-investigate-anti-african-attacks-african-envoys/article17768164.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:All diplomatic options are on the table to serve justice to the victims of the Greater Noida attack, says a statement issued by them.Categorically describing the recent attacks on African nationals in Greater Noida as ‘racist’, the envoys of Africa stationed here said on Monday that they would take India to Human Rights Council (HRC) of UN.In a statement issued to The Hindu, the Office of the Dean of the African Group Head of Missions said all diplomatic options were on the table to serve justice to the victims of the attack that targeted Nigerian nationals in Greater Noida on March 27. “Heads of the African Missions accredited to India reviewed the previous incidents that have taken place in the past and concluded that no known, sufficient and visible deterring measures were taken by Govt of India,” said the press release. “They agreed to take further actions, including the call for an independent investigation by the Human Rights Council as well as other human rights bodies, and also to comprehensively report the matter to the African Union Commission”. thehindu
African envoys slam attacks on Nigerian students, call these incidents xenophobic and racial
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/attack-on-nigerian-students-authorities-didnt-take-visible-deterring-measures-want-independent-investigation-4597544/
‘Azaadi’ slogans, banners against Yogi Adityanath, RSS feature at Jadavpur University
http://www.newsx.com/national/60320-azaadi-slogans-banners-against-up-cm-yogi-adityanath-feature-at-jadavpur-university
Kolkata: Azaadi slogans were once again heard at the Jadavpur University campus on Sunday where students had put up banners against RSS and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Some of the banners termed Yogi Adityanath the ‘new Trump…Brahminical version of white supremacy’.Some of the other slogans raised during the protest were “Azadi”, “Halla Bol” and “RSS door hatao”.The slogans were raised by the students in front of Academy of Fine Arts where an international seminar on persecution of minority Hindu Buddhist Christians in Bangladesh was going on.Some of the students protesting there told the media that the protest was against RSS conducting of seminar on the issue of minorities in Bangladesh. The students also said that they think RSS has been the reason for the deaths of thousands in Godhra and Muzaffarnagar and hence have no right to address the minority issue. Slogans calling for ‘azadi’ for Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland were also heard at the Academy of Fine Arts.news x
Kolkata: Azaadi slogans raised against RSS
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20170402/3085007.html
NIRF ranking 2017: JNU, Jadavpur got top rank not for Afzal Guru slogans but for good research, says Javadekar
http://indianexpress.com/article/education/nirf-ranking-2017-jnu-jadavpur-got-top-rank-not-for-afzal-guru-slogans-but-for-good-research-says-javadekar/
AMU, Jamia among top 20 institutions in India: Ranking
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/amu-jamia-millia-among-top-20-institutions-in-india-govt-ranking
New Delhi: AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia have been ranked in the top 20 institutions in the country in Overall category. As per the second edition of India Rankingsunder National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) released on Monday by Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, AMU has got 19th India Rank with 52.74 scores. Jamia Millia Islamia has got 20th rank with 51.75 score.In the University category, AMU is at No.11 and Jamia at No. 12.IndiaTomorrow
Delhi to send no more money for ‘modernisation’ of madrasas in Kashmir
http://kashmirreader.com/2017/04/03/delhi-send-no-money-modernisation-madrasas-kashmir/
Srinagar: Ministry of HRD in New Delhi has blocked funds given as grant or aid under two schemes – Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasa (SPQEM) and Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutes (IDMI) – to Jammu & Kashmir, citing non-utilisation of previous funds.The schemes were launched in the year 2008-09 in all states of India shortly after the Sachar Committee submitted its report on the situation of minorities in India. Aim of the schemes was to provide formal education alongside the religious education given in minority institutions like madrasas. kashmirreader
6 CRPF men injured as militants strike near Srinagar
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/attack-on-crpf-near-srinagar/article17770677.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:The attack comes just a day after militants lobbed a grenade in Srinagar's Nowhatta area late in the evening, killing a policeman and injuring 11 others.6 CRPF personnel were injured in an attack by militants on a patrol manning the highway at Pantha Chowk, near Srinagar, on Monday afternoon.Preliminary reports suggest that gunshots were heard at Pantha Chowk.Locals told The Hindu they heard heavy exchange of fire in the area around 3:30 pm. Both police and the CRPF were not confirming any casualties. thehindu
Cop killed, 11 security men injured in J&K grenade attack
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cop-killed-11-security-personnel-injured-in-jk-grenade-attack-4596950/
J&K: Army jawan with two grenades arrested at Srinagar Airport, was heading to New Delhi
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-army-jawan-with-two-grenades-arrested-in-srinagar-was-to-travel-to-delhi/
New Delhi:An Army jawan has been arrested from the Srinagar airport early this morning, according to multiple news reports. Jawan was arrested after security forces found two grenades in his baggage. He was reportedly to board a flight to New Delhi.According to reports, jawan has been posted near the Line of Control in J&K, in Uri sector. Soon after the arrest, the jawan, identified as Bhupal Mukhia, was taken to the police station in central Kashmir’s Humama for interrogation.indianexpress
India needs Bihar-like ‘Mahagathbandhan’:Nitish Kumar
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-needs-bihar-like-mahagathbandhan-says-nitish-kumar-2019-lok-sabha-elections-4597603/
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Monday said that to defeat the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, a A “Mahagathbandhan” (Grand Alliance) of non-BJP parties is needed at the national level. Talking to media in the state capital, Kumar said that a “Mahagathbandhan” would prove successful in the next parliamentary polls.“Grand Alliance of JD-U, RJD and Congress proved successful in Bihar assembly polls in 2015 when it defeated the BJP-led NDA. The only answer is a ‘Mahagathbandhan’ of non-BJP parties at the national level now,” he said. indianexpress
Samajwadi Party feels pact with Mayawati only way to combat BJP in 2019 Parliament elections
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/samajwadi-party-feels-pact-with-mayawati-only-way-to-combat-bjp-in-2019-parliament-elections/articleshow/57984079.cms
New Delhi: Several Samajwadi Party leaders now believe that a pre-poll alliance with Mayawati’s BSP is perhaps the only way to check BJP’s march in UP in 2019 Parliament elections. ET’s interactions with several SP leaders — including its national executive members and candidates in the recent assembly polls — about the future of their party after two massive defeats at the hands of BJP in three years indicate a groundswell of support for an alliance with BSP, though they are apprehensive about Mayawati.“It’s (SP-BSP alliance) is a compulsion… else we are staring at marginalisation,” said a Muslim SP leader, who was a cabinet minister in Akhilesh Yadav govt, after his defeat in the assembly elections. At least three members of SP’s national executive, which was reconstituted by Akhilesh recently, conceded that an alliance is “a matter of survival” for both SP and BSP. timesofindia
Lalu’s son launches DSS to counter RSS
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lalus-son-launches-dss-to-counter-rss/article17763683.ece
AP: No Muslim face in Cabinet, anger sweeps community
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/no-muslim-face-in-cabinet-anger-sweeps-community/articleshow/57982229.cms
Amaravati: Muslim minority leaders in the state are fuming over CM N Chandrababu Naidu ignoring their community in the cabinet reshuffle. They alleged that Naidu is working with a single-point agenda to cement the bond with the BJP. TOI
Mumbai: BJP reaches out to Muslims, rejigs minority wing
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/bjp-reaches-out-to-muslims-rejigs-its-minority-wing/articleshow/57976061.cms
Mumbai: In a bid to counter criticism that BJP did not give tickets to Muslims in the assembly polls in UP , where the community comprises around 20% of the state's population, the party is working on its outreach.Last week, BJP city unit chief Ashish Shelar appointed new office bearers of the party's minority wing. BJP hopes the wing's members will work to "popularize" the party among Muslims.
33 Indians rescued from ISIS-captured Iraq return home
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/33-indians-rescued-from-isis-captured-iraq-return-home/story-COCuci76APmdGuUtfEP2dM.html
New Delhi: 33 Indians who were stuck in ISIS-captured Erbil in Iraq arrived in India on Monday after being rescued by the Indian govt.The rescued people claimed that they were duped by their agent with the promise of employment in Iraq and further informed that many people like them are still stranded there. “Earlier 35 people were rescued and came back to India and this time we are 33. The agent deceived us by promising for giving jobs and took us to Iraq. More people like us are still there,” said a rescued person.ANI
India going vegetarian: Ban on cow slaughter motivated by BJP commitment to upper caste Hindu ideology:Monobina Gupta
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/india-going-vegetarian-ban-on-cow-slaughter-motivated-by-bjp-commitment-to-upper-caste-hindu-ideology-3364898.html
WORLD
Sisi saves Israel from global boycott:Ex-Israeli general
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170403-al-sisi-saves-israel-from-international-boycott-says-former-israeli-general/
A former spokesman of the Israeli army has said that the reconciliation projects proposed by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi save Israel from an international boycott, Rassd.com reported on Sunday. Brigadier General Avi Benayahu’s comments were published initially by Hebrew-language Maariv.He said that Al-Sisi serves Israeli interests by his work against smuggling weapons to the Gaza Strip, and noted that the region is witnessing accelerating developments and Israel has to get some benefit from them. Israel’s interests, claimed the general, match Egypt’s. The former Israeli official described the Egyptian operations on the border with Gaza as “partially successful”, with Hamas on the receiving end of “attack after attack” but preferring to maintain a state of calm in the besieged territory. “[Hamas] faces difficulties regarding the development of its military power due to the closure of the borders between Gaza and Egypt,” he claimed.However, it continues digging tunnels, although it does not achieve vital objectives. middleeastmonitor
Trump urged to mention Egypt prisoners as he meets Sisi
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/trump-sisi-vigil-egypt-prisoners-170402230118787.html
Washington:As White House prepared to roll out the red carpet for the Egyptian leader, a parody look-alike of President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi showed up at the Washington Monument, a few blocks away. Wearing an oversized mask of Sisi, impersonator was part of a vigil held on Sunday to bring attention to the thousands of political prisoners languishing in Egyptian prisons.The man under the mask kept quiet as he tore up protesters' banners with gloves stained red to resemble blood.
'10 killed, 50 wounded' in St Petersburg metro blasts
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/blast-hits-st-petersburg-metro-carriage-170403120753707.html
At least 10 people were reported dead in 2 blasts in the metro system of Saint Petersburg, Russia's second city, according to local media. The explosions also wounded about 50 people, Andrey Kibitov, the head of the city governor's press service, said on Twitter.Life News website showed pictures of blown-out train doors and wounded people on one station platform. Social media users also posted photographs and video from a metro station in the city centre, showing people lying on the floor and a train with a mangled door nearby. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in St Petersburg to attend an economic forum, said the govt was considering all possible causes for the blasts. Aljazeera
Russia: Blasts at St Petersburg metro station kills at least 10, several injured
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/explosion-at-russias-st-petersburg-metro-station-several-injured/
Air strike destroys hospital in Idlib's Maaret al-Numan
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/air-strike-destroys-hospital-idlib-maaret-al-numan-170403061730771.html
Suspected Russian fighter jets have bombed a hospital in a city in the northern province of Idlib, wounding several people, a rescue group said.At least ten people were injured when three strikes targeted the main hospital in Maaret al-Numan on Sunday evening, destroying the building, a Syrian Civil Defence official told Al Jazeera."At around 7:30 pm last night suspected Russian warplanes targeted the hospital, destroying most of the building. As our rescue team were inspecting the damage and rescuing those injured another air strike struck the hospital injuring at least ten people," he told Al Jazeera.
Ex-Iraqi VP Tariq Al Hashemi accuses PM of committing genocide in Mosul
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170403-former-iraqi-vp-tariq-al-hashemi-accuses-pm-of-committing-genocide-in-mosul/
Ex- Iraqi Vice President, Tareq Al Hashemi, has accused the Iraqi govt and the US-led international coalition of committing crimes of genocide against the citizens of Mosul.In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Online, Al Hashemi said the people of Mosul are facing death in a way that no other people in the world have witnessed except for the Syrians, pointing out that he had warned about what he called, “urban warfare” and its high cost on civilians.“ City of Mosul is facing a humanitarian tragedy and an unprecedented disaster in the history of modern Iraq. Those who trusted the promises of PM Haider Abadi and remained in their homes faced bombings and death.” he said.Al Hashemi said he had warned about engaging in urban warfare and its high cost on civilians, “especially when both sides of the conflict are serious about killing and annihilating the other side and equipped with a huge firepower to achieve this purpose.”Hundreds of civilians on the western side of Mosul have been killed in the bombing by US-led coalition warplanes; many lay under the rubble of their homes. However, the US maintains that it is only targeting locations held by the Islamic State militant group.According to Al Hashemi, civilians were caught between coalition aircrafts bombing and the Daesh militant group.middleeastmonitor
Battle for Mosul: Children face life-changing injuries
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/04/battle-mosul-children-face-life-changing-injuries-170403081007077.html
Hospitals in northern Iraq are struggling to cope with the scale of the injuries in the battle to push ISIL out of Mosul.An increasing number of civilians are being caught in the crossfire as fighting intensifies in the west of the city.Many children have been left with life-changing injuries. aljazeera
German govt rejects conservatives' call for Islam law
http://www.ptinews.com/news/8569355_German-govt -rejects-conservatives--call-for-Islam-law-.html
German govt says there's no need for new legislation to regulate Islamic organisations in the country.Members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union party have called for a ban on foreign funding of Islamic organisations, and for Muslims to get statutory rights to pastoral care from an imam in prisons and hospitals.AP/PTI
KSA grants iqama to 4 million burmese
http://www.siasat.com/news/ksa-grants-iqama-four-million-burmese-1165124/
Jeddah: kingdom of Saudi Arabia decided to give residency permits (iqamas) to 4 million Burmese Muslims who escaped their country under religious oppression.A large number of Burmese citizens have been living in the Kingdom for more than 70 years. The Sheikh of the Burmese community in Makkah, Abu Alshamaa Abdulmajeed, praised the role of the Saudi govt in assisting the Burmese community and supporting them as they resettled in the Kingdom. siasat
Tunisia denies praising Iran’s role in protecting the Islamic world from Israel
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170403-tunisia-denies-praising-irans-role-in-protecting-the-islamic-world-from-israel/
Israel's history of protecting al-Assad: Hussain Abdul Hussain, Washington based analyst
http://aa.com.tr/en/analysis-news/israels-history-of-protecting-al-assad/786926
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:31 PM)
