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Evening NEWS DIGEST
17 April 2017: 19 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:167
INDIA
Muslim law board calls for social boycott of those misusing triple talaq; issues code of conduct
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-talaq-to-abusers-muslim-law-board-2404579
Lucknow: AIMPLB has declared a “social boycott” of those Muslims misusing triple talaq. It also issued a code of conduct (instructions for talaq) for all community members to follow while awarding talaq. AIMPLB came out with this solution after 2 days of hectic deliberations. The deliberations were carried out by its Executive Committee at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, popularly known as Nadwa College, in Lucknow.“We have a right under the Constitution to practise our personal laws and the Board will not tolerate any interference from any quarter,” reiterated Maulana Mohammed Wali Rehmani, AIMPLB General Secretary. He added that for many years now, the Board has been taking strong efforts to discourage and check the misuse of triple talaq.Board Secretary and Legal Advisor Jafrayab Jilani said that the AIMPLB has decided to help Muslim women who are victims of misuse of triple talaq and increase their representation in the Board to give them the opportunity to raise their issues. “We appeal to members of the community to give their wards higher education and ensure property rights to female members along with mehar at the time of nikah (marriage),” he said, adding that the Board will use social media to educate community members.The Board’s Muslim Wing Head Dr Asma Zehra said that contrary to some media reports, Muslim women have full faith in Muslim personal laws, especially triple talaq. “Over 5 crore Muslims, including women, have signed a signature campaign to repose their faith in their personal laws. Muslim women are happy with their divorce laws but the media is hyping up the issue,” she said.She added that the Board’s women’s wing has issued a toll-free number through which Muslim women can seek help and get counselling on any issue. “Helpline is in 6 languages and is getting good response from across the country.”
AIMPLB: 8 code of conduct
· Muslim couples should take their own initiative to end their differences in their married life and avoid a situation reaching to divorce.
· If this doesn’t solve their dispute, they should go for temporary separation.
· If the above 2 methods fail to work, elders from both sides should intervene and act as arbitrators.
· If that also doesn’t work, the husband can give one talaq to his wife and leave her for the period of Iddat for any reconciliation. If the husband doesn’t contact his wife during Iddat, nikah is over. If the wife is pregnant, the period of Iddat will continue, and, in the case of talaq, the husband will not only have to return the mehar but also will have to bear the cost of the period of Iddat.
· If reconciliation is done after Iddat,then with mutual consent both of them can have a nikah again, fixing a new mehar.
· Husband should give talaq not in one go, but once a month, and if reconciliation is done in the third month, nikah continues.
· If wife does not want to live with her husband, he may end the nikah through khula.
· Community should socially boycott those who give triple talaq in one go to put an effective check on such cases.
We have "constitutional" right to implement Muslim personal law: AIMPLB
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/58207314.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Muslim law board warns of social boycott if triple talaq given without valid reason
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/ZVMvJXepR8p3XKKuov9DOP/Muslim-law-board-warns-of-social-boycott-if-triple-talaq-giv.html
AIMPLB rejects SC suggestion for out-of-court settlement of Babri case
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-aimplb-rejects-sc-suggestion-for-out-of-court-settlement-of-2404215
AIMPLB rejected the Supreme Court's suggestion for an out-of-court settlement of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and said that only a verdict by the apex court will be acceptable to it."No out-of-court settlement is acceptable to us," AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani told reporters after a two-day meeting of the board executive.A resolution passed by the board executive also said that "on the Babri Masjid issue, the board would only accept a decision by the Supreme Court", making it clear that the AIMPLB is not willing to accept the Supreme Court's suggestion. dnaindia
Modi asks BJP to start dialogue on triple talaq
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-reaches-out-to-backwards-muslim-communities-asks-bjp-to-start-dialogue-on-triple-talaq/story-jJlTEUcUxCwFGOcu1VBlmI.html
Bhubaneswar: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to expand his OBC outreach by asking party colleagues to attend to weaker segments within the Muslim community and push for resolution of such issues as triple talaq through dialogue, and not conflict.He spoke on triple talaq in his concluding address at the BJP’s national executive meeting while his remarks on backward Muslims were made in an intervention during the discussion on a resolution that hailed him for providing constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.Last week, the lower house of parliament passed a legislation making the NCBC a constitutional body, making its decisions on inclusion or exclusion of a caste in the OBC list binding on govt s and all govt -run entities. So far, the NCBC has worked in an advisory role. “An empowered OBC commission will benefit backward community, including Muslims. We must reach out to backward Muslims,” Modi said.However, NDA govt’s proposal has yet to take shape because opposition parties have stalled its passage in parliament’s upper house, Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition lacks majority.Sunday’s resolution at the national executive of BJP also reaffirmed Modi’s commitment towards building a “society of equal opportunities” where nobody would be treated as “inferior”.On triple talaq, Modi told BJP leaders: “We have to bring social change through dialogue not conflict.” Modi asked workers to stand by Muslim women who want to fight the practice of triple talaq, saying dignity is guaranteed to all under the constitution.2-day executive meeting didn’t delve much into economic issues and challenges facing the country, although the PM reiterated his vision of a “new India” and asked BJP leaders to prepare for a “long jump” to achieve socio-economic development on the pillars of social justice to change the tide of history.HT
Not just backward Hindus, social justice should reach Muslims too, says PM Modi
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/not-just-backward-hindus-social-justice-should-reach-muslims-too-says-pm-narendra-modi/630619/
Don’t want conflict in Muslim society over triple talaq:Modi
http://twocircles.net/2017apr16/407901.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Triple Talaq: Modi pushes 'new India' mantra, bats for 'Muslim sisters'
http://www.asianage.com/india/politics/160417/triple-talaq-modi-pushes-new-india-mantra-bats-for-muslim-sisters.html
Justice should be done to Muslim women; PM Modi on triple talaq
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/58208279.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Adityanath compares triple talaq to Draupadi's cheer-haran, calls for common civil cod
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/yogi-adityanath-triple-talaq-draupadi-cheer-haran-common-civil-code/1/930841.html
New Delhi:Calling for the end of the Muslim practice of triple talaq, UP CM Yogi Adityanath today equated it with the disrobing of Draupadi in Hindu epic Mahabharata and slammed the silence of the politicians over it."These days there is a new debate in the country. Some people are maintaining a silence on this issue. This reminds me of the scene in the Mahabharata in which Draupadi is being disrobed in an assembly and she asks a question to the gathering as to who is responsible for this?" he said at an event to mark the 91st birth anniversary of ex- PM Chandrashekhar in Lucknow."No one was able to utter even a single word. At that time Vidur said people who have committed the crime, those who are the accomplices and those who maintained silence on this issue are equally responsible," Adityanath added.IndiaToday
Renuka Chowdhary questions UP CM's Islam knowledge after his triple talaq comment
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/yogi-adityanath-triple-talaq-draupadis-cheer-haran-uniform-civil-code/1/931157.html
Triple talaq: AIMPLB hits back Adityanath
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-triple-talaq-adityanath-fumes-over-practice-aimplb-hits-back-2405440
UP CM Yogi Adityanath reacted angrily to the AIMPLB assertion that Muslims have a constitutional right to follow their personal laws of which 'triple talaq' was a part, contending the Sunni outfit was responsible for "all problems" faced by the community. Reacting sharply, AIMPLB termed Adityanath's remark as "jaahilaanaa" (foolish). On Adityanath's statement, AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani said, "I don't know how to react to the jaahilaanaa (foolish) statement. He is linking talaq with a greater issue -- the disrobing of Draupadi. No sane person will do so. He is looking at things using a different lens (doosraa chashmaa)."PTI
Judiciary cannot create new crimes: Prof Faizan Mustafa on ‘banning’ Triple Talaq
http://twocircles.net/2017apr17/407918.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
Aligarh : Professor Faizan Mustafa, V-C of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad has pointed out that banning triple Talaq (divorce) by the Supreme Court is misplaced, as ‘banning’ would invariably mean ‘prohibiting’ some conduct generally through the instrumentality of ‘criminal law’.“Judiciary cannot create new crimes. We need an Act of Parliament to make an act criminal. If govt is interested in reforms, it can bring in a law, but will it work?”, asked Mustafa during the lecture.He further said that religion is the substance to any culture and if religion is taken away from society, there will be a down fall in moral and social values too. Mustafa today delivered a special talk on the topic, ‘Freedom of Religion and Solidarity’ during the Valedictory Function of All India Sir Syed Memorial Debate, 2017, organised by AMU SU.TCN
Women can't be put on lower pedestal: AG on triple talaq
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/women-cant-be-put-on-lower-pedestal-ag-on-triple-talaq/articleshow/58226135.cms
New Delhi: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi today said practice of triple talaq should not be allowed as women have as much right as men and cannot be treated on a lower pedestal. Explaining the Centre's stand on the issue of triple talaq, the top law officer said there cannot be a situation in a secular country where women of one religion have same right as their spouse but women of another religion, who may be living next door, will not have the same right. Rohatgi's comments came a day after the AIMPLB said that it has decided to issue a code of conduct and warned that those who give talaq without 'Sharia' (Islamic law) reasons will face social boycott. PTI
Shia group for anti-triple talaq law like one against sati
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/shia-board-for-anti-triple-talaq-law-like-one-against-sati-117041700928_1.html
Lucknow: All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) asked the UP govt to draft a strict law against triple talaq similar to the one against the practice of sati to prevent Muslim women from getting victimised. "Merely boycotting those who give talaq without Sharia reasons will not suffice as it will not do any justice to the aggrieved woman. There is nothing like triple talaq in one go,"its leader Maulana Yasoob Abbas said.PTI
Personal law board treats Muslim women as objects: VHP
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/personal-law-board-treats-muslim-women-as-objects-vhp/articleshow/58226094.cms
New Delhi: Attacking AIMPLB on its directive on triple talaq, VHP today alleged that it was not ready to give equal rights to women as it continued to treat them as "objects". Pitching for equal rights for Muslim women, VHP general secretary Surender Jain accused the AIMPLB of "imposing centuries-old orthodox and conservative traditions" on them. PTI
Why only Muslims, speak of Hindu & Christian women too: CPI to PM Modi
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/why-only-muslims-speak-of-hindu-christian-women-too-cpi-to-pm-modi-4616688/
New Delhi:Attacking PM Narendra Modi over his “justice for Muslim women” remark, the CPI on Monday asked him to be equally concerned about similar problem of Hindu and Christian women to ensure gender equality. Modi had yesterday made a strong pitch against the issue of ‘triple talaq’, insisting exploitation of Muslim women should end and justice be done to them. CPI contended that all personal laws are “biased” against women and suggested Modi to not keep himself “confined” to the issue of ‘triple talaq’ only. “Modi should speak in a larger context. Not only Muslim sisters, several Hindu sisters, Christian sisters too are being exploited as all personal laws are biased against women.PTI
BJP drive in UP to reach out to Muslim women, youth
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-drive-in-up-to-reach-out-to-muslim-women-youth-4615908/
Lucknow: During the next five months, BJP is set to hold a number of programmes to strategically reach out to voters from different sections, including Muslim women.These programmes will be organised between April 24 to Sept.25, to mark the birth anniversary of party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay. From Sept.1 and 15, BJP’s Alpsankhyak Morcha will organise seminars on triple talaq, preferably in madrasas, where experts on women rights will address Muslim women on their legal rights and also counsel them on empowerment.In its manifesto for the UP polls, BJP had promised to take up the ‘triple talaq’ issue — currently pending in the Supreme Court — depending on what Muslim women desire. Now, after coming to power, the BJP govt plans to start collecting opinion of women on the issue. Yogi Adityanath has already directed women ministers to hold meetings with concerned organisations.UP president of Alpsankhak Morcha, Haider Abbas Chaand, said:“ Seminars will be held in madrasas and other places, which Muslim women could visit comfortably. Leaders, including experts on women rights, will tell them why triple talaq is wrong and what legal options they have.”Programmes will also be organised to empower victims of triple talaq, he added. indianexpress
Let Muslims solve problem of triple talaq on their own: Digvijaya
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/let-muslims-solve-the-problem-of-triple-talaq-on-their-own-says-digvijaya-singh-4616345/
Jodhpur:Congress party has advised the BJP not to drag the triple talaq issue to Court, as Muslims can resolve it on their own. “Let Muslims solve the problem of triple talaq on their own. Why is the BJP dragging this to court. One should not interfere more in this matter. BJP is trying to create an adverse agitating situation,” Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said. BJP on Monday said PM Narendra Modi’s plea for respecting the Muslim women was correct.ANI
‘We have changed our faith, not our religion’: Scenes from church in crosshairs of Adityanath’s men
https://scroll.in/article/834807/we-have-changed-our-faith-not-our-religion-scenes-from-church-in-crosshairs-of-adityanaths-men
The golden wheat fields of Daudhali village were still enveloped in darkness, as were the mango trees that ringed St Andrew’s Church. The white building glowed in the dim light of bulbs. It was not yet 5 am on Sunday, but Yuhanna Adam was already in the thick of an early Easter service.“We owe our faith to the doubt of Thomas,” said the 48-year-old pastor, as he strode across the pulpit, narrating the biblical story of how Jesus Christ rose from the dead and quelled the doubts of Saint Thomas by asking him to touch his wounds. Adam’s pitch rose in cascades, before it abruptly dropped – as the story ended, he said, rousingly, “Hallelujah”.“Hallelujah” responded the congregation with gusto.About 70 men, women and children squatted on the floor of the church located in Maharajganj, an UP district that borders Bihar and Nepal. Among them was Basant Lal, a school teacher who had cycled 12 km to get here, railway porters Shiv Kumari and her husband Ram Lochan who had travelled by train, and college student Khushboo and her family who had come on motorcycles from the nearby town of Siswa Bazaar.Yet attendance was thin – about ten days before, the police had barged into a Friday service on the complaint of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, an organisation founded by Adityanath, the member of Parliament for the area who took oath as the CM of UP less than a month ago. The police went away without finding anything amiss, but leaving many church-goers too terrified to come back.“They say mashihat came to India with the British,” Adam told the congregation. “They are wrong.” He went on to declare that the religion had landed in South India with Christ’s disciple, Thomas, just under 2,000 years ago. Outside, light had begun to break through the inky blue sky. Adam continued: “History tells us that if Christians are disturbed, Christianity does not shrink, it grows…” scroll
Top firms' products - Mirinda, Cerelac Wheat, Adani Fortune oil, Saffola Gold oil,Frooti,Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia found to be substandard by food regulators, says report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/9-products-of-top-firms-found-to-be-substandard-by-food-regulators-says-report/story-sU6U7w6DcxKR7G32hBxF9M.html
New Delhi: The food regulators of Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Assam have reportedly found nine products of major companies to be “substandard” after they failed quality tests conducted between April 2016 and Jan.2017, Indian Express said on Monday.The products include Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd’s Mirinda, Nestle India Ltd’s Cerelac Wheat, Adani Wilmar Ltd’s Fortune oil, Marico India’s Saffola Gold oil, Parle Agro’s Frooti and a cheese spread used by the Subway chain among others, according to information sought under the RTI Act by the Express.“RTI replies show that Herbalife’s energy drink, Murugappa group’s Parry packaged drinking water and Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujia are among the products reported to have failed the quality tests during this period,” the newspaper said.“In a number of cases, the companies have either questioned the test procedure or have asked for re-analysis of the samples,” it added.The Express said 5 reports found Mirinda to be “misbranded, substandard and unsafe”.Nestle India Ltd’s infant food Cerelac Wheat was found to be substandard by the chief medical and health officer (CMHO) of Rajasthan’s Rajasmand district in a report dated Oct.14, 2016.In an RTI reply, the CMHO of Bundi in Rajasthan said that the acid value of Fortune, a refined rice brand oil from Adani Wilmar Ltd, was found to be 0.67, which must not be higher than 0.5, in test results on July 15, 2016.A sample of Saffola Gold, blended edible vegetable oil, was picked up on May 9 last year by food safety officer Naresh Kumar Chenjara in the western state’s Sawai Madhopur.Similarly, a sample of the processed cheese spread used by Subway Systems Indian Private Ltd picked up by the food safety officer of Faridabad on July 21, 2016, was found to be substandard as it was “misbranded”, according to the newspaper.The Express reported Parle Agro’s mango drink, Frooti, was found to be “substandard” as it failed on the “physical” parameter by the state public health laboratory of Assam in 3 probe reports between June 13, July 14 and August 2, 2016.The food safety wing of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu found that the aerobic microbial count in the sample of Parry packaged water was 32 colony forming units (CFU)/ml, which must not be more than 20 CFU/ml, in samples of Parry Enterprises India’s packaged drinking water taken on July 20, 2016.The newspaper said the state food lab of FDA Haryana found the aloo bhujia produced by Haldiram Foods International Private Ltd in a probe report of July 2016 to be “misbranded” or not compliant with rules in Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011.The Express reported that Haryana’s food lab picked up a sample of fresh energy drink mix by Herbalife International India Private Ltd from a shop in Model Town, Sonipat in Haryana and the test results came on May 30, 2015, which stated that product was found to be “substandard”.HT
Ajmer dargah blast: Court to hear complainant before deciding on NIA’s closure report on Sadhvi, Indresh
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/court-to-hear-complainant-before-deciding-on-nia-s-closure-report-on-sadhvi-pragya-indresh/story-MvVLdeb8eOsuE45TVeUfrN.html
Jaipur: A special court here said on Monday that it wants to hear the opinion of the complainant in Ajmer dargah (shrine) blast case before deciding on the closure report filed by NIA. The agency had on April 3 filed a closure report in the court, clearing Sadhvi Pragya Singh, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, and two others of all involvement in Oct.2007 blast that killed three and wounded 17.On Monday, the court said it wants to hear the complainant Syed Sarwar Chishty’s remarks on the report before deciding whether it will accept it or not. Pragya Singh was accused of being a member of Abhinav Bharat, a Hindu extremist outfit allegedly floated by military officer Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit. Indresh Kumar was also known to be associated with the group. hindustantimes
Students clash with police in Indian Kashmir protests:AFP
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-4417936/Students-clash-police-Indian-Kashmir-protests.html
Hundreds of students clashed with govt forces in Indian Kashmir during protests Monday against a police raid on a college, as tensions ran high in the restive region.Around 100 students were injured as police used batons and tear gas to try to quell the protests, which broke out in the main city of Srinagar before spreading to other parts of the Kashmir valley. Teenagers in school uniform and women students wearing white headscarves were among the protesters, who chanted anti-India slogans and threw stones at govt forces.A student union had called for protests after police on Saturday tried to raid a college in the southern district of Pulwama to round up suspects in recent violent demonstrations, sparking clashes in which at least 60 students were injured."Students are protesting in a few colleges. We are dealing with a situation," a senior police office told AFP on condition of anonymity.The Kashmir University Students Union, a banned student body, had called for protests in all colleges and universities following Saturday's incident.On Saturday a street vendor was shot dead by India's Border Security Force and on Sunday three people were killed by suspected rebels, one a former counter-insurgent. dailymail
Kashmir unrest: Valley remains tense as students protest against security forces' 'excesses'
http://www.firstpost.com/india/kashmir-unrest-students-protest-govt-forces-high-handedness-in-varsities-3388768.html
Use pellet guns as ‘second last resort’ in Kashmir: Home Ministry issues SoPs
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pellet-guns-to-be-second-last-resort-in-kashmir-home-ministry-after-consultations-with-crpf-4616717/
New Delhi: After holding extensive consultations with the CRPF, Home Ministry on Monday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for security agencies deployed in Kashmir and directed them to use pellet guns as the second last resort. The ministry also said that the govt would ensure the supply of plastic bullets and PAVA shells to be used on stone pelters in the Valley instead of pellets. It also sought a report from the ITBP/CRPF regarding the recent videos of jawans being assaulted in Kashmir during election duty for the Srinagar bypolls. There are however no plans to take up former Union minister Yashwant Sinha’s report on Kashmir. indianexpress
J-K police file FIR against army for tying man to a jeep as human shield
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/j-k-police-file-fir-against-army-over-video-of-man-tied-to-a-jeep-as-human-shield/story-S3nnV68qd0GP3F8XoXvZ2H.html
Srinagar: J&K police filed an FIR against the Indian Army for tying a man to a jeep as a human shield, the video of which sparked outrage in the Valley after it was shared few days ago.Police said it registered the FIR in the Beerwa police station in Budgam district, the area where the video was believed to have been shot on April 9 when bypolls were held for Srinagar’s parliamentary seat. Confirming the same, deputy inspector general of police for central Kashmir, Ghulam Hassan Bhat said that the FIR was registered on April 13.HT
Pakistan urges US to intervene on Kashmir issue, defuse tension with India
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pakistan-urges-us-to-intervene-on-kashmir-issue-defuse-tension-with-india/story-8sqLgxXXOwerMLFzCAXp0J.html
New York: US can defuse the tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Kashmir issue as Washington has good relations with both the countries, Pakistan’s envoy to UN Maleeha Lodhi has said.“Somebody needs to play this role and we think the US is in the best position to do that,” the envoy said on Sunday.IANS
Omar endorses dad, says ‘Governor’s Rule be imposed’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/omar-abdullah-endorses-dad-says-governor-s-rule-be-imposed/story-00KKaHoKsGl8aC0YmomnhN.html
Jammu: Omar Abdullah on Monday strongly endorsed his father’s demand of imposing Governor’s Rule in J&K. HT
ISI sleeper cell busted in Chhattisgarh, Maninder, Sanjay arrested
http://www.oneindia.com/india/isi-sleeper-cell-busted-chhattisgarh-two-arrested-2406676.html
The Chhattisgarh Police has busted an ISI sleeper cell and arrested two people for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities from Bilaspur, said reports. The 2 accused have been identified as Maninder Yadav and Sanjay Devangan. Duo had links with one Satwinder Singh, who was arrested in Feb by ATS in J&K. Satwinder was allegedly collecting sensitive information pertaining to the Indian Army. A case of sedition has been registered against duo. According to reports, they also had links with Rajjan Tiwari and Balram, who were earlier nabbed by the ATS in MP's Satna. oneindia.com
Disgraceful! BJP supporter and former ‘C-list’ singer Abhijeet calls army veteran Gen HS Panag Pak supporter
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/abhijeet-hs-panag/116868/
Lieutenant General HS Panag is one of very few retired army veterans, who have refrained from indulging in hateful politics and flying the flag of militant Hindutva in new India.His tweets are often embodiment of sanity and his analysis on matters related to national security utterly objective.This explains why when General Panag, a prolific Twitter user, expresses his opinion even his detractors take notice.However, 1971 war veteran and the former GoC-in-C, Northern Command, found himself at the centre of vicious attack by the right-wing trolls recently because of his comments on the alleged human rights violation by the Indian army in Kashmir.
Muslim League Retains Malappuram Lok Sabha Seat In Kerala, BJP's Vote Share Falls
http://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/indian-union-muslim-league-retains-malappuram-lok-sabha-seat-in-kerala-bjps-vote-share-falls-1682408
IUML largest ally of the Congress in Kerala, has retained the Malappuram parliament seat, winning a by-election by a big margin of 1.7 lakh votes. BJP, which has been trying to increase its footprint in the state will be disappointed with a small fall in its vote share. The party is still a distant third behind the Left, as it was in the 2014 national election in this seat, but its vote share has come down from 7.59 % to 7.1 % .PK Kunhalikutty, 66, the IUML's winning candidate pointed out that he has "won comfortably even in CPM strongholds," and described the result as a "lesson to BJP that petty politics over beef will take them nowhere in Kerala."The reference was to BJP candidate N Sreeprakash's campaign promise of "quality beef" for Malappuram's voters.Kunhaikutty polled 515,330 lakh votes today. Left candidate MB Faisal of CPM was a distant second, even in areas where the ruling Left Democratic Alliance is strong. NDTV
Hindus, Muslims resolve row over use of loudspeaker in temple
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hindus-muslims-resolve-row-over-use-of-loudspeaker-in-temple/story-WBCJGpwSn8MEEGaLVPYoIJ.html
Meerut: Setting an example of communal harmony, residents of Jogirampuri village in Bijnore district on Sunday resolved the dispute over the use of loudspeaker at a Shiv temple.Tension prevailed in the village after the police dismounted the loudspeaker from the temple on Ram Navmi after the Muslims objected to its use.To resolve the issue, representatives of both the communities convened a meeting in the presence of chief development officer Indramani Tripathi and SP (rural) Dr Dharamveer Singh.After several rounds of discussions, Muslims agreed for permanent installation of loudspeaker on Shiv temple which would be used only on festivals. They also agreed that the loudspeaker could also be used for ‘aarti’ except during the five days of Eid and during ‘namaz’.The letter of compromise was signed by Dayaram Singh, Mangatram, Shivcharan, Mangal Singh, Rajeev Goswami and village pradhan Mohd Rafi, Faheem, Shamshad, Ameer Ahmad, Dr Imamuddin, Hafiz Kasim and Khalil Ahmad.Police officials were present on the temple premises during the installation of loudspeaker. Later in the evening, members of both the communities and the officials had dinner together. hindustantimes
Tension in Muzaffarpur village after lynching of man for hitting goat
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tension-in-muzaffarpur-village-after-lynching-of-man-for-hitting-goat/story-0LFzmRt75Ll4rdBq3T0qzK.html
Muzaffarpur: Tension prevailed at Mahadalit tola of Bhelaipur village in Muzaffarpur district of north Bihar, following the lynching of a motorcyclist who accidentally hit a goat, which had strayed from an encroached residential area on to the state highway, Saturday.Navin Kumar, 45, a farmer of Patti Bandhu Rao village under Lalganj police station of Vaishali, was thrashed mercilessly before his throat was slit by a mob for injuring the goat. His friend and pillion rider Sikandra Sahni, who was also injured in the incident, is battling for his life at a private nursing home in Muzaffarpur.People from nearby villages retaliated by attacking the Mahadalit tola and ransacking the houses there, late Saturday evening. Some 100 families, residing at the tola, had already deserted the tola, leaving their houses unattended. Police have so far arrested 10 persons — 2 in connection with Navin Kumar’s murder and eight others for arson and loot at the Mahadalit tola.HT
Boycotted for killing a calf, Dalit kills self
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/boycotted-for-killing-a-calf-dalit-kills-self-4615915/
Lucknow: Police have recovered the body of a Dalit, who allegedly committed suicide, from a railway track in Itiyathok area of Gonda. Ramu (18) had been socially boycotted by villagers for accidentally killing a calf in his village. His body was found on Saturday morning, nearly 4 km from his residence at Gopalpur Barandi village. indianexpress
Telangana passes bill to hike Muslim quota to 12%
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telangana-assembly-passes-bill-to-hike-muslim-quota-to-12/article18071406.ece?homepage=true
Telangana Legislature passed Bill enhancing the reservations for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to 12% and 10% respectively for admission into educational institutions and for the State services.By doing so, the govt has fulfilled one of the major assurances given by CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the run up to the previous elections.Currently, reservations for Muslims is at 4%, while for Scheduled Tribes, it is at 6%.Bill, termed as historical by the ruling TRS and the MIM, received support from the Congress and the CPI (Marxist) even as BJP opposed the Bill claiming that reservation on the basis of religion was against the constitutional norms. 5 BJP members were suspended from the House when they tried to obstruct the proceedings by raising slogans and displaying placards after they were not allowed to speak.Piloting the Bill, the CM said the Bill was proposed to address concerns expressed over the inclusive development of marginalised population as the proportion of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities — especially Muslims — had increased post bifurcation. thehindu
Muslim outfits laud KCR for quota hike
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/muslim-outfits-laud-kcr-for-quota-hike/articleshow/58215853.cms
Charminar:Several socio-religious and political Muslim outfits lauded the Telangana govt 's move to clear the decks for 12 % reservations for Muslims in education and employment. Organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Telangana and Odisha,Majlis Bachao Tehreek, MIM hailed the move. They maintained that the move is based on socio-economic backwardness of the Muslim community. "There is empricial data available. G Sudhir committee and several other committees and bodies have proved by means of data that the Muslim community is backward. Those who are saying that this is wrong are doing so on the basis of communal propaganda perpetuated by right-wing forces,"Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Telangana and Odisha president Hamed Mohammed Khan said.He hoped that Telangana govt would take all measures to tackle legal hurdles which are likely to come in the way of these reservations.TOI
Quota for Muslims against Islam: BJP
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2017/apr/17/quota-for-muslims-against-islam-bjp-1594409.html
Hyderabad: Opposing reservation on religious lines, the BJP has said that there is no social inequality or caste system among Muslims and thus providing reservation to them in education and employment sectors by bringing them under BC category is not right.Participating in a debate in the Assembly on Sunday on the reservataion bill, BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy said, “In the GHMC elections, 33 % reservation is provided to BCs and they got 50 wards. However, 30 wards were won by Muslims under BC quota. newindianexpress
Muslim Quota Bill is Trash Paper, Will be Quashed: BJP
http://www.news18.com/news/politics/muslim-quota-bill-is-a-trash-paper-will-be-quashed-bjp-1375613.html
BJP MLAs suspended from Telangana assembly over Muslim quota bill
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/58206930.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Meat shop prohibition around mosques too: FSDA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/meat-shop-prohibition-around-mosques-too-fsda/articleshow/58210697.cms
Bareilly: One of 17 points in the guideline issued by UP govt to meat sellers mentions that such shops are prohibited within a 50-metre radius of religious places and should be at least 100 metres from the main entrance of these places. Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) dept officials have now clarified that a 'religious place' includes a mosque as well. TOI
In UP, not only temples and schools, you can't set up a meat shop near mosques as well
http://www.inuth.com/india/in-up-not-only-temples-and-schools-you-cant-set-up-a-meat-shop-near-mosques-as-well/
Singer Sonu Nigam’s tweets against azaan ignite controversy: newindianexpress
http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2017/apr/17/sonu-nigams-tweets-against-azaan-ignite-controversy-1594500.html
Mumbai: Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam on Monday morning gave rise to a new controversy by questioning why the azaan, the Muslim call to prayer, shouldbe broadcast on loudspeakers from mosques. This is “forced religiousness,” he said in a series of tweets early Morning morning. “God bless everyone. I’m not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India,” Sonu Nigam asked in his first tweet. 43-year-old singer, went on to term the use of loudspeakers by mosques and temples as ‘gundagardi’. “And by the way Mohammed did not have electricity when he made Islam. Why do I have to have this cacophony after Edison?” he questioned in a second tweet. “I don’t believe in any temple or gurudwara using electricity to wake up people who don’t follow the religion. Why then? Honest? True?” Nigam said in a third tweet.And he summed with another one that said, “Gundagardi hai bus...”newindianexpress
Sonu Nigam calls azaan 'forced religiousness'
http://www.thestatesman.com/music/sonu-nigam-calls-azaan-forced-religiousness-1492414757.html
Muslims are only ones being specifically targeted, actor Ajaz Khan on Sonu Nigam's rants against Azaan
http://www.ummid.com/news/2017/April/17.04.2017/actor-aijaz-on-sonu-nigam-azaan.html
Discover Delhi: The azaan at Jamat Khana mosque can enliven even the non-Muslim: Mayank Austen Soofi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/discover-delhi-the-azaan-at-jamat-khana-mosque-can-enliven-even-the-non-muslim/story-4ATdE3YIVI7V7bMUJU19cN.html
PM Modi gets zero% votes in TIME 100 Reader Poll
http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2017/apr/17/pm-modi-gets-zero-percent-votes-in-time-100-reader-poll-1594497--1.html
New York: Controversial Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has won Time magazine's readers' poll of the 100 most influential people in the world, while PM Narendra Modi did not garner any votes in the online survey. Duterte had consistently led the Time 100 Reader Poll, an online survey in which the publication had asked its readers to vote for who should be included in this year's Time 100 list of the world's most influential people. PTI
Muslim youths assaulted for not saying “jai shri ram” in chikkadpally, area tense
http://www.siasat.com/news/muslim-youths-assaulted-not-saying-jai-shri-ram-chikkadpally-area-tense-1171286/
Hyderabad: In Suryanagar Colony of Chikkadpally area, Hyderabad, Muslim youths who were going on bikes were stopped and forced to say “Jai Shri Ram”. When they refused, the miscreants assaulted them physically in which 5 persons were injured. After this incident, Suryanagar, Chikkadpally area became tense.According to the reports, some miscreants from Mehtarvadi area who were drunk attacked some Muslim youths who were going on motorcycles. They stopped their motorcycles and asked them to say “Jai Shri Ram”. When these youths refused to say so, the miscreants resorted to violence. They pelted stones on the cars of the commuters and auto rikshaws. These miscreants had sticks and iron bars. Chikkadpally police registered a case and police pickets were posted in the area. The youths, Mohammed Faizan, Syed Sohail, Syed Basheer, Amer and Firdous were injured. They were rushed to Gandhi Hospital. siasat
Rickshaw driver’s story gives road rage incident a communal turn in Ranchi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/rickshaw-driver-s-story-gives-road-rage-incident-a-communal-turn-in-ranchi/story-jxFDzlaMNjDrl1tNQJStlI.html
Ranchi: Tension simmered in Ranchi’s MG Road for the second time in less than a week after one of the parties in a road rage incident late Saturday night sought to give a communal colour to it. A Muslim e-rickshaw driver allegedly cooked up a story of how he was taken to an isolated area by a group of youths, asked to chant religious slogans and beaten up for refusing to oblige.His story sparked major unrest in the Muslim-dominated Ekra Masjid locality and brought thousands of protestors out on the street in his support.However, police said they later found out that the e-rickshaw driver was assaulted by the owner of a Santro car after a minor accident on MG Road. Car owner had also lodged a complaint against the rickshaw driver Iliaz Khan with the local police station.HT
No dowry for Bihar health minister Tej Pratap, but bovine fine as wedding gift, says father Lalu
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-dowry-for-bihar-health-minister-tej-pratap-but-bovine-fine-as-wedding-gift-says-father-lalu/story-0U4pYPBx5vRWhmfurNk4AI.html
Patna: RJD president Lalu Prasad has promised a ‘dowry-less’ wedding for his elder son – Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav. But there is just one rider: the ceremonies won’t be over till at least one cow has come home!“I want the wedding function to be simple, unostentatious and without any dowry. But I won’t mind if the bride’s family gives a cow or a calf as a symbolic gift to my son, as a part of wedding custom”, said Prasad, with a twinkle in his eyes. RJD chief’s love for all creature bovine is legendary. Scores of cows were reared at his official 1, Aney Marg, residence when Prasad was CM of Bihar (1990-1997) and thereafter, when his wife, HT
Jamshedpur court acquits Shahabuddin in 1989 triple murder case
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jamshedpur-court-acquits-rjd-leader-shahabuddin-in-25-year-old-triple-murder-case-4616738/
Ranchi:A Jamshedpur court on Monday acquitted RJD leader from Siwan, Mohammad Shahabuddin, in a triple murder case registered in Jamshedpur district in the year 1989. All the other accused in the case had either passed away during trial or were acquitted back in 2006. Shahabuddin’s trial was initiated separately as he could not be produced before the court despite repeated reminders. Indianexpress
Modi Will Be In History Books If We Join Mayawati’s Grand Alliance: Congress
http://caravandaily.com/portal/modi-will-be-in-history-books-if-we-join-mayawatis-grand-alliance-congress/
New Delhi: Delighted over BSP supremo Mayawati’s proposal for a ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance) of anti-BJP parties for 2019 general elections, the Congress on Sunday said that the grand old party would also join in the race to oust the saffron party from national politics.“I am delighted that in her own accord Mayawati has agreed to join this alliance. I think even without the Congress it is already strong enough to take on the BJP. But if the Congress comes into it and I hope it will, then there is no hope for PM Narendra Modi , except to see him consigned to the books of history,” Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar told ANI.Addressing her party members on the 126th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, BSP chief Mayawati said that she was open to enter into alliance with any political party to defeat the BJP.“BSP now has no reservations in taking the help of anti-BJP parties in its fight against EVM tampering and the BJP as it is the democracy which comes first…we have to keep democracy alive,” she said. caravandaily
Narada sting: CBI files FIR against 12 Trinamool leaders
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/narada-sting-cbi-files-fir-against-13-trinamool-leaders/articleshow/58224619.cms
Kolkata: CBI registered an FIR in Narada sting case naming 13 accused persons including senior Trinamool Congress leaders Mukul Roy, Saugata Roy and Madan Mitra. The investigative agency was asked by the Supreme Court to probe Narada sting and its one-month deadline ends on Monday.FIRs have been lodged against Trinamool ministers, MPs and they have been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act and for conspiracy too. CBI probed the footage of Narada sting and after going through it, the agency filed the FIR. timesofindia
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Yogi gamble: Adityanath’s elevation as UP CM is a move of radical novelty — and political risk: Ashutosh Varshney
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-yogi-gamble-4615818/
Democracy was India's trump card against Pakistan in Kashmir. What changed under Modi’s BJP? Athar Parvaiz
https://scroll.in/article/834717/democracy-was-indias-trump-card-against-pakistan-in-kashmir-what-changed-under-modis-bjp
It's not just Muslims, even Sikhs have to prove their patriotism now: Aditya Menon
http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/it-s-not-just-muslims-even-sikhs-have-to-prove-their-patriotism-now-57953.html
How Germany used Islam during World War I: TL Andrews, Agathe Osinski
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/germany-islam-world-war-170410070627588.html
Hacking EVMs: EC has issued a challenge. It must first accept the challenge it faces:Poorvi L Vora
https://scroll.in/article/834553/hacking-evms-the-ec-has-issued-a-challenge-it-must-first-accept-the-challenge-it-faces?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Apr_16.DailyMetro&utm_content=2017-04-16+7+%2810%216077866927482%21qwaya%210%29&utm_term=Apr_16.DailyMetro
That day in the '90s, when a karsevak visited my home after Babri Masjid fell: Aliya Rao
http://www.dailyo.in/politics/karsevak-bjp-babri-masjid-indian-muslims/story/1/16702.html
WORLD
Erdoğan wins Turkish referendum: What are the immediate fallouts: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/erdogan-wins-turkish-referendum-what-are-the-immediate-fallouts-4616452/
New Delhi: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has won the crucial referendum for a new constitution that will vastly increase his executive authority. The crucial referendum has laid a new course for the future of Turkish politics. So what does the yes vote mean and what are the immediate fallouts of the win for Erdoğan?According to state-run Anadolu agency, the referendum won a yes vote of 51.3 % Turks against 48.7% that voted no.In 2010, the ruling AKP enacted a law governing electoral process. However, despite the clear provisions of the legislation, the High Electoral Board allowed counting of nearly 1.5 million unsealed ballots for the April 16 referendum. Erdoğan won by 51% votes taking a lead at the last minute. President Erdoğan and his ruling AK Party were of the opinion that an executive presidency would herald an ever more stable political environment in Turkey and that was the base of their referendum call. Yes vote, however, has left the Opposition, particularly the principal Opposition party, Republican People’s Party (CHP) crying foul over the result calling it fraudulent. The referendum could result in Turkey becoming more religious and divided. The yes vote effectively means executive powers to Erdoğan to a degree unprecedented since 1980s when the country was under military rule. It will also bring more of a ‘one-man rule’ situation in the country diluting the segregation of power in Turkey to great measure.Erdoğan can now expand his powers to an executive presidency which means that he will be the head of state and the head of govt .As Erdoğan would now exercise more control over AKP as well, Abdullah Gul (ex-foreign minister of Turkey, PM and president and co-founder of AK Party), Bulent Arinc (ex-deputy PM, speaker and AKP co-founder), Ahmet Davutoglu (former foreign minister and PM ) among other top leaders now face the threat of being purged and being imprisoned.It is also expected that in order to rope in the support of Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi) and Islamist Saadet Party voters, Erdoğan could escalate his anti-west rhetoric. He could also open Hagia Sophia museum as a mosque, bring the death penalty back into the legal system, relinquish Council of EU membership and putting an end to the EU membership process.He could, according to the 18 amendments approved on Sunday, abolish the post of Turkish PM . Remove the need for presidential neutrality. Stand in 2-five year election cycles and a third with parliamentary approval. He could also appoint 6 of a pruned panel of 13 top judges while the others would be chose by the elected parliamentarians. As a takeaway, he could potentially remain in power till 2029. His current terms ends in 2019.
Turkey barely votes ‘Yes’ to sweeping presidential powers referendum
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170416-turkey-barely-votes-yes-to-sweeping-presidential-powers-referendum/
Erdogan hails referendum victory
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/turkey-recep-tayyip-erdogan-hails-referendum-victory-170416210129492.html
Legitimacy of referendum open to debate, Turkey opposition head says
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170416-legitimacy-of-referendum-open-to-debate-turkey-opposition-head-says/
Election board head says unsealed ballot papers valid
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/188070/election-board-head-says-unsealed-ballot-papers-valid
The disputed ballots in Turkey’s referendum are “legitimate”, the head of the election board said Monday.Sadi Guven, the chairman of the Supreme Election Board (YSK), defended the decision to allow votes that did not bear official seals to be counted alongside checked ballots.In a news conference in Ankara, he said the “voting papers and envelopes that were claimed to be void and disputed since the evening are YSK-made, real, legitimate, non-fake ballots.”World Bulletin
Palestinians in Israeli jails launch mass hunger strike
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/hundreds-of-palestinians-in-israeli-jails-launch-hunger-strike/story-S5VqGdrKQpNhW1ODszMxKP.html
Ramallah: Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails launched a hunger strike Monday following a call from leader and prominent prisoner Marwan Barghouti, a movement that could mark a serious challenge to Israeli authorities if sustained.The hunger strike was called for in connection with Palestinian Prisoners Day, observed annually, but also ahead of commemorations this summer marking 50 years since the 1967 War and the start of Israel’s occupation.Hunger strikes by Palestinian prisoners occur regularly, but rarely on such a large scale. Barghouti’s call for strike has given it added credibility, with the 57-year-old serving a life sentence over his role in the violent second Palestinian intifada.“Decades of experience have proved that Israel’s inhumane system of colonial and military occupation aims to break the spirit of prisoners and the nation to which they belong, by inflicting suffering on their bodies, separating them from their families and communities, using humiliating measures to compel subjugation,” Barghouti wrote in a NYT op-ed.Issa Qaraqe, head of prisoners affairs for the Palestinian Authority, said that “around 1,300 Palestinian prisoners” were participating in hunger strike and the number could rise. Palestinian Prisoners Club NGO put the number at 1,500.Israeli prison service spokesman Assaf Librati said that 700 prisoners had announced on Sunday their intention to begin a hunger strike.Of 6,500 Palestinian detainees, 62 are women and 300 are minors. Some 500 are held under administrative detention, which allows for imprisonment without charges or trial.13 Palestinian lawmakers are also among the detainees. AFP
Longest-serving female inmate released after 15 yrs in Israeli jail
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2017/4/16/longest-serving-female-inmate-released-after-15-years-in-israeli-jail
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:45 PM)
