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Evening NEWS DIGEST
17 May 2017: 20 Shaban 1438: Vol: 8, No:194
INDIA: Muslim Personal Law
If court quashes triple talaq then you will make law but why govt did not make law for last 60 years: SC to Centre
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/triple-talaq-not-integral-to-islam-is-intra-community-tussle-117051701427_1.html
New Delhi:Triple talaq is neither integral to Islam nor a "majority versus minority" issue but rather an "intra-community tussle" between Muslim men and deprived women, the Centre today told the Supreme Court. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, in his rebuttal to the arguments favouring the 1,400 year-old practice of triple talaq, made a strong pitch for judicial scrutiny on grounds including violation of fundamental rights like right to equality and gender justice and said that the apex court cannot shy away. A 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, asked the Centre as to why it did not legislate to regulate marriages and divorce among Muslims. "You (Centre) said if court quashes triple talaq then you will make a law but why the govt did not make a law for last 60 years?" the bench, also comprising justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, asked. Rohatgi replied that the hallmark of a secular court was to reform without waiting for a legislation, when such matters come to it. "I will do what I have to do but the question is what will you (court) do? I have given statement on instruction. I speak for the government and can't speak for parliament," he said reiterating that the top court was guardian of fundamental rights and has to see whether there was any violation of such rights. Earlier during the day, the bench asked AIMPLB whether a woman can be given an option of saying 'no' to triple talaq at time of execution of 'nikahnama' (marriage contract). "Can it be made possible to give an option to a wife that she can say that she was agreeable to or not agreeable to it (triple talaq)? "Is it possible to pass a resolution to all 'qazis' to include this condition (giving right to woman to say 'no' to triple talaq) in 'nikahnama'? Give an option to wife to say 'no' to triple talaq," the bench said. Ex-Union minister and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the AIMPLB, said that he will respond to after talking to all the board members. Rohatgi, responding to Sibal and a battery of senior lawyers favouring triple talaq, said even the core of religion has to be tested on touchstone of fundamental rights. Referring to the responses of AIMPLB, he said that even they say that triple talaq was "undesirable", "sinful" but yet valid and wondered "then how it can be said to be integral to religion". He further said this time, Muslim women have questioned centuries-old "hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their male counterparts" of the community."Prism through which you see the case is not like majority versus minority but this is a case where it is an intra-community tussle between Muslim men and women. "This time Muslim women have questioned centuries-old hegemony suffered by them at the hands of their male counterparts," Rohatgi said, adding that the practice of triple talaq is a tussle between the "haves and have-nots" inside the community. He said this fight is between men of Muslim community,who are more powerful, empowered and educated and women, not so powerful, not empowered and uneducated. The court can fill up the void by judicial pronouncements if there is no law on a particular issue, Rohatgi said, adding the guidelines on sexual harassment at work place were framed by it in the Vishakha case. Rohatgi referred to practises 'sati', infanticide, 'devdasi' and untouchability among Hindus and said that they have been done away with. "Did courts do it? These were abolished by legislations," the bench asked. "Then why do the court goes into issues like Vishaka. The court can't say that it is helpless and it cannot step in. It is the guardian of fundamental right," Rohatgi replied. He said that India is "secular country with a secular constitution" which has kept core of all religions intact but they are subject to fundamental rights. "We had several religions after Partition. There were people from over 600 princely states and tribes practising different faiths and religions. The core of every religion was kept but they were made subject to fundamental rights," he said. Comparing practices in Islamic countries, Rohatgi said that in 25 nations, religion continued to strive even after abolishing triple talaq and hence, this cannot be termed as "integral part of Islam". "What is optional cannot be under Article 25 and it cannot be considered as an essential part of religion. If it had been integral part of religion then the religion will not remain religion in its original form but if it is optional then even if it is taken out, the religion will remain the same," he said. Sibal, who started arguments today, referred to a Delhi High Court judgement and said that it was wrong in holding that all schools of thought termed 'triple talaq' as "sinful". The Supreme Court cannot be called upon to decide as to what was wrong or right with the practice and belief, he said. Referring to a judgement, he went to the extent of saying that the personal law is a legitimate basis of discrimination. AIMPLB also said that the court should not venture into the issue on its own as no one has approached it. "Some persons have come to this court," the bench said. Sibal said challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq, being practised by a small portion of community, may revive the practice which is dying. He said if a secular court like the Supreme Court decides to undertake suo motu (on its own) scrutiny of the issue with the Centre seeking a ban then, the community may take a tough stand. The Muslim community is like small birds on which golden eagle preys, he said, adding "the community's nests must have the Supreme Court protection." Sibal said it is that faith with which the community is before the court today seeking protection of its personal law customs and practices. "Our faith in this court for last 67 years is fundamental and with that faith we have come here," he said. Today was the fifth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim. Advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra, said that issues raised in the petition were matters of legislative policy and ought not to be addressed by the court. He referred to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and said India had made an express reservation with regard to its policy of non-interference in the personal affairs of any community without its initiative and consent. "The constitutional validity of personal law in our country cannot be tested on the oasis of enacted legislation of other countries," he said in his written submissions while questioning the arguments of the Centre and petitioners that triple talaq has been abolished in Islamic countries. He said practice of triple talaq is considered a valid form of divorce by four out of the five Sunni schools. "Even if this practice is undesirable, my school tells me to do this," Ramachandran said. During the hearing, the bench asked Ramachandran, "By registering a marriage under the Special Marriage Act, a Muslim man opts out of polygamy. Is that not un-Islamic?" Responding to the query, he said, "To opt out of polygamy is not un-Islamic. It (polygamy) is only an option which is available. This is not compulsory". Senior advocate V Giri, representing Jamiat-ulama-I-Hind, said that Shariat was the law applicable to Muslims prior to the enactment of the Shariat Act. "Shariat has not been subsumed by the statute nor has the Shariat Act codified the Muslim personal law. The Shariat Act has only statutorily declared that the Muslim personal law as a set of rules would govern the Muslims in India and that it is the Muslim personal law that would have overriding effect over any usage or custom to the contrary," he said in his written submission. Giri, however, said that rights and duties of Muslims in India continue to be governed by the Muslim personal law and the Shariat Act has not substituted it nor has it provided for a different set of rights and obligations. "The right under Article 25(1) to freely profess practice and propagate religion is a universal right that is guaranteed to every citizen to act in affirmation of his own faith. This is the core of the secular nature of the Indian Constitution," he said. The senior counsel also said it his written submission that it was "fallacious" for the petitioners to say or suggest that Talaq-i-Biddat does not have sanction of the holy Quran. Meanwhile, one of the counsel opposing the practice of triple talaq said the matter pending before the court was about women rights and to ensure gender justice. The counsel said that consequential aspect of divorce also relates to the economic right of women and the court would have the consider it also. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, told the bench that there were no Sharia courts in India as it is a secular country. PTI
Declaring triple talaq illegal won’t alter Islam, Centre to SC
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/declaring-triple-talaq-illegal-won-t-alter-islam-centre-tells-supreme-court-as-muslim-board-defends/story-dvUSom5YiBU3tWNovBjYBI.html
When Centre urges SC to take step when there is no legislation on divorce; court asks Govt to bring law
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sc-suggests-Govt -bring-law-to-address-triple-talaq-issue-117051701324_1.html
Triple Talaq related to women empowerment, human dignity ASG Anand
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-triple-talaq-related-to-women-empowerment-human-dignity-asg-anand-2441971
Triple talaq is Muslim woman vs man issue, not that of majority vs minority: Centre
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/triple-talaq-is-muslim-woman-vs-man-issue-not-that-of-majority-vs-minority-centre/article18473857.ece?homepage=true
Triple Talaq dying practice, banning may revive it: AIMPLB
http://www.livelaw.in/day-5-triple-talaq-dying-practicethis-exercise-may-revive-aimplb-also-read-raju-ramachandrans-arguments-notes/
Can women be given option of saying ‘no’ to triple talaq at the time of ‘nikahnama’, SC asks AIMPLB
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/can-women-be-given-option-of-saying-no-to-triple-talaq-sc-asks-aimplb/article18472783.ece
Ready to submit its opinion on triple talaq if SC asks: NCW
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ncw-says-its-ready-to-submit-its-opinion-on-triple-talaq-if-sc-asks-4660474/
National Commission for Women on Wednesday said it was ready to submit its opinion on abolition of triple talaq if the Supreme Court asked for it. “As such NCW is against triple talaq… It should go and it should be abolished,” NCW member Rekha Sharma told reporters here to a question whether it (NCW) will offer its opinion on the issue if the apex court asked. Rekha said many women had suffered and continued to suffer due to this practice and that is why NCW wanted it to be done away with.Moreover, NCW chairperson questioned the absence of a woman on the Supreme Court bench hearing the triple talaq issue, Rekha, who is here for a two-day public hearing on women-related cases, said.PTI
Incidents of triple talaq 'almost does not exist': Survey
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/05/17/incidents-of-triple-talaq-almost-does-not-exist-survey_a_22094811/
A study by the New Delhi-based Centre for Research and Debates in Development Policy (CRDDP) has found that incidents of Triple Talaq constitutes less than 1 in 100 cases of divorce among Muslims. Indian Express reported today that the CRDDP came to this conclusion after conducting an online survey with 20,671 people between March and May. Just about a quarter of 331 divorces reported by the respondents were done by religious institutions, and there was only one case of instant divorce, which works out to 0.3 percent, the newspaper reported.The practice of triple talaq, which is being subjected to widespread criticism, involves a Muslim man divorcing his wife by uttering the word "talaq" thrice in succession. Some men even resort to divorcing their wives over Whatsapp and SMS.The survey was led by Abu Saleh Shariff, the chairperson of the CRDDP, who is best known as the Member Secretary of the Sachar Committee, The Indian Express reported. "This (triple talaq) is an evil and a bad practice, but its incidents are minuscule, it almost does not exist," Shariff told the newspaper. huffingtonpost
Wonder How Many Divorces Happen Through Triple Talaq Among Muslims? This Survey Says 1%
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/wonder-how-many-divorces-happen-through-triple-talaq-among-muslims-survey-says-1/#.kzr67vc87
Triple talaq exception rather than rule: Survey
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/triple-talaq-exception-rather-than-rule-survey-muslim-divorce-4659358/
Congress 'embarrassed' by Kapil Sibal’s defence of triple talaq in SC
http://www.news18.com/news/politics/congress-embarrassed-with-kapil-sibals-defence-of-triple-talaq-in-sc-1404137.html
New Delhi: Congress leadership is unhappy with Kapil Sibal’s decision to defend triple talaq on behalf of the AIMPLB in the Supreme Court, top party sources told News18.The senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP defended triple talaq on the grounds that ‘it is an age-old tradition and could not be considered unconstitutional’, leading to criticism on social media and other platforms. Highly placed sources in the party told News18 that the top brass was upset with Sibal for defending AIMPLB, which was in stark contrast to the party’s stand on the issue. Sources said Sibal’s stand was an ‘embarrassment’ to Congress, which came at a time when the party was trying hard to shed its ‘appeasement’ tag and come across as a progressive unit.“Congress has always said that the issue of triple talaq was about the basic rights of women. Sibal countering that taints Congress’s image. The party high command has not approached Sibal to withdraw from the case yet. But, it is worried what his defence might do to the party’s image,” a source told News18.CNN-News18
OTHERS
Kulbhushan Jadhav case: After India-Pakistan clash, International Court of Justice verdict tomorrow at 3.30 pm
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kulbhushan-jadhav-international-court-of-justice-verdict/1/956176.html
International Court of Justice (ICJ) will pronounce its verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case on Thursday. PTI quoted Govt sources as saying that the order will be announced at 3.30 pm. Both India and Pakistan had clashed at the ICJ over Kulbhushan Jadhav on Monday.India, represented by senior lawyer Harish Salve, argued in the International Court of Justice to annul the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Pakistan, on the other hand, argued that India had no right to invoke the jurisdiction of the court because the Vienna Convention does not provide for matters relating to spies, terrorists and those who indulge in espionage.IndiaToday
Indian citizen group report seeks withdrawal of army and other security forces from civilian areas in Kashmir
http://twocircles.net/2017may16/409577.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
New Delhi: A citizen’s fact-finding report on Kashmir protests called for the withdrawal of the army and other paramilitary forces including CRPF, BSF and Indo Tibetan Border Police from civilian areas of J&K.report compiled by representatives of diverse peoples’ movements, trade unions and other organisations, titled “Why Are People Protesting in Kashmir” which was released on May 11 looks into ‘violation’ of democratic rights in the Kashmir Valley in 2016.The report is divided into 8 heads and looks into the issue of targeted killings, use of PSA, destruction of local economy, extortion and examines many other issues.The report says that in every case the killing were targeted and took place at a time when there were no protest demonstrations.“In more than one instance, the killing appeared to be a knee-jerk reaction of the state armed forces to protests that had taken place in the area on a preceding date, and in some cases the previous day,” reads the report.TwoCircles
J&K govt's social media ban fails in tech-savvy Valley
http://www.timesnow.tv/india/article/jammu-and-kashmir-mehbooba-mufti-social-media-ban-valley-tech-savvy-pdp-bjp/61211
Srinagar: The month-long ban imposed by the J&K Govt on social media applications and internet sites has become something of a joke after the discovery of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by the people. The ban was imposed in order to curb the violence in the Valley. "Use of VPNs has helped in accessing most of the banned sites ... these applications and sites have become the communication lifeline not only in Kashmir but across the world," Umar Bhat, a businessman, said."In the interest of maintenance of public order, the Govt hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages to or from a person or a class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir Valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier," Principal Secretary, Home Department R K Goyal had stated earlier. Times now
Search operation called off in J&K after protests
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/search-operation-called-off-in-j-k-117051700430_1.html
Srinagar: A cordon and search operation in J&K 's Shopian district on Wednesday was called off to avoid a face-off with the civilian protestors.Police said the cordon and search operation started in two villages of Heff and Shirmaal was called off in order to avoid civilian casualties or injuries.Over 1,000 security men including the Army, the paramilitary and state police had surrounded the villages following information that militants were hiding there.As the security forces tightened the cordon, a mob started intense stone pelting to disrupt the search.Tear smoke shells were used to quell the protesters, but the operation was finally called off, sources said.IANS
Just abrogating Article 370 will not solve Kashmir problem, India will ultimately prevail in Valley: Amit Shah
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-just-abrogating-article-370-will-not-solve-kashmir-problem-india-will-ultimately-prevail-in-valley-amit-shah-2439490
New Delhi: BJP-led NDA Govt is handling the Kashmir issue "diplomatically" and India will ultimately "prevail" there, BJP president Amit Shah today said adding that merely abrogating Article 370 will not solve the problem in the valley.Shah said the PM is keeping a "keen eye" on Kashmir and the security agencies are doing a "fine job" there."I believe that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and security agencies' intervention, India will ultimately prevail in Kashmir," he said appearing in the "Samvaad" conclave organised by India TV. Shah also declined to ascribe the recent violence in Kashmir as a reaction against the PDP-BJP alliance Govt in the state. "I do not think so. Such incidents are a reaction to the steps taken by the Govt and action by the security agencies. Whatever lacunae are there will be removed. The alliance is still going on".Shah replied to a vast range of questions during the conclave covering Article 370 and the Kashmir issue, Ram temple, performance of the Modi Govt after three years, farmers' suicides and triple talaq. He said that the Kashmir "problem" cannot be solved by merely abrogating the Article 370 in the Constitution that provides for special provisions to J&K . "There are several issues and just abrogating the Article 370 will not solve the problem. BJP cannot do it all alone, we will discuss it at an opportune time with others," he said.PTI
Punjab police ‘force eviction’ of 3 youths from Kashmir
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-police-force-eviction-of-3-youths-from-kashmir-4657556/
Chandigarh: 3 Kashmiri youths have been “thrown out” of their rented accommodation in Punjab’s Zirakpur after police allegedly asked them to leave the place. The three were evicted hours after about a dozen policemen came to their house to verify their credentials on Sunday.“Policemen asked if we are Kashmiri and told us ‘yahan kuch karne aate ho aur wahan kuch aur karte ho’ and then asked us if we had any weapons,” said Tajamul Imran, 25, who recently completed his MBA. “The police first said that it is a usual verification but then they searched everything. They opened our bags, turned our bed… scattered our books. I do not know what they were looking for but it was more than torture.”Imran said that the police called the broker, who had helped them get accommodation, to remove them. His classmates, Mudasir and Asif, had shifted to Zirakpur from Mohali on April 24.indianexpress
India ‘shifts’ stance, asks Madhesis to drop demand for changes in constitution
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-shifts-stance-asks-madhesis-to-drop-demand-for-changes-in-constitution/story-29xYUN0YoCCnRFTSiyOWOP.html
New Delhi: Indian diplomats in Kathmandu have told Nepal’s Tarai leadership to drop the demand of changes in constitution and participate in the second phase of local elections scheduled next month, a move being seen as a dramatic U-turn on a policy crafted over two years.Delhi insists its old policy of broader constitutional accommodation is intact, but top Tarai political leaders, who expressed dismay and shock at what they said was a betrayal, told HT the “advice” came from the “highest levels” of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.HT
HRD lens on AMU for ‘flouting norms’; Ministry asks UGC to probe ‘irregularities’ in hiring, promotion of teachers
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hrd-lens-on-amu-for-flouting-norms-ministry-asks-ugc-to-probe-irregularities-in-hiring-promotion-of-teachers/articleshow/58708579.cms
New Delhi: Recruitment of teachers and promotions in AMU have come under the scanner following allegations of "gross violation of UGC rules and discrimination", prompting the HRD ministry to ask for a report on the alleged irregularities.The ministry has asked the UGC to look into the issue. Responses to RTI queries (copies of which are with TOI) revealed how teachers had been promoted without having the minimum Academic Performance Indications (API) score of 120 points overriding those who fulfilled the criteria.Teachers were promoted without having guided any PhD scholar while in some cases promotions had been done on the basis of book reviews.All these appointments were made during the tenure of outgoing VC Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah who is retiring on May 17.Tariq Mansoor, principal of AMU's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, is to take charge as the new VC. TOI had first reported about the ministry asking UGC to conduct an academic and research audit of 11 central universities, including AMU, which were considered "non-performers". According to sources, the audit team which visited the university recently also sought answers on these issues.TOI
UP: Modern edu to be compulsory for madrassa students
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/modern-education-to-be-compulsory-for-madrassa-students/articleshow/58707246.cms
Lucknow: In an attempt to increase employment opportunities, around 4,600 secondary education madrassas in the state will soon have compulsory modern education in maths, science, social sciences and home science. The UP Madrassa Board of Education is currently under the process to change syllabus for introduction of the new compulsory curriculum.The move will affect over 6 lakh madrassa students in the state and is aimed to make them able enough to appear for competitive examinations on the lines of other boards.Under the secondary education madrassas taking care of classes IX to XII which are recognised by the board, an optional modern subject is already the norm. The board and minority affairs department has now started the process to make two modern subjects compulsory out of maths, social science, science and home science. The primary and junior level madrassas already have modern subjects for compulsory study."Hindi and English are already compulsory while subjects other than Islamic theology and religion, Urdu, Arabic and Persian are optional and when we compared our syllabus with other boards, there was a gap," said Mohammad Tariq Ahmed, registrar of UP Madrassa board. "In fact, though optional, a larger number of students opted for maths, followed by social sciences and science," he added. Ahmed added that home science was mostly the first choice of girls under the board as their optional subject choice.The board that is currently looking at availability of teachers said there are 27,000 teachers in the state for teaching the modern subjects under madrassa modernisation scheme.It will be a new step in secondary education under the board, while experts said it was important since the knowledge of maths and science till at least class X was a requisite for several competitive examinations.TOI
Will launch nationwide agitation if atrocities on Dalits don’t stop: UP Dalit leaders warn
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/will-launch-nationwide-agitation-if-atrocities-on-dalits-dont-stop/articleshow/58705370.cms
Meerut: Expressing solidarity with Saharanpur Dalits, hundreds of community members protested against police and state Govt for allegedly manhandling the Saharanpur violence at the Meerut commissionary crossing and demanded speedy arrest of perpetrators of violence, especially in Shabbirpur village, where over 80 houses were allegedly burnt by Thakurs."We will launch a nationwide agitation,ifwe are repeatedly targeted," warned agitating Dalit leaders.Puspendra Jatav, coordinator of Meerut zone for Loktantra Bachao Samiti, an organisation setup for the welfare of Dalits, said, "We are being targeted everywhere in the state. Be it in Saharanpur or Sambhal or Meerut, and police instead of taking impartial stand are targeting Dalits. In fact, wherever BJP is in power, Dalits are at receiving end. So, we are being compelled to organise ourselves as it is a matter of survival for us."Another local Dalit leader Kiren Singh said, "Instead of arresting culprits in Saharanpur violence case, police are unnecessarily victimising members of Dalit community. Many innocent people are being targeted. Despite the fact that a man of Thakur community, who died in the Shabbirpur violence because of asphyxiation, all blame was put on Dalits that they resorted to stone-pelting. This is a reflection of upper caste mindset and that needs to be changed. We cannot tolerate suppression any longer come may what." timesofindia
UP: Barbers agree to give Valmikis haircuts after stir
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/barbers-agree-to-give-valmikis-haircuts-after-month-long-stir-4659515/
Lucknow: For the last one month, barbers in Sambhal’s Fatehpur Shamshoi village had kept their shops shut. The reason: They were being asked to give haircuts to Valmikis, which had never happened in the past.On Tuesday, the shops opened and for the first time, six barbers cut the hair of Valmikis in the village. This, after police and local public representatives told the barbers if they have to work, they would have to cut the hair of all villagers without any discrimination on caste lines.Fatehpur Shamshoi, where around 200 Valmikis reside, has a population of around 1,500 Thakurs and Brahmins each.Some Muslims and members of the barber community, known as Nai, run barber shops in village. “Earlier, barbers used to visit every person’s home and give him a haircut. Later, they opened shops in their homes. The Valmikis never asked any barber to cut their hair nor any barber did so,” said Chhotelal Diwakar, local SP leader and husband of village pradhan Kamlesh. Around two months ago, a Muslim, Asif Mahboob, had opened a barber shop and announced that he would cut everyone’s hair. Following this, a group of Valmiki men got haircuts in his shop. Later, Mahboob refused to cut the hair of Valmikis, allegedly under pressure of losing his upper caste customers. indianexpress
In A First, Barbers In UP Village Cut Hair Of Valmikis
http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/in-a-first-barbers-in-up-village-cut-hair-of-valmikis/298942
UP rights body seeks report on Muslim exodus from Sambhal village
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/up-rights-body-seeks-report-on-muslim-exodus-from-sambhal-village/articleshow/58705265.cms
Sambhal: UP Human Rights Commission chairman Justice (retired) Rafat Alam has written to Moradabad divisional commissioner L Venkateshwarlu and Sambhal DM Bhupendra S Chaudhary seeking a report on the exodus of Muslim families from Nandrauli village in Sambhal. A total of 43 Muslim families have left the village after they were attacked last week. Muslim families began leaving the village following an attack on the houses some members from the minority community on May 11, in the aftermath of the elopement of an inter-faith couple. Shortly after the violence, 10 Muslim families, including that of the youth who had eloped with a married Hindu woman, had fled. In the days since, 43 more families have packed up and left, rejecting appeals from various people including the local MP, to stay back. The families who fled are now living in Badaun, Sambhal and Aligarh.“The rights body has asked for a report in three days. The authorities concerned have been directed to do the needful. The situation in the village is under control and some of the villagers who had earlier left have now returned. Only those related to the youth who eloped have not come back. We have met the villagers and have assured them about their safety and security,” Moradabad divisional commissioner L Venkateshwarlu said. timesofindia
Already suffering, UP leather industry takes another setback
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/already-suffering-up-leather-industry-takes-another-setback/
Kanpur: Even before the new UP Govt’s crackdown on unauthorised slaughterhouses, the state’s leather industry was strained by slowed exports, closure of tanneries for environmental concerns and reduced supply of hides amid fears of becoming the target of vigilantes.From Dalit workers who skin dead animals and suppliers who buy the hides, to tannery owners and their workers, those in the industry now say their earnings have fallen further, with many losing their jobs. At the Sunday hide market in Banthara of Lucknow district, where skinners from rural areas come to sell a week’s collection in allotted areas, business closes by noon.Radhe Lal, 38, from Sandila in Hardoi, says he has been supplying hides for 15 years. “It has been very bad the last few years. I used to sell a piece of hide for Rs 400 two to three years ago; it now fetches only Rs 100.” indianexpress
India's battle over buffalo meat:'They want to make Muslims jobless'
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/05/india-battle-buffalo-meat-170511102459372.html
Meerut, India - On a midweek afternoon in Meerut's centuries-old Gudri Bazar, a buffalo meat trader called Gufran Farooq displays the blade of a cleaver against his palm. There are no bloodstains, he points out: the knife is far too clean. So is the marble counter-top, the kheema (meat) grinder, and the S-shaped hooks hanging from the bar above."The situation is serious," he says. "Everything in my life has come to a standstill." He nods towards the lane, which lies strangely quiet between the shuttered shopfronts. "The stray dogs are getting thin."For more than six weeks, no buffalo meat has been bought or sold in Meerut's markets. Across UP, northern India's fractious behemoth of a state, slaughterhouses have been closed down by a new Govt led by the Hindu nationalist BJP. Meerut, which lies on the western plains of the state, just 70km away from India's capital, is divided, and marked by a history of inter-faith conflict. Residents explain its geography as a patchwork of Hindu areas and Muslim ones. Religious identity crops up - spoken or carefully unspoken - in almost every political conversation. aljazeera
UP youth Ansari acquitted in terror case: Innocent people shouldn’t have to spend years in jail, says Kin
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-youth-acquitted-in-terror-case-innocent-people-shouldnt-have-to-spend-years-in-jail-says-kin/
New Delhi: A year ago, Shakir Ansari was arrested from Deoband for alleged terror links. After a 9-month trial, the 20-year-old was acquitted. Relieved, Shakir’s family said they want the Govt to set up fast-track courts so that innocent people do not have to spend years in jail. Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Shakir from his residence in Deoband, UP, on May 3, 2016, for allegedly setting up an IS-inspired ‘jihadist’ group and for links with Jaish-e-Mohammad. On Feb.7, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh acquitted him of all charges, stating that the police could not produce any evidence to back their claims.“My brother was innocent. That is why no charge was proved. He was lucky. I think the Govt machinery should set up fast-track courts so that innocent people do not have to spend several years behind bars,” Dr Zubair Ansari, Shakir’s eldest brother said.Shakir now runs a small shop in Deoband. His family said they had faced a lot of harassment during the nine months of trial, and were keeping a low profile so as not to attract further harassment. “I have no grudge against the probe agency, but I cannot explain what we have suffered in these nine months. I thank Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, our counsel and the judiciary for taking the side of truth,” said Zubair, sitting in his clinic at Okhla’s Haji Colony.He said he had lived in Delhi for 20 years with his family. “We live in this country and we stand for it. How could we promote terrorism?”According to Zubair, Shakir finished school and got a job in a showroom at South Extension. He quit after a year because the showroom owner objected to his beard. He went back to Deoband and started running a shop of mobile accessories. Shakir was arrested along with Sameer and Sajid following raids by the Delhi Police Special Cell at their residences in Delhi’s Chandbagh and UP’s Loni, respectively. Zubair said they had no money to fight the case, but the Jamiat helped them financially.When contacted, Shakir’s lawyer MS Khan said the court was not convinced with the police’s claim that Shakir had attended a meeting at Sajid’s residence for making a dummy bomb. DCP (Sanjeev Yadav) said that they had moved the High Court against the order. “The hearing is on October 23,” said Yadav.The trial of the other two accused is on, he added.Indian Express
Start Gau Rakshak Institutes to increase employment in India: Markandey Katju
http://www.timesnow.tv/the-buzz/article/markandey-katju-gau-rakshak-training-institutes-pehlu-khan-cow-vigilante/61185
A tongue-in-cheek remark by the former Chairman, PCI, Justice Markandey Katju, has stirred yet another controversy.In light of the recent string of attacks by self-proclaimed 'Gau Rakshaks' who’ve been pummeling citizens to death under the guise of cow protection and the fall of the once mighty IT industry in India, Katju took to Facebook and Twitter, in what can only been seen a direct attack on the Centre’s lack of governance to curb such miscreants, calling for the central and state Govt to start Gau Rakshak Training Institutes “to reduce unemployment.”“People had set up engineering colleges in India to make money, but now there are no engineering jobs. So I recommend that the Central/ State Govt s and private sector now start Gau Rakshak Training Institutes, as there is huge demand for gau rakshaks in the country,” Katju’s Facebook post read.Extending his jibe, he made a few suggestions regarding the courses these ‘institutes’ should offer, adding that while 90 % engineering graduates in India are unemployed, he is sure that the Gau Rakshak Institutes would lead to 100 % campus placements.Times Now
Attack On Kolkata's Urdu Daily Akbar e Mashriq For Criticising 'Fatwa' Cleric
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/attack-on-kolkatas-urdu-daily-for-criticising-fatwa-cleric-noorur-barkati-1694376
Kolkata: A gang of around 20 men -- allegedly led by the son of a Kolkata Imam who was recently in the eye of a storm over his use of a red beacon -- tried to storm the office of an Urdu newspaper yesterday to protest against its editorials and articles critical of the cleric.While Imam Noorur Barkati of the Tipu Sultan Masjid, located in the heart of Kolkata, is close to Mamata Banerjee and has often shared stage space with her, the newspaper's editor is Trinamool Rajya Sabha lawmaker Nadimul Haq. His wife Farah Haq, who was present during the attack, has filed a police complaint.Trouble erupted around 10 on Monday night. The newspaper, Akbar e Mashriq, runs out of a building in Kolkata's Park Circus area which also has Haq's home and the office. According to Mr Haq, who was not on the premises at the time, the men rushed into the building, went to the floor housing the office and home, threatened the employees and his family.NDTV
Kolkata imam Barkati sacked by mosque board
http://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/kolkata-imam-barkati-who-warned-of-jihad-against-india-sacked-by-mosque-board/story-5BiMIf0A9aJDjD6RvBxzNI.html
Kolkata: Muslim cleric Noor- ur- Rehman Barkati was sacked on Wednesday as the shahi imam of Kolkata’s Tipu Sultan mosque after months of controversy over a series of fatwas and refusal to give up the red beacon.A meeting of the trustees of the important mosque announced that Barkati – considered close to Mamata Banerjee -- was removed for “objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country”, ANI reported.
Bengal civic polls: TMC wins 4 civic bodies, GJM-BJP alliance bags 3
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tmc-wins-four-civic-bodies-gjm-three-in-bengal/story-LYxo6OwCKrc7W4CEM3WaNM.html
Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress notched up significant victories on Wednesday when results of elections to seven civic bodies showed it getting a first foothold in the northern hills region.The party won the Mirik municipality, part of the Darjeeling hills that have been a stronghold of the GJM, and the three civic bodies that went to polls in the plains.GJM, which was in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, retained the rest of the hill municipalities that went to polls: Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. In addition to Mirik, Trinamool won Raiganj, Domkal and Pujali in the plains.Raiganj civic body was under Congress rule for 15 years before the Trinamool routed it on Wednesday.7 civic bodies spanned 148 wards that held elections on May 14. hindustantimes
West Bengal : When a Hindu girl made a madrasa proud
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/when-a-hindu-girl-made-a-madrasa-proud/article18469207.ece?homepage=true
Kolkata: A 16-year-old Hindu girl sprang a surprise by making it to the merit list in the results of the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education Examination 2017, which were declared here on Tuesday. Prashama Sasmal, student of the Khalatpur High Madrasah in Howrah district ranked eight in the merit list of the Class X final examination.She scored 729 marks out of 800, which is about 91.9%. Speaking to The Hindu, Prashama said although there was a school — Bireshwar Balika Vidyalaya — in her village Hariharpur in Udaynarayanpur, she choose to study in the madrasah.“My father knew some teachers of the madrasah and it was closer to my home. I got the support of all teachers. I will complete my Class XII from the same institution,” she said.She also said reading Islam Parichay and Arabic, 2 subjects which students have to take in the Madrasah Board along with other subjects, was an “experience” for her.“No one in my family had any knowledge of the subjects before. I have not got my mark sheet but I think I have got 97 in Islam Parichay and 64 in Arabic, which is compulsory optional subject,” the student said. About 2, 287 non- Muslim students (mostly Hindus) have appeared in Board of Madrasah Education Exam 2017.thehindu
Abu Azmi takes over school run by Zakir Naik's IRF
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sp-leader-abu-azmi-takes-over-school-run-by-controversial-preacher-zakir-naik-s-irf-2441789
Mumbai: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has come to the rescue of a school in Mazgaon, Mumbai whose future was uncertain on account of being run by Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).The Islamic International School (IIS) will now be renamed as Avicenna International School and be run by his Niyaz Minority, Education and Welfare trust. Azmi told Mumbai Mirror that the school's staff will remain the same. "We do not wish to disturb the academic year of any student. Even the syllabus will remain the same but with little changes."The school has around 185 students and conducts classes from nursery to Std X. dnaindia
BJP Kerala chief booked for spreading false report on RSS worker’s murder
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/bjp-kerala-chief-booked/123887/
BJP’s Kerala unit president, Kummanom Rajasekharan, has been booked on charges of spreading false report over the killing of an RSS worker in Payyannur here on May 12, police said today. He was booked under IPC Section 153(a) on a petition by Muhammed Siraj, district secretary of Students Federation of India, CPI(M)’s student wing, they said.PTI
Par panel summons senior EC officials over EVM issue
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/par-panel-summons-senior-ec-officials-over-evm-issue/1/956284.html
New Delhi: With several opposition parties urging the Election Commission (EC) to revert to ballot paper system, a parliamentary committee has summoned senior officials of the poll panel to discuss issues related to the reliability of EVMs. EC has thrown a challenge to political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recent assembly polls were tampered with after several opposition parties questioned their reliability and demanded going back to the paper ballot system. The planned challenge could take place later this month. PTI
WORLD
Israel razes Palestinian Bedouin village for 113th time
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/israel-razes-palestinian-bedouin-village-113th-time-170517075143632.html
Israeli police forces have destroyed a Palestinian village in the Negev region of the country's south for the 113th time since 2010, displacing its residents and flattening its few still-standing structures. Heavily-armed officers as well as riot police forces raided the village on Wednesday morning, and bulldozers destroyed the makeshift homes locals had been living in, local Palestinian media outlets reported.The Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights, a Haifa-based advocacy group, estimates that 22 families made up of 110 people live in Araqib. The villagers return and rebuild after each demolition. Al-Araqib is one of more than 35 "unrecognised" villages across the desertous Negev region, considered illegal by the Govt due to their lack of building permits. Aljazeera
Israelis set up new illegal outpost in northern Jordan Valley
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170516-israelis-set-up-new-illegal-outpost-in-northern-jordan-valley/
A group of Israeli settlers have reportedly begun setting up an illegal outpost in the northeastern occupied West Bank district of Tubas, official Palestinian agency Wafa reported. Quoting Aref Daraghma, a Palestinian official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, Wafa said that settlers set up mobile homes and solar panels in the area where the village of Khirbet Al-Sweida once stood in the northern Jordan Valley.Daraghma added that the settlers had also brought construction equipment and material and begun digging a pool in the area. It said that Palestinians living in Khirbet Al-Sweida had been evacuated by Israeli authorities to make space for Israeli settlements in the area.At least two other illegal settlement outposts have been erected since the beginning of the year in Nablus and Ramallah districts of West Bank, although settlers in Ramallah-area outpost were later mandated by Israel to dismantle their own structures. Middleeastmonitor
Israeli minister reveals ‘secret talks’ with Arab countries
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170517-israeli-minister-reveals-secret-talks-with-arab-countries/
Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation and Acting Minister of Communications revealed on Tuesday that there are “secret talks and relations” with Arab countries apart from Jordan and Egypt, Safa news agency reported. Tzachi Hanegbi made his comments to Saudi news website Elaph.com and reminded the interviewer that his country has peace treaties with those two neighbouring states.“There are secret talks and relationships [with Arab countries],” he explained, “but these countries have not announced this.” Although the media speculates about this, he added, it is best to “leave things as they are” and not speak about the issue at the moment.When asked about the forthcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to Israel later this month, Hanegbi described it as a “historic” trip. “It has never happened in the history of Israel-US relations that an American president has visited Israel during his first term and in his first 120 days in office.” middleeastmonitor
Was Israel behind US laptop ban on Mideast airlines?
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/israel-laptop-ban-mideast-airlines-170517013320611.html
US news reports say Israel was the source of intelligence that President Donald Trump disclosed to the Russians during a White House meeting last week, igniting further controversy for the beleaguered administration.According to a New York Times report on Tuesday, Israel shared with US spy agencies sensitive intelligence about an ISIL bomb plot targeting airliners using laptop computers.National Security Advisor HR McMaster denied that Trump had disclosed any sources or methods to the Russians, saying the Washington Post report that first broke the story was "false".A CIA spokesperson declined to comment on the report and referred al Jazeera to the US National Security CounciL,NSC. aljazeera
Trump to give speech on ‘peaceful vision of Islam’in Saudi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-president-donald-trump-to-deliver-speech-on-islam-in-saudi-arabia/story-VFbD4HQYRpmGfTHIjHsgCI.html
US President Donald Trump will urge unity between the world’s major faiths on an ambitious first foreign trip that will take him to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Jerusalem, the White House said Tuesday.National Security Advisor HR McMaster laid out a detailed itinerary for the “historic trip,” due to start late this week, and confirmed that Trump would address a gathering of Muslim leaders on his “hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam.”Previous US leaders have generally chosen a US neighbour such as Canada or Mexico for their first presidential voyage, but Trump intends to plunge right into some of the world’s most difficult spiritual and political conflicts.In Saudi Arabia, after a day of talks with King Salman and his crown prince, Trump will attend a gathering of dozens of leaders from across the Muslim world.“The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America’s commitment to our Muslim partners,” McMaster said, adding that Trump will help open a center to de-radicalize extremists.AFP
Red Cross: 115 bodies found in CAR's Bangassou
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/red-cross-115-bodies-car-bangassou-170517114611855.html
Red Cross on Wednesday said its workers had found 115 bodies in the Central African Republic's (CAR) border town of Bangassou after several days of militia attacks, raising by more than four times a previously reported death toll.Antoine Mbao Bogo, the president of the aid group's local branch, told the Reuters news agency that those killed had "died in various ways", including from knives, clubs and bullet wounds."We found 115 bodies and 34 have been buried," he said from the capital, Bangui.A senior UN official had previously reported 26 civilian deaths.According to the UN refugee agency, the situation in Bangassou sent an estimated 2,750 refugees fleeing across the border into the DRC over the weekend. The violence represents a new escalation in a conflict that began in 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka fighters seized power and ousted then-president Francois Bozize, prompting reprisal killings from Christian anti-Balaka militias. aljazeera
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
"Saharanpur Violence Seems to Be Part of A Larger Conspiracy to Target Non-BJP Voters":THE CITIZEN
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/OldNewsPage/?Id=10708
Fringe right wing outfits now get more clout than they can claim: Radhika Iyengar
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/4660658-hindu-yuva-vahini-yogi-adityanath-fringe-right-wing-outfits-now-get-more-clout-than-they-can-claim/
The majority complex: minority may be forced to reconcile to being second-class citizens:Julio Ribeiro, Rtd IPS
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-majority-complex-discrimination-muslim-christian-rss-modi-mohan-bhagwat-4659150/
India’s Premier Science Bodies Moot National Programme to Study Concoctions of Cow Excreta: R. Ramachandran
https://thewire.in/136259/panchgavya-svarop-iit-csir-cow-urine/
A deep analysis of Muslim representation in Delhi civic bodies: Shafeeq Rahman,
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/a-deep-analysis-of-muslim-representation-in-delhi-civic-bodies?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
Karnataka-cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari found dead on birthday in Lucknow
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/karnataka-cadre-ias-officer-found-dead-on-birthday-in-lucknow-117051700845_1.html
1 in every 2 children victim of sexual abuse, says survey
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/one-in-every-two-children-victim-of-sexual-abuse-says-survey/story-spc4MsZTJsmjyrlTZJep7L.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:11 PM)
