Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
20 Aug. 2017: 27 Zulqidah 1438:Vol:8, No:260
INDIA
Had it not been for Muslims, we would have died: Saints injured in Utkal Express derailment
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/had-it-not-been-for-muslims-we-would-have-died-saints-injured-in-utkal-express-derailment/articleshow/60136745.cms
Meerut: "I remember my head bumping into the seat in front of me, throwing me at least 2 feet forward. I was in pain and could her screams from all directions. Honestly, if it hadn't been for Muslims in the area who rushed to the spot and pulled us out of train's coach, we might not have survived," said Bhagwan Das Maharaj, a saint with a saffron cloth tied around his neck. He was travelling with six other ascetics who had boarded the Utkal Express from Morana in MP and were going to Haridwar to take a holy dip in Ganga."They brought us water, khaats and arranged for a private doctor for us. We will never forget this gesture," he added. Three saints from the group were injured and were rushed to Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial (LLRM) Medical College in Meerut for treatment."We believe in God and we saw his power soon after the accident. There are times when people politicize Hindu-Muslim ties, but there has always been love between the two communities," said Morni Das, another saint.Soon after 14 coaches of Haridwar-bound Kalinga Utkal Express derailed near Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar, Govt and private hospitals in Meerut were put on alert and emergency wards were set up for the accident victims. "There were many women and children in our coach. All of us were chit-chatting and suddenly our coach overturned. Initially, we didn't realize what had happened," said another saint Hakim Das.TOI
Survivors recount train crash, salute Khatauli samaritans
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/survivors-recount-train-crash-salute-khatauli-samaritans-117082000573_1.html
Utkal Express derailment LIVE: Railways admits to lapse by Engineering dept as prima facie cause of accident
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/utkal-express-derailment-live-updates-muzaffarnagar-uttar-pradesh-six-bogies-derailed-4804093/
n one of the deadliest train accidents in recent times, at least 21 passengers were killed and over 80 others injured as 14 coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express derailed in Muzaffarnagar area on Saturday evening. Railways admits to lapse by Engineering department of its Delhi division as prima facie cause of accident." Govt Railway Police has lodged an FIR in Utkal Express derailment case for offences of causing death by negligence, mischief, destruction of railway property," said Jamshed, Member Traffic (Railways).indianexpress
Authorities hint negligence caused Muzaffarnagar train disaster
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60145713.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
UP floods claim 69 lives; 20 lakh people hit in 24 districts
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-floods-claim-69-lives-20-lakh-people-hit-in-24-districts-4805199/
Lucknow:With fresh flood-related deaths reported from across UP , the death toll in the current wave of floods has risen to 69. Over 20 lakh people have been hit by the floods in 24 districts of the state.“Death toll in the floods has reached 69 in the state, where 2,523 villages in 24 districts are flooded affecting a population of over 20 lakh,” relief commissioner’s office said here citing a flood report compiled till Saturday.It said 39,783 persons have take shelter in relief camps in the affected districts of eastern UP where there was no let up in flood fury as raging waters of the rivers emanating from Nepal caused havoc in vast swathes of human habitation.PTI
Special session on Article 35A crucial: J-K Opposition
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/special-session-on-article-35a-crucial-j-k-opposition-4805317/
Srinagar:CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami and Independent MLA Hakim Yaseen Sunday demanded a special session of J&K Assembly to discuss repealing of Article 35A, asserting that any attempt to abrogate the constitutional provision would lead to serious consequences in the state. “It is imperative to call a special session of the state legislature to discuss crucial issue of Article 35A without any delay, so that a strong response could be put before the Supreme Court by the state Govt ,” Tarigami and Yaseen said in a joint statement in Srinagar. They said the Govt should convene a special assembly session to discuss the crucial issue.The two MLAs alleged that the “conspiracy” to remove Article 35A is essentially the “agenda of communal, divisive and anti-democratic forces” who want to thrive on uncertainty, discord, hatred and turmoil. “The state Govt should take the case very seriously, contend it in the Supreme Court vigorously and should not depend on hollow assurances by the Centre,” they said.PTI
Kashmiri separatist case: Wani sent to jail till Aug 31
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ed-non-bailable-warrant-pmla-kashmiri-separatist-case-mohammad-aslam-wani-sent-to-jail-till-aug-31-4805304/
New Delhi:Alleged hawala dealer Mohammad Aslam Wani, arrested in connection with a decade-old money laundering case involving Kashmiri separatist Shabir Shah, was sent on Sunday to judicial custody (JC) by a Delhi court on a plea of the probe agency. Duty Magistrate Jasjeet Kaur allowed the plea of the ED after advocate N K Matta, appearing for the investigating agency, submitted that Wani be send to JC. He was remanded in JC till Aug.31. 36-year-old Wani was produced before the court on expiry of his two-week custodial interrogation, maximum ED could be granted under the law.PTI
New worry for Modi as China takes deep root in Nepal, a place where anti-India fire is so easy to fan
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60136668.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Dharchula in western Nepal is a Doklam doppelganger in that it is situated at the trijunction of Nepal, China and India. The town is bifurcated across India and Nepal by the river Kali; the terra firma underneath is the de facto border since the Treaty of Sugauli that ended the Anglo-Nepalese war of 1814-16. The suspension bridge over the river connects Nepal and the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Dharchula was an important town on the old Tibet-Nepal-India trade route. That was before China occupied Tibet in 1950. On the edges of the Chameliya tributary of the Kali in Nepali Dharchula is where Ajay Kumar Dahal lives alone. The family and life of the project chief of the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA’s) 30 MW Chameliya Hydroelectric Project is as divided and fragmented as the land he operates on. Dahal’s family is in Kathmandu, nearly 1,000 km away. His sons are studying to be engineers: one in China and the other in India. He himself was one of the last Nepali engineers to have got his professional degree from Tashkent Poly Technical Institute in a now extinct country called the USSR, much like TibetHowever, there is nobody fighting to reclaim the USSR. Dahal graduated in 1990, the year the USSR formally collapsed. That was the year Nepal’s Jan Andolan ended absolute monarchy; and Dahal joined NEA the next year. But in the chaos of the 1990s pro-democratic movement, a 17-year-old Tibetan freedom fighter called Tsering Choeden, son of a Tibetan freedom fighter who was part of the first Mustang uprising against Chinese rule, decided he could finally exhale. economictimes
India looks to US for aerial protection from threat of enemy rockets, drones, aircraft as capital plans to go anti-ballistic
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4805724/India-looks-America-help-aerial-protection.html
India is considering an American anti-missile 'umbrella' to protect the Delhi region from enemy rockets, drones and aircraft. Seeking to provide protection to dignitaries, including the President and PM , India is looking into the system, as part of the Delhi Area Defence project. National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) is being considered for the Delhi Area Defence project to provide aerial protection to the capital from airborne threats,' Govt sources told Mail Today. The programme is being undertaken as the threat from incoming enemy missiles, drones and aircraft is perceived to be on the rise, because of their increasing use by organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba.US defence officials have given presentations to the Air Force and other concerned agencies, and the proposal is now being considered by the Govt. The same anti-missile system is used by the Americans to guard their national capital region in Washington DC and has been in deployment there since 2005. Indian Air Force has been using missile systems originating from Russia to help protect the national capital, as well as important assets. DailyMail
Rohingyas say compulsions drove them to take shelter in J-K
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohingyas-say-compulsions-drove-them-to-take-shelter-in-j-k-muslims-4805370/
Jammu:Amid calls for their deportation from India, Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar say they have settled in J&K because of compulsions, and not out of choice, and that they will return to their country once the situation becomes favourable. More than 13700 foreigners, including Rohingya Muslims and Bangladesh nationals, are settled in Jammu and Samba districts, where their population has increased by over 6,000 between 2008 and 2016, according to data available with the state Govt.“We are in India because of some compulsions, and not out of choice. We know this is not our land. We will leave on our own once those compulsions are addressed by the global community and we get justice,” 35-year-old Mohammad Yusuf, the head of a camp for Rohingya refugees said. Rohingyas are a Bengali-dialect speaking Muslim minority in Myanmar. Following persecution in their country, many of them entered India illegally through Bangladesh and took shelter in Jammu. “We were boarded into a train and asked to embark at the last station when the whole train gets empty. We were not aware that it is Jammu. We came to know at the railway station that some Rohingyas were living here and met them. This is how we reached here,” he said, explaining why they landed in J&K , several thousand miles from their homes. Rohingya refugees are aware of reports about New Delhi’s plan to deport them and the ‘Quit Jammu’ campaign by certain social and political organisations that see their presence as a “conspiracy to alter the demographic character and a threat to the peace in the region”.Fear of deportation writ large on the faces of the refugees at their temporary cluster in Narwal on the Jammu- Pathankot highway.PTI
Kill Us Here, But Don't Deport Us, Plead Rohingya Muslims
http://www.news18.com/news/india/kill-us-here-but-dont-deport-us-plead-rohingya-muslims-1496279.html
ICHR Delaying My Book on Freedom Struggle Over Hindu Mahasabha Role:Author
http://www.news18.com/news/india/ichr-delaying-book-on-freedom-struggle-over-hindu-mahasabha-role-says-author-1495899.html
New Delhi: It has been 2 years since the final manuscript was submitted. And yet there are no signs on whether Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) will publish anytime soon one of its most contentious and oldest special research projects dealing with the role of Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League in pre-partition India. 2nd part of Towards Freedom volume, dealing with developments in 1941, has been authored by historian Arjun Dev who alleges that the delay and disinterest in its publication “may be because it documents the communal politics of the BJP’s ancestor — Hindu Mahasabha”.In his letter to the then ICHR chairman Y Sudershan Rao on June 23, 2017, Dev had sought an explanation on the council’s failure to forward the manuscript to the Oxford University Press for publication.The volume enumerates the sources and documents regarding the politics of the Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha and quotes the speeches and writings of SP Mukerjee, VD Savarkar and BS Moonje.The manuscript was submitted on Aug.1, 2015 following the communication from General Editor Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, “conveying his approval of the manuscript for publication,” the letter reads.Dev was also the coordinator of the Towards Freedom Project till 2015. He was appointed during UPA regime.Towards Freedom documents India’s march to freedom in the run up to Independence in 1947. The research project was commissioned in early ’70s.Two of its volumes were withdrawn by Vajpayee Govt in 2000. The project was re-started by Arjun Singh after UPA’s return to power in 2004.Dev also alleges that “in violation of norms the manuscript were sent to unknown experts for their comments” despite the general editor being vested with full powers to clear the manuscript for publication.News18.com
Foreign court can’t decide divorce plea of Indian domiciled couple, observes Bombay High Court
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/foreign-court-cant-decide-divorce-plea-of-indian-domiciled-couple-observes-bombay-high-court-4805088/
Mumbai:A foreign court does not have the jurisdiction to decide matrimonial matters of a couple who have Indian domicile and are governed under the Hindu Marriage Act, even if the parties were at the time residing in a foreign nation, the Bombay High Court has observed. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Anuja Prabhu dessai last week quashed and set aside a Dubai court’s order allowing a divorce petition filed by an Indian man residing there.The high court was hearing an appeal (petition) filed by the man’s wife, challenging an order passed by a family court in Mumbai dismissing her plea seeking maintenance for herself and her two children. The family court, while dismissing her plea, observed that Dubai court has already adjudicated the matter and granted divorce to the parties. However, the high court, after perusing the facts of the case, opined that both the parties (husband and wife) are Indian citizens and there was no material to endorse the claim of the husband that they have domiciles of Dubai. The bench restored the petition filed by the wife before the family court. The HC and directed both the parties to appear before the family court on Sept.18.PTI
Hundreds of kilos of banned Plastic bags seized during market raids, as people ignore threat of fines
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4805868/Officials-seized-400kg-kilos-banned-bags-raids.html#ixzz4qIZ2Mbhk
Hundreds of kilograms of plastic bags have been seized in raids, despite warnings against their manufacture and use.The south Delhi Municipal Corporation said it had collected over a lakh rupees and seized 400kg of polythene bags over the last couple of days during raids upon the markets.This comes despite National Green Tribunal's ban on polythene bags less than 50 microns of thickness in the capital.Also, in another raid, North Delhi Municipal Corporation claims to have seized 416kg of plastic bags. However, no figures were available from the East Delhi municipal corporation. The NGT order of August 10 gave MCDs and the Delhi Govt a window-period of seven days to generate awareness and start fining bulk manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the public `5,000 for using thin plastic bags. DailyMail
Modi a ‘sufi PM’: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to Gujaratis
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/narendra-modi-a-sufi-pm-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-4804566/
Gandhinagar: Describing PM Narendra Modi as a ‘sufi PM ’ who always thinks of good governance, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Saturday that only a sufi can think of the welfare of the downtrodden in this way.Speaking at a function organised by Gujarat Minorities Finance and Development Corporation Ltd, where he distributed cheques of Rs 6 crore to 535 loan seekers from minority communities, Naqvi said “empowerment with dignity without appeasement” is the current environment of development all over the country and Modi Govt is “trying to reach out to the last man in queue without any religious or caste discrimination”. indianexpress
40% reservation for girls at planned schools for minorities: Naqvi
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/40-reservation-for-girls-at-planned-schools-for-minorities-naqvi/454743.html
New Delhi: Govt has decided to proffer 40 % reservation for girls at 100 Navodaya-type schools and five higher education institutes it plans to set up for minority community students, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said. Minister of State for Minority Affairs said the Govt is mulling to open the 100 Navodaya-type schools in minority concentrated areas of the country."We want to empower the communities with dignity and, therefore, are focusing on the education sector. We will give 40% reservation to girls from the communities in the schools and also in the institutes. This is to ensure they complete their education," he told PTI.A high-level panel formed by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), a Govt -funded agency, had in its report recently recommended a three-tier model to tackle educational backwardness among minorities, particularly the Muslims.PTI
Noida to become hub for minority artisans: DailyMail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4806038/Noida-hub-minority-artisans.html#ixzz4qIZSCU7L
In a piece of good news for the artisans of India, Union ministry for Minority Affairs is in the process of building a model 'Hunar Hub' or talent showcase for the traditional arts and crafts of India — especially associated with the minority communities of India in Noida. More significantly, the ministry has planned to bring together sellers, artisans and retailers and corporate entities directly in contact to take business further. Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that this is being done with the purpose of providing the minority artisans, who have preserved their art and craft for several centuries as a matter of tradition, with a market and make their produce economically viable.
Muslim cattle trader shot dead in Assam's Darrang district
http://www.businessnortheast.com/article.php?displayid=1010218&displaytype=Article
A 35-year-old cattle trader was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Aukachowka under Mangaldai police station in Darrang district on Saturday. The slain trader has been identified as Moktar Ali, a resident of Kaliapara village of the district. A tensed situation prevailed in the area following the incident and security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.Police said two motorcycle-borne unidentified gunmen shot dead the trader on RK Road at around 4 pm. 2 miscreants managed to escape following the incident.A tensed situation prevailed in the area following the incident and security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. According to the eye witnesses, the deceased was playing cards at Janaramchowk area when one Bhargab Jyoti Sarma of village Nagaon took him towards Aulachowka on his bike. However, Bhargab Jyoti Sarma has denied the allegation and said that on the request of Moktar, he offered him a lift at Kaliapara. Mangaldai police have arrested Sarma in connection with the incident. Businessnortheast
Cattle trader shot at: UNI
http://www.uniindia.com/cattle-trader-shot-at/other/news/964910.html
Cow Protection for BJP Means Killing of Minority People: Congress
https://www.northeasttoday.in/cow-protection-for-bjp-means-killing-of-minority-people-congress/
The Congress has targeted the BJP on cow protection and said for the ruling party it means “killing of minority people”. “The new definition of ‘gau raksha’ is killing of innocents, preferably of the minority community, walking down the roads,” Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.He wondered aloud if the BJP’s Chhattisgarh Govt will charge its leader Harish Verma, at whose cow shelter over 200 cattle died of alleged starvation and lack of medicines, under harsher provisions of the law. “If this is the new definition of cow protection, I suppose everybody should ignore this terrible, terrible event,” the Congress leader said.IANS
Gujarat: Mob of 100 attacks police as latter try to rescue cows from alleged slaughter
http://www.asianage.com/india/crime/200817/gujarat-mob-of-100-attacks-police-as-latter-try-to-rescue-cows-from-alleged-slaughter.html
Godhra: A police team was on Saturday attacked by a mob of over 100 persons in Godhra when it tried to rescue a large number of cows which were allegedly being taken for slaughter.Police had to lob 18 rounds of teargas shells after the mob attacked them, Godhra Deputy SP VK Nai said."When the police team reached the ground where the cattle were kept, they were attacked by the mob with stones. To disperse the crowd, police team lobbed 18 teargas shells. Nobody was injured," he said.The forces had carried out an extensive combing operation upon receiving information that the cattle were brought to Godhra for slaughtering.The police found that a large number of cattle were tied at a place on the ground. When they tried to untie the animals and take them into their custody, the officers were attacked, Nai said."We seized 49 cattle from the spot and took them to cow shelter,"he said. Further probe is being carried out in this connection with an FIR registered at B division police station, the official said.PTI
2 more Gaushalas in Chhatisgarh reveal horrible sights of starving cows & rotting carcasses!
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/two-more-gaushalas-in-chhatisgarh-reveal-horrible-sights-of-starving-cows-rotting-carcasses-328192.html
After news of 200 cow starvation deaths in Raipur village of Chhatisgarh shocked the nation, the horror doesn't get over with just one gaushala keeping cows in a miserable condition. There are 2 more gaushalas run by a BJP leader in Durg district.These 2 uncovered gaushalas were found with cow carcasses and starving animals. Run by Jamul Nagar panchayat’s vice-president Harish Verma, it was reported that more than 200 carcasses were found in his gaushala last week.Similar scenario has been seen with rotting carcasses lying next to weak and hungry cows at Mayuri gaushala in Rano village and Phulchand gaushala in Godmarra village both in Durg district, 15 kms and 5 kms away from Raipur each.The police has said that Verma, who was arrested on Friday, has been running all the three shelters. He has openly accused state Govt agencies of starving the Rajpur gaushala of funds. At the Godmarra village, 20 carcasses were found along with more than one hundred starving cows and no food or water in sight.A little distant from the shed, there were two tractors overflowing with an estimate of 50 cow carcasses. Villagers said that the gaushala, after being spotted, dropped all attampts of disposing off the carcasses.This comes as a shock because all three gaushalas have been receiving lakhs of rupees as grants from the Chhattisgarh Gau Seva Aayog, an independent commission set up by the state Govt to look after cows. According to statements of the Aayog given to police, Shagun Gaushala has received Rs 93 lakh since its inception in 2011. Mayuri and Phulchand have received Rs 22.64 lakh and Rs 50 lakh from 2015 and 2014 respectively.Indiatimes
Aurangabad Municipality: Corporators suspended for refusing to stand up for Vande Mataram
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aurangabad-municipality-corporators-suspended-for-refusing-to-stand-up-for-vande-mataram-4804544/
Mumbai:A fight broke out between some members of Aurangabad municipality in Maharashtra and an AIMIM and a Congress corporator were suspended for a day after they allegedly refused to stand up when ‘Vande Mataram’ was being sung in the House during a general body meeting Saturday. Objecting to their conduct, ruling Shiv Sena-BJP corporators rushed into the Well and pressed for action against 2 corporators. Mayor Bhagwan Ghadamode subsequently ordered that Sayyed Mateen of the AIMIM and Sohail Shaikh of the Congress be suspended for a day.Amid the din, some Sena and AIMIM corporators came to blows — although no one was injured, civic officials said some microphones were damaged. The mayor later ordered suspension of another AIMIM corporator, Shaikh Nagar, for the violence and directed officials to register an offence against him. AIMIM was quick to distance itself from Saturday’s incident.Party’s Aurangabad MLA, Imtiyaz Jaleel, said, “No one should disrespect the national song.” While saying that the party will hold an internal probe to look into Mateen’s conduct, Jaleel alleged that the entire episode is a “deliberate ploy” of the ruling Sena-BJP alliance to divert attention from non-performance on development issues in the municipality.While the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance leads Aurangabad civic body with 58 corporators in the 113-member general body, AIMIM is the largest opposition party with 23 members. indian express
Aurangabad: 3 AIMIM corporators suspended for 15 days for refusing to stand for Vande Mataram
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-aurangabad-three-aimim-corporators-suspended-for-15-days-for-refusing-to-stand-for-vande-mataram-2535208
BJP leader fumes, walks out after journalist asks meaning of Vande Mataram
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vande-mataram-aimim-bjp-leader-prem-shukla-aurangabad-corporation/1/1029564.html
BJP leader Prem Shukla lost his cool while speaking to India Today's journalist. When asked about the bedlam that took place at Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) over national song Vande Mataram, Shukla fumed and lashed out at journalist.When asked about the accountability of leaders hiding behind the garb of patriotism, Shukla removed his mic and furiously walked out of the studio.Shukla was agitated when the journalist asked him about the significance of national song and the trust of voters.Upon being asked if the current trend of politicising the national song is against PM Narendra Modi's idea of development for all, he said that all those people defending such people are anti-nationals. Journalist countered Shukla by saying that politicians are only emphasising on national song but are not working for the respective constituencies. When asked if all the politicians harping the tunes even know the true meaning of Vande Mataram, Shukla turned furious and hurled abuses.When asked if he understood the meaning of the national song, Shukla simply threw away the mic and walked out.Shukla even went on to tarnish AIMIM party calling them hooligans.IndiaToday
Adityanath bats for meeting between NIA, state agencies every 6 months
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-cm-yogi-adityanath-bats-for-meeting-between-nia-state-agencies-every-six-months-4805081/
Lucknow:For effective coordination between the NIA and state agencies, there should be a meeting between them every six months to exchange information and fill gaps, if any, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said. CM was addressing a gathering after inauguration of the National Investigation Agency’s office and residential campus in Lucknow. “There should be a meeting of NIA with state agencies every 6 months for exchange of information and fill the gap, if any. There should be better coordination among different agencies,”he said.PTI
Yogi rolls out agenda for modernising madarsas in state
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/up-cm-yogi-adityanath-rolls-out-agenda-for-modernising-madarsas-in-state-117082000447_1.html
Lucknow: Yogi Adityanath Govt in UP has started rolling out its agenda of modernising madarsa education in the state.There are about 19,000 madarsas affiliated with UP Madarsa Education Board, apart from 560 aided madarsas functioning in the UP.Madarsas are minority educational institutions offering study in Islamic theology and religious law.UP Govt plans to modernise these institutions and introduce contemporary pedagogy to enable its students to come at par with students of other educational systems for better job opportunities.In UP Annual Budget 2017-18, Yogi Govt had allocated about Rs 1,700 crore towards minorities’ welfare. Of this, Rs 394 crore had been allocated towards imparting modern education in recognised madarsas and maqtabs . In this context, the Govt has launched a dedicated portal, madarsaboard.upsdc.gov.in, for ushering in the modernisation of madarsas and ensuring transparency in their functioning. Business standard
At RSS’s first school in Lucknow, Muslims make up 1/3rd of students:TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/at-rsss-first-school-in-city-muslims-make-up-1/3rd-of-students/articleshow/60138887.cms
Lucknow: Burqa-clad mothers chatting away with their vermillion sporting counterparts while awaiting the arrival of their children may be an everyday scene outside schools in the city. However, such a sight is no less than extraordinary when the school is one of the 17 Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandirs run in the city by the RSS, parent body of the ruling BJP known as much for its volunteering activities as for espousing the cause of the 'Hindu Rashtra'. More so when one finds out that nearly a third of the school's students—67 out of total 225— are Muslim. In fact, the school, located in Model House locality and the oldest Shishu Vidya Mandir to be set up in the city in 1959, also has 2 Muslim teachers.One of the factors at play is perhaps the location. Areas surrounding the school, like Model House and Machhli Mohaal, have a large Muslim population. This is also evident at Shishu Vidya Mandirs in Golaganj and Takrohi,which have a considerable number of Muslim students. On the other hand, the branch in Niralanagar, perhaps the best known one, has none. But Vinod Awasthi, who has been the school's principal since 2009, insists it's not just demographics. "Our survey shows that there are 42 schools within a kilometre's radius in this area. So when people enroll their children here, they are making a conscious choice," he says.
SIO organized Shiksha Samvad on “Madarsa Education: Issues, Challenges”
http://twocircles.net/2017aug20/415405.html
Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), conducted a survey of 500 Madarasas covering diverse schools of thought in different states and released the same in Shiksha Samvad, a program which was held yesterday.The press statement from SIO said, “Madrasas were the cradle of new inventions and new civilization during the middle ages. In our country too the contribution of Madrasa towards educational and political revival cannot be denied. It was the springboard of the freedom movement. It was the abode of intellectuals, poets, writers, and revolutionaries.”It further said, “While the Madrasas were places of new initiatives and signs of inventions, it is regrettable for having secluded the institutions today as the mere provider of few religious teachings. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if we say that it has lost its pristine glory and its true status!”Organized under banner of “Madarsa Education: Issues and Challenges”, Samvad included Wasi Miya Khan (Darul Uloom Deoband), Kahfulwra Nadwi(Nadwatul Ulama), Naseeruddin (Jamia Salafiya), Kaleem Ahmed (Madrasatul Islah), Musaddiq Mubeen (Al Jamia Al Islamia, Kerala), Abdul Wodud (Madrasa Islahul Muslimeen, W.Bengal) as speakers. The program was organized by SIO in collaboration with CERT and presided by Tauseef Ahmed, National Secretary, SIO of India.The survey found many Madrasas in relatively good status maintaining quality, diversity, and creativity in education with holistic approaches.Further those Madrasas possessing infrastructure like water, good food, playing ground, residential facility, the availability of teaching and non-teaching faculty, clean environment, etc are awarded 60 marks, those Madrasas providing a semblance of general and religious education are awarded 70 marks, apart from which if there are sports equipment, library, computer education and first aid facilities 80 marks are awarded and those having innovative activities, expert faculty, language training, physical education and well-ordained campus 90 marks are awarded.TCN
Basirhat fact-finding team says BJP exploited incident for vote gain
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/inclusion/basirhat-fact-finding-team-says-bjp-exploited-incident-for-vote-gain
In the aftermath of communal riots in Basirhat and Baduria in West Bengal in July, a fact-finding team has found out that the riots were not spontaneous and the mob was mobilised through machinations. BJP exploited the incidents for political gain and to consolidate Hindu vote banks, the team stated.While it was widely reported that there were Muslim mobs rioting from July 2 to July 5, Hindu mobs also went on a rampage on some of these days, particularly on July 6 in Basirhat.In the first week of July, in North 24 Pargana district, a derogatory post related to Prophet Mohammad was circulated on social media resulting in conflagration that claimed one life, left several injured and a few missing.Until now, the state investigation still has not been able to trace the role of those who had organised and instigated the mob to act violently. However, besides the derogatory post, there was another post circulating on social media which depicted a noose around the accused Souvik Sarkar’s neck. The police, however, seem to be unaware of this post.“There were two posts circulated and it may be significant to find out the timeline of this circulation. The mobilisation of Muslim youth on a large scale is alarming and thus efforts will have to be made by civil society bodies and administration to ensure that youth and the public at large are not misled by fake posts or propaganda,” added historian Amaresh Misra, member of the team.The team constituted by AISF included historian Amaresh Misra, journalist Arup Chanda, AISF members Mohammad Jalal Uddin, Nasmin Choudhury, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) director Irfan Engineer,CSSS deputy director Neha Dabhade and local resident Kingshuk Chakraborty. They met the injured from both communities, Hindu and Muslim religious leaders, the family of Souvik Sarkar, the accused who allegedly uploaded and circulated the derogatory post in question, the family members of the deceased Kartik Ghosh, police officers and elected representatives. national herald india
Bihar’s Srijan Scandal part II: At heart of Srijan scam is rise and rise of its founder
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihars-srijan-700-crore-scandal-part-ii-at-heart-of-scam-is-rise-and-rise-of-its-founder-manorama-devi-4804664/
Bhagalpur: From 2 sewing machines in a one-room rented house in Bhagalpur 20 years ago to an influential cooperative society with over 6,000 members, 60 staff and office premises spread over 24,000 sq ft on Govt land.The rise of Manorama Devi, founder of Srijan Mahila Sahyog Samiti Ltd, since 1996 was nothing short of spectacular. On February 13, Devi died of illness at the age of 65 and her organisation is now in the dock for allegedly conniving with Govt officials and bank employees to siphon off Rs 700 crore of welfare funds by fudging records over the last 10 years.On Thursday, the Bihar Govt ordered a CBI probe into the scam, following nine FIRs and 12 arrests registered by state police in the case. But an investigation by The Indian Express shows that at the heart of the scam is the tale of its founder itself, who operated right under the Govt ’s nose, sharing the stage with ministers and flaunting her links to senior bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians.So much so, that she came to be known as “Srijan Didi”. indianexpress
AIADMK merger on Monday? Party may accept OPS camp demand to sack Sasikala
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/merger-monday-for-aiadmk-sources-say-party-may-accept-ops-camp-demand-to-sack-sasikala/story-3aUC9ffRLSNpgCTgYOJfVM.html
Chennai:Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK is likely to sack its general secretary Sasikala on Monday to merge with a breakaway faction led by ex-CM O Paneerselvam, according to sources. The AIADMK will hold a crucial meeting on Monday where it may complete talks of a merger between two factions that formed following a dramatic succession war triggered by death of party matriarch J Jayalalithaa late last year.Sources said AIADMK’s leaders will meet on Monday and pass a resolution to scrap the appointment of Sasikala — who briefly wrested control of the Dravidian party before she was imprisoned over corruption — as the party’s general secretary. Her ouster is one of the conditions that breakaway faction’s leader O Pannerselvam (OPS) has set to agree to a merger with the party.“Proposal to make Dinakaran’s appointment as deputy general secretary illegal is also likely to be ratified by crucial AIDAMK meet tomorrow,” the sources said on Sunday. Merger could be announced by Monday evening.hindustantimes
RSS plans aggressive expansion in Kerala, aims 9 lakh cadres by 2019
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-plans-aggressive-expansion-in-kerala-aims-9-lakh-cadres-by-2019/story-plzPkw3nh64lSEIZdkEqxK.html
New Delhi:RSS has decided to go on an aggressive expansion exercise in Kerala to achieve a target of nine lakh cadres by 2019.Senior RSS functionary J Nandakumar claimed that there has been an increase in attacks on RSS workers, but added that the organisation is determined in its mission of development of the overall society in Kerala.PTI
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supremo Bimal Gurung booked under UAPA in connection with twin blasts: Police
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bimal-gurung-booked-under-uapa-in-connection-with-twin-blasts-says-police/article19529211.ece?homepage=true
Darjeeling: GJM chief Bimal Gurung has been booked under the UAPAin connection with a grenade blast at the Kalimpong police station and an explosion in Darjeeling town, the police said on Sunday.A hand grenade was hurled at the Kalimpong police station at around 11 pm on Saturday night, killing a civic volunteer and injuring two others. Injured were subsequently hospitalised.An initial probe has revealed that bike-borne miscreants had hurled the grenade at the police station, the police said, adding that they were going through the CCTV footage to get more clues.In another incident, a high-intensity explosion rocked the Chowkbazar area of Darjeeling town in the early hours on Saturday.Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Anuj Sharma said Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supremo Gurung and others had been booked under the UAPA in connection with the two blasts.PTI
Union minister alleges mass conversion in Malappuram
http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2017/08/20/kerala-has-centre-to-convert.html
Hyderabad: Kerala govt is yet to submit an inquiry report sought by the centre on alleged religious conversions taking place in Malappuram district, union minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir said."There is a big centre...that centre is in Malappuram district (in Kerala)," the minister said alleging, "Conversions take place there. In a month, about 1,000 people are converted. There is a report that Hindus and Christians are being converted to Muslims.""I went there in May. I had a meeting with the DG and the chief secretary. I asked them, what is this news that 1,000 (people) are converted in a month. On what basis? Do they take advantage of poverty, give warnings, talk about employment. What do they do? Find out. The matter is coming out," Ahir told PTI.PTI
Countering Ansari’s remark RSS to debate there’s nothing like sense of “unease”, “insecurity” among Muslims
http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2017/aug/19/rss-to-debate-ansaris-muslim-remark-1645474.html
New Delhi: Just before Hamid Ansari’s term as Vice-President ended on Aug.11 this year, he stirred up a hornet’s nest by saying “there is a feeling of unease and a sense of insecurity among Muslims in the country”.RSS will now debate that there’s nothing like a sense of “unease” or “insecurity” among Muslims in India. RSS’ wing, Muslim Rashtriya Manch, will organise a meeting of ulemas (scholars) here wherein the issue of fear or insecurity among the community will be discussed. Ansari’s statement triggered a debate and drew sharp reactions from many quarters. Many BJP leaders—including incumbent Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, and Kailash Vijayavargiya—said the statement was political propaganda. RSS leader Indresh Kumar said there were no takers for Ansari’s remark within the community.“I want to ask him (Ansari) why he didn’t realise this earlier while he was at important positions. Muslims have rejected this,” said Yasir Ali Jilani, national convener, Muslim Rashtriya Manch. Jilani said a meeting of ulemas is likely to be held on August 22 at Haryana Bhawan in Delhi.“Hamid Ansari’s statement has created confusion among the Muslim community. Scholars from many parts of the country have been invited and there will be debates over the issue,” he said. new india express
They're demolishing Muslim stereotypes, a tweet at a time
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/theyre-demolishing-muslim-stereotypes-a-tweet-at-a-time/articleshow/60136223.cms
Last week, a Hyderabad court acquitted 10 accused in the 2005 Hyderabad suicide bomber case. The blast had earlier been pinned on HUJI of Bangladesh, but the police's special investigation team could not back its claims. While most papers and TV channels reported the news, the hardship suffered by the 10 Muslim men who languished for 12 years in prison, was largely buried. Twocircles.net, a non-profit community-run news site, highlighted the struggle that some of those arrested went through.Massachusetts-based founder-editor Kashif ul-Huda says,"We spoke to the lawyer in detail, got the background of the innocents, and how their trial was delayed for years." A larger series called 'Terror Tales' puts together reports of Muslim youth arrested on false charges, tortured in custody or killed.Unhappy with the coverage of Muslims in Indian media, Kashif started twocircles.net in 2007. Sometime in 2016, Mumbai-based stylist and blogger Amena Azeez realised that there was no space for moderate Muslim voices around her."I was tired of people appropriating Muslim opinions," she says referring to hardline talking heads on TV and online.She is part of @MuslimVoicesIn, which Kashif and others started. Twitter handle is curated by a different person every week and focuses on personal experiences, history and culture of Indian Muslims.Syed Zubair Ahmad, who started MuslimMirror.com in Dec.2012, points out that it is the lack of balanced views on mainstream media that has created a need for websites like his.MuslimMirror.com has done several stories that were later followed up by mainstream papers and TV. Journalist Saba Naqvi says,"With TV portraying Muslims only in the context of terrorism or love jihad, the community has its back to the wall. I'm happy that there are websites or social media putting across alternative information but this must be done by mainstream media as well to have an impact. Why should only a Muslim Mirror talk about Muslims?"Just before 2014 general polls, Patna resident Mohammed Umar Ashraf noticed a website that was posting anti-Hindu content. Posts — typically decrying Indian army efforts in J&K or cheering Pakistan's cricket team — would be taken as snapshots by right wing trolls to lambast Muslims as anti-nationals. Ashraf says that after the elections, the website and its vitriolic content shut down as abruptly as it had begun. "This got me thinking. My community was being vilified for a purpose," he says.TOI
WORLD
Egypt prevents Algerian aid convoy from entering Gaza
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170820-egypt-prevents-algerian-aid-convoy-from-entering-gaza/
Egyptian authorities have prevented an Algerian humanitarian aid convoy from entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing, a Palestinian NGO revealed on Friday.The NGO said:"Egyptian decision to prevent the entry of the Algerian humanitarian convoy to Gaza is sad and unfortunate and does not reflect the positive spirit that recently dominated relations."According to Palestinian sources, Algerian convoy was denied entry despite having all the required credentials and documents, noting that the convoy is currently in its way back to Algeria. Palestinian NGO said that the convoy was carrying medicines, medical disposals, electricity generators and other equipment urgently needed for Gaza’s hospitals. Last Tuesday,Sheikh Yahya Sari, head of the relief department of the Algerian Scholar’s Association, announced the launch of the convoy. He noted that it included 14 truckloads of aid and five members from the association’s relief department. Sari said that they obtained all the documents and Egypt’s agreement to deliver the aid to the Gaza Strip. Egyptian authorities opened the crossing from Monday to Thursday on both sides for the exit of the pilgrims and patients seeking treatment abroad. middleeastmonitor
Israeli forces shoot dead 17-yr-old Palestinian
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170820-israeli-forces-shoot-dead-17-year-old-palestinian/
Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teen wielding a knife on Saturday in the occupied West Bank, police said.A 17-year-old Palestinian allegedly approached a group of Israeli paramilitary polic stationed at a West Bank junction, holding what appeared to be a bag, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said, and troops then called on him to stop. middleeastmonitor
Iran: Top priority to protect nuclear deal from US
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/iran-top-priority-protect-nuclear-deal-170820095733565.html
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the top foreign policy priority for his new Govt was to protect the nuclear deal from being torn up by the US."The most important job of our foreign minister is first to stand behind the JCPOA and not to allow the US and other enemies to succeed," Rouhani told parliament on Sunday, using the technical name for the 2015 agreement that eased sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's nuclear programme."Standing up for JCPOA means standing up to Iran's enemies," he said on the last day of debates over his cabinet selections. aljazeera
Kurdish leader denies plans to postpone Iraq referendum
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/kurdish-leader-denies-plans-to-postpone-iraq-referendum/888556
Erbil:Massoud Barzani, president of northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, has said next month's referendum on the secession of the Kurdish region would go ahead as planned. On Sunday, Barzani said a postponement of the vote was "unlikely". He denied accepting a request by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to delay the vote.Anadolu agency
Syrian army pounds rebel areas near Damascus after Russian brokered truce: middleeastmonitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170820-syrian-army-pounds-rebel-areas-near-damascus-after-russian-brokered-truce/
Syrian jets and artillery struck rebel-held eastern Damascus suburbs on Saturday a day after a Russian sponsored ceasefire with a rebel group agreed a halt of fighting in the last opposition enclave in the capital, rebels and witnesses said. Russian defence ministry said on Friday it had reached a ceasefire that took effect at 21.00 hrs Moscow time with Failaq al Rahman, main FSA group fending off a 2-month widescale Syrian army offensive in Jobar district and nearby town of Ain Tarma. A spokesman for Failaq al Rahman said both Jobar, which lies some 2 km east of the Old City wall, and nearby Ain Tarma on the edge of Eastern Ghouta witnessed army strikes and shelling soon after ceasefire went into effect.
UAE backs counter-revolutions: Qatar’s envoy to Turkey
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170820-uae-backs-counter-revolutions-qatars-envoy-to-turkey/
Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey has accused UAE of supporting “counter-revolutions in Arab world for restoring dictatorships”. Ambassador Salem Al-Shafi said: “UAE and a number of allies have paid around $40 billion to consolidate the military coup in Egypt alone,” in reference to the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president, in 2013.“We say that these countries have not learnt the lesson well,” he added.Al-Shafi denied accusations against Qatar of backing Islamists and extremists in the Middle East.“There are some Arab countries which are afraid of revolutions,” he said. “Instead of reforming their regimes and fulfilling the people’s aspirations, they heap the blame on Qatar and the so-called political Islam.” Muslims fear anti-Islam backlash in tolerant Barcelona
http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2017/aug/20/muslims-fear-anti-islam-backlash-in-tolerant-barcelona-1645557--1.html
Barcelona: Prayer time is approaching but Raja Miah, an imam at a tiny mosque in the heart of Barcelona does not expect a big turnout.Since the twin attacks in Barcelona the Muslim community in central Barcelona's neighbourhood of Raval fears an anti-Islam backlash. "People are very scared," said Miah, 23, as he sat in a small room at the mosque in Raval as a small group of children in an adjoining room studied the Koran.Raval -- whose name derives from Arabic word for neighbourhood -- is located just west of Barcelona's bustling Las Ramblas boulevard where a van ploughed into pedestrians on Thursday, killing 13 and injuring dozens of others. Just hours later, another person died in a similar attack in the holiday town of Cambrils, where police shot 5 suspects dead."There is a lot of fear, people don't go out. Very few people come to pray. Normally we are about 40 people, last night we weren't even 15 and this morning 10," said Miah, who moved to Barcelona 9 years ago from Bangladesh.Spain's Muslim community has until now been spared from the islamophobia that has swept parts of Europe.Far-right parties remain barely visible and just 4% of Spaniards consider immigration to be a problem, according to a survey by govt's CIS. Immigrants account for roughly half of the densely-populated neighbourhood's population, with a huge number of people from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Morocco."AFP
Spain: Muslims express innocence in Barcelona gathering
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/spain-muslims-express-innocence-in-barcelona-gathering/story-o0b6QB2fgRCeeYib1qVBbJ.html
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Not protecting cows or arresting Romeos, eradicating encephalitis is Yogi’s greatest challenge:Karan Thapar
http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/yogi-adityanath-must-not-resign-he-must-dig-in-his-heels-and-fight-as-he-s-never-fought-before/story-57CxXIm0FEHitUBgqsaqfI.html
SC Should Defend Women’s Privacy, Autonomy, Not Perpetuate ‘Love Jihad’ Myth;Kavita Krishnan
https://thewire.in/169356/love-jihad-nia-probe-kerala-court/
Why justice eludes the victims of Pathribal fake encounter?Muzamil Jaleel
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/why-justice-eludes-the-victims-of-pathribal-fake-encounter-4804985/
Yogi Adityanath’s Janmashtami-Eid jibe aimed to divert public attention from Gorakhpur deaths:Sharat Pradhan
http://www.dailyo.in/politics/yogi-adityanath-janmashtami-namaz-gorakhpur-hospital-tragedy-hindu-yuva-vahini/story/1/19064.html
Why do Indians believe everything they are told, asks J. Mathrubootham
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/who-uses-education-for-thinking/article19523882.ece?homepage=true
‘A free country like India should give us refuge’:Fatima, 25, Rohingya refugee in Delhi: Indian express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/a-free-country-like-india-should-give-us-refuge-fatima-25-rohingya-refugee-in-delhi-4804380/
91 Lakhs? 56 Lakhs? 5.4 Lakhs? Fact-Checking Centre's 'Tax Surge' Claims
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/91-lakhs-56-lakhs-5-4-lakhs-fact-checking-centres-tax-surge-claims-1739714?pfrom=home-lateststories
Kerala’s Muslim women turn to mosque administration:TA Ameerudheen, scroll.in
https://scroll.in/article/847163/breaking-barriers-keralas-muslim-women-turn-to-mosque-administration
Aug.15 was wrong date, chosen for wrong reason. Also, Iqbal’s Hindustan Hamara deserves a fresh look: TJS George
http://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2017/aug/20/august-15-was-the-wrong-date-chosen-for-the-wrong-reason-also-iqbals-hindustan-hamara-deserves-a-1645521--1.html
For Kerala politicians, Abdul Nasar Madani is now a victim who has been denied justice, not a firebrand leader to avoid:Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net
http://twocircles.net/2017aug20/415410.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:27 PM)
