Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
30 Aug. 2017: 07 Zilhajja 1438:Vol:8, No:269
INDIA
340 children die in UP govt hospitals in 1 month; 1256 deaths in 2017 & 61 child deaths in 72 hours at Gorakhpur Hospital; Yogi kicks up controversy
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/630577/yogi-kicks-up-controversy-340.html
Lucknow: Facing flak from different quarters, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday kicked up a massive controversy amid reports of the death of 340 children, mostly new born at 2 state govt hospitals, including the dreaded BRD Medical College hospital, within a span of one month. 61 children, mostly newborns, have died in the last 72 hours at the hospital in Gorakhpur where 70 infant deaths were reported 3 weeks ago, from various causes including oxygen shortage repoted NDTV. In the last 24 hours, 19 children have died at the BRD Medical College, 4 of encephalitis. The rest were babies who died in the hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit. According to the official records, as many as 42 children, including 16 new borns, died at the BRD Medical College hospital. ''25 children died within 24-hours on Tuesday alone,'' said a senior hospital official in Gorakhpur. The official said that 290 children have died at the medical college hospital in the month of August so far. The tally was expected to rise given the track record of the hospital.Reports of children's death were received from another Govt hospital in state's Farrukhabad district, about 300 km from here. Official records revealed that as many as 49 children, including 30 new borns, have died at the district hospital in Farrukhabad in this month so far.Health officials here claimed that all these children had been critical. ''A majority of children are brought here in critical condition...as a result, many of them die,'' said a district health official in Farrukhabad. Yogi, meanwhile, triggered a huge controversy by his remarks amid the death of children. Speaking at a function Yogu virtually lambasted the people for ''blaming'' Govt for all their ills while ''shirking'' their (people) own responsibility.''There may come a time, when the people will abandon their children, when they reach the age of one or 2 years, seeking the Govt to take care of them,'' he said. He said that the people these days only wanted to shift the blame on to the Govt and did not discharge their duty.''The remark is unfortunate....it will only embolden the officials,'' said a senior Samajwadi Party leader here on Wednesday.Barely a few days back UP health minister Siddharth Nath Singh had drawn flak for his remarks over the death of 30 children at BRD Medical College allegedly owing to shortage of oxygen. According to BRD hospital records, this year till Monday at least 1,250 patients have died in the encephalitis and newborns' ward.Many of the patients told NDTV that it is because of inadequate and ill-equipped medical facilities in their hometown that they have to travel to BRD College. Deccanherald . NDTV
61 child deaths in 72 hours at BRD hospital, 'number may go up'
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/61-child-deaths-in-72-hours-at-gorakhpur-hospital-number-may-go-up-1743732
1256 deaths at BRD in 2017, 296 kids die in Aug:Official
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/1256-deaths-at-brd-in-2017-296-kids-die-in-aug-alone-official-117083001275_1.html
Gorakhpur: At BRD 61 children die in 3 days
http://www.newsnation.in/india-news/gorakhpur-another-tragedy-stares-at-brd-medical-college-as-61-children-die-in-3-days-article-180788.html
36 children die in last 48 hours at BRD hospital
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-36-children-die-in-last-48-hours-at-gorakhpur-s-brd-medical-college-2541548
Muslim bodies urge followers not to perform sacrifice on roads to avoid complains from other communities
http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/muslim-bodies-urge-followers-not-to-perform-sacrifice-on-roads-to-avoid-complains-from-other/81696
Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, a number of prominent Muslim organisations and leaders have urged the followers of Islam to avoid offering animal sacrifice on roads, maintain hygiene, exercise restraint and not give a reason to people of other communities to complain.However, they have exhorted the Muslims to perform "qurbani" (animal sacrifice) notwithstanding the difficulties arising out of "a particular situation" as it is an important "sunnah" (tradition of the Holy Prophet). "This time, due to a particular situation you may encounter certain difficulties in procuring and sacrificing the animal for qurbani. Just because of difficult circumstances, you should not become negligent of this important responsibility," various Muslim bodies have said in a statement."Do not offer the qurbani on the roads, footpath and pathways, rather perform it in open spaces. Kindly ensure the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene," the joint statement, issued by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind(JUH), All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees, read."Do not give a chance by your actions and behaviour for any kind of complaint to your neighbours especially those belonging to other faiths. You should not allow relations to become strained and must exercise maximum self-restraint. You should not take the law in your hands under any circumstances," it said.The leaders including AIMPLB President Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadvi, JIH President Maulana Jalaluddin Umri, JUH leadre Maulana Mahmood Madani and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad Naqvi have suggested forming a committee of elders in every area to ensure the "process of qurbani passes off smoothly under their supervision".Times Now/ IANS
Muslim bodies urge followers not to perform Bakrid sacrifice on roads: HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/muslim-bodies-urge-followers-not-to-perform-bakrid-sacrifice-on-roads/story-KjPJ1oy7xbP80oMCv8n6wN.html
Muslim bodies urge followers not to perform sacrifice on roads: business standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/muslim-bodies-urge-followers-not-to-perform-sacrifice-on-roads-117082900881_1.html
Muslims 'anxious' around Qurbani time, say clerics who met UP DGP for peace assurance
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/muslims-anxious-around-qurbani-time-say-clerics-who-meet-dgp-for-peace-assurance/articleshow/60281122.cms
Lucknow: Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, a section of Muslim clergy on Tuesday said the community is filled with anxiety over the matter of fulfilling their religious duty of qurbani (sacrifice) on the festival. The concern, said clerics, arose from the number incidents of cattle vigilantes taking law in their hands, primarily against the minority community, across the country in the recent past.To be assured there is law and order around the festival, a delegation met DGP Sulkhan Singh in Lucknow on Tuesday.Led by Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, the delegation demanded there neither be obstruction in the movement of sacrificial animals for the festival, nor any lapse of law and order.The delegation also comprised president of Jamat-e-Islami eastern UP and its secretary Mohammad Naim and Shahid Ali, respectively, besides All India Sunni Board president Maulana Mohammad Mushtaq and Sajjadanasheen of Dargah Shahmina Shah,Sheikh Rashid Ali Minai."DGP assured us the festival and sacrifice ritual will be carried out as per tradition and strict action will be taken if animals banned for slaughter are reported to have been sacrificed. He also told us all police officers have been given orders to ensure peace," said the Imam of Eidgah.TOI
Bombay HC asks police about steps to check illegal cattle slaughter
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bombay-hc-asks-police-about-steps-to-check-illegal-cattle-slaughter-4820824/
Mumbai: Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai Police to inform it about steps taken to check the illegal slaughter of cattle and sale of beef in the city. A bench of Justices R M Savant and SS Shinde yesterday also directed DCP, Zones I and III, to file their respective affidavits on an “action plan”, or steps they proposed to take to clamp down on illegal slaughter houses or meat shops.The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by a city resident alleging that “beef was being sold openly in areas such as Nagpada, Agripada and Dongri” in the city. Petitioner Arun Kabadi claimed in his plea that even though he had made several complaints to the police in this regard, they had failed to take any action.Kabadi’s lawyer Raju Gupta told the court that in March this year, another bench of the HC had directed the DCPs of zones I and III to take cognisance of the petitioner’s complaints, and to take “appropriate action” against the illegal meat shops. The bench had also asked the police to take the help of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Health department to check the alleged illegal sale of beef in the areas concerned.“However, the police has failed to take the requisite steps and many meat shops and slaughter houses continue to operate without valid licences. Several of them also continue to sell beef despite the ban on the same by the state Govt ,” the petitioner said. The police, meanwhile, told the court that since the March order, it had imposed fines on 53 meat shops that were found to be operating without valid licences in the areas mentioned by the petitioner.PTI
RSS-backed MRM demands ban on animal slaughter during Eid al-Azha, terms it 'murder of animals':TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/rss-backed-mrm-demands-ban-on-animal-slaughter-during-eid-al-azha/articleshow/60279053.cms
Lucknow:Upbeat after Supreme Court stay to triple talaq, RSS-backed Muslim Rashtriya Manch has demanded ban on animal slaughter this Eid al-Azha. Joint coordinator of the Manch, Khursheed Agah said that sacrificing of the animal during Eid is a superstition.Raising question on the tradition, Agah said that when sacrifice was not allowed in Islam why then sacrifice of animals is done during Bakrid. With reference to Ayodhya dispute, he said if one reads Holy book of Quran one will find that it is clearly mentioned that Muslim cannot offer prayers where there is dispute.Citing the Islamic verses, UP east coordinator Raja Raees said that when in Islam it is clearly mentioned that even Ibrahim didn't sacrifice any animal then why Muslims go for sacrifice. This is not sacrifice but murder of animals, Raees further said. Quoting Rasool, Raees said: "Plant, trees, animals and birds are all God’s creation, hence one should be sympathetic towards them."Condemning cow slaughter,Awadh prant's Hasan Kausar said that Islamic verses clearly mention that cow milk is pure and flesh a disease if eaten. Eating beef thus is against the tenets of Islam, he said.
Noida officials do a cleanliness survey ahead of Eid
http://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/noida-officials-do-a-cleanliness-survey-ahead-of-eid/story-2vyrMsc1pp87SK6RwIuYvN.html
Noida authority additional CEO Rakesh Kumar Mishra, along with a team of health department officials, on Monday inspected Jama Masjid in Sector 8 to ensure cleanliness of its premises ahead of Eid on Sept.1.Officials also conducted an inspection to check the level of cleanliness in many Muslim-dominated areas, including sector 6,7, 8, 31 and Nithari village, ahead of Eid festivities.They also interacted with residents in these areas and discussed civic issues faced by them.HT
UP Islamic Centre of India Asks Muslims to donate 10% of Eid-ul-Azha Budget to Help Flood-hit in UP
http://www.news18.com/news/india/islamic-centre-of-india-asks-muslims-to-donate-10-of-eid-ul-azha-budget-to-help-flood-hit-in-up-1504259.html
Lucknow: The Islamic Centre of India has asked Muslims in UP to donate 10% of their Eid-ul-Zuha budget to help those affected by floods in the state.The flood situation in UP is grim with almost 25% of the state affected. A large number of people have been displaced by the flood. Students of Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal are busy collecting food items and packing them so that they could be sent to the flood hit areas of UP .They have collected essential items like rice, pulses, grams, jaggery, sugar, tea leaves, biscuits, vegetables and so on for the flood victims. News18
Haryana imposes ban on sale of meat in Thanesar, Pehowa municipality areas
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-imposes-ban-on-sale-of-meat-in-thanesar-and-pehowa-municipality-areas/story-dkvNYl8iIij4av81fq9MDK.html
Chandigarh:Haryana Govt in the state on Tuesday banned the sale and purchase of meat and meat products in Thanesar and Pehowa municipality areas and also declared Kurukshetra as a holy city.The state Govt has notified to prohibit the sale and purchase of meat and meat products in Thanesar and Pehowa municipality areas completely.Urban local bodies’ minister Kavita Jain said the CM Khattar approved the proposal to this effect and a notification in this regard has been issued. She said that in 1971, municipal council, Thanesar had approved a proposal to impose a complete ban on sale of liquor and meat. Haryana Govt has decided to establish, “Haryana State Financial Services Limited”, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) for management of surplus funds. Manohar Lal Khattar has approved a proposal in this regard, an official spokesperson said.hindustantimes
Bharatiya Mahila Andolan demands Govt to frame gender just personal law
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/women-s-group-demands-Govt -frame-a-muslim-personal-law-117082901238_1.html
New Delhi: The women's rights group, which was one of the petitioners against Triple Talaq in the Supreme Court, has demanded that the Centre bring in a codified personal law which is gender just and based on the Quran. "The community needs a codified law, a comprehensive legislation which also covers issues of age of marriage, divorce, polygamy, halala, muta, inheritance, mehr etc.The state cannot escape its responsibility towards a Quran based gender just legislation which is mandated by the constitution of the country. The SC has done its job now it is the state's turn," said Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan. PTI
Female circumcision is an established practice in Islam: Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulema
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/female-circumcision-is-an-established-practice-in-islam/articleshow/60288986.cms
Kozhikode: Female circumcision is an established practice in Islam, says Sunni Yuvajana Sangham, (SYS) a feeder organization of Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulema.Working secretary of the SYS Abdul Hameed Faizi Ambalakkadavu said that circumcision is Sunna in Islam."It is mandatory for the male while it is optional for the female,"he said."Female circumcision is a boon for women and gives a pleasurable experience for men. In Islamic practice, the organ is not completely cut as in female genital mutilation, but only a small portion is removed," he said.According to Faizy, authoritative books in the Shafi Madhab, which Sunnis in Kerala follow, the female circumcision is an accepted practice."The book by Ibn Hajer al-Haytami, which we follow to issue fatwas and `Fathul Mueen' by Sheikh Sainudeen Makhum contain references to female circumcision," he said.SYS leader said the practice was not widely prevalent in Kerala now because of the dearth of experts."There should be women experts to do the procedure," he said. TOI
15 die in Maharashtra rains, Met dept says worst is over as bus, trains and flights resume in Mumbai
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-rains-15-dead-city-crawls-back-to-life-as-bus-trains-and-flights-resume-met-dept-says-the-worst-is-over/story-Um5NCn9erlP0RYkH7zySqN.html
Mumbai:Though the intensity of rain lessened and water levels started receding, at least 12 more people were killed since the first three deaths were reported overnight.Mumbai, a city of 20 million people, was brought to its knees on Tuesday after heavy rainfall left large swathes under water, disrupting flights and trains and forcing thousands of people to spend the night at offices and railway platforms.Several people were also injured by falling trees and wall collapse, police said, a day after the city recorded 298mm of rainfall, the highest in a day in August since 1997.The downpour flooded tracks of all three suburban railway system — Central, Western and Harbour lines —that carries more than seven million commuters every day.However, vast areas of the city remained under water for the second day running and vehicles remained stranded on waterlogged roads.Schools and colleges are closed in response to a call by authorities.HT
Mumbai: Rains, flooding forces millions from their homes as death toll tops 1000 across India, Nepal Bangladesh
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-4833030/Heavy-rain-flooding-paralyse-Indias-financial-hub.html#ixzz4rFTxAQPl
Mumbai rains: Religious places open doors for those stranded
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-rains-religious-places-open-doors-for-those-stranded-4820053/
Mumbai: Akhtar Raza realised he may never reach home on Tuesday night until he read one of the forwarded messages from Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa and randomly called a member for help. Volunteer Mohammed Ahmed (34) immediately rode his bike from Ghatkopar to Saki Naka to pick Raza up and drop him at his home in Kurla. “Cars and buses are getting stranded. But on a bike it is easier to navigate,” Ahmed said. Like Ahmed, another volunteer, Worli resident Aarif Khan(29) was answering calls through the day from strangers stranded in waist-deep water. He took seven people home on his bike, one by one. “A group of five tourists from Ahmedabad who had come for Lalbaugcha Raja’s darshan were stuck in Worli. They had missed their train to Ahmedabad. I asked Madina masjid to accommodate them. In such times, nobody looks at religion,” Khan said over the phone, not long after dropping off a couple in Bawla Masjid, Worli, for an overnight stay.Mosques, gurdwaras and temples in the city opened their doors to stranded people of all faiths through Tuesday and also for the night. Diocesan Pastoral Center, opposite Mount Mary church in Bandra, provided free food and stay to people stranded in that area.In the 3-storey Chishti Hindustani Mosque in Central Mumbai’s Byculla, over 500 people from CST railway station and nearby areas came to take shelter on Tuesday night, all belonging to various religious groups.Donors pooled in to arrange a simple dal-chawal dinner for everyone.“We arranged 20 tempos to get people from different locations till the mosque,” the maulana added. People from as far as Kalyan, Borivali and Thane spent the night at the mosque — Hindus, Christians and Muslims, all damp and tired, sharing the same space. “Everyone is helping everyone here. So many volunteers turned up at the mosque. Nobody is asking a person’s name before helping,” said volunteer Tejas Ojha, a Byculla resident.In Govandi’s Shia mosque in Lotus Colony, over 15 people took shelter in the late evening hours.TOI
Defending Article 35A not an ‘anti-national’ act: Omar
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defending-article-35a-not-an-anti-national-act-omar-abdullah/story-qphbG7Kq2T8oYfu6l2uXIM.html
Jammul:Extending his party’s campaign for safeguarding Article 35A of the Constitution to the border district of Rajouri, NC working president Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that defending the provision cannot be an “anti-national” act. “Defending the Constitution of India, of which Article 35A is an integral part, cannot be anti-national,” the former CM told party workers in Darhal in Rajouri.Coming down heavily on the BJP, Omar asked how could fingers be raised at the National Conference for opposing the “clandestine moves” of repealing Article 35A, which is a constitutional guarantee to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for preserving their distinct identity and dignity, irrespective of religion or caste.PTI
Siwan acid attack case: Patna High Court upholds life sentence of Mohammad Shahabuddin
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/siwan-acid-attack-case-patna-high-court-upholds-life-sentence-of-mohammad-shahabuddin-4820713/
New Delhi: Patna High Court on Wednesday upheld the life sentence of former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in the 2004 Siwan acid attack case.3 brothers — Rajiv, Satish and Girish Roshan — were killed in a property dispute case. While Satish and Girish were drenched in acid and shot dead, Rajiv was killed when he was returning home on a motorcycle. “Shahabuddin was eyeing our property, which we resisted. I have paid the price with the life of three sons. I have been killed thrice,” their father Chandrakeshwar Prasad told Indian Express in 2016.In 2004, Raj Kumar Sah, a close aide of the former Siwan MP, had abducted the 3 brothers from their home and shop. Girish and Satish were eventually killed, but Satish managed to escape. Sah and two other associates were also held guilty of murdering the two brothers.Indian Express
Defence ministry slashes army flab; 57,000 soldiers to move to combat roles
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/defence-ministry-slashes-army-flab-57-000-soldiers-to-move-to-combat-roles-117083001266_1.html
The army currently deploys more soldiers on non-combat administrative and supply chain duties than in the trenches in wartime.On Wednesday, to increase what the defence ministry terms the army’s “teeth to tail ratio” by putting a larger percentage of soldiers on the frontline, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley ordered 65 reforms to the structure of the military.He says the 65 reforms must be completed by Dec.31, 2019, involving “redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of [soldiers] and civilians.” business-standard
No need for multiple statements on sensitive Doklam issue: Govt
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-india-road-no-need-for-multiple-statements-on-sensitive-doklam-issue-govt-arun-jaitley-4820967/
New Delhi:Defence Minister Arun Jaitley refused to interpret the significance of resolution of China-India face-off at Doklam, saying it was a “sensitive” issue and that the Govt had already conveyed its position. External Affairs Ministry has already articulated Govt’s stand on the issue, he told reporters at a briefing. “Given the sensitivity of the issue, there is no need to make multiple statements,” Jaitley said when asked whether the resolution of Doklam standoff was a big achievement for India.Jaitley, who also announced Govt’s decision to carry out major reforms in Army to enhance its combat capability, said the exercise had nothing to do with any specific incident and had been going on since much before Doklam.He was responding to a question that whether the reform process was undertaken keeping in view Doklam incident. PTI
3 SIMI members get life for bid to murder BJP youth wing activist in 2009: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/three-simi-members-get-life-for-bid-to-murder-bjp-youth-wing-activist-4820074/
Bhopal: 3 SIMI members were on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment by a Bhopal special court for attempted murder of a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activist in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa town in 2009. While BJYM chief Pramod Tiwari had escaped unhurt, BJYM activist was critically injured in the attack that took place on the night of January 2, 2009. There were 7 accused in the murder case, but 4 of them were killed in an alleged encounter near Bhopal last year.Like all other cases involving MP’s SIMI activists, this case was also shifted to Bhopal and the accused were produced in court through video conferencing. Besides Abu Faisal — who was the key conspirator in the attack and is facing trial in other terror-related cases — Abdullah Hussain and Raquib were sentenced to life imprisonment for attempt to murder Dubey. The trio were also sentenced to 10 years in jail for the attempt on Tiwari’s life by Special Judge Girish Dixeet. Both the sentences will run concurrently.Defence lawyer Zeenat Anwar said that the trio was acquitted under sections related to sedition, promoting enmity between religious groups and UAPA, as charges under these sections could not be proved. Akeel Khilji, Zakir Hussain, Amjad Khan and Mehboob were among the SIMI members who were killed in an alleged encounter on Oct.31, 2016. indianexpress
Court frames charges against Yasin Bhatkal, 8 others:PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/court-frames-charges-against-bhatkal-8-others/article19583749.ece
New Delhi: A Delhi court put Yasin Bhatkal and 8 others on trial in two cases related to the 2010 Jama Masjid blast.Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma said there was enough evidence against them and framed the charges. The accused persons pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. The court issued production warrant against accused Azaz Saikh, who could not be produced from a Mumbai jail where he is lodged. Besides Bhatkal, the others put on trial include Gauhar Aziz Khomani, Gayur Ahmad Jamali, Mohd. Adil, Mohd. Irshad Khan, Mohd. Aftab Alam, Kamal, Assadullah Akhtar and Zia-ur-Rehman. Another accused Mohd. Qateel Siddiqui died during pendency of the case, said the advocate who appeared for the accused.
Lieutenant Purohit dons Army uniform: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/lieutenant-colonel-shrikant-prasad-purohit-dons-army-uniform-4820889/
New Delhi: Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, who was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court in the 2008 Malegaon blast case after spending nine years in prison, on Wednesday donned his Army uniform.Army had earlier said that Purohit will join a unit after his release from jail but will not be given any active duty. The reinstatement will be with certain conditions, the details of which will be finalised after the Army headquarters studies the SC order on the conditional bail.
I object to the use of term saffron terror. There is no colour to terror: Home Secretary Mehrishi
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajiv-mehrishi-i-object-to-the-use-of-term-saffron-terror-there-is-no-colour-to-terror-home-secretary-nia-love-jihad-terror-funding/
New Delhi: On his last day in office, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi spoke to Indian Express on a range of issues, including love jihad, violence in Haryana after Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s conviction in rape cases and the crackdown by NIA on terror funding. Condemning the violence in Haryana that claimed 38 lives, Mehrishi said the breakdown of law and order is dynamic and unpredictable.“Sitting in Delhi, we cannot say anything. It is for state Govt and CM (of Haryana) to take action if there were any lapses,” said Mehrishi who leaves for Jaipur tomorrow. Reacting to the allegations against Hindu outfits for spreading saffron terrorism, the outgoing home secretary said, “I object to the use of term saffron terror. There is no colour to terror. It is for the court to decide on the role of those involved.” His remarks hold significance in view of the release of Sadhvi Pragya and Lt Colonel Purohit in the Malegaon and Samjahuta blasts cases, both termed as incidents of saffron terrorism.Indian Express
Kerala conversion, marriage: Ex-SC judge turns down request to oversee NIA probe
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-conversion-marriage-former-sc-judge-turns-down-request-to-oversee-nia-probe-4820066/
Bengaluru:Ex-Supreme Court judge RV Raveendran has turned down the request to supervise the NIA investigation into Kerala resident Hadiya’s conversion to Islam and her marriage with a Muslim named Shefin Jahan. An SC bench comprising ex-Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud had asked Raveendran to oversee the probe on Aug. 16.“It is a matter between the court and myself,’’ Raveendran said while confirming that he had turned down the request. Sources said that Raveendran has stated that he would not be in a position to oversee the probe. NIA will now approach the court to appoint another judge.The SC had initially considered appointing former judge KS Radhakrishnan to supervise the probe. But it reconsidered the choice after Jahan’s lawyers suggested that someone from outside Kerala should be appointed to ensure a fair investigation. Indianexpress
Manmohan Singh had backed CBI in Dera Chief case: investigation chief
http://www.news18.com/news/india/manmohan-singh-had-backed-cbi-in-dera-chief-case-says-investigation-chief-1504379.html
Bengaluru: The chief investigating officer in the rape case against Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has revealed that ex-PM Manmohan Singh had ignored political pressure and given CBI a free hand."The then PM Manmohan Singh stood by the CBI and ordered us to go by the law. He went through the statement made by two Sadhvis before a judge and did not succumb to pressures from Punjab and Haryana MPs. After a lot of pressure from these MPs, Manmohan Singh had summoned the then CBI chief Vijay Shanker to his office to discuss the case against Gurmeet Singh. After seeing the victim's statements before a judge, Singh backed us," said M Narayanan, retired DIG of CBI, who was the chief investigating officer in the rape case against Dera chief.News18.com
Dera violence: Punjab and Haryana High HC wants SIT to monitor cases
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/dera-violence-punjab-and-haryana-high-hc-wants-sit-to-monitor-cases-4820076/
Chandigarh:Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the constitution of Special Investigation Teams for monitoring cases registered for the incidents of violence in Punjab and Haryana on the day Dera Sacha Sauda chief was convicted in a rape case and restrained the two state Govt s from cancelling any FIRs without its permission. indianexpress
Custodial death in Shimla rape-murder case:CBI takes IGP Zaidi, others to Delhi for interrogation
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/shimla-rape-murder-case-cbi-takes-igp-zaidi-others-to-delhi-for-interrogation/
Shimla: IGP Zahur H Zaidi and seven other policemen of Himachal Police, arrested in connection with the custodial death of an accused in the rape and murder case of a schoolgirl in Shimla’s Kothkai, are being taken to New Delhi for interrogation.Zaidi and others, part of a SIT probing the rape and murder case, were arrested by CBI on Tuesday. They were produced before the Shimla district court, which sent them to CBI custody till Sept.4.Suraj Singh, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal arrested by SIT along with 5 others on July 13, died in police custody days after his arrest. Suraj’s wife has accused the police of framing her husband.On July 4, a 16-year old girl had gone missing while she was on her way back home from school at Mahasu in Kotkai, over 50 km from Shimla. Two days on, her body was found dumped in the forest at Halaila village. SIT headed by Zaidi was set up 3 days later following widespread protests across the state.Later, on July 19, the Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered a CBI probe into the incident after protests over the incident continued unabated. CBI registered two separate FIRs — one on the rape-murder of girl,and the other on the custodial death.Beside Zaidi, other policemen who have been arrested are DSP Theog Manoj Joshi; SHO of Kotkhai police station Rajinder Singh; ASI Deep Chand Sharma, who was the investigating officer in the rape-murder case; head-constables Mohan Lal, Suraj Singh and Rafiq Ali;and constable Ranjit Singh. indianexpress
Cabinet clears hike in GST cess to 25% on mid, large size cars
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/cabinet-clears-hike-in-gst-cess-to-25-per-cent-on-mid-large-size-cars-4820966/
Mid and large sized cars, luxury vehicles, hybrids as well as SUVs are likely to cost more as the Cabinet cleared the issuing of Ordinance to raise GST cess on them to a maximum of 25% , from 15 % at present. Car prices had dropped by up to Rs 3 lakh following the implementation of the GST from July 1 and the ordinance is being seen as an attempt to rectify the anomaly where rates of certain common use items had gone up but luxury cars were costing less under the new regime.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the ordinance, or an executive order, will amend the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 to raise the maximum rate of cess. PTI
RBI on demonetisation: 99% old notes back, but 8.9 crore Rs 1000 notes missing
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-8-9-crore-old-rs-1000-notes-yet-to-return-post-demonetisation-reservae-bank/
New Delhi: RBI on Wednesday confirmed that 8.9 crore old Rs 1,000 notes out of 632.6 crore have not been returned post the note ban last Nov. This means all but 1.4% of the old Rs 1,000 notes have come back into the banking system. As per the data released by the RBI, old notes worth Rs 15.44 lakh crore were there in the market, out of which 15.28 lakh crore have been received by bank.Govt had announced demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 note on Nov.r 8, 2016 to flush out black money from the market. Govt replaced old Rs 500 notes with new ones, but no replacement for Rs 1000 notes has been made. Instead, a new Rs 2,000 note was introduced post note ban. Besides, new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes, the RBI has also printed new Rs 200 notes.RBI said there were as many 588.2 crore of Rs 500 notes, both old and new in circulation as of March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2016, there were 1,570.7 crore Rs 500 notes in circulation. indianexpress
Aadhaar deadline extended till Dec 31: Centre tells SC
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/centre-to-extend-aadhaar-deadline-till-december-supreme-court-hearing-case-november-4820340/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has said it will resume hearing the Aadhaar case in the first week of November, after Attorney General KK Venugopal informed the SC that the Centre will extend the deadline to furnish Aadhaar details to avail benefits of various social welfare schemes till Dec.31.A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said there was no urgency to hear the matter after AG told the bench that the Centre will extend the Sept.30th deadline. indianexpress
Tension in Muzaffarnagar after clash: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tension-in-muzaffarnagar-after-clash-sikhera-arson-gunshot-4820081/
Tension Prevailed in Sikhera, Muzaffarnagar district Tuesday, a day after the area witnessed arson and a man receiving a gunshot injury.While Surendra (24) — who was shot in his right leg — is stated to be out of danger, one of the accused, Uttam (20) from the Jat community, was arrested Tuesday.“On Monday afternoon, Mohammad Zaki of Bhatoda village was returning home on a motorcycle when 5 youths of another community from neighbouring Mogpur village started following and making objectionable remarks against him,” said ASP (City) Omveer Singh.“Zaki stopped his vehicle midway and called up his father. His father arrived at the spot and both entered into a heated argument with the youths. In the meantime, villagers from Bhatoda joined Zaki and his father. The youths too called people from their village… Both groups entered into a clash and indulged in brick-batting,” he added.
Right-wing goons strike in J&K, beat tribal man mercilessly
http://twocircles.net/2017aug29/415901.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Rajouri: A septuagenarian tribal man Lal Hussaina, a resident of Gundha village of Keri, was thrashed by a group of so-called cow vigilantes in Rajouri district of J&K on Saturday, August 26 when he was going to deposit money in a local bank. Hussain has told media that there was a youth with a cow walking in front of him and the mob might have mistaken that it was his cow. He further said that he doesn’t have any cows, only two buffaloes. He had some sheep and goats, but he sold these about a fortnight ago for Rs 1.5 lakh and was on his way to the bank to deposit the money.He has claimed that the mob has taken cash and cell phone before throwing him into a drain.“I had walked about eight kilometres when I noticed a youth with a cow… I started walking faster to meet him, but some people suddenly came from behind the bushes and started beating me with sticks… I fell unconscious,’’ he told the Indian Express. During investigation, one alleged assailant was arrested and the search for others is on. TwoCircles
Aligarh's Muslim group announces 300 Muslim students to get scholarships on PM’s birthday: thehindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/300-muslim-students-to-get-scholarships-on-pms-birthday/article19584441.ece
MEERUT: A total of 300 economically backward Muslim students would be awarded the Narendra Modi Scholarship on the PM ’s 67th birthday on Sept.17, the Forum for Muslim Studies and Analysis (FMSA) announced on Tuesday.The scholarship was constituted by FMSA, an Aligarh-based group of Muslim intellectuals, in May last year.Jasim Mohammad, director of the FMSA, said: “PM is concerned about the problems of the minority community. I constituted the scholarship in his name because it will empower the minority community educationally. Once empowered, these students will make our country proud.” Thehindu
WORLD
UN chief: Israel settlements big hurdle to 2-state solution
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/israel-settlements-big-hurdle-state-solution-170829174956923.html
Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, has lashed out at Israel's illegal settlement activity, calling it a "major obstacle" to achieving a two-state solution and peace with the Palestinians. "There is no plan B to the 2-state solution," he said on Tuesday after meeting Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah in the West Bank city of Ramallah."A 2-state solution, end to occupation, creating conditions to end the suffering of the Palestinian people are the only way to guarantee that peace is established," Guterres added.His remarks came a day after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to never uproot any settlements from the West Bank - just days after a White House envoy was in the region trying to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.In response to Netanyahu's comments, Guterres told reporters on Tuesday that both Israel and the Palestinians should refrain from taking any action that could undermine the prospects for a peaceful agreement."We believe that settlement activity is illegal in the international law and it's an obstacle for peace, we are obviously in a disagreement of what was said," Guterres said. aljazeera
UN chief Guterres to visit Gaza strip
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/08/chief-guterres-visit-gaza-strip-170830084054118.html
UN chief Antonio Guterres' next stop will be Gaza. He has been pressing the Palestinian Authority to lift some of the restrictions that have been imposed on the Strip.UN says that the rivalry between Fatah and Hamas affects social services in the area. Aljazeera
Israel gives Hebron settlers official settlement status
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-gives-hebron-settlers-official-settlement-status/897137
Jerusalem;Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron will now be considered residents of an “official” settlement, altering previous agreements regarding their status, according to an Israeli Govt statement issued Tuesday.Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had upgraded the entire area's status, making it eligible to receive the same services that Israeli authorities provide to other West Bank settlements.Anadolu
Israeli embassy reopens in Cairo
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170830-israeli-embassy-reopens-in-cairo/
Israel has returned its diplomatic staff to Egypt some eight months after its embassy’s closure, AP reported yesterday. Whilst the Israeli Foreign Ministry refused to comment on the issue, airport officials anonymously informed reporters that Israeli Ambassador David Govrin flew back to Cairo last night with eight staff members. A large security motorcade escorted the diplomats to their offices in Giza. middleeastmonitor
Nearly 20,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh from Myanmar
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/20000-rohingya-flee-bangladesh-myanmar-170830080101646.html
At least 18,500 Rohingya Muslims, many sick and some with bullet wounds, have fled into Bangladesh over the past 6 days amid renewed fighting in western Myanmar.The figures from the International Organization for Migration(IOM) on Wednesday came amid increasing concerns by the international community.Foreign Govt s and organisations fear Rohingya villages are being subject to collective punishment after an armed group on August 5 attacked police posts and an army base in Rakhine state.The attacks - in which at least 110 were killed - were claimed by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a group which was formed by Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia after a bout of serious communal violence in 2012, according to the International Crisis Group.In the days following the attacks, the Myanmar army has burned down areas of Rakhine state and fired on civilians, according to rights groups and witnesses."As of last night, 18,500 people have come across" from Myanmar's Rakhine state, Chris Lom, the IOM's Asia-Pacific spokesman, told AFP. aljazeera
UK calls for UN meeting on Myanmar violence: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/uk-calls-meeting-myanmar-violence-170829210354423.html
UK urged the UN Security Council to convene to discuss reports of mass civilian casualties after raids by Myanmar security forces against Rohingya fighters."UK requests #UNSC meeting on situation in Burma tomorrow. Need to address long-term issues in #Rakhine, urge restraint by all parties," Matthew Rycroft, UK anvoy to the UN, wrote on Twitter.
ISIL evacuation deal angers Iraq
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/isil-evacuation-deal-sparks-iraqi-outrage-170830065558848.html
Iraqis have denounced a Hezbollah and Syria-backed deal allowing fighters from the ISIL group to evacuate a Syrian-Lebanese frontier region towards the Iraqi border.Hundreds of fighters started leaving the area on Monday, heading by bus for Syria's eastern province of Deir Az Zor, which borders Iraq and is the only Syrian province still under ISIL control.Haider al-Abadi, Iraq's PM, said on that the deal was "unacceptable" and an "insult to the Iraqi people".He said Iraq was battling the fighters, not sending them to Syria.In the meantime, Lebanon's President Michel Aoun officially declared victory over ISIL on Wednesday.Al Jazeera's Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Beirut, said that Aoun had several reasons to wait a few days to declare victory despite the ceasefire being announced on Sunday."Even after the armed operation was over the army still had to go into the areas it had cleared to make sure there was no weaponry left behind," Jamjoom said. "They had to make sure the places were safe potentially for civilians to return."Lebanese soldiers are now stationed at the border area where ISIL was, which is around 300 square km. aljazeera
'Gates of Hell' - Iraqi army says fighting near Tal Afar worse than Mosul: Reuters
https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-iraq-talafar-idINKCN1B92M5
Baghdad: Iraqi forces battling to retake the small town of al-’Ayadiya where militants fleeing Tal Afar have entrenched themselves, saying on Tuesday the fighting is “multiple times worse” than the battle for Mosul’s old city.Hundreds of battle-hardened fighters were positioned inside most houses and high buildings inside the town, making it difficult for Govt forces to make any progress, army officers told Reuters.Iraqi Govt troops captured the town of Mosul from Islamic State in June, but only after eight months of grinding urban warfare.But one Iraqi officer, Colonel Kareem al-Lami, described breaching the militants’ first line of defence in al-’Ayadiya as like opening “the gates of hell”.Tough resistance from the militants in al-’Ayadiya has forced the Iraqi forces to increase the number of air strikes, as well as bring in reinforcements from the federal police to boost units from the army, air force, Federal Police, the elite US-trained Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) and some units from the Shi’ite Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).Up to 2,000 battle-hardened militants were believed to be defending Tal Afar against around 50,000 Govt troops last week.
Daesh attack forces Iraq forces to retreat
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170830-daesh-attack-forces-iraq-forces-to-retreat/
5 Hashd fighters killed in Iraq’s 'liberated' Tal Afar
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/5-hashd-fighters-killed-in-iraq-s-liberated-tal-afar/896545
NINEVEH, Iraq:5 Hashd al-Shaabi fighters were killed -- and three more injured -- by two roadside bombs that went off in Iraq’s recently-liberated Tal Afar district on Tuesday, according to a local security source. Anadolu
US admits using military base in UAE to strike Syria, Iraq
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170830-us-admits-using-military-base-in-uae-to-strike-syria-iraq/
US military is using an air base in the UAE to target sites in Iraq and Syria, military website DoD Buzz reported. Al Dhafra Air Base, approximately 20 miles south of the capital Abu Dhabi, is being used to counter the threat from Daesh in Syria and Iraq. US and UAE forces have created a special Air Combat Command unit at the base, known as the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.The unit functions its own intelligence analysis and control centre known as “Kingpin”.Military.com spoke to members of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing this summer with strict guidelines not to disclose sensitive information. Not much else is known about the US functioning of the air base. middleeastmonitor
Civilian death toll rising in Syria’s Raqqa, NGO warns
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/civilian-death-toll-rising-in-syria-s-raqqa-ngo-warns/896599
Istanbul:At least 27 civilians were killed within the last 48 hours in Syria’s Daesh-held city of Raqqa amid fierce airstrikes carried out by a U.S.-led coalition, according to a local citizen-journalist group.Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), which monitors human rights violations and war crimes in the city, said Tuesday on social media that the U.S.-led coalition had carried out 133 air raids in the city over the last two days, resulting in an undetermined number of civilian deaths.“17 civilians in an apartment complex in Raqqa’s White Garden district were killed by the air raids,” RBSS tweeted, noting that ten members of a single Syrian family had been among those killed. Anadolu
Civilians feared killed in air raid on Taliban base
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/civilians-feared-killed-air-raid-taliban-base-170830080923751.html
An investigation has been launched into air raids targeting a Taliban base that resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians, including women and children, in the western province of Herat, according to Afghan officials.The raids, targeting a prison and command base run by the fighters in the Bakhtabad area of Shen Dand district, also hit nearby houses late on Monday evening, Jilani Farhad, Herat provincial spokesman, told Al Jazeera."We have sent an investigation team into the area to find out the damages it has caused."Farhad said the raids were most likely carried out by Afghan forces, but media reports suggested it was the US forces who conducted the raids. aljazeera
Indian role in Afghanistan will hamper regional stability: Pak Parliament
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-parliament-rejects-trump-s-criticism-rejects-indian-role-in-afghanistan/story-w8s4c7Ntg2C1fNHTBqBIbJ.html
New Delhi: Pakistan’s Parliament on Wednesday rejected President Donald Trump’s criticism of the country for sheltering terrorists and condemned the US administration’s efforts to “provide more space to India in Afghanistan”.National Assembly or lower house of parliament unanimously passed a resolution that also rejected the assertion by Gen John W Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, that the top Afghan Taliban leadership is based in Peshawar and Quetta.The resolution described the remarks by Trump and Nicholson as “hostile and threatening” and asked the Govt to consider the postponement of all official visits between the two countries. The Govt should also frame economic policies to deal with situations that could arise from the cutting off of US aid, it said. Foreign minister Khawaja Asif read out the resolution adopted by the lawmakers, which said: “National Assembly of Pakistan unanimously rejects the unacceptable targeting of Pakistan by US President Trump in his statement on 21 august 2017 on Afghanistan and South Asia.The resolution added, “Given India’s known support to terrorism and its destabilising policies in the region, this House condemns attempts by the Trump administration to provide more space to India in Afghanistan and considers it a move highly detrimental to regional stability, and (a) complete failure to understand existing ground realities and emerging challenges in the region.” The resolution also condemned what it described as “repression” of the people of J&K and reiterated Pakistan’s “continued diplomatic, political and moral support for their struggle for self-determination”.hindustantimes
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
‘It is time for the ulema to introspect’: Interview with Prof. Tahir Mahmood
http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/it-is-time-for-the-ulema-to-introspect/article9834577.ece
From deaths due to terrorism, communal violence, Kashmir to Donald Trump, here is what Ex NSA Shiv Shankar Menon has to say
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/from-deaths-due-to-terrorism-communal-violence-kashmir-to-donald-trump-here-is-what-ex-nsa-shiv-shankar-menon-has-to-say/830794/
Past Continuous: How Communal Political Campaigning Changed Post Gujarat 2002:NILANJAN MUKHOPADHYAY
https://thewire.in/171971/past-continuous-modi-communal-political-campaign-gujarat-2002/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:31 PM)
