Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
18 Sept. 2017: 26 Zilhajja 1438:Vol:8, No:280
INDIA: REFUGESS & ROHINGYA
Rohingya crisis: Centre says refugees have links with Islamic State, ISI, tells SC to not interfere with deportation
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-says-rohingyas-have-links-with-islamic-state-and-isi-urges-supreme-court-to-leave-deportation-decision-to-govt/story-9tNoTHQPTMa082Vlbj5UJM.html
New Delhi: Many Rohingya refugees have links with the global terror outfit Islamic State as well as Pakistan’s spy agency ISI and allowing them to stay in India would pose a security threat to the country, the Govt told the Supreme Court today.Centre also said the plan to deport Rohingya refugees was a policy decision and the court should desist from interfering in the matter. BJP-led Govt’s argument was in response to a petition filed by two Rohingya refugees challenging the Centre’s decision to deport an estimated 40,000 people of the community living in India.Govt said many Rohingyas have managed to avail PAN cards through forged documents. The fundamental rights of Indians will also be seriously violated if Rohingya refugees are allowed to stay in the country and deprive Indians of their legitimate share, it added.“This would lead to social unrest,” Govt said.Centre said India has not signed any international treaty on refugees and was under no obligation to keep the Rohingyas, lakhs of whom have fled Myanmar over the past few weeks to escape a crackdown by Govt forces in the neighbouring country.The top court will hear the matter again on Oct.3.Ahead of the hearing, junior home minister Kiren Rijiju said the Govt ’s stand to deport Rohingya refugees was in the nation’s interest.He also requested international human rights bodies not to spread misinformation about India and said: “India is a sovereign country and protecting the nation is our duty.”HT
Illegal Rohingya refugees pose security threat:Centre toSC
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rohingya-refugees-illegal-pose-security-threat-centre-tells-sc/article19708554.ece?homepage=true
Centre’s decision to deport Rohingya refugees in nation’s interest, says Rijiju
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-s-decision-to-deport-rohingya-refugees-in-nation-s-interest-says-rijiju/story-jA3okoVi1qF0aihohkcUDJ.html
SC Will Take A Call On Rohingyas, Says Rajnath
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-will-take-a-call-on-rohingyas-says-rajnath-singh-1751841
New Delhi: Supreme Court will take a call on the central Govt's plans to deport Rohingya Muslims, who entered the country "illegally", Home Minister Rajnath Singh said."An affidavit has been filed. Whatever decision is to be taken, it will be taken by the court," he told reporters in New Delhi.PTI
Omar Abdullah on Rohingya: Threat in J&K post-2014 development
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/omar-abdullah-rohingya-muslims-threat-jammu-kashmir-post-2014/1/1050523.html
Omar Abdullah said the Centre's stand that Rohingya Muslims are a security threat is a post-2014 development, at least in his home state, where a large section of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have been living for a long time."This threat, at least in J&K, is a post-2014 development. No such intelligence reports ever came up for discussion in Unified HQ meetings," the NC leader tweeted shortly after Centre told the Supreme Court the Rohingya Muslims are "illegal" immigrants in the country and their countinous stay posed "serious national security ramifications".2014 was the year PM Narendra Modi was elected to power after BJP won its biggest ever mandate in the general elections that year. indiatoday
Arunachal CM expressed concerned on the issue of granting citizenship to Chakma, Hajong
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60734475.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Guwahati:Arunachal CM Pema Khandu reiterated the concerns of the people of Arunachal Pradesh on the vexed issue of granting citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees in the state. In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Khandu said the matter is of deep emotional concern and that the state is not ready to accept any infringement of the Constitutional protection bestowed on the tribals of the state. CM pointed that Arunachal Pradesh with its unique history is governed by a special Act namely the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which prescribes a line to be called the “Inner Line”. Section 2 of which prohibits all citizens of India or any class of such citizens from going beyond such line without a pass issued under the hand and seal of the CEO of such district or such officer authorised to such function.economictimes
Centre to urge SC to modify order on Chakma-Hajong refugees: Rijiju
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/centre-to-urge-sc-to-modify-order-on-chakma-hajong-refugees/1/1050692.html
Itanagar: Union minister Kiren Rijiju has said the Centre will urge the Supreme Court to modify its order of granting citizenship to Chakma-Hajong refugees so that rights of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh are not diluted."There is no decision of the Govt of India to grant citizenship. It is the order of the Supreme Court. We are trying to tell the honourable Supreme Court that giving Chakmas and Hajongs the same rights as Arunachali is not acceptable to us.PTI
Centre grants citizenship to 1 lakh Buddhists, Hindus Chakma-Hajong refugees
http://zeenews.india.com/india/centre-grants-citizenship-to-chakma-hajong-refugees-2043497.html
New Delhi: Centre has reportedly granted citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees after the Supreme Court asked it to expedite their requests.They, however, cannot own land and will have to apply for Inner Line Permits, TOI reported, citing the Govt. Chakmas and Hajongs had migrated from Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts after they were displaced by Kaptai dam project in the 1960s. They are Buddhists and Hindus. Some 1 lakh Chakma and Hajong refugees are believed to staying in India.In a significant step in 2005, the Election Commission issued guidelines to include them in the electoral rolls of Arunachal.Zee news
Attacks on Rohingyas in Myanmar ‘act of cowardice’: Ajmer shrine dewan to PM Modi
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/attacks-on-rohingyas-in-myanmar-act-of-cowardice-ajmer-shrine-dewan-to-pm-modi-4849666/
Jaipur:The dewan of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said that he has written to the PM and the External Affairs Minister condemning the attacks on Rohingya muslims in Myanmar and termed it an “act of cowardice”. In the letter to Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj, Abedin said, he has asked the Govt to raise the Rohingya issue at the UN.India is a major power centre in Asia and it is our responsibility to lodge protests if a neighbouring country indulges in inhuman acts, he said in a statement on Sunday. The dewan of the dargah has also requested the Union Govt not to send the Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar in such trying times and take responsibility of their safety and security.PTI
Terror suspect, who came to India for Rohingya cause, arrested in Delhi: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/al-qaeda-terror-suspect-arrested-in-delhi-4849396/
New Delhi ; A suspected al-Qaeda operative has been arrested from east Delhi, police claimed on Monday. The arrested has been identified as Shauman Haq (27) and was arrested near Vikas Marg yesterday following a tip-off by Delhi Police’s Special Cell, an official said.“He came to India to set up base in Mizoram, Manipur and send people to Myanmar, basically espousing the cause of Rohingyas,” claimed P Kushwaha, DCP Special Cell. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court said that Rohingya Muslims were “illegal” immigrants in the country and posed “serious national security ramifications”.
Goa outfit holds rally against atrocities on Rohingyas
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/goa-outfit-holds-rally-against-atrocities-on-rohingya-muslims-4849696/
Panaji:Members of a Goa-based Muslim outfit today staged a peace march to denounce the atrocities on Rohingyas in Myanmar and sought the intervention of India and the UN to stop their exodus from the neighbouring country. Nearly 100 members of the Salcette Muslim Forum in Margao, located 35 km south of Panaji, took out the march.The protesters alleged thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been subjected to “torture” and forced to flee their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. They also submitted a memorandum addressed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The memorandum was submitted to South Goa District Collector Anjali Sehrawat.PTI
'We will kill you all': Rohingya beg for safe passage as at least 430,000 Rohingya fled
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/kill-rohingya-beg-safe-passage-170917211542135.html
Thousands of majority-Muslim Rohingya in violence-wracked northwest Myanmar are pleading with authorities for safe passage from two remote villages cut off by hostile Buddhists and running short of food. "We're terrified," Maung Maung, Rohingya official at Ah Nauk Pyin village, told Reuters by telephone. "We'll starve soon and they're threatening to burn down our houses."Another Rohingya contacted, who asked not to be named, said ethnic Rakhine Buddhists came to the same village and shouted, "Leave or we will kill you all."Fragile relations between Ah Nauk Pyin and its Rakhine neighbours were shattered on Aug.25 when deadly attacks by rebels in Rakhine prompted a ferocious response from Myanmar's security forces. At least 430,000 Rohingya have since fled into neighbouring Bangladesh to evade what the UN has called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing". aljazeera
UN urged to punish Myanmar army over Rohingya ‘atrocities’
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/un-urged-to-punish-myanmar-army-over-rohingya-atrocities-4849602/
Yangon:Pressure grew on Myanmar on Monday as a rights group urged world leaders to impose sanctions on its military, which is accused of driving out more than 410,000 Rohingya Muslims in an orchestrated “ethnic cleansing” campaign.The call from HRW came as the UN General Assembly prepared to convene in New York, with the crisis in Myanmar one of the most pressing topics. It also came on eve of a highly-anticipated national address by Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi — her first on Rakhine crisis.The exodus of Rohingya refugees from mainly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh has sparked a humanitarian emergency. Aid groups are struggling to provide relief to a daily stream of new arrivals, more than half of whom are children.AFP
Rohingya refugees tell of new violence, call for Myanmar sanctions
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/VBNgpAabAxbcKBS3xM5SbN/Rohingya-refugees-tell-of-new-violence-call-for-Myanmar-san.html
Bangladesh police disperse rally against Myanmar's treatment of Rohingyas
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/bangladesh-police-disperse-rally-against-myanmar-s-treatment-of-rohingyas-117091801030_1.html
Dhaka;Bangladesh police on Monday broke up a gathering of around 20,000 members of an Islamist organisation staging a march towards the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka calling for an end to the alleged genocide against the minority Rohingya population in that country.The demonstrators, protesting amid the full-blown Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, were stopped several kms from the embassy area, Efe news reported."Nearly 20,000 joined the protest today. Naturally, there were some tensions, but we handled the situation with patience. It ended without any violence," Anwar Hossain, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan police, said. However, the police allowed 10 protest leaders to approach the embassy and present their demands.Azizul Haque, a Hefazat-e-Islam organisation spokesperson, said that the police escorted them to the embassy but they did not find any Myanmar embassy official there."We were told to hand over our demands to a peon, which we did not do," Haque said.IANS
'No food, no shelter': Rohingya suffer in Bangladesh
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/chaos-rohingya-camps-bangladesh-170918034033137.html
Cox's Bazar:Hundreds of Rohingya, including children, were jostling to get hold of aid packages being thrown from trucks at Balukhali in the Bangladeshi city of Cox's Bazar bordering Myanmar.Women, many with babies on their shoulders, stood in torrential rain in the hope of getting food, tarpaulins and clothes distributed by local Bangladeshis.Chaos was all around at Balukhali, where a large number of Rohingya have taken refuge, as the rain added to the misery of the persecuted community.Highlighting the grave conditions for Rohingya refugees, aid agencies reported on Sept. 15 that at least two children and one woman were killed in a stampede that broke out as aid was being distributed.More than half of the estimated 412,000 Rohingya who have escaped Myanmar's military crackdown live in makeshift sites without proper shelter, clean drinking water and sanitation. Aljazeera
Hyderabad police keeping a watch on pro-Rohingya meets
https://www.siasat.com/news/hyderabad-police-keeping-watch-pro-rohingya-meetings-1233933/
Hyderabad: Even as meetings and round-table conferences protesting the deportation of Rohingya Muslims in Hyderabad have increased during the recent past, the Hyderabad police is keeping an eye on the meetings. Hyderabad police have become vigilant in the wake of Centre’s statement told to the Supreme Court that the illegal immigrants from Myanmar posed a security threat to the country and that they would be sent back soon.Several political and social parties like MIM, MBT, Welfare Party, Congress, TDP and the Left parties are openly demanding that BJP-led NDA Govt should not deport Rohingyas from here on humanitarian grounds. Religious outfits like Jamat-e-Islami Hind are also backing the demand. The Sunday Guardian has quoted an official with the Special Branch police as saying “We are aware of the role of some NGOs working for Rohingyas, but we are watching if there are any invisible outfits with links to terror network.” siasat
INDIA: OTHERS
Gujarat riots case: Saw Kodnani in assembly, hospital, testifies Amit Shah in Naroda Gam riots case
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gujarat-riots-amit-shah-backs-maya-kodnani-tells-court-she-was-in-assembly-hospital/story-txvDNCMQlSDtRxT1Z2z3KM.html
Ahmedabad: BJP president Amit Shah told a special court on Monday that he had seen ex Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani in the state assembly and later at a Govt hospital the day deadly riots broke out in parts of the city in Feb.2002.Deposing as a defence witness for Kodnani, who is accused of inciting a mob that killed 11 people in the city’s Naroda Gam area, Shah testified that he saw her while entering the assembly building in Gandhinagar on the morning of Feb.28, 2002.Shah said he saw her again later the same morning at the civil hospital in Sola, Ahmedabad. “I reached there between 9:30am and 9:45am,” he told the court.Shah testified that he first saw Kodnani at the hospital between 11am and 11:30am when he was leaving, prosecution lawyer Shamsad Pathan told Hindustan Times. Thereafter, they were escorted out together by police. BJP chief told the court he did not know where Kodnani was during the time he left the assembly building and arrived at the hospital, or where she went after being escorted out of the hospital, defence lawyer Chetan Shah told HT. “Police were escorting Mayaben out of the hospital when I first saw her at the hospital between 11:15am to 11:30am,” news agency PTI quoted Shah as saying.“They also escorted me out of the hospital along with Mayaben to some distance away in their vehicle, and dropped me at Gota Cross Road but she was still in the (police) jeep,” Shah added.“After that I went to my home and I don’t know where she went.”The state assembly and the hospital are about 23 kms apart. The prosecution accuses Kodnani of leading the rioters at Naroda Gam between 9 am and 10am. After Shah’s hour-long testimony, defence and prosecution lawyers differed on its interpretation. “Amit Shah has testified in favour of Kodnani,” said defence lawyer Shah.But prosecution lawyer Pathan contended that Kodnani’s presence in the assembly and later at the hospital didn’t necessarily absolve her. “Amit Shah told the court Maya Kodnani was in the assembly in the morning and then was seen leaving the hospital around 11:30am. This proves she was present at Naroda Gam when the violence happened,” said Pathan.Kodnani, the women and child welfare minister in the then Narendra Modi Govt in Gujarat, has already been sentenced to life in prison for a separate case of rioting in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Patiya area, a verdict she has challenged. She’s been on bail since 2014.Asked why he did not depose earlier in the Naroda Patiya riots trial, Shah said he wasn’t called to testify. The prosecution had argued that Shah did not turn up despite the special court asking anyone with knowledge of the case to depose.For the prosecution, 187 witnesses deposed. Pathan said the final arguments are expected to begin from Sept. 25.Reacting to Shah’s testimony, the opposition said the issue should be left to courts.HT
Amit Shah deposes in favour of murder accused ex-minister Maya Kodnani in Gujarat riots case
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/india/amit-shah-deposes-in-favour-of-murder-accused-ex-minister-maya-kodnani-in-gujarat-riots-case/260583.html
YC Modi, who was part of SC-appointed SIT probing Gujarat riot cases, named NIA chief
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/yc-modi-named-nia-chief/article19708485.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:Senior IPS officer Y.C Modi, who was part of the Supreme Court-appointed SIT that probed 2002 Gujarat riot cases, was on Monday named chief of NIA.The federal probe agency is tasked with probing terrorism and terror-financing related cases.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Modi’s appointment as DG of NIA, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), said.Another senior IPS officer, Rajni Kant Misra, has been appointed DG of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).Modi will hold the post till his superannuation, i.e. May 31, 2021, order said.ACC has also approved the appointment of Modi as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in NIA with immediate effect to ensure a smooth takeover.Modi, a 1984 batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is at present special director in the CBI. He will take over from Sharad Kumar after he completes his tenure on Oct.30, the order said.PTI
Modi’s upcoming Visit to Varanasi: Order telling madrasas to get women to PM talk withdrawn
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/modis-upcoming-visit-to-varanasi-order-telling-madrasas-to-get-women-to-pm-talk-withdrawn-4848698/
Lucknow ;A proposed interaction between PM Narendra Modi and “minority women” during his upcoming Varanasi visit suffered a setback after the local administration on Sunday withdrew its order issuing directives to madrasas in the district for Sept. 22 event. The order, which assigned each madrasa the responsibility of ensuring the presence of a minimum of 25 “minority women” at the programme, was issued on Friday. The local administration cited protests from madrasas as the reason behind withdrawal of the order.In the order, Varanasi district’s minority welfare officer R K Yadav had instructed the managers and principals of all aided and non-aided madrasas of Varanasi to ensure the presence of minority women at a DLW auditorium on Sept. 22, when the PM is slated to address them. “….Ukt tithi par alpsankhyak mahilaon ka karyakram stahl par pahunchane ka uttardaitwa apko diya ja raha hai,” it said.There are 23 aided and 127 unaided madrasas in Varanasi, which are recognised by UP Madrasa Education Board. At the auditorium, seating arrangements will be made for 700 women. The administration had also called a meeting with madrasa staff on Monday regarding preparations for the event.“The order has been withdrawn and the meeting scheduled for Monday too has been cancelled following protest from madrasas. Programme of PM’s interaction with minority women has only been proposed so far, and the administration has not received any final minute-to-minute programme of the PM yet,” said R K Yadav, social welfare officer of Varanasi, who is presently holding additional charge of district minority officer as well.Diwan Saheb Zaman Khan, general secretary of Teachers’ Association Madaris-e-Arabia, said, “The order of the state Govt has been opposed because we are running academic institutions and are not workers of BJP or Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM). It should not be our responsibility to ensure gathering in PM’s programme.” Khan is also principal of Madarsa Arabic Madinatul Uloom, a Govt-aided madrasa in Jalalipur area. Zaman also claimed that the Association had asked the administration to withdraw the order.Sources in the district administration said that help from madrasas was sought so that “all chairs are occupied with Muslim women” and the “auditorium appears packed” during the PM’s address. HT
UP Govt Asks Madrassas to Ferry Muslim Women to PM Narendra Modi's Minority Interaction Event
http://www.news18.com/news/india/up-asks-madrassas-to-ferry-muslim-women-to-pm-modis-event-1520609.html
Men allegedly tried to poison water at madrasa run by Hamid Ansari's wife
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rat-poison-allegedly-mixed-in-water-at-madrasa-run-by-hamid-ansaris-wife-1751833
Aligarh: As many as 4,000 students had a narrow escape when an alert student caught some unidentified men allegedly trying to mix rat poison in a water tank at Aligarh's Madrasa Chacha Nehru. The madrasa is run by the Al Noor Charitable Society, which is headed by former Vice President Hamid Ansari's wife, Salma Ansari.Afzal, who stays at the madrasa, had gone to get water on Saturday evening when he saw at least two men allegedly trying to contaminate the water in the water cooler. When he tried to raise an alarm, he was threatened with a country-made pistol and told to keep quiet, he told the police. However, as soon as the men escaped, he recovered a wrapper that contained rat poison from near the tank and alerted the madrasa warden who immediately informed the police."When people target innocent children (one wonders) what level humanity will stoop to," Salma Ansari told ANI.She added that several tablets of rat poison were found in the water. "Had he not come down and seen them, consequences would have been terrible," she said.The police have registered an FIR under sections 328 (causing hurt by poison) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and have sent the water sample for forensic examination. The two men are yet to be identified. The society runs three schools in slum areas where students are taught essential skills like English communication, fundamentals of Mathematics, importance of health and hygiene and use of modern technology. ndtv
Bid to poison Aligarh madrasa students foiled: FIR
http://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bid-to-poison-aligarh-madrasa-students-foiled-fir-registered/story-Y610qakzlwvXEtkAADW7kI.html
Class 7 madrassa student foils attempt to poison 4000 children
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/agra-madrassa-rat-poison-water-cooler-al-noor-aligarh-charitable-society-right-wing/1/1050299.html
In RSS schools, Muslim students are taught to live with Hindutva
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/09/18/in-rss-schools-muslims-students-are-learning-to-live-with-hindutva_a_23155028/
Agra: Rabul Hussain, Mohammed Adil and Shoaib Khan do their morning prayers differently from most Muslims. The three teenagers don't sit on the floor and bow westwards in the direction of Mecca. Instead of praying to Allah, they pray before the images of Saraswati and Durga, Hindu godesses of knowledge and power.They recite hymns devoted to Hindu gods and goddesses, chanting Sanskrit shlokas like Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi and Deep Jyoti, followed by patriotic songs. One "patriotic" song in Hindi that appears in their "moral science" textbook starts thus: "The one culture and the blood that flows through our veins is Hindu."On a Monday, along with a thousand other schoolmates, they recited verses of the Gayatri Mantra and performed yoga. Dressed in grey and white uniforms, the students sat in straight lines, mirroring each other's movements like competitive rowers at a regatta. With the school band pitching in the next day, the school hall resonated with a spirited rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa, an ode to the Hindu god Hanuman. As one student pounded on the cymbal of the drum kit and the others let loose on their tablas and dholaks, the performance reached a crescendo. Get top stories and blog posts emailed to me each day. Newsletters may offer personalized content or advertisements. Muslim students in RSS schools have to reconcile their personal faith with the prayers they perform every morning.It wasn't easy to spot Hussain, Adil and Khan in the sea of grey and white uniforms. 3 Muslim students could have got away with doing the yoga exercises and avoided saying the actual words of the hymns and shlokas. Later in the day, they told HuffPost India that recited as much as they can remember in the morning assembly.Hussain, who is in class 12, went on to recite several verses of the Hanuman Chalisa. huffingtonpost
Hindu Jagran Manch organizes 'ghar wapasi' of woman who married a Muslim, converted
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/hindu-jagran-manch-organizes-ghar-wapasi-of-woman-who-married-a-muslim-converted/articleshow/60722543.cms
Agra: RSS's offshoot Hindu Jagran Manch organized a "ghar wapsi samaroh' for the re conversion of a 27 year-old-woman, who had embraced Islam after marrying a Muslim in 2006, to Hinduism. Hindu Jagran Manch Aligarh in charge, Akash Gupta, said that we have helped a "sister" to return to her religion get her real identity back. He said, "We want to convey to all Hindu sisters that we are with them and if they want to come back, we will support them", he said adding that a havan and namkaran rituals were held to bring her back to Hindu religion.Tanu Singh (Simran Khan after marriage) alleged that her husband. Imran Khan had identified himself as a Hindu (Thakur) before marriage. She said when she was three months pregnant, she got married and later learnt about her husband being a Muslim. timesofindia
Manmohan panel asked to ‘help resolve Kashmir row’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manmohan-panel-asked-to-help-resolve-kashmir-row/article19704169.ece
Srinagar: A majority of the 1,200 delegates who called upon former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh — heading the Opposition Congress’s J&K policy and planning panel — during his two-day visit to Srinagar, sought “his intervention to resolve the Kashmir issue.” J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief GA Mir said the predominant thrust of 60 delegations, comprising 1,200 people, during the interactions with Dr. Singh was “resolution of the Kashmir issue.”“Delegates from civil society referred to the Congress’s and Dr. Singh’s past initiatives like working groups, interlocutors and talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. There was a common refrain that such initiatives lacked follow-up. I believe the Congress can make it a starting point,” said Mir. Singh held a 6-hour meeting on Sunday with lawyers, traders, writers, party leaders and leaders of other Opposition parties.He directed party leaders, comprising Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambika Soni, “to follow up with the demands made by the delegates in New Delhi once the party starts to prepare a Kashmir report.”Mir said Dr. Singh was planning to visit Ladakh too. “We have decided to listen to people in the first stage.”Welcoming the Hurriyat’s willingness to back “any meaningful dialogue,” Mir said, “Congress position is that New Delhi should open channels of dialogue with all stakeholders.” The Hindu
Geelani wants UN to appoint war crimes tribunal in Valley
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
Srinagar: Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has written to UN, urging it to appoint a war crimes tribunal for J&K to ‘identify the culprits’ of human rights abuses and penalise them.The UN general assembly session begins on Monday in New York where Pakistan is expected to raise Kashmir issue.Geelani has written a letter to the secretary general of UN that the people of Kashmir demand UN intervention for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue, lingering for the last seven decades before the world body. “The people of Kashmir also demand to appoint a war crimes tribunal to identify the culprits of human rights abuses and to penalise them as violation of human rights at the hands of Indian occupation forces, and denial of civil and political liberties has become alarming and grim,” it urges.It also mentions ‘indiscriminate use’ of lethal weapons, pellet guns, bullets, pawa shells to contain public rallies has become a routine matter.“People are mercilessly killed, maimed arrested, blinded, bruised and molestation of woman is used as a war weapon by Indian occupation forces,” Geelani claims.HT
Geelani urges UN chief to intervene on K-issue
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/geelani-urges-un-chief-to-intervene-on-k-issue/468614.html
Swaraj to share stage with Pak minister at UN
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
Newdelhi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to share stage with her Pak counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif next week on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.Swaraj and Asif are slated to come face-to-face during a group meeting of foreign ministers belonging to SAARC nations.This is the second time since the NDA formed the central Govt in 2014 that the 65-yearold leader will lead the Indian delegation at the United Nations.The senior BJP leader is likely to have a packed schedule involving meetings with an array of leaders on the sidelines of UNGA, which she will address on Sept.23.Swaraj is also scheduled to take part in meetings of the leaders of Non-aligned Movement, G4, BRICS, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and G77 group of developing nations. “The external affairs minister is expected to hold about 20 bilateral and trilateral meetings with leaders attending the session,” external affairs ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.Ahead of the session, India said UN reforms need to be “broad-based and all-encompassing” and the changes should not be restricted to the body’s secretariat only.“We feel that reforms need to be much more broad based. You cannot have reform only of the secretariat. Reforms cannot side step issues related to governance of UN bodies,” India’s permanent representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin said.HT
New China-Nepal highway can be used by military, move likely to ‘irritate’ India
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/new-china-highway-to-nepal-can-be-used-by-military/story-Qt0HSCVA9sjj3UZG7rc18I.html
Beijing:A new strategic highway in Tibet will link the region to Nepal and can be used for military purposes, state media reported on Monday, adding the road can help open up South Asia to China .Experts said the 25-metre wide highway can be used by armoured vehicles and serve as a runway for military aircraft if required.India is likely to be “irritated” by the development, the state media reported.“Tibet highway between Xigaze airport and Xigaze city centre officially opened to the public on Friday, a short section linking the national highway to the Nepal border which experts said will enable China to forge a route into South Asia in both economic and defence terms,” the Global Times tabloid said in a report.The 40.4-km highway will shorten the journey between the dual-use civil and military airport and Tibet's second-largest city from an hour to 30 minutes.The highway is expected to be linked to the China-Nepal railway in future, experts said. hindustantimes
TN Speaker disqualifies 18 AIADMK MLAs loyal to TTV Dinakaran
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-assembly-speaker-p-dhanapal-disqualifies-18-aiadmk-mlas-loyal-to-ttv-dinakaran/
New Delhi :A day after AIADMK’s Sasikala faction leader and her nephew TTV Dinakaran raised serious charges against CM Edappadi K Palaniswami alleging direct links of him and his family with mining baron Sekhar Reddy, Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal today disqualified 18 AIADMK MLAs supporting Dinakaran.While the immediate impact of the disqualification of MLAs is likely to be a hurried floor test to be held on Thursday, top sources in Dinakaran faction said they are approaching the court challenging the decision that they claim is an attempt to “manipulate the minority status into a majority.”While Govt needed 117 MLAs in 234 member house to retain the majority, CM Palaniswami has the support of only 113 MLAs, excluding the speaker and the seat of late J Jayalalithaa. While MLAs having no-confidence in the incumbent ministry are 119, including 89 MLAs of DMK, 8 of Congress, 1 IUML MLA and 21 MLAs of AIADMK’s Dinakaran faction, the ruling faction hopes that the minimum majority number will come down to 107 with disqualification of 18 MLAs, who are among the 21 supporting Dinakaran camp. Indian express
Shiv Sena-BJP alliance to end? Will soon decide, won’t take blame for price rise, says Sanjay Raut
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/shiv-sena-hit-out-at-bjp-slam-the-centre-for-inflation-farmer-suicides-4849572/
New Delhi:Maharashtra’s ruling ally Shiv Sena on Monday launched a scathing attack on its partner BJP for increasing price rates and unresolved farmer issues. It also hinted at breaking the alliance. “Unprecedented price rise, farmer issues unresolved. We are not responsible and don’t want to share the blame. Whether we will stay in Govt or withdraw, this will be decided soon,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.The party which has been at loggerheads with BJP over multiple issues, alleged that those without any merit or connect with the people are at the helm of power. It also hit out at new union minister K.J. Alphons who recently said that “those who can afford high prices of petrol and diesel are not starving”, saying that his remarks are an ‘insult’ to the poor and middle class. Saying that hiked fuel prices was the main reason behind the farmer suicides in the country, the party called out Alphons for making “such highly irresponsible utterances.” Indianexpress
Alwar lynching: Fearing gaurakshaks, Pehlu Khan’s driver now ferries vegetables
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/alwar-lynching-fearing-attack-by-gaurakshaks-pehlu-khan-s-pickup-truck-driver-now-ferries-vegetables/story-Zz1AiIayaUEIwZOazTddwJ.html
Arjun Kumar Yadav, who was driving the truck attacked by alleged cow vigilantes killing dairy farmer Pehlu Khan in April, doesn’t transport cattle anymore. Instead, the 23-year-old, also a key witness in the case, ferries vegetables to villages on Jaipur outskirts, incurring a monthly loss of Rs 10,000.Yadav’s family members, in Chomu town near Jaipur, said the financial loss was a small cost to pay as long as it doesn’t risk their son’s life.Yadav, had managed to escape when Khan and other dairy farmers, Azmat and Rafique, were attacked. Since then, pickup truck remained confiscated at the Behror police station as Yadav treated the injuries that he sustained in the attack.“I got the pickup truck back last month and had to pay Rs 1.5 lakh to repair the damages.Now I am back to driving it,” Yadav said reluctant to speak about the lynching incident.HT
Qamarul Islam, Muslim leader from Karnataka dies
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/qamarul-islam-prominent-muslim-leader-from-hyderabad-karnataka-region-passes-away/article19708419.ece
Bengaluru: Qamarul Islam, former Congress minister and prominent Muslim leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka region, passed away following a brief illness in the city on Monday. He was 69. Islam was admitted to hospital 11 days ago for cellulitis of the leg and poor cardiac function. Dr. Shivaprasad, Senior Consultant and In-charge of Medical ICU, Department of Critical Care at Narayana Health told The Hindu that he had hypertension, diabetes and was also under treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disorder. He died of cardiogenic shock and multi organ failure in the hospital at noon on Monday, the doctor said. Islam had a long political career. He represented Kalaburagi (North) constituency and was Walf Minister in Siddaramaih cabinet. But, he was dropped from the cabinet in last year’s reshuffle. thehindu
NIA arrests ISIS suspect Shakul Hammed in Chennai:PTI
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-arrests-suspected-isis-operative-shakul-hammed-in-chennai-tamil-nadu4849631/
New Delhi:NIA arrested suspected ISIS operative Shakul Hammed in Chennai for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to stage attacks in parts of Tamil Nadu. The central probe agency said in a statement that Hammed is an accused, alongside 8 others, of hatching conspiracy to launch the attacks to further activities of proscribed organisation ISIS. A case was registered suo motu against the nine accused at the NIA police station in Delhi on Jan.26.PTI
WORLD
Iraq SC orders suspension of Kurdistan referendum
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iraq-supreme-court-orders-suspension-of-kurdistan-referendum/article19709129.ece?homepage=true
Baghdad: Iraq’s supreme court has ordered the suspension of a Sept. 25 referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, to examine whether such a poll would be constitutional. “The supreme court has issued the order to suspend organising the referendum set for Sept. 25... until it examines the complaints it has received over this plebiscite being unconstitutional,” it said in a statement.The court took the decision after it “reviewed requests to stop the referendum”,statement said. Court spokesman Ayas al-Samouk said: “We have received several complaints and this is why we decided to suspend the referendum.”A source in parliament said at least 3 lawmakers had filed complaints against the poll.Neighbours Turkey and Iran, as well as US and UN, have pleaded for the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq to settle its differences with Baghdad through negotiations rather than secession. Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani has said a “yes” vote would not trigger an immediate declaration of independence but rather kick-start “serious discussions” with Baghdad.AFP
UN chief: Northern Iraq vote would detract from Daesh fight
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-un-chief-northern-iraq-vote-would-detract-from-islamic-state-fight/
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that a planned 25 Sept. independence referendum in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region “would detract from the need to defeat” Daesh and to reconstruct regained territories.“ Secretary-General respects the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Iraq and considers that all outstanding issues between the federal Govt and the Kurdistan Regional Govt should be resolved through structured dialogue and constructive compromise,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.“ Secretary-General calls upon the leaders across Iraq to approach this matter with patience and restraint,” he said. middleeastmonitor
Tehran: We will close borders with Iraq if Kurds secede
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-tehran-we-will-close-borders-with-iraq-if-kurds-secede/
Secretary of Iranian Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani threatened to close all border crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan if it secedes from Baghdad.“Iran will work, within the framework of securing its common borders, to re-examine the ways of dealing with the presence of terrorist movements hostile to Tehran in the region. Tehran will take steps which are completely different from those taken before.” middleeastmonitor
UK Minister: Qatar offered great support to defeat Daesh
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-uk-defence-minister-qatar-offered-great-support-to-defeat-daesh/
British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the State of Qatar has offered great support for the international campaign against terrorism and Daesh.“3 years after the start of this campaign, all the achievements would not have been possible without Qatar’s support,” Fallon said, adding that his country “supports all mediation efforts to resolve the current Gulf crisis, especially Kuwaiti efforts.”Minister explained that during his recent visit to Kuwait three weeks ago, he had encouraged the Kuwaitis to continue their mediation efforts.He warned of the negative impact of prolonging the crisis in the Middle East, stressing that “the crisis should not be allowed to continue in light of the challenges facing the region”. Middleeastmonitor
In jail, Saudi cleric Al-Ouda begins open hunger strike
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-in-jail-saudi-cleric-al-ouda-begins-open-hunger-strike/
The prominent Saudi Islamist preacher, Salman Al-Ouda, who was recently arrested by the Kingdom’s authorities, has started an open hunger strike in protest of his detention, online activists revealed yesterday.“Sheikh Al-Ouda is banned from contacting anybody,” Twitter user Mujtahidd said, adding that he started an open hunger strike “until he is released or is being treated with justice”. Middleeastmonitor
Saudi plan to ‘accept Israel as a brotherly state’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-saudi-plan-to-accept-israel-as-a-brotherly-state/
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is working to “westernise” the Kingdom and change people’s mindsets when it comes to Israel, Twitter user Mujtahidd has reported. The account, which is believed to be reporting from inside the ruling family in Saudi Arabia, wrote: “Arrangement among UAE, Egypt, Saudi and Bahrain is wider than our expectations. Israel and American bodies linked to Trump are involved.” “Plan is complete. It is based on unifying the bases of security, media, culture and education, including religion, in Egypt and all the Gulf States except Oman.”Plan, according to Mujtahid, was drawn in Egypt which is the “supplier of cadres who will deal with the issues of media, security, Islamic movements, education syllabuses and religious institutions.” According to Mujtahidd, it aims to “distance any political, cultural, educational, financial, religious effect on the people of Egypt and the Gulf States in order to reach a state of full and eternal normalisation with Israel.”It also said that the arrangement for this plan started in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Israel before US President Donald Trump was inaugurated, noting that former American President Barack Obama did not join the plan because he feared these states and the recklessness of Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman. Middleeastmonitor
Bahrain to allow citizens to visit Israel: middleeastmonitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-bahrain-to-allow-citizens-to-visit-israel/
Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa is tired of Arab boycott of Israel, adding that citizens of his country are free to visit the country, according to the Jerusalem Post.Israeli paper said that this statement was revealed at a multi-national event held last week in Los Angeles and hosted by the city’s Simon Wiesenthal Centre.King Hamad made remarks during a visit by the Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, who head the Wiesenthal Centre, to Manama in early 2017, rabbis revealed.
Israel is ‘looting’ Palestinians’ natural resources in W. Bank, says NGO: middleeastmonitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-israel-is-looting-palestinians-natural-resources-in-west-bank-says-ngo/
Israel is “looting” the Palestinians’ natural resources in the West Bank, with the blessing of the Supreme Court, an NGO has charged.According to Yesh Din, Israeli quarrying industry in the occupied West Bank has “expanded significantly” since a ruling by Israel’s top court, rejecting a petition brought by the NGO demanding an end to all mining and quarry activities in the region. Yesh Din’s petition had claimed Israeli policy of “economic exploitation of occupied territory” constitutes a “blatant violation of international law”. But in 2011, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected the petition, “thereby regulating a colonial exploitation of natural resources on occupied land”. According to data obtained by the NGO, the amount of gravel mined in Area C of the West Bank –including both Israeli and Palestinian quarries – rose by 40 % from 2008 to 2015.Over 20 % of the State of Israel’s general consumption now comes from the quarries owned by Israel in the occupied West Bank.
Ahead of UN meet, Israel to offer economic ‘benefits’ to Palestinians
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-ahead-of-un-meet-israel-to-offer-economic-benefits-to-palestinians/
Fatah welcomes Hamas’ decision to dissolve Gaza Govt
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-fatah-welcomes-hamas-decision-to-dissolve-gaza-Govt /
Member of Fatah Executive Committee Azzam Al-Ahmed welcomed Hamas’ announcement to dissolve the administrative committee in Gaza, Palestinian media reported. Al-Ahmed, Fatah envoy to the reconciliation talks with Hamas, said: “Long meetings held between the Fatah delegation in Cairo with the Chief of the Egyptian Intelligence Khalid Fawzi ended with an agreement to hold bilateral meetings between Fatah and Hamas.”He noted that another meeting to follow including all Palestinian factions which signed the reconciliation agreement in order to start actual measures to carry out the terms of the agreement, considering Hamas’ announcement a step towards ending Palestinian division. middleeastmonitor
3,000 Israeli settlers storm Ibrahimi Mosque
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-3000-settlers-storm-ibrahimi-mosque/
More than 3,000 settlers stormed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the southern occupied West Bank town of Hebron last night to mark a Jewish holiday.The Hebrew news site 0404 reported a heavy army presence was deployed in the area to allow the settlers to pray in the Muslim holy site. middleeastmonitor
Israel Minister : Settlements are Israel’s ‘defensive wall’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-lieberman-settlements-are-israels-defensive-wall/
Illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank ensure Israel’s security, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced at an event celebrating Jewish New Year.In his toast at the event, held in the settlement of Vered Yeriho which overlooks the Palestinian city of Jericho, Lieberman emphasised how settlements were increasingly necessary as Israel faces threats from missiles and cyber-attacks. He used the event, attended by numerous settler leaders, as an opportunity to emphasise his commitment to construction in the occupied territories, alleging that he has done more for settlement building than anyone else over the past 17 years. middleeastmonitor
Knesset report: Israel army not ready for war
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-knesset-report-israel-army-not-ready-for-war/
Israeli Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee warned of the army’s inability to wage a new war or to face a military confrontation.The parliamentary committee issued a report “warning that the army is not ready enough for war,” according to the Hebrew Channel 2. It is expected that the report, which it described as “strongly worded”, will be sent to the Knesset next week to discuss its content, as it includes a warning of serious gaps in the readiness of the Israeli army to face a future military confrontation, Hebrew channel clarified.
Hamas: Rafah crossing could open within a month
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170918-hamas-rafah-crossing-could-open-within-a-month/
The crossing between Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip may be opened in some three weeks after renovation works on the border are completed, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk has said. Abu Marzouk discussed the strengthening of ties between Egypt and Hamas with many of the latter’s prominent figures are reportedly due to settle in Cairo to work more closely with the Egyptian Govt . middleeastmonitor
US flies powerful warplanes amid tensions with N. Korea
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-flies-powerful-warplanes-amid-tensions-with-north-korea/article19709474.ece?homepage=true
US military flew advanced bombers and stealth jets over the Korean Peninsula and near Japan in drills with South Korean and Japanese warplanes on Monday, 3 days after North Korea fired a missile over Japan. US often sends powerful military aircraft in a show of force in times of heightened animosities with North Korea. North launched its latest missile as it protested against tough new UN sanctions over its sixth nuclear test on Sept. 3. AP
Iran Says it Has 'Father of All Bombs' to Trump America's 'Mother of All Bombs'
http://www.news18.com/news/world/iran-says-it-has-father-of-all-bombs-to-trump-americas-mother-of-all-bombs-1520083.html
Tehran: A top commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that the country possesses the "father of all bombs" which overshadows the most powerful non-nuclear ordnance of the US.The bomb was developed under a special request of the IRGC, the corps' Aerospace Force commander, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, said in an interview on Friday to Press TV."Following a proposal by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), (Iran's) Defence Industries (Organisation) manufactured a 10-ton bomb. These bombs are at our disposal," commander said.IANS
Pak PML-N's Kulsoom Nawaz wins by-elections
http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/405745-PML-N%E2%80%99s-Kulsoom-Nawaz-wins-NA-120-by-elections
Lahore: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won by-election of the National Assembly constituency NA-120 Lahore-III on Sunday when PML-N candidate Kulsoom Nawaz beat her main opponent Dr Yasmeen Rashid of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with a margin of 14,646 votes.Begum Kulsoom won the seat, which fell vacant due to the disqualification of her husband and former PM Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court in Panama Papers case.Kulsoom Nawaz secured 61,745 votes to win the seat while PTI’s Dr Yasmeen Rashid bagged 47,099 votes and remained second.Sheikh Muhammad Azhar Hussain Rizvi of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah remaind third with 7,130 votes while Yaqoob Sheikh, who contested the election as an independent candidate as his party Milli Muslim League got 5,822 and remained fourth. While Jamaat-e-Islami Pak’s Ziauddin Ansari got just 592 votes.Dunya News
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:36 PM)
