Evening NEWS DIGEST
02 Jan.2018: 13 Rabial Aakhir 1439:Vol:9, No:88
INDIA
Maharashtra violence over Bhima-Koregaon clashes: Mumbai worst hit, railway tracks, highways blocked; Dalit groups call bandh tomorrow
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-violence-mars-bhima-koregaon-battle-anniversary-event-live-updates-pune-mumbai-chembur-naka-mulund-dalits-419983
Angry Dalits staged rail and road blockades and took out processions in Mumbai and carried out agitations in different parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday to protest against violence in Pune a day ago which left one youth dead.Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, a Dalit party headed by Prakash Ambedkar - grandson of B.R. Ambedkar, called for a 'peaceful Maharashtra shutdown' on Wednesday to express anger over the Pune incidents.On Tuesday afternoon, thousands of Dalits took to the streets in Chembur, Mankhurd, Ghatkopar, Bhandup and other strongholds in north-eastern parts of the city demanding action against the perpetrators of the Pune riots.Scores of Dalit youth blocked the Harbor Line of Central Railway near Chembur on Tuesday afternoon, leading to stoppage of the local train services for hours.Several lakhs of commuters were stranded on stations or in stationary trains and many preferred to walk on the railway tracks to their destinations. indiatvnews
Protests spread in Maharashtra post clashes during bicentenary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-tense-a-day-after-clashes-during-bicentenary-celebrations-of-koregaon-bhima-battle/article22352367.ece?homepage=true
Maratha-Dalit clashes in Mumbai: CM orders enquiry after 1 person dies in protests; over 100 detained
http://www.newsx.com/national/maratha-dalit-clashes-in-mumbai-cm-devendra-fadnavis-orders-enquiry-after-1-person-dies-in-protests-over-100-detained
Over 100 Detained As Pune's Dalit Protests Reach Mumbai
https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/dalit-protesters-stop-traffic-near-mumbai-over-pune-rally-violence-1794803
Mumbai/Pune: Over 100 people were detained in Mumbai today as Dalit protesters blocked major roads, disrupted local train services at rush hour and forced shops to close to protest against violence yesterday near Pune, in which a man was killed. Riot police had to be called in today as the protesters threw stones. One protester tried to set himself on fire and was saved just on time, the police said. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has warned against spreading rumours on social media and has ordered a judicial inquiry into violence.Shops and business establishments were shut and a journalist of NDTV was attacked as groups of youths from Chembur, Vikhroli, Mankhurd and Govandi joined the protest, police said.
Bhima-Koregaon clash spills into Mumbai, CM orders probe; Chembur, Mulund worst hit
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bhima-koregaon-clash-mumbai-bandh-devendra-fadnavis-probe-chembur-mulund-dalit-maratha-violence-5008660/?utm_source=izooto&utm_medium=push_notification&utm_campaign=browser_push&utm_content&utm_term
Maharashtra caste clashes: Several schools and colleges shut in Mumbai
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-caste-clash-protesters-block-mumbais-harbour-line/articleshow/62335957.cms
Bhima Koregaon violence: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP-RSS, says they want Dalits to remain at bottom of society
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-lashes-out-at-bjp-rss-over-bhima-koregaon-violence-dalits-5008902/
New Delhi;Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the BJP-RSS after Bhima-Koregaon violence in Pune earlier today, saying they want a vision of India where Dalits remain at the bottom of Indian society. Taking to Twitter, Rahul said: “A central pillar of the RSS/BJP’s fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance.” indianexpress
Assam NRC: ULFA leader Baruah’s name in first draft; names of 2 MPs, AIUDF chief Ajmal, many MLAs missing
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/assam-nrc-list-ulfa-leader-paresh-baruahs-name-in-first-draft-names-of-2-mps-many-mlas-missing/999074/
Guwahati;Top ULFA rebel leader Paresh Baruah’s name figures in the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) even as names of many prominent politicians of Assam did not find a place in it. Among those whose names were not in the first citizenship draft list, released on Dec 31 midnight, include opposition AIUDF chief and Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal, his son and Jamunamukh MLA Abdur Rahim Ajmal and brother and Barpeta Lok Sabha MP Sirajuddin Ajmal. Talking about the non-inclusion of several names in the first list, Registrar General of India Sailesh said, “There is no need to panic as there is ample time. The process is going on. Substantial progress has been made, but still lot of work needs to be done.” The first draft of the NRC has listed 19 million people out of the 32.9 million applicants as legal Indian citizens, in a massive exercise aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh. Names of MLAs — Ananta Kumar Malo (Abhayapuri South), Aminul Islam (Dhing), Nizanur Rahman (Gauripur), Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Kasimi (Bilasipara West) — also did not figure. While BJP MLAs whose names were not in the list include Shiladitya Deb (Hojai), Ashwini Rai Sarkar (Golakganj), Congress legislators whose names were absent include MLAs Sukur Ali (Senga), Sherman Ali (Baghbor) and Nurul Huda (Rupohi). Besides Paresh Baruah, fellow rebel Arunudhoi Dohotia and NDFB leader B Bidai’s names also feature in the list. The list has the names of five of Baruah’s family members, including that of his deceased mother Miliki Baruah. Baruah had launched his revolution for the ‘sovereignty’ of Assam nearly 40 years ago and is reportedly somewhere along the China-Myanmar border now.PTI/ financialexpress
Assam: Badruddin Ajmal’s name among 2 other MPs missing From NRC
https://thenortheasttoday.com/assam-badruddin-ajmals-name-among-2-other-mps-missing-from-nrc/
Assam: Crowds throng centres to check draft NRC, many Nellie Muslims not on the list
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/assam-crowds-throng-centres-to-check-draft-nrc-many-nellie-muslims-not-on-list-5008067/
Nellie:A total of 1.29 crore applicants did not find their names in the first draft of the NRC released at midnight Sunday in Assam. As people flocked to seva kendras across Assam with papers on Monday morning to check their names, at many centres here in Nellie, most of them missing from the draft NRC were Muslims.None of the seven members of the family of Abdul Khaleque, (60), of village Basundhari near Nellie, or the 12 members of Md Amir Hussain of village Alisinga figured in the draft. In contrast, relief ran through tribals in villages in and around Nellie with names of most appearing on the list.“Names of all 10 of my family members are there in the draft NRC. I checked them on the computer as well as in the printed copy,” smiled Kolong Konwar of Silchang, a village inhabited by Tiwa tribals.Probin Sarma, the Local Registrar of Citizen Registration (LRCR) for NRC Sewa Kendra No. 1647, where Konwar is now registered, said only 53 % of those who applied at the centre had found place in the draft NRC, and that most of them were tribals. “Of the 9,002 names in the 2,776 applications we received, as many as 4,771 found place in the first draft, 80 % of them tribals. We now have 4,231 names pending, most of which require detailed verification of family linkages and certificates issued by gaon panchayat secretaries,” Sarma said.A worried Khaleque said he had submitted a copy of the NRC of 1951 with his father’s name in it. Hussain too said he had submitted a copy of the 1951 NRC, with his grandfather Abdus Sattar’s name in it.Their villages Alisinga and Basundhari were among the six villages that had suffered the worst casualties in the Nellie massacre of 1983, and the memories of it have sharpened their fears at being left out of the NRC. On Feb.18, 1983, around 1,800 people (unofficial figure is more than 3,000), all Muslims of migrant origin, had been killed on a single day amid circumstances that remain unexplained to this day. Not a single person has been convicted for one of the worst massacres in independent India’s history. indianexpress
Defence ministry clears procurement of Barak missiles from Israel, guided bombs from Russia
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/defence-ministry-clears-procurement-of-barak-missiles-guided-bombs/story-frei66SJunVwgwmbfK32gK.html
New Delhi: Govt approved on Tuesday the purchase of 240 precision guided bombs for the Indian Air Force and 131 Barak missiles for Navy at a total cost of Rs 1,714 crore.2 procurement proposals were cleared by defence ministery.The bombs, which fall under the category of precision guided munitions, are being procured at a cost of Rs 1,254 crore from M/s JSC Rosonboron Exports, Russia. “The procurement of bombs will address the deficiency of Precision Guided Munitions in IAF arsenal, besides enhancing the offensive capabilities of the IAF,” the ministry said in a statement. It said the 131 Barak missiles and associated equipment are being procured from Israel’s Rafael Advance Defence Systems Ltd at a cost of Rs 460 crore. “These missiles are surface to air missiles designed to be used as a ship-borne anti-missile defence system against anti-ship missiles,” said the ministry.The procurement is being made as part of the Govt ’s efforts to bolster operational capability of the armed forces considering the evolving security situation in the region.PTI
Govt clears purchase of 240 precision bombs, 131 Barak missiles at a cost of Rs 1,714 crore
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt -clears-purchase-of-240-precision-bombs-131-barak-missiles-at-a-cost-of-rs-1714-crore/articleshow/62339181.cms
Trump’s ‘no extension to H-1B visa’ proposal may affect thousands of Indian professionals
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/h1b-visa-rules-donald-trump-green-card-permanent-us-residence-indians-5008498/
New Delhi;In what could worry thousands of Indian professionals working in US, the Dept of Homeland Security is considering a proposal that would prevent the extension of H-1B visa, McClatchy’s DC Bureau reported. This could directly impact those working in US from keeping their visas while their green card applications stand pending. The proposal is being seen as an extension of President Donald Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” initiative.The proposal, being circulated in internal memos in the DHS department, aims to impose new restrictions to prevent abuse and misuse of H-1B visas. It also intends to end the provision of granting extension for those who already have a green card. The proposal also includes strengthening the definition of visa-dependent companies in terms of minimum salary and movement of talent in order to restrict the number of people coming to US to work. Earlier, the Trump administration had also announced plans to revoke work eligibility for spouses of H-1B holders.“The idea is to create a sort of ‘self-deportation’ of hundreds of thousands of Indian tech workers in the United States to open up those jobs for Americans,” a US source briefed by homeland security officials told McClatchy DC Bureau. indianexpress
TALAQ BILL & PERSONAL LAW ISSUES
Govt urges Congress not to press for amendments to triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-urges-congress-not-to-press-amendments-to-triple-talaq-bill-in-rajya-sabha/article22352858.ece
New Delhi: Govt on Tuesday urged Congress not to press for amendments to the triple talaq Bill, which seeks to criminalise the practice of instant divorce among Muslims, when it is likely to come up for consideration in Rajya Sabha on Jan 3. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the Govt would like the Congress to maintain the stand it took in the Lok Sabha by not pressing for amendments.“We are having continuous talks with Opposition parties, including the Congress. We have told the Congress that since they have not pressed for any amendments in the Lok Sabha, they should do the same in the Rajya Sabha,” said Kumar.Though a few allies of the BJP like the Shiv Sena have demanded that the Bill be sent to a select committee, the Govt feels there is no need for it as legislation had debated upon in the Lok Sabha.“There is no need to go to any committee because the issue has been debated. What should be the fate of triple talaq affected women? There is a greater consensus within the country that there should be a stringent law, preventive mechanism to give protection to Muslim women. I am confident that all parties will cooperate in the Rajya Sabha,” Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.PTI
Govt in talks with Congress over Triple Talaq Bill: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/jan/02/Govt -in-talks-with-congress-over-triple-talaq-bill-ananth-kumar-1742429.html
Talaq Bill to be introduced in Rajya Sabha tomorrow; Upper House's support doubtful
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/triple-talaq-bill-be-introduced-rajya-sabha-upper-houses-support-doubtful-755287
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, which seeks to criminalise the practise of instant triple talaq is scheduled to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.The Bill, which was initially scheduled to be tabled today, will be introduced by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in the upper house.If the Bill is cleared in the upper house as well, it will be forwarded to President Ram Nath Kovind for signing it into a law.However, owing to the lack of a majority of the Govt in the Rajya Sabha, there are chances that the Bill may be impeded or blocked. Bill may be stalled owing to Congress' objections to a few clauses like imprisonment and maintenance. Congress may even insist on sending the Bill to a standing committee or panel to remove the clauses in question.Meanwhile, the BJP has kept their hopes high on the passing of the Bill."I have complete conviction that Congress will support the Bill the same way it did in Lok Sabha, or else the minority women will not spare them," Union Minister Giriraj Singh said.Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar also has the same opinion. The BJP has also issued a whip to its MPs in order to ensure maximum strength at the Parliament. ibtimes
Triple talaq bill: Opposition presses for parliamentary committee review
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/triple-talaq-bill-opposition-presses-for-parliamentary-committee-review/articleshow/62338380.cms
The triple talaq bill is expected to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, after it was passed by the Lok Sabha, albeit with caveats, last week. The contentious bill had gathered mixed response from all parties when it was introduced in the lower house, and it might face an uphill task in the upper house where ruling BJP lacks a majority. Earlier in the day, opposition parties huddled together to decide a common course of action on the bill - whether to push for amendments or refer the bill to a select committee for detailed consideration. Subsequently, the Congress, CPI, CPM, DMK, Samajwadi Party, BJD and the AIADMK met with Rajya Sabha chairmain M Venkaiah Naidu and demanded that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill be sent to a select committee, news agency ANI reported.CPI leader D Raja said the Left was in favour of referring the proposed legislation to the select committee but the Centre was deliberately blocking such attempts to prevent closer scrutiny of the bill.The bill, if enacted, will make triple talaq a criminal offense. It proposes a three-year jail term for a Muslim man who divorces his wife in any form of spoken, written or by electronic means such as email, SMS, and WhatsApp. Backing calls for sending the bill to the select committee, NCP leader Majeed Memon said:"NCP has already made it clear that we are entirely against criminalisation. A marriage in Islam is a civil contract, you can't impose sentence of 3 years on improper talaq given by husband to wife."Renuka Chowdhury, a Rajya Sabha member of the Congress, said her party always stood for empowerment of women but the party needs to see what has been actually included in the bill.TOI
Triple Talaq Bill must be sent to select committee: CPI
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/triple-talaq-bill-must-be-sent-to-select-committee-cpi
Congress wants punishment to decreased by 2-year maximum, bailable offence triple talaq
https://english.newstracklive.com/news/congress-wants-punishment-to-decreased-by-two-year-maximum--bailable-offence-triple-talaq-sub-politics-news-creur--38062-1.html
Triple talaq bill has left Congress sad and confused, says Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/triple-talaq-bill-has-left-congress-sad-and-confused-says-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi/story-jXx7XGguyf8WpFKMM23J7H.html
New Delhi:Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attacked the Congress on Tuesday for what he said a “confused” stand on the triple talaq bill, asking the opposition party why it was sad at a time when the Muslim women were happy. “These days a number of reforms are being brought in. The triple talaq bill is one of them,” he said in New Delhi. hindustantimes
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind rejects Triple Talaq bill; expresses concern over hate crimes
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/india/jamaat-e-islami-hind-rejects-triple-talaq-bill-expresses-concern-over-hate-crimes/270879.html
New Delh:5-day conclave of the Central Advisory Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind chaired by its president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari ended in Palakkad, Kerala, today. The Council deliberated in detail several issues including bill on triple talaq, deteriorating law and order situation and the failing economy.Stating that triple talaq bill is anti-Shariah and against the Constitution, the resolutions passed in the conclave said: “The bill has many internal contradictions and is against the interests and rights of Muslim women. The bill makes the pronouncement of triple talaq by the husband a criminal offence punishable with a jail sentence of 3 years and a fine. JIH Central Advisory Council feels that not only is this Bill contrary to Article 25 of the Constitution of India which guarantees freedom of religion but also goes against the recent judgment of the Supreme Court regarding triple talaq. When the bill does not consider triple talaq to be valid then how can it be punishable? The bill has also made the husband responsible for the maintenance of his wife and children. The question that arises is that how can a person, who is in jail, be able to take care of his wife and children.” The resolution expressed surprise and concern that the Govt , while bringing a bill regarding the Shariah, did not consult the Islamic scholars, Shariah experts, the Muslim community and Muslim religious organizations and representatives of Muslim women organizations. The Council expressed concern at the deteriorating law and order situation of the country, growing incidents of lawlessness, failing economy and various attempts at weakening the democratic institutions of the country. The protests against the arrest of a person accused of lynching and burning to death of a Muslim laborer in Rajasthan, shows that it was not an isolated criminal act but there is a systematic political force and movement supporting these gruesome killings. “The conclave has taken strict notice of the violence being perpetuated against Muslims, Christians, Adivasis and Dalits and feels that there is a systematic effort to create communal polarization in the country.”The conclave expressed grave concern on the state of the national economy. The resolution states that the growing unemployment, fluctuating currency and the improper implementation of GST has severely impacted the economy. “The resolution demands that the rate of direct tax should be reduced and GST Council must be brought under the purview of accountability. The resolution expressed concern over the method of ’bail in’ that has been incorporated in the proposed FRDI Bill. The Council also expressed concern over the rejection by the Govt of India to setup ‘’interest free’’ windows in conventional banks as recommended by a special committee of the RBI. The Council also expressed concern over the prevailing situation in the Islamic World. “Central Advisory Council feels that the entire region should be freed from foreign interference.”The Council condemned the declaration by the US President that Jerusalem (Al Quds) will become the capital of Israel and the American embassy will be shifted there. The Council praised India for opposing and voting against the stand of the American President on this issue and for continuing its laudable tradition of supporting the Palestinian cause. greaterkashmir
Jamaat’s rejects Triple Talaq bill, expresses concerns over hate crimes, falling economy, implementation of GST; hails India for voting on Jerusalem
Muslim Body appeals opposition to oppose Triple Talaq bill in Rajya Sabha
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/muslim-body-appeals-opposition-to-oppose-triple-talaq-bill-in-rajya-sabha?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
Muslim Law Board member demands review of Talaq Bill
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-muslim-law-board-demands-review-of-triple-talaq-bill/18883169
The Triple Talaq Bill, which seeks to criminalise triple talaq, proposing a 3-year jail term for a Muslim man found guilty of the act, is now being opposed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).The Supreme Court has already set aside triple talaq as illegal and arbitrary, and hence, there is no need for further legislation on it," said Dr Qasim Rasool Ilyas, member of AIMPLB. "If triple talaq is null and void, then criminalising it and making it punishable, is a pointless effort. Even if the Govt thinks that there is room for legislation, how can you make a civil issue a criminal case? Furthermore, the punishment being prescribed is three years imprisonment and a fine. This bill is irrational and will completely destroy the family life of a Muslim man."Ilyas has demanded that the bill be taken back. "If that's not possible, the bill should at least be sent to a standing committee so that they can remove discrepancies from the bill."AIMPLB is also upset with the Congress party and how it has been "dilly-dallying" over the issue. "We have failed to understand the role of the Congress party," said Ilyas. "In Lok Sabha, they had demanded that the bill be sent to a standing committee as it has several discrepancies. But, at the time of voting, they supported the bill. It is very unfortunate that the Congress has supported this biased bill." Mid day
All legal routes open for instant talaq victims, Bill ensures Muslim women's rights, claim officials: ET
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/all-legal-routes-open-for-instant-talaq-victims-bill-ensures-muslim-womens-rights/articleshow/62331728.cms
PM wants to abolish all Muslim Personal Laws: Owaisi
https://www.siasat.com/news/pm-modi-wants-abolish-muslim-personal-laws-asaduddin-owaisi-1291761/
Hyderabad: PM Narendra Modi‘s agenda is to abolish all Muslim Personal Laws, said AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. AIMIM chief said, “PM’s agenda is to remove all Muslim Personal Law. They want to remove all forms of talaq. But, the PM is cut off from the reality on triple talaq. He should know that marriage in Islam is a civil contract. A breach of the contract does not lead to the criminal penal provisions.”ANI
Muslim women cannot go to Hajj without ‘mahram’: Mufti Darul Uloom Deoband’s Abul Qasim Nomani
https://www.siasat.com/news/muslim-women-cannot-go-hajj-without-mahram-mufti-abul-qasim-nomani-1292053/
Deoband: PM Narendra Modi’s claim that his Govt has removed the restriction of having a male guardian or ‘mahram’ every time a Muslim woman wants to go on Haj pilgrimage, has become topic of debate among Muslim community. Secretary Darul Uloom Deoband Maulana Mufti Abul-Qasim Nomani said Islam prohibits Muslim women from going to Holy pilgrimage without ‘mahram’. He said he doesn’t want to comment upon central Govt ’s stand, because the comment made by the PM Modi is based on administrative affairs and political diplomacy. Hence instead of commenting upon that we can only give Shariah ruling regarding that, he maintained. It is clearly mentioned in Hadeeth that women cannot travel without ‘mahram’. If Govt permits women to go for pilgrimage without mahram it will be direct interference in religious affairs, Govt should not do so. siasat
PM’s Haj claim: It was Saudi , not India, says RTI activist
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/pm-s-haj-claim-it-was-saudi-arabia-not-india-says-rti-activist/522495.html
Lucknow:The decision to allow women to travel to Haj without a mandatory male companion—called a 'mahram'—was taken by the Saudi Govt , an RTI activist has said, countering Indian PM Narendra Modi's claim on the policy change.In a press statement on Tuesday, RTI activist Saleem Baig said although PM Narendra Modi’s mention of it in his monthly radio talk ‘Maan Ki Baat’ gave the impression of it being a decision by the Indian Govt , it was in fact Saudi Arabia that changed its rules. “The actual credit goes to Saudi Arabia for relaxing the 'mahram' requirement for a woman going for Haj. One needs to understand that these rules have been made by Saudi Arabia and not the Indian Govt ”, he pointed out, after Modi called it a step toward “empowering” woman. tribuneindia
Mehram rules: It took India three years after Saudi to let women go for Haj without male escort
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/saudi-arabia-haj-women-withour-male-gaurdian-mehram-pm-modi-5008029/
OTHERS
Muslim man beaten to death 'over New Year music' in Jharkhand:BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-42539447
A Muslim has been beaten to death in Jharkhand after reportedly asking a group to stop playing loud music on New Year's Day.The incident happened in Mandar, a town close to the state capital, Ranchi.People blocked the national motorway on Tuesday to demand the arrest of suspects but the blockade was eventually cleared by police.Extra security personnel have been deployed in the area to keep the peace between Muslim and Hindu communities. Waseem Ansari, 19, worked as a daily wage labourer in Pune and had returned to his village a couple of days ago.A senior police officer gave BBC Hindi an account of the incident: "Preliminary inquiry suggests that a group was playing loud music to celebrate New Year's Day."Waseem Ansari and two of his friends approached the group and told them to stop playing loud music. This led to an argument and Waseem was attacked by the group. It seems he was hit by one of the sharp instruments used in cooking."We have requested the two communities maintain peace. The suspects will be arrested soon."Hasibul Ansari, who lives in the same village as the victim, told BBC Hindi: "These people were partying near a Muslim graveyard. When Waseem told them to stop, they killed him."His friends were lucky that they managed to escape in time. I am very sure they would have been killed too if they had not escaped."BBC
Hindu Mahasabha calls for bandh in Rajasthan town over disputed site;IANS
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hindu-mahasabha-calls-for-bandh-in-rajasthan-town-over-disputed-site/story-zzJir2T4LvcsAOOhApyGBN.html
More than 40 protesters were arrested and 600 were rounded up after violence unleashed in Bundi town of Rajasthan by right wing activists over a disputed site, police said on Tuesday, even as the Hindu Mahasabha has called for a bandh there. Meanwhile, Kota Range IG Vishal Bansal was in Bundi on Tuesday to monitor the situation. Bansal reached Bundi after the situation worsened.Internet services in the town remained suspended on Tuesday in the wake of violence which erupted in the town on Monday. Section 144 is also being maintained in the town till further orders.Hindu organisations have called for a pooja on a disputed site in Mandhata situated chhatri on Tiger Hills. They had decided to take out a religious procession in the town on Monday. However, the district administration, to maintain peace and avert any untoward incident, clamped section 144 in the town.IANS
BJP MLA from Alwar Starts New Year With Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
https://thewire.in/209823/bjp-mla-alwar-starts-new-year-anti-muslim-rhetoric/
New Delhi: A ruling BJP MLA in Rajasthan on Jan 1 courted controversy by alleging that Muslims were bearing more children with an aim to outnumber Hindus and to take control of the country by 2030.The remarks by Banwari Lal Singhal, an MLA from Alwar, in a Facebook come ahead of a by-poll to the Alwar parliamentary seat on Jan 29.“Muslims were giving birth to 12-14 children….while Hindus restrict the number to one or 2. The way the Muslim population is increasing, the existence of Hindus is in danger. It is a well-planned conspiracy to have a Muslim in the chair of president, PM and CMs,” he said.“Hindus will become secondary citizens if Muslims become lawmakers,” he further alleged. Asked about his comment, Singhal told PTI, “I wrote the post after a lot of consideration and I am not going to take it down.” MLA said he wrote the post after watching a video about Muslim population growth in India. “It’s a conspiracy of Muslims to capture all assembly and parliamentary constituencies by giving birth to 12-14 children and establish their rule by 2030,” he alleged.He also accused the Muslim community of exploiting Govt resources and “tax paid by Hindus” and batted for a law to restrict to two the number of children per family.The Wire
AP :CCTV footage helps nab Moazzen murder suspect
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2018/jan/02/cctv-footage-helps-nab-moazzen-murder-suspect-in-rajamahendravaram-of-andhra-pradesh-1742087.html
Rajamahendravaram: 3 days after the murder of 61-year-old Md Farooq, moazzen of a mosque at Battinanagar under Lalacheruvu Panchayat in Rajamahendravaram, police nabbed a suspect in the case and took him into custody for questioning. CM N Chandrababu Naidu said the police had worked fast. “Surveillance camera footage and the footage from a private closed-circuit camera were matched and based on evidence the culprit was caught. This will put an end to wild speculations,” he said.Meanwhile, Rajamahendravaram SP B Rajakumari said the suspect was nabbed at Uravakonda in Anantapur district. “We are questioning the suspect to collect more evidence. We are yet to make any arrests,” she said and refused to divulge more information fearing it may hamper investigation. On Friday, Farooq was found lying in a pool of blood at the mosque. The murder triggered public outcry and saw protests by persons from the minority community demanding quick action against the culprit. CM personally took stock of situation using Real Time Governance and engaged as many as 70 police officers to nab culprit. newindianexpress
AP mosque murder suspect held, CM lauds police
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/rmundry-mosque-murder-suspect-held-cm-lauds-police/articleshow/62329683.cms
Mangaluru : Hindutva leader’s daughter elopes with Muslim youth
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/hindutva-leaders-daughter-elopes-with-muslim-youth/articleshow/62327384.cms
Mangaluru: The Saffron brigade has got a bit of a shocker with the daughter of a prominent Hindutva group leader allegedly fleeing with a Muslim youth to get married. Miffed with increasing number of such cases in the district, Hindutva leaders have submitted a complaint to the country's defence minister to act sternly against Love Jihad.The couple has reportedly registered their marriage in Mumbai. However, the 23-year-old girl is now back home in Mangaluru. In interesting turns of events, man, Mohammed Eqbal Chowdary, a resident of Mankurd in Mumbai, has filed a complaint with the Mumbai Commissioner that a gang, suspected to be men from the saffron brigade in Mangaluru, kidnapped his wife from Inorbit Mall in Mumbai one evening. However, the local media stated that the girl, in an affidavit which has been forwarded to the Maharashtra police, has mentioned that she has come back on her own accord.Though the girl, a law student, fled five months ago, the incident has come to light only now. Hindutva leader originally hails from Kasaragod. He has been residing with his family in the city since several years. His daughter had been studying at a private college. She came in contact with the Chowdary, a technician, a few years ago through Facebook. The friendship then turned into love. Five months ago, she fled to Mumbai in order to start a new life with Chowdary.TOI
Bengaluru Woman Says Police Thrashed Her, Muslim Friend for Roaming Near Temple, Probe On
http://www.news18.com/news/india/bengaluru-woman-alleges-police-thrashed-her-and-muslim-friend-for-roaming-around-temple-probe-ordered-1620123.html
Bengaluru: Acting out of their own accord turned costly for a bunch of Bengaluru Police officials when they allegedly called out on a young woman for being seen with a Muslim boy. Police have initiated disciplinary action against the accused constables and station in-charge for ‘misbehaviour’.In a video message on Sunday, Bengaluru woman had alleged that the police beat her up along with her friend as they belong to different communities and were seen roaming near a temple. It all started on Dec.20 when the police received a public complaint alleging that the girl was found in the company of a boy who happened to be a Muslim on Dec.20, near Subramanya temple. In the night, she was found moving alone and the police decided to bring her to the police station and also inform her parents.However, the police chose to involve the Muslim man along with his family and called him to the police station the next morning. Woman has alleged that the whole drama unfolded only because her friend was a Muslim. “Police repeatedly beat us up and abused us and targeted my friend. They even insisted that we were lovers and made all sorts of accusations. Is it only because he was a Muslim man?” the woman alleged in her video message.Family members of both were called to the police station and the girl was sent with her father and the boy with her uncle.SP acknowledged the fact that the constables exceeded their brief and acted in an inappropriate manner with Muslim man.News18
Two girls beaten up by fringe vigilante group for mixing with Muslim boys
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/651428/two-girls-beaten-up-fringe.html
MHA proposes compensation for J-K civilians caught in ceasefire violations
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mha-proposes-compensation-for-j-k-population-caught-in-ceasefire-violations/story-Jpv9BwMDSctctbgFeovpCI.html
A study group constituted by Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has recommended that the Centre compensate people whose houses and crops were damaged and cattle killed or injured during ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the international border (IB) and the LoC in J&K . 5-member study group was set up in Oct. 2017 to examine problems faced by people living near the international border and the LoC due to repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan. According to latest data released by MHA, ceasefire violation by Pakistan along LoC rose a massive 238% in 2017. Group also recommended relocation of civilian population during ceasefire violations, construction of bunkers for civilians, self-protection trainings for local population and better watch and monitoring by security forces. A senior home ministry official said the group has recommended that the provision for compensation under the National Disaster Relief Fund be reconstituted.While previously, families of victims killed during cross-border firing by Pakistan were compensated, the border population will now receive compensation for damages to their homes, crop and live stock. hindustantimes
Need to regain lost trust in Kashmir:J&K Governor Vohra
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/need-to-regain-lost-trust-in-kashmir-says-jk-governor-nn-vohra-5008971/
Jammu :Batting for regaining the lost trust and negating the misgivings in certain sections in J&K , Governor N N Vohra on Tuesday said the state Govt sees 2018 as a year of opportunities and a period for fully exploiting all possible openings and opportunities.He also called for tough and targeted actions by the security forces to ensure that the arc of violence does not spread from the fringes to the mainstream, to disrupt the lives in the valley yet again.PTI
Pulwama CRPF camp attack: Valley encounter ends, Afzal Guru ‘badla’ was inscribed on gun seized
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pulwama-crpf-camp-attack-valley-encounter-ends-afzal-guru-badla-was-inscribed-on-gun-seized-5008046/
Srinagar:: 37-hour gunfight, triggered by the fidayeen attack by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad militants on CRPF training centre in south Kashmir, ended Monday morning with the killing of a third militant. On Sunday, five paramilitary personnel and two militants were killed. A video, recorded before the attack, by one of the slain militants also surfaced on social networking sites.“The operation continued throughout the night. One of the militants who was hiding was killed and the operation was concluded,” Special DG, CRPF, SN Srivastava said. “Since it is a big campus and there are a large number of buildings, search operation is going on. We want to discount chances of anybody hiding there. Though the chances (of any militant hiding) are bleak, we want to be doubly sure”.Srivastava said the militant killed on Monday morning was a foreign national. Security forces found an AK-47 on him with an inscription: “Afzal Guru ka Badla,” said CRPF IG Ravideep Sahi said.The inscription is in line with Jaish’s method of linking its attack with the 2013 hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. In fact, 2014-15 saw a series of early morning attacks in J&K where attackers left a note about the attack being a revenge for Afzal Guru’s hanging. indianexpress
Govt reserves more than Rs 10,000 crore for internal security in J-K, Northeast, Maoist regions
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-reserves-more-than-rs-10-000-crore-for-internal-security-in-j-k-northeast-maoist-regions/story-JMT4rK9Dl63yMMKAJ36pVN.html
New Delhi:More than Rs 10,000 crore has been earmarked for internal security related expenditure in J&K , Northeastern region and Maoist-hit areas, Union minister Hansraj Ahir said in Lok Sabha.The funds worth Rs 10,132 crore will be given in three years from 2017-18 till 2019-20 under the Rs 25,061 crore umbrella scheme of modernisation of police forces announced on Sept. 27, he said during the Question Hour.PTI
No plans to give general amnesty to militants, Maoists:Govt
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-plans-to-give-general-amnesty-to-militants-maoists-govt/story-hioQvQDx9GMeZ2iuBMTxKK.html
The Govt has no plans to give general amnesty to the militants in J&K and Maoists who give up violence and arms struggle, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.“There is no proposal for general amnesty to the militants,” minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said in reply to a written question.PTI
No plans to give incentives for inter-religious marriages: Govt in Lok Sabha
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-plans-to-give-incentives-for-inter-religious-marriages-govt-in-lok-sabha/story-Hj8cSprItlgoJcNsKucc4J.html
New Delhi: Govt has no plan as of now to provide incentives for inter-religious marriages, similar to the sops given for inter-caste marriages, union minister Vijay Sampla said on Tuesday.“As of now, there is no plan to extend the scheme (Dr Ambedkar Scheme for Social Integration) to inter-religion marriages,” he said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Under the centrally-sponsored scheme for implementation of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, incentives for inter-caste marriages, where one spouse is a member of SC is provided. The marriage has to be registered under the Hindu Marriages Act, 1955, the minister of state for social justice and empowerment said.PTI
Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha Seeks to Allow Ayurveda, Homeopathy Doctors to Practice Allopathy
https://thewire.in/209730/bill-introduced-in-lok-sabha-allowing-ayurveda-homeopathy-doctors-to-practice-allopathy/
New Delhi: Doctors pursuing Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, and homoeopathy may be allowed to practice allopathy after clearing a bridge course, according to a Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha.National Medical Commission Bill, 2017, which seeks to replace the existing apex medical education regulator, the Medical Council of India (MCI), with a new body, was moved by the Govt in the house on Friday. Clause 49 of the Bill calls for a joint sitting of the National Medical Commission, the Central Council of Homoeopathy and the Central Council of Indian Medicine at least once a year “to enhance the interface between homoeopathy, Indian Systems of Medicine and modern systems of medicine”.It has also proposed that specific educational modules or programmes for developing bridges across the various systems of medicine and promotion of medical pluralism, can be done with the approval of all the members present in the joint sitting.“The joint sitting, may, by an affirmative vote of all members present and voting, decide on approving specific bridge course that may be introduced for the practitioners of Homeopathy and of Indian Systems of Medicine to enable them to prescribe such modern medicine at such level as may be prescribed,” according to the Bill.It provides for the constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and rating of medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission.PTI
Retired Army captain goes on rampage in Palwal, Haryana, kills 6:PTI
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/retired-army-captain-goes-on-rampage-in-palwal-kills-six/1/1122119.html
Palwal: A retired Army captain, believed to be mentally ill, today allegedly bludgeoned six persons to death with a rod in a killing spree here that lasted about two hours, police said.The accused, identified as Naresh Dhankhad (45), went on the rampage between 2 to 4 am in a two km stretch between Agra Chowk and Camp Colony, taking advantage of low visibility due dense fog.He killed his first victim in the second floor of a private hospital, before hitting the streets to kill five others and injure one.A resident of Macchgar near Ballabhgarh, Dhankhad also attacked the policemen when they tried to nab him.He had joined the Army in 1999 as a lieutenant and taken retirement on medical grounds in 2003. He then joined the Haryana Agriculture department as an assistant development officer in 2006, a police spokesperson said. He was working as a sub-divisional officer with the Health Dept.His first victim was a woman named Anjum who was an attendant of a person admitted in the ICU of the hospital. The incident was recorded on a CCTV camera and the accused can be purportedly seen coming inside the doors wearing trousers and a sweater and carrying the rod.He then went to Agra Road intersection where he killed three more people. Then a little farther, he killed two others by repeatedly hitting them on the head.His brother, Chandrapal, claimed that Dhankhad was mentally ill and was being treated by a doctor in Muradnagar, spokesperson said.
‘Solution to all problems can be found in Quran’
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/solution-to-all-problems-can-be-found-in-quran/articleshow/62329641.cms
Nagpur:A 'Quran Conference' of wing GIO of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) was conducted at Raut Hall, Gorewada Ring Road, on Sunday.Rizwanur Rahman Khan, who was presiding over the programme, said that the Quran is a divine book and is the shows the best path for all the humans. "It is beneficial for everyone. Hence we must read it, understand it and follow it wholeheartedly in our lives."Echoing similar views district president of women's wing of JIH Sabiha Hashmi said, "Quran is a guide of our life. It encompasses all the knowledge in the world. Everything that science is telling us is already there in Quran which was written around 1,400 years ago. So, following it will be beneficial for human kind."Calling Quran the solution to every problem in life, former CAC member of GIO, Zeba Khan said, "Be it the case of adulteration, transactions, or a case of crime or punishment. The solution to every single problem exists in this holy book. It leads us towards success. It is so powerful that it can even help the mankind to go to heaven or get saved from going to hell."CAC member of GIO Aamra Yasmin said that Quran consists of biographies of many eminent personalities and advised everyone to live a life like them. She said, "If we live our life like those individuals, it will help us to get saved from lies, fraud, crudity, evil and others negative thoughts."While Sana Mubashshira, district president of GIO, conveyed the objectives of the conference, Sadiya Sahar recited the Quran.In addition to the conference, a Quran exhibition was also organized which was highly praised by all the women and girls. A large number of women and children attended the programme. timesofindia
Eminent Urdu poet Anwar Jalapuri dies at 71
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/eminent-urdu-poet-anwar-jalapuri-dies-at-71
Lucknow: Eminent Urdu poet Anwar Jalalpuri, also known for his translation of the Bhagavad Gita from Hindi to Urdu, passed away here on Tuesday following cardiac arrest, a hospital official said. He was 71.Jalalpuri was admitted to the trauma centre of King George's Medical University (KGMU) here on Dec 28 following a brain stroke, the hospital said.He had slipped and fallen in a bathroom and sustained a head injury. He was on ventilator since then.His condition worsened late Monday and he breathed his last around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a hospital spokesman said.Jalalpuri was awarded the Yash Bharati by the UP Govt .IANS
New headache for Rupani: After Nitin Patel, another minister expresses displeasure over portfolio
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/vijay-rupani-nitin-patel-amit-shah-gujarat-minister-parshottam-solanki-displeasure-over-portfolio-5009017/
Gandhinagar : In yet another headache for the CM Vijay Rupani-led Gujarat Govt , five-term MLA Parshottam Solanki on Tuesday expressed his displeasure on the allocation of portfolios. Solanki, who is a Koli, said the inadequate representation of the community in the council of ministers had hurt its sentiments. After deputy CM Nitin Patel, Solanki is the second minister to have voiced his resentment at the allocation of portfolios in the cabinet.Solanki, 56, MLA from Bhavnagar, has been allocated the Fisheries Department and has been conspicious by his absence from Swarnim Sankul 1 & 2 in Gandhinagar, which houses the offices of the CM, deputy CM and state ministers. However, the MLA called upon Rupani on Tuesday and expressed his displeasure over being allocated just one portfolio. indianexpress
UP: Unable to fill up exam forms, madrassa students on edge
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/unable-to-fill-up-exam-forms-madrassa-students-on-edge/articleshow/62329174.cms
Bareilly: It has been a week since examination forms for UP Board of Madrassa Education have arrived online, but whenever Zakir Ali, manager of a madrassa in Bareilly, tries to open the portal to fill forms for his 150 students, a message pops up: “Madrassa not locked by district minority welfare officer (DMO). Please contact DMO for locking.” Madrassa has not yet been verified by the district minority welfare officer. Hundreds of madrassas across UP are in a similar situation. The last date for submission of exam forms is Jan. 15. There are nearly 4,000 madrassas which will see ‘alia’ level (class X) exams.Yogi Govt had launched a portal for madrassas in August this year and made it compulsory for institutions to get themselves registered here. The details submitted by madrassas on the portal have to be verified by DMOs who have to lock the institutions to complete the registration process. This year, the Govt has asked madrassas to submit exam forms of their students on the same portal. Wahidullah Khan Saeedi, national general secretary, All India Teachers Association Madaris-e-Arabia, said, “I have come to know that of the total 507 aided madrassas in the state, 75 have not yet been locked. If this is condition of aided madrassas, we can assume that majority of unaided madrassas are still awaiting their documents to be verified.” timesofindia
WORLD
Israeli bill strengthens East Jerusalem occupation
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/israel-passes-bill-making-harder-divide-jerusalem-180102051600496.html
Israeli legislators have approved a bill that makes it more difficult to divide Jerusalem.The bill passed early on Tuesday and stipulates that two-thirds support is needed in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, before Israel can relinquish control over any portion of the holy city to a foreign entity, according to local media. The bill is widely seen as intended to make it more difficult to give up part of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority, which wants the city's eastern half to be the capital of an independent Palestinian state.The bill, backed by Israel's ruling right-wing coalition, was passed with 64 Knesset members voting in favour and 52 against, according to the Haaretz newspaper.Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Oragnisation's executive committee, said the bill would "destroy" hopes for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He went on to blame the US for the move, saying it was the outcome of a decision by President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Trump also said he intended to move the country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The decision prompted widespread condemnation and protests in the occupied Palestinian territories and around the world. In a non-binding resolution, the United Nations General Assembly declared the US move "null and void".The legislation also seeks to remove Palestinian neighbourhoods from the jurisdiction of the current Jerusalem municipality, affecting two Palestinian areas - Kufr Aqab and the Shuafat refugee camp - that are already on the other side of Israel's separation wall and are systematically neglected, the report noted. Most Palestinians in Jerusalem hold permanent resident status, not Israeli citizenship, and their status can be revoked at any time for multiple reasons, forcing them to leave the city.Israel has revoked nearly 15,000 Palestinian residency permits in Jerusalem since it took control of the city in 1967, Human Rights Watch estimates."The new Jerusalem law is a race law; it's a law meant to cleanse Jerusalem of its Arab residents," Israeli legislator Esawi Freige said during the vote on the bill, according to Haaretz. "After the Israeli Govt chose to erect a wall within Jerusalem, now it is seeking to remove 100,000 of its residents from the city." aljazeera
Israel Changes Law to Make it Harder to Cede Jerusalem Control:Reuters
http://www.news18.com/news/world/israel-changes-law-to-make-it-harder-to-cede-jerusalem-control-1620883.html
Likud decision to annex West Bank represents ‘Israeli apartheid,’ says Arab MK
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180102-likud-decision-to-annex-west-bank-represents-israeli-apartheid-says-arab-mk/
An Arab member of parliament in Israel, Yousef Jabareen, has described the Likud party’s decision to annex Area C of the occupied West Bank as representing “Israeli apartheid,” Alwatanvoice.com reported on Monday. Jabareen is a member of Law and Justice Committee in the Knesset.“Palestinians accepted the two-state solution as part of the Arab Peace Initiative, which reserves only 22% of Palestine’s historic land for them,” said MK. “However, Israeli Govt does not accept this and is planning to annex Areas B and C and this abolishes any horizon for creating a sovereign Palestinian state.” He added that such an annexation establishes an apartheid system which gives the Palestinians some degree of autonomy in the major Palestinian cities. “This is similar to the South African Bantustans [under apartheid white rule].” middleeastmonitor
Jordan allocates initial $2 million for joint pipeline project with Israel
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180102-jordan-allocates-initial-2-million-for-joint-pipeline-project-with-israel/
Jordan has allocated around $2.1 million in the 2018 national budget for a gas pipeline linking the Hashemite Kingdom with Israel. According to Al-Ghad newspaper on Sunday, the cost of the joint Jordanian-Israeli project is expected to rise to $4.2 million in 2019, and to $8.5 million by 2020. Pipeline will pass over the Sheikh Hussein border crossing, 90 km from Amman. In Sept. 2016, Jordan’s Govt -owned National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) and Noble Energy signed an agreement to import 40% of the Kingdom’s electricity-generating needs from Israel. Noble Energy owns 39% of the Leviathan natural gas field in Israeli territorial waters.A statement issued by NEPCO at the time said that the agreement “enhances opportunities for regional cooperation and will make Jordan part of the EU and the Union for Mediterranean project to utilise the gas fields discovered in the East Mediterranean.” The natural gas provided by Noble Energy, it continued, will allow Jordan to utilise the gas fields discovered in the territorial waters of Palestine, Cyprus and Egypt. middleeastmonitor
Iran death toll rises to 21 people as protests continue
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/deaths-reported-iran-anti-Govt -protests-180102072448238.html
A number of Iranians have died amid ongoing nationwide anti-Govt protests that began last week in various cities across Iran.9 Iranians were killed in Isfahan province alone during anti-Govt protests on Monday night.State TV said on Tuesday that 6 people were killed in Isfahan's central town Qahderijan - during a raid on a police station -and 1 more in Khomeinishahr. According to state media, rioters were attempting to break into the station to obtain weapons.In addition, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said a member of Basij militia and a police officer were killed in Najafabad, 350km south of the capital Tehran, on Monday.According to reports, an IRGC soldier was shot by an assailant using a hunting rifle in Najafabad. Overall, at least 21 people have died in Iran during six days of protests, according to state media.In the same period, at least 20 people have been killed and about 450 people n arrested, with the Tehran governor's deputy giving the following breakdown: 200 on Saturday; 150 on Sunday; and 100 on Monday. On Tuesday, Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused "enemies" of the state of stirring unrest in the country.He said that "enemies" of Iran have allied and used the various means they have available including "money, weapons, politics, and intelligence services" to stir unrest as nationwide anti-Govt rallies continue. aljazeera
Why did protests erupt in Iran?Ahmad Sadr, aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/protests-erupt-iran-180101142214891.html
Middleeasteye: Senior Saudi royal and father of Alwaleed bin Talal on hunger strike over purge
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/senior-saudi-royal-hunger-strike-722949715
Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, the father of Alwaleed bin Talal and first progressive reformer in the House of Saud, has gone on a hunger strike in protest at the purge being carried out by his nephew Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the detention of three of his own sons. 86-year-old prince, who is the half brother of King Salman, stopped eating on 10 Nov., shortly after his first son, Alwaleed, was arrested on 4 November, and has lost 10 kilos in one month.Last week, a feeding tube was inserted into him, but his condition at the King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh remains weak, according to several people who have visited him.Many royal visitors and members of the business community have paid their respects to the frail prince. One of them spoke about the prince’s actions to Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity.He said the prince had made no public statement about his refusal to eat. When his half brother King Salman visited him in late November to express his condolences about the death of their sister, Madawi, the king was pictured kissing the hand of Talal, who was then in a wheelchair.The visitor said that the prince did not raise the issue of the arrest of his three sons with the king on that occasion because Talal did not want to use his access to the king to press for the release of his sons, while others remained in prison.However, he said there was no doubt as to why Talal had stopped eating: “We know him too well and why he is doing this. There is no medical reason why he has 'no appetite'."A month before his action, Talal told friends it was right to protest “civilly” to draw attention to the tyranny which his young nephew bin Salman is establishing under the cover of an anti-corruption purge.Talal’s presence at the hospital has become a meeting point for many of the Al-Saud family, and a way for them to witness what is happening, the visitor said. 3 of Talal’s sons have been arrested. Alwaleed bin Talal, the chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, and one of the world’s richest men with assets valued by Bloomberg at $19bn, has been in prison since the first day of the purge. According to informed sources, MbS is demanding that Alwaleed sign over ownership of the entire Kingdom Holding Company. He is refusing to do this. If a settlement is not reached, Alwaleed will demand a trial. Khalid, his full brother, lobbied for his brother’s release. Sources say that he got into an argument over his brother with a Govt official, and was subsequently arrested. Another younger brother was charged with affray.middleeasteye
China's advanced hypersonic missile threat to India, US, Japan: Report
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/chinas-advanced-hypersonic-missile-threat-to-india-us-japan-report/articleshow/62338864.cms
Beijing: China's new "hypersonic" ballistic missiles will not only challenge the defences of the US but also be able to more accurately hit military targets in Japan and India, a media report said on Tuesday.The report in the South China Morning Post comes after Tokyo-based The Diplomat magazine reported that China's rocket forces conducted two tests late last year of a new "hypersonic glide vehicle" or HGV, known as the DF-17.Citing US intelligence sources, The Diplomat last month reported that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force carried out the first test on November 1 and the second one two weeks later.Both tests were successful and the DF-17 could be operational by around 2020, the US intelligence sources were quoted as saying.PTI
Pakistan-US war of words over Trump's tweet: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/pakistan-war-words-donald-trump-tweet-180102055709366.html
Pakistan has hit back after accusations of deception and providing a safe haven for "terrorists", levelled by US President Donald Trump via Twitter.In his first tweet of the year on Monday, Trump threatened to cut aid to Pakistan for allegedly lying to the US and offering "little help" in hunting "terrorists" in Afghanistan.In a strongly worded response, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's foreign minister, said Trump is trying to blame Pakistan for its failure to win the war in Afghanistan."Trump is disappointed at the US defeat in Afghanistan and that is the only reason he is flinging accusations at Pakistan," Asif said.
China rushes to Pakistan's defence after Trump's outburst
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/china-rushes-to-pakistans-rescue-after-trumps-outburst/articleshow/62337077.cms
China defended Pakistan saying the world community should acknowledge its all-weather ally's "outstanding contribution" to counter terrorism, a day after Donald Trump lashed out at Islamabad for providing safe havens to terrorists.
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Triple talaq Bill is a remedy that can worsen the disease:Salman Anees Soz
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/the-instant-triple-talaq-bill-is-a-remedy-that-can-worsen-the-disease-5008112/
Don’t the Disabled Have the Right to Pray? Hajj guidelines flout Mental Healthcare Act, Rights to Persons with Disability Bill 2016: Jhilmil Breckenridge,Manisha Shastri
https://thewire.in/209715/dont-disabled-right-pray/
Until It Shines Light on Nature of Mass Surveillance, India’s Data Protection Committee Will Fail To Do its Job: Prashant Reddy
https://thewire.in/209569/shines-light-nature-mass-surveillance-indias-data-protection-committee-will-fail-job/
Those Fighting for Muslim Women’s Rights Must Stop Seeing Them as Hapless Victims:Sagnik Dutta, Cambridge scholar
https://thewire.in/209959/fighting-muslim-womens-rights-must-stop-seeing-hapless-victims/
The triple talaq bill is a distortion of the essence of the Supreme Court judgments: Abhishek Singhvi, MP, Congress spokesperson
http://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-triple-talaq-bill-is-a-distortion-of-the-essence-of-the-supreme-court-judgments/story-PQ74QAbj63CH1GfoDGpfCP.html
Far-right German MP slammed for anti-Muslim tweet
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/german-mp-slammed-anti-muslim-tweet-180102103702086.html
3 exhibitions explore Ayodhya, the Babri Masjid demolition, and the struggle of farmers
http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/sahmat-safdar-hashmi-memorial-constitutional-club-annexe-delhi-5007942/
Jaipur Is Doing Many Things to Do Well on Swachh Bharat Survey, But Cleaning Isn’t One of Them:The Wire
https://thewire.in/209891/jaipur-many-things-well-swachh-bharat-survey-cleaning-isnt-one/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:34 PM)
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