Evening NEWS DIGEST
21 Feb.2018:04 Jamadiul-2 1439:Vol:9, No:126
INDIA
CBI Court discharges Ex-Gujarat DGP Pandey in Ishrat fake encounter Jahan Case
https://thewire.in/226262/cbi-discharges-former-gujarat-dgp-p-p-pandey-in-ishrat-jahan-case/
New Delhi: A special CBI court in Ahmedabad discharged ex-Gujarat DGP PP Pandey in Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case. Pandey, one of 7 policemen and 4 IB officers accused in the case, is the first to be discharged.The court has said that it will upload its full order on the discharge by this evening.Pandey had been named in the original CBI chargesheet in the case, filed on July 3, 2013. Twice before, the Gujarat high court has rejected his petitions to have the FIR against him quashed.In his petition to CBI court, Pandey had said that the case is based on “circumstantial evidence” and the “chain of events have not been established prima facie and there is no material on record to show what could be the motive of Applicant/ accused to be a part of the so-called conspiracy”. He had also claimed CBI has “concocted the evidence by fabricating the statements of witnesses to somehow implicate Applicant/accused” for “political reasons” and that statements on his involvement are based “merely on suspicion”.His discharge petition had been opposed by both CBI and Shamima Kauser, Ishrat’s mother.CBI had said, “As explained in the chargesheet, it was disclosed during the investigation that deceased persons were in prior illegal custody and they were killed in a fake encounter. Sh.P.P. Pandey (applicant accused) was one of the conspirators in the alleged offence.…Investigation revealed his active involvement in the conspiracy.”Kauser had argued that Pandey was misconstruing the facts of CBI’s case in his petition and the case against him had been clearly laid out in the chargesheet. Speaking to The Wire after the court’s decision on Wednesday, Kauser’s lawyer Vrinda Grover said,“This discharge of Pandey is a signal that the Ishrat fake encounter and murder case is going the Sohrabuddin case route, where first all powerful accused were discharged and then witnesses turned hostile. Will this go the same route now? The pattern is the same.” The Wire
Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case: CBI court discharges ex-Gujarat DGP P P Pandey
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ishrat-jahan-encounter-case-cbi-court-discharges-ex-gujarat-dgp-p-p-pandey-5072609/
Jharkhand bans PFI, says members influenced by IS
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jharkhand-bans-pfi-says-members-influenced-by-islamic-state-5072092/
Jharkhand Govt has banned Popular Front of India (PFI), saying its members were “internally influenced” by IS. An official release issued on Tuesday said: “The action has been taken following a proposal of the Home Dept/ police on which the Law department has also given its consent”. The release further said the organisation has been most active in Pakur district.“PFI started in Kerala. The members of this organisation are internally influenced by the ISIS. Inquiry by Special Branch has revealed that some members of this organisation have gone secretly to Syria from the South Indian states and (are) working for ISIS,” it said.Recently, PFI tried to celebrate its Foundation Day in Pakur and put up posters in the town, saying they were going to hold “School Chalo (lets go to school)” programme, during which school bags and kits were to be distributed. However, police conducted flag march for a couple of days in the town and took down the posters.Last year in July, PFI filed a complaint before the court of CJM, accusing Pakur SP Shailendra Prasad Barnwal and 2 other police officers of custodial torture of some members of the minority community after a BJP leader, Hisabi Rai, was booked for allegedly inciting “gau rakshaks” for violence. Barnwal could not be reached for his comment.Principal Secretary (Law) Dinesh Kumar Singh said the decision to ban PFI has been taken in the wake of several reports of their increased activity. Asked whether the organisation, which claims to take up social causes of the minority community, was directly found to be involved in undesirable activities, Singh said that, as per report with the Govt , most such activities were being carried out in the background. Singh also said that a state Govt was within its jurisdiction to ban an organisation, even if its spread was not limited to the state itself.Jharkhand police spokesperson and ADG (Operations) R K Mullik said that the police would take requisite action, as per Govt orders. indianexpress
Jharkhand bans Popular Front of India for alleged IS links
http://twocircles.net/2018feb20/421026.html
No proof of ISIS links, says NIA on man accused of trying to sell wife as sex slave
http://www.news18.com/news/india/no-proof-of-isis-links-says-nia-on-man-accused-of-trying-to-sell-wife-as-sex-slave-1667923.html
New Delhi: NIA has so far not found any evidence to suggest that Muhammed Riyaz, whose wife accused him of forcibly converting her to Islam and attempting to sell her as a sex slave, has any links with the Islamic State. Top officials involved with the probe said that prima facie, no evidence has been found, but said ISIS link will be probed further. According to sources, the agency has also not found any evidence to link Riyaz to Kerala-based group PFI. "We are not giving a clean chit to anyone. But while in the Hadiya case, it is beyond doubt that her husband Shafin Jahan was a PFI member, in this case we will have to probe deeper," an official said. NIA had arrested Riyaz on Feb.3 from the Chennai airport after his return from Jeddah. His wife, Akshara Bose, had alleged that he blackmailed her into converting to Islam using a recording of their sexual encounter and also pressured her into marrying him. 9 other accused, including Riyaz's mother, his cousins and friends will be questioned next.Sources said that preliminary investigation establishes that the complainant was unhappy with Riyaz because he forced her to adapt to Islamic prayers and dress code. The marriage was also strained because of financial issues, they said. Riyaz in his statement to NIA had rejected all charges of rape, blackmail and links to ISIS. He called it a case of a marriage gone sour.news18
Hadiya Case: SC turns down father’s plea for adjournment
http://www.livelaw.in/hadiya-case-sc-turns-fathers-plea-adjournment-read-additional-affidavit-filed-asokan/
The Supreme Court today rejected the request of Hadiya’s father Asokan KM to adjourn hearing in the matter scheduled for Thursday. Asokan KM had requested CJI Dipak Misra to adjourn the hearing as he needed more time to file a reply to the affidavit placed before the court by his daughter wherein she has stated that she embraced Islam and married Shafin Jahan out of her own free will. CJI, however, turned down his plea saying the matter will be heard tomorrow as scheduled. It is to be noted that Hadiya had filed an affidavit before the apex court on Tuesday categorically stating that, “I embraced the faith/religion of Islam on my choice as per my conscience and on my own free will after studying about Islam and thereafter I married a person, namely Shafin Jahan, Petitioner herein, from the same faith as per my choice and on my own free will”.She has stated in the affidavit that his father was under the influence of certain sections of society who were trying to use him. Meanwhile, Asokan also had filed an additional affidavit before the court on Tuesday replying to the counter affidavits filed by the Markazul Hadiya of Sathyasarani Educational and Charitable Trust where Hadiya took lessons in Islam and AS Sainaba, the president of PFI women’s wing, who was once Hadiya’s guardian after the girl allegedly left her home to study Islam and later, when she refused in the Kerala HC to go with her parents.livelaw
PM Modi, Jordan’s king to address session on countering radicalisation of youth
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jordan-s-king-modi-to-address-session-on-countering-radicalisation-of-youth/story-KAmGrjvOizoyQj87nznE6M.html
New Delhi: PM Narenda Modi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II will address an event themed on measures against radicalisation of youth, as part of New Delhi’s “holistic plan” to counter extremism and terrorism, senior Govt officials said on Tuesday. Jordanian king arrives in India for a state visit on Feb. 27.The event at Vigyan Bhavan will be attended by religious scholars and policy makers, who will listen to the two leaders speaking on steps the countries need to take against efforts to radicalise young people, the officials added.“This event shows the importance the two countries attach to the issue of extremism and terrorism and a belief that a holistic approach is needed -- they cannot be defeated by the use of force alone”, said an external affairs ministry official, who asked not to be named.Modi had met King Abdullah II in Amman en route to Palestine earlier this month. Officials said the return visit was a continuation of the anti-terror efforts that India is making with the Gulf countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.“The running theme in all these efforts is the same -- countries must coordinate to counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred and justifying terrorism”, said another Govt official.“King has been urging all against the Takfiri ideology. His standing in the fight against terrorism and radicalisation is something every country welcomes and supports”, said the first official.HT
UP Haj House sealing: Muslim bodies, Opposition cry foul, seek action on officials
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/muslim-bodies-opposition-cry-foul-seek-action-on-officials/articleshow/63005274.cms
Ghaziabad:The sealing of the Haj House in Ghaziabad on Tuesday elicited sharp reactions from Muslim organisations and Opposition parties that accused the BJP Govt in the state of playing communal politics. Muslim organisations questioned why the complex was sealed by the state Govt , which owns the property, instead of ensuring that a sewage treatment plant was installed on the premises as per the requirements of the UPPCB. Haj House was constructed at a cost of Rs 51 crore. Its foundation stone had been laid by Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in March 2005, when he was the CM of UP. Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the building in Sept.2016, when he was CM of UP.“In UP, there are a number of Govt buildings and private institutions that do not comply with environmental norms. It comes as no surprise that this Govt has targeted the Haj House alone for violating pollution control standards. If pollution control norms were not followed, why is Govt reluctant now to punish the officials for non-compliance? Disciplinary action should be taken against all officials who were in charge of the construction and the contractor who executed the project,” said Navaid Hamid, the president, Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat.Khalid Rasheed, member of AIMPLB, said: “The building is a Govt property that was constructed by the Haj committee, which is a statutory body. It was built with money from the state exchequer and with the provision to provide lodging and accommodation to Haj pilgrims. If there are any shortcomings in the project, the Haj committee must see to it that they are addressed before the annual pilgrimage to Mecca begins this July. Haj pilgrims who stayed at the complex after its inauguration had indeed faced problems inside.”Opposition parties said the move by BJP Govt threatened the social and democratic fabric of the country.“The values of SP were different from those followed by the ruling party now. Our Govt had constructed the complex keeping in mind the religious values of different sections of the society. If this Govt had followed the same values, it would have taken necessary corrective measures to ensure compliance with pollution norms instead of sealing the building,” SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said. Congress echoed SP on the issue.“The building has not been handed over to us as yet by the construction and design services dept but whatever steps need to be taken for getting the plant set-up will be taken and expedited,” said Executive officer and Haj secretary Vineet Srivastava.TOI
Hyderabad: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind rules out any out-of-court settlement for Babri Masjid case
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/210218/hyderabad-jamaat-e-islami-hind-pitches-for-babri-masjid.html
Hyderabad: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) reiterated that it would continue its struggle for the construction of Babri Masjid at the place where it existed before. JIH ruled out any out-of-court settlement.Maulana Jalaluddin Umari, president of JIH, said that it has been 25 years since the gruesome Babri Masjid demolition took place. “JIH, in cooperation with the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, human rights organisations and justice loving people from all religions will continue the peaceful, legal struggle for reconstruction of the mosque,” Maulana Umari said.The JIH president also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. “Organised violence being perpetuated in an orchestrated way against the Muslim community is a matter of concern. It shows the communal bias in the state’s administration. In UP, the recent incident that sparked during the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ is an example of failure of the administration and police,” Maulana Umari said. The JIH expressed its concerns over the random arrests of Muslim youth subsequently after the violence. On the triple talaq issue, Maulana Umari said that the JIH feels that the Central Govt is unnecessarily introducing Bill in Parliament. “Bill goes against Article 25 of the Constitution of India that guarantees freedom and also against the recent judgments of the Supreme Court,” he said.Umari further said that after the recent Supreme Court judgment on triple talaaq, there was absolutely no need for the Bill. Meanwhile, the JIH welcomed the recent visit of PM Narendra Modi to Palestine.deccanchronicle
Passage of Muslim quota Bill in Parl unlikely: Jamaat
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/passage-of-muslim-quota-bill-in-parl-unlikely-jamaat/articleshow/63008343.cms
VHP’s Rath Yatra Must Be Stopped: Babri Petitioner
http://caravandaily.com/portal/vhps-rath-yatra-must-be-stopped-babri-petitioner/
New Delhi:As the Rath Yatra of 1990s for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya had left bloody imprints across the country and claimed thousands of lives, one of the petitioners in Babri Masjid case in the Supreme Court has appealed to the Govt to stop the new Rath Yatra that set off from Ayodhya last week on a two-month long nationwide tour.“A lot of blood has been spilled in the name of religion in our country. Who can forget LK Advani’s communal Rath Yatra in the 90s and the bloody riots that broke out after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Now, once again a communal Rath Yatra is making its way across India, in a bid to polarize the vote bank ahead of several key state elections scheduled to take place this year,” said Citizens for Justice and Peace .caravandaily
Salman Nadwi’s mistake unforgivable: Hasbullah Qasmi
https://www.siasat.com/news/maulana-salman-nadwis-mistake-unforgivable-maulana-hasbullah-qasmi-1321079/
Deoband:The key petitioner in Babri Masjid case pending with Supreme Court, Maulana Hasbullah Qasmi said Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi is a respected and revered scholar and thinker, however, this mistake of him is unforgivable. He has made an initiative to change Allah’s house (masjid) into a temple of idols. He said a masjid can never be changed into a temple under any school of thought. He said there’s no better way than the judiciary. Had the Maulana any sketch in his mind he should have first taken Jamiat Ulama and Muslim Personal Law Board in confidence. But he has taken a decision against larger interest. Speaking to media persons Qasmi said he has complete faith in the judiciary. We have almost won the case. He said Supreme Court’s pronouncement that the case will not be heard on the basis of ‘aastha’, is a victory for us.Maulana noted that even after winning the case it would be very difficult to reconstruct the Babri Masjid. But in case of a masjid, the issue is not of building but land. We should hope for best. And should not accept defeat feeling disappointed.siasat
Cuttack ; Women march against triple talaq bill
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/women-march-against-triple-talaq-bill/articleshow/63012203.cms
Bhubaneswar: Muslim women from Cuttack on Tuesday took out a rally and staged a demonstration in front of the district collector's office to mark their protest against the triple talaq bill which is awaiting passage in Rajya Sabha.This protest rally was organized by the city-based Majlis-E-Ulema O Huffaaz, an organisation of clerics.The women activists led by an executive body member of AIMPLB, Mamdooha Majid and general secretary of Majlis-E-Ulema O Huffaaz, Mufti Abdur Rehman, later submitted a memorandum to the district collector."We reject the bill and appeal to the Govt to take back this bill as it is against the Constitution of India and against women's rights and gender justice," the memorandum said.The memorandum also condemned the approach of the central Govt. TOI
200 Muslim orphanages in Kerala threaten to close down in defiance of SC order
http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/200-muslim-orphanages--in-kerala-threaten-to-close-down-in-defiance-of-sc-order.html
New Delhi: Close to 200 Muslim orphanages in Kerala have threatened to close down in defiance of a Supreme Court order asking all orphanages and children homes in the country to be registered under Juvenile Justice Act. Kerala-based Yateem Khana Association represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal claimed that the apex court's order of May 2017 was contrary to the very nature and purpose of Yateem Khana is to provide a home to those children who are either abandoned or stay away from their parents. Moreover, the instruction is religious in nature and being property of Waqf, the administration rests with the Wakf Board. On the other hand, children kept in Juvenile homes are those in need of care or in conflict with law and can even be taken up in adoption. If the Yateem Khana is registered under the JJ Act, it will lose its character and will run contrary to Muslim personal law which does not permit adoption. But the bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta felt that the institutions housing children must essentially be registered under JJ Act. Court's order was guided by numerous instances of child sexual abuse and rape of inmates in homes run by Govt, NGOs and other voluntary organisations.A majority of child care homes, according to information supplied to Court, are unregistered. This led the Court to think about the plight of children kept in these homes culminating in its order asking all states to crack the whip and register all orphanages and children homes under the 2015 Act.Sibal's client had filed an affidavit in the apex court claiming that they will shut down than come under the JJ Act. This offended the bench which said, "Such is your attitude that you suggest we have to close down and let the state look after the children.dailypioneer
RSS chief Bhagwat says people forcing Hindu-Muslim divide are uncomfortable with India's global rise
http://www.firstpost.com/india/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-says-people-forcing-hindu-muslim-divide-are-uncomfortable-with-indias-global-rise-4360539.html
Varanasi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday that those uncomfortable with India's rise globally were spreading false narratives by distorting history to create tension in the society."We have always been one. Before 1857, there was Hindu-Muslim amity in the country. But the British, in 1905 formed the Muslim League and spread radicalism in the society. Some people are still continuing it," Bhagwat said. Addressing volunteers in Varanasi, the RSS chief said the society had to be made aware of this "anti-India ploy". He asked Sangh workers to promote harmony.PTI
Kerala: Moulavi’s widow seeks UAPA against accused
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/moulavis-widow-seeks-uapa-against-accused/articleshow/63004115.cms
Kozhikode: Widow of Riyaz Moulavi alias Muhammad Riyaz, who was murdered inside a mosque at Choori in Kasaragod district on March 20, 2017 allegedly by RSS men, has filed a petition in the sessions court seeking imposition of UAPA against the accused.In the petition filed through advocate C Shukkur, Saida, said that there was no previous acquaintance between the deceased and the accused. The sole intention of the murder was to finish off a Muslim and the motive was communal hatred, she said.Police had arrested 3 RSS activists - Ajesh, Nithin and Akhilesh - in connection with the murder and are in jail as remand prisoners.Home secretary, SP and investigating officers are the respondents in the petition.TOI
Varanasi: Dalit-Muslim unity meet held to counter hate crimes in UP
http://twocircles.net/2018feb20/421020.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
More than a dozen socio-political groups gathered in Varanasi’s Shastri Ghat on Sunday, Feb.18 to develop a consensus against the rise in hate crimes against Muslims and Dalits in UP . Held under the banner of “Dalit-Muslim Jan Ekta Sammelan”, the meet-cum-seminar saw several hundred participants from areas of Mau, Jaunpur, Ahraura, Mubarakpur, Mughalsarai, Varanasi and Chandauli — all of which are part of eastern UP.The chief speaker at the event was Dr Shamsul Islam, a noted historian and theatre personality, who accused BJP and RSS of mending the history the way they want. “This practice is constantly underway. The country is turning into a laboratory of hate and violence,” said Dr Islam.Dr Islam further added that such unity chapters — like the one held on Sunday — will help in countering the attacks against Muslims and Dalits.Organisations involved behind the event are Insaf Manch, Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, CPI (ML), Rhythm All India Edrisi Adhikar Manch, Al-Quraish Welfare Society, All India Secular Forum, Mahila Jagriti Samiti, Jan Adhikar Manch, and Veer Abdul Hamid Foundation. Manish Sharma, a member of CPI(ML) coordinated the event.TCN
Ensure the Dalit voice is not stifled: Amnesty tells Indian states
http://twocircles.net/2018feb20/421023.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
New Delhi: Day after a Dalit activist immolated himself in Gujarat, Amnesty International on Tuesday urged the state Govt s to ensure Dalit protestors are not denied their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. “Gujarat authorities have a duty to maintain public order, but they must ensure that peaceful Dalit protestors can have their voices heard,” Asmita Basu, Programmes Director at Amnesty International India, said .“Recent years have seen a welcome upsurge of Dalit women and men challenging violence and discrimination and claiming their constitutional rights. But instead of addressing these concerns, authorities have often either tried to stamp out protests, or looked away when Dalit protestors are attacked by others,” she added.The statement from the human rights body came in the wake of self-immolation of Gujarat Dalit activist Bhanu Vankar over alleged delays in alloting land to Dalits in the state. Vankar died of burn injuries on February 16 after he set himself afire in front of a Govt office in Patan.Amnesty also cited several other cases, such as arrest of Dalit activist Chandrashekhar Azad and breakout of violence at Koregaon Bhima in Maharashtra’s Pune to criticise the Govt for its apathy against incidents where Dalits are the principal victims.IANS
Adityanath Hate CD, Found in Sealed Records a Decade Later, Was Never Sent for Forensics: thewire
https://thewire.in/226399/adityanath-hate-cd-found-sealed-records-decade-later-never-sent-forensics/
Allahabad: Yogi Adityanath’s legal fortunes may have turned for the worse. A potentially incriminating CD, which allegedly contains a hate speech by him and whose existence successive UP Govts have refused to acknowledge for a decade, has been found. It was discovered when two judges of the Allahabad High Court — no less — dramatically opened sealed court records in their courtroom two months ago.This CD allegedly contains a video of Adityanath making a hate speech against Muslims in Gorakhpur inJan.2007. Widespread violence against Muslims in and around Gorakhpur had followed that controversial speech. Adityanath was then a BJP MP from Lok Sabha seat of Gorakhpur. He became UP CM last March.In 2007, a Gorakhpur-based journalist, Parvez Parwaz, had filed a criminal complaint with the police against Adityanath for his speech and violence. But for ten years, successive govts of CM s Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav failed to prosecute Adityanath. Even the Supreme Court of India cleared the way for his prosecution in 2012 but the case never went to trial.Dissatisfied with the UP police from day one, Parwaz had in 2008 petitioned the high court for the investigation of his complaint to be transferred from the UP police to an independent central agency. That case, too, has dragged since.Last May, just weeks after Adityanath became CM, his Govt told the Allahabad HC that it had decided to not prosecute him for the 2007 speech and violence. The decision, the Govt said, was based on the findings of an official forensic examination that had ruled that a DVD of Adityanath’s said speech was “tampered with”.The Govt claimed that Parwaz had given this DVD to the police as evidence. Parwaz, however, denied he ever gave a DVD (or even a CD) to the police. He told the high court he had indeed submitted a CD (and not a DVD) containing Adityanath’s hate speech to CJM in Gorakhpur back in April 2008.In Nov.2017, Parwaz’s lawyer, Farman Naqvi, challenged the Govt to produce records to prove that his client had given a DVD to the police. As per procedure, such a document would have generated a “recovery memo” written by the probing officer, duly signed by witnesses present when Parwaz would have given DVD to the police. But Govt lawyers appearing in the case, including the advocate general, senior-most Govt lawyer in state, failed to provide such documentation. The only mention of a “CD” being given by Parwaz to the police is on the last page of the investigating officer’s “case diary”, entered on March 14, 2013. Even if this was true, and Parwaz had indeed given a CD/DVD to police on that day, the results of its forensic examination are useless legal tender.
Call for Dalit-Muslim unity to defeat right wing’s hate-mongering
https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/call-dalit-muslim-unity-defeat-right-wings-hate-mongering-1502589016.html
New Delhi : Muslim and Dalit leaders are struggling to find a way to deal with “institutionalised discrimination” of minorities without instigating the BJP to polarise society by raking up “minority versus majority debate” ahead of parliamentary polls.At a six-hour deliberation on Monday in the national capital, they decided to form a joint Dalit-Muslim front which will not only “protect the Constitution” but also work for strengthening plural ethos. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) has organised the event with the theme of ‘Country at Cross Road –The Way Ahead’ organised by Jamiat office.Speaking on the occasion, well-known social activist Professor Ram Puniyani said that RSS wants a Hindu nation since its inception. “If this Govt returned to the power, then Constitution cannot be protected,” he asserted adding that in the last four years, they have been dividing people by spreading fear, hate and communalism in the country with the help of social media. “If we want to save the country, the Constitution and its fraternity we have to act as one in the upcoming General Election against the BJP.” Puniyani added.Following the event, former MP and grandson of BR Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar urged people “to start a revolution to neutralise communal forces through cultural exchange.” Later in the event, JUH’s president Maulana Arshad Madani said, “Not only Muslims, the ruling party wants to erase Christians from the Indian geography. “It is a high time to form a common platform to fight against them,” he said.Hindu spiritual leader Swami Agnivesh emphasised that the recent events against Dalits and Muslims are horrifying. “We have to unite to fight against these forces,” he told the gathering.At the end of the programme, JUH’s general secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani said everyone knows that Muslims and Dalits have been targeted from last four years by a particular political party.Leaders and intellectuals from both communities such as Professor Kancha Ilaiah, Professor Ram Puniyani, Swami Agnivesh, Ashok Bharti, Prakash Ambedkar, Harsh Mandar, Qari Mahmood Usman, Maulana Mahmood Madani, Maulana Arshad Madani, Kamal Farooqui along with 200 others participated in the meeting. Moreover, leaders from other minority communities, including Sikh and Buddhists also participated in the event.thestatesman
Defeating BJP in 2019 is the key to save constitution, says resolution drafted by public intellectuals in Jamiat meeting
http://twocircles.net/2018feb20/421017.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Religious leaders came out in support of minorities in MP
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/religious-leaders-came-out-in-support-of-minorities-in-mp.html
Bhopal :Alarmed at the very large number of incidents of violence against the Christian community in India in 2017, and especially in Madhya Pradesh, religious leaders of the Hindu, Muslim and other religions have come out strongly in support of the minority community, demanding that the Govt take strict and urgent action against the groups responsible for such mayhem.Under the banner of All India Catholic Union (AICU) Acharya Sushil Goswami and Indore Shahar Quazi Mohammad Ishrat Ali led a galaxy of religious leaders of MP who spoke out against communal and extremist forces targeting the Christian and other minority groups.The occasion was a seminar organised by the 99-year-old AICU in Indore as part of its working committee meeting. Indore Archbishop Chacko Thottumarickal and Acharya Sushil later ratified a memorandum to be submitted to the State governor, CM and home minister, expressing concern that the state had seen 25 serious incidents of violence last year, Goswami said.The memorandum listed the incidents which include detaining of young children in the pretext of curbing conversions, assault on individual and mall prayer meetings, the attack on a Carol singing group during the Christmas season, and the growing involvement of the police and officials at various levels in such actions.dailypioneer
Minorities insecure; Govt indirectly encouraging Hindu extremists: Sahitya Akademi awardee
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/minorities-insecure-Govt -indirectly-encouraging-hindu-extremists-sahitya-akademi-awardee-118022100355_1.html
New Delhi: BJP-led central Govt indirectly encourages Hindu communal extremists by "shying away from acting against them", and this increases the insecurities of minorities, Sahitya Akademi awardee K.P. Ramanunni has said.In an interview with IANS, Ramanunni said: "The (central) Govt is not acting against the Hindu communal extremists. They are shying away from the issue. It is like indirect encouragement.""When it comes to atrocities against minorities, they are not taking strict measures according to the law," he said. "Minorities are insecure."Ramanunni, a Malayalam writer, made headlines last week when he gave away his Sahitya Akademi Award prize money, minutes after receiving it, to the mother of Junaid Khan, the 16-year-old Muslim boy who was killed in June 2017 in a train by a group of people who hurled communal slurs.He kept Rs 3 and handed over the rest of the Rs 1 lakh award to Junaid's mother Saira Begum.IANS
After Hindu group rally to support man accused of Muslim child’s rape and murder, Jammu rift widens
https://scroll.in/article/869164/hindu-groups-rally-for-accused-in-a-muslim-childs-rape-and-murder-sparks-communal-tension-in-jammu
“We did not expect even a thousand people to come out but 3,000-4,000 gathered,” said Vijay Sharma with a smile. On February 17, Sharma was at the magistrate’s court in Hiranagar in Jammu’s Kathua district. A practising lawyer and state secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sharma has recently taken on a new role: president of Hindu Ekta Manch, formed on Jan.23.Sharma sounded triumphant about the success of a rally his group had held 3 days earlier. The rally had been held to protest against the arrest of a special police officer charged with the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from the Gujjar-Bakarwal community in Kathua. Indeed, the group itself had been formed in response to the alleged targeting of Hindus during the investigation into the crime and a protest march by the largely Muslim Bakarwals seeking justice for the murdered child on Jan.21. Passing through the child’s Rasana village, the protestors had allegedly chanted “Pakistan zindabad”. It is an accusation the Bakarwals refute, pointing out that the police were escorting them all along.Nevertheless, Sharma alleged there was an attempt to “psychologically and morally depress Hindus”. The 55-year-old claimed that he has worked for the RSS since the late 1970s and has been associated with “Ram Mandir activity” as well as groups demanding a separate state of Jammu. In 2006, he formally joined the BJP and was its district president in Kathua from 2013 to 2015.His new role, he claimed, is apolitical. Those who have united in the Hindu Ekta Manch, he said, “have left their political ideologies behind”.scroll
With Scams and Bad Loans, Banks May Have Cost Each Indian Rs 7,600
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/pnb-bank-scam-fraud-costs-over-rs-7000-to-every-indian
Don’t think you escaped unharmed in the PNB scam. In a way, the price the banks now have to pay, will have to be paid by you. And the bill is so large, that this amount keeps increasing. According to the estimates so far, the cost of the scam is at around Rs 20,000 crore. Now if we started calculating the losses for the bank’s share prices dropping, the final number would be mind-boggling.Mistakes like the one made by PNB have also been made by many other national banks of late. Scams, unsound decisions and decisions taken on the directions of higher-ups that were bound to gut the bank.Let us assume that the country has lost Rs 7,34,000 crore. In order to fill that gaping hole of crores of rupees, the cost per person for every individual in the country would be Rs 5,600. Imagine, 130 crore Indian citizens would each lose Rs 5,600.thequint
PNB fraud: Centre opposes plea for SIT probe, SC adjourns hearing to March 16
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/feb/21/punjab-national-bank-fraud-centre-opposes-plea-for-sit-probe-sc-adjourns-hearing-to-march-16-1776710.html
Centre today opposed in the Supreme Court a PIL seeking an independent probe and deportation of jeweller Nirav Modi in the over Rs 11,000 crore PNB fraud case, saying that an FIR had already been lodged and a probe was on.A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it was at present not "saying anything on the matter" and listed the PIL filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda for further hearing on March 16.PTI
Bhima Koregaon riots : SC slams Maharashtra govt for not arresting Milind Ekbote
http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/supreme-court-slams-maharashtra-govt-for-not-arresting-milind-ekbote/1224883
Delhi: The Supreme Court has slammed the Maharashtra Govt for protecting Milind Ekbote, the founder of Samasta Hindu Aghadi, in the Bhima Koregaon riots case. Till now, the Govt counsel had held the stand that Ekbote is absconding and not to be found.However, Ekbote’s counsel told the apex court that his client has been willing to present himself to the police and is willing to cooperate with them. The counsel blamed the Pune police for not calling Ekbote for questioning. At which point, the apex court pulled up the state Govt for protecting Ekbote and misleading the court.Though the SC has extended the interim bail for Ekbote, it also criticised the state for the delay in investigations in this case. The state has been directed to hasten the investigations and the SC also said “If need be, Ekbote too can be arrested.” Though he has been granted an interim relief. The court is tracking the developments and said the decision on granting him relief will depend on whether he cooperates with the police. The hearing has been adjourned for March 14.freepressjournal
Cabinet approves India-Israel pact on film co-production
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/cabinet-approves-india-israel-pact-on-film-co-production?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delh:Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, retrospectively approved an agreement on film co-production between India and Israel, an official statement said. The pact was signed by Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu here during the latter's visit to India last month. The co-production of an Indian film means that its producer can access global funds and can collaborate on the script, talent and distribution at international level.Co-production of a film under this treaty will qualify it to be the national production both in India and Israel.
Delhi’s Trilokpuri area tense after communal clash
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/trilokpuri-tense-after-clash-between-two-dalit-communities-5071890/
New Delhi: Tensions simmered in east Delhi’s Trilokpuri on Tuesday evening, after two groups clashed over false rumours that a man from the Dalit community had died because he was assaulted four days ago. Police said a fight had taken place between two men from the locality a few days ago, and a Dalit man was allegedly assaulted. However, on Tuesday night, as locals watched news about the assault case, rumours spread that the man had died due to the beating. Local residents then resorted to stone pelting.“4 days ago, one of the men from area had been beaten up by members of another community. Police had arrested the accused. But today, there was a rumour that the man who was beaten up was found dead. The stone pelting started because of that,” said a police officer. Police got to know about the incident around 9 pm, DCP Omvir Singh Bishnoi said. 2 groups from block numbers 27 and 28 were part of the clash.“After receiving the PCR call, police rushed to the spot, but all locals had gone home by then. Police have been asked to maintain a strict vigil and reinforcements have been stationed in the area,”he added. indianexpress
China expanding its role in JK, has adopted JeM: state Minister
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-expanding-its-role-in-jk-has-adopted-jaish-e-mohammad-state-pwd-minister-naeem-akhtar-5070594/
New Delhi:J&K Public Works Minister and official spokesman of the J&K Govt Naeem Akhtar has said that China is on its way to assuming a “much bigger role in Kashmir” and the Jaish-e-Mohammad, group responsible for most of the terror attacks, has been veritably “adopted” by Beijing.It’s the “growing influence of China” which has made it imperative to engage with Pakistan, he said.“Unlike earlier, the great game is literally being played inside Kashmir,” Akhtar, a senior PDP leader, said. “Kashmir issue isn’t limited to the fight between India and Pakistan now. There is another major factor involved. It isn’t Pakistan alone, it is China too.General (Bipin Rawat) said that Army is ready to fight on both fronts. But there aren’t two fronts anymore. Now it is one single front, circling around. From Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Valley to Jammu, Sri Lanka and Maldives, it is all one front. Pakistan and China aren’t separate”.“All the big attacks inside J&K or even outside during last more than 3 years are attributed to JeM, a group led by Masood Azhar,” said Akhtar. “How can one not see that he (Azhar) has been adopted by China? There are reports of some action taken against Hafiz Saeed. What about Masood Azhar? Even a lesser figure like Salahudin has been listed as a global terrorist in UN but the great wall of China has been erected around Azhar.China has been regularly vetoing attempts to designate him (Azhar) as a terrorist in UN. Such things don’t happen without reason. Why only him? Why not others? Why didn’t China block such moves in UN against other people?China connection needs to be understood”. “At this point, talking to Pakistan and initiating policies of reconciliation inside Kashmir is in the national interest. It is in our national interest that Pakistan doesn’t get irretrievably sucked up by China,’’he said.“And when we say talk to Pakistan,we are addressing our own Central govt because they have to take that step. We aren’t seeking anything from anybody other than the central govt.That’s our right”.indianexpress
Trudeau-Amarinder one-on-one meet: Khalistan, militancy major issues
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/210218/trudeau-amarinder-one-on-one-meet-on-indo-canada-ties-in-talks.html
Amritsar: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau met Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh for a one-on-one meeting at the Taj hotel. CM Amarinder Singh said he took up with Canadian PM, the militancy concerns the state was facing.He also raised the issue of Khalistan, as money has been flowing in from various countries including Canada, Amarinder said after the meeting. According to reports, the Punjab CM also interacted with other members of the Canadian cabinet, including three Sikh ministers.Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Siddhu, earlier on Wednesday, told ANI, "20-minute meeting between Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau can take Punjab 20 years ahead. This visit will strengthen India and Canada relations, it is a mutual symbiosis which can transform both the countries."Trudeau and a delegation of Canadian ministers and MPs were received at the Amritsar international airport on Wednesday by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab’s Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.Trudeau paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines, during his about an hour-long stay in Amritsar. deccanchronicle
Justin Trudeau tells Amarinder Singh: Canada did not support any separatist movement in India
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/canada-does-not-support-any-separatist-movement-in-india-trudeau-tells-amarinder-singh-5072783/
Delhi’s Tees Hazari Court dismisses Police’s application seeking custody of the 2 AAP MLAs
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/delhi-court-dismisses-polices-application-seeking-custody-two-aap-mlas/174009/
Delhi’s Tees Hazari Court on Wednesday dismissed the application moved by the city police seeking the custody of the two AAP MLAs, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal. Both MLAs were arrested in connection with the alleged assault on Delhi’s chief secretary, Anshu Prakash.While Jarwal was arrested last night, the Okhla MLA had surrendered before Jamia Police Station on Wednesday. Khan was later arrested before being produced before the Delhi court on Wednesday afternoon. Bail hearing moved by both MLAs will commence shortly, reported ANI.This was after Delhi Police took VK Jain, Delhi CM ’s advisor, into its custody in the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash case. This came just hours after the cops had taken AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal into custody in connection with the same case.jantakareporter
Another AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in police custody, Okhla MLA surrenders at Jamia Nagar Police Station
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/aap-mla-amanatullah-khan-in-police-custody/173929/
Khan, Jarwal targeted for being Dalit, Muslim: AAP
https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/khan-jarwal-targeted-for-being-dalit-muslim-aap-1174544-2018-02-21
New Delhi: AAP today cried foul over the arrest of two of its MLAs for allegedly attacking Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, and claimed the two were being targeted as they belong to the Dalit and minority communities. Rejecting the charges of assault on the chief secretary, AAP leader Ashutosh said the top bureaucrat has not produced evidence against Prakash Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan, and yet the two lawmakers were arrested.An attempt is being made to "malign" the partys image, he claimed. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the Police is yet to take action in another case of assault against Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain and Delhi Dialogue Commissions vice-chairman Ashish Khetan at the Delhi Secretariat, despite they providing a video evidence of the attack.Hussain and Khetan have claimed they were attacked at Delhi Secretariat yesterday and have filed separate complaints with the police."11 MLAs were present at the meeting at CM 's residence and yet only Prakash Jarwal, a Dalit MLA, and Khan were arrested. Why?" Ashutosh told reporters.Jarwal and another AAP MLA, Ajay Dutt, filed a complaint with the Delhi Police and National Commission for Scheduled Castes against Chief Secretary Prakash for using derogatory and casteist remarks.Singh said Dalits were being targeted in BJP-ruled states."Dalits were flogged in Una, a Dalit man was killed for sporting a moustache. There are cases of Pehlu Khan," Singh said.PTI
New law cannot cure pre-Aadhaar Act ‘data breaches:SC
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/new-law-cannot-cure-pre-aadhaar-act-data-breaches-says-supreme-court/article22816551.ece?homepage=true
Mere absence of a law can be cured by subsequently enacting one with a retroactive effect, but this new law cannot cure “breaches” that occurred prior to it, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud observed orally during a Constitution Bench hearing in the Aadhaar challenge.The judge, who is a part of the Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, was referring to the mass collection of personal data from citizens during the pre-Aadhaar Act years from 2009 to 2016. The Aadhaar law came into existence in 2016.thehindu
SC stays criminal proceedings against a Song
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/supreme-court-stays-criminal-proceedings-priya-prakash-varrier/173946/
The Supreme Court stayed the criminal proceedings against India’s new crush Priya Ptakash Varrier in relation to the song Manikya Malarayi Poovi.Priya had moved the Supreme Court earlier this week against the FIR filed against her and the makers of the movie in Telangana by a group of Muslims, who said the lyrics of the viral songs were objectionable.jantakareporter
Expelled BSP leader Siddiqui may join Congress
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/expelled-bsp-leader-naseemuddin-siddiqui-may-join-congress/articleshow/63002469.cms
Lucknow: Will expelled BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui join the Congress? The question has assumed much significance in the wake of reports of the former BSP national general secretary likely meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday.Sources said that Siddiqui may also merge the Rashtriya Bahujan Morcha -- an apolitical outfit he formed post his expulsion from BSP -- with the Congress. Mayawati had expelled Siddiqui on charges of usurping party funds.His expulsion typically come soon after BSP faced a humiliating defeat during 2017 UP assembly polls. Mayawati had projected Siddiqui her party's key Muslim face during the state elections, even as she attempted to woo the Muslim vote bank to take on the BJP.Sources said that Siddiqui was also in touch with the Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. However, his plans did not materialise amid speculations of he seeking a senior position within the party fold. timesofindia
Hyderabad: Muslims fume over baby pamper
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/210218/hyderabad-muslims-fume-over-baby-pamper.html
Hyderabad: Activists of the Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahadat on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the Dabeerpura police alleging that a company engaged in production and distribution of baby pampers had shown disrespect to Prophet. In a complaint, they alleged that `Standard Baby Dry Pants’ company had printed the word `Mohammed’ in Urdu and Arabic on each pamper. “We consider the word Mohammed very sacred and the company had deliberately printed on each pamper and intended to hurt the Muslim community,” said one of the complainants Shahnoor Khan. He added that it was a wilful attempt to spark communal unrest in the city. “We Muslims have faith and strong belief that Prophet Mohamed is holy personality in Islam and such disrespect cannot be tolerated by whom Muslim community. “Following similar spotting in Kashmir, the protest was held there. We as law-abiding citizens approached the police. Deccan Chronicle
With dismal response MANUU scraps M.Phil course
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2018/feb/21/with-dismal-response-manuu-scraps-mphil-course-1776561.html
Hyderabad: In the recently-released admission notification of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) for the academic year 2018-19, varsity has scrapped the MPhil course citing dismal response to it. The notification is for admission into regular Ph.D, PG undergraduate diploma certificate courses offered by the Hyderabad campuses. The regulation will be applicable for all its satellite campuses, polytechnics and colleges for teacher education across the country. In the 2017-18 academic year for the 11 departments of the varsity, there was zero enrolment in 6 for MPhil. “Last year, we had some 10-15 students taking up MPhil. In view of the response, the academic council has decided to withdraw the course. This is one of several reforms we have initiated this year,” said PF Rahman, director of admission of MANUU.
SIO’s national conference: Preparations in full swing, Kejrwial to be chief guest
http://www.okhlatimes.com/sio-national-conference/
SIO is organising All India Conference with the theme reclaiming dignity designing future on Feb.23, 24, 25 at Dawat Nagar (JIH Markaz) in Abul Fazal Enclave.Nearly 8,000 student representatives across the nation will take part in conference, said Syed Azharuddin, National Secretary SIO of India. Preparations for the event are in full swing with SIO members seen making arrangements on the Jamaat campus which is being decked up to adjust more than 8,000 people. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Guest,he said.okhlatimes
Maldives leader Nasheed gets Delhi cold shoulder
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/nirmala-sitharaman-maldives-crisis-mohamed-nasheed-gets-the-delhi-cold-shoulder-5072051/
Top sources at the Ministry of Defence Tuesday said that former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed had not briefed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about the situation in his country when they met in Bengaluru last Sunday.The clarification came after Nasheed, who lives in exile in Colombo, tweeted a photograph of him seated across Sitharaman with a caption: “Pleasure to meet and brief Indian Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman on the situation in the Maldives.”Ministry sources in New Delhi said that the meeting that Nasheed referred to was an “unscheduled, chance meeting in Bengaluru on the sidelines of a function organised by a well-known Chennai-headquartered media house. Further, there was no discussion on the situation in the Maldives.”indianexpress
WORLD
Syria: Civilian deaths cross 270 in 'relentless bombing' of East Ghouta
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/death-soars-syrian-forces-continue-pound-ghouta-180221112229120.html
Syrian forces backed by Russian warplanes have continued to hit the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, with at least 27 killed on Wednesday, bringing the number of civilian deaths to more than 270 - including 60 children - over the past three days.The civilians who lost their lives on Wednesday morning were in the town of Kafr Batna, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.More than 300 others have suffered from wounds in one of the most fierce attacks in the area since 2013, when a gas attack killed more than 100.The "relentless" bombing, that Amnesty International said amounted to war crimes, has damaged and destroyed 6 hospitals and medical points across the city, residents say."Civil Defence bases have been targeted throughout Eastern Ghouta. We lost valuable equipment and members of our team," Abulwafa, the aid worker, said."The regime is deliberately killing civilians," he said.Another means of pressure is the imposition of a "crippling" blockade, which has been in place for more than four years. aljazeera
No more words to describe kids suffering in Syria: UNICEF
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-unicef-says-no-more-words-to-describe-children-suffering-in-syria/
UNICEF has issued a blank statement on Tuesday, expressing anger at the killing of a large number of children in the besieged Eastern Ghouta and Damascus.“No words will do justice to children killed, their mothers, their fathers and their loved ones” UNICEF’s regional director, Geert Cappelaere said at the beginning of the statement.The statement then had 10 blank lines with quote marks indicating missing text.A note accompanied the statement read “UNICEF is issuing this blank statement. We no longer have the words to describe children’s suffering and our outrage. Do those inflicting the suffering still have words to justify their barbaric acts?”.MEMO
Six Syria enclave hospitals bombed in two days: UN
http://www.india.com/news/agencies/six-syria-enclave-hospitals-bombed-in-two-days-un-2905769/
Amman:Six hospitals have been struck over two days in the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, putting three out of service and killing several people, the UN said today.“I am appalled and distressed by reports of the horrifying attacks against six hospitals in East Ghouta over the past 48 hours,” said Panos Moumtzis, UN’s regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis.In addition to the six listed by the UN, another key hospital was hit and put out of service today, the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said. AFP
Egypt puts prominent leader critical of Sisi on terror list
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/egypt-puts-prominent-politician-critical-of-sisi-on-terrorism-list/article22807694.ece
Cairo: An Egyptian court put ex-presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh on a terrorism list, MENA reported, following his arrest for alleged contacts with the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Abol Fotouh, who leads the Strong Egypt party, was arrested last week a day after returning from London, where he had given interviews sharply critical of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ahead of next month's presidential poll.The Interior Ministry said at the time that Mr. Fotouh held secret meetings with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood while in London to implement a plot to stir unrest and instability in the country, accusations he denied.Sisi is almost guaranteed to win a second term in a presidential election slated for March 26-28, but the vote has been criticised by rights groups after a number of potential competitors called off their campaigns, citing intimidation, and a top challenger was arrested.Fotouh along with 15 others were added to the list by the state security prosecution, found they had joined an outlawed organisation “aiming to harm the interests of the state,” MENA said.Reuters
Bahrain court sentences right activist Nabeel Rajab to 5 years in prison for criticising govt
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/bahrain-court-sentences-right-activist-nabeel-rajab-to-5-years-in-prison-for-criticising-govt/story-x2rFTgJkdu9VKqi2vfpfMI.html
Dubai: A prominent human rights activist in Bahrain was sentenced Wednesday to 5 years in prison over tweets alleging prison torture in his country and misconduct in Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, despite wide international criticism of his trial. Nabeel Rajab’s sentencing marks the latest chapter in a years long crackdown on dissent in Bahrain, a tiny island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia that’s home to US Navy’s 5th Fleet. He’s already serving a two-year sentence handed down in July over television interviews he gave that included criticism of Bahrain.Rajab has been hospitalized several times during his most-recent incarceration over heart problems and ulcers.AP
Pak refuses to disclose details of fresh troops deployment in Saudi
http://www.navhindtimes.in/pak-refuses-disclose-details-fresh-troops-deployment-saudi/
Pakistan Govt has refused to provide details of its decision to send over 1,000 soldiers to its close-ally Saudi Arabia for deployment, prompting Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani to threaten Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir with “contempt of Parliament proceedings”.Pak Army announced on Feb. 15 the decision to send troops to Saudi on a training and advise mission. Making a policy statement in the Senate, the upper house, Defence Minister Dastagir said that “Pakistani troops are being dispatched to Saudi Arabia and they are only meant for imparting training to Saudi security personnel instead of entangling themselves in Yemen war”.He told lawmakers that over 1,000 contingent will be dispatched shortly as part of the decision.Currently, around 1,600 Pakistani troops are on deputation in Saudi under a bilateral agreement.PTI
Opposition: Netanyahu era has ended, prepare for polls
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-israel-opposition-netanyahu-era-has-ended-prepare-for-elections/
Israeli opposition parties are reportedly preparing for an election after a confidant of PM Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to turn state witness and testify against the premier, according to Jerusalem Post.Suspended Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber signed a state’s witness deal last night as part of police investigation into Case 4000, which accuses Netanyahu of attempting to benefit telecoms company Bezeq in return for favourable coverage on Walla! News website. Months of investigation have seen Israeli police arrest numerous senior Israeli businessmen and close associates of PM, as well as questioning Netanyahu himself. middleeastmonitor
Israel to expel Palestinian villagers in April, makes way for new Jewish town
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-israel-to-expel-palestinian-villagers-in-april-makes-way-for-new-jewish-town/
Israeli authorities will expel the residents of Umm Al-Hiran, a Bedouin Palestinian village in the Negev, in a matter of weeks, as plans proceed to build a new Jewish town in its place.Yair Maayan, head of the Govt authority for Bedouin “resettlement” in Negev,told Jerusalem Post that Umm Al-Hiran’s residents – all Israeli citizens – will be forced out in April.“Israel Lands Authority has issued eviction notices”, Maayan said yesterday, adding that the plan was to force the villagers to live in Hura, a Govt-approved Bedouin town.Umm Al-Hiran is to be demolished in order for a new town, Hiran, to be built in its place,“which is to be populated mostly by religious Jews”.MEMO
India has nothing to worry about China-Bangla ties:Hasina
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-has-nothing-to-worry-about-china-bangladesh-ties-sheikh-hasina/story-j9YUvZZZmZyGCSAPquyVyH.html
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has asked India not to worry about Dhaka’s growing ties with China, asserting that the cooperation with Beijing was meant only for the country’s development. Hasina said her Govt was only concerned about the development, and is ready to cooperate with any country that helps Bangladesh’s growth.“We want investment and cooperation from whoever offers it. We want development of the country...We have to think about our people as they are the beneficiaries of the development,” Hasina on Tuesday told a delegation of visiting Indian journalists at her official residence. She said India,China, Japan and even the Middle Eastern countries were coming to Bangladesh for cooperation.“India has nothing to be worried about it,” Hasina said.PTI
Israel’s anti-azan bill allows police to storm mosques
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-israels-anti-athan-bill-allows-police-to-storm-mosques/
Israeli MKs and minister have been working to introduce a new copy of what is known as the “Muezzin Bill” to give power to police to break into mosques to silence Muslim call to prayer, Quds Press reported. The bill, which had preliminary Knesset approval in March 2017, is planned to be proposed to parliament soon.According to Israeli website, new amendments give addition power to Israel Police that enables officers to break into mosques in Israel and Jerusalem, confiscate loudspeakers and impose fines up to $2,860 on those said to be violating the law.middleeastmonitor
Israel demolishes EU-funded house in East Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-israel-demolishes-eu-funded-house-in-east-jerusalem/
Israeli bulldozers demolished yesterday a Palestinian house funded by the EU in the Jabal Al-Baba neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem, Quds Press has reported. Representative of the Bedouin Gathering Atalla Al-Jahalin said that the bulldozers demolished the one-story house under the pretext of having no building license.Speaking to Quds Press, Al-Jahalin said that the house was owned by Hani Abu-Eweeda and a 13-member family lived inside it.He noted that the house, whose residents became displaced, was demolished without prior notice by Israeli authorities.middleeastmonitor
Report: No food, blankets for Palestinian prisoners in Israel prison
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-report-no-food-blankets-for-palestinian-prisoners-in-israel-prison/
Palestinian prisoners held in Israel’s Etzion Prison have been given only one very small meal and one blanket each during the cold winter months, a report by the PLO’s Committee of Prisoners and Freed Prisoners revealed yesterday.According to the Committee, the meal consists of a small cup of yogurt and a small piece of bread every day, noting that this policy started three days before the report was published.Detainees also only have one blanket which is insufficient protection from the winter temperatures, it added. Mattresses and blankets are often wet because rainwater leaks into the cells, many are not rotting.middleeastmonitor
Hamas preparing for a post-Abbas era
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-hamas-preparing-for-a-most-abbas-era/
Hamas is preparing for the period after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is no longer in power, Osama Hamdan said today.In a statement, the official said: “Hamas is preparing for the post-President Abbas era, and Dahlan was not and will not be one of our options.”“We have three cards of strength which we should not lose sight of: the resistance, the nature of the issue which is not easily ended, and the changing political climate.”“Fatah movement is not suffering the way we are suffering in Gaza, but Fatah is in a quandary …. And I think that President Abbas’ political career has ended.”Hamdan pointed out that “what [chief Palestinian negotiator] Saeb Erekat said about the crisis in the [Palestinian] Authority and the negotiations team and security coordination, the continuation of settlements and Judaisation of Jerusalem confirm this, but the problem is the inability of this team to do what is right.”middleeastmonitor
Ambassador: Saudi-Russia missile deal in final stages
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180221-ambassador-saudi-russia-missile-deal-in-final-stages/
Negotiations towards brokers a deal which would see Moscow supply Riyadh with Russia’s S-400 missile defence system have reached their final stages, Saudi Ambassador in Moscow Raed Bin Khaled Qrimli said yesterday.“There are detailed discussions between the two parties on the final arrangements and technical issues, especially with regards to the transfer of technology and information,” Saudi’s Okaz newspaper quoted Qrimli telling Russia’s TASS news agency.middleeastmonitor
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
A Country Where Sanskrit Deserves Preservation, But Urdu Doesn’t;FAIZAN MUSTAFA
https://thewire.in/226180/a-country-where-sanskrit-deserves-preservation-but-urdu-doesnt/
Watchdog journalism is being replaced by guard dog journalism:Karan Thapar
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/stooping-to-cover-narendra-modi-interview-indian-media-journalism-5071858/
Gudiya, the Nirbhaya of Himachal, Forgotten!Tikender Singh Panwar
https://newsclick.in/gudiya-nirbhaya-himachal-forgotten
Elections Will Not Affect the NRC Process:Newsclick
https://newsclick.in/elections-will-not-affect-nrc-process
BJP Lays Siege On Delhi’s AAP Govt:Subodh Varma
https://newsclick.in/bjp-lays-siege-delhis-aap-govt
‘We know nothing of their politics’: Will Tamil Nadu’s Muslims back Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth?Sruthisagar Yamunan
https://scroll.in/article/869395/we-know-nothing-of-their-politics-will-tamil-nadus-muslims-back-kamal-haasan-and-rajinikanth
More Than Women, Triple Talaq Denies Men Their Rights: Salman Khursid; news18
http://www.news18.com/news/india/triple-talaq-denies-men-their-righs-more-than-women-salman-khursid-1667071.html
Why Pakistan is sending 1,000 troops to Saudi:Dania Akkad's
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pakistan-saudi-troops-yemen-royal-family-parliament-159951688
In Kerala, a growing greed for dowry is pushing women into unhappy ‘Salem marriages’: K Rajendran
https://scroll.in/article/867856/in-kerala-a-growing-greed-for-dowry-is-pushing-women-into-unhappy-salem-marriages
How Saddam Hussein’s Old Ideology May Have Contributed to the Modern IS: MYRIAM BENRAAD, Professeure Leiden University
https://thewire.in/225875/saddam-hussein-ideology-islamic-state/
Prasar Bharati Act vests authority, resources in the corporation. I&B ministry still owns all that it surveys;Mrinal Pande
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-deceit-called-autonomy-prasar-bharati-act-5071837/
Kashmir's CM urges dialogue with Pakistan:by Rifat Fareed , aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/kashmir-chief-minister-urges-dialogue-pakistan-180221115857616.html
Marital Connections: Rotomac Kothari, Adani, Panama Papers Et Al:SHIV NAIDU
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/13097/Marital-Connections-Rotomac-Kothari-Adani-Panama-Papers-Et-Al
Media Dept. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:42 PM)
For free internal circulation
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