Evening NEWS DIGEST
22 Feb.2018:05 Jamadiul-2 1439:Vol:9, No:127
INDIA
Maulana Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF grew faster than BJP: Army Chief
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/maulana-badruddin-ajmals-aiudf-grew-faster-than-bjp-says-army-chief-bipin-rawat-5073523/
New Delhi :Underlining that the “population dynamics” of the North-East region can no longer be changed, Army chief General Bipin Rawat Wednesday referred to the “faster pace” of growth of Maulana Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam.Speaking at a seminar on ‘North East Region of India — Bridging Gaps and Securing Borders’, organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff of the Ministry of Defence, General Rawat said, “I don’t think you can now change the population dynamics of this area. If it was 5 districts to 8 to 9… the inversion has taken place, whichever be the government.”“There is a party called AIUDF, if you look at… they have grown in a faster time-frame than BJP has grown over the years. When we talk of Jan Sangh with two Members of Parliament and where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam. Finally, what will be the state of Assam, we will have to take a call,” he said.“I think we have to understand, we got to appreciate to live with all the people we live in the region, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or sex. I think if we understand that, we can live together happily but the best part is to amalgamate the kind of people that are living there, than identifying the people trying to create trouble for us,” he said.“We will have more trouble in segregating people, identifying people. Yes, some people have to be identified who are creating trouble for us, who are illegal immigrants. But as was brought out, the Muslim population actually started coming into Assam from 1218 to 1226, that was the first time that the Muslims actually entered Assam. We have to understand that they are not late arrivers, they are the early arrivers, came concurrently with the Ahoms. Both these people have claim to the state of Assam and, therefore, to the North-East region.”“Migration from Bangladesh is due to two reasons. One is they are running out of space. Large areas get flooded during the monsoon and they have constricted area to stay. The other issue is planned immigration, which is taking place because of our western neighbour. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over. It is the proxy dimension of warfare,” he said.“This proxy game is being played very well by our western neighbour, supported also by our northern neighbour,” he said.indianexpress
Army chief says Pakistan, China playing proxy war in India’s Northeast; political row erupts
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/indian-army-chief-bipin-rawat-says-pakistan-china-playing-proxy-war-in-indias-northeast-big-row-erupts/1075383/
New Delhi: The comments of Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat at a conference in Delhi on Wednesday has triggered a big row. Speaking about India’s Northeast in a conference at DRDO Bhavan in Delhi, General Rawat said that Pakistan, with the support of China, is playing a proxy war in India’s Northeast and the influx of people in the region from Bangladesh is “planned.” Army chief said that the “planned immigration” is taking place in Northeast because of Pakistan. He also said Islamabad will “always try and ensure that this area is taken over, playing the proxy dimension of warfare,” according to PTI. While talking about the influx of people from Bangladesh into the Northeast, Army chief said the “proxy game” is being “very well” played by Pakistan, which is supported by China, to keep India’s Northeast disturbed. Talking about the solution, the Army chief called for “identifying the problem” and looking at it “holistically”. Rawat said migration from Bangladesh was happening because of two reasons: First, they are running out of space. Second, large areas get flooded during the monsoon and they have constricted area to stay.financialexpress
Bangladesh influx part of Pakistan’s proxy war with China aid: Army chief
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bangladesh-influx-part-of-pakistans-proxy-war-with-china-aid-army-chief/articleshow/63021257.cms
Army chief says AIUDF has grown at faster pace than BJP
https://scroll.in/latest/869584/army-chief-blames-pakistan-china-for-planned-migration-from-bangladesh-into-northeast-india
Shocking that Army chief is indulging in politics: Badruddin Ajmal
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aiudf-president-badruddin-ajmal-army-chief-bipin-rawat-political-statement-5073892/
New Delhi:Reacting to Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat’s comments on his party’s growth, AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal said on Thursday that it was “shocking” for an army chief to indulge in politics. The AIUDF leader also asserted that his party’s growth was due to misconduct of the mainstream political parties. AIUDF official account shared Ajmal’s post on Facebook which read, “General Bipin Rawat has made a political statement, shocking! Why is it a concern for the Army Chief that a political party, based on democratic and secular values, is rising faster than BJP?” the post read. “Alternative parties like AIUDF, AAP have grown because of the misgovernance of big parties. By making such statement, isn’t the Chief of Army Staff indulging into politics which is against the constitutional mandate given to him?”Rawat’s comments were met by strong opposition by some, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who criticised Rawat saying it was not his work to comment on the rise of a political party. Owaisi also added that “democracy and Constitution” allow different political parties to grow and “Army will always work under an Elected Civilian leadership.”indianexpress
AIUDF head urges president to take note of Army chief’s ‘political’ remarks on his party
https://scroll.in/latest/869619/aiudf-head-urges-president-to-take-note-of-army-chiefs-political-remarks-on-his-party
Ajmal hits back at Army chief for ‘political statement’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ajmal-hits-back-at-army-chief-for-political-statement/article22824294.ece
Congress urges army chief to stay out of politics
http://www.firstpost.com/india/bipin-rawats-statement-on-aiudfs-rise-irks-badruddin-ajmal-aimim-congress-urges-army-chief-to-stay-out-of-politics-4362493.html
BJP has not responded to Army Chief 's statement so far, but the Congress requested Rawat to stay out of politics, Times Now reported. "As the army chief, he should not be making political statements. He should be working as a thorough professional,"Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said. firstpost
Army chief shouldn't speak such political comments: Congress leader Meem Afzal
http://www.abplive.in/videos/army-chief-bipin-rawat-shouldn-t-speak-such-political-comments-meem-afzal-655962?ref=hp_news_14&rs_type=internal&rs_origin=home&rs_medium=news&rs_index=14
Owaisi tells Army chief: Not your work to comment on the rise of AIUDF
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/asaduddin-owaisi-general-bipin-rawat-army-aiudf-5073720/
New Delhi;AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday criticised General Bipin Rawat for talking about the rise of Maulana Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF in Assam, saying the Army chief should not interfere in political matters as it is not his work to comment on the rise of a political party.In a tweet, Owaisi also reminded General Rawat that the Army will always work under an elected civilian leadership in India. Meanwhile, Aminul Islam, AIUDF MLA said that their party is working for the downtrodden and that’s why AIUDF’s popularity is growing faster than BJP.“We are hopeful that people of Assam irrespective of caste and creed, will accept AIUDF and our party will come to power soon,” Islam told ANI.indianexpress
Bipin Rawat's statement on AIUDF's rise irks Ajmal, AIMIM; Congress urges army chief to stay out of politics
http://www.firstpost.com/india/bipin-rawats-statement-on-aiudfs-rise-irks-badruddin-ajmal-aimim-congress-urges-army-chief-tostay-out-of-politics-4362493.html
Nothing political or religious in Gen Rawat's AIDUF comment, Army says after chief triggers row
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-chief-triggers-row-after-saying-assam-s-aiudf-has-grown-at-faster-time-frame-than-bjp-1175165-2018-02-22
Soon after Army General Bipin Rawat started getting criticised for making 'political' statements, the Indian Army sought to downplay its chief's comments. There is nothing political or religious in the talk."There is nothing political or religious in the talk.Army Chief just mentioned amalgamation and development in the seminar on North-East organised at DRDO Bhawan on 21 Feb 18," ANI quoted the Indian Army as saying today morning.The event mentioned in Army's response was a seminar on 'North East Region of India - Bridging Gaps and Securing Borders' that General Rawat addressed.IndiaToday
'Nothing political or religious': Army clarifies General's remarks on AIUDF's rise in Assam
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-nothing-political-or-religious-army-clarifies-general-bipin-rawat-s-remark-on-aiudf-2587456
Army has not submitted its version of events to inquiry panel investigating JK's Shopian shooting: Report
https://scroll.in/latest/869633/army-has-not-submitted-its-version-of-events-to-inquiry-panel-investigating-shopian-shooting-report
Army has not submitted a report to the inquiry panel that is investigating the deaths of 3 civilians at Ganowpora village in J&K’s Shopian district on Jan.27, Rising Kashmir reported on Thursday.Shopian Deputy Commissioner of Shopian Aijaz Assad, who is conducting the magisterial inquiry into the incident, told the newspaper that he had written to the sector headquarters of the Army concerned. However, they wrote back asking him to seek the details from Army’s 10th Garhwal Rifles unit, which was involved in the incident. Army unit, however, has not yet responded to his letter.The main witnesses too have not yet appeared before him and the administration is trying to persuade them to record their statements, Assad said. “What would be the outcome of inquiry unless eyewitnesses give their statements?” he asked. “They [witnesses] have said that they will decide on it. We are waiting for them.”The official said that he had collected reports from the areas near the village. “We have got some statements from the peripheral areas of the incident site but not exactly from the place of incident, which is required.”On Jan.27, the soldiers had objected to a black flag with Islamic inscriptions perched across a lane in Ganowpara village. Their demand to remove the flag, commonly associated with the Islamic State group, did not go down well with the villagers, who took it as an infringement on their religious beliefs. This triggered the clashes, with the protestors pelting the Army convoy with stones. 3 men were killed after the Army opened fire.scroll
J&K Police charge protestors with sedition for criticising BJP: The Tribune
https://scroll.in/latest/869615/jammu-and-kashmir-police-charge-protestors-with-sedition-for-criticising-bjp-the-tribune
Jammu and Kashmir Police have turned a Daily Diary Report into a First Information Report and charged unidentified people with sedition for criticising BJP, The Tribune reported on Wednesday.“We have registered an FIR under Section 124/A of the RPC against unidentified persons for shouting objectionable slogans during the cremation of Suresh Kumar Choudhary,” Ramgarh Station House Officer Bansi Lal Sharma told the newspaper.Choudhary died after being injured in shelling on January 19. His cremation was held on February 5. Those who attended the cremation shouted slogans against BJP, and accused the party of ignoring border residents.After this, the police were reportedly pressurised to book victims of border shelling for sedition, according to The Tribune. Unidentified policemen told the daily that they were asked to specifically target former serviceman Choudhary’s family who accused the BJP of using border residents as “cannon fodder to reap political benefits”.scroll
Now, outburst against BJP invites sedition charges
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/now-outburst-against-bjp-invites-sedition-charges/547508.html
Fresh row during Trudeau’s visit: Convicted Khalistani militant among dinner guests, invite later scrapped
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/justin-trudeau-jaspal-atwal-sophie-trudeau-india-canada-5073658/
New Delhi : In what is turning out to be a massive public relations disaster for the visiting Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, it has now emerged that a Canada-based Khalistani activist, convicted in the attempted murder of a Punjab Minister in 1986 was invited to two events organized for Trudeau, in Mumbai and in Delhi.As photographs of Canadian PM’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, and one of the Canadian ministers, emerged which showed them with Jaspal Atwal, a known Khalistani activist, at a reception in Mumbai, the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday said that they have rescinded the invitation to the reception in Delhi.Atwal was convicted of attempted murder in 1987, after shooting Malkiat Singh Sidhu, who at the time was visiting family on Vancouver Island. He is a former member of ISYF,a pro-Khalistani outfit that was banned in Canada and designated a terrorist organization in 2003. While Atwal was seen with Canadian official delegation, questions about his presence in India remain unanswered — as to how he entered India after having been convicted of trying to assassinate an Indian politician.This latest incident stirred a fresh controversy on Trudeau’s ongoing visit, which is being perceived to be cold-shouldered by the Indian government. Trudeau’s Liberal party-ruled Canadian government has been perceived to be kowtowing with the pro-Khalistan sections of the Sikh community in Canada. New Delhi has been peeved with the Trudeau government’s approach.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not accompanied Trudeau during the Gujarat visit, whereas he had accompanied three visiting world leaders, Japan PM Shinzo Abe, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the last three-and-half years. He has also not yet sent a welcome tweet for the visiting Canadian PM’s visit, as has been customary in the past.While he did not receive Trudeau at the airport, the Ministry of External Affairs has maintained that such a departure from the protocol is done with a few exceptions. In the last 3-and-half years, Modi has gone to the airport to receive only about half-a-dozen times – Abe, Netanyahu, US President Barack Obama, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and the UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. However, there have been more than 100 visits by leaders from across the world.Trudeau’s ongoing visit, with his family, has been photographed almost every step of the way, as they have travelled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Amritsar and now in Delhi. However, only junior ministers from Union govt have received him so far.While all this has been seen as India’s indifferent approach to express its displeasure over his party’s outreach towards pro-Khalistan elements in the Canadian Sikh community – a sizeable vote bank, Trudeau – during his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is understood to have assured that Canada does not support any separatist movement in India or elsewhere. Singh has been one of the most vocal about the pro-Khalistan moorings of Trudeau’s govt.indianexpress
Invite to Khalistani militant to an event with Justin Trudeau revoked after row
https://scroll.in/latest/869599/convicted-khalistani-militant-invited-to-dine-with-justin-trudeau-event-called-off-after-row
Canadian PM Trudeau visits Delhi’s Jama Masjid
https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-visits-delhi-s-jama-masjid-see-pics/story-krX71B9CXelggL4oNHhAAO.html
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Delhi’s Jama Masjid with his wife and three children on Thursday morning. Trudeau arrived at around 9.45am and went around the complex accompanied by authorities. He was present in the complex for about 20 minutes, during which he posed for pictures with his family.Ever since the minister and his family arrived in India, their colour coordinated outfits have been making news on social media. But this time, during their trip to Jama Masjid, the Trudeaus decided to keep it simple. The PM and his children dressed in formal cream-coloured shirts. His wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, wore a bright-yellow maxi-dress printed with orange flowers. She used a pale-yellow dupatta to cover her head.Ahead of their visit, the streets leading to the Jama Masjid had been cleared of traffic. The Trudeaus were ushered in through Gate number 3. Before their arrival, the road leading to this gate had also been cleaned. Only pedestrians were allowed.HT
Allahabad HC Dismisses Plea Seeking CBI Probe Adityanath role in Gorakhpur Riots case
http://www.news18.com/news/india/gorakhpur-riots-allahabad-hc-dismisses-plea-seeking-cbi-probe-against-yogi-adityanath-1668301.html
New Delhi: Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition demanding CBI investigation into UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s alleged role in the 2007 riots in Gorakhpur, his then Lok Sabha constituency.A division bench, headed by Justices Krishna Murari and AC Sharma, delivered the verdict and declined to entertain the petition against the BJP leader.This judicial victory for Yogi comes just days after the CM had got a major reprieve from the Allahabad High Court, which dismissed a petition seeking criminal charges against him in connection with the riots.Passing an order on the revision petition filed by Rashid Khan, Justice BK Narayana directed CJM Gorakhpur to decide the matter afresh. The verdict was earlier reserved by the High Court on Dec.22, 2017.The petition, which stood dismissed, was filed in 2008 by Mohammad Asad Hayat and Parvez. The Gorakhpur riots had resulted in one person’s death and were blamed on Yogi’s alleged hate speech. The then Gorakhpur MP was arrested and he remained in custody for 11 days.The petition had demanded a probe against Yogi under sections 302, 307, 153A, 395 and 295 of the IPC, which pertain to murder and rioting.The case was being investigated by CB-CID of Uttar Pradesh Police and the hate speech recording tested positive against a voice sample of Yogi in 2013. CB-CID, however, couldn't charge-sheet the then MP since the Akhilesh Yadav-led government didn't sanction the prosecution order.In the last affidavit, filed on February 17 last year, CB-CID said it hadn't received permission from the UP government. An investigating agency needs the government's approval to prosecute any person booked under sections 153a and 295 of the IPC.The petitioners had raised apprehensions that the CB-CID may not conduct an impartial inquiry. Passing an order on the revision petition filed by Rashid Khan, Justice BK Narayana, however, directed the CJM Gorakhpur to decide the matter afresh. The verdict was earlier reserved by the High Court on December 22, 2017.news18
No Re-investigation Into CM Yogi Adityanath's Alleged Role in 2007 Gorakhpur Riots Case: Allahabad HC
http://www.india.com/news/india/gorakhpur-riots-2007-allahabad-high-court-rejects-petition-seeking-re-investigation-into-cm-yogi-adityanaths-alleged-role-2908411/
Sohrabuddin killing: Bombay HC says prosecution case unclear, CBI not helping
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sohrabuddin-killing-bombay-high-court-says-prosecution-case-unclear-cbi-not-helping-5073500/
Mumbai: Hearing petitions challenging the discharge of some of the accused in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case of 2005, the Bombay High Court said on Wednesday that it was still unclear about the prosecution’s case, pointing to lack of assistance on the part of CBI.“What is the prosecution case about? No one has informed me yet,” said Justice Revati Mohite Dere, adding that the CBI had argued only on the limited points in the applications filed by it against the discharge of Rajasthan police constable Dalpat Singh Rathod and Gujarat police officer N K Amin.“It is the primary responsibility of a prosecuting agency to place all evidence on record before the court. However, the CBI has argued only on the role of the two officials whose discharge it has challenged,” said the judge.The court has been hearing revision applications in these cases since February 9. Of these, three applications have been filed by Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin, challenging the discharge of former Gujarat DIG D G Vanzara and IPS officers Dinesh MN and Rajkumar Pandiyan, along with two applications filed by the CBI challenging the discharge of Rathod and Amin.While hearing these applications last week, Justice Dere had said she was not getting the assistance which she should be getting in the case. “I want a larger picture placed before me, not just isolated statements,” she had said. She had also questioned the protection being provided by the CBI to the witnesses in the case.In the almost two weeks since the hearing began, she has been asking CBI to place on record relevant documents related to the case.Asking the CBI to “at least assist the court by giving all the 164 statements of witnesses”, the judge said it was the duty of the “CBI to submit it before court.”“This is the primary responsibility of the CBI. It is always for the prosecuting agency to bring all information on record,” said Justice Dere on Wednesday, responding to the lawyer of one of the accused, who said that Rubabuddin’s lawyer should have provided relevant documents to the court.The court was hearing arguments related to the discharge application of Rajkumar Pandiyan. Rubabuddin’s lawyer, advocate Gautam Tiwari, pointed to statements to show that Pandiyan was accused of “intimidating, threatening certain witnesses and getting them to give false statements relating to Sohrabuddin and Prajapati”.Pandiyan is alleged to have been a part of the Gujarat ATS team which drove from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad on Nov. 20, 2005, and picked up Sohrabuddin.indianexpress
Sohrabuddin case: Bombay HC rebukes CBI for not giving enough evidence against accused
https://scroll.in/latest/869591/sohrabuddin-case-bombay-hc-rebukes-cbi-for-not-giving-enough-evidence-against-accused
Ishrat fake encounter case: CBI court rejects SP Amin’s plea for inspecting probe records
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ishrat-jahan-encounter-case-cbi-court-rejects-amins-plea-for-inspecting-probe-records-5073614/
Ahmedabad: The special CBI court rejected the application of accused retired SP NK Amin seeking permission to inspect records of previous investigations by Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch and Gujarat High Court-appointed SIT into the Ishrat Jahan encounter case.In his order, Special Judge J K Pandya said “the case is at the stage of framing of charge, and at this stage the accused can’t seek or view the investigation reports/statement of witnesses, documentary evidence etc”. The order said that these documents will be made accessible only after charges are framed.indianexpress
Can a court interfere when consenting adults say they married, asks Supreme Court in Hadiya case
https://scroll.in/latest/869598/can-a-court-interfere-when-consenting-adults-say-they-married-asks-supreme-court-in-hadiya-case
CJI Dipak Misra on Thursday asked whether the court could interfere when two consenting adults say they married at will. Misra made the statement while hearing the case of Hadiya, whose conversion from Hinduism to Islam and marriage to a Muslim man set off a political and legal maelstrom.“We cannot say this marriage is not in her best interest,” the bench said, according to News18. “We cannot decide whether it is a right choice. We cannot annul a marriage on the ground that the person she has married is not the right person.”The SC questioned whether a High Court can annul a marriage on the basis of a habeas corpus petition, Live Law reported.Kerala HC’s order annulling Hadiya’s marriage to Jahan in May 2017 was justified under Article 226, Advocate Shyam Divan, who appeared for Hadiya’s father Ashokan said as there was material to prove that a “well-oiled apparatus” was working to convert “vulnerable adults”. Divan also urged the SC to hear what NIA has to say on its inquiry into the “huge trafficking case”, Bar and Bench reported.Advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing Hadiya’s husband Shafin Jahan, dismissed the claim that Hadiya had said she wants to go to Syria to rear sheep. It was Hadiya’s father Ashokan, upset with her for converting to Islam and marrying Jahan, who told her that she would be trafficked to terrorist countries, Sibal said.The court adjourned the case for further hearing on March 8, ANI reported. Scroll
Hadiya case: SC again asks if Kerala court can annul marriage between two consenting adults
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-love-jihad-case-sc-again-questions-if-hc-can-annul-marriage-of-hadiya-5073867/
Hadiya case: Courts cannot annul marriage between two consenting adults, says Supreme Court
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hadiya-case-courts-cannot-annul-marriage-between-two-consenting-adults-says-supreme-court/article22823474.ece?homepage=true
Uttar Pradesh in last 10 months: 921 encounters, 33 deaths and an NHRC notice to Yogi Adityanath govt
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-in-last-10-months-921-encounters-33-deaths-and-an-nhrc-notice-to-yogi-govt-5019691/
On Tuesday, history-sheeter Channu Sonkar became, in Azamgarh, the 30th person killed by UP police in encounters in the less than 10 months since March 20, 2017, when the current government took over. The 30 were killed in 29 encounters while three policemen were killed in separate encounters — out of 921 during that period.On November 22, the National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the state government over 19 encounters in six months. Records accessed by The Indian Express show at least 29 encounters so far in which wanted men were killed. In the month-and-a-half since the notice, eight encounters — 3 in the new year — have led to the death of eight wanted men and a constable. The government says it has yet to receive the notice from the NHRC, which had given it six weeks to reply. “We have so far not received any notice from NHRC in connection with the deaths in police encounters,” principal secretary (home) Arvind Kumar said Wednesday.indianexpress
Vipul Ambani was directly involved in the Rs 11,400-crore PNB scam, CBI tells court
https://scroll.in/latest/869593/vipul-ambani-was-directly-involved-in-the-rs-11400-crore-pnb-scam-cbi-tells-court
CBI told a special court that Vipul Ambani, the president (finance) of Firestar International, was aware of the fraudulent Letters of Undertaking that were allegedly handed out by Punjab National Bank officials on behalf of companies associated with billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi.Firestar International is part of the jewellery empire of Modi, who is also accused in the Rs 11,400-crore scam. The jeweller has been booked for fraud and accused of cheating Punjab National Bank.The investigating agency said that the applications for the Letters of Undertaking were made from Ambani’s Mumbai office, hinting that he was “directly involved” in the scam, reported Indian Express. CBI added that “there was deliberate act of omission on his part by not protesting the issuance of fraudulent LoUs”.CBI raised these points while seeking the custody of Ambani and five others – Kavita Mankikar, the executive assistant to Nirav Modi; PNB General Manager (credit) Rajesh Jindal, Firestar International executive Arjun Patil, Chief Finance Officer of Nakshtra World Ltd Kapil Kandelwal and Nitin Shahi, the assistant finance officer of Gitanjali Gems Ltd – who were arrested on Tuesday. The court sent all six to police custody till March 5.In its remand application, the CBI said Ambani “was fully aware of the fraudulent and illegal LoUs which were being issued by Gokulnath Shetty, retired deputy manager of PNB, in conspiracy and guidance of Nirav Modi and other employees”. Shetty was arrested on Feb. 17.While seeking Shahi’s custody, the CBI said he fabricated the applications and thus actively participated in the conspiracy, reported PTI. Regarding Khandelwal’s role, the agency said he was reporting to Modi’s uncle Mehul Choksi who is also an accused in the scam. The agency said Khandelwal was privy to all transactions. While seeking Jindal’s remand, the CBI said he had allowed Shetty to continue issuing LoUs without following procedure and policy guidelines of PNB and the Reserve Bank of India.Meanwhile, theED on Thursday seized nine cars, including a Rolls Royce, two Mercedes Benz and a Porsche, belonging to Nirav Modi and his companies, ANI reported. The agency also froze his mutual funds and shares worth Rs 7.80 crore, while Rs 86.72 crore belonging to Mehul Choski Group.scroll
BHU students object to play ‘glorifying’ Nathuram Godse, file complaint: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhu-students-object-to-play-glorifying-nathuram-godse-file-complaint-5073525/
Varanasi;A group of students from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) filed a police complaint objecting to a play on Nathuram Godse, which was part of the cultural fest at the University, this week.In the complaint, the students alleged that the performance based on the controversial Marathi play I, Nathuram Godse Speaking, portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in “poor light, held him responsible for Partition, and justified his assassination”.“How did a programme, which hurts the country’s constitutional values be allowed? This is indicative of a larger conspiracy. Sentenced to death by the courts, terrorist Godse’s glorifying portrayal amounts to hurting the unity and pride of India and this is nothing less than deshdroh. We demand an inquiry into this.”In the complaint the students alleged that the play glorified Nathuram Godse, who was sentenced to death for assassinating Gandhi, and amounts to sedition.Sanjeev Mishra, Station House Officer, Lanka, said he has “accepted” a complaint over the purported performance. The complaint was lodged after a video clip of the play went viral on social media. “We are yet to receive any videos of the programme. Once we receive them, we will enquire into the incident. The complaints have also been forwarded to the BHU’s proctorial board. We are investigating the matter, including some allegations of the performance being based on banned literature,” Mishra said.Srinivas Pandey, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Professor of Hindi, said, “I have to enquire into the incident. I have not heard of it. That said, there is nothing wrong in such portrayals. Everyone must be respected and loved, these are our mahapurush. We must respect them.”indianexpress
Low funds, bad management, unhappy students and faculty: Why problems of AMU Kishanganj have no end in sight
http://twocircles.net/2018feb21/421048.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
In December 2017, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi wrote a letter to Ministry of Human Resources, asking the Ministry to release funds for Kishanganj, Murshidabad, and Malappuram centres. Owaisi’s observations had merit: The Kishanganj centre has no allocated and specified buildings and hostel rooms are being used to run classes. MHRD allocated a fund of Rs 136.82 Crore for the Kishanganj centre in 2014 itself. Out of this amount, Rs 104.23 Crore was marked for the development of capital assets in the Kishanganj centre. Centre, however, only received the first instalment of the same after allocation. No wonder, that the boundary wall of the campus collapsed last year due to floods.But if the students, faculty and members of the non-teaching staff are to be believed, the issue for the Kishanganj is far greater than mere funding.In an open letter issued last week and addressed to Pro Vice-Chancellor, Proctor and Dean of Students Welfare AMU, students and other members of AMU Kishanganj have stated that the condition of the institution “is deteriorating from bad to worse”.“The prime concern of this letter is to bring out the arrogance and insanity that we are facing through the hands of the guest lecturer Asadullah. The word ‘ruffian’ can be used to provide enough light to the dictatorship that he portrays. Abusive languages in academic departments, hostel, dining as well as outside the campus.Earlier, Dr Jawed Ahmad, Guest Lecturer from Department of Education, a handicapped teacher, was threatened. He was also abused in front of all students during the examination of MBA 1st semester and we quote “Langde ki Maar ke doosri taang bhi tod doonga” were the words used by Asadullah. He sends sexually graphic contents and messages,” says the letter.TwoCircles
Stone pelting between two groups causes communal tension in Mangaluru
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/karnataka-stone-pelting-between-two-groups-causes-communal-tension-in-mangaluru-1174773-2018-02-21
Violence broke out on Tuesday evening after a group belonging to the minority community in the Kasaba Bengre area got into an argument with the BJP workers who were heading to Mangaluru after attending party chief Amit Shahs fishermen convention in Malpe beach.Things escalated when BJP supporters travelling in a bus started sloganeering while passing through a Muslim dominated locality.The enraged men stopped the bus and an argument ensued between both the groups. This led to stone pelting during which four people including a few policemen were seriously injured.The first stone pelting incident took place at around 10.30pm. The second began later in the night at Thota Bengre.Window panes of a place of worship and a house were damaged by bike borne miscreants.TR Suresh, Mangalore Police Commissioner said that the police have managed to restore calm in the area and a case has been registered in Panambur police station.indiatoday
India slips two ranks – 81 among 180 – in Transparency International’s index on corruption in 2017
https://scroll.in/latest/869605/india-slips-two-ranks-81-among-180-in-transparency-internationals-index-on-corruption-in-2017
India has dropped two ranks in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2017, which NGO Transparency International released on Wednesday. From the 79th slot in 2016, India now stands at 81.Transparency International ranks countries on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) based on their perceived levels of corruption in the public sector. While India dropped two notches in the 2017 rankings, its score remained 40 – Transparency International scored India 38 in 2015 and 36 in 2013.After ranking 180 countries and territories for the 2017 index, the NGO found that more than two-thirds showed signs of high corruption, with a score of below 50. The average score of 43 shows that India fared below average in the corruption perceptions index.
Corruption perceptions index 2017 shows high corruption burden in more than two-thirds of countries
https://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/corruption_perceptions_index_2017_shows_high_corruption_burden_in_more_than
Politicians not God, not above the law: Bombay High Court on mangrove PIL
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/politicians-not-god-not-above-the-law-bombay-high-court-on-mangrove-pil-5074123/
Mumbai:Observing that politicians were “not God” and nor were they above the law, the Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra police to book two local corporators for encroaching on mangroves. A bench of Justices SC Dharamadhikari and Bharati Dangre directed the Mira raid police station to book BJP’s Parshuram Mhatre and Shiv Sena’s Anita Patil, both local corporators, within a week, for violations under the Environment Protection Act.“Political leaders are not above the law. They are not God, or someone who can claim a right to be in contravention of laws. Why is the municipal corporation and the local police afraid of initiating action against the offenders? You must be bold and must not fear anyone” the bench said.The observations came while the bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by an activist, Bharat Mokal, through his lawyer DS Mhaiskar.According to the plea, both Mhatre and Patil had cut mangroves and encroached on them while constructing their residential bungalows and offices.PTI
First time in Nagaland: Religion becomes the talking point during elections
http://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/nagaland/first-time-in-nagaland-religion-becomes-the-talking-during-elections-5074064/
Dimapur :Free and subsidised trips to Jerusalem, appeals to not vote for those who want to ‘pierce the heart of Jesus Christ’, alleged circulation of hate posters on religious lines, and speeches laced with theological rhetoric. For the first time in Nagaland, a predominantly Christian majority state, religion has emerged as major poll plank for the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections. And the religious pitch is getting shrill every passing day.The BJP’s Phek unit recently lodged an FIR at Pfursero police station, under Phek district, against violation of the election code of conduct. BJP Phek unit president alleged that “some political party men have launched hate poster campaign” against the 17 A/C BJP candidate Kevechutso Duolo. The party was referring to posters of Hindu goddesses and Hindutva propaganda pasted on the gate of a local church and other areas.RSS, considered the parent organisation of the BJP, has been finding mention in the campaign speeches of non-BJP parties, barring BJP ally NDPP. And references to the BJP as a communal party has become the highlight of speeches, particularly in constituencies where the BJP has fielded its candidates.indianexpress
WORLD
Nawaz Sharif cannot lead his political party, rules Pakistan’s Supreme Court
https://scroll.in/latest/869557/nawaz-sharif-cannot-lead-his-political-party-rules-pakistans-supreme-court
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday ruled that ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cannot rule the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz as he had been barred from holding any public office. It citied articles 62 and 63 of the Pakistani Constitution, which state that a disqualified individual cannot lead a party, Pakistan Today reported.The order comes six months after the Supreme Court disqualified him as prime minister of Pakistan after corruption charges surfaced against him and his family in the Panama Papers case.“Election Commission is directed to remove the name of Nawaz Sharif as president of PML-N from all official records,” Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said, according to Reuters.The Supreme Court’s order overturns the amendment the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz introduced in the law, which allowed Sharif to continue heading the party despite being legally barred from holding any public office. It also renders “null and void” all decisions Sharif made as the party’s president since his disqualification, according to Pakistan Today. scroll
Pakistan Supreme Court bans ex-PM Sharif as party head
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/pakistan-supreme-court-bans-pm-sharif-party-head-180221201219773.html
US calls UN must end 'barbaric' attacks in Eastern Ghouta as 346 civilian deaths, 878 wounded , documented
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/demands-halt-monstrous-campaign-syrian-town-180221183144792.html
Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, called on the Security Council to pass a draft resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta, a besieged rebel enclave in Syria. "It’s time to take immediate action in the hopes of saving the lives of the men, women, and children who are under attack by the barbaric Assad regime," Haley said in a statement on Wednesday. The US diplomat called for the ceasefire to allow aid to be delivered to Ghouta. Top UN officials also demanded an immediate cessation of aerial attacks on Syria's devastated Eastern Ghouta with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling the rebel-held enclave "hell on Earth".Syrian forces backed by Russian warplanes continued to pound the Damascus suburb leaving at least 27 killed on Wednesday, bringing the civilian death toll to more than 270 - including 60 children - over the past 3 days."My appeal to all those involved is for an immediate suspension of all war activities in Eastern Ghouta," Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting. "This is a human tragedy that is unfolding in front of our eyes, and I don't think we can let things go on happening in this horrendous way." UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein called the air attacks and artillery fire a "monstrous campaign of annihilation. "International humanitarian law was developed precisely to stop this type of situation, where civilians are slaughtered in droves in order to fulfill political or military objectives," he said in a statement.UN has documented 346 civilian deaths with 878 wounded in Eastern Ghouta since Feb.4, mostly from air attacks hitting residential areas, Zeid said.The International Committee of the Red Cross called for restraint and access to the wounded.aljazeera
Syria’s Ghouta residents ‘wait to die’ as more bombs fall
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180222-syrias-ghouta-residents-wait-to-die-as-more-bombs-fall/
World leaders abandoning human rights: Amnesty
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/world-leaders-abandoning-human-rights-amnesty-180221174518140.html
World leaders are undermining human rights for millions of people with regressive policies and hate-filled rhetoric, but their actions have ignited global protest movements in response, a rights group said. US President Donald Trump, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and China's President Xi Jinping were among a number of politicians who rolled out regressive policies in 2017, according to Amnesty International's annual human rights report published on Thursday.The human rights body also mentioned the leaders of Egypt, the Philippines and Venezuela."The spectres of hatred and fear now loom large in world affairs, and we have few governments standing up for human rights in these disturbing times," Salil Shetty, Amnesty's secretary-general, said."Instead, leaders such as el-Sisi, Duterte, Maduro, Putin, Trump and Xi are callously undermining the rights of millions."Amnesty's The State of the World's Human Rights report cites Trump's controversial travel ban prohibiting entrants to the US from 6 Muslim-majority countries, Venezuelan authorities' use of force against demonstrators and unlawful killings in the Philippines' anti-drug war as evidence of policies resulting in an international regression on human rights.More than 20,000 people have been killed since June 2016 in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign, according to an internal report.Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, the UN's human rights chief, has denounced Venezuela's excessive use of force against anti-government protesters, stating pro-government security forces and armed groups were responsible for dozens of demonstrator deaths between April and July last year.aljazeera
Hate groups in US grow for third straight year: SPLC
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/hate-groups-grow-straight-year-splc-180221192119355.html
The number of hate groups operating in the United States grew by four percent in 2017, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an Alabama-based monitoring group.The SPLC identified 954 hate groups in the US last year, an increase from the 917 it had documented in 2016, the group said in a report released on Wednesday.The number of hate groups has risen 20 percent since 2014, the civil rights monitor noted in a conference call with members of the press. According to SPLC, 2017 was the third straight year to witness a rise in the number of hate groups. It was also the first year since 2009 that hate groups were documented in all 50 states.aljazeera
Sikh man faces racial attack outside UK Parliament, attacker shouted ‘Muslim go back’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/racial-attack-on-sikh-man-from-ludhiana-outside-uk-parliament-in-london-attacker-shouted-muslim-go-back-5073567/
Ludhiana :A prominent Sikh environmentalist from India was allegedly attacked in UK with the attacker also attempting to rip off his turban and shouting ‘Muslim, go back’. The incident took place outside the parliamentary office of Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi at Westminster, the high-security area in central London of the UK where UK Parliament and other government offices are located.Ravneet Singh, South Asia project manager of EcoSikh, who hails from Ludhiana in Punjab, told The Indian Express over phone that he was waiting outside MP’s office when a man came running towards him and began shaking his turban with both hands. He also attacked him on his neck. Before running away, he shouted, ‘Muslim, go back.’ EcoSikh is an organisation based in the United States working on environmental related issues in many countries including India.indianexpress
Senator: Rodrigo Duterte's drug war has killed 20,000
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/senator-rodrigo-duterte-drug-war-killed-20000-180221134139202.html
An opposition senator in the Philippines said the death toll in the government's war on drugs has now surpassed 20,000 since President Rodrigo Duterte came to office in 2016. In a speech before the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, Antonio Trillanes said the Duterte administration's own report shows 3,967 "drug personalities" have been killed after allegedly resisting arrest during police operations between July 1, 2016 and November 27, 2017.Another 16,355 homicide cases - from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 - have been classified as "under investigation".aljazeera
Ahmadinejad calls for ‘free’ elections in Iran in letter to Supreme Leader
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180222-ahmadinejad-calls-for-free-elections-in-iran-in-letter-to-supreme-leader/
Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose 2009 re-election prompted mass unrest over alleged vote rigging, has called for “free” presidential and parliamentary elections in an open letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reports.Khamenei backed Ahmadinejad after his return to power kicked off protests in which dozens of people were killed and hundreds arrested, rattling the ruling theocracy, before security forces led by the elite Revolutionary Guards stamped out the unrest. But a rift developed between the two in 2011 when Khamenei, who has the ultimate say over all policy in the Islamic Republic, reversed Ahmadinejad’s dismissal of the minister of intelligence and suggested he had overstepped his authority.Ahmadinejad, a brash, populist hardliner while in office, could not run in the 2013 election as he had served the maximum two consecutive terms. He was succeeded by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani, who won election by landslide then and again last year.While Rouhani has called for a liberalisation of the economy and society and on the Revolutionary Guards not to interfere in elections, he has stopped short of explicitly advocating checks on the Supreme Leader’s powers – something Ahmadinejad addressed in the letter to Khamenei published on his website.middleeastmonitor
Israel demolishes Arab village of Al-Araqeeb for 125th time
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180222-israel-demolishes-arab-village-of-al-araqeeb-for-125th-time/
Israeli occupation authorities yesterday demolished the Arab village of Al-Araqeeb in the Negevfor the 125th time in seven years, Quds Press reported.Activist Aziz Al-Tawari said: “The Israeli occupation forces destroyed Al-Araqeeb Village for the 125th time since June 27 2010, under the pretext of being built on a state land.”“All houses in the village, which is not recognised by Israeli occupation authorities, were destroyed.”“ Israeli occupation is trying to eradicate the identity of the village by faking history,” referring to the Israel’s claims that the village was built after 1948 when the state was formed.“We have original documents prove that the village was built before the creation of the occupation state,” Al-Tawari said, reiterating that there are documents from the Othman rulers and the government of the British Mandate.middleeastmonitor
Bahrain bans members of dissolved parties from running in elections
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180222-bahrain-bans-members-of-dissolved-parties-from-running-in-elections/
Bahrain has amended its law to prevent members and leaders of dissolved political parties from running in parliamentary elections, Al-Watan News reported yesterday.“The parliament has to prevent everyone who intends to harm or obstruct the constitutional or parliamentary work by leaving his post or as a result of being ousted over the aforementioned reasons from running for elections,” parliamentarians agreed. MPs, who supported this amendment, claimed that this keeps up with the democratic process and protects the flow of political work, stressing that it was not aimed against anyone or any certain side.middleeastmonitor
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Allegations by SC judges raise serious doubts about the independence of the judiciary: Anjali Bhardwaj , Prashant Bhushan
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-judges-conference-cji-indian-constitution-5073294/
Analysis Final Days of Benjamin Netanyahu's Rule:Aluf Benn
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-final-days-of-benjamin-netanyahu-s-government-1.5841522
Did Canada’s obstruction of meet between radical Sikh groups and Ram Madhav in 2016 sour ties with India? HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/did-canada-s-obstruction-of-meet-between-radical-sikh-groups-and-ram-madhav-in-2016-sour-ties-with-india/story-PWcWbNliRemlhCk6m4sBxJ.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:17 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a comment