Evening NEWS DIGEST
14 March 2018:25 Jamadiul-2 1439:Vol:9, No:142
INDIA
Babri Masjid case: SC dismisses all 32 intervention pleas, to hear only original parties; next hearing on March 23
https://scroll.in/latest/871986/ayodhya-dispute-supreme-court-dismisses-all-intervention-applications
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed all the intervention applications filed in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case, ANI reported. The top court directed the Registry not to entertain any more interim pleas filed by third parties in the matter.The bench said only original parties to the dispute should be allowed to place arguments in the case. It will take up the matter for further hearing on March 23.BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had filed an intervention plea in the matter in the top court in August 2017. Swamy had said that he was raising the matter of Hindu fundamental right to religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.Swamy’s intervention application on right to worship has now been converted to a writ petition and will be heard by an appropriate bench, Bar and Bench reported. “I had filed a writ petition saying that I have a fundamental right to worship and this is a superior right than property right,” Swamy said.The SC also rejected applications filed by 32 petitioners, including Shyam Benegal, Anil Dharkar and Teesta Setalvad, urging to put the 2.77 acre disputed land to “secular use” rather than religious, The Times of India reported.A special bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer was to start final hearings on 13 appeals filed against the judgment of the Allahabad High Court on Feb. 8. The High Court had ruled a three-way split of the disputed 2.77 acres in Ayodhya.However, the top court had deferred the matter to Wednesday as some documents and translations had not been filed. It had also said that it would treat the case only as a land dispute.The disputed plot has been divided among the Sunni Waqf Board, a Hindu organisation called the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla or Infant Rama, which is represented by the Hindu Mahasabha for the construction of the Ram temple.
Ayodhya dispute: Fundamental right to worship is superior than property right: Subramanian Swamy
http://zeenews.india.com/india/ayodhya-dispute-fundamental-right-to-worship-is-superior-than-property-right-says-subramanian-swamy-2089537.html
New Delhi: The apex court also rejected the plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking to intervene in the ongoing matter.The court, however, ordered revival of Swamy's disposed of writ petition in which he had sought enforcement of his fundamental right to worship at Ram temple on the disputed site in Ayodhya."I had filed a writ petition saying that I have a fundamental right to worship and this is a superior right than the property right," Swamy said, as per PTI.The special bench of the apex court is seized of a total of 14 appeals filed against the high court judgement delivered in 4 civil suits.zeenews
Muslims should gift the land in Ayodhya for Ram Temple: Sri Sri
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/muslims-should-gift-the-land-in-ayodhya-for-ram-temple-sri-sri-ravi-shankar/1098296/
New Delhi;Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who is of late involved in mediation on the Ayodhya issue, says the best solution to the festering Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute is an out-of-court settlement under which the Muslims gift the land to the Hindus for building a grand Ram Temple. The 61-year-old spiritual leader, who met leaders of both Sunni and Shia sects of the Muslim community recently, also says that he is not in touch with the government — and that it has nothing to do with his efforts. Ravi Shankar, who has a global following, denies vehemently that he talked of “bloodshed” in case the Supreme Court rules the title dispute in favour of one community or the other. “Because it’s Lord Ram’s birthplace, there is such a strong feeling connected with the place. And since it is not that important place for Muslims and (is) also in a place where there is conflict, namaaz is not acceptable. Anyway, it is not going to serve the purpose; and when it is not serving the purpose of the other community (Muslims), then, it should be gifted,” he told IANS. Ravi Shankar said that if the SC rules in favour of the Mandir then there will be heartburn. If it rules for the Masjid, there will agian be heartburn.“So, in either case, there will be discord in society. I want to create a win-win situation, where both communities come together and respect for each is restored, where respect of each is honoured. That is the formula we are suggesting… why not do it?” he said. The spiritual leader said he was hopeful that an out-of-court settlement could be reached because he has been talking to people in both the communities, and they both agree that there should be a settlement. “On that only (was) the initiative mooted. It’s not that I jumped into it suddenly,” he said. Asked if there were any deadlines for finding an amicable solution ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he said, “No such deadline. I am just saying what would be the best for both communities. Nothing to do with elections, not at all. Only an amicable solution.”IANS
Muslims should extend support to construction of Ram temple: Giriraj Singh
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/140318/muslims-should-extend-support-to-construction-of-ram-temple-giriraj-s.html
New Delhi: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said that Muslims should follow in the footsteps of Shia Waqf Board and support the construction of Ram temple on the disputed site."I believe our side is stronger. We will respect the court's decision but I would say that the way our Shia brothers have extended support to build the Ram temple, other Muslim brothers should also do so, and let go of their obstinacy because we both are descendants of Hindus," Singh said."If they remain adamant, it will harm the communal harmony. Do they want that?" he added.BJP MP Vinay Katiyar concurred with Singh and said, "Whatever happens, Ram Mandir will be there and nothing else."ANI
BJP blighted in bypolls, loses all 3 UP, Bihar Lok Sabha seats including bastion Gorakhpur
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/mar/14/bjp-blighted-in-bypolls-loses-all-three-uttar-pradesh-bihar-lok-sabha-seats-including-bastion-gora-1787130.htmlhttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-and-bihar-bypoll-results-live-updates/article23232934.ece?homepage=true
BJP scored a zero in the bypolls to three Lok Sabha constituencies, two in U.P. and one in Bihar. The Samajwadi Party wrested the Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies in U.P., while the RJD retained the Araria seat in Bihar.Results of two Bihar Assembly bypolls too were announced on March 14. While the RJD won the Jehanabad seat, the BJP retained the Bhabhua constituency. The Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency was once a stronghold of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Ten nominees were in the fray in in Gorakhpur and 22 in Phulpur. Mr. Adityanath has represented the Gorakhpur seat five times.Before him, his mentor Yogi Avaidyanath held the seat.Phulpur, once represented by the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, witnessed a saffron surge in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya won the seat. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has reached BSP supremo Mayawati's residence in Lucknow to thanking her for support.Akhilesh Yadav attributes the Samajwadi Party's win in the bypolls to the support from the Dalits, farmers, labourers, women and the unemployed, saying that it is a victory for social justice.Samajwadi Party’s Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel defeats BJP’s Kaushlendra Singh Patel by 59,460 votes to win Phulpur Lok Sabha bypoll, PTI reports quoting an Election Commission official.RJD candidate Sarfaraj Alam wins the Araria Lok Sabha seat defeating BJP’s Pradeep Kumar Singh by a margin of 57358 votes.thehindu
Bihar bypolls: RJD wins Jehanabad and Araria, BJP wins Bhabhua
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rjd-wins-jehanabad-assembly-seat-leading-in-araria-lok-sabha-bypoll/article23243346.ece?homepage=true
Patna: RJD party retained Jehanabad and Araria assembly seats, while the BJP won the Bhabhua constituency in the bypolls conducted in Bihar. In the Jehanabad assembly seat, RJD’s Suday Yadav defeated his Janata Dal (United) rival Abhiram Sharma by 35,036 votes.In Araria, RJD candidate Sarfaraj Alam defeated BJP candidate Pradeep Kumar Singh by 57358 votes.In Bhabhua, BJP candidate Rinki Rani Pandey, widow of deceased party candidate Rajesh Pandey defeated Congress candidate Shambu Patel by about 14,000 votes.RJD supporters have made a long queue in Araria while shouting slogans in favour of party leader Tejaswi Yadav and winning candidate Mr. Alam. Alam quit as a JD(U) MLA from Jokihat and joined RJD to contest the Araria seat where the bypoll was necessitated after the death of his father Mohd. Taslimuddin. thehindu
Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypoll results: Delay in updates triggers political row
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gorakhpur-lok-sabha-bypoll-delay-in-announcement-of-result-updates-triggers-political-row/story-P0dh0xCqbo4eS947IOQwuI.html
Lucknow:Officials in Gorakhpur, bastion of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, were on Wednesday accused of delaying the announcement of updates during the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha by-election and barring the media with the issue echoing in the state assembly following a ruckus by the opposition. Eyewitnesses alleged that Gorakhpur’s DM Rajeev Rautela, who is also the electoral officer, stopped sharing the updates after the first round of counting even though 6 rounds were over. An official, privy to the development, claimed Rautela also had an argument with observer Madhvi Khorwe Chawre allegedly over some discrepancy in the counting of the votes.Reporters were also denied entry to the area where counting of votes was underway and entered into an argument with officials over the delay in announcement of updates.HT
Trouble in BJP paradise! Elephant-powered Samajwadi ‘cycle’ crushes Adityanath’s ‘Lotus’ in Gorakhpur, Phulpur
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/trouble-in-bjp-paradise-elephant-powered-samajwadi-cycle-crushes-yogi-adityanaths-lotus-in-gorakhpur-phulpur/1098472/
Militant killed in Anantnag encounter belonged to Hyderabad? Inquiry begins: HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/militant-killed-in-anantnag-encounter-belonged-to-hyderabad-inquiry-begins/story-4xcWWhk6Uk3uPV9uE0RPAI.html
Srinagar/New Delhi:Police and intelligence agencies are probing an al-Qaeda linked outfit’s claim that a militant killed in an encounter in South Kashmir hailed from Hyderabad, officials said on Wednesday.If confirmed, it will be only the second time since 2008 – when two suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba members were gunned down -- that militants from another Indian state have been killed in Kashmir.The militant was among three gunned down by security forces on Monday in the Hakoora area of Anantnag district. While two of them were identified as Eisa Fazili and Syed Owais Shafi, the third remained unidentified.Police have not said anything about the identity of the third militant but on Tuesday the Ansar Ghazwatul Hind (AGUH) – an outfit with alleged link to the al-Qaeda in Kashmir said the slain militant was Muhammad Taufeeq from Hyderabad. The Qaeda’s Kashmir unit is led by wanted militant leader Zakir Musa.
India’s decision not to intervene in Maldivian crisis well though out: Army chief
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-decision-not-to-intervene-in-maldivian-crisis-well-though-out-army-chief/story-xNJtKWp3zv0O6XwQayezfO.html
New Delhi:India’s decision to not intervene militarily in the on-going Maldivian crisis was well thought out, but only time will tell whether it was a right step or not, Army chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday.“I am quite sure that diplomats and political entity in the country did look at Maldives and did what they thought was the best for them. How this will pan out in future, let’s wait and watch,” Rawat said.He was responding to a question on whether India should militarily intervene in the Maldivian crisis amid growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region and its proximity with the archipelago nation.PTI
A Gujarat village divided further after death in attack
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/a-gujarat-village-bajrang-dal-divided-further-after-death-in-attack-5097035/
A DAY after Farnaz Saiyed, 33, died in Ahmedabad’s VS Hospital, days after he was beaten up by a group of youths, allegedly owing allegiance to the Bajrang Dal, half-a-dozen policemen stood deployed outside the family’s home in Chhatral, a village in Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar district, on Tuesday. More than a dozen men in uniform patrolled elsewhere in the village, most of them deployed near a dairy office, located close to the schools and panchayat office. “There is tension in the village but the situation is under control,” a policemen said.There is a reason for extra deployment outside the dairy office. It lies in the “Hindu area” of the village, residents said. Mohammad Hussain Saiyed, 70, a farm labourer, and Farnaz’s father, said he sold his eight buffaloes over the last two months due to the festering tension between the communities. He has also stopped going to deposit milk at the milk collection centre — it is in the Hindu area, and he is scared, he admitted.In the attack on the morning of March 5, Saiyed’s wife Roshan Bano, in her sixties, was also beaten up – three of her fingers were chopped off. She is still in hospital. Like Saiyed, almost everyone from the Muslim community has stopped selling milk at the collection centre, a fact confirmed by a policeman posted outside the dairy office.indianexpress
UP tops the list of communal violence hit states in 2017 with 195 incidents: Govt
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-tops-the-list-of-communal-violence-hit-states-in-2017-with-195-incidents-govt/story-5Rx5eKbKaMIKzcHoSmxvCP.html
New Delhi:Uttar Pradesh topped the list of states with maximum communal violence incidents in the country last year, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said 822 communal incidents took place in the country in 2017, whereas as many as 703 such incidents occurred in 2016 and 751 incidents in 2015.Among the states where the highest number of such cases took place in 2017 include Uttar Pradesh (195 incidents) followed by Karnataka (100), Rajasthan (91), Bihar (85), Madhya Pradesh (60) besides others, he said in reply to a written question.PTI
After PNB Fraud, RBI ends LoUs, Letters of Comfort as trade credits with immediate effect
http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/after-pnb-fraud-rbi-ends-lous-locs-with-immediate-effect/1097396/
Nearly a month after Rs 12,700 crore fraud at PNB came to light, the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday ended the Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Letters of Comfort (LoCs) for trade credit. The central bank’s decision came after it was alleged that diamond czar Nirav Modi obtained fake LoUs to pull-off the fraud by colluding with a former bank employee.On a review of the extant guidelines, it has been decided to discontinue the practice of issuance of LoUs/ LoCs for Trade Credits for imports into India by AD Category –I banks with immediate effect,” RBI said in a statement. However, Letters of Credits and Bank Guarantees for trade credits for imports into India may continue to be issued.LoUs and LoCs are lending instruments through which one bank assures overseas branches of other Indian banks of the liability on customer’s behalf. These instruments were popular for overseas businesses and for imports to India and could potentially impact businesses that are involved in imports to India.financialexpress
SBI closes 41.16 lakh savings accounts for non-maintenance of minimum average balance
https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/banks/state-bank-of-india-sbi-penalty-maintain-minimum-average-balance/story/272545.html
Amid reports that the country's largest lender, State Bank of India reducing the maintenance of monthly average balance (MAB) charges to Rs 15 per month on Tuesday, a reply to RTI query has revealed that SBI has closed as many as 41.16 lakh savings accounts between April-January in the current fiscal year for not maintaining the average monthly balance. businesstoday
Bhima Koregaon violence: Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote arrested as SC rejected bail
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/bhima-koregaon-violence-hindutva-leader-milind-ekbote-arrested-5097407/
Pune:Hindutwa leader from Pune Milind Ekbote, who is accused of orchestrating the violence on Jan.1 during the 200th year celebrations of battle of Koregaon Bhima near Pune was arrested Wednesday by the Pune rural police, after his application for an anticipatory bail was rejected by the SC.Advocate Nishant Katneshwarkar, standing counsel for the state of Maharashtra in the SC said, “Application of Milind Ekbote for an anticipatory bail has been rejected after consideration of the status report filed by the state on the case. He can be arrested anytime.”Pune rural police confirmed that Ekbote has been arrested from his house Wednesday noon.Police had said on Feb.21, that they would be pressing to get a police custody of Ekbote (60) for his interrogation. At the time, while continuing the protection from arrest granted to Ekbote earlier till the hearing on Wednesday, the SC had pulled up the Maharashtra Police for not doing enough to arrest him.2 FIRs were registered against Ekbote and another Hindutva leader from Sangli, Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide by Dalit activists, alleging their role in the violence at Koregaon Bhima, at a time when lakhs of Dalits had come to Jaystambh in Perne village on Pune-Ahmednagar road for marking the 200th year of battle of Bhima Koregaon on Jan.1.indianexpress
CBI court discharges Maran brothers and all other accused from illegal telephone exchange case
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/cbi-court-discharges-maran-brothers-all-others-accused-from-illegal-telephone-exchange-case/articleshow/63299179.cms
Chennai:In a major relief to ex-Union minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran, a special court for CBI cases here on Wednesday discharged them from the decade-old illegal telephone exchange case.Special judge Natarajan said he was discharging all the 7 accused from the case since there was no prima facie evidence to prove the charges against them.According to CBI, Dayanidhi Maran, during the check period of June 2004 to Dec.2006, when he was Union minister for communication and information technology, had misused his office and installed a private telephone exchange at his residences in Chennai and utilised the facility for business transactions involving Sun Network.TOI
Lucknow’s Begum Hamida Habibullah dead at 102
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/news/lucknows-legendary-begum-hamida-habibullah-dead-at-102
Ex- UP minister Begum Hamida Habibullah passed away in Lucknow on Tuesday. She was 102, family sources said.Daughter of the late Nawab Nazir Yar Jung Bahadur, Chief Justice of the Hyderabad High Court, Begum Hamida was a front-ranking social worker known to the land of Avadh.Married to Major General Inayat Habibullah, founder commandant of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune. Her son Wajahat Habibullah held the position of the first Chief Information Commissioner of India. IANS
VHP chief Pravin Togadia writes to Modi, seeks to meet him for ‘heart-to-heart discussion’
https://scroll.in/latest/872034/vhp-chief-pravin-togadia-writes-to-modi-seeks-to-meet-him-for-heart-to-heart-discussion
VHP International Working President Pravin Togadia on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Togadia also demanded a total ban on cow slaughter in the country, the withdrawal of the advisory issued against cow vigilantes, the imposition of a Uniform Civil Code and the removal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which relates to autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. scroll
WORLD
Finger pointed at Israel over attack on Palestinian PM convoy
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/finger-pointed-israel-attack-palestinian-pm-convoy-180313191855720.html
The hand of Israel is not being ruled out as Hamas announces an inquiry into an explosion that targeted the convoy of West-Bank-based Palestinian PM during a visit to Gaza Strip.Tuesday's blast injured several security guards of Rami Hamdallah but left him unharmed during a visit to the Hamas-run territory to open a public-works facility there.The explosion happened shortly after Hamdallah's convoy passed through Israeli-controlled Erez checkpoint, known to Palestinians as Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza.Sources told Al Jazeera that Hamdallah and Ismail Haniya, senior political leader of Hamas, spoke by phone later in the day and agreed that Israel was behind the explosion because it appeared to be the incident's main beneficiary. Youssef al-Mahmoud, a Palestinian Authority spokesman, denied via the Palestinian agency WAFA that any phone call took place between Hamdallah and Haniya.Hamas has denied any involvement in explosion, and said it would launch an investigation to "bring those behind the attack to justice".Hamas and Fatah, 2 main Palestinian political parties, signed a reconciliation agreement in Oct.2017, ending a decade of division that saw 2 parallel governments operating in Gaza and the West Bank, respectively.Hamdallah, who heads the Palestinian Authority government based in Ramallah, appeared on live television at the inauguration of a wastewater-treatment plant in Gaza.Shortly afterwards, he returned to Ramallah where he appeared unfazed as he delivered a brief address outside his office.aljazeera
Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence praises Muslims, calls Buddhist ‘traitors’
https://www.siasat.com/news/sri-lankas-chief-defence-praises-muslims-calls-buddhist-traitors-1328823/
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne praise the members of the Muslim community who were the intelligence to the army in the conflict time.He condemned anti-Muslim riots that has targeted mosques and business establishments in violence-hit neighbourhoods in Kandy district in Sri Lanka.Wijegunaratne in a press conference said that the violent anti-Muslim riots rocked by a week was done by an organised Sinhalese mobs. They were not armed but came with knifes, breakdown law and order and attacks Muslims and mostly their property.The army are making efforts to minimize the damage and take the control. ” We are trying to nullify the situation that has escalates.”He further said, “The other important thing that I have say about Muslims is that we are living today thanks to them because as you know our intelligence in the conflict time is entirely run by Muslims. In military we have the highest regard for them. They sacrifice their lives. They went with us. They were fluent in the language and they protected us.” Wijegunaratne called the Buddhist Sinhalese traitors for doing damage to Muslim community. saisat
Sri Lankan Muslims accuse police of watching a mob attack them
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/sri-lankan-muslims-accuse-police-of-watching-a-mob-attack-them-15855?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Organic
Sri Lanka:Windows broken and glass shattered on the ground, Razeey and his mother were barely beginning to put their house back together after a mob threw rocks through the windows during a riot. Razeey’s family is Muslim, and like many of their neighbours, they are reeling from an attack they say was led by violent Buddhist monks who came from the south.Earlier this month, riots erupted, and more than 200 businesses and homes that belonged to Muslim owners were damaged. At least 2 people were killed and more than two dozen were injured in the clashes. “There were at least 500 people,” Razeey said, “there was a group of them, they came and we left before they reached the house.”His uncle, Amam, came into the house to join the conversation. He pulled up a plastic chair and piped in, “I ran into the bathroom, it’s a concrete building, so we hid,” he said, “and when everything [riot] finished, we came out and everything was burned and lost.”Witnesses to the riots say the police are to blame because they stood by on the streets and allowed the mob to go on a rampage.Amam said, “They [police] can stop it but they don’t stop it. This [incident] was already arranged, it was very organised, the government knew, but they didn’t do their duty.”Another man, Faleel, 27, told TRT World he is frustrated and that “the security forces are racist. They are all against us. With the security forces help, [rioters] were able to attack.”Turkish Radio & TV Corporation (TRT World)
Syria war: UN expects Ghouta civilian evacuations
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/syria-war-expects-eastern-ghouta-civilian-evacuations-180313080755601.html
UN is expecting civilian evacuations out of rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on Tuesday, as the Syrian government military continues its fierce offensive on the enclave."This day, we are expecting evacuation of civilians, including people with medical conditions," Ali al-Zatari, the UN's top aid official in Syria, told Reuters news agency at al-Wafideen crossing, without elaborating.The UN has previously called for the evacuation of nearly 1,000 sick and wounded residents who need urgent medical treatment.Jaish al-Islam, one of the main rebel groups in Eastern Ghouta, said on Monday it had reached an agreement with the government's key ally, Russia, to evacuate wounded people. No other details about the evacuation were given. Hamza Birqdar, the group's military spokesman, vowed on Tuesday that the fighters would defend the Damascus suburb till the end.aljazeera
British scientist Stephen Hawking dies at age 76
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/british-scientist-stephen-hawking-dies-age-76-180314045522979.html
Renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking, who helped unlock the mysteries of the universe, has died at the age of 76, UK Press Association has reported citing a spokesman for the family.In a statement on Wednesday, his children paid tribute to their father - saying he was an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today," Professor Hawking's children, Lucy, Robert, and Tim said in a statement carried by Press Association news agency.Hawking’s mental genius and physical disability made him a household name and inspiration across the globe. His 1988 book, A Brief History of Time, became an unlikely worldwide bestseller.He died peacefully at his home in the British university city of Cambridge in the early hours of Wednesday morning. aljazeera
Mosque finally approved in US city after Muslim group sues
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/mosque-finally-approved-city-muslim-group-sues-180313193359508.html
A US city finally gave approval for the construction of a mosque in the state of New Jersey, ending a saga that started last year when the local govt rejected the effort and a group of Muslims sued in response.The approval late on Monday came after the two-year effort to convert an abandoned warehouse into a mosque and Islamic community centre in Bayonne, a working-class city across the harbour from New York City.According to the lawsuit, the effort for the mosque was met by virulent attacks against the Muslim religion and was then unfairly voted down by the city's zoning board."We are very pleased to have received a unanimous approval from the zoning board and look forward to welcoming Bayonne residents of all faiths to the city's first mosque," said Adeel Mangi, a lawyer for Muslim group, said.aljazeera
Meet Gina Haspel, said to be first female CIA director, a prominent figure in torturing terrorists
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-meet-gina-haspel-said-to-be-first-female-cia-director-a-prominent-figure-in-torturing-terrorists-2593816
Gina Haspel broke another glass ceiling in her illustrious career in CIA running over more than 3 decades when US President Donald Trump announced that she would become the first woman to lead the agency.In a surprise move, Trump yesterday announced that he was removing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replacing him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo and elevating Haspel, who was his deputy.The Senate must vote on 61-year-old Haspel's confirmation to succeed Pompeo. If confirmed by the Senate, Haspel would be first women to lead the CIA.However, influential lawmakers yesterday indicated that they are unlikely to give her a pass. In fact, they are gearing up to grill her over her role in torture programme.She is the winner of George HW Bush Award for excellence in counterterrorism and also Intelligence Medal of Merit. On a flip side, Haspel once reportedly ran a secret prison in Thailand where terrorism suspects were allegedly subjected to harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding. According to 'The Wall Street Journal', she was part of a team that oversaw CIA's detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists, using techniques that many experts and lawmakers since have described as torture.Top senators were yesterday quick in pointing at her role in the torture programme.Republican Senator John McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee said the torture of detainees in US custody during the last decade was one of the darkest chapters in American history."During the confirmation process, Haspel needs to explain the nature and extent of her involvement in CIA's interrogation programme. I know the Senate will do its job in examining Ms. Haspel's record as well as her beliefs about torture and her approach to current law," McCain said. Senator Dianne Feinstein said, "It's no secret I've had concerns in the past with her connection to CIA torture programme and have spent time with her discussing this".Senator Ron Wyden, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, opposed the nomination of Haspel and called for total transparency about her background. Senator Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said Trump's decision to nominate Haspel to serve as CIA Director is "deeply troubling".PTI
New CIA director Haspel oversaw torture
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/trump-pick-cia-director-gina-haspel-oversaw-torture-180313145500866.html
25 killed in fresh clashes in central Nigeria: police
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/25-killed-in-fresh-clashes-in-central-nigeria-police/article23244108.ece?homepage=true
LAGOS:Herders are believed to have killed 25 villagers in central Nigeria’s Plateau state, police said on Wednesday, in the latest violence linked to land, water and grazing rights.The killings happened on Monday in the Bassa area of Plateau state, just a few days after at least five people were killed in the area.“The people were returning to Zirechi [village] from Dundun when they were attacked by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen,” state Police Commissioner Undie Adie told AFP.“I can confirm that 25 villagers were killed while two were injured. A number of houses were also burnt down by the attackers,” Mr. Adie said.PTI
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
It was not a Sinhala-Muslim clash, it was a mob attack on Muslims: Sri Lanka Minister Rauff Hakeem
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/it-was-not-a-sinhala-muslim-clash-it-was-a-mob-attack-on-muslims/article23229464.ece
India needs standalone legislation against custodial torture:Dr Ashwani Kumar
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dear-prime-minister-we-must-enact-custodial-torture-deaths-5096772/
1,680 cases of custodial deaths registered by NHRC in 10 months
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1680-cases-of-custodial-deaths-registered-by-nhrc-in-10-months/articleshow/63299768.cms
SC ruling on Aadhaar is a relief for some, but not for those who need it the most:Urvashi Aneja
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/sc-ruling-on-aadhaar-has-relief-for-some-but-not-for-those-who-need-it-the-most-5097275/
Shameful! Mcdonald’s denies serving homeless man after customer pays for his food:NewsX
https://www.newsx.com/offbeat/shameful-mcdonalds-denies-serving-homeless-man-after-customer-pays-for-his-food
Babri Masjid case: We Cannot Have Narrow View Of Essential Practices Doctrine: Rajiv Dhawan
http://www.livelaw.in/ram-janmabhoomi-babri-masjid-dispute-cannot-narrow-view-essential-practices-doctrine-rajiv-dhawan/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:14 PM)
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