Evening NEWS DIGEST
6 March 2018:17 Jamadiul-2 1439:Vol:9, No:135
INDIA
Saudi allows Air India to use its airspace to fly direct flight to Israel: Netanyahu
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/saudi-arabia-allows-air-india-to-use-its-airspace-to-fly-direct-flight-to-israel
Air India has been allowed by Saudi Arabia to fly over its territory on its new route from New Delhi to Tel Aviv, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said today, an unprecedented move which would reduce travel time between the two cities by two and a half hours.India's national carrier Air India is scheduled to begin its direct flight between New Delhi and Tel Aviv in few weeks from now.Interacting with reporters after his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Netanyahu said that Air India has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia over the matter."Air India signed an agreement today to fly to Israel over Saudi Arabia," Netanyahu said.So far Saudi Arabia has not allowed planes from any country to fly over it and go to Israel.Israel does not have diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, but it was reported that the two nations have been working covertly on their shared security concerns over Iran after the 2015 nuclear accord, which both Govt s strongly opposed. Such a permission by Saudi Arabia would reduce the air travel time from New Delhi to Tel Aviv by Air India from about eight hours to 5 and a half hours, Netanyahu said.Netanyahu said that as a result of the short travel of Air India, the Israeli national carrier El Al would be at disadvantage both in terms of cost and travel time.He said he is in talks with the national carrier so that it is not hurt economically.Meanwhile in New Delhi, an Air India spokesperson reacting to PM Netanyahu's statement said, "We are yet to receive any communication from the Indian regulator."Air India has sought permission from DG of Civil Aviation for thrice-a-week flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv.Israel's Ministry of Tourism will approve a one-time grant of 750,000 euros to Air India to launch the flight service, an official said in Jerusalem last month.PTI
Saudi grants airspace approval for flights to Israel
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/saudi-grants-airspace-approval-flights-israel-180207115134490.html
Babri judgment won't cause civil war, duty of forces to maintain law & order: AIMPLB Counters Sri Sri
https://www.news18.com/news/india/babri-judgment-wont-cause-civil-war-duty-of-forces-to-maintain-law-order-aimplb-counters-sri-sri-1680961.html
Lucknow: In response to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s open letter, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has condemned his statement saying it is the duty of the security forces to maintain law and order and the people of the country will abide by the court’s verdict.Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday renewed his appeal to AIMPLB to consider an out-of-court settlement to Ram Janmabhoomi row, saying he feared a "large-scale" communal flare up if the case was settled by a court or through legislation.AIMPLB executive member, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, “Whatever Sri Sri has proposed in the open letter, is not at all feasible for anyone. If anyone has a formula then he should submit it to the Supreme Court, in written."He has also written that a civil war-like situation similar to Syria can arise in the country after the court’s verdict, this is very wrong. The situation in Syria is due to foreign interference but in Babri Masjid issue, no outer interference is allowed and we all want the court to give its judgment and that will be acceptable to everyone.”In his letter, the spiritual leader said that going through the court was a loss for both Hindus and Muslims and an out-of-court settlement would be a "win-win situation" for both the communities.“When Allahabad High Court gave its judgment on the Babri issue, no riots or any such situation was reported. Even when the apex court gave its verdict on triple talaq, none of the Muslims went on a rampage. It is the duty of our security forces to maintain law order and we firmly believe in our agencies and the people that nothing will happen,” added cleric. news18
Ayodhya row: Sri Sri renews appeal to AIMPLB to consider out of court settlement
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-row-sri-sri-renews-appeal-to-aimplb-to-consider-out-of-court-settlement/articleshow/63186180.cms
Ayodhya case: India may face civil war if issue not resolved amicably, says Sri Sri
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-row-sri-sri-renews-appeal-to-aimplb-to-consider-out-of-court-settlement/
Owaisi tears into Sri Sri for his Syria remark; calls him unconstitutional
https://www.newsx.com/national/asaduddin-owaisi-tears-into-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-for-his-syria-remark-calls-him-unconstitutional
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been leading the mantle of Ram Mandir and rather too aggressively for quite a while. On Monday, he took his Ram temple bid a little too far when he said that if the dispute is not resolved quickly, “we will have a Syria in India”. The statement was delivered in extreme and was, consequently, bound to draw sharp reactions from other public figures. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi lambasted Sri Sri saying that he does not believe in the Constitution and consider himself above the law. Asaduddin Owaisi said, “He (Sri Sri) does not believe in the Constitution, he does not believe in the law. He feels he is the law himself. He feels he is so big that everyone should listen to what he says. He is not neutral.” Owaisi was not the only one to have reacted to his comments. Earlier, Shia Waqf Board chief Wasim Rizvi ridiculed Sri Sri for giving polarising statements in public.newsx
Shia Board agrees with AIMPLB, rejects compromise on Ayodhya issue: 'Only masjid can be built'
http://www.firstpost.com/india/all-india-shia-personal-law-board-agrees-with-aimplb-rejects-compromise-on-ayodhya-issue-says-only-masjid-can-be-built-on-babri-land-4377939.html
All India Shia Personal Law Board on Monday rejected any compromise and said that only a masjid can replace the demolished Babri Masjid on the disputed land in Ayodhya, reported News18 Hindi.While rejecting calls for a compromise, Shia Personal Law Board spokesperson Maulana Yasub Abbas told Amar Ujala that unnecessary statements on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue will not help resolve the case. "People like Sri Sri, Salman Nadvi and Waseem Rizvi need to stop making statements on the issue. There should not be any statement which can create a rift between Muslims and Hindus. This must stop," he told the publication.Abbas' statement was in line with AIMPLB's stance that there will be a mosque at the place, till "qayamat" (final judgement). Moreover, the Shia Board's statement came after the chairman of the Shia Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi wrote a letter to AIMPLB chairman Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadvi urging the board to surrender nine religious disputed places to Hindus, including Ram Temple in Ayodhya.firstpost
Not Ready For Any Compromise on Babri Masjid Issue, Says Shia Personal Law Board
https://www.news18.com/news/india/not-ready-for-any-compromise-on-babri-masjid-issue-shia-personal-law-board-1679213.html
Sharad Yadav slams Sri Sri, alleges him of inciting communal violence
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jdu-leader-sharad-yadav-slams-sri-sri-ravishankar-alleges-him-of-inciting-communal-violence-1183022-2018-03-06
Patna:Former Rajya Sabha member and dissenting JDU leader Sharad Yadav on Tuesday lashed out at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his comment that the country would face Syria-like situation if the Ram temple issue was not resolved.Yadav alleged that Art of Living founder was trying to incite communal tension in the country through his comments.Yadav warned the religious leader to stop making political comments on the controversial issue of Ram temple. Indiatoday
Sri Sri meets Barelvi cleric over temple dispute, talks inconclusive
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/sri-sri-meets-barelvi-cleric-over-temple-dispute-talks-inconclusive/story-cY7diW95B50TmNKQDCYQ4J.html
Bareilly: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met Barelvi cleric-turned-politician Tauqir Raza to discuss the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute on Tuesday, but nothing conclusive emerged from the talks.After the meeting, Raza said no decision on the matter can be accepted without taking the demands of both parties into consideration. “We should strive to resolve the issue outside court but the concerns of all parties should be heard before reaching a solution.”Ravi Shankar had earlier said that members of both the communities wanted to coexist in peace. “We are trying to ensure that the issue is solved amicably,” he said.No other Barelvi cleric agreed to meet the Art of Living founder on the matter.Meanwhile, Ravi Shankar was not allowed to enter an Islamic study centre operating under the aegis of Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat. “We were not informed about his visit in advance, and arbitrary visits are not allowed,” said madarsa in-charge Akhtar Raza Khan, who happens to be Raza’s elder brother. The spiritual leader then went on to visit Alaknath Temple. Hindustantimes
Loya Case: Bhushan Files Intervention Plea, Cites Medical Opinions Against Heart Attack Claim
http://caravandaily.com/portal/loya-case-prashant-bhushan-files-intervention-plea-cites-medical-opinions-against-heart-attack-claim/
New Delhi: Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), headed by noted human rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan, has filed an intervention plea in the Supreme citing opinions from top medical experts against the claim that CBI judge BH Loya died of heart attack. CPIL demanded a court-monitored probe by a “high powered team” into judge Loya’s death.The application first makes reference to the opinion from Dr. R.K. Sharma, one of India’s foremost forensic experts. After examining Judge Loya’s post-mortem report and related histopathology report, Dr. Sharma had ruled out the possibility of Judge Loya dying due to a heart attack. Going ahead, he had opined that the reports showed signs of trauma to the brain and even possible poisoning. His opinion was published in The Caravan Magazine. CPIL’s application also cites opinion of Dr Upendra Kaul, one of India’s most reputed cardiologists. It had sent a copy of judge Loya’s ECG report and histopathology report to Dr Kaul and asked some questions. First questions was: Could this person have suffered a serious heart attack, one-two hours before this ECG is taken? Dr Kaul responded in negative saying that “the ECG has no evidence of a recent myocardial infraction”.The three judge bench of SC, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, has allowed Prashant Bhushan to present his point on March 8.Caravan News
Judge Loya death case: If there’s slightest suspicion, SC will order probe, says CJI
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/judge-loya-death-case-if-theres-slightest-suspicion-supreme-court-will-order-probe-says-cji-5087426/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court will order an independent probe if it finds the “slightest” suspicion into the death of CBI judge B H Loya, CJI Dipak Misra observed on Monday. CJI Misra made the remarks after senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing Bombay Lawyers’ Association, which is seeking an independent probe into the judge’s death, pointed out alleged “discrepancies”.“You have raised that there are discrepancies…It is not about the magnitude…even if we have slightest suspicion, definitely we will order (an independent inquiry),” CJI Misra said.indianexpress
Sohrabuddin ‘fake’ encounter case: 2 more witnesses turn hostile
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-more-witnesses-turn-hostile-in-sohrabuddin-shaikh-encounter-case-5087262/
Mumbai;2 more witnesses were declared hostile in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case on Monday. 2, both panch witnesses, denied parts of their earlier statements recorded in 2005 made in relation to the seizures made after Sohrabuddin’s alleged encounter. So far, 53 witnesses have been examined, of whom 35 have been declared hostile.indianexpress
BJP supporters allegedly bulldoze Lenin’s statue in Tripura; section 144 imposed in affected areas
https://www.newsx.com/national/bjp-supporters-allegedly-bulldoze-vladimir-lenins-statue-in-tripura-chant-bharat-mata-ki-jai
Almost 2 days after BJP dethroned the two-decade-old CPI-M Govt of Manik Sarkar in Tripura during Assembly Elections, the statue of Vladimir Lenin at Belonia was brought down using bulldozers. As per reports, the statue which was allegedly bulldozed on the orders of the BJP had occupied the centre of the town for past five years. The people present at the spot also claimed that the bulldozers were allegedly brought by BJP supporters. They also claimed that they brought down the statue with great cheer and also chanted ‘Bharat Ki Jai’. After the statue was dozed down, several protests erupted in the area. Following the matter, the security forces have imposed Section 144 in the affected areas. Just a few hours after the results of Tripura Assembly elections were announced, the state had been witnessing a series of violent incidents. Following the series of complaints filed by the people, at least 3 people have been arrested in the matter. Commenting on the prevailing violence in the state, a police officer said that they have received four complaints of violence from various parts of the state since last night. SP (Control) Pradip De said, “The cases include arson at two CPI(M) offices at Sidhai area in West Tripura district, 25 km from Agartala, and clashes between CPI(M) and BJP supporters at Kadamtala in North Tripura district.”A video released by news agency ANI shows the statue of Vladimir Lenin at Belonia College Square in a Tripura town being taken down by a bulldozer. The statue was reportedly bulldozed on Monday. The statue of Vladimir Lenin was bulldozed just a day after Manik Sarkar resigned as the CM of Tripura following CPM’s defeat in the Assembly elections. The BJP decimated the CPI-M in Tripura – one of the last remaining Left bastions, ousting the party from power after 25 long years.newsx
Tripura violence LIVE: Yechury hits out at RSS-BJP; section 144 imposed in violence affected areas
http://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura-violence-live-updates-cpim-bjp-5087608/?#liveblogstart
BJP Lost 79% of Its Candidates in Meghalaya, Nagaland; Yet Celebrates “Big Victory”
http://caravandaily.com/portal/bjp-lost-79-of-its-candidates-in-meghalaya-nagaland-yet-celebrates-big-victory/
New Delhi:Mastered and unchallenged in creating impression, many times false one, BJP has been celebrating its “big victory” in three states – Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura since the Assembly results began coming Saturday morning. At the end of the day, its remarkable performance was only in Tripura where it won clear majority with 35 seats. But the party has continued celebration in Delhi of its “victory” in all three states.In Meghalaya, BJP had fielded 46 candidates, but only two of them could win – 96% of its candidates lost. In Nagaland, it did better performance as 12 out of its 20 candidates won. Together, 79% of its 66 candidates in 2 states lost – most of them forfeited their deposits.In Tripura, it won 35 seats in 60-member Assembly. However, the party has invested all its efforts to form Govt in the three states and it has almost become successful.In Meghalaya, though it won 2 seats and Congress 22, BJP has been able to bring all non-Congress parties together in its fold to form the govt. Though Congress had rushed its central team to Shillong to form alliance with smaller parties in order to continue in power, but BJP outsmarted it.Caravan News
'Bajrang Dal' men chop Muslim woman’s fingers, break son’s hands in Gujarat
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/womans-fingers-chopped-off-sons-hands-broken-in-chhatral/articleshow/63177294.cms
Ahmedabad: Bajrang Dal men allegedly chopped off the fingers of a Muslim woman in Chhatral town of Gandhinagar district in Gujarat for disobeying the Hindu right wing group’s diktat to remain indoors. Roshanbiwi Syed, 52, had her left thumb, index finger and middle finger chopped off. Her son, Farzan, 32, suffered fractures on his hands and skull. Both were hospitalized and are reportedly stable. According to local activists, communal tension has been high in the area since Dec.6, when the local Bajrang Dal led a procession through the Muslim-dominated Kasbavaas in Chhatral, to mark the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque. On Sunday night, tension escalated after a fight broke out in the area, the reason for which is still unclear. Roshanbiwi’s nephew Aslam Syed said, “On Monday morning, Syed and her son were cautioned not to leave their locality. When they went out to graze their cattle, some members of Bajrang Dal attacked them,” he said.“Luckily, a person from the Bharwad community who was out to sell milk spotted them and saved their lives by taking them to their family,” said Aslam. Roshanbiwi had to undergo surgery. Chhatral police, present at the hospital, said they will register an FIR once the victims are conscious and can give their statements. Sharif Malek, a local activist, said that those who had attacked the mother-son duo and were involved in similar incidents of violence in the area earlier and all belonged to the Bajrang Dal. Virendrasingh Yadav, SP Gandhinagar, said there were two incidents of violence on Monday, one at Pratappura village and another at Chhatral. Both incidents happened within the Kalol taluka police station’s jurisdiction.timesofindia
Goons of ‘Bajrang Dal’ brutally attack Muslim family in Gujarat
https://www.siasat.com/news/goons-bajrang-dal-brutally-attack-muslim-family-gujarat-1326286/
Dalai Lama events in Delhi cancelled, Tibetans shift ‘Thank You India’ function to Dharamsala
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/dalai-lama-events-in-delhi-scrapped-tibetans-shift-thank-you-india-function-to-dharamsala-5087375/
New Delhi:Days after the Govt sent out a note asking senior leaders and Govt functionaries of the Centre and states to stay away from events planned to mark 60 years in exile of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Govt -in-exile has decided to cancel its two main events in New Delhi. In its note, Govt had underlined that it is a “very sensitive time” for India’s relations with China. The two events, which were to be attended by the Dalai Lama, were scheduled to take place in New Delhi — an inter-faith prayer at the Gandhi Samadhi in Rajghat on March 31 and a ‘Thank You India’ event at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex on April 1.Following a report in Indian Express on March 2 — it was the first to report on Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s note to Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha who sent a directive to the Centre and states — the Tibetan Govt -in-exile decided to hold ‘Thank You India’ event in Dharamsala, either on March 31 or April 1.Confirming the move, Sonam Dagpo, spokesperson for Central Tibetan Administration, said on Monday: “Thyagaraj stadium event has been shifted to Dharamsala now. And the inter-faith prayer at Rajghat has been cancelled for now.”When his comments were sought on Govt’s note, Dagpo said, “India is host to Tibetan refugees. We respect Indian Govt’s decision. We have no further comments.” He said there had been no communication from Indian Govt to Tibetan administration on this issue.While Tibetan Govt -in-exile had put out a calendar of events for the year to observe “60 years in exile”, it was not available on the website Monday. Dagpo, however, said participation in Yoga Day, Swachh Bharat, tree-plantation and other events will take place as planned. ‘Thank You India’ event at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi had found specific mention in Foreign Secretary’s note. “There were plans for speeches by Dalai Lama and some of our Indian friends, from Govt, politics, academia and others, at Thyagaraj Sports Complex. There was also a plan to gift a souvenir,a Dharmachakra, from Tibetan administration to a representative of the Indian Govt , as an expression of our gratitude to the Indian Govt for hosting us for 60 years. But that plan is now being re-worked,” a Tibetan administration official said.indian exp
After govt’s red card, Tibetans shift Dalai Lama event from Delhi to Dharamshala
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-govt-s-red-card-tibetans-shift-dalai-lama-event-from-delhi-to-dharamshala/story-dQB4Ak8BjwZu0iCqht6l3H.html
Kerala conversion case: There was an attempt to take Hadiya to Yemen, now claims her father
https://scroll.in/latest/871036/kerala-conversion-case-there-was-an-attempt-to-take-hadiya-to-yemen-claims-her-father
Ashokan, the father of a woman from Kerala whose conversion to Islam and marriage to a Muslim man set off a legal case that the Supreme Court is now hearing, told the court in an affidavit that there had been an attempt to take his daughter Hadiya to Yemen, Bar and Bench reported on Tuesday.Ashokan had approached the Kerala High Court in January 2017, claiming that Muslim organisations planned to force Hadiya to join the Islamic State group, and that her husband Shafin Jahan was involved in terrorist activities. He had told the courts that two of Hadiya’s classmates at Sivaraj college in Salem – Faseena and Jaseena – had influenced her, and their father had got Hadiya to convert to Islam.In this affidavit, Ashokan claimed that Hadiya was already in a vulnerable state before that. She had reportedly met a person named Shanib, who introduced her to his elder sister Sherin Shahana, News Minute reported. Fasil Musthafa, Shahana’s husband, allegedly asked Hadiya to become his second wife and told her he would take her to Yemen.After Hadiya’s friend Ambily counselled her against marrying Musthafa, she “withdrew from the marriage proposal”, Ashokan said.Ashokan, who had earlier said that his daughter had told him she wanted to go to Syria to rear sheep, told the court he did not record their conversation. scroll
Attempt was made to take Hadiya to Yemen, Hadiya's father Asokan tells SC
https://barandbench.com/attempt-hadiya-yemen-father-new-narrative-conversion/
AMU students want minority status for university
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/amu-students-want-minority-status-for-university/articleshow/63174627.cms
Ahead of President, Ramnath Kovind's visit to AMU for its convocation on March 7, university students have urged him to prevail upon NDA Govt for granting "minority status" to the institute.In a memorandum submitted to the President, through the university's VC, the students have said that he should consider the sentiments of the students' community and help the university get the status of a minority institute."The issue of minority status of AMU is a matter of life and death for the entire Muslim community as it is the very essence of the institute," the memorandum read.The students have also demanded that President should instruct the union govt to take effective steps to prevent atrocities and violence against Dalits and Muslims."It has been observed that during the last four years there had been a considerable increase in organised violence in form of mob lynching and surge in violence against Dalits, minorities and other marginalised sections of the society because of which there is a prevalent fear among the Dalit and minorities," the memorandum said.On behalf of Alig community, ex-president of students union, Faizul Hassan requested the president to provide humanitarian aid to the affected people in Syria through the Indian Embassy. He said, "We are hopeful that he will consider our plea and will take appropriate action at the earliest."
Adityanath thanks Muslim clerics for shifting namaz timings during Holi
https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/adityanath-thanks-muslim-clerics-for-shifting-namaz-timings-during-holi-1182626-2018-03-05
UP CM Yogi Adityanath thanked Muslim clerics for shifting the timing of namaz prayers in order to avoid any clash with Holi revellers."I want to thank the Muslim clerics for changing the time of Jumma Namaz for Holi. Jumma comes 52 times in a year and Holi comes once. They (clerics) decided to reschedule namaz after Holi. The festival went off peacefully, he said while addressing public meetings ahead of Gorakhpur bypoll.PTI
Shopian : Hit on the back but no bullet mark on car seat, says victim’s father
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/hit-on-the-back-but-no-bullet-mark-on-car-seat-says-victims-father-5087432/
Shopian:On Sunday, Suhail Ahmad Wagay had told her mother that he will pick her up in 10 minutes. Gowhar Ahmad Khan had left home for Shopian to fetch pesticides for his shop. When it got a little late, he called his anxious mother and said that he would return in half-an-hour. Shahnawaz Ahmad Wagay had left for her aunt’s home with a promise to return in the evening, and Shahid Khan had left home saying he will return immediately. Hailing from four different villages, none of the four returned home. While the police recovered bodies of the three others on Sunday evening, Gowhar’s body was found inside his white Wagon R car by villagers on Monday morning a few hundred meters from the site of Sunday’s shootout at Pahnoo village, Shopian. Along the 10-km stretch from Shopian, the four villages of Pinjoora, Trenz, Malikgund and Mool turned milestones of grief on Monday.“We found his body inside the vehicle but there was no blood inside (the car),” said Abdul Rashid Lone, father of Gowhar (23). “He was hit on the back, but there was no bullet in the back of the (car) seat. In all probability, he had been killed after dragging him out of his car or they (forces) had taken him to their camp and killed there , and then put the body back in the car.”indianexpress
No trace of Kashmiri MBBS student missing from Odisha, mother appeals for return in videos
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-trace-of-kashmiri-mbss-student-missing-from-odisha-mother-appeals-for-return-in-videos/story-l7aJOcCsq00xHVV8LBlL8M.html
Bhubaneswar:A handwritten note claiming Maoists abducted Suhail Aijaz, a Kashmiri student of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, surfaced on Monday, adding a twist to the search for the youngster missing for more than three weeks.The note bearing the name of CPI(Maoist) was spotted on a wall at Baramunda bus stand, about 3 km from AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where Aijaz is in the second year of his MBBS course. “We (Maoists) have kidnapped Suhail. Release our leader Sabyasachi Panda and take back Suhail. Else, be prepared for any eventuality,” stated the note in Odia.Police suspect the note is a prank, said Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi. “We are examining it,” he added. Panda’s wife Subhashree too said the note was mischievous. “Somebody played a mischief and tried to mislead the police,” she said. Incidentally, the Maoists expelled Panda in 2012. Odisha police arrested him in July 2014 and he is in judicial custody since then.Aijaz’s father, a schoolteacher in Kupwara, landed in Bhubaneswar more than a fortnight ago. He has shared two videos of his wife Shaheen Begum appealing to Aijaz to come back. HT
HC Division Bench Dismisses Appeal For CBI Probe Made by Lynched Teenager Junaid Khan’s Family
https://thewire.in/230101/hc-division-bench-dismisses-appeal-lynched-teenager-junaid-khan-family-cbi-probe/
New Delhi: That mob lynchings have become the new normal in India is an indisputable fact. But that justice is elusive in such cases is another reality that the country is dealing with. On March 6, a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed by murdered teenager Junaid Khan’s family against the single-bench judgment that had rejected their plea for a CBI probe in the case.The family has now been given two weeks’ time to approach the Supreme Court. Haryana Govt had argued that a division bench of the high court cannot hear an appeal against the single-bench judgment in a matter of criminal jurisdiction. The stay on the trial before the Faridabad court will, however, continue. According to a report in Scroll.in, Junaid’s cousin Sanowar Khan said the conflict erupted because a group of around 15 men wanted to take over the seats where the four were sitting. “The fight started because of seats and got worse because they passed communal remarks. They were carrying no meat with them,” he said. The four tried to get off the train at Faridabad, he said, but were unable to because of the crowded train.According to reports, “Men (perpetrators) allegedly mocked the boys, tugged at their beards and accused them of being beef eaters.”The Wire
Junaid Khan lynching: HC division bench junks family plea for CBI probe
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/junaid-khan-lynching-hc-division-bench-junks-family-plea-for-cbi-probe-5087873/
ICHR hosts conference aimed at correcting distortions in history
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ichr-hosts-conference-aimed-at-correcting-distortions-in-history-5087465/
New Delhi:Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) is hosting a three-day conference to correct “distortions” in Indian history. Research papers ranging from those claiming that information on Netaji’s disappearance was suppressed by the British and Indian Govt s to ones questioning the Aryan invasion theory will be presented at the conference, that began on Monday.The keynote address was delivered by historian Ramachandran Nagaswamy, who criticised the distortion of the concept of secularism, which, he said, these days has come to mean “anti-Hinduism”.Historian Romila Thapar was the centre of Nagaswamy’s critique as he accused her of peddling the lie that the concept of Dharma was introduced by Asoka Maurya.Dharma, Nagaswamy said, is a thought older than Asoka and is found in teachings of Buddha and Manu.indianexpress
4 held in Bareilly: Muslim man elopes with Hindu girl, house ransacked
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/four-held-in-bareilly-muslim-man-elopes-with-hindu-girl-house-ransacked-5087400/
Lucknow: 4 persons were arrested on Monday for allegedly ransacking and setting ablaze properties belonging to a Muslim youth and his relatives, 2 days after he reportedly eloped with a minor Hindu girl from a village at Bahedi area of Bareilly.The youth, Raees Ahmed (20), had allegedly eloped with 16-year-old Hindu girl on Saturday. 2 of his relatives — Kabir Ahmed and Nazim Ahmed — were also arrested on Monday for allegedly helping them elope from Nadeli village, which has 70 per cent Hindu population.Along with Kabir and Nazim, 4 others — Devesh, Dharmendra, Ravi and Atul — were produced before a local court on Monday, which sent them to judicial custody.indianexpress
28 dead, 35 injured as truck carrying wedding guests falls off bridge in Gujarat
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/28-dead-35-injured-as-truck-carrying-wedding-guests-falls-off-bridge-in-gujarat/story-hW7Qaw3U6RyCayMnpEZYjJ.html
As many as 28 people died and 35 others were injured when a truck carrying wedding guests and family fell off a bridge in Gujarat’s Ranghona village in Bhavnagar district early on Tuesday.The parents of the groom, Vijay Koli, were among the dead.The vehicle was going from Palitana to Botad for the wedding ceremony and fell off the bridge into dry river bed of Ranghona river.The injured have been shifted to Hospital.HT
Hyderabad:Man chops off son’s hand over porn addiction
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/man-chops-off-son-s-hand-over-porn-addiction-in-hyderabad/story-PgRz1oIMFkSOs8bkdrTOPL.html
Hyderabad: A man chopped off his teenage son’s hand in Hyderabad on Monday for allegedly getting addicted to pornography on his smartphone despite repeated warnings, police said.Mohammad Qayyum Qureshi (45), a butcher by profession of Jalpalli colony in Pahadi Shareef area in the old city, surrendered to the police stating that he had chopped off the right hand (between wrist and elbow) of his son, Mohammad Khalid Qureshi (18),who works as an assistant at a local cable television operator. “The father has been booked under section 307 of IPC and taken into custody,” Pahadishareef police inspector P Lakshmikanth Reddy said. TOI
Supreme Court asks Modi govt to file its response on Sambit Patra’s appointment as ONGC Director
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/supreme-court-asks-modi-govt/175593/
The Supreme Court has asked the Modi Govt to file its response to a petition challenging the arbitrary and mala fide appointment of BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra as an independent director of ONGC. The matter was listed on Monday before a bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, which sought the response of the central Govt on the issue. The petition was filed on behalf of Energy Watchdog with noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan appearing in the matter.Patra’s appointment has been challenged on the following grounds:(a) That he is not ‘independent’:ONGC is a central Govt undertaking and being the national spokesperson of the ruling party he cannot be said to be ‘not related’ to the central Govt run PSU as is the requirement under Section 149(2) of the Companies Act, 2013;(b) That he is ineligible: He does not fulfill the eligibility criteria in place for the appointment to the post of independent director. Moreover, his name did not appear in the data bank maintained by the Dept of Public Enterprises (DPE) as is the requirement under Section 150 of Companies Act.(c) That the post is a highly paying one (Rs 23-27 lakhs plus per year) and that state largess must not be passed on to such ineligible persons only because they are close to Govt.Patra, BJP’s national spokesperson and a popular face on TV channels, was appointed as non-official director on the board of state-owned ONGC Ltd in Sept. last year. jantakareporter
Gautam Adani ‘biggest NPA trapeze artiste’, he must be made accountable: Subramanian Swamy
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/subramanian-swamy-calls-adani-biggest-npa-trapeze-artiste-says-pil-inevitable-against-industrialist-5088092/
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy called industrialist Gautam Adani the “biggest NPA (Non-Performing Asset) trapeze artiste in PSUs.”Targeting Adani who believed to be close to PM Narendra Modi, Swamy on Twitter wrote, “The biggest NPA trapeze artiste in PSUs is Gautam Adani. It is time he is made accountable or a PIL is inevitable.”Referring to his tweet, Swamy also added that an investigation should be conducted against Adani as he is believed to have Rs 72,000 crore in NPA. “I tweeted that he (Gautam Adani) seems to be like a trapeze artiste. Information came to me that he may be having as much as Rs 72,000 (crores) in NPA.This will be clear only after investigation. That’s why I raised this question,” Swamy said, reported ANI.indianexpress
Investors lose Rs 4.30 lakh crore in 5 days
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/markets-free-fall-investors-lose-rs-4-30-lakh-crore-in-5-days/articleshow/63188053.cms
New Delhi: As much as Rs 4.30 lakh crore of investors' money has been wiped out in the last 5 trading sessions, with Rs 1.54 lakh crore eroding today. BSE benchmark Sensex on Tuesday nosedived nearly 430 points to close at a nearly three-month low of 33,317 after bank stocks came under heavy selling pressure despite positive global cues. 30-share index Sensex slipped into a negative zone towards the fag-end to hit a low of 33,209.76 as participants booked profits at improved levels. Following the bearish trend in the broader market, the market capitalisation of BSE listed companies fell to Rs 1,44,20,606 crore at the end of today's trading session, from Rs 1,45,75,054.23 crore yesterday.PTI
I&B Ministry order is serious bid to disrupt autonomy: Prasar Bharati chairman
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ib-ministry-order-is-serious-bid-to-disrupt-autonomy-prasar-bharati-chairman-a-surya-prakash-5087395/
New Delhi:An order directing the Prasar Bharati CEO to be appraised by I&B Secretary and reviewed by the Minister — one of the first flashpoints between the two sides last year — is part of “serious attempts to disrupt the autonomy” of the public broadcaster and goes “against the mandate of Parliament”, Prasar Bharati chairman A Surya Prakash said.The order was issued on July 6, 2017, within a week of N K Sinha taking over as I&B Secretary on June 30 — and nearly 2 weeks before Smriti Irani was named I&B Minister on July 18, replacing M Venkaiah Naidu who became Vice President. For the other two wholetime Board members and directors-general of Doordarshan and All India Radio, both under Prasar Bharati, the I&B Secretary will be the reviewing authority for appraisals, the order stated. Shashi Shekhar Vempati was appointed as Prasar Bharati CEO on June 2.indianexpress
Prasar Bharati Tussle…How to Kill a Public Broadcaster;S K Pande
https://newsclick.in/prasar-bharati-tusslehow-kill-public-broadcaster
TISS strike continues in Mumbai even as some students call off protest
https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/tiss-strike-continues-in-mumbai-even-as-some-students-call-off-protest/story-dVq0rj9AGkU6vwEX6OE8gN.html
Mumbai:Students’ stir at TISS showed no sign of waning, even as some members of the students’ union called off the strike after the administration agreed to some of their demands.On Monday, the day 13 of the strike, around 500 activists from around 20 social and political organisations also turned up at the institute to lend their support to the students, who are protesting cuts in scholarships given to students from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs. Students from the University of Mumbai and IIT-Bombay and IIPS also showed up in solidarity with the students.“TISS students have emerged as a symbol of resistance. They are not protesting a local issue, but rather something that affects alll the students. While educational funds are being cut since 2013, tuition fees are being raised,” said Simab Khan, Mumbai division secretary, Students Islamic Organisation of India, which participated in the protest.HT
Convert doesn't lose inheritance under Hindu Succession Act: Bombay HC
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/convert-doesnt-lose-inheritance-under-hindu-succession-acthc/1266419
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court today held that a Hindu woman or a man does not lose the right to inherit parents' property under the Hindu Succession Act even after converting to another religion.Justice Mridula Bhatkar upheld a lower court's order in favour of Nazneen Qureshi, a city resident."Right to inheritance is not a choice but it is by birth and in some cases it is acquired by marriage. Therefore, renouncing a particular religion and to get converted is a matter of choice and cannot cease relationships which are established and exist by birth," Justice Bhatkar said."Therefore, a Hindu convert is entitled to his/her father's property, if father died intestate (without making a will)," she added.Qureshi, born to Hindu parents, converted to Islam in 1979 and married a Muslim man. After the death of her father, she laid equal claim to a flat and a shoe shop owned by her father along with her five sisters and a brother.Her brother contested her claim, saying that as she had converted to Islam, she must be disqualified under the Hindu Succession Act.outlookindia
Child marriages decline in India: UNICEF
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/child-marriages-decline-in-india-unicef-5088177/
India saw a sharp decline in child marriages over the last ten years with 27 per cent of girls getting married before their 18th birthday as against 47 per cent a decade ago, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said. This decline in India has contributed significantly to a global decline in child marriages. PTI
Delhi sealing drive: SC stays amendments in ‘Master Plan 2021’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-sealing-drive-sc-stays-amendments-in-master-plan-2021-5087903/
New Delhi Supreme Court has stayed further progress by authorities in amending the Delhi Master Plan 2021. The SC criticised the Delhi Govt, DDA and the MCD for not filing an affidavit on whether an environment impact assessment was conducted before proposing an amendment to the city’s Master Plan. “This is contempt, and nothing short of contempt. This dadagiri has to stop,” a bench comprising Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.indianexpress
WORLD
Sri Lanka declares state of emergency for 10 days after Buddhist-Muslim clash
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/sri-lanka-declares-state-of-emergency-for-10-days-after-buddhist-muslim-clash-5087979/
Colombo:Sri Lanka declared a nationwide state of emergency for 10 days on Tuesday to stop the spread of communal violence, a Govt spokesman said, after clashes erupted between majority Buddhists and members of the minority Muslim community.Tension has been growing between the two communities in Sri Lanka over the past year, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites.Some Buddhist nationalists have also protested against the presence in Sri Lanka of Muslim Rohingya asylum-seekers from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, where Buddhist nationalism has also been on the rise. “At a special cabinet meeting, it was decided to declare a state of emergency for 10 days to prevent the spread of communal riots,” Govt spokesman Dayasiri Jayasekara said.He said some people were instigating violence through Facebook and warned of tough action against them. The unrest in the Indian Ocean island’s central district of Kandy began on Sunday after the funeral of a truck driver from the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community who died days after he was involved in an altercation with four Muslims, the Govt has said.It was not clear why the initial altercation occurred but after the driver’s funeral on Monday, a Sinhalese mob attacked Muslim shops, police said. The body of a Muslim youth was found in a burnt-out house early on Tuesday, police said.The Govt sent troops and elite police to the area on Monday and imposed a curfew. A curfew was reimposed in 2 districts of Kandy on Tuesday, police said. Amnesty International said that the Sri Lankan authorities must respect human rights under the state of emergency. “It is important that the authorities take action against mobs who have incited hatred and carried out acts of violence against religious minorities. They have a duty to protect vulnerable groups and hold perpetrators accountable. But a state of emergency must not become a pretext for further human rights abuses,” said Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director.The declaration of the state of emergency comes amid fears that violence against members of the Muslim minority may spread to different parts of the country. Reuters
Sri Lanka declares emergency after Buddhist mob ransacks, burns Muslim properties in Kandy
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/sri-lanka-declares-state-of-emergency-for-10-days-over-buddhist-muslim-clashes-in-kandy/story-JOjhxcNBzRBp7iLfuGteEL.html
Ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas continues in Myanmar, says top UN official
https://scroll.in/latest/871022/ethnic-cleansing-of-rohingyas-continues-in-myanmar-says-top-un-official
The “systematic violence” against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar still persists, and only its nature has changed, a top human rights official of the UN said on Tuesday after meeting refugees in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. “The ethnic cleansing of Rohingya from Myanmar continues,” said Andrew Gilmour, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights. “I don’t think we can draw any other conclusion from what I have seen and heard in Cox’s Bazar.”Nearly 7 lakh Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh since August 2017 after a militant attack on security forces resulted in a violent crackdown. UN and the US called it the “ethnic cleansing” of the Muslim minority community. Scroll
Russian plane crashes in Syria killing 32 aboard
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/russian-transport-plane-crashes-syria-killing-32-aboard-180306135456936.html
A Russian transport plane crashed in Syria killing all 32 people on board and the aircraft reportedly wasn't shot down, the defence ministry said.Antonov-26 aircraft crashed at Russia's Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province on Tuesday, Russian media quoted the ministry as saying.Initial information suggested the crash may have been caused by a technical fault. The aircraft hit the ground about 500 metres short of the runway, the ministry said.26passengers and six crew members were on the aircraft when it went down at about 3pm Moscow time.Khmeimim airbase is the main site for Russia's military campaign in Syria. The plane reportedly did not come under fire. "Nobody survived," the ministry's statement said. "According to reports from the scene, no fire was delivered against the plane."Russia's air force has played a crucial role in the 7-year war after it began operations in September 2015 in support of President Bashar al-Assad's Govt .aljazeera
N. Korea open to freezing N-weapons tests amid talks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/north-korea-vows-freeze-nuclear-weapons-tests-180306113201608.html
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to meet South Korea's president next month and impose a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests if his country holds talks with the US, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday after returning from North Korea.North Korean officials pledged not to use nuclear weapons on South Korea, according to the Blue House, South Korean's presidential palace. "North Korean side clearly stated its willingness to denuclearize," a statement from South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office said. "It made it clear that it would have no reason to keep nuclear weapons if the military threat to the North was eliminated and its security guaranteed."aljazeera
Cambridge apologises for blocking Palestinian from chairing talk: aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/cambridge-apologises-blocking-palestinian-chairing-talk-180306124314792.html
University of Cambridge has apologised to a Palestinian academic, who it prevented from chairing a talk on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement in November last year.Ruba Salih from the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London was stopped from moderating the event organised by pro-Palestinian activists and replaced by the university's own choice, apparently over concerns about her neutrality. The decision sparked anger among activists, who saw it as yet another example of a university attempting to shut down or disrupt debate on Israel and BDS movement.
Emails show UAE-linked lobbying effort to oust Tillerson: reports
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/emails-show-uae-linked-lobbying-effort-oust-tillerson-reports-180306081829897.html
Leaked emails show that a businessman with ties to UAE tried to convince US President Donald Trump to fire Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for not supporting the UAE-backed blockade of Qatar, the BBC reported. According to the emails obtained by the news outlet, Elliott Broidy, who is also a major Trump fundraiser, met President Donald Trump in Oct.2017 and lobbied against top US diplomat for "performing poorly".aljazeera
Pak SC refuses to entertain petition seeking Sharia
https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/pak-sc-refuses-to-entertain-petition-seeking-sharia-law-1182476-2018-03-05
Islamabad: Pakistans Supreme Court today refused to entertain a petition filed by an infamous radical cleric to impose Sharia law in the country.Maulana Abdul Aziz of Red Mosque, had filed the petition in Dec.2015 under Article 184(3) of Constitution through his counsel Tariq Asad.The Registrar office of the Supreme Court had turned down the plea in Feb.2016 by declaring it as non-maintainable. The cleric had challenged the rejection.An official of the court said that Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar heard the appeal in his chamber against the decision of Registrar."CJ sustained the objections by Registrar office and rejected the appeal," the official said.The petitioner maintained that Sharia provides solution for all ills confronted by Pakistan and asked the court to order the respondents to amend the Constitution to implement Islamic laws. Petitioner also said that the country was being "Indianised and westernised" through TV channels and the "younger generation has been inspired into adopting modeling and acting, singing and dancing as careers."PTI
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Dalit vs Brahmin, Hindu vs Muslim: The failed anti-Modi narrative: Sriram Ramakrishnan, ET
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dalit-vs-brahmin-hindu-vs-muslim-the-failed-anti-modi-narrative/articleshow/63180476.cms
Give up Babri Masjid or…:Is Ravi Shankar’s statement any different from hardcore Hindutva leaders? caravandaily
http://caravandaily.com/portal/give-up-babri-masjid-or-is-ravi-shankars-statement-any-different-from-hardcore-hindutva-leaders/
BJP’s Ram Madhav, State Governor Hail Toppling of Lenin Statue in Tripura:thewire
https://thewire.in/229921/tripura-bjp-lenin-cpm-rajnath-singh/
Debate: Should the Supreme Court Merely Stand By While Its Judgments Are Misrepresented?Satya Prasoon And Ashwini Tallur
https://thewire.in/229985/supreme-court-secularism-misrepresentation/
Why Modi govt is willing to snub the Dalai Lama to pacify China:Rajeev Sharma
https://www.dailyo.in/politics/the-dalai-lama-event-delhi-modi-Govt -india-china-ties-thank-you-india/story/1/22695.html
Fear and Uncertainty Grip Rohingya Women in India:Stella Paul
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/7/13203/Fear-and-Uncertainty-Grip-Rohingya-Women-in-India
Row Escalates Over 'Mysterious' Civilian Death:Jehangir Ali
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/3/13210/Row-Escalates-Over-Mysterious-Civilian-Death
Mix Of Anti-Incumbency And Chutzpah Help BJP Gatecrash Into India’s North East:P.K.BALACHANDRAN
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/3/13204/Mix-Of-Anti-Incumbency-And-Chutzpah-Help-BJP-Gatecrash-Into-Indias-North-East
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:58 PM)
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