باسمہٖ تعالیٰ
NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
26 April 2018:09 Shaban 1439:Vol:10, No:08
INDIA
LIVE: Justice Joseph's elevation to SC stalled by govt despite clearance by SC collegium, saying his elevation not appropriate at this stage
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-km-joseph-elevation-issue-live-updates-supreme-court-collegium-congress-kapil-sibal-5152503/
Law Ministry Thursday wrote to CJI Dipak Misra saying it would not be appropriate, at this stage, to elevate Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph to the Supreme Court. Sources have said that, in his letter to the Govt asking that his name be reconsidered by the collegium, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said Justice KM Joseph is placed at number 42 in the All India High Court Judges’ Seniority list and there are presently 11 Chief Justices of various High Courts who are senior to him. The Govt in a letter to CJI Dipak Misra said the proposed appointment of Justice KM Joseph as a Judge of the SC at this stage does not appear to be appropriate. Uttarakhand High HC Justice KM Joseph's name was recommended to the Govt by the Supreme Court Collegium along with that of Malhotra. Both names were proposed by 5-judge Collegium, headed by CJI Dipak Misra, at its last meeting on January 10. Justice K M Joseph had struck down the Centre’s order to impose President’s Rule in Uttarakhand in 2016.Ever since, Collegium’s recommendation for Justice Joseph’s transfer to Andhra Pradesh and then his elevation to the Supreme Court has been blocked by the central Govt . If his name is returned, the Collegium can reiterate his name which will make it incumbent upon the Govt to issue a warrant for his appointment to the Supreme Court. Late Wednesday evening, the Govt cleared the name of Senior advocate Indu Malhotra, who will become the first woman to be elevated to the post of a Supreme Court judge directly from the Bar. Malhotra received the Presidential warrant, or requisite clearance to take oath as a SC judge. Her swearing-in is scheduled Friday.Congress Thursday took on the Govt for not clearing Justice KM Joseph’s elevation to the SC despite the top court recommending his name. Speaking at a press conference in the national capital, senior party leader Kapil Sibal said the Govt must immediately reconsider his appointment. “They are unwilling to accept the collegium’s recommendations but only want judges that are favourable to them.” Meanwhile, CJI Misra sternly rebuked lawyers seeking a stay on the warrant of appointment of Sr Advocate Indu Malhotra as judge of SC. CJI Misra told Adv Indira Jaising, who mentioned it, that their prayer was unimaginable, unthinkable, inconceivable and never heard of.Jaising said they were for Malhotra's elevation but were only concerned about the Govt segregating files of Malhotra and Justice KM Joseph whose names were recommended together by Collegium for elevation on Jan.10.indianexpress
Justice KM Joseph's elevation to SC: Govt asks apex court collegium to reconsider recommendation
https://www.firstpost.com/india/justice-km-josephs-elevation-to-supreme-court-govt-asks-apex-court-collegium-to-reconsider-recommendation-4446609.html
What is holding Centre from appointing Justice Joseph as SC judge, asks Chidambaram
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-judge-appointment-justice-k-m-joseph-chidambaram-5152466/
New Delhi: P Chidambaram hit out at the Modi-led Govt for stalling the appointment of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph as a Supreme Court judge despite the latter’s name getting cleared by the Collegium. Chidambaram questioned the intentions of the Centre. “Delighted that Ms Indu Malhotra will be sworn in as Judge of the Supreme Court tomorrow. Disappointed that Justice K M Joseph’s appointment is still on hold,” he tweeted.“What is holding up Justice K M Joseph’s appointment? His State or his religion or his judgement in the Uttarakhand case?” he asked.indianexpress
‘Unwarranted intrusion’ by Centre in selection process of SC judge:CPM
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-judge-appointment-justice-indu-malhotra-k-m-joseph-centre-cpm-5152526/
CPM has attacked Modi-led Govt for withholding Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K M Joseph’s appointment as a Supreme Court judge, calling it an “unwarranted intrusion into the selection process of a judge”. The party argued that the Centre’s decision to stall the appointment of Justice Joseph will affect the independence of the judiciary and sought the intervention of the President in the case.indianexpress
Kathua rape case: SC agrees to hear accused's plea to transfer probe to CBI, holding trial in Jammu
https://www.firstpost.com/india/kathua-rape-case-sc-agrees-to-hear-accuseds-plea-to-transfer-probe-to-cbi-holding-trial-in-jammu-4446429.html
The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to consider a plea of two accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua that the trial in the case is held in Jammu and the probe handed over to CBI.A bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud considered the plea of the accused, Sanji Ram and Vishal Jangotra, that they be impleaded as parties to the petition filed by the victim's father. The eight-year-old's father had moved the apex court earlier, apprehending a threat to the family, a friend and their lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat.Expressing satisfaction with the probe conducted by the J&K police in the case, the father had also sought transfer of the trial from Kathua court to Chandigarh. However, the accused are asking for the opposite, seeking a CBI probe and a trial in Kathua district itself. Meanwhile, the J&K High Court on Thursday issued notices to the state Govt and the CBI, asking them to file objections to the plea of a sub-inspector and a special police officer seeking a probe by the agency into the Kathua rape and murder case.
SC stays shifting Kathua case out of J&K, but with a warning; calls for fair trial
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/260418/kathua-case-to-not-be-shifted-out-of-jk-sc-calls-for-fair-trial.html
Govt admits it lied that SC directed Aadhaar-mobile number linkage
https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/in-front-of-sc-judges-indian-Govt -agrees-it-lied-to-people-on-aadhaar-mobile-linking-1220478-2018-04-26
Govt has virtually accepted that it had lied about the Supreme Court mandating that Indians' mobile phone numbers be linked to their Aadhaar. A lawyer representing UIDAI accepted during arguments in the Aadhaar case that there was no SC order making it compulsory to link Aadhaar with mobile phone numbers. Govt 's admission in the SC should be seen against the backdrop of the near-daily messages sent by mobile phone operators asking users to link their numbers with their Aadhaar.Govt justified the messages by saying that the SC had previously ordered the linking of Aadhaar and mobile phone numbers.However, the SC said on Wednesday that this never happened. "In the Lokniti Foundation case, the SC has not directed linking of SIM with UID. But Union Govt 's circular says so. There was no direction by the court..." Justice DY Chandrachud said during the hearing.TOI.
At the very end of SC’s Aadhaar hearings, govt admits it has been dishonest all along
https://scroll.in/article/876926/at-the-very-end-of-scs-aadhaar-hearings-Govt -admits-it-has-been-dishonest-all-along
Mehbooba is a jihadi CM claims Lawyer of Kathua rape accused also calls for boycott of Muslim tribes
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mehbooba-mufti-is-jihadi-lawyer-of-kathua-rape-accused-5152115/
Jammu;The lawyer defending the main accused in the Kathua Bakerwal child’s rape and murder calls CM Mehbooba Mufti a “jihadi CM ,” accuses her of spearheading “an Islamo-fascist communal agenda for demographic change in Jammu’s Hindu-dominated areas” and called for, in a speech last month, social and economic boycott of the Gujjars and BakerwalsAnkur Sharma said: “Mehbooba Mufti is a jihadi…She gives legal immunity to cow slaughter and bovine smuggling. She refers to them (Gujjars and Bakerwals) as tribals, who are Muslims, and says Section 188 RPC (‘disobedience to order’) will not be invoked against them…She is spearheading an Islamo-fascist communal agenda wherein demographic change is a reality, where people of one religion are occupying land in Jammu province, which is a Hindu-dominated area.”Sharma represents Sanji Ram, named by the Crime Branch as the mastermind of the rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl with an aim to “dislodge” the nomadic Bakerwal community from the area; as well as Sanji Ram’s son Vishal Jangotra; and police official Deepak Khajuria.A speech of Sharma at a Hindu Ekta Manch rally in March — called to support the accused — has surfaced where he is heard asking for a boycott of Gujjars and Bakerwals. “We shall take a pledge here and it shall be the agenda of the (Hindu Ekta) Manch also to ensure that we will not sell our land to outsiders,” Sharma can be heard saying in Dogri.“They are working under a plan. So you need to think, and the first thing you shall decide is not to sell your land to them. Secondly, you shall stop all those things which strengthen their community here and improve their financial condition, whether it is trade with them, or purchasing milk from them or selling them fodder. You have to stop all these things as there are conspiracies on against you.”Sharma admitted having made the speech. In that speech, Sharma also said that state Govt officials, from SSP to deputy commissioner, “are on the other side”.indianexpress
Pulwama terror attack: Politician Ghulam Patel killed, parties 'disown' him
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/kashmir-attack-in-pulwama-bjp-leader-ghulam-nabi-patel-shot-dead-2-policemen-injured-top-10-developments-118042500951_1.html
New Delhi:A political activist was killed in a militant attack on Wednesday in Pulwama district in J&K , officials said, but the ruling PDP and opposition Congress were locked in a row over the party affiliation of the victim.Ghulam Nabi Patail, a resident of Shadimarg area in Pulwama, succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital after the attack in Rajpora Chowk area which also left two policemen injured. As political parties promptly condemned the killing. CM Mehbooba Mufti described Patail as a senior Congress leader while the Congress said he was a "well-known PDP activist". National Conference leader Omar Abdullah waded into the row, saying if neither PDP nor Congress was willing to own Patail as one of their own, he could be called an NC worker.Congress and the PDP were not keen on owning the killed leader as their own to avoid conveying to their workers that they were at risk, Abdullah, a former CM claimed..business-standard
JK:Another mother dies searching ‘missing’ son for 28 yrs
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/3/13643/Another-Kashmiri-Mother-Dies-Searching-For-Son-Missing-For-28-Years
Srinagar: A 70-year-old woman, who was at the forefront of a campaign to seek whereabouts of thousands of people subjected to enforced disappearance in the last three decades of turmoil in the Valley, passed away today in central Kashmir's Budgam.Rehti Begum, one of the trustees of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons in Kashmir which has been seeking justice for 'missing' persons, passed away today morning due to a massive heart attack at her residence in Cheke Kawoosa Narbal of Budgam district in J&K.thecitizen
Delhi HC questions trial court order extending probe period in terror case involving Hizb’s Salahuddin's son
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/apr/25/delhi-hc-questions-trial-court-order-extending-probe-period-in-terror-case-involving-hizbul-mujahide-1806391.html
New Delhi: Delhi High Court today questioned a trial court's order extending the period of investigation in a terror funding case, allegedly involving Syed Shahid Yousuf, son of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen founder Syed Salahuddin.HC said that a special judge has no power to extend the period of investigation in a case and it only has the power to extend the judicial custody of the accused."What business a judge has to say that the period of investigation is 180 days for completion of probe," a bench of justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta said. The court's remarks came while hearing the bail plea of Yousuf whose counsel said he was a Govt employee and was posted as agricultural assistant in Budgam of central Kashmir when he was arrested by the NIA on Oct.24 last year.The accused challenged the trial court's 2 orders of February and March -- rejecting him bail and extending judicial custody.The counsel said Yousuf's only crime was that he was son of a person who was also an accused in the case and the allegations against him are that he was a terrorist.The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 2.PTI
UP : 13 children killed as train hits school van at unmanned crossing gate in Kushinagar
https://www.firstpost.com/india/uttar-pradesh-13-children-killed-as-train-hits-school-van-at-unmanned-crossing-gate-in-kushinagar-district-4446225.html
Gorakhpur: 13 children were killed and eight others injured when a train rammed into their school van at an unmanned railway crossing in UP 's Kushinagar area, around 50 km from Gorakhpur, this morning, a railway official said.The children, students of Divine Public School, were killed on the spot when Thawe-Kapatanganj passenger train crashed into the van at the unmanned crossing gate at Behpurva, said Indian Railways spokesman Ved Prakash. The train was on way to Gorakhpur from Siwan.There were at least 25 passengers, including children who were below the age of 10, in the van, the official said."It was an unmanned level crossing gate at Behpurva, with gate mitra (rail volunteer) deployed there. He tried to stop the van but the unfortunate incident happened at unmanned gate 45 near Dudhi station in Banaras division," the spokesperson said in New Delhi.PTI
Kushinagar: Agitating crowd blocks Yogi's way to accident spot, CM returns without visiting
http://www.abplive.in/india-news/kushinagar-agitating-crowd-blocks-yogis-way-to-accident-spot-688872
Yogi govt moves to withdraw hate-speech cases against Sadhvi Prachi, Sanjeev Balyan
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-govt-moves-to-withdraw-hate-speech-cases-against-sadhvi-prachi-and-sanjeev-balyan-5152077/
s it initiates the process to withdraw 131 cases, including 13 of murder, linked to 2013 communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in UP , the state Govt has also started the process of dropping two other cases of hate speech and criminal charges involving firebrand preacher Sadhvi Prachi, two BJP MPs and 3 BJP MLAs.2cases are related to mahapanchayats held in the Muzaffarnagar before violence gripped the region in 2013. Sadhvi Prachi, BJP MPs Kunwar Bhartendra Singh of Bijnor and Sanjeev Balyan of Muzaffarnagar and BJP MLAs Umesh Malik, Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana allegedly attended the mahapanchayats.While Balyan was a union minister until September 2017, Rana is a minister in UP Govt . Malik is the MLA from Budhana in Muzaffarnagar while Rana represents Thana Bhawan seat in Shamli and Som is MLA from Sardhana seat in Meerut.indianexpress
Shamli: Bajrang Dal Activist Force 'Ghar Wapsi' On Dalit Man Who Had Converted To Islam
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2018/04/26/shamli-bajrang-dal-activist-force-ghar-wapsi-on-dalit-man-who-had-converted-to-islam_a_23420600/
In another horrific story of caste and communal violence, Bajrang Dal activist forcibly converted a Dalit man back to Hindusim in UP 's Shamli on Tuesday after he had converted to Islam on Monday.A video of Bajrang Dal activists slapping and beating up Pawan Kumar went viral on social media on Tuesday.Kumar, a welder by profession, was forced to undergo "ghar wapsi" after threats from Bajrang Dal activists. While the police tried to reach out to him, The Telegraph reported that the 25-year-old Kumar does not want to go to the police because he fear for his life. He told the newspaper that he converted to Islam because upper caste people don't allow a decent life for Dalits.Indian Express reported a Bajrang Dal worker that they had convinced him to do a "ghar wapsi" and even remain Hindu throughout his life.However, the video of the incident looks more like harassment than convincing. Kumar is seen being slapped and pushed around before his bear is shaven and his skull cap is taken off.Another video on Facebook shows Kumar being corners by a mob, and being asked why he converted. One man then slaps him and another person takes off his skull cap.huffingtonpost
‘Ghar wapsi’ for Dalit man after ‘counselling’ from B. Dal
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/shamli-ghar-wapsi-for-dalit-man-after-counselling-from-bajrang-dal-5152057/
Kairana Bypolls: SP to bank upon Dalit-Jaat-Muslim combination
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/kairana-bypolls-samajwadi-party-to-bank-upon-dalit-jaat-muslim-combination-1729487.html
Samajwadi Party has started behind the scenes preparations for Kairana bypolls. UP state chief of SP, Naresh Uttam Patel visited Kairana and gave a mantra to the party workers to prepare for the upcoming bypolls. As per Samajwadi Party sources, the party will be working to consolidate Dalit, Jaat and Muslim votes in order to ensure victory in the by-elections.Kairana parliamentary seat was vacated after the death of MP Hukum Singh and is due for bypolls before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The orders have been given to the Samajwadi Party workers to get ready for the Kairana by-elections and meetings are being held in this regard among the SP cadre. The Samajwadi Party might field Professor Sudhir Panwar as its candidate. However, the final decision is yet to be made by the SP leadership in this regard.News18
BJP accounts for nearly 50% of hate speech cases against MPs, MLAs: Report
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/bjp-accounts-for-nearly-50-of-hate-speech-cases-against-mps-mlas-find-adr-report
A total of 58 current MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech, with BJP having the maximum number of such politicians, a report released by Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said today. ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs prior to the last election they contested, and collated cases related to hate speech declared by MPs and MLAs.BJP has 27 MPs, MLAs with such cases. No other party comes close. In second place are TRS and AIMIM, with 6 each. Unsurprisingly, a state-by-state analysis showed UP (15) and Telangana (13) account for 28 out of the 58 cases. Both TRS and AIMIM are largely Telangana-bases parties. BJP accounts for 68 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP .On Sunday, PM Narendra Modi had asked BJP leaders to refrain from making "irresponsible" statements, saying such comments hurt the party's image.Ten sitting Lok Sabha MPs with such declared cases are from BJP, and one each from AIUDF, TRS, Pattali Makkall Katchi (PMK), AIMIM and Shiv Sena (SHS), said the report.There are 43 sitting MLAs who have declared hate speech cases. Of these, 17 sitting MLAs are from BJP, five each are from TRS and AIMIM, three from TDP, two each from Congress, Trinamool Congress (AITC), JDU and SHS, one each from DMK, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party, report added.nationalheraldindia
W Bengal: Muslim delegation urges election commission to finish polls before Ramzan
http://www.asianage.com/metros/kolkata/260418/muslim-delegation-urges-sec-to-finish-polls-before-ramzan.html
Kolkata:Close on the heels of the Trinamul Congress calling for the completion of the panchayat elections before Ramzan, a delegation of Muslim organisations echoed the same demand to the West Bengal state election commissioner Amarendra Kumar Singh on Wednesday even as the rural polls’ fate hangs in balance with fresh schedule yet to be decided. One of the delegates also threatened to move the court if the polls are held during the Ramzan.In the morning, TMC MLA from Nalhati in Birbhum Moinuddin Shams visited the state poll panel’s office and submitted a memorandum appealing for the rural polls before the Ramzan. He later said, “Ramzan is a holy month for the Muslims. Members of the minority community will face trouble if the polls are scheduled during this month.” Shams added that West Bengal state election commission should make it clear that the polls would be held before the Ramzan.Later, Imam of Nakhoda Mosque Maulana Shafique Qasmi led a delegation of various Muslim bodies.Asian Age
Karnataka polls: Congress floats 17 Muslim candidates
https://www.siasat.com/news/karnataka-assembly-elections-congress-floats-17-muslim-candidates-1347270/
Congress has given tickets to 17 Muslim candidates for 225 members Assembly in Karnataka. Two candidates were added to the list at the 11th hour.Roshan Beig and Tanvir Sait got the tickets for the second time. Kaneez Fatima, the widow of late Minister Qamarul Islam got the ticket from Gulbarga North.The interesting thing is that BJP and AAP have not given ticket to any Muslim candidate. According to 2011 census, Muslims constitute 12.9 of the total population of the State.siasat
AMU students union demands Swami’s removal form RS
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/amu-students-union-demand-swamis-removal-form-rajya-sabha/articleshow/63914908.cms
AGRA: Taking strong exceptions to Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy’s statement dubbing AMU as a “hub of terrorists and extremist ideologies”, the AMU Students Union (AMUSU) has demanded his removal from the upper house and have also threatened to file a defamation case against him.Accusing the MP of maligning the university’s image with his baseless and frivolous remarks, the students’ body said that this shows Swami’s “divisive mindset”.Swami's remarks came in response to Congress leader Salman Khurshid's controversial comments that “Congress has blood of Muslims on its hands”, which he made at a recent interaction in the University.President of AMUSU, Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani said it’s ironical that while the President of India Ram Nath Kovind says that people with “Secular” mind live in AMU, Swami was making such statements. “Swami must now clarify whether he disputes President of India’s words,” he said. In the memorandum to President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Usmani said that Swami’s statement has deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of AMUites who are spread across the world. His statement has affected the secular image of the nation and hence his membership of the upper house should be cancelled. “He is not mentally fit to be a part of it,” he said.TOI
Telangana to offer loans with 80% subsidy to minorities
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/260418/telangana-to-offer-loans-with-80-per-cent-subsidy-to-minorities.html
Finance minister Etala Rajender has said that the state Govt will sanction loans with 80 per cent subsidy to SCs, STs and Minorities without bank linkage in May and June in the state. This is for the first time that the state Govt will give subsidised loans to beneficiaries without bank linkage through SC, ST, BC and Minority welfare departments following allegations that bankers are not coming forward to give their consent though various depts were ready to sanction such loans.D. Chronicle.
Disruption of Friday namaaz in Gurgaon: 6 people arrested
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/disruption-of-friday-namaaz-in-gurgaon-six-people-arrested-5152491/
Gurgaon: 6 people have been arrested by the Gurgaon police for allegedly disrupting namaaz in Sector 53 of the city last Friday, with shouts of “Jai Sri Ram”,and directing those offering prayers to do it only in mosques. Accused have been identified as Arun, Manish, Deepak, Monu, alias Nambardar, Mohit, and Ravinder. All of them are from Wazirabad and Kanhai villages in the city.The incident happened last Friday when a group of people were offering namaaz in an open area opposite Saraswati Kunj around 3 pm. Some men arrived at the spot and allegedly disrupted the proceedings with sloganeering and shouting.A video of the incident that has been circulating shows some men shouting “Jai Sri Ram” and “Radhe Radhe” and saying “Masjid kis liye banaya hai”. The video also shows the men telling those offering prayers to chant “Jai Sri Ram” . Even as the crowd dispersed, towards the end of the 1 minute, 23 seconds-long video, they were directing those offering prayers to go to their villages and do the same there (“Apne gaon me jao…namaaz padho”).indianexpress
CBI books 12 Army officials for allegedly accepting bribes to hire religious teachers
https://scroll.in/latest/876935/cbi-books-12-army-officials-for-allegedly-accepting-bribes-to-hire-religious-teachers
CBI booked 17 people, including 12 Army officials, on Wednesday for alleged irregularities in the recruitment of religious teachers in the force in 2013, PTI reported. The officials allegedly accepted bribes from candidates to get them hired. According to a FIR, the suspected mastermind, Subedar MN Tripathi, gave the recruitment panel a list of 20 candidates and asked for them to be given simple questions and more marks during the hiring process. Tripathi had earlier been a part of the panel, but was removed after a complaint against him.4 neighbours of Tripathi from Gorakhpur in UP and one person in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar were booked for paying the bribes to influence the recruitment, officials said. The bribes were paid through bank accountsscroll.in
Why no action against JNU professor Johri in sexual harassment case: HC
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/why-no-action-against-jnu-professor-atul-johri-in-sexual-harassment-case-hc-5151950/
Delhi High Court has sought to know from JNU and its V-C why have they not taken action against professor Atul Kumar Johri, accused by eight women students of sexual harassment, despite representation to the authorities in this regard.“What is happening, you have not been able to do anything. Is it that V-C of the university has no power to take action against the professor,” Justice Rajiv Shakdher asked the counsel for JNU, who told the court that the students have not filed any complaint before the varsity’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Varsity’s counsel also submitted that the alleged victims have approached police. This prompted the judge to ask JNU counsel: “Are they (JNU) not aware of FIRs lodged in the case?” It also said there are various alternatives for the alleged victims under the law, besides approaching the ICC.indianexpress
Student leaders Kanhaiya, Shehla may contest Lok Sabha polls next year
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/student-leaders-kanhaiya-shehla-may-contest-lok-sabha-polls-next-year/story-lhFHQztXqVL5hbP2zrEdZO.html
New Delhi: Two student activists who shot into prominence during the 2016 agitation in the JNU, Kanhaiya Kumar and Shehla Rashid, have indicated that they may contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.Kanhaiya and Shehla, who strongly oppose the NDA Govt ’s policies, say they are working on forging a larger united front of social and political groups as well as “liberal, progressive forces” against BJP in the run-up to 2019, and refer to Gujarat Dalit youth leader Jignesh Mewani’s victory in Gujarat elections last year as a landmark.Kanhaiya said in an interview to HT he would “never rule it (contesting election) out”.“If there is an alliance of RJD, Congress and Left in Bihar, and they ask me to become a common candidate and collect money for my election, I can be a candidate,” Kumar said.“I believe in organised politics. If I contest any election, it will be through a mainstream party. This is very clear. I don’t believe in individual charisma or all that,” he said.HT
Naga accord is nearly final: No change in state boundary, removal of AFSPA, flag last hurdle
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/naga-accord-is-nearly-final-no-change-in-state-boundary-removal-of-afspa-flag-last-hurdle-pm-modi-5152058/
New Delhi:Central Govt and Naga armed groups are said to have finalised the substantive portions of the peace accord which is likely to be signed before the monsoon session of Parliament. The final draft of the accord, which hopes to finally bring India’s oldest insurgency to a close, is now looking to jump the final hurdle: an agreement over the Naga demand for a separate flag for the state. The Govt is also apprehensive about a violent reaction in the Manipur Valley to the signing of the accord.The accord, official sources said, does not change the boundary of states; provides autonomous Naga territorial councils for Arunachal and Manipur; a common cultural body for Nagas across states; specific institutions for state’s development, integration and rehabilitation of non-state Naga militia and the removal of AFSPA.When contacted, the Centre’s interlocutor, R N Ravi, who signed the framework agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN-IM in August 2015, said: “Yes, we are pretty close to finalising the (Naga Peace) accord”.indianexpress
Disappointed over US plans to tighten visa norms: India
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/disappointed-over-us-plans-to-tighten-visa-norms-says-suresh-prabhu-5152577/
Expressing disappointment over US plans to prohibit spouses of H1-B visa holders to work in America, India hoped that Trump administration would take “corrective actions” on the issue. H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations which require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.PTI
‘Indians feel that US is no longer immigrant-friendly’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indians-feel-that-us-is-no-longer-immigrant-friendly-krishnamoorthi-5152527/
Indians now feel that the US is no longer immigrant-friendly country, a top Indian-American Congressman has said, amidst a series of controversial immigration policies by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has been pushing for the merit-based immigration system to reduce overall immigration to the US and serve the country’s national interest. A merit-based immigration system, the Trump administration feels would admit the best and the brightest around the world while making it harder for people to come to the country illegally.“One issue that certainly came up and is something that we all have to be mindful of is there’s a sense in India that America is no longer immigrant- friendly,” Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi told PTI.PTI
Building peaceful neighbourhood Pak foreign policy priority: UN envoy
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/building-peaceful-neighbourhood-pakistans-foreign-policy-priority-un-envoy-5152528/
New York:Building a peaceful neighbourhood is Pakistan’s foreign policy priority which requires normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, Islamabad’s envoy to the UN has said.According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told a visiting delegation of the US War College that on the foreign policy front, Pakistan’s external engagements and strategy emerge from its key national priorities.PTI
“Muslims shouldn’t shy away from gaining any beneficial knowledge”: Doha conference
http://twocircles.net/2018apr25/422792.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Over 150 delegates met at the Plaza Inn Hotel, Doha on April 19, to discuss and address the problems pertaining to the education of minority community in India.“It was an evening with lots of practical ideas to work for the educational upliftment of the community,” said the press statement released after the event organised and conducted by Khalid Saifullah of mazameen.com. Faizan Mustafa, scholar, and V-C at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, spoke on the subject of future of minority education giving legal perspective over the same. He also discussed current court cases regarding minority character of both AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia and “seemed optimistic for a favourable outcome”.Zaigham Murtaza, a Delhi-based journalist with Rajya Sabha TV, discussed social and financial challenges of minority education.Other Doha dignitaries like Hasan Abdul Karim Choghle and Zamir Abbas also shared the dais on the event. An Android app of mazameen.com was also launched on this occasion.TCN
WORLD
Hamas Engineer 'Negotiated Arms Deals With N.Korea, Assassinated by Mossad' in Malaysia, claims NYT report
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/hamas-engineer-killed-in-malaysia-negotiated-arms-deals-with-koreans-1.6030971
Fadi al-Batsh, the Hamas engineer gunned down in Malaysia last week, was reportedly involved in talks with North Korea on arms intended for Gaza, New York Times reported Thursday. According to the report, Batsh was killed as part of an alleged operation by Israel's Mossad to take out Hamas scientists and engineers training abroad to gather "know-how and weaponry to fight Israel.""That claim has been confirmed by Middle Eastern intelligence officials," NYT reported, claiming the "broader operation" was ordered by the Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen.Regarding North Korea, the joint report, by Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman and Hannah Beech, the paper's Southeast Asia reporter, claimed that "Western and Middle Eastern intelligence officials said that Batsh may have been involved in negotiating North Korean arms deals through Malaysia."Batsh, who co-wrote a 2013 paper on drone applications, was sent to Malaysia to research and acquire weapon systems and drones for Hamas, the intelligence officials told The Times.The report said that Egypt recently captured a shipment of "communications components used for guided munitions destined for Gaza" from North Korea. It was also reported that according to an intelligence official, Batsh was involved in negotiating that deal.The Times also cited a UN report claiming that Pyongyang had set up a shell company to circumnavigate sanctions and conduct sales of "military-grade communication systems" through Kuala Lumpur.The two men suspected of killing Batsh in Kuala Lumpur were still in the country, Malaysian police said on Wednesday, as they released a fresh image of one of the men. Hamas have accused Israel’s Mossad spy agency of assassinating Batsh, who they say was a member of their group. haaretz
Behind a Roadside Hit in Malaysia, Israeli-Palestinian Intrigue:NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/world/asia/hamas-mossad-malaysia.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
Czech Prez Reiterates Promise to Move Embassy to Jerusalem, as Honorary Consul Reappointed
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/czech-president-reiterates-support-for-moving-embassy-to-jerusalem-1.6030682
Czech President Milos Zeman reiterated his support for moving his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, even though the decision is not his to make. He said that said the move will take place in three steps.Czech PM Andrej Babi said last week that his country would not break UN and EU policy and would not relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.Taking the first step, Zeman announced the official appointment of an honorary consul, Israeli businessman Dan Propper, the chairman of Osem Food Industries, as Haaretz reported ealier. Propper is of Czech extraction.The honorary consulate will be opened in Jerusalem in May, to be followed by other Czech institutions in the city.Zeman gave no further timetable beyond the opening of the honorary consulate next month, but he did reiterate his promise to transfer embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.haaretz
Israel soldier gets 9 months for killing teen
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/standards-israel-soldier-9-months-killing-teen-180425194928399.html
Relatives of an unarmed Palestinian teen killed by an Israeli officer four years ago have slammed a nine-month sentence handed by an Israeli court to the member of the security forces, saying it exposes how "unjust" Israel's judicial system is.Israeli border police officer Ben Deri was filmed shooting dead Nadim Nuwarra in May 2014 during a protest at the Beitunia checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, even though the 17-year-old posed no danger.A second teenage protester, Mohammad Abu Thaher, 16, was also hit with live rounds and killed. Israel did not make an arrest in that case, citing lack of evidence as an autopsy was not carried out.aljazeera
2nd journalist covering Gaza rally killed by Israeli forces
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/journalist-covering-gaza-rally-killed-israeli-forces-180425163003132.html
Ahmad Abu Hussein, a Palestinian journalist shot by Israeli forces while covering a mass demonstration along the Gaza border earlier this month, has died of his wounds, according to Palestinian officials.The 24-year-old, who was shot in the abdomen during a protest near Jebaliya on April 13, is the second Palestinian journalist to have been killed by Israeli soldiers since a wave of demonstrations known as the "Great March of Return" began on March 30.Health officials in Gaza said Hussein died on Wednesday in Israel's Tel Hashomer hospital, near Tel Aviv.aljazeera
Pompeo's nomination for US secretary of state opposed for remarks on Indians, Muslims
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/pompeos-nomination-for-us-secretary-of-state-opposed-for-remarks-on-indians-muslims/articleshow/63922059.cms
The nomination of Mike Pompeo, CIA director, for US secretary of state was opposed by Democrats as they raked up his remarks on Indians, Muslims and other ethnic minorities."These concerns are beyond policy disagreements, which alone are not a basis for rejecting a nominee," Senator Robert Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on the Senate floor as Senators debated on the Secretary of State nomination of Pompeo. Senator Charles Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, said he asked Pompeo if he would recant what he had said about Muslims and Indian Americans, LGBTQ Americans, and women's rights, now that he was in line to be the US secretary of state and had to deal with countries that might be affected by his remarks. Another top Democrat Senator Robert Menendez also raised the issue.PTI
Turkey: 14 opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper staff sentenced on 'terror' charges
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/turkey-14-cumhuriyet-staff-sentenced-terror-charges-180425190539778.html
A Turkish court has handed prison sentences to 14 staff of the Cumhuriyet opposition newspaper on "terrorism" charges, and acquitted three others, according to state media.The sentences for those convicted on Wednesday by the Istanbul-based court ranged from two-and-a-half years to seven-and-a-half years. Among them are renowned journalists, including investigative reporter Ahmet Sik, who was sentenced to seven years and six months. Journalist and columnist Kadri Gursel was sentenced to 30 months.The court handed cartoonist Musa Kart a three-year-and-nine-month sentence, while Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu was sentenced to seven years and six months.The convicted staff members will remain free pending appeal, but they are barred from leaving Turkey. They will also regularly report to the judicial authorities.aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Look, who is talking about diminishing the authority of judiciary:Kapil Sibal
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/cji-dipak-misra-impeachment-congress-kapil-sibal-supreme-court-bjp-5151791/
TalkPoint: By not elevating Justice Joseph is Modi govt proving the dissenting judges right?
https://theprint.in/talk-point/talkpoint-by-not-elevating-justice-joseph-is-the-modi-govt-proving-the-dissenting-judges-right/52887/
Justice Sachar’s principles stood firm and were his guiding light till his last days:Seema Chishti
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-gentle-crusader-rajinder-sachar-delhi-high-court-sachar-committee-report-5151803/
Death Of Judge Loya: A Critical Examination Of ECG And Post-Mortem Demonstrates Failings Of SC Verdict: Caravan Magazine
http://www.caravanmagazine.in/vantage/death-of-judge-loya-supreme-court-examination-ecg-post-mortem-demonstrates-failings-judgment
SC rebuttal in Loya case:Yogendra Yadav
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/sc-rebuttal-in-loya-case/579104.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 3:48 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment