Evening NEWS DIGEST
09 April 2018:21 Rajjab 1439:Vol:9, No:160
INDIA
SC asks Centre to submit comprehensive status report of Rohingya refugees in camps within 4-week
https://scroll.in/latest/875028/sc-asks-centre-to-submit-detailed-report-on-number-of-rohingya-refugees-in-delhi-haryana-camps
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to file a comprehensive status report on the number of people living in three Rohingya camps in Delhi and Haryana and the basic amenties available to them, PTI reported. Centre has 4 weeks to submit the report on the camps located in Mewat, Faridabad and Delhi.The petitioners had claimed that the government had denied them access to basic amenities including toilets and drinking water. This, the said, led to cases of diarrhoea in the camps. Refugees in the camp had relocated to India after fleeing violence against them in Myanmar.On March 18, the SC had asked Centre and various state governments to conduct “proper site visits” and file a comprehensive report on the conditions of Rohingya refugees in India. On March 19, the court had refused to grant interim relief to Rohingya refugees on matters related to health and education, agreeing with the Centre’s argument that it would impact India’s diplomatic ties with Myanmar and Bangladesh. The court asked for more evidence to counter the Centre’s claims, PTI reported. Petioners, refugees Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, have sought access to healthcare and education similar to those provided to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu.The bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra scheduled the next hearing in the case for May 9.scroll.in
SC asks Haryana, Delhi Govts to file detailed report on living conditions in Rohingya Refugee settlements within 4 weeks
http://www.livelaw.in/rohingya-case-sc-asks-haryana-delhi-govts-file-detailed-report-living-conditions-refugee-settlements-within-4-weeks/
Congress turned blind eye to influx of Rohingyas in Jammu: BJP
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jammu/congress-turned-blind-eye-to-the-influx-of-rohingyas-in-jammu-bjp-5130560/
Jammu;BJP today alleged that the Congress was turning a blind eye to the influx and illegal settlement of the Rohingya and Bangladeshis here and accused the party of discriminating against the region. BJP state spokesperson Virender Gupta told reporters that the migration had political ramifications and it could lead to chaos in these areas.PTI
Jammu groups demand relocation of Rohingyas, Nowshera as district
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jammu-demands-relocation-of-rohingyas-nowshera-as-district/articleshow/63674179.cms
Srinagar: Civil society groups led by Jammu High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) have called for a strike in the city on Wednesday in protest against Govt’s “anti-Jammu policies”, alleged demographic change and what they claim is the failure of the BJP to fulfil pre-election promises made to the people of Jammu. The strike call has been given to press for demands of relocation of Rohingya refugees settled in Jammu, withdrawal of tribal ministry’s decision which directs police not to intervene in matters related to forest land under tribals, granting of district status to Nowshera, a town along the Line of Control, and handing over the case of rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua from J&K police’s crime branch to CBI. ET
Can't Arrest Teesta Setalvad In Fund Fraud Till May 31: SC
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cant-arrest-teesta-setalvad-in-fund-fraud-till-may-31-supreme-court-1834780?pfrom=home-topstories
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has extended the interim protection from arrest and transit anticipatory bail granted to activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband by the Bombay High Court from May 2 to May 31 in the fund embezzlement case lodged by the Gujarat police.The top court, however, asked Teesta and her husband Javed Anand to seek anticipatory bail from the competent forum in Gujarat.A bench headed by Justice Kurian Joseph said if remedy is sought by Ms Setalvad and her husband then the court concerned should decide the matter on merit.Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat, argued that the Bombay High Court had passed a blatantly illegal order and transit anticipatory bail should not have been granted.Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for Ms Setalvad and her husband, said the high court was right in granting transit bail as the alleged offence relates to an educational project in Maharashtra.The bench, comprising Justices Navin Sinha and MM Shantanagoudar, however, observed it is a settled law that where FIR is lodged, the jurisdiction lies with the court concerned of that state.PTI
Trying to Restore SC/ST quota in Jamia, AMU: Govt
https://www.news18.com/news/india/trying-to-restore-scst-reservation-in-jamia-aligarh-muslim-university-union-minister-thaawar-chand-gehlot-1712161.html
New Delhi: Union Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot has said that the Modi Govt was trying to restore the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Jamia Millia Islamia and AMU."JMI and AMU are central universities but the UPA Govt made them minority institutions. And hence reservation for SC and ST students does not apply there."But these are funded by the central Govt. Any institution funded or aided by the Central Govt must have provisions of reservation for SC, ST and OBCs as per the Central Govt rules. We have presented our side in the Supreme Court and also submitted a changed affidavit. Now waiting for SC's response," Social Justice and Empowerment minister Gehlot said.He said that Modi Govt will "never end reservation nor let others do it".He also targeted fellow Dalit leader and BSP chief Mayawati, saying she was digressing from the path of party founder Kanshi Ram.Earlier, Congress questioned Modi's "stoic silence" over the concerns of Dalits and said it indicated that BJP and RSS were working towards a "Dalit-mukt Bharat". Congress said that despite massive protests and outcry on the streets over the dilution of SC and ST Act in the wake of a SC ruling on March 20,PM has maintained silence. news18.com
Bhaglpur clashes: Union minister Ashwini Choubey’s son Arijit gets bail
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhaglpur-clashes-union-minister-ashwini-choubeys-son-arijit-shashwat-gets-bail-5130287/
New Delhi: Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey’s son Arijit Shashwat, and 7 others weres on Monday granted bail by a Bhagalpur court in connection with a case relating to recent communal clashes in the town. Shashwat along with eight others were named in a case related to the communal clashes in Bhagalpur that took place on March 17.Acting District Judge Kumud Ranjan Singh granted regular bail to Arijit Shashwat and seven others, while one accused person could not get bail as he did not turn up in the court. The court, however, put a condition that Shashwat would not participate in any kind of dharna, procession, protest and agitation for the next 30 days.Arijit Shashwat was arrested by Patna police from near the Hanuman temple in the intervening night of March 31-April-1 after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected on March 31. Following his arrest, Shashwat was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a local court. Additional CJM court had issued arrest warrant against him on March 24.indianexpress
Haridwar VHP leader tries to immolate himself over demand to shut down meat shops; suffers burns
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/haridwar-vhp-leader-tries-to-immolate-himself-over-demand-to-shut-down-meat-shops-suffers-burns-5129090/
Dehradun:Over his demand to shut down the illegally running meat shops in Haridwar’s Jwalapur area, local VHP leader Charanjeet Pahwa tried to immolate himself in front of a police post in Jwalapur, on Sunday.After the incident, Pahwa, in his late 40s, was rushed to a local hospital by the Haridwar police. However, he was later referred to a hospital in Dehradun, Jwalapur police said, adding that Pahwa’s “has suffered atleast 40 % burns” in the incident.Haridwar SSP Krishna Kumar said, “Recently he (Pahwa) had submitted a memorandum to the Haridwar city magistrate demanding closure of illegal meat shops in Jwalapur. In the memorandum, he had also mentioned that he would immolate himself if the demand was not fulfilled.”“After his memorandum the administration tried contacting him on the mobile phone, but his phone was switched off for past 2 days, and no one from his organisation (VHP) knew where he was,” Kumar said.indianexpress
UP BJP MLA rape case: Father of survivor, who attempted suicide outside CM Yogi’s house, dies in judicial custody
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-bjp-mla-rape-case-father-of-rape-survivor-dies-in-judicial-custody-yogi-adityanath-5130110/
New Delhi:The father of an 18-year-old rape survivor, who attempted suicide outside CM Yogi Adityanath’s residence over police inaction, died while in judicial custody on Monday. The accused in the rape case is an UP BJP MLA.Pappu Singh (50) was rushed to the hospital on Sunday night where he died during treatment. District Magistrate Ravi Kumar NG said while a probe is underway, the postmortem report of the deceased will help ascertain the cause of death.Unnao SP Pushpanjali Devi told ANI, “2 police officers and 4 constables have been suspended in this regard. 4 persons accused of beating the woman’s father have been arrested.”According to the police, the family of the rape survivor alleged that she was raped by Unnao MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his accomplices last year. The kin added that the family was thrashed after a complaint was filed with the police in this regard.“I was raped. I have been running pillar to post for the last one year but no one is listening to me. I want to see all of them arrested, otherwise I will kill myself,” the woman said. She added, “I had even approached the CM to no result. When we lodged an FIR, we were threatened.”On Sunday, the woman, along with her family, attempted to set herself ablaze outside CM’s house. She was rescued by the police and was taken to Gautam Palli Police Station along with her family, where they once again tried to kill themselves.indianexpress
Shamli: Family of Furqan, killed in encounter lives in fear
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-police-encounters-yogi-adityanath-gangster-shootouts-shamli-5129350/
Titarwada: MIR Hasan brings out a schoolbag from his 3-room mud-and-brick house and empties it on the ground. A Class 6 maths book falls out, as do others titled ‘Great Men’, ‘Agricultural Science’, ‘Earth and Our Life’, in Hindi. In one of the notebooks, a line is written 24 times neatly, in different colours: “Humara desh Bharat mahan hai (Our country India is great).” Hasan has little use for the books, belonging to his youngest son, Shaukeen. He doesn’t remember the day, or month, early last year when 12-year-old, the first in the family to study even till Class 6, stopped going to school. “It was winter when police came looking for Shaukeen at school. They were in plainclothes. Some children alerted him and he came running home,” Hasan says.“The same night, police again came looking for Shoukeen. They mistakenly picked up another Shoukeen, who lives nearby,” adds a neighbour, refusing to be named.A few weeks later, Shoukeen, 12, left home to work in a brick kiln — like his brothers afraid of staying in Titarwada anymore, Hasan’s wife Akbari, 55, says.On Oct.22 last year, Hasan and Akbari’s eldest son Furqan, 36, was gunned down in an alleged encounter the 16th death in Yogi govt’s encounter records. Hasan claims that his family’s harassment, however, has not ceased. 3 of his sons, Munawwar (28), Sunnawar (25), and Tasawwur (23), are behind bars, in what he claims are “false cases”.The other 6, including Shoukeen, no longer stay home, due to “fear and harassment”, adds Akbari.As dusk approaches, Hasan says, he too leaves home. The only ones who stay back are Akbari, daughter Aneesa, Tasawwur’s wife Gulista, and one of Furqan’s 2 sons, aged 12.indianexpress
Probe: UP Muslim youths facing witch-hunt of ATS
http://caravandaily.com/portal/ats-targets-muslim-youths-as-suspects-in-terror-attacks-says-fact-finding-report/
Lucknow: It is an open secret today that most of the prisons in India are filled by people belonging to the minority community or the backward classes. Reasserting same was Mohammad Farooq.“When the police picked up my son, we were unable to trace his whereabouts for 2-3 days. Then we came to know that ATS had brought him to Lucknow. At ATS office, the officials informed us that our son was planning a terror attack. Following which, I asked them to enquire about my son in Barhapur, a village where my son used work as an Imam. I stressed upon the fact that my son couldn’t be a terrorist. Then they assured of my son being released soon and that I shouldn’t worry,” narrated Farooq, father of Mufti Faizan, who had been picked up by the UP ATS for allegedly planning a terror attack in April last year.“We were later informed that it would take at least 3 months for Faizan to be released due to technical reasons like filing of charge sheet. Again, we were told by them (Police) that we would have to wait for at least 6 months. Since then we have been waiting for our son,” revealed Farooq.A worried father, further added, “We are much worried. Our family comprises Faizan’s wife and 2 daughters. I am a labour. After my son got arrested, my work has also affected. He was the primary bread earner. I don’t know how I am going to bear all the expenses?”During the press conference, Rihai Manch released a fact finding report – In The Name of Deradicalisation”, which had compiled at least 16 cases, where Muslim youths who have been arrested by the ATS as terror suspects and are yet to be released.Advocate Abu Bakr said,“In many such cases judges have been transferred while advocates have been attacked. There are several judgments where court had set police accountability and asked them to compensate the victims in such fabricated cases. There is urgent need to bring the accountability in judiciary and the investigating agencies like the police and NIA etc.”caravandaily
Gorakhpur tragedy: SC grants bail to UP hospital oxygen supplier
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gorakhpur-tragedy-sc-grants-bail-to-up-hospital-oxygen-supplier/articleshow/63681549.cms
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Manish Bhandari - the oxygen supplier to Gorakhpur's BRD. Medical college and hospital where a large number of children died in 2017.A bench of CJI Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud granted bail as it was told that Bhandari was in jail for last seven months. The plea for bail was opposed by Aishwarya Bhati appearing for UP .Around 30 children died at the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College and Hospital in Gorakhpur on August 10 and 11, 2017, reportedly due to shortage of liquid oxygen.PTI
Kasganj: Finally, UP Dalit groom allowed to take wedding procession through Thakur-dominated village
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kasganj-dalit-groom-wedding-baraat-thakur-jatav-uttar-pradesh-caste-5129742/
Varanasi:In what is no mean feat in caste-driven UP , a Dalit man will finally be able to ride a horse to his wedding through a Thakur-dominated village in Kasganj district. The battle for the honour and equality hasn’t been won easily, though.Sanjay Jatav, a 27-year-old block development council member of Basai Babas village in Hathras district, was granted permission to take his baraat through the lanes of his bride’s Nizampur village only when the district administration managed to broker peace between the lower caste family and the Thakur families on Sunday.Both sides have signed the letter, which spells out the route the baraat is to take through the village — as Sanjay had wanted — also says “no political or apolitical party will be part of the baraat because of who peace can be broken/no persons in the baraat will carry weapons or arms or consume any alcoholic substances/no one will use any loud instruments or make objectionable speeches or words…all people will maintain peace when the wedding is on”. The wedding is scheduled to take place around April 20.indianexpress
Dalit protest in Kerala: Partial shut-down, sporadic violence reported
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/hIUn7PATEcSrFkcyDPxU1O/Dalit-protest-in-Kerala-Partial-shutdown-sporadic-violenc.html
12-hour hartal called by various Dalit outfits in Kerala to protest the “dilution” of SC/ST Act on Monday, witnessed sporadic incidents of stone pelting and roads blocks by pro-hartal activists. Protestors forcefully closed shops and resorted to road blocks in many parts of the state. Incidents of stone throwing at Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses were reported from different places including Kollam and Alappuzha.In Thrissur, the driver of a KSRTC bus was injured in stone pelting, police said. The strike call evoked partial response as some shops and business establishments remained open while state and central Govt offices functioned as usual.Private buses operated services in some parts of the state. Few autorickshaws and taxis were seen plying on the roads. Kerala University postponed the exams scheduled for the day, in view of the state-wide hartal.Earlier in the day, at least 20 Dalit activists including Gothara Maha Sabha leader M. Geethanandan were arrested for attempting to block traffic at the HC junction in Kochi.Around 30 Dalit organisations are observing the hartal to protest the alleged dilution of SC and ST Act by the Supreme Court. They also condemned the police action against the Dalit agitators during the ‘Bharat bandh’ observed in various northern states on 2 April.PTI
Clashes, stone pelting reported from pockets of Kerala as Dalit groups observe 12-hour shutdown
https://scroll.in/latest/874976/clashes-stone-pelting-reported-from-pockets-of-kerala-as-dalit-groups-observe-12-hour-shutdown
Not a single arrest after deaths of 6 Dalits in Bharat Bandh violence
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/not-a-single-arrest-after-deaths-6-dalits-in-bharat-bandh-violence-1834647?pfrom=home-topstories
Bhopal:On April 2, millions of Dalits took to the streets to protest what they believed was a dilution of laws meant to protect them from atrocities by upper castes.An NDTV investigation has found that a significant number of Dalits killed in clashes that day may have been victims of upper caste retaliation.Eleven people were killed during the protests triggered by the Supreme Court making changes to the SC/ST Act. 8 were killed just in the Gwalior-Bhind-Morena region on the border of Madhya Pradesh and UP .NDTV inquired into seven of these deaths to find that six victims were Dalits. In almost every case, the accused are men are from the upper caste. So far, the police have not made a single arrest in 6 cases. Based on police records, 2 Dalit men - Pradeep, 22, and Akash Jatav, 15 - were shot dead by a group of upper caste men in separate incidents in Mehgaon and Bhind.Pradeep, a diploma holder from a technical institute or ITI in Gwalior, had gone to the market in Mehgaon to take part in Dalit protests when he was shot.NDTV
Leading Congress's fast at Rajghat, Rahul says Modi is ‘casteist’, ‘anti-Dalit’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-anti-dalit-bjps-ideology-oppressive-says-rahul-gandhi-at-rajghat-fast/article23481955.ece?homepage=true
NEW DELHI:Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “casteist” and “anti-Dalit” and that the Congress would always stand against the BJP’s ''oppressive'' ideology.He was speaking to reporters at Rajghat, where he was leading the Congress’ nationwide fast against alleged communalism and non-functioning of Parliament. He said the grand old party would defeat the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2019 general election.“The entire country knows that Prime Minister Modi is anti-Dalit, it is not a secret... The BJP follows ideology of oppressing Dalits, tribals, minorities. We will stand against and defeat it in 2019 general election,” he said adding that the BJP’s Dalit MPs say Mr. Modi is “casteist.”PTI
Bengaluru: Another case against ‘fake news’ website owner Mahesh Vikram Hegde, BJP leader his lawyer
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/crime/postcard-another-case-against-fake-news-website-owner-mahesh-vikram-hegde-bjp-leader-his-lawyer-5129358/
Bengaluru:Ahead of his bail hearing coming up in the Karnataka High Court on Monday, another case has been filed against Postcard.news owner Mahesh Vikram Hegde. Arrested on March 29 for a “fake news” post that claimed that a Jain monk had been attacked by a Muslim youth, Hegde is now facing four cases.With his bail denied on April 6, Hegde’s lawyer Tejasvi Surya said, “This is a political witch-hunt, and it is clear that Congress workers or Congress-sponsored stooges are being used by Siddaramaiah Govt to target Hegde.”Surya, who is also general secretary of BJP youth wing in Karnataka, said he wasn’t aware of his client’s background but was fighting case “as a matter of principle”.A close aide, Shakuntala Iyer, said Hegde was in talks with BJP leaders for a ticket to fight the Assembly elections from his native Moodbidri. “But he was arrested before that.”She also emphasised, as did BJP MP Prathap Simha, that while Postcard.news might have carried “unverified information, it did not manufacture any news or morphed photos”.“The definition of fake news is multifold. We cannot just call something fake when it is the truth,” Iyer said. indianexpress
BJP MLA arrested for murder of Shiv Sena leaders
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-mla-arrested-for-murder-of-shiv-sena-leaders/article23480055.ece?utm_source=other-states&utm_medium=sticky_footer
Ahmednagar police has arrested BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile in connection with the murder of Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Kotkar and Vasant Thube. Kardile, a ruling party MLA from Ahmednagar’s Rahuri assembly constituency, denied having been ‘arrested’ by the police and said he “voluntarily gave himself up” at the Bhingar police station in the morning.A press note issued by the Ahmednagar police on Sunday had declared that the BJP MLA, along with 53 others connected to the crime as well as with the subsequent vandalism of Ahmednagar District Superintendent's office, were absconding. On Sunday, the police booked Kardile, along with NCP MLC Arun Jagtap (NCP legislator Sangram Jagtap’s father) and 30 others for allegedly hatching a conspiracy and executing the killings.The second high-profile arrest in the case comes a day after Kardile’s son-in-law, Sangram Jagtap, along with 4 others, were taken into police custody in connection with the crime which occurred in city’s Kedgaon area on Saturday.thehindu
Ahmednagar tense as two Shiv Sena leaders killed; NCP MLA held, kin booked
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ahmednagar-tense-as-two-shiv-sena-leaders-killed-ncp-mla-held-kin-booked-5129438/
Centre postpones seminar on religious pluralism at JNU citing papers on tribal practices: The Wire
https://scroll.in/latest/875006/centre-postpones-seminar-on-religious-pluralism-at-jnu-citing-papers-on-tribal-practices-wire
Indian Council of Philosophical Research, which is the Ministry of HRD’s apex body for the study of philosophy, postponed an academic seminar on religious pluralism last week because a few papers that were submitted were based on tribal religious practices, The Wire reported. The seminar was supposed to be organised at JNU in New Delhi.“There are some papers on tribal religious practices, some only abstracts,” the organisation said in a letter to the university on April 6. “Some papers are by foreign scholars [and] many of the papers do not seem to conform to the theme note.”SR Bhatt, a philosophy professor who is supposedly close to the RSS, leads the philosophical research body, the website reported. He was appointed to the post during Smriti Irani’s tenure at the HRD Ministry.
Objecting to Papers on Adivasi Religion, Govt Body Cans Philosophy Meet
https://thewire.in/education/objecting-to-papers-on-adivasi-religion-Govt -body-cans-philosophy-meet/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
MP HC issues notice to Govt for appointing religious leaders to ministerial posts
https://scroll.in/latest/875030/madhya-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-Govt -for-appointing-religious-leaders-to-ministerial-posts
Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday issued a notice to the state Govt for granting minister of state status to 5 religious leaders, ANI reported. The HC asked BJP Govt in the state to reply within three weeks.Earlier this month, the Govt had accorded Computer Baba, Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj and Yogendra Mahant the status of ministers of state.The state’s general administration department’s additional secretary KK Katiya’s order followed the appointment of the religious leaders to a committee set up on March 31 to promote Narmada conservation project.scroll.in
Jamiat slams Assam Minister for questioning Arabic teaching in madrasas
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jamiat-lashes-out-at-himanta/article23474678.ece
Guwahati: Assam unit of Jamiat Ulama has criticised Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for indicating Arabic is redundant for madrasas in the State.In a discussion on education in the Assembly last week, Sarma questioned the need for madrasas in Assam to teach Arabic.“Is Assamese taught in Saudi Arabia that we should teach Arabic in Assam? It should be quid pro quo,” he said.This angered some Congress and AIUDF MLAs. “Why then should we learn English when Assamese is not taught in England?” asked Rockybul Hussain of the Congress.Abdul Khaleque, another Congress MLA, said learning Arabic helped many youth of Assam get jobs in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries where the language was spoken and understood.“Why do you get provoked when I speak of Arabic. Are you citizens of Arabia? I am batting for modernising madrasas where mathematics, science and English are taught as well as Islamic texts, but in Assamese,” Sarma countered.On Sunday, the Jamiat said Sarma’s comment on Arabic was uncalled for. “Arabic is not only a religious language. It is an international language recognised by the United Nations, and is used in 54 countries,” said Maulana Fazlul Karim Qasimi, secretary of the Jamiat’s State unit.Qasimi pointed out Arabic was not for Muslims only. “8 Hindu boys secured letter marks [80% or more] in Arabic from Shilaguri High Madrasa in Sipajhar ]north-central Assam],” he said.thehindu
RTI activist’s stunning revelation, claims huge mismatch in EVM numbers
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/rti-activists-stunning-revelation-claims-huge-mismatch-evm-numbers/179859/
An RTI activist in Mumbai has claimed considerable mismatch in numbers of EVMs from manufacturers and buyers raising huge concerns over the free and fair conduct of elections in India. RTI activist Manoranjan S Roy, who pursued the matter with the concerned authorities for over a year, said that the replies by them will have severe repercussions on the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.He’s now approached the Bombay High Court, seeking directions to all parties to provide all records/documents pertaining to EVMs. He has also asked for setting up of a suitable probe panel to ban use of EVMs till the logical outcome of the probe, reported news agency IANS.RTI replies obtained by Roy revealed that between 1989-90 till 15 May, 2017, Election Commission had procured a total of 1,005,662 BUs and 928,049 CUs from BEL, plus another 1,014,644 BUs and 934,031 CUs from ECIL. But the RTI reply by Union Ministry of Law and Justice said that govt had received intimation of purchase of 1,395,306 BUs and 930,716 CUs in 2016-17 alone.jantakareporter
NIA brands Pak diplomat 'wanted,' to seek Interpol red corner notice
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/in-a-first-nia-brands-pakistani-diplomat-wanted/articleshow/63672801.cms
NEW DELHI: In a first, NIA has put a Pakistani diplomat on its ‘wanted’ list and released his photo, seeking information. It said the diplomat — Amir Zubair Siddiqui, who was posted as visa counsellor in the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo — had been included in the list along with two other Pakistani officers for conspiring to launch 26/11-type attacks on US and Israeli consulates besides Army and Navy commands in south India in 2014. NIA said a fourth Pakistani officer posted in the high commission in Sri Lanka was also involved in the conspiracy.The development comes even as the agency is preparing to send a request to Interpol seeking red corner notices (RCNs) against the Pakistani officers, who have reportedly been repatriated to Islamabad.While the NIA chargesheeted Siddiqui in Feb, the other 3 officers could not be identified. The two, who have been put on the ‘wanted’ list apart from Siddiqui, are a Pakistani intelligence officer who went by his alias ‘Vineeth’, and another official codenamed ‘Boss alias Shah’. This is the first time that India has put a Pakistani diplomat’s name in the ‘wanted’ list or sought a red corner notice against one, an official said. US shared key information with India in the case which helped investigators nail the Pakistani officers. timesofindia
CDR case: SC stays Bombay HC order to initiate action against Maharashtra cops
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cdr-case-sc-stays-bombay-hc-order-on-action-against-maharashtra-cops-5129871/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday stayed Bombay High Court judgment ordering departmental action against Maharashtra policemen involved in a probe against a lawyer who was accused of illegally possessing CDRs of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s wife.A bench comprising CJI Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar, however, issued notice to lawyer Rizwan Siddiqui and asked him to file his reply in the matter within 4 weeks.Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Nishant Katneshwar appeared for the state govt and sought stay of the Bombay HC order of March 21 in which it had held that in arresting Rizwan Siddiqui, the Thane Police had acted in a “highhanded” manner and had failed to follow “due process of law”.Advocate CA Sundaram appeared for Rizwan Siddiqui. The HC had directed Thane Police to release from their custody advocate Rizwan Siddiqui, who was arrested on March 16 for allegedly having ordered the illegal procurement of CDR of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s wife. The HC had also directed the senior-most officials of the Thane Police and the state Home department to inquire into the actions of Thane Police and if deemed fit, initiate appropriate punitive proceedings against officials concerned.Rizwan Siddiqui’s wife, Tasneem, had challenged the manner of his arrest and filed a habeas corpus petition in the high court. In the plea, she claimed that her husband Rizwan Siddiqui had received a witness summon from the Thane Crime Branch Unit one on Feb.14.However, around 10 pm on March 16, Thane Crime Branch officials came to his office and while recording the statement, arrested him without giving him any notice under Section 41(A) of CrPC to give him time to make an appearance before the police, the plea read. It alleged that the Thane police kept him in wrongful and illegal custody.indianexpress
Unravelling of BJP has begun; they have a very, very tough 2019 : Salman Khurshid
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/unravelling-of-bjp-has-begun-they-have-a-very-very-tough-2019-salman-khurshid-5129859/
New York:With just a year left to general elections in India, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid says the “unravelling” of the ruling BJP has begun and the popularity wave on which it came to power in 2014 is waning.Against the backdrop of the Dalit protests, farmers’ agitation and high profile fraud cases, he said “we need to look at whether with this performance should (BJP) be coming back” to power in 2019. “On that the clear answer is a no.” “I think that the unravelling of the BJP has begun and frankly I wouldn’t be complacent but I think they have a very, very, very tough 2019,” Khurshid told PTI here.PTI
Winking 'Forbidden' in Islam, Says Fresh Plea in SC Against Priya Prakash Varrier's Viral Song
https://www.news18.com/news/movies/manikya-malaraaya-poovi-row-winking-forbidden-in-islam-says-fresh-plea-in-sc-against-priya-prakash-varrier-viral-song-1712147.html
The controversy around Priya Prakash Varrier's debut movie Oru Adaar Love refuses to die down. A fresh plea has reportedly been filed in the Supreme Court seeking removal of Manikya Malaraaya Poovi song from the yet-to-be-released Malayalam film, claiming that winking is "forbidden in Islam." For the uninitiated, released during the Valentine week, Manikya Malaraaya Poovi had caught the fancy of many after a short sequence, wherein Priya raises her eyebrows and then winks at a boy (Roshan Abdul Rahoof), in the song had gone viral. However, it didn't go down well with several Muslim groups, that raised an objection to the romantic track terming it as an insult to Prophet Muhammad and his wife Hazrat Khadeeja. They had also asked the makers of the film to remove it immediately from the movie stating that it would hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world. According to Bar and Bench, two Hyderabad residents have filed an application in the apex court, raising the issue of certain "objectionable visuals" depicted in the song. They have argued that that the picturisation of the song, when seen along with the lyrics, can very well be categorized as an "act of blasphemy." news18
Unmarried, major daughter entitled to maintenance: HC
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/unmarried-major-daughter-entitled-to-maintenance-bombay-hc-5128605/
Bombay High Court has held that an unmarried daughter, even after she attains majority, is entitled to claim maintenance from her father. The court also said that the daughter is competent to file her own application claiming maintenance. The court was hearing a petition filed by a woman seeking maintenance for her major daughter under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The legal issue was whether a major daughter is entitled to maintenance from her father, and whether a mother is competent to file such proceedings.The petitioner, a Roman Catholic, got married in 1988 and had three children. She was divorced in 1997. Her husband stopped paying maintenance for the children when her youngest daughter turned 18 years old.indianexpress
Haryana teen dies saving 20 students as minaret, madrassa roof collapse
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/mewat-dies-saving-20-students-as-minaret-madrassa-roof-collapse/articleshow/63672926.cms
Mewat: Ashfaq (17) dreamt of becoming a maulvi and raise his voice from the minaret of the local mosque-cum-madrassa to call out the faithful. On Friday, the same minaret came tumbling down and crushed him during the storm, but not before he had saved more than 20 lives. A hero in death, Ashfaq was one of the 6 children of Din Mohammed’s family. Thousands gathered at Bumbaheri village on Sunday to attend a prayer meeting for Ashfaq. While his father is both proud and sad, Ashfaq’s mother Jaituni Begum said, “With the crashing of the roof and walls of the madrassa, my world came crashing down.”“By the age of 14, he had learnt 30 chapters of the Quran. My son was an intelligent, affectionate and brave boy,” Jaituni said. “Since the accident, I couldn’t gather the courage to face my wife. She is inconsolable and I don’t know what to tell her. My 3-year-old daughter asks me where have I hidden her brother,”said Din Mohammed, fighting his tears.There were 22 students inside madrassa when the accident happened. Locals said it was a result of strong winds. timesofindia
Checking NPAs: 11 public sector banks now on RBI watchlist, small firms face credit crunch
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/checking-npas-11-public-sector-banks-now-on-rbi-watchlist-small-firms-face-credit-crunch-5129389/
Lending to the corporate sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, is becoming increasingly difficult with more than half the country’s public sector banks (PSBs) now under the RBI’s Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework, which restricts lending activities of the banks, Govt sources said.Govt sources also confirmed that at least 3-4 more banks are expected to be brought under the PCA framework because of deteriorating performance.“Since the PCA framework restricts the amount of loans banks can extend, this will definitely put pressure on credit being made available to companies especially the MSMEs. Large companies have access to the corporate bond market so they may not be impacted immediately,” a senior banker said.indianexpress
Himachal Pradesh: 27 school children killed as school bus falls into gorge in Kangra; CM announces compensation
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/shimla/himachal-bus-accident-live-updates-over-20-school-children-killed-as-school-bus-falls-into-gorge-kangra/
At least 30 people, including 27 school children, were killed after a private bus skidded off the road and rolled down deep into a gorge in Nurpur area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh on Monday.Confirming the death toll, Nurpur BJP MLA Rakesh Pathania said three staff members, including two teachers and a driver of the bus, were also among those who were killed in the tragic incident.The victims belonged to Wazir Ram Singh Memorial school. The ill-fated bus was on its way to drop children back to their homes.Superintendent of Police Santosh Patyal confirmed the deaths. All the dead students were below the age of 10. The bus driver and two teachers were among the dead.The death toll could rise as some students were still trapped in the mangled bus even as the rescue operation is on, police added. Local villagers had begun rescue operation even before officials could reach the spot, eyewitnesses said.indianexpress
'Dalit icon' Tina Dabi, 2015 IAS topper, ties knot with Kashmiri runner-up Athar Shafi
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ias-toppers-get-married-at-picturesque-pahalgam/article23480339.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar: IAS toppers, Tina Dabi (25) and Athar Aamir-ul-Shafi Khan (26), one described as a Dalit icon and another motivation for Kashmir, arranged a destination wedding at south Kashmir’s tourist hotspot and picturesque Pahalgam this weekend, which was attended by the family members and close friends.Ms. Dabi from Delhi topped IAS examination in 2015 and Khan from Kashmir stood second. Both were assigned for the Rajasthan cadre later.thehindu
WORLD
Iranians among 14 killed in Syria airbase attack; Israel blamed for the attack
http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/iranians-among-14-killed-in-syria-airbase-attack-israel-to-be-blamed-118040900635_1.html
An early-morning strike on a Syrian government air base in the country's centre killed 14 fighters, including Iranian forces allied to the regime, a monitoring group said today."At least 14 fighters were killed in the strike on the T-4 airport, among them Iranian forces," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor.Syrian state media had earlier reported dead and wounded in the strike, without giving casualty figures.The T-4 base lies in Syria's central Homs province and is also known as the Tiyas airport.Forces from regime allies Russia and Iran, as well as fighters from the Tehran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia, are known to have a presence there, said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. Syria and Russia on Monday accused Israel of bombing a Syrian regime airbase by using its warplanes.According to a statement by the Russian military, "Two Israeli F-15 warplanes carried out the strikes from Lebanese airspace, and that Syrian air defence systems shot down five of eight missiles fired in Homs."Israel did not comment immediately in regards to the statement by Russia, The Guardian reported.According to Syrian State TV, the T-4 airbase in Homs in western Syria was battered by "several missiles" in an "attack likely done by the US" early on Monday.According to a military source, the missile attack caused an "unspecified number of deaths and injuries" respectively, reported Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).The Pentagon denied any role in the military airbase attack in Homs and issued a statement, "At this time, the Department of Defence is not conducting airstrikes in Syria. However, we continue to closely watch the situation and support the ongoing diplomatic efforts to hold those who use chemical weapons, in Syria and otherwise, accountable."business-standard
Russia, Syria blame Israel for missile strike on Syrian air base; 14 reported dead
http://www.news10.com/news/national/russia-and-syria-blame-israel-for-missile-strike-on-syrian-air-base-14-reported-dead/1109237150
Death toll rises to 85 in Syria East Ghouta chemical attack
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-death-toll-rises-to-85-in-syria-east-ghouta-chemical-attack/
Rescue workers and medical staff have said that the death toll from Syria’s chlorine chemical attack that struck the Damascus suburb of Douma at midnight on Saturday has risen to 85.A radio station worker told Al Jazeera that residents on the rooftops described green gas being released from canisters falling from the sky.When Syrian regime forces stepped up their bombardment on Eastern Ghouta at the end of February hundreds of families took shelter in basements – they returned this week but were suffocated to death there.Activists posted photos of men, women and children foaming from the mouth.Only one hospital remains in the city since regime forces have targeted makeshift medical centres as part of a coordinated campaign civilians call “a dirty war against doctors”.Many of the doctors working in Ghouta were medical students before the war and have not even graduated. Surgeons have been systematically, forcibly disappeared by the regime.Shortly after the chemical attack the area surrounding the hospital was hit with barrel bombs, reports the White Helmets, which prevented ambulances from reaching the victims and delivering them to the hospital.US President Donald Trump has warned that “animal Assad” would have a “big price to pay” for another “sick” humanitarian disaster. Trump has also blamed former President Barack Obama for not doing enough to stop Assad.
Syria chemical attack: 'It was like my lungs were shutting down'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/syria-chemical-attack-lungs-shutting-180408123716663.html
US 'not ruling out' Syria military action after Douma attack
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/mattis-ruling-syria-military-action-douma-attack-180409134718003.html
Jim Mattis, the US defence secretary, has said he is not ruling out the use of military force in Syria in response to a recent poison gas attack in a rebel-held town.His comments on Monday came hours before the United Nations Security Council was due to discuss Saturday's deadly attack in Douma amid growing international outrage. "The first thing we have to look at is why are chemical weapons still being used at all when Russia was the framework guarantor of removing all the chemical weapons," Mattis said before the start of a meeting at the Pentagon with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani."Working with our allies and our partners from NATO to Qatar and elsewhere, we are going to address this issue," said Mattis.aljazeera
UN Security Council to meet twice today after Syria attack
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-un-security-council-to-meet-twice-monday-after-syria-attack/
The UNSC will meet twice on Monday following rival requests by Russia and the US after a deadly chemical attack in Syria and a warning by US President Donald Trump that there would be a “big price to pay.”Russia called for a meeting of the 15-member council on “international threats to peace and security,” though the precise topic of discussion was not immediately clear, diplomats said on Sunday.A minute later the US, France, Britain, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Peru and Ivory Coast called for a meeting to discuss the chemical weapons attack in Syria.“UNSC has to come together and demand immediate access for first responders, support an independent investigation into what happened, and hold accountable those responsible for this atrocious act,” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said.The council president for April, Peru, initially scheduled a meeting on the chemical attack for Monday morning and a meeting on the Russian request for Monday afternoon. However, diplomats said Russia was insisting its meeting be held first because its request was made first.middleeastmonitor
Syria rebels begin leaving last Ghouta town under deal
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/syria-rebels-begin-leaving-last-ghouta-town-under-deal-479302021
Syrian rebels and civilians began leaving the last opposition-controlled town in Eastern Ghouta on Sunday, state media said, under an evacuation deal with the Govt . State news agency SANA said two buses carrying Jaish al-Islam rebels and their families had exited the town of Douma and would head north to opposition-held territory. The evacuations came after accusations Syria's Govt had used toxic gas on Douma, which it denied.There was no immediate comment from Jaish al-Islam.The rebel group has more than 3,500 prisoners and hostages in its prisons in Douma, Rami Abdul Rahman, the director of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, told Reuters.5 prisoners were released on Wednesday, after earlier departures by Jaish al-Islam fighters.Russian news agency RIA, citing a security source, said Jaish al-Islam rebels will leave Douma in two batches in the coming hours.middleeasteye
'No innocent people in Gaza' says Israeli defence minister
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/no-innocent-people-gaza-says-israeli-defence-minister-1155018849
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Sunday there were "no innocent people" in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after Israeli soldiers shot and killed 30 Palestinians during 10 days of protests."There are no innocent people in the Gaza Strip," Lieberman told Israel's public radio."Everyone's connected to Hamas, everyone gets a salary from Hamas, and all the activists trying to challenge us and breach the border are Hamas military wing activists."Israel has faced mounting questions over its use of live fire after 10 days of protests along the Gaza Strip border during which its forces have killed 30 Palestinians and injured hundreds with live fire and tear gas, according to Gaza's health ministry.Violence spiked again on Friday when thousands of protesters returned to the border. Nine Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli forces and at least 1,060 were wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.The dead included Palestinian video journalist Yasser Murtaja. The 30-year-old father was shot in the abdomen by an Israeli sniper while covering the protests despite wearing a flak jacket labelled "Press".middleeasteye
Israelis watch ‘outdoor cinema’ on Gaza border, cheer as Palestinians killed
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-israelis-watch-outdoor-cinema-on-gaza-border-cheer-as-palestinians-killed/
A photo of young Israelis sitting atop a watchtower at the Gaza border and cheering as Israeli forces fired at Palestinian protesters has generated outrage on social media this weekend.Israeli Channel 2 journalist Nir Dvori posted the photo on Twitter on Friday showing seven Israelis waving as they sat on an observation tower in Nahal Oz, outside the fenced-off Gaza Strip watching Palestinians being attacked. Dvori captioned the photo: “Best show in town. Residents of Nahal Oz in the stands.”middleeastmonitor
Norwegian charity slams Israel’s killing of civilian protesters, journalist in Gaza
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-norwegian-charity-slams-israels-killing-of-civilian-protesters-journalist-in-gaza/
A leading Norwegian NGO has expressed its “outrage at the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by the Israeli military, as they protest for their rights, on their land”, urging “accountability”.In a press release issued today, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) described “the deadly force used by the Israeli military against the people of Gaza” as “a gross violation of their protection under humanitarian and human rights law”.middleeastmonitor
Ex-Mossad agent: Egypt benefits from Israel’s intelligence capabilities
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-ex-mossad-agent-egypt-benefits-from-israels-intelligence-capabilities/
Egypt is benefiting from the “enormous” capabilities of the Israeli national intelligence agency (Mossad) in the fields of eavesdropping, tracking, monitoring, the former Mossad official, David Meidan, has revealed.“Few Israeli intelligence capabilities could improve Egypt’s ability to deal with security risks,” Meidan told the Hebrew newspaper Makor Rishon, as quoted by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. “The cooperation between the two countries aims at eradicating every threat they face.”Israel, the former Mossad officer noted, communicates intelligence know-how to Egypt through “secret means”, adding that telephone communication “is not safe for transferring classified information between the two countries”.middleeastmonitor
ICC warns Israel over killing of protesters in Gaza
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-icc-warns-israel-over-killing-of-protesters-in-gaza/
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, issued a statement yesterday warning Israeli authorities over the use of lethal force against civilian protesters in Gaza.“It is with grave concern that I note the violence and deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip in the context of recent mass demonstrations,” the statement began, noting that “at least” 27 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army, “with over a thousand more injured”.MEMO
Israel officials threaten to assassinate Hamas leaders in Gaza
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-israel-officials-threaten-to-assassinate-hamas-leaders-in-gaza/
Israeli officials have threatened to assassinate Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip in order to deter the Great March of Return demonstrations, Quds Press reported.Former Israeli MK Moti Yogev told Channel 7 that the “terror leaders” in Gaza must be assassinated, noting that they are the leaders of Hamas.Meanwhile, MK Nissan Slomiansky was reported saying to the same channel: “There is no choice except the ouster of Hamas Govt in Gaza.”Deputy Israeli Defence Minister Eli Ben-Dahan threatened to wipe Hamas out and end its rule in the Gaza Strip.middleeastmonitor
Palestinian artists boycott film festival in Turkey over Israeli sponsor
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-artists-boycott-istanbul-film-festival-over-israeli-sponsor-1293479495
ISTANBUL, Turkey; Palestinian artists have boycotted the ongoing Istanbul Film Festival after organisers ignored calls to drop an Israeli Govt sponsor.The call to drop Art Israel, an offshoot of the Israeli foreign ministry, from the "kind collaboration" sponsors of the Istanbul Film Festival was made by the Turkey branch of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. The producer of 2017 film Wajib, a Palestinian co-production, said the film team had pulled their film from the festival after organisers refused to end Israeli collaboration.Ossama Bawardi said the entire film crew had cancelled their plans to attend the Istanbul festival, according to BDS Turkey. The refusal of organisers at the Istanbul Film Festival to end their collaboration with Art Israel even after developments in Gaza has put the spotlight on the festival's backers and also the Turkish Govt , whose culture ministry is a principal backer of the festival.middleeasteye
Jeremy Corbyn condemns Western 'silence' over Israel’s killing of at least 27 Palestinians
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-israel-killings-palestine-gaza-border-violence-a8293881.html?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook
Jeremy Corbyn has condemned Israel’s killing of at least 27 Palestinians on the Gaza border as an “outrage” and attacked Western “silence” about the deaths.In a message read out at a demonstration outside Downing Street, the Labour leader demanded that Theresa May support the United Nation’s call for an independent international inquiry.Britain should also consider stopping the sale of arms to Israel that “could be used in violation of international law”, he said.Corbyn spoke out after at least nine more Palestinians were killed, and hundreds more injured, by Israeli gunfire, some reportedly shot in the head or upper body. The latest deaths came a week after 18 Palestinians lost their lives when Israeli soldiers opened fire at similar demonstrations in support of a “right to return” to land lost to Israel in 1948.UN human rights spokeswoman, Elizabeth Throssell, has suggested the shootings could amount to wilful killing of civilians – a breach of the fourth Geneva Convention. The independent
Israel using ‘strange gases’ against protesters in Gaza
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-israel-using-strange-gases-against-protesters-in-gaza/
Israeli occupation forces used “strange” and “unknown” gases against unarmed, peaceful protesters in Gaza, Quds Press reported the central commission for documentation and pursuit of Israeli war criminals –Tawtheeq saying.Head of the commission Imad Al-Baz told Quds Press that Israel used strange gases against the protesters for the first time last Friday as Palestinians continued their peaceful activities as part of the Great March of Return.The gases caused protesters’ bodies to convulse and tremble, he explained. Many lost consciousness as a result for several hours, he added.middleeastmonitor
Egypt court: Morsi’s election was fair
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180409-egypt-court-morsis-election-was-fair/
An Egyptian criminal court has upheld a previous ruling that the 2012 election of Mohamed Morsi was fair, Egyptian news website Ahram Gate reported.Former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq filed a complaint alleging that the Egyptian Elections Committee rigged the outcome in Morsi’s favour.Shafiq complained that some ballots were rigged in certain constituencies, but Judge Ahmed Khafagi told Al-Shorouk newspaper that there were no more than a few hundred questionable ballots and they were excluded from the count.middleeastmonitor
Queen Elizabeth A Descendant Of Prophet Muhammed, Claims Report
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/queen-elizabeth-a-descendant-of-prophet-muhammed-claims-report-1834607
LONDON:Britain's Queen Elizabeth is a descendant of Prophet Muhammed, a Moroccan newspaper has claimed, attributing the bizarre finding to a study.According to the Daily Mail, the findings were first published in 1986 by Burke's Peerage, a British authority on royal pedigrees. The Morrocan newspaper has claimed that 43 generations of Queen Elizabeth's family have been traced to produce the research finding that the Queen is a distant relative of the Prophet.The study claims Elizabeth II's bloodline runs through the Earl of Cambridge in the 14th century, across medieval Muslim Spain, to Fatima, the Prophet's daughter.The claim is disputed by some historians, but the genealogical records of early-medieval Spain support it. According to reports, Ali Gomaa, the former grand mufti of Egypt, also endorsed it."It is little known by the British people that the blood of Mohammed flows in the veins of the queen. However, all Moslem religious leaders are proud of this fact," wrote Burke's publishing director, in a letter to then PM Margaret Thatcher in 1986.ANI
Houthi rebels kill dozens of Sudanese troops in Yemen ambush
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/houthi-rebels-kill-dozens-sudanese-troops-yemen-ambush-1768796048
A rebel ambush in Yemen killed dozens of Sudanese soldiers belonging to a Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of the Govt , military sources and the rebels said on Saturday.The Iran-backed Houthi rebels hit the Sudanese military convoy in the northern province of Hajjah before dawn on Friday, according to military sources.The losses were reported to be the heaviest suffered by Sudanese troops in Yemen since they were deployed in the war-torn country in 2015."The Sudanese soldiers were lured into a trap by the rebels" who allowed them to advance into areas where they were waiting to attack them, a Yemeni military officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.middleeasteye
Nasrallah: US offered money for ending resistance to Israel
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/nasrallah-offered-money-resistance-israel-180409064026862.html
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah says the United States under President George W Bush offered his group reconciliation and money on the condition the Lebanese movement relinquish its resistance to Israel.In a televised speech on Sunday, Nasrallah said the offer, made by former Vice President Dick Cheney, also included removing the group from international terror watch lists and funding to help rebuild southern Lebanon.He added that the offer was made through George Nader, a controversy-stricken US businessman of Lebanese origin."We thought he was a Lebanese journalist, but he turned out to be an American citizen with a message from Dick Cheney", Nasrallah said.The Hezbollah leader said the offer came on the condition that his movement enhances security cooperation with the US and cease its resistance to Israel.aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
The refrain in Samastipur: Outsiders were responsible, will be wary now: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/samastipur-communal-violence-bihar-hindu-muslim-ram-navami-clash-nitish-kumar-5129392/
Ill-informed imams to blame for Muslim women's plight: Ziya us Salam's Book "Till Talaq Do Us Part"
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/ill-informed-imams-to-blame-for-muslim-women-s-plight-book-118040900197_1.html
Latehar lynching: Jharkhand Police lets murderers get away
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/latehar-lynching-jharkhand-police-lets-murderers-get-away
Dalits unlikely to fall for BJP’s bluffs again Dalits unlikely to fall for BJP’s bluffs again;Faraz Ahmad
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/dalits-unlikely-to-fall-for-bjp-bluff-again
Why is Mohan Bhagwat suddenly allergic to Modi’s pet slogan?RAMAN SWAMY
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/whats-behind-bhagwats-sudden-allergy-to-modis-pet-slogan
Make a Dalit or Adivasi woman RSS chief: Aakar Patel
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/aakar-patel-bjp-should-ask-rss-to-appoint-a-dalit-or-adivasi-woman-as-its-chief
One of India’s murkiest jailbreaks & killing of 8 Muslim men remains wrapped in mystery;
ANANYA BHARDWAJ
https://theprint.in/security/one-of-indias-murkiest-jailbreaks-killing-of-8-muslim-men-remains-mystery/48017/
West UP: ‘One law for Hindus, another one for Muslims’:MEHA KHANDURI
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/uttar-pradesh-theres-one-law-for-hindus-and-another-one-for-muslims
In a first, police gives compensation to Muslim man for wrongful confinement in terror cases
http://caravandaily.com/portal/in-a-first-indian-police-gives-compensation-to-muslim-man-for-wrongful-confinement-in-terror-cases/
A case to withdraw the triple talaq Bill;A. Faizur Rahman
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-case-to-withdraw-the-triple-talaq-bill/article23474331.ece
Eerie Commonalities in the 'Rash' of Communal Riots in Three Different Decades:Mohammad Sajjad
https://thewire.in/caste/eerie-commonalities-in-the-rash-of-communal-riots-in-three-different-decades
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:32 PM)
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