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Sunday, 10 June 2018

10 June ND: JNU leader Shehla accuses Gadkari, RSS of plotting Modi's assassination; minister threatens to sue /‘Pak trying to fix Gujarat polls’ remark: Modi used informal input, says PMO; Congress seeks apology



NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY  
10 June 2018:25 Ramazan 1439: Vol:10, No:42
INDIA
JNU leader Shehla accuses Gadkari, RSS of plotting Modi's assassination; minister threatens to sue
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/shehla-rashid-accuses-nitin-gadkari-rss-of-planning-to-assassinate-narendra-modi-transport-minister-threatens-to-sue-4504033.html
Nitin Gadkari has threatened to take legal action against JNU student rights activist Shehla Rashid after she accused the Union minister for road transport and highways of planning to assassinate PM Narendra Modi. Rasheed had also said that RSS was a complicit, and alleged that the motive was to blame the assassination on Muslims and Communists. Without naming Rashid, Gadkari later tweeted that he would take action against "anti-social elements" attributing "personal motives to him".Rashid then hit back saying that the Union minister was getting worked up over a sarcastic tweet, and asked him to think about what JNU leader Umar Khalid might be going through "after a baseless media assault on him and his father". She then asked if Gadkari would also "take action against Rahul Shivshankar".Rashid's tweet and exchange of words with Gadkari comes in the context of a letter, allegedly written by Maoists, that carried details of plans to launch a 'Rajiv Gandhi type incident' to target Modi, and Umar Khalid reportedly filing a complaint with Delhi Police alleging that he received death threats from a man who identified himself as fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari.Interestingly, Khalid had clarified later that he didn't receive any direct threat but was informed by Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani — who also claimed to have received a death threat from Pujari — of being in the fugitive gangster's hit list.Pune police claim to have seized a letter dated 18 April this year from 5 people arrested in connection with the Bhima Korean violence in which they talk of a "plot" to assassinate India's PM  Narendra Modi in a "Rajiv Gandhi-type" attack. Rashid has told India Today that the letter about a Modi assassination is "fake and to divert attention from Govt  failures".firstpost
After Gadkari threatens to sue, Shehla Rashid labels Tweet on PM Modi assassination plot as 'sarcastic'
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/after-nitin-gadkari-threatens-to-sue-shehla-rashid-labels-tweet-on-pm-modi-assassination-plot-as-sarcastic-1773729.html
‘Pak trying to fix Gujarat polls’ remark: Modi used informal input, says PMO; Congress seeks apology
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-trying-to-fix-gujarat-polls-remark-modi-used-informal-input-says-pmo/article24124151.ece
New Delhi:In a reply to a RTI application filed by Congress, PMO has said that Narendra Modi’s campaign speech during the Gujarat Assembly elections, where he alleged that Pakistan was trying to influence polls could have been based on an “informal input”. In a speech at Palanpur on Dec.10, 2017, Modi talked of a “secret meeting” at former Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s residence.The meeting, he had alleged, was attended by ex- PM  Manmohan Singh, ex- Vice-President Hamid Ansari, ex Army Chief Deepak Kapoor and distinguished diplomats. It was reportedly hosted for former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri who was in India to attend a talk by Ananta Centre, a Delhi-based think-tank, titled “Current State of India-Pakistan Relations” the next day.Modi had alleged that the meeting was essentially to influence the results of the Gujarat Assembly elections.A Congress nominee, Saket Gokhale, shot off RTI query to PMO, questioning the source of PM’s claims.“While information sought does not form part of records held by this office, it may be noted that inputs received from multiple channels, including formal and informal, form the source of PM’s statements,” PMO said in its reply.Renewing the demand for an apology from Modi, the Congress said that if BJP did not apologise for the “lies” perpetrated by its leader, democracy would be in danger.thehindu
BJP's 'Sampark for Samarthan' campaign: Muslims are ‘targeted’ and ‘abused’, says Shahi Imam after BJP reaches out to him for support
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muslims-are-targeted-and-abused-says-shahi-imam-after-bjp-reaches-out-to-him-for-support/articleshow/64521651.cms
New Delhi: Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid on Saturday conveyed his displeasure after Union minister Vijay Goel met him as part of BJP's 'Sampark for Samarthan' campaign, saying that Muslims in India are “targeted and abused".Union minister met Imam Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari today as part of BJP’s contact for support campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha election next year."They've come to us but Muslims are targeted and abused. There is one year left for election if they do something, it's welcome but we have a lot of complaints," Bukhari said.The 'Sampark for Samarthan' (contact for support) campaign was launched to mark the four years of Modi Govt  last month. As many as 4,000 BJP functionaries will contact 1 lakh people, who are recognised names in their fields, to inform them about the govt's works during the past 4 years.TOI
Naqvi meets Sirajuddin Qureshi, says rights of minorities safer in India than anywhere else
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-meets-india-islamic-cultural-centre-chief-sirajuddin-qureshi-says-rights-of-minorities-safer-in-india-than-anywhere-else/1199856/
New Delhi:Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today met India Islamic Cultural Centre chief Sirajuddin Qureshi as part of BJP’s nationwide “contact for support” campaign ahead of Lok Sabha poll next year.Representatives from Muslim educational institutes and other social fields were present when Naqvi met Qureshi. Naqvi informed them about the Govt ’s work aimed at “inclusive growth”, a statement issued by his office said. He told them that PM  Narendra Modi has become an “effective and strong voice for peace and humanity” in India and the world. He said social-communal harmony and tolerance is the DNA of India. “We have to work together to strengthen the fabric of our unity. Minorities in India are safe and socio-religious, constitutional rights of the minorities are safer here than any other democratic country in the world,” Naqvi said. “Minorities in India are safe and socio-religious, constitutional rights of the minorities are safer here than any other democratic country in the world,” he was quoted as saying. PTI
Smriti Irani dropped from NITI Aayog invitee list; Javedekar replaces her
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/smriti-irani-dropped-from-niti-aayog-invitee-list-javedekar-replaces-her
Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani has been removed from the NITI Aayog as a special invitee less than a month after she has been shunted out of I&B Ministry. According to reports, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has replaced Smriti Irani in the list of special invitees. Minister of State (Planning) Rao Inderjit Singh has been added as ex-officio memberIn an official communique from the Cabinet Secretariat, dated June 7, it was noted that Smriti Irani is no longer part of the list of invitees. The list was made after approval from PM Narendra Modi, reported several news sources, including Indian Express.nationalheraldindia
Entry of India, Pakistan into SCO will bolster its strength, says China President Xi Jinping
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/entry-of-india-pakistan-into-sco-will-bolster-its-strength-says-china-president-xi-jinping/story-fTzgoH0qKwUqOk397E7pTM.html
he entry of India and Pakistan into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will bolster its strength, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday as he welcomed PM  Narendra Modi and Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain to the 8-member grouping.Modi and Hussain attended the summit for the first time after both countries were admitted as members of the Beijing-based SCO last year.Xi, also host of the 18th SCO summit, in his opening remarks said the presence of both the countries at the meeting in Qingdao in the east Chinese port city was “of great historic significance.”PTI
Xi Jinping accepts PM Modi’s invitation for informal summit in India in 2019
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/xi-jinping-accepts-pm-modi-s-invitation-for-informal-summit-in-india-in-2019/story-ap0gEG2RwqoPPEr69Y95JN.html
Qingdao:India and China have agreed on measures to build on the consensus achieved by their leaders during recent talks in Wuhan, including next informal summit to be held in India in 2019 and steps to maintain peace along the disputed border.President Xi Jinping accepted PM  Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India for the next informal summit. They also agreed – as decided during their first informal summit at Wuhan in April – to maintain strategic communications through various channels, including telephone calls and frequent meetings on the sidelines of multilateral events.Xi’s visit will be preceded by a flurry of high-level meetings this year, including meetings between foreign, defence and home ministers and national security advisers.Special Representatives on border issue will also meet this year.HT
‘India, China to jointly identify project in capacity building in Afghanistan’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-to-jointly-identify-project-in-capacity-building-in-afghanistan-5211032/
International Quds Day: Indian Muslims hold massive demonstration in support of Palestine
http://caravandaily.com/portal/international-quds-day-indian-muslims-hold-massive-demonstration-in-support-of-palestine/                   
New Delhi:Thousands of Muslims hit the Indian streets in solidarity with Palestinians on the International Quds Day on Friday. A massive protest demonstration was held near the Parliament House here in New Delhi. They strongly condemned the policies of Israel and US vis-à-vis Palestine.Addressing the gathering, Navaid Hamid, President of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, umbrella body of Indian Muslim organizations, said, “These massive protests worldwide show that people are against the stubborn attitude of Israel and US. We will continue raising our voices for Palestine.”Hamid scathingly condemned the recent killing of scores of Palestinians, including Razan al-Najjar, a Palestinian nurse, in the firing of Israeli forces in Gaza.Raising slogans against Israel and the US, demonstrators were holding placards with various messages like ‘Palestine will be free’, ‘Delete Israel’, ‘Join hands in this global movement to expose the real face of Zionism’, ‘Why killed Razan Al Najjar’, ‘Stop the persecution of the people of Palestine’, ‘I can see Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine’, ‘Netanyahu Murdabad’, ‘Trump Murdabad’, ‘Israeli PM Netanyahu nahi Shaitanyahu hai’. On the occasion, several clerics and leaders from Muslim organizations along with protestors took out a march and also addressed the gathering.Caravan Daily
J&K sites await UNESCO heritage tag as state sits on nominations
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-sites-await-unesco-heritage-tag-as-state-sits-on-nominations-5211259/
Srinagar: SINCE 2010, 4 sites in J&K have made it to UNESCO’s “tentative list” to obtain the coveted World Heritage tag. But eight years on, the state Govt is yet to start the basic, mandatory process of preparing nomination files for these sites to be considered by the world heritage body.J&K Culture Secretary Mohammad Saleem Shishgar said the Govt  was “yet to ascertain who would write nomination dossier for these heritage sites”. Asked about the status of the nominations — the process usually takes two years — Shishgar said the preparation “is not even in the discussion stage as yet”.J&K does not have a single site or monument with UNESCO inscription of a World Heritage Site. The four sites on the “tentative list” are: Mughal Gardens in Kashmir (made it to the tentative list in 2010); Neolithic Settlement of Burzahom (2014); desert landscape of Ladakh (2015); and an ancient monastery and stupa in Harwan, which is among the Silk Route sites in India (2010).According to UNESCO’s procedure for inscription, once a site has been named in a country’s “tentative list” for consideration by the World Heritage Committee, “a State Party can plan when to present a nomination file”. Indian Express,
6 militants killed as army foils infiltration bid in J-K’s Kupwara
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/three-militants-killed-as-army-foils-infiltration-bid-in-j-k-s-kupwara/story-m57jFymwHAYXhKW0ygml7N.html
Srinagar: 6 militants were killed while infiltrating into Kashmir through Keran sector near the Line of Control in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the army said on Sunday.Army soldiers foiled the infiltration bid in Keran sector and killed six militants, an army official said, adding operations were still on.This is 4th infiltration bid since Centre announced Ramzan ceasefire on May 16, and which has resulted in the death of 17 militants.HT
J&K youths joining terror ranks despite Ramzan ceasefire: BJP
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jk-youths-joining-terror-ranks-despite-ramzan-ceasefire-bjp/articleshow/64522998.cms
Jammu: J&K  BJP unit today said the notion that alleged excesses of security forces were driving Kashmiri youths to militancy has been proven wrong as the forces have not conducted any operation during the ongoing fasting month of Ramzan, but still some youths have joined terror ranks."Purpose of the Govt  behind the (Ramzan) ceasefire was to normalise the situation in the Valley...it has proved beyond any doubt that the youths are not joining militancy because of the excesses of security forces,"BJP spokesperson Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta said. "Security forces did not conduct any operation (since the beginning of Ramzan last month) but still some youths joined terror ranks. We need to look for reasons why the youths are joining militancy and the civil society of Kashmir had a greater role to play and look why the youths are deviating from the right path," he said. PTI
Lynching in Assam's Karbi Anglong:15 arrested
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/15-arrested-for-lynching-2-in-assam-cm-sonowal-appeals-for-calm/story-BDu7mBHfl3GewUPkKG3wQP.html
Guwahati:Assam Police have arrested 15 people for their alleged involvement in the lynching of two men in Karbi Anglong district of the state on Friday. Nilotpal Das, 29, a sound engineer, and his friend Abhijeet Nath, 30, a businessman, were attacked by a mob near Panjuri Kacharigaon village, nearly 200 km from the state capital, on suspicion of being child lifters.Das, who is based in Goa, had came home to Guwahati recently and on Friday had left with his friend Nath for Kangthilangsho, a picnic spot known for waterfalls, and were on their way back when they were attacked.SUV in which they were travelling was also badly damaged by the mob.“We arrested five local youths on Saturday and 10 more during the night. The situation at the site is under control and efforts are on to nab the others,” Mukesh Agrawal, additional DGP, said.Another person has also been arrested on charge of spreading misinformation on Facebook about the presence of ‘sopa dhora’ (child lifters) in the area.HT
Violence Stalks Assam: Mob Lynches Two Sound Engineers, Brutality Videographed
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/3/14064/Violence-Stalks-Assam-Mob-Lynches-Two-Sound-Engineers-Brutality-Videographed
Video: Mob thrashes eve-teaser in Hubli
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/bengaluru/on-cam-mob-thrashes-eve-teaser-in-hubli/videoshow/64521251.cms
An eve-teaser was mercilessly thrashed by a mob in Karnataka’s Hubli district. The incident was caught on camera. The eve-teaser was a habitual offender, who used to harass school and college-going girls in the locality.Times Now
Godhra stone-pelting: 7 hurt, 84 booked
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/godhra-town-sees-communal-clash-over-parking-dispute/
Godhra: Godhra police has booked 84 persons in a case of rioting and unlawful assembly after a communal clash broke out in the Khadi Falia area of the town late on Friday night. According to the police, the clash ensued after a petty argument between an auto driver and a motorcycle owner, which brought the Hindu and Muslim communities face to face. Godhra B Division police lobbed a couple of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd that gathered in the area on Friday night, pelting stones at each other. According to Police Inspector M Sangtyani, the clash occurred when the auto driver was passing through the area and asked a motorcycle owner to get his two-wheeler out of the way. “The dispute was over the way the motorcycle was parked. The auto driver claimed that the motorcycle was blocking road and so he asked the resident to move his 2-wheeler out of the way. It resulted in a heated argument that eventually brought members of both communities face to face. They started pelting stones at each other,”said Sangtyani. Police said that about 7 persons sustained minor injuries in the clash, including a woman. indianexpress
Court verdict challenged in Aurangabad arms haul case
http://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/100618/court-verdict-challenged-in-arms-haul-case.html
Mumbai: Bombay high court on Friday admitted an appeal filed by ATS, challenging dropping of MCOCA from 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case by the trial court while passing judgment. The probe agency is also seeking enhancement of punishment for the convicts. The court has issued notices to all 20 accused and the matter will come up for hearing in due course. Abu Jundal, who is facing trial in the Mumbai attacks case, is also one of the convicts in this case. The appeal filed by the ATS came up for hearing before a division bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice S.V. Kotwal. Apart from challenging the acquittal and dropping of MCOCA, ATS is also seeking to enhance punishment for those who have been convicted.Asian Age
Gujarat: Plaint over railway demolition drive on wakf property
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/plaint-over-railway-demolition-drive-on-wakf-property/articleshow/64524783.cms
Ahmedabad: Activists working for protection of wakf properties in Gujarat have approached Gujarat high court and the Gujarat Wakf Board with a complaint that railway authorities have begun demolition on a land belonging to a shrine in Navsari district though the court order was in the favour of the shrine. In a letter written by the Gujarat Wakf Monitoring Committee, HC and the Board’s intervention was sought on the issue of the land of Pir Gebanshah Shrine near Amalsad railway station for demolition on trust’s property without authority. The dispute between railways and the shrine’s trust began when the railway wanted more land for laying down tracks for the dedicated freight corridor.The issue reached the courts in Navsari and a district court ruled in favour of the trust. Centre challenged the lower court’s order before the high court.The complainant stated that the railway officials started demolition drive on the wakf land on June 5 though railway’s own appeal is pending before the HC.TOI
3 AMU students booked for distorting religious slogan
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/3-amu-students-booked-for-distorting-religious-slogan/articleshow/64522079.cms?
 A case was registered against 3 students of AMU on Saturday evening here after a Twitter post, which "offended" religious sentiment of a community, was shared and condemned widely. Post, in which 3 youths named in FIR were tagged, had a distorted version of a religious slogan, which snowballed into a major row and a group of students of the varsity approached police with a complaint.Later, police registered a case against the 3 students. They were also booked under IT Act. The controversial post was initially shared by Bhole Vishwakarma, who, according to his Twitter and Facebook profile, is a writer and photographer based in New York.AMU Students Union president Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani said the post was "gross". "Strict action should be taken against whosoever is responsible for it," Usmani said.Usmani claimed that the 3 youths are former students of AMU. However, AMU spokesperson Shafey Kidwai said, "As of now,I am not aware whether these students are pursuing courses from the university or have passed out from here."TOI
Bhim Army emerging as a strong political party
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/lucknow/bhim-army-emerging-as-a-strong-political-party.html
Lucknow:While pro and anti-BJP forces are grouping up ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls and have been bolstered by the Kairana bypoll results, a newly formed outfit  Bhim Army, seems to be working on a different agenda.Even BJP and RSS  leaders accept that the outfit played a pivotal role in ensuring  defeat to the lotus party nominee atKairana. Bhim Army came into limelight after Saharanpur caste riots in 2017 and was now preparing to contest Lok Sabha polls. Though its declared agenda is to defeat BJP, an undisclosed agenda is also to gradually eat into crucial Dalit votes thereby marginalising BSP from UP’s real politics. Bhim Army activists are moving from village to village in western UP, identifying Dalit dwellings and interacting with the local inhabitants there. Sources claimed that Bhim Army have been quietly gathering popularity and accepatnce among Dalits in western UP districts.Besides, they were also mustering support for an agitation to seek the release of its founder Chandra Shekhar ‘Ravan’, who has been in jail on charges of engineering caste riots in Saharanpur last year. Sources said that Dalit youths,in large number, are joining Bhim Army because they subscribe to its aggressive brand of politics. “People talk of the BSP factor in BJP’s defeat in Kairana and Noorpur bypolls but they forget that Mayawati did not even appeal for the opposition candidates. It was Bhim Army that backed the opposition in order to defeat BJP,” remarked a political observer.After his release from jail recently, Army leader Vinay Ratan Singh said “We are working silently but in a decisive manner. We are mobilizing public support and against the BJP. People trust us as we have no history of having joined hands with BJP like BSP.” dailypioneer
Hindus observe ‘roza’ in these border villages
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/hindus-observe-roza-in-these-border-villages/articleshow/64525920.cms
Jaisalmer: During Ramzan, it is difficult to distinguish between Hindus and Muslims residing in villages along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan as Hindus observe ‘roza’(fast) as enthusiastically as their Muslim brethren during the holy month.The practice, prevalent among members of the Meghwal community that follow Rajput saint Pir Pithora, whose shrine is in Pakistan’s Sindh province, is more common in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts, which form 2,500-km border with Pakistan. Same rituals and traditions can be seen in Hindu and Muslim families. Even though Barmer is reeling under severe heat and temperatures are hovering around 47 degrees Celsius, Hindus are observing roza unflinchingly along with Muslim brothers and sisters giving a message of communal peace and brotherhood.The practise seems common among the refugee Hindus, who crossed over during the 1965 and 1971 wars and have settled down in border villages of Godhad Ka Tala, Rabasar, Sata,Sinhania, Bakhasar, Kelnore, etc.Gauhad Ka Tala (Barmer) residents Khemaram and Mohan Ram said they have been observing roza since past many decades because we have faith in Dargah Hazrat Saiyad Kasam Shah Marati situated in Pakistan.TOI
Azan transcends boundaries
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/azan-transcends-boundaries/articleshow/64525140.cms
Hindu family’s collection of Islamic manuscripts a major attraction in Kashmir
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/hindu-familys-collection-of-islamic-manuscripts-a-major-attraction-in-srinagar-5210941/
Srinagar:Quranic verses, written in golden letters on vellum, that adorn the walls of ‘Shireen Qalam’ – an Islamic art exhibition organised by the J&K  Cultural Academy – attract every visitor to the exhibition for two reasons: the beautiful calligraphic images and the man who has preserved these old and rare manuscripts. Suresh Abrol is a Hindu from Jammu.Abrol and his family have been preserving these rare Islamic manuscripts, including old Quranic manuscripts, for over a century now. The Abrol’s have set-up their own museum and manuscript library – Shashvat Art Gallery – in their house.“We have inherited it from our grandfather Late Lala Rekhi Ram,” says Abrol. “He was Maharaja’s jeweller and had a great jewellery collection.He developed an interest in it and started to collect miniature paintings also”.His grandfather’s interest in manuscripts started when he would go to Tawi river for the morning bath. Slowly the collection started to grow and today the Abrol’s have 250 Islamic calligraphic images at their art gallery – 130 of them written on Vellum, the delicate sheath between the hide and meat of an animal. Indianexpress
RSS Muslim Wing plans 'Eid Milan' to clear 'misconceptions' about Sangh, BJP
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/rss-muslim-wing-plans-eid-milan-to-clear-misconceptions-about-sangh-bjp-1773899.html
Lucknow: Making an all-out effort to woo Muslims ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, RSS-backed Muslim Rastriya Manch (MRM) is organising 'Eid Milan' programmes and Iftar parties to "remove misconceptions" among a section of people about the Sangh and BJP.MRM also claims that it sponsors the education of over 2,000 Muslim children and doles out a pension of Rs 1,000 per month to women who were given 'talaq'.The organisation will organise an 'Eid Milan' programme in New Delhi on June 19, to which Muslim clerics and RSS leaders will be invited, National Convenor, MRM, Muhammad Afzal told PTI."Guests from other countries and ambassadors will also be invited to the programme during which the MRM will try to remove misconceptions related to the RSS and the BJP," he said.Afzal said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was also invited to the event, but he is expected to give it a miss due to other engagements.PTI
Gurgaon’s Imam holding Friday prayers during Ramzan: ‘We’re not doing anything wrong… people should understand that’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslim-minority-population-gurgaon-imam-ramzan-aadhaar-card-foodgrainswere-not-doing-anything-wrong-people-should-understand-that-5211091/
Around 12.30 pm, the worshippers begin arriving — a mix of people reflecting the melting pot that Gurgaon has grown to become.Among them are labourers, autorickshaw drivers, shopkeepers, and employees of the private sector, the latter standing out in their crisp shirts and neatly ironed trousers.Abdul Wajid, 27, Gurgaon’s Basai village, has been leading the Jumu’ah here for the last 4 years, as the imam of the congregation. While it’s usually only the Jumu’ah prayers — for which an imam is required — that are held in the open, Wajid does so every day for the benefit of slumdwellers. However, this Ramzan is different. It is the first Muslim holy month since members of radical Hindu outfits protested in May against Friday prayers being held in the open in Gurgaon.The spot where Wajid conducts prayers is among the 23 open spaces in the city, down from 100 earlier, where Friday prayers have been officially allowed by the administration since May 10. Although the Jumu’ah is usually over by 2 pm, Wajid is back in his room by only an hour later, waiting till the mats and sheets have been folded up and the area cleared. Most Fridays,he eats his lunch with the residents of the shanties, many of them migrants from UP. There will, however, be no food this Friday, this being the month of fasting.The youngest of a labourer’s three sons, Wajid, who is from Bareilly in UP, completed his madrasa education in 2009, after which he conducted prayers at a masjid. In 2014, he moved to Gurgaon. Turning on the desert cooler in his room, Wajid says, “I was always clear that I wanted to help people, help them gain an understanding of what is right and what is wrong.”Wajid is paid Rs 10,000 by a Muslim committee for conducting the prayers. Of this, he spends Rs 1,000 on monthly rent for the 8×8 ft room, which has two single beds and two small tables. The remaining space is almost entirely taken up by books, kept in piles on the tables or lined along shelves.Waqf Board officials confirm this, saying there are “two-three lakh Muslims” in Gurgaon, and “less than 30 places of worship”.indianexpress
Jodhpur man held for killing 4-yr-old daughter ‘to please Allah’: Indian express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jodhpur-man-held-for-killing-four-year-old-daughter-5211282/
Jaipur:Jodhpur Rural police on Saturday arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly murdering his 4-year-old daughter, a day after she was found dead at their home. Nawab Ali Qureshi’s daughter Rizwana was sleeping with her parents and an 11-month-old sister on Thursday night, when she was found murdered.The family, which lives in Pipar City, approached the police with Qureshi’s wife Shabana (22) submitting a complaint.Considering the “sensitivities, and heinousness of the crime”, Jodhpur Rural SP Rajan Dushyant constituted multiple teams to probe the case, while teams from Forensic Science Laboratory and dog squads were also brought in.“Investigation revealed the suspicious role of the father. His psychological questioning helped reveal clues. Ultimately, he confessed to his crime,” the police said in a statement.SP quoted Qureshi as saying, “I had to offer my most prized possession to Allah.” As per Islam, the month of Ramzan is observed to practice tolerance and selflessness. Qureshi told the police that he believed the devil had entered him.“I am a devout Muslim and love my daughter more than my life. For several days she was at her grandmother’s place and returned on Thursday. I took her to the marketplace and bought sweetmeats and fruits. In the night I took her to the courtyard downstairs, recited a kalma, killed her, and then went back to sleep upstairs,” Qureshi told police.
WORLD
Ashraf Ghani welcomes Taliban's Eid ceasefire
https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/2018/06/09/afghanistan-s-ghani-welcomes-taliban-s-3-day-cease-fire-in-tweet
Taliban’s announcement of a 3-day cease-fire starting on the first day of the Eid holiday comes "following the bold decision by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to cease the fight for a period of time," Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani says in a tweet.Taliban announced on Saturday it would halt fighting against Afghan forces for three days during holidays starting next week.US-led foreign forces are excluded from the cease-fire and the group will continue fighting them, Zabihullah Mujahed, Taliban spokesman, said.Bloomberg
19 police officers killed in Taliban attack on police base
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/19-officers-killed-in-taliban-attack-on-police-base-in-afghanistan/story-Uiox57l3mqznA0kVaKyqtI.html
Kunduz :At least 19 Afghan police officers were killed on Saturday in a pre-dawn raid by Taliban on a base in the northern province of Kunduz, officials said, hours before the militants announced an unprecedented ceasefire starting next week.Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after the insurgents stormed a military base in the western province of Herat, killing 17 Afghan soldiers.Kunduz provincial governor spokesman Nehmatullah Taimuri said 5 members of the local police force were also wounded in Saturday’s attack on a police base in Qal-e-Zal district.AFP
Kim arrives in Singapore for a much-anticipated summit with Trump
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/north-korean-leader-kim-arrives-in-singapore/article24127855.ece?homepage=true
Singapore:North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un arrived on Sunday in Singapore ahead of one of the most unusual summits in recent world history, a sit-down on June 12 with President Donald Trump.The jet carrying Kim landed at the airport Sunday afternoon amid huge security precautions on this city-state island. A large limousine with a North Korean flag was surrounded by other black vehicles with tinted window as it sped through the city’s streets. Kim's summit with Trump has captured intense global attention after a turn to diplomacy in recent months following serious fears of war last year amid North Korean nuclear and missile tests. North Korean leader's every move will be followed by 3,000 journalists up until he shakes hands with Trump.AP
Israel launches surprise drill in Golan Heights
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-launches-surprise-drill-in-golan-heights/1170696
Israeli army on Sunday launched a surprise military drill in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.  “A short while ago, a large-scale surprise military exercise began in the Golan Heights area,” the army said in a statement. “In addition, as part of the exercise the system to call up reservists was activated,” it added. A military spokesman said the exercise was planned in advance as part of this year’s training schedule and is intended to maintain the fitness and readiness of forces.  Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Middle East War.  Sunday’s drill comes amid tension along Syrian-Israeli border with Israel accusing Iran and Lebanese group Hezbollah of building up a military presence in war-torn Syria.  Anadolu Agency           
Saudi to host meeting over Jordan economic crisis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/saudi-arabia-host-meeting-jordan-economic-crisis-180609145454848.html
Saudi Arabia will host a regional summit to discuss the ongoing economic crisis in Jordan, where a proposed income tax rise recently triggered some of the largest protests in years.The meeting on Sunday in Mecca will be attended by Saudi King Salman, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.The leaders agreed to meet in order to "discuss ways to support Jordan to overcome the economic crisis the country is going through," Saudi Press Agency said on Saturday, quoting a statement from the Royal Court. Jordan relies heavily on foreign aid, and the $3.6bn assistance programme it receives annually from the Gulf Corporation Council has not been renewed since last year.Protests erupted in Jordan's capital Amman and other provinces earlier in the month, calling for the Govt  to scrap price rises and a controversial International Monetary Fund-backed income tax reform bill.aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Trump picks another Muslim-hater as one of his aides:By Max Boot
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/06/09/trump-picks-another-muslim-hater-as-one-of-his-aides/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8989a94b414a
Pranab Mukherjee rewrote history on Friday. He washed away all the sins of the RSS:Meghnad Desai
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/pranab-mukherjee-rss-congress-revenge-indira-gandhi-president-sangh-chanakya-2018-5211206/
RSS event in Nagpur: Sikh member in khaki part of Sangh's efforts to rebrand itself, promote Hindu nationalism:Arjun Sharma
https://www.firstpost.com/india/rss-event-in-nagpur-sikh-member-in-khaki-part-of-sanghs-efforts-to-rebrand-itself-promote-hindu-nationalism-4503379.html
Modi has made mistakes in past 4 yrs, failed to take India in new economic direction: Tavleen Singh
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/developement-nrega-leftist-socialist-kathua-lynchings-secular-fifth-column-lies-that-help-modi-5211174/
Caught on camera: Indian media outlets & paid news
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2018/06/caught-camera-indian-media-outlets-paid-news-180602112100172.html
Priyanka, ABC apologise for 'Quantico' plot but who will say sorry to Sharbari Ahmed?Rheea Mukherjee
https://thewire.in/media/priyanka-abc-apologise-for-quantico-plot-but-who-will-say-sorry-to-sharbari-ahmed

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:29 PM)

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