NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
05 July 2018:20 Shawwal 1439: Vol:10, No:59
INDIA
Centre asks States to check mob lynching fuelled by child-lifting rumours
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-asks-states-to-check-mob-lynching-fuelled-by-child-lifting-rumours/article24339134.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Centre today asked the States and Union Territories (UTs) to check incidents of mob lynching fuelled by rumours of child lifting on social media.More than 20 people have been killed over the last two months on suspicion of child lifting, the latest being the killing of five men in Maharashtra’s Dhule district.In an advisory, the Home Ministry has urged the States and UTs to “keep a watch for early detection of rumours of child lifting and initiate effective measures to counter them.”“Centre has asked the States and UTs to take measures to prevent incidents of mob lynching fuelled by rumours of child lifting circulating on social media,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said.States and UTs have been asked to direct district administrations to identify vulnerable areas and conduct community outreach programmes for creating awareness and building confidence. They have also been directed to properly investigate complaints of child abduction or kidnapping to instil confidence among the affected people. Two people were lynched in Tripura on June 28 and two in Assam last month on suspicion of child lifting.PTI
Media watchdog warns India against journalist killings, hate speech
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/media-watchdog-warns-india-against-journalist-killings-hate-speech/story-eYVaw13m4KNYqDDwjWJk3L.html
Media watchdog Reporters without Borders expressed alarm on Wednesday about India, with seven journalists killed in the past 18 months and a sharp rise in online abuse and harassment.“In 2017, the deaths of at least three journalists killed in connection with their work were recorded and a fourth case is still under investigation. In 2018, 4 journalists were killed in the country in the first six months,” RSF said.“In addition, there has been a sharp increase in online abuse and harassment, and in the self-censorship which looms over the environment in which journalists carry out their work in ‘the world’s largest democracy’.”RSF issued an “Incident Report”, an alert to warn about the deterioration of press freedom, first time organisation has done so for any country. It also warned India that it risked falling even further down its World Press Freedom Index from its current place of 138th out of 180.AFP
Fuelled by WhatsApp rumours, Dhule mob wanted to burn bodies of ‘child abductors’
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/furious-dhule-mob-wanted-to-burn-bodies-of-child-abductors-after-beating-them-to-death/story-pqH4MFa8YRc9ofxJLPgWOK.html
Rainpada :The mob, which beat 5 tribals to death on Sunday night on suspicion of child lifting, was not satisfied with their killing and wanted the bodies to be burnt on the spot, according to the police.The victims belonged to the nomadic Nath Gosavi community who move from place to place in Maharashtra in search of food and work.According to police officials and locals, victims were first attacked by a group of “highly inebriated” people in Kakar pada, a village adjoining Rainpada village, in Dhule district and were brought to Ranipada while being continuously thrashed along the 1-km stretch.The tribals had arrived last Saturday night and had planned to go to the police station on Sunday to register themselves.PTI
Sedition row: JNU panel upholds punishment for Umar Khalid, Kanhaiya
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sedition-row-jnu-panel-upholds-punishment-for-umar-khalid-kanhaiya-kumar-5246976/
New Delhi: JNU’s high-level inquiry committee has upheld the expulsion of Umar Khalid and also imposed fine of Rs 10,000 on Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with the campus event in Feb.2016 against Afzal Guru hanging.5-member panel took the decision in the backdrop of the protests that took place in JNU campus with students allegedly chanting anti-national slogans against Afzal Guru’s hanging.PTI quoted sources as saying that the panel has upheld its decision in the cases of Khalid and Kumar.Earlier in 2016, JNU panel had recommended the expulsion of Khalid and 2 other students along with the imposition of fine on Kumar, the then student’s union president. A financial penalty was also imposed on 13 other students for violating disciplinary norms.Following the imposition of penalty, the students had then approached Delhi HC, which had directed the varsity to place the matter before an appellate authority to review the panel’s decision.A source told PTI that “penalty has also been reduced for some students”.indianexpress
Bhopal: Kin of deceased ‘SIMI activists’ to move SC against probe report
http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-kin-of-deceased-simi-activists-to-move-sc-against-probe-report/1310450
Bhopal: The family members of 8 alleged SIMI activists, who were killed last year, has decided to move Supreme Court to contest the findings of the probe report on the police encounter. A single-member judicial commission, appointed to probe the encounter of the alleged SIMI activists after their escape from the highly-fortified Bhopal Central Jail on Oct. 31, 2016, had termed the police action justified. Abdul Majid, brother-in-law of Majid Nagori, who was among the jail inmates killed in encounter, has questioned the probe report. “The report says all the eight men, including my brother-in-law escaped from the jail by scaling the jail outer boundary wall with help of a ladder made from bed sheets and wooden pieces. How is it possible that such a ladder can be used by the jail inmates to escape, eve when there was no one on the other side of the wall to hold the ladder for them? ” asked Abdul.He further added that his brother-in-law (Nagori) was an electrician and was not arrested as claimed but he had surrendered before the police in 2014. “How can a man, who surrendered before the police, even dream of escaping from the jail, after murdering a killing guard,” he argued.“We are going to file case in Supreme Court against the encounter and the Commission report, very shortly,: said Abdul. Senior counsel Sajid Ali, who headed a battery of lawyers that represented the kin deceased men before the single member judicial commission, termed the report submitted during the recent monsoon session of MP Assembly as one sided. “We sought from the Commission, cross examination of witnesses which was not allowed. We wanted to be present in the jail and also at the alleged encounter site when the Commission visited the place, but it too didn’t happen. Report is nothing but a document supporting the version of the state govt,” said Ali.Mohammad Jaleel, son of one of the 8 escapees Aqeel Khilji, alleged that his father and the seven other men were killed in cold blood by the cops. He claimed that they had submitted audio-visual evidence before the Commission, including clips of conversation between cops during alleged encounter, but we failed to get justice.freepressjournal
Slain SIMI man's mom to be released from Odisha prison after 28 months as SC grants bail
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/jul/04/slain-simi-mans-mom-to-be-released-from-odisha-prison-after-28-months-1838278.html
Bhopal: A 60-year-old woman Najma Bi from Khandwa district of MP lodged in the Rourkela Special Jail in Odisha since last 28 months has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in a terror-related case and will soon be released from jail. Najma, a resident of communally sensitive Ganesh Talai locality of Khandwa town is the mother of Sheikh Mehboob alias Guddu, who was among 8 alleged activists of the banned SIMI who were gunned down by MP police in an alleged encounter. "The SC granted bail to Najma on July 2 and we expect her to be out of the jail in Rourkela soon," her counsel Mubin Akhtar said over the phone on Wednesday. 4 alleged SIMI men, including Sheikh Mehboob alias Guddu, Amjad, Zaqir and Mohd Saliq, besides Mehboob's mother Najma were arrested from a house in Rourkela town in a joint operation of Telangana and Odisha police in Feb.2016.3 of the arrested quintet, Mehboob, Amjad and Zaqir were among the 6 SIMI jailbirds who had escaped from the Khandwa Jail in 2013. Arrested quintet, including Najma were booked under various laws, including UAPA, Explosives Substance Act and also under IPC provisions, said Najma's counsel."Prior to moving the Supreme Court we had tried to get bail from the district and sessions court and the High Court in Odisha, but the courts denied bail to her. It was in Oct-Nov 2017 that we moved the bail plea in the SC and she was finally granted bail on July 2, 2018," he added. The team of lawyers was led by senior Supreme Court advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is also the founder of Human Rights Law Network."We argued for bail to Najma on multiple grounds, including questioning the tenability of the police and prosecutors accusations about 60-year-old women being a member of the banned student outfit and provoking her son and his aides to commit the offence. Also, she had no previous track record, unlike her son and his aides, who were accused in several terror-related cases and 2013 Khandwa jailbreak case. Further, we submitted that if an Odisha based insurance agent N Sahu who allegedly helped the alleged SIMI operatives in getting forged documents prepared in Rourkela, can be granted bail by the session court, then why is bail being denied to the elderly woman," said Akhtar. new indian express
Hurriyat leader daughters write to PM; say no charges proven against their father
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/jul/05/shahidul-islams-daughters-write-to-pm-say-no-charges-proven-against-their-father-1838452.html
Srinagar:2 minor daughters of moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Shahidul Islam, who is lodged in Tihar jail in connection with a hawala funding case, have written to PM Narendra Modi seeking his "personal intervention" in the case.Suzanne and Sundas described their father as a "pro-dialogue leader" and argued that no charges have been proven against him."Our father, a prominent political leader, is known for his pro-dialogue stance aimed at peaceful settlement of Kashmir, for which he was attacked twice by unknown gunmen, we never expected that peace-loving and moderate voices like him will be treated so shabbily in the world's largest democracy," the girls wrote in the letter which was released to media here today.The girls, studying at an elite school here, appealed to both India and Pakistan to stop ill-treating political detainees. "We the helpless daughters of a jailed and ailing man humbly appeal the governments of India and Pakistan to stop ill-treating the political detainees and their families as even criminals and their families have right to be treated humanely," they said.In the country where prime minister's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' slogan has rekindled hope among the hopeless disadvantaged girl child, we are unable to attend our studies, the sisters said."For us, our home is like a prison, while Daddy has been jailed for months, with none of the allegations levelled against him having been proved."We look forward to an immediate personal intervention by your good self," read the letter addressed to the prime minister.The girls said their recent meeting with Shahidul Islam in Tihar jail reminded them of a similar meeting between former Navy commander Kulbhushan Jadhav with his family in a Pakistani jail."Leave alone touching him, the glass wall was too thick to let our words reach him. One intercom in the poorly-ventilated room was the only means to converse. Our visit to Tihar Jail, reminded us of the union of Kulbhushan Jadhav with his aged mother and wife in a prison in Pakistan," they said in the letter.Shahidul Islam, spokesman of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, was arrested along with six others by NIA last year in connection with its probe into funding of terror and subversive activities in Kashmir Valley.PTI
NIA, IB train lens on PFI-SDPI links to Abhimanyu killing:newindianexpress
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/jul/05/nia-ib-train-lens-on-pfi-sdpi-links-to-abhimanyu-killing-1838333.html
KOCHI: Following SFI leader Abhimanyu’s dastardly murder allegedly by political adversaries at the Maharaja’s College here, the Central agencies, including NIA and IB, have launched a preliminary probe on the direct or indirect involvement of the PFI and SDPI in the incident. NIA has launched the probe since the majority of those convicted in the Palm Chopping Case who were associated with the SDPI and the PFI have been released after completing the sentence and by securing bail from the court. “Only K A Najeeb and M K Nazar accused in the Palm Chopping Case are currently in judicial custody. Najeeb has approached Kerala High Court seeking bail which will come up later this month. Since the police claim Abhimanyu’s assailants are PFI/SDPI/Campus Front members, we have started a preliminary inquiry into it,” sources said.
3 of 14 accused in Bengaluru blast case plead guilty
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/3-accused-in-bengaluru-stadium-bomb-blast-case-plead-guilty/story-U2F8kjQh1fo9CZ16Ua32uL.html
Bengaluru: 3 of the 14 accused in 2010 Chinnaswamy Stadium bomb blast case pleaded guilty on Wednesday before a special court in Bengaluru. The blast that left 15 people, including 5 security men, injured, occurred on April 17, 2010, during an IPL match. Gowhar Aziz Khomani, Kamaal Hasan and Mohammad Kafeel Akhtar -- filed the affidavit in the court pleading guilty after it rejected their plea-bargaining, advocate D S Sudhanva, who is assisting the prosecution, told PTI. The court, then, asked defence lawyer whether he had explained to the 3 accused the consequences of pleading guilty, Sudhanva said.He said the defence lawyer had explained the consequences.Further, the special judge trying cases under the UAPA, Siddalinga Prabhu called all the 3 accused separately to his chamber and asked whether they had taken the decision under duress.“It is unprecedented that a judge calls the accused persons facing terror charges and inquires with them personally whether they were doing so (pleading guilty) freely -- this is a special development of the day,” said Sudhanva.The case has been posted to July 9 for pronouncing the quantum of punishment.The 3 accused hail from Bihar and had migrated to Delhi.In all, there are 14 accused. Seven are in jail and some of them are at large.PTI
SIO demands strict action against extortionists active in colleges
http://www.uniindia.com/~/sio-demands-strict-action-against-extortionists-active-in-colleges/States/news/1279510.html
Kolkata: West Bengal wing of Students Islamic Organisation of India(SIO) on Wednesday demanded government action against those involved in extorting money from students for admission to various colleges in Kolkata."It is a matter of shame that syndicates have now made their way into educational institutes of West Bengal," said Imam Hossain, SIO's general secretary, West Bengal zone, addressing a press conference here."The police have to issue notices, alerting students and parents against the extortionists active in the colleges.These incidents have maligned our state's image and its culture of education," he added."We are not putting allegations against the government.UNI
Uttarakhand HC declares animals as legal entity with rights of ‘living person’
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/animal-kingdom-isn-t-property-has-rights-of-a-living-person-uttarakhand-hc/story-xKH5maDn53kaou4blnaxeP.html
The Uttarakhand high court has declared the entire animal kingdom, including birds and aquatic animals, as a legal entity having rights of a “living person”, a year after according similar right to Ganga and Yamuna that was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court.A division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Lok Pal Singh said that in the past, various courts have given similar rights to corporations, Hindu gods, holy scriptures and rivers and in order to ensure the greater good and that to ensure the “greater welfare” of animals they need to be conferred with the status of “legal entity/legal person”. They can’t be treated merely as “property”, the bench added. Uttarakhand’s acting chief wildlife warden, Rajeev Bhartari, said he cannot comment on the judgment till he examines it. Explaining what a legal entity means, the HC said, “The entity acts like a natural person but only through a designated person, whose acts are processed within the ambit of law”. This means animal kingdom could be represented by a custodian. Invoking Article 21 of the Constitution, the court said: “Article 21 of the Constitution, while safeguarding the rights of humans, protects life and the word ‘life’ means animal world”. The court cited a 2014 Supreme Court judgment to say any disturbance from the “basic environment which includes all forms of life, including animals life, which are necessary for human life, fall within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution”.HT
Arunachal’s indigenous faiths alarmed at BJP govt’s plan to repeal anti-conversion law
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/arunachal-pradesh/arunachal-pradesh-indigenous-faiths-alarmed-at-plan-to-repeal-anti-conversion-law-5246312/
Guwahati:Organisations representing people of indigenous faith in Arunachal Pradesh have expressed apprehension over the BJP-led state government’s move to repeal a 40-year-old anti-conversion law of the state. Addressing a ceremony organised by Arunachal Pradesh Catholic Association in Itanagar on June 28, CM Pema Khandu said they planned to repeal the law as “it could undermine secularism and is probably targeted towards Christians”. A press statement quoted him as saying, “CM assured that it (a Bill to repeal the law) would be brought before the next Assembly session… as it could be misused in future by irresponsible officials…Any misuse of the law leading to torture of people could trigger large-scale violence in the state and could break Arunachal into pieces.”The ceremony where Khandu said this had been organised to pay tributes to Brother Prem Bhai, a missionary who is said to have faced arrests, been fined and worn disguises to spread Christianity to the frontier state, on his 10th death anniversary. Christian bodies were quick to welcome Khandu’s announcement.Church and Christians often have dubbed it an “anti-Christian law”, but indigenous faith bodies say the legislation gives them a “safeguard”, which will be lost if it is repealed.The ruling BJP’s move to repeal the law is being seen as a bid to woo Christians ahead of the state elections due next year. Ironically, in several other states where it is in power, BJP govts have brought in anti-conversion measures of own.indian express
BJP a Party with Hindutva agenda: Revised NCERT textbook
https://www.news18.com/news/india/bjp-a-party-with-hindutva-agenda-claims-revised-ncert-textbook-1799553.html
Bhopal: While the NCERT had raised a few eyebrows recently for incorporating certain changes in the textbooks, its latest amendment has kicked off another row. This time the council terms BJP a party with ‘Hindutva agenda’.A section in the revised textbook for class XII, Swatantra Bharat mein Rajneeti (Politics in Independent India), claims that BJP began propagating the Hindutva agenda in 1980 after Jan Sangh disintegrated and was repackaged as the BJP.The book also mentions Godhra riots and subsequent communal flare up in Gujarat. Interestingly, NCERT had replaced the term ‘anti-Muslim riots’ to just ‘Gujarat riots’ in the Class XII political science textbooks in March this year.News18
3 killed in communal clash in MP's Panna
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/three-killed-in-communal-clash-in-mp-s-panna-118070401034_1.html
Bhopal:3 persons were killed and 1 was seriously injured in a clash between two communities in MP's Panna district on Wednesday, police said.In view of tension in the area, heavy police deployment has been made so as to prevent any further escalation of tension.The bloody clash, in which weapons were also used, took place in Tapriyan village reportedly over an old rivalry, according to a Police Control Room official. The situation is tense but under control, the police added.IANS
Mumbai BJP MP Gopal Shetty abuses Christians in vulgar language: IndiaScoops
http://scoops.indiascoops.com/bjp-mp-gopal-shetty-abuses-christians-in-vulgar-language-says-they-are-useless-when-christians-didnt-contribute-to-freedom-struggle-gaffe-pointed-out/
Mumbai:BJP MP Gopal Shetty went several steps further today to purposefully run down the Christian and Catholic community in Mumbai, when he used abusive and vulgar language and said ‘they are anyway useless’ to us (BJP).The incident occurred after Shetty in a public speech on Sunday had incorrectly claimed that Indian Christians did not contribute to the Freedom struggle and sided with the British. When the gaffe was pointed out to him the next day, and he was informed that the community is up in arms, with his speech video gone viral on Facebook, Shetty threw a fit. “Using vulgar and abusive language, he retorted: let them go screw themselves, ‘they (the Christian community) are anyway useless, and good for nothing, they don’t vote for us (BJP)’. This was revealed to IndiaScoops.com, by a source who was present near Shetty when this happened.IndiaScoops.com tried to contact Shetty’s office for comment, but nobody was willing to clarify or speak about the incident. Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh condemned (Read Here) the BJP MP’s statements, saying the MP is not aware of history, or is purposely trying to create discord among members of one community with such communally sensitive utterances. The Christian community has demanded an unconditional apology from Shetty.IndiaScoops.com
Assam's 'Muslim Homeland' video:India Today's Viral Test busts social media hoax
https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check/story/viral-test-assam-muslim-homeland-viral-video-1277756-2018-07-04
New Delhi:India Today's Viral Test has busted yet another social media hoax; this time a video that sought to fuel ethnic tensions in Assam. The north-eastern state is no stranger to protests over illegal immigration of Bangladeshi Muslims.A video of a protest that circulated on Facebook this month sought to turn the communities against one another with its sensation Hindi captions."Ab Assam mein Bangaldeshi Muslims ne alag Muslim desh banane ki maang ki," read Monday's post with the cell-phone footage showing a large group of Muslims in skull caps marching.The video was posted by a user identifying himself as Satish Dwivedi. On his Facebook page, Dwivedi declares himself a "Desh Sewak".But when India Today's Viral Test team examined the video, the truth appeared far from serving any national interest.In 3 days, the footage that claimed Bangladeshi Muslims in Assam rallied for a separate homeland has garnered almost 50,000 views and has been shared by over 2,500 users.Its narrative in Hindi was mischievously designed to create a stir among audiences in the Hindi heartland, the Viral Test team found.India Today
Rights lawyer says Arnab Goswami's channel made 'ridiculous, false' allegations
https://thewire.in/media/human-rights-lawyer-says-arnab-goswami-made-ridiculous-false-allegations-on-show
New Delhi: Human rights lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, who has appeared in several cases on alleged fake encounters of Adivasis in the Chhattisgarh high court and made representations to the National Human Rights Commission on behalf of many activists, has accused anchor and managing director of Republic TV Arnab Goswami of levelling “ridiculous, scurrilous, false and completely unsubstantiated allegations” against her in a programme, “Super Exclusive Breaking News”, telecast on his channel on July 4.Bharadwaj said in a public statement, Republic TV has “claimed that I have written a letter (identifying myself as “Comrade Advocate Sudha Bharadwaj”) to a Maoist – one “Comrade Prakash” – stating that a “Kashmir like situation” has to be created. I am also accused of having received money from Maoists. I am also said to have confirmed that various advocates, some of whom I know as excellent human rights lawyers and others whom I do not know at all, had some sort of Maoist link.”Categorically denying that the letter referred to by Goswami’s channel – if at all it existed – was ever written by her, Bharadwaj, who is also a visiting professor at National Law University, Delhi and national secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, said she refutes all the allegations and that Republic TV has defamed her and caused “professional and personal injury”.thewire
No, Minor Lucknow Girl Wasn’t Raped By Muslim Men Like in Mandsaur
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/fake-facebook-post-claims-two-muslim-raped-minor-lucknow-girl-like-mandsaur
A minor girl was reportedly gangraped and the incident filmed by the perpetrators in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. According to a report by News 18 Hindi, the alleged perpetrators were apprehended by the public and handed over to the police when they were trying to escape after the victim called out for help.On social media, the buzz is that the two accused in the incident are named Khalid and Irfan, and that they have been arrested. "After Mandsaur, minor girl raped in Lucknow. Accused Khalid and Irfan arrested… they also made a video", says the message which is accompanied by a photograph of the alleged perpetrator and victim.The reference is indirect but unmistakable – the attempt is to portray this crime as perpetrated by men of the minority community. Mandsaur is also mentioned in this message, alluding to the ghastly crime against a 7-year-old in June 2018 by accused Irfan and Asif.The post is lengthy, and searching the text took us to a website News Yojana, which claims to be a news website. It is from here that the entire text was lifted and posted on Facebook where it is now spreading as individual users are posting it.The ‘news report’ by News Yojana is a complete fabrication. There is not a shred of truth in the claims floating on social media.The claim that the two accused in the case are Khalid and Irfan is a lie.One India has quoted SSP Lucknow, Deepak Kumar, who stated that the two accused in the case are Bhola Chandrakar and Kushmesh Kanaujiya. He added that the perpetrators will be booked under the POCSO act and the victim has been sent for medical examination. According to reports, the accused Chandrakar hails from Chhattisgarh while Kanaujiya is from Sitapur district in UP. The duo was caught while trying to escape after the victim raised an alarm. Photographs circulating along with this message show an elderly man and a young girl who is seen covering her face with her hands. Alt News reverse searched these images on Google and found that neither of photographs is recent.thequint
Kerala announces reservation for transgender students in colleges
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/kerala-announces-reservation-for-transgender-students-in-colleges/story-qHixW6XIPTEXuXkCrrv45K.html
The first state to announce a transgender policy, Kerala, has taken another step to include transgender persons in the mainstream by announcing reservation for students pursuing degrees in Arts and Sciences.The govt has directed all state and affiliated universities to reserve 2 seats for transgender students in undergraduate and post graduate courses subject to fulfilment of qualification.It has also directed these institutions to ensure that transgender students are not discriminated against in any manner.An order issued by the department of higher education stated, “Due to social issues and pressure these students are often forced to discontinue their studies.”HT
Emirates does a U-turn, decides to continue serving Hindu meal citing customer feedback
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/emirates-does-a-u-turn-decides-to-continue-serving-hindu-meal-citing-customer-feedback/story-rzFvxJfB2z9xbYtwNHCNEK.html
In a U-turn, Gulf carrier Emirates on Wednesday scrapped its decision to discontinue ‘Hindu meal’ on its flights citing customer feedback.The move comes a day after the airline announced that it would stop serving ‘Hindu meal’ and that Hindu customers can choose from a variety of regionally-inspired vegetarian and special meals.Emirates is the single largest foreign carrier operating in India in terms of flights.PTI
Imran Khan blames Modi Govt’s “aggressive” posture for Indo-Pak stalemate
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/modi-govts-aggressive-posture-responsible-for-indo-pak-stalemate-says-imran-khan
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has said that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif tried to improve the Indo-Pak relations but the "aggressive anti-Pakistan posture" of the Indian government resulted in the current stalemate between the two neighbours.Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief, whose party appears to be gaining ground ahead of the July 25 elections, also said that the key to the Prime Minister House lies in understanding the country's complex political realities."Sharif tried his best (to mend relations with India)," Khan told Dawn paper."Sharif tried everything, even personal (gestures) like calling him (Narendra Modi) over to his house. No one got in his way. But I think it is the policy of the Narendra Modi government to try and isolate Pakistan. They have a very aggressive anti-Pakistan posture...What can one do in the face of this attitude?" the 65-year-old leader added.Prime Minister Modi visited Pakistan in Dec.2015 but the terror attacks by Pakistan-based militants in Pathankot in Jan.2016 and then in Uri in September strained the ties between the 2 countries.Commenting on military's influence in Pakistan's foreign policy, Khan said, "The army will get involved where there are security situations. If you look at the US policy in Afghanistan, a lot of the US-Afghan policy was influenced by Pentagon. Even when (President) Barack Obama did not want to continue the war in Afghanistan, he did it because he was convinced by Pentagon." Pakistan's powerful military has always played a crucial role in the country's politics. The army has ruled Pakistan for more than 33 years of the country's 70-year history.PTI
WORLD
Egypt top court removes over 1500 people from terror list including ex-President Morsi: Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/egypt-top-appeals-court-overturns-terror-list-ruling-morsi-180704171711654.html
The court annuls verdict that placed more than 1,500 people on national terror list, including ex-footballer Aboutrika.Egypt's top appeals court has overturned a verdict that placed more than 1,500 people on a national terror list, including the country's former democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, who was deposed in 2013.The Court of Cassation returned the case back to a lower court for reconsideration, local media reported on Wednesday.The latest move was in response to a number of appeal cases filed by defendants, many of whom belong to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood organisation.Among those who appealed is retired football star Mohamed Aboutrika, who was first placed on the list last year and was accused of funding the organisation - an allegation he denied.Under an anti-terrorism law passed in 2015 and heavily criticised by international human rights groups, any person who had been placed on a "terror list" was subject to a travel ban and faced having their passports and assets frozen for 3 years. Muslim Brotherhood had been banned following Morsi's overthrow in July 2013 in a coup led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi - who became the country's president a year later. Sisi was re-elected as president in March this year.It is unclear at this stage whether the Brotherhood as an organisation has been removed from the terror list, or whether the latest move only pertained to these individuals.Dalia Fahmy, a professor of political science at Long Island University in New York, said these "sweeping decision" are highly political in nature. "Technically, they mean very little," she said."These political prisoners will remain in prison without any legal recourse, while Sisi and his repressive administration are trying to score points on the international scene answering to accusations on human rights violations."The court did not end the issue, rather, it referred it to another lower court, which is why the decision cannot be examined through the "lens of the law", she noted.
Egypt court upholds police officers’ right to have beards
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180704-egypt-court-upholds-police-officers-right-to-have-beards/
An Egyptian court has upheld the right of police officers to wear beards, siding with several men who were fired for contravening the police force’s dress code, according to the Egypt Independent. The verdict, issued by Vice President of Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court, Mohamed Maher Abu Al-Enein, suspends a previous decree issued from Egypt’s Interior Ministry, which states that officers are to be fired if they keep their beards.The court had previously issued the same verdict over the 2013 case when the police force attempted to retire several officers for growing beards and rejected the interior ministry’s attempt to transfer officers to reserves, stressing that such a move was not legal. Ministry appealed against the decision, prompting their most recent loss in court.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns attack in Afghanistan, targeting Sikhs
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has strongly condemned the attack on a group of Afghan Sikhs in which at least 20 people were killed on Sunday.In a press release issued over the incident, the JIH Secretary General Muhammad Salim Engineer said: "We strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly attack in Jalalabad today which resulted in the death of 20 innocent Afghans, including 10 members of the Afghan Sikh community, and injured more than 20 persons. We convey heart-felt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for early recovery of the injured. The Sikh community of Afghanistan has played a significant role in the development of the country and this attack is meant to create divisions in Afghan society and frighten the Sikhs to leave the country. It is highly regrettable that Afghanistan has now become symbolic of the international political and diplomatic failure of the UN, the US and European Union to broker peace and stability in Afghanistan. We urge the government of Afghanistan to ensure the safety and security of its citizens especially the Sikh community.We urge UN and the international community to make serious efforts for establishing justice and permanent peace in Afghanistan and uphold the dignity and sovereignty of the Afghan people.’’ Newsdigestdaily.in
Israeli forces assault Palestinians, prepare to demolish village
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/israeli-forces-assault-palestinians-prepare-demolish-village-180704141245982.html
Israeli forces have assaulted dozens of Palestinians protesting the demolition of a Bedouin village near occupied East Jerusalem and the forcible transfer of the entire community. According to Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 35 Palestinians were wounded, including four who were hospitalised, during the events which took place on Wednesday at the Khan al-Ahmar village.Videos taken by witnesses and circulated online showed Israeli forces beating and attempting to arrest men, women and children. In one video, Israeli forces were seen violently dragging a Palestinian woman on the ground and pulling off her headscarf. Israeli forces arrived to the scene with heavy equipment and at least one bulldozer early on Wednesday, after a long legal battle between the community's close to 180 residents and the Israeli Supreme Court.Khan al-Ahmar falls in Area C of the occupied West Bank - under total Israeli administrative and military control.While the Israeli court has sanctioned the demolition of the village because it was built without the necessary construction permit, Israeli authorities rarely, if ever, approve construction permits in Area C due to the expansion of illegal Jewish-only Israeli housing settlements there. Aljazeera
‘Unexplained’ killings of community leaders sow fear inside Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/unexplained-killings-of-community-leaders-sow-fear-inside-rohingya-refugee-camps-in-bangladesh/story-8wuj4c3HcHIPGLqOBJRKUJ.html
Cox's Bazar/Dhaka:Bangladesh is deploying thousands of extra police to Rohingya refugee camps in the south, officials said, after a series of mostly unexplained killings that have sown fear among hundreds of thousands of people who have fled from neighbouring Myanmar.Since August, when a military crackdown in Myanmar forced many of the Muslim minority to cross the border into Bangladesh and seek shelter in the crowded camps, 19 people, some of them community leaders, have been killed.Police have made a number of arrests in connection with some of the killings, but say the motives often remain unclear.Conducted after dark and often by groups of men wielding pistols, knives, and sticks, the killings have sent a chill through the camps, which are guarded by the Bangladesh army during the day but manned by fewer police officers at night.AKM Iqbal Hossain, police superintendent of the coastal town of Cox’s Bazar under whose jurisdiction the camps fall, said a special force of roughly 2,400 men is being formed to guard the refugees.The latest killing, of 35-year-old Arifullah, took place last month on a busy road outside the Balukhali camp, where he had been appointed a leader of thousands of refugees.Reuters
Syria bombardment resumes after ceasefire deal breaks down: aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/syria-bombardment-resumes-ceasefire-deal-breaks-180705085544010.html
Syrian government and its closest military ally - Russia - have intensified their bombing campaign in the southern province of Deraa, after ceasefire deal between rebels and Russians broke down on Wednesday.Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, from Beirut, said that had airstrikes intensified on Thursday as government troops advanced steadily to recapture lost territory."The relative lull in the fighting has now been shattered following the collapse of peace talks. Syrian government and Russian planes have been targeting a number of rebel-held towns in the province," Khodr said."Dozens of airstrikes were reported by activists, mainly targeting the towns of Tafas in the western countryside of Deraa and in eastern countryside of Saida."
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
New Embers Stoked: Will AMU Be A Flashpoint in BJP Strategy For 2019?Tariq Hasan
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/14298/New-Embers-Stoked-Will-AMU-Be-A-Flashpoint-in-BJP-Strategy-For-2019
Sharp Attack by Human Rights Lawyer on Republic TV for “program of scurrilous, false allegations:Sudha Bharadwaj
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/14295/Sharp-Attack-by-Human-Rights-Lawyer-on-Republic-TV-For-Program-of--Scurrilous-False-Allegations-
Worst Aspect of India’s Internet Shutdowns Is the Official Secrecy About It:Apar Gupta
https://thewire.in/tech/secrecy-abounds-the-creation-of-of-indias-internet-shutdown-law-why
CM, Here's Why AMU and Jamia Cannot Follow the Same Reservation Norms as BHU:Wajahat M. Jilani
https://thewire.in/education/mr-chief-minister-heres-why-amu-and-jamia-cannot-follow-the-same-reservation-norms-as-bhu
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:21 PM)
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