NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
19 Sept. 2018: 08 Muhram 1440: Vol: 11, No:07
INDIA
Triple talaq to be a crime now with 3-yr jail term as Union Cabinet approves it via Ordinance route
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/union-cabinet-approves-ordinance-on-triple-talaq-5364235/
Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, Wednesday approved an ordinance making instant triple talaq a punishable offence with a three-year jail term. The move comes after the Govt failed to push the triple talaq bill or — The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 — in Rajya Sabha during the recent monsoon session owing to lack of consensus among political parties in House.Under the Ordinance, the crime will be recognised only when the woman herself or her blood relative files a complaint. Second, the case may be dropped if the duo reaches a compromise, but only if the wife approaches the magistrate. Third, the magistrate can grant the accused bail, on reasonable grounds, but only after hearing the wife. The wife will be given custody of the child and is entitled to maintenance — decided by the magistrate — for herself and her children.Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said there was a “compelling necessity and an overpowering urgency” to approve the Ordinance.“I have said this before, the issue of triple talaq has nothing to do with faith, mode of worship or religion. It is a pure issue of gender justice, gender dignity and gender equality,” he said. Targeting the Congress for the delay in passing the Bill, Shankar said he approached the party 5-6 times, but it did not respond. “Such a barbaric inhuman, triple talaq curse was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law because of ambiguity and vacillation of Congress party for pure vote bank politics.” Prasad said, "under other provisions of the ordinance, the mother or the victim wife must get the custody of the minor child and the mother is entitled to a maintenance suitably determined by the magistrate for herself and the child. Giving details of the ordinance, RS Prasad said “the core component of this Ordinance is that an offence will be cognizable only when the FIR is filed by the victim wife or her close relations by blood or marriage”. On the last day of the monsoon session, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu had deferred the Bill till the Winter Session, citing the lack of “consensus” in the House. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha last Dec.The triple talaq bill aims to ‘set aside’ the centuries-old practice of instant divorce or talaq-e-biddat by men.It provides for 3 years imprisonment and a fine for divorcing a woman by uttering “talaq” 3 times in quick succession. In August, the Cabinet approved inclusion of a provision to allow the magistrate to grant bail to men accused of giving instant triple talaq to their wives.indian express /HT
Triple talaq to be criminal offence, Centre clears executive order
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cabinet-clears-ordinance-making-instant-triple-talaq-an-offence/story-693doyste1wsCVcK1WmrPJ.html
Triple talaq ordinance: Petitioner Ishrat welcomes decision
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/triple-talaq-ordinance-updates-modi-Govt -making-this-into-political-issue-says-congress/story-oIfehg2Nymtb8XGhdacoWL.html
Triple talaq Ordinance passed: What are provisions?
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/triple-talaq-ordinance-passed-what-are-the-provisions-5364326/
1. Triple talaq remains cognizable with a maximum of three years imprisonment and a fine.2. Triple talaq will be recognised as a crime only when a woman or her blood relative files a complaint with the police.3. A compromise can be achieved only when the woman is willing and says so to a magistrate. A magistrate can grant bail only after the wife’s consent.4. The custody of children from the marriage will go to the woman.5. The mother is entitled to maintenance determined by a magistrate.6. The law doesn’t affect J&K .indianexpress
Owaisi calls triple talaq ordinance ‘unconstitutional’
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/asaduddin-owaisi-calls-triple-talaq-ordinance-unconstitutional-1502686575.html
New Delhi :AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi protested the passing of an ordinance by BJP-led NDA Govt at the Centre today calling it “unconstitutional”. Owaisi, a Lok Sabha MP from Telangana’s Hyderabad, said that All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and women organisations should challenge the ordinance in the Supreme Court.“This ordinance is against the Muslim women. This ordinance will not provide justice to the Muslim women,” Owaisi was quoted as saying by ANI.“In Islam, marriage is a civil contract and bringing penal provisions in it is wrong,” said Owaisi.Alleging that the Ordinance is being made only for Muslims, Owaisi said,“This Ordinance is unconstitutional. Ordinance is against the Constitution’s right to equality as it is being made only for Muslims. All India Muslim Personal Law Board and women organisations should challenge this ordinance in the SC.”thestatesman
Ordinance against Muslim women:Owaisi
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/triple-talaq-ordinance-updates-modi-Govt -making-this-into-political-issue-says-congress/story-oIfehg2Nymtb8XGhdacoWL.html
This step is only to target Muslim men:Flavia Agnes, Women's Rights Activist
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/india-triple-talaq-instant-divorce-criminal-offence-180919073349658.html
Flavia Agnes, a women's rights lawyer based in New Delhi, said the Govt 's move "makes no sense"."This is a bad decision. They could not pass it in parliament, now they have brought an executive order. The Supreme Court has already said it is invalid. So if something is invalid already, how can it be a crime?" Agnes asked. "The effect on women of instant triple talaq and desertion of wives is the same. So many men, Hindus and Muslims, desert their wives, that should also be criminalised. Why are you not doing anything about that? This step is only to target Muslim men," she added. Agnes said the debate around instant divorce might risk normalising far-right rhetoric of India's ruling party by demonising the Muslim community.aljazeera
Modi Govt treating triple talaq issue like a 'political football': Congress
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/politics/modi-Govt -treating-triple-talaq-issue-like-a-political-football-congress-2966581.html
Congress accused Modi Govt of treating the issue of instant triple talaq "more as a political football than a matter of justice to Muslim women". Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Govt has not acceded to the Congress request for making a provision for attaching the property of those not providing compensation to the affected women and children after giving them divorce.He said instant triple talaq was "an illegal, unconstitutional and inhuman practice" that was quashed by the Supreme Court. After the Supreme Court quashed the practice, it has become a law."For us, triple talaq has always been a human issue related to women rights and extending justice to them," he said, adding that this is the reason why Congress leaders and lawyers such as Salman Khurshid and Manish Tiwari represented the affected women before the SC.PTI
Assam NRC: SC allows 40 lakh excluded people to file claims
http://caravandaily.com/portal/assam-nrc-sc-allows-40-lakh-excluded-people-to-file-claims/
New Delhi :The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed around 40 lakh people who were excluded from the final draft of NRC (National Register of Citizens) to file claims. They will have to submit documents already cleared by Assam NRC coordinator.The process for filing claims will start on 25th September and will remain open for 60 days.The second and final draft of NRC was made public on 30th July. The draft list had names of only 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore who had applied for inclusion in the citizens’ register. In effect, more than 40 lakh people were left out, most of them are said to be Bengali-speaking people.caravandaily
NRC: Tribunal questions process of identifying foreigners
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nrc-tribunal-questions-process-of-identifying-foreigners/article24980471.ece?homepage=true
Guwahati: An order by a Foreigners’ Tribunal in central Assam’s Morigaon district has questioned the process of identifying foreigners and ‘D’ (or doubtful voters) who have been struck off the updated National Register of Citizens.Gautam Soren, member of Foreigners Tribunal 3 (FT3) in Morigaon, highlighted “unfair practices” in the process in his Aug.27 order while dismissing a case against Amina Khatun and 3 others (termed opposite parties or OPs) of the district’s Madhya Kalikajari village. He observed that foreigners’ cases “at this juncture have assumed the form of an industry as each and every person involved” with such cases have been “trying to mint money by any means”.FT3 is 1 of 100 Foreigners’ Tribunals functioning in Assam for the process of detecting and deporting illegal migrants. A tribunal member is a judge or an advocate with at least 10 years of practice.Soren’s order said the case against OPs was filed ex-parte – meaning one of the parties involved was not present or not represented – in Nov.2017 because of “wrong report” by the process server, usually a member of Assam Police’s Border Organisation attached to police station concerned. Border Organisation was set up in 1962 under Prevention of Infiltration of Pakistani (PIP) scheme.The order pointed out that the pre-case notice to the OPs was reportedly hung on an electric pole though the “entire village did not have any electricity”. It also rebuked Durllav Chandra Bora, gaonburah or headman of Kalikajari area, for signing the “wrong report” before it was even prepared, and senior lawyer Najrul Talukdar for voluntarily trying to “support the irregularities of the gaonburah and the process server”.Soren’s order observed that the gaonburah knew all the OPs but, as per norm, did not accompany process server Deepak K. Patar for serving the notice, as has been the case for “two and a half years”.The order referred to similar summons to people to appear for hearing being put up at waiting sheds, on trees or electric poles despite “this Tribunal innumerable times in various foreigners’ cases directing all these persons” not to do so. Likening the foreigners’ cases to a lucrative “industry”, Soren said the village heads in connivance with the process server “try to get cases proceeded ex-parte for some extraneous consideration”. He also advised filing of specific damage suits by OPs against those responsible for their ordeal.thehindu
D-Voter:Assam Jamiat slams govt for harassing people
https://nenow.in/north-east-news/d-voter-assam-state-jamiat-ulama-slams-govt-harassing-people.html
Guwahati :Assam State Jamiat Ulama (ASJU) slammed BJP-led Govt for ‘harassing’ the people in the name of D-voter (doubtful voter) to update the NRC.ASJU demanded that hearings of D-voter cases should be held at the Foreigner’s Tribunal in the respective districts of the persons against whom summons have been issued. ASJU general secretary Dr Hafiz Rafiqul Islam said, “A large number of poor people appearing before the foreigner’s tribunals have to face severe economic problems as they have to travel a long distance to fight the cases. This has become painstaking for a person from Barpeta to appear before the foreigner’s tribunal in Karimganj or Guwahati or somewhere else.”While citing an example of one Moinul Haque of Karimganj district, Islam said, “Haque had to travel from Karimganj to Guwahati for hearings on D-voter case. The court did not allow the case to be transferred to Karimganj though he applied before the authority concerned.”Islam also informed that the case of Moinul Haque is in the Supreme Court now.Northeast Now
JUH drive for voter I-cards to guard against NRC-like fiasco
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/juh-drive-for-voter-i-cards-to-guard-against-nrc-like-fiasco/articleshow/65862769.cms
In what is being termed to be an attempt to guard against Assam’s NRC-like episode elsewhere in the country, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) — the 99-year-old body of clerics — has started a nationwide drive appealing to Muslims to get their voter ID cards ready. Pamphlets have been distributed in mosques reading “considering the current political state of affairs in the country, it is imperative to ensure that each one has a proper voter ID.” Imams of all mosques have been asked to read out the message after Friday prayers for which a large number of persons congregate.TOI
If Muslims are unwanted, then there is no Hindutva: Mohan Bhagwat at RSS event
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/if-muslims-are-unwanted-then-there-is-no-hindutva-mohan-bhagwat-at-rss-event-5363529/
New Delhi;Recalling the words of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College which became the Aligarh Muslim University, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Tuesday nuanced the Sangh line of every Indian being a Hindu, saying “Hindu Rashtra does not mean it has no place for Muslims. The day it is said that Muslims are unwanted here, the concept of Hindutva will cease to exist”.Speaking on the second day of a 3-day RSS lecture series event in New Delhi, Bhagwat said he will “respect” the sentiments of those who wish to be called “Bharatiya” and not Hindu.He recalled Syed Ahmad Khan’s speech at a function organised by the Arya Samaj community to felicitate him for becoming “the first Muslim barrister”. He said Khan told the gathering “Mujhe bada dukh hua ki aapne humko apne me nahin shumaar kiya… kya hum Bharat Mata ke putra nahin hain?… arre itihaas mein badal gayi hamari puja ki padyati, aur kya badla hai? (I am very upset that you did not consider me one of your own. Am I not a son of Mother India? Nothing has changed except our ways of worship).”Bhagwat said that this was the sentiment among people of undivided India until 1881 before it disappeared over time. “Usko wapas lana padega… usko aap, hum jaisa kehte We need to return that. If you do not want to call that Hindu, as we do, call it Bharatiya. We will respect what you say,” he said.“Hum kehte hain ki hamara Hindu Rashtra hai. Hindu Rashtra hai iska matlab isme Musalman nahin chahiye aisa bilkul nahin hai… jis din yeh kaha jayega ki yahan Musalman nahin chahiye… uss din woh Hindutva nahi rahega. Woh toh vishwa-kutumb ki baat karta hai (We say ours is a Hindu Rashtra. Hindu Rashtra does not mean it has no place for Muslims. The day it is said that Muslims are unwanted here, the concept of Hindutva will cease to exist. Hindutva believes that the world is a family),” he said.“The image of Bharat is that we accept and welcome diversity… global dharma was nurtured here. Bharat is the trustee of all this knowledge, and has given it to the world from time to time,” he said.In another remark directed at RSS critics who fear that the Sangh and its affiliates are out to rewrite the Indian Constitution, Bhagwat said they believe the “Indian Constitution is the consensus of the country” and RSS is committed to Constitutional provisions.“We respect all symbols of freedom, and the Constitution is also one such symbol.” He read out the Preamble to underline RSS’s commitment to the Constitution despite the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ being included later. Maintaining that the Sangh keeps distance from politics — without naming the BJP, he said RSS does not dictate a party’s politics or the policies of its Govt — Bhagwat said it pushes for what it believes are in the interest of the country. indianexpress
Muslims are inherent part of 'Hindu Rashtra', Constitution is supreme: RSS chief
http://www.uniindia.com/news/india/muslims-are-inherent-part-of-hindu-rashtra-constitution-is-supreme-rss-chief/1354695.html
Rejecting Muslims will kill essence of Hinduism:RSS
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/india/rejecting-muslims-will-kill-the-essence-of-hinduism--bhagwat.html
ISRO spy case: Former scientist K Chandrasekhar dies before verdict he wanted
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/isro-spy-case-former-scientist-k-chandrasekhar-dies-nambi-narayanan-5363690/
Bengaluru :It was a verdict he had been longing for with anguish after nearly two and half decades of wait in the ISRO espionage case. But it was not to be. Former space scientist K Chandrasekhar slipped into coma hours before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement on Friday, dismissing the espionage case as a frame-up.In its verdict, the apex court held that former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan was “arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty” in a 1994 espionage case.It also awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case, in which Chandrasekhar was also one of the six accused but was exonerated along with others in 1998. Even as much-waited ruling came at 11am, Chandrasekhar’s final journey from the world had begun.PTI
Forces within JNU waging war against India, seen with students’ union: Nirmala Sitharaman
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nirmala-sitharaman-jnu-5363318/
New Delhi : 2 days after the Left Unity panel swept the JNU students’ union elections, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday alleged that there were forces within campus “waging a war against India”, and they were “also seen with elected representatives of the institution’s students’ union”.Sitharaman, an alumnus of the university, said during an interaction with journalists at he Indian Women’s Press Corps that she felt “sad at many things happening” in the university in the last few years. “The kind of things happening in last few years have not been encouraging at all. It is very different to have a party, whose ideology I may not agree (with), but the way in which they have probably got led by forces which are anti-India — when I say anti-India, definitely it is a stated position they are waging a war against India in their pamphlets and their brochures…,” she said. “Such people leading the JNUSU or JNUSU members openly participating with such programmes… you don’t need to hesitate to say anti-India led them,” she said. “There are forces which are waging a war against India and it is they who are also seen with elected representatives of the students’ union. That makes me feel uneasy,” she said.indianexpress
JNU student chief hits out at Sitharaman over her ‘waging a war’ comment
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jnu-student-president-hits-out-at-sitharaman-over-her-waging-a-war-remark/story-NUrcdJV3bmjxX1ohDTKiaM.html
JNU students’ union president N Sai Balaji hit out at defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her statement alleging there are forces in the varsity which are “waging a war” against India and said she herself has not answered questions on Rafale deal.JNUSU chief attacked Govt,saying “Govt wants the country to talk about the national versus anti-national debate. They want to divert attention from the real issues - Rafale deal, Jio university, unemployment.”Sitharaman, who herself, is a product of JNU, has not answered questions “why Ambani was helped in the Rafale deal”. “They want to end public-funded education and encourage corporatisation while the common man talks about nationalism and anti-national elements,”he added.HT
Article 35A is off limits, don’t play with it:Mehbooba
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/article-35a-is-off-limits-don-t-play-with-it-says-former-jammu-and-kashmir-cm-mehbooba-mufti/story-frQNgUDfZWiYEpBqXH2ZEM.html
Srinagar: 3 months after the BJP ended its power-sharing alliance with the PDP in J&K, ex CM Mehbooba Mufti, 59, is picking up the lost threads. Facing the twin challenge of reaching out to the people of the state while keeping her flock together, she seems to have regained some of her political intuitiveness by swiftly making common cause with arch-rival NC on boycotting local elections over Article 35A, which guarantees special rights to people of the state. She spoke to HT, about the alliance, special provisions for the state, the local body elections, and the way forward for the state. She said, "As a party, we are part and parcel of the democratic process. Holding local elections has been under consideration for a while. Early this year, I, as CM , held an all-party meeting in which the consensus was that the situation was not conducive for such an exercise. Modi ji had also desired these elections. Now, with the state under Central rule, I wish the governor had called an all-party meeting and built a consensus. Unfortunately, the elections got linked with Article 35A, which is under challenge in the Supreme Court. Both the solicitor general and the state’s legal representative sought the case’s deferment, citing local elections in 2 months. Already, there was fear and suspicion among people that there is something up the Centre’s sleeve on Article 35A. Linking it with the elections further vitiated the atmosphere. When people are disturbed and pre-occupied with the fate of a crucial constitutional provision, how can we go and ask them to vote?" She continued, "Kashmir aligned with India under certain conditions.Article 35A is part and parcel of this relationship. Why should somebody challenge it in court? Centre should pass a direction that this (Article 35A) is off limits. Why should this sword dangle over our heads all the time? It appears as if they are trying to scare Kashmiris. This doesn’t help. It has backfired. Article 35A has brought everybody on same platform. That includes people in Jammu, who realise that if this provision goes, outsiders will take away their jobs, ration and land.Our state has deep emotional ties with Article 370, which gives residents special rights. You can’t fiddle with it. New Delhi says Kashmir is a settled issue; so is Article 370. If you open this, it will open many more things." "There are certain issues where you can’t compromise.Article 35A is one such issue. Our message to the Centre is loud and clear: Keep your hands off. This is off-limits; don’t play with this, Mufti added. HT
As Local Body Polls Proceed, Minorities in Kashmir Speak up in Favour of Article 35A
https://thewire.in/rights/local-body-polls-boycott-minorities-kashmir-article-35a
Srinagar: As the BJP-led Centre and J&K ’s regional political parties spar over the recent call to boycott local body elections in the state, religious minorities in the Valley have amplified their voices against the possible scrapping of Article 35A.Though the Valley is home to a number of ethnic and religious groups, leaders and spokespersons of prominent religious minorities that include Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs and Christians, with whom The Wire spoke, appear to be determined to support Article 35A – a constitutional provision given to J&K that allows the assembly to define the ‘permanent residents’ of State.Jagmohan Singh Raina, the chairman of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee.“We are Kashmiris, not Punjabis,” said 63-year-old Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), an organisation that represents nine socio-religious Sikh groups in Kashmir. The total population of the Sikh community in the Valley is around 80,000 and Raina is the point person of the community, which is spread across Kashmir.In fact, the APSCC was among the first organisation that represents religious minorities in J&K to take the streets to protest what Raina termed as an effort to change Kashmir’s demography. However, the organisation has taken upon itself to make locals aware of the ramifications and fallout resulting from the scrapping of Article 35A.thewire
J&K: On 1st day, only 4 nomination forms issued, none submitted
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-on-first-day-only-four-nomination-forms-issued-none-submitted-5363584/
Srinagar:On the first day of submission of nomination forms for the municipal polls in J&K, only 4 nomination forms were issued by the elections offices across valley while no one submitted his nomination form, election officials said on Tuesday. While most of the valley drew blank on the first day, the four nomination forms were issued in Bandipore.For most of the day, the officials at District Election Offices were waiting for the candidates to receive and submit their nomination forms. But no one turned up except at Bandipore, where nomination forms were issued to four candidates. “We have issued four forms today but no one has submitted his nomination form on the first day,”Deputy Commissioner Bandipore Shahid Choudhary told The Indian Express. The polls for the Bandipore Municipal Committee – comprising 43 wards – are slated for October 8. The last date for submitting nomination is September 25.On Tuesday, the Govt issued notification for 13 municipal committees, a municipal council and parts of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).indianexpress
India at UN: ‘World doesn’t need lessons on democracy, human rights from Pakistan’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-at-un-world-doesnt-need-lessons-on-democracy-human-rights-from-pakistan/
New Delhi: India said it was ironic that Pakistan, a country founded on religious fundamentalism, spoke of communal disharmony and religious intolerance. India was exercising its right of reply after Pakistan raised the UN report on Kashmir in the Human Rights Council.“The world does not need lessons on democracy and human rights from Pakistan which has not enjoyed any true democracy since its existence,” First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva Mini Devi Kumar said. “The real problem in J&K is cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.”indianexpress
Modi holds talks with Afghan President Ghani
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/prime-minister-narendra-modi-holds-talks-with-afghan-president-ashraf-ghani/articleshow/65869681.cms
New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on ways to further boost bilateral cooperation.Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit."Strategic partners and a valued neighbour! PM @narendramodi warmly received President of Afghanistan, @ashrafghani at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. PTI
Afghanistan going through tough period, hope for India’s help with helicopters: Envoy
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afghanistan-going-through-tough-period-hope-for-indias-help-with-helicopters-envoy/article24980481.ece
New Delhi : Afghanistan is seeking India’s support for its peace process, as well as for military hardware like helicopters, says Ambassador to India Dr. Shaida Abdali, ahead of President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Delhi and talks with PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday.Dr. Shaida said, "Afghanistan and India are strategic partners and according to the SPA, there is a particular clause on regular strategic consultations between the 2 countries. Afghanistan is currently facing a very critical time in all respects, and we certainly need to sit down with all our friends and strategic partners like India to discuss how to deal with terrorism and security issues that ultimately affect all of us. This is a day-long visit, but we expect it to be productive." He further said, "later this year we hope to hold the Strategic Partnership Council meeting (headed by the Foreign Ministers) in Kabul to discuss the progress made and decisions taken by both countries. With regard to defence and security, we understand India’s limits in terms of what it can do to help Afghan security forces. But we have received defence equipment and have asked for more. We have recently signed a MoU that aims to deliver another four helicopters to Afghanistan, and we hope they will come to us in the near future, procured by India from Belarus. Currently Afghanistan is transitioning from Soviet-era equipment to NATO-system of equipment and for the short term of transition, as we wait for about 200 U.S. made helicopters including Apaches that we will get by 2022, we need India’s help to fill the gap. Our technical and security teams have been meeting and I am optimistic that more will happen as Indian security teams assess Afghanistan’s needs."thehindu
Election Commission panel justifies EVMs in SC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/election-commission-panel-vouches-for-evms-in-supreme-court-5363562/
New Delhi:The Election Commission of India has vouched for the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the Supreme Court, citing the experience with Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).The Commission also justified its decision to release only the ‘image PDF’ of the electoral roll in public domain, saying this was to protect the privacy of the voter.In a counter-affidavit filed in the apex court, the Commission said that VVPAT experiments since Sept. 2017 in 843 Assembly constituencies in various states had established that there were no glitches in their functioning. The counter-affidavit filed through its counsel Amit Sharma said that mandatory verification of paper trail count was conducted in these seats during the counting process for Assembly elections in Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and other by-elections “and in all cases, the slip count has tallied with the electronic count”.indianexpress
Gujarat farmers oppose land acquisition for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/gujarat-farmers-oppose-land-acquisition-for-mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-project/article24984105.ece?homepage=true
Ahmedabad:Around 1,000 farmers from Gujarat, whose lands will be acquired for the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, have filed affidavits in the Gujarat High Court, opposing the land acquisition process started by the State Govt .The Division Bench, comprising Gujarat High Court Chief Justice R. Subhash Reddy and Justice V.M. Pancholi, is hearing five separate petitions that challenge the land-acquisition process for the country’s first high-speed rail project, which is being implemented with financial support from Japan.The farmers have contended that besides themselves, the land-holders, the project will affect thousands of others who may be cultivating the farms which are being acquired for the ₹1.10 lakh crore project. They have also contended that the existing land-acquisition proceedings are contrary to the guidelines of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that has provided a soft loan to the Indian Govt .
Fringe outfit offers man who killed Muslim LS poll ticket
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fringe-outfit-offers-man-who-killed-muslim-ls-poll-ticket/articleshow/65864315.cms
/Lucknow: Shambhu Lal Regar, the man who hacked a Muslim labourer to death in Rajsamand, Rajasthan and streamed the murder on social media, is likely to contest Lok Sabha elections from Agra. Regar, who is currently in jail in Jodhpur and on trial for the December 2017 murder, has been offered a ticket from Agra (reserved constituency) by UP Navnirman Sena.After murdering Mohd Afrazul, the labourer from Bengal, Regar had claimed he had committed the crime to save a Hindu girl from love jihad. “After Yogi Adityanath became CM, there was no vocal Hindutva leader in Parliament. Regar will fill this void. He is not being supported by other parties because he is accused of murdering a Muslim. His method might have been wrong, but his intentions behind that act were pure. Many MPs are facing serious charges. If Shahabuddin can contest elections, Regar is innocent till proven guilty,”said Amit Jani, organisation founder. Jani himself was arrested in 2017 for posting a picture of Taj Mahal with seven saffron flags at its pinnacle and minarets. He had also announced plans to confront stone-pelters in Kashmir, and called for ousting Kashmiris from western UP. In 2016, he had been arrested for making death threats on social media to former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar. In 2012, Jani had been arrested for vandalising statues of Mayawati in Lucknow. TOI
To Make Way For Modi's Video Conference, 450 Cows Booted From Shed in MP, 8 Dead
https://thewire.in/politics/modi-video-conference-450-cows-madhya-pradesh
New Delhi: To make way for PM Narendra Modi’s live speech on September 15 for his ‘Swachhata hi Sewa’ campaign, in Pipliya Kulmi village in Rajgarh district, 450 cows were allegedly moved out of a gaushala for the installation of a large television.According to NewsClick, the actions of the district administration have led to the death of eight cows due to starvation, while several more have fallen ill.Though the district administration has been allegedly trying to keep the matter quiet, it reportedly moved out all the cows of Naveen Gayatri Gaushala, including very sick ones who were not in a condition to be moved, to build a stage in order to televise the speech. Making the whole exercise more futile was the fact that the telecast only lasted two-three minutes because of poor internet connectivity.The report also claim that only five or six of the healthiest cows were allowed to remain in the shed for display.The telecast, which was meant for only 17 handpicked districts, selected for their remarkable work in developing bio electricity or bio fuel, was part of the Modi;s Swachhata hi Sewa’ campaign where the PM unveiled the specifics of the Gobardhan Yojana in Delhi. Rajgarh’s Naveen Gayatri Gaushala was the only cow shed from Madhya Pradesh which was selected as it produces high volumes of cow dung which is then used to create biogas.The cows were moved out a week before the event, and allegedly did not get proper food and water after they were shifted out.thewire
RSS-backed lab to sell cow dung soaps, Modi & Yogi kurtas on Amazon:TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/soon-buy-cow-urine-dung-soaps-modi-yogi-kurtas-on-amazon/articleshow/65864015.cms
Agra: If you are among those who swear by cow urine and dung products, October will put more choice at your fingertips. A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed pharmacy is bringing dozens of its natural cosmetics and medicinal products — most of them imbued with “gau goodness” — to Amazon. After luxuriating in cow-dung soap lather, you will also have a choice of its “Modi” and “Yogi” kurtas to pull on.Deen Dayal Dham, a centre run by RSS in Mathura, will initially sell 30-odd personal care and “therapeutic” products, such as the digestive Kamdhenu Ark, online. Its tailoring unit will also sell 10 styles of apparel. RSS spokesperson Arun Kumar said the purpose of selling the products online is to create more jobs for locals, and make them financially independent. If sales take off online, production and jobs will need to be increased. The Dham sells personal care and medicinal products of over Rs 1 lakh and apparel worth Rs 3 lakh every month.Products of our Kamdhenu line that have cow urine among main ingredients, and kurtas and other khadi products will be available on Amazon soon,” Manish Gupta, deputy secretary of the Dham, told TOI. Besides Kamdhenu Ark, which is made from cow urine and aniseed (saunf), the Dham’s Deen Dayal Kamdhenu Gaushala Pharmacy makes products like Ghanvati, a tonic containing pepper, amla, tulsi, Kamdhenu Madhunashak Chur for diabetes and obesity, Shoolhar oil for sprains and arthritis, shampoo, bath soaps, face pack, toothpaste Gupta said cow urine and dung (gomay) are the base for their soaps, face packs and incense, and no synthetic chemicals are used.
Dalit-Muslim alliance in UP? Chandrashekhar meets Jamiat chief Arshad Madani
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/chandrashekhar-meets-jamiat-chief-arshad-madani-118091801426_1.html
Saharanpur:Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Tuesday called on Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUEH) president Arshad Madani at the latter's residence in Saharanpur's Deoband.Bhim Army national president Vinay Ratan was also present at the meeting that lasted for around 20 minutes. A spokesperson for the Bhim Army told PTI-Bhasha that it was Azad's "private meeting" with Madani."No political speculation should be drawn from the meeting. It was only a private meeting," Ajay Gautam said.Azad was released from jail last Friday.He was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur. The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017. However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release. Under the NSA, he was to be detained till Nov. 1.Hours after his release, Azad said he will ensure that BJP is routed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.PTI
Chandrashekhar-Madani meeting gives rise to possible Dalit-Muslim alliance in UP
https://www.oneindia.com/india/chandrashekhar-madani-meeting-gives-rise-to-possible-dalit-muslim-alliance-in-uttar-pradesh-2778668.html
After Gurugram mosque row, Jamiat speaks out against Muslim Ekta Manch stand
https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/after-mosque-row-in-sheetla-mata-colony-community-speaks-out-against-muslim-ekta-manch-stand/story-NudubHMvgVUHnMNRS1djlM.html
Gurugram: 6 days after the sealing of a mosque in Sheetla Mata colony,a Muslim group on Tuesday expressed reservations about the stand taken by Muslim Ekta Manch. Representatives of Jamiat Ulama called on the commissioner and deputy commissioner of police on Tuesday afternoon and sought their intervention in resolving the matter.Mufti Mohammed Salim Qasmi, president of Gurugram unit of Jamiat said, “Ekta Manch is fanning communal tensions by playing up these issues. They are politicising the matter and giving impetus to right-wing groups to become more involved.”In a letter, the Jamiat alleged that Haji Shehzad Khan, chairperson of the group, was politicising the matter and fanning communal tensions.The letter also referred to the recent namaz row in Wazirabad, as well as the incident of a Muslim boy having his beard cut in Khandsa. It said that these issues, too, had been settled amicably but were politicised by the Muslim Ekta Manch. However, Khan said, “Allegations in the letter are baseless and can be comprehensively dismissed.”HT
CBI scrutinises law firm Cyril Amarchand in PNB fraud probe
https://thewire.in/business/cbi-scrutinises-law-firm-cyril-amarchand-in-pnb-fraud-investigation
Mumbai:India’s largest law firm, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM), is being scrutinised by federal agents after they seized documents related to the $2 billion fraud at state-run PNB from CAM’s premises in Feb., a lawyer representing the Govt and a police source told Reuters.In what has been dubbed as India’s biggest bank fraud, PNB in Jan. alleged that billionaire diamond jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle had for years fraudulently raised billions of dollars in foreign credit by conspiring with staff at the bank.In mid-February, Nirav Modi’s aides packed cartons of documents at one of his diamond firm’s offices in Mumbai and sent them to CAM’s office nearby, from where police seized them within a week on Feb. 21, a review of CBI court filings and witness testimonies showed.
WORLD
Putin seeks to defuse Israel crisis after Russian plane downing
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/israel-rejects-responsibility-downing-russian-aircraft-180918130621740.html
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the downing of a Russian military plane by Syrian air defences was the result of a "tragic chain of circumstances", in an apparent effort to calm tensions after his country’s defence ministry accused Israel of "hostile" actions.The downing of the jet late on Monday night highlighted the dangers posed by the conflicting interests of various powers in the crowded skies over war-torn Syria and threatened to damage relations between Russia and Israel. The incident was also the worst case of friendly fire between Russia and Syria, since Moscow's military intervention in the country in support of President Bashar al-Assad's forces in September 2015.Russian military said Il-20 electronic intelligence plane was hit 35km off Syria's Mediterranean coast as it returned to its home base nearby. All 15 Russian crew members were killed. Russian defence officials described manoeuvres by Israeli fighter jets during the incident as "hostile" and said it had a right to retaliate."Israeli pilots were using Russian aircraft as a shield and pushed it into the line of fire of the Syrian defence,"Igor Konashenkov, Russian defence ministry spokesperson said.A warning from Israel was received "less than one minute before the strike, which left no chance for taking Russian plane to safety,"added Konashenkov. But Putin later struck a more conciliatory tone, telling reporters the shooting down of the plane was the result of a "chain of tragic and chance circumstances"."As for retaliatory measures,they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria. And these will be steps that everyone will notice," Putin said.It was a different situation when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian fighter jet on the Syrian border three years ago, according to the Russian president. "Turkish fighter jet shot down our plane on purpose," he said. Since intervening in Syria's war, Russia has generally turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks inside the country. Israel has carried out about 200 air raids in last 2 years, according to Israeli officials.aljazeera
Palestinians killed in separate events in Gaza, E. Jerusalem
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/palestinians-killed-separate-events-gaza-east-jerusalem-180919063926575.html
3 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem after they were shot by Israeli forces in separate events.In northern Gaza,thousands of protesters demonstrated on Tuesday afternoon near the Israeli checkpoint crossing Erez, referred to by Palestinians as the Beit Hanoun crossing.The protest was called for by the National High Committee to Break the Siege and was against the cuts in funding by the United States to the main UN refugee agency for Palestinian refugees,UNRWA.Protesters also demanded an end to 12-year blockade imposed on the coastal enclave.2 men were killed as Israeli forces opened fire on the protesters. Gaza's health ministry identified the men as Mohammad Abu Naji, 34, and Ahmad Mohammad Omar, 20.aljazeera
Scores of Jewish settlers enter Al-Aqsa for Yom Kippur
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/scores-of-jewish-settlers-enter-al-aqsa-for-yom-kippur/1259022
Jerusalem :Scores of Jewish settlers on Wednesday forced their way into Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa compound to mark the second day of the Jewish Yom Kippur holiday, according to a Palestinian official. “At least 159 Jewish settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa compound on Wednesday,” Firas al-Dibs, an official with Jerusalem’sJordan-run Religious Endowments Authority, said in a statement. Often backed by Israeli police, settlers frequently enter the mosque compound through the western Al-Magharbeh Gate. Earlier this week, Jewish extremist groups called on supporters to converge on Al-Aqsa on Tuesday and Wednesday to mark Yom Kippur, one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar.For Muslims,Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to area as the “Temple Mount”, claiming it was the site of 2 Jewish temples in ancient times. Anadolu
Saudi bans 300,000 Palestinians from Makkah
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180919-saudi-arabia-bans-300000-palestinians-from-makkah/
Saudi Arabia issued new directives banning up to 300,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon from performing pilgrimage, Alarab.qa reported.Reporting the Palestinian Institution for Human Rights (Shahed), the Qatari news website said that Saudi Arabia stopped issuing visas for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon who do not hold a Palestinian Authority passport. Shahed reported travel agents were informed by the Saudi embassy in Lebanon not to accept applications from Palestinians who do not have PA passports.The rights group said it was worried about the “sudden” Saudi decision, calling on Kingdom to identify its reasons which have “dangerous consequences” on Palestinian refugees and their future.MEMO
Hamas: Fatah’s conditions make reconciliation impossible
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180919-hamas-fatahs-conditions-make-reconciliation-impossible/
Fatah’s conditions “make reaching reconciliation very impossible”, the head of Hamas’ Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh said.Speaking at a conference to mark 30 years since the movement was launched, Haniyeh said Hamas “insists” the 11-year Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip must come to an end “without any political costs and not as part of the deal of the century or in return for disarming the Palestinian resistance”. Hamas, he said, “is walking towards ending the siege and achieving reconciliation in two parallel tracks, but this was undermined by Fatah’s conditions which make reaching reconciliation very impossible.”The movement is ready to go to Cairo along with all the Palestinians factions and on the basis that all of them would be partners in taking national decisions regarding the reconciliation.middleeastmonitor
Mass death sentence: Egyptian court of cassation rejects UN’s statement on the ruling in Rabaa sit-in
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180918-egyptian-court-of-cassation-rejects-uns-statement-on-the-ruling-in-rabaa-sit-in/
General body of the court of cassation judges, headed by Majdi Abul-Ela, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, has rejected a recent statement issued by Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the ruling in Rabaa sit-in issued on Sept.8 by the Cairo Criminal Court. The general assembly issued a statement rejecting the content of the United Nations’ communiqué said that it had distorted the integrity and impartiality of the Egyptian judiciary. According to the general assembly, the statement released by UN included inappropriate phrases regarding Egyptian judiciary’s work and jurisdictions and evaluated its history. General assembly affirmed the independence of the Egyptian judiciary and the impartiality of Egyptian judges. Thus, the national judicial authorities are committed throughout the Egyptian judicial history to provide all the full guarantees for any defendant to exercise their right to self-defence and follow all constitutional and legal procedures that confirm this concept under Egyptian and international laws as well as human rights rules.Thus, the general assembly added that Egypt was the first country to codify the first principles of human rights worldwide through its jurisprudence, currently taught in universities, international organisations, and forums.MEMO
Pak PM leaves for Saudi amid bailout speculation
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180918-pakistan-pm-leaves-for-saudi-arabia-amid-bailout-speculation/
Pakistani PM Imran Khan left for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the foreign office said, amid speculation he may be seeking economic assistance from a staunch ally instead of another IMF bailout.Khan, on his first international visit since taking office last month, was accompanied by Finance Minister Asad Umar and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at a time when the country is trying to avert a balance of currency crisis stemming from a large current account deficit. Analysts say a fresh bailout package from the International Monetary Fund, which would be its 13th since late 1980s, is inevitable.But Umar recently said an IMF rescue was a “fallback option” and that the Govt was exploring other avenues for assistance, which was broadly interpreted as Islamabad seeking help from China and Saudi Arabia, both of which have provided vast loans in the past.middleeastmonitor
'Killing a generation': 5 million Yemeni children face famine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/generation-million-yemeni-children-face-famine-180919054701532.html
More than five million children are in serious danger of dying from starvation in Yemen, as the ongoing war has caused food and fuel prices to soar, Save the Children has warned.The UK-based charity said on Wednesday that any disruption to Hodeidah port, the entry point for the bulk of Yemen's commercial imports and aid supplies, could kill "an entire generation of Yemeni children". Hodeidah has been the scene of fierce fighting in recent weeks, as Houthi rebels, who control the city, battle forces loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched a large-scale operation to retake the strategic seaport on June 13, and see Hodeidah as the main entry point of weapons for the Houthis.The alliance has accused their regional rival Iran of sending missiles to the rebels, a charge Tehran has denied.aljazeera
18 fishermen killed by naval warship near UAE-held port in Yemen
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/18-fishermen-killed-naval-warship-near-uae-held-port-yemen-408003115
A frigate attacked a fishing boat off Yemen's Red Sea port of al-Khoukha, killing 18 fishermen on Tuesday, relatives of the victims said. Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group denied reports that it had carried out the attack.Members of the fishermen's families told Reuters that only one person survived when a warship attacked the boat. Saudi-led coalition denied attacking the boat and said an unknown vessel opened fire on the fishermen."The command of the coalition forces assures that what some media reported about the coalition's navy targeting fishing boats off al-Khoukha port is baseless," the coalition spokesman, Colonel Turki al-Malki, said in a statement.He accused the Houthis of carrying out similar attacks in the past.middleeasteye
Turkey lowers requirements for citizenship by investment
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/turkey-lowers-requirements-citizenship-investment-180919055511138.html
Turkey has eased the financial and investment criteria for foreigners who want to become Turkish citizens as the country copes with its currency crisis caused by US tariffs.The amount of dollars or other foreign currency needed as one of the criteria to become a Turkish citizen were sharply reduced, according to revised regulations published in the Official Gazette. Size of bank deposits was cut from $3m to $500,000 and the amount of required fixed capital investment was reduced to $500,000 from $2m, the decision said.2 other options for receiving a passport by investment were also eased. The applicant could qualify by employing 50 Turkish citizens, down from 100, or by investing $250,000 in the real estate market,half previously required amount.aljazeera
War Crimes Prosecutor Begins Examining Alleged Rohingya Deportations
https://thewire.in/south-asia/war-crimes-prosecutor-begins-examining-alleged-rohingya-deportations
Amsterdam: The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said her office had begun a preliminary examination into whether alleged forced deportations of Rohingya from Myanmar into Bangladesh could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.The decision by Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda follows a ruling at the court earlier this month that it has jurisdiction over alleged forced deportations and related crimes because, while Myanmar is not a member of the court, Bangladesh is.Reuters
Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam to be freed; jail term suspended: Pakistan court
https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/nawaz-sharif-daughter-mariam-to-be-freed-jail-term-suspended-pakistan-court-5364712/
New Delhi: Islamabad High Court Wednesday suspended the sentences handed to ex PM Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption reference case. The trio will be released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after completion of formalities today. During the hearing, a 2-judge bench accepted the appeals by the Sharifs and Capt Safdar against the verdict announced by the accountability court on July 6 and suspended their sentences. Justice Athar Minallah also directed Sharif, Maryam and Safdar to submit bail bonds worth Rs 0.5 million each.indianexpress
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
As if hounding Muslims wasn’t enough, BJP is now giving same treatment to Sikhs;Shekhar Gupta
https://theprint.in/opinion/the-factivist/as-if-hounding-muslims-wasnt-enough-bjp-is-now-giving-same-treatment-to-sikhs/120640/
Will Cow Politics Derail BJP Gameplan in UP?Tariq Hasan
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/15032/Can-Cow-Politics-Derail-BJPs-Game-Plan-in-Uttar-Pradesh
There Is No Nuance in Mohan Bhagwat's Statements on Hindu Rashtra and Muslims:Monobina Gupta
https://thewire.in/politics/rss-bhagwat-hindutva-muslim
Bhagwat Saying RSS ‘Respects’ Non-Hindus if They Want to be Called ‘Bharatiya’ Could be a Game Changer:Rasheed Kidwai
https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/bhagwat-calling-for-respect-towards-bharatiyas-and-not-just-hindus-could-be-a-gamechanger-1881987.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:45 PM)
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