NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
16 OCT. 2018: 06 Safar 1440: Vol: 11, No:33
INDIA
On Rafale deal, new documents point to Ambani firm as essential
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/reliance-partnership-trade-off-for-rafale-deal-trade-union-notes-suggest-1932693
Paris: In the Rafale jet deal, documents featured in a French aviation blog may fuel more controversy amid opposition allegations that France snagged Rs. 59,000 crore deal as a trade-off for aeronautics major Dassault tying up with Anil Ambani's company.Images of two trade union documents put up by the French blog Portail Aviation may add fodder to political wrangling over the deal for 36 Rafale jets sealed by PM Narendra Modi with the French in 2016.The images are of documents published by 2 unions of Rafale-maker Dassault - CFDT and CGT.These are minutes of a meeting held on May 11 2017, in which the number 2 of Dassault Aviation, Loik Segalenn, is talking about the joint venture with Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence.The blog does not interpret the documents and leaves it to readers to conclude whether or not Reliance was imposed on French as a partner as a condition for the deal. CFDT's document was mentioned earlier in a report by French publication Mediapart just after ex-French President Francois Hollande's explosive statement that France had no choice when it came to selecting Anil Ambani and his rookie company as offset partner for Dassault. According to Mediapart,an internal document of Dassault confirmed Hollande's statement.CGT statement says,"...a complete presentation of 'Make in India' with the creation of the enterprise 'Dassault Reliance Aerospace' at Nagpur was done for us.According to (Loik)Segalen it was imperative and obligatory for Dassault Aviation to accept this "contrepartie"in order to obtain the export contract Rafale India."French word used is "contrepartie", which can mean "compensation" or could have the negative sense of a "trade off". 2nd union (CFDT's) statement talks about 'Make in India' being "the inevitable consequence" of the deal "imposed" by India, and says a joint venture with Reliance was created to attain this objective.It is evident that the statements are not talking only about the offset obligation but also about joint venture with Reliance.NDTV
'Offset contract with Reliance was obligatory to bag Rafale deal with India'- French portal
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/rafale-deal-union-notes-indicate-that-reliance-offset-partnership-contract-was-mandatory-for-dassault-to-bag-rafale-deal-with-india-anil-ambani/300061
Only 3 Rohingya Families Left in Bengal After Nearly 400 'Flee' to Kashmir and Haryana: news18
https://www.news18.com/news/india/only-3-rohingya-families-left-in-bengal-after-nearly-400-flee-to-kashmir-and-haryana-1910057.html
Kolkata: Nearly 400 Rohingyas living in West Bengal's only camp at South 24-Parganas' Hardaha have allegedly fled to Haryana and Kashmir fearing deportation, leaving behind only 3 families. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said on Oct.1 that the state Govts have been asked to identify Rohingya refugees in their regions and collect their biometric details. Centre will send the biometric reports collected by states to the Myanmar Govt through diplomatic channel for the resolution of the issue, he had said.A spokesman of an organisation, which had arranged their stay in Bengal, claimed that 7 Rohingya immigrants that were deported from Assam recently were ill-treated in Myanmar and were living there without adequate food.Hence, Rohingyas living in India don't wish to return, he claimed. Hosen Gazi, chief of Desh Banchao Samajik Committee, said,"It is unfortunate that most of the Rohingya fled to Haryana and Kashmir due to police atrocities and central Govt ’s decision to deport them. No one want to go back because they know that they will be brutally executed in Myanmar." He said, "We condemn central Govt's decision to push them back. We have information that 7 Rohingya who were pushed back recently by Assam Govt were poorly treated in Myanmar. Presently, they are in a detention camp without adequate food.”When asked about the current status of Rohingya in Bengal, he said, “Few months ago there were approximately 400 Rohingya living in our camp in South 24-Parganas but now only 3 Rohingya Muslim families (consists of 12 members) left. They are also planning to shift other state soon. We are trying to convince them not to leave Bengal as they are safe here and we will fight for them legally. The situation is worst there in Myanmar and Rohingya here in Bengal are threatening to commit suicide if they were pushed back to Myanmar.” news18
Repatriated by India, 7 Rohingya are back home, handed disputed identity cards
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohingya-myanmar-rakhine-india-5403665/
Chandigarh: 7 Rohingya men repatriated by India to Myanmar on Oct.4 are back at their homes in North Rakhine’s Kyauktaw area. They were escorted through a 4-day journey from Moreh to Kyauktaw by Myanmar immigration officials, and were handcuffed for part of the way. “We were brought here in a car. 4 of us are from Bazar Fara, and are now with our families. 3 were from Foidafara, and they were taken there,” said Mohammed Jamal, one of 7 men, in halting Urdu.Indian Express was able to trace the men through Rohingya refugee network in Bangladesh. UNHCR sources also confirmed that the men had reached their homes in Rakhine.Jamal said they were handcuffed for one day during the travel, between Mandalay and Magwe, on way to Rakhine state. Another returnee, Mohammed Yunus, said they were handcuffed as soon as they reached Mandalay, where they were taken to an immigration office, “kept in a closed room, and made to sign some papers”.Jamal said all the men have been given National Verification Cards (NVCs). NVC is not a citizenship card, but is said to be a step toward enabling the holder to apply for citizenship under 1982 Citizenship Act. Myanmar does not accept Rohingya as its citizens. Rohingya refugees camping in Bangladesh have, in fact, refused to accept the NVC, on the ground that it is another ploy by the Myanmar Govt to delay giving citizenship.Indian express
Bhim Sena will build Masjid if SC’s judgment comes in favour of Babri Masjid
https://www.siasat.com/news/bhim-sena-will-build-masjid-if-scs-judgment-comes-favour-babri-masjid-1420539/
Kanpur: If Supreme Court judgment comes in favour of Babri Masjid, Bhim Sena members will themselves build masjid. Bhim Sena national president Rajender Maan Ji said. He told this while addressing a Dalit Muslim unity convention held in Haleem Muslim Inter College in Kanpur. He said rising communal hatred and atrocities and injustice towards minorities and Dalits is dangerous for social integrity.He told that if Supreme Court’s decision comes in favour of Babri Masjid, Bhim Sena will stand on the same place and construct Masjid. Now the time has come that oppressed Dalits and Muslims should come together to strengthen the country and society, he said. A large number of Dalits and Muslims attended the convention. siasat
Bhim Army objects to burning Ravan’s effigy, demands violators be booked under SC, ST Act
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhim-army-objects-to-burning-ravans-effigy-demands-violators-be-booked-under-sc-st-act-5403775/
Pune :Bhim Army workers have opposed the tradition of burning the effigy of Ravan on Dussehra claiming that Ravan is a symbol of humanitarian culture and an idol for many Adivasi and Bahujan (tribal and backward) communities.Outfit has written to Govt offices and police officials in various districts across the state demanding action against programmes held for burning the effigy of Ravan.On Monday, Pune unit of Bhim Army submitted a letter to the Pune City Police, Special Branch, stating that burning Ravan’s effigy hurts the sentiments of those from Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (SC and ST). The outfit asked the police to refuse permission for burning of Ravan’s effigy programmes.Bhim Army has also demanded that if anyone conducts Ravan Dahan programme, offence should be lodged against the organisers under Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The outfit has said if this does not happen, the members will come out on the streets to oppose Ravan Dahan and the police administration would be responsible for any law and order situation. Bhim Army district president Datta Pol, women wing head Neeta Adsule and others claim that Ravan symbolises a glorious culture and he was a king who believed in equality and justice. “But the history was distorted and Ravan was presented as a villain for thousands of years,”letter said. DCP Ashok Morale, when contacted, said he was out of Pune and was yet to read the letter. “I will go through the letter and then decide on the action to be taken,” he said. Meanwhile, tribal outfits in other parts of the state have also opposed Ravan Dahan programmes. An outfit, Adivasi Asmita from Palghar district, has written to the local police demanding that it be banned.In July 2017, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition filed by activist Anand Prakash Sharma, saying it cannot pass direction to stop burning of Ravan effigies on Dussehra. Korchi Area Committee of CPI-Maoist put up posters in Gadchiroli on Sunday stating: “stop burning Ravan in the name of demon”.It urged tribals and other communities to come together and agitate against “Bramhanical Hindutva Fascist” BJP Govt in Centre and the state.indianexpress
Amid reports that 97 Lawyers will defend Akbar, firm says only 6 will appear in court
https://www.news18.com/news/india/97-lawyers-roped-in-to-defend-mj-akbar-case-firm-says-only-6-will-appear-1909883.html
New Delhi:Karanjawala & Co, law firm which is fighting MJ Akbar’s battle against journalist Priya Ramani in an alleged case of sexual harassment, has defended its battery of 97 advocates in Vakalatnama as the ‘standard practice’ and stated that only six out of the 97 will appear in the case.Union minister MJ Akbar has filed a criminal defamation case against the journalist who had accused him of sexual harassment. Junior foreign minister, who has rejected the allegations as “false and fabricated”, filed the complaint in a Delhi court on Monday soon after his return from Africa where he was leading an Indian delegation.Over 10 women journalists have accused Akbar of harassment when he was an editor. Minister had filed the complaint through the law firm Karanjawala & Co. In the Vakalatnama filed in the court of the CMM at the Patiala House Court, the law firm has listed 97 lawyers who have been authorised by the firm to appear in the case. It has led to reports of this being a tactic by Akbar to intimidate the journalist, who had opened the alleged can of worms against the former editor of the Asian Age and the current Union Minister. Meanwhile, the women who spoke out against MJ Akbar have stated that they stand by their accusations and will fight the legal case.Priya Ramani said: "Truth is the best defence in any defamation case. I’m not worried."News18
#MeToo movement: 78% say sexual harassment at work place go unreported, reveals survey
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/metoo-movement-78-say-sexual-harassment-at-work-place-go-unreported-reveals-survey/
Even as #MeToo movement which exposed cases of sexual harassment in Bollywood and the media industry gained momentum, about 80% of respondents in an online survey said such cases at workplace go unreported. According to the poll conducted by social networking site Local Cricles, about 32% of respondents said they or one of their family member faced harassment at workplace.45% of the respondents said they have not faced sexual harassment at work place. Only 22% of those who faced sexual harassment at workplace reported it to HR dept, while 78 per chose not to report the matter. According to Vishakha guidelines, an Internal Complaints Committee is mandatory in every organisation and measures should be taken to ensure a safe atmosphere for women workers at work place.69% of the respondents who said they faced sexual harassment revealed it took place at their work premises; physical contact and advances being the most common form of sexual harassment.indianexpress
Kerala body organises ‘protect Sharia’ conference against Triple Talaq Ordinance, women's entry in mosques
https://www.news18.com/news/india/kerala-body-organises-protect-sharia-conference-against-triple-talaq-ordinance-womens-entry-in-mosques-1909959.html
Kozhikode:In a major show of strength, largest Muslim organisation of Kerala, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, held a 'protect Sharia' conference to protest against the Union cabinet’s recent ordinance on triple talaq. The conference, which was held at Kozhikode on Saturday, also passed a resolution against the cabinet ordinance with a million signatories. The resolution will be submitted to President Ramnath Kovind.Lashing out at the Centre’s triple talaq ordinance, the organisation’s president Sayyid Muhammad Jifri Muthukkoya Thangal said Modi Govt’s intentions behind the move were not right.“Centre’s decision to pass triple talaq ordinance is motivated and hurried.Govt is trying to target a particular community. It’s unfortunate if the right to believe and practice a particular religion is denied,” Jifri said, adding that the Govt and the court are duty bound to protect the freedom of religion.“The SC ruling which says triple talaq is un-islamic is against what is mentioned in Islamic theological texts. Triple talaq is completely Islamic,”Jifri added.News18
MP: 31 SIMI suspects to walk into Anda Cell
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/mp-31-simi-suspects-to-walk-into-anda-cell/articleshow/66203397.cms
Bhopal: Hemmed in by walls within walls, watched night and day and never allowed out of the dark, gloomy cubicle where they can barely walk 10 paces — that’s how life is going to be for SIMI activists Safdar Nagori, Abu Faisal and 29 other prisoners/undertrials to be thrown into the high-security ‘Anda Cell’ in Bhopal Central jail once it is inaugurated in Nov.“Final list of Anda Cell inmates will be finalized by a state Govt panel, comprising officials from the home and departments, and human rights commission,” an officer at jail HQ said. “No one can dig a tunnel or reach the ventilators to escape. The ceiling is more than 20 feet high. It’s a high security prison within a prison,” said an officer.There are 31 8ft x 10ft spartan chambers built into a 2000-sqft high-walled enclosure. There are 32 SIMI activists and suspects left in Bhopal prison after eight undertrials were gunned down within hours of a jailbreak in November 2016. They are currently kept in two different barracks and shuffled on a weekly basis.Officials said that it would dark inside Anda cell, without electricity. Compartments are small and inmates may sleep on a cement platform or a cot. Each cell has a wash basin and toilet.The inmates will be under surveillance, 24x7. Anda Cell has its own watch tower — in the centre of the cell — and the guards here will be armed with sophisticated rifles, unlike lathi-wielding wardens of the rest of the prison. Anda Cell has 40-ft walls, iron bars and a sealed roof. There is only a small gate to enter the high-security prison. TOI
Mehbooba protests sedition charges on AMU students, calls Wani ‘victim of relentless violence’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mehbooba-mufti-demands-withdrawal-of-sedition-charges-against-amu-students-for-trying-to-hold-prayer-meeting-for-manan-wani-5403417/
New Delhi:Ex-J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti has demanded the withdrawal of sedition charges against three Kashmiri students of AMU who were booked after they allegedly tried to hold a prayer meeting for slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Manan Bashir Wani. She also asked the Centre to intervene in the matter. 3 students were booked on Friday for allegedly raising “anti-India” slogans and trying to hold ‘namaz-e-janaza’ for Wani, a day after he was killed in a gun battle with security forces in north Kashmir’s Handwara district. “Pushing youth to the wall will be counterproductive. Centre must intervene in withdrawing cases against students & AMU authorities must revoke their suspension,” Mufti posted on Twitter. She further said that state Govt s outside J&K should be “sensitive” to the situation and “prevent further alienation”.“It will be a travesty to punish them (students) for remembering their former colleague (Wani) who was a victim of relentless violence in Kashmir,” she added.In a response, National Congress leader Omar Abdullah said that Mufti is in no position to criticise anyone for “relentless violence” as she was the “architect and beneficiary” of such incidents during her time as the CM of Kashmir. Meanwhile, over 1200 Kashmiri students of the university staged protest in the campus on Monday and threatened to leave for their homes on Oct.17, if the sedition charges against the 3 were not dropped. According to PTI, students also handed over a letter to the Proctor of AMU, stating that “no prayers or any relevant activity was observed” and they strongly condemn the “fabricated allegations and a systematic vilification campaign” against the students and the university.“The tense situation as reported in the media caused a serious concern among the students at AMU. The students at AMU in panic were discussing the situation emerging in the valley at the Kennedy Hall Lawn, and were peacefully talking among each other. No prayers or any relevant activity was observed, and the directions of AMU – Proctor were duly followed,”students said in the letter.They said some non-Kashmiri people armed with lathis attacked the sitting students and caused massive disturbance and noisy scenes.indianexpress
ABVP Members Unleash Violence in Bareilly College, Attack Urdu Book Van
https://www.newsclick.in/abvp-members-unleash-violence-bareilly-college-attack-urdu-book-van
UP ’s Bareilly College witnessed the members of ABVP threaten to burn a van carrying Urdu literature books on Saturday.This incident stands testimony to the general atmosphere in the country where there is a constant attempt to create hatred in the name of religion, caste and regionalism.The said incident occurred when NCPUL,which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of HRD, had gone to the college to promote Urdu language. Suddenly, a group of ABVP members reached there demanding to know what kind of books they are selling.On being informed that they were carrying Urdu literature, they were asked to vacate the campus immediately, or face dire consequences.According to a local Hindi paper, ABVP members claimed that they will allow Urdu books for selling in the college if there will be a Sanskrit department in AMU. However, they are ignoring the fact that there is a separate department for Sanskrit already in the University.Shaibya Tripathi who teaches Urdu in the Bareilly college and was on duty that day, helping them as a member of the Proctorial board, said, “Book van of NCPUL visits every city, and as a part of this they were on a Bareilly tour.They had taken proper permission from the college administration, but in between some students came and threatened the bus driver to stop the sale of books inside the campus premises. Fearful of a violent turn, the bus driver left the city as he was coming from Delhi. It was with Proctor’s knowledge that NCPUL van was visiting the college. Despite all this, such an incident is very unfortunate.”She further added,“Bareilly college is affiliated to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly. The main campus of University does not have an Urdu dept.but our college has 6 language departments-Urdu, Hindi, English, Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit. In a small city, it is very tough to get all the books of Urdu according to the syllabus, in this situation, such book vans help the students to get all the necessary books in a discounted price.”Highlighting the problem of mixing religion with language, she said,“Today we have created an atmosphere where people generalise that Urdu is only associated with a particular religion which is not true. We cannot judge Urdu on the basis of lipi and if we will continue doing so,there will be communication gap between communities. Premchand,Daya Shankar Kaul Nasim, Chakbast, these people were not Muslims yet they are renowned for Urdu literature.”Newsclick
Modi Govt Set To Face Humiliation In 2019: Say Mothers of Najeeb, Rohith, Junaid
http://caravandaily.com/portal/modi-govt-set-to-face-humiliation-in-2019-say-mothers-of-najeeb-rohith-junaid/
New Delhi:Denunciating PM Narendra Modi for not delivering justice in the cases of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmad, deaths of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and Junaid Khan their mothers on Monday averred that BJP will see a humiliating defeat in upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls.“Modi Govt will see ouster in 2019. I challenge this Govt for debate on its slogan –‘Sabka Sath Sanka Vikas’.CBI just worked as tool as per the direction of this Govt. We all have to assure that whatever happened with Najeeb, may not repeat with any other student.Our fight for justice will continue,” Najeeb’s mother Fatima Nafis, said while addressing hundreds of students who marked 15th Oct.as 2 years of his missing son and organised a protest near Parliament in New Delhi.Marking 2 years of Najeeb’s disappearance, hundreds of students of various universities and civil rights activists marched from Mandi House to Parliament street on Monday.All 3 mothers alleged that they have been running from pillar to post for justice but due to BJP’s pressure on police, investigative agencies and administration justice not delivered. Vowing to continue their fight for justice to Najeeb, mother of Rohith vemula, Radhika, appealed people to vote against Modi Govt .“Rule of RSS-BJP is worst than British rule. Since BJP came in power, oppression on Dalits, Muslims and women is continued. Entire student community and all oppressed sections should unite to topple Modi Govt ,” Radhika appealed to the people.Saira Bano, mother of Junaid Khan, said “Modi has hurt us. We will fight for justice till last drop of our blood. Modi Govt will be fallen for sure.”Bano also slammed BJP over its cow politics. Caravan Daily
Mother’s March to Parliament: Where Is Najeeb?
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/15260/Mothers-March-to-Parliament-Where-Is-Najeeb
Activists, Politicians 'Unite Against Hate' at March For Missing JNU Student Najeeb
https://thewire.in/communalism/activists-politicians-unite-against-hate-at-march-for-missing-jnu-student-najeeb
CBI gives up search for missing JNU student Najeeb, asks court to shut case
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-submits-closure-report-in-missing-jnu-student-case/story-YPO2psEG8IYaWa4ntgcy3I.html
CBI has submitted its closure report in the case over disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, who went missing from here in Oct.2016, the agency said. Sources said CBI filed the closure report in the case last week, and the court will consider the matter on Nov.29.The agency’s move comes after the Delhi high court on Oct.8 allowed CBI plea seeking permission to file its closure report into the case while rejecting Ahmed’s mother Fatima Nafees’ plea for probe by a SIT.The court had, however, advised Nafees to raise all contentions available to her in accordance with law before the criminal court concerned after the filing of the closure report by the agency.IANS
FIR against Kanhaiya for allegedly misbehaving with AIIMS-Patna staff
https://www.hindustantimes.com/patna/fir-against-former-jnusu-president-kanhaiya-kumar-for-allegedly-misbehaving-with-aiims-patna-staff/story-XVbrwvsPWSG7hKEPqWhcUO.html
Patna:The management of AIIMS-Patna on Monday filed a FIR against ex-JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and his supporters following his alleged misbehaviour with a doctor, nurses and a security guard of the hospital, police said.“An FIR was lodged following a directive from state health department after AIIMS-Patna doctors threatened to go on an indefinite strike if action was not taken against Kanhaiya and his supporters,” said Phulwarisharif police SHO Mohd Qaiser Alam.Kanhaiya, according to AIIMS-P sources, along with his supporters visited the hospital on Sunday night to enquire about the health of AISF leader Sushil Kumar, who had undergone surgery in his right hand on Oct.10 at the hospital’s orthopaedic ward. During their visit, some of them allegedly misbehaved and threatened the doctor on duty, nurses and the security guard, after the guards objected to the entry of a large number of people in the ward.Kumar is likely to contest 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Begusarai seat.HT
Modi govt provided basic facilities to girls in 308 districts for minority: Rizvi
http://www.uniindia.com/modi-govt-provided-basic-facilities-to-girls-in-308-districts-for-minority-rizvi/states/news/1379962.html
Lucknow:BJP leader Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, who is also the chairman of National Commission of Minorities, said that the Modi Govt provided basic facilities to the girl child in 308 districts across the country, particularly those belonging to the minority community.In a press statement issued here on Monday, Rizvi said the 'Jan Vikas Karyakram' launched by the PM , for the poor and socially disadvantaged persons has proved to be a boon for the poor and has immensely contributed in their social and economic empowerment.UNI
Alcohol, animal sacrifice in Govt -sponsored Durga Puja in Tripura
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/alcohol-animal-sacrifice-in-Govt -sponsored-durga-puja-in-tripura?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
Agartala: Alcoholic drinks and animals including goat, pigeons and buffaloes are offered as items of sacrifice in a 300-year-old Durga Puja sponsored by Tripura Govt. To maintain royal family's traditional sanctity, the Govt has for the past seven decades been bearing the entire expenditure of Durga Puja at Durgabari temple. The temple, established by erstwhile royal kings, is located in front of the 117-year-old Ujjayanta Palace. 5-day festivity began in Tripura on Monday with 'Maha Sasthi' or 'Bodhan' - the welcoming of Durga idols. "Tripura is the only state where Govt, be it Left or non-Left, is at the forefront of funding such a Hindu religious festival. The tradition has been going on since Tripura's merger with the Indian union," Subhash Das, a writer and a former civil service officer, told IANS. Tripura merger agreement made it mandatory for the Govt to continue the sponsorship of temples run by the Hindu princely rulers. Head priest's son Jayanta Bhattacharjee said: "A young buffalo, several goats, pigeons, alcoholic drink, fish, meat, egg, ginger, many fruits are sacrificed during the festival at Durgabari- all at Govt expense."IANS
Mixing politics with puja, pandal brings Kashmir human shield row to Vadodara
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/mixing-politics-with-puja-pandal-brings-kashmir-human-shield-row-to-vadodara-5357514/
Vadodara :Clad in an Army uniform, holding an AK-47, a 3.5 feet Ganesh idol greets devotees at the pandal set up in Om flats in Vadodara’s Gorwa area. It is set in the backdrop of the incident last year in which a civilian was tied to an Indian Army jeep as a ‘human shield’ against protesters hurling stones.Poster in the background of the Ganesh has a cut-out of the jeep with the civilian tied to it, and pictures of Army personnel and a fighter plane. Meant as a tribute to the Indian Army, pandal highlights the ongoing conflict between the Indian armed forces and the people in the Kashmir valley. A signage placed in front of Ganesha reads “Indian Army” and one placed in front of the jeep says, “Kashmiri stone pelter”.A hoarding adjacent to the pandal reads, “For the last few years, Kashmir has been conflict-ridden and every now and then, citizens of Kashmir pelt the armed forces with stone and many political parties in India call them ‘adrift’ and protect them. So, we the members of Om flat are against all such politicians and political parties.They even protect those political students who raise slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ in JNU.We strongly condemn such politicians. India was, is and will remain one. Kashmir is an integral part of India.”According to the organising committee, their idea behind the concept was to show solidarity with Indian Army fighting at the borders.One of the organisers Sanjay Jadhav, 46, who owns a security agency in the city, and the brain-child behind the pandal design says, “My brother-in-law had served in Indian Army as a Major and had fought the Indo-Pak and Indo-China wars.Every time he was home, he had many anecdotes to share. I have seen the life of our jawans through his stories and that has made me proud of the Indian Army.”indianexpress
Indian scientist denied entry to Garba event in US as he didn’t look ‘Hindu’
https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/us-based-indian-scientist-and-friends-denied-entry-at-garba-event-as-their-surnames-didnt-sound-hindu-atlanta-5402414/
New Delhi:A Gujarati man claimed he and his friends were denied entry to a Garba event in Atlanta, USA as they didn’t look “Hindu” and their last names sounded foreign. Appalled by the incident, Dr Karan Jani, an astrophysicist, took to Twitter to share his story.He alleged that Garba organisers at Shakti Mandir in Atlanta said, “You don’t look Hindu and the last name in your IDs don’t sound Hindu [sic]”.“My Konkani friend who came to Garba for 1st time *due to the enthusiasm of us Gujaratis* was pulled out of line & was told: ‘We don’t come to your events, you are not allowed to ours’,” Jani added. When his friend clarified and said, “My last name is Murdeshwar. I’m Kannada-Marathi!”, the organiser allegedly retorted, “What is Kannada? You are Ismaili”. Expressing his disappointment and shock by the discrimination, he further said,“Our IDs had Indian Emblem. Yes, emblem with “Satyamev Jayate” right? Apparently,it didn’t have our religion. Our caste."”Sharing further details about the incident he claimed, “They ganged up and told us to leave. While we saw other non-Indians being entered (which they of course should!)”. The incident has created a furore online and many expressed shock at such discriminatory behaviour. However, a few others defended the organisers saying that they had the right to reserve entry as they specifically said it was a “Hindu Religious Event”. Few even tagged PMO and Sushma Swaraj to look into the matter.indianexpress
SC orders Maharashtra govt to appoint Mohammed Imran as judicial magistrate
http://caravandaily.com/portal/sc-orders-maharashtra-govt-to-appoint-mohammed-imran-as-judicial-magistrate/
New Delhi: Full 9 years after he was shortlisted for the post of judicial magistrate after he cleared all stages of the concerned exam with flying marks, Mohammed Imran from Sangli district in Maharashtra will now be appointed on the post. His appointment was stopped by the Maharashtra Govt citing an old criminal case even though he was acquitted. The Supreme Court of India has now ordered the state Govt to appoint Imran as Judicial Magistrate.A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Navin Sinha ordered the state Govt to appoint Imran within eight weeks. Appearing for Imran, senior lawyer Huzefa Ahmadi, who was appointed by Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra, told the top court bench that Imran should be appointed on the post of magistrate because he was acquitted in the case one decade ago and the case was not directly against him but his friend and he was implicated in it but the court later acquitted him.He also told the court that this information was not kept hidden from the Law & Judiciary department of Maharashtra Govt; rather he (Imran) always and everywhere wrote that there was a case against him but he was acquitted in it, yet the state Govt did not appoint him and this is injustice. Adv. Ahmadi also told the court that candidates with lesser marks have been appointed as magistrate, therefore the top court should order the state department to allot the post of magistrate to Imran so that he could also render his services as magistrate, (judge of lower court.)The state Govt, however, opposed the plea for his appointment citing the old case.“Justice Navin Sinha who wrote the judgment said that applicant cannot be deprived of his right just because that allegations were levelled against him in the past while he has been acquitted of the allegations and he never hid the fact that there was a case against him. It is difficult to get job in today’s time. Hundreds apply for one post. Therefore, in view of applicant’s education records and marks, he deserves the job of magistrate,” Gulzar Azmi, head of Jamiat’s legal cell said. Caravan Daily
Viral Posts Falsely Claim Muslims Attacked A Hindu Girl In Bihar
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/fake-news-hindu-girl-attacked-in-bihar-by-muslims
A series of viral photographs showing deep gashes on the body of a young woman from Bihar falsely claim that the she was attacked by Muslims.3 gruesome images are from an incident in Gopalganj district in Bihar where a 20-year-old woman was attacked by one Sandeep Giri while she was on her way to a temple. The photographs show deep wounds on the woman’s shoulder and arms.Local police told BOOM that both, accused and victim, are Hindus. The post is viral on Facebook with a caption which loosely translates to, “See for yourself Hindu brothers howMuslims in Goplaganj district attacked an intermediate student and punctured her body with knife. Everyone remained a mute spectator. For how long will you let Muslims rape your sisters and daughters. Be ashamed of yourself.” Post by Facebook user Roshan Pandey was shared close to 7,000 times at the time of writing this story. BOOM found news reports about the incident on news websites such as Dainik Jagran, SiwanNews, and Prabhat Khabar which reported that the incident happened in Nehrua Kala village in Kateya area of Gopalganj district.The articles said that the accused was attracted to the woman and would sometimes follow her. On the day of the incident, she called him out for eve teasing, which angered him and led to him attacking her with a knife.thequint
Sikh dominated village gives common land for mosque construction
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/sikh-dominated-village-gives-common-land-for-mosque-construction/articleshow/66234627.cms
Ludhiana: Setting an example of communal harmony, a village of mostly Sikh population has donated land for construction of mosque and the community is even providing food to the workers working at the religious place. Gaggewal in Barnala district, which is around one and half kilometers from Nathowal village, last village of Ludhiana district, has ten Muslim families.“We wanted to construct a mosque in the village but didn’t have land for the purpose. As a result, we had to say Namaz (prayers) at our homes.For Friday and Ramzan prayers, we would go to nearby Nathowal village which has a mosque. However seeing our problem, the majority community came forward and decided to give us common land of village for the construction of mosque,” said Saudagar Khan, a grocery store owner and a prominent young voice of Muslims in the village.“Village has now given us 5 Biswa land for the mosque. With the active support of villagers including Sikh and Hindu brothers, we have started construction work of mosque around ten days ago. It will take us around 6 months to get the construction work completed. Already a mason and four labourers and many villagers are working for constructing the mosque which will be named as Mecca Madina Masjid”. He added that they have no words to thank the Sikh brotherhood for such a great gift and salute the communal harmony and inclusivity of Punjab which the state is known for.A Muslim, Mansa Khan, who is from adjoining village Nathowal in Ludhiana District, said that they were touched to see the brotherhood in the village.Sikh community members are happy that mosque is coming up in the village. TOI
Saudis listening, PM Modi calls for measures to cushion oil shock
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/narendra-modi-oil-prices-saudi-arabia-rupee-depreciation-5403619/
New Delhi:PM Narendra Modi Monday sought a review of payment terms with major oil producers as part of the NDA Govt ’s strategy to help counter a depreciating rupee. He was addressing oil ministers and chief executives of both global and domestic oil companies at an event here.Modi, according to an official statement issued after the meeting, “requested for review of payment terms so as to provide temporary relief to the local currency”. The rupee has fallen 14.5 % this year, making oil and other imports more expensive. In the meeting with leading global CEOs of oil and gas sector and ministers from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Modi made a strong case for a partnership between producers and consumers in the oil market as it exists in other markets. “This will help stabilise the global economy which is on the path of recovery,” he said.Rising crude oil prices have expanded India’s oil import bill, resulting in higher current account deficit and throwing up a range of macroeconomic challenges. An adverse impact on the twin deficits — fiscal and current account deficit — will have a resultant spillover impact on the consumption and investment behaviour in the economy as well as on monetary policy trajectory.indianexpress
WORLD
Facing Heat, Saudis Could Admit Khashoggi Died In "Botched Op": Report
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/turkish-investigators-search-saudi-consulate-where-journalist-jamal-khashoggi-was-last-seen-1932684
Turkish investigators were permitted to search Saudi Arabia's Consulate on Monday, 13 days after journalist Jamal Khashoggi vanished while visiting the mission, even as President Donald Trump dispatched Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the case with King Salman, the Saudi ruler.As pressure mounted on Saudi Arabia to disclose what it knows about Khashoggi's fate, US officials began predicting over the weekend that the Saudis would inevitably admit complicity in the death of Khashoggi and claim a "botched operation," said one person familiar with the discussions.Over the past few days, Saudi officials have discussed issuing a statement that, in part, would mention a botched operation and call for the punishment of culpable officials, according to another person with knowledge of the discussions. The statement would be issued only after Saudi Arabia reached an agreement with Turkey on how to proceed with the investigation, the person said.Trump said Monday that he talked for about 20 minutes with the king Monday and that the Saudi leader firmly denied the kingdom's involvement in Khashoggi's disappearance."I don't want to get into his mind, but it sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers," Trump added. "Who knows? We're going to try getting to the bottom of it very soon, but his was a flat denial."It was not clear whether Trump's mention of "rogue killers" was his own speculation, a theory he had heard from King Salman or intended as confirmation that Khashoggi had been killed in the consulate, as Turkish investigators have concluded.Washington Post
Trump sends Pompeo to Riyadh over Khashoggi; Saudis may blame official
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-sends-pompeo-to-riyadh-over-khashoggi-saudis-may-blame-official/article25233790.ece?homepage=true
Former CIA Director: Bin Salman’s innocence in Khashoggi’s case is pretence
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181016-former-cia-director-bin-salmans-innocence-in-khashoggis-case-is-pretence/
Ex-Director of the CIA, John O. Brennan, stated that that reasons for Saudi leadership’s denials of involvement in the case of Jamal Khashoggi is meaningless. Brennan added in an interview with the American NBC network on Sunday evening: “If Khashoggi had disappeared in Turkey at a hotel or private residence, I think there is plausible deniability in the part of the Saudi Govt . But he disappeared when there is video evidence of him being at the Saudi consulate. So, their denials very much ring hollow.”The former US official claimed that it would be inconceivable that the Saudis would run such an operation without the knowledge of the day-to-day decision maker, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He pointed out that King Salman is too old to have enough political power or even mental ability to work effectively.He also pointed out that bin Salman would not have dared to do so without if he did not have such a close relationship with US President Donald Trump and his Senior Advisor, Jared Kushner.middleeastmonitor
Turkish prosecutors 'find evidence of Khashoggi killing'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/turkish-prosecutors-find-evidence-jamal-khashoggi-killing-181015205254636.html
Turkish authorities say prosecutors have found evidence that supports suspicions that missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul.A source at Attorney General's office, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Monday that Turkish officials had "found evidence that supports" their belief that writer was killed, Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal reported."This is a significant step forward after several days of an impasse," he said from Istanbul. Report came hours after Turkish investigators entered the consulate for what officials called a joint inspection of the building where Khashoggi was last seen alive, entering the diplomatic post, nearly 2 weeks ago. The source at the Attorney General's office said their team also found evidence of "tampering", he reported.aljazeera
Qatar demands release of 4 Qataris disappeared in Saudi
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/qatar-demands-release-qataris-disappeared-saudi-arabia-181015134826680.html
A Qatari human rights group is demanding Saudi Arabia disclose the whereabouts of 4 Qatari citizens who were forcibly disappeared in the neighbouring kingdom in separate cases since May last year.Doha-based NHRC issued a statement on Sunday, saying it is holding the Saudi Govt responsible for the fate for the missing nationals, added it had "grave concerns" about the 4.NHRC chairman Ali bin Samikh al-Marri asked the UN'Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to send a mission to investigate the cases."What Saudi authorities are doing towards Qatari nationals is shameful and inhumane," he said. "It will leave a major psychological mark on future generations," he added. NHRC has also contacted the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging it to intervene to secure the release of Qataris. Among those who disappeared are Talal Nawaf al-Rashid, 29, and Mohsen Saleh al-Korbi, 63. The men entered Saudi Arabia last April and May respectively and have not been heard from since.Al-Rashid, who is a dual Qatari-Saudi citizen, was arrested in Kuwait after he was invited by a local poet and later extradited to Saudi Arabia. He hails from al-Rashid family that ruled the emirate of Ha'il in today's central Saudi Arabia before al-Saud clan, current rulers of Saudi, deposed them.aljazeera
Australia considers recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181016-australia-considers-recognising-jerusalem-as-israels-capital/
Australia will consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and shifting its embassy there from Tel Aviv, Australia’s PM said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel regards all of the city, including the eastern sector that it annexed after the 1967 Middle East war, as its capital.Last December, US President Donald Trump reversed decades of US policy by recognising Jerusalem, enraging the Palestinians and upsetting the Arab world and Western allies.Australia was firm in its refusal to follow suit at the time, however, PM Scott Morrison told reporters in parliament he was now “open-minded” about doing so, while not changing Australia’s policy of support for a Palestinian state.“The orthodoxy that’s driven this debate which says issues like considering the question of the capital is taboo. I think we have to challenge that,” Morrison said.MEMO
Egypt court upholds 3-yr prison sentence for Mosi
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-court-upholds-year-prison-sentence-president-58509728
Cairo:Egypt's main appeals court has upheld a 3-year prison sentence for former president Mohammed Morsi, who is already jailed in other cases, over a conviction for insulting the judiciary.Court of Cassation upheld the same sentence for Morsi and 19 others on Monday, also fining Morsi 1 million Egyptian pounds in the case. Morsi was accused of insulting a sitting judge during a speech he gave as president. Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, had a tumultuous year in office that ended with the army overthrowing him in 2013. Multiple cases against him are pending.The other men sentenced were mostly Islamists but also several secular activists. Alaa Abdel-Fattah, a secular activist, was only fined 30,000 Egyptian pounds, but remains in jail for other cases.AP
After Pakistan's decision to share CPEC details with IMF, wary China responds
https://www.news18.com/news/world/after-pakistans-decision-to-share-cpec-details-with-imf-wary-china-responds-1909651.html
Beijing: As cash-strapped Pakistan approached the IMF for a bailout agreeing to share the details of huge Chinese loans obtained for the CPEC, a wary China on Monday said the global lender should "objectively and professionally" evaluate its investments and ensure that any financial package does not affect close ties between Beijing and Islamabad.Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar told the media on Sunday that Islamabad is ready to share details of the debt related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with IMF as he formally sought a bailout package from the international lender.Speaking in Islamabad on his return from Indonesia where he requested International Monetary Fund's Managing Director Christine Lagarde for a bailout package for Pakistan, Umar said the decision to approach the global lender was taken after consultations with friendly countries. He said an IMF team is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Nov. 7 to negotiate the programme, likely to span over a 3-year period. Reacting to the move by its all-weather ally Pakistan to approach IMF for a bailout package, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang said here that China wants an "objective and professional" evaluation of its loans to Pakistan by IMF. The measures to be worked out by IMF should not affect China-Pakistan relations, he said.PTI
Afghan forces killed after fighters overrun checkpoint
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/afghan-forces-killed-fighters-overrun-checkpoint-181016070028559.html
At least 7 members of Afghan security forces, including a deputy provincial police chief, have been killed in a Taliban attack in the northern province of Samangan, the provincial governor said.The attack that began late on Monday when several checkpoints were overran in the district of Lower Dari Suf, wounded another 5 policemen, Abdul Latif Ibrahimi said on Tuesday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but in recent days the Taliban armed group has killed dozens in attacks targeting candidates for the parliamentary elections due on Oct.20.On Sunday, at least 17 Afghan soldiers were killed and 12 others injured when Taliban fighters attacked a small outpost in the western province of Farah, officials said.aljazeera
Russian Orthodox Church splits from Constantinople over Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/russian-orthodox-church-splits-constantinople-ukraine-181015201851549.html
In the largest schism in Orthodox Christianity for over a century, the Russian Orthodox Church has cut all ties with Constantinople Patriarchate over a "historic" decision to recognise the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as independent.Metropolitan Hilarion, a bishop in charge of the Russian Orthodox, told journalists that the decision to break relations with the Constantinople Patriarchate was taken by The Holy Synod, the governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Minsk, Belarus on Monday.In an official declaration, members of the Holy Synod wrote that allowing another church to break away "is tantamount to renouncing its historical roots and commitments" making it "impossible" for Russian Orthodox Church to continue its union with Constantinople.Holy Synod has also urged other Orthodox Churches to properly evaluate a decision taken by Constantinople and to "search for ways out of the gravest crisis that is tearing apart the body of church". On Oct.15, Istanbul-based leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch I Bartholomew of Constantinople, took the monumental decision to recognise the full independence of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, after a three-day Synod.Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian writer and director at Internews Ukraine, said the move could create divisions in and beyond Ukraine.aljazeera
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Why Ambedkar considered Islam religion of choice for Dalits before opting for Buddhism:Anand Teltumbde
https://scroll.in/article/898332/why-ambedkar-considered-islam-the-religion-of-choice-for-dalits-before-opting-for-buddhism
Explained: What’s in Allahabad’s name:Shyamlal Yadav , Seema Chishti
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/allahabad-pryagraj-adityanath-congress-bjp-up/
MBS: Dark side of Saudi's crown prince: aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/mohammed-bin-salman-dark-side-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-181015123719153.html
Ex-IPS Sanjiv Bhatt’s Incarceration in 22-Year Old Case, a Victimisation?Tarique Anwar
https://www.newsclick.in/ex-ips-sanjiv-bhatts-incarceration-22-year-old-case-victimisation
My wife faces a union minister, his 97 lawyers. It takes special courage to do that:Samar Halarnkar
https://scroll.in/article/898415/my-wife-faces-a-union-minister-his-97-lawyers-it-takes-special-courage-to-do-that
Carnage 2002: Unraveling the Truth: Ram Puniyani
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/gujarat-carnage-2002-unraveling-the-truth
How the UP govt is trying every trick to save Yogi Adityanath in hate speech case: Siddhant Mohan
http://twocircles.net/2018oct15/426488.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:47 PM)
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