NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
27 OCT. 2018: 17 Safar 1440: Vol: 11, No:42
INDIA
After raid, ED freezes Amnesty India’s accounts: Rights body accuses Centre of treating human rights groups like criminals
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/amnesty-india-accuses-centre-of-treating-human-rights-groups-like-criminals/1363561/
A day after Amnesty India’s Bengaluru office was raided by the Enforcement Directorate, the not-for-profit organisation said that ED has also frozen its bank accounts, effectively forcing it to stop work. Amnesty International India has alleged the union govt of treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises. The reaction from the human rights watchdog has come a day after ED carried out searches at two locations of Amnesty International India in connection with contravention of FCRA.In a statement, Amnesty International India director Aakar Patel said that govt authorities were increasingly treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises. He asserted that the operations of the organisation in India are in conformity with the national regulations and his organisation was committed to the rule of law.ED officials, however, said they were examining the documents seized during the raid and would come with the details soon.Earlier, ED officials had said that after Ministry of Home Affairs denied permission to Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) under FCRA, organisation resorted to bypassing the FCRA and floated commercial entity in the name of Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL).The commercial entity of Amnesty International India allegedly received foreign funds through commercial route to the extent of Rs 36 crore till date. Rs 10 crore out of the total Rs 36 crore was received as long-term loan and fixed deposits while another entity – Indians for Amnesty International Trust– established an overdraft facility for Rs 14.25 crore with Rs 10 crore as collateral, according to ED.The remaining Rs 26 crore was received in 2 separate bank accounts of AIIPL as consultancy services, ED further stated.ED tread the line of questioning relationship between two entities, AIIPL and Amnesty International India Foundation, Amnesty stated.Rights body stressed that most documents ED asked for during the search were either available in the public domain or were already filed with relevant authorities. All the details regarding Amnesty India’s current structure, which was the focus of much of the questioning, have been available on its website since 2014, the statement issued by Amnesty said.Amnesty remarked that ahead of the raids, ED authorities leaked a cache of their internal documents marked ‘secret’, which appears to cast Amnesty India’s operations as a dark web of intrigue. It held that the organisations work in India and elsewhere is to hold and fight for universal human rights. Amnesty wrote on Twitter, “ED raid on Amnesty shows a disturbing pattern of the govt silencing organisations that question power and it is clear that govt wants to instil fear among Civil Society Organisations.” financialexpress
After raid, ED freezes Amnesty India’s accounts
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/after-raid-ed-freezes-amnesty-indias-accounts/articleshow/66385936.cms
Day after raids,Amnesty India says govt trying to silence it
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/day-after-raids-amnesty-india-says-govt-trying-to-silence-it/story-VZcgdOSQ21MvmK1sDrfftI.html
SC rejects review plea for release of activists in Bhima-Koregaon case
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-rejects-review-plea-for-release-of-activists-in-bhima-koregaon-case/article25344902.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today dismissed the review petition filed by noted historian Romila Thapar and four others against the court's majority opinion, delivered on Sept. 28, upholding the arrests of five activists for alleged Maoist links in the aftermath of the Bhima-Koregaon violence. The activists were arrested by the Maharashtra Police as part of a pan-India crackdown and raids held on Aug.28.The review petition was filed after the writ petition against the arrests of poet Vara Vara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj, activists Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Gautam Navlakha failed. The majority opinion of the Supreme Court had held the arrests were not an attempt to silence dissenting voices in the country. It gave the go-ahead to the Maharashtra Police to pursue the case against the 5 activists under UAPA.Review Bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud held that "in our opinion, no case for review of judgment dated Sept.28, 2018 is made out. Review petition is accordingly dismissed". The one-page order, published on Saturday and dated on Oct. 26, rejects Thapar's plea for an oral hearing in open court.It is apparent that Chief Justice Gogoi, the new member on Bench, agreed with his predecessor Justice Dipak Misra, who had seconded the majority opinion penned by Justice Khanwilkar on Sept. 28.Justice Misra retired as CJI on Oct. 2, a few days after the judgment. His successor and the present CJI, Justice Gogoi, had replaced him on the Review Bench.thehindu
Bhima-Koregaon case: Activists Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira remanded to police custody till Nov 6
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bhima-koregaon-case-vernon-gonsalves-arun-ferreira-remanded-to-police-custody-till-nov-6/article25345034.ece?homepage=true
Pune:A special court today directed activists Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves to be remanded to police custody till Nov. 6. Both activists, who were taken into custody by the Pune police from their residences in Mumbai, were produced in the court on Saturday morning.Meanwhile,activist Sudha Bhardwaj was also taken into custody by Pune Police who had reached her Faridabad residence around midnight on Friday night.She was, however, taken into custody on Saturday around 1 pm after the Supreme Court dismissed the review petition filed by Romila Thapar and others against the court’s Sept.28 order.Ms. Bhardwaj’s counsel Soutik Banerjee said she would be produced before Pune Court by police. Pune court had also, on Friday, rejected the bail pleas filed by Bhardwaj, Ferreira and Gonsalves. Banerjee said the rejection of Bhardwaj’s bail plea would be challenged in the HC.“The house arrest of the two activists was to end on Oct. 26. As per SC guidelines, this period was to end at midnight.But city police took the duo into custody before that,”Patil argued.thehindu
Bhima Koregaon: Pune court sends Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves to police custody till Nov. 6
https://scroll.in/latest/899855/bhima-koregaon-pune-court-sends-arun-ferreira-vernon-gonsalves-to-police-custody-till-Nov.-6
SC sets 2-week limit for probe into CBI chief, reins in Govt appointee
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-sets-2-week-limit-for-probe-into-cbi-chief-reins-in-govt-appointee-5420715/
New Delhi :The Supreme Court Friday set a 2-week deadline for Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete its probe against CBI Director Alok Verma who, along with Special Director Rakesh Asthana, was stripped of all responsibilities and sent on leave Tuesday night. Justice A K Patnaik, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, will monitor the CVC probe.A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justices SK Kaul and K M Joseph, while hearing petitions by Verma and NGO Common Cause against Govt move, also restrained interim CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao from taking any “policy decision(s) or any major decision(s)” and directed that he “will only perform the routine tasks that are essential to keep CBI functional”. The bench made it clear that it will look into all decisions that Nageshwar Rao has taken till date, including “transfer of investigations, change of Investigating Officer(s) etc”.Senior advocate Fali S Nariman appeared for Verma and senior advocate Dushyant Dave for Common Cause.After hearing the lawyers of the petitioners, the bench directed that notices be issued in both the writ petitions and the matter be “listed immediately after the Diwali holidays i.e. on 12th Nov.”The bench declined to take up for hearing a petition filed by Asthana, saying “you missed the bus”.indianexpress
Complaint against CBI No. 1: Bid to call off Lalu raid, bribe in Moin Qureshi case
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/complaint-against-cbi-no-1-bid-to-call-off-lalu-raid-bribe-in-moin-qureshi-case-5420656/
From IRCTC scam to accusations of accepting bribe in Moin Qureshi’s investigations and ignoring intelligence report on coal scam, the allegations levelled by CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, number 2 in the probe agency, against the number 1, Alok Verma, will now come under probe by CVC following Supreme Court’s order on Friday.There are 9 allegations of misconduct, interference in investigation, and corruption—CVC is required to examine them within 2 weeks.indianexpress
Asthana diverted police funds to BJP poll purse : PSI
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/asthana-moved-police-funds-to-bjp-poll-fund-alleges-email-to-cbi/articleshow/66386702.cms?fbclid=IwAR0KbplZzkKKUBI9Yrmp65O9M5ZVDiI2x0IKaZdX0utkeQZ4XRs2IBYEACg
Ahmedabad:A retired police sub-inspector has reportedly dashed off a mail to CBI alleging that its Special Director Rakesh Asthana had given away Rs 20 crore from Police Welfare Fund to BJP poll fund when he was posted as Surat police commissioner. E-mail alleged that Narendra Modi was Gujarat CM when the funds were transferred, and they were not returned since.Asthana is embroiled in a bitter feud with CBI Director Alok Verma. The email by PSI is not the first such allegation of Asthana’s cosy relationship with BJP Govt. In 2012, a complaint made to Gujarat HC by IPS officer Satish Verma, member of SIT constituted by HC to probe Ishrat case, points at then Vadodara commissioner Asthana’s ‘unauthorised interference and collusion with State Govt’. Mumbai Mirror
3rd man:Sharma’s son,his web of firms in Asthana’s plaint
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/the-third-man-sharmas-son-and-his-web-of-firms-in-asthanas-complaint-5420718/
CBI Joint Director Arun Kumar Sharma’s son and daughter are on the board of directors of at least four companies where their partners range from a person mentioned in the list of undesirable contact men and the relative of a caterer recently raided by CBI to the wife of a CBI officer who worked closely with Sharma.These are the findings of an investigation by The Indian Express of Registrar of Companies (RoC) records and visits to registered addresses of these companies. Sharma’s son Kushagra Sharma is a director in four companies while his daughter is a director in one company.As many as four companies did not exist on their registered addresses while as many had not done any business since their incorporation.In the ongoing war between CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, the latter wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on August 24 alleging that seven shell companies were associated with Sharma where his son, daughter or wife of personal staff Ashwani Gupta were directors.indianexpress
Interim CBI chief Rao passed these quick orders in 3 days, all are now on SC table: indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/interim-cbi-chief-rao-passed-these-quick-orders-in-3-days-all-are-now-on-sc-table-5419374/?fbclid=IwAR1zr8kA2QpAaOXNepw4P9ucakWKJ1LST7Kp4avDaRzga2-LNybquQVmt-U
In SC order on CBI chief Verma’s case, both govt, Opposition see victory
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-supreme-court-order-on-cbi-chief-s-case-both-govt-opposition-see-victory/story-t3leAK5W0B7iIJH8LqNyJP.html
Union Govt and Opposition Congress welcomed the Supreme Court order in connection with the controversy in CBI, with both seeing a vindication for their side. Officials and ministers in the Union Govt describing the directions by the court — the court ordered an investigation against CBI director Alok Verma to be wrapped up in two weeks, but retrained the interim chief from taking any policy decisions -- as a positive development that will enable a fair inquiry into an “extraordinary” situation. ongress said the SC directive had stopped a “sinister attempt by the Govt to capture CBI through lackeys”. “Truth prevails in SC... A slap in face of tyrants who wanted to pin the last nail in CBI’s independence. CVC can’t act as Modi Govt ’s pawn but would be supervised by a SC judge to act fairly,” chief spokesperson of Congress, Randeep Surjewala, tweeted. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday led a protest outside CBI HJQS in New Delhi,demanding Verma’s reinstatement.Workers of the party held similar demonstrations in other parts of the country, where they found support in some other opposition parties such as TMC and CPI.HT
RBI Dep Guv slams Modi govt; says markets can discipline Centre for eroding independence
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/rbi-deputy-guv-viral-acharya-slams-modi-govt-says-markets-can-discipline-centre-for-eroding-independence
Emphasising the need for independence in the central bank's functioning, RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya on Friday, said market can make Govt pay for eroding bank's independence. He said markets keenly watch Govt's activities which exert pressure on the central bank's independent functioning. His statement assumes significance as there have been instances in the past few years when Govt has reportedly tried to undermine RBI's autonomy."Market can discipline Govt not to erode central bank independence, and it can also make Govt pay for its transgressions," Acharya said. In a strong reminder to Govt, Acharya said the world over, the central bank is set up as an institution separate from the Govt. “Put another way, it is not a department of the executive function of Govt; its powers are enshrined as being separate through relevant legislation.”Alluding to pressure points in Govt-RBI relations, he cautioned about excess money supply, which while facilitating ease of financial transactions, including the financing of Govt deficits, can cause the economy to over-heat in due course and trigger(hyper-) inflationary pressures or even a full-blown crisis that eventually require sharper monetary contractions.He warned that excessive lowering of interest rates and/or relaxation in bank capital and liquidity requirements can lead to greater credit creation, asset-price inflation, and semblance of strong economic growth in the short term. But excessive credit growth is usually accompanied by lending down the quality curve which triggers mal-investment, asset-price crashes, and financial crises in the long term, he said. nationalheraldindia
Modi govt appoints another right-wing loyalist SK Mishra as ED chief
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/modi-govt-appoints-another-right-wing-loyalists-sk-mishra-as-ed-chief
Govt appoints IRS officer SK Mishra as Enforcement Directorate chief in an additional capacity, stated an official order . Mishra, a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service officer of the Income Tax cadre, has been appointed as the Principal Special Director in agency and has been entrusted with the additional charge of ED Director for 3 months.Mishra will take over from incumbent Karnal Singh whose tenure at the agency ends on Sunday.Singh, a 1984-batch IPS officer of Union Territories cadre, will complete an over three year tenure as the ED Director.Official sources said Mishra, posted as chief commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi at present, has not been empanelled as an additional secretary in the central Govt and hence has been given the top ED charge in an additional capacity. He is expected to be empanelled soon and subsequently will head the ED in a regular capacity, they said. According to some sources, SK Mishra is said to be close to the BJP top brass and putting him in the top position at the ED is being seen as an attempt by NDA Govt to put up a strong face in the light of the CBI crisis.Sanjay Mishra has been in the limelight over the years for investigating many high-profile cases including the case of disproportionate assets against Mayawati, and National Herald case.nationalheraldindia
'People Were Standing and Provoking When 8-yr-old Azeem Was Beaten to Death': newsclick
https://www.newsclick.in/people-were-standing-and-provoking-when-8-yr-old-azeem-was-beaten-death?fbclid=IwAR1JXIoAnKU8CCWT1OdHlcKoUSB6h28UZjIK5mgbCwkdMWKCE_PSXi4M3qw
Mohamamd Azeem, a 8-year-old boy studying in a madarsa in Begumpur locality of South Delhi, was beaten to death by some minors on Thursday evening. Azeem, who hails from Rithath, Haryana, used to study hifz (memorised Quran) at Jamia Faridya Jama Masjid in Malviya Nagar. The incident took place around 1 p.m, during the lunch break, when some students were playing inside the premises. Nearly, 7 youth, including four minors from Balmiki Camp, allegedly attacked and killed Azeem. They reportedly repeatedly attacked him with a stone, punched him and later, threw him on a bike where he collapsed and died on the spot.Azeem was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead. 5 other students sustained injuries.Balmiki camp is adjacent to the madarsa and shares the same boundary wall.Azeem was the youngest in his family and had left at a very early age to pursue his education in a madarsa. After the incident, Newsclick went to the spot and talked to people from both sides. As per eyewitness accounts, the people who killed Azeem were the ones who used to barge into the madarsa and would use its premises for activities like gambling, drugs and liquor. "They used to even throw liquor bottles in the compound. It wasn't once or twice but a daily affair now," said one of the eyewitness. As per the madarsa teachers and students, since a very long time, the people of madarsa had complained to the police about the ill behaviour of some youth from the Balmiki Camp. "The police has not been taking any action, has been trying to dodge the matter and was completely negligent til this grotesque incident took place," said a man from the madarsa on the basis of anonymity.Mohammad Mustafa, Azeem's elder brother, who also studied in the same school said, "At least seven people beat my brother to death. They have a problem with our dress (kurta-paijama), they would taunt us for wearing skull caps. They always used to disrupt the namaz."Recalling Thursday's incident, Mustafa said in a choked voice:"They always used to threaten Azeem that one day they would kill him. The controversy erupted when our teachers and madarsa head asked them not play cards and drink inside the premises. They said 'Sab karenge, jo ukhdna hai ukhad' lo (we will do whatever we wish to, do whatever you want to) .People who lives around the are also asked them not to indulge in these activities, but they wouldn't pay heed and mentally harass us."Azeem's senior and close friend, Mohd Anas said,"Whenever we go to the Balmiki Camp to buy our daily stuff, they would tease us, taunt us for our religion and threaten to kill us. After drinking, they would throw the empty liquor bottles inside our hostel. Our campus is open, so it's very risky at night. Even our principal had complained to the Delhi Police but there was no action. I don't know why they do not like us. Do we look different?," he asked.Newsclick also spoke to madarsa's head, Mohammad Aizaj Ali. He said, "This madarsa was established in 1880 but is functioning full-fledged since the past 30 years. Such an incident has never happened. Azeem was very bright student. In this early age, he was doing hifz He was enrolled in the school in 2016," he said alleging that "some people have been targeting our madarsa since long. When they were beating Azeem, many people were standing and provoking them to kill him. A lady, Saroj, also threatened us with more such cases. This is utterly shocking. We are concerned about the security of our students more than ever. Such an incident has ingrained fear among our students."Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, who supervises the madarsa and also looks after the mosque which is in the same compound, said, "I am living here since the 40 years. More than 50 students from different states study here. Three-four children were playing inside the campus and cleaning the shrine, when a lady named Saroj, who lives in the Balmiki Camp, came with four youth and started pelting stones at our students. What I learnt is that they pressed Azeem's neck and threw him at a bike. He died on the spot. This lady Saroj also threatened us and said that we can't do anything to them."Meanwhile, at late night around 3 a.m, 4 minor boys allegedly involved in the lynching were arrested. newsclick
8-year-old’s death deepens faultlines between neighbouring communities
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/8-yr-olds-death-deepens-faultlines-between-neighbouring-communities-5420538/
8-yr-old madrasa student lynched in S.Delhi; students complain of regular abuse by locals
http://twocircles.net/2018oct26/426707.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
SIO Will Fund Education of Slain Delhi Madrasa Student’s Brothers Till PG
http://caravandaily.com/portal/sio-will-fund-education-of-slain-delhi-madrasa-students-brothers-till-pg/?fbclid=IwAR0pEUPwbjK0lzAXN0KH75URw9nNyI7glxIxENl1FkVRdif1qG-Vlklh2To
New Delhi: Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) has announced to bear all expenses of education of two brothers of slain madrasa student Mohammad Azeem. Azeem who studied at a madrasa in Malviya Nagar of Delhi was beaten to death by a group of local youths outside the madrasa premises Thursday noon.SIO president Nahas Mala visited their home in Mewat on Saturday and announced to support the education of two brothers.“Vsited Azeem’s house at Mewat. SIO will bear all expenses of education of his two brothers Mustafa and Musatqeem till their Post graduation,”Mala made announcement on Facebook.Meanwhile, AAP Govt of Delhi has announced to give Rs 5 lakh to his family. caravandaily
'I hate Hinduism, love Islam'; Mulund boy calls family from airport before disappearance; police suspect radicalization
https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/article/radicalised-i-hate-hinduism-love-islam-mulund-boy-calls-family-from-airport-before-disappearance-terrorism-honeytrap-islamic-terror-jagdish-parihar/304361
Mumbai: A youth from Mumbai deleted his facebook profile and the data from his computers before he went missing after making a last call from Mumbai International airport, reports Loksatta. 23-year-old student Jagdish Parihar was studying in 3rd year of graduation in commerce stream when he was reported missing. His family suspects that a woman, possibly a honeytrap, lured him online and also radicalised him enough to take a rash, drastic step like renouncing the life and family he knew. Mid-Day reports that the Mumbai police suspect he may have left the country and have alerted ATS about the issue.The report says Jagdish Parihar was spotted chatting with a woman on social media a couple of times before his disappearance. His last words, albeit on a telephone call to his family, were: "I'm unhappy with Hinduism, I want to convert to Islam". Police have confirmed that the now missing young man was last spotted at the Mumbai international airport, and fear he may have already left the country.Jagdish allegedly told a lie to his family on Tuesday when he his home around 1.30 pm. This boy from Mulund apparently told his family that he will be gone the entire day as he had to visit the Mumbai University campus to fill his BCom year-3 forms. Mid-Day quotes his brother Bhavesh Parihar telling the police, "Parihar called us around 7.30 pm and said he was unhappy with Hinduism, and that he wished to join Islam. He also told us that he would not come home again." Mirror Now/ timesnownews
Maharashtra: Student leaves home ‘to embrace Islam’, police suspect radicalisation
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-student-leaves-home-embrace-islam-police-suspect-radicalisation-5418776/
Attempts on to include illegal migrants: NRC officer to SC
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/attempts-on-to-include-illegal-migrants-nrc-officer-to-supreme-court/story-bomGHcKr83JmnxX5XjkwdP.html
Guwahati:National Register of Citizens’ (NRC) Assam coordinator, Prateek Hajela, has claimed in the Supreme Court that the outcry against the exclusion of five identity documents as a basis for filing claims and objections is an attempt to get illegal immigrants included in the NRC.The top court had on Tuesday asked Hajela to explain to the state Govt , Centre and other stakeholders why five documents — extract of the 1951 NRC, copy of electoral rolls up to March 24, 1971, citizenship and refugee registration certificates up to March 24, 1971 and ration cards— were not allowed to be used for filing inclusion claims. Around four million people were excluded from the final NRC draft released on July 30.Centre, BJP-led state Govt , the Opposition Congress and outfits representing minority communities have demanded that the all the initial 15 List A documents, which the applicants could submit with the NRC, be allowed as a basis for filing claims, objections.In a report submitted in the Supreme Court on Oct. 4 and made available by the court to the stakeholders on Thursday, Hajela states: “As NRC claims and objections is the last chance for the illegal migrants, these actions [demand for inclusion of five documents]…are actually a well planned attempt to get the illegal migrants into the NRC...” hindustantimes
CJI Led Bench To Consider Ayodhya-Babri Masjid Land Dispute On Monday
https://www.livelaw.in/cji-led-bench-to-consider-ayodhya-babri-masjid-land-dispute-on-monday/
Supreme Court will consider the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid land dispute on Oct. 29, Monday. The appeals arising from the 2010 judgment of Allahabad High Court pertaining to division of Ayodhya-Babri Masjid land is listed before the bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S K Kaul and Justice KM Joseph under the caption “direction matters”.On Sept.27, a 3 judges bench of the then CJI Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Abdul Nazeer had decided by 2:1 majority that there was no need to refer the matter to larger bench.The request for reference was made by Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan, the counsel for Sunni Waqf Board, on the premise that the observation in the Constitution Bench judgment in Ismail Faruqui case that “offering namaz in mosque is not an essential feature of Islam” required reconsideration. The majority of the then CJI Misra and Justice Bhushan opined that the said observation in Faruqui was not relevant in determining the title dispute of Ayodhya-Babri Masjid land. The majority held that the observations in Faruqui were made in the context of deciding the issue whether a mosque could claim immunity from land acquisition proceedings. However, dissenting from this view, Justice Abdul Nazeer held that the observations in Faruqui case influenced the High Court decision in the title suit, and hence required reconsideration by a larger bench.After declining the plea for reference to larger bench, the majority had fixed the next date of hearing as Oct. 29. livelaw
Ayodhya case: SC to decide course of hearing on Oct.29
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ayodhya-case-supreme-court-to-decide-course-of-hearing-on-Oct.-29/articleshow/66391664.cms
Togadia fails to elicit much support for Ram Temple during Ayodhya visit
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-up-togadia-fails-to-elicit-much-support-for-ram-temple-during-ayodhya-visit/story-uoTPhSZVNOpUUqsxxufVwN.html
Lucknow:Former VHP president Praveen Togadia, who on Tuesday floated his own party, could not elicit much support for the Ram Mandir movement during his three-day visit to Ayodhya this week.Now the president of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), and the head of an as-yet unnamed political party, is making all efforts to project himself as the torch-bearer of the Ram Mandir in UP. This, after he was thrown out of VHP over his alleged differences with top BJP leaders, including PM Narendra Modi.On this visit, he failed to evoke much response from both the saints and locals of the temple town, political and spiritual leaders familiar with the matter said. “Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas has nothing to do with Togadia’s visit. The Nyas is in no way associated with his movement. In future also we will not have any association with his political party,” said Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. hindustantimes
Bukkal Nawab’s slip of tongue on Ram Mandir creates ruckus at BJP Minority Morcha meet
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/bukkal-nawabs-slip-of-tongue-on-ram-mandir-creates-ruckus-at-bjp-minority-morcha-meet/1362110/
BJP’s Minority Morcha meeting in Lucknow was marred by protests when party MLC Bukkal Nawab courted controversy with his remark that ‘no one will read namaz at the disputed site if a masjid is constructed’. According to a report in the Indian Express, the attendees took strong exception and started hooting Bukkal, forcing him to issue a clarification. He said, "It is being said that instead of Ram Mandir, a mosque should be constructed. Okay, I am also saying construct a masjid. Even if a mosque is built on the disputed site, who will go there to offer namaz? In Islam, it is clearly written that offering namaz at a disputed site is forbidden… he will go to hell."When his remark triggered hooting and protests from the attendees, he said: “I am speaking about the construction of a mosque, not temple."“I was trying to explain issues on which we are constantly targeted. I was trying to explain in other words that even if the demand for a mosque is fulfilled, any prayers offered at the disputed site would not serve any purpose. Anyone who does so will go to hell,” he said later. Bukkal reiterated that reading namaz at the disputed place is against the Islamic principles. He said that there was no major protest.“I was trying to explain something and was asked to speak about the organisation, so I continued with other topics…A temple will be built in Ayodhya or in Pakistan or Afghanistan? I am in favour of Ram temple in Ayodhya, not 100%, but 1000 %,” he said.MLA added that he will donate Rs 10 lakh when a temple is constructed in Ayodhya. The meeting was attended by senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma.Bukkal was earlier with the Samajwadi Party but he joined the BJP after 2017 Assembly polls. Bukkal was sent to Legislative Council from the BJP’s quota soon after. financialexpress
BJP MLC’s remark offends minority cell: ‘Namaz at disputed site is haram’
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/bjp-mlcs-remark-offends-minority-cell-namaz-at-disputed-site-is-haram-5419078/
Hamid Ansari says India just as responsible for Partition as Pakistan, claims 'it was easier to blame Muslims'
https://www.firstpost.com/india/hamid-ansari-says-india-just-as-responsible-for-partition-as-pakistan-claims-it-was-easier-to-blame-muslims-5457321.html
Former vice president Hamid Ansari, speaking at the launch of Saeed Naqvi's new book Being the Other - The Muslim in India, said that India was just as responsible as Pakistan for Partition.As per a report from Times Now, Ansari said: "We are not ready to accept that we were equal culprits in the deed." "On 11 Aug., 1947, 4 days before independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel made a statement where he said: 'We took these extreme steps after great deliberation. In spite of my previous strong opposition to Partition, I agreed to it because I was convinced that to keep India united, it must be divided.'" He alleged that when politics changed, someone had to be made responsible for Partition, and it was easier to blame Muslims. "Everyone agreed that Muslims should be held responsible,' he said. firstpost
Hamid Ansari Warns of Consequences of ‘Othering’ Indian Muslims
http://caravandaily.com/portal/what-will-be-consequences-of-making-indias-14-population-the-other-hamid-ansari/
Arms haul and terror plot case: Maharashtra ATS seeks more time to file chargesheet
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/arms-haul-and-terror-plot-case-maharashtra-ats-seeks-more-time-to-file-chargesheet-5420618/
aharashtra ATS on Friday sought more time to file a chargesheet in the alleged arms haul and terror plot case involving Hindutva groups.ATS has filed an application stating that as the investigation in the case is still ongoing and crucial evidence is being gathered, it should be granted a further 90-day period to file the chargesheet.Under UAPA, applied on the accused men, an investigating agency can be granted up to 180 days to file a chargesheet as against the usual limit of 90 days. The investigators, however, need to seek an extension from the special court hearing the case, which may allow them the plea based on whether reasonable grounds were made out to seek more time.On Friday, after ATS moved an application, Special Judge VS Padalkar directed lawyers of accused to file a reply. Plea will be heard next week.On Aug 10, ATS had held 3 men— Vaibav Raut, a member of the Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti, Sharad Kalaskar and Sudanva Gondhalekar— allegedly with a huge consignment of arms and ammunition, including materials to make guns and crude bombs.indianexpress
Heeragold MD brought to Mumbai,held for Rs 500 cr fraud
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/heera-group-md-brought-to-mumbai-held-for-rs-500-crore-fraud/articleshow/66385861.cms
Mumbai:The city economic offences wing (EOW) has brought Heera Group of Companies managing director Nowhera Shaikh to the city and arrested her in a Rs 500 crore investment fraud case. She was produced before a special court and remanded to police custody till Nov. 3. Over two lakh invested in schemes run by the Rs 1,000-crore group. Around 10,000 investors are from Mumbai. EOW registered an FIR on Oct. 23, after a Bhendi Bazaar resident, Shane Ilahi Shaikh, complained that he had invested Rs 6 lakh in Heera Gold and it defaulted on payments. Shane told police he was promised monthly returns of 2.8-3.2% on his investment. He got returns for a few months but they stopped since June. Police searched the company's Bhendi Bazaar and Mira Road offices and named an agent, Saleem Ansari, in FIR as an accused. Agents would mainly target Muslim, claiming the scheme gave a monthly profit, and not interest, which is not allowed in Islam. Those named in FIR include Nowhera, director of Heera group of companies, Heera Gold Exim Ltd, Heera Retail Pvt Ltd, Heera Textile Ltd, Heera Foodex Pvt Ltd, and several agents for inducing investment. Besides the Hyderabad case against the group and Shaikh, two cases are registered in Bhiwandi and Aurangabad. Vineet Dhanda, Nowhera's lawyer, said she was a victim of political vendetta. TOI
College asks students to wear 'proper uniform', invites MLA's wrath for ‘targeting Hijab’
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/college-asks-students-to-wear-proper-uniform-invites-mla-s-wrath-118102601155_1.html
Nagaon:An MLA of the opposition AIUDF has charged the authorities of a premier college in Assam's Nagaon district with "saffronising" the college environment by asking the students to wear "proper uniform".There cannot be any harm if some girl students go to college in 'hijab' (veil worn by Muslim women) and 'niqab' (clothing that covers the face), AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said in a Facebook post.Principal of Anandaram Dhekial Phookan (ADP) College Dr Surajit Kumar Bhagowati on Friday said he did not ban any religious outfit and only issued a notice before the Autumn vacation asking students to wear "proper uniform".Of the 20 % Muslim students of the college, only the MLA's daughter comes in burqa, Bhagowati said, adding that he was feeling threatened and has lodged a police complaint over the Facebook post of the AIUDF leader.In his Oct. 24 post, Islam said, "No such decision (banning religious outfits) was taken in the last 60 years of the college's existence. I would like to know where in the Indian Constitution or the state gazetted notification it is written that one cannot wear such outfits." "The college has been imparting education to students irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion for the last 60 years but you (Bhagowati) have tried to saffronise the education system in the college,"MLA, a former student of the ADP College, said in the post written in Assamese.PTI
Riot affected victims of Malegaon await justice from 18 yrs
http://twocircles.net/2018oct26/426711.html
18 years back on 26th Oct. 2001 it was a Friday and after the Jummah namaz at Jama Masjid in Central Market, Malegaon communal riots took place.But the police who tried to control the riots fired only on Muslim crowds killing 10 more persons and not on the Hindu crowds that were vandalising Muslim properties.Despite being a majority the Muslims in Malegaon were the ones who suffered more there were rapes of Muslim women, mosques were damaged and nearly 100 crore worth business was lost. Hindus who are a minority are economically strong and had planned these riots in advance. Patil commission that was formed by State Govt of Maharashtra to investigate the communal riots prepared their report and submitted to Govt. The report of the concerned citizens however brought to light the horrific crimes committed against the Muslims and the apathy of Police force.TCN
CISF ASI killed in J&K’s Nogwam in shootout with militants
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cisf-asi-killed-in-j-k-s-nogwam-in-shootout-with-militants/story-BR3Hcz028DAFPlnOe2GhoM.html
Srinagar:An assistant sub inspector of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) who was injured in a gun fight with militants Friday night in Nowgam area of Srinagar later died of his injuries, police said.“In the intervening night a standoff fire by terrorists took place at the grid Station Wagoora in Nowgam area in which one ASI of CISF sustained serious bullet injuries. The attack was successfully repulsed by the alert sentry at the spot,” a police spokesman said Saturday morning.The area has been sanitized by the security forces.HT
Aligarh police awaits forensic reports of azadi slogan video of AMU students
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/aligarh-police-awaits-forensic-reports-of-azadi-slogan-video-of-amu-students/articleshow/66367316.cms
Though AMU has revoked suspension of Kashmiri students, allegedly involved in raising the slogans of azadi in the campus, UP police is awaiting the report of FSL of the video clip that went viral on social media on Oct. 12. P police had booked two Kashmiri students under sedition charges after the video, purportedly shot a day after the death of Mannan Wani in an encounter, showing Kashmiri students raising slogans of azadi, went viral. They were suspended by AMU administration after the video surfaced. PTI
Govt asks telecom companies to adhere to SC order, stop using Aadhaar eKYC to verify users
https://scroll.in/latest/899812/Govt -asks-telecom-companies-to-adhere-to-sc-order-stop-using-aadhaar-ekyc-to-verify-users
Centre on Friday asked telecom companies to stop using Aadhaar for electronic verification of existing mobile phone customers as well as for issuing new connections. Govt asked the companies to adhere to the Supreme Court’s verdict in September restricting the use of Aadhaar by private entities. Department of Telecom on Friday issued instructions to the companies to discontinue the use of e-KYC service and report compliance by Nov. 5. The department further said the use of physical Aadhaar card for new connections is permitted, provided the customer offers it voluntarily. scroll
Sabarimala row: Centre will dissolve Kerala Govt if it arrests more devotees, says Amit Shah
https://scroll.in/latest/899877/sabarimala-row-centre-will-dissolve-kerala-Govt -if-it-arrests-more-devotees-says-amit-shah
BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday warned that the Centre will dissolve the Left Democratic Front Govt in Kerala if it continues to arrest Ayyappa devotees who protested in the state against women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple. Shah asked courts to issue “practical instructions to Govt s”.On Friday, police said it has arrested 2,061 people in connection with last week’s violence that broke out against the Supreme Court judgment permitting the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. At least 452 cases have been registered so far, police said.scroll.in
Kerala: Ashram of religious preacher who backed SC’s Sabarimala verdict attacked
https://scroll.in/latest/899850/kerala-ashram-of-religious-preacher-who-backed-supreme-courts-sabarimala-verdict-attacked
Unidentified people on Saturday morning attacked the ashram of a Hindu religious preacher who has supported the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the entry women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, ANI reported.The incident took place at Sandeepananda Giri’s ashram in Thiruvananthapuram’s Kundamankadavu around 2.30 am. 2 cars and a two-wheeler were set on fire and a wreath was placed in front of the ashram as a mark of protest, reported Mathrubhumi.Residents living near the ashram noticed the fire and informed the police and fire rescue service, according to Malayala Manorama.Giri alleged that BJP state chief Sreedharan Pillai, the Thazhamon family to which the head priests of the Sabarimala temple belong, and the erstwhile Pandalam royal family –custodians of the hill shrine – were behind the attack, Mathurbhumi reported.“They are trying to destroy the people who say [the] truth to the public,” Giri said. The police have initiated an investigation, Malayala Manorama reported.sroll
Vedic education only alternative to Macaulay’s system: Amit Shah
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vedic-education-only-alternative-to-macaulays-system-amit-shah-5377231/?fbclid=IwAR3cUsfeSBXJdW2YQ0Xrql1ftoBqYdG57MeIPNMBPT8qjpbC425p9ADysE4
Haridwar :BJP president Amit Shah has inaugurated Patanjali Yogpeeth’s “Acharyakulam” which claims to synthesise modern and Vedic education, saying yoga guru Ramdev has paved the way for the country’s freedom from Macaulay’s system of education by offering an alternative.“By offering an option of Vedic education in the form of this institution, the yoga guru has shown the way out of Macaulay’s divisive education system whose foundations were laid during the British rule,” Shah said.Thomas Babington Macaulay was a British historian and played a major role in the introduction of English as the medium of instruction for education in India. Alleging that Macaulay’s system of education introduced by the British had divided the society, Shah said the Centre will consider setting up a board at the national level to promote Vedic education in the country.PTI
Gujarat: Net services shut in Mahuva for 7 days after riots
https://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-internet-services-shut-in-mahuva-for-seven-days-after-communal-riots-2679776
Bhavnagar Collector Harshad Patel held a peace meeting on Friday with local residents in Mahuva town after the murder of a VHP leader led to communal tension in the area. Members of both Hindu and Muslim communities went on a rampage after the killing on Tuesday night.The collector issued a notification suspending internet service for the next seven days in the area. The step was taken to ensure peace and stop rumours from spreading through social media. A video of the violence went viral on social media which showed a mob setting fire to several commercial establishments. Local schools and colleges have been asked to remain closed till the situation is brought under control.Jayesh Gujaria (22), newly appointed president of the VHP in Mahuva town, was stabbed to death by four persons from a rival group on Tuesday. Three of the accused have been identified as Islam, Imran and Bapudi while the fourth person could not be identified. A dispute is believed to have erupted between them over VHP banners that Gujaria was putting in the minority area for Navratri festival.dnaindia
Mumbai: Muslim parents wary of new MR vaccination
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-parents-from-muslim-community-wary-of-new-mr-vaccination/19922188
The central Govt's Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign has become a matter of concern among parents in the Muslim community who are uncomfortable with the involvement of schools and they are unwilling to get their children to take the vaccination. In order to dispel the misconceptions about the vaccine fuelled by viral posts and videos on social media, parents from Dongri and Bhendi Bazaar were invited to an open discussion with paediatricians and officials from WHO and the BMC on Thursday. The parents' concerns stem from rumours based on videos and messages being circulated on social media suggests that MR vaccination has been designed to sterilise the next generation to wipe out the Muslim community. Unwilling to reveal their identity, a parent said that she was deeply suspicious about the vaccinations being given at the schools instead of at hospitals. "Our school management says that it's mandatory. Polio is given at health camps then why should our child get the vaccination at school? They want to keep our child under observation after the injection is given even though it's not done for other vaccinations," she said. Another parent questioned the need for a second vaccination since the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccination already exists. "My daughter has already had MMR vaccination. Then why do we have to give her vaccination twice when it's only meant to be taken once? The school refuses to answer our questions," she said.mid-day.com
Modi a paradoxical PM who failed electorate: Manmohan
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-a-paradoxical-prime-minister-who-failed-electorate-manmohan-singh-5420707/
New Delhi :Narendra Modi is a “paradoxical PM ” who has failed the electorate and eroded the voters’ faith in his promises over four and a half years, ex PM Manmohan Singh said.Speaking after releasing MP Shashi Tharoor’s book on PM Modi, Singh said that the Modi Govt has remained silent in the face of widespread communal violence, mob lynching and cow vigilantism despite promising to be PM for all of India. Govt, he said, has sought to curb academic freedom and the “environment in our universities and national institutions like CBI is being vitiated and dissent stifled”.indianexpress
Former NCP leader Tariq Anwar joins Congress
https://scroll.in/latest/899857/former-ncp-leader-tariq-anwar-joins-congress
Former NCP leader Tariq Anwar joined the Congress on Saturday. Ex-MP from Katihar and his supporters met Congress President Rahul Gandhi Anwar at his Tughlaq Lane residence. He is expected to release an official statement later in the day, PTI reportedAnwar quit NCP in Sept.after party chief Sharad Pawar’s remarks about Rafale defence deal that were seemingly in support of PM Narendra Modi.“I resigned after being hurt by Pawar saheb’s comments,” Anwar had said after handing over his resignation. “There must be a thorough probe on the corruption in Rafale deal.”scroll.in
BJP, JD(U) to fight equal seats, ally tapped by RJD
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shah-says-bjp-jdu-to-fight-equal-seats-ally-tapped-by-rjd-5420684/
New Delhi, Patna :Even as BJP president Amit Shah on Friday claimed there are no internal differences in NDA in Bihar over seat-sharing, and along with JD(U) chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announced that both parties will contest an equal number of seats in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2 smaller alliance partners, Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP and Ramvilas Paswan’s LJP, appear to be growing restive as BJP is yet to announce the number of seats each party would contest.After a meeting with Nitish Kumar, Shah said the Lok Janshakti Party and the RLSP will get “respectable” number of seats to contest, and that each party has agreed to take a cut in its share to accommodate the new partner – JD(U).“Numbers (of seats that each party will contest) will be announced in two or three days,” Shah, with Nitish by his side, told the media in Delhi.Within hours, RLSP chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha created a stir with his “unscheduled meet” with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav at Arwal in Bihar.indianexpress
Bengal Cong, Left hold talks with Muslim leaders
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/india/bengal-cong--left-hold-talks-with-muslim-leaders.html
Kolkata:Both the Congress and CPI(M) leaders of Bengal have started holding “meaningful talks” with the Muslim religious and social leaders aheadof 2019 general elections. According to sources Bengal Congress chief Somen Mitra have held secret talks with select leaders of various minority organizations Furfura Mujaddedia Orphan Foundation and Minority Youth Federation. Though the leader would not dwell much on the points of references he said the Congress was indeed trying to wrest back the minority voters from TMC.PCC president is known to have spoken to Muslim social andreligious leaders like Md Nuruddin the State president of Jamiat-i-Islami Hind, secretary of Mili Ittehad parishad Abdul Ajiz, Sarwar Hasan, Kamruddin Malik, Jahid Mahmood etc.Elsewhere CPI(M) politburo member Md Salim also held talks with Muslim leaders party sources said. While Mitra spoke to minority leaders on Tuesday Salim held discussions with them on Wednesday sources said.Among those who held talks with Salim at the CPI(M) State headquarters at Alimuddin Street was Jamat-i-Islami leader Abdul Ajiz, party sources said. dailypioneer
West Bengal: BJP to woo Muslims to unseat TMC: theweek
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/10/26/west-bengal-bjp-woo-muslims-unseat-tmc.html
BJP has now decided to woo Muslims in West Bengal and would like to give them tickets in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly polls. A meeting in this regard was convened by Arvind Menon, a close aide of Amit Shah and joint convener of the campaign committee of Bengal,in Kolkata on Thursday. Menon asked party leaders and members attending the meeting to woo Muslims and find candidates among them.
Bengal BJP minority wing to launch drive on triple, NRC
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/bjp-minority-morcha-to-launch-drive-on-triple-talaq-nrc-5420789/
RSS’s Muslim wing to start campaign backing Modi
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/rsss-muslim-wing-to-start-campaign-backing-modi/articleshow/66382163.cms
Nagpur: RSS’s minority outreach wing — Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) — has initiated a drive to project PM Narendra Modi as the community’s messiah and flay the Congress. Focusing on Subhas Chandra Bose, it will be stressed that it was this freedom fighter who championed for an undivided India, but the Congress led to the partition which ultimately hampered the interests of the Muslims. TOI
Back candidates with secular credentials: Muslim bodies
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/back-candidates-with-secular-credentials-muslim-bodies/articleshow/66384911.cms
Jaipur: Several Muslim groups have asked the community neither to have a soft corner for the Congress candidates nor to vote for the party which is fundamentally against Muslims in the upcoming polls.The socio-religious leaders representing all sects of the community have decided to mobilise support for alternate leadership by supporting smaller parties or independent candidates who have secular credentials over BJP and Congress candidates. The decision was taken in a meeting on Thursday in Jaipur.Naim Rabbani of Helping Hand Foundation says that Congress had maintained a stoic silence on lynching cases involving Muslims while BJP leaders left no stone unturned to justify the killings.Jamait-E-Ulema Hind, a frontal body of Muslims, spokesperson Mohammed Iqbal says that 14th Rajasthan legislative assembly had two Muslim MLAs that too from BJP who remained silent on the issues pertaining to the 10% of the state population. timesofindia
Ganga activist GD Agarwal reportedly criticised Centre in ‘final video’ before death
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ganga-activist-gd-agarwal-reportedly-criticised-centre-in-final-video-before-death/story-qAwLnyAP6yyyt9RR7U9GzI.html
Followers of Ganga activist Guru Das Agarwal have released a video, reportedly recorded about an hour before his death on Oct. 11, showing the scientist-turned-seer on the hospital bed questioning the central Govt ’s notification on the river’s environmental flow.The video was released on Friday, the day the Supreme Court refused shifting his body from AIIMS, Rishikesh, to his Matri Sadan ashram in Haridwar for post-death rituals. The ruling came hours after the Uttarakhand high court had ordered the state police to supervise the body’s transfer after accepting a plea on behalf of the seer’s followers who wanted to pay their last respects to the 86-year-old former IIT professor, popular among his disciples as Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand.Members of the ashram said he had passed away soon after the video was shot.HT
80% of Wakf land in Maharashtra lost in illegal deals:Ansari
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/80-of-wakf-land-in-state-lost-in-illegal-deals-ansari/articleshow/66369406.cms
Nagpur:Tehrik-e-Aukaf, a watchdog organization on Wakf properties, has alleged that 80% of Wakf land in Maharashtra has been lost either to illegal transfers or encroachments. Its head Shabbir Ahmed Ansari has threatened to go to court if the Govt failed to take action against the current and ex-members of the State Wakf Board involved in illegal transfer of land.Ansari, who is also chairman of All India Muslim, OBC Trust has been spearheading a movement against misuse of Wakf land for last two decades and is based in Mumbai. Addressing a press conference, he said that despite several complaints against Wakf board member Asif Qureshi, the state Govt has failed to order his disqualification. “If FIR is not filed in the next eight days, we will have to knock at the court’s door,” said Ansari.The activist said ever since the state Wakf board was established in 2002, those close to the then ruling Congress and NCP occupied posts of board members. TOI
Haryana govt spends Rs 80,000 per day on CM’s air travel
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-govt-spends-rs-80-000-per-day-on-cm-khattar-s-air-travel/story-bDPiVJhf2QhaTtbKnq4DAI.html?fbclid=IwAR0dDvIMBAiGDMSh07pbiEFzTtU-h4ELqXShmKG77MZGgfWdAL07E9YE-lY
Rohtak:BJP Govt in Haryana has splurged about Rs 80,000 per day on CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s inland air travel since Oct.2014 when he took over the reins of the state.A RTI query filed by Gurugram-based activist Harinder Dhingra has revealed that around Rs 10 crore were spent on fuel cost of the state-owned helicopter used by the CM and the rent paid by the state Govt on chartered air services hired for him during the past 45 months.HT
Saeed's JuD no more in Pak list of banned terror outfits
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/hafiz-saeed-s-jud-no-more-in-pakistan-s-list-of-banned-terror-outfits-1376560-2018-10-27
Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) is no longer mentioned in Pakistan's list of banned outfits after a presidential ordinance, declaring all individuals and organisations, which are on the UN terror list as part of the country's list of banned outfits also, lapsed.The then Pakistan President, Syed Mamnoon Hussain, had issued the ordinance a few days before the plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) earlier this year. The move, widely seen as Pakistan's last resort action to tackle FATF failed as the Pakistani team failed to convince FATF of its actions against money laundering and terror financing and saw itself thrown into the FATF 'grey' list. indiatoday
WORLD
With Netanyahu’s surprise visit, Sultan Qaboos building Oman's 'regional role'
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/netanyahu-visit-sultan-qaboos-seeks-build-omans-regional-role-1687703890
Ramallah:Sultan Qaboos bin Said's surprise meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu this week was more about Oman's desire to play a role in the region than reaching a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, according to a diplomatic source.Sultan Qaboos hosted Netanyahu in Muscat only days after he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Still, while Palestinian sources said the sultan urged both leaders to revive the stalled peace process, a Western diplomatic source indicated that Netanyahu's visit - and the way it was quietly announced after PM had returned to Israel - was more about Oman and its role in the region than anything else."Oman is trying to play a regional role between the various parties and axes in the region, and it sees Israel as an important player in various regional issues," the diplomat told Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity. "Abbas's visit was for creating the necessary balance," the diplomat said. Palestinian sources say Sultan Qaboos told both Netanyahu and Abbas to restart peace talks, but Palestinians told him there isn't a good chance negotiations can resume with Israel's current right-wing Govt." Palestinian side welcomes any Arab or international effort to revive the peace process, but does not think that Oman has a magic wand capable of doing what the Americans and the others could not do," the Palestinian source said.The peace process, the source continued, has been "crushed under the bulldozers and the non-stop expansion of Israeli settlements".In a statement, Netanyahu's office said Sultan Qaboos invited the PM and his wife to Oman "at the end of lengthy contacts between the two countries".Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit the sultanate since Shimon Peres in 1996.According to the statement, Netanyahu was accompanied by several high-ranking Israeli officials on his rare visit to the Gulf state, including Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, who serves as the PM 's adviser on national security issues; head of NSA,Meir Ben-Shabat; director-general of the Foreign Ministry, Yuval Rotem; PMO chief, Yuval Horowitz, and Netanyahu's military secretary, Brigadier General Avi Plut. "The meeting dealt with ways to advance the peace process in the Middle East, as well as issues of mutual interest related to peace and stability in the region," read a joint statement issued after the meeting.In a tweet, Ayoob Kara, member of Netanyahu's Likud party and Israel's minister of communications, said the visit to Oman was "proof of good relations between the Israeli Govt and Sunni countries that oppose Iranian terrorism that threatens them". middleeasteye
Netanyahu makes surprise trip to Oman,meets with Sultan
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/netanyahu-visits-oman-and-meets-sultan-qaboos-745171995
Netanyahu meets Sultan Qaboos in surprise Oman trip
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/israel-netanyahu-meets-sultan-qaboos-surprise-trip-oman-181026144447963.html
Netanyahu rounds up official visit to Oman
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181027-netanyahu-rounds-up-official-visit-to-oman/
Oman rejects mediating between Israelis, Palestinians
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/10/27/578236/Oman-Israel-Palestine-
Oman says it will not act as a “mediator” between Israelis and Palestinians, playing down an earlier visit by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.The sultanate was only offering ideas to help Israel and Palestinians to come together, Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah told a security summit in Bahrain’s capital Manama on Saturday.The remarks came a day after Netanyahu visited Oman in a rare visit, while accompanied by other senior Israeli officials, including the head of the Israeli spy agency Mossad.“We are not saying road is now easy and paved with flowers, but our priority is to put an end to the conflict and move to a new world,” Reuters cited Abdullah as saying.presstv
Israel kills 5 Palestinians in Gaza protests:health ministry
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-kills-five-palestinians-gaza-protests-health-ministry-766252006
5 Palestinian demonstrators were shot dead by Israeli soldiers and 170 others wounded during protests at the Gaza border on Friday, the Gaza health ministry said.Dozens were also injured by tear gas fired by Israeli forces towards the demonstrators participating in the protests, which were held for the 31st week in a row.In response to the deaths, Gaza's ruling Hamas fired 14 rockets towards Israel, 10 of which were intercepted, military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said on Twitter.Israeli military launched air strikes in retaliation at three positions belonging to Hamas, an army statement said. In late March, Palestinians launched the Great March of Return, gathering peacefully along the "buffer zone" in Gaza near the fence separating it from Israel.middleeasteye
Israeli jets hit 80 targets in Gaza amid rocket fire,protests
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/israeli-jets-hit-80-targets-gaza-rocket-fire-protests-181027060228965.html?fbclid=IwAR2FG9S-edSQqyJdQFt6lD1oOkwNHyCvUVJKycZXFPFhTE07JU45hgLvWw8
Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of sites across the Gaza Strip early on Saturday as fighters fired about 30 rockets into Israel, in the heaviest exchange of fire in several weeks.The fighting followed a bloody day of border protests, in which Israeli forces shot and killed five Palestinians protesting along the perimeter fence dividing Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel.The fighting and bloodshed complicated the mission of Egyptian mediators, who have intensified shuttle diplomacy to achieve calm and prevent a full-blown conflict between Hamas and Israel.Israeli military said it had struck about 80 sites across Gaza by early Saturday morning, including a security headquarters building. Air raid sirens sounded throughout the night in southern Israel, with firing some 30 rockets, the military said.It said about 10 rockets were intercepted by its Iron Dome rocket defence system, two landed prematurely in Gaza and the rest fell in open areas. Israel's military chief, General Gadi Eisenkot, convened an emergency meeting of top security officials, the army added, without elaborating.aljazeera
Israel Army Radio HQ begins move to Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181026-israel-army-radio-headquarters-begins-move-to-jerusalem/
HQRS of Israel’s Army Radio began its move to Jerusalem yesterday, with Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman laying the building’s cornerstone.The opening ceremony was attended by Lieberman, as well as key figures from Israel’s Ministry of Defence,its Chief of Staff and Army Radio’s Commander. Lieberman addressed the ceremony saying:”This ceremony is a sign that all the arguments are behind us. I’m positive that Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, will provide special inspiration to Army Radio [and] will always enjoy public confidence.” middleeastmonitor
Palestine accuses Israel of falsifying Palestinian curriculum in Jerusalem schools
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181026-palestine-accuses-israel-of-falsifying-palestinian-curriculum-in-jerusalem-schools/
Palestinian Education Minister Sabri Sidem accused Israel, Thursday, of “falsifying” the Palestinian curriculum in schools in occupied Jerusalem.Sidem said in a news conference held at the ministry’s headquarters in Ramallah that “the Israeli authorities printed distorted copies of Palestinian curriculum and distributed them to the schools supervised by the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem.”He pointed out that the distortion affected “all the curricula issued by the Palestinian Curriculum Development Centre.”“The occupation authorities removed the Palestinian flag from all books covers, the Palestinian keffiyeh, and the name of the State of Palestine and its Eagle Logo as well as the phrase ‘Ministry of Education and Higher Education,’” he clarified. middleeastmonitor
Palestinian group announces Gaza ceasefire with Israel
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestinian-group-announces-gaza-ceasefire-with-israel/1294928
Gaza-based Islamic Jihad movement on Saturday announced an Egypt-brokered ceasefire with Israel, according to its spokesman.“We announce a ceasefire with Israel after Egyptian contacts with us,” Dawoud Shihab said.He said his movement “will be committed to the deal as long as Israel is committed to”.Late Friday, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes across Gaza Strip, citing rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.The deal came after at least 6 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured by Israeli army fire during anti-occupation protests along Gaza border.Anadolu
Would not negotiate secretly with Israel, says Pakistan minister after reports of 'Israeli' aircraft in Pakistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1835089/1-not-negotiate-secretly-israel-says-fawad-reports-israeli-aircraft-pakistan/
Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said the country would not negotiate in secret with either Israel or India after sections of the media reported the alleged arrival of an ‘Israeli’ business jet at Islamabad International Airport (IIA).Reports emerged on social media on Friday evening regarding the presence of a suspected Israeli aircraft at Islamabad airport. The aircraft reportedly spent 10 hours at the airport. The information was obtained by flight tracking website Flight Radar.tribunePak
11 Israelis take part in UAE judo competition
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/11-israelis-part-uae-judo-competition-181027090314516.html
11 Israeli players are taking part in a judo competition in UAE after the tournament was temporarily suspended last year over a ban on Israeli symbols during the medal-awarding ceremony. Abu Dhabi Judo Grand-Slam, which started on Saturday and runs for three days, includes athletes from 62 countries. Israel is represented by 6 male and five female competitors. Last year, the UAE organisers had singled Israel out with a ban on displaying its flag or playing its anthem during the tournament when one of its athletes was awarded a medal. aljazeera
Khashoggi suspects 'will be prosecuted in Saudi: Saudi
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/khashoggi-suspects-will-be-prosecuted-saudi-arabia-saudi-fm-652020726
Saudi Arabia will prosecute the suspects in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Riyadh's foreign minister has said Saturday, in response to a call by Turkey's president for their extradition."On the issue of extradition, the individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a regional defence forum in the Bahraini capital.Jubeir also told the forum that Riyadh's relations with the United States were "ironclad" amid what he described as "media hysteria" over the killing of Khashoggi.The foreign minister's comments came a day after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called for the extradition of 18 Saudi nationals authorities say were involved in the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi Govt critic killed in his country's consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.middleeasteye
Khashoggi's fiancee: Why I declined Trump's invitation
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/jamal-khashoggi-fiancee-declined-trump-invitation-181026150610532.html
The fiancee of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has called for those responsible for his murder to be brought to justice, adding that she declined an invitation by US President Donald Trump to visit the White House.Hatice Cengiz, a Turkish national, made the comments in an emotional interview with broadcaster Haberturk on Friday, her first TV appearance since Khashoggi's killing inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul more than three weeks ago."I demand that all those involved in this savagery from the highest to the lowest levels are punished and brought to justice," she said.aljazeera
Son of Saudi journalist Khashoggi has left Saudi
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181026-son-of-saudi-journalist-khashoggi-has-left-saudi-arabia/
The eldest son of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi arrived in Washington with his family from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to two sources close to the family, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed for his return, Reuters reports.Salah Khashoggi, who holds dual US-Saudi citizenship and had thus far been under a travel ban, departed Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.He and his family joined his mother and his three siblings in Washington, said the sources, both speaking on condition of anonymity.Several hours after their arrival, State Dept deputy spokesman Robert Palladino disclosed that Pompeo told Saudi leaders in Riyadh earlier this month that “he wanted Salah Khashoggi returned to the US.”middleeastmonitor
Bahrain says 'Arab NATO' to be formed by next year
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/bahrain-arab-nato-formed-year-181027090924115.html
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has said a planned Gulf security alliance, expected to include Egypt, will be formed by next year.At a security summit in capital Manama on Saturday, Khalifa said the Middle East Strategic Alliance (MESA), an initiative pushed by US President Donald Trump to confront Iran, will help the Gulf remain "a pillar of stability"."It (MESA) is an alliance for security and prosperity for the region and will be open to those who accept its principles," he said, adding that the alliance would also cooperate on economic issues.aljazeera
European Court ruling on insulting Prophet Muhammad ‘reinforces right of religious belief’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181027-european-court-ruling-on-insulting-prophet-muhammad-reinforces-right-of-religious-belief/
Integrity Foundation for Humanitarian and Human Rights (Hayat Haq) has expressed its support for the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which considered that insulting the Prophet Muhammad does not fall under the framework of freedom of expression.The Integrity Foundation said in a statement that “European Court’s decision reinforces the freedom and rights of religious belief, one of the pillars of freedom in democratic societies governed by law”. On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that “insulting the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – does not fall within the freedom of expression, and considered that the conviction of an Austrian court for a woman accused of insulting the Holy Prophet does not violate the right to freedom of expression, nor Chapter X of the European Charter of Human Rights”.Integrity Foundation explained that the decision of the European Court comes in the context of encouraging the protection of and respect for the religious feelings of Muslims and functions mainly to promote community peace.MEMO
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor converts to Islam : aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/sinead-converts-islam-called-shuhada-davitt-181026073830053.html
Irish singer Sinead O'Connor has announced she has converted to Islam and said she has changed her name to Shuhada' Davitt.51-year-old has been posting selfies of herself wearing hijabs on Twitter in recent days, as well as a video in which she sang the Azan, or call to prayer.She tweeted on Oct. 19:"This is to announce that I am proud to have become a Muslim.This is the natural conclusion of any intelligent theologian's journey. All scripture study leads to Islam. Which makes all other scriptures redundant."O'Connor, who now goes by Davitt, achieved widespread success in 1990 with her cover of 'Nothing Compares 2 U', a song written by late Prince.
Another meeting for Sisi and Bashir as Sudan lifts ban on Egyptian imports
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sudan-lifts-ban-egyptian-imports-sisi-meets-bashir-khartoum-680776409
Sudan has lifted a 17-month-long ban on Egyptian goods following an official visit from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Khartoum on Thursday.“Today I signed a decision to lift the ban on the entry of Egyptian products to Sudan, to remove all obstacles to the movement of trade and people between the two countries,” Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir told reporters.During the visit, the two countries signed 12 cooperation agreements in various trade and economic sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and higher education. According to Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, the value of his country's exports to Sudan stood at $550m last year, while Sudanese exports to Egypt are worth $103m. The visit is Sisi’s second to Sudan in less than two months, as relations between the two have warmed up after a brief diplomatic crisis. middleeasteye
Sri Lanka president suspends parliament amid political crisis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/sri-lanka-president-suspends-parliament-political-crisis-181027072445604.html
Hours after Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse, he has suspended the South Asian country's parliament."President has prorogued the parliament with effect from 12 noon on Saturday," cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters.Parliamentary officials said the president had suspended all meetings of the 225-member house until Nov. 16, AFP reported.The move came after Wickremesinghe, who said he remains PM , urged the speaker to convene the parliament on Sunday to prove he still retained his parliamentary majority.Sri Lanka was plunged in a constitutional crisis after Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and gave the job to former president Rajapakse, who was sworn in on Friday night.Reports said supporters of Rajapakse stormed several state media institutions and intimidated staff after he was sworn in.In a surprise move that triggered political turmoil in island nation,Sirisena dismissed Wickremesinghe, who was away touring the south of the country.Sirisena has accused Wickremesinghe and his party of privatising and selling public ventures to foreign countries and large-scale corruption.A major port developed by Rajapaksa's Govt in Sri Lanka's south-east was leased to a Chinese company last year. Under the Sri Lankan constitution, the president has the power to name the PM . Wickremesinghe insisted he remained the PM . "I retain the confidence of the house. I am the PM and I have the majority," he said on Friday. "According to the constitution, I'm the PM. That [removal] is not legal," he said. Sirisena's UPFA has only 96 seats in parliament, while the UNP has 106 members in 225-seat parliament. Developments bring an end to a coalition Govt that was formed more than three years ago on promises of economic reform and accountability for alleged atrocities committed during Rajapaksa's 10-year rule at the close of Lanka's bloody civil war.aljazeera
Sri Lanka president sacks PM , appoints Rajapaksa
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/sri-lanka-president-sacks-prime-minister-appoints-rajapaksa-181026174208405.html
Jordan floods: Schoolchildren among 19 dead after bus swept away
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/jordan-floods-schoolchildren-18-dead-bus-swept-181025175057825.html
At least 19 people, mostly children, were killed when torrential rains swept away a bus carrying students and teachers touring near the Dead Sea, according to sources in the country's civil defence directorate.DG of the kingdom's Civil Defence, Mustafa al-Basaiah, said on Friday that 13 of the dead were middle school students.The official news agency Petra said 37 students, along with seven adults, had been touring near the Dead Sea when heavy rains unleashed flash floods in the area.A number of families picnicking in the popular destination were also among the dead and injured, rescuers said, without giving a breakdown of numbers. aljazeera
3 Bangladesh Jamaat leaders arrested including former nayeb-e-amir Ahsanullah
http://www.newagebd.net/article/54263/three-jamaat-leaders-arrested-including-former-nayeb-e-amir-ahsanullah
Chattogram:Police arrested 3 leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami including one of its central leaders from Bakalia area Chattogram. During a special raid on Rahattarpol and Masterpol area Chattogram, police arrested them in separate operations on Thursday night. Bakalia police station officer in charge Pranab Barua said that the three arrestees were Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central organizing secretary and former nayeeb-e-ameer Professor Ahsanullah, Jamaat rokon Shabauddin Aftab and ward 17 Jamaat amir Asadullah.Earlier, they were accused of ‘hatching a conspiracy’ and ‘planning to sabotage’ and for their involvement in several cases of violence.Meanwhile, six leaders and activists of Jamaat were arrested from a madrassah at Nabagram Road area of the Braishal city on Friday afternoon suspecting them as participants of a meeting conspiring sabotage, reported New Age correspondent from Barishal. newagebd
Assad regime violates Sochi agreement in Syria's Idlib
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/assad-regime-violates-sochi-agreement-in-syrias-idlib/1294561
Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria and Iranian-supported terror groups violated Sochi agreement by attacking civilians in Idlib de-escalation zone on Friday.A total of seven civilians, three of them children, were killed by the artillery and rocket strikes by the regime and the terror groups targeting Raffa village in Idlib de-escalation zone in violation of the Sept. 17 Sochi agreement between Turkey and Russia, according to White Helmets civil defense agency.Mustafa Haj Yusuf, the local head of the White Helmets in Idlib, told Anadolu that 10 civilians were also injured in the attacks.In the last 10 days, the regime forces had also carried out attacks on the opposition-held region.Anadolu
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Jamal Khashoggi will not be forgotten:Abdullah Alsaafin
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/jamal-khashoggi-forgotten-181025092307339.html
Muslim boy’s death in scuffle reopens old communal fissures in South Delhi’s Begumpur:Abhishek Dey
https://scroll.in/article/899778/muslims-boys-death-in-scuffle-reopens-old-communal-fissures-in-south-delhis-begumpur
No Ajit Doval, from Indira to Modi, majority govts are overrated. Don’t fear coalitions:SHEKHAR GUPTA
https://theprint.in/national-interest/modi-has-once-again-proven-that-stable-govts-arent-the-best-for-india/141081/
Tragedy Of Saudi Arabia’s War: Nytimes
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-war-yemen.html?fbclid=IwAR0OKa0BRX-3ihaG-3LZWI-Wlxm6YdrX9NJQ0XWgM1oScjI3l1yqojY71EU
Modi Regime squeezes out ALL Minorities, Even Buddhists, from Scholarships:Ankita Rastogi, Sabrang Series
https://sabrangindia.in/article/cannards-appeasement-apart-indias-minorities-squeezed-out-scholarships-modi-regime?fbclid=IwAR092nVktpJBV4T-Xnk5ZYRn-kncsRNqekCmYnl9mpj_n9ymk_1q6fbEo44
Ajit Doval speech: A bureaucrat laying out political policy is bad news for Indian democracy:Shoaib Daniyal
https://scroll.in/article/899772/ajit-doval-speech-a-bureaucrat-laying-out-political-policy-is-bad-news-for-indian-democracy?fbclid=IwAR1oWsABKdTPun6mRj7mMrTqsPIl54lt90Kjwvakt_Xmu9X_LelnjIIfg3o
Explainer: How Mahinda Rajapaksa Pulled off a Constitutional Coup in Sri Lanka:Asanga Welikala
https://thewire.in/south-asia/rajapaksa-sirisena-sri-lanka-politics
Saving the National Register of Citizens From the 'Bengal Tigers':Madhav Godbole
https://thewire.in/rights/assam-accord-nrc-tripura-mizoram-jharkhand
In Efforts to Ban Kancha Ilaiah's 'Anti-Hindu' Books, a Scholar Has Been Reduced to an 'Enemy':Avijit Pathak
https://thewire.in/education/kancha-ilaiah-delhi-university-academic-freedom
A police encounter is premeditated murder. And it has to be recognised as such:Ali Khan Mahmudabad
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/call-it-by-its-name-5420475/
Govt on the backfoot in CBI affair:IANS, Amulya Ganguli
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/government-on-the-backfoot-in-the-cbi-affair-column-political-circus/1410543
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:15 PM)
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