NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
27 Nov. 2018:18 Rabiul-I 1440: Vol: 11, No:65
INDIA
J&K governor Malik caught on camera claiming Lone would have been CM if he'd listened to Centre
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/jammu-and-kashmir-governor-satya-pal-malik-caught-on-camera-claiming-sajjad-lone-would-have-been-cm-if-hed-listened-to-centre-5624731.html
Governor of J&K Satya Pal Malik has purportedly said he would have made People's Conference chairman Sajad Lone the CM of the state had he listened to instructions from the Centre. A video has surfaced in the media in which Malik can purportedly be heard making the remarks, another in his list of controversial comments after the controversy over a supposedly non-functional fax machine last week.On 21 Nov., PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti had sent an official communique to the Raj Bhawan via fax, staking claim to form Govt in J&K in alliance with Congress and National Conference. She later tweeted saying that her fax was not going through to the governor's office in Jammu, and thus she was making their decision public as a last resort to reach out to Malik. Soon after Mehbooba's claim, Lone also claimed he had tried to send his letter to the governor staking claim to form the Govt— with the support of BJP MLAs — via fax, but after receiving no response, he said he sent a copy of the letter to Malik's personal assistant on WhatsApp and shared a screenshot of the same. Not long after Mehbooba and Lone's claims, Malilk announced his decision to dissolve the J&K Assembly. Next day, in a bemusing turn of events, Malik had claimed he had not received either letter as it was a holiday at the Raj Bhawan on account of Eid, and there was no one to man the fax machine.Malik reportedly made the statement about making Lone the CM at a public gathering on 24 Nov.in Gwalior. Responding to a query on the turn of events, Malik said he believed he had done the "right thing" as he did not want to go down in history as a "dishonest man".firstpost
Had I listened to centre...: J&K Governor's startling claim
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-governor-satya-pal-maliks-startling-claim-had-i-listened-to-centre-1954101
Pak to invite Modi for SAARC summit in Islamabad: Report
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-to-invite-pm-modi-for-saarc-summit-in-islamabad-5467418/
Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said PM Narendra Modi would be invited to Islamabad for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, Dawn reported. The previous summit in 2016 was cancelled after India backed out following the terrorist attack on an Army camp in Uri where 19 soldiers died.The last summit of the leaders of the eight SAARC countries was convened in Kathmandu in late 2014. Recalling PM Imran Khan’s remarks that if India took one step forward, Pakistan would take two, Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal pitched for dialogue with New Delhi to solve all contentious issues.“We fought a war with India, relations cannot be fixed quickly,” Faisal said. So far, India’s refusal to engage Pakistan unless Islamabad addressed its concerns on cross-border terrorism has remained a sticky issue for holding the 19th SAARC summit.SAARC Summits are usually held biennially hosted by a member state in alphabetical order. Member state hosting the summit assumes the Chair of the Association. Besides India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the 2016 Islamabad meet. The Maldives and Sri Lanka are the seventh and eighth members of the initiative.indianexpress
Sidhu reaches Pakistan, says Kartarpur corridor will ‘erase enmity between two nations’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/day-before-kartarpur-inauguration-in-pakistan-navjot-singh-sidhu-crosses-wagah-border-5467015/
In sharp contrast to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh’s polemic on Pakistan regarding cross-border terrorism during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Kartarpur corridor, his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday said it would help promote peace between the two countries. Sidhu, who reached Pakistan to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony, called Kartarpur a “corridor of infinite possibilities”.Sidhu thanked Pakistan PM Imran Khan for making the corridor possible, saying it was a happy moment for the Sikh community. “This will erase enmity between the two nations. The seed Imran Khan had sown three months ago has become a plant,” he told the media at Wagah.indianexpress
Omar Abdullah asks centre to clear air around ex Norwegian PM’s Kashmir visit
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/omar-abdullah-asks-centre-to-clear-air-around-former-norwegian-pms-kashmir-visit-5465690/
Kjell Mangne Bondevik assured the separatist leaders “they would use their good offices to ensure that a sustained and result-oriented dialogue between India and Pakistan begins so that an amicable solution to the Kashmir issue is found,” the statement claimed.National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Monday asked the Centre to clear the air around former Norwegian PM Kjell MangneBondevik’s visit to Kashmir during which he met separatist leaders.“What are the Norwegians up to in Kashmir? Would either (External Affairs Minister) @SushmaSwaraj ji or (National Security Advisor Ajit) Doval ji care to put the visit of the former Norwegian PM to both sides of the divided state in the correct context or do we have to rely on rumours & conjecture?” Omar said in a tweet. Bondevik had last Friday met senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here.In a statement, the separatists said Geelani and Mirwaiz told the former PM that since his country “has a history of playing a positive role in conflict resolutions”, the Norwegian Govt should make serious efforts to resolve the vexed Kashmir dispute to mitigate the sufferings of the people and ensure a lasting peace in South Asia.PTI
3 Kashmiri students released after being briefly detained in Pathankot
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/three-kashmiri-students-detained-in-pathankot-released-5465823/
Jammu : 3 suspects, who were detained at Pathankot railway station in a joint operation by police teams of Punjab and Jammu Kashmir Sunday night, were let off on Monday as they found nothing incriminating. Kathua SSP Shridhar Patil said that one of them was a student studying at Ajmer. The other two, studying in Kashmir, were accompanying him to Ajmer, he added.Kathua police had received intelligence inputs about suspects travelling in Ajmer-bound Pooja Express. But the train had already left by the time police reached the railway station. As the next stop was Chakki Bank in Pathankot district of Punjab the Kathua police team alerted Punjab Police who stopped the train there and detained the three suspects. However, as nothing incriminating was found from the detained Kashmiri youths, Punjab Police handed over their custody to Kathua police at Lakhanpur on Monday morning. Patil said that after Kathua police finished questioning the youths, they were handed over to their parents.indianexpress
Pro-Khalistan posters plastered, Referendum 2020 planned day before Kartarpur corridor inauguration in Pak
https://www.newsx.com/national/pro-khalistan-posters-plastered-referendum-2020-planned-day-before-kartarpur-corridor-inauguration-in-pakistan
Pro-Khalistan posters plastered, Referendums 2020 planned day before Kartarpur corridor inauguration in Pakistan: ISI-Khalistani plot reared its ugly head in Kartarpur after Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu termed Kartarpur corridor as a corridor of infinite possibilities of peace. Pro-Khalistan posters have been put out and a meeting of separatists ‘Referendum 2020’ planned in Kartarpur at a time when Navjot Singh Sidhu and Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri leave for Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor on Nov. 28. According to reports, posters of slain Khalistan terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was also spotted there.On the one hand, Pakistan welcomes India’s decision to send its two Union ministers to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor and terms it a “positive response”, but on other hand funding pro-Khalistan groups against India. However, the Indian Govt is aware of the ISI-Khalistani plot and monitoring the situation closely. BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, who launched a Referendum 2020 #FreeBaluchistanSindh T-Shirt, has sent a T-Shirt to Pakistan PM Imran Khan as a mark of protest against Pakistan’s interference in India’s internal affairs. Meanwhile, US-based separatist group Sikhs for Justice has requested Pak Govt to grant 100,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims who want to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.NewsX
58%of female homicides are dowry deaths:UN report
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/dowry-deaths-accounts-for-a-massive-share-of-female-homicides-reveals-un-study
A United Nations study revealed that dowry deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female homicides in India despite legislation prohibiting it, it also stated the home is the most dangerous place for women around the world.Around 87,000 women were killed around the world last year and some 50,000—or 58% - were killed at the hands of intimate partners or family members. This amounts to some six women being killed every hour by people they know, according to new research published by UNO on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In India, the female homicide rate in 2016 was 2.8%, higher than the rate in Kenya (2.6), Tanzania (2.5), Azerbaijan (1.8), Jordan (0.8) and Tajikistan (0.4). Further, in India 33.5 % of women and girls aged 15-49 who experienced physical violence (irrespective of perpetrator) at least once in their lifetime and 18.9% in the past 12 months, according to data from 1995-2013. Dowry-related deaths in India continue to be a matter of concern. The study noted that available data on dowry-related killings from NCRB indicate that female dowry deaths account for 40 to 50% of all female homicides recorded annually in India, representing a stable trend over the period 1999 to 2016."Despite legislation adopted by the Indian Govt in 1961, prohibiting the payment of dowry, the practice continues throughout the country and dowry deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female homicides," it said.PTI
RBI Guv Urjit Patel appears before parliamentary panel to discuss demonetisation, economy
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/rbi-guv-urjit-patel-appears-before-parliamentary-panel-to-discuss-demonetisation-economy
RBI Governor Urjit Patel today appeared before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.31-member parliamentary panel comprises members such as former PM Manmohan Singh and the committee was headed by senior Congress leader and ex-Union Minister M Veerappa Moily. However Patel was earlier scheduled to appear before the panel on Nov.12, to brief on issues like demonetisation and NPA situation in public sector banks, among others, sources confirmed.Source said issues related to demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes, reforms in RBI, stressed assets in the banking system, and state of the economy, were listed as agenda. Patel appeared before the panel days after the bank's face-off with the finance ministry over issues ranging from appropriate size of reserves to be maintained by RBI to easing of lending norms for small and medium enterprises. Patel told the panel that “the economy would do better as crude prices down.”Questions on RBI autonomy, reserves were asked but he didn't answer the questions.nationalheraldindia
'Muslim' in AMU name: UGC panel to study varsity's action taken report
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/muslim-in-amu-name-ugc-panel-to-study-varsitys-action-taken-report/articleshow/66815639.cms
Agra: UGC has formed a 4-member committee to study the action taken report, submitted by the four central universities, including AMU,in connection with the observations made by the commission’s audit report on the academic and financial irregularities allegedly committed by varsities. Meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Dec, will suggest further course of action to be taken by commission.Chairperson of committee Sushma Yadav, who is also VC of BPS Mahila Vishvidyalaya, Haryana, said they are going through the action taken reports submitted by these universities. UGC had ordered an audit of 10 central universities last year at the behest of HRD ministry to probe complaints of financial, administrative and academic irregularities. On April 25, 2017, 5 committees were formed by UGC to conduct the audit.In its AMU report, the audit had recommended that the word ‘Muslim’ should be dropped from its name to reflect its secular character. The committee suggested that the institution should either be called ‘Aligarh University’ or be named after its founder, Sir Syed. It cited the same reason to recommend that Banaras Hindu University’s name be amended by dropping the word ‘Hindu’.In its formal response to UGC in June this year, AMU had hit back at the suggestion and said dropping the word ‘Muslim’ would deprive the university of its unique historic character. Dubbing the panel’s suggestion as outrageous, the then registrar of the university, Javaid Akhtar, said the panel had gone beyond its brief and incorrectly drawn a conclusion that by dropping 'Muslim' from its name would instill secular values.TOI
Bhima Koregaon Case: Police Gets More Time to File Supplementary Chargesheet
https://thewire.in/rights/bhima-koregaon-case-police-gets-more-time-to-file-supplementary-chargesheet
Pune: A court here granted 90-day extension to Pune police for filing a supplementary charge sheet against rights activists Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferriera, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. 4, and another activist Gautam Navlakha, accused of having Maoist links, were arrested on August 28 following multi-state raids by the Pune Police.However, on the directions of the Supreme Court, all 5 were put under house arrest in their respective cities.Later, as the period of house arrest got over and the SC refused to grant further relief to the accused, police arrested all of them except Gautam Navlakha. 4 activists are now under judicial custody. A charge sheet has already been filed in the case against activists Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale and 5 “underground” Maoist leaders. District and Sessions Judge Kishor D. Vadane Monday allowed the plea of the Pune police seeking 90-day extension in filing the supplementary charge-sheet.
2 Muslim-dominated villages excluded from Roorkee civic body, residents irked
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/2-muslim-dominated-villages-excluded-from-roorkee-civic-body-residents-irked/articleshow/66816556.cms
Roorkee:The residents of 2 Muslim-dominated villages — Padli Gujjar and Rampur—have expressed unhappiness over the exclusion of their villages from the proposed area of Roorkee Municipal Corporation (RMC). The residents of 2 hamlets TOI spoke to alleged that their villages have been deliberately excluded by the present BJP Govt since majority of the population there belongs to the Muslim community. While civic body elections in the state commenced last week, RMC is yet to go to polls.Villagers added that Govt included three adjoining villages in municipal corporation limits but ignored 2 Muslim areas. They are now planning to move Uttarakhand high court against govt’s proposal, which was issued on Saturday. Furkan Ahmed, Congress MLA from Piran Kaliyar, said, “During Saturday’s cabinet meeting, the BJP Govt approved a proposal to exclude Padli Gujjar and Rampur villages from the jurisdiction of the Roorkee civic body. Their decision is based on their vested interests.All other adjoining villages have been included in the proposal but 2 villages have been excluded on the basis of religion.” Echoing similar sentiments, a resident of Rampur village said that the area has always been deprived of development.“We are neither part of a panchayat or a municipal corporation. We always have to knock on several doors to get simplest of works done.For example, we don’t even have a designated place to collect birth or death certificates,” said Mohammad Hashim. TOI
Under Modi's Crop Insurance Scheme, Companies Owe Farmers a Whopping Rs 2,800 Crore
https://thewire.in/agriculture/modi-crop-insurance-scheme-pmfby-farmers-unpaid-rs-2800-crore
New Delhi:In Jan.2016, when Modi led Govt announced the new crop insurance scheme – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – it had said that one of the key improvements over previous schemes would be that claims would be settled on time. However, RTI data received and reviewed by The Wire has revealed that farmers’ claims worth Rs 2,829 crore remain unpaid for the two seasons that PMFBY has been implemented.RTI response of the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare is dated Oct.10.“A majority of claims for rabi 2017-18 are yet to be estimated/ approved by company,” the ministry noted in its response. Thus, for the 2017-18 season, a majority of the data pertains to Kharif 2017 and the data reflects only 1% of claims paid for the rabi 2017-18 season. For 2016-17 season, claims of Rs 546 crore remain pending. Claims need to be settled within 2 months of harvest, according to PMFBY guidelines. Harvest for 2016-17 season would have ended in May 2017, at the very latest.For the 2017-18 season, claims worth Rs 2,282 crore remain pending. Data essentially pertains to Kharif 2017-18, as pointed out by ministry. The harvest for which would have ended in Dec.2017, at the very latest. Thus, on the date the RTI was responded to, Rs 2,282 crore remained unpaid over 9 months after the harvest period ended, while PMFBY guidelines require that claims be settled within two months of harvest.For the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, the estimated claims of farmers amounted to Rs 34,441 crore. Insurance companies have paid Rs 31,612 crore, and Rs 2,829 crore remains unpaid.thewire
Peace-Loving Hindus, Tolerant Muslims Made “Show” in Ayodhya Flop: Muslim Organizations
http://caravandaily.com/portal/peace-loving-hindus-tolerant-muslims-made-show-in-ayodhya-flop-muslim-organizations/
New Delhi:Muslim organizations have expressed relief over peaceful conclusion of “Dharma Sabha” of VHP in Ayodhya on Sunday.They also appreciated peace-loving Hindus and Muslims for making the “show” of VHP and Shiv Sena “flop”. The saffron groups had claimed to gather more than 2 lakh people in the “Dharma Sabha” to make a vow for Ram Temple on the disputed site. But only a few thousands could go there. All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) termed it a “flop show” and gave credit for this to peace-loving Hindus and Muslims.“Peace-loving Hindus and tolerant Muslims made the “show” in Ayodhya flop,” tweeted AIMPLB. “They reassured their confidence in the SC and the law and order. We need to focus on development while the court hears the case,” said Maulana Wali Rahmani, General Secretary of AIMPLB. President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari expressed “satisfaction at the peaceful conclusion of the gathering” assembled by various organizations in Ayodhya.“We are relieved at the peaceful conclusion of the gathering called by various organizations in Ayodhya. Initially there was apprehension that the large gathering may turn unruly and violent and may result in an unpleasant situation. However, those fears proved unfounded and credit must go to the people of this country for not giving into exploitation of their religious sentiments by certain forces who wish to misuse religion for their political benefit,” said Maulana Umari in a statement on Monday. “We hope that the people of this country continue on this path of peace and harmony and do not give any response to calls for violence and breaking the law over matters related to faith and creed. The response to calls by Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray for doing ‘dharna’ till the Ram temple is constructed has been extremely lackadaisical”, he said.Jamaat has also opposed any attempt to acquire the Babri Masjid land for construction of temple.Maulana Umari said: “We also oppose attempts to acquire the Babri Masjid land through enactment of an ordinance as the matter is pending before the judiciary and such a move will set a very unhealthy precedent which will be extremely damaging to the democratic polity of our nation. The supremacy of law must be respected by all stakeholders and peace with communal harmony must be preserved and protected at all costs”.Caravan News
Jamaat relieved at peaceful end to Ayodhya gathering
http://twocircles.net/2018nov26/427341.html
Will bring Private Member Bill for Ram temple construction, says BJP leader Manoj Tiwari
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/will-bring-private-member-bill-for-ram-temple-construction-says-bjp-leader-manoj-tiwari/321693
New Delhi: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has said that he would bring a Private Member Bill in Parliament for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Tiwari made the statement after a delegation of over 25 VHP leaders led by Bachan Singh met him at his residence here and gave him a memorandum for the temple construction."I just received a memorandum from the VHP delegation. And I want to assure them that I will raise the issue in Parliament and in my party," Tiwari told the media here. Asked if he would bring a Private Member Bill, he replied, "If required I will be the first person to bring a Private Member Bill in Parliament for the construction of the Ram temple."IANS
SC Calls Nitish Govt Inhuman, Asks if Children Raped in Bihar Shelter Homes Lesser Citizens
https://www.news18.com/news/india/are-these-children-lesser-citizens-sc-pulls-up-nitish-kumar-govts-inhuman-attitude-on-shelter-home-rapes-1951991.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has come down heavily on the Nitish Kumar Govt in Bihar, questioning its attitude towards recent revelations of rampant sexual abuse in state-run shelter homes.“The state's attitude is extremely unfortunate and tragic to say the least. This is inhuman and shameless... A child is sodomised and the state does nothing. You don’t even care to register FIRs properly. There are 17 shelter homes where allegations of sexual abuse were cited in TISS report. Why should each case not be investigated? Are these children lesser citizens of the country?”court asked."We were told that matter will be looked with great seriousness, this is seriousness? This file, it’s tragic,”court added. It questioned the registration of FIRs only under POCSO and not under relevant sections of the IPC. "If we find that there were offences under section 377 IPC and POCSO Act and you did not register FIR, we will pass an order against the govt," the SC said. News18
Sunil Arora appointed as chief election commissioner, formal notification soon: Sources
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sunil-arora-appointed-as-chief-election-commissioner-formal-notification-soon-sources/articleshow/66816486.cms
New Delhi: Sunil Arora is learnt to have been appointed as the next chief election commissioner, highly-placed sources in the Law Ministry said Monday.Though a formal notification announcing his appointment is yet to be issued, his name has been cleared by the Centre and sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the sources said."Yes. His name has been cleared. He is the next CEC. A notification will follow," a senior functionary said. He will take over on Dec. 2. Election Commission will hold the 2019 general election under him.Besides the Lok Sabha polls, Assembly elections in J&K , Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana, AP, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are scheduled to be held next year.A CEC of the Election Commission can have a tenure of 6 years or hold office till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The convention is to appoint the senior-most election commissioner as chief election commissioner.A former bureaucrat, Arora was appointed as election commissioner on August 31, 2017. He succeds Om Prakash Rawat who retired on Saturday. PTI
Ministers meet Swaraj: Ambassador recalled, new Maldives President to visit on Dec. 17
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ministers-meet-sushma-swaraj-ambassador-recalled-new-maldives-president-to-visit-on-dec-17-5466118/
New Delhi:Weeks before newly-elected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first overseas visit to India on Dec.17, Maldives Monday recalled its ambassador to New Delhi. Maldives envoy Ahmed Mohamed, who was appointed by ex-President Abdullah Yameen and is considered to be close to him, gave up his position Monday. The move comes days after the new Govt led by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took charge.The decision regarding Solih’s visit to India was taken at a meeting between External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and visiting Maldives Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid Monday. Shahid was accompanied by Finance minister Ibrahim Ameer, Economic Development minister Fayyaz Ismail, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and Foreign secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed. After the meeting, Shahid described ties with India as “time-tested” and “traditional”, and said that he assured the Indian Govt that the new Maldives Govt values and cherishes its relationship with India.indianexpress
Row at Taj over puja, efforts to control crowds blocked
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/row-at-taj-over-puja-efforts-to-control-crowds-blocked-5466159/
Agra :The controversy regarding three women caught on video offering prayers at the Taj Mahal, coming in the wake of a dispute over offering namaz on the monument premises, could complicate efforts of authorities to enforce measures announced by the Ministry of Culture earlier to tackle surging crowds.A few months ago, a group of VHP men vandalised the new steel gates installed at the West Gate to control crowds, saying they blocked the entrance to an old Siddheshwar Mahadev temple. Vasant Swarnkar, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Agra Circle, said, they had offered the VHP an optional route for the temple, but it rejected it as it was “narrower”.“Without blocking the temple path, which falls between the frisking area for the Taj and the entry gate, the new system can’t be operationalised as frisking will be contaminated owing to free access to the temple,” Swarnkar said. Adding that they needed to find a way out soon, he said, “The winter rush is likely to become unmanageable in the coming days.”The Ministry of Culture had announced measures to control crowds following a minor stampede at one of the entry gates in December last year, leaving five people injured. Among the measures proposed by the ASI were limiting the duration of a visit to three hours and capping the number of entries to 40,000 a day. The measures depend on the authorities operationalising turnstile gates at both Taj entrances so that tickets can be barcoded and automated. While the project has now been put in place at a cost of more than Rs 3 crore, it stands stalled due to right-wing groups, including the VHP. Sources said ASI has sought Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma’s intervention in the matter. Questioning the “slow” action, Syed Ibrahim Hussain Zaidi, president of the Masjid Taj Mahal Intezamia Committee, said “the entire exercise by the ASI is just a hogwash”. “The names of the three women are out in a section of the local media, and their faces are also clearly visible in the video. Still, the complaint has been against unnamed people. It’s just a ploy to cool down tempers.”Zaidi claimed they had been holding namaz three times a day at the Taj mosque despite the ASI officially stopping it since Nov. 3, and that “they will not give up the 400-year-old tradition, in any case”. Swarnkar insisted namaz “is not being held on any day except Friday” since Nov. 3. With no CCTV cameras near the mosque, both sides continue to stick to their claim.indianexpress
Prosecute govt officials for not acting on air pollution complaints: SC to CPCB
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/prosecute-govt-officials-for-not-acting-on-air-pollution-complaints-sc-to-cpcb-5465829/
New Delhi :Talking tough on pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court Monday asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to prosecute Govt officials for not acting on around 250 complaints received by it from citizens.The court said this on a day when monitoring stations in the national capital recorded air quality in the “very poor” category.A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said officials who have failed to act on the complaints were required to be prosecuted.“Why don’t you prosecute these officials? You should prosecute them. Let these people realise what they have done,” the bench told Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, who was appearing for the CPCB.TI
Don’t lay your liberties at the feet of even a great man: CJI
http://caravandaily.com/portal/dont-lay-your-liberties-at-the-feet-of-even-a-great-man-chief-justice/
New Delhi:Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi, judges of Supreme Court and judges from several neighbouring countries attended a dinner hosted by Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi on the occasion of ‘Constitution Day’ on Monday. Before the dinner, Justice Gogoi delivered a speech in which he underscored the supremacy of the Constitution. He even warned that to preserve democracy and the country’s institutions, the constitutional liberties must be safeguarded.“We must observe the caution which (British political economist) John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in maintenance of democracy, namely not to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man. Or to trust him with power which enables him to subvert their institutions,” the Chief Justice said at an event held to mark ‘Constitution Day’ at the premises of the SC Monday evening. caravandaily
Won’t Allow ‘Modi-cracy to Replace Democracy;Lawyers on Constitution Day
http://caravandaily.com/portal/wont-allow-democracy-to-be-changed-into-modi-cracy-say-lawyers-on-constitution-day/
New Delhi:Criticizing PM Narendra Modi-led BJP Govt at the center for ‘attacks’ on human rights, judiciary, constitutional and democratic institutions, hundreds of lawyers took out a protest march here on the occasion of ‘Constitution Day’ on Monday and vowed that they will not allow “Indian democracy to be changed into Modi-cracy”.Raising the slogan — “Modicracy Nahi Chalegi (Modicracy will not be allowed) and carrying placards with messages like “Save Constitution”, “Stop Interference in Independence of Judiciary”, “Stop Attacking Constitutional Institutions”, “Ensure Rule of Law”, “Stop Attacks on Women’s rights”, “Ensure Fraternity and Integrity of People” and “Stop Mob Lynching” written on them, lawyers under the banner of ‘Lawyers For Democracy’ marched from near the Supreme Court to the Parliament House.Speaking to Caravan Daily, several senior and young lawyers alleged that the Modi Govt has been selectively destroying every constitutional institution in its last four and half years of rule.caravandaily
Kerala activist Rehana Fathima arrested for hurting religious sentiments amid Sabarimala stir
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-activist-rehana-fathima-arrested-for-hurting-religious-sentiments-amid-sabarimala-stir/story-RXSedOrrAPhK2HwIvUow9J.html
Kerala activist Rehana Fathima was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly posting a message on social media that hurt religious sentiments, police said.Fathima was booked by Pathanamthitta police under Section 295 A of IPC after a Sabarimala devotee complained against her post. “Absconding for more than three weeks, she was arrested from Ernakulam.She will be produced in a court in Pathanamthitta in the evening,” a senior police officer said.Fathima put a provocative post on social media angering many believers after her attempt to trek to the hill temple dedicated to Ayyappa last month failed. An employee of the state-run BSNL, she had moved Kerala high court anticipating an arrest but it refused to entertain her plea.HT
4 militants, soldier killed in Kulgam, Pulwama gunfights
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/encounters-break-out-between-militants-security-forces-in-kashmirs-kulgam-pulwama-districts/article25603553.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:4 militants were killed and one soldier lost his life in an ongoing exchange of fire in south Kashmir's Pulwama and Kulgam. 2 CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade explosion near an encounter site.Preliminary reports suggest three militants were encircled by the Army's 1RR, CRPF and Special Operation Group in Kulgam's Redwani during an operation launched on Monday night."Three militants have been killed. However, the bodies are yet to be retrieved. The operation is on," said a police official.In the Pulwama operation, a militant was killed in Reshipora area of Tral today morning.thehindu
Will hear Gulbarg appeals when Gabbar returns: Guj HC
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/will-hear-gulbarg-appeals-when-gabbar-returns-hc/articleshow/66817355.cms
Ahmedabad: Gujarat high court has postponed the hearing on appeals in the controversial 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre case after one of the convicts did not return to jail after he was released temporarily. On July 27, the high court granted bail for 15 days to Jayesh Jinger alias Gabbar for treatment of cyst in kidney. His case was that he had received treatment from the Civil Hospital, but his condition did not improve. He wanted to avail private treatment.Jinger has been behind bars for 15 years and four months. He was arrested nearly a year after the violent mob killed 69 people including ex-Congress MP Ehsan Jafri on Feb.28, 2002. Jinger was one of 3 accused who never got bail during 14-year-long pendency of the trial in this case. In June 2016, he was convicted to life imprisonment along with 10 others after the trial. Besides, SIT court awarded jail terms to 14 others also.While releasing Jinger on temporary bail, the bench of Justice Anant Dave and Justice Biren Vaishan took into consideration 15-year-long incarceration of Jinger. His bail period was later extended and he was expected to surrender to jail authorities by Sept. 9. But he did not return. Last week, a bench of Justice KM Thaker and Justice VB Mayani was to hear appeals filed by convicts against their conviction and punishment, and appeals filed by the state Govt and riots survivors demanding conviction of those acquitted by the trial court. But special prosecutor RC Kodekar informed the HC that Jinger has not surrendered himself yet. Sabarmati Central Jail authorities also registered a complaint at the police station concerned,over Jinger’s disappearance.He requested the court not to hear the appeals till Jinger surrenders or is arrested. TOI
Haren Pandya murder: SC to hear plea against 12 Muslim youth on Tuesday
https://www.siasat.com/news/haren-pandya-murder-sc-hear-appeal-against-12-muslim-youth-tuesday-1438048/
Mumbai: Supreme Court will hear the appeal filed by CBI, challenging the High Court judgment in which 12 Muslims were acquitted in Haren Pandya murder case, on Tuesday. This was informed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind which is providing legal help to the accused. The organisation has engaged the services of senior advocates like Raju Ramachandran, Amrendra Sharan, Neta Rama Krishnan, Irshad Ahmed, and M Prabhakar. According to sources, the petition filed by CBI will be heard by a 2 member bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Vineeth Sharan. Haren Pandya was killed on March 26, 2003, after which CBI had arrested 12 Muslim youth on the basis of suspicion and booked a case against them. The lower court held them guilty after which Jamiat filed a petition in High Court. All 12 accused were acquitted by the High Court. It also issued their release orders. However, CBI filed a petition in Supreme Court challenging the HC judgement.siasat
KCR Slams Shah for Opposing Quota to Muslims, Says Will Fight for Reservation
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/kcr-slams-shah-for-opposing-quota-to-muslims-says-will-fight-for-reservation-1951349.html
TRS chief and caretaker CM K Chandrasekhar Rao Monday slammed BJP chief Amit Shah for his opposition to TRS government's proposal to increase reservation for Muslims in the state.Rao, who was speaking at an election rally at Dichpally, said he will continue his efforts to get quotas increased for Scheduled Tribes and Muslims. BJP chief Amit Shah Sunday attacked TRS government's proposal to give 12% quota to Muslims, saying his party would never allow it as religion-based reservation is unconstitutional. Taking exception to Shah's comments, Rao said TRS would not like pleading with theCentre, and BJP would not be in power after the next Lok Sabha elections."Yesterday, their president also came... He spoke wide and straight and left. They say they will not give. He spoke that we will not let Muslims get reservation... Amit Shah...You will not be in power. It is not you giving (something) and we taking it," he said.PTI
In Telangana, Congress May Woo Minorities With Free Power for Churches and Mosques, Urdu as Official Language
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/in-telangana-congress-to-woo-minorities-with-free-power-for-churches-and-mosques-urdu-as-official-language-1952213.html
Hyderabad: Congress has promised to provide free electricity to churches and mosques, monthly payments to imams and pastors and several other sops to minority communities in Telangana in a draft manifesto as it goes all out in a battle for their votes with K Chandrashekar Rao. The draft of the manifesto, which has been accessed by News18, has promised several schemes tailored for minorities, especially Muslims, which account for nearly 12.5% of Telangana’s population and act as the deciding factor in at least 42 out of its 119 assembly constituencies. The party promised, that if voted to power, it would make Urdu the “second official language” of the state and ensure that all Govt orders are issued in the language. The draft manifesto states that a Congress Govt would establish 3 finance corporations for Muslims, Christians, and Linguistic & Other Minorities. News18
Congress has 2.8% lead over BJP in MP:Party Data Expert
https://www.ndtv.com/assembly-madhya-pradesh/congress-has-2-8-lead-over-bjp-in-madhya-pradesh-says-party-data-expert-shashank-shukla-1953915
New Delhi: A top Congress data analyst has claimed the party has a slim 2.8% edge over the incumbent BJP in Madhya Pradesh, ahead of the assembly elections to be held on Wednesday. Most opinion polls have suggested a lead, albeit a very narrow one, for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. An average of the polls conducted in the last one month, suggest the BJP is projected to get 116 seats, over 102 seats to the Congress. However, Shashank Shukla, the national coordinator for the Congress data analytics team supervising the party's campaign in Madhya Pradesh told NDTV that the party has edged past the BJP."CSDS (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies) data, which is about three weeks old, right now suggests that the contest (in Madhya Pradesh) has become close. Now if you go back a bit, BJP actually, across polls, had about 4-5 % lead. About three weeks back it became 1 % (as per the CSDS polls). As per our surveys now, we have a 2.8 % lead as I speak. This is as of yesterday (Sunday)," Shukla said.ndtv
Mosque Caretaker Who Wanted To Meet Kejriwal Caught With Bullets
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cleric-caught-with-live-bullet-while-visiting-chief-minister-arvind-kejriwal-arrested-1953827
New Delhi:A 39-year-old man who had gone to meet Arvind Kejriwal as part of a delegation of clerics on Monday was arrested after live bullets were found on him. This is the second security incident involving the Delhi CM after a chilli powder attack on him last week. Mohammad Imran was among a dozen clerics who had gone to Arvind Kejriwal's home for a public hearing or janta durbar, with a request to increase the salary paid by the Waqf Board. A bullet was found in his wallet by a security guard who was frisking him.Imran, a caretaker at a mosque called Masjid Bawli Wali, has been arrested under the stringent Arms Act. He told the police that he had found the bullets in the donation box of a mosque a few months ago, kept them in his wallet and forgot about them. He claimed he had planned to throw the bullets in the river Yamuna but decided to keep them in his wallet.Last Thursday, a man was arrested after he flung chilli powder at Kejriwal right outside his office - an incident that raised questions about the CM 's security and provoked allegations from the ruling AAP that their chief was being targeted.The attacker, Anil Sharma, claimed that he had tried to meet the CM one-and-a-half-years ago but after he could not meet him, he broke the glass panes in the reception area of Delhi Secretariat. ndtv
WORLD
Saudi Crown Prince requested to meet Erdogan: Turkey
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-requested-meet-erdogan-turkish-fm-181127090855327.html
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has requested to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the upcoming 2-day G20 summit in Argentina, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said."Yes, he has asked Erdogan on the phone, whether they could meet in Buenos Aires. Erdogan's answer was 'Let's see'," Cavusoglu told German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview."At the moment there is no reason not to meet with the crown prince," Cavusoglu said, adding that the request was made during a phone call.Erdogan and Prince Mohammed, commonly known by his initials MBS, will attend G20 meeting in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, on Nov.30-Dec 1.The relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been strained by the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month. After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh finally admitted that Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered in a "rogue operation".Riyadh has repeatedly said Prince Mohammed had no knowledge of the killing, which Turkey says was carried out at the kingdom's consulate by a 15-member hit squad with links to MBS's security team.Erdogan has said the killing was ordered by the highest level of Saudi leadership but ruled out that it had come from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, putting the spotlight instead on the 33-year-old crown prince.United States President Donald Trump said last week Washington would remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Prince Mohammed may have known about the plan to murder Khashoggi.Asked if he knew for sure who in Riyadh gave the order to kill Khashoggi, Cavusoglu said that the team would not have acted on its own, but could not say anything else without proof.Cavusoglu said Riyadh had offered to send identikit photos of local helpers who assisted in the cover-up. "Why identikit pictures? The Saudis know the names," he said.aljazeera
Argentina opens war crimes inquiry on Saudi crown prince ahead of G-20 summit
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/argentina-opens-war-crimes-inquiry-saudi-crown-prince-ahead-g-20-summit-801960559
Argentina has opened an inquiry on whether to press criminal charges against Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his role in leading the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, HRW said.The inquiry was opened after HRW and an Argentine federal prosecutor lodged a complaint against the kingdom for violating international war crimes laws, according to a NYT report. Investigation comes ahead of the crown prince’s visit to Argentina for the upcoming G-20 summit later this week, but officials in the South American country have said bin Salman’s arrest is “extremely unlikely,” NYT report said. “Mohammed bin Salman should know that he may face a criminal probe if he ventures to Argentina,” HRW executive director Kenneth Roth. Argentina’s laws promote the idea of universal jurisdiction, where severe human rights violations are subject to prosecution regardless of sovereign boundaries.The country changed its legal code towards universal jurisdiction in the first half of the 2000s to address the tens of thousands of Argentinians who disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s during the days of military rule, when the Govt rounded up families, including children, to prisons and camps. middleeasteye
HRW asks Argentina to probe Saudi Crown Prince over Yemen, Khashoggi
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181127-hrw-asks-argentina-to-probe-saudi-crown-prince-over-yemen-khashoggi/
Tunisians, Egyptians reject Saudi crown prince's ‘whitewashing’ tour
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/tunisians-and-egyptians-reject-whitewashing-trip-saudi-s-mbs-114223686
Tunisian and Egyptian activists and journalists have decried the Saudi crown prince's planned tour of their countries, dismissing the trip as an attempt to whitewash his image in the wake of Jamal Khashoggi's murder.Mohammed bin Salman is set to touch down in Egypt on Monday before moving on to Tunisia the next day. Both countries have recent revolutionary history, overthrowing longtime autocrats Hosni Mubarak and Zine Abedine Ben Ali in 2011.Now sections of their populations are taking aim at the 33-year-old heir to the Saudi throne, who has seen his popularity plummet following the murder of journalist Khashoggi by a death squad sent from Riyadh. Protests are expected in Tunisian capital.In Tunis on Monday, Khashoggi's Tunisian counterparts showed their distaste at his assassination by unveiling a giant poster down the side of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists' HQ.middleeasteye
Czech’s right-wing president calls on Israel to abandon ‘2-state solution’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181126-czechs-right-wing-president-calls-on-israel-to-abandon-two-state-solution/
Czech President Milos Zeman has asked his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to see plans for a one-state solution after admitting that he no longer believes in a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.Zeman, who arrived in Israel yesterday for an official state visit to open “Czech House” cultural centre in Jerusalem, told Rivlin he was looking forward to ideas for a “one-state with two nations” while asserting that he did not envision the Gaza Strip as part of an independent Palestinian state, Israel’s i24 news reported.“I do not see how an independent state can be created in Gaza because Hamas promotes a state of terror,” Zeman said. Rivlin feted the pro-Israeli far-right president describing him as as “one of Jerusalem’s closest friends” and thanked him for his pledge to relocate the Czech embassy to the city.“Your support for Jerusalem is a special gift for us on our 70th anniversary. We are so thankful for your support for relocating the Embassy of the Czech Republic to Jerusalem. Your recent statements are a clear sign of your support for this, and we hope that it will become reality in the near future,” Rivlin said.Zeman’s right wing and hard-line anti-Muslim, anti-immigration and anti-EU policy won him the presidency at the beginning of the year. He has been known to stoke controversy and community tension through his conspiracy fuelled message. He subscribes to the widely held conspiracy theory held by the far-right and many pro-Israeli groups which claims that the streams of refugees from Syria and Iraq constitute a conspiracy of the Muslim Brotherhood and “Islamisation of Europe”.middleeastmonitor
Sudan denies claims Netanyahu to visit Khartoum
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181127-sudan-denies-claims-netanyahu-to-visit-khartoum/
Senior leader of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party Abdel Sakhi Abbas yesterday denied claims that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit Khartoum, Shehab News Agency reported.“It is impossible that Netanyahu visits Sudan,” Abbas said. “There is nothing to deal with such an official visit,” he added, stressing that the news reported by the Israeli broadcast corporation KAN “is completely false”.He stressed that the position of his country “is clear that there is no relations or ties with Israel.”Abbas stressed this is mainly related to the Palestinian cause. “Israel occupies an Arab and Muslim state, desecrates the religious sites and prevents performing the religious rituals,” he said.middleeastmonitor
Fatah delegation leaves Egypt after reconciliation talks
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181127-fatah-delegation-leaves-egypt-after-reconciliation-talks/
A Fatah delegation, which arrived in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the reconciliation with Hamas, returned to the West Bank after meeting the Egyptian officials in charge of the Palestinian issue, the Anadolu Agency reported yesterday. “The delegation met the Egyptian officials and discussed with them the views of Hamas and it is returning to Ramallah,” Fatah spokesman in Gaza Atef Abu Saif said.Abu Saif did not reveal the essence of the discussions, but said that the Palestinian Authority Govt led by the Fatah official Rami Hamdallah “must lead the Gaza Strip and the West Bank until elections are held”. middleeastmonitor
Dozens arrested in Jerusalem in Israeli crackdown on Palestinian Authority
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinians-arrested-israeli-crackdown-palestinian-authoritys-presence-jerusalem-1766787967
Israel's military police on Monday arrested dozens of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem, in a crackdown against members of the Fatah movement and the Palestinian Authority's security forces. Israeli forces arrested 32 Palestinians, after breaking into their homes, and seized cash, documents, photos, Palestinian police-issued credentials, uniforms and ammunition.The detainees will be investigated by a unit in the Jerusalem District Police on charges of serving in the PA's security forces.Ziad Hammouri, director of Jerusalem's centre for social and economic rights, told Middle East Eye that the arrest campaign was part of Israel's attempts to fully control East Jerusalem, which international law regards as an occupied territory.middleeasteye
Egypt: New human rights body to combat criticism against state
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/egypt-human-rights-body-combat-criticism-state-181126081225548.html
Egypt has created a human rights watchdog to protect the state from allegations of rights abuses and defend it on the international stage.The creation of High Permanent Commission for Human Rights comes at a time when Egypt has been under scrutiny over its poor human rights record.The new body reflects an attitude of the state under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that has perceived criticism over human rights as intended to undermine the Govt as it tries to rebuild the economy and carry out the so-called fight against "terror". Officials have already started a campaign against "false rumours" and "fake news" and have arrested some of those who speak out.The Govt has also sought to redefine and broaden human rights, declaring new "rights" to combat "terrorism" and protect the state. Critics see it as an attempt at legitimising alleged abuses by security forces.aljazeera
Turkey's ruling party renews alliance with far-right MHP for local elections
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/akp-and-mhp-renew-alliance-485721681
The parliamentary alliance of the ruling AKP and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) looks set to continue in Turkey's local elections on 31 March, despite suggestions that the two had split.Following a meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan last week, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli on Saturday announced that the People's Alliance, originally formed for the 24 June parliamentary elections, would continue and that the nationalists would support AKP mayoral candidates in the cities of Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Bahceli warned that the opposition parties - specifically the secular-nationalist CHP, pro-Kurdish HDP and the centre-right Iyi Party - would be setting out to undermine the new presidential system in Turkey, and that the 31 March elections would be used to question the validity of the system. middleeasteye
Myanmar seizes boat with 93 Rohingya fleeing to Malaysia
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/myanmar-seizes-boat-93-fleeing-rohingya-camps-malaysia-181127055559149.html
Authorities in Myanmar seized a boat carrying 93 Rohingya fleeing displacement camps in western Rakhine state in hopes to reach Malaysia, an official said on Tuesday.The vessel was the third bound for Malaysia stopped in Myanmar's waters since monsoon rains began to subside last month, bringing calmer weather and raising fears of a new wave of hazardous voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers.Moe Zaw Latt, director of the Govt office in Dawei, a coastal town in southern Myanmar, said fishermen reported a "suspicious" boat to authorities.The navy stopped the boat on Sunday and detained the 93 people, who said they had come from the Thae Chaung camp in the Rakhine state's capital of Sittwe."They said they ran away from the camp. They said they intended to go to Malaysia," said Moe Zaw Latt, adding authorities were preparing to send them back to Sittwe on Tuesday. Photographs in media showed police standing by as passengers - many of them women in headscarves and children - huddled on the deck.The boat resembled vessels the Rohingya typically use to escape the apartheid-like conditions in Rakhine state, where their movements and access to services are severely curtailed.aljazeera
Academics condemn China over Xinjiang camps, urge sanctions
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/academics-condemn-china-xinjiang-camps-urge-sanctions-181127015605193.html
Countries must impose sanctions on China over the mass detention of ethnic Uighurs in its western Xinjiang region, hundreds of scholars said, warning that a failure to act would signal acceptance of "psychological torture of innocent civilians".At a briefing in Washington, DC, on Monday, representatives of a group of 278 scholars in various disciplines from dozens of countries called on China to end its detention policies, and for sanctions directed at key Chinese leaders and security companies linked to abuses."This situation must be addressed to prevent setting negative future precedents regarding the acceptability of any state's complete repression of a segment of its population, especially on the basis of ethnicity or religion," the group said in a statement. Countries should expedite asylum requests from Xinjiang's Muslim minorities, as well as "spearhead a movement for UN action aimed at investigating this mass internment system and closing the camps", it said. aljazeera
Soros foundation to close in Turkey after being bashed by Erdogan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/soros-foundation-close-turkey-bashed-erdogan-181127061557606.html
US billionaire George Soros's Open Society Foundation said it has decided to cease operations in Turkey, days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the philanthropist of trying to divide nations. The organisation said on Wednesday that it was no longer possible to work in Turkey after it became the target of "baseless claims" in the media and a renewed investigation by Turkish authorities into mass protests against Erdogan's Govt five years ago.It said the Turkish interior ministry was renewing attempts to prove that the Soros foundation was behind the 2013 anti-Govt Gezi Park protests, one of the biggest political challenges to Erdogan's 15-year rule.The foundation denied any link to the protests.Erdogan denounced Soros last week while speaking of the detention of 13 activists and academics accused of supporting attempts by jailed businessman and rights advocate Osman Kavala to revive the Gezi protests.One of the 13 people detained on Nov. 16 was Hakin Altinay, who helped establish the Open Society Foundation in Turkey. Others were staff members of Kavala's Anadolu Kultur centre, which campaigns for human rights and cultural diversity.aljazeera
Kabul to seek support for Afghan-led peace plan in Geneva talks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/kabul-seek-support-afghan-led-peace-plan-geneva-talks-181126190247315.html
Geneva:Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani is heading to Switzerland to hold high-level talks with international diplomats during a key summit focused on the development and the economy of a country wracked by years of war that have claimed thousands of lives.Starting on Tuesday, the two-day summit in Geneva is billed as a platform for the Afghan Govt to renew its commitment to reform and discuss aid contributions in its bid to achieve stability and security.The United Nations, which is co-hosting the summit at the city's Palais des Nations with the Afghan government, says the conference "will also be crucial in measuring results against the $15.2 billion committed by the international community for Afghanistan in 2016".Afghan delegation is expected to present its growth strategy, ranging from maintaining security and building infrastructure to fighting corruption and female empowerment.They also plan to emphasise the continued need for constructive contribution from the international community.aljazeera
Afghan militia commander freed after 'several killed' in protests
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/afghan-militia-commander-freed-killed-protests-181126192535063.html
An Afghan commander arrested over allegations of human rights abuses has been released following two days of violent protests in which several demonstrators were allegedly killed and dozens of policemen wounded.Alipur's release, as President Ashraf Ghani flew to Geneva to attend a United Nations conference on Afghanistan, was confirmed by Vice President Sarwar Danish's office on Monday, according to a report by Reuters news agency.Alipur, an anti-Taliban commander from the mainly Shia Hazara minority, was detained in the capital Kabul weeks after an earlier attempt to arrest him in the western province of Ghor ended in a shoot-out that killed 12 people. aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
#ImplantFiles: Exploring India’s thriving medical device bazaar
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/implant-files-breast-implant-medical-devices-sale-5466371/
Muslims in India Today in Much Worse Condition than 1857 or 1947: AG Noorani
https://www.newsclick.in/muslims-india-today-much-worse-condition-1857-or-1947-ag-noorani
3 Myths About Centre's ‘Self-Financing’ Model of Urban Redevelopment:Manju Menon, Meenakshi Nath
https://thewire.in/urban/three-myths-about-the-modi-governments-self-financing-model-of-urban-redevelopment
As Rumours Fly and Violence Rises, Rohingya Refugees Dream of Safety in Jammu:Umar Sofi
https://thewire.in/rights/jammu-rohingya-refugees
How Did the Telangana and Rajasthan Legislative Assemblies Perform?The Wire
https://thewire.in/government/telangana-rajasthan-election-assembly
Sohrabuddin Encounter Case & Amit Shah: All the Perfumes of Arabia …Vivan Eyben
https://www.newsclick.in/sohrabuddin-encounter-case-amit-shah-all-perfumes-arabia
Everything but Halal: How Bangalore Muslims fell prey to ‘high’ returns in the name of Islam
http://twocircles.net/2018nov27/427344.html
Violence against children up by 11%: As 2019 polls approach, are we listening to them? Aparajita Sharma
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/violence-against-children-up-by-11-as-2019-polls-approach-are-we-listening-to-them
Why has PM Modi stopped mentioning his flagship schemes during campaigning? UMAKANT LAKHERA
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/why-has-pm-modi-stopped-mentioning-his-flagship-schemes-during-campaigning
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:39 PM)
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