NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
01 Dec. 2018:22 Rabiul-I 1440: Vol: 11, No:67
INDIA
Madhya Pradesh polls: Congress claims conspiracy as EVMs reach collection centre after 48 hours
https://scroll.in/latest/904170/madhya-pradesh-polls-congress-claims-conspiracy-as-evms-reach-collection-centre-after-48-hours
A delay in electronic voting machines reaching the collection centre in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh has led to allegations of wrongdoing from Opposition parties. Several Congress workers protested outside the collection centre on Friday after the machines arrived there two days after polling for the Assembly elections closed, NDTV reported. State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh of the BJP is MLA from Khurai, where the machines were kept.The Congress alleged on Saturday that the EVMs were taken to a hotel owned by Singh before being brought to the collection centre. In response, the chief electoral officer of Madhya Pradesh tweeted that the polling officer who took the machines to the hotel has been suspended and a disciplinary inquiry ordered. He said these EVMs were not used during polling.The chief electoral officer said that these machines were kept as “reserve” in case EVMs being used for polling malfunctioned. “Such machines were to be stored separately from polled EVMs,” he said. Commenting on the lack of a registration place, the chief electoral officer said the matter is under inquiry, but the security of EVMs was not endangered.“In Madhya Pradesh home minister’s area, EVMs were deposited using a bus without a registration plate, 48 hours after polling,” the Madhya Pradesh Congress tweeted. “Is this a conspiracy by the Govt to ensure a BJP win?”“The objective of this was ostensibly to deposit these machines with the office of the collector,” Congress MP Vivek Tankha said, according to PTI. “These spare EVMs were to be deposited two hours after the polls and not after two days. This happened in the Khuria seat from where the state home minister is contesting the polls.”Tankha also claimed there was no electricity in a strong room in Bhopal for over an hour, and the CCTV cameras also stopped functioning during the period. Reacting to the development, Congress and AAP workers rushed to the spot and demanded an investigation. India Today reported on Saturday that the workers had been camping outside the strong room since Friday, fearing attempts at tampering from the BJP.State Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia asked all “brave” workers to guard the EVMs inside the strong room till December 11, so that no BJP conspiracy will be successful. The votes will be counted on Dec.11.
‘After ISI report, EC to decide on raising polling stations where VVPAT slips matched with results’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-isi-report-ec-to-decide-on-raising-polling-stations-where-vvpat-slips-matched-with-results-5474001/
New Delhi :Amid demands by parties to increase the number of polling stations where paper trail machine slips are matched with EVM results, outgoing Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat has said the poll panel will take a final call on the issue after the Indian Statistical Institute submits a report on it.“They will be submitting the report after these five assembly elections and then commission will be able to take a call,” he told PTI. Asked whether the number of polling stations where slips are matched will increase, he said, “That I can’t say, whether it will be increasing, status quo or decreasing. It will depend on the report.” Rawat said they have been tasked with that “for 99.99 % confidence level with near zero error”, what should be the optimum sample size.Parties have demanded that 10 to 30 % paper trail slips per constituency be counted to ensure there is no rigging and to assure voters that the electronic voting machines are working fine and have not been rigged. As of now, while paper trail machines are used in all polling stations and their slips are counted in polling station per constituency. Voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) or paper trail machine is a device which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip appears on a small window for seven seconds and then drops in a box. The voter cannot take it home.PTI
Congress delegation meets EC; demands more caution around strong rooms where EVMs are stored
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-delegation-meets-ec-demands-more-caution-around-strong-rooms-where-evms-are-stored-5473986/
Assembly elections 2018 Live updates: Congress claim EVM tampering in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/assembly-elections-2018-live-updates-as-campaigning-heats-up-congress-chief-rahul-gandhi-bjp-president-amit-shah-to-address-rallies-in-rajasthan/story-Pe2Yg9SWZH9JO5dMC5sibO.html
Controversy after videos of alleged fraud in MP EVMs go viral, Ahmed Patel wants Election Commission to act
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/huge-controversy-after-vvpat-machines-found-bjp-leader-owned-hotel-in-madhya-pradesh-suspicious-power-outage-in-bhopals-strong-room/221420/?fbclid=IwAR05VbmeoEotsB-eN2DI4YpYs0HywEbNF_w_RGqdNosMjIEvgmUSpfuYsLw
Rajasthan Election: Ravi Shankar Prasad says ‘I will oppose if a single brick of Jama Masjid is dislodged’
https://www.abplive.in/india-news/rajasthan-ravi-shankar-prasad-says-i-oppose-if-i-single-brick-of-jama-masjid-is-dislodged-785710
New Delhi: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in ABP News’ Shikhar Sammelanwhich was organised ahead of Dec 7 assembly polls, said that "if we are ready for the construction Ram temple, then we are equally concerned for other religious symbols." On the issue of construction of Ram Mandir, he said “Where will Ram mandir be built if not in Ayodhya? We wanted an out of court settlement. Similarly, I will protest if even a brick is dislodged from Jama Masjid.” The Vasundhara Raje Govt has done a lot of work in the state and Rajasthan has come out from the list of BIMARU states. He said that the public of Rajasthan will reward the Govt for this. Abplive
Barely 100 Turned Up For Ram Temple Rally In Delhi, RSS Expected Lakhs
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/barely-100-turned-up-for-ram-temple-rally-in-delhi-rss-expected-lakhs-1956395
A rally taken out by th RSS in New Delhi to push for the early construction of the Ram temple got off to an underwhelming start today, with barely a hundred activists turning up to show support. The organisers had expected lakhs of people to participate.Flagged off from New Delhi's Jhandewala temple, the Sankalp Yatra will run for nine days before culminating at the Ramlila Ground on December 9. It is being organised by the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a group affiliated to the RSS. Swadeshi Jagran Manch co-convenor Kamal Tewari, however, tried to shrug off the poor showing at the event. "These are just a few karyakartas (activists) from a particular segment. Soon, they will be joined by another 100-200 karyakartas from a different segment. There are hundreds of karyakartas from different segments who will join us eventually," he said, adding that he expects to see around 6-8 lakh people at the Ramlila Maidan on the final day of the event.Today, the rally had just a few kar sevaks following a single truck -- raising chants of "Jai Shree Ram" and "Mandir Yahin Banayenge" -- and their count was not expected to grow significantly by the time the yatra halts for the day at Shadipur depot around 8 pm. By contrast, lakhs of people had attended a similar rally organised jointly by VHP and Shiv Sena in Ayodhya on November 25.NDTV
Sabarimala Frenzy Fails BJP, Left Wins Local By-Polls
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/15665/Sabarimala-Frenzy-Fails-BJP-Left-Wins-Local-Polls?fbclid=IwAR3c8w8n4lCfWn2xLm9copxH7Fmc0wnEppU3UFpFLqSPQP-CuPTdZtDF3oU
New Delhi: Sabarimala fury whipped up by BJP does not seem to have worked in its favour in Kerala, at least electorally.CPI-M led Left Democratic Front has won 21 of the 29 by-elections to local body seats that had fallen vacant in Kerala.Second in place is the Congress led United Democratic Front that won 12 seats. BJP despite the loud proclamations by its leadership remained on the distant horizon, with just two seats.The elections covered 27 panchayat wards, five block panchayat words, six municipality wards and one corporation ward. These were representative as the polls covered the 14 districts in Kerala. Significantly the BJP was not able to win from the Pathanamthitta muncipality (the Sabarimala temple is in this district) with the Congress party that held the seat earlier, also losing to a rebel candidate. UDF thus won 12 instead of the 13 seats it had held earlier.thecitizen
GDP growth slowed to 7.1% in July-Sept quarter, Govt data shows
https://scroll.in/latest/904081/gdp-growth-slowed-to-7-1-in-july-september-quarter-shows-Govt -data
The growth in India’s Gross Domestic Product slowed to 7.1% in the July-September quarter, the Central Statistics Office said on Friday. GDP had grown by 8.2% in the April-June quarter and 7.7% in the quarter before that. GDP at constant 2011-’12 prices in July-September was estimated at Rs 33.98 lakh crore, compared to Rs 31.72 lakh crore in the same quarter the previous year, the data released by Govt showed.The growth between April and June had been the best in two years, showing signs of recovery since the decline to a three-year low of 5.6% in April-June 2017. The decline had come months after the govt demonetised high-value currency notes in November 2016. The growth figure was 6.3% in July-September 2017 and 7% in Oct-Dec 2017.GDP data comes days after the Centre lowered the GDP growth rate numbers for the years when the Congress-led UPA was in power.
GDP growth in July-Sept was lowest in three quarters, and nine other top stories
https://scroll.in/latest/904111/the-big-news-gdp-growth-in-july-september-was-lowest-in-three-quarters-and-nine-other-top-stories
US refuses to be partner country for Vibrant Gujarat summit 2019
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/us-refuses-to-be-partner-country-for-vibrant-gujarat-summit-2019-5473825/
Ahmedabad:After partnering the Vibrant Gujarat for two consecutive editions, United States has refused to be a partner country for upcoming edition of summit that is scheduled to be held from January 18-20, 2019. Ten countries including Japan and Canada have already confirmed to be partner countries for the summit.A senior state Govt official from the Industries and Mines department confirmed that US had dropped out as “partner country” from the summit which will be launched by PM Narendra Modi on January 18. When quizzed about the reason, the official said that US wanted to restrict itself to events associated directly with the Govt of India. This denial from the United States comes despite a high-level delegation from the Gujarat Govt headed by Arvind Agarwal, additional chief secretary, finance department travelling to the United States in October 2017 in connection with the summit. The delegation had held roadshows, visited cities like New York, Chicago and Washington DC to attract investors for the event. Even in the run-up to the Vibrant summit held in 2017, citing elections in US,officials had expressed disinterest in partnering with the state Govt for the summit. However, later the Americans joined in. US began partnering the Vibrant summit in 2015 after Narendra Modi became the PM. indianexpress
Saudi ready to help India to meet its growing energy demands: Prince to PM Modi
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/saudi-ready-to-help-india-to-meet-its-growing-energy-demands-prince-to-pm-modi/articleshow/66885885.cms
Buenos Aires: Saudi Arabia has offered India to supply oil and petroleum products it needs to meet its growing energy demands during a meeting between Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and PM Narendra Modi, official Saudi media reported on Friday. The two leaders met at Salman's residence in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.During the meeting, the two sides discussed horizons of bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries in the various political, security, economic, investment, agricultural, energy, cultural, and technological fields, Saudi Press Agency reported.In the investment field, they discussed the investment opportunities in the infrastructure through the Public Investment Fund, as well as opportunities in the agricultural field with the aim of replacing agricultural imports from other countries to kingdom with Indian agricultural imports.In the field of energy, they discussed the kingdom's readiness to supply India with all of its needs of oil and petroleum products, as well as Saudi Aramco's investment in refineries in India, especially the large refinery on the western coast of India and in the field of crude oil storage, the report said.The import of crude oil by India forms a major component of bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia being India's one of the largest suppliers of crude oil, accounting for almost one-fifth of its needs.During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed investment in solar energy through Soft Bank Vision Fund and through Saudi companies which will build solar energy projects. In the military field, they discussed strategies to localise military industry and cooperation in the field of military manufacturing in both countries, the report said.They also reviewed what has been accomplished during the previous two years in the area of bilateral relations. TOI
For Pakistan to stay together with India, it will first have to become a secular state: Army Chief
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-ties-with-pakistan-can-improve-once-it-becomes-a-secular-state-army-chief-5472108/
Pune:Reacting to the statement by Pakistan PM Imran Khan that if France and Germany can stay together why not India and Pakistan, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that for Pakistan to stay together with India, it will first have to become a secular state.General Rawat made the statement while interacting with the media on the sidelines of Passing Out Parade of 135th course of NDA in Pune, which he reviewed. “For this idea of countries coming together, Pakistan will have to look at their own internal situation. Pakistan has made itself into an Islamic State. If they have to stay together with India, they will have to become a secular state. We are a secular state. How can we stay together, when they say they are an Islamic State and there is no role for anyone else,”Gen Rawat said. When asked about Khan’s statement that if India takes one step Pakistan will take two, Gen Rawat said, “India has taken the first step several times. At least show us one step from your side. Terrorism is growing in your country. At least show us some action from your side against terrorism.”Gen Rawat also spoke about the scope of increasing the role of women in the Armed forces and said that areas like information warfare, psychological warfare and role as interpreters in military diplomacy are some of the areas where there will be a bigger role played by women in coming days.“We want to move forward in our relations with India. If France and Germany who fought several wars can live in peace, why can’t India and Pakistan,”Khan had said Wednesday while laying the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor.“I am saying today, that our political leaders, our army, and all other institutions are all on one page. We wish to move forward, we want a civilised relationship,” Khan said. “I assure you that we can solve this problem. But determination and big dreams are necessary. Imagine, once trade begins, once our relationship is fixed, how much both nations could benefit.”indianexpress
Peace between India-Pak directly linked to resolution of Kashmir dispute, not Kartarpur corridor : Dal Khalsa
http://www.uniindia.com/peace-between-india-pak-directly-linked-to-resolution-of-kashmir-dispute-not-kartarpur-corridor--dal-khalsa/north/news/1421851.html
Chandigarh: Dal Khalsa has stated that the peace between India and Pakistan is directly linked to resolution of Kashmir dispute and the Kartarpur corridor can play only a limited role in facilitating the dialogue.In a statement here on Friday, Dal Khalsa Spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said directly linking the opening of the corridor with Indo-Pak peace overtures is not only exaggeration of issue but sinister move to ensure that the project runs into rough weather.He made it clear the setting-up of corridor by both Pakistan and India was a welcome step as it fulfills Sikh aspirations for direct access to Kartarpur Sahib that has been a long cherished dream of Sikhs and that nothing more should be attributed to it.UNI
Our Issues Should be Govt’s Priority Not Ram Temple, Say Protesting Farmers
http://caravandaily.com/portal/our-issues-should-be-govts-priority-not-ram-temple-say-protesting-farmers/
New Delhi;Around 40,000 thousands farmers from across the country on Friday marched from Ramlila Maidan to Parliament Street here seeking loan waiver and higher crop prices and warning political parties not to ignore farmers’ plight.Most of the marchers shouted slogans against PM Narendra Modi and his BJP-led Govt , alleging that it had failed them.Organised by All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), protesters marched under various banners and with flags as a massive show of strength which was allowed by police to go up to Parliament Street after an initial ‘no’.Caravan Daily spoke to a number of protesting farmers to know about their grievances and their feelings towards Modi govt.Naresh Prasad who has come from Bihar to take part in the protest said, “No work has been done for farmers by the Modi Govt so far.”Several protesting women farmers from Haryana where BJP is in power said that neither PM Modi nor our chief minister have done anything for them. Another woman said, “Khattar didn’t do anything. We are facing many problems.” caravandaily
Farmers march in Delhi demanding debt relief, remunerative prices
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/farmers-march-in-delhi-demanding-debt-relief-remunerative-prices/article25635048.ece
At farmers’ protest, Opp targets PM, seeks answers on loan waiver, jobs
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-farmers-protest-opposition-targets-pm-modi-seeks-answer-on-loan-waiver-jobs-5473522/
New Delhi :Demanding higher prices and waiver of farm loans, thousands of farmers brought the growing agrarian crisis and rising rural unemployment to Capital Friday where Opposition parties found common ground to rally against the BJP-led Govt ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. From the Congress to the AAP and the CPM to the Trinamool Congress, ideological and political rivals across the country took to the stage at the Kisan Mukti March at Parliament Street. They attacked PM Narendra Modi for failing to “fulfil his promises” including jobs for youth and called for the ouster of the BJP from power.
After ‘barring’ CBI, AP books central Govt staff
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/after-barring-cbi-andhra-pradesh-books-central-Govt -staff/articleshow/66890563.cms
CBI, however, has claimed that it wrote to the state Govt asking for consent to move against the official based on a complaint but was blocked from taking action. New Delhi: After withdrawing the ‘general consent’ for CBI to carry out probes in the state, the Andhra Pradesh Govt has registered its first case against a central Govt employee for allegedly receiving bribes to settle a GST case.The revocation of the general consent earlier this month has restricted CBI’s power to investigate Govt employees and is being seen as a face -off between Andhra chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and the Centre that came in the background of alleged political interference in the central agency.Sources told ET that the case has been registered against a Superintendent of the CGST range in Machilipatnam on Friday evening, after he was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 in exchange for favourable auditing of input tax credit.CBI, however, has claimed that it wrote to the state Govt asking for consent to move against the official based on a complaint but was blocked from taking action.“However, the Govt of AP did not issue the specific consent as requested by CBI and instead the details were shared by the Home Department with state ACB and it laid a trap on November 30 in the evening against the central Govt public servant by using the contents of the request letter. Further, the state’s ACB also issued a press release as if the complainant had directly approached them,” a CBI release said. Economictimes
Is Gujarat Govt trying to identify Muslim students? Gujarat HC issues show-cause notice
https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/muslim-students-identified-by-gujarat-Govt -hc-issues-show-cause-notice-html-1399448-2018-11-30
Muslim students in Gujarat appearing for their class 10 and class 12 board exams are being identified through an online form, Ahmedabad Mirror reported on November 23. On Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court issued a show-cause notice to the state Govt seeking an explanation for the same. The online examination form in question for the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) asked students if they are from a minority category and then proceeded to give two options Muslims’ and Others’.It needs to be noted that the state of Gujarat has four other minority religions Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Jains.Around 17.5 lakh students sit for the GSHSEB every year. The state Govt has been collecting data for the last five years of Muslim students appearing for the board exams, the state Education Minister had said on Tuesday.The notice was issued following a PIL filed by KR Koshty, who alleged that the BJP-ruled Gujarat Govt was resorting to religious-profiling of students from Muslim community appearing for the board exams.A division bench of acting Chief Justice Anant Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav sought replies from the state Govt , Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) and UIDAI by Decr 6. indiatoday
SC spending too much time on non-issues:Justice Joseph
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/VEShhIwivMz663LtSbrOtM/SC-spending-too-much-time-on-nonissues-Justice-Kurian-Jose.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is spending a substantial amount of time on non-issues rather than looking at burning problems because of mounting public interest litigation, retired justice Kurian Joseph said on Friday, a day after retiring. “The Supreme Court should concentrate on the issues that affect the citizens and weed out all the rest,” he told reporters at his home. Clearing the air on the controversial January press conference where he and 3 other judges publicly questioned the leadership of former chief justice Dipak Misra, the retired judge said that it was a “conscious decision taken for a cause as there was no other way left”.In the aftermath of their press conference, Joseph said, there was more transparency and things were now being done with greater caution. But it was an institutional crisis, and it would take time to achieve change in systems and practices that had been around for years.Joseph added that the roster system was only one of the pressing issues highlighted at the press conference, and that there were several systems and practices that needed reform. Joseph also called for collective leadership at the apex court, suggesting that the Chief Justice be assisted by a committee for taking important decisions.livemint
Hanuman was an ST, not a Dalit: NCST chairman
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hanuman-scheduled-tribe-not-dalit-ncst-chairman-yogi-adityanath-5472840/
Lucknow:Amid a controversy over Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath allegedly calling Hanuman a ‘Dalit’ at an election meeting in Rajasthan, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) chairman Nand Kumar Sai claimed Hindu god was a member of the scheduled tribes.Meanwhile, BJP MLA Surendra Singh too disapproved of Adityanath’s reported statement, saying it is “inappropriate” to relate god with a caste.According to a PTI report, Adityanath had recently said, “(Hanuman was a forest dweller, a Dalit and deprived.Sai claimed Hanuman was a forest dweller, and that is also a “gotra” by the name of “Hanuman” in scheduled tribes.“Woh Dalit nahi they, janjati they. When Ram formed the army, vanar, giddha, bhalu, all were in it. They belong to scheduled tribes and lived in the jungles. There are different types under scheduled tribes and one of them is Hanuman “gotra”,” he hold reporters.indianexpress
Encouraged by CM Yogi’s Remark, Dalits Want to Take Over Management of All Hanuman Temples
https://www.news18.com/news/india/encouraged-by-cm-yogis-remark-dalits-want-to-take-over-management-of-all-hanuman-temples-1956525.html
Muslim groups seeking quota can approach SBCC for survey:Fadnavis
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/muslim-groups-seeking-quota-can-approach-sbcc-for-survey-says-devendra-fadnavis/1399484/
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday told the Assembly that those who believe there are castes among Muslims who deserve reservation could approach the State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) to requisition a survey. Speaking in the Assembly, Fadnavis said reservations were given on the basis of caste and there was no caste system among Muslims or Christians.“There are some backward castes among Muslims as they had retained their caste while converting from Hinduism. About 52 backward castes among Muslims are given reservations at present,” he said. “Those who feel there are more castes among Muslims who need reservations can approach the SBCC for conducting a survey. The recommendations of the SBCC will be binding on the Govt ,” Fadnavis said. He assured that he would convene a meeting of group leaders of the legislature to find a way out to provide relief to families of those who had committed suicide during the Maratha quota stir. “Such a message shouldn’t go in society that to get issues addressed or resolved, committing suicide is an option.Kakasaheb Shinde had announced he would take Jal Samadhi. Police should have saved him but unfortunately that didn’t happen. So we took responsibility of supporting the family,” Fadnavis said. Across Maharashtra, 543 cases were filed against Maratha youthin connection with the quota stir, out of which 66 were withdrawn, he said. PTI
AIMIM to Move Court For Muslim Quota as Maratha Reservation Opens Pandora’s Box
https://www.news18.com/news/india/asaduddin-owaisis-aimim-to-move-court-for-muslim-quota-as-maratha-reservation-opens-pandoras-box-1955747.html
Maharashtra Govt’s decision to award 16 % reservation to Marathas has led to demands of quota from other communities. On Friday, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM said it would move court demanding quota for Muslims in education and Govt jobs. The decision to move court was taken after the two MLAs – one from Congress and AIMIM each - raised the demand in the Assembly on Friday, but chief minister Devendra Fadnavis immediately rejected it, saying there could be no reservation based on religion. He advised them to go to the state backward class commission with their demand. In an unusual move, the Shiv Sena too supported the demand for Muslim reservation in the state. "Just like our senior leader Uddhav Thackeray had said, Shiv Sena will fight for the rights of all the downtrodden. If the Backward Class Commission says that Muslims are backward, we will support and fight for their cause too," Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu said.News18
'Demography along Pak border changing': BSF flags concerns
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/demography-along-pakistan-border-changing-bsf-flags-concerns/articleshow/66889652.cms
New Delhi: BSF has flagged concerns over increasing radicalisation of Muslim population in the border district of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan with rising prevalence of "Arab customs" even as Hindus and Muslims admit to a shrinkage in dialogue between the communities.A BSF study that examined demographic changes has found a departure from traditional Rajasthani culture in terms of personal grooming such as hairstyles and dress. The study also found a high 22-25 % growth rate in Muslim population as compared to 8-10 % of other communities. There is a rise in religiosity with higher attendance of children at mosques for more frequent namaz. While warning of radicalisation, the study says there is no evidence of any "anti-national" activity and there is no discernible soft corner for Pakistan among the minority population. Also, both communities have not had any problems so far and they conduct business and are cordial to each other, BSF states.BSF study also talks about an increase in the membership of Hindu right-wing organisations, which are opposed by Muslims. "The activities of Hindu right-wing organisations have made Hindus in the village of Mohangarh, Nachna and Pokaharan more concerned about their religion. The membership in such organisations is increasing and they are extending their horizons at different spheres of religious activities ranging from training, monetary and communal support to education. However, no direct confrontation with other community has been noticed", the report says.TOI
Panchkula plot reallotment case: CBI files charge sheet against ex Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ajl-case-cbi-files-charge-sheet-against-ex-haryana-cm-bhupinder-singh-hooda/article25641379.ece?homepage=true
CBI on Saturday filed a charge sheet against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others in connection with alleged irregularities in the reallotment of a Panchkula plot to Associated Journals Limited (AJL).Among those arraigned is veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora, who was the chairman of AJL.CBI has invoked provisions of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating and criminal conspiracy and the Prevention of Corruption Act. thehindu
‘Treated as furniture’, Odisha BJP MLA, senior leader quit party
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/treated-as-furniture-odisha-bjp-leaders-dilip-ray-bijoy-mohapatra-quit-bjp-5472406/
Bhubaneswar :BJP MLA Dilip Ray and senior leader Bijoy Mohapatra resigned from the party’s Odisha unit on Friday. In a joint resignation letter to party president Amit Shah, they said the state unit of BJP was ignoring its “sorry state of affairs” and treating them “as furniture”.The incumbent MLA from Rourkela, Ray also met Odisha Assembly Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat and submitted his resignation. “We can’t be treated as furniture in the party while the rootless talk big and project a larger than life image,” they said in the letter. A state BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said that the word “rootless seems to be directed at that (Union Minister Dharmendra) Pradhan, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh”. Pradhan is likely to be named BJP’s chief ministerial candidate from the state in the upcoming Assembly polls in 2019.indianexpress
HC comes to Bhopal student’s rescue, calls her rustication ‘violation’ of justice
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hc-comes-to-bhopal-students-rescue-calls-her-rustication-violation-of-justice-5473440/
Bhopal :8 months after an undergraduate student of a Govt college in Bhopal was rusticated over a Facebook post that she purportedly wrote and called teachers unpatriotic, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside the rustication order, calling it “flagrant violation of the principle of natural justice”. Quashing the rustication order, issued on March 21 this year, Justice Sujoy Paul observed that it cannot stand judicial scrutiny. The court allowed the student to appear for annual examination. Asma Khan, then a second-year student of MVM College, had allegedly called the teachers unpatriotic after Bhagat Kranti Dal (BKD), an organisation she belongs to, was denied permission to hold a function to mark death anniversary of Bhagat Singh. According to the student outfit, the college authorities denied permission under pressure from ABVP, the students’ wing of the RSS, as three ABVP members had lost to BKD candidates in students’ elections held last year.indianexpress
SC defers hearing on Rohingya plea
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-defers-hearing-on-rohingya-plea/article25637215.ece
The Supreme Court has deferred its hearing on a plea by Rohingya immigrants against Govt ’s proposed move to deport their 40,000-strong refugee community back to their native land of Myanmar, where discrimination and possibly summary execution await them.Rohingya community, which fled to India after violence in the state of Rakhine in Myanmar, have settled down in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, UP , Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi said the case would be posted for final disposal in January.The petitions have said the Centre’s move to deport them violates the constitutional guarantee that Indian State should “protect the life and liberty of every human being, whether citizen or not.”thehindu
Law secretary retires after govt decides not to give him extension following Moin Qureshi row
https://theprint.in/governance/union-law-secretary-who-was-accused-of-influencing-moin-qureshi-probe-retires/157373/
Union law secretary Suresh Chandra — who landed in a soup after CBI DIG M.K. Sinha, in an application to the Supreme Court, accused him of “interfering and influencing” the Moin Qureshi case — has retired from office. According to sources, the Govt initially planned to give him an extension, but the decision was changed after his name was dragged into the controversy.Following Chandra’s retirement, Alok Srivastava — a 1984 Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer, who is currently secretary, department of justice — was Friday given an additional charge of secretary, department of legal affairs.“The competent authority has approved the assignment of the additional charge of the post of secretary, Department of Legal Affairs to Alok Srivastava, IAS , Secretary, Dept of Justice, till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” order said.Theprint
Demonetisation a Massive, Draconian, Monetary Shock: PM Modi’s Ex-Chief Economic Advisor
http://caravandaily.com/portal/demonetisation-a-massive-draconian-monetary-shock-pm-modis-ex-chief-economic-advisor/
New Delhi: Demonetisation was a massive, draconian, monetary shock that accelerated economic slide to 6.8 % in the seven quarters after it against the 8 % recorded prior to the note ban, says former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian.Breaking his silence on the November 8, 2016 decision of PM Narendra Modi, he says that he does not have a strongly-backed empirical view apart from the fact that the welfare costs, especially on informal sector, were substantial. Though Subramanian, who quit the post earlier this year after a four-year tenure, has devoted a chapter in the upcoming book “Of Counsel: The Challenges of the Modi-Jaitley Economy”, published by Penguin, has continued to keep a studied silence on whether he was consulted in the decision-making process of demonetisation. The detractors of the Govt had said that the PM had not consulted the CEA on the crucial decision. “Demonetisation was a massive, draconian, monetary shock: In one fell swoop, 86 % of the currency in circulation was withdrawn. The real GDP growth was affected by the demonetisation. Growth had been slowing even before, but after demonetisation, the slide accelerated.
Delhi Police withdraws terror alert advisory after Pakistani university identifies alleged operatives as its students
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-police-withdraws-terror-alert-advisory-after-pakistani-university-identifies-alleged-operatives-as-its-students-1399386-2018-11-30
New Delhi: Delhi Police withdrew the terror alert advisory in the city after an official of Pakistani university, Jamia Imdadia, confirmed that the two alleged JeM operatives were actually its students.The university official, Maulana Muhammad Zahid, also clarified that the two had never visited India.The anti-terror unit of Delhi Police had in mid-Nov released the pictures of two bearded men posing next to a milestone with Firozpur 9 kms, Delhi 360 kilometres inscribed on it, claiming that they were the members of a Pakistan-based terror group and may enter Delhi via Punjab to carry out terror attacks in the city.The advisory also asked the Delhi citizens to remain alert and notify the Paharganj police station if they spot the two men in the poster. The Punjab Police had also issued a high alert for the national capital after receiving information about 7 JeM terrorists who were feared to have entered the region via the state. Pakistani university, however, on Tuesday clarified that the two men in the terror alert posters were their students. The two have been identified as Nadeem and Tayyab.The clarification from the Jamia Imdadia at a Pakistani news portal, The Dawn, read: In a press conference where the two boys were also present, Mufti Zahid said both of them were students of the seminary for the last couple of years. He said both had visited Lahore some days ago to attend the Tablighi congregation at Raiwind and then went to Ganda Singh border to watch the flag-lowering ceremony. He said they had taken pictures along a milestone which showed the distance to Dehli and Ferozepur [Firozpur] and shared a picture on the social media (sic).IndiaToday
‘Fake kills’: SC rejects 350 Army men’s plea
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/-fake-kills-sc-rejects-350-army-men-s-plea/691589.html
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today rejected a petition by more than 350 Army men challenging FIRs against soldiers in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, where AFSPA is in force, overruling the Centre’s contention that it will have a “demoralising effect” on soldiers fighting terrorism.As a Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur made it clear that it was going to dismiss the petition, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Centre wanted to be heard and that there should be a debate on the issue.“There has to be a mechanism where the hands of our soldiers do not shake while fighting terrorism,” Mehta said, adding, “Human life has a value which can never be disputed.”The top court had in July 2017 ordered a CBI probe into alleged extra-judicial killings by the Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police in Manipur between 2000 and 2012. The use of “excessive force” was not permissible under AFSPA, it had said.tribuneindia
5 injured in clash between two groups in Delhi
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/5-injured-in-clash-between-two-groups-in-delhi-118113001355_1.html
New Delhi: At least five persons including a minor girl were injured in a clash between two groups of locals over seeking passage allegedly through a Waqf Board land in the national capital on Friday, police said.The incident occurred around 6 p.m when the two groups in Begumpur area of south Delhi indulged in a clash following blocking of a passage used by over 200 families staying in Valmiki Camp. The passage that connects the camp area with the main Malviya Nagar road has a madrasa on its side and a mosque close to it, the police said.
According to Maulana Mohammad Ali Johar, a group of 15-20 local youths staying in Valmiki Camp barged into the mosque and attacked one Mumtaz and his family members with stones. "Two locals Mahipal and Kakku also pelted stones at Mumtaz's wife, Shabana. When their neighbours Liyaqat Ali and his wife Saroj Khan came to the rescue of Shabana, the attackers also thrashed them. In the melee, Saroj Khan's minor daughter received injuries as well," Johar said."Apparently, the clash seems to have erupted over the opening of the passage near madrasa for the use of the Valmiki Camp residents," DCP said. The victims' family members alleged that Valmiki Camp was set up on the land belonging to Waqf Board. "Locals had encroached upon it and now they also want to encroach the land of both madarsa and mosque," Johar said."As per an earlier meeting with DCP Vijay Kumar, we had agreed to give the Valmiki Camp residents an alternative way from the back side of madarsa land. But they don't want to allow us to stay here peacefully. Locals sometimes throw liquor bottles on the roof of mosque and madarsa. When we started constructing a wall on the way, they attacked us," Johar alleged.IANS
Sitamarhi Muslim lynching: 82 YO Ansari charred to death alive; Cops arrest 13 accused after a month
https://www.siasat.com/news/sitamarhi-muslim-lynching-82-yo-ansari-charred-death-alive-cops-arrest-13-accused-after-month-1439788/
Patna: The Sitamarhi lynching which saw an 82-year-old elderly Muslim man burnt alive and charred to death during ‘Dussehra’ eve has sent shivers down the spine for such cruel behavior against an elderly Muslim man. Now reacting to the cruel lynching almost after a month and after the word got out, the Police have arrested 13 people so far and are hunting for six others in connection with 82-year-old Zainul Ansari’s killing which was reported from Bihar’s Sitamarhi region last month.
WORLD
Khashoggi: UN human rights chief calls for investigation
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/khashoggi-death-human-rights-chief-calls-investigation-181201113408014.html
The new United Nations human rights chief has told Al Jazeera it’s time for the UN to investigate Jamal Khashoggi's death – after almost two months of the Saudi and Turkish investigations that remain separate and seem to be going nowhere.But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres - currently at the G20 summit - is sticking to his position that he won't act until he gets a referral from one of the UN’s major bodies and one of the member states of the UN. aljazeera
MBS communicated with adviser during Khashoggi killing: WSJ
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/mbs-communicated-adviser-khashoggi-killing-wsj-181201104013900.html
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent 11 messages to his closest adviser, who reportedly oversaw the operatives who killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in the hours before and after the journalist's murder on October 2, according to a Wall Street Journal report.Citing a classified CIA assessment, the Journal said on Saturday it had reviewed excerpts of an intelligence file that was classified as "highly confidential", which cites electronic intercepts and other covert information between Prince Mohammed and his aide, Saud al-Qahtani.However, the content of the messages between the two parties is unknown."To be clear, we lack direct reports that the crown prince issued the order of murder," the assessment notes, according to the Journal.The assessment reports that Qahtani, who supervised the 15-man team that killed Khashoggi, was also in direct communication with the team's leader in Istanbul."We assess it is highly unlikely this team of operators … carried out the operation without Mohammed bin Salman's authorisation," it says.According to the assessment, Prince Mohammed, or MBS, told associates in August 2017 that if efforts to persuade Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia weren't successful, "we could possibly lure him outside Saudi Arabia and make arrangements". aljazeera
Street at Saudi US embassy may be renamed Khashoggi Way
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/street-saudi-arabias-us-embassy-may-be-renamed-jamal-khashoggi-way-910233879?fbclid=IwAR2pD-QzqP8Nxrdy6zlvM5OZG0wfJMHkS6UWmHXtEpDlsFmDi4Q6qHmTwyQ
Local officials in a Washington,DC, neighborhood have unanimously voted to rename a street outside Saudi Arabia's embassy in honor of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Measure now goes to Washington’s city council, where they will decide on the advisory commission's measure to rename a stretch of road going past the expansive embassy building in the upscale Foggy Bottom neighborhood as "Jamal Khashoggi Way."A city council vote is expected to take place several months from now and is subject to Congressional approval.middleeasteye
Saudi crown prince gets frosty G20 welcome, trades 'pleasantries' with Trump
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/macron-first-european-leader-meet-mbs-after-khashoggi-killing-521131362
G20 summit kicked off on Friday in Buenos Aires with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman facing an awkward reception from world leaders.As dignitaries drifted in at the summit's start, French President Emmanuel Macron was filmed having a tense conversation with the Saudi leader.In the video, which was shared widely on social media, the two are seen speaking in English.Much of the audio is inaudible, however it is possible to make out bin Salman saying "Don't worry", to which Macron responds "I am worried". Later, Macron says: "You never listen to me", and bin Salman replies: "I will listen, of course."At the end of the exchange, Macron is heard saying: "I'm a man of my word."Later, crown prince, known as MBS, found himself sidelined during the official "family photo" of leaders, standing at the far edge of the portrait, largely ignored. Once the photo was taken he quickly exited the stage without shaking hands or talking with other leaders.middleeasteye
Former US President George HW Bush dead at 94
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/president-george-hw-bush-dead-94-181201050728895.html?fbclid=IwAR3yGDwC2WlTfnclWCmWt0r72IB1FFrIy910wa4I-mI9PzuSs6C-IEhu8fU
Former US President George HW Bush has died at the age of 94, his son has announced.Bush, the 41st president of the US, died on Friday, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush. "Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died," his son, former president George W Bush, said. "George HW Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for."Jim McGrath, spokesman for the former president, said the elder Bush died at 10:10pm Central Time, adding that funeral arrangements had yet to be scheduled.Further details about the circumstances of his death were not immediately available. aljazeera
18 Palestinians wounded as Israeli army fires on Gaza protesters: Ministry
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/Gaza-Palestinians-injured-israeli-fire-protests-1852804084
At least 18 Palestinians were wounded on Friday after the Israeli army opened fire on weekly protests in the Gaza Strip, the health ministry in the blockaded enclave said.They were hit with live ammunition as a few thousand Palestinians gathered in different spots along the fence dividing Israel from Gaza, the ministry said.None were reported to be in life-threatening condition, it said.Palestinians in Gaza have rallied every week since the end of March as part of the Great March of Return. The protesters are calling for an end to the stifling blockade on the coastal Palestinian territory and demanding the right to return to their ancestral homes in what is now Israel. The number of participants at the protests has diminished since a ceasefire agreement was reached earlier this month between Israel and Hamas, which governs Gaza.Still, at least 235 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since March, mostly by Israeli fire, but also by air and tank strikes.
CNN commentator fired for pro-Palestine UN speech
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181130-cnn-commentator-fired-for-pro-palestine-un-speech/
CNN has fired commentator Marc Lamont Hill for giving a pro-Palestinian speech at the United Nations.In a brief statement made yesterday, US TV channel announced that “Marc Lamont Hill is no longer under contract with CNN”.MEMO
After PA cuts, Palestinians prisoners’ lawyers work without pay for 5 months
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181130-after-pa-cuts-palestinians-prisoners-lawyers-work-without-pay-for-5-months/
Palestinian Authority has not paid 27 lawyers of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club since July, Quds News Network reported.The PA crackdown on the Prisoners’ Club started last year after the club backed hundreds of Palestinian detainees in the Israeli occupation’s jails undertook a mass hunger strike that lasted 41 days, and their action at the time. Following that PA President Mahmoud Abbas suspended its financial backing of the organisation, and established a committee to plan the restructuring of the club, aiming at limiting its tasks to providing services to released prisoners.middleeastmonitor
Saudi products inside Israeli settlement factory
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181130-saudi-products-inside-israeli-settlement-factory/
Activists circulated on social media platforms a video recorded by a Palestinian young man showing Saudi products inside a factory in the Barkan settlement, located on occupied lands of the Salfit Governorate in the centre of the West Bank.The video featured SABIC products, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading chemical companies in the world.SABIC manufactures chemical products and is specialised in plastics, fertilisers, polymers and metals, and exports goods to many countries around the world. MEMO
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
10 Big Failures of the Narendra Modi Govt : Salman Khurshid & Muhammad Khan
https://thewire.in/politics/narendra-modi-Govt -failures
Oil over idealism: At G20 Summit, Modi’s bilateral talks with Saudi crown prince signals shift in India’s foreign policy: Sreemoy Talukdar
https://www.firstpost.com/india/oil-over-idealism-at-g20-summit-modis-bilateral-talks-with-saudi-crown-prince-signals-shift-in-indias-foreign-policy-5651831.html
Halting the hate: In Mangaluru, a Muslim family decided to stop cycle of communal revenge killings:Harsh Mander
https://scroll.in/article/902624/halting-the-hate-in-mangaluru-a-muslim-family-decided-to-stop-cycle-of-communal-revenge-killings
Citizenship Bill: BJP chasing ghosts in Assam; Census data shows number of Hindu immigrants may have been exaggerated:Nandita Saikia
https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-bill-bjp-chasing-ghosts-in-assam-as-census-data-shows-number-of-hindu-immigrants-couldve-been-exaggerated-5640511.html
How Times Now, Republic TV Saw Muslim 'Appeasement' When There Was None: Alt News Desk
https://thewire.in/media/times-now-republic-tv-misreport-congress-manifesto-telangana
Sam-ul-Haq was an integral part of Pak’s mullah-military alliance: Khaled Ahmed
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/pakistan-maulana-samiul-haqafghan-death-taliban-haqqani-column-5473346/
Russian beauty queen reverts to Islam to become Queen of Malaysia
https://www.siasat.com/news/russian-ex-beauty-queen-reverts-islam-become-queen-malaysia-1439151/?fbclid=IwAR10UgND61n6fgntgU66lrovMgWFDkJyPWjAI0KcftbmFRfpeMUfiOdsupI
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:24 PM)
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