NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
12 Dec. 2018:04 Rabiul-II 1440: Vol: 11, No:74
INDIA
Assam NRC: SC extends deadline for filing claims and objections to Dec. 31
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/assam-national-register-of-citizens-supreme-court-claims-and-objections-5490060/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the last date of filing claims and objections on the inclusion of names in the draft National Register of Citizen (NRC) to Dec.31.Earlier, the apex court had fixed Dec.15 as the last date to submit claims and objections for the 40 lakh applicants who were left out of the final NRC draft.Till now, only around 14.8 lakh claims have been filed — indicating the difficulty being faced by the excluded in getting their names in the NRC list. “Out of 40 lakh people who were left out of the final draft NRC, 14.8 lakh people have filed claims,” NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela told the Supreme Court. The date for commencement of verification has also been postponed to Feb.15 from Feb.1.Under ‘Objections’, people could raise objections to the inclusion of a name in the NRC. What has compounded matters is that Standard Operations Procedure of the Claims and Objections round accepted by the court says that a person cannot use a different legacy person than the one used during the initial application. In a press statement last month, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal admitted that the number of Claims filed over the NRC were so far “very dissatisfactory”. Apart from “freezing of legacy person”, setting the cut-off date for documents that could be used by a person to establish the link to his ancestors as August 31, 2015, is also hindering filing of claims.The filing of objections too, at 200-odd, has been “negligible”. In a recent press statement, Upamanyu Hazarika, a senior advocate of the SC, said the primary reason was that an objector needs to know the Application Receipt Number (ARN) of the person whose inclusion he wants to object to. ARN is a 21-digit number an applicant receives on applying for inclusion in the NRC. “Procedure for filing an Objection has rendered the entire process a nullity,” Hazarika said.indianexpress
Assamese groups fail to file NRC objections even as they call draft list flawed:Arunabh Saikia
https://scroll.in/article/905184/all-bark-no-bite-assamese-groups-fail-to-file-nrc-objections-even-as-they-call-draft-list-flawed
SC asks ex-judge heading panel on Gujarat encounters if he shared report with other members
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-encounters-supreme-court-ranjan-gogoi-k-m-joseph-javed-akhtar-5490072/
New Delhi :The Supreme Court has asked a former apex court judge, who chaired a committee monitoring the probe into the Gujarat encounter cases, whether he had shared his final report with other members of the panel.Former apex court judge Justice HS Bedi was appointed the chairman of the monitoring committee probing encounter cases from 2002 to 2006 in Gujarat by the SC.The monitoring committee had submitted its report to the court in a sealed cover in February this year.A bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and K M Joseph was hearing a plea to make the report public.Gujarat Govt has objected to putting it in public domain, contending that it was not clear whether the views expressed in the final report were unilateral of Justice Bedi or he had shared it with other members of the monitoring committee.The bench asked Justice Bedi to give his view on the questions raised to the apex court expeditiously.PTI
Shaktikanta Das, Modi Govt's point-man for demonetisation, is new RBI governor
https://thewire.in/economy/modi-govt-appoints-shaktikanta-das-as-new-rbi-governor
New Delhi: Modi govt has appointed former finance ministry official Shaktikanta Das as governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a day after former central bank boss Urjit Patel resigned abruptly. Das, a former finance secretary and current member of 15th finance commission, shot into the public spotlight in late 2016 when he became the bureaucraticface of demonetisation in the weeks following the note-ban decision. He is a 1980 batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre and currently also represents India at the G-20 in a role of a sherpa.Modi brought in Das initially to head up the revenue department in the finance ministry before moving him to economic affairs, where he helped lead the charge on demonetisation’s implementation in late 2016.According to a Govt statement released on Tuesday evening, he will be given a 3-year-tenure. Das was the economic affairs secretary till May 2017. In the weeks after demonetisation, he became a familiar face during govt press conferences where he pushed the Centre’s line that banning Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would crack down on the black economy, reduce counterfeit money and spur digital payments.In Feb.2017, he gave a speech that predicted that the positive effects of demonetisation would be felt from April 2017. He also down-played the negative consequences of demoentisation, saying that “from the next quarter, long-term and medium benefits and outcomes are going to be very positive”.“Shaktikanta Das has been involved with economic affairs for a long time and I am sure he will be a good governor,” ex RBI Governor C Rangarajan told Bloomberg.“I am glad that the Govt made a quick appointment because any delay would result in the financial markets reacting in a way therefore it is welcome. I think he should maintain credibility and independence of RBI.”thewire
MA History Shaktikanta Das Succeeds 4 Economics Scholars as RBI Boss. Twitter Mocks 'Modinomics'
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/twitter-questions-modinomics-after-ma-history-shaktikanta-das-succeeds-4-economics-scholars-as-rbi-boss-1970941.html
RBI autonomy sacred, should not be compromised: ex CEA Arvind Subramanian
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rbi-autonomy-sacred-should-not-be-compromised-says-former-cea-arvind-subramanian/
Mumbai :With the reigns of RBI governorship passing to an ex-bureaucrat, former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian Wednesday said central bank autonomy is “sacred”, which should not be compromised.Progress on the steps taken by Governor Shaktikanta Das’ predecessor Urjit Patel to restore financial system integrity will be a key thing to assess any damage to the institution. “What is going to be key is whether this (restoring financial system agenda) is maintained going forward. That is going to be the yardstick to measure what is happening on the bigger institutional front,” he said, speaking at the Fifth India Economic Conclave here. “RBI has a very good reputation for very good reasons (and) maintaining the functional autonomy in decision-making and governance is absolutely sacred, we must not compromise on that,” he added.PTI
ASSEMBLY POLL RESULTS
Armed with BSP and SP support, Congress stakes claim in MP; Chouhan quits
https://www.hindustantimes.com/madhya-pradesh-elections/madhya-pradesh-assembly-election-results-2018-kamal-nath-meets-shivraj-chouhan-resigns-as-cm/story-4hgzXeiu9vthKxW0tPOTGI.html
MP Congress president Kamal Nath has staked the Congress’s claim to form the Govt in the state. A Congress delegation led by Kamal Nath and including Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia met Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel today at noon. They had been invited to meet Governor after the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly Election results yesterday.Giving details of the meeting, Congress leader Narendra Saluja said, “We have met the Governor and staked claim to form the Govt, we have the support of 121 MLAs, the situation is clear. “With Mayawati’s BSP and Akhilesh-led SP supporting Congress, Kamal Nath asked Governor for permission to form the Govt in the state. Governor Anandiben Patel had called the Congress leaders to Raj Bhawan at noon for talks after the party had sought an appointment with her on the issue of Govt formation in the state.Meanwhile, accepting the party’s defeat, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan submitted his resignation to the Governor. “Ab mein mukt hoon, I am free. I have tendered my resignation to the honourable Governor. The responsibility of defeat is totally mine. I have congratulated Kamal Nath ji,” Chouhan said while addressing the media after tendering his resignation.“We don’t believe in politics of ‘jod-tod’. No one has got the mandate but since we have also not got the mandate we didn’t stake claim to forming the govt,”Chouhan said. Chouhan met the Governor shortly before Kamal Nath was to meet her and tendered his resignation to her. Congress had emerged as the election winner with 114 seats while BJP had come second with 109 seats after a very tight contest.Even though it has won 114 seats, the Congress has still not managed to cross the majority mark. BSP leader Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have announced their support for the Congress in the state. Earlier, addressing a press conference Mayawati had said that her party, which had won 2 seats in the state, was going to extend its support to Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan “to keep the BJP out”.HT
Kamal Nath stakes claim to form govt in Madhya Pradesh, likely to become next CM
https://www.newsx.com/national/kamal-nath-meets-governor-anandiben-patel-stakes-claim-to-form-govt-in-madhya-pradesh
Arif Aqueel, Arif Masood win in Bhopal; Masarrat Shahid loses electoral battle in Sironj
http://www.ummid.com/news/2018/December/12.12.2018/arif-aqueel-arif-masood-win-in-bhopal-masarrat-shahid-loses-battle-in-sironj.html
Bhopal: Arif Aqueel and Arif Masood have won the 2018 Madhya Pradesh elections while Masarrat Shahid lost the electoral battle in Sironj. Aqueel, Masood and Masrrat are just 03 Muslim candidates fileded by the Congress party in MP.According to the final result, announced by the State Election Commission, Arif Aqueel retained the Bhopal North assembly constituency defeating Fatima Rasool Siddiqui of BJP by more than 45,000 votes.Arif Aqueel got a total of 90,403 votes, some 17,000 thousand more votes than 73,070 he bagged in the 2013 elections. Fatima Rassol of BJP could get just 55,546 votes. Fatima is daughter of Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui - a former Congress MLA from the same seat.Arif Masood, another Muslim candidate in MP, has won the 2018 assembly polls from Bhopal Central constituency. He got a total of 76,647 votes and defeated Surendra Nath Singh of BJP by about 16,000 votes. Singh who won the Bhopal Madhya seat in 2013 got 61,890 votes in the 2018 MP elections. Masrrat Shahid on the other hand lost the election in Sironj-Lateri Vidhansabha seat to BJP's Umakant Sharma. Masarrat, Ex President of MP Mahila Congress who was also a member of Haj Committee of India, got 48,883 votes while Sharma bagged 83,617 votes. Sironj-Lateri Vidhansabha seat was earlier held by Govardhan Lal of Congress.ummid.com
MP official results: Congress wins 114 seats, BJP bags 109 seats in the Hindi heartland
https://www.newsx.com/madhya-pradesh-assembly-election-results-2018/madhya-pradesh-election-2018-results-live-updates-congress-bjp-bsp-shivraj-singh-chouhan-kamal-nath-jyotiraditya-madhavrao-scindia-rakesh-singh-arun-yadav-narrotam-mishra-kunwar-vijay-singh-gauri-shan
Mayawati extends support to Cong in MP, Rajasthan
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/IrKndvTn0LqBcBDhjsfakJ/Mayawati-extends-support-to-Congress-in-Madhya-Pradesh-Raja.html
MP: Kamal Nath’s viral video of Muslim delegation helped bag votes for Congress
https://www.siasat.com/news/mp-kamal-naths-viral-video-muslim-delegation-helped-bag-votes-congress-1444593/
Muslim lynching, minor rapes, cow vigilantism that has increased over the past few years during NDA regime has instilled fear among Minority communities across the nation, landing saffron party in troubled waters this General Elections.It may be recalled recently in November a video of state Congress president Kamal Nath addressing a small delegation of the Muslim community was made viral on the internet while creating a huge fuss about its content, that the saffron patty’s national vice-president Prabhat Jha even approached Election Commission to take action against Nath.In the video, he was heard saying: “Today if 90% of Muslims don’t vote, then it would be a major loss for us.”siasat
Rajasthan: 8 Muslim Candidates Win, 7 of them from Congress
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/rajasthan-six-muslim-candidates-leading-five-of-them-from-congress?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
Jaipur: Muslim representation in Rajasthan Assembly is set to go up after this election as after the daylong counting of votes, 8 Muslim candidates were declared winner – 7 of them are from Congress. One is from BSP. In the 2013 Assembly polls, only 2 Muslims could win - both were from BJP.BJP had fielded only one Muslim candidate this time – that too against Congress state president Sachin Pilot. . indiatomorrow
Congress bags 31 of the 59 reserved seats in Rajasthan; BJP falls from 53 to 21
http://twocircles.net/2018dec11/427718.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
With the Congress all set to return to power in Rajasthan after five years, the reign of Vasundhara Raje will come to an end. While the final numbers are still not out, it seems like the only point of consideration now in Rajasthan is whether Congress will get outright majority or if it will need an alliance with other parties and/or independent candidates. A total of 34 seats have been reserved for Scheduled Castes and 25 for Scheduled Tribes. In the 2013 elections, BJP had romped home to a massive victory in the state and this was helped through winning 53 of the 59 reserved seats. Congress meanwhile won only 5 of the seats. This time. however, the situation seems to have changed. BJP is set to win only 12 of the 34 seats reserved for SCs this time while it is poised to win a total of 9 of the 25 ST seats. This makes for a total of 21 seats which is a huge drop from 53 recorded in the last assembly elections.This time, the Congress has performed much better by winning 19 of the 34 seats while RLP won 2 SC seats along with two independent winners. In the case of ST seats, the Congress won 12 of the 25 seats while the newly-formed Bharatiya Tribal Party, which was started last year by Adivasi leader Chotubhai Vasava in Gujarat, won two seats. 2 independent candidates also won on the reserved ST seats.TCN
Muslim Representation In Telangana Assembly Remains Unchanged
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/muslim-representation-in-telangana-assembly-remains-unchanged-1961544
Hyderabad: The representation of Muslims in 119-member Telangana Assembly has remained unchanged at eight after yesterday's election results. Seven members of AIMIM were re-elected the from Muslim-majority constituencies in Hyderabad while a member of the ruling TRS was also re-elected. They were all members of the dissolved Telangana Assembly. AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was re-elected from Chandrayangutta constituency. The other newly elected legislators from his party are Mumtaz Ahmed Khan (Charminar), Ahmed Pasha Quadri (Yakutpura), Jaffar Hussain (Nampalli), Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala (Malakpet), Moazzam Khan (Bahadurpura) and Kausar Mohiuddin (Karwan).TRS' Mohammed Shakeel Aamir was re-elected from Bodhan in the Nizamabad district. He was one of the two Muslim candidates of the ruling party and the only one outside AIMIM strongholds. Congress fielded 7 candidates including two outside Hyderabad but none could win. BJP's both Muslim candidates and TDP's lone Muslim candidates all lost -- in seats held by AIMIM.IANS
AIMIM wins 7 seats, retains hold in Hyderabad’s Old City
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/aimim-wins-7-seats-retains-hold-in-old-city-of-hyderabad/articleshow/67046920.cms
Telangana polls: How Muslim votes turned the tide in K Chandrasekhar’s favour and to BJP’s detriment
https://www.newsx.com/national/telangana-assembly-elections-results-2018-how-muslim-votes-turned-the-tide-in-k-chandrasekhars-favour-and-to-bjps-detriment
In the state where Muslims constitute 12.7% of the total population of the state, their impact on electoral politics is a given. In Tenlangana, where TRS is leading on more than 90 seats, it’s being speculated that Muslims entirely voted in favour of TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao shunning the Congress-led Prajakutami alliance comprising of TDP and CPI.The results might set TRS as the single largest party, but on Monday when the Prajakutami met governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and submitted a representation that it will form the next Govt if it wins the elections.AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi met caretaker CM Chandrasekhar Rao to set off speculation that TRS was seeking AIMIM’s support in case of a hung Assembly.According to a report on the Wire, the rural Muslims of the state have been a traditional votebank of the Congress and seeing the alliance they were likely to vote for Congress again, however going by the results, even the traditional vote bank of the Congress seems to have drifted from the party. Political pundits called KCR’s move to dissolve the assembly 8 months ahead of its tenure as a big gamble, but KCR was firm that simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will not help TRS properly highlight the welfare and developmental works undertaken in the last four years.Ahead of the elections, MP Ahmed Patel met a number of Muslim intellectuals to influence votes, but reports suggest they were never going to influence the voters, as the there was a firm belief among the Muslims that Congress was not in the position to form Govt. Part of the reason of their conviction is based on AIMIM’s full support to the ruling TRS.NewsX
Akbar of Chhattisgarh: Lone Muslim MLA in the state wins by a record margin
https://newsd.in/the-akbar-of-chhattisgarh-lone-muslim-mla-in-the-state-wins-by-a-record-margin/
As Congress comes back to power in Chhattisgarh after 15 years, one of the most talked about victories in the state elections has come from Kawardha.Senior Congress leader Mohammad Akbar has won by a huge margin–he was leading by over 51,000 votes as per latest trends.Akbar will be the sole Muslim MLA in the 90 member Assembly of the tribal-dominated state. He had secured over 1.15 lakh votes while the other candidate, BJP’s Ashok Sahu had secured 64,000 votes.Congress has swept the state but it is the margin of victory that tells the real story about Akbar, one of the most popular leaders of the state, who strangely is not as much known outside Chhattisgarh.In fact, this is the biggest win after Amitesh Shukla’s victory over Santosh Upadhyay by a margin of 59,000 votes. Shukla has beaten an earlier record of Ajit Jogi’s victory margin (52,000).Akbar was a former minister in Congress Govt (during Ajit Jogi’s tenure). newsd.in
‘Brand icon of Hindutva, Yogi for PM’ poster appears in Lucknow after BJP’s defeats in 3 states, Modi called jumlebaaz
http://www.jantakareporter.com/entertainment/brand-icon-of-hindutva-yogi-for-pm-poster-appears-in-lucknow-after-bjps-defeats-in-three-states-modi-called-jumlebaaz/223120/
Hours after BJP suffered defeats in 3 states, a poster calling for Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to be made India’s next PM has appeared in Lucknow. The poster was put up by a group called Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena, promoting its planned religious conclave scheduled for next year.The poster also calls to ‘bring Yogi to save the country’ with a hashtag #Yogi4PM. It goes on to add, “Modi is the other name of jumlebaazi (fake promises), Yogi is the brand icon of Hindutva.The man behind the poster, one Amit Jani, slammed Modi while praising Adityanath for pushing the agenda of Hindutva. He said that the religious conclave in February will declare that Hindus will not vote for the BJP if Yogi was not made PM candidate.jantakareporter
Hours after heartland loss, Modi govt sends SOS to IB for 2019 polls
https://theprint.in/politics/hours-after-heartland-loss-modi-govt-sends-sos-to-intelligence-bureau-for-2019-polls/162692/
New Delhi: Hassled top functionaries in the Modi Govt called an urgent meeting of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Tuesday, following the BJP’s defeat in the assembly elections and urged the agency to begin work on “gauging the mood of voters” for 2019, ThePrint has learnt. According to sources, IB has now been asked to prepare and submit regular and detailed reports to the Govt on the issues that could determine which way the 2019 general elections will go.The sources said the top Govt functionaries have also been asked to analyse previous inputs by the IB to see where they went wrong and build up case studies for the upcoming elections.“The Govt now wants to prepare for the upcoming 2019 elections and it does not want to take any risk. This has been conveyed to all party members,” a source said. “Old reports are being dug out and are being analysed and a new strategy is being planned.”While campaigning was on in the five states, the IB had submitted reports to the Modi govt that the unpopularity of outgoing CM Vasundhara Raje may go against BJP in Rajasthan, while in MP and Chhattisgarh, anti-incumbency could play a part.theprint
Poll results show yearning for ‘BJP-mukt’ regime: Shiv Sena
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shiv-sena-bjp-congress-narendra-modi-urjit-patel-assembly-election-results-5490017/
Mumbai :A day after BJP received a poll drubbing in three Hindi heartland states, Shiv Sena said the election results indicate people’s desire to have a “BJP-free” establishment.Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said people have brought “those flying in the air back to the ground”. Referring to the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel, the Sena, in an editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, alleged that the country was being run according to the “whims” of four-five businessmen, and this was “breaking” important institutions like RBI.PTI
OTHERS
Cannot direct school to allow Muslim girls to wear headscarf,full sleeved shirt with uniform: Kerala HC
https://www.livelaw.in/cannot-compel-school-to-allow-muslim-girls-to-wear-headscarf-full-sleeved-shirt-with-uniform-kerala-hc/
Kerala High Court last week refused to interfere with a school’s refusal to allow 2 Muslim girls to wear a headscarf and a full-sleeved shirt to school, opining that “individual interest must yield to the larger interest”. Justice A Muhamed Mustaque asserted, “I am of the considered view that the petitioners cannot seek imposition of their individual right as against the larger right of the institution. It is for the institution to decide whether the petitioners can be permitted to attend the classes with the headscarf and full sleeve shirt. It is purely within the domain of the institution to decide on the same. The Court cannot even direct the institution to consider such a request.” Court had been approached by 2 minor Muslim girls—Fathima Thasneem and Hafzah Parveen, students of one Christ Nagar Senior Secondary School, which had rejected their demand to wear a headscarf as well as a full sleeved shirt to school. The school had found this demand to be inconsistent with the dress code prescribed by them.Examining the case, the court, at the outset, clarified that while one has the liberty to dress as per their own will, a private entity also has a right to administer and manage its institution. The court, therefore, had the task of balancing these competing rights to decide on the issue.livelaw.in
Query on cow slaughter by Muslim in front of Hindus in IP univ's law paper inquiry ordered
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2018/12/11/des26-dl-varsity-ld%20committee.html
New Delhi:Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has sought a report into the matter pertaining to a question in a law exam paper asking whether a Muslim slaughtering a cow in the presence of Hindus amounts to an offence, while the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University constituted a committee to look into the issue. Terming the question as "reprehensible" and with a "communal overtone", Sisodia has directed the Higher Education Secretary to submit the report within five days. The question, which was part of the “law of crimes” paper for third semester LLB students on December 7, drew outrage after it was highlighted by a Supreme Court lawyer through the social media. A varsity official said "if anyone is found guilty in the matter, they can be debarred from the examination process."The question read: “Ahmed, a Muslim, kills a cow in a market in the presence of Rohit, Tushar, Manav and Rahul, who are Hindus. Has Ahmed committed any offence?"PTI
Church dispute vs Sabarimala: One is civil dispute, the other is 'communal', says govt
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/church-dispute-vs-sabarimala-one-is-civil-dispute-the-other-is-communal-says-govt/articleshow/67048835.cms
Kochi: Piravom church issued is a civil dispute that could develop into a state-level law and order issue whereas the problems at Sabarimala were created by some communal organizations to carve out their political space in Kerala, state Govt has informed the Kerala high court. Govt was responding to the query by a division bench comprising justices PR Ramachandra Menon and Devan Ramachandran about alleged double standards in implementing Supreme Court judgments with regard to Piravom church and Sabarimala. In an interim order, the bench had pointed out that the Govt claims to be trying for an amicable settlement in the church dispute whereas it deployed police in large numbers for implementing the SC’s verdict in another case (Sabarimala). An affidavit filed by home department in response to the court’s query stated, “….the case regarding the Church, unlike any other issue now dominating the public sphere in the State, is an interse civil dispute between two factions of Malankara Syrian Community as regards administration of the temporal affairs of the Church; that the settlement of the issue require one faction to give way to the other as regards the temporal administration of the Church, which authority of administration they have been holding for long; that the same is bound to whip up passions likely to percolate as law and order problem to other areas in the State wherein such factions are prevalent; and the State and the Govt, in the interests of the welfare of the Society as a whole, was bound to act in a responsible manner by taking recourse to all possible options to solve the issue amicably and amiably without collateral damage or unwarranted loss of human life and property; that the State has only done that; and that in the other issue dominating the public sphere in the State, local restrictions in terms of the provisions of the CRPC and heavy police deployment were necessitated only because communal organisations and anti social elements, just for serving their cause of carving out a political space in the State, created all sorts of law and order issues on a large scale by attacking devotees and media personnel including women, by causing damage to private as well as public vehicles and by indulging in concerted attempts to whip up communal passions and thereby hold the entire State at ransom.” TOI
UK Home Office gets receipt of Mallya’s extradition order
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uk-home-office-gets-receipt-of-vijay-mallyas-extradition-order/article25724726.ece
London: UK Home Office has confirmed the receipt of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court verdict in favour of Vijay Mallya’s extradition to India.After Chief Magistrate Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled that the “flashy” liquor baron had a “case to answer” in the Indian courts on allegations of fraud and money laundering amounting to nearly ₹ 9,000 crores, the decision now lies with Home Secretary Sajid Javid to formally order the extradition. Javid, the senior-most British-Pakistani minister in the UK Cabinet, has two months to make that decision but the extradition process itself would take longer if the entire appeals process is taken into account.PTI
Gujarat waqf board to set up hostel for Muslim students
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-waqf-board-to-set-up-hostel-for-muslim-students/articleshow/67051404.cms
Gandhinagar: Though Muslims make up about 9% of the population of Gujarat, there are no hostel facilities for Muslim students pursuing higher studies in Gujarat. For the first time, the Gujarat waqf board has approved a new project, to build a new hostel for Muslim girls and boys in Juhapura, the Muslim ghetto in Ahmedabad. The hostel will be able to accomodate several hundred students. The board formally approved the proposal at a recent meeting. Sajjad Hira, chairman of Gujarat waqf board said, “We got feedback from the community that there is a need for hostel facilities in Ahmedabad, as several students from across the state come to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar for higher studies. At the last board meeting, we moved a proposal and the board approved it, to build a new hostel for girls and boys of all Muslim communities.” “Sunni waqf board of Ahmedabad and the Sarkhej Roza waqf board have agreed to provide land in Juhapura to build the hostel. CM Vijay Rupani has also extended full support to the project. The property will be managed by the board. A detailed project report for the proposed new building will be ready soon. The waqf board will spend money from its own resources. The state Govt has also promised additional financial support. The hostel will be built according to the religious and social needs of Muslim students. This will be the first place where students of all Muslim communities will live together.” TOI
Centre denies minority religion status for Lingayats
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2018/dec/11/centre-denies-minority-religion-status-for-lingayats-1909873.html
Bengaluru: Centre has rejected the Karnataka Govt’s proposal seeking a separate minority religion status for the Lingayat community. The decision was informed to State Govt through a communication dated November 13 after taking into consideration the views of the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Commission for Minorities.With this, Union Govt reiterated its stand that was taken in 2013 on a similar proposal. This communication was placed before a division bench of Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice S Sujatha of the High Court on Monday by Additional Solicitor General Prabhuling K Navadgi. Centre gave two reasons for rejecting the proposal. “The demand was considered earlier also and it was observed that Lingayat has always been classified under Hindus ever since the 1871 census, the first official census in India and that Lingayat is considered as a religious sect of Hindus, and if they are treated as a separate religion by providing separate code other than Hindu, all members of the Scheduled Caste professing the said religion would lose their status as SC along with the consequential benefits available to them as SC,” the centre stated.newindianexpress
Can Parrikar's medical report be given in sealed cover: HC
https://www.ndtv.com/goa-news/can-manohar-parrikars-medical-report-be-given-in-sealed-cover-bombay-high-court-asks-goa-Govt-1961214
Panaji: Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court has asked the Goa Govt if the medical report on the health condition of ailing CM Manohar Parrikar could be presented to the court in a sealed cover, while posting the matter for hearing on Wednesday.While hearing a petition filed by a local politician Trajano D'Mello, who has sought to know the health status of Mr Parrikar, Justice RM Borde also asked the govt advocate whether the Chief Secretary could argue on behalf of the CM for his right to privacy. State Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande is expected to appear before the court and argue on the points made by the court vis-a-vis petition, when the hearing resumes on Wednesday morning. D'Mello in his petition filed last month sought that the court direct State Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma to evaluate the former Defence Minister's health condition with the help of a panel of expert doctors and release the medical report to the public.IANS
Kashmiri student missing, family in Greater Noida to file complaint
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmiri-student-missing-family-in-greater-noida-to-file-complaint-5489096/
A 19-year-old Kashmiri student went missing from his college premises in Greater Noida on Saturday. His family, which travelled from Handwara to Greater Noida, filed a formal police complaint on Tuesday.The student, Aashim Hussain, went missing from Knowledge Park on Saturday. His family hasn’t been able to contact him since.“A missing persons complaint has been registered by the family. His phone has been switched off since Saturday. We will speak to his friends and college authorities to ascertain his location,”Circle Officer (Greater Noida1) Nishank Sharma said.Aashim is a first-year BTech student of GL Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management. His father, Aashiq Maqbool, is a contractor while his mother Haalema is a homemaker. Both live in Kashmir.Aashim’s flatmate and senior Muhammad Ilyas claimed he had been barred from appearing for the semester examinations due to short attendance.indianexpress
Mumbai: Man linked to Khalistani group held:ATS
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-man-linked-to-khalistani-terror-group-held-claims-state-ats-5487342/
Pune :A probe by the Pune unit of the Maharashtra ATS has found that the man arrested last Sunday with a pistol and live cartridges is allegedly a member of a terrorist group linked to the Khalistani movement.Harpal Singh Naik (42), a native of Ropar district in Punjab, was arrested by the ATS from the Chakan Shikrapur road on December 2. He was working as a trailer driver. Besides weapons, the ATS also recovered an identity card of a corporate company, a blank cheque, an ATM card and bank account details from him. Naik was booked under the Arms Act, and remanded to police custody till Dec.10. During probe, ATS found that Naik believed in the idea of Khalistan, a separate Sikh state.indianexpress
Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid protests on Rafale deal, Ram temple
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/lok-sabha-adjourned-for-the-day-amid-protests-by-opposition-on-rafale-ram-temple
Lok Sabha adjourned for the day on Wednesday amid continued protests Congress, Shiv Sena and AIADMK members demanding JPC probe on the Rafale deal, construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and justice for farmers of the Cauvery delta respectively. Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon. As soon as the Question Hour began after obituary references to 11 former MPs, members belonging to the Congress, Shiv Sena and AIADMK trooped into the well carrying banners and shouting slogans.Congress members demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the alleged corruption in the Rafale aircraft deal while Shiv Sena MPs staged protests demanding immediate construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Members belonging to the AIADMK raised slogans demanding justice for Tamil Nadu farmers living along the Cauvery delta.Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to pacify members but in vain.nationalheraldindia
FIR Against BJP Leader for Threatening Police Officer With ‘Bulandshahr-Like Incident’
https://thewire.in/politics/fir-against-bjp-leader-for-threatening-police-officer-with-bulandshahr-like-incident
New Delhi: An FIR has been lodged against Pramod Jindal, BJP Hapur unit’s general secretary, for using abusive language against a SHO and threatening to repeat a “Bulandshahr-like incident”.Jindal had called up Hapur SP Sankalp Sharma and used expletives against Subhash Chandra Gautam, Hafizpur SHO, for refusing to release a local BJP leader who is held on charges of assault.Sanjeev Shukla, PRO of SP who received the call, said that Jindal threatened to mobilise 200-250 people and “create a Bulandshahr-like incident” for allegedly giving a free hand to cattle smugglers.30-year-old BJP leader, Dushyant, was arrested following an FIR filed at the Hafizpur police station by a local villager after an altercation took place between the two. Dushyant is from the Bhatiana village, which is about 35 km away from Changrawathi village in Bulandshahr where a police officer and an 18-year-old boy were killed after protests over an incident of alleged cow slaughter.thewire
UGC grants minority scholarships, last date to apply Dec.31
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/ugc-to-grant-minority-scholarships-last-date-to-apply-december-31-5487068/
New Delhi:UGC has advertised to enrol 1000 students under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) on its official website – ugc.ac.in. The scheme is aimed at students belonging to minority communities. Under MANF, students who have cleared NET or JRF exam will get incentives to study PhD and MPhil from Govt recognised universities which can range up to full fee waiver to a stipend.According to reports, the MANF scheme was not granted since past two years. After the gap of 2 years, govt has announced as many as 1000 scholarships. Interested candidates can apply at the official website – ugc.ac.in/ugc_schemes.The applications will close on Dec.31, 2018.indianexpress
WORLD
Israel to build Jerusalem complex for embassies
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-to-build-jerusalem-complex-for-embassies/1336690
Jerusalem:Israel plans to build a compound for embassies in Jerusalem to encourage more countries to relocate their diplomatic missions to the city, Israeli media reported. Planned to be built across 25 acres of land, the compound will accommodate nine separate embassies, Israeli Channel 7 reported.It said the building will include both embassy facilities and housing for embassy staff.“I am convinced that many more countries will relocate their embassies to Jerusalem,”Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Galant said.“We are currently planning possible [embassy] complexes for other countries, which are expected to move their embassies to Jerusalem,” he added. Last Dec,US President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, triggering world outcry. And in May, US relocated its embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Guatemala has followed the US suit, relocating its embassy to the occupied city. According to Israeli media, other countries are expected to open embassies in Jerusalem in the near future, including Australia, Honduras and the Czech Republic. Anadolu
US rejects Israeli request for Lebanon sanctions
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/us-rejects-israeli-request-for-lebanon-sanctions/1336597
US has rejected an Israeli request to impose sanctions on Lebanon over cross-border tunnels allegedly dug by Lebanese group Hezbollah, Haaretz reported. During a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Brussels last week, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called for imposing sanctions on Beirut and the Lebanese army, citing their alleged responsibility for violating UN resolution 1701, which put an end to Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006. While Pompeo rejected the Israeli request, he agreed to draw up sanctions on Hezbollah, the Israeli newspaper said. According to Haaretz, Washington made clear that the U.S. and Lebanon have close military ties and there is no interest in undermining them. There was no comment from either the Lebanese govt or Hezbollah on the report. Anadolu
Australian govt discusses moving Israel embassy to Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181211-australian-Govt-discusses-moving-israel-embassy-to-jerusalem/
Australia’s Govt met on Tuesday to discuss whether to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, 2 sources familiar with the matter said, a decision that would break with decades of policy and risk angering Asian neighbours, Reuters reports.“Cabinet met today and the issue of moving the Israeli embassy was discussed. The decision is still pending,” said one of the sources who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.PM Scott Morrison in October said he was “open” to moving the embassy to Jerusalem, following the lead of US President Donald Trump. middleeastmonitor
4-yr Palestinian boy dies of wounds from Israeli fire
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/year-palestinian-boy-dies-wounds-israeli-fire-181212070508796.html
A 4-year-old Palestinian boy has died after being injured by Israeli gunfire at a routine protest near the fence with Israel, Gaza's health authorities said.Ministry of Health spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qidra, said that Ahmed Abu Abed died late on Tuesday."Ahmed Abu Abed, aged four years and eight months, died as a result of the wounds he received last Friday east of Khan Younis," al-Qudra said in a statement on Tuesday.In the hospital where the boy died, 38-year-old Bassem told AFP he was the child's uncle.He said Abu Abed was injured by shrapnel when his father was shot during regular Friday protests, dubbed the Great March of Return. Boy's funeral will take place on Wednesday. sraeli army said today it was reviewing the incident while accusing Hamas - the group governing the Gaza Strip - of using residents as cover for attacks.A fragile calm has taken over the besieged enclave since an Egyptian-brokered deal between Hamas and Israel was announced last month.aljazeera
Israel allowed to be member of global watchdog group combating terror financing, money laundering
http://www.uniindia.com/israel-joins-watchdog-group-combating-terror-financing-money-laundering/world/news/1432874.html
Israel was granted permission to become a member of the international body combatting financing of terrorist groups. Financial Action Task Force confirmed Tel Aviv as its 38 member.Announcing Israel’s membership, Paris-based FATF said:“Israel has undergone a rigorous assessment of its measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.”UNI
Khashoggi named TIME magazine's 'Person of the Year', along with other persecuted journalists
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/jamal-khashoggi-named-time-magazines-person-of-the-year-along-with-other-persecuted-journalists/articleshow/67052836.cms
New York: Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in October at his country's Istanbul consulate, was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" Tuesday, an honor he shared with other persecuted journalists dubbed as "guardians" of the truth.Among those named with Kashoggi were Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo -- currently imprisoned in Myanmar -- and the staff of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, including five members killed in a June shooting.ET
Khashoggi murder: Trump says he stands by Saudi crown prince
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/khashoggi-murder-trump-stands-saudi-crown-prince-181212073639270.html
US President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, despite CIA assessment that the Saudi royal ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Trump refused to comment on whether the crown prince was complicit in the murder, despite pleas from Senators to condemn the gruesome murder of the columnist more than 2 months ago."He's the leader of Saudi Arabia. They've been a very good ally," Trump said in an interview in the Oval Office.Asked by Reuters if standing by kingdom meant standing by MBS, Trump responded: "Well, at this moment, it certainly does." Trump said that the "crown prince vehemently denies" involvement in a killing that has sparked outrage around the world. Aljazeera
Saudi declares war on America’s Muslim congresswomen
https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/12/11/saudi-arabia-declares-war-on-americas-muslim-congresswomen/
Ever since the midterm election, conservative media in the US have targeted with special zeal Ilhan Omar, an incoming Somali-American Democratic congresswoman and a devout Muslim who wears hijab. In response to Democrats’ push to remove a headwear ban on the House floor to accommodate Omar, conservative commentator and pastor E.W. Jackson complained on a radio show that Muslims were transforming Congress into an “Islamic republic.”Democratic Party has several rising political stars with Arab or Muslim backgrounds, all of whom have become objects of such conspiracy theories. But it’s not only American conservatives who have been indulging in this culture war. The organized attacks have also been coming from abroad—specifically, from Saudi and the UAE.foreignpolicy
Saudi banks close to deal with authorities on Islamic tax: sources
https://www.business-standard.com/article/reuters/saudi-banks-close-to-deal-with-authorities-on-islamic-tax-sources-118121101000_1.html
Riyadh: Saudi Arabian banks are expected to reach a deal with Islamic tax authorities before the end of the year to resolve a dispute over increased liabilities, banking sources say.Banks have been at loggerheads with the authorities since at least the start of the year over additional payments of zakat - the name of the tax - for years going back as far as 2002.Banks have been contesting the extra payments, but a compromise is close, said the sources, with one adding that the tax will be calculated at 10% of each bank's profit. Previous calculation by the General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT) was based on 2.5% of a bank's equity, with adjustments. GAZT did not respond to an emailed request for comment.The increase in payments across the banking sector could be as high as 25 billion riyals if banks are told to pay zakat based on a rate of up to 2.5 % of their book value, estimated Shabbir Malik, regional financial analyst at investment bank EFG Hermes.If the formula changes to banks paying zakat based on 10% of profit before tax, it could be around 14 billion riyals, he estimated.Reuters
US coalition raid kills 15 civilians in eastern Syria
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/us-coalition-raid-kills-15-civilians-in-eastern-syria/1336670
Deir Ez-Zor:15 family members were killed in a US-led coalition airstrike in Syria’s eastern Deir Ez-Zor province, according to local sources. The attack targeted the town of Keshma late Tuesday near the Daesh-held Shaafa town in the province’s countryside, the sources said. There was no comment from the U.S.-led coalition on report. Meanwhile, the same sources said clashes between the YPG/PKK terrorist group and Daesh terrorists continued in the Hejjin district of Deir Ez-Zor province. US-led coalition is providing YPG/PKK with ground and air support in an effort to expel Daesh terrorists from the area. With US help, YPG/PKK terrorists are in control of the eastern Euphrates and rural areas in Deir ez-Zor. Anadolu
Egypt: Dozens militants killed amid Sinai operation
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/egypt-dozens-militants-killed-amid-sinai-operation/1336640
Cairo:An Egyptian soldier and 27 militants were killed amid an ongoing security operation in the restive Sinai Peninsula and western Egypt, according to Egyptian military today. Military spokesman Col. Tamer Rifai said 61 vehicles were destroyed and three militants killed near Egypt’s west-northern border. He said another 24 militants were killed in an exchange of fire, without specifying the location of the clashes. According to the spokesman, over 400 suspected militants and criminals were arrested as part of the operation. He said an Egyptian soldier was killed as part of clashes with the militants. Anadolu
Egypt restricts yellow-vest sales ahead of anniversary of revolution
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-restricts-sale-yellow-vests-fearing-protests-january-uprising-anniversary-1799249042
Egyptian authorities have limited the sale of reflective yellow vests because of fears they could be used in protests ahead of anniversary of the 25 Jan.revolution that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak in 2011.Security officials have warned retailers in Cairo and Alexandria that they should not sell bulk quantities of yellow vests, which have become a symbol of anti-austerity protests in France, to walk-in customers, according to reports by media. Sales to wholesale businesses would require a police permit, officials told AP, with the restrictions set to remain in place until the end of Jan.Owners of industrial safety equipment shops in Cairo were also asked by police officials to report any individuals seeking to buy large numbers of vests, Al Jazeera reported.The move highlights Egypt’s anxiety over possible anti-Govt protests on the eighth anniversary of 2011 "Arab Spring" revolution.The revolution led to the adoption of a new constitution and democratic elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood-backed Morsi was elected president.middleeasteye
Iran arrests over 100 Christians in crackdown on conversion
http://www.uniindia.com/iran-arrests-over-100-christians-in-crackdown-on-conversion/world/news/1432879.html
Iranian authorities have reportedly arrested over 100 Christians in the past few days, as they seek to crackdown on conversions. Many of 114 detained were converts to Christianity from a Muslim background, accused of “proselytising”. According to Open Doors UK, a charity which speaks out on persecution against Christians said, growing public interest in the minority faith, which makes up less than 1 % — or around 350,000 — of the population, has worried the Islamic regime, leading to crackdowns on churches and congregants, Telegraph reported. While worship is permitted under its constitution,conversion to Christianity can be a crime meriting a sentence of more than 10 years imprisonment. UNI
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Rumbling in BJP: Just as they take credit, top should share blame too:Liz Mathew
https://indianexpress.com/elections/state-assembly-elections-2018-rumbling-in-bjp-just-as-they-take-credit-top-should-share-blame-too-5489279/
Modi should know that vitriol of Hindutva, renaming of cities won't woo voters; he has a lot to fix before 2019:Bikram Vohra
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/narendra-modi-should-know-that-vitriol-of-hindutva-renaming-of-cities-wont-woo-voters-he-has-a-lot-to-fix-before-2019-5716191.html
Why thousands of Palestinian refugees are moving out of Lebanon:Zeina Khodr
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/thousands-palestinian-refugees-moving-lebanon-181212103907257.html
The Modi Magic Is Over: Yashwant Sinha
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/15749/The-Modi-Magic-Is-Over-Yashwant-Sinha
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:14 PM)
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