NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
19 Dec. 2018:11 Rabiul-II 1440: Vol: 11, No:79
INDIA
Bulandshahr Violence: SIT says innocent Muslim men were falsely implicated for cow slaughter
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/bulandshahr-sit-report-reveals-innocent-muslim-men-were-arrested-on-cow-slaughter-charges
Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged cow slaughter in UP’s Bulandshahr revealed that the 4 Muslims men arrested on the charge are innocent and the cops would soon move the court for their release.Around a fortnight after their arrest, Sarfuddin, Sajid, Asif and Nanhe have been prima facie found innocent. 4men had been arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by district Bajrang Dal convenor Yogesh Raj, who claimed seven people had slaughtered cows. According to a report in Indian Express, Bulandshahr SSP Prabhakar Chaudhary said, “Prima facie, we found all four persons arrested earlier are innocent and after verifying other details we will move the court for their release.”Police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and civilian Sumit Kumar, 20, were killed of bullet shots during the mob violence on Dec.3. One of the main suspects among 27 named in the FIR, local Bajrang Dal leader Yogesh Raj, is still absconding, while an Army jawan, Jitendra Malik, has been arrested and remanded in custody."Another three men – Nadeem, Raees and Kaala – were arrested for their role in the cow slaughtering incident. A vehicle and a licensed weapon have also been recovered from their possession,” SSP Chaudhary said. 3 of them have been arrested by the Bulandshahr police for their involvement in the cow slaughtering case, while two accused were nabbed by UP STF for subsequent violence on Dec. 3, the officials said.Earlier on Tuesday, police had were arrested five persons for their alleged roles in the mob violence and the cow slaughtering cases in Bulandshahr earlier this month that had claimed two lives including that of an on-duty inspector and a civilian, officials said. He said the trio was not named in the initial FIR, which had 7 accused including two minors of Nayabans village, but during the probe their names emerged.“The police are investigating the matter and the names of these 3 men have emerged for their role in the cow slaughter. Further probe is on,"Chaudhary said. Sachin Singh alias Cobra (21) and Johnny Chaudhary (19) were arrested on Tuesday evening by the Noida unit of STF, which had also joined the probe in the adjoining district, for their role in the violence on Dec 3, a senior official said. “Working on a tip-off, 2 men, whose identity had been ascertained post the violence, were picked up at 4.15 pm from a bus stand in Gathiya Badshahpur in Siyana tehsil of Bulandshahr,” DSP, STF, Raj Kumar Mishra said.With the arrest of these two men, the number of the those held for the violence has gone up to 19 so far, SSP said.An FIR against 27 named people and 50 to 60 unidentified people was registered for violence that was witnessed at Chingrawathi police post after cattle carcasses were found strewn outside nearby Mahaw village of the district.nationalheraldindia
Bulandshahr Violence: SIT reveals 4 held for alleged cow slaughter are innocent, 3 more Muslims held
https://www.newsclick.in/bulandshahr-violence-sit-reveals-four-held-alleged-cow-slaughter-are-innocent-three-more-muslims
Adityanath now terms Bulandshahr incident a ‘political conspiracy’
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bulandshahr-incident-a-political-conspiracy-adityanath/article25780835.ece?homepage=true
Lucknow:UP CM Yogi Adityanath hit back at the Opposition for stalling the the legislature proceedings on the issue of law and order, saying the Bulandshahr violence, was a “political conspiracy” hatched by those who have lost political ground.The Question Hour in both Houses of the legislature witnessed uproar. Slogans were raised by the Samajwadi Party and Congress members over various issues, including the plight of farmers and the law and order situation in the State, causing repeated adjournments.“Dec 3 [Bulandshahr] violence is a political conspiracy [hatched] by those who have lost political ground,” he told reporters after the Assembly was adjourned."It was a political conspiracy which has been exposed... peace and order will be maintained at all cost... the administration and Govt have repulsed the designs [of conspirators] sternly,”. he said. At a media event in Delhi on Dec.7, CM termed the incident an accident.PTI
Bulandshahr violence a ‘political conspiracy, those criticising should thank us’: Adityanath
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bulandshahr-violence-a-political-conspiracy-those-criticising-should-thank-us-says-yogi-adityanath-5500653/
‘How can entire para be typo’: Congress seeks JPC in Rafale deal
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-can-entire-para-be-typo-mallikarjun-kharge-calls-for-jpc-in-rafale-deal/story-MwtdoUqMmGEsLNOi5X4d6J.html
New Delhi;Less than a week after the Govt had asked the Supreme Court for a correction in its order on the Rafale jet fighter deal, the Congress has continued to keep up the pressure on the Govt .“We want a JPC as we’ll only get to know everything when Parliament members sit and look into the files. A JPC was formed in Bofors and 2G cases also. How can there be a typo? Had it been one word it would’ve been understandable, entire paragraph can’t be a typo,” Congress Lok Sabha floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge said.Last Saturday,defence ministry had filed an application before the Supreme Court for the correction of a paragraph in its order on the Rafale jet fighter deal. Though the court’s ruling effectively vindicated the Govt ’s stand that due process had been followed in reaching the Rs 59,000 crore deal, and had said that there was no reason to order a probe by CBI.However, Congress pointed out that the judgment had referred to the Govt ’s stand that the pricing details had been shared with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, and that the Govt auditor had submitted a redacted report to parliament. It also indicated that parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had examined the report. That error had been picked up by the petitioners and the opposition which had claimed that the Govt had misled the court with its original submission.HT
India fifth-most deadliest place to be a journalist, Afghanistan worst: Report
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-fifth-most-deadliest-place-to-be-a-journalist-afghanistan-worst-report/articleshow/67159828.cms
New Delhi: A new report by the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shows there has been an increase in the number of journalists killed this year, with a total of 80 killed so far. Of these, 63 were professional journalists, compared with 55 professional journalists killed last year. RSF said 348 others were detained, 60 were held hostage and 3 are missing.Of the 80 killed, 49 were deliberately targeted because their reporting threatened the interests of certain people in positions of political, economic, or religious power or organised crime. The report said 15 journalists were killed in Afghanistan in 2018, making the nation the deadliest place to report from, 17 years after US-led war began. 11 were killed in Syria, 9 in Mexico, 8 in Yemen, and 6 each in India and the United States. The positive news was from Iraq, where RSF reported no journalist was killed for the first time since the US-led invasion of 2003.India's data highlights the risk journalists face even in countries not at war. Nearly half the media fatalities were from nations not at war. In India, RSF highlighted 2 cases: "A village chief in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar killed two journalists, Navin Nischal and Vijay Singh, in retaliation for their reporting by deliberately running them down with his SUV on 25 March. On the same day in MP, a dump truck was used to run down and kill Sandeep Sharma, a journalist who had been investigating the local 'sand mafia'."Nischal and Singh worked for Dainik Bhaskar; family members allege they were killed by a village head. Sharma,TV journalist, had filed a police complaint, citing immediate threat to his life from a police officer after a sting operation regarding sand mining, before being mowed down by a commercial vehicle.TOI
Gujarat: Muslim body accuses govt of apathy, demands minority Ministry, panel
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-muslim-body-accuses-govt-of-apathy-demands-minority-ministry-panel/
Gandhinagar :Muslims from across the state assembled at Satyagraha Chhavani grounds in Gandhinagar on Tuesday to protest against their “neglect” by the state Govt. The event coincided with UN International Minority Rights Day.The organisers of the protest — Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) of Gujarat — had earlier announced gherao of the state Assembly but they dropped the plan at the last moment as the Gandhinagar police and the district administration did not give permission.Addressing the gathering on Tuesday, MCC coordinator Mujahid Nafees said that the committee would gherao the Assembly during its Winter Session or the Budget Session to draw the Govt ’s attention towards the plight of the Muslims in the state.He alleged that he was asked over phone by the police to not gherao the Assembly and also remove words “Gherao of Gujarat Vidhan Sabha’’ from their posters and banners. “This indicated the fear and panic in the state administration and ruling political party. But, we decided to keep these words in our banners to remind the administration and political bosses in the state that they cannot neglect the constitutional rights of the Muslims,”he told the gathering. Alleging that rumours were spread that there would be police lathicharge and firing on those who would turn up for Tuesday’s programme, Nafees said: “Despite this (rumours), people came for the protest, proving they are not scared of seeking their constitutional rights’, he said. As the protest event coincided with the UN International Minority Rights Day, of which India is also a signatory, Nafees said that Gujarat was the only state without a state minority ministry and a state minority commission. “There is also no financial allocation in the state’s budget for minorities. There is zero implementation of Centre’s minority programmes in Gujarat. Is it not unconstitutional?’,he asked.Shafi Madani, head of Gujarat unit of Muslim Majlis Mushawarat, an umbrella body of all shades of Muslims, said whether it was the BJP or Congress,both had neglected Muslims.indianexpress
On Minority Rights Day, Hundreds of UP Madrasa Teachers Demand Pending Salary of 4 Years
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/on-minority-rights-day-hundreds-of-up-madrasa-teachers-demand-pending-salary-of-four-years?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi: On the occasion of the Minorities Rights Day today, hundreds of madrasa teachers from UP held a protest demonstration near the Parliament House in Delhi. They were demanding release of their salaries which they said are pending for the past 33 months.The protest was organized by Madrasa Adhunik Shiksha Sangathan Ekta Manch, an umbrella body of modern subject teachers of Govt -aided madrasas in UP.In a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi, they said that there are 30,000 modern madrasa teachers under central govt’s SPQIM/SPEMM.They have been teaching Hindi, English, Social Sciences, Maths, Science and Computer at madrasas for over 25 years. Despite high inflation, graduate teachers are given mere Rs 6000 per month and graduate plus B.Ed and post-graduate teachers get Rs 12000.“However, this small salary too is never given to them on time. They have not been paid salary for the past 33 months (since 2016-17) and their families are struggling to meet both ends while your Govt talks about ‘Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas,”they wrote in the memorandum. India Tomorrow
Owaisi to moot changes in new Triple Talaq Bill
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/191218/asaduddin-owaisi-to-moot-changes-in-new-triple-talaq-bill.html
Hyderabad: MIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi is all set to propose amendments to the revised Triple Talaq Bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha to replace an ordinance issued in Sept.At the time of debate on the revised The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 in Lok Sabha, Owaisi may get a chance to express his views on the Bill and he will leave no stone un-turned to pinpoint the legal flaws its essential components.Owaisi, who himself is a barrister, has already discussed the provisions of Ordinance with experts on the Constitution and laws, Islamic theologians and key members of the All India Muslim Law Board.waisi tweeted about his intention to put his views and proposals for amendments in the proposed Bill. In his tweet, he criticised PM Narendra Modi and stated “Continuing his longstanding tradition of terrible lawmaking, Modi has introduced a ‘revised’ Triple Talaq Bill that is discriminatory and anti-women.Continuing my longstanding tradition of opposing unjust laws, I’ll be proposing amendments to ensure deserted spouses are protected (sic).”In another tweet commenting on the video of BJP MLA Uday Bhan Singh threatening a woman SDM of Agra, Owaisi took a dig at PM Modi saying that he was so keen on ‘saving’ Muslim women while his MLA openly threatens a woman public servant and incites mob violence. Owaisi is concerned over criminalising the act of pronouncing the Triple Talaq and the aftermath for women whose husbands would have been sent to prison. His contention is that when Triple Talaq has been declared null and void by the Apex Court, then how can we separate the couple by sending the husband to jail.According to him, in Islam, marriage is a civil contract and bringing penal provisions in it is wrong. He may propose for creation of a special fund for the welfare of women whose husbands are undergoing imprisonment. There are also chances that he may raise the issue of abandoned Hindu Women during debate on Triple Talaq in Lok Sabha.Deccan Chronicle
President’s rule in J&K from tomorrow; third Prez rule in country by BJP in 4.5 yrs
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/presidents-rule-in-jammu-and-kashmir-from-thursday-third-prez-rule-in-country-by-bjp-in-45-yrs
President's rule is set to be imposed in J&K from Thursday as the Governor Satya Pal Malik’s rule expires in the state on Wednesday, after 6 months, said Govt sources. The Centre is learnt to have recommended President's rule after a report by Governor Satya Pal Malik, officials said on Tuesday. A Home Ministry official said that the Union Cabinet has given its go-ahead for President's rule after December 19.It must be remembered that this is the third attempt by the BJP to impose President’s rule in a state where its own political ambitions have faltered — Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and now J&K .A communication from Governor's office was sent to the Central Govt and subsequently it was moved to the Union Cabinet for its nod.The official said President Ram Nath Kovind will have to issue a proclamation declaring that the powers of the legislature of the state shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament. The state plunged into a political crisis in June this year after the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition Govt was reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by 25-member BJP in the state. Since the state has a separate Constitution, in such cases, six months of Governor's rule is compulsory under Article 92 of the J&K Constitution, under which all the legislative powers are vested with the Governor. Governor has to dissolve the Legislative Assembly after 6 months. The state then directly comes under President's rule for another six months after which elections have to be held in the state.In case the elections are not declared, President's rule can be extended by another 6 months.No Presidential proclamation shall in any case remain in force for more than three years except for the intervention of Election Commission of India which has to certify that the continuance in force of the Proclamation is necessary on account of difficulties in holding general elections to the Legislative Assembly.nationalheraldindia
'Threats issued to Muslim community in VHP's Dharam Sabha in Jammu' :PDP
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2018/12/18/nrg20-jk-pdp.html
Srinagar: A PDP leader has condemned the "hateful language and threats" issued to the Muslim community during the 'Dharam Sabha' organized by VHP and RSS at Jammu and accused BJP of trying to reap electoral gains by such events. VHP Sunday organised a 'Dharam Sabha' in Jammu where a top Hindu religious leader called for a legislation to be passed during the ongoing winter session of Parliament for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "By promoting such hatred and negativity, the BJP has once again established that it can never again be trusted as a party of governance in a composite state like J&K and that it has blocked its entry into power structure of the state forever,"ex minister and PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said. He also alleged that BJP was trying to create 2008-like unrest in the state. Akhtar claimed that the Dharam Sabha in Jammu was organised by the BJP and the senior party leaders including its state president attended it.“People like me who have been part of the growth of Jammu into an inclusive and composite society over the past decades are of considered view that the sentiments expressed at the Dharam Sansad do not coincide with the general opinion of the people of Jammu. If these imported voices are even tolerated within the state, it would first hit Jammu itself as we have witnessed what happened in Kashmir society in 1990,” Akhtar said.PTI
‘Ram Mandir Wahin, Babri Kahin Nahi’:Hate speech, VHP’s ‘Dharma Sabha’ in Jammu:freepresskashmir
https://freepresskashmir.com/2018/12/18/in-jammu-hate-speech-call-to-genocide-anti-muslim-venom-dominate-vhps-speeches-at-dharma-sabha/
Tamil Nadu:NIA Raids Houses Of Men Accused In Plot To Kill Hindu Outfit Leaders
https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/coimbatore-nia-raids-3-houses-of-men-accused-in-alleged-plot-to-kill-hindu-outfit-leaders-in-tamil-n-1965100
Coimbatore: NIA raided 3 places in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore Wednesday in connection with the alleged plot to kill Hindu outfit leaders, officials said.Police arrested five people in September on a tip-off that they had hatched a plan to kill Hindu Makkal Katchi chief Arjun Sampath and Hindu Munnani leader Mookambikai Mani, among some others. Later, two more were arrested for giving them shelter and arranging transport for them.According to police, these people were inspired by ISIS modules and other terror outfits and hatched the plot. The investigation was subsequently handed over to the NIA.Today's raids were conducted at the houses of three of those arrested. The searches started after NIA officials reached the city this morning, police said.They carried out searches at the houses of Faisal in Ukkadam, Ashiq in Chandran Street and Anwar in Kuniamuthur, police said.PTI
NIA raids houses of 7 men for plotting to kill Hindu leaders:HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-raids-houses-of-7-isis-linked-men-for-plotting-to-kill-hindu-leaders/story-UI89KSeWiobu0QVhTcLM1N.html
Asthana bribery case: Sons implicated, says father of alleged middlemen
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rakesh-asthana-bribery-case-sons-implicated-says-father-of-alleged-middlemen/story-s2fuKwin41ULqxoVyWUUcM.html
Dineshwar Prasad, father of the alleged middlemen in Rakesh Asthana bribery case, Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad, said neither he nor his sons have any acquaintance with NSA Ajit Doval or CBI chief Rakesh Asthana.Manoj, who was arrested on Oct.16, was granted bail by a Patiala House court on Tuesday. CBI under director Alok Verma in its FIR, registered on Oct. 15, alleged that the Prasad brothers acted as middlemen on behalf of Asthana and tried to save Hyderabad-based businessman Sana Satish Babu from CBI action in the case against controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. FIR was registered on the complaint of Satish Babu.CBI officials have subsequently claimed that during and soon after his arrest Manoj boasted of his proximity to Doval.“Neither my sons nor I have never met Doval or Asthana. My sons have been implicated in the case for reasons that are not known to me yet,” said Prasad, who is a former mid-ranking official from the external intelligence agency R&AW. He retired from R&AW in 2000.Prasad told HT that while in service, he was posted in Dubai between 1994 and 1998.“That’s how I know senior R&AW official Samant Goel. Goel was my junior in R&AW. So when my son was arrested by CBI for no reason, I called up Goel and sought his help. But even while in service I never met Doval,” said Prasad.CBI FIR states that Somesh and Manoj were in touch with Goel who further was in touch with Asthana. Both Asthana and Goel belong to 1984 batch of IPS.HT
Muzaffarpur shelter home case: CBI files chargesheet against all accused under POCSO
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/muzaffarpur-shelter-home-case-cbi-files-chargesheet-against-all-accused-under-pocso-5500914/
New Delhi : CBI Wednesday filed a chargesheet against all the accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case under the POCSO Act, ANI reported. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has summoned the son and wife of Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the case, on Dec.24 and Dec.26 respectively.The case pertains to mental, physical and sexual exploitation of minor girls residing at Children Home at Sahu Road, Muzaffarpur. Under immense pressure from the opposition, the Bihar Govt had referred the matter to CBI. “It is alleged that officials/employees of Girl’s Children Home run by Seva Sankalp Evam Vikash Samiti used to mentality, physically and sexually exploit girl children residing at the said home,” a CBI spokesperson had then said.The matter had come to light earlier this year when the Bihar Social Welfare Department filed an FIR based on a social audit of the shelter home conducted by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The audit report stated that many girls at the shelter home had complained of sexual abuse.indianexpress
6 months of Governor’s rule end, J&K set for President’s rule
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/six-months-of-governor-s-rule-end-j-k-set-for-president-s-rule/story-ZDmMGkYTx1MvjLfeaSV7ZK.html
New Delhi:Governor’s Rule imposed in J&K on June 20 ends on Wednesday and as per the Constitution of the state President’s rule will start after a presidential proclamation. The state was put under Governor Satyapal Malik’s rule after the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition Govt was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the 25-member BJP in the state.Malik on Tuesday, in a communication to the Union home ministry, recommended imposition of President’s rule. Union Cabinet will be take up the proposal before the expiry of the governor’s rule on December 19, officials said.After the cabinet nod, the same would be signed by President Ram Nath Kovind who will issue a proclamation, which declares that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.HT
Amarinder Singh: Pak Army trying to revive militancy in Punjab
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amarinder-singh-pakistan-army-trying-to-revive-militancy-in-punjab-5499790/
Chandigarh :Punjab CM Amarinder Singh on Tuesday reiterated that Pakistan’s decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor was an “ISI game-plan to help forces inimical to India, including Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)”. Amarinder was reacting to the statement by the SFJ seeking Pakistan’s help to ‘liberate’ Punjab from India. The CM said it has exposed the nefarious designs of the organisation and its nexus with the Pakistani Army and the ISI. He also took exception to SFJ’s plans to hold Kartarpur Sahib Convention, 2019, coinciding with auspicious occasion of 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.In a statement, Amarinder said, “It has also once again proved that the Pak Govt had always been, and continues to remain, a puppet regime, working at the behest of the Army there, he added.“The whole affair is a bigger conspiracy by Pak Army, which is persistently trying to revive militancy in Punjab,” said the CM, reiterating his stand on the issue. CM also reiterated that Punjab, and the Army, are “well prepared to counter any such plans of neighbouring country”.indianexpress
MEA is getting Jinnah House transferred in its name: Sushma
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mea-is-getting-jinnah-house-transferred-in-its-name-sushma-swaraj-5500976/
Mumbai: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that her ministry is in the process of getting Jinnah House, the sea-facing Mumbai bungalow of Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, transferred in its name.In a letter to city BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Swaraj also said that her ministry will refurbish the bungalow on the lines of Hyderabad House in Delhi. Lodha had written to Swaraj on October 5 requesting that Jinnah House should be made a cultural centre.“PMO has instructed us to renovate and refurbish Jinnah House to develop it on the pattern of facilities available in Hyderabad House in Delhi. Accordingly, approval of PMO was sought for transfer of the property from ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) to our ministry. PMO has now accorded necessary approvals,” Swaraj said in her letter to Lodha.indianexpress
"Meri Madam Mahan": Mother of Mumbai man freed by Pak meets Sushma Swaraj
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/meri-madam-mahan-mother-of-mumbai-man-hamid-nihal-ansari-freed-from-pakistan-jail-meets-sushma-swara-1964987
New Delhi: Hamid Nihal Ansari, the software engineer who has returned home after spending 6 years in a Pakistani jail, met Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday and narrated his ordeal. 33-year-old, who crossed Wagah-Attari on Tuesday, became emotional while talking about his jail term in Pakistan, officials said. Ansari thanked Swaraj and Foreign Ministry for persisting with the case and taking it up with Islamabad."My Bharat is great, my madam is great. Madam has done everything," Ansari's mother Fauzia, who accompanied him for the meeting, said. Ministry spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted:ndtv
Bill prohibiting commercial surrogacy passed by LS
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bill-prohibiting-commercial-surrogacy-passed-by-lok-sabha/story-hhhFjOgNyclAx5DIFZDXkL.html
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 that ensures effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibits commercial surrogacy and allows altruistic surrogacy to needy Indian infertile couples was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with a voice vote.The Bill permits surrogacy only for couples who cannot conceive.The surrogate mother and the intending couple need eligibility certificates from the appropriate authority. The surrogate mother must be a ‘close relative’ of the intending couple.IANS
CBI arrests 4 IT officials in separate bribery cases
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/cbi-arrests-three-it-officials-in-separate-bribery-cases
CBI has arrested 3 Income Tax officials and an Indian Oil employee in three separate bribery cases, the agency said.Income Tax Inspector Seema, who was posted in Delhi, was arrested on Monday, for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹60,000 from the complainant."A case was registered on a complaint. It has been alleged that the complainant received notices from Income Tax officer, Ward No.42(3), for not showing the cash in his account in the returns filed by him and also had not deposited the tax related to a contract of wine shop taken by him in Jaipur," CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said."Both these issues are under scrutiny in the Income Tax Department Ward No. 42(3), Income Tax Office, Civic Centre, New Delhi."IANS
Despite Numerous Reports, Centre Says No Starvation Deaths Brought to Its Notice
https://thewire.in/rights/despite-numerous-reports-centre-says-no-starvation-deaths-brought-to-its-notice
New Delhi: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has said that the Central govt does not know about any starvation deaths taking place in the country.This statement was made in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha.“No State Govt/Union Territory Administration has reported any incident of death due to starvation in the country. There have been media reports of starvation deaths in some States/UTs. However, on enquiry, the deaths due to starvation have not been substantiated including in Jharkhand,” minister of state for consumer affairs, food and public distribution C.R. Chaudhary said.The special mention to Jharkhand is because over the last two years, particularly since Aadhaar was linked to welfare schemes, the state’s public distribution has come under scrutiny on multiple occasions. First starvation death to be widely reported from the state was in Sept.2017. 11-year-old Santoshi Kumar reportedly died asking for food; her family’s ration card had been cancelled because it wasn’t linked to Aadhaar. BJP govt in the state immediately decided that Kumari had died of malaria, though it admitted that the ration card had been cancelled.thewire
Lucknow Apple executive's murder intentional: SIT
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/apple-executive-was-murdered-intentionally-sit-report/articleshow/67161530.cms
Lucknow: Almost 80 days after taking over the Vivek Tiwari murder case, SIT has found constable Prashant Chaudhary guilty of intentionally murdering the 38-year-old Apple executive.SIT also found another constable, Sandeep Rana, guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan.The incident took place in September when Tiwari was on his way to drop his colleague Sana after attending the launch event of a new phone. Tiwari’s SUV was intercepted by two constables - Chaudhary and Rana - on a motorbike near Maqdoompur police post from the opposite direction. Tiwari had reportedly stopped his vehicle during which it slightly hit their bike.According to the report, Rana got down from the vehicle and poked Sana with a ‘lathi’ while Chaudhary took out his service pistol and fired a shot at Tiwari.TOI
Bihar School Segregates Students on Caste, Religion Lines, Probe Ordered
https://www.newsclick.in/bihar-school-segregates-students-caste-religion-lines-probe-ordered
Patna: A school in Bihar's Vaishali district is said to have been segregating student based on religion and caste that has prompted govt to launch an inquiry. The matter has become clear from the school attendance registers. Govt-run GA Plus 2 School in Lalganj has been segregating students into different sections and rooms based on their religion and caste, Bihar Education Minister Krishnandan Prasad Verma said, ordering an inquiry into the matter. He said those found guilty would be punished. "It is unfortunate and wrong if such situation exists in any school. It is against the law to divide students on the basis of their religion and caste in any school," Verma said. Lalganj Block Education officer Arvind Kumar Tiwari said he has visited the school after complaints were lodged about the practice. "Prima facie it appears to be true. We are sending a report to the District Education Officer in this matter and action will be initiated," he added. School Principal Meena Kumari, though, said such arrangements of segregation were made to ensure smooth working and implementation of different schemes. "There was no protest against it by parents and students," she said, adding "Till date no discrimination has been made in the school on the basis of caste or religious identity." Muslim and Hindu students are made to sit in different sections and rooms. There are separate classrooms for Dalits, OBCs and upper castes, Tiwari, who visited the school, said, citing reports. The attendance register for students are also separate as per religion and caste. It is so arranged that Dalits and Muslim students hardly get any chance to visit other classrooms. IANS
UP: Social organisation demands govt Unani college at Haziyapur
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/social-organisation-demands-govt-unani-college-at-haziyapur/articleshow/67152003.cms
Bareilly: After Bareilly Municipal Corporation at a recent board meeting passed a proposal to use Haziyapur land for Smart City project, members of Muslim Sewa Manch on Tuesday sent a memorandum to CM Yogi Adityanath, demanding construction of the proposed Unani college and hospital at Haziyapur.According to officials, after SP-led state Govt announced a Unani medicine hospital and college in Bareilly, BMC commissioner had transferred the land in Haziyapur to the Ayush department in 2016 for the construction of a college. In the same year, then CM Akhilesh Yadav laid the foundation stone of the project at Haziyapur.TOI
Gujarat: Muslim kids win prizes for reciting shlokas
https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/education/muslim-kids-win-prizes-for-reciting-shlokas/articleshow/67152035.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
The audience listened raptly as 9-year-old Mahenur Sheikh, a Class 3 student, followed by Suhana Ghanchi, a Class 7 student, recited the Ashtadash Shloki Gita with accurate pronunciation and rhythm. 2 Muslim students recited 18 shlokas in just 6 minutes, and bagged second place in the intra-school competition on Tuesday. Ashtadash Shloki Gita recitation competition was held by Shri Agrasen Vidya Mandir -- a Narol school affiliated to Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan, educational wing of RSS -- to mark Gita Jayanti. While Mahenur stood second in Class 1-4 category, Suhana came second in Class 5-8 category. ahmedabadmirror
WORLD
Saudi outreach to Israel 'faces setbacks' after Khashoggi crisis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/saudi-outreach-israel-faces-setbacks-khashoggi-crisis-181219094957532.html
A covert US-backed initiative to improve ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel is facing setbacks after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and 2 of his aides were implicated in a journalist's killing, according to the Wall Street Journal.Prince Mohammed, whom the US Senate blamed for Jamal Khashoggi's killing in October, spearheaded the outreach to Israel, a longtime foe, the Journal said in a report on Tuesday. But the global outcry over Khashoggi's murder in October and fallout within the royal court has diminished the prince's influence and dampened Saudi Arabia's appetite for risky foreign policy endeavours, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. "Things have definitely cooled off right after Khashoggi's murder," a senior Saudi Govt official told the Journal."The last thing the kingdom wants is for this to come out now and cause another backlash."Saudi Arabia does not officially recognise Israel and King Salman, who has taken a more active role in Govt in the aftermath of the Khashoggi crisis, recently described resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict as the kingdom's "foremost priority" in the region.The effort to improve Riyadh's ties with Israel was also hindered, the Journal reported, when two close advisers to Prince Mohammed lost their jobs over their suspected role in Khashoggi's murder.The two aides, former royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani and former deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Assiri played key roles in behind-the-scenes contact between Saudi and Israel, the Journal said, citing people familiar with their work. Al-Qahtani issued directives to the Saudi press to help soften Israel's image and was also involved in the kingdom's purchase of advanced surveillance technology from Israeli firms, Journal said, citing unnamed Saudi officials.Meanwhile, al-Assiri, al-Qahtani's subordinate, secretly travelled to Israel several times to discuss how Saudi Arabia could benefit from Israeli technology, according to the Journal.That would make him the most senior Saudi official known to have reportedly set foot in the country.Despite the setback, the Saudis and Israelis were likely to continue building ties in secret, the Journal said, because of shared business and security interests.aljazeera
Bin Salman’s time may be running out:Bill Law
https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/mohammed-bin-salman-s-time-may-be-running-out-1324403187
US envoy Haley hints at 'deal of the century' Israeli-Palestinian peace plan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/nikki-haley-hints-unveiled-deal-century-181219060748480.html
Outgoing US envoy to UN Nikki Haley commented on Washington's yet-to-be-announced plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, saying "it is much longer" and takes advantage of new technology.Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Haley gave no tangible details of what has been dubbed by US President Donald Trump as the "deal of the century"."It is much longer. It contains much more thoughtful detail," Haley told the council which she said she has read. "It recognises that realities on the ground in the Middle East have changed in powerful and important ways."She added the document has a lot both sides will like and things they will not like."The Palestinians have everything to gain by engaging in peace negotiations," Haley said. "This plan will be different from all previous ones. The critical question is whether the response to it will be any different."The plan, spearheaded by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and US envoy Jason Greenblatt, was meant to revive the stalled and dormant peace process between Israel and Palestinian leaders, with the status of Jerusalem and the ongoing expansion of the illegal settlement project in occupied Palestine being the main sticking points and obstacles to reaching a final agreement.Haley said Israelis and Palestinians as well as countries around the world have a choice: focus on the parts they dislike, which she said means returning "to the failed status quo of the last 50 years," or focus on parts they like and encourage peace negotiations to move forward.Immediately before the meeting, eight European Union members stood outside UNSC chamber and read a joint statement emphasising the EU's "strong and continued commitment" to the internationally agreed requirements for Israeli-Palestinian peace.aljazeera
Israel minister halts vegetable, fruit imports from Palestine
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181219-israel-minister-halts-vegetable-fruit-imports-from-palestine/
Israeli Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel has ordered a stop in the import of fruits and vegetables from the occupied Palestinian territories, local media reported.Despite warnings from Israeli security, army, intelligence and the civil administration that the Palestinian economy is fragile and cannot withstand such steps, Ariel insisted on his decision.“This is a populist, irresponsible decision that derives solely from political considerations at the expense of the security of the entire public, including the settlers,” security sources told Channel 2.The minister has justified his decision saying the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture has decided to stop importing sheep from Israel.middleeastmonitor
Palestinians living in fear amid spike in Israeli settler 'price tag' attacks
https://www.middleeasteye.net/Palestinians-Israeli-settler-price-tag-attacks-west-bank
Yasuf, Occupied West Bank - Palestinians in the village of Yasuf woke up on Tuesday morning to find their car tyres slashed and homes covered in racist, Hebrew-language graffiti, in what residents told Middle East Eye they believe was an attack by Israeli settlers.Nashaat Abed al-Fattah, Yasuf's 37-year-old mayor, told MEE that a group of Israeli settlers raided the village before dawn on Tuesday."They slashed the tyres of 24 vehicles and sprayed graffiti on many homes, including mine, as well as the village mosque,” he said."Price tag", "Revenge" and "Death to Arabs" were among some of the messages spray-painted on homes throughout the village, Abed al-Fattah said. It’s not the first time settlers have attacked Yasuf, he added, which is located just a few hundred metres from the illegal Israeli settlement of Tappuah.“They have burned cars, tried to set our mosque on fire and attacked homes with rocks before,” Abed al-Fattah said.middleeasteye
Over 560 Palestinians tortured to death in Syria prisons
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181219-more-than-560-palestinians-tortured-to-death-in-syria-prisons/
2 Palestinian sisters from the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus were tortured to death in Syrian regime prisons on Saturday, the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said, noting that they had spent four years in prison before their death, Arab48 reported.They increase to 563 the number of Palestinian refugees tortured to death in Syrian regime prisons, the group said. While 1,711 Palestinian refugees are enduring difficult conditions in regime jails, in addition to the 12,000 who have been detained.Action Group also reported that the Syrian regime security forces had arrested a number of the Palestinian refugees who voluntarily returned to Syria from Europe.middleeastmonitor
Russia, Turkey, Iran fail in push for new Syrian constitution
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/russia-turkey-iran-renew-push-syrian-constitution-181218173659515.html
Russia, Iran and Turkey, supporters of the main sides in Syria's complex civil war, on Tuesday failed to agree on the makeup of a United Nations-sponsored Syrian constitutional committee but called for it to convene early next year to kick off a viable peace process.In a joint statement read out by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after the trio met the UN Syria peace envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in Geneva, they said the new initiative should be guided "by a sense of compromise and constructive engagement".The foreign ministers of the three nations had hoped to seal their joint proposal on a committee - which could usher in elections - and win UN blessing for it.But the statement by the three made no mention of the composition of the panel, pointing to lingering disagreement over lists of candidates submitted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his rebel adversaries.aljazeera
Turkey jails nephew of Muslim leader accused of organising coup
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/turkey-jails-nephew-cleric-accused-orchestrating-coup-bid-181219014706284.html
A Turkish court has sentenced a nephew of Fethullah Gulen, a religious leader accused by Ankara of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt, to seven-and-a-half years in prison on terrorism-related charges. Anadolu state news agency said on Tuesday that Selman Gulen was sentenced for being a member of a "terrorist" organisation. The prosecutor had asked for seven-and-a-half years to 15 years.Selman Gulen told the court in the capital, Ankara, that he had met his uncle only once in his life, as he denied the allegations. He charged that the court was sentencing him only because he was a relative of Gulen and demanded his acquittal.aljazeera
Despite sending troops, Bashir reiterates Sudan support for political solution in Yemen
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181219-despite-sending-troops-bashir-reiterates-sudan-support-for-political-solution-in-yemen/
Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir has affirmed his country’s support for “all peaceful and political settlement initiatives that pave the way for the return of stability and peace to Yemen and to alleviating the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people”.“Sudan’s position will remain steadfast on Arab and Islamic issues, and it is ready to do everything in its power to contribute to the achievement of international peace and security and the maintenance of Arab national security,” Al-Bashir said during a graduation ceremony at the Nemeiri Military Academy in Omdurman.Sudanese Defence Minister Awad Bin Auf met with Saudi Chief of Staff Fayyad Hamed Al-Ruwaili who is due to attend a joint military exercise in the Red Sea resort of Fijab today.MEMO
WTO to investigate Qatari allegations of Saudi piracy
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181218-wto-to-investigate-qatari-allegations-of-saudi-piracy/
WTO said it would investigate Qatar’s allegations of intellectual property breaches against Saudi Arabia, despite the kingdom’s objection that WTO had no standing to hear the case,Reuters reports.Qatar launched the dispute in October, saying Saudi Arabia was blocking Qatari-owned broadcaster beIN and refusing to take effective action against alleged piracy of beIN’s content by “beoutQ”, a sophisticated pirating operation.Saudi Arabia this month sought to block the case from being accepted, arguing that because of vital security interests tied to its boycott of Qatar, the trade dispute body could not hear the case.But a Geneva trade official said on Tuesday WTO had agreed “to establish a panel to rule on Saudi’s alleged failure to provide adequate protection of intellectual property rights.”Qatar’s beIN is blocked in Saudi under a boycott imposed when Saudi and its allies severed diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, over Doha’s alleged support of terrorism. middleeastmonitor
Facebook gives Netflix and Spotify access to users' messages: NYT
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/facebook-companies-access-users-private-messages-nyt-181219073215233.html
Facebook has given some of the world's largest tech companies, such as Spotify, Amazon and Netflix, access to users' personal information in ways not previously disclosed, according to a report released by New York Times (NYT).In the report, NYT says internal Facebook documents provided insights into the network's "data-sharing agreements", revealing that the data market is "even bigger than many consumers suspected". According to publication, Facebook allowed big companies like Microsoft with its Bing search engine to "view names of virtually all Facebook users' friends without consent". In addition, streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify were able to access "users' private messages", including the ability to "read, compose and delete messages, and to see all participants on a thread", NYT reported.Platforms such as Sony, Microsoft and Amazon could obtain users' email addresses through their friends, and Yahoo was able to "view streams of friends' posts", despite statements saying it had stopped that type of sharing before.aljazeera
Bangladesh's HC questions EC's decision to let 25 Bangla Jamaat men contest
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/hc-questions-ecs-decision-let-25-jamaat-men-contest-1675780
Bangladesh's High Court has directed the Election Commission (EC) to dispose of, in three working days, the application filed for cancellation of candidacies of 25 Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami men in the Dec.30 general election.The court also issued a rule asking the EC and Govt to explain in four weeks why the EC's decision to allow the 25 candidates to contest the election despite the cancellation of their party's registration should not be declared illegal.In the rule, the court also asked the EC and Govt to show causes why the commission should not be directed to cancel their candidacies, Deputy Attorney General Alamin Sarker told The Daily Star.The bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali delivered the order and rule following a writ petition filed by representatives of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation and Amra Muktijoddhar Sontan, seeking cancellation of the commission's decision to allow leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami to contest the polls. Barrister Tania Amir appeared for writ petitioners.The petitioners had submitted a plea to the EC on Monday, to cancel candidacies of the Jamaat men. The Daily Star
Pak activist Asma Jahangir honoured with top UN human rights award
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pak-activist-asma-jahangir-honoured-with-top-un-human-rights-award/articleshow/67157351.cms
UN: Pakistan's renowned social activist Asma Jahangir was posthumously honoured by UN with a prestigious human rights award.Jahangir, an outspoken critic of Pakistan's powerful military establishment, fought against religious extremism and for the rights of oppressed minorities in Pakistan. She died of cardiac arrest at the age of 66 in Feb.She was honoured with the 2018 United Nations Human Rights Prize, an award given every 5 years since 1968.PTI
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Viral Video Claiming Rahul Gandhi Returned to Islam is Fake:Divya Chandra
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/viral-video-claiming-rahul-gandhi-returned-to-islam-is-fake
Hindu Right Should Remember That Democracy Runs Deep in India:Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee
https://thewire.in/politics/the-hindu-right-should-remember-that-democracy-runs-deep-in-india
In Assam’s NRC, a near-impossible trial followed by inhuman and indefinite detention:Amrita Singh
https://caravanmagazine.in/policy/assam-nrc-near-impossible-trial-inhuman-indefinite-detention
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:26 PM)
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I've heard about it. My friend said he read something similar at viral Nexter web site
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