NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
23 Dec. 2018:15 Rabiul-II 1440: Vol: 11, No:82
INDIA
Will show Modi govt how to treat minorities: Imran Khan; India hits back
https://www.news18.com/news/india/will-show-modi-govt-how-to-treat-minorities-says-imran-khan-1981087.html
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has said he will "show" the Narendra Modi Govt "how to treat minorities", amidst a controversy over Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on mob violence in India.Shah finds himself at the centre of a major controversy over his remarks on the spate of mob lynching cases in India following the killing of a policeman in UP's Bulandshahr district earlier this month. Addressing an event to highlight the 100-day achievements of the Punjab Govt in Lahore, Khan asserted that his Govt is taking steps to ensure that religious minorities in Pakistan get their due rights, which was also a vision of the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.Khan said his Govt will make it sure that the minorities feel safe, protected and have equal rights in 'New Pakistan'."We will show the Modi Govt how to treat minorities...Even in India, people are saying that minorities are not being treated as equal citizens," he said referring to Shah's statement.The Pakistani premier said if justice is not given to the weak then it will only lead to uprising. Giving an example, he said, "The people of East Pakistan were not given their rights which was the main reason behind the creation of Bangladesh." On Dec. 3, Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a student, Sumit Kumar, were killed in mob violence in Bulandshahr after cow carcasses were found strewn around. The main accused in the case is a local Bajrang Dal leader, Yogesh Raj. news18
Pak Army chief backs Imran Khan’s peace initiatives
https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/pakistan-army-chief-backs-imran-khans-peace-initiatives-5506218/
Karachi :Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has backed PM Imran Khan’s peace initiatives, saying the new Govt has extended a hand of peace and friendship towards India with utmost sincerity but it should not be taken as Islamabad’s weakness. Addressing the passing out parade of Midshipmen and Short Service Course at the Naval Academy in Karachi on Saturday, Bajwa said that Pakistan was “a peace loving country and believes in peace”.Lauding the efforts of PM Khan’s Govt to achieve peace between Pakistan and India, the army chief said peace benefits everyone and it is time to fight disease, poverty and illiteracy instead of fighting against each other. “Our new Govt has extended a hand of peace and friendship towards India with utmost sincerity but it should not be taken as our weakness,” Bajwa said.“Wars bring death, destruction and misery for the people. Ultimately all issues are resolved on the table through negotiations that is why we are trying very hard to help bring a lasting peace in Afghanistan by supporting Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace plan,” Bajwa said. He also warned that Pakistan is yet to get out from terrorism or sabotage phase of an unannounced war against it.PTI
Pakistan a land of atrocities against minorities: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-a-land-of-atrocities-against-minorities-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-5506190/
New Delhi :BJP lashed out at Pakistan PM Imran Khan over his barb at India on treatment of minorities, terming his country “a land of atrocities against minorities” who have been “persecuted” there since its birth in 1947.Minorities Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi used a Hindi proverb and described Khan’s comments as a case of a cat going on a pilgrimage after eating 100 mice.In hard-hitting remarks against Pakistan,Naqvi said that number of minorities like Hindus, Sikhs and Christians have fallen by almost 90 % in that country since its birth in 1947 as they were hounded by Islamic fundamentalists in collusion with its Govt.PTI
'There’s no tolerant country in the world than India': Rajnath’s rebuttal to Naseeruddin Shah’s remarks
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/naseeruddin-shah-rajnath-singh-cow-bulandshahr-bulandshahar-there-s-no-tolerant-country-in-the-world-than-india-centre-rebuttal-to-naseeruddin-shah/335632
Lucknow: Centre has voiced its opinion on the ensuing row surrounding veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah’s controversial statement on intolerance in the country, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh rebuffing the allegations of such hostility in the country. Speaking at an event at a medical college in Lucknow, Singh said, “I don’t think the tolerance that exists in India can be found anywhere else in the world.”He further went on to say that the diversity in India is what makes it a prosperous nation. “India is the only country in the world where people from various prominent religions co-exist peacefully... They have contributed to making India empowered, self-reliant and prosperous and will continue to do so,” Singh said.Times Now
Ramdev Hits Out at Naseeruddin Shah, Says Calling Own Country Intolerant is Treason
https://www.news18.com/news/india/ramdev-hits-out-at-naseeruddin-shah-says-calling-own-country-intolerant-is-treason-1981535.html
Kolkata: Actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks on religious violence prompted yoga guru Ramdev to say on Saturday that such accusations amounted to degrading the country's pride."Naseeruddin Shah has earned his popularity due to love of common people. I have not seen religious intolerance. I, of course, see political intolerance. I think accusing India of religious intolerance is equal to degrading country's pride," he said.There is no country without internal violence and intolerance, but no one blames one's own country, said the yoga guru. "Labelling one's own country with religious intolerance is akin to ungratefulness, disrespect and treason," he said on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Eastern India's first International Vedic Pathashala.news18
Anupam Kher asks Naseeruddin Shah: How much more freedom do you want
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anupam-kher-naseeruddin-shah-mob-violence-freedom-bulandshahr-cop-killing-5505495/
Veteran actor Anupam Kher took on his contemporary Naseeruddin Shah for his comments on mob violence and asked him “how much more freedom do you need?”Shah has found himself embroiled in a controversy over his remarks in reference to killing of a policeman in mob violence in Bulandshahr. “There’s so much freedom in the country that you can abuse the army, badmouth air chief and pelt stones at the soldiers. How much more freedom do you need in a country? He (Shah) said what he felt like, it doesn’t mean it’s the truth,”Kher was quoted as saying by ANI.indianexpress
‘Take care of own country’: Naseeruddin Shah slams Imran Khan on minorities remark
https://www.oneindia.com/india/take-care-of-own-country-naseeruddin-shah-slams-imran-khan-on-minorities-remark-2826694.html
Mumbai: Naseeruddin Shah, who has been at the receiving end of flak for his remark on Bulandshahr violence, has responded to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's latest statement that he will show the Modi Govt how to treat minorities.‘"I think Mr Khan should be walking the talk in his own country instead of commenting on issues that don't concern him. We have been a democracy for 70 years and we know how to look after ourselves," Naseeruddin Shah told the Sunday Express.oneindia
Don’t call yourself a patriot after sympathising with terrorists, says Wrestler Dutt aftrer Naseeruddin criticizes Bulandshahr violence
https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/yogeshwar-dutt-naseruddin-shah-terrorists-bulandshahr-riots-5504027/
Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt slammed Naseeruddin Shah for his indirect remarks on Bulandshahr mob violence. Shah said that he is scared for his children with the rise of religious violence in the country. With tensions boiling over Shah’s remarks, Dutt took to Twitter and asked the actor whether he felt scared during the previous terrorist attacks and riots in the country.“Those who are scared for their kids today, Naseeruddin Shah, were they not scared during the 1984 riots, or the 1993 Mumbai blasts or during the attacks of 26/11?”he wrote.He further questioned Shah for signing the mercy plea of Yakub Memon, who was given a death sentence in July 2015. Shah was among the several eminent persons who had signed plea written to the President Pranab Mukherjee. “When a terrorist group kidnapped Indian and Bangladesh citizens, and later released Bangladeshis because of their religion, but killed all 39 Indian citizens – were you not angry then? Were you not afraid while signing the mercy plea of the terrorist Yakub Memon?” Dutt asked.2012 Olympic Bronze medallist further asked Shah to not refer to himself as a patriot after sympathizing with the terrorists.indianexpress
Explain why are you silencing Kashmiri voices, UN Rapporteur asks Twitter CEO
http://twocircles.net/2018dec22/427928.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Activists, human rights defenders and journalists welcomed the letter from UN Special Rapporteur to Twitter questioning why social media giant was silencing users who sharing Kashmir-related content.On Friday, for the first time ever David Kaye,UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression wrote to Twitter CEO regarding the blocking of Twitter accounts of Kashmiris and users who shared or posted Kashmir-related content.Kaye has asked Twitter to provide complete details of the request made by the Indian Govt about the withholding of Kashmir content and blockage of Kashmir Twitter handles.Taking to social networking site Twitter,David Kaye wrote: “platforms may be improving but they are often opaque to users whose accounts are suspended or posts hidden from view, esp when under pressure from Govt s. for case in point see my letter to @jack @twitter re #Kashmir #India:”Scores of Kashmiris have complained that their accounts were withheld and many of their tweets are being removed by Twitter for sharing the content related to human rights abuses in Kashmir. Journalist and activist Irfan Mehraj thinks Twitter deleted or withheld Kashmiri accounts or censored Kashmir related content on request from the GoI (Govt of India) because they would not like Kashmir’s ground realities to be discussed openly and independently. “Govt wants to control the flow of information coming from Kashmir because it goes against its conduct there,” he says. Irfan believes that the Indian Govt has put a lot of pressure on social media platforms to comply with their demands and both Twitter and Facebook have complied without caring for the human rights of its users, which Kaye has also highlighted. Irfan, who has faced censorship from Facebook multiple times,says several of his posts critical of Indian Govt ’s conduct in Kashmir were taken down during summer uprising of in 2016. On Oct 24, his publication Wande Magazine’s official Facebook page was removed by Facebook without any reason or intimation or warning.“It was taken down by Facebook in Oct. Due to the pressure we built on social media and relevant channels and after continuously writing to Facebook, we were able to get page back,”he adds.TCN
India waits for Donald Trump’s clarification on US cut-back in Afghanistan
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-waits-for-donald-trump-s-clarification-on-us-cut-back-in-afghanistan/story-8Uq4pJ6uQBktY8WWWK1WDM.html
Washington:India has been prepared for a long time now for an “eventual” pullout of American troops from Afghanistan but surprised by Trump administration’s sudden decision, as the rest of the world, it wants to know more about the nature and the time-frame of the cut-back to assess implications for its involvement. Indians are concerned about the security of four consulates — Jalalabad (in the east), Herat (west), Mazar-e-Sharif (north) and Kandahar (in the south) — and the embassy in Kabul, personnel manning them and the projects India is running there as part of the reconstruction effort, as a top partner.There has been no communication from the United States to India yet about the impending pullout, and it’s been noted in New Delhi. But,people in the know said, assuming the Trump administration had indeed taken a call — “there has been no tweet or announcement as about the Syrian pullout” — they want to see which troops are being pulled out, those involved in counter-terrorism or those advising Afghanistan combat troops, or both.India also wants to know about the time-frame of the cut back and whether American troops, marked for pullout, leave before the upcoming Afghan elections or after. “Leaving before could determine the nature of the elections — whether they will be free and fair — which, in turn, could determine their legitimacy and the outcome,” said a person familiar with the deliberations.HT
BJP, JD(U) to contest 2019 on 17 seats each, LJP gets 6 in Bihar; Paswan to take Rajya Sabha route
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2019-election-bjp-jdu-to-contest-on-17-seats-each-ljp-gets-6-in-bihar-paswan-gets-rajya-sabha-ticket-5506067/
Putting an end to the growing speculation on a possible rift in NDA over seat-sharing in Bihar, BJP president Amit Shah Sunday announced that the saffron party and JDU will contest on 17 seats each, while LJP will fight on 6 out of the forty parliamentary seats in Bihar. LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan will not contest from Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency and, instead, take the Rajya Sabha route.Flanked by Nitish Kumar, LJP chief Paswan and son Chirag, Amit Shah said, “After a long discussion it has been decided that BJP will fight on 17 seats, JDU will contest on 17 and LJP will stand on 6 seats in Bihar, and Ram Vilas Paswan will be an NDA candidate for Rajya Sabha in the next polls.”“All 3 parties strongly believe that NDA will win more seats in 2019 than what we won in 2014 and have agreed that PM Modi will form the Govt at the centre,” Shah added. BJP chief also said a plan will be put in place to finalise a campaign in Bihar ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.Nitish Kumar, who reached New Delhi in the morning, addressing the media said, “Now that its decided we will contest together, all 3 parties will soon sit to decide which party will contest from which seat in Bihar.”indianexpress
Leaving Congress out of UP alliance will weaken anti-BJP front at national level: Salman Khurshid
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/leaving-congress-out-of-up-alliance-will-weaken-anti-bjp-front-at-national-level-salman-khurshid-5506120/
New Delhi :Amid reports that the SP and the BSP might leave the Congress out from an alliance in UP, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said if his party is excluded from the coalition in the state, any nationwide anti-BJP front will be “weakened” and it may lead to a “stillborn situation”.Khurshid said cobbling together a grand alliance in UP will be the “trickiest” exercise for all opposition parties in the state and asserted it was crucial for Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP and RLD to join forces to put up a formidable challenge against the BJP.Former UP Congress chief said the situation in the state was “fluid” and party chief Rahul Gandhi was taking a “cautiously optimistic view”, while keeping his “mind and heart open” for alliances for the 2019 general election.Asked about reports that SP and BSP may leave out Congress from the alliance in UP, Khurshid said, “I think it is a little bit of posturing, but I can’t say for sure…I have no reason to believe it to be true or not to be true, but it will be myopic if the Congress is kept out of the alliance in UP because it may have an impact on the larger alliance nationwide.” “If UP does not contribute in a wholesome manner to the larger alliance nationwide then the alliance nationwide itself will get weakened and it may cause a stillborn situation,” he said.PTI
Jharkhand's Kolebira Bypoll: Congress Defeats BJP, Gains Upper Hand With JMM
https://www.thequint.com/elections/kolebira-bypoll-congress-defeats-bjp-gains-upper-hand-with-jmm
Congress has pulled off a surprise victory in the by-election to the Kolebira Assembly seat in Jharkhand. The party's candidate Naman Bixal Kongadi defeated his BJP rival Basant Soreng by 9,658 votes. Congress' win also marks the end of Jharkhand Party leader Anosh Ekka's hold over tribal-dominated constituency. Ekka, who has been winning Kolebira for the past 3 elections, was convicted in a murder case earlier this year and had to vacate the seat. His wife Menon Ekka contested the by-election but ended up in fourth position, behind Congress, BJP and Rashtriya Sengle Party.thequint
BJP wins Jasdan bypoll; reaches three-figure mark in Gujarat Assembly
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-wins-jasdan-bypoll-reaches-three-figure-mark-in-gujarat-assembly/article25812156.ece?homepage=true
Ahmedabad:The ruling BJP comfortably won the bypoll from Jasdan Assembly seat in Gujarat on Sunday, taking its tally in House to 100.BJP candidate Kunvarji Bavaliya defeated his nearest rival, Congress nominee Avsar Nakiya, by a margin of 19,979 votes, officials said. Bavaliya retained the Assembly seat in Rajkot which he had won as Congress candidate in 2017.With this, BJP now has 100 MLAs in the 182-member Gujarat Legislative Assembly, while the Congress’s tally has come down to 76. The saffron outfit had won 99 seats in the 2017 assembly polls and the Congress 77.PTI
400 cr Fisheries ‘scam’: Gujarat minister, ex-minister asked to appear in High Court
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/fisheries-scam-gujarat-minister-ex-minister-asked-to-appear-in-high-court-5504766/
Ahmedabad :Gujarat High Court has asked Minister of State for Fisheries and a former BJP minister to appear before the court in two weeks in connection with a Rs 400-crore fisheries “scam”.The court also upheld the criminal prosecution initiated by a special Anti-Corruption court in Gandhinagar district against Parshottam Solanki, the current Minister of State for Fisheries, and Dileep Sanghani, ex state agriculture minister.Solanki and Sanghani had moved the High Court in 2017, challenging the initiation of criminal prosecution against them by the Gandhinagar court in the alleged scam. They argued that they had no role in the “scam” and no offence was made out. They also challenged the report on the alleged scam prepared by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which said the accused were involved in the scam. They had challenged that the judge could not have taken cognizance of the report since complaint was filed by a private individual. Justice Pardiwala while upholding the initiation of criminal prosecution against the petitioners by the special court held that the ACB report “reveals more than a prima facie case to proceed against” the 2. The report reveals that all the accused persons in collusion and connivance with each other and by abusing their position caused a loss of Rs 21,04,64,515 to the Govt exchequer over a period of five years by arbitrarily awarding contracts to different parties for their personal gain.” The order also states that overall scam is of about Rs 400 crore.indianexpress
No one killed Sohrabuddin, Justice Loya, they just died: Rahul Gandhi slams court’s ruling
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-one-killed-sohrabuddin-shaikh-rahul-gandhi-5505398/
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Saturday took a dig at the special CBI court’s decision to acquit all 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and his associate Tulsiram Prajapati in 2005.“NO ONE KILLED…Haren Pandya. Tulsiram Prajapati. Justice Loya. Prakash Thombre. Shrikant Khandalkar. Kauser Bi. Sohrabuddin Shiekh. THEY JUST DIED,” Gandhi wrote on Twitter.On Friday, the special CBI court cleared the names of the accused saying the evidence brought before the court could not establish the role of any of the 22 in the case.22 acquitted include 21 serving and retired police personnel from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The trial, which lasted over a year, saw 210 witnesses depose, including 92 declared hostile. A detailed copy of the judgment will be made available next week.indianexpress
No Clean Chit To Modi Govt On Rafale From Court: Yechury
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sitaram-yechury-says-no-clean-chit-to-modi-Govt -on-rafale-from-supreme-court-1966810
Samastipur: CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury asserted that no clean chit has been given to the Modi Govt in Rafale deal by the Supreme Court, which has "merely stated" that it did not have the jurisdiction to intervene in the matter.The former Rajya Sabha member said the Opposition has, therefore, been seeking a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee, but the Govt appears to be wary of the same."There is no clean chit. It is a misleading propaganda by the BJP. The Supreme Court has merely said that a scam of this nature did not fall within its jurisdiction and hence, it could not entertain the petitions.""And, that is exactly the reason why we and other Opposition parties have been demanding the JPC. If the Modi Govt has nothing to hide, it should not be afraid of agreeing to this demand," Yechury, who was here to address a rally, told reporters.PTI
Govt committed to make law on triple talaq despite hardliners and Opposition: PM Modi
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/Govt -committed-make-law-triple-talaq-despite-hardliners-opposition-modi-1415561-2018-12-23
PM Narendra Modi has said that the Centre was committed to make a law on triple talaq despite facing "hurdles" from "hardliners" and the Opposition parties.He asserted that women were the biggest beneficiaries of the many schemes launched by his Govt."Nearly all big schemes are anyhow empowering women. Govt has framed new schemes and rectified existing ones. Through the schemes and laws, we are moving towards women empowerment today. This has created trust," Modi said.Speaking at fifth national convention of BJP Mahila Morcha here, he targeted Congress, saying that women's welfare was never a priority of the previous Govt s.The PM also talked about his Govt's resolve to make the law on triple talaq."Despite all hurdles and opposition from hardliners and opposition parties, the Govt is committed to making a law on triple talaq," Modi said. Lok Sabha is expected to take up the triple talaq Bill for discussion on Dec. 27 during the Parliament's ongoing winter session. Govt had issued an ordinance in September pending the passage of the Bill in a revised form."We are committed so that Muslim women can get rid of a big life threat," he said.Talking about the annual Muslim pilgrimage, Haj, Modi said, "In order for Muslim women to go to Haj, we have removed the clause that men need to accompany them."PM said that the women of the country have given BJP the opportunity "with great hope and trust after trying all other options"."After exploring various options in the last 6 to 7 decades, the people of the country -- our sisters and daughters -- reposed their faith in BJP. Previous Govts did not do anything to provide even basic facilities to women and just made promises," Modi said.indiatoday
Sabarimala: Women retreat after facing stiff resistance, police arrest protesters
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sabarimala-live-updates-protests-as-women-attempt-to-visit/article25811868.ece?homepage=true
Sabarimala foothills in Pampa on Sunday witnessed high drama as hundreds of devotees blocked paths and chased away a group of 11 women escorted to the hill shrine by the police.Though police team tried to arrest and remove a few of the devotees who blocked the traditional forest path and take the women members of Chennai-based outfit 'Maniti',hundreds of pilgrims rushed down to the valley to chase them away.With annual ‘Mandala Puja’ just days away, Ayyappa Temple has been witnessing a heavy rush as over one lakh pilgrims visited the hill top temple on Friday.The Hindu
Only BJP can build Ram temple in Ayodhya:UP CM
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/only-bjp-can-build-ram-temple-in-ayodhya-says-up-cm-adityanath/story-B5TWCduc4aUTQ9gkbungRI.html
Lucknow:UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said whenever the Ram temple comes up in Ayodhya, it would be built by BJP only.“Let there be no doubt. Only we (BJP) can construct Ram Temple in Ayodhya. No other party will be able to build it,” he said in his address at the Yuva Kumbh programme at Smriti Upvan in Lucknow as youths shouted slogans like “Whosoever constructs Ram Temple will be voted to power”.In an apparent dig at the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, Yogi said, “Those who flaunt ‘janeu’ (sacred thread) do such things for votes. They are the ones who dismissed the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. Do not expect that they would construct Ram Temple in Ayodhya.”Criticising historians and intellectuals, he said: “We were misinformed about our history. Now, we have the responsibility to correct it.”hindustantimes
No BJP Rath Yatra in West Bengal for now, Calcutta High Court division bench stays single judge order
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/no-bjp-rath-yatra-in-west-bengal-for-now-calcutta-high-court-division-bench-stays-single-judge-order/1421131/
In a setback for BJP, Calcutta High Court has put a stay on saffron party’s Rath Yatra programme scheduled to take place on Saturday from West Bengal’s Cooch Bihar district. This comes a day after a single judge bench of the same court had allowed BJP’s grand programme. The state Govt had moved an appeal before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court challenging the single bench order that allowed BJP’s ‘Rath Yatra’ programme in the state. Govt had expressed urgency and sought an immediate hearing before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Debasish Kargupta and Justice Shampa Sarkar. Accepting the Mamata Banerjee Govt ’s demand for an urgent hearing, the court asked it to serve copies of its appeal to respondent, BJP, following which the hearing would commence.Earlier, a single bench presided by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty Thursday granted permission for the programme. In its order, the court had set aside the denial of permission for the yatra by a panel of 3 senior most officers of the state Govt .In another ruling on Dec.6, the court had refused permission to BJP to hold ‘Rath Yatra’, which was scheduled to be flagged off by BJP chief Amit Shah from Cooch Behar in North Bengal on Dec.7. financialexpress
Deoband seeks apology from Bukkal Nawab
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/deoband-seminary--seeks-apology-from--bukkal-nawab.html
Lucknow:Islamic seminary of Darul Uloom Deoband has demanded an apology from BJP MLC Bukkal Nawab for claiming Lord Hanuman to be a Muslim. Head of on-line fatwa department of the seminary, Mufti Arshad Ahmed Farooqui, said, “Only responsible persons should speak on religious issues and they should first ascertain facts before making statements. Objective research and investigation are prerequisites for making such statements.”Mufti said that no Islamic scripture mentions about Hanuman and Bukkal Nawab should not have made a statement which was entirely without any basis. He said that politicians often indulged in gimmicks for attracting media focus and publicity. “Bukkal Nawab should tender apology to both Hindus and Muslims for making this statement,” the Mufti demanded.dailypioneer
UP: 25-year-old imam killed inside mosque in Bijnor
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/25-year-old-imam-killed-inside-mosque/articleshow/67210572.cms
Bijnor:In a shocking incident, an imam of a local mosque was found murdered here. The deceased, identified as Noor Alam (25), was allegedly hit by a sharp object and strangulated to death. Noor Alam, a resident of Beda village, used to live in the mosque and get the namaz offered. According to villagers, on Saturday morning, Imam did not offer the prayer and made no announcement on the loudspeaker.Thereafter, villagers entered his room and found his body lying in the pool of blood. There were several injuries on his heads and blood was oozing out of it. Motive behind the murder is still unknown, the police claimed. Villagers informed the cops after which the police rushed to the spot and inspected the place where body was found. The news spread like a wild fire in the region. Heavy police force was deployed here in the village to maintain law and order. Later villagers gathered here and demanded arrest of culprits. However, police and villagers are unknown about reason of the murder of a religious man. TOI
50 yrs after 44 Dalits were burnt alive in TN, nothing has changed
http://caravandaily.com/portal/50-years-after-44-dalits-were-burnt-alive-in-tn-nothing-has-changed/
50 years ago 44 Dalits mostly women and children belonging to the agricultural families were charred to death by landlords. This massacre took place on the Christmas night of 1968, in an inconspicuous hamlet Keezhvenmani (also known as Kilvenmani), now in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.A group of 44 including women and children of the families of striking Dalits village labourers, were murdered by a gang, allegedly led by their landlords on Dec.25, 1968. Gopalakrishna Naidu, landlord from Irinjiur near Keezhvenmani (Kilvenmeni) Nagapattinam and president of Tanjore Congress Party Area Committee was the architect of Keezhvenmani Massacre that killed 44 farmers. He had also formed a Paddy Producers Association with Narayanasamy Naidu, ex MLA. Incident occurred when the landless peasants were influenced by CPI(M) to organise themselves into a campaign for higher wages following the increase in agricultural production as the result of Green revolution in India.The lands were controlled by powerful families, while the labourers were from a Dalit community.In 1968, agricultural labourers of unified Tanjore district formed a union seeking better working conditions and higher wages. To mark their union the workers hoisted red flags in their villages, irking their landlords. The landlords formed a separate union with yellow flags and started laying off workers belonging to left unions.caravandaily
Hyderabad: Hijama, cupping therapy, back in demand: Deccan chronicle
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/231218/hyderabad-hijama-islamic-cupping-therapy-back-in-demand.html
Hyderabad: Hajama or Hijama, therapy that uses cupping for treatment of various ailments, is gathering a lot of attention from the younger generation of Muslims. This therapy is as old as history; it’s a divine monistic norm explained by the prophets who recommended people to practise it.Cupping is a method of relieving local congestion by applying a partial vacuum that is created in a cup, either by heat or by suction.Prophet Muhammad resuscitated Hijama that had been forgotten for long. There are many Hadith on the Prophet recommending Hijama for Muslims and the entire humanity. There is a well-known saying of the Prophet: “There is cure in three substances; a drink of honey, incision with a knife used for Hijamah (cupping) and cauterising by fire.And I forbid my Nation from cauterising by fire.”This therapy was used for a while after the Prophet, but was gradually forgotten. However, it has made a comeback, and how. The present generation has rediscovered the benefits of Hijamah; it has gained popularity over the last decade among both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.According to the Sunnah, Hijama is practiced on 17th, 19th and 21st dates of the lunar month. The method is very easy, even a layman will be able to practice Hijama therapy by doing it a few times under an expert’s guidance.
WORLD
Indonesia tsunami kills hundreds, over 800 injured
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/indonesia-tsunami-kills-43-anak-krakatoa-eruption-181223034830826.html
The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has risen to 222, with more than 800 people injured, officials said Sunday."222 people are dead, 843 people are injured and 28 people are missing," Indonesia's national disaster agency spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said."This number is predicted to increase because not all victims have been successfully evacuated, not all health centres have reported victims and not all locations have got complete data."The tsunami hit both sides of Indonesia's Sunda Strait on Saturday, sending a wall of water crashing about 20 metres inland and sweeping away hundreds of homes and hotels, officials and witnesses have said.Scientists from Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, also known as BMKG, said it could have been caused by undersea landslides from the eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island formed over years from the nearby Krakatau volcano. They also cited tidal waves caused by the full moon. The worst affected area was the Pandeglang region of Banten province in Java, which encompasses Ujung Kulon National Park and popular beaches, the disaster agency said. Of the deaths, at least 33 were in Pandeglang.In the city of Bandar Lampung on southern Sumatra, hundreds of residents took refuge at the governor's office.Alif, a resident in Pandeglang district, said the tsunami reached about three metres high. He told MetroTV station that many people were still searching for missing relatives.TV footage showed roads blocked by debris from damaged houses, overturned cars and fallen trees. The water washed away an outdoor stage where a local rock band was performing, killing at least one musician. Others were missing. Authorities warned residents and tourists in coastal areas around the Sunda Strait to stay away from beaches and a high-tide warning remained in place through till Dec.25. aljazeera
Hamas rejects Abbas's plan to dissolve parliament
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/hamas-rejects-abbas-plan-dissolve-palestinian-parliament-181223101257989.html
Hamas, the Palestinian party that governs the besieged Gaza Strip, has rejected the decision of President Mahmoud Abbas to implement a court order and dissolve parliament.The movement warned late on Saturday that the move to dismantle the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and hold elections within six months would bring chaos and destroy the political system."Abbas' decision to dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council has neither constitutional nor legal values. It is an invalid political decision because it is issued by an illegal body," a statement by Hamas read. Abbas's announcement is the latest in a series of bitter splits between his Fatah party and Hamas, which began in 2007, after Hamas won a 2006 election and took over Gaza, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian siege ever since.Hamas called on the Palestinian people and other political factions to stop Abbas, whose party holds administrative control of parts of occupied West Bank. The movement also called on Egypt - which has been mediating between the two sides in a bid to end the Palestinian division - to block the efforts of Abbas. "We call on Egypt to block Abbas' measures that are a fatal blow to Egyptian endeavours aimed to achieve the Palestinian reconciliation," the statement read.PLC, where Hamas holds a majority, has been largely disabled since the 2006 elections.If done, breaking up the legislature would remain symbolic, maintaining the already entrenched political divide between the Hamas-administered Gaza Strip and the West Bank.aljazeera
Fatah to scrap deals with Israel over ‘continuous aggression’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181222-fatah-to-scrap-deals-with-israel-over-continuous-aggression/
Fatah has said it will scrap its deals with Israel over the latter’s “continuous aggression” in the occupied West Bank. Member of Fatah’s Central Committee, Mohammad Ishtea, said that “all the deals with Israel were violated; therefore, we will not respect them,” Anadolu reported, citing official Palestinian agency Wafa.“The relations with Israel are currently frozen and the findings of the Palestinian leadership’s meetings in the coming few days will draw the lines for relationship [with Israel] in the future,” Ishtea added.The senior Fatah leader stressed that the issue of security cooperation with Israel is currently on the table, due to the “latest Israeli aggression” in Ramallah last week. On Thursday, member of PLO Executive Committee, Ahmad Majdalani, revealed that Palestinian leadership is to meet today to discuss the latest political in West Bank.MEMO
Turkey FM labels Netanyahu 'a cold-blooded killer'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/turkey-fm-labels-netanyahu-cold-blooded-killer-181223094053648.html
Turkey has hit out at Israel's "lawless occupation" of Palestinian territory after the Israeli PM accused Turkey of "massacres" against Kurds in a new war of words. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu labelled Benjamin Netanyahu "a cold-blooded killer of modern times", in a Tweet on Sunday, adding that PM was "responsible for massacres of thousands of innocent Palestinians". Relations between Turkey and Israel have been tense this year over multiple issues including a controversial law passed by the Israeli parliament in July which defined the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people.Netanyahu said President Tayyip Erdogan "should not preach to Israel" after the Turkish leader warned young Turks on Saturday: "Do not kick the enemy you have brought down to ground. You are not a Jew in Israel."aljazeera
US envoy for fight against IS quits over Syria pullout
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-envoy-mcgurk-quits-over-trumps-troop-pullout-syria-2050727015
US envoy to the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group, Brett McGurk, resigned from his position on Friday, effective 31 Dec., a State Department official said on Saturday. McGurk had planned to resign in Feb, but he was prompted to move that date forward due to his distaste at President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw all troops from Syria.Trump announced the defeat of IS in Syria on Twitter on Wednesday morning, while officials told news agencies that a withdrawal was imminent. McGurk's resignation follows that of Defence Secretary James Mattis, who quit over the same concerns. US envoy had publicly assured that Washington was committed to continuing the fight against IS in Syria just days before Trump's announcement."We want to stay on the ground and make sure that stability can be maintained in these areas," McGurk said. On Saturday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured Iraqi PM Adel Abdul Mahdi that the US is still committed to fighting IS in Iraq and other areas despite its planned withdrawal from Syria, Abdul Mahdi's office said."PM Adel Abdul Mahdi received a phone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who explained the details of the upcoming withdrawal from Syria and affirmed US is still committed to fight Islamic State and terrorism in Iraq and other areas," Abdul Mahdi's office said in a statement.middleeasteye
Turkey, US to coordinate Syria withdrawal and avoid vacuum: aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/turkey-coordinate-syria-withdrawal-avoid-vacuum-181223081932844.html
Planned US troops pull-out will leave oil and agricultural-rich areas currently controlled by Kurdish YPG vulnerable. Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly said that he wants to retake the enclave, but Ankara wants the areas handed over to representatives from Arab-majority towns that are currently under YPG control. Turkey has maintained that it has no territorial ambitions in Syria, but views YPG forces are linked to the Kurdish PKK that has been fighting for self-rule in southern Turkey and worries that the YPG forces may cut a deal with Assad.Turkey and the US appear to have agreed to coordinate the troops withdrawal from the area to avoid a power vacuum that could draw a number of interested parties.
Libya migrants scribble on prison wall: 'People were sold here'
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/libya-migrants-scribble-prison-wall-people-sold-181222093402749.html
On the walls of Souq al Khamis migrant detention centre in Khoms, a port city in northwest Libya, warnings of new arrivals are scratched on a grey wall."Who comes to this house, may God help you," one says, visible in pictures of the centre sent to Al Jazeera by people currently detained there. "Libya is a market of human beings." "Where is UNHCR?" reads another. "3 people were sold here."Refugees and migrants usually arrive at Souq al Khamis, a centre run by Libya's Dept. for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM), shortly after they try to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, and are intercepted by the European Union-funded Libyan coastguard. Tens of thousands of people have been returned to Libya this way since Feb. 2017, when Italy did a deal with the United Nations-backed Libyan Govt of National Accord, in a bid to stop new arrivals in Europe.aljazeera
Saudi prince Talal bin Abdulaziz dies aged 87
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/saudi-prince-talal-bin-abdulaziz-dies-aged-87-181222192423681.html
Saudi Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, a vocal supporter of reforms in the kingdom, has died aged 87, the royal court said on Saturday.Prince Talal, the senior member of the al-Saud family and father of billionaire investor Alwaleed bin Talal, had been ill for several years.He held various senior Govt positions in the 1950s and 60s, including communications minister and finance minister.He lived in exile abroad in the 1960s, when Saudi authorities revoked his passport after he led a group of princes demanding constitutional reforms and allied himself with the then Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the arch foe of the Saudi monarchy. Prince Talal returned to the kingdom after Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud became the king in 1964, and after toning down his rhetoric.In 2011, he resigned from the Allegiance Council, the body responsible for overseeing the royal succession in world's top oil exporter.aljazeera
Executions rise sharply under Saudi crown prince
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181223-executions-rise-sharply-under-saudi-crown-prince/
Executions in Saudi Arabia rose significantly in the first eight months after Mohammed bin Salman became deputy crown prince, a London-based human rights organization said. According to Reprieve, 133 people were executed between June 2017 and March 2018, nearly twice as many as the 67 recorded during the eight months before his rise to power. Saudi has executed 147 people in 2018 and around 700 people since 2014. Almost half of those who received capital punishment were foreign nationals, according to Reprieve’s report. They included Indonesian housekeeper Tuti Tursilawati, who was executed after being sentenced to death for the murder of her boss, despite her claim that she had acted in self-defence after he tried to rape her. The report criticized Saudi Arabia for ignoring international conventions as it had refused to notify Tursilawati’s family and Indonesian officials before her execution.The report also said 39% of those executed were sentenced to death due to drug-related crimes, with the number totalling 246 since 2014.MEMO
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
‘Secular’ Hizb vs ‘Religious’ Musa: Encounter Reignites Debate:Jehangir Ali
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/al-qaeda-in-kashmir-freedom-from-india-motivated-by-politics-or-religion
Rafale verdict and unavoidable option: P Chidambaram
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rafale-deal-verdict-narendra-modi-supreme-court-5505589/
Bulandshahr Exposes Underbelly of Communal Violence:Ram Puniyani
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/4/15834/Bulandshahr-Exposes-the-Underbelly-of-Communal-Violence
Muslims in Gujarat try to regain lost space: Rajeev Khanna
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/muslims-in-gujarat-try-to-regain-lost-space
SC sees no evil, hears no evil… :Prashant Bhushan
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/book-extract/supreme-court-sees-no-evil-hears-no-evil
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:22 PM)
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