NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
30 Dec. 2018:22 Rabiul-II 1440: Vol: 11, No:89
INDIA
11 Stone-pelting Mob Held for Cop's Murder, Son Says UP Police Can't Even Protect Its Own
https://www.news18.com/news/india/twenty-eight-arrested-fir-against-92-over-stone-pelting-incident-that-killed-cop-in-ups-ghazipur-1986827.html
Lucknow: As many as 11 people have been arrested in connection with the stone-pelting incident in which a police constable was killed in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur on Saturday.A police officer told News18 that the 19 men were apprehended during an overnight raid, of which 11 have been booked for the constable's murder. "32 have been named in FIR, while 60 unnamed people are also mentioned in the report," said Ghazipur City circle officer MP Pathak.The officer said that arrests were made based on video footage and police was interrogating the men. Constable Suresh Vats (48) from Karimuddinpur police station was hit on the head by a stone when he went to end a traffic jam caused by the protests. He was immediately taken to hospital, but he succumbed to injuries. SP (Ghazipur) Yashveer Singh said that the protesters, who were hurling stones at the vehicles returning from PM Modi's rally, were workers of the Rashtriya Nishad Party. They were demanding reservation for the Mallah community (fishermen), he said."When a policeman's life is threatened during a mob attack, how can we expect them to protect a common man? What will we do with the compensation now? Nothing has changed even when there were similar incidents in Bulandshahr and Pratapgarh," said VP Singh, son of the deceased constable. The death comes less than a month after the killing of Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh, who was shot dead during mob violence in Bulandshahr district over alleged cow slaughter. The man who allegedly shot the Bulandshahr inspector was arrested this week.news18
Ghazipur mob violence: 19 arrested in 3 cases filed after constable’s death
https://scroll.in/latest/907591/ghazipur-mob-violence-19-arrested-in-three-cases-filed-after-constables-death
UP cops carrying out encounters to avoid transfers, alleges Akhilesh
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/up-cops-carrying-out-encounters-to-avoid-transfers-alleges-akhilesh/articleshow/67309995.cms
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that the police officers in Uttar Pradesh are following the 'Thoko Neeti' (encounter policy) of chief minister Yogi Adityanath to avoid getting transferred. Raising questions on the prevailing law and order situation in the state, the former chief minister claimed that criminals have "doubled" in Uttar Pradesh under the BJP rule and "law and order situation was not so bad earlier"."UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath is advocating his Thoko Neeti (encounter policy) everywhere. Due to this, there is a trend among the police officials that they undertake encounters when they anticipate that they can be transferred. Their acts are emulated by their subordinates," Yadav told reporters here.He alleged that there were numerous instances of crime against women."Due to this, we are forced to cut a sorry figure in the global arena," he said.Attacking BJP, SP chief said, "This time, the government is not of the BJP, but of RSS. People in the government had taken two oaths -- one of the Constitution, other of RSS." "But, both these oaths are contradictory to each other. A number of poll promises were made by BJP in its Sankalp Patra (poll manifesto), but after passage of more than one-and-half years, work on fulfilling the promises is yet to begin," Yadav alleged.He also accused the BJP government of not fulfilling the promises made to the farmers, as a result of which, the SP chief claimed, lakhs of peasants have quit farming and are working as labourers to earn livelihood. Yadav also exuded confidence that the country will get a new prime minister in New Year. TOI
Akhilesh Yadav says Adityanath’s ‘thok do’ orders responsible for Ghazipur mob violence
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/akhilesh-yadav-attacks-up-cm-gives-thok-do-explanation-for-ghazipur-mob-violence-5515777/
Murder them, we will handle: Shocking suggestion to students from Purvanchal University VC
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/purvanchal-university-vice-chancellor-raja-ram-yadav-says-murder-them-we-will-handle-1970128
Lucknow: V-C of Purvanchal University has waded into controversy after remarks that appeared to encourage students to get into fights and even commit murders. As NC chief Omar Abdullah targeted BJP, UP minister Siddharth Nath Singh recommended action against Raja Ram Yadav, saying a vice-chancellor of "such mentality has no right to stay in his position".At a college function in Ghazipur on Saturday, Raja Ram Yadav said, "If you're a student of this University, never come crying to me. If you ever get into a fight, beat them, if possible murder them, we'll take care of it later". Ghazipur was spot where a police constable Suresh Vats was killed by a mob, allegedly belonging to Nishad Party, the same evening. Raja Ram Yadav was a professor of Allahabad University, who was appointed the vice-chancellor of Purvanchal University -- which has 350 affiliated colleges -- in April 2017. In Oct, he faced criticisms of saffronisation after a Ram Katha was organised inside the university premises in Oct.This afternoon, Siddharth Nath Singh said, "It was wrong, he can't make such comments. He should teach students the way of peace but he's doing 'gunda raj'...A vice chancellor of such mentality has no right to stay in his position. I hope Deputy CM will take appropriate action," reported ANI.
Viral video: Purvanchal V-C suggests students murder those they get into argument with
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/viral-video-purvanchal-v-c-suggests-students-murder-those-they-get-into-argument-with-5515285/
Rajasthan: Another Muslim man attacked in Alwar on suspicion of cattle smuggling, arrested
https://scroll.in/latest/907633/rajasthan-another-muslim-man-attacked-in-alwar-on-suspicion-of-cattle-smuggling-arrested
Police in Rajasthan’s Alwar district on Sunday arrested a 23-year-old Muslim man for allegedly smuggling cattle, PTI reported. Kishangarh Bas SHO Rajesh Meena said villagers intercepted a truck transporting 6 cattle to Haryana, and beat up one of 3 people in the truck. The accused, identified as Sagir Khan, was hospitalised after the mob attack and later arrested, Meena said. 2 of his accomplices reportedly managed to escape.A case of illegal transportation was registered against Khan after he failed to prove he had purchased the cattle. Police also filed a case against 5 unidentified villagers based on Khan’s complaint, Meena added. Police claimed they recovered 6 cattle from Khan’s truck and transported them to a local cow shelter,TOI reported.scroll.in
Muslims fleeing Nayabans village in Bulandshahr?
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/exclusive-bulandshahr-violence-bajrang-dal-leaders-village-muslims-leave
“If we cannot offer prayers, what kind of security can we expect?,” Habib-Ur-Rahman told The Quint while explaining why he left Nayabans village for good. Muslims from Bajrang Dal leader Yogesh Raj’s village have packed up and left to Muslim-dominated regions, with tension brewing in the village for two years now. There are also those who want to relocate but can’t afford to do so, making do with the everyday sting of survival.Bulandshahr clashes of 3 Dec, that ensued over a cattle carcass, only added to the prolonged communal tension in Nayabans village. The village has around 650 Muslims in a total population of 3,200 people.Not only does the Bajrang Dal leader hail from this village but so does the seven Muslim men he named as accused in the case of cow slaughter of which four men – arrested on the basis of complaint – were given a clean chit by the police.The Quint visited Nayabans village to find out what inflamed the tension between the Hindus and Muslims, how Muslims were dealing with it and if they really preferred leaving their homes to settle in Muslim-dominated areas.Habib-ur-Rehman packed up on 18 Dec.and left home for good. He went 80 kilometers away to Dasna where he lives in a Ihaknagar, jo Momdano ka ilaka hain (Which is a Muslim-dominated area.) He said, “We don’t have freedom in the name of religion anymore. Such restrictions have been imposed on us),” referring to the communal tension which began two-years-ago, after the mike which allowed Muslims to offer azaan five times a day – Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, was pulled out of the Masjid.Around 2 years ago, “Yogesh Raj, Bajrang Dal leader declared our masjid a madrasa, and we lost our microphone,” Rehman and several other people told The Quint. This, despite Nayabans having a separate madrasa, few minutes away from the temple.“We have written to the local authorities, including the district magistrate and nothing has happened. The authorities said they wouldn’t give us our mike back as there could be ‘unpleasant instances’ on account of it,” Rehman said.Asked if he would return, he says, “No, I am hoping I will get a buyer for our home. I have two kids, I am constantly under stress that they could get hurt or be picked up by the police. My home doesn’t feel like home anymore.” Quint also spoke to Sitara, a 40-year-old woman with 7 kids. They left a year ago and resettled in Akbarabad in Siyana – another Muslim-dominated area.“Environment was becoming increasingly toxic. My husband works here too, so we decided to move. Here life is easier as we are more in numbers,” says Sitara, quick to add that she is relieved to be residing behind Noorani Masjid, where they can hear the call for azaan again.“These things are important for our faith and identity,” she says.While there are people like Habib-Ur-Rehman and Sitara who have the money to relocate, there are several others who say they would leave only if they had the means to.Ruksana is one of them, she is clear to say she doesn’t like it in Nayabans but lives her as she has no alternative.thequint
No blanket powers to 10 agencies to intercept; every action requires prior approval: MHA
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-blanket-powers-to-10-agencies-to-intercept-every-action-requires-prior-approval-mha-5515927/
New Delhi:The central government has not given “blanket power” to any agency to intercept information from any computer and they have to strictly adhere to the existing rules and stick to the book while carrying out such action, a senior Home Ministry official said.There is no new law, no new rules, no new procedure, no new agency, no blanket powers, no blanket authorisation and it is the same law, same rule, same procedure and the same agencies, he said.“There is no change even in a comma or a full stop in the existing rules and regulations,” the official told PTI requesting anonymity. December 20 Home Ministry notification, listing the 10 agencies, had set off a political storm with the opposition accusing the government of trying to create a “surveillance state”.The official clarified that the 10 agencies mentioned in the notification were already empowered to intercept electronic communications since 2011.Further, while listing these agencies on Dec.20 this year, the home ministry had reiterated the Standard Operating Procedures of 2011, which mandates that every such interception requires prior approval of the competent authority —Union Home Secretary or the State Home Secretary.PTI
Inquiry reports on 13 communal riots since 1961 'not available', CIC asks MHA for status
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/inquiry-reports-on-13-communal-riots-since-1961-not-available-cic-asks-mha-for-status/articleshow/67310543.cms
New Delhi: Central Information Commission has directed the Home Secretary to depute an official to find out the status of 13 inquiry commission reports on communal riots in the country since 1961, which Home Ministry officials claimed MHA did not have.Information Commissioner Bimal Julka's directions came while hearing a plea by RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj, who sought to know from the ministry, information on complete reports (including all volumes and annexure) of various inquiry commissions or judicial commissions on communal riots.CIC directed Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba to depute a senior official to find out the status of 13 reports, which are not available on the ministry's website as well.In 2006, ministry had constituted a working group of National Integration Council to study the reports of judicial and inquiry commissions appointed over the years to investigate communal riots, Bhardwaj said.The group studied 29 such reports, she said, adding she could not find 13 of them, relating to riots between 1961-2003, on the website of the ministry and filed an RTI plea to get a copy of those.Through her application, she wanted reports of Shiv Dayal Shrivastava commission on the 1961 MP riots, the Justice Raghubar Dayal commission on the 1967 Bihar riots, Justice PJ Reddy commission on 1969 Gujarat riots, Prasad commission on 1974 Delhi riots, the Justice VS Dave Commission on the 1985 Gujarat riots.She also sought reports of Justice P S Malvankar Commission on the 1986 Maharashtra riots, Justice Haridas Das Commission on 1988 West Bengal riots, RH Heeraman Singh on 1990 AP riots, the Justice NL Tiberwal Commission on the 1990 Rajasthan riots.Besides, sher had also asked for the Justice KK Dubey Commission on 1992 MP riots, Justice PR Gokulkrishnan Commission on the Tamil Nadu riots in 1998, the Justice Anant D Mane Commission on 1999 Maharahtra riots and the Thomas P Joseph commission on 2003 Kerala riots.PTI
Triple talaq Bill: Congress, BJP issue whip to MPs to be present in Rajya Sabha tomorrow
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/triple-talaq-bill-congress-bjp-issues-whip-to-mps-to-be-present-in-rajya-sabha-tomorrow-5515907/
New Delhi :Expectations of a heated debate on triple talaq in Rajya Sabha is high as both the Congress and ruling BJP have issued a whip to their MPs to be present in the House on Monday when Bill will be tabled. The crucial Bill that criminalises instant divorce by Muslim men was passed in the Lok Sabha amid a heated debate last week. In Lok Sabha, 245 MPs voted in favour of Bill while 11 opposed it.The Congress, whose MPs staged a walkout of Lok Sabha when the Bill was passed on Thursday, has asserted that it will oppose the Bill in the upper house. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal has said that his party will not let the passage of the triple talaq Bill in its present form in the Rajya Sabha. Congress had also accused the NDA govt of getting the triple talaq Bill passed in haste in the Lok Sabha keeping in mind the 2019 general elections. The party has said its provisions were against the Constitution as well as fundamental rights.Bill will be moved by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha on Monday. Piloting Bill, Prasad had said there should be no politics on the it, stressing that Bill was not against any particular community.indianexpress
Chidambaram mocks ED over ‘Mrs Gandhi’ reference in AgustaWestland probe
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/agustawestland-vvip-chopper-case-ed-sonia-gandhi-christian-michel-p-chidambaram-5515603/
New Delhi :Former Union minister P Chidambaram on Sunday took a dig at Centre, ED and the media over the “new improved system” of trying cases and pronouncing judgment without evidence, thereby “surpassing kangaroo courts”. Chidambaram said, “If the govt, ED and the media have their way, in this country, cases will be tried on TV channels.”The veteran Congress leader’s remarks came a day after the ED told a Delhi court that Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper case, had mentioned Congress leader Sonia Gandhi while he was being questioned. Continuing his attack on ED and media, Chidambaram said, “Further, Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act will not apply. What the ED says will be oral evidence, any piece of paper that the ED produces will be documentary evidence and what the TV channel pronounces will be the judgment.”Claiming that the “new improved system” has surpassed kangaroo courts, the Congress leader said, “Even kangaroo courts hold trials in a courtroom. Our new ‘improved’ system will surpass kangaroo courts and deliver justice on TV channels.”On Saturday, ED’s Special Public Prosecutor, D P Singh, had told the court, “Day before yesterday, Michel took Mrs Gandhi’s name in some reference. I won’t say in what reference. So we needed to ask him a follow-up question as to who Mrs Gandhi is… He was given legal access during medical examination when suddenly we noticed that he handed over something to his lawyer, who pocketed it. When we checked, we found that the follow-up questions related to Mrs Gandhi had been slipped to the lawyer.”indianexpress
‘Even Kangaroo courts hold trials’: Chidambaram after ED Claims Christian Michel named ‘Mrs Gandhi’
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/even-kangaroo-courts-hold-trials-chidambaram-after-ed-claims-christian-michel-named-mrs-gandhi-1986831.html
As Michel gets ‘talking about Sonia’: Govt, BJP hopeful of extradition of Zakir Naik, others
http://www.uniindia.com/news/india/as-michel-gets-talking-about-sonia-govt-bjp-hopeful-of-extradition-of-zakir-naik-others/1452754.html
New Delhi:At a time when extradition of Christian Michel has sparked off a major political row vis-a-vis ‘naming’ of Sonia Gandhi in AgustaWestland chopper scam,ruling dispensation is keeping fingers crossed on possible extradition of other ‘economic offenders’.“The ruling NDA regime is delighted at ED probe and developments in the court case. We also want other extradition process to follow soon. Political impact will be huge of those extraditions,” a BJP source told UNI without elaborating. Sources said the govt through Ministry of External Affairs has been getting in touch with all govts concerned including the Malaysian authorities on the possibility of extradition of Zakir Naik.“The moot point is government is serious of extraditing people who have fled the country either as economic offenders or otherwise,” a source said.In this context, an official source also said that “Ministry of External Affairs is also putting up its best foot forward. We are making all efforts at the Ministry to ensure that we are in touch with the governments concerned and that documents are in order and so on”. Sources also clarified that despite assertion by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Bin Mohamad in July this year that Naik will not be extradited, apparently the government has not given up its hope yet.“We do not see presence of Zakir Naik in Malaysia as a hiccup in diplomatic relations between India and Malaysia,” the source said pointing out the obvious that the Islamic preacher Naik has been in Malaysia for quite some time now.“At the end of the day, these are legal matters and there is an extradition process on the matter,” the source said.The source also has made it crystal clear that - “We have good relations with Malaysia and Prime Minister Mahathir and that Narendra Modi has again met PM Mahathir at East Asia Summit in Nov.in Singapore". Indian side also believes that there are also ‘good relations with Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’ - and hoped that things can turn into India’s favour once legal procedures are over.BJP sources, in fact, agree with the government version that - even for others – like fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, the normal extradition procedures are on in Antigua and Barbuda. Indicating a fresh round of political and legal troubles for the Congress, ED on Saturday told a Delhi court British ‘middleman’ extradited from UAE has taken the name of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi while in custody. UNI
Youngsters carrying IS flags forcibly enter Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, shout slogans and create ruckus
https://www.firstpost.com/india/youngsters-carrying-islamic-state-flags-forcibly-enter-jamia-masjid-in-srinagar-shout-slogans-and-create-ruckus-5810751.html
Srinagar: A group of youngsters, carrying Islamic State flags, forcibly entered the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and created a ruckus, evoking condemnation from the mosque's management committee and the separatists. The incident occurred after the congregational Friday prayers when most of the people had left the mosque, officials said, adding that the youngsters were later chased away by those present there. The video of the incident went viral on the social media on Saturday.The officials said moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivered the Friday sermon at the mosque, had also left before the incident took place."A group of youngsters, wearing masks, forced their entry into the mosque and rushed to the pulpit where the Mirwaiz delivers the sermon. One of them stood atop the pulpit and shouted slogans. They were carrying ISIS flags," said an official. The youngsters were subsequently chased away by those present there, he added.The managing committee of the mosque — Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid — has condemned the incident."A group of masked boys entered the mosque and rushed to the pulpit. One of them stood atop the pulpit with his shoes on, screaming slogans and creating a ruckus. In the meantime, his associates videotaped it and the video has been put on the social media.""This clearly indicates that the incident was deliberate and planned. It has naturally led to shock and outrage and a deep resentment among people. It has deeply hurt their sentiments associated with the mosque," the committee said in a statement.It added that the attempt to "desecrate the Jamia mosque by this group of hooligans, whose identity is not known yet as they were wearing masks, nor at whose behest they were indulging in these shameful acts is condemnable"."It shows the utter disregard of this group of miscreants for Islamic institutions, values and teachings. Such elements not only malign the name of Islam, but also abuse it," the committee said. Anjuman Auqaf said it had taken a strong note of "this shameful incident" and warned "those elements or agencies behind this incident" that people and the Auqaf would not tolerate anyone violating the sanctity of the mosque and the pulpit at any cost.The separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), also condemned the incident.They alleged that some "elements are being used to divert this just movement by changing its basic nature and character under the pretence of perusing some global agenda".PTI
Riots on streets down, rioting during encounters up in Valley
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/riots-on-streets-down-rioting-during-encounters-up-in-valley/articleshow/67294824.cms
New Delhi: Rioting on the streets -- mob violence and stone pelting -- came down four times but rioters disrupting encounters in cordoned-off areas rose six-fold in the last three years in Kashmir.Data accessed exclusively by TOI shows that since 2016, when the Valley slid into unprecedented street violence following the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani by security forces, the incidents of rioting and stone-pelting dropped from around 3,000 to 700. On average, there have been two rioting incidents a day this year. The number of rioters killed in clashes with security forces also declined by nearly half this year since 2016.However, rioting during counter-insurgency operations —stone-pelting and illegally entering cordoned-off combat zones — has become almost routine in the last three years. Casualties of rioters during such encounters went up by six times, from 6 in 2016 to 37 in 2018.The disruptions have turned out to be such a challenge for the security forces that Army chief General Bipin Rawat sent out a strong warning to rioters in October this year. Stone-pelters disrupting the operations, he said, would be treated as overground workers (OGWs) of militants, if they did not desist from entering combat zones.TOI
Now, farmers in Agra lock up stray cattle herds in govt schools, public health centres
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/now-farmers-in-agra-lock-up-stray-cattle-herds-in-govt-schools-public-health-centres-5516068/
Agra :Farmers in rural hinterland of Uttar Pradesh’s Agra district have locked up herds of stray cattle, especially cows, in schools and other govt buildings alleging that the bovines are destroying their crops, amid a spate of such incidents in the state.The development comes close on the heels of another such incident in Aligarh where farmers in the district herded stray cows inside government buildings to prevent crop damage. CM Yogi Adityanath recently directed the officials concerned to make immediate arrangements for proper care of stray cows.He also ordered clearing of grazing grounds in different parts of the state from encroachments. In Agra, police had to intervene in at least six cases to free cows locked in schools and public health centres.On Saturday, villagers locked up stray cows in a school in Garhi Bachchi. A day earlier, cattle were locked up inside a primary school at Arela village in Etmadpur tehsil.PTI
No more saffron in education? Gehlot-led Rajasthan government to review Vasundhara Raje decisions
https://www.newsx.com/national/no-more-saffron-in-education-gehlot-led-rajasthan-government-to-review-vasundhara-raje-decisions
The first meeting of the cabinet in Rajasthan held today in state capital Jaipur after the Congress government came to power. State Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara has given a signal that the state government will review textbooks and other reference material that were revised by the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government. In this regard, the Congress government will ask historians to prepare a report on the revision of textbooks, reports said. These decisions are seen as an attempt by the Congress government to undo what it calls the saffronisation of education. The minister said the role of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru will be restored in textbooks. The Congress government has also taken a decision to change the colour of bicycles, uniforms given to school students. The Education Department will also review the syllabus in textbooks, said minister Govind Singh Dotasara, adding that references and chapters preaching falsehood will be removed. It will be ensured that personalities who played a key role in freedom struggle are restored in textbooks, he said while talking to reporters in capital Jaipur.The Congress, when it was in the Opposition, had alleged that BJP government was revising syllabus of textbooks as it wants to saffronise the education system.NewsX
BJP supporter, who stumped Modi with uncomfortable question, heaps more embarrassment on PM with clarification
http://www.jantakareporter.com/entertainment/bjp-supporter-who-stumped-modi-with-uncomfortable-question-heaps-more-embarrassment-on-pm-with-clarification/225165/
Remember Nirmal Kumar Jain, a BJP supporter, who had left Prime Minister Narendra Modi stumped with his visibly uncomfortable question on the government’s anti-middle class economic policies? The video of Jain embarrassing Modi in a carefully orchestrated Q&A session had gone viral after Janta Ka Reporter first reported the development.This prompted social media platforms to be deluged with memes and jokes on ‘Puducherry ko Vanakkam.’ Embarrassed by Jain’s tough question, Modi had moved to the next segment of his interaction with his party’s booth level workers by uttering the words, ‘Puducherry ko Vanakkam.’ Jain has now released a video, clarifying that he was overwhelmed by being given the opportunity to put his question forward to Modi. The short video shows Jain blaming the media for twisting the inference against the BJP and Modi. He says, “Some media outlets are indulging in wrong reporting on my question to Modi. Without caring to report on how the prime minister responded to my question, wrong reporting is being done to defame our prime minister. I am very hurt by this negative publicity. Such publicity will not erase my alliance with BJP and Modiji.”After Jain posted his heavily edited video from his Twitter handle,social media users once again began to target Modi and BJP for allegedly coercing BJP businessman from Puducherry to issue a clarification by reading from a script. ‘Puducherry Ko Vanakkam’ once again dominated the conversation in response to Jain’s video.jantakareporter
Dropout rate among Muslim girls reduced to 40%: Union Minority Minister Naqvi
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/sunday-edition/dropout-rate-among-muslim-girls-reduced-to-40---min.html
Mumbai:Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Saturday that the school dropout rate among Muslim girls, which was earlier more than 70 per cent, had now been reduced to about 35 to 40 per cent, owing to awareness and educational empowerment programmes of the Government.“The Government is now working with a mission to bring it down to zero per cent in the coming years. Education is an effective step towards empowerment The ‘educational empowerment” is an effective step to stop political exploitation of the minorities,” Naqvi said.While laying foundation stone for a new school building, library, lab and other facilities at the Anjuman-e-Islam-run Dr. MIJ Girls High School and Junior College at Bandra (West) here, Naqvi said the Government’s efforts for educational empowerment of all weaker sections including the minorities have shown results at the ground level. Minister said that this year, the Government had launched” National Scholarship Portal Mobile App” (NSP Mobile App) to ensure a smooth, accessible and hassle-free scholarship system for students from poor and weaker sections.”Scholarships have been given directly into bank accounts of the students though DBT mode in a transparent manner free from middlemen,” he said.He said that during the four years of NDA, more than 3.11 crore students of minority communities, including 60 per cent girls, have been provided scholarships.dailypioneer
Scholarship: Centre yet to give Rs 1,663 crore, says Punjab minorities minister Sadhu Singh
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/scholarship-centre-yet-to-give-1663-cr-says-minister/articleshow/67294502.cms
Chandigarh: The central government is yet to release over Rs 1,663 crore to the Punjab government towards post matric scholarships meant for students belonging to scheduled caste category, Punjab social justice, empowerment and minorities minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said on Friday. He said that the state government has urged the central government to ensure speedy release of the pending amount. After chairing a meeting with department officials, the minister said the scholarship was 100% centrally-sponsored scheme and the Union government was yet to pay Rs 719 crore for 2016-17, Rs 567 crore for 2017-18 and Rs 376 crore for 2018-19. Dharamsot informed that out of over Rs 327 crore released by the central government in 2015-16, over Rs 314 crore has been released by the department and utilization certificates has been sent to the Centre. Bills to the tune of Rs 12 crore have been submitted at the treasury office for payment, he added. He said that the Congress government decided to conduct audit of the scholarship amount released during the tenure of the previous SAD-BJP regime. TOI
52 passport applicants from west UP submit 'fake' madrassa marksheets:passport office
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/52-passport-applicants-from-west-up-submit-fake-madrassa-marksheets/articleshow/67291139.cms
Bareilly: The regional passport office in Bareilly will soon serve a show cause notice to 52 applicants who had allegedly submitted “fake” marksheet of UP board of Madrassa Education. Regional passport office had received a letter from board office dated October 16 in which it had verified the marksheets of 52 applicants. However, the officials later noticed that the signature of registrar in the letter is different and when they spoke to officials in board office, they came to know that board office has not issued any letter on October 16 and did not verify marksheets of 52 applicants in question.SN Pandey, registrar, UP board of Madrassa Education, said he gave a letter to Hazratganj police on November 30 to lodge an FIR into the matter.52 passport applicants are natives of 13 districts of west UP. According to sources, the regional passport office here sends the marksheet of madrassa board for verification to its head office in Lucknow. The board office used to send the verification report in bulk by post to passport office in one to 2 months. When the passport office here received “a letter claiming that the marksheets of 52 applicants are real”, it started the process of issuing passports and most of these applicants even received passport. However, it later came to light that the verification report dated Oct.16 of 52 applicants was fake as the signature of registrar was different and the board did not dispatch any such report. The communication between board and passport offices started via email instead of post. Mohd Naseem, regional passport officer, told TOI,“Madrassa board office has informed us that it did not issue any letter dated October 16 and we have now asked them to confirm to us whether the marksheets submitted by these 52 applicants is real or fake. After receiving the real verification report, we will soon issue show cause notice to those applicants who submitted fake marksheet and action will be taken to impound their passports.” SN Pandey, registrar, UP board of Madrassa Education, said, “I have sent an email to passport office in Bareilly to inform them that no such letter was issued from my office on Oct.16. I have also given a complaint to Hazratganj police station in Lucknow to lodge an FIR in this connection.” TOI
Cabinet Approves New Commissions to Conduct Education of Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/cabinet-approves-new-commissions-to-conduct-education-of-ayurveda-unani-homoeopathy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi: The cabinet has approved the setting up of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCIM) Bill, 2018 that provides for conducting overall education of traditional medicine system of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa- commonly known as Tibetan system of medicine, it was announced on Friday.The cabinet has also approved the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Bill, 2018, that proposes setting up a new panel entrusted with conducting overall education of Homoeopathy.
Bihar: Suspected Maoists kill BJP legislator’s uncle in Aurangabad
https://scroll.in/latest/907622/bihar-suspected-maoists-kill-bjp-legislators-uncle-in-aurangabad
Suspected Maoists in Bihar’s Aurangabad town killed one person and set 10 vehicles on fire Saturday night, PTI reported. The suspected Maoists attacked Sudi Bigaha village and killed a man identified as 55-year-old Narendra Singh, said SP Satya Prakash. Singh was one of the uncles of Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Rajan Kumar Singh.Satya Prakash said the suspected Maoists also set on fire the house of Dhananjay Singh, who worked with the Deo Police Station.Central Reserve Police Force’s 153 battalion, which is stationed nearby, reached the village around 10 pm along with police officers and fired 50 rounds, forcing the suspected Maoists to retreat, the Hindustan Times quoted Satya Prakash as saying. No one was injured in firing.scroll.in
WORLD
Counting begins in Bangladesh as death toll from poll-related violence climbs to 17; opposition accuses vote rigging
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/bangladesh-elections-marred-deadly-clashes-181230114010059.html
Dhaka, Bangladesh - Vote counting was under way on Sunday after Bangladeshis cast their ballots in general elections marred by deadly violence and accusations of irregularities. At least 17 people were killed in election-related violence in various parts of the country, a police spokesperson said. But the capital, Dhaka remained relatively calm. Daily Star, the leading English daily, said the deaths occurred mostly because of clashes between supporters of ruling Awami League and the opposition Jatiya Oikya Front. 2 people were killed during attacks in south-eastern Chittagong and western Rajshahi, the paper reported. One man who tried to steal a ballot box was shot dead by the police in central Cumilla, while another was killed in a fight in the same district, the paper said.One death was reported in each of the following districts; Dinajpur, Rangamati, Cox's Bazar, Bogura, Gazipur, and Sylhet.The Daily Star said a member of a law enforcement agency was killed in south-eastern Noakhali.Mobile internet was shut down and more than 600,000 security personnel were deployed across the country in a bid to check violence following a bloody campaign. But fears of violence kept voters away from the polling stations, according to local media. About 104 million people were registered to vote in the country's 11th general election. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League hopes to win the vote on the back of rapid economic development during her 10-year rule. The opposition Jatiya Oikya Front has accused Hasina's AL of vote rigging. "We are getting disturbing reports outside Dhaka that overnight votes have been cast illegally," said Kamal Hossain, who leads the alliance. More than 40 opposition candidates pulled out of the election after polls opened, citing vote rigging and ballot stuffing, according to the Daily Star. Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, the joint general-secretary of BNP, the main party in the opposition alliance, called the election a "mockery". The elections commission, which has yet to announce the voter turnout rate, said it would investigate allegations of vote rigging. "Allegations are coming from across the country and those are under investigation," SM Asaduzzaman, the spokesman of the elections commission said. "If we get any confirmation from our own channels then measures will be taken as per rules." Abdul Malik, secretary at the Ministry of Information, said the election was held "peacefully and successfully".He added: "Results will be announced in collaboration with election commission."AL needs 151 seats in the 300-seat parliament to form a government. If Hasina's party wins, she will be taking office for a record 4th time.The opposition claimed thousands of its activists were arrested in the lead up to the polls.Aljazeera
Bangladesh holds polls amid reports of violence
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/bangladesh-holds-polls-amid-reports-of-violence/1352248
Palestine urges int’l probe into Jerusalem excavations
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestine-urges-int-l-probe-into-jerusalem-excavations/1352064
Ramallah:Palestinian Foreign Ministry has called for forming an international commission to investigate Israeli excavations in the occupied city of East Jerusalem and beneath the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. In a statement on Saturday, the ministry warned that the Israeli diggings pose a major threat to Palestinian houses in the occupied city. “These excavations aim to cause cracks in Palestinian houses, with Israeli authorities ordering residents to leave these houses on the ground that they are not fit for living,” the ministry said. Ministry went on to describe the Israeli eviction of Palestinians from their homes as a “large-scale, systematic ethnic cleansing”. There was no comment from Israeli authorities on the ministry’s statement. Israel refuses to allow access to UNESCO to examine the holy sites in East Jerusalem.Anadolu
Israel protests to Jordan over flag trampling
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-protests-to-jordan-over-flag-trampling/1352174
Jerusalem:Israel has formally protested to Jordan after a government spokesperson stepped on an Israeli flag during a visit to a trade union in Amman. Jumana Ghunaimat was seen stepping on a drawing of the Israeli flag as she entered the building of the Jordanian trade union on Thursday to attend a meeting there. Israeli flag was drawn on the floor at the building’s entrance along with shoe marks as a protest against Israel by the trade union – which opposes normalization of ties with Tel Aviv.Israeli media said Israeli authorities summoned Jordanian ambassador Ghassan al-Megali on Sunday to protest spokesperson’s behavior.Jordanian PM Omar Razzaz reportedly attended the meeting, but stepped into the building through a side entrance. Anadolu
Syria’s Brotherhood slams Arab moves to reopen Syria embassies
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/brotherhood-slams-arab-moves-to-reopen-syria-embassies/1351901
Istanbul:Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood group has decried moves by some Arab states to reopen their embassies in Damascus. On Friday, Bahrain said it plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus after a 7-year hiatus. The move came shortly after UAE announced its decision to reopen its embassy in Syria. The reopening of embassies “is a regrettable step and provides support to the Assad regime,” the Brotherhood said. The group said “millions of Syrians were looking forward to moves that put an end to this regime and its crimes”.“Supporting the Assad regime is a support to the Iranian expansionist project, a support to extremism and terrorism in the region and acceptance of all crimes against humanity committed by this regime,” it added. Last month, the Assad regime said it would welcome moves by Arab states to reestablish formal relations.Anadolu Agency
US evacuates first military warehouse in Syria
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/us-evacuates-first-military-warehouse-in-syria/1351906
Syria:Following its surprise decision last week to withdraw its troops from Syria, the first US military warehouse near the Iraqi border was evacuated on Friday. According to a reliable local source, US forces vacated a warehouse in Malikiye in the northeast al-Hasakah province.Hummer armored vehicles and trucks from the 400-square-meter warehouse -- around which some 50 US troops were based -- were sent to Iraq. US troops based around the warehouse also left for Iraq.The warehouses have served as hubs for the distribution of US materiel to the terrorist group YPG/PKK in northern Syria through Iraq.Turkey has long objected to US support for YPG/PKK, arguing that supporting one terror group (YPG/PKK) to fight another (IS) terror organization makes no sense.Washington's military presence in Syria has included some 18 military bases.Anadolu
Turkey, Russia resolved to clear terrorists from Syria:Turkey’s foreign minister
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-russia-resolved-to-clear-terrorists-from-syria/1351702
Turkey and Russia have a joint will to clear all terrorist groups from Syria, Turkey’s foreign minister said in Moscow on Saturday.Mevlut Cavusoglu is in the Russian capital for talks on Syria between top Turkish and Russian officials."We will continue close cooperation with Russia and Iran on Syria and regional issues," Cavusoglu stated, adding that Turkey and Russia -- as guarantors of the Astana peace process -- are defending Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity from all efforts to harm them.In addition to Cavusoglu, Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, intelligence chief Hakan Fidan and presidential aide Ibrahim Kalin arrived on Saturday for meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister, chief of General Staff, Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. Before the meeting, Cavusoglu said that they came to Russia to hold talks about the latest developments in Syria, and that Turkey, Russia, and Iran have close cooperation about Syria in the Astana format. Anadolu
Turkey arrests 30 Daesh suspects in Ankara
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-arrests-30-daesh-suspects-in-ankara/1352111
Ankara:A total of 30 Daesh-linked suspects were arrested in the Turkish capital Ankara, security sources said on Sunday.Suspects, all foreign nationals, were arrested over allegedly plotting terror attacks in the city ahead of New Year's Eve, said a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.Police seized illegal documents during the raids, the source added.Security forces have been involved in a long-running campaign to rid Turkey of Daesh terrorists. Anadolu Agency
First Turk named to head UN budget committee
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/first-turk-named-to-head-un-budget-committee/1351244
New York:For the first time, a Turkish citizen has been named the head of the UN’s advisor budget committee, handling a budget of $10 billion.Cihan Terzi, set to become chair of Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on Jan.1, first took a spot on the committee only this Jan. The major functions of the 16-person committee is to examine and report on the program budget submitted by the UN secretary-general to the General Assembly. After earning a degree in economics at Turkey’s Ankara University, Terzi got a master's in business administration at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US. Anadolu
Taliban dismisses Afghanistan's peace talk offer
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/taliban-dismisses-afghanistan-peace-talk-offer-181230082443475.html
Taliban has rejected Kabul's offer of talks next month in Saudi Arabia where the armed group, fighting to restore strict Islamic law in Afghanistan, will meet the United States officials to further peace efforts, a Taliban leader said.Representatives from the Taliban,US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan met this month in the UAE for talks to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan.But the Taliban has refused to hold formal talks with the Western-backed Afghan government."We will meet the US officials in Saudi Arabia in January next year and we will start our talks that remained incomplete in Abu Dhabi," a member of the Taliban's decision-making Leadership Council told Reuters news agency on Sunday."However, we have made it clear to all the stakeholders that we will not talk to Afghan govt."Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also said the leaders of the group would not talk to the Afghan government.In a statement released on Saturday, Mujahid accused media outlets of spreading "baseless" rumours that the group would hold talks with the Kabul administration in Saudi Arabia.It also stressed the Taliban position "remains the same and has not changed". The armed group has insisted on first reaching an agreement with the US, which it sees as the main force in Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001."We are advancing [the] negotiations process [with] the US under a strong and extensive plan to bring an end to the occupation of our country Afghanistan," the Taliban says.Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have intensified after Taliban representatives started meeting US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad earlier this year.Officials from the warring sides have met at least three times to discuss the withdrawal of international forces and a ceasefire in 2019.But the US has insisted that any final settlement must be led by the Afghans.aljazeera
Prakash, an alleged IS recruiter, stripped of Australian citizenship
https://scroll.in/latest/907572/australia-alleged-islamic-state-recruiter-neil-prakash-stripped-of-citizenship
Australian govt has revoked the citizenship of a Melbourne-born man believed to be a top recruiter for the Islamic State group, Reuters reported. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said 27-year-old Neil Prakash had been central to the jihadist group’s recruitment efforts and had had his citizenship stripped as he was “a very dangerous individual”. Prakash continues to hold the Fijian citizenship.“If given the opportunity, Prakash would harm or kill Australians and our country is a safer place for him having lost his Australian citizenship,” Dutton said at a press conference in Sydney on Saturday. scroll
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Augusta Westland: 6 questions to Modi & ‘ED’:nationalheraldindia
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/augusta-westland-6-questions-to-modi-and-embarrassing-directorate
Talk to a Muslim: What it means to raise a Muslim child in India:indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/audio/talking-books/talk-to-a-muslim-what-it-means-to-raise-a-muslim-child-in-india/5281365/
Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016: New amendments proposed keeping in mind illegal influx of Rohingyas and other minorities:Sankalan Pal
http://www.indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/citizenship-amendment-bill-2016-new-amendments-proposed-keeping-in-mind-illegal-influx-of-rohingyas-and-other-minorities-58880
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:11 PM)
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