NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
19 Jan. 2019: 12 Jamadiul-I 1440: Vol:11, No:105
INDIA
Court pulls up Delhi Police over chargesheet against Kanhaiya, Umar in JNU sedition case without sanction
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/court-pulls-up-delhi-police-over-chargesheet-against-kanhaiya-kumar-in-jnu-sedition-case-without-sanctions/story-ptOjd65LoXhIelxOmZDZkJ.html
New Delhi:A Delhi court has rapped Delhi Police on the knuckles for filing a chargesheet against former JNU students’ union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and others in a sedition case without approval of the legal department.“’You don’t have approval from legal department, why did you file chargesheet without approval?” the court said. Delhi Police told the court that it will get approval in 10 days.The court fixes the matter for Feb. 6 and asked the Delhi Police to get required sanction approval by then.On Jan.14, the Delhi Police charged Kanhaiya Kumar and 9 others, including Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, with sedition three years after they allegedly raised “anti-India” slogans at an event at the university.HT
JNU case: AAP govt, Delhi Police engage in blame game after court questions police over chargesheet
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/jnu-sedition-case-aap-govt-delhi-police-engage-in-blame-game-after-court-questions-police-over-chargesheet
AAP govt and Delhi Police engaged in a blame game on Saturday after a court questioned the department for filing a chargesheet in the sedition case against former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and others without procuring the required sanction from authorities.An AAP Govt spokesperson said no file seeking any prosecution sanction in any JNU-related case had so far been brought to the notice of any Delhi minister."If the Delhi Police are making any such claim, it is a complete lie and they are hiding something," he said.However, a senior Delhi Police official said prosecution sanction is required at the stage of taking cognisance.He said that while filing the chargesheet, the investigating officer had mentioned that he has applied for sanction from the Delhi government."It was applied for the same day," the spokesperson said.Sources said the file for sanction was received by the home department and forwarded to the law department for necessary action.PTI
ED attaches assets worth Rs 16.40 crore of Zakir Naik’s family in money laundering probe
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/enforcement-directorate-attaches-assets-worth-rs-16-40-crore-of-zakir-naik-s-family-in-money-laundering-probe/story-RMibMvZcyHU8cXGD56pteJ.html
New Delhi:Enforcement Directorate has attached fresh assets worth Rs 16.40 crore in connection with its money-laundering probe against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, it said on Saturday.ED, in a statement, said it had issued a provisional order for attachment of assets registered in the name of Naik’s family members, located in Mumbai and Pune, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The estimated value of immovable assets was Rs 16.40 crore, the central probe agency said.ED identified the properties as Fatima Heights and Aafiyah Heights in Mumbai, an unnamed project in Bhandup area of Maharashtra’s capital city and a project named Engracia in Pune.“To disguise the origin of funds and real ownership of the properties, the initial payments made from Naik’s bank account were refunded and diverted to the accounts of his wife, son and niece and re-routed again for the purpose of making bookings in the name of the family members rather than Naik. This has been revealed from the money trail established by ED,” agency said.ED had registered a criminal case against Naik and others in Dec, 2016 after taking cognizance of a NIA complaint filed under UAPA. NIA had also filed a charge sheet against Naik and others before a Mumbai court in Oct, 2017.Quoting NIA charge sheet, ED said Naik “deliberately and maliciously insulted the religious beliefs of Hindus, Christians and non-Wahabi Muslims, particularly Shias, Sufis and the Barelwis, with the intention of outraging their religious feelings”. It said Naik’s organisation, IRF, and Ms Harmony Media “have been instrumental in the maximum circulation of such incriminating speeches”. This is the third such attachment by ED in the case and with the latest order, the total value of assets attached by the agency stands at Rs 50.49 crore.PTI
Former CBI deputy chief Asthana appointed director general of Bureau of Civil Aviation
https://scroll.in/latest/909986/former-cbi-deputy-chief-rakesh-asthana-appointed-director-general-of-bureau-of-civil-aviation
Centre has appointed former CBI second-in-command Rakesh Asthana director general of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, a day after removing him and three other officers from the agency. Asthana has been appointed to the post for two years and his tenure will begin the day he assumes charge, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs notification. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, a branch of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is the regulatory authority for the sector in India. Anil Kumar Sharma, one of the three other officers removed, was appointed additional DGP of CPRF earlier in the day. The home ministry said his tenure would run till April 28, 2020.Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Thursday approved the Department of Personnel and Training’s proposal to curtail the tenure of the 4 CBI officers over a week after a selection committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, removed CBI Director Alok Verma.scroll.in
UP police donate Rs 70 lakh for family of inspector killed in Bulandshahr violence
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-police-donate-rs-70-lakh-for-family-of-subodh-kumar-inspector-killed-in-bulandshahr-violence/story-bJMbi28NEyAo0DDmEoxnOO.html
Bulandshahr :Apart from Rs 50 lakh offered by the Uttar Pradesh government, the family of slain Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh on Friday received a sum of Rs 70 lakh from the state police as compensation, ADG, Meerut Zone, Prashant Kumar confirmed.The incident occurred on December 3, with violence flaring up after the carcasses of around 25 cattle were found in a forest close to a police post.Inspector Singh was trying to control the mob and was wounded in the head with a stone. His driver bundled him into a car and tried to take him to a hospital, although the mob followed the car, cornered it in a field and shot the police officer.Inspector Singh died of a bullet wound below his left eyebrow, confirmed the autopsy report.One of the prime accused of the case, BJP’s Yuva Morcha leader Shikhar Agarwal was on Jan.10 arrested by the police from Hapur.ANI
Bail for Hindu outfit activist accused of Pune techie Mohsin’s murder
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bail-hindu-outfit-activist-accused-pune-techie-murder-5545626/
Bombay High Court has granted bail to Dhananjay Desai, a member of the Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) who was accused in the murder of Mohsin Shaikh, who was an engineer with a private firm in Pune.Mohsin was killed on June 2, 2014, when communal clashes had broken out after circulation of objectionable pictures of Shivaji Maharaj and late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. Mohsin was attacked, allegedly by some youths associated with HRS, while he was returning home with a friend after offering prayers at a mosque in Hadapsar. He succumbed at hospital later.His brother Mobin Shaikh had filed a complaint of murder at Hadapsar police station. The police had nabbed 21 HRS activists, including Desai.indianexpress
Meat shops will be 150 metres away from religious places in Delhi: SDMC
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/meat-shops-will-be-150-metres-away-from-religious-places-sdmc-5545568/
New Delhi: South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has approved the meat policy, which states that there should be at least 150 metres between meat shops and a religious place.The proposal, passed during the standing committee meeting, also increased licence fee for meat shops from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. It also made it mandatory to procure a no-objection certificate from the area councillor for licence.“Considering sentiments of people visiting religious places, minimum distance between meat shop and a temple/gurdwara/religious place/cremation ground should be at least 150 metres,” the policy read.“The policy prohibits slaughter and sale of the meat of cow or its progeny,” said an official.Shop owners have to mandatorily display boards specifying if ‘halal’ or ‘jhatka’ meat is being sold at the shop.“The condition of 150-metre distance from a mosque will be applicable in case of pork shops only. Licences to mutton/chicken/fish and buffalo meat shops can be granted if they are situated less than 100 metres from the mosque, provided the same is permitted by the Imam or managing committee of the mosque. The distance of the religious place from the meat shop shall be measured through public pathway only,” policy said.
SDMC proposes increase in minimum distance between meat shops and temples in south Delhi
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/sdmc-proposes-increase-in-minimum-distance-between-meat-shops-and-temples-in-south-delhi/1448435/
Shut for 3 months for Kumbh, UP tanneries face losses, cancelled orders
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shut-for-months-kumbh-up-tanneries-face-losses-cancelled-orders-5545628/
Kanpur : The roads are empty and the local market closed in Kanpur’s Jajmau locality, with around 130 of its 249 registered tanneries ordered shut due to the Kumbh Mela and the production at others cut by half.One month into the order, and with 60 more days to go till they can begin operations, after Kumbh Mela ends, the owners say their overseas orders for leather products are moving to other markets, in primarily Pakistan and Bangladesh. At least 2 lakh people are employed in these units. Most are daily-wage workers and migrants, and many have gone back home.“This is happening for the first time. Earlier the Govt shut the tanneries for three-four days before every holy snaan (bath) during Kumbh. We always followed this as we know Kumbh is related to the religious sentiments of our Hindu brothers. But three months is too much. Jajmau has a turnover of around Rs 7,000 crore yearly and that has been hit,” says Hafizur Rahman, president of Small Tanners Association and the owner of H Rahman Tanning Industries.UPPCB regional officer, Kanpur, Kuldeep Mishra, says the order against the tanneries followed a Jal Nigam report showing that effluents were ending up in the Ganga. The units in Jajmau, Unnao city and Banthar (Unnao) were told to shut down from Dec. 15, 2018, to March 15, 2019.Of the 402 tanneries registered in Jajmau, only 249 are operational. Rahman says losses over the past few years hit business.In Dec, following petitions by Rahman Industries Limited and Mirza International Limited, Allahabad High Court permitted 2 of their tanneries to operate, on the condition that they ensured that their effluents did not go into the Ganga.The other tannery owners say they are either too scared to go to court, or dependent on Govt infrastructure for the treatment and disposal of their waste, unable to promise no discharge in the Ganga. Rahman Industries Ltd and Mirza International Limited do both primary and secondary treatment of effluents on their own.An ‘environment consultant’ with Rahman Industries Limited, Rajiv Ranjan Pandey, says that to ensure there are no slip-ups, they have installed web cameras at exits of their effluents. R D Kaushik, the Chief General Manager of Mirza I.Ltd, claims it is the domestic waste going directly into the Ganga that is much more harmful. “We have spent a great deal on creating an infrastructure to treat all our effluents.” Rahman says the shutdown hurts them more than just losses in terms of money or workers. “The UPPCB has also sealed half the tanning drums in these units. The drums are made of wood and if not used for three months, they will start leaking and would be of no use. A drum is worth lakhs of rupees,” he adds.Ashraf Rizwan, the spokesperson of UP Leather Industries Association (UPLIA), says there are 42 big tanneries in Unnao, and the situation there is almost similar. “Collectively, all tanneries coming under UPLIA give a turnover of around Rs 1,000 crore per year,”he says.indianexpress
At Kolkata Rally, Opposition Leaders Unite Against BJP's 'Politics of Hate'
https://thewire.in/politics/kolkata-opposition-rally-bjp-congress-tmc
New Delhi: A host of opposition leaders criticising the BJP’s ‘politics of hate’ called for unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Leaders from as many as 22 parties were present at the ‘United India Rally’ in Kolkata, organised by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.Chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), H.D. Kumaraswamy (Karnataka) and N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) were also present, apart from party heads Akhilesh Yadav (SP), M.K. Stalin (DMK), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Farooq Abdullah (National Conference) and Sharad Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party). Though Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed support to the rally, he could not attend. The party was represented by Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Former BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and Patidar leader Hardik Patel were also present.Issuing a war cry ‘Delhi mein sarkar badal do‘ (change the Govt at the Centre), Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said the “expiry date” of the Modi Govt is over and a united opposition will win the coming general elections. She promised to work with other opposition parties to topple the BJP-led NDA government. She said the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition would be decided after the polls.Claiming that BJP’s days at the Centre are numbered, she criticised the BJP for not having “courtesy in politics”. Banerjee also claimed that the BJP does not respect many of its own senior leaders. She said Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Nitin Gadkari are ignored in the saffron party.“Modi and his associates are now talking of collective leadership, but if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha polls these leaders will be ignored again,” she said.Calling the present situation in the country a “super Emergency”, the West Bengal chief minister raised the slogan of ‘Badal do, badal do, Delhi mein sarkar badal do‘ (change govt at Centre).thewire
At opposition rally, ‘Shotgun’ Sinha takes aim at PM Modi over Rafale deal
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/at-opposition-rally-shatrughan-sinha-takes-aim-at-pm-narendra-modi-over-rafale-deal/story-nRtgDPyKIoLUlcsHKCLAMK.html
Modi govt playing mischief with statistics: Yashwant Sinha
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/narendra-modi-government-playing-mischief-with-statistics-yashwant-sinha/article26036779.ece?homepage=true
Shourie asks Opposition to work together to oust BJP
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arun-shourie-asks-opposition-to-work-together-to-oust-bjp/article26036728.ece?homepage=true
Farooq Abdullah wants ‘chor machine’ EVMs out for transparency
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/farooq-abdullah-wants-chor-machine-evms-out-for-transparency/story-36zI3eSVhAEtDtY3pk56nK.html
Kolkata:National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah Saturday called EVM the “chor machine” and demanded that ballot paper system be brought back for the sake of transparency.Speaking at the united opposition rally organised by TMC, he said, “It is not the question of ousting any single person (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) but of saving the country and honouring the sacrifices of those who fought for its freedom.” “EVM is chor machine. Honestly speaking, it is so. Its use must be put to an end. Nowhere in the world is the machine used. The opposition parties should approach the Election Commission and the President of India to stop the use of EVM and bring back the old ballot papers for the sake of transparency,” he said.He blamed the BJP for the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said people are being divided on religious lines. “People are being branded as Pakistanis. But all people — right from Ladakh to elsewhere — want to continue in India.Continuing his tirade against the BJP, he said it stood for the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament but did not pass the Women’s Reservation Bill.PTI
Gadkari, Sitharaman, Ratan Tata, Anil Ambani give Vibrant Gujarat Summit a miss
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gadkari-sitharaman-ratan-tata-anil-ambani-give-vibrant-gujarat-summit-a-miss-5545817/
Ahmedabad:Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman, Tata Sons’ chairman emeritus Ratan Tata, chairman of the Reliance Group Anil Ambani were some of the big names who were conspicuous with their absence on the inaugural day of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit Friday.Gadkari, who is Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, posted on Twitter pictures of him and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurating phase two of Ramjhula railway overbridge in Nagpur on Friday afternoon. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel addressed the first session of a seminar on ‘Port-Led Development and Strategies to Establish India as the Transshipment Hub of Asia’ that Gadkari was supposed to address.indianexpress
"Will Contest All Seats In UP If BJP Doesn't Give Reservation": OP Rajbhar
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/op-rajbhar-says-will-contest-all-seats-in-up-if-bjp-doesnt-give-reservation-1979914
Varanasi: Suheldev Bahujan Samaj Party (SBSP) on Friday said it will contest all the 80 seats in UP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if BJP fails to implement divisions under the 27 per cent reservation for backward classes. It also proposed to release the SBSP candidate list on Feb 25."BJP had promised to implement divisions under 27 per cent reservation for backward classes. 80 days are left till the elections, when will you do it? If you don''t keep your promise we will contest on all 80 seats, we will release candidates list on February 25," SBSP chief OP Rajbhar told ANI.OP Rajbhar, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, has always been critical of the BJP government.ANI
Muslim outfits seek representation in SP-BSP alliance
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/jan/19/miffed-muslim-outfits-seek-representation-in-sp-bsp-alliance-1926957.html
Lucknow: Muslims who make respectable 19.23 per cent of the total population in Uttar Pradesh seems to be divided over support to newly-stitched SP-BSP alliance which is moving ahead with the sole agenda of BJP's ouster.Most of Muslim organisations, including National Ulema Council, AIMIM and even students union of AMU, have echoed a common sentiment of being neglected. They claim that they are feeling cheated by the two major allies who did not even give a single thought to Muslim representation the grand alliance.Their common refrain is that both Samajwadi Party and BSP bank upon Muslim vote bank in a big way, but ignored the minority community while cobbling up the tie-up."Muslims have played a key role in nurturing these parties. But they kept us out," riles a senior office bearer of National Ulema Council.The council has sought at least 16 of the 80 seats in the gathbandhan for the Muslim parties to strike the socio-religious balance in it.However, the Peace Party chief Dr Mohammad Ayub sounds hopeful of the chances of getting a foothold in the alliance.Qaumi Ekta Dal, led by Mukhtar Ansari and his brothers Afzal and Sibghatullah Ansari, which has a strong base in Ghazipur, Mau in eastern UP, has already announced its merger with BSP. newindianexpress
AMU to launch course in Islamic chaplaincy
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/aligarh-muslim-university-to-launch-course-in-islamic-chaplaincy/articleshow/67593711.cms
AMU has decided to start a one-year post-graduate diploma course in "Islamic Chaplaincy" from July this year to help Madrassa students apply for the post of Muslim chaplains in the Indian Army, jails or hospitals. V-C of the university, Dr Tariq Mansoor said that 10 seats have been approved for the course. "Madrassa students who have religious knowledge can apply for the bridge course in the university. They can apply for it after graduation. The course will help them get hired in the Army, prisons or hospitals." "Spiritual teachers play a very important role in keeping morale of the soldiers high during conflict through motivational speeches and also act as counsellors, helping them to deal with combat stress," said AMU spokesperson Shafey Kidwai. TOI
First Muslim pracharak of RSS dies
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/first-muslim-pracharak-of-rss-prahlad-shinde-dies-gulshan-abdullah-sheikh-1434015-2019-01-18
Mumbai:The first Muslim pracharak (full time worker) of RSS in Maharashtra, Gulshan Abdullah Sheikh also known as Prahlad Shinde, died on Friday following a bout of illness at Panvel near Mumbai.He was heading the Dharm Jagran department of the Konkan prant for the VHP.Shinde was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage last week. He was first admitted to Bombay Hospital and later was shifted to Patwardhan Hospital in Panvel after his condition worsened.Born as Gulshan Sheikh, Shinde joined RSS in his home town of Matheran, the famous hill station near Mumbai. An outstanding organiser, Shinde was actively involved in RSS work. He worked for the organisation in Goa and Panvel from 1985 to 1992. He then got married and embraced Hinduism with his whole family.indiatoday
Court extends NIA custody of accused by 7 days
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/isis-module-court-extends-nia-custody-of-accused-by-seven-days-119011800927_1.html
New Delhi : A Delhi court has extended by 7 days NIA remand of a man arrested from UP in connection with its probe against an ISIS case.Special Judge Rakesh Syal allowed NIA's plea for further remand during in-chamber proceedings after 24-year-old Muhammed Absar was produced in court on expiry of his 6-day custodial interrogation, his advocate Noorullah said.IANS
Delhi HC grants bail to Aslam Wani
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/delhi-hc-grants-bail-to-aslam-wani-119011801405_1.html
New Delhi : Delhi High Court on Friday granted bail to alleged hawala dealer Mohammad Aslam Wani in a money laundering case filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate.A single judge bench of the High Court presided by Justice Najmi Waziri further directed Wani to furnish Rs. 3 lakh as personal bail bond and two sureties of the same amount. Wani is being probed in a money laundering case involving Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah. The Enforcement Directorate had earlier opposed the bail plea citing that a money trail has been established in the case.ANI
Mehbooba seeks separatist leader's release from NIA on humanitarian grounds
https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/mehbooba-seeks-separatist-leader-s-release-from-nia-on-humanitarian-grounds-119011900214_1.html
Srinagar :PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday sought the release of separatist leader Shahid-ul-Islam, who is in the NIA's custody, on humanitarian grounds as his wife was not feeling well.She spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh over phone after reports of Islam's wife having suffered a brain hemorrhage emerged."I share your concern for Shahid Ul Islam. Have spoken with HM requesting his early release on humanitarian grounds as the wife has suffered a brain haemorrhage," Mehbooba said in a tweet, in response to a plea for the separatist leader's release.PTI
Pandits reach out to a Muslim family in distress in South Kashmir
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/pandits-reach-out-to-a-muslim-family-in-distress-in-south-kashmir-119011801324_1.html
Hapatnar :Battling with hunger for few days due to utter poverty, 7-member family of Mouzudin Bhat in remote Hapatnar hamlet of South Kashmir had a meal on Thursday after a group of displaced Kashmiri Pandits braved heavy snowfall to bring them essential supplies.Not only did the displaced Pandits from Mattan transit camp led by Ranjan Jyotshi and Vinod Tickoo brought them rations, medicines and other essentials but also ensured financial assistance to the family by collecting funds through Facebook and other social media platforms. "After six days all of us ate food. Our 4 children have not eaten food for several days. Thanks to these Kashmiri Pandit boys, who came to our help", Raja Begum, one of the family members told reporters. Jyotshi, who works for the social welfare department, learnt of their plight during a visit to the far flung area of Hapatnar. He and Vinod Tickoo, an engineer collected rice, flour, oils, spices, sugar, tea, milk, pulses, medicines and blankets, quilts and clothes with the help of KP employees of Matan transit camp and rushed to Bhat's house in two vehicles Thursday.PTI
India lodges protest over Pak SC extending its powers to Gilgit-Baltistan
https://scroll.in/latest/910029/india-lodges-protest-over-pakistan-supreme-court-extending-its-powers-to-gilgit-baltistan
India summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner to lodge a strong protest on a recent order by the Pakistan Supreme Court that extended its jurisdiction over Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is “an interference in India’s internal affairs”.“It was reiterated that the entire state of J&K, which also includes the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’ has been, is and shall remain an integral part of India,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement. “Pakistan govt or judiciary have no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. Any action to alter the status of these occupied territories by Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever.”The development came a day after Pakistan’s Supreme Court directed the Govt to promulgate a new law within a fortnight to grant more rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, according to Dawn. It ruled that the top court’s jurisdiction would also extend to the region.scroll.in
India, Pakistan should engage in ‘meaningful dialogue’ to resolve issues: UN chief
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-pakistan-should-engage-in-meaningful-dialogue-to-resolve-issues-un-chief-5545854/
UN chief also said he has been offering his “good offices in relation to the dialogue between the two countries that, until now, had no conditions of success.”Guterres was speaking to reporters at UN HQRS .“I hope that the importance of both India and Pakistan is such in international affairs, I hope that the two countries will be able to engage in a meaningful dialogue,” he said.PTI
Justice Lokur attends swearing-in of Pak Chief Justice, shares bench with him
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-lokur-attends-swearing-in-of-pak-chief-justice-shares-bench-with-him-5545607/
For the first time in more than 70 years, an Indian judge — albeit retired — sat on a bench in a court in Pakistan. It was Justice (retd) Madan Lokur of the Supreme Court, who heard three cases for about 45 minutes on Friday. The first matter was a challenge of a conviction; the second a bail hearing; and the third a civil matter, which resulted in a compromise between the two parties.A two-judge bench in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, consisting of freshly sworn-in 26th Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and his fellow judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, sat with Justice Lokur, President Supreme Court of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Narin Ferdi Sefik, Chief Judge of the State of Borno Nigeria Kashim Zannah and Sandra E Oxner, former judge and founding president of Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Canada. Justice Lokur, accompanied by his wife Savita Lokur, described the reception in the neighbouring country as “unprecedented”, with the gesture of getting all invitee judges to sit on a bench proving heart-warming. He said the atmosphere was “wonderful and the court was not crowded. Like in India, it was open to the press.”indianexpress
Delhi HC stays JNU council order on attendance
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-hc-stays-jnu-council-order-on-attendance-5545561/
Delhi High Court has stayed the JNU academic and executive councils’ decision to make attendance mandatory for faculty members.Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, however, said that action against the unauthorised absence of teaching staff be taken as per rules prevalent before Academic Council (AC) decision of July 13, 2018, making marking of attendance mandatory.On Jan14, court,in its interim order,had stayed JNU administration’s directive denying leave to faculty members who fail to mark their attendance or submit students’ attendance records.The court also issued a notice to JNU on plea challenging the decisions of AC and Executive Council (EC) of the university and listed the matter for further hearing on May 3.indianexpress
Selfie un-Islamic: Darul Uloom Deoband
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/selfie-un-islamic-says-latest-darul-fatwa/articleshow/67594241.cms
Meerut: Darul Uloom Deoband has said taking selfie is un-Islamic for both men and women. Darul Ifta, the online fatwa department of the renowned seminary, replying to a query by a Pakistani youth, said that since mostly selfies are taken to be posted on social media, it gives rise to shamelessness. Maulana Asad Qasmi, a Deoband-based cleric, said, “We fully agree with Darul as every fatwa issued by the seminary is in the light of religious scriptures. Selfie is a new craze among youths which is not only bad in the eyes of Islam but also contributes to a large number of accidents leading to loss of lives.”TOI
Ram temple will be built under Congress rule: Harish Rawat, gets rapped
https://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/ram-temple-will-be-built-under-congress-rule-says-harish-rawat-gets-rapped/story-b4LhP4hjPfmS8RqavYmWYK.html
Dehradun Former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat said Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya when Congress comes to power at the Centre.“Congress would build the (Ram) temple based on the decision of the Supreme Court. BJP would fail to construct the temple because they are ‘papi’. They have violated maryada (order). Those who have no regard for ethics and dignity cannot be devotees of Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram,” Rawat had said.The statement drew sharp retort from his fellow party leader and Uttarakhand leader of opposition Indira Hridayesh, who said: “If it is so, then the Congress could have built a Ram temple when it was in power for 10 years.”“All including Muslims are in support of constructing a Ram temple. But one should not make a claim which cannot be fulfilled as we are not in power,” said Hridayesh, indicating a rift within the ranks.HT
Miffed Over Delay, RSS Says Construction of Ram Mandir Shelved for 2025
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/miffed-over-delay-in-construction-rss-says-ram-mandir-to-be-built-in-2025-2006129.html
New Delhi:In a surprise statement, RSS second-in-command Bhaiyyaji Joshi has said that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will come up in 2025, a year after 2024 next Lok Sabha elections.“ India progressed rapidly after the Somnath Temple was established in 1952. India will again start prospering after the Ram Mandir is built in 2025. After the Ram Temple is established at Ayodhya, the country will be blessed for the next 150 years,” said Joshi.Joshi's suo moto intervention while speaking at Kumbh in Prayagraj comes a month after VHP’s show of strength in Delhi. At the rally, Joshi had sought an ordinance for the construction of temple.News18
Centre plans changes in Waqf properties lease rules
https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/central-government-plans-changes-in-waqf-properties-lease-rules/67582709
New Delhi:A committee which reviewed Waqf Properties Lease Rules 2014 presented its report to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, recommending a slew of changes to bring clarity in rental norms and reduce litigation. Naqvi said that the report will be implemented "as soon as possible" after being examined by his ministry. "Modi Govt has been successfully carrying forward the campaign to utilise Waqf properties across the country for socio-economic empowerment of the needy sections,"Minister said.Report recommends changes in Waqf Rules 2014 so that properties having lease rentals of Rs 3,000 are excluded from bidding process. It also provides relief to occupants of Waqf properties uninterruptedly from 1995 or before, extending lease renewal for 10 years as a onetime concession, according to officials.The report also recommends increasing lease period of properties used as shops from 5 to 10 years and, from one year to three years in case of agriculture purposes. It also rationalises security deposit payable on Waqf properties. Another recommendation of the report is that legal heir of a tenant be entitled to transfer of unexpired period of lease on payment of transfer fee.5-member committee headed by Justice (retired) Zakiullah Khan was formed in March 2018 to review the rules related to Waqf properties. PTI
Kerala flaunts list of 51 women who entered Sabarimala temple, with many a slip
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-flaunts-list-51-women-entered-sabarimala-many-slip-5545586/
New Delhi: It was meant to be a list of 51 women under the age of 50 to substantiate the state’s claim, complete with name, age, Aadhaar numbers, addresses, and phone numbers. But by Friday evening, it left many red faces in the Kerala Govt as it scrambled to explain contradictions in the list.The list, prepared by Kerala police, names women who have entered the Sabarimala temple since the Supreme Court lifted the age restriction on entry of women to the hill shrine. Consider this: Not one name on the list was from Kerala, all women were in the age range of 41-49. Indian Express contacted 20 women from Tamil Nadu, 4 from Andhra Pradesh and one from Goa. The responses varied.indianexpress
Swine flu kills at least 40 in Rajasthan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/swine-flu-kills-40-india-rajasthan-state-190119092616731.html
At least 40 people have died and more than 1,000 have tested positive for swine flu since the beginning of the year in a western Indian state popular with foreigners, according to authorities. The highly contagious H1N1 virus that spreads from human-to-human killed around 1,100 people and infected 15,000 across the country last year. "Total deaths are 40 and positive cases are 1,036 as from Jan.1 to 17 in Rajasthan. One of the deaths occurred on Thursday," a statement by the Rajasthan health department said on Friday. Rajasthan's Jodhpur district recorded the highest death toll with 16 fatalities and 225 people testing positive.aljazeera
Health ministry bans 80 more fixed-dose combination drugs, including antibiotics,painkillers
https://scroll.in/latest/909977/health-ministry-bans-80-more-fixed-dose-combination-drugs-including-antibiotics-and-painkillers
Union Health Ministry has banned 80 fixed-dose combination drugs, including antibiotics, painkillers and several medicines used to treat fungal and bacterial infections, hypertension and anxiety.Fixed-dose combination drugs, or FDCs,are medicines that combine two or more drugs and are marketed by pharmaceutical companies to circumvent the government’s price control orders. These 80 drugs are part of a list of 294 drugs that were first banned in Nov.2007 as they were licensed without the approval of Drugs Controller General of India. Drug manufacturers challenged the ban in the Madras High Court and managed to get a stay on proceedings. Drug Technical Advisory Board then constituted a sub-committee to examine the rationality and safety of the drugs. Sub-commitee has found that there is no therapeutic justification for these 80 drugs, and based on its recommendation, health ministry prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of these drugs.scroll
IRCTC case: Lalu Yadav granted regular bail
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/irctc-case-lalu-yadav-granted-regular-bail201901191634540004/
New Delhi: A Special CBI court on Saturday granted regular bail to former Railways minister Lalu Yadav in IRCTC scam case.Special CBI judge Arun Bharadwaj directed RJD supremo to furnish an amount of Rs 1 lakh as a personal bail bond and one surety of like amount. Yadav is already on an interim bail while the other accused in the case are on regular bail.ANI
AMU alumnus Abbas Akhil becomes New Mexico’s first Muslim American lawmaker
https://newsd.in/aligarh-muslim-university-alumni-becomes-new-mexicos-first-muslim-american-lawmaker/
Albuquerque, New Mexico: On Tuesday, with swearing in as the District 20 representative in the New Mexico House, Democratic member Abbas Ali Akhil became the first Muslim American lawmaker in the history of the southern state.Abbas is an Indian immigrant who has been living with his family in the state’s most populous city, Albuquerque for the last 40 years.Newsd.in
WORLD
UN chief: Instruments at hand to probe Khashoggi murder
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190118-un-chief-instruments-at-hand-to-probe-khashoggi-murder/
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the Human Rights Council has the capacity to probe the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.“Human Rights Council has the possibility to take decisions in relation to launching different forms of interaction,” Guterres said at a press conference at UN HQRS in New York. “There are many instruments Human Rights Council can use, requested by member states, and I am not in a position to encourage member states. I’m saying these instruments are available.”UN Human Rights Chief Michele Bachelet said last month that the killing of Khashoggi deserves an international investigation, however, UN does not have the jurisdiction to launch one. middleeastmonitor
US Senator Graham: US-Saudi ties can't move until MBS is dealt with
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/lindsey-graham-saudi-ties-move-mbs-dealt-190119084608281.html
Senator Lindsey Graham has said the relationship between US and Saudi Arabia cannot move forward until Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is "dealt with", without elaborating on what action he believes should be taken. Speaking in Ankara a day after meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Graham said Congress will reintroduce sanctions against those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Last Nov, CIA concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the assassination of Khashoggi in Istanbul, a finding that contradicts Saudi govt assertions that he was not involved. Khashoggi, a longtime royal insider who had become a critic of Prince Mohammed, was killed and dismembered by a Saudi hit team in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in Oct,prompting a global outcry.US Treasury sanctioned 17 Saudi individuals and Senate adopted a resolution blaming Prince Mohammed. At least 21 Saudis have reportedly been arrested in connection with the case, with 5 facing the death penalty. Senator Graham also said he hoped President Trump would slow US withdrawal from Syria until ISIL is destroyed.Graham said he believed US Chief of Staff Joseph Dunford was working on a plan with Turkey to move Kurdish YPG elements away from the country. By arming YPG group in Syria, Washington "created a nightmare for Turkey,"said Graham. Underlining that YPG/PYD is "clearly" tied to PKK - listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, and the European Union - Graham told reporters that US strategy in Syria has the potential to cause harm to Turkey.aljazeera
Trump's new 'anti-Muslim' appointee worries civil rights groups
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/190117160447367.html
American civil rights groups have condemned the appointment of a new deputy national security advisor who served on the board of an anti-Muslim group for nearly a decade.US President Donald Trump appointed Charles M Kupperman last week to assist NSA John Bolton, saying in a press release that Kupperman "brings to the role more than four decades of national security policy and programme experience". Kupperman served on the board of directors for the Center for Security Policy (CSP) between 2001 and 2010, according to tax records. Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an Alabama-based hate monitor, designates the CSP as an anti-Muslim hate group, pointing to the group's promotion of conspiracy theories claiming that Muslims have infiltrated US govt and seek to establish Islamic law in the country. Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on Trump administration to revoke Kupperman's appointment. "Once again this is an example of Trump elevating foxes into the hen house, where Islamophobes are well placed to direct our nation's national security priorities,"Robert McCaw, director of CAIR's govt affairs department,said. McCaw argued that Kupperman's appointment "should absolutely be rescinded" and that he "has no place in US government". aljazeera
Trump, Kim Jong-un to hold second summit in Feb
https://scroll.in/latest/910037/donald-trump-and-kim-jong-un-to-hold-second-summit-in-february-says-white-house
White House announced that a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would take place in late Feb. The location of the meeting will be announced later.2 leaders met for the first time on June 12 in Singapore for a historic summit, following which Kim committed to the “complete denuclearisation” of the Korean Peninsula.scroll.in
Taliban refute peace talks with US in Pakistan
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/taliban-refute-peace-talks-with-us-in-pakistan201901191818400002/
Taliban on Saturday refuted reports about their joining the second round of meeting with officials from the United States and Pakistan over Afghanistan peace and reconciliation process here in near future.In a press statement released here, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid was quoted as saying, "We want to make it clear that we will not hold any meeting with Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad."The decision to hold further talks with the Taliban was taken on Friday during an official meeting between the US Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, whereby Khalilzad stated that the Taliban were reluctant to meet the Afghan Govt and announce a ceasefire, Geo News reported.Sources further confirmed Geo News that Pakistan had extended an invitation to attend to hold talks on the Afghan peace process in Islamabad. Pakistan Foreign Minister further promised Khalilzad that his Govt would cooperate with Afghanistan in having talks with the Taliban. (ANI)
Afghanistan's Hekmatyar running for president
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/afghan-mujahedeens-hekmatyar-running-for-president/1369156
Kabul:A former leader of Afghanistan’s Mujahedeen on Saturday threw his hat into the ring for April presidential elections in the war-ravaged country.Announcing his candidacy, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e-Islami party, sharply criticized current Kabul govt and vowed to bring drastic reforms for peace, transparency, and governance. Afghan political arena is heavily divided along ethnic lines, with all main candidates balancing the representation of major ethnic groups. As an ethnic Pashtun, Hekmatyar chose an ethnic Turkmen and a Tajik as his proposed deputies.“Only a strong centralized presidential system can salvage Afghanistan,” he said, categorically rejecting other candidates’ ideas for a federal or parliamentary system. Anadolu Agency
Private jet reportedly takes UAE and Israel officials from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv: middle east eye
https://www.middleeasteye.net/flight-%D9%90Abu-Dhabi-Tel-Aviv
Emirati and Israeli officials travelled together on a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv late on Thursday, Al-Khaleej Online reported.The private jet marked 9H-VCL flew from Abu Dhabi airport through Saudi airspace, without stopping in Jordan as is customary, and landed in Ben Gurion airport.Israeli security figures were returning from a secret trip to Abu Dhabi to prepare for "a surprise visit" of UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed to Tel Aviv, high-level sources said.This was to be followed, the sources said, by a visit to Abu Dhabi by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The sources added that a Saudi "green light" was given to UAE for these visits, as Riyadh is keen to normalise ties with Israel officially and is preparing a meeting in Washington that would gather Netanyahu with US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Arabic press review: Senior UAE official sought to buy East Jerusalem home?
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/arabic-press-review-uae-official-failed-east-jerusalem-real-estate-deal-2144931396
A leader of the Islamic movement in Israel has accused UAE’ intelligence chief of attempting to purchase a home near Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. Commenting on news reports that an Emirati plane landed in Tel Aviv with two senior Emirati officials in tow, Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib accused UAE’s Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan of being behind an attempt to buy a house "adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque" for $20m, according to the Arabi21 news website.Khatib, deputy head of Islamic movement in Israel, said the attempted real estate purchase, "which failed despite offering the owners $20mn, was made by a local businessman known to be close to Mohammed Dahlan, who lives in Abu Dhabi"."The owner of the house next to Al-Aqsa Mosque spoke with me personally three weeks ago, and he assured me that the Jerusalem businessman who offered to buy the house was sent by Tahnoun bin Zayed," al-Khatib said.middleeasteye
Israel contacting Hamas for prisoner swap: Sources
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-contacting-hamas-for-prisoner-swap-sources/1369144
Gaza:Israel is holding “indirect” contacts to reach a prisoner swap deal with Palestinian group Hamas, according to Hamas sources on Saturday. “Hamas has received indirect contacts from Israeli Govt about a prisoner swap deal,” the London-based Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed newspaper quoted the sources as saying. The sources described the Israeli contacts as “an attempt to support the Govt of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu” before the April general election. “We have received new contacts from a European side and Cairo regarding advancing negotiations about Israelis held captive by [Hamas],” the sources said. The sources said Hamas wants the release of all prisoners rearrested by Israel after their release as part of an Egyptian-brokered exchange deal to free captured soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011. “The Netanyahu Govt is maneuvering to make gains,” the sources said. Sources said UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov has also opened a “discussion” with Hamas leaders regarding the deal.Anadolu Agency
Egypt court adjourns Morsi trial in espionage case
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190118-egypt-court-adjourns-morsi-trial-in-hamas-espionage-case/
A Cairo criminal court adjourned the trial of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in a case in which he is accused of “espionage for Hamas”.Morsi, along with 23 other defendants, is in court accused of orchestrating prison breaks and breaches of Egypt’s eastern border during the country’s 2011 uprising. However, the court today adjourned the trial until 29 January, citing the absence of the defendants due to a security-related difficulty in transporting them to court.middleeastmonitor
Amnesty: Egypt must release activist Abdelmonem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190119-amnesty-egypt-must-release-rights-activist-abdelmonem/
Amnesty International called for the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Egyptian human rights activist Hoda Abdelmonem.In a tweet, the rights group wrote that Abdelmonem had been forcibly disappeared for 20 days before she appeared in court.Amnesty reported the account of Abdelmonem’s daughter, detailing what happened to her mother: “On 1 Nov.2018, [Egyptian] State Security forces broke into the house of Hoda Abdelmonem in Cairo at 1:30 am, ransacked it, and took her blindfolded to her mother’s house.”It added: “While the Security forces searched her mother’s house, she was left blindfolded in a police vehicle. Hoda was then forcibly taken to an unknown destination.”MEMO
flash: views & NEWS
Babri Masjid Case: Why Representation of Minority Judges Matters:John Sebastian and Faiza Rahman
https://thewire.in/law/babri-masjid-case-why-representation-of-minority-judges-matters
Collegium courts controversy by elevating relatively junior judges:Rekha Sharma
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-judges-appointment-dinesh-maheshwari-sanjiv-khanna-seniority-cast-aside-5545527/
CBI vs CBI: The many lives of Asthana & why the Govt rehabilitated him:Uttam Sengupta
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/cbi-vs-cbi-the-many-lives-of-rakesh-asthana-and-why-the-government-rehabilitated-him
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:20 PM)
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