NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
24 Jan. 2019: 17 Jamadiul-I 1440: Vol:11, No:110
INDIA
Deadline to finalise Assam NRC should not stretch beyond July 31: SC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/deadline-to-finalise-assam-nrc-should-not-stretch-beyond-july-31-sc-5553861/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today said the publication of the final report of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam should “in no circumstance” stretch beyond the July 21, 2019 deadline.The SC also directed that a meeting should be held between Election Commission Secretary,Assam Chief Secretary and Assam NRC coordinator to ensure that forthcoming general polls do not slow down NRC process.A bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justice RF Nariman said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Assam, will ensure that the meeting is held within seven days.The outcome of the meeting will be informed to the top court on Feb. 5, when the matter will be taken again to the bench.Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela told the apex court that the process of receiving claims and objections had been completed on December 31 and that a total of 36.2 lakh claims and over 2 lakh objections had been received.The hearing on the claims will start on Feb 15.The SC monitored update of the NRC is an exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals residing in Assam. A political controversy was triggered after the final draft list published on July 30 excluded more than 40 lakh people.indianexpress
Maharashtra ATS arrests 9 Muslim youth: Mosque staff, families shocked
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-ats-arrests-mosque-staff-families-shocked-5553122/
Mumbai: After an accused in an alleged terror plot to assassinate a state leader was arrested from there in 1997, the staff at the mosque in Mumbra’s Almas Colony had taken several measures to make sure the premises not used for any wrongful activity. On Wednesday, however, they were disappointed to learn that some of the accused arrested by Maharashtra ATS allegedly met each other on the mosque premises.Cleric Amir Hamza (55), who leads the prayers at the mosque, where at least 2 of the accused came to pray, said, “In 90s, there was an incident where a person was arrested from here by the police. Ever since, we have been vigilant to ensure our premises are not used for any wrongful activity.”“These days with the internet threat of youngsters being wrongly influenced has gone up. Hence, we especially keep an eye to ensure youngsters do not watch or discuss things that could lead them astray,” he added.ATS on Wednesday arrested eight men and detained a 17-year-old youth for their alleged links with Islamic State (IS). 4 of them were picked up from Mumbra and 5 from Aurangabad.2 of them, Fahad Ansari and Salman Khan, the eldest of 3 siblings arrested in the case, came in touch with each other nearly 2 years back when they did “itikaf” — staying in the mosque for a certain number of days devoted to prayer — in the mosque together during Ramzan. After that, they became friends. “It has come as a shock to us since they were never heard discussing or behaving in a way that would arouse any suspicion in and around the mosque,” Hamza said.On Mohsin Khan, the second of the arrested siblings, a local resident said, “Nearly two years back he married a woman from Aurangabad and moved there.He recently started a shoe shop there for which he would pick up the stock from Mumbra and come here often.”Youngest sibling Taqi was studying in college, local residents said. The residence of the siblings was locked since Wednesday morning. Some distance from their residence is Sagar Apartment from where ATS arrested Mazhar Shaikh.His family members, comprising elder brother Azhar and mother Zohra, are in disbelief. Zohra said her son, who was pursuing a correspondence course in Commerce from Mumbai University and working at a shop in Bhiwandi, had been framed.“I got my son (Mazhar) married more than a year ago. He has a one-year-old son. He would leave for work in the morning and return late evening. He would then go to pray in the local mosque. During weekends, he barely ventured out. He has been framed,” Zohra said.Azhar said his brother was going to Aurangabad on Monday night when he was picked up by the ATS. “He and his wife have been to Aurangabad before as he has friends there. This time, he had told us he might go there as his friend’s wife was unwell,” Azhar said. “It’s true he would watch (religious) sermons in online videos on his mobile phone but what is wrong with that,” asked Azhar Shaikh, elder brother of Mazhar Shaikh (21), who was arrested by the ATS from Mumbra.The fifth accused arrested from Mumbra is Fahad. “Fahad kept to his work and you won’t find anyone who has anything bad to say about him. His arrest is shocking,” a local resident said.Family members of Mushahid-Ul-Islam rejected the allegations made by the ATS, saying the youth was “100 % opposite of what has been portrayed by ATS and media”. Mushahid-ul-Islam (23), who stayed with her 65-year-old mother in their Qaisar Colony residence — four brothers live in Saudi Arabia — freelanced as a graphic designer while pursuing graduation.Mukhtar Ahmed, his brother-in-law, said, “I have seen him since birth… He is pursuing graduation and simultaneously worked as a graphic designer from his small house office. He mostly designed marriage invitation cards, visiting cards… His father had a small printing business so he knew the craft since he was very young. He also used to get some freelance designing work from abroad. He was quite busy in that,” he said.As per him, on Tuesday ATS officers landed at Mushahid-ul-Islam’s house at 3 am. “Only Mushahid-ul-Islam and his mother stay there. The officers started banging the outer gate. After some time they broke it open and also broke the door of the house,” said Mukhtar, who stays a few kms away.indianexpress
Maharashtra: 9 held for terror plot, ‘IS links’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-9-held-for-terror-plot-is-links-5553106/
Maharashtra ATS arrests 9 Muslim youth
http://www.ummid.com/news/2019/january/23.01.2019/maharshtra-ats-arrests-09-muslims-for-alleged-terror-links.html
NIA raids 8 places across 5 states over terror funding
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nia-raids-8-places-across-5-states-over-terror-funding/articleshow/67664820.cms
New Delhi: As part of its investigation into the terror funding case involving Falah-i-Insaniyat (FIF),NIA carried out searches on Wednesday at 8 locations across 5 states. Raids in Gonda (UP), Sikar & Jaipur (Rajasthan), Delhi, Valsad & Surat (Gujarat) and Kasargod (Kerala) came two days after accused Mohammad Hussain Molani was arrested from Jaipur airport on arrival from Dubai. FIF terror funding case was registered by NIA on July 2, 2018. As per FIR, some Delhi-based individuals were receiving funds from FIF operatives based abroad and were using the same to promote terror activities. While three accused were arrested earlier, Molani, against whom a lookout circular was pending as he had been hiding in Dubai to evade arrest, was detained soon after he landed in Jaipur from Dubai on Monday. It was based on his questioning that raids were conducted in five states on Wednesday.TOI
NIA Conducts Nationwide Search In Pak-Based Organisation's Funding Case:IANS
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nia-conducts-nationwide-search-in-falah-i-insaniyat-foundation-pak-based-organisations-funding-case-1982308
NIA raid Madrassa teacher’s residence in Gonda
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/nia-and-up-ats-carry-out-search-operation-at-maulanas-house-in-gonda/articleshow/67659360.cms
Lucknow: NIA along with a team of UP ATS conducted a raid at the residence of a Madrassa teacher in Gonda district on Wednesday. The teams raided Madrassa teacher’s house located at Mewatiya area here in Gonda city.The raid on the madrassa teacher residence in Gonda was conducted in the wee hours of Wednesday by joint teams of UP ATS and NIA. Maulana happens to be a teacher of Arabic and his recent financial transactions are under scrutiny of NIA, said an official of the NIA. timesofindia
NIA arrests 2006 Kozhikode blasts accused from Delhi airport
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-arrests-2006-kozhikode-blasts-accused-mohammed-ashar-delhi-airport-5553852/
New Delhi:NIA today arrested a 33-year-old man, accused in the 2006 Kozhikode twin blasts cases, from Delhi airport after he landed from Saudi Arabia, agency said. It said Mohammed Ashar, resident of Thalassery in Kannur district of Kerala, had been absconding and was chargesheeted by NIA in 2010. He was arrested on Thursday from the Indira IGI Airport, it said.“The cases pertain to the twin improvised explosive device blasts that occurred at KSRTC and mofussil bus stands in Kozhikode (Calicut) city on March 3, 2006 causing injuries to two persons besides damage to property,” an NIA spokesperson said. PTI
After Chief Justice, Justice AK Sikri Exits CBI Case, Told "Wrong Signal"
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-courts-justice-ak-sikri-exits-hearing-on-petition-against-m-nageswara-rao-as-interim-cbi-chi-1982448?pfrom=home-topstories
Justice AK Sikri of the Supreme Court has withdrawn himself from hearing a petition against the appointment of M Nageswara Rao as interim chief of CBI.In the last hearing, CJI Ranjan Gogoi had withdrawn from the case because he was a member of the high-powered selection committee that will pick a name to head CBI.But Chief Justice also dropped out of the high-powered selection panel, and Justice Sikri was brought in when former CBI chief Alok Verma transfer's was to be considered.Verma was removed months after he was sent on leave and replaced by Rao. Rao took over from him a second time after the selection committee led by PM Narendra Modi decided to remove Verma and transfer him to the fire services.The petitioner, a non-profit group called Common Cause, said Justice Sikri withdrawing from the case sent a "wrong message". "We get a feeling that this court does not want to hear the matter,"Dushyant Dave, appearing for Common Cause, told a bench of Justices Sikri, S Abdul Nazeer and MR Shah."Your participation in the last meeting has nothing to do with it. We have no objection to you hearing the matter," Dave told Justice Sikri. "It suits the govt,"Dave said, pointing at way the proceedings were progressing. "It is sending wrong signals. It is becoming personal... This court goes out of its way when it comes to removal of Verma, but when it comes to new appointment, it is not inclined to hear," Dave said.Justice Sikri replied, "You know me well and my position. Since I am recusing I can't say anything... I agree the PIL raises some important issues. We can have it tomorrow and let me not be part of this hearing. If it is an administrative order I would have known, and since it is a judicial order I have to recuse now only."NDTV
12 candidates shortlisted to replace Verma as CBI Chief: Sources
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/12-candidates-shortlisted-to-replace-alok-verma-as-cbi-chief-sources-1982310
New Delhi: After three months of turmoil in the country's central probe agency, CBI will get a full-time director today. A high-powered selection committee will meet this evening at PM Narendra Modi's residence to appoint a new chief for the agency.The meeting comes nearly two weeks after Alok Verma was removed as the CBI boss by high-powered panel in a 2:1 majority verdict. PM Modi heads 3-panel member; the other two members are CJI Ranjan Gogoi and the leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress. Sources in the PM's office have said that IPS officers from the 1982-1985 batches were in contention for the post. Govt has shortlisted as many as 12 candidates based on their seniority, integrity, experience in probing anti-corruption cases and most importantly,their experience of working in CBI or handling vigilance matters." Govt does not want to take a chance this time, that's why they have shortlisted as many as dozen officers,"a senior officer in PMO said.Among those whose names have been shortlisted include 1983 batch officer Shivanand Jha, who is serving as DGP Gujarat, BSF Director General Rajnikant Mishra, CISF DG Rajesh Ranjan, Director General NIA YC Modi and Mumbai Police Commissioner Subodh Jaiswal.ndtv
Petition in SC challenging appointment of Asthana as aviation security director general
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rakesh-asthana-supreme-court-civil-aviation-security-5552877/
New Delhi:A petition was filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the appointment of ex CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana as DG of BCAS.The petition, filed by advocate M L Sharma and likely to come up for hearing this week, said the appointment was in contradiction to the law and Asthana be suspended in view of the pending investigation against him. PTI
Justice Lokur ‘disappointed’ that SC collegium did not release Dec. 12 decision in public domain
https://scroll.in/latest/910573/justice-lokur-disappointed-that-sc-collegium-did-not-release-december-12-decision-in-public-domain
Retired Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur has said he was left disappointed by the top court collegium’s move to not release in public domain its Dec.12 decision recommending the elevation of 2 High Court chief justices to the top court.The collegium, which included Lokur, had recommended the elevation of Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Rajendra Menon. Lokur retired on Dec.30.However, on Jan.10, collegium comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde, NV Ramana and Arun Mishra instead decided to elevate Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dinesh Maheshwari. Khanna was a judge in the Delhi High Court while Maheshwari was the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court.Lokur said he was not aware of deliberations that might have taken place after Dec.12. “It does disappoint me that resolution passed on Dec.12,, wasn’t put up in the public domain,”Lokur told Rajdeep Sardesai.scroll.in
SC refuses to stay amendments to SC/ST Act
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-refuses-to-stay-amendments-to-sc-st-act-5553651/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today refused to stay the proposed amendments to SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act which restored the no anticipatory bail provision for the accused. A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said pending review petition filed by the Centre against the SC’s March 20, 2018 verdict and the pleas challenging the new amendments made in SC/ST verdict will be taken up together.The bench referred the matter to CJI for reconstitution of a bench which Justice U U Lalit was a part of.Justice Lalit was part of a bench which had passed the March 20, 2018 verdict, taking note of the rampant misuse of the stringent SC/ST Act against govt servants and held that there shall be no immediate arrest on any complaint filed under the law.PTI
Constitution text enables to make quota for socially, educationally backward, not EWS: Chelameswar
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/j-chelameswar-ews-quota-constitution-5553077/
Mumbai:Retired Supreme Court Justice J Chelameswar said on Wednesday that the text of the Constitution only enables lawmakers to make reservations for socially and educationally backward segments of the society, and not the economically weaker sections (EWS).“The text of the Constitution only enables Parliament or the Legislative Assembly to make reservations for socially and educationally backward segments of society not economically weaker sections.To what extent the current programme will be sustained in court, I do not know and it is to be seen. I can only say that the text of the Constitution does not provide for it,” Justice Chelameswar said. indianexpress
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: North-East heat makes Centre warm up to state consent
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/citizenship-amendment-bill-north-east-heat-makes-centre-warm-up-to-state-ok-5551137/
New Delhi:With opposition to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill showing no signs of abating in North-East, the MHA sought to allay fears Tuesday and said foreigners would not be granted Indian citizenship without the consent of state governments concerned.MHA also said that a proposal to “provide incentives to those people who want to settle anywhere in India, except the North East” is currently under consideration.MHA spokesperson Ashok Prasad said, “Mistaken perception in North-East about the Bill is creating insecurities. Bill doesn’t give automatic citizenship to anybody. It brings a certain category of people from particular specified areas into the consideration zone with certain eased conditions. No one will become a citizen overnight.”indianexpress
Modi govt may get minority universities to reserve 10% seats for economically weak
https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/economy/article/modi-govt-may-get-minority-universities-to-reserve-10-seats-for-the-economically-weak/352174
New Delhi: With an aim to send out a strong political message ahead of General Elections,Modi Govt is getting set enforce the 10% quota for the economically weak in minority educational universities which was not part of the Bill passed recently in Parliament, sources told ET Now."The matter is likely to be taken up by the Cabinet soon and if need be, the Govtmay even pass an ordinance," a senior official said.Earlier this month, the Parliament passed a Bill providing for 10% quota in Govtjobs and education for economically weaker sections (EWS) in general category.Central Educational Institutions have been directed to implement this quota from the academic year 2019-20. New law, however, did not cover minority educational institutions manifested by the Constitution of India.timesnownews
10% quota for poor in Govtjobs applicable from Feb. 1: Centre
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/10-quota-for-poor-in-government-jobs-applicable-from-february-1-centre/story-W3jsjUlNVB7dMA0LDWejYJ.html
Beginning next month, all central Govtposts will be filled after factoring in the recently approved 10 % reservation for EWS, according to an official order.Ministry of Personnel in order said that detailed instructions regarding the procedure for the implementation of the EWS quota will be issued separately.”It is hereby notified that 10% reservation would be provided for economically weaker sections in central Govt posts and services and would be effective in respect of all direct recruitment vacancies to be notified on or after Feb.1, ,” it said.PTI
Minority panel members want madrasa docs to be recorded in Hindi too, write to Yogi Adityanath
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/minority-panel-members-want-madrasa-docs-to-be-recorded-in-hindi-too-write-to-yogi-adityanath-5553210/
Lucknow :3 members of the State Minority Commission on Tuesday wrote to CM Yogi Adityanath requesting him to instruct all recognised madrasas to record all educational details in Hindi apart from Urdu.In the letter, the commission members — Rumana Siddiqui, Sardar Parvinder Singh and Kunwar Iqbal Haider— claimed that during their recent visits to madrasas in different districts, they found “several anomalies” in the registers. Rumana Siddiqui, who was the president of state BJP’s minority wing, said, “Urdu translators are there in the commission, but they do not accompany us when we go somewhere.”The letter (in Hindi) read, “This is regarding seeking your cognisance that we members had visited recognised and aided madrasas in different districts and found several anomalies in them. We found the names of teachers and students in the attendance registers were in Urdu and not in national language Hindi. In such conditions, we members are facing problems understanding the actual situation.Because of the details being in Urdu we neither understood the names of the teachers nor details of the students. In such a condition, possibility of names of majority of students and the teachers being fake is high. We find ourselves unable to take cognizance of the anomalies and resolve them.”The letter further reads,“Given that Hindi is our national language, it would be better if,in order to bring transparency, all the details in all the madrasas are available in Hindi also.Therefore,UP Minority Commission requests you to give orders to officers concerned that educational details of all madrasas are submitted in Hindi besides Urdu.”indianexpress
Women who eat meat less prone to disease: study
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/women-who-eat-meat-less-prone-to-disease-study-5553067/
New Delhi :A joint study by doctors at AIIMS, Delhi, and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on dietary habits of women suggested that those who consume non-veg meals are less prone to diseases such as diabetes, cardiac ailments, cancer and obesity as compared to those on a vegetarian diet.The survey was conducted on women between the ages of 18 and 40 years and is funded by Department of Bio Technology (DBT), Govtof India.A total of 464 women enrolled from Delhi and Kashmir between 2015 and 2018. Women who consumed meat (203) were selected from Kashmir, while those who were vegetarian (261) were from Delhi. This included women who were healthy as well as those suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).A total of 144 women were suffering from PCOS and 320 were healthy. They were divided on the bases of their dietary preferences — vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism. Findings have left researchers bewildered.Results show that women from Kashmir who consumed up to 5 non-veg meals a week were found to be at a lesser risk of these diseases irrespective of whether they were suffering from PCOS or were healthy, in comparison to women in Delhi who followed a vegetarian diet.First described in 1935, PCOS causes irregular menstrual cycles, excessive body or facial hair and polycystic ovaries in women. PCOS increases the risk of having three types of cancer — ovarian, endometrial and breast.All women underwent a detailed clinical assessment using a common proforma and methods of evaluation at both centres.indianexpress
NGO seeks ban on livestock export for ‘security’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ngo-seeks-ban-on-livestock-export-for-national-security-5553186/
Rajkot :Claiming that the export of live goat and sheep from Tuna port in Kutch is reducing the number of livestock in the country and putting “national security at stake”, Jeevdaya Ghar,a Rajkot-based NGO, wrote to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, seeking a ban on the export.“We have been trying to communicate the disastrous outcome of ongoing livestock export. The said export is a series of violations of rules to the extent that it creates doubt on the legal system,” Rajendra Shah, trustee of Jeevdaya Ghar wrote in his letter to the Ministry. Shah has claimed that in the last three years, 21.10 lakh live goats and sheep have been exported from Tuna port and the port authorities have generated a revenue of Rs 4.25 crore from this export.Shah also said that there was a huge difference in the price of livestock in the domestic market and overseas.indianexpress
Tripura: Arrested Rohingya women and children sent back to jail despite being granted bail
https://scroll.in/bulletins/187/eco-india-is-looking-for-eco-warriors
Most members of a group of 31 Rohingya Muslims who were arrested near the Tripura border on Tuesday were granted bail by a Tripura court the next day. However, they were all sent to jail as no one appeared to submit bail bonds for them, PTI reported.The group had been stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for four days before the BSF handed them over to the state police. The group was booked under the Passport Act for “trying to illegally infiltrate into Indian territory”. Neither India nor Bangladesh was willing to take them in.They were presented before a local court, which sent the group to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday. The court on Wednesday granted bail to 7 women and 17 children and sent the remaining seven male Rohingyas to judicial custody for 14 days.scroll.in
BJP could be crushed in UP in general polls: Opinion Poll
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/politics/bjp-could-be-crushed-in-uttar-pradesh-in-lok-sabha-elections-opinion-poll-3427601.html
PM Narendra Modi's ruling BJP could be crushed by an Opposition alliance in the country's most populous state of UP in a general election, which is due by May, according to an opinion poll released on January 23.The India Today-Karvy Insights Mood of the Nation opinion poll forecast that the number of seats held by Modi's BJP and an ally could plummet to just 5 from the 73 it won in the last election in 2014 if most of the opposition parties, including the Congress party, team up to take on Modi.That would mean they would have to agree on only one opposition candidate to fight the BJP in each constituency.A recently formed alliance between three regional parties in the state could win 58 seats without Congress joining it, the poll showed. BJP and its ally would win 18 seats in that scenario and Congress would have 4.UP sends 80 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha, the most for any state in India.A total of 2,478 people were polled in Uttar Pradesh, which has a population of about 220 million, for the survey.Reuters
BJP Could lose 55 seats in UP: India Today Survey
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/aaj-tak-karvy-survey-uttar-pradesh-india-today-mood-of-the-nation
Priyanka pitched against PM, Yogi In their backyard
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-pitched-against-pm-narendra-modi-yogi-adityanath-in-their-own-backyard-1982013
Lucknow: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, considered for long the "trump card" of the Congress, was launched into active politics today from Uttar Pradesh, a state that's considered the gateway to Delhi. While the state, with its 80 seats, is seen as the biggest battleground, the youngest Gandhi has been pitched into its thickest. Eastern UP is represented by BJP's two biggest mascots - PM Narendra Modi, who has his constituency in Varanasi and CM Yogi Adityanath, who considers Gorakhpur his political home. The party holds 70 of the state's 80 seats.The saffron-robed CM , who heads the Gorakhpur math, was also the five-time winner of the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency, which fell to the combined forces of Mayawati and Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav last year.But that is of no advantage to the Congress, which holds only two of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the area - Amethi and Raebareli. Moreover, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav announced their alliance earlier this month, leaving out the Congress. The Team Mayawati - an alliance of Dalit leader, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh -- are busy carving out the state among themselves. Only 2 seats - Rahul Gandhi's Amethi and Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli -- have been spared by the combine. With Congress holding only two seats in state, Mayawati said the party cannot even transfer votes and is not useful to the alliance. ndtv
Not going back to era of ballot papers, won’t get bullied: CEC Sunil Arora
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/evm-tampering-ballot-papers-lok-sabha-elections-election-commission-sunil-arora-5553978/
New Delhi:Amid renewed demands against the use of EVMs, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora asserted that the Election Commission will not be “intimidated or bullied” into giving up the machines and going back to the era of ballot boxes.He also lamented that EVMs are being used as a “football” and some sections are doing a “motivated slugfest” over their use. “However, I would like to make it very, very clear once more. In fact, it is not I, it is the entire ECI, it is the ECIs of the past, and it will be ECIs of the future… we are not going back to the era of ballot papers,” Arora said. “We are not going back to that era where we have ballot papers being lifted, musclemen being employed besides the delay in the counting and also too much harassment of polling staff on the ground,” he added. “We are open to any criticism, any feedback, from any stakeholders, including political parties, because they are the biggest stakeholders. But at the same time, we are not going to be intimidated or bullied or pressurised or coerced into giving up these (EVMs and paper trail machines) and starting the era of ballot boxes,” he said.“Why have we made it (EVM) like a football, and doing a motivated slugfest over it,” he wondered. His remarks came days after a cyber expert claimed the machines can be hacked and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were rigged. Delhi Police has since lodged an FIR against unknown persons and is investigating the case based on the complaint filed by the poll panel. Following his claims, several opposition parties have demanded the use of ballot papers in the coming Lok Sabha polls.PTI
EVM hacking row: SP asks EC to use ballot papers for 2019 polls
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/evm-hacking-row-samajwadi-party-asks-ec-to-use-ballot-papers-for-2019-polls-5553693/
Lucknow:Citing “doubts and controversy” surrounding EVM machines, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav has requested Election Commission to conduct the next polls through ballot papers.“SP has asked the EC to conduct next elections through ballot papers.There are doubts and controversy related to EVMs that have raised question mark on entire democratic exercise of polls,” Akhilesh said.“Technology is being misused for political purposes and there is no doubt regarding this. Technological literate society should also raise their voice against misuses of EVMs. Use of ballot papers in elections strengthens relations between the state and common man. The trust is basis of democracy and it is necessary for the country”, he said.PTI
Revoke voting rights of those who have more than 2 kids; Ramdev
https://scroll.in/latest/910630/revoke-the-voting-rights-of-those-who-have-more-than-two-children-says-ramdev
Yoga guru Ramdev has suggested revoking the voting rights of those who have more than two children as one of the means of controlling the country’s population, ANI reported. He suggested that the Govtwithdraw the eligibility of such people to contest elections and restrain their access to public education and health services. India is expected to surpass China as the most populous country by 2024.scroll
BJP received 80% of 6 national parties’ income from unknown sources in 2017-’18: Report
https://scroll.in/latest/910637/bjp-received-80-of-six-national-parties-income-from-unkown-sources-in-2017-18-report
The source of around 53% of the income of six national political parties in the last financial year is untraceable, Association for Democratic Reforms said. BJP alone accounted for as much as 80% of such income.The Association for Democratic Reforms is a nonprofit that works on political accountability. Its researchers studied the tax returns and donation reports filed with the Election Commission by BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, Trinamool Congress and CPI. 7th national party, CPI (Marxist), was not covered in the study as its schedules and annexures were unavailable for 2017-’18. 6 national parties earned Rs 1,293 crore in 2017-’18, of which Rs 689 crore was declared as income from unknown sources, the report said. BJP earned Rs 553 crore from unknown sources, the Congress Rs 120 crore, and the rest Rs 16 crore. The share of the parties’ unknown income from electoral bonds was Rs 215 crore.scroll.in
Lankesh’s murder not related to EVM ‘hacking:sister
https://scroll.in/latest/910675/gauri-lankeshs-murder-not-related-to-evm-hacking-says-sister-kavitha-lankesh
Sister of Gauri Lankesh has refuted a self-proclaimed cyber-expert’s claims that the journalist was murdered because she knew about the alleged hacking of electronic voting machines ahead of 2014 General polls and had agreed to write an article on it, PTI reported on Wednesday. “I am aware of it and I think it is completely false,” said Kavitha Lankesh. “I don’t know why it was said like this. I don’t believe my sister was targeted for that at all.”Lankesh was shot dead on the evening of September 5, 2017, outside her house in Bengaluru. So far, 16 people have been arrested in connection with the murder, and the Special Investigation Team has filed a 9,235-page chargesheet against 18 people.scroll.in
Muslims should vote for AAP; we will support Cong if it forms govt at Centre: AAP MLA Amanatullah
https://www.abplive.in/india-news/muslims-should-vote-for-aap-we-will-support-congress-if-it-forms-govt-at-centre-aap-mla-amanatullah-khan-903193
New Delhi:AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan on Wednesday said that Muslim voters should elect AAP in Delhi and if Congress wins at the Centre, "it will draw our support". The major statement by AAP’s Amanatullah Khan was made in the presence of Chief Arvind Kejriwal at the Delhi Waqf Board meeting. Kejriwal also said that his party will support anyone except Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. CM also reportedly said that "TV channels may call it Modi vs Rahul but the fact is BJP would be defeated by AAP and not by Congress in the national capital."If I felt the Congress could win, AAP would give them all the seven seats (in Delhi) and leave the contest in their favour. Congress cannot win even a single seat in Delhi," Kejriwal said.Explaining "vote mathematics" to the Imams, Kejriwal pointed out that in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had won all the seven seats in Delhi by polling 46 % votes, whereas the AAP had got 33 % and the Congress 15 % votes.abp news
Malegaon blast: court order to permit photocopies as secondary evidence not valid,says HC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malegaon-blast-case-bombay-high-court-5553128/
Mumbai :Bombay High Court has said that the order passed by the trial court to permit the use of photocopies as secondary evidence appears to be non est (not valid) in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.A division bench of Justice A S Oka and Justice A S Gadkari was hearing a bunch of appeals filed by one of the accused in the case, Sameer Kulkarni. He has challenged the decision of the special NIA court, permitting NIA to bring photocopies of missing witness statements on record and lead evidence in support of the same. Counsel told the court that the order passed by the trial court is an interlocutory order, no appeal could have been filed against it. For a long time, photocopies are used by the accused for various hearing, therefore, they could not have objected.Justice Oka said: “This order (of trial court) prima facie appears non est.Question is who took these photocopies? Who is this person who has taken the photocopies? Is he examined?” He added: “There has to be basic finding (by the trial court) that these are copies taken from originals.” The court has posted the matter on February 5 for final orders.In April, 2016, the trial court had been informed that original documents, including 13 witness statements recorded before magistrate under Section 164 of CrPc, and 2 statements of accused recorded under MCOCA, were untraceable.indianexpress
Delhi: JeM suspect arrested for allegedly planning attacks on R Day
https://indianexpress.com/article/delhi/jem-member-jaish-e-mohammad-man-arrested-planning-attacks-republic-day-delhi-5553966/
A JeM suspect has been arrested on charges of planning to carry out terror strikes in Delhi during Republic Day celebrations, Delhi Police officials said.Abdul Latif Ganai, alias Umair alias Dilawar, was arrested by Delhi Police’s Special Cell late night on Jan.20,they said.indianexpress
Delhi minister Gahlot slaps notice on law secretary in JNU sedition case
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-minister-kailash-gahlot-slaps-notice-on-law-secretary-in-jnu-sedition-case/story-7P1NGOZdGYLBLbEPoSM67K.html
Delhi law minister Kailash Gahlot has issued a show cause notice to the principal secretary (law) for clearing the sanction to prosecute former JNU students of sedition without his approval, and has written to the Delhi high court chief justice, apprising him of the matter. The case relates to anti-national slogans allegedly raised in February 2016 on JNU campus. Ex-JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar is among those named in the charge sheet.Gahlot said the prosecution file would now have to be sent back to the law department for review. File on prosecution sanction is presently with Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain, who received it on Monday after the high court rapped Delhi Police earlier this month for filing a charge sheet without the government’s approval.Under CrPc, in cases of sedition, the police have to obtain sanction from the state Govtbefore filing a charge sheet, without which the court cannot take cognisance of the document.HT
Supreme Court Grants Bail to 4 Convicts in 2002 Naroda Patiya Riots Case, Doubts Their Conviction
https://www.news18.com/news/india/supreme-court-grants-bail-to-4-convicts-in-2002-naroda-patiya-riots-case-doubts-their-conviction-2010719.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the release of four convicts on bail in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case.At least 97 Muslims were killed in Ahmedabad’s Naroda Patiya area on February 28, 2002, when a mob of thousands descended upon the locality, and murdered them. The incident was one of the worst cases of mob violence during the Gujarat riots. In the Naroda Patiya case, the Gujarat High Court had last year convicted Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, but acquitted former BJP minister Maya Kodnani for want of evidence. On Tuesday, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar granted bail to four convicts on the chief grounds that the High Court verdict of conviction was “debatable” and that they should be released on bail since their appeal would take much time for disposal. In three bail orders, the Supreme Court has expressed serious doubts over the conviction. All these accused were held guilty under Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) of the IPC,along with other provisions relating to unlawful assembly. The bench released Umeshbhai Surabhai Bharwad, Rajkumar, Padmendrasinh Jaswantsinh Rajput and Harshad alias Mungda Jila Govind Chhara Parmar on bail after imposing ordinary conditions to be laid out by the trial court. news18
Effigies of PM, home minister torched in massive protests against citizenship bill in Mizoram,Guwahati
http://caravandaily.com/portal/thousands-take-part-in-protests-against-citizenship-bill-in-guwahati-mizoram/
Guwahati:Thousands of people gathered at a playground in Assam capital to participate in a protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 as AASU resolved to organize a community and village-level meetings against contentious Bill. Mass demonstration programme titled ‘Bajraninad’ (voice of thunder) was supported by at least 30 organizations of northeastern states, political parties and people from different walks of life. “We have agreed to accept the burden of illegal immigrants who came till 1971 as part of the Assam Accord. When the accord was presented in Parliament, BJP leaders such as Atal Behari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani supported it.Now Govtwants to grant citizenship to those who came after 1971. We are not going to accept that,”said AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya. He termed the BJP-led Govtat the Centre as well as in Assam as protector of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. He said the BJP spoke for the protection of indigenous people before the polls, but concentrated on illegal Bangladeshis after victory in polls. caravandaily
Notice for rallies at large, not against 'Tiranga Yatra', clarifies AMU
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/notice-for-rallies-at-large-not-against-tiranga-yatra-clarifies-aligarh-muslim-university/353392
New Delhi: A day after a row broke over AMU issuing a show-cause notice to students who had organised a Tiranga Yatra in campus, the university administration has clarified that the denial was, in fact, directed towards any rally within the campus and not specifically for the Tiranga rally. Proctor of the university said that the notice was issued to students as classes are in full swing and rallies could have caused a disturbance. "We didn’t issue a notice regarding a ‘Tiranga Yatra.’ We issued a notice to students, as classes were in full swing and rallies would've caused a disturbance. They asked permission for the rally and we denied. We issued show cause notice when they took out rally without permission,"AMU Proctor was quoted as saying by ANI."There was no permission and their step was illegal. On 26 Jan.and 15 August, every year University holds one week programme, the students should participate in that. Show-Cause notices have been issued and action would be taken against them as per the university rules,” Omar Saleem Peerzada, PRO, AMU was quoted as saying by ANI. He stressed that the students had violated the rules of the university.Yesterday AMU issued a show cause notice to students for taking out a “Tiranga Yatra”on bikes inside campus. Notice issued by the proctor sough a reply within a day.Times Now
Nazir Wani to be conferred with Ashoka Chakra
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ashoka-chakra-lance-naik-nazir-ahmad-wani-5552977/
India’s highest peacetime gallantry medal, the Ashoka Chakra, will be awarded posthumously to Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who laid down his life during an anti-terror operation at Batagund village in J&K’s Shopian in Nov.last year.“Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani exhibited the most conspicuous gallantry in personality eliminating two terrorists and assisting in the evacuation of his wounded colleagues and made supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army,” a press release from the President’s Secretariat said. indianexpress
Pravasi Bharatiya awards: IMF chief economist, VHP founder in Australia among awardees
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pravasi-bharatiya-samman-awards-imf-chief-economist-vhp-founder-in-australia-among-awardees-5553116/
Varanasi:A founder president of VHP in Australia, a former president of a Hindu temple and cultural centre in Canada and a president of Ramakrishna Centre in South Africa are among those who won Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards, which were given away by President Ram Nath Kovind. Awards were conferred at the valedictory session of this year’s Pravasi Divas on the concluding day of the three-day event. IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath, who criticised demonetisation, won the award, but was not present at the event. Among the 30 awardees are Nihal Singh Agar, founding president of VHP in Australia between 1990-2005, and Ramesh Chotai,ex president of Hindu Mandir in Canada.indianexpress
Jaitley unwell, Goyal fills in for him ahead of interim budget: ndtv
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/piyush-goyal-given-temporary-charge-of-finance-ministry-days-ahead-of-interim-budget-1982256
9 days ahead of the interim budget, Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has been given the temporary charge of the Finance and Corporate Affairs ministries. He is filling in for Union minister Arun Jaitley, who is away in US for medical treatment. Sources said Jaitley has undergone a surgery and is unlikely to present the budget, due on Feb.1.Last year too, Goyal had filled in for Jaitley for nearly three months when the Union finance minister underwent a kidney transplant surgery.
WORLD
Venezuela cuts US ties citing its support for 'coup' attempt
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/venezuela-cuts-ties-citing-support-coup-attempt-190124062525471.html
Venezuela's embattled leader Nicolas Maduro severed relations with US and ordered American diplomats out of the country, accusing Washington of orchestrating a coup d'etat after an opposition leader publicly announced he was now president.In a televised broadcast from the presidential palace, Maduro accused the opposition of seeking to stage a coup with the support of the US, which he said was seeking to govern Venezuela from Washington."We've had enough interventionism, here we have dignity, damn it," said an angry Maduro."Here is a people willing to defend this land," said the beleaguered leader, flanked by top Socialist Party officials as riot police clashed with opposition supporters in capital.Earlier on Wednesday, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in an address to tens of thousands of people on the streets of Caracas.aljazeera
US: 4 men arrested, charged in apparent terrorist plot against muslim community in upstate New York
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/four-men-arrested-charged-in-apparent-terrorist-plot-against-muslim-community-in-upstate-new-york-5551280/
A seemingly offhand remark in a high school lunchroom set off an investigation that uncovered an arsenal of weapons and a plot to attack a Muslim enclave in upstate New York, law enforcement officials said.The comment was made by a 16-year-old student at Greece Odyssey Academy in Greece, New York.On Friday, he showed classmates a photo of someone and said that person looked like a potential school shooter, authorities said.3 men were charged with plotting to attack a rural upstate New York Muslim community with explosives, authorities said Tuesday.The statement alarmed fellow students, who reported it to school officials. The local police became involved and started interviewing people at the school to determine whether there was a potential threat.The threat, it turned out, came from 16-year-old whose comments had triggered the probe, authorities said.He and 3 young adults stockpiled 23 firearms and 3 homemade bombs as part of a plan to target the secluded Muslim enclave of Islamberg, arural settlement about 150 miles northwest of New York City, authorities said.The men, Vincent Vetromile,19, Brian Colaneri, 20, and Andrew Crysel, 18, all from suburban Rochester, New York, were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy, according to court documents.NYT
‘ Turkey open to working with others on Syria safe zone’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/cavusoglu-turkey-open-working-syria-safe-zone-190124080227516.html
Turkey has the capacity to create a "safe zone" in Syria on its own but will not exclude the us, Russia or others if they want to cooperate, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.Cavusoglu added that Turkey was in indirect contact with the Syrian government, without providing details. He also said Ankara and Moscow were on the same page regarding a Syrian political solution aside from the issue of whether President Bashar al-Assad should stay in office, commenting on a meeting between Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. aljazeera
‘UN rapporteur on Khashoggi case to visit Turkey’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/cavusoglu-rapporteur-khashoggi-case-visit-turkey-190124091434131.html
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday it is time for an international investigation to be launched into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, adding that a US special rapporteur on the case will visit Ankara soon. Cavusoglu said President Tayyip Erdogan ordered preparations to be made to carry the case to an international level.Meanwhile, speaking at World Economic Forum in Davos today, Saudi Finance Minister said Riyadh will make sure justice will prevail in the Khashoggi trial in his country, adding that he was sad about what happened to the journalist.aljazeera
British MPs, lawyers request access to 'tortured' Saudi activists
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/british-mps-lawyers-request-access-tortured-saudi-activists-190124101619296.html
A cross-party group of British politicians and international lawyers has said it remains committed to visiting eight female activists in Saudi Arabia, some of whom were jailed and allegedly subjected to torture after campaigning for the right for women to drive.Crispin Blunt, head of Detention Review Panel, said today that the group planned to produce a detailed report on their findings, following accusations that the rights activists were tortured with electric shocks and flogged with an egal, a rope that some men in the Gulf wear to keep their headdress in place."We believe it would be a wise thing for Saudi Arabia to officially engage with us and enable us as a panel to consider their side of the story," Blunt said.Several international human rights groups have alleged that the activists were subjected to sexual harassment, threatened with rape and prevented from accessing lawyers.aljazeera
Israel pilots invite Saudi Crown Prince to visit
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190124-israel-pilots-invite-saudi-crown-prince-to-visit/
Meidan Bar, head of the Israeli Airline Pilots Association, sent a letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, praising him and inviting him to visit Israel.In the letter, published in Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post,Bar wrote:“You and I are about the same age, which is the average age of pilots flying for a typical Israeli commercial airline.”“We can both agree that it is very likely that pilots our age who work for Israeli airlines have a high chance during their lifetime of benefiting from the regional geopolitical developments that will permit them to fly over Saudi Arabia after passing through Jordanian airspace on their way to Qatar and on to India.”Bar went on to call on the crown prince “to make a change” and invited “the pilots of Saudi Arabia to join us as guests of honor” at Israel Aviation Conference in May.“We are reaching out a welcoming hand to you and are offering Saudi Arabia a flight plan for flying over Israeli airspace,” he added.MEMO
Pakistan: 5 counter-terror officers to face murder charges for deaths of civilians in ‘encounter’
https://scroll.in/latest/910602/pakistan-five-counter-terror-officers-to-face-murder-charges-for-deaths-of-civilians-in-encounter
Head of the Counter Terrorism Department and three other officials in Pakistan’s Punjab province have been removed in connection with the shooting last week in which a family was killed, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Pakistani authorities will charge 5 police officials with murder. On Jan.19, the counter-terrorism officials shot at a car they claimed was being used by a leader of the IS group in the province.A couple, identified as Mohammad Khalil and Nabeela, and their 12-year-old daughter were also killed in the shooting with suspect. The couple’s son was injured in the incident. 3 children survived the firing.“The operation was conducted with criminal negligence by CTD officials,” Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan said, according to Reuters. “CTD also misled the Govtabout facts... and kept changing statements.”scroll
Malaysian royals pick new king after surprise abdication
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/malaysian-royals-pick-king-surprise-abdication-190124085312520.html
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of central Pahang state has been named Malaysia's new king, replacing Sultan Muhammad V who abdicated unexpectedly after just two years on the throne.Sultan Muhammad V, 49, resigned on January 6 as Malaysia's 15th king, cutting short his five-year term in the first abdication in the nation's history. No reason was given, but it came after he reportedly married a 25-year-old former Russian beauty queen in November. Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, a keen athlete who holds a string of positions on sporting bodies, including at the world football governing body FIFA, was elected as the new king on Thursday during a special meeting of Malaysia's Islamic royalty."[Abdullah] has been chosen as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ['He Who Is Made Lord' in Malay] for a period of five years starting from January 31," said a statement from the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.aljazeera
Hindu body urges Australian central bank to print ‘beef-free’ currency notes
https://scroll.in/latest/910673/hindu-body-urges-australian-central-bank-to-print-beef-free-currency-notes
A Hindu outfit has urged Reserve Bank of Australia to print “beef-free” bank notes and has taken objection to cow fat being used in their production, the Daily Mail Australia reported.New $20 notes are due to be introduced this year and $100 notes next year.Tallow, rendered from beef fat, is used as a “slip agent” to keep the notes anti-static, Bank of England said on Twitter in 2016. It added that there was a “trace” amount of the substance in its polymer notes. At the time, news site SBS reported that Australian bank notes also contained tallow.In a letter to the Australian Central Bank, Rajan Zed, the President of the US-based Universal Society of Hinduism, asked officials to “show respect to the feelings of Hindus and come up with a banknote production process that does not use beef as an ingredient”.He also sought PM Scott Morrison’s intervention, saying it was “highly insensitive on the part of the RBA to continue with reportedly beef-laced banknotes”.scroll.in
flash: views & NEWS
Numerous cases of UP Police falsely implicating, arresting Muslims under charges disproportionate to crime, reveals report:a Kunal Purohit (This is third article of a six-part series from the site of 13 recent hate crimes in UP; read Part I and Part II.)
https://www.firstpost.com/india/numerous-cases-of-up-police-falsely-implicating-arresting-muslims-under-charges-disproportionate-to-the-crime-reveals-report-5951521.html
Not EVM again: Accusers swap places with accused, and controversy goes on: S Y Quraishi
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/not-the-evm-again-hacking-controversy-cyber-experts5552948/
Our broken republic: Attacks on Muslims,Dalits have grown alarmingly since 2014:Editorial, telegraph
https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/as-india-celebrates-republic-day-a-reminder-that-attacks-on-muslims-and-dalits-have-grown-alarmingly-since-2014/cid/1682468
‘Surgical strike, Congress’ Plan B’: Cartoonists explain Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into politics
https://scroll.in/latest/910641/surgical-strike-congress-plan-b-cartoonists-explain-priyanka-gandhis-entry-into-politics
Priyanka Sets Cong Agenda: Brahmin, Naujawan, Kisan and Musalman:M. Anas
http://caravandaily.com/portal/priyanka-sets-cong-agenda-brahmin-naujawan-kisan-and-musalman/
Sohrabuddin Encounter:How CBI Judge Played Devil’s Advocate to Protect Powerful:Safi H Jannaty
http://caravandaily.com/portal/sohrabuddin-encounter-how-cbi-judge-played-devils-advocate-to-protect-the-powerful/
SC verdict! Child born of Muslim father,Hindu mother can claim share in father’s property:By: Swapna Raghu S
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/landmark-judgment-child-born-of-muslim-father-and-hindu-mother-can-claim-share-in-fathers-property/1453753/
MP Govt to Withdraw ‘False’ Cases Against Farmers, Dalits, Muslims and Christians:Newsclick Report
https://www.newsclick.in/mp-govt-withdraw-false-cases-against-farmers-dalits-muslims-and-christians
Hate Crime In UP: Fear, Distrust, Justice Delayed, Denied:Kunal Purohit
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/hate-crime-in-uttar-pradesh-fear-distrust-justice-delayed-denied
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:55 PM)
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