NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
16 Feb. 2019: 10 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11, No:129
INDIA
Jamaat-e-Islami expresses grief over loss of lives in Pulwama attack
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has severely criticized the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement to the media on Friday, JIH President Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umarisaid: “the path of violence and killing can cause death and destruction but will not lead to solution of problems’’.Maulana Umari continued: ‘It is very painful to hear that 44 CRPF soldiers had to lay down their lives yesterday. Instead of vitiating the atmosphere, efforts should be made to restore peace and security in the area and this is possible only through negotiation and dialogue. This will lead to the solution of the grievances of the Kashmiri people and help create a climate of peace and stability.’’ He said: “we appreciate the move by the government of India to carry out a thorough investigation into the reasons for the attack. This may uncover the truth behind the incident. We may be able to find the motive behind the attack, whether it was meant to spoil the atmosphere in Kashmir or to wreckthe relations between India and Pakistan or whether it was a big conspiracy to damage the climate of peace and coexistence in our country just before the general polls. We express our deepest condolences for the soldiers and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured’’.newsdigestdaily.in
"Entire Nation Speaks In One Voice": All-Party Resolution On Pulwama
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pulwama-terror-attack-rajnath-singh-briefs-leaders-at-all-party-meet-in-delhi-1994497
New Delhi: Putting up a strong bipartisan front, political parties in the opposition and the government said India was determined to fight terrorism in a resolution adopted at the end of an all-party meeting this morning to discuss the Pulwama attack that left 40 security personnel dead.Underscoring their solidarity with security forces for defending the country's unity and integrity, the parties, including the BJP and the Congress, passed a resolution condemning the terror attack and support being given to it from across the border.The resolution did not name Pakistan but asserted that India has been facing the menace of the cross-border terrorism which of late, it added, is being actively encouraged by forces from the neighbouring country.NDTV
Differences persist at all-party meet: "Think of strategy beyond Surgical strike", says Sena
http://www.uniindia.com/news/india/differences-persist-at-all-party-meet-think-of-strategy-beyond-surgical-strike-says-sena/1501894.html
New Delhi:Notwithstanding a united face displayed by political parties and also the government after the all-party meet here on Saturday, certain differences did surface during the deliberations. Parties like Trinamool Congress and NC reportedly 'watered down' all-party resolution while Sena MP Sanjay Raut told journalists that "Surgical strike is a thing of past and perhaps inadequate"."If surgical strike was good enough deterrent for Pakistan than Pulwama would not have happened," he remarked.At the meeting convened by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, several opposition parties maintained that PM Narendra Modi should have chaired the all-party meeting. In fact, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress later said, 'We have requested the Home Minister to request PM to meet party presidents of all national and regional parties for a meeting. This was supported by other parties too".This stance was endorsed by D Raja of CPI, who said Prime Minister should meet all parties including regional and smaller parties. Shiv Sena nominee at the meet Sanjay Raut upped the ante against Pakistan "in specific sense and and more ways than one" and said it is high time PM 'walks the talk'.D Raja also said that issues concerning 'communal tension' in Jammu region and in some other places - especially against Muslims - also figured at the deliberations."Home Minister Rajnath Singhji assured that communal harmony should be maintained in all places," Raja said.There were also reports that NC and Trinamool Congress suggested at the meeting that there should be a 'watered down' version of the official resolution.BJP sources have, however, insisted that the purpose of the meeting was to adopt an unanimous resolution. "We achieved that mission," another source said.UNI
Pulwama: Omar Abdullah shares disappointment after all-party meet did not include call for calm
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pulwama-attack-omar-abdullah-shares-disappointment-after-all-party-meet-did-not-include-call-for-calm-2720761
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed disappointment over a resolution passed in an all-party meeting in Delhi for not including in it an appeal to maintain calm in the wake of violence in Jammu and tension in other states over the Pulwama terror attack."Disappointed the resolution did not include a call for calm despite reports of violence in Jammu & tension in university/college campuses in some states. I would have expected an appeal for calm to have gone with the condemnation & condolences," Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter.DNA india
Pulwama: Ensure security of students, residents belonging to J&K, MHA tells states
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pulwama-attack-jammu-kashmir-terrorism-safety-security-mha-5587191/
New Delhi:In the wake of Pulwama terror attack, the Union Home Ministry Saturday issued an advisory to States and Union territories to ensure safety and security of students and people from Jammu and Kashmir residing in their area after reports of threats to them in some parts of the country.The advisory came hours after Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured an all-party meeting of doing the needful for the protection of the Kashmiri students and people.indianexpress
Pulwama attack: Curfew imposed in Jammu after rightwingers attack Muslim colonies, properties
http://twocircles.net/2019feb15/429300.html
Following the dastardly attack in which 49 CRPF Jawans were killed in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, communal tensions ran high in Jammu following which a curfew has been imposed and internet services have been stopped in the region.On Friday, members of certain Hindu right-wing parties went on a rampage and damaged property and burning vehicles belonging to the Muslims in the region. What was even more worrying is that the mobs managed to do so even though there was a curfew imposed in the region as the security forces preferred to look the other way, say the residents. Reports suggested that there were mob attacks in Gujjar Nagar area where several vehicles were damaged by stone pelters who burnt tyres and put up barricades in various parts of Jammu. Various news reports claimed a dozen people had been left injured. 2 army columns have been sent to stage flag march and maintain peace, according to officials. According to information provided by TCN correspondents, such incidents seem to be happening in different pockets of Jammu city inhabited by Muslims. He added that the Muslims are terrorised and feeling helpless as the police are doing nothing to stop them. “The right-wingers are using the tragic incident of CRPF convoy bombing as an opportunity to set the stage for the coming parliamentary and assembly elections by polarising the communities as was done in 2008 in Amarnath land row agitation,” said correspondent.TCN
Curfew in Jammu After Mob Violence Over Pulwama, Army Called in Amid Fears of Communal Backlash
https://www.news18.com/news/india/curfew-in-jammu-city-after-protests-over-pulwama-attack-army-asked-to-help-2037687.html
Concern in Valley over ''threats'' to Kashmiri students, traders outside State
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panic-grips-kashmir-after-distress-call-from-students-traders-living-outside/article26291021.ece?homepage=true
Terror attack should not be an excuse to persecute or harass people from J-K: Mehbooba Mufti
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/terror-attack-should-not-be-an-excuse-to-persecute-or-harass-people-from-j-k-mehbooba-mufti-5587271/
Srinagar :Ex-J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti has cautioned that mischievous elements must not be allowed to use Pulwama attack as “an excuse to persecute or harass people” from the state, saying the pain of the killings of CRPF personnel must not fuel “such diabolical plans”. “Understand the pain & (and) anguish. But we musnt (must not) allow such mischievous elements to use this as an excuse to persecute / harass people from J&K. Why should they suffer for somebody else’s action? We need to be united instead of letting people exploit our fears,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.Her remarks came following violent protests in Jammu and reports of Kashmiri students being targeted in colleges and universities at some places outside the state.PTI
Pulwama attack: Mehbooba appeals Rajnath to provide security in backward area of J-K
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pulwama-terror-attack-mehbooba-mufti-appeals-rajnath-singh-to-provide-security-in-backward-area-of-j-k-119021501247_1.html
Saffron Activists Storm Educational Institutes in Dehradun Seeking "Ouster" of Kashmiri Students
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/saffron-activists-storm-educational-institutes-in-dehradun-seeking-ouster-of-kashmiri-students
Dehradun:Police was put on alert in Dehradun after dozens of right-wing activists on Friday stormed several educational institutes here and sought "ouster" of Kashmiri students in the wake of the deadly Pulwama attack."We have deployed our police force around certain educational institutes and put our police force on alert," said DGP Law and Order.The activists belonging to Bajrang Dal and VHP stormed Rash Behari Bose University and allegedly vandalized some furniture and broke window panes after a Kashmiri student, who allegedly made offensive comments on the social media. Similar protests were seen outside some other educational colleges also. However, police denied any reports of vandalism.K Aysir Rashid, who was perusing a medical course from Rash Behari Bose University in Dehradun, was placed under suspension after he made some offensive comments on Pulwama attack, university authorities said."We received a message on WhatsApp which read 'Happy today, aaj to chicken dinner ho gaya'. This message has already gone viral. It is natural that the message should be linked to the Kashmir attack," University Registrar said in a note to Rashid.IANS
Pulwama: NIA submits primary report to MHA, security forces launch manhunt to nab Ghazi
https://www.newsx.com/national/pulwama-terror-attack-nia-submits-primary-report-to-home-ministry-security-forces-launch-manhunt-to-nab-abdul-rasheed-ghazi
The security forces have begun a massive manhunt for Abdul Rashid Ghazi who is a trained Afgan IED expert and a trusted lieutenant of JeM chief Masood Azhar. Abdul Rashid Ghazi is said to be the main conspirator in the Pulwama attack. Meanwhile, NIA has submitted its primary report to MHA. The security forces have traced Ghazi’s location somewhere in the jungles of Tral region in Kashmir. NSA began its probe on Friday along with Jammu and Kashmir Police and detained seven people soon after it began its investigation. Mobile net services have been suspended in valley,reports said.NewsX
NDTV suspends editor for FB post on Pulwama
http://www.jantakareporter.com/entertainment/ndtv-suspends-editor-for-facebook-post-on-pulwama/232537/
NDTV has suspended one of it editors for a social media post on Thursday’s terror attack that killed 42 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The editor in question is one Nidhi Sethi, who had taken to her personal Facebook page to post about the Pulwama attack using a hashtag #HowstheJaish, which was a spin off version of hashtag #HowstheJosh, a popular dialogue from a recent hit Bollywood film Uri The Surgical Strike. The film was based on India’s so-called response to Pakistan in 2016 through a surgical strike targeting militants across LoC.Nidhi had written, “Where a grisly 44 has been proven to be greater than mythical 56 #HowstheJaish.” The use of Jaish was in reference to Jaish-E-Mohammed. Condemning her action, NDTV tweeted on Friday,“NDTV strongly condemns what a Deputy News Editor of our website posted on her personal Facebook page about the tragic and dastardly Pulwama attack. She has been suspended for 2 weeks, effective immediately,while company’s Disciplinary Committee weighs further action.”jantakareporter
Pak rejects link to Pulwama attack, calls it a 'matter of grave concern'
https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/pakistan-rejects-link-to-pulwama-terror-attack-calls-it-a-matter-of-grave-concern/story/318901.html
Pakistan has said the attack in Pulwama is "a matter of grave concern" even as it strongly rejected Indian media and govt's allegations of the country's link to the strike "without" probe.Attack in Pulwama is "a matter of grave concern",Pakistan Foreign Office said. Asserting that Pakistan has "always condemned acts of violence" anywhere in the world, it said, "We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in Indian media and govt that seek to link the attack to Pak without investigations."PTI
Pulwama Attack: India Withdraws Pakistan's Most-Favoured Nation Status
https://thewire.in/security/pulwama-attack-india-withdraws-pakistans-most-favoured-nation-status
New Delhi: India withdrew the ‘most-favoured nation’ status to Pakistan following the deadly Pulwama terror attack and said it will take all steps to isolate the neighbouring country globally.In a media briefing after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS), finance minister Arun Jaitley said all efforts will be made to ensure that perpetrators of the attack are brought to book.“The most favoured nation status to Pakistan stands revoked,” he said after the CCS meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence.Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status is given to a trade partner to ensure non-discriminatory trade between two countries. India granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996.PTI
Why India Revoking Pak 'Most Favoured Nation' Status is More Symbolic Than Economic:Anuj Srivas
https://thewire.in/trade/why-india-revoking-pakistans-most-favoured-nation-status-is-more-symbolic-than-economic
Support India's Right To Self-Defence: US to Doval
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/we-support-indias-right-to-self-defense-us-national-security-adviser-john-bolton-to-ajit-doval-1994423
US NSA John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval that America supports India's right to self-defence after 2 officials discussed the Pulwama attack. Bolton telephoned Doval on Friday to express his condolences for the terror attack and offered US' full support to India in confronting terrorism."I told Ajit Doval that we support India's right to self-defence. I have spoken to him twice, including this morning...and expressed US' condolences over the terrorist attack," he said.PTI
China condemns Pulwama attack, says no to calling Masood Azhar global terrorist
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pulwama-terror-attack-china-reacts-masood-azhar-1456838-2019-02-15
Beijing:China has condemned the Pulwama terror attack carried out by a Jaish suicide bomber but once again declined to back India's appeal to list the Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN."We are deeply shocked by this attack. We express deep condolences and sympathy to the injured and bereaved families," spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang told a media briefing here.When asked about China's stand on the listing of Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council, he said: "As for the issue of listing, I could tell you that the 1267 Committee of Security Council has a clear stipulation on the listing and procedure of the terrorist organisations".PTI
AMU student booked for hailing Pulwama attack
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/amu-student-booked-for-hailing-pulwama-attack/articleshow/68007673.cms
A Kashmiri student of AMU, identified as Basim Hilal, was booked by the district police for hailing the Pulwama attack, in a tweet. He was also suspended from the university pending an inquiry. In a tweet, Hilal, who is pursuing BSc in mathematics, wrote, “How’s the Jaish? Great Sir” and used the hashtags ‘Kashmir’ and ‘Pulwama’. Hilal was apparently referring to a dialogue from the recent Bollywood film Uri, which is based on the Army’s 2016 surgical strikes in Pakistan.The tweet was, however, not available later as Hilal presumably deactivated his account.The student was immediately suspended by AMU for committing acts of “indiscipline and misconduct”. He was also barred from entering the campus. Varsity’s spokesperson Shafey Kidwai said, “It’s highly objectionable that such a post was put on the social media against our martyred soldiers.” TOI
Lucknow college student rusticated, arrested for messages against slain troopers
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lucknow-student-rusticated-arrested-for-messages-against-slain-troopers/story-eXRNsUDCv66lO4m5DOKCoN.html
Lucknow: UP police arrested a student of a Lucknow college on Saturday shortly after he was rusticated for allegedly posting messages on WhatsApp against CRPF troopers killed in Pulwama.Ahead of the arrest, police had also registered a case against the student of Jai Narain Post Graduate College under IT Act.“Rajab Khan, who was pursuing BA first year was rusticated for his derogatory post,” said principal SD Sharma. Sharma said Rajab, son of labourer Anis Khan, had posted WhatsApp messages against the slain CRPF troopers and added that the college reported the matter to police.Ahead of his arrest from the Krishnanagar locality, Rajab had switched off his phone.HT
Muslim bodies condemn Pulwama suicide bombing
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/muslim-bodies-condemn-pulwama-suicide-bombing-119021501267_1.html
New Delhi: A number of Muslim organisations and leaders on Friday condemned the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir and underlined that the entire nation was standing with the security forces in this hour of grief.Delhi's Shahi Imam Maulana Ahmed Bukhari in a statement extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.He also raised questions over the security arrangements in the Kashmir Valley as well as on the efficiency of intelligence agencies "which seemed to lack coordination among themselves".Jamiat Ulama leader Maulana Mahmood Madani too strongly condemned the attack and asserted that such terror strikes contradicted the holy spirit of Islam. Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat President Naved Hamid said "condemnation" would be a small word to denounce such a horrendous attack.IANS
What was NSA, intelligence doing, asks Mamata on Pulwama attack
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pulwama-terror-attack-what-was-nsa-intelligence-doing-asks-west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee/story-Cy0SEVPRRa8MpffML2wI5I.html
Howrah:West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has hit out at the intelligence department as she expressed her grief over the demise of 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama attack.She said: “People are asking what was NSA and intelligence doing? This is an intelligence failure. Why were so many vans going together when there is a security threat?”“We condemn any terror attack. I don’t want to discuss foreign affairs. But if Pakistan has done something, strong action should be taken,” she added.ANI
Pulwama attack bomber’s funeral held sans body:HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pulwama-terror-attack-suicide-bomber-s-funeral-held-sans-body/story-A606sa8sH8elAZb9aCPS3H.html
Pulwama:The family and relatives of Adil Ahmad Dar, suspected suicide bomber who rammed an explosive-laden SUV into a security convoy, killing 40 CRPF personnel at Lethpora area in Pulwama, held a funeral on Friday without any body.All the shops lining the road leading to Dar’s village in Kakapora area of Pulwama were shut and security forces had laid a blockade a few kilometres ahead of the village to stop vehicles from moving towards the village. Despite the restrictions, hundreds of people managed to reach the village and participate in the funeral that was held at a nearby school ground.“We did not get any body or body parts. Police said there is nothing to give. There is no grave,” he said.Adil’s father Ghulam Hassan Dar said his son was a simple boy. “He was very religious and would often help his mother in her work,” he said. He suspected an incident in his school days which might have changed his mind.“Once he was returning from school when was detained by the police and asked to rub his nose on the ground. It was humiliating experience for him and he used to remember the incident every now and then,” said Ghulam Hassan.HT
Delhi HC declines urgent hearing to plea seeking use of ‘martyred’ instead of ‘killed’ for soldiers
https://scroll.in/latest/913490/delhi-hc-declines-urgent-hearing-to-plea-seeking-use-of-martyred-instead-of-killed-for-soldiers
Delhi High Court on Friday refused to urgently hear a petition seeking orders that the media refer to deaths of security personnel not as “killings” but in a way to show they were “martyrs”, PTI reported.The petitioner mentioned the plea in the afternoon, but the bench expressed anger over the demand for urgency. “It is already 2.30 pm and you want us to burden a judge to hear it when there is no urgency in the matter,” the court said. “This is not a plea seeking bail. Someone’s liberty is not at stake. Not today. There is no urgency. It will be listed on Monday in normal course.”IANS
"Can you blame entire nation?" Sidhu on Pulwama
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/navjot-sidhu-condemns-pulwama-attack-but-follows-up-with-controversial-remark-1994264
Navjot Singh Sidhu has condemned the terror attack on soldiers in Pulwam. But the Punjab minister, a Congress leader, landed in a huge controversy as he questioned, without naming Pakistan,"Can an entire nation be blamed for a handful of people?""It (attack) is a cowardly and dastardly act and I condemn it firmly. Violence is always condemnable and those who did it must be punished," said Sidhu.However, Sidhu followed that up by saying, "For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual?"Sidhu's comment on Friday created a storm on social media, with dozens of people on Twitter.ndtv
Pulwama attack: What has this bloodshed got to do with Kartarpur corridor, asks Sidhu
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pulwama-attack-what-has-this-bloodshed-got-to-do-with-kartarpur-corridor-asks-navjot-singh-sidhu/story-C0Bw0N2IfW1r2cfcGuS9CN.html
Pulwama attack: Prashant Bhushan says important to understand why so many young in Kashmir are becoming militants: Times Now
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pulwama-terror-attack-latest-updates-crpf-martyrs-death-toll-as-india-mourns-martyrs-prashant-bhushan-justifies-terror-cong-s-divya-spandana-endorses/366920
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan has said, “Pulwama bomber Adil Ahmad Dar became terrorist after he was beaten by troops. It is important to understand why so many young men in Kashmir are becoming militants and willing to die." "Even US forces couldn’t hold Afghanistan and Iraq after large-scale suicide attacks,” Bhushan posted on social media platform Twitter.Times Now
First time since 2000, more local recruits killed than foreign militants: J&K cops
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pulwama-attack-crpf-first-time-more-local-recruits-killed-than-foreign-militants-jk-cops-5586695/
For first time since 2000, the number of local militants killed in Valley in 2018 was significantly higher than the number of foreign militants shot dead by security forces.Of the 246 militants killed in different encounters, 150 were local residents and 90 foreigners, according to official figures available with J&K Police.indianexpress
Army Major Killed While Defusing Bomb In Jammu And Kashmir's Rajouri
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/army-officer-killed-while-defusing-ied-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-rajouri-1994639?pfrom=home-topscroll
Jammu: A Major-rank Army officer was killed and a soldier suffered injuries today while defusing an improvised explosive device at Nowshera sector in J&K’s Rajouri. Officer is from the Corps of Engineers. The explosive had been planted by intruders from Pakistan about 1.5 kilometres inside the Line of Control. Today's incident comes just 48 hours after more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the worst terror attack on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Ndtv
CBI Probe Ordered Against Nitish in Shelter Home Rape Cases
https://www.news18.com/news/india/cbi-probed-ordered-against-bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-in-bihar-shelter-home-rape-cases-2038587.html
Patna: A special court on the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) on Saturday ordered a CBI probe against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in connection with Bihar shelter home rape cases. The court also ordered an inquiry against Muzzaffarpur district magistrate Dharmendra Singh and principal secretary of Social Welfare Atul Prasad. The court in Patna passed the order on an application filed by an accused, Ashwani, a self-styled medical practitioner who allegedly used to inject the home's inmates with sedatives before they were subject to sexual abuse. Ashwani had alleged in his petition that CBI was "suppressing facts" in course of the investigation which would come to light if the roles of the above three were probed. POCSO judge Manoj Kumar directed CBI to conduct an inquiry against 3.Earlier, rebuking the Nitish Kumar government for not submitting details of shelter homes in Bihar, the SC had on Feb.7 transferred the trial into the sexual abuse of inmates at the Muzaffarpur home to the Saket court in New Delhi. News18
Rafale row: Bhushan moves SC, seeks prosecution of officers for submission of false info
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rafale-row-bhushan-moves-sc-seeks-prosecution-of-officers-for-submission-of-false-info/article26290267.ece?homepage=true
Prashant Bhushan, eminent lawyer activist, here on Saturday said he had moved Supreme Court, seeking prosecution of central government functionaries, who had furnished false information about Rafale deal to the SC. Bhushan and ex ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha are petitioners in the fresh applications filed before Supreme Court. Earlier, the three renowned public figures had filed a review petition against Supreme Court verdict on Rafale in Jan.last.“Centre has misled the Supreme Court by furnishing concocted facts. The information provided in sealed cover has been found to be untrue. It stated that government was in negotiation with Anil Ambani in 2012, but actually talks were held with other Ambani – Mukesh Ambani. Anil Ambani had nothing to do anything with negotiations in 2012,” said Bhushan addressing a press conference. “Govt had said price negotiation was done by price negotiating team. The recent expose, however, revealed that Prime Minister’s Office was involved in the negotiation. It was also furnished that the govt was able to secure best price for fighter jet. Now, what emerges now is that the assertion was baseless,” he said.“Now, we have pleaded Supreme Court to find out the government officer who had furnished false information and he or she should be prosecuted under forgery charges. Incidentally Attorney General had submitted the information in a sealed cover,” said the activist lawyer. “The deal was not a mere case of corruption. The decision has broken backbone of Indian Air Force. The IAF had sought seven to eight squadrons consisting of 126 fighter planes. The government, however, brought it down to 36. It was meant to benefit industrialist Anil Ambani. The government has tinkered with the national security,” alleged Bhushan.thehindu
SC adds petition challenging Centre's 1993 acquisition of Ayodhya case
https://www.firstpost.com/india/sc-adds-petition-challenging-centres-1993-acquisition-of-ayodhya-land-to-main-ram-janmabhoomi-babri-masjid-case-6093971.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday tagged to the Ayodhya case a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the 1993 law for acquisition of land, including the disputed site in Ayodhya.A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said the petition will be heard on the next date along with the main case.The petition was filed by 7 residents of Lucknow, including two advocates, Shishir Chaturvedi, and Sanjay Mishra, who said they were devotees of Lord Ram.The petition challenged the Constitutional validity of The Acquisition of Certain Area At Ayodhya Act, 1993 on the ground that Parliament has no legislative competence to take over/acquire the property belonging to the State.State Legislature has exclusive power to make provision relating to the management of the affairs of religious institutions working in the State, the petition added.The petition has also sought direction "to restrain the Central government and the Uttar Pradesh government from interfering in Puja, Darshan and performance of rituals at the places of worship situated within land admeasuring 67.703 acres acquired by Act particularly at the land belonging to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, Manas Bhavan, Sankat Mochan Mandir, Ram Janmasthan Temple,Janki Mahal and Katha Mandap."ANI
SC Refuses to Withdraw Judicial Work From Meghalaya HC Judge Over 'Hindu Rashtra' Remark
https://thewire.in/law/sc-meghalaya-high-court-judge-controversial-remarks
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to withdraw judicial work from Meghalaya high court judge Justice Sudip Ranjan Sen who had created controversy by his remarks that India should have been declared a ‘Hindu rashtra’ at the time of the Partition in 1947.A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked the petitioner, who has sought withdrawal of judicial work from Justice Sen, to amend the prayer and seek expunction of the controversial remarks in the judgment.Justice Sen had written in his judgement, “Pakistan declared themselves as an Islamic country and India since was divided on the basis of religion should have also been declared as a Hindu country but it remained as a secular country.“Even today, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos are tortured and they have no place to go and those Hindus who entered India during partition are still considered as foreigners, which in my understanding is highly illogical, illegal and against the principle of natural justice,” Justice Sen had said.PTI
Sedition row: Student bodies stand with AMU
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-student-bodies-stand-with-aligarh-muslim-university-2720550
Various student bodies expressed solidarity with AMU and called for the revocation of sedition cases against 14 students of AMU in a joint press conference held here on Friday. Uttar Pradesh police had booked 14 AMU students for sedition on Tuesday following a complaint filed by a local leader of BJP.Press conference was called by AMU Students Union, Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India and students of Delhi University, JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia(JMI). However, AMUSU office bearers who could not make it to the event claimed that they were "not allowed" to attend the press conference at Delhi. Hamza Sufyan, vice-president AMU Students' Union and Ferdous Ahmed, cabinet member alleged that while they were on their way to Delhi, they were stopped by UP Police at Tappal near Aligarh.Sufyan maintained that the cops "forcibly" sent them back. Ex- AMUSU president Mashkoor Usmani was also detained separately at Lodha for close to an hour.Meanwhile, speaking at the press conference, the student leaders said the law of sedition which is a draconian law can only be involved in cases where the sovereignty and integrity of the Union of India are threatened by violent acts."It is, however, unclear how the law of sedition was applied to a scuffle that happened at AMU campus, and that too applied not against the culprits but against the victims. It must be noted that among the 14 students against whom sedition case was filed, some were not even present in Aligarh at the time," Syed Azharuddin, general secretary, SIO said. The students also referred to recent media reports in which Police have stated to have found no evidence of sedition against AMU students. "The careless and casual manner in which sedition law was invoked shows the best attitude of UP police, and leaves us to believe that it was involved only to create a controversy and malign the image of the university," Meeran Haidar of JMI said. "This is not the first time that an unnecessary controversy is being created around AMU to polarise the society along communal lines. We condemn this action of UP govt and demand that the false case of sedition against 14 AMU students should immediately be revoked. We also demand that strict action should be taken against the ABVP and BJP youth wing activists who had created a right like the situation in the campus," Azharuddinn said. dnaindia
14 students booked: Muslim leaders say AMU being misused for polarisation
https://www.siasat.com/news/14-students-booked-muslim-leaders-say-amu-being-misused-polarisation-1467708/
Sedition: Massive demonstration at AMU; AMUSU office-bearers, students stopped from reaching Delhi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/sedition-row-massive-demonstration-on-amu-campus-amusu-officials-stopped-en-route-to-delhi
A massive demonstration was staged by students at the Aligarh Muslim University on Friday to protest the sedition case slapped against 14 of university’s students by UP Police.The protest saw large-scale participation from both male and women students, amid a large presence of paramilitary forces on the campus. On the same day, AMUSU office bearers bound for New Delhi to address a press conference on the sedition charges slapped against 14 of the university students by Uttar Pradesh Police were detained by local cops as they were making their way to the Capital.nationalheraldindia
‘Calling AMU Anti-national Is an Easy Option for Hindutva Forces:Teacher’s body
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/calling-amu-anti-national-is-an-easy-option-for-hindutva-forces-2038497.html
New Delhi: “Kabhi Jinnah, toh kabhi Mahender Pratap, kabhi sedition, toh kabhi pro-Pakistan,” says the president of AMU Teacher’s Association, Hamid Ali, on how the university is being targeted ahead of 2019 elections. The teachers’ body passed a resolution in its emergent meeting condemning the sedition charges slapped on 14 of its students and requested the President of India, visitor of the university, to take note of the situation that is demoralising the campus. news18
Appointment of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as Delhi Wakf Board chairman challenged in SC
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/appointment-of-aap-mla-amanatullah-khan-as-delhi-wakf-board-chairman-challenged-in-sc-119021500867_1.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought response from the Delhi government on a petition challenging the appointment of Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan as chairperson of Delhi Wakf Board on the grounds of alleged corruption and irregularities committed by him during his previous tenure.The apex court was hearing an appeal filed against the Nov.16, 2018 order of the Delhi High Court which had said that any relief under the Delhi Wakf Rules could be sought by approaching the Tribunal.A Bench comprising CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sasnjiv Khanna also issued notices to Khan and Delhi Wakf Board to respond to the petition challenging the high court order and the allegations raised in it.The petition filed by Mohd Irshad, a north Delhi resident, alleged that during the previous tenure of Khan as the member and Chairperson of the Delhi Wakf board, there were allegations of massive corruption, irregularities and illegalities against him.Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Pranav Sachdeva submitted that the AAP MLA was appointed as the member and chairperson of Delhi Wakf Board in violation of the principle of 'impeccable integrity and institutional integrity' laid down by the apex court.PTI
NCM forms new sub-committee to prepare report defining ‘minority’, criteria for determining minority status
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ncm-forms-new-sub-committee-to-prepare-report-defining-minority-criteria-for-determining-minority-status/articleshow/68012018.cms
New Delhi:National Commission for Minorities in a meeting of the full commission on Wednesday constituted a new sub-committee to prepare a report providing a comprehensive definition of ‘minority’ and deciding on the criteria for determining minority status of a community. In keeping with the Supreme Court order, NCM will submit its report within three months. NCM vice-chairman George Kurien will be leading this committee which also has on board NCM's Muslim and Sikh member representatives Atif Rasheed and Manjit Singh Rai. NCM head Ghayorul Hasan said that the commission on Wednesday decided that this committee will take into account the work done by the previous subcommittee that has been working on the same issue since Dec.2017. Kurien was leading that committee too. It is learnt that a draft report is in the works. Previous sub-committee was set-up by NCM in 2017 on the representation of BJP’s Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. He approached the apex court citing no response on the matter from NCM and the court direction on Monday came on his petition that pointed to Hindus being minorities in several states where other religious denominations were in greater numbers. The court ruled that it was for NCM to first take a call on the issue and asked commission to take a view on his representation. This freshly constituted committee, with Kurien and Rai bringing to the table all the work done by them in the previous sub-committee and the challenges that they faced, will now firm up its position on issue. Besides Kurien and Rai,Sulekha Kumbhare,NCM Buddhist member was part of the earlier sub-committee. TOI
Open Mosque Day’ in Pune seeks to promote peace and harmony: Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Pune
https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/open-mosque-day-seeks-to-promote-peace-and-harmony-says-karimuddin-shaikh-head-jamaat-e-islami-hind/story-0jAETCyJsAsxDuP6qyREQJ.html
Pune:Pune chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has organised an ‘Open Mosque (Masjid) Day’ at Azam Campus, Camp, on Feb.16 and 17 to promote peace and harmony and clear misconceptions and myths related to Islam and Muslims in general. People from different faiths have been invited to visit a ‘Masjid’ and see for themselves what a mosque is like and understand worship in Islam. Questions from the people visiting mosques would also be welcomed, said Karimuinddin Shaikh, head of Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, Pune chapter. He spoke to HT about the Open Mosque Day which would be held at Azam Campus on the weekend. Shaikh said, "This movement of keeping a mosque open and allowing people from any faith to enter is not new. It was started by Prophet Muhammad himself where he invited people to ask questions about Islam. We are following His footsteps and in today’s world, where people’s views are driven by viral messages doing the rounds on social media. It is now even more important for us to clear the myths and present the facts. Hence, this movement. This movement first began from South Africa in early 1950s and later slowed down. Now, times are such that we have to reiterate the teachings of Prophet and Islam and let people know that Muslims are peace loving people."HT
Day after launch by PM Modi, Train 18 breaks down 200 km outside Delhi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/train-18-breakdown-vande-bharat-express-engine-failure-5586740/
A day after it was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Train 18 broke down early on Saturday, leaving it stranded around 200 kms outside Delhi.Vande Bharat Express was being brought back to New Delhi from Varanasi for its first commercial run on Sunday when the brakes jammed in one of the last coaches.Indian Express was on board the train.The jammed brakes have been fixed and the train is on the way to Delhi at 100 kmph. Sources said that the train is supposed to reach the national capital by Saturday noon and is now fit for the commercial run on Sunday.Much before the train came to a dead halt, the last coaches of the Train 18 started making a rattling sound. Suspicious loco pilots decreased the speed for some time.Smoke was noticed and a foul smell was felt in the last four coaches. Power went out in all the coaches and the engineers restarted the train at 10 kmph.indian express
Kerala local body bye-polls: CPI(M)-led LDF wins 16 seats, BJP gets none
https://scroll.in/latest/913485/kerala-local-body-bye-polls-cpi-m-led-left-democratic-front-wins-16-seats-bjp-gets-none
Ruling LDF in Kerala, led by CPI(M), on Friday won 16 of 30 seats in the bye-elections conducted for local bodies across the state, PTI reported. Congress-led UDF bagged 12 seats, while BJP failed to win any seat.The saffron party had been at the forefront of the protests after the Supreme Court’s verdict last year that allowed women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on the other hand, had declared that LDF government was constitutionally bound to implement the top court’s orders. scroll.in
Kottiyoor rape case: Catholic priest gets 20 years in jail for raping minor
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kottiyoor-rape-case-catholic-priest-gets-20-years-in-jail-for-raping-minor/story-Wm39CZmNYg9Qdzd3M1GiTO.html
Thiruvananthapuram:A special court in Thalassery (Kannur) has awarded 20-year rigorous imprisonment to Father Robin Vadkumcherry (51),senior Catholic priest, for sexually assaulting a minor girl for more than 4 years.However the court acquitted 6 others - 4 nuns, a priest, and an employee of the orphanage - who faced charges of covering up the crime for want of evidence. Pocso Court has also ordered criminal proceedings against the victim’s parents who turned hostile later.Though the quantum of punishment is more than 60 years, the priest can serve it concurrently but the court made it clear it should not be less than 20 years. HT
Lucknow: Fire breaks out at mosque in Rampur, probe begins
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/lucknow-fire-breaks-out-at-mosque-in-rampur-probe-begins-5586674/
Lucknow:A fire broke out inside a mosque at Ratanpura village under Azeemnagar police station area of Rampur. Azeemnagar SHO Rajeev Chowdhary said locals spotted smoke emanating from the structure and found that religious books and a floor mat were afire. Several people from the village and neighbouring areas staged a protest. They demanded action against culprits who allegedly set the place on fire. The protest was called off after the police promised to take action after probe. An FIR was lodged against unidentified persons on a complaint filed by a resident, Maulana Ashaf Hussain,said Rajeev.Police were deployed at Ratanpura village. Rampur SP said a probe is on. indian express
Meghalaya: 2 Lynched, Another Critically Injured in Mob Attack
https://thewire.in/rights/meghalaya-two-lynched-another-critically-injured-in-mob-attack
Shillong: Two persons were lynched by an angry mob in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district and another was critically injured, police said Friday.The incident took place at Chanangpara village after the locals were alerted about the suspicious movement of the trio in their car, they said.A mob of over a 1000 people stopped the car and when they found weapons – a dagger and rods – inside the car trunk, the occupants of the car were fatally attacked leaving two of them dead and one seriously wounded, according to eyewitnesses.While the victims ran to take shelter in the house of the nokma (village chief), the crowd barged into the house and dragged them out before thrashing them.One Mokibul Akond died on the spot while Mikseng Marak was declared brought dead at the hospital, said district superintendent of police M.G.R. Kumar.PTI
Kargil's Mass Protest in Sub-Zero Temperatures Over Leh's HQ Status Continues
https://thewire.in/government/kargils-mass-protest-in-sub-zero-temperatures-over-lehs-hq-status-continues
Jammu: The decision to make Ladakh an administrative division – on par with the two divisions of J&K – with its headquarters in Leh, has sparked fury in other parts of the region.Protests began in Kargil last week, the second district within Ladakh, to demand that the HQ rotate between the two towns.The new division is to be established on Feb.18.Kargil has experienced a complete shutdown for 6 consecutive days. Hundreds of people took to the streets to demand a rotational divisional HQ. Swagat Viswas,newly-appointed divisional commissioner of Ladakh, was not allowed to enter Kargil.Chain protests continue on the streets despite temperatures as low as -17 degree Celsius.thewire
80-90% of Child Labourers in Telangana Belong to SC, ST Communities: Survey
https://thewire.in/rights/child-labourers-telangana-sc-st
New Delhi: A sample survey by Telangana labour department has found between 80-90% of child labourers in the state belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.According to The News Minute, the first phase of the survey across 10 districts in 56 mandals identified 9,724 child labourers. Most of these children do not go to school and are predominantly from marginalised communities, the survey found.The pan-state survey is being conducted in association with the Centre for Economic and Social Studies. The labour department will release complete findings by the end of April.A labour department official told The News Minute said the fact that between 80-90% of the child labourers are from SC/ST communities is a “shocking find”. “This is just a sample survey, the numbers would go up if this was a comprehensive study. This also raises many questions on why only children from SC/ST communities are involved in child labour, it’s not like upper castes don’t have poor people but their children are not engaged in child labour,” the official said.thewire
Jaipur councillors allege 500 cow deaths at Hingonia centre, seek action
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/jaipur-councillors-allege-500-cow-deaths-at-hingonia-centre-seek-action-5586692/
Jaipur :Hundreds of cows have allegedly died in the past few days at the Hingonia Cow Rehabilitation Centre in Jaipur, with the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) suspending two officials and a group of councillors staging protests.The protesting councillors claimed that around 500 bovines have died of starvation at the centre in the past five days.“In the past five days, 500 cows have died at the Hingonia Cow Rehabilitation Centre. Akshay Patra Foundation, which manages the centre, didn’t feed the animals for the past several days as they are saying they didn’t receive payments from the JMC,” alleged BJP councillor Anil Kumar Sharma. Sharma said councillors have demanded action and that cases of cow slaughter should be lodged against those who were responsible for alleged deaths.indianexpress
7 Rohingya Muslims nabbed at BIAL
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/seven-rohingya-muslims-nabbed-at-bial/articleshow/68013146.cms
7 arrested persons are Salma Begum, Mohammed Tahir, Omkar Farook, Mohammed Halek, Rehana Begum, Mohammed Mustaf and Rajat Mandal. According to the police, the accused were refugees from Myanmar and had been residing in Hyderabad for some time. Halek, one of the accused, had created fake visas and passports for all of them. They were trying to travel to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia but were nabbed at the Bengaluru International Airport. A case against the accused has been lodged at the Airport Police Station. An official of the Airport Police Station said it was the first time that Rohingya muslims had been nabbed at BIAL. The official said the accused could not speak either English or Hindi. The immigration officials at the airport detected that their documents were fake and reported the same to the police. economic times
WORLD
After Pakistan, Saudi crown prince postpones visits to Indonesia, Malaysia
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/after-pakistan-saudi-crown-prince-postpones-visits-to-indonesia-malaysia/story-mLPW3LwUpj4fpL9EEcQggO.html
Jakarta:Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is postponing his trips to Indonesia and Malaysia, according to Indonesia’s foreign ministry.No reasons were given for the postponement of the trip during which he was scheduled to sign several agreements in Indonesia. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia will continue to communicate on a new schedule for a visit and better outcomes, the ministry said on its website.The prince -- the kingdom’s de facto ruler -- is also scheduled to visit China, India and Pakistan as part of an Asian tour where he is expected to sign a slew of bilateral investment agreements. Saudi Arabia is looking eastward after a troubled year for its relationships with the U.S. and Europe as the alliances were shaken by the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul.Bloomberg
Saudi Crown Prince Postpones Pak Visit By A Day, In India Next Week
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/a-day-after-pulwama-attack-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-cuts-short-pakistan-visit-1994393
Afghan Taliban representatives likely to meet Saudi crown prince in Pakistan: SourcesWorld
https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/afghan-taliban-representatives-likely-to-meet-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-in-pakistan-sources/366954
Peshawar: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is likely to meet Afghan Taliban representatives during his visit to Pakistan starting on Sunday, Pakistani government sources said, part of efforts to broker an end to Afghanistan's 17-year-old civil war. Pakistan has been playing an increasingly vital role in the Afghanistan peace talks, which have been gathering momentum in recent months amid a growing U.S. desire to pull out its troops.Along with other Gulf countries, Saudi has been part of the peace negotiations and is seen to have some sway over the Afghan Taliban militants due to Riyadh's historical ties with the hardline Islamist group and the kingdom's religious clout as the birthplace of Islam.Two senior Pakistani officials said the crown prince was likely to meet Afghan Taliban representatives in Islamabad, where the militants, fighting to restore strict Islamic rule in Afghanistan after their 2001 ouster, say they are due to meet US representatives and Pakistani PM Imran Khan."Though it is top secret so far, there are strong indications representatives of the Afghan Taliban will meet Prince Salman during their visit of Pakistan on February 18," one of the Pakistani officials in Islamabad said.A senior Taliban leader in Qatar said no decision had been made on whether they would meet the crown prince. "Actually meeting Prince Salman is not in the plan so far but we can discuss it when we are in Islamabad,"said Taliban representative.Reuters
Pak Jamaat chief welcomes visit of Saudi Crown Prince
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/432330-siraj-welcomes-visit-of-saudi-crown-prince
Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) Senator Sirajul Haq while welcoming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to the country has expressed the hope that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will join hands to pull the Muslim world out of the mire of problems.In a statement, he said that Saudi and Pakistan were linked together in eternal bonds and the relations between them were time old and unshakable. The two countries were like two bodies with a single soul, he added.JI chief said that late King Faisal Shaheed considered Pakistan as his second home and the grand Faisal Mosque and the International Islamic University in Islamabad were the manifestations of his love for this country. Sirajul Haq said both the countries were centre of the Muslim Ummah’s hope. He said the Saudi Crown Prince’ visit to this country was happy news for the entire Muslim world. He said that Saudi being the custodian of the Haramain e Sharifain was the real leader of the Muslim world. the news
Bangladesh Jamaat leader Barrister Abdur Razzaq resigns; Jamaat expresses pain
https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/191193/Jamaat-leader-Abdur-Razzaq-resigns
https://bdnews24.com/politics/2019/02/15/barrister-razzaqs-resignation-hurts-jamaat-e-islami
Dhaka: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdur Razzaq has resigned from his position citing his party’s failure to apologise to the people of Bangladesh for its anti-independence role in 1971.“Yet, in 1971, our predecessors opposed the independence of Bangladesh and failed to publicly protest against the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army,” Razzaq said in a press statement.In a letter sent from the United Kingdom, he tendered his resignation to Maqbul Ahmed, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat.In his resignation letter, Razzaq observed that ‘over the last 3 decades he has been trying relentlessly to persuade Jamaat to have a frank discussion of the events of 1971, Jamaat’s role in those events and why it decided to support Pakistan and apologise for that decision.’Razzaq further said all his efforts were unsuccessful and that as a result, those who were born after 1971 and even many unborn generations who may be associated with Jamaat in future will have to bear this burden.Razzaq also stated that after joining Jamaat, one of his objectives was to reform the party from within.Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat has expressed pained over the resignation of Abdur Razzaq.He will always remain a “beloved friend” to Jamaat, Secretary General Shafiqur Rahman said in a statement.“We are pained and hurt at his resignation. We pray for his health and wellbeing,” Shafiqur said. Razzaq headed legal battle to get top Jamaat leaders cleared of war crimes charges. Remembering Razzaq’s contribution to the party “with due respect”, Jamaat secretary general said, “We hope our friendly relations with him will continue.”Prothom Alo/bdnews24.com
UN, partners appeal for $920 million to meet dire needs of 900,000 Rohingyas
https://www.businesstoday.in/top-story/un-partners-appeal-for-920-million-to-meet-dire-needs-of-900000-rohingyas/story/319272.html
US aid agencies and partners have appealed for USD 920 million to help meet the "dire needs" of more than 900,000 Rohingyas who have fled to Bangladesh to escape the violence in Myanmar's restive Rakhine State, triggering one of the world's worst refugee crises. According to UN estimates, over 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh, where they joined roughly 200,000 others already sheltering there, since August 25 last year when the army launched a military crackdown.PTI
Myanmar sentences 2 to death for murder of Muslim lawyer who advised Suu Kyi
https://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-lawyer-verdict/myanmar-sentences-two-to-death-for-murder-of-muslim-lawyer-who-advised-suu-kyi-idINKCN1Q40TD
Yangon:A Myanmar court has sentenced two men to death for the murder of a prominent Muslim lawyer, Ko Ni, who was an adviser to government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and an advocate for reforming a military-drafted constitution.Ko Ni, 63, was shot dead at Yangon International Airport just over two years ago. 2 men were also jailed for their involvement in the murder, which raised concern about Myanmar’s transition to democracy after decades of military rule.A panel of judges at Yangon’s northern district court sentenced gunman Kyi Lin and a former military officer accused of hiring him, Aung Win Zaw, to death for killing Ko Ni, said Judge Ye Lwin, who was not directly involved in the case but announced the verdict to reporters.Judges sentence convicts to death for crimes including murder, but no sentences have been carried out for decades.Reuters
US joins Turkey in decrying plight of Chinese Uighurs
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-joins-turkey-in-decrying-plight-of-chinese-uighurs/1393830
Ankara:US Embassy in Ankara joined Turkey on Friday in slamming China’s systematic assimilation policy towards Uighur Turks. “#USA agrees w/ @MFATurkey's assessment,” the embassy in Turkey said on Twitter, sharing a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement saying: “It is no longer a secret that more than one million #Uighur Turks incurring arbitrary arrests are subjected to torture & political brainwashing in internment camps and prisons.”Last week, ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy called China’s assimilation policy towards Uighur Turks “a great embarrassment for humanity.”China’s Xinjiang region is home to around 10 million Uighurs. Anadolu
Mass Internment Camps for Muslims in China: Daily Brief
https://www.hrw.org/the-day-in-human-rights/2019/02/15
Trump declares Emergency to fund border wall on Mexican border
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/trump-declares-emergency-to-fund-border-wall-on-mexican-border
President Donald Trump declared a State of Emergency on Friday to fund his campaign promise of building a wall on the Mexican border after the Congress resolutely refused to give him the money he wanted.Trump backed away from his threat to again shutdown the government if the legislature did not vote $5.7 billion for the border wall and approved the bipartisan funding bill without the allocation, and instead resorted to the Emergency.He cited the drug-smuggling problems and the "15,000" people who came to the border in convoys from Central America and are camped there hoping to cross the frontier, as reasons for his Emergency.Unlike in India, an Emergency of the type that Trump is planning does not bring sweeping powers or allow suspension of civil rights and arbitrary arrests, but only enables limited action in govt operations.IANS
Islamic State far from defeated: Top US general
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/islamic-state-far-from-defeated-top-us-general-119021500858_1.html
US commander who has been leading the war against the Islamic State (IS) said on Friday that he disagreed with President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria and warned that the terror group was far from being defeated.Joseph Votel, the Pentagon commander in charge of American forces in the Middle East, told CNN from Oman that he would only have declared that the IS had been defeated, as Trump did in December, if he was sure they no longer posed a threat."When I say, 'we have defeated them', I want to ensure that means they do not have the capability to plot or direct attacks against the US or our allies," Votel said. "They still have this very powerful ideology, so they can inspire."The general added that the US-backed forces on the ground in Syria were not ready to handle the threat of IS on their own.IANS
Israel is ‘Middle East country’: Oman
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-is-middle-east-country-oman/1394831
Oman considers Israel a “Middle East country”, Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi said Saturday."But I think (Israel) may be worried about the consequences It will bear if it is recognized as a Middle East country," he told Deutsche Welle television.Bin Alawi said his country will continue to support mediation between the Palestinians and Israel with a view to reaching a solution to their conflict, but without giving any further details.On the Iranian issue, he said "Our relationship with Iran will continue and our brothers in the Gulf know that." Bin Alawi met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Warsaw on Thursday on the sidelines of a conference on stability in the Middle East, co-organized by the U.S. and the Polish government.Anadolu Agency
Warsaw conference: Gulf ministers slam Iran in leaked video
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/warsaw-conference-gulf-ministers-slam-iran-leaked-video-190215155253690.html
PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office has leaked video of Gulf Arab ministers slamming Iran during a closed-door session of a Middle East conference in Warsaw, Israeli media reported on Friday.Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states that do not recognise Israel sent top diplomats to attend this week's conference alongside Netanyahu, something the prime minister and his US ally have talked up as a new regional axis against Iran.Israeli correspondents who travelled with Netanyahu to the two-day conference said PM had hinted to them during a briefing that his staff had footage of Gulf ministers addressing a session on Iran on Wednesday. Israel's Maariv newspaper reported the following day, "PMO posted [and shortly thereafter deleted] a video from the closed introductory panel about Iran".aljazeera
Merkel, Pence clash on Iran deal at Munich
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/merkel-pence-clash-iran-deal-munich-conference-190216115506690.html
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended the nuclear deal with Iran that severely limits its ability to produce enriched uranium in the face of strong opposition from US.While there is agreement with the US on the aim of putting Iran under pressure over its nuclear programme, there is a difference of opinion on the means, the chancellor told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.The deal needed to be preserved to prevent Iran building a nuclear weapon, and this "small anchor" should be used to pressure Iran in other areas, Merkel said.aljazeera
Gunmen kill 66 in Nigeria ahead of vote
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/gunmen-kill-66-nigeria-kaduna-state-vote-190215192550760.html
Abuja:Gunmen have killed more than 60 people during attacks on two communities in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna state.A govt statement, which confirmed the attacks, said security personnel had been "deployed to the area and arrests have been made". "Security agencies today reported the recovery of 66 bodies that were killed in attacks by criminal elements on various dispersed hamlets in Maro Gida and Iri axis of Kajuru," Kaduna governor's spokesperson Samuel Aruwan said."Among victims were 22 children and 12 women. Four wounded persons rescued by the security agencies are now receiving medical attention," he added.aljazeera
Nigeria: Opposition parties lambast delayed presidential poll
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/nigeria-opposition-parties-lambast-delayed-presidential-poll-190216131725679.html
Abuja, Nigeria - Hours before Nigerians were due to head to the polls to choose their next president and parliamentary representatives, the country's electoral commission pulled the plug, announcing a one week delay.At a press conference on Saturday morning, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, announced that the vote would be delayed until February 23 to resolve all logistics problems.The move has left opposition supporters and members of civil society disillusioned. "INEC's shocking announcement has far-reaching consequences on the integrity of the elections, the confidence of citizens on its abilities and could potentially dampen the enthusiasm of millions of Nigerians who have eagerly waited and prepared to participate in today's elections," the civil society group, Election Network, said.aljazeera
15 Egyptian troops killed, injured in Sinai attack
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/15-egyptian-troops-killed-injured-in-sinai-attack/1394716
CAIRO:At least 15 Egyptian troops were killed and injured in a militant attack in Egypt’s restive Sinai Peninsula, according to the military on Saturday. In a statement, military spokesman Col. Tamer Rifai said militants attacked a security checkpoint in the northern Sinai Peninsula. 7 militants were killed in an exchange of fire with Egyptian forces, during which 15 troops were killed and injured, the spokesman said, without giving further details. Anadolu Agency
Amnesty slams Egypt 'ban' on families visiting prisoners
https://www.france24.com/en/20190215-amnesty-slams-egypt-ban-families-visiting-prisoners
Rights group Amnesty International has slammed a "ban" it said Egyptian authorities have imposed on family visits to scores of detainees.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has regularly been accused by rights groups of repressing opponents.At least 60,000 have been detained in a crackdown since Sisi took power after leading the military ouster of president Morsi in 2013, according to another campaign group, Human Rights Watch.Amnesty said it had obtained "an official document which confirms there is an open-ended ban on family visits in a number of sections at two major prison complexes in Cairo and Alexandria"."These sections are known to house people being held in pre-trial detention and prisoners convicted for expressing their political opinions or otherwise exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Amnesty said in a statement.The number of prisoners affected at the Tora prison in Cairo and the Borg al-Arab in Alexandria was "not clear", it added."Egyptian prison authorities must urgently lift the cruel and punitive restrictions on family visits," said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty's campaign director for North Africa.Amnesty said human rights lawyer Mohamed Ramadan, political activist Shady al-Ghazali and satirist Shady Abu Zeid are among those recently denied family visits. Former president Morsi "has only been allowed 3 visits since he was first detained more than five years ago", it said.AFP
Egypt seizes assets of Brotherhood supporters
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/egypt-seizes-assets-of-muslim-brotherhood-supporters/1393759
CAIRO:A Cairo court has ruled to confiscate the assets of hundreds of people and companies suspected of supporting and funding the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, Egypt’s flagship state daily Al-Ahram reported. Although the court ruling was issued on Dec. 3 of last year, it has not been reported by Egyptian media until now.The ruling calls for the seizure of assets from 614 individuals, 268 financial entities and 30 hospitals accused of “belonging to, supporting or funding the Muslim Brotherhood group”.Seized assets, Al-Ahram reported, will be placed in the Public Treasury.The ruling is not, however, final, and can still be appealed before a higher court.Anadolu Agency
Former preacher of Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Siam dies in Sudan
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/former-preacher-of-aqsa-mosque-dies-in-sudan/1394506
Gaza City:Former preacher of East Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Mohammed Siam, has died of a stroke in Sudan. "Seyam has passed away at a hospital in Sudan," Palestinian resistance group Hamas said in a statement on Saturday. "Sheikh Siam was a great Palestinian leader, a great scholar, an Arab writer and a symbol of the Palestinian people," it added. A former rector of the Gaza-based Islamic University, Siam was deported by Israeli authorities in 1988 to Sudan on claims of authoring Hamas statements and membership in the group. In 1994, he left Sudan to Yemen, where he served as president of the Palestine League and a representative of Hamas. He also served as the dean of the Abdullah al-Ahmar Institute for Jerusalem Studies in Yemen.Following the outbreak of the Yemeni conflict in 2014, Siam returned to Sudan where he remained until he passed away on Friday. Anadolu AgencY
flash: views & NEWS
Pakistan Is Ensuring Modi’s Victory By Using JeM, Its ‘Sword Arm’: Christine Fairupdated
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/pakistan-using-jaish-e-mohammad-modi-general-elections
Fake Picture of Rahul Gandhi ‘Meeting’ Pulwama Attacker Goes Viral
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/congress-rahul-gandhi-photo-morphed-adil-ahmad-dar-pulwama-attack-fake-news
Remembering Shahid Azmi, the man who gave his life for Muslims trapped in false terror cases
https://www.siasat.com/news/remembering-shahid-azmi-man-who-gave-his-life-muslims-trapped-false-terror-cases-1467214/
What Ayodhya needs now is healing, not compromise:Rajmohan Gandhi
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ram-temple-ayodhya-dispute-babri-masjid-1992-elections-2019-bjp-rss-reconciliation-with-honour-5586541/
AMU sedition case shows Indians are quick to get offended, makes compelling case for deletion of provision:Adit S Pujari
https://www.firstpost.com/india/amu-sedition-case-shows-indians-are-quick-to-get-offended-makes-compelling-case-for-deletion-of-provision-6099511.html
Covering Pulwama Attack, Has the India Media Acted Responsibly?VIVEK KATJUUPDATED
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/pulwama-attack-crpf-media-coverage
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:04 PM)
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