NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
05 March 2019: 27 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11, No:143
INDIA
US tries to safeguard Afghan peace push from India-Pakistan crisis
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/us-tries-to-safeguard-afghan-peace-push-from-india-pakistan-crisis-1470093-2019-03-04
Washinton:US is trying to prevent simmering tensions between India and Pakistan from impacting a third country: Afghanistan, where a fragile peace push is underway to try to end over 17 years of war with Taliban insurgents.US President Donald Trump's administration has been publicly focused on lowering tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals since Pulwama attack, triggered the first Indian air strikes inside of Pakistan since a 1971 war. Senior US officials said that as the country spoke with senior Pakistani officials, emphasizing the need to lower the risk of conflict with India, Islamabad privately offered warnings on Afghanistan. Pakistani officials said their ability to support Afghan peace talks could be in jeopardy in the event of a full-blown crisis, US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity."They'll stop being a facilitator, they will stop the pressure they are applying" on Taliban, one US official said, recounting Pakistani warnings conveyed to Washington. Pakistan has publicly denied any role in the bombing. Pakistan, long at odds with US over the war in Afghanistan, has played a behind-the-scenes role in supporting US peace talks with Afghan Taliban, including by facilitating travel to negotiations.Current and former US officials caution that Islamabad could again choose to act as a spoiler."I don't believe that Pakistan has the capability to straight out make peace happen in Afghanistan, but they definitely have capability to make peace not (happen)," said Laurel Miller, ex senior State Department official.A Pakistani official in Washington, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that unless the tensions were reduced, there was a "very strong likelihood" that Pakistani troops would be moved from the border with Afghanistan to reinforce positions near India.Pakistan's UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said that Islamabad's focus could completely shift to its eastern border with India."If the crisis with India continues, Pakistan will be obliged to keep our entire focus on our Eastern border. That may affect our efforts on our Western front," Lodhi said. Pakistani official in Washington said Pakistan had not been focused on Afghanistan since tensions with India increased last month, and it would have implications for peace talks. Some current and former US officials say Islamabad may be over-stating the risks of fallout on Afghan peace talks, which resumed over the weekend in Doha. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they noted that Islamabad has its own self-interests in mind as it seeks to influence peace process in neighbouring Afghanistan. But other US officials acknowledge a major crisis involving India would be all-consuming for Islamabad, and say it's another reason why lowering tensions is so important. Veteran diplomats say that if US pushes Pakistan too hard on combating militants, Islamabad could diminish its support for the peace process.Dan Feldman, ex US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said many of the Pakistani officials who dealt with India were also responsible for Afghanistan, and that tensions could impact peace talks.Reuters
All options open if there's another terror attack from Pak: Sources
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/all-options-open-if-theres-another-terrorist-attack-from-pakistan-sources-2002976
New Delhi: The military phase of the strike back against Pakistan-based terror is over and efforts are now on to step up diplomatic pressure on Islamabad.A fresh initiative is on by the permanent members of UNSC to blacklist Jaish chief Masood Azhar and India is directing all its efforts in that direction. Also, if there's another terrorist attack from Pakistan, all options are on the table, sources said.The comments from sources came as Pakistan claimed that India has kept up its attempts to use force and that an Indian submarine had entered its waters. Rubbishing Islamabad's claims, sources said Pakistan was trying to "deviate attention" by suggesting that India is continuing to threaten them. Pakistan's claim today that they shot down a Sukhoi, is a "total lie", a source said."India also reaching out to other countries outside UNSC... telling the international community if this is Naya Pakistan with a Naya Soch, we expect to see action," an official said. ndtv
Pak Navy claims it thwarted Indian submarine from entering its waters
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pakistan-navy-claims-it-thwarted-indian-submarine-from-entering-its-waters/article26436848.ece?homepage=true
Karachi: Pakistan Navy today claimed it had thwarted an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter the country’s territorial waters.The report comes after tensions flared up between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following the Pulwama attack claimed.Pakistan Navy also shared a footage with the media, which it said was “actual”. The image showed that the footage was made at 2035 hours on March 4.“Pakistan Navy used its specialised skills to ward off submarine, successfully keeping it from entering Pak waters,” a spokesperson said.PTI
Navy Chief warns of terror attacks via the high seas
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-navy-chief-warns-of-terror-attacks-via-the-high-seas-2726595
India's Naval chief has said Pakistan based terrorists are planning attacks via the high seas. Naval Chief Sunil Lanba speaking at an event in Delhi said, "We also have reports of terrorists being trained to carry out attacks with varying modus operandi including through the medium of the sea." Slamming Pakistan for its support to terror, Lanba said, "India faces a far more serious version of terrorism called 'State-Sponsored Terrorism'. You have all witnessed the horrific scale of the extremist attack in J&K just 3 weeks ago. This violence was perpetrated by extremists aided and abetted by a state which seeks to destabilise India."dnaindia
Days after India dossier, Pakistan detains 2 relatives of Masood Azhar
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-detains-relatives-masood-azhar-jaish-e-mohammad-5612348/
New Delhi:Amid mounting pressure from the global community to rein in groups, Pakistan today detained 44 members of proscribed organisations, including two relatives of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar. Among those detained were Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar, brothers of JeM chief, Pakistan Interior Ministry said.The development comes 2 days after India handed over a dossier to Pakistan with “specific details of JeM complicity in Pulwama attack and the presence of JeM camps and its leadership in Pakistan”.Interior Ministry said that dossier shared by India also contained names of Rauf and Hammad Azhar.indianexpress
Heard huge explosion, soldiers evacuated us: Jaish madrasa student in Balakot told relative:report
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/heard-huge-explosion-soldiers-evacuated-us-jaish-madrasa-student-in-balakot-told-relative-5611162/
Mumbai : Within hours of the Indian air strike at Balakot, soldiers of the Pakistan Army evacuated students from the Jaish-e-Mohammad madrasa in the area and kept them in a safe house for some days before sending them back to their homes.Indian Express has learnt this from a relative of a student present in the madrasa at the time.This is the first direct account to emerge from Madrasa Taleem-ul-Quran, a prominent Jaish seminary in the Balakot area — located on top of a ridge called Jabha Top. The soldiers had been providing security to the Jaish facility for a week or so before the strike, the relative said.As narrated by the student to his family members, it was still dark on the morning of Feb.26 when he and some others who were sleeping in the same room were woken up by a “massive exploding” sound.“The sound was not far away, it was quite close,” the relative told Indian Express, recalling the student’s account. They woke up in panic but they heard nothing again and went back to sleep. “They thought unka veham hoga (it must have been their imagination). Or that perhaps it was an earthquake tremor. Then they heard nothing more and went back to bed”.When they woke up again — the relative did not know when but said it must have been for or before the fajr prayers, the first of the day — there were soldiers asking them to leave the place.“Soldiers took them to another location,” the relative said but did not know where they were evacuated. Students were kept there “for 2 or 3 days”. The student told his family members that soldiers had been posted at the madrasa a few days before this incident took place.indianexpress
Not aware of any request from the US on F 16: Pak envoy to US
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/not-aware-of-any-request-from-the-us-on-f-16-pakistan-envoy-to-us/article26436592.ece?homepage=true
Pakistan’s envoy to US Asad Majeed Khan has said he is not aware of any request made by US about the use of F-16 fighter jets by his country in the recent aerial confrontation with India. Indian Air Force displayed parts of an AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile as evidence to “conclusively” prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets during an aerial raid targeting Indian military installations in Kashmir after India’s air strike in Balakot.Pakistan today categorically said that no F-16 fighter jets were used and denied that one of its planes had been downed by IAF. PTI
Shiv Sena joins Oppn chorus, says citizens have right to know casualties in IAF strike
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/shiv-sena-joins-oppn-chorus-says-citizens-have-right-to-know-casualties-in-iaf-strike/story-Lik990uRyP1bJZ8qn7I5iJ.html
Shiv Sena today said that Indians have a right to know about the casualties in the airstrike in Pakistan. Opposition parties have also been asking BJP-led NDA Govt to reveal the exact number of terrorists killed in the air strike.Sena in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana asked, “The question that how many terrorists were killed in the airstrikes is not just being asked by the political opponents of Modi. The media of England, USA, etc too have raised this question. Citizens of the country have the right to know what and how much harm has been caused to the enemy by the defence forces. We do not think the morale of our forces is being lowered by asking for it.”HT
Opposition chorus grows for proof of air strike
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/opposition-chorus-grows-for-proof-of-air-strike-in-pakistan/story-Emw7ww3w5YYsHZ2jPlNBXN.html
Is Amit Shah accusing Army of lying on Balakot: Kejriwal
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/is-amit-shah-accusing-army-of-lying-on-balakot-arvind-kejriwal-5611055/
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has questioned BJP president Amit Shah over his claim that over 250 terrorists were killed in the Balakot air strikes, and contrasted it with the position of IAF chief B S Dhanoa that Air Force does not count casualties.Kejriwal tweeted that Shah’s claim amounts to saying that the Indian Army was “lying”, as it goes against the version of the Armed forces. Dhanoa Monday said that the IAF was primarily concerned with whether its fighter jets hit the targets or not.“Does according to Amit Shah the armed forces are lying? The army has clearly said that whether someone died or not, or how many died, cannot be said. Is Shah accusing the army of lying for political benefits? The country has faith on its army. Do Shah and the BJP not have faith on it? (sic)” he tweeted.indian express
Govt stand on death toll in IAF Pak. strike same as one given by Foreign Secretary: Sitharaman
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/balakot-air-strike-was-not-a-military-action-says-defence-minister-nirmala-sitharaman/article26437080.ece?homepage=true
Chennai:Govt of India’s position on the number of terrorists killed at Balakot in IAF strike was the same as the one provided by Foreign Secretary in his statement, which “didn’t give a figure,” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters in Chennai.When asked about claims on the casualty figures for the air strike, she said: “Foreign Secretary didn’t give a figure. He gave a statement. That is the Govt of India’s position”.At a rally in Ahmedabad on March 3, BJP chief Amit Shah claimed that more than 250 terrorists were killed in IAF strike. Earlier, talking to reporters in Siliguri on March 2, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT S.S. Ahluwalia claimed the attack on Balakot was only to deliver a warning and that Govt did not want any human casualty. She said “Well, I can’t say it now,” when asked if Govt would release satellite imagery of strike area.thehindu
After Yeddyurappa, BJP Chief in Jharkhand claims air strike will help it win all 14 LS seats
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/after-yeddyurappa-bjp-chief-in-jharkhand-claims-air-strike-will-help-it-win-all-14-ls-seats
Jharkhand BJP Chief Laxman Gilua has stirred up a controversy by saying that the recent air strike on a terrorist camp in Pakistan's Balakot will help BJP in Jharkhand in upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to a report in NDTV, "BJP will win all 14 seats in the Jharkhand, our surveys tell us that. After all, our Indian Air Force finished the terrorist training camp in Pakistan just over 12 days after they killed our soldiers in the Pulwama attack,"said state party chief Laxman Gilua.Gilua had cited surgical strikes carried out after the Uri attack to claim that BJP-led centre has always avenged Pakistan's acts of aggression. "We entered PoK and killed those people, okay? Then we told the Pakistan Foreign Secretary to pick up the bodies of the terrorists," he said.Jharkhand Chief's comments comes a few days after Karnataka BJP Chief Yeddyurappa had said that air strikes will help BJP win 22 seats in Karnataka. nationalheraldindia
Digvijaya calls Pulwama attack an accident
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/digvijaya-singh-calls-pulwama-terror-attack-an-accident-1470518-2019-03-05
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh came down heavily on PM Narendra Modi and asked him to clear the "doubts" cast by the international media on the terrorists' deaths in the airstrike carried out by India in Pakistan's Balakot.In a series of tweets, Digvijaya Singh asked PM Modi to speak about the Balakot airstrike as the country wanted to who is lying. However, as Singh went on to corner the Modi-led Govt at the Centre, he ended up terming the Pulwama attack, an "accident".India Today
Bandh Called by Traders' Community Brings Life to Halt in Kashmir over ban on J&K Jamaat
https://thewire.in/Govt /bandh-called-by-traders-community-brings-life-to-halt-in-kashmir
Srinagar: Normal life was thrown out of gear in the Valley on Tuesday due to a strike called by the traders’ community to protest against the extension of central laws to J&K and the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami J&K .Shops and other business establishments remained closed in Kashmir due to the strike called by the J&K Socio Economic Coordination Committee (JKSECC), officials said.Public transport remained off the roads but some private vehicles were seen plying in the city and elsewhere in the valley, they said.The JKSECC’s call for a complete shutdown in the entire Kashmir valley, Pirpanchal region and the Chenab valley was supported by most of the trade bodies.In a statement, the JKSECC, an amalgam of bodies representing various trades, said the extension of central laws and the ban on Jamaat was done in an illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic manner.The committee expressed strong resentment against the extension of central law to the state at a time when no elected Govt is in place. “The governor of the state needs to introspect about his representative character and understand that he does not represent people of the state but the Centre as its nominated agent and has no moral, ethical, legal and constitutional right to accord any concurrence to the extension of central laws to the state,” the statement read.PTI
Ban on J&K Jamaat shocking: AMU students union
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/(X(1)S(ll3adxy1oxw5fziuwbk3kp55))/news/kashmir/ban-on-jamaat-e-islami-shocking-amu-students-union/315132.html
Srinagar:AMU students union has expressed shock over the decision of the J&K Govt to ban socio-religio-political body Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K under UAPA.In a statement a spokesman of the union said “the Govt has unleashed a state of undeclared emergency curbing dissent in all forms. It has come as a shock that a socio-religio-political soutfit Jamaat-e-Islami J&K has been banned.”“Nation must be told that Jamaat runs as per its constitution wherein Article 5, clause 3, clearly mentions that the organisation strives through democratic and constitutional methods.Jamaat is neither an underground organisation, nor is it a militant outfit. It has been part of the electoral process in the state in1971, 1975, 1977, 1983 and 1987. It is only after mass rigging of elections in 1989 that Jamaat abandoned the electoral process,” the statement said.greaterkashmir
Govt has turned battle against terror into battle against Kashmiris, Muslims: CPI(M)
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/govt-has-turned-battle-against-terror-into-battle-against-kashmiris-muslims-cpi-m-119030400716_1.html
New Delhi:There has been an "orchestrated effort" by BJP and RSS to rouse "jingoistic nationalism" after the Pulwama attack and Govt has turned the battle against terrorism into one against Muslims and Kashmiris, CPI(M) alleged.CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, "targeting of Kashmiris in various parts of the country, the calls for abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A are all turning this battle of Indians against terrorism into battles against Kashmiris and Muslims to further deepen the communal polarisation," he said.He said the present situation in J&K was the result of failed policies in the state and claimed that during the course of the present Govt, terror incidents saw a rise of 176% .PTI
Muslims in Pulwama restoring 80-yr-old Temple : News18
https://www.news18.com/news/india/away-from-indo-pak-tensions-muslims-in-this-pulwama-village-are-restoring-80-year-old-temple-back-to-its-glory-2055471.html
Acchan, Pulwama: After more than 3 decades of silence, muzzein's call from a mosque and chiming temple bells will again reverberate in a village in Pulwama. Temple and the mosque at Acchan — a village on Pulwama fringe — lie side by side but while the mosque remained busy with worshippers, the temple stood in desolation. But this is now set to change. In a strong rebuff to hate mongers, the Muslim community and a sole Kashmiri Pandit family have got together to restore the 80-year-old temple, which has not been used ever since the Hindus migrated from there due to militancy in 1990. Barely 12 kms from the blast site where 40 CRPF men were killed, the village is brimming with a fresh spirit to restart the temple. “We want to revive it to its previous glory when hundreds would pour into village to listen to chanting of hymns,''said Bhushan Lal, who is supervising works with local Muslim Auqaf Trust.
Muslims help 29 Pandits run business in Baramulla
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/srinagar/muslims-help-29-pandits-run-their-business-in-baramulla/articleshow/68263580.cms
Baramulla: With idols of several Hindu deities - Lakshmi, Durga, Ganesha - resting on a shelf near the cash counter, 27-year-old Ishfaq Ahmad Malik, a salesman, is busy entering sale records at a textile shop in Baramulla's crowded city ma- rket, nestled against the backdrop of the snow-clad Ghosal Tank hills. His employer Hridyanath Ganjoo, a Kashmiri Pandit, is away for the Shivratri celebrations in Jammu. "I have been at his shop since 11 years. Each time Hindu festivals come, he leaves for his other home in Jammu. He has been away for the last one month and will come back after Holi. They trust us and we look after their business during this season," says Malik. Ganjoo's family is among the 29 Kashmiri Pandits who stay in Baramulla and run their shops with the help of Muslims. The colony near Veerwan, where Pandits live, wears a deserted look as all Pandits celebrate their biggest religious festival - Shivratri - in Jammu where the majority of the Pandits moved to when militancy erupted in the Valley in 1990 and they were targeted. Residents, shopkeepers and local industry associations, however, reassure that the Pandits who stayed back in Baramulla are safe. "We Muslims felt very bad about migration in 1989...We want that Hindus should come back. We will welcome them back," says Mohammad Ashraf president, Baramulla Traders Association.TOI
Trump scraps trade privilege for India; Delhi plays down impact
https://in.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-india/trump-to-drop-preferential-trade-treatment-for-india-delhi-plays-down-impact-idINKCN1QM007
US President Donald Trump looked set to open a new front in his trade wars on Monday with a plan to end preferential trade treatment for India that allows duty-free entry for up to $5.6 billion worth of its exports to the US. India played down the impact, saying it was keeping retaliatory tariffs out of its talks with US, but the opposition could seize on the issue to embarrass PM Narendra Modi ahead of general polls this year. Trump, who has vowed to cut US trade deficits, has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs, and US trade officials said scrapping the concessions would take at least 60 days after notifications to Congress and India.Reuters
We can now reclaim Kaaba as ShivaLing, says Swami after OIC’s resolution on Babri Masjid:report
https://freepresskashmir.com/2019/03/04/we-can-now-claim-kaaba-as-shivaling-says-subramanian-swami-after-oic-passes-resolution-for-babri-masjid-to-be-rebuilt/
Subramanian Swami, BJP MP has said that Kaaba in Makkah should be reclaimed by India as a ShivaLing (phallus of Shiva).“I am happy that OIC Secretariat has issued a statement that Babri Masjid should be re built on Ramjanmabhoomi. If OIC does not disown this statement then Hindu can reclaim Kaaba as a Shivaling,” Swami said.The words by Swami that are bound to generate controversy, come after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) passed a resolution which declared that Babri Masjid should be built at site where it was demolished.The statement by Swami comes in the backdrop of OIC meet that was attended by India as it termed as a ‘diplomatic win’.freepressKashmir
‘Hum do, hamare teen’:Jains seek to have more kids
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hum-do-hamare-teen-jains-seek-to-have-more-children/articleshow/68262377.cms
Mumbai: Worried by a slight decline in the percentage of the Jain population in relation to the total population of India, the community has rolled out sops for couples who will have more than two children.Jain population was 42 lakh of the total Indian population of 102 crore in 2001; 10 years later, the Census of 2011 revealed, it rose to 44 lakh, with India’s total population also rising to 120 crore. So though in terms of absolute numbers, there has been nominal growth, in terms of percentage of the overall national population there has been a decline of 0.03%—from 0.40% in 2001 to 0.37% in 2011.Also, according to the latest National Family Health Survey, the fertility rate (average number of children a woman can have during her childbearing years) among Jains is 1.2, while for Hindus it is 2.13 and for Muslims 2.6.In a meeting of the Digambar Jain Mahasamiti, the apex body of Digambar Jains, in Indore last week, a call was made for ‘Hum do hamare teen’,an unambiguous appeal to young Jain couples to have more children.Samiti also announced financial assistance for couples who will have more than two children and counselling for couples to reduce cases of divorce within the community.“We want couples to think about this issue. Samiti has decided to bear the cost of educating the third child,”Ashok Badjatiya, head of the Samiti which has a presence in 16 states, said.“There are many reasons why young couples do not want to have more children. One is financial implications, so if we as a community can help take care of that, we could encourage them to have more children,” Badjatiya said. He said the well-off members of the community would soon come together and create a pool of funds for the purpose and also devise a scheme.For now the sops will be available only to Digambar Jains, but the plan is to eventually extend these to other Jains too. Digambara is one of the two schools of Jainism, the other being Swetambara; those who follow the Digambara school are called Digambar Jains. TOI
Adivasi, Dalit rights groups call for Bharat Bandh on Tuesday demanding ordinance to secure rights
https://scroll.in/latest/915421/adivasi-dalit-rights-groups-call-for-bharat-bandh-on-tuesday-demanding-ordinance-to-secure-rights
Adivasi rights organisations have called for a nation-wide bandh on Tuesday demanding that the Centre promulgate an ordinance to secure the forest rights of tribals.The groups have decided to go ahead with the strike despite the Supreme Court staying the implementation of its earlier order evicting more than 10 lakh families of Adivasis and other forest-dwellers from forest lands across 16 states. Centre and the Gujarat Govt had moved petitions in the top court seeking a stay on the court’s Feb.13 order.“We were always assured that everyone will be given pattas for the land they occupy but that was never done,” Omprakash of Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, which will organise protests in Madhya Pradesh, told Indian Express. “Now the Govt wants to take away our land…”Protestors are set to march from from Mandi House to Parliament Street in Delhi.Adivasis in Gujarat,Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, MP and Northeastern states will join the strike. LJD party leader Sharad Yadav said he supported the strike to “awake the Govt”. “We don’t want assurance but want justice on d [the] issue of eviction of 10 lakh tribals [and] similarly on the 13 point roster system in the Universities issue,” he tweeted on Monday.“This Govt is not alert, positive [and] pro active for social justice.”Dalit rights groups will also take part in the strike, demanding that the department-wise recruitment system in universities be nullified, reported The Times of India. They have demanded the promulgation of an ordinance that will overturn the 13-point roster system.scroll.in
Bharat Bandh today by tribal, Dalit rights outfits
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bharat-bandh-today-by-tribal-dalit-rights-outfits-5611103/
Rahul Gandhi extends support to Dalit-tribal shutdown over forest rights, reservation
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/rahul-gandhi-extends-support-to-dalit-tribal-shutdown-over-forest-rights-reservation
Rahul Gandhi extended support to Dalit and tribal groups observing a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday demanding the Modi Govt to promulgate an ordinances to provide forest rights to tribals and job security for ad-hoc teachers.IANS
Members of European Parliament Ask India to 'End Crackdown' on Rights Activists
https://thewire.in/rights/members-of-european-parliament-ask-india-to-end-crackdown-on-rights-activists
New Delhi: 20 members of European parliament have written to Indian Govt and NHRC expressing concern over the crackdown on human rights defenders. They have urged India to create a more open civil society space.The letter is addressed to the ministers of law and justice, tribal affairs and social justice and empowerment, and to NHRC’s liaison officer for human rights defenders.“India is the largest democracy in the world, and an important strategic partner of the European Union, whereas the relationship between the two is based on shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” wrote the European parliamentarians. “This is why we are deeply concerned at the recent crackdowns on human rights defenders and organisations across the country.”Expressing concern that there are “worrying signs of shrinking civil society space in India”, the letter called on the Govt to “take urgent steps to change course, release all detained human rights defenders in the country, drop all charges against them, and allow them to carry out their work free from risk or impediment”. It cited a series of events which had led to the letter, beginning with the arrest of 3 Dalit rights activists, a professor and a social activist in June last year for Bhima Koregaon violence in Jan.2018. They were charged under UAPA.A month later, the Jharkhand police filed sedition cases against 20 tribal rights activities for criticising the state Govt .the wire
SC to hear plea challenging the constitutional validity of Hindu Marriage Act
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/sc-to-hear-plea-challenging-the-constitutional-validity-of-hindu-marriage-act
A 3 judge bench of the Supreme Court will hear a petition challenging the constitutional validity of various legal provisions permitting the restitution of conjugal rights, on the grounds that it places a "disproportionate burden" on the woman.A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday referred, to a 3 judge bench, the petition by two students of Gujarat National Law University challenging the provisions in the Hindu Marriage Act, the Special Marriage Act and in the Code of Civil Procedure providing for the restitution of conjugal rights.The petitioners - students Ojaswa Pathak and Mayank Gupta - have contended that the "legislative package" providing for these rights is "unconstitutional" as that while the legal framework is "facially neutral", it places "disproportionate burden on the woman and thus is violation of Article 14 and 15(1) of Constitution.Senior counsel Sanjay Hegde appeared for the students, who sought that Section 9 of Hindu Marriage Act, Section 22 of the Special Marriage Act and Order XXI Rule 32 and 33 of the Code of Civil Procedure - all which provide a statutory scheme for restitution of conjugal rights - be struck down for being unconstitutional.These provisions are being challenged in light of top court's judgments on right to privacy, adultery,and decriminalisation of IPC's Section 377.IANS
Pak Islamic Law Board Mulls Giving Women Right to Divorce, AIMPLB Calls It ‘Delegated’ Right: News18
https://www.news18.com/news/india/pakistan-islamic-law-advisory-board-proposes-giving-women-right-to-divorce-aimplb-calls-it-delegated-right-2055293.html
New Delhi: As the Govt of India promulgated the Muslim Women Marriage ordinance for the third time making the act of instantaneous divorce by Muslim men a criminal offence, Pakistan too has taken steps to introduce measures that would enable women have the right to divorce their husbands in accordance with Shariah.The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a constitutional body responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues to Pak Govt and its parliament, proposed major amendments in nikahnama (marriage document).The council headed by chairman Qibla Ayaz, has suggested that the priest or the nikahkhawan, who performs the marital ceremony will now have to mandatorily inform the woman of her right to dissolve the marriage. While in India, the law makes it a criminal offence to pronounce triple talaq with a penalty of maximum 3 years in jail, the CII too has recommended it to be made a punishable offence, but said the punishment will only be meted out after scholars of different Islamic schools are consulted with. Under the newly proposed amendments, the council has drafted a talaqnama which would specifically mention the rights of women and have the clause that she reserves the right to dissolve the marriage.But under the amended law, it’s only the woman who can delete the clause or have the clause deleted with her consent. Now it would be up to the woman on whether she would surrender the rights and give her husband the power to dissolve the marriage or not. However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said this form of divorce where woman has the right to divorce her husband was “not absolute but is a delegated right.” Zafaryab Jilani, a member and counsel of AIMPLB, said, “This is known as as Talaq e Tafweez and can only be given if the husband allows her to do so.”“This concept of talaq is prevalent in India over several years. It was in early 1990s that the board had decided to introduce the clause in Nikahnama where she can have the right to divorce subject to the husband’s approval. But this is not widely practised,” Jilani said.
After Congress rules out alliance with AAP, Kejriwal says party has secret understanding with BJP
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/arvind-kejriwal-delhi-aap-congress-alliance-5612180/
New Delhi:Hours after Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit ruled out any alliance with AAP in the national capital for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the move would only help the saffron party by splitting the anti-BJP vote. In the same breath, Kejriwal also accused the Congress of entering into a secret understanding with the BJP. “At a time when the whole country wants to defeat Modi-Shah duo, Congress is helping BJP by splitting the anti-BJP vote. Rumours are that Congress has some secret understanding with BJP,” the AAP chief tweeted.Last week, in a bid to create pressure on Congress, AAP had declared candidates for 6 of Delhi’s 7 Lok Sabha seats. The development came after hectic negotiations between senior AAP and Congress leaders at the national level over the past 3 months failed to reach a conclusion.Kejriwal said the people of Delhi would defeat the “unholy alliance” between Congress and BJP. “Delhi is ready to fight against Cong-BJP alliance. People will defeat this unholy alliance,” he said. All 7 Lok Sabha seats from Delhi went to the BJP in 2014.indianexpress
RLD will join BSP-SP alliance in UP, to contest on three seats: Jayant Chaudhary
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rld-will-contest-three-seats-in-uttar-pradesh-says-jayant-chaudhary-5612219/
New Delhi :Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary Tuesday confirmed that his party will join hands with the BSP-SP alliance in UP and will contest for 3 seats in the state for the forthcoming general elections due this year.While addressing a press conference along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Chaudhary said, “Our workers will work hard to ensure victory of the alliance on all seats of the state.”indianexpress
TN, Puducherry LS polls: DMK to contest 21 seats, Congress 10, CPI, CPM, VCK get 2 each, IUML, KDMK, IJK get 1 seat each
https://www.newsx.com/national/lok-sabha-2019-from-tamil-nadu-puducherry-dmk-to-contest-21-seats-congress-10-cpi-cpm-vck-get-2-each-iuml-kdmk-ijk-get-1-seat-each
For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019, Tamil Nadu seats, the DMK has sealed the deal with Congress and other left parties. Tamil Nadu’s regional fronts the VCK, IJK and CPI have joined the DMK-led opposition front and to contest against Modi Govt. According to the reports, DMK has roped in 6 parties, allotting them 16 seats in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry. While Congress bagged 9 seats in Tamil Nadu and 1 in Puducherry. Reports say that DMK would be contesting on 21 seats, Congress 10, CPI, CPM and VCK would be contesting on 2 seats each, and the IUML, KDMK and IJK would be fielding 1 candidate each.NewsX
SC acquits 6 death row convicts, asks Maharashtra Govt to give rs 5 lakh each as compensation
https://www.news18.com/news/india/sc-acquits-six-death-row-convicts-asks-maharashtra-govt-to-give-rs-5-lakh-each-as-compensation-2056217.html
New Delhi: In a severe indictment of the Maharashtra Govt, the Supreme Court today ordered it to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to six men who were falsely implicated in a murder case and sentenced to death. A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri came down heavily on the shoddy investigation and the prosecution in the matter and directed the Chief Secretary of the state to initiate an inquiry to bring erring police officers to book. Ankush Maruti Shinde, Rajyappa Shinde, Raju Mhasu Shinde and 3 others were held guilty of gang rape and killing five members of a family during a robbery in June 2003. Of the 6 accused in the case, the trial court in Nasik sentenced Ankush, Rajyappa and Raju to death, and Bombay HC also confirmed their punishment in 2007.news18
New Delhi world's most polluted capital,Beijing 8th
https://in.reuters.com/article/india-pollution/new-delhi-is-worlds-most-polluted-capital-beijing-eighth-idINKCN1QM1FF
New Delhi:New Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital city in 2018, two groups monitoring air pollution said on Tuesday in a study of amount of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 in 61 capital cities around the world.Indian capital, home to more than 20 million people, was followed by Bangladesh capital of Dhaka and Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, according to the study by IQ AirVisual, a Swiss-based group that gathers air-quality data globally, and Greenpeace.New Delhi’s toxic air is caused by vehicle and industrial emissions, dust from building sites, smoke from the burning of rubbish and crop residue in nearby fields.Reuters
India could stop importing urea if urine of entire population is stored, Gadkari tells youngsters
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/india-could-stop-importing-urea-if-urine-of-entire-population-is-stored-gadkari-tells-youngsters
Offering an out-of-box proposal, Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari has suggested storing human urine to make fertilisers and put an end to imports of urea.Citing examples of extracting bio-fuels from natural wastes like urine, he said that human urine can yield both ammonium sulphate and nitrogen, addressing a meeting of young innovators in Nagpur.Though he said he has suggested for storing the urine at Indian airports, if the urine of the entire country's people can be saved, India could stop imports of fertilisers like urea.IANS
AMU VC lets off faculty member accused of plagiarism:TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/amu-vc-lets-off-faculty-member-accused-of-plagiarism/articleshow/68260382.cms
AMU V-C, Tariq Mansoor, has let off chairman of Library and Information Science department, Sudharma Haridasan, without any punishment even after charges of plagiarism against her have been found true. Haridasan, who was accused of authoring 2 books copying “verbatim” from her students’ Dissertations/ Thesis, has been only warned that action would be taken against her if she is found indulging in such activities again.The office memo issued to her by the registrar, Abdul Hamid, states, “2 inquiry reports dated Oct.14, 2017 and April 7, 2018 submitted in the matter was placed in the special meeting of the executive council held on Jan.19, 2019. The house considered both the inquiry reports and authorised the vice-chancellor to take appropriate action in the light of the directives given by Allahabad HC in its judgment passed in Nov 2018, while disposing petition filed by the complainant.” It further states,“Accordingly, after considering all aspects associated with this matter, V-C has passed the order, saying that books, under question of plagiarism, authored/submitted for promotion as professor by Dr Haridasan will not be considered for the purpose,” which is clearly an acceptance of fact that she had plagiarised. Though the VC may have let her off, RTI activist, Shariq Jafri, who had exposed the plagiarism earlier is all set to approach the HC against the former’s decision. TOI
WORLD
Zarif resigned over Assad's trip to Tehran:official
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/zarif-resigned-assad-trip-tehran-spokesperson-190305092010994.html
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was not informed about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's trip to Tehran last week and that was a reason why he submitted his resignation, Iranian agency ISNA has reported. In its report on Tuesday, ISNA cited foreign ministry spokesperson Bahram Qassemi as the source of the information.President Hassan Rouhani rejected Zarif's resignation last Wednesday, bolstering a moderate ally who has long been targeted by conservatives in factional struggles over 2015 nuclear deal with the West."Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not have information at any level [about the trip] and this lack of information was maintained until the end of the trip," Qassemi said, according to ISNA."One of the reasons for the resignation of Dr Zarif was this type of lack of coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And as it has been announced before, the resignation of the honourable minister was not a private and individual issue and the goal and intent of that was a positive effort to return the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic system of the country to its main place." Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Quds Force, the branch of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for operations outside Iran's borders, was present at a meeting last week between Assad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic. Soleimani said last week that Zarif was the main person in charge of foreign policy and he was supported by Khamenei.REUTERS
ISIL fighters 'surrender in large numbers' in final Syria enclave
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/isil-fighters-surrender-numbers-final-syria-enclave-190305074306139.html
Thousands of people, including armed fighters, have left the last area held by ISIL in Syria, a spokesperson for US-backed SDF said.Mostafa Bali of SDF tweeted that about 3,000 people had come out of the village of Baghouz in eastern Syria on Monday through a humanitarian corridor established by the Kurdish-led group for those who want to leave or surrender.Bali said among those who left was a large number of fighters of ISIL group who "surrendered to our forces".The evacuations came as the US-backed forces slowed down their latest push on Baghouz, the last shred of ISIL-held territory, to allow civilians to leave the tiny enclave.It is unclear how many ISIL fighters and civilians remain inside, but the number is likely in the hundreds, according to local activists.Since Feb.20, over 10,000 people have left the pocket, producing dramatic scenes of women shrouded in black and many children climbing off trucks in the desert to be screened and searched. Meanwhile, a Red Cross official said the weak and fragile services at the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, which has been in recent weeks inundated with civilians and ISIL fighters fleeing from Baghouz, are on "the brink of collapse".Robert Mardini of the International Committee for the Red Cross said in New York that the population in the camp has risen from 34,000 at the beginning of December to 45,000 now. He said several thousand mainly women and children arrive daily and there is "no end in sight".aljazeera
Israel’s Attorney General rejects petitions to ban Arab parties from election
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190305-israels-attorney-general-rejects-petitions-to-ban-arab-parties-from-election/
Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit rejected two petitions to ban Arab-Israeli political parties from the country’s upcoming general election.In a letter to Central Elections Committee – the body which oversees Israel’s electoral process – Mandelblit wrote that he had rejected the petitions on the grounds that “the overall evidence presented in the framework of the two requests does not justify their acceptance,” adding that “there has not been a critical mass of evidence required to disqualify a list of candidates”.The first of the two petitions was made against the Ra’am-Balad alliance, claiming its members “seek to eliminate Israel as a Jewish state” and support violent Palestinian resistance, as well as Lebanon’s Hezbollah. A second petition was also submitted against Hadash-Ta’al, the other predominantly Arab-Israeli alliance which was formed last month in the wake of the Joint List break up earlier this year.middleeastmonitor
Jewish calls to convert Al-Rahma Mosque into synagogue
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190305-jewish-calls-to-convert-al-rahma-mosque-into-a-synagogue/
Federation of Temple Mount Organisations has called for Al-Rahma Mosque to be occupied and turned in to a synagogue, Arab48 reported. The group also called for establishing a Jewish directorate in the area, which is located at one of the entrances of Al-Aqsa Mosque, to oversee the Jewish activities inside Al-Haram Al-Sharif. The calls came after Palestinians re-entered Al-Rahma Gate area of Al-Aqsa Mosque and performed prayers there for the first time in over 15 years. Temple Mount Organisations stressed on the importance of taking measures which lead to changing the identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to guarantee a permanent Jewish presence there, eradicate Muslim claim to the holy site and impose Israeli sovereignty over it.middleeastmonitor
Report: 127 Israel aggressions on Al-Aqsa, Ibrahimi mosques in Feb
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190305-report-127-israel-aggressions-on-al-aqsa-ibrahimi-mosques-in-february/
Palestinian Endowment Minister Yousef Edees said that the Israeli occupation raided Al-Aqsa Mosque more than 30 times during Feb.The minister said that the Israeli occupation also prevented the call to prayer from being raised from the Ibrahimi Mosque 44 times during the same month, noting that the total number of Israeli attacks on the two holy sites reached 127 during Feb.He also said that the Israeli occupation authorities deported scores of Palestinians who work at Al-Aqsa Mosque, including officials such as the Head of Jerusalem Endowment Council Sheikh Abdul-Azim Salhab and his deputy Sheikh Najeh Bkeerat.middleeastmonitor
Israel bans 133 Jerusalemites from Al-Aqsa Mosque
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190305-israel-bans-133-jerusalemites-from-al-aqsa-mosque/
Saudi, UAE, Egypt refuse clause stopping normalisation with Israel
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190305-saudi-arabia-uae-egypt-refuse-clause-stopping-normalisation-with-israel/
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt rejected a statement by the Union of Arab Parliaments which called for stopping normalisation with Israel, Shehab agency reported. Speaker of Kuwaiti National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim suggested that the final statement of the union’s 29th meeting, which was held in the Jordanian capital Amman, should include a recommendation to stop normalising ties with Israel.Speaker of Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al-Sheikh objected, saying: “Calls for stopping normalisation with Israel is the authority of politicians not the parliamentarians,” stressing that this recommendation be deleted from the statement.The representatives of UAE and Egypt also called for reviewing this recommendation, but the Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament Atef Al-Tarawneh insisted it maintain.During meet, Al-Ghanim criticised normalising ties with Israel, considering it a “political taboo”.MEMO
US resolution calls Bangladesh, Pak to curb Jamaat; urges BNP to cut Jamaat ties
https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/united-states-resolution-calls-bnp-cut-jamaat-relationship-1710793
A resolution has been placed at United States’ House of Representatives, calling BNP to cut ties with its key ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. US Congressman Jim Banks introduced the resolution, calling Bangladesh to curb the activity and network of Jamaat.While it also called Pakistan to do the same, the resolution calls all US agencies to cut ties and funding of the Jamaat party.It “urges the BNP and all political parties to unequivocally distance themselves from Jamaat-e-Islami and other extremist organisations”, read the resolution.The resolution identified Jamaat as a patroniser of jihadi activities in South Asian region for quite some time now. It also called on all US agencies to halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat its domestic affiliates, including the Islamic Circle of North America, ICNA Relief, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, and the Muslim Ummah of North America.thedailystar
US resolution calls Bangladesh to curb Jamaat
https://www.thedailystar.net/country/united-states-resolution-calls-bangladesh-control-jamaat-e-islami-1710784
Trump has taken ‘no meaningful action’ on abuse of Muslims in China, US lawmakers complain
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/trump-has-taken-no-meaningful-action-on-abuse-of-muslims-in-china-us-lawmakers-5611217/
Washington:A bipartisan group of US lawmakers complained to the Trump administration Monday that its response to rights abuses against China’s Muslim minority was inadequate months after it said it was looking into imposing sanctions.“This issue is bigger than just China. It is about demonstrating to strongmen globally that the world will hold them accountable for their actions,”lawmakers wrote in a letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.The group is led by Eliot Engel, Democratic chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and includes Republican ranking member Representative Ted Yoho.Pompeo wrote to the committee on Sept.28 saying his department was looking into a request for sanctions on those responsible for abuses and for controls on exports of technology that facilitates mass detentions and surveillance of ethnic minorities in western China’s Xinjiang region, the letter said.“It appears that the Administration has taken no meaningful action … and we write today with a renewed sense of urgency on this serious matter,” said the letter, also signed by Brad Sherman, Democratic chairman of the Asia and Pacific subcommittee, and Chris Smith, Republican ranking member of human rights subcommittee. US envoy for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, told reporters the issue was “being discussed thoroughly within the administration”, but he had no new steps to announce. Reuters
US senators frustrated over White House silence on Khashoggi
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/senators-frustrated-white-house-silence-khashoggi-190305015411701.html
Senators in the US left a closed-door briefing with Trump administration officials frustrated by the lack of new information on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.The meeting on the status of the investigation into Khashoggi's assassination on Monday came amid rising tensions between the White House and Congress over the US-Saudi relationship."It was a complete waste of time. I knew more than they did," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump on many issues, told reporters.Graham said it was time for more action, but did not elaborate. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said he didn't learn anything new from the briefing. Moving forward, he said, "Senate will have to decide if it's going to impose its own sanctions" on Govt of Saudi.aljazeera
Pak minister resigns following outcry over anti-Hindu comments
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/pak-minister-resigns-following-outcry-over-anti-hindu-comments20190305181440/
Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Punjab Information and Culture Minister in Pakistan, resigned today following immense criticism over his anti-Hindu comments, Geo News reported.He was summoned earlier by Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, where he was asked to turn in his resignation papers.Pakistan PM Imran Khan had denounced his remarks as well.Earlier in the day, Chohan had apologised for the comments. ANI
‘Muslims to make up 30% of Russia’s population by 2034’
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/-muslims-to-make-up-30-of-russia-s-population-by-2034-/1409181
Muslims will make up 30 % of Russia’s population by 2034, the country’s grand mufti said.Speaking at a conference in Moscow, Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin said the number of Muslims in Russia has been growing with every passing day.“According to the predictions of experts, 30% of Russia’s population will consist of Muslims after 15 years,” he said.He recalled that during last year’s Eid al-Adha religious festival, more than 320,000 Muslims came to mosques in Moscow to perform their prayers, saying this was a “record”.Anadolu
Flash: views & NEWS
Understanding Articles 370, 35A:Faizan Mustafa , Indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/understanding-articles-370-35a-jammu-kashmir-indian-constitution-5610996/
The difference between journalism and propaganda: A.S. Panneerselvan, The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/Readers-Editor/the-difference-between-journalism-and-propaganda/article26424961.ece
Maulana Masood Azhar: 'The Moulvi with a limp' who became India's most wanted man
Maulana Masood Azhar:Iftikhar Gilani, dna india
https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-maulana-masood-azhar-the-moulvi-with-a-limp-who-became-india-s-most-wanted-man-2725831
Insulting an entire religion shames Indian TV: Saba Naqvi
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/insulting-an-entire-religion-shames-indian-tv-india-pakistan-iaf-air-strikes-border-tensions-jammu-and-kashmir-balakot-jaish-e-mohammed-masood-azhar/376486
4 Reasons India Has Little Cause to Cheer Balakot Airstrike and its Aftermath: Pravin Sawhney, the wire
https://thewire.in/security/four-reasons-india-has-little-reason-to-cheer-the-balakot-airstrike-and-its-aftermath
Bhima-Koregaon: Thousands of Dalits Fear Police Harassment as Polls Near:Varsha Torgalkar
https://www.newsclick.in/bhima-koregaon-thousands-dalits-fear-police-harassment-polls-near
PUCL Convention: Resolutions on Kashmir Issue, FRA and Elgar Parishad Arrests Passed
https://www.newsclick.in/pucl-convention-resolutions-kashmir-issue-fra-and-elgar-parishad-arrests-passed
In major blow to Canada's PM, 2nd minister quits
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/major-blow-canada-pm-trudeau-minister-quits-190305004901305.html
Afghanistan: 59 people killed as flash floods struck the country
https://www.apnnews.com/afghanistan-59-people-killed-as-flash-floods-struck-the-country/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:41 PM)
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