NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
06 May 2019: 30 Shaban 1440:Vol: 11, No:194
INDIA
SC in-house committee finds 'no substance' in allegations against CJI Gogoi
https://thewire.in/law/in-house-committee-cji-gogoi-no-substance
New Delhi:The Supreme Court’s in-house committee has cleared CJI Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment allegations raised by a former employee, saying it found “no substance” in woman’s complaint.The committee, comprising SX judges Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice Indira Banerjee, said it submitted its report on Sunday. A copy was sent to the next senior judge, after Justice Bobde, who is competent to receive the report and also to the Chief Justice.Citing a Supreme Court judgment from 2003, the committee said that the report is not liable to be made public.35-year-old woman who levelled the allegations against CJI deposed before the committee twice before walking out, citing a lack of ‘sensitivity’ on the part of the panel. “I had hoped that the approach of committee towards me would be sensitive and not one that would cause me further fear, anxiety and trauma,” she said on May 1. On Sunday, Indian Express reported that Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, wrote to the committee on May 2, urging it to not proceed with the inquiry ex-parte as it could damage the court’s reputation.The paper also reported that Justice Chandrachud met the committee in person. Though the SC issued a statement denying that the judge met the committee, it did not explicitly deny the claim that Justice Chandrachud wrote a letter to the three judges.On the same day that Justice Chandrachud wrote the letter, CJI Ranjan Gogoi deposed before the committee, which decided to proceed ex-parte.The SC today agreed to hear a plea seeking direction to CBI to lodge an FIR into the alleged conspiracy to “fix” CJI Gogoi in a “concocted, false sexual harassment” case and said the matter would come up for hearing in “due course”.The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench comprising Justices S.A. Bobde and S.A. Nazeer. Advocate M.L. Sharma, who filed the petition, urged the bench to list his plea for hearing on May 8.The Wire
Sexual harassment case: Justice Chandrachud met Justice Bobde, calls for full court
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-chandrachud-ranjan-gogoi-sexual-harassment-allegations-supreme-court-5711881/
SC junks plea challenging J&K highway curbs
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-disposes-off-plea-challenging-jk-highway-curbs-5712443/?pfrom=HP
The Supreme Court today disposed of plea challenging restrictions imposed on civilian movement along the National Highway between Srinagar and Baramulla after J&K government said the restrictions are in place only till May 31. J&K government had partially relaxed the twice-a-week ban on civilian traffic on April 20. It said the traffic along Srinagar-Baramulla stretch will be restricted only on Sundays while the two-day curb will remain in force on the stretch between Srinagar and Udhampur. After facing criticism, the J&K government said that patients, students, government employees and those in “emergencies” will be allowed to use the national highway during the ban. Indianexpress
Rafale review petition hearing adjourned till May 10, to be heard with contempt plea against Rahul
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rafale-review-plea-in-supreme-court/story-dQZpfiOY8C1oZ6mXk9TgXM.html
New Delhi:The Supreme Court is expected to take up the Rafale contempt case on Monday a week after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi offered to file a fresh affidavit for attributing his political slogan “Chowkidar chor hai” to the top court. This would be Gandhi’s third affidavit in the contempt case BJP lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi has filed against him for incorrectly attributing the slogan. Lekhi had asked the court to initiate criminal contempt action against Gandhi for having twisted the top court’s April 10 judgment to claim that the court declared PM guilty of corrupt practices in purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft.The SC will also take up review petitions of ex Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and advocate Prashant Bhushan in the Rafale case claiming the December 18 verdict in the case contained errors and relied on the government’s incorrect claims in an unsigned note given in a sealed cover.HT
A changed Rafale order of April 30 leaves the CJI 'completely perplexed'
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-changed-rafale-order-of-april-30-leaves-the-cji-completely-perplexed/article27048468.ece?homepage=true
Poll code violations by Modi, Shah: SC adjourns hearing to May 8
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/poll-code-violations-by-modi-shah-sc-adjourns-hearing-to-may-8-5712358/
The Supreme Court today adjourned until May 8 the hearing on allegations of violation of Model Code of Conduct by PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. The matter was adjourned after Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the petitioner, told the court he wanted to submit additional documents. The petitioner, Congress MP Sushmita Dev, has listed 11 alleged violations by Modi and Shah, and sought direction to the Election Commission to act on them. During the last hearing, the apex court directed the EC to decide by today the complaints filed against the two BJP leaders — the poll panel has so far given Modi four clean chits and cleared Shah’s name in two cases.In court Monday, Singhvi, referring to reports of dissent within the EC regarding the poll code violations, said the SC should lay down guidelines to decide similar complaints in the future. Indianexpress
Ex-BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav moves SC over nomination from Varanasi being rejected
https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-tej-bahadur-yadav-moves-sc-over-rejected-of-nomination-from-varanasi-5712464/?pfrom=HP
Former BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was seeking to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi against PM Narendra Modi, moved the Supreme Court Monday against his nomination papers being rejected by RO. Yadav is contesting on a ticket from Opposition alliance in UP , comprising of Samajwadi Party, BSP and RLD.Advocate Prashant Bhushan is likely to represent Yadav. The matter will reportedly be mentioned before the SC registrar for urgent listing. Varanasi votes in the last phase of elections on May 19. The Election Commission has sought Yadav’s reply by Wednesday.indianexpress
Swami Agnivesh appeals for ban on burqa. Then calls it ‘odd and scary’
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/swami-agnivesh-appeals-for-ban-on-burqa-then-calls-it-odd-and-scary/story-96q3vRBeK79neYCSu7Bb7M.html
Bhopal:Taking his cue from Sri Lanka banning face veils in the wake of Easter bombings, social activist Swami Agnivesh on Sunday made unusual remarks about the burqa, calling it odd and scary. Agnivesh, who was in Bhopal to support Congress candidate and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, said, “Both burqa and ghoonghat needed to be banned. Muslim women should come forward to ban it not in India but across the world. At least a reform should start after the Sri Lanka episode.”He added, “Burqa mein koi koi esa lagta hai jaise koi aur jantu ho. Ajeeb sa lagta hai, dekhne se dar lagta hai(Some women in Burqa look like another creature.It looks odd and scary).”Agnivesh then narrated his field visit experiences from Rajasthan and Haryana and explained how he urged the women there to give up on veil.“When I go to Rajasthan and Haryana, I meet sarpanchs in the veil. I ask them to shun the veil because they sit in the veil and their husbands use power,” said Agnivesh. HT
‘No record to suggest Sri Lank bombers visited J&K’: Police
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-record-to-suggest-bombers-visited-j-k-police/story-bNILYmqmED0oci6JFdSM9N.html
Srinagar:J&K Police chief Dilbag Singh Sunday said there was no record to suggest that any of the suicide bombers, who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, had visited Kashmir as claimed by the Army chief of the island nation.Singh said they have not received any information from the Island nation through diplomatic channel but the persons whose names appeared on social media have not travelled to Kashmir. “There is no information about them having visited here,” Singh said, adding immigration records were revisited after the attacks and none of the bombers had visited Kashmir.His comments have come a day after Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, claimed “they (the suspects) have gone to India, they’ve gone to Kashmir, they’ve travelled to Kerala state.” Singh said the army chief of Sri Lanka should send evidence, through diplomatic channels, and that he would look into it.PTI
Police arrest around 200 men, women from rave party in Noida
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/police-arrests-nearly-200-men-women-from-rave-party-in-noida-farmhouse/story-xYIj6PArMKEOMiHKniyyKP.html
Noida:As many as 161 men and 31 women were arrested from a rave party being held illegally at a farmhouse in Noida, police said. Accused were held late Saturday night from the venue in Sector 135 where alcohol and other intoxicants were being served illegally, a senior police officer said.SSP, Vaibhav Krishna said, “key organisers have been identified as Amit Tyagi, Pankaj Sharma, Adnan Ahmed, Balesh Kohli, all four from Delhi, and Kapil Singh Bhati, from Ghaziabad.” PTI
Police raids a resort near Mamallapuram, arrests over 150 for rave party
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/police-raids-a-resort-near-mamallapuram-arrests-over-150-for-rave-party/article27045774.ece?homepage=true
Over 153 persons, including seven young women, were arrested from a rave party held at a resort near Mamallapuram in Chennai today. Accused were held from a private resort where alcohol and other intoxicants were being served illegally, police source said.Most of those arrested are college students and techies from the city,police said. They had assembled for the party after registering online with the organiser.thehindu
8 security personnel, 4 civilians killed during Ramzan truce last year; 23 ultras eliminated: MHA
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ramadan-2019-mha-ceasefire-indian-army-militancy-5713096/
Jammu:8 security men and 4 civilians were killed in militancy-related incidents while 23 militants were gunned down during a month-long halt in operations in Kashmir announced by Centre in the month of Ramzan last year, Home Ministry has said. Centre had in May last year directed security forces not to launch operations in J&K during Ramzan to help Muslims observe the holy month in a “peaceful environment”.PTI
Hyderabad: 8, including 4 cops, hurt in clashes over construction of tin shed at mosque
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/060519/hyderabad-8-including-4-cops-hurt-in-clashes.html
Hyderabad: 8 persons, an inspector, 3 constables, and 4 civilians, were injured when stone pelting broke out to protest the construction of a tin shed at the place where an abandoned mosque was demolished on May 1. Officials said Masjid-e-Ek-Khana land had been acquired by the GHMC after paying compensation to those staying there illegally. MIM MLA Pasha Quadri had accompanied community members and the workers to check on the progress in the construction of the tin shed. The makeshift arrangement was to make up for the absence of masjid.MLA Raja Singh also arrived at the scene and was taken into police custody.While the demolition of the masjid had created tension in the area on Thursday and Friday, the situation escalated on Sunday when civilians noticed that a tin shed was being constructed in its place.Meanwhile, according to a preliminary report from GHMC, mosque managing trustee M.Maqbool connived with the town planning officers of the corporation and received a compensation of `6 crore for the mosque.Home minister Mahmood Ali said, “We are going to conduct an inquiry to find out what actually led to the demolition.”Deccan Chronicle
Tension prevails at Amberpet after 2 groups clash over Masjid land, BJP MLA Raja Singh arrested
https://www.siasat.com/news/tension-prevails-amberpet-after-two-groups-clash-over-masjid-land-raja-singh-arrested-1494131/
Hyderabad Municipal Corporation paid Rs 2.5 crore ex gratia to masjid area encroachers: Waqf Board
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ghmc-paid-rs-2-5cr-ex-gratia-to-masjid-area-encroachers/articleshow/69191993.cms
Hyderabad: Telangana Waqf Board has raised objection to the GHMC allegedly paying Rs 2.5 crore in compensation to those encroaching land around Masjid-e-Ek Khana which was demolished recently as part of road widening activities in Amberpet. Waqf Board chief executive officer Shanawaz Qasim in a letter to the GHMC commissioner alleged the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation acquired Waqf property including the masjid without issuing notice to the board. “Four structures have been affected by the road widening project. Authorities took up the demolition of Masjid-e-Ek Khana and mulgies without informing the Waqf Board. The compensation was paid to encroachers,” said Shanawaz in the letter. The Waqf Board had written a letter regarding the matter to the assistant city planner on 24 May, 2018. “Even after this office filed a claim, compensation was paid to private individuals without considering the Waqf record,” said Shanawaz. TOI
A mosque in Kerala gave shelter to NEET 2019 candidates parents
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/how-this-mosque-in-kerala-gave-shelter-to-neet-2019-candidates-parents-5712552/?fbclid=IwAR3finCuvn0-fwvI_jJLWngCvcylPwpPDY3NYoAJ5odt5IE4mpiR0ozvIiA
The management of a mosque near the town of Aluva in Kerala is winning hearts for it’s empathetic and humane approach during the conduct of NEET test on Sunday. The nationwide examination determines the qualification of students for MBBS/ BDS courses in government and private medical/ dental colleges.During NEET 2019 test, it’s common to witness parents and guardians of students who write the exam waiting patiently and often nervously around the exam centre in the hot sun for hours. Over the years, there have been complaints that no proper arrangements are made by organisers of the examination to even provide drinking water to them. But in Sreemoolanagaram, located close to Aluva, management of Hira Juma Masjid are showing the way on how it’s done.On Sunday morning, when parents of NEET applicants jostled around Al-Ameen Public School, which was the test-centre,management of the Masjid, located adjacently, came out in full force to help them out.If some students didn’t have required documents like an additional photograph or a photocopy, mosque would aid them in getting them done.indianexpress
Dalit youth thrashed for sitting on a chair, eating at wedding, dies
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dalit-youth-thrashed-for-sitting-on-a-chair-eating-at-wedding-dies/story-dsBcMtTb5R5JqzZruI8UCM.html
Dehradun:A 21-year-old Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death by upper-caste men for having his dinner while sitting on a chair in front of them at a wedding in Shrikot area of Tehri Garhwal.The incident happened on the night of April 26. The next day when the young man fell ill, he was taken for treatment to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, police said. According to the police, deceased was identified as one Jitendra Das, a resident of Baasan village in Tehri Garhwal. A case was already registered on April 29 against 7 accused, also residents of the same area, after his sister lodged a complaint against them.HT
Maharashtra: Couple set on fire for inter-caste marriage, woman dead
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-against-intercaste-marriage-family-sets-couple-on-fire-in-ahmednagar-woman-dies-5712410/?pfrom=HP&fbclid=IwAR10csYx3KdHVgH-GfKEarHN_odIJ1JBKPFtDN4vC0bvX936zexWhFre4ac
Over opposition to their inter-caste love marriage, a family in Ahmednagar allegedly set ablaze their daughter and her husband in Ahmednagar last week in a case of honour killing. Rukmini Ransingh,19, who sustained 70 per cent burn injuries, succumbed Sunday night. Her husband, Mangesh Ransigh, 23, is being treated for 50 per cent burn injuries at Sasoon General Hospital in Pune.The girl was from the Lohar community, while her husband belongs to Pasi community. Rukmini’s two uncles Surendra Bhartiy and Ghansham Saroj have been arrested by the Ahmednagar police. A search is on for her father Rama Bhartiy who is absconding. The investigation is based on the statements given by the couple while under treatment and other family members. According to the police, the incident took place in Nighoj village of Parnar taluka on May 1. Rukmini’s family, which had opposed their marriage last year, had been threatening to harm the couple.indianexpress
Udupi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Hoode branch donates house to poor Dalit family
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=585203
Udupi:Hoode branch of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind built a good quality house and donated the same to a poor Dalit, Bhaskara, who was living in a dilapidated house in Padukudru of Tonse village.In a simple programme, that was held on Saturday, May 4, the key of the new house was handed over to Bhaskara by Akbar Ali, member of state advisory committee of Jamaat. Out of the total cost of Rs 5,92,000 for the house, Jamaat contributed Rs 4,42,000 and an aid of Rs 1,50,000 was given by the government under its housing scheme. Shyamaraj Birti, district convener of committee for Oppressed Dalits said, "Jamaat has reached the lowest person in the society through their noble deed. This is the real worship and not donating golden crown to God in temples." daijiworld
Assam: Hindu family donates land to Muslim burial ground in Lakhimpur
https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam-hindu-family-donates-land-to-muslim-burial-ground-in-lakhimpur.html
In an exemplary move towards inter-faith amity, a Hindu family in North Lakhimpur of Assam donated a land for a Muslim burial ground.The family members of late Karunakanta Bhuyan of Garehaga donated a land measuring one bigha two katha and 19 lechas to Nahar Pukhuri Kabarstan near North Lakhimpur railway station on Sunday.A meeting was organized by the governing body of Nahar Pukhuri Kabarstan Committee where family members of late Karunakanta Bhuyan were felicitated for that occasion.Chaired by retired professor Dr Hamidur Rahman, the body felicitated Jayanta Kumar Dutta, Dibakar Dutta, Anjan Kumar Bhuyan, Deba Pratim Dutta and Pranab Dutta.nenow.in
Mizoram:12 people,suspected to be Rohingya, held
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/12-people-suspected-to-be-rohingya-held-in-mizoram/article27047536.ece?homepage=true
Aizwal:A total of 12 people, suspected to be Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh, were arrested in Mizoram for entering the State without valid travel documents, a police officer said.8 women and 4 boys from Bangladesh were taken from a house to Bawngkawn police station here on Sunday, DIG of Police Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said.It is suspected that they might be victims of human trafficking. Khiangte said the arrested people had mobile phones without sim cards in their possession. Investigation is on to find out their identities. 12 people were found in the residence of a woman who claimed that her cousin who lived at Tahan in Myanmar had asked for her a favour to keep the ‘guests’ before they were taken to the neighbouring country.thehindu
GENERAL ELECTIONS
5th phase of Lok Sabha polls: EVM malfunctioning disrupt voting in W.Bengal,Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/5th-phase-of-lok-sabha-polls-evm-malfunctioning-disrupt-voting-in-west-bengal-bihar-uttar-pradesh-rajasthan-and-madhya-pradesh/245782/
Nearly nine crore voters are casting their votes in 51 Lok Sabha seats spread across seven states. However, as expected, complaints of EVM malfunctioning have once again marred the voting process in several states including West Bengal, Bihar, UP , Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.EVM and VVPAT were reported to have malfunctioned in Amethi and Rae Bareli with problems being detected in EVMs in at least 5 polling booths in Rae Bareli and VVPATs not functioning at two polling booths in Amethi, where Congress President Rahul Gandhi is contesting from. EVM glitches were also being reported from UP ’s Gonda and Lucknow constituencies.VVPAT machines had stopped working at the polling booth in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, where Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was casting his vote.Polling was delayed in West Bengal’s Barrackpore and Howrah districts because of glitches in EVMs. News agency reported that at 7.38 am polling was yet to begin in booths 289/ 291/292 in Howrah because of EVM and VVPAT glitches.In Bihar’s Saran, according to Zee News, polling was delayed at booth number 26 and 27 due to EVM glitches at Middle School polling centre. BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy was there to cast his vote at the polling booth.In Madhya Pradesh, where seven seats are going for polls, minor EVM glitches were being reported at some booths, reported PTI.jantakareporter
Phase 5 LIVE: 60.8% voter turnout till 6 pm
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/lok-sabha-election-phase-5-polls-live-updates-voting-3933971.html
Ramadan:EX rejects plea to reschedule poll timings
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/election-commission-rejects-plea-to-reschedule-polling-for-ramadan/245746/
The Election Commission has rejected a plea seeking to reschedule timings of the last three phases of elections that fall during the Holy month of Ramadan. The plea had asked the national poll body to reschedule the voting from 7 am to 4.30/5 am.Rejecting the plea, the Election Commission said that it did not ‘find it feasible to alter the existing hours of poll for the 5th, 6th and 7th phase of general elections to the Lok Sabha, 2019.’The petitions were filed by two advocates Mohammed Nizamuddin Pasha and Asad Hayat. Muslims across India will be observing fasts during the Holy month of Ramadan for one month. While Muslims in Dakshina Kannada, Kerala and Udupi districts of Karnataka will fast from Monday, people in rest of India are expected to observe fast from Tuesday.jantakareporter
BJP may fall short of majority in Lok Sabha: BJP’s Ram Madhav concedes in interview
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/bjp-may-fall-short-of-majority-in-lok-sabha-bjps-ram-madhav-concedes-in-interview/245876/
The BJP appears to have finally conceded that it may not be able to secure a majority on its own in this year’s Lok Sabha polls. BJP’s Ram Madhav said in a recent interview that his party may have to rely on coalition partners to prove majority in the parliament.Bloomberg, which interviewed Ram Madhav, reported that the conservative forecast by Ram Madhav, the BJP’s national general secretary, is just short of a clear majority in 543-seat parliament, and is far below what other party leaders including finance minister Arun Jaitley and party chief Amit Shah have publicly claimed.PM Narendra Modi and his party’s chief, have been predicting a bigger win in 2019 than what the BJP achieved in 2014. “If we get 271 seats on our own, we will be very happy,”Madhav said in an interview with Bloomberg. “With NDA we will have a comfortable majority,” he said referring to NDA.jantakareporter
Will need NDA’s support to form next govt: BJP’s Ram Madhav
https://indianexpress.com/elections/with-nda-allies-we-will-get-a-majority-says-ram-madhav-5712900/?pfrom=HP
Lok Sabha elections : Given ‘raw deal’, surrendered J&K militant feels cheated
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2019-given-raw-deal-surrendered-j-k-militant-feels-cheated/story-NFuqBXJCSmUe50vLPPPcIO.html
Jammu:Almost 20 years after he laid down arms, Abdul Munaf Malik, a former ‘commander’ of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, is a disillusioned man. He says many other militants like him, who shunned violence to join the national mainstream, are also feeling cheated. Malik, 49, is sore over what he calls a “raw deal” given to him and other militants who surrendered.He claims that surrender-cum-rehabilitation policies of successive regimes in J&K are “cruel joke” on them.“I remained a militant from 1994 to 1999, initially as the district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and then as divisional commander of Tehreek-ul-Jihad for Rajouri, Poonch and Udhampur districts,” he says.Malik says he had undergone an 11-month training at Kotli in PoK and Manshera district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province before heading to Afghanistan to become a “hardened” guerrilla fighter.Ex-militant commander claims he survived over a dozen encounters and escaped several cordons during that period.Malik, who was also known as ‘Inqualabi’ and ‘Aslam Malik’, says as the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen he headed a team of 39 militants. “Some of them were eliminated in encounters and some others escaped to Pakistan. Seven to eight others were convinced by me to surrender,” he says.“After being persuaded by my mother to quit militancy, I surrendered before then senior , Rajouri, Hemant Kumar Lohia in April 1999. Thereafter, I worked for almost eight years as a special police officer,” he says. “As a special police officer, I helped security forces in eliminating over 40 insurgents. But my services were terminated on Sept.17, 2008 after some local politicians, jealous of my work, connived against me,” he adds.Malik says he had to pay a heavy price for his decision to quit militancy.“Infuriated over my decision, militants torched my house and those of my father and brother at Topa village in Rajouri district. They broke legs of my younger brother Abdul Qauf with a hammer. Today, he cannot move an inch without crutches. My sister was also beaten up,” he says.“My daughter, who has done B Sc in nursing, and my son, an M Sc degree holder, are today called names by people. Where will I marry off my daughter? Whenever any police verification is required, they specifically mention surrendered militant on papers,” he says. Malik says Rs 18,000 is all that he received for returning to the mainstream. hindustantimes
Grenade attack on polling station in Pulwama
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-grenade-attack-on-polling-station-in-jammu-and-kashmir-s-pulwama/story-Asx1ObAWrkuEArlxQSTz4I.html
Militants on Monday lobbed a grenade towards a polling station in Pulwama district of J&K where polling is underway for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, police said.A grenade was lobbed towards Rohmoo polling station in Pulwama but there were no reports of any casualties in the the blast, a police official said.He said security forces have cordoned off the area.Polling is being held in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency which also includes Anantnag and Kulgam districts as well.HT
Shadow of cow vigilante killings looms over Alwar
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019/rajasthan/news/shadow-of-cow-vigilante-killings-looms-over-alwar/articleshow/69193272.cms
A peculiar silence hangs over Alwar, which votes today, also coincidentally the start of Ramzan. 3 killings in two years by 'gau rakshaks' brought notoriety not seen before to the largely rural district. Though hardly any locals will talk of the subject, the undercurrents run deep. If, in Behror, an assembly segment in this parliamentary seat, a Congress poster is placed on the Jaipur-Delhi highway at the spot where Pehlu Khan was lynched by a mob of cow vigilantes in 2017, on another stretch off the highway between Behror and Alwar, a billboard reads, 'Be proud of being a gau rakshak. Ostracise Congress for trampling Hindu interests.' Congress' Jitendra Singh, former Union minister, is up against BJP's Mahant Balak Nath, head of the Asthal Bohar Math in Rohtak. Congress won the Lok Sabha bypoll for the seat by almost 2 lakh votes after BJP's sitting MP, Chandnath, passed away; the saffron-robed Balak Nath is Chandnath's disciple. The third candidate is BSP's Imran Khan, a civil engineer. Some 'gau rakshaks' are still around. A saffron scarf around his neck, Phool Singh Choudhary races on his bike over a dirt track in Lalwandi, where 31-year-old Rakbar Khan was killed last year. Singh says his bike has taken him to many zones where cows needed rescuing. TOI
Install jammers at EVM strongrooms to curb tampering: Ashok Chavan
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/install-jammers-at-evm-strongrooms-to-curb-tampering-ashok-chavan
Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan Monday demanded installation of "network jammers" in and around strongrooms where EVMs used for polling are kept.Addressing a press conference after meeting the chief electoral officer on the issue,Chavan claimed electronic voting machines can be tampered using wireless networks like mobile phone towers, wi-fi networks and hence such jammers were required. "These jammers should be installed during the counting process as well. We demand that such network jammers be installed immediately in all Lok Sabha seats in the state," Chavan said.He informed that the Congress had requested CEO to declare the result sheet of each round of counting only after it is duly prepared and signed by the returning officer and provided to all parties.PTI
Jharkhand: RSS, BJP following a two-pronged communalism strategy to keep society divided
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/jharkhand-rss-bjp-following-a-two-pronged-communalism-strategy-to-keep-society-divided
Communalism is deepening the chasm in Jharkhand. Here RSS, BJP and its acolytes have been following a two-pronged communalism strategy to keep the society divided. On one hand they have been able to wedge suspicion between Hindus and Muslims and on the other, the Sangh Parivar has been attempting to widen the chasm between the tribals, who became Christians, and Sarnas, who worship nature. Here too, the attempt is to politicise tribal identity on religious lines. While the Sarna tribals of Jharkhand have long been demanding to be counted as a Sarna, the members of the Sangh Parivar believe they are simply backward Hindus.“When we were growing up in Ranchi, the normal greeting was ‘namaskar’ or ‘namaste’, but now it has become ‘Jai Shri Ram’. That is reflective of the society one lives in. Now, communal elements have increased. All of this began just before the arrival of Modi – a sort of laying the ground to ensure he was voted to power,” explains a young Right To Food activist.“Even the administration is to blame. Earlier, if Dusshera used to happen around the same time as Eid or Muharram, both would get to carry out their procession, but now Muslims hardly hold any such processions and the administration isn’t doing enough to protect them and encourage them,” adds the activist.Jharkhand has seen 18 lynchings ever since the BJP government has come to power of which 11 victims died and in fact, union minister Jayant Sinha garlanded a few alleged mob lynchers after they were granted bail by a court.nationalheraldindia
Country Won’t Forgive Modi for Rajiv Remarks:Raj Thackeray
http://caravandaily.com/country-wont-forgive-modi-for-rajiv-remarks-says-raj-thackeray/?fbclid=IwAR2b09Iar-67c0f2zlat2-oGpDnI2OApNl3KyKzIqxm-dFrfPzXXo2i3M_E
MUMBAI:MNS chief Raj Thackeray has strongly condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modis utterances on late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, saying the “country will not forgive him for the remarks”.Referring to Modi’s statement that Rajiv Gandhi was called “Mr. Clean” by his courtiers but died as “Bhrashtachari No. 1”, Thackeray said on Sunday: “Hatred, endless lying and absolutely no qualms in transgressing the decorum of public life are the three characteristics that mark the term of Narendra Modi.“This stands intensified with his latest statements against the late Rajiv Gandhi and the nation will definitely not pardon it,” said Thackeray.Thackeray joins the ranks of several prominent opposition leaders across the country who criticized Modi’s statements on Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by a Sri Lankan Tamil suicide bomber on May 21, 1991.IANS
Vote for someone who sends your kids to Oxford not Ayodhya: Mevani
https://indianexpress.com/elections/vote-someone-who-sends-kids-to-oxford-not-ayodhya-mevani-atishi-delhi-elections-5711613/?fbclid=IwAR3ykJKhN-y6J7wYp_LI3ecLsB0w-kEwrxvfZ6XR8RpUxloDbIxh7V3VyrU
New Delhi:Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani has campaigned for AAP’s East Delhi candidate Atishi and urged people to choose a leader who will send their children to Oxford or Cambridge University, and not Ayodhya or Kumbh. Campaigning for her in Old Seemapuri area of East Delhi, he claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to send poor children to Ayodhya due to Hindu-Muslim politics.“I want to tell you that we do not want to send our next generation to Kumbh or Ayodhya, but to Oxford from where Atishi studied and Cambridge. Her work in the education sector has created a model, something which cannot be seen anywhere in Gujarat,”Mevani said with Atishi by his side. Kafeel Khan, whose name surfaced in the death case of 63 children at Gorakhpur’s BRD Medical College, also campaigned for AAP candidate in Nizamuddin. The party claims Khan was hailed as a “hero” for arranging jumbo oxygen cylinders to save dying kids.PTI
WORLD
Israel,Gaza reach ceasefire deal amid tense calm
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/palestinians-truce-reached-israel-vowed-massive-strikes-190506022134617.html
Palestinian officials say a ceasefire agreement has been reached with Israel to end a surge of violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel that has led to the deaths of at least 25 Palestinians and four Israelis.Gaza officials confirmed to Al Jazeera that a deal was reached at 1:30 GMT, and no Israeli air raids on the Palestinian territory have been reported since the deal came into effect.The officials said Egypt and Qatar helped mediate an end to days of attacks between Gaza and Israel.There was no confirmation from the Israeli side. However, the Israeli army early on Monday lifted all protective restrictions imposed near the Gaza area during the weekend's flare-up.Home Front Command instructed residents of the south to return to their routines. Israeli Transportation Ministry announced that all public bus routes in the south would return to full and normal operation. The railway line between the cities of Ashkelon and Beersheba was also set to resume later in the morning.An Islamic Jihad official, on condition of anonymity, said the truce agreement was based on Israel easing its blockade of Gaza Strip.Among the steps, he said, were the easing of limits on the fishing zone to 12 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza and improvements in Gaza's electricity and fuel situation.An Egyptian official also confirmed the deal on condition of anonymity.A 34-year-old Hamas commander was killed on Sunday in what the Israeli military described as a targeted strike.An army statement accused Hamad al-Khodori of "transferring large sums of money" from Iran to armed factions in Gaza.Other Palestinian victims included two pregnant women and two infants. A 12-year-old boy, Abdelrahman Abu al-Jadyan, was also killed in the same attack. The bodies of his parents, Talal and Raghda, were recovered under the rubble on Monday, bringing the death toll in the Gaza Strip to 25 killed.In the Israeli city of Ashkelon, a 58-year-old Israeli man was killed after being struck by shrapnel from a rocket attack. 2 other Israelis, critically wounded in a separate rocket attack on a factory on Sunday afternoon, later died.aljazeera
Trump backs Israel '100%' amid airstrikes on Gaza
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/trump-backs-israel-100-amid-airstrikes-on-gaza-/1471220
US President Donald Trump threw his support behind Israel amid ongoing airstrikes in the blockaded Gaza Strip."Once again, Israel faces a barrage of deadly rocket attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100%in its defense of its citizens,"he tweeted.
Israel strikes 320 sites in blockaded Gaza Strip
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-strikes-320-sites-in-blockaded-gaza-strip/1471217
Some 320 sites across the blockaded Gaza Strip were targeted since Saturday by the Israeli army, according to a statement. Israeli army claimed that reconnaissance points, underground warehouses and military centers of Hamas and Islamic Jihad were targeted. Anadolu
Hamas: 'Calm can be restored only after stopping Israeli' attacks
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/hamas-calm-can-be-restored-only-after-stopping-israeli-attacks/1471204
Calm can be restored in the blockaded Gaza Strip only after stopping the Israeli attacks against Palestinian protestors, Hamas leader said."We stress that the more atrocious the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian civilians are, the stronger the Palestinian response will be,"Ismail Haniyeh said."Hamas stresses that calm can be restored only after stopping the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and implementing ceasefire understandings by the Israeli occupation," Haniyeh added. " Palestinian people besieged in Gaza Strip for more than 12 years demand their basic rights only, as per all international laws and conventions,"according to statement.Anadolu
US may review ties with countries deemed anti-Israel -envoy
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190505-us-may-review-ties-with-countries-deemed-anti-israel-envoy/
US may review its ties with countries it deems as being anti-Israel after what a US envoy said on Sunday was a shift in policy towards equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, Reuters reports.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a March speech that anti-Zionism – opposition to Israel’s existence as a homeland for the Jewish people – was a form of anti-Semitism, or hostility toward Jews, that was on the rise worldwide and that Washington would “fight it relentlessly”.State Dept’s special envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism, Elan Carr, said this US position could spell reviews of ties with foreign governments or leaders.“The United States is willing to review its relationship with any country, and certainly anti-Semitism on the part of a country with whom we have relations is a deep concern,” he told Reuters during a visit to Israel.“I will be raising that issue in bilateral meetings that I am undertaking all over the world,” he said. “That is something we are going to have frank and candid conversations about – behind closed doors.”middleeastmonitor
NSA Bolton: US deploying bombers to Middle East in warning to Iran
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ovesg?fbclid=IwAR0pCNlwYjIYBXGeLAP_9Pw_CvTl6GtuzD_A3NDxl3g6vpowKyheKt-XNFQ
US is deploying a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to send a clear message to Iran that any attack on US interests or its allies will be met with "unrelenting force".Amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, US NSA John Bolton said on Sunday that the deployment of USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to US Central Command region was a response "to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings"."US is not seeking war with the Iranian regime, but we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy,Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or regular Iranian forces," Bolton said.Al Jazeera's Washington reporter, said move was an "unusual one" especially because of the statement by Bolton."There are more questions than answers in that short statement," he said."It's not unusual for aircraft carriers to be deployed to the Middle East to be a deterrent to Iran. But what makes this different is Bolton putting out a statement specifying Iran. It's almost a provocation."That's unusual for US to do that when they deploy big military assets like these." Washington has said it will stop waivers for countries buying Iranian oil, in an attempt to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. It has also blacklisted Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps.In response, Iran said it has mobilised all its resources to sell oil in a "grey market". Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Iran's deputy oil minister, said that Iran would continue to export oil despite US sanctions, which he said were neither just nor legitimate. "We have mobilised all of the country's resources and are selling oil in 'grey market'," he said.aljazeera
China slams US warships operation in S. China Sea
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/warships-sail-disputed-south-china-sea-190506053101928.html
Two US warships sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea on Monday, the US military said, in a move condemned by Beijing at a time of tense relations between the world's two biggest economies. US guided-missile destroyers Preble and Chung Hoon travelled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands, a US military spokesperson told Reuters news agency.Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Seventh Fleet, said that the "innocent passage" was "to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law.""Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" to the operation that took place near two reefs in the Spratly Islands, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing on Monday.aljazeera
UN gets access to vital grain in Yemen’s Hodeidah
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/access-vital-grain-yemen-port-city-hodeidah-190505183423561.html
A United Nations team has regained access to grain in Yemen that could feed more than 3.7 million people for a month, in a country "gripped with the world's largest humanitarian crisis" but the cereal is partially infested and must first be fumigated, UN officials say. The team reached the grain store on Sunday. It is in the Red Sea Mills silos just outside the port town of Hodeidah near a front line area in Yemen's 4-year-old civil war."We lost access to this mill in September of last year," Stephen Anderson, the World Food Programme (WFP) Yemen country director told Al Jazeera from Djibouti. aljazeera
Idlib: At least 9 civilians killed in govt-led air raids
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/idlib-9-civilians-killed-government-led-air-strikes-190505115030134.html
At least 9 civilians were killed in Syrian government air raids in northwest Idlib province as its forces and their Russian allies continued bombarding the last rebel-held stronghold for a sixth consecutive day.The attacks on Sunday took place in the towns of Kafr Nabl and Khan Sheikhoun, according to Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets.aljazeera
Sri Lanka expels 200 Muslim clerics after bombings
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sri-lanka-expels-200-islamic-clerics-after-easter-attacks-119050500280_1.html
Sri Lanka has expelled over 600 foreign nationals, including around 200 Islamic clerics, since the Easter suicide bombings blamed on a local jihadi group, a minister said.Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the clerics had entered the country legally, but amid a security crackdown after the attacks were found to have overstayed their visas, for which fines were imposed and they were expelled from the island. "Considering the current situation in the country, we have reviewed the visas system and took a decision to tighten visa restrictions for religious teachers," Abeywardena said."Out of those who were sent out, about 200 were Islamic preachers." The minister did not give the nationalities of those who have been expelled, but police have said many foreigners who have overstayed their visas since Easter attacks were from Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan."There are religious institutions which have been getting down foreign preachers for decades," Abeywardena said. "We have no issues with them, but there are some which mushroomed recently.We will pay more attention to them." AFP
Sri Lanka blocks social media platforms after Sinhalese-Muslim clashes
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/sri-lanka-blocks-social-media-platforms-after-sinhalese-muslim-clashes-119050600269_1.html
Sri Lankan on Monday temporarily blocked Facebook, WhatsApp and some social media platforms as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of false information a day after clashes broke out between ethnic Sinhalese group and minority Muslims."Access to social media applications, Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber etc. has been temporarily suspended," the Sri Lanka Information Department said.Meanwhile, curfew imposed in Negombo after tensions between communities erupted, has been lifted, reported Colombo Page. Police spokesman, SP Ruwan Gunasekara, said the curfew in Negombo was lifted at 7 am today after the situation was brought under control.ANI
Christian-Muslim clashes rock Easter attacks town in Sri Lanka
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/christian-muslim-clashes-rock-easter-attacks-town-in-sri-lanka/articleshow/69198940.cms
Sri Lanka's Roman Catholic Church appealed for calm and an alcohol ban Monday after clashes between Christians and Muslims in a town scarred by the Easter suicide attacks. Hundreds of security forces entered Negombo to impose a curfew after dozens of Muslim-owned shops, homes and vehicles were attacked. St.Sebastian's church in town near Colombo was one of three churches and 3 hotels hit by bombers on April. "I appeal to all Catholic and Christian brothers and sisters not to hurt even a single Muslim person because they are our brothers, because they are part of our religious culture," said Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo. "Therefore please avoid hurting them and try to create a better spirit of understanding and good relations between all the communities of Sri Lanka," he said in a video message to the country. AFP
Won't enforce death penalty for gay sex:Brunei
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48171165
Brunei has backtracked on enforcing laws introduced last month that would have made sex between men and adultery punishable by stoning to death.Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday extended a moratorium on the death penalty to cover the new legislation.The rethink follows global outcry over the laws, including boycotts and celebrity protests.While still on the statute books for some crimes, no executions have been carried out in Brunei since 1957. Last month Brunei rolled out a strict new interpretation of Islamic laws, or Sharia.In a speech, the sultan said he was aware there had been "many questions and misperceptions" regarding implementation of the legislation, called Syariah Penal Code Order.BBC
Sudan protesters vow to continue sit-in during Ramadan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/sudan-protesters-vow-continue-sit-in-ramadan-190506085703602.html
Thousands of Sudanese protesters are preparing to fast during the month of Ramadan in front of the army headquarters.They say they will continue their sit-in until the military council which ousted President Omar al-Bashir hands over power to a civilian govt.aljazeera
Aeroflot plane crash: 41 killed on Russian jet
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48171392
41 people died after a Russian plane made an emergency landing and burst into flames just after takeoff from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.Dramatic video shows passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the burning Aeroflot aircraft.Survivors suggest the plane was struck by lightning, but Russia's national carrier said only that it returned to the airport for technical reasons.2 children are among the dead. The jet had 73 passengers and five crew.Initial reports suggested the plane had landed on fire, but sources quoted by Russian news agency Interfax said the jet caught fire after a very bumpy landing.BBC
Month of Ramadan fasting begins in Southeast Asian, Middle East countries
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/month-of-ramadan-fasting-for-many-muslims-begins-monday-119050600174_1.html
Dubai: Muslims in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, and much of the Middle East, including Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, will fast on Monday for the start of the month of Ramadan.Millions more, however, in India, Pakistan and Iran, will likely be marking the start of the lunar month on Tuesday based on moon sightings there.Muslims follow a lunar calendar, and a moon-sighting methodology can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart.While Muslims around the world welcomed the start of Ramadan with traditional greetings and messages of peace, the start of the Muslim holy month in the Gaza Strip was marked by sounds of outgoing Palestinian rockets and incoming Israeli airstrikes.AP
Flash: views & NEWS
Legacy of a Different CEC: When J.M. Lyngdoh Stood up to Modi:Monobina Gupta
https://thewire.in/politics/election-commission-jm-lyngodh-modi-model-code
In case against CJI, SC should address disquiet expressed by a senior judge:Editorial, indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/ranjan-gogoi-cji-sexual-harrassment-justice-chandrachud-supreme-court-5711707/?pfrom=HP
Statements during 2019 campaign go against principle of universal franchise: Seema Chishti
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/electing-a-new-people-5711677/?pfrom=HP
Justice Is Dead, Long Live the Justices:Shruti Rajagopalan
https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-cji-allegations-justice
Congress and BJP: How Different Are Their Attitudes Towards Muslims? — Saeed Naqvi
http://caravandaily.com/congress-and-bjp-how-different-are-their-attitudes-towards-muslims-saeed-naqvi/
Why Hindu temples don’t change their architectures unlike churches and mosques: TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/why-hindu-temples-dont-change-their-architectures-unlike-churches-mosques/articleshow/69185260.cms
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:16 PM)
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