NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
19 June 2019: 14 Shawal 1440:Vol: 11, No:225
INDIA
Most parties support ‘one nation, one election’, committee to check feasibility soon says Centre;Left terms it backdoor way of replacing parliamentary democracy
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-party-meet-on-one-nation-one-electio-simultaneous-polls-live-updates/article28073129.ece?homepage=true
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting today to explore the possibility of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and local bodies.Modi has invited heads of all parties who have an MP either in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha for a meeting to discuss several issues, including the “one nation, one election” idea, celebration of 75 years of Independence in 2022 and 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary this year.While several regional leaders including M.K. Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, and N. Chandrababu Naidu have decided to skip the meeting, the Left parties, which is opposing the idea of simultaneous polls, participated in the meeting.The “one nation, one election” proposal is fundamentally anti-federal and a “backdoor way of replacing our parliamentary democracy”,CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said after a meeting of political party chiefs called by Modi.Speaking on the programme and commitments to celebrate Gandhi’s birth anniversary, Yechury said action must be taken against those who are glorifying the assassins of the Father of the nation. He also demanded for a law against mob lynching.“‘One Nation, One poll’ proposal is fundamentally anti-federal and anti democratic and thus, against the Constitution. It is a backdoor way of replacing our parliamentary democracy,” Yechury said after the meeting.Holding simultaneous polls to Parliament and state Assemblies is fundamentally anti-federal and anti-democratic and thus, against the Constitution, the CPI(M) said on Wednesday, listing out the reasons for its opposition to the “artificial attempt” to introduce “One Nation, One Election” process by the government.Earlier, in a note circulated among the representatives of the political parties in attendance, he listed out the reasons for the CPI(M)’s opposition to the “artificial attempt” by the government to introduce simultaneous polls.Modi will set up a committee for giving “time-bound” suggestions on the issue of ‘one nation, one election’, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said.Addressing the media after the all-party meeting on the issue, Singh said most parties supported the idea of holding simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.He said though parties such as CPI and CPI(M) had “difference of opinion” on how the exercise of joint elections will be held, they were “not opposed (to the idea)“.Asked about the composition of the proposed committee, Singh said Prime Minister will take a call.CEC S.Y. Quraishi, "“Till the idea achieves political consensus, there are two alternative suggestions to deal with the problems that arise due to frequent elections.“First, the problem of uncontrolled campaign expenditure can be remedied by introducing a cap on expenditure by political parties. State funding of political parties based on their poll performance also is a suggestion worth considering. Private and corporate fund collection may be banned.“Second, as I have suggested elsewhere, the poll duration can be reduced from two-three months to about 33 to 35 days if more Central armed police forces can be provided. The problems associated with a multi-phased election have been getting compounded, with more issues being added to the list with every election. Violence, social media-related transgressions and issues related to the enforcement of the MCC which are unavoidable in a staggered election will vanish if the election is conducted in a single day. All that needs to be done is to raise more battalions. This will also help in job creation.“...[I]t is undeniable that simultaneous elections would be a far-reaching electoral reform. If it is to be implemented, there needs to be a solid political consensus, and an agenda of comprehensive electoral reforms should supplement it. Pros and cons need to be appropriately assessed and practical alternatives sincerely considered,” Quraishi concludes.Former CEC T.S. Krishnamurthy has said the ‘one nation one election’ idea is very attractive but cannot be put into practice without a Constitutional amendment providing for fixed tenure for legislatures.In a letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, AAP's Spokesperson Raghav Chadha has called simultaneous polls, at this stage, is just a slogan in the absence of a clear policy document or white paper. thehindu
PM To Form Committee To Study Feasibility Of One Nation, One Poll: Centre
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modis-meet-on-one-nation-one-election-today-5-leaders-to-skip-it-2055571
Most parties support ‘one nation, one election’, committee to check feasibility soon: PM Modi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/most-parties-support-one-nation-one-election-committee-to-check-feasibility-pm-modi-5789052/
‘One nation, one election’ a diversionary tactic says Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/one-nation-one-election-a-diversionary-tactics-says-congress-mp-gaurav-gogoi
Congress leader and MP Gaurav Gogoi slammed the BJP over simultaneous polls, saying that it was a "diversionary tactics" to divert people's attention from real issues and accused the ruling party of remaining inconsistent on the issue.The Congress also said that party President Rahul Gandhi has written to the government over the party's inability to participate in the meeting of presidents of all parties in Parliament. Congress leader and MP Gaurav Gogoi told reporters here that"when we talk of 'one nation, one election,' then we also want improvements in the election process."He said the Congress has raised questions over the election process as voting for two Rajya Sabha seats is being done on different dates.nationalheraldindia
Law panel for tough legal framework to hold simultaneous polls
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/law-panel-for-tough-legal-framework-to-hold-simultaneous-polls-5788923/
As the govt toys with the idea of holding simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies, the Law Commission has recommended a tough legal framework for such a gigantic exercise.The law panel, in its draft recommendations made last August, recommended amendments to the Constitution and the Representation of People Act to ensure simultaneous elections. Simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be held in two phases, provided at least 2 provisions of the Constitution are amended and ratified by majority of the states, Commission had recommended. Agreeing with the view of the law panel, former chief election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy said the ‘one nation one election’ idea is very attractive but cannot be put into practice without a constitutional amendment providing for fixed tenure for legislatures.PTI
Supreme Court seeks ECI stand on plea against separate Rajya Sabha bypolls in Gujarat
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/supreme-court-seeks-eci-stand-on-plea-against-separate-rajya-sabha-bypolls-in-gujarat/article28073959.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today sought the stand of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition challenging its decision to hold 2 separate Rajya Sabha bypolls in Gujarat.The seats fell vacant owing to the election of BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Smriti Irani to Lok Sabha.A Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant told the poll panel to respond by Monday on the petition filed by Gujarat Congress leader Pareshbhai Dhanani.The question whether such vacancy was ‘casual’ or statutory needed to be decided, the Bench said, as it posted the case for further hearing on June 25.Counsel for the poll panel argued that a petition in such issues cannot be entertained.thehindu
Lok Sabha adjourned after Speaker election and introduction of Council of Ministers
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-proceedings-live-speaker-to-be-elected-today/article28071156.ece
Om Birla, a two-term BJP MP from Kota, has been nominated by the ruling party for the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha.On June 19 PM Narendra Modi will nominate Birla, followed by other members who will second his nomination.Members who couldn’t take their oaths in the last two days will do so today.House adjourned for the day. Lok Sabha will reassemble tomorrow,30 minutes after Presidential address.thehindu
Rationalist Dabholkar murder: CBI seeks Sanatan Sanshtha lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar’s custody again
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rationalist-dabholkar-murder-cbi-seeks-sanatan-sanshtha-lawyer-sanjeev-punalekars-custody-again/article28076240.ece?homepage=true
Pune: CBI has opposed the bail plea of advocate Sanjeev Punalekar, counsel for the fringe right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanshtha, and again sought his custody in connection with the murder of eminent rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar. CBI, through Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Suryavanshi, sought his custody on the grounds that it needed to interrogate Mr. Punalekar regarding documents and other materials seized from the him during his arrest on May 26. A special court on June 4 remanded Punalekar, and his aide, Sanatan Sanstha member Vikram Bhave, in judicial custody after two spells in the CBI’s custody.At the time, the court denied the CBI’s plea seeking a further extension of the custody of the accused, observing that the investigating agency had not made any fresh progress in the investigation when the accused was in its custody.thehindu
Union Health Secretary flags malpractices in hospitals, sends patients’ rights charter to States
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-health-secretary-flags-malpractices-in-hospitals-sends-patients-rights-charter-to-states/article28075643.ece?homepage=true
MUMBAI:A patient has the right to know all the rates charged for specific services in a hospital, hospitals should boldly display the cost of procedures in local and English language and patients should pay the fees agreed upon and never resort to violence.These are some of the points in a detailed charter of patients’ rights that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wants all the State governments to adopt.Raising a red flag on malpractices in hospitals across the country, Ministry Secretary Preeti Sudan, in a June 2 circular, asked all the States and Union Territories to adopt the charter so that the common grievances of patients and clinical establishments are addressed.The circular said the government had been receiving many complaints of malpractices in clinical establishments, particularly in large corporate hospitals such as billing of arbitrary and exorbitant charges, gross deficiency in services provided, not following standard treatment protocol, total lack of transparency in diagnosis and treatment, forcing patients to avail diagnostic services and purchase of medicines, consumables and implants from some select vendors, etc.thehindu
Excluded from panel on atrocities against Dalits, Jignesh Mevani calls it prejudice
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/excluded-from-panel-on-atrocities-against-dalits-jignesh-mevani-calls-it-prejudice-5787354/
Gandhinagar :Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani, who represents the Scheduled Caste reserved constituency Vadgam, Tuesday wrote to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, objecting to being excluded from the Gujarat government’s high power committee on prevention of atrocities on Dalits and tribal people in the state. He attributed his omission from the panel to alleged prejudice against him. The committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday.Under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, each state government constitutes a high power State-level vigilance and monitoring committee for effective implementation of the Act. The Committee, headed by the chief minister, can have a maximum of 25 members, including the leader of the opposition, the state’s chief secretary, director general of police, the minister for social justice & empowerment and MPs and MLAs representing the SC and ST communities.In his letter to the chief minister, Mevani wrote, “To the best of my information, this meeting (of State Level Vigilance and Monitoring Committee) is scheduled tomorrow, ie June 19, 2019. However, to ensure that I do not raise the issues of the SC and ST communities, I have not been included in the committee, with a prejudice against me.” He submitted a list of demands on prevention of atrocities against Dalits and tribals in Gujarat, and asked the state government to discuss it at the meeting and do the needful.indianexpress
Anand Grover, NGO say attempt to silence them after CBI's action
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anand-grover-ngo-booked-by-cbi-they-say-attempt-to-silence-them-5787459/
New Delhi :Lawyers Collective, rights issue NGO run by senior lawyers Indira Jaising and Anand Grover has expressed “shock and outrage at the action of the CBI. Acting on a complaint from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), CBI has registered an FIR against Lawyers Collective, for alleged violation of FCRA.In a statement, the Lawyers Collective said: “The Lawyers Collective believes that the FIR has no basis in fact and law. It is to target the Lawyers Collective and its office bearers, to silence them as they have taken up sensitive cases in the past, and continue to take them up. The Lawyers Collective is seeking competent advice and will defend themselves in accordance with law in every forum.”“LC has reason to believe that its officer bearers are personally being targeted for speaking up in defence of human rights, secularism and independence of the judiciary in all fora more particularly in their capacity as senior lawyers in court. The LC sees this as a blatant attack of the right to representation of all persons, particularly the marginalised and those who dissent in their views form the ruling party. It is also an attack in the right to free speech and expression and an attack on the legal profession as such,” the statement said.indianexpress
Shah Faesal, Engineer Rashid join hands ahead of J&K Assembly polls
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shah-faesal-engineer-rashid-join-hands-ahead-of-jk-assembly-polls-5787362/
Srinagar :Bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal’s Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement (JKPM) and former independent legislator Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) have joined hands to set the foundations for a third front ahead of the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.Uniting under the banner of Peoples’ United Front (PUF), the agenda of alliance (AoA) of the new political amalgam “promises to pursue and facilitate the resolution of Kashmir issue”.“In view of prevailing political circumstances in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Awami Ittihad Party and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement have decided to enter into a pre-poll alliance under the banner of Peoples’ United Front,” JKPM chairman Javeed Mustafa Mir announced at a press conference in Srinagar.“The alliance has been necessitated by the ongoing political uncertainty in the state, apprehensions with regard to assault on the special status, and absence of any credible political alternative that could address both political vacuum and absence of good governance,” he said.indianexpress
Akola Court acquits 3 of terror charges: Mere use of word jehad can’t be ground to brand a person terrorist
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/akola-court-acquits-three-of-terror-charges-use-of-word-jehad-terrorist-5787488/
Mumbai :Acquitting 3 men of terror charges, a special court in Akola has said that mere use of the word “jehad” by a person cannot be ground to brand him a terrorist.The acquitted youths, Salim Malik (29), Shoeb Khan (29) and Abdul Malik (24), were slapped with terror charges following an attack on policemen outside a mosque in Pusad on Sept.25, 2015 on Bakr Eid over the beef ban in the state. ATS claimed that they were part of a conspiracy to influence Muslim youths to join terrorist organisations.Acquitting all three of terror charges, Special Judge AS Jadhav, in his May 21 order, said, “As per the dictionary, the word ‘jehad’ literally means ‘struggle’. Jehad is an Arabic word, which literally means striving or struggling. According to the BBC, the third meaning of jehad is struggling to build a good society. Related word of jehad is expedition, administration, movement, strive, crusade. Therefore, merely accused used word ‘jehad’, it would not be proper to brand him a terrorist.”Abdul was sentenced to three years in jail for “voluntarily causing hurt to policemen”. As he was in jail since Sept.25, 2015, having spent more than the three-year term, he too was released. “It appears that accused No. 1 (Abdul) exhibited his anger by violence against the government and some Hindu organisations for ban on cow-slaughtering. No doubt he used the word ‘jehad’. But, it was adventurous to jump to the conclusion that only for using the word ‘jehad’, he should be branded a terrorist,” the court said.According to the prosecution, Abdul arrived at the mosque, took out a knife and stabbed two policemen on duty and said before the attack that because of the beef ban, he would kill the policemen.Abdul denied the claim.indianexpress
ATS arrests: Acquitted, youths say their lives shattered
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2015-ats-arrests-acquitted-youths-say-their-lives-shattered-5787503/
People are laughing at Kishan Reddy for calling Hyderabad a terrorist hub: KCR
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/people-are-laughing-at-kishan-reddy-for-calling-hyderabad-a-terrorist-hub-kcr-119061900076_1.html
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday hit out at MoS Home G Kishan Reddy for calling Hyderabad a hub of ISIS and said that the latter has become a 'laughing stock' by making such comments."People are laughing at MoS G Kishan Reddy for his statement that Hyderabad is an ISIS hub. He has become a laughing stock. Hyderabad is a peaceful city,"Rao said.Rao further claimed that communal tensions have decreased in the region in the last 5 years. "If we see the history of AP every year many cases of communal tension were reported.But, in the last 5 years of our governance, there was no single communal tension in the state. The crime rate has drastically come down. It is madness to say that this place is adda (hub) for terrorists. No single terrorist act was reported here in last 5 years," he said.CM made the statement after Reddy claimed that Hyderabad had become a safe haven for terrorists. Reddy also linked terrorist attacks which took place across the country with immigrants settled in the city.ANI
RSS functionary Krishna Gopal in video: ‘Hindu is spiritual, more effective than Bharat’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-functionary-krishna-gopal-in-video-hindu-is-spiritual-more-effective-than-bharat-5787402/
New Delhi:The words ‘Bharatiya’ and ‘Hindu’ are ideologically synonymous, and the people living between the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean are Hindu citizens and Hindu persons, senior RSS functionary Krishna Gopal has said.“It is true that for us there is no major difference between the words ‘Bharatiya’ and ‘Hindu’. But it has to be noted that the word ‘Bharat’ gives the sense of geographical identity more. Ideologically, both words are synonymous,” Gopal said in a recently released video, where he is in conversation with another senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya. The video was recorded and released by Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra (IVSK), which has recorded around half-a-dozen such videos of discussions on various issues in the programme “Gyan Shrankhla”.In the video, Gopal said that the word ‘Hindu’ has become popular across the country in the past 1,500 years. “It has been well described in Vishnu Purana that the entire society living from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean was called Hindu society. The people living between the Himalayas and the sea is Hindu society and the people are Hindu citizens and Hindu persons,” he said.indianexpress
Congress suspends Karnataka MLA Roshan Baig for ‘anti-party activities’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-suspends-karnataka-mla-roshan-baig-for-anti-party-activities-5787359/
Bengaluru:Congress leader and former minister R Roshan Baig, who recently attacked senior Congress leaders over the poor Lok Sabha poll results, was suspended by Karnataka Congress Committee for anti-party activities.Baig has been in the news over the past few weeks – first for an outburst against AICC leader and observer for Karnataka KC Venugopal, state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, and more recently for alleged links to a ponzi scheme in his constituency. The former minister, who has been miffed over being ignored for a state Cabinet berth and a Lok Sabha ticket from the Bengaluru Central constituency, is widely believed to have been on the verge of joining BJP this month when he was linked to IMA Group ponzi scheme which has defrauded hundreds of investors – mostly Muslims – in Bengaluru.indianexpress
AMU gets new proctor
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/amu-gets-new-proctor/articleshow/69831691.cms
AMU authorities have appointed professor Afifullah Khan of the department of wildlife sciences as the proctor on Monday. An order to this effect was issued by university registrar Abdul Hamid (IPS). As proctor, Afifullah would be responsible for maintaining law and order in the university and act as a liaison between the university and district administration. Afifullah is a distinguished academician who has a vast administrative experience as well. He will take over charge in addition to his own duties for a period of 2 years or until further orders.He has been a part of the university since 1989 when he joined as a lecturer in dept.of wildlife sciences. TOI
Muslim religious bodies to oppose new bill on triple talaq
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/muslim-religious-bodies-to-oppose-new-bill-on-triple-talaq/story-109gGVNAMtIrSXUsTpRT7K.html
Lucknow:With the fresh bill to ban instant triple talaq all set to be introduced in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Muslim religious organisations have made it clear that the legislation in its present form will not be acceptable to them.While the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) was against the bill from the outset, it is the opposition by the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board, initially in favour of the law, which has surprised many. “I have been one of the harshest critics and opponents of the instant triple talaq and was the first one to hail the ban. But we were against the jail term of 3 years for offenders without exhausting other means for reconciliation and patch-up between the couple,” said Shaista Amber, president of the women’s body.Amber said the bill in the present form was not acceptable to them and she had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invite religious scholars and bodies like the AIMPLB, Jamat-e- Islami and Jamait-i-Ulema Hind for discussion before giving a nod to the new bill. The AIMPLB, which had launched a campaign against the proposed bill and managed to get the old bill stalled in the Rajya Sabha with the help of the Congress and all other non-BJP parties, says its stand remains the same. “We are keeping a watch on the developments; the AIMPLB has tasked one of its members Qasim Rasool Ilyas to study the revised draft and give his feedback, after which we would formulate our strategy,” said AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani.HT
Vande Mataram against Islam, cannot follow it: Samajwadi Party MP in Lok Sabha
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/vande-mataram-islam-cannot-follow-samajwadi-party-mp-lok-sabha-1502767082.html
New Delhi :Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq concluded his oath in Parliament with the slogan of “Constitution of India zindabad” before triggering a din in the lower house with his comment on Vande Mataram.“Jahan tak Vande Mataram ka taaluq hai, it is against Islam and we cannot follow it,” he said after taking oath.There was an immediate uproar in the Lok Sabha as some MPs raised “Vande Mataram” slogans. Barq had started to walk away from the lectern without signing the register of MPs before a parliament official signalled him back.Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, too, was faced with slogans like ‘Vande Mataram’ while he was taking oath as MP.thestatesman
My ashes will be immersed by a Muslim man:Writer T. Padmanabhan
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/authors/my-ashes-will-be-immersed-by-a-muslim-man-t-padmanabhan--1.3885294
Haripad: Writer T. Padmanabhan disclosed that as he has no children, he has entrusted a Muslim man to immerse his ashes in Bharathappuzha and perform his last rites. The author revealed this while speaking after receiving Haripad CBC Warrier Foundation Award.“My wife’s ashes was immersed in a river at Wayanad and the last rites were performed by a person who belonged to a community which the society perceives as low caste.Even when I turn 90,my mind is young," Padmanabhan said."I am a person who grew up experiencing the freedom struggle. I was not a mere spectator of it. I wish to wear Khadi dress till death and to be covered with the tricolour after the death,” he said. "Our land is in a path to the yesterdays. The caste-based preferences are increasing in the society. We have to remember the incident in which a doctor committed suicide due to caste discrimination from her colleagues in Mumbai," he opined.Those who rule the country impose caste-related violence. It was not very common to add caste name with a person’s name. But now caste name is added with even children’s names,” the writer added.mathrubhumi
Muslim trust moves rights panel over burial ground
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/muslim-trust-moves-rights-panel-over-burial-ground/articleshow/69849452.cms
Panaji:Azad Jamatul Muslimeen Welfare Trust complained to the Goa State Human Rights Commission that Muslims residing in the vicinity of Panaji, including Merces and Bambolim, aren’t being permitted to bury at the Corporation of the City of Panaji’s kabrastan at St Inez. The complaint stated that Muslims from these areas have been burying their dead at the St Inez kabrastan since 1961, until Sept.2017 when the CCP stopped the burial of those outside its jurisdiction stating that there was limited space. Pointing out that there is no kabrastan for the people of Merces and Bambolim to bury their dead, the trust has requested the government to permit burial of people from Merces, Bambolim and Curca at the St Inez kabrastan till the government or local authority provides a piece of land.TOI
‘Called Modi a fascist and stand by it,’ says KCR
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/called-modi-a-fascist-and-stand-by-it-says-kcr/story-p6FFGKaIt8SgA24swJFejL.html
Hyderabad:Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has said he was the first person to criticise Narendra Modi and will stand by his criticism of the Prime Minister.KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, also reiterated his party would continue to oppose BJP on the political front but will maintain constitutional relations with NDA govt at the Centre.“I called him the most fascist ruler of the country. It was on record and I stand by it,” KCR said while speaking to media while briefing the decisions taken by the state cabinet.CM reminded that his party was not a part of NDA. “I mooted the idea of the federal front (of anti-Congress and anti-BJP parties). I will continue to make efforts in that direction,” he asserted.HT
Family of killed Jaish operative Sajad Ahmad Bhat can’t believe he joined militant ranks
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/family-of-killed-jaish-operative-sajad-ahmad-bhat-can-t-believe-he-joined-militant-ranks/story-5IPxypyDQXmOsFns4n1X8K.html
Marhama:On Feb.22, just a week after a car bomb had killed 40 CRPF men in Pulwama, Sajad Ahmad Bhat, a teenager, left his home at Marhama village in Bijbehara, some 45km from summer capital Srinagar.A day later, police shocked his family members by informing them that he had joined militant outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammad. 5 more days later, the family was in for another startling revelation when the National Investigation Agency raided their two-storey modest house with the news that Bhat owned the explosive-laden Maruti Eeco, which was used in the Pulwama attack that had brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.On Tuesday, more than four months after the ghastly attack, Bhat was brought home dead from an encounter, along with another young local militant, Tawseef Ahmad.“Despite being a teenager, he was very much respected here. He had learnt Quran at a tender age and also taught kids in the village. Is 17 any age to die?” said a middle-aged neighbour who was among the mourners.As the body of Bhat was laid in the courtyard of his house, men, women and children made a beeline for catching a glimpse of the boy. One group of people was followed by another. Some elderly said they travelled 5km on foot to see him one last time.The funeral prayers of Bhat were delayed as people were waiting for the arrival of his father Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, an employee in public health engineering department, who has been in police custody since Sajad Bhat’s name surfaced as the owner of the car.His uncle, Tariq Ahmad Bhat, said they had no inkling that Sajad would join militancy. “He would study, offer namaz during the day and teach village kids in the evening. That was his life. Even after Pulwama blast, he lived a normal life till Feb.22, when he went missing,” Tariq said. “We had no idea that he will join militancy.”Sajad had learnt Quran at a Darul Uloom in Shopian and also did his basic schooling there, his uncle said, while adding that he loved cricket and captained the Darul Uloom’s volleyball team.HT
More than 200 Rakhine refugees in Mizoram to be pushed back
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/more-than-200-rakhine-refugees-in-mizoram-to-be-pushed-back/story-eYryzzG8j7iV9wEhQkWiXP.html
Mizoram:Over 200 Buddhist refugees from Myanmar who have been in Mizoram since 2017, are set to be ‘pushed back’, officials said on Tuesday.The urgency to send them back arose after a directive was issued from Ministry of Home Affairs to the state govt earlier this month, according to Lalbiakzama, the additional secretary in the state’s home department. “They will be sent back this week or the next. The directive is to complete the process by the end of this month,” said Shashanka Ala, the deputy commissioner of Lawngtlai district in South Mizoram which shares border with both Myanmar and Bangladesh.While the focus has been on Rohingya refugees, in Nov. 2017, as fighting raged between Arakan Army and the Myanmar military, around 1500 Rakhine Buddhist refugees crossed over to Mizoram. Arakan Army, an insurgent outfit is fighting for a confederate status for Rakhine state.The refugees who mostly came in boats, took shelter in four border villages in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district — Laitlang, Hmawngbuchhua, Zochachhua, and Dumzautlang.HT
No ‘anti-national activity’ in private universities, says UP draft law
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-cabinet-approves-law-to-regulate-private-universities/story-EPxOQvBe40XAuiDjmqOZ4M.html
Lucknow:The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft Uttar Pradesh Private Universities Ordinance 2019 to bring private universities under the ambit of an umbrella act that provides for incorporating development of nationalism, social and international harmony, national integration, secularism and moral values among their objectives.The draft ordinance also provides for the private universities to commit that they would not indulge in any anti-national activity and not associate or allow any such activity on its campus. It empowers the state government for action if a university was found involved in any such activity and violated the conditions for setting it up.The draft ordinance further provides for reservation of 10 per cent seats with 50 per cent fee for economically weaker sections.A provision for admission by rotation has been made for the courses having less than 1 per cent available seats.HT
No bail yet for channel staff in Adityanath defamation row, decision likely today
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/no-bail-yet-for-channel-staff-in-adityanath-defamation-row-decision-likely-today
A local court in Greater Noida has reserved its order while hearing bail pleas of 3 TV news channel staffers — Ishika Singh, Anshul Kaushik and Anuj Shukla — who were arrested on June 8.Three have been booked in two FIRs, one for debate that the channel Nation Live had broadcast on June 6 that was deemed defamatory to UP CM Adityanath and another for allegedly running the channel without requisite permits. The court of the additional sessions judge of Surajpur court heard the bail plea of all three accused on charges of defamation. The hearing in the other FIR, in which the police have invoked charges of cheating and forgery, is likely to be heard today.KK Singh, who represents Ishika Singh, one of the staffers, said the court of the additional district and sessions judge Nalin Kant Tyagi had reserved its order for Wednesday while hearing the first (defamation) case. The bail pleas of Ishika and Anuj Shukla were rejected by a lower court last week.nationalheraldindia
Wardha: Caste Hindu Strips Dalit Boy, Forces Him to Sit on Hot Tiles for Entering Temple
https://thewire.in/caste/wardha-caste-hindu-dalit-boy-strip-entering-temple
Mumbai: In a shocking incident, an eight-year-old boy, belonging to Matang (a scheduled caste in Maharashtra) community, was stripped naked and forced to sit on a hot, burning tiles at noon for entering a temple space in Wardha. The accused, Umesh alias Amol Dhore, a daily wage worker, allegedly first ruffled the child up and then pushed him onto a hot tile, even as the child whimpered and pleaded to be let off. The temperature in Wardha has been at 45 degrees celsius and the burning tiles have left deep burn injuries on the child’s buttocks and back.The Arvi police station of Wardha district, which is investigating the case, has booked Dhore under several sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and IPC for the violence. Additional sections of the POCSO Act have also been slapped, since the child was stripped naked.Dhore, who tried to escape from the village soon after the incident, was intercepted a day later on June 16 by the police. He was sent to judicial custody soon after his arrest. The case was earlier handled by a local police sub inspector, but was handed over to deputy superintendent Pradip Mairale since atrocities law mandates an investigation by an SP or a Dy SP level officer. The child’s family has alleged that the police did not investigate the case effectively and hence Dhore was sent to judicial custody instead of police custody.thewire
WORLD
UN calls for 'prompt and thorough' probe into Morsi's death
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/calls-prompt-transparent-probe-morsi-death-190619004225655.html
UN has called for a "thorough and transparent investigation" into the death of Mohamed Morsi in court, as thousands of people across the Middle East paid their respects to Egypt's former president.UN human rights office on Tuesday said the investigation should encompass all aspects of his treatment during nearly 6 years of his incarceration.Egypt's first democratically elected president was buried in a small family ceremony early on Tuesday a day after he suffered a fatal heart attack in a Cairo court, his sons said."Concerns have been raised regarding the conditions of Mr Morsi's detention, including access to adequate medical care, as well as sufficient access to his lawyers and family ...,"UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said." Investigation should be carried out by a judicial or other competent authority that is independent of the detaining authority and mandated to conduct prompt, impartial and effective investigations into the circumstances and causes of his death," he said.Morsi's death has brought an outpouring of condolences from around the Middle East."I mourn, for myself and all the free people of the world, the death of a great striver on the path of freedom," said Tawakkol Karman, joint recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.Al Jazeera Jamal Elshayyal, reporting from Doha said that hundreds of mourners gathered at a local mosque to pay their respects to the former president." Presence of Khaled Meshaal,ex leader of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, is a testament that Morsi is seen as a champion of other causes such as struggle for freedom in Palestine," he said. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attended a prayer service in Istanbul for the former Egyptian president.At Istanbul's Fatih mosque, where thousands joined in prayers, Erdogan called Morsi a "martyr" . Journalists were kept away from the burial service in Cairo, while a family request to bury him in his home town was turned down.But mourners still gathered in the former president's home province of Sharqiya to pay their respects.Exiled Egyptian opposition politician Ayman Nour called Morsi "a martyr who was killed deliberately".Amr Darrag, senior member of Brotherhood's political party who also lives in exile, said: "Sisi is the murderer and there must be a transparent and independent international investigation." Rights bodies,Amnesty and HRW, have also called for a credible investigation into Morsi's death.aljazeera
Morsi was killed by junta:Erdogan
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/elected-egyptian-president-morsi-was-killed-by-junta-says-erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his close ally Mohamed Morsi was "killed" and accused Egyptian authorities of failing to intervene to save the ex-president."Morsi was struggling on the floor in the courtroom for 20 minutes. Authorities unfortunately did not intervene to save him," Erdogan said during a televised speech in Istanbul."Morsi was killed, he did not die of natural causes."PTI
Sudan’s Brotherhood leader mourns Egypt’s Morsi
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190619-sudans-muslim-brotherhood-leader-mourns-egypts-morsi/
Head of Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood group Awadallah Hassan offered his condolences to the Muslim Ummah following the death of Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi.In a post on Facebook Hassan said he hopes that God accepts Morsi as a martyr whose death will go down in history as a shameful mark in the military regime’s rule.“Dr. Mohamed Morsi spent his life defending justice, freedom and human rights,” Hassan said, adding that he prays that God accepts Morsi as a martyr.middleeastmonitor
Egyptian forces ‘prevented us from receiving mourners’: Morsi’s son
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/egyptian-forces-prevented-us-from-receiving-mourners-morsi-s-son/1509020
Egyptian authorities have prevented family of Mohammad Morsi from receiving mourners, his son said today. Morsi, the first democratically-elected president, died on Monday after falling into a coma inside his soundproof glass cage during his trial on "espionage" charges."They deprived people from performing funeral prayers for you [Morsi]and prevented us from establishing a condolence house for you," Abdullah Morsi said in a Twitter post.“Even in the family's home we were not allowed to receive mourners," he added. Egyptian authorities have yet to comment on Morsi's son's claims.However, Morsi's supporters confirmed via social media the presence of security restrictions in the surroundings of Morsi's family residence which made it impossible to reach there.Anadolu Agency
Khashoggi killing: 'Credible evidence' linking MBS to murder - UN
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/khashoggi-killing-credible-evidence-linking-mbs-murder-190619100354253.html
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be investigated over the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a UN rights expert has concluded, citing "credible evidence".In her long-anticipated report, which was released on Wednesday,UN extrajudicial executions investigator Agnes Callamard said Khashoggi's death "constituted an extrajudicial killing for which the State of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible".Speaking to Al Jazeera just after the report was published, Callamard said based on the information made available to her, "there is little doubt in my mind that the killing was premeditated. It was planned."The report cites audio from inside the consulate, recorded just minutes before Khashoggi entered. In the audio, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a close aide to bin Salman, asked whether it will "be possible to put the trunk in a bag?"In response, Salah Mohammed Abdah Tubaigy, a well-known Saudi forensics doctor, replied "No. Too heavy," after which he expressed hope that Khashoggi's killing would "be easy". "Joints will be separated. It is not a problem. The body is heavy. First time I cut on the ground. If we take plastic bags and cut it into pieces, it will be finished. We will wrap each of them," Tubaigy said in the recording, adding: "Leather bags".There was a reference to cutting skin, according to the report. Tubaigy also expressed concerns that his direct manager was not aware of what he was doing. "There is nobody to protect me." At the end of the conversation, Mutreb asked whether "the sacrificial animal" has arrived.At 13:13 local Istanbul time, a voice said "he has arrived", the report said. In the recordings heard by the special rapporteur, Khashoggi's name was not mentioned.Callamard said she "determined that there is credible evidence, warranting further investigation of high-level Saudi officials' individual liability, including the crown prince's".Al Jazeera's editor, reporting from UN headquarters in New York, described the findings as "damning".aljazeera
UN chief calls on Russia, Turkey to 'stabilize' Syrian province
https://www.yahoo.com/news/un-chief-calls-russia-turkey-stabilize-syrian-province-183904436.html
UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Russia and Turkey Tuesday to "stabilize the situation" in the Syrian province of Idlib, rocked by intense fighting between pro-government and jihadist-led forces."I am deeply concerned about the escalation of the fighting in Idlib and the situation is specially dangerous given the involvement of an increased number of actors. Yet again civilians are paying a horrific price," Guterres told reporters.His comments came ahead of an open UN Security Council session to discuss the situation, at the request of Belgium, Germany and Kuwait, non-permanent council members overseeing UN humanitarian operations in Syria.Guterres appealed to Russia and Turkey, as signatories of a Sept.2018 memorandum aimed at deescalating the conflict in Idlib, "to stabilize the situation without delay."AFP
ASEAN must not turn a blind eye to Rohingya crisis: Rights groups
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/asean-turn-blind-eye-rohingya-crisis-rights-groups-190619091135258.html
Human rights groups have called on Southeast Asian leaders to rethink their approach to Rohingya refugee crisis ahead of a regional summit in Bangkok this week. Rohingya issue, especially their repatriation from Bangladesh, is expected to be a major topic during four days of meetings among leaders of 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Thailand from Thursday.Myanmar regards the Muslim-majority Rohingya as undocumented migrants from the Indian subcontinent and has confined tens of thousands to camps in its western Rakhine State since violence swept the area in 2012.Human rights activists say the bloc should not rush to get involved in Rohingya's repatriation without addressing the root causes of their displacement.aljazeera
Gunmen 'kill dozens' in attack on 2 villages in Mali
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/gunmen-kill-dozens-attack-villages-central-mali-190618180758531.html
Dozens of people are reported killed after a new attack on two villages in central Mali, a part of the country experiencing a dire security situation amid an increase in tit-for-tat ethnic violence.A local mayor told Reuters News Agency on Tuesday that unidentified gunmen on motorbikes attacked the villages of Yoro and Gangafani 2 the previous evening, killing at least 41 civilians.The victims of the raids were mostly ethnic Dogons, according to Issiaka Ganame, the mayor of Yoro, where 24 people were killed. Another 17 died in Gangafani 2."About 100 unidentified armed men circulating on motos all of a sudden invaded Yoro and fired on the population," Ganame said.aljazeera
UN: More than 70 million people displaced worldwide
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/70-million-people-displaced-worldwide-190619071300622.html
More than 70 million men, women and children fled war, persecution and conflict last year - a record annual high and an overall total amounting to the world's 20th most populous country - according to the UN's refugee agency.The yearly Global Trends report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published on Wednesday, put the number of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people worldwide in 2018 at 70.8 million, up more than two million from 2017, and signalled a nearly 70 percent increase from a decade ago.Half of those forced to flee their homes were children, with the overall total marking the highest figure in UNHCR's nearly 70 years of operations and the seventh consecutive year in which the numbers of forcibly displaced rose.aljazeera
Emissions must be halved to avoid dangerous climate: Scientists
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/emissions-halved-avoid-dangerous-climate-scientists-190619120750429.html
Emissions need to be halved by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius but temperatures are on track to be double that by the end of the century even if countries' current plans are fully implemented, scientists say.A group of European researchers, Climate Action Tracker, tracks nations' progress towards the globally agreed aim of limiting warming to well below 2C and a more ambitious target of 1.5C.Public concerns about climate change are growing and have led to protests around the world.aljazeera
A 'muted' Johnson inches closer to premiership after TV debate
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/muted-johnson-inches-closer-pm-chair-tv-debate-190619024250507.html
London:The frontrunner to become the United Kingdom's next prime minister has edged one step closer to Downing Street on Tuesday after a television debate which did not shed any new light on his views on Brexit. However, Boris Johnson - who has pledged to take the UK out of the European Union on Oct.31 without a withdrawal deal - came under pressure in the BBC discussion over tax-cut pledges and comments that have earned him a reputation as reckless.Upstart rival Rory Stewart - who has pledged to avoid a "no-deal" Brexit at all costs - was unable to capitalise on the unexpected momentum he had gained earlier in the day during a second poll among Conservative MPs, who are whittling down the field of candidates.aljazeera
Flash: views & NEWS
‘A funeral with no body or coffin’: How Morsi’s hometown observed his death
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/funeral-no-body-or-coffin-how-morsis-hometown-observed-his-death?fbclid=IwAR3jkN1em7OfejY2FPFE9uVi6kuUKTvRW1JzIXiKh8yo079i8TlZVnbElUY
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, story-telling took precedence over reality: Nayantara Sahgal
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/2019-election-outcome-once-upon-a-time-a-nation-5787244/
#RightSideUp: Arvind Subramanian's Economic Somersaults; 'Hate India Messaging':Aleesha Matharu
https://thewire.in/media/rightsideup-hate-india-messaging-congress-arvind-subramanian-gdp
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