NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
09 July 2019: 05 Dhul Qadah 1440:Vol: 11, No:241
INDIA
Ayodhya: SC to hear plea saying mediation proceedings not moving
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-title-dispute-litigant-asks-supreme-court-to-list-case-at-the-earliest/article28328668.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today agreed to examine a plea of a claimant to the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land that the mediation proceedings triggered by the court to heal hearts and minds is making no headway.In an urgent mentioning before a Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, the claimant asked the court to instead list the Ayodhya appeals for hearing “at the earliest”. The application was made by Rajendra Singh, survivor of Gopal Singh Visharad who first approached the court in 1950 for a declaration that “he is entitled to offer worship without any obstruction according to the rites and tenets of his religion at the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram Chandra”. Visharad had also sought a “permanent prohibitory injunction against the removal of the idols of Ram situated at the place of birth”. Appearing for him, senior advocate P.S. Narasimha claimed that “not much progress” had been made in the mediation proceedings conducted by an apex court-appointed panel of mediators, including former top court judge, Justice FMI Kalifulla, as Chairman; Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, a pioneer in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the country.“Despite initial reluctance in process of mediation, applicant herein wholeheartedly participated in mediation proceedings conducted by 3 eminent persons appointed by the court. However, in the 3 meetings participated during a period of five months, neither any concrete proposal has come from anyone nor any headway is likely to be made in the process of mediation,” the application said. CJI has asked him to file his application, signalling the court would examine the plea.A 5-judge Bench led by CJI Gogoi, on May 10, granted the mediation committee time till Aug.15 to continue with its efforts to resolve the prolonged and strife-ridden Ayodhya title dispute. Ayodhya mediation committee had filed an interim report dated May 7 with the Constitution Bench. The Bench had sent the Ayodhya dispute for mediation on March 8 in a bid to heal minds and hearts. It had given the panel an initial deadline of eight weeks.the hindu
Rohingya issue: SC to study Centre’s query on ‘refugee’ status for illegal immigrants
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/on-rohingyas-centre-asks-sc-to-decide-if-illegal-immigrants-can-be-given-refugee-status/article28328569.ece
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine a “substantial question” put forth by the Union government as to whether illegal immigrants can even be considered for ‘refugee’ status.A Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi was hearing petitions filed by 2 Rohingya men against the govt’s proposed move to deport their 40,000-strong community back to their native land of Myanmar, where ‘discrimination and possibly summary executions await them’.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the primary prayers made in the petitions were to stop any proposed deportation and allow the community rights under the international law.“But first decide whether they are refugees... Whether illegal immigrants can even be allowed the status of refugees... This is the substantial question here,” Mehta submitted.The court said it would examine the issue and asked the parties and intervenors to complete pleadings by the next hearing. Rohingya, who fled to India after violence in the State of Rakhine in Myanmar, are settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, UP, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan. Petitions said Centre’s move violated the constitutional guarantee that the Indian State should “protect the life and liberty of every human being, whether citizen or not.”Panic struck the refugee community following media reports of a statement made by then Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in Parliament that Centre had directed the States to identify and deport illegal immigrants, including Rohingya. During the hearing, Justice Aniruddha Bose, on Bench, asked if there were any formal guidelines, legal norms or policy decisions to determine a refugee. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, for the petitioners, said UNHCR conducted intensive questioning of the immigrants to determine whether they had fled persecution or if they had crossed across for sheer economic interests. If the former, they were granted refugee status.
PIL in SC seeking guidelines to define term 'minority'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pil-in-sc-seeking-guidelines-to-define-term-minority/articleshow/70145367.cms
New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the Centre's 26-year-old notification declaring 5 communities-Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsees - as minorities. Petition filed by advocate and BJP member Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has sought to declare as unconstitutional section 2 (c) of National Commission for Minority Act, 1992, under which the notification was issued on Oct.23, 1993. He has sought direction for laying down of guidelines for defining the term 'minority', based on state-wise population of a community instead of the national average. He contended that the notification was violative of fundamental rights to health, education, shelter and livelihood. It is also against the equality, justice and secularism, the great golden goals set out in Preamble to the Constitution, he said. The advocate said he was filing the PIL on the issue as he did not receive any response on his representation from Union Home Ministry, Ministry of Law & Justice and National Commission for Minorities. In his petition, the BJP leader said Hindus, who are a majority community as per national data, are a minority in several north-eastern states and in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI
Rajasthan police seek nod from Alwar court to reinvestigate case against Pehlu Khan’s sons
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajasthan-police-seek-nod-from-alwar-court-to-reinvestigate-case-against-pehlu-khans-sons/article28331684.ece?homepage=true
Jaipur: Rajasthan police has sought permission from an Alwar court to investigate further the cow smuggling case against the two sons of Pehlu Khan, who was lynched two years ago for allegedly transporting the animals illegally.The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan had faced criticism a fortnight ago after a chargesheet was filed against Pehlu Khan’s sons, Irshad Khan (25) Aarif Khan (22), and a truck operator, Khan Mohammad, in the cow smuggling case. Gehlot had then responded that the police could reinvestigate aspects of the cow smuggling case, registered when BJP government was in power.Alwar SP Anil Paris Deshmukh said on July 9 that the police had filed an application in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on July 6, seeking permission to further investigate the cow smuggling case.“Certain aspects will be further investigated. His sons have said that they were going to sell the animals in Tapukara [in Alwar] and the truck operator claims that he had sold the vehicle to someone else before the incident had taken place,” SP Deshmukh said.Earlier, the police had said the animals were being taken to Haryana. Also, Mohammad could be absolved from the charges if it is proved that the truck did not now belong to him.PTI
Gujarat: Self-proclaimed gau rakshak assaults train driver multiple times as train hits cow accidentally
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-mehsana-district-gau-rakshak-assaults-train-driver-1565042-2019-07-09?fbclid=IwAR3UYbhAsaBIkI1-o4UvnAmNq3-CEARRoCcE5SOvgBH04LJNwNOkbl6Cz70
New Delhi:A train driver became the victim of the ire of gau rakshaks in Gujarat after the locomotive ran over a cow.Loco-pilot GA Jhala was operating the Gwalior-Ahmedabad superfast on Saturday. When the train reached near the Sidhpur junction in Patan, a cow jumped on to the track.While the stationmaster showed a red flag, Jhala ignored the sign and slammed into the animal.As the loco-pilot contacted railway staff for the removal of the carcass from the track, a passenger, identified as 28-year-old Bipinsingh Rajput, on the train started abusing Jhala.According to TOI, Rajput identified himself as a gau rakshak and started assaulting the loco-pilot.Soon, a mob of 150 gau rakshaks gathered near the spot and started threatening the loco-pilot.As the train resumed its journey, Rajput again assaulted Jhala at two other junctions.When the loco-pilot got down at Mehsana to get help from the police, Rajput attacked him once again. However, he was taken into custody by Gujarat Railway Police.Police officers revealed that Rajput was angered by the fact that railway staff had tried to cut the cow carcass to dispose it off. "When railway personnel told him they were just removing the dead animal, he got belligerent and began asking them how they could kill a cow. He then assaulted the loco pilot," the officer said.India Today
MP: 3 Bajrang Dal activists held for tying 25 cattle movers, forcing them to chant ‘Gau mata ki jai’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-three-bajrang-dal-activists-held-for-tying-25-cattle-movers-forcing-them-to-chant-gau-mata-ki-jai-5821150/
Bhopal: 3 Bajrang Dal activists were taken into custody Monday for allegedly tying and parading 25 persons for transporting cattle without permit in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday.The police said Vinod Kishanlal, Rajesh Varma and Prince Mehta were helped by lathi-wielding villagers who used a rope to tie the 25 persons and parade them from Sanwalikheda village to the Khalwa Police Station while making them sit-ups and shout ‘Gau Mata Ki Jai’.Inspector Harishankar Rawat told The Indian Express that the trio has been booked under IPC sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), 323 (punishment for voluntary causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). He said efforts are on to identify other activists and villagers who were involved in the incident.25 persons, including seven Muslims, have been booked under the prohibition of cow slaughter act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The cattle included bulls and calves and have been sent to a gaushala. The 25 were presented before a magistrate in Harsud who sent them to judicial custody.indianexpress
Case against Tik Tok influencers for video asking revenge for Tabrez lynching
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/case-against-tik-tok-influencers-for-video-asking-revenge-for-tabrez-lynching-1565008-2019-07-09
Mumbai:An alleged "hate-mongering" video asking revenge for Jharkhand mob lynching victim, Tabrez Ansari, has surfaced on social media, prompting Mumbai police to register a case against unidentified Tik Tok 'influencers', an official said Monday.Meanwhile, in response to allegations that those featured in video are working in albums of Zee Music Company, latter has removed the video of 'influencers' from all the platforms. The short video, released through media application TikTok, shows five youths saying, "You may have killed that innocent Tabrez, but tomorrow if his son takes revenge, do not say that all Muslims are terrorists".PTI
Jharkhand lynching case: High Court asks state to submit report on Tabrez Ansari’s death
https://scroll.in/latest/929882/jharkhand-lynching-case-high-court-asks-state-to-submit-report-on-tabrez-ansaris-death
Jharkhand High Court on Monday asked the state government to submit a report on the death of Tabrez Ansari who was assaulted by a mob in Seraikela Kharswan district on June 18, PTI reported. The court asked the state to submit the report on the action taken at the next date of the hearing, July 17.PIL, filed by Pankaj Yadav, demanded a high-level investigation into the incident. The division bench of justices HC Mishra and Deepak Roshan also directed the Ranchi Police to submit a report on July 17 on the recent episodes of such violence in the district.scroll.in/PTI
Jharkhand: Over 500 Muslims defy Sec 144 in Ramgarh to protest against mob lynching
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jharkhand-over-500-muslims-defy-sec-144-in-ramgarh-to-protest-against-mob-lynching-2770048
A group of over 500 people belonging to Muslim community gathered in a school in Jharkhand's Ramgarh on Monday to protest against the rising incidents of mob lynchings plaguing their community even amid prohibitory orders issued by Ramgarh administration, TOI reported.The group, under banner of the Mutheda Muslim Mahaj, met at Chitrarpur High School just off National Highway 23 in Gola Road area, to voice their grievances regarding violence against their community. They had earlier sought permission from the district administration for a demonstration rally, which was at first granted but cancelled later on keeping in mind the incidents of violence that are increasingly being associated with anti-mob lynching rallies in the state, the report said.DNA /TOI
Curbing lynching: Certificates to be issued for cattle transport in UP
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/curbing-lynching-certificates-issued-cattle-transport-up-yogi-adityanath-5821717/
Lucknow :In order to curb incidents of mob lynching, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday ordered the Gau Sewa Aayog to issue certificates for transportation of cattle.At a meeting of the Commission held in Lucknow, the Chief Minister instructed that if a person takes cows from one place to another then “Gau Sewa Aayog should provide him the certificate and take responsibility of his security arrangements so that incidents like mob lynching do not happen”, a government spokesperson said.The chief minister also directed the Aayog officials to stop cow smuggling and asked them to inspect cow shelters.In order to tackle the problem of stray cattle, the Chief Minister also directed that if a farmer has two cows and is not using them commercially, then the government would give him Rs 30 per day for the fodder of each cow. To undertake this plan, a pilot project in Bundelkhand region will be launched, the spokesperson said.indianexpress
Yogi Adityanath govt to give Rs 900 for upkeep of stray cattle in Bundelkhand
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yogi-adityanath-s-govt-to-give-rs-30-for-upkeep-of-stray-cattle-in-up-s-bundelkhand/story-nEILbt5Fy12UZdTnSMznbN.html
Ahmedabad: Dalit youth hacked to death in front of police team
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ahmedabad-dalit-youth-hacked-to-death-infront-of-police-team-5822413/
Ahmedabad :A Dalit youth was hacked to death on Monday by his in-laws in Ahmedabad’s Varmor village even when he was escorted by a police team for negotiations with his pregnant wife’s parents, who belonged to an upper caste.The deceased, identified as Haresh Kumar Solanki, a native of Kutch, had sought help from a Women’s helpline called Abhayam in order to convince his father-in-law to let his two months pregnant wife Urmila sinh to return with him to Kutch. According to Bhavika, a woman counselor with 181 Abhayam helpline, who was in Varmor with the deceased youth on Monday evening, as many as eight persons attacked Haresh with swords, sticks, knives, and rods while he was sitting in the government vehicle outside the house of his in-laws.Police have named eight persons as accused of the murder of Solanki in the first information report with Dashrathsinh Zala, father of Urmila, as prime accused.“The victim had sought the help of 181 Abhayam teams in order to convince his in-laws to let his wife go back to Kutch with him. A woman constable was present with him at the spot but she was there to negotiate with the parents of the woman. We have made multiple teams to nab all the accused who remain on the run as of now. Accounts of eyewitnesses have also been taken into consideration so that the accused can be arrested at the earliest,” said PD Manvar, deputy superintendent of police, SC/ST Cell, Ahmedabad Rural.According to Bhavika, she received a call around 12 pm on Monday from Haresh regarding counselling of his wife’s parents.“I received a call from Haresh who asked me to reach Mandal bus stand around 4 pm on Monday so that a team could reach Varmor village with him to talk to Dashrathsinh and others. He said that his wife Urmila is two months pregnant and after marriage, she has been staying at her parents’ place.indian express
Bill to tag individuals as 'terrorist' introduced in LS, Oppn protests
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bill-to-amend-uapa-introduced-in-ls-119070800647_1.html
New Delhi :A bill which seeks to allow an individual suspected to have terror links to be designated as a 'terrorist' was introduced in Lok Sabha on Monday even as the opposition said the provision could prove to be draconian.Opposing UAPA Bill,2019, NK Premchandran (RSP) claimed that in the name of tackling terror, fundamental rights of an individual cannot be foregone. He said there is no clarity on government's claims that NIA finds it difficult to deal with such individuals at present. He said the House should not be kept in the dark on difficulties being faced by the anti-terror agency. Shashi Tharoor (Cong) described the amendment bill as "hastily brought". He said there were several provisions in laws in place to go after individuals.Tharoor also accused the government of failing to take up pre-legislative consultation before brining in the bill.He said late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also opposed to such a provision and the BJP-led government should keep in mind the views of the veteran leader.Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy, who introduced the bill on behalf of Home Minister Amit Shah, said when the UN can name Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist, why can't India do the same with such people.Asserting that the govt believes in "zero tolerance" towards terrorism, the minister said a provision is needed to designate "individual terrorist" in the law.Amendment to Schedule 4 of UAPA will allow NIA to designate an individual suspected to have terror links as a terrorist. As of now, only organisations are designated as 'terrorist organisations'.PTI
Indian Newspaper Society asks govt to roll back customs duty on newsprint
https://www.hindustantimes.com/budget/urge-govt-to-scrap-customs-duty-ins/story-CorwdLPpZrSFM8qrnrmiJJ.html
New Delhi:Indian Newspaper Society (INS) has asked the Union government to withdraw the 10% customs duty imposed on newsprint, uncoated paper used for printing newspapers and lightweight coated papers used for magazines, pointing out that it has imposed an “unbearable burden” on the industry.It also highlighted the issue of inadequate availability of some kinds of newsprint, and total unavailability of some others in the country, creating the need for imports.In a statement issued on Monday, the officiating secretary general of the Indian Newspaper Society Mary Paul said: “Publishers of newspapers and magazines are already reeling under severe financial pressure due to many factors like lower advertisement revenues, higher costs and digital onslaught from technological giants. Small and medium newspapers will go into deeper losses and many of them will be forced to close down.”HT
"No Longer Acceptable": Trump's New Tweet Attack On India Over Tariffs
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/donald-trump-says-india-has-long-had-field-day-with-tariffs-2066846
US President Donald Trump lashed out at India once again on Tuesday, saying that the country "has long had a field day" with tariffs and it was "no longer acceptable". Mr Trump's tweet was the latest in what many analysts have called a fledgling trade war that have seen the two major economies clash over import tariffs on each other's products.The comment comes just before India and US are set to resume their bilateral trade talks, with senior officials of US Trade Representative (USTR) visiting New Delhi next week. It also follows talks between Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Japan.Last month Trump had demanded India withdraw retaliatory tariffs imposed by New Delhi, calling the duties "unacceptable" in a stern message that signalled the alarming deterioration of trade ties between the two nations.ndtv
RSS role in ‘nation-building’ now a part of Maharashtra varsity’s syllabus
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-role-in-nation-building-now-a-part-of-maharashtra-varsity-s-syllabus/story-C6Wbw0GyDmyjOwiNZGKbgJ.html
Nagpur: The history of RSS and its role in ‘nation-building’ have been included in syllabus of a university based in Nagpur, where the Sangh has headquarters. The Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University has included RSS history in the second year BA (History) course.While the third section of the syllabus has details about the role of RSS in nation-building, the first section speaks about the establishment of the Congress party and the rise of Jawaharlal Nehru and the second section dwells on issues like the civil disobedience movement.A source close to the development said the move is part of efforts to make students aware about ‘new trends’ in history.PTI
In CBI crackdown on corruption, nationwide raids at 110 locations in 30 cases
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-cbi-crackdown-on-corruption-nationwide-raids-at-110-locations-in-30-cases/story-7YDsIIeyMnn0G4QupZuCPJ.html
New Delhi:CBI is conducting searches at 110 places across 19 states in its probe on cases of corruption and criminal misconduct.“In a nationwide action, CBI is today conducting searches at around 110 places in 19 States/ Union Territories. CBI has registered around 30 separate cases relating to corruption, criminal misconduct and arms smuggling etc,” said a CBI official.Searches were being conducted in various cities including Delhi, Bharatpur, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Jammu, Srinagar, Pune, Jaipur, Goa, Kanpur, Raipur, Hyderabad, Madurai, Kolkata, Rourkela, Ranchi, Bokaro, Lucknow and other places in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Andhraby Pradesh, Karnataka and Bihar.HT
Kartarpur Corridor construction work on track: sources
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kartarpur-corridor-construction-work-on-track-sources/article28329647.ece?homepage=true
India on Tuesday reiterated that construction work for the Kartarpur Corridor project that will allow pilgrims here to access the famed gurudwara on Pakistani territory was on track. Giving a detailed description of the work under way, sources said a passenger terminal building, a four-lane highway and other amenities were being built at a fast pace.The response came after The Tribune paper carried a report suggesting that India was lagging behind, whereas Pakistan had completed 70% of the work.“A 4-lane highway connecting zero point of the Kartarpur corridor up to National Highway 354 is being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India. Nearly 45% of the work has been completed. The road is scheduled to be completed by 30 September 2019,” said the source.thehindu
New twist to Karnataka crisis: Speaker rejects resignation of 8 MLAs for not being in ‘proper format’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/karnataka-crisis-speaker-yeddyurappa-congress-jds-kumaraswamy-5822324/
Bengaluru:Days after 13 Congress-JD(S) MLAs submitted their resignation from the Assembly pushing the Karnataka coalition on the brink of collapse, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar Tuesday rejected letters of eight such legislators for not being in order and asked them to send letters as per the correct format.“I have to make a conscious decision. Every step I take will become history, so I can’t be committing a mistake. Future generations should not look at me like an accused,” Kumar said. The Speaker also asked 5 MLAs whose resignations are in order to meet him personally on Friday and Monday. Meanwhile, his office is also examining the letter of suspended Congress MLA Roshan Baig who submitted his resignation earlier in the day. Questioned on whether the Congress legal cell had written to him that the resignations should not be accepted, Kumar said he has not seen the letter yet. “I left the office on Saturday. I came only today. Whichever cell has written, I have to go through it now,” he told journalists at the Vidhana Soudha. “Whether I will decide it today or in the next two hours, doing it 2 years later, these are all irrelevant questions to me. I have to respond to the sentiments of the people.”indian express
Temple Statues Reinstalled In Delhi's Hauz Qazi Days After Communal Clash
https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/temple-statues-reinstalled-in-delhis-hauz-qazi-days-after-communal-clash-2066877?pfrom=home-topstories
NEW DELHI: Days after a communal clash in Delhi Hauz Qazi area, the statues at the temple which was vandalized were reinstalled today. On July 1, a minor scuffle between two individuals over parking took a communal turn; 17 people were arrested in the case.As part of the reinstallation process, a procession was carried out in the area, followed by several rituals at the temple. The procession had several chariots carrying statues of various Gods and were escorted by bands playing music. Some chariots also had artists dressed up as Shiva.Right wing groups such as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu also participated in the procession with saffron flags.The procession was organised by the peace committee of the area which comprises of both Hindus and Muslims.But all was done under heavy security deployment of the Delhi Police and the CRPF. Nearly two kilometres area around the temple was cordoned off and no vehicles were allowed. The area was kept open only for pedestrians.Muslims in the area offered support by serving food to participants.NDTV
Pragya’s motorcycle, used in Malegaon blast, brought to trial court
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malegaon-blast-case-probe-sadhvi-pragya-thakur-motorcycle-trial-court-lml-freedom-5821655/
Mumbai :LML Freedom motorcycle, allegedly used to plant explosives for a blast in Malegaon that killed six persons and injured 101 on Sept.29, 2008, made its first appearance before the trial court Monday.Registered in the name of accused Pragya Singh Thakur, who is out on bail and has since been elected BJP MP from Bhopal, the motorcycle was found in a damaged condition at the blast site. Witness, who had conducted the spot panchnama, identified two motorcycles — an LML Freedom and a Honda Unicorn — and 5 bicycles shown to him Monday as the same that he had seen at the blast site in 2008.Part of the muddemal or articles which form evidence in a trial, the two motorcycles and five bicycles, seized from the blast site at Bhiku chowk in Malegaon, were examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory and later sent to the Maharashtra ATS which had investigated the case earlier.indianexpress
Raj Thackeray meets Sonia Gandhi, discusses EVM issue, Maharashtra political situation
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/raj-thackeray-meets-sonia-gandhi-discusses-evm-issue-maharashtra-political-situation/1637211/
MNS chief Raj Thackeray met Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi and discussed the issue of EVMs and the political situation in Maharashtra where assembly elections are scheduled to take place later this year.Thackeray met Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath here, sources said. The two leaders mainly discussed the EVM issue, but they also exchanged views on the political situation in the state in view of the upcoming assembly polls in the state, they said.PTI
Hurriyat can’t tell govt when to talk: Ram Madhav
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hurriyat-cant-tell-govt-when-to-talk-ram-madhav-5821559/
Jammu :BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Monday said Hurriyat Conference is not in a position to dictate to the government on the dialogue process.Responding to a statement by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, asking Centre to hold talks with Hurriyat leaders as they are willing to participate in the dialogue process, Madhav said, “Hurriyat is not in a position to dictate to Govt of India on when to hold talks and when not to hold talks.’’He said that the government and the then Union Home Minister had made such an offer to the separatists nearly two years ago when Dineshwar Sharma, former IB chief, was appointed Special Representative to engage with all stakeholders in the Valley.“Hurriyat was not willing to come forward to talk (then). They cannot decide and dictate the time for holding talks to the Government of India. It is the prerogative of Union Home Ministry to hold talks within the ambit of the Constitution of India,’’ he said, adding, “rest GoI will decide’’.He also said that as far as the BJP’s view is concerned, those in support of terrorists and separatists cannot be entertained. indianexpress
Will oppose any move to abrogate Article 370, 35A: JD(U)
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/will-oppose-any-move-to-abrogate-article-370-35a-jdu-5821558/
Srinagar :While the BJP has been harping on abrogating Article 370, its NDA ally JDU has said they will oppose any move to abrogate or tinker with the special constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir.“It is a very serious issue. JD(U)believes that Article 370 should remain intact and there is no tinkering with 35A,” JD(U) secretary general K C Tyagi, who is leading a team of his party members on a three-day visit to the Valley to prepare for Assembly polls, said. “While being a part of NDA, we will oppose any move to abrogate Article 370 or 35A.”Tyagi called for talks with all stakeholders before any decision on the special constitutional position of the State. “First, they (Centre) should try to create a consensus within NDA on 35A,” he said. “After that they should talk to all the stakeholders, whether National Conference, PDP, BJP or any other party.”indianexpress
Rights violations in contested Kashmir continue unchecked, UN report says:Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-kashmir/rights-violations-in-contested-kashmir-continue-unchecked-un-report-says-idUSKCN1U31MV
Srinagar:Tensions in Kashmir after a deadly suicide bombing earlier this year are having a severe impact on human rights in the region, a UN report released on Monday said.The report, by UN Human Rights Council, says that arbitrary detentions during search operations by Indian troops are leading to a range of human rights violations.Despite the high numbers of civilians killed in the vicinity of gun battles between security forces and militants, “there is no information about any new investigation into excessive use of force leading to casualties”, it said.The report was also critical of special legal regimes used by India in Kashmir, saying accountability for violations committed by troops remains virtually non-existent.The report says that in nearly three decades that emergency laws have been in force in Jammu and Kashmir, there has not been a single prosecution of armed forces personnel granted by the central govt in a civilian court.It called for the repeal of special powers protecting troops from prosecution. In response, India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said the report presented a “false and motivated narrative” on the state of the region.
Burhan Wani death anniversary: Shutdown in Valley, Amarnath convoy movement suspended
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/burhan-wani-death-anniversary-shutdown-in-valley-amarnath-convoy-movement-suspended-5821592/
Srinagar:With a complete shutdown observed in Kashmir Valley to mark third death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, the administration suspended the movement of a convoy of nearly 5,000 pilgrims, who had to leave Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for the Amarnath shrine on Monday morning, in view of strike call by the Joint Resistance Leadership. Authorities also imposed restrictions in several parts of the Valley to prevent any protest march. Roads in Srinagar and elsewhere wore a deserted look on Monday with commercial shops and business establishments remaining shut. Reports of a complete shutdown were also received from other districts in the Valley and educational institutes across Kashmir were closed.Train service was suspended for security reasons in the Valley. Mobile internet services were suspended in several areas of South Kashmir.Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest. Police sources said that additional security personnel were deployed at sensitive spots to prevent protests.A senior police officer said that no law and order problem was reported from any part of the Valley. “The situation overall was peaceful,” the officer said.indianexpress
Disabled detainee’s wife clings to ‘last hope’ in Assam’s NRC push
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/disabled-detainees-wife-clings-to-last-hope-in-assams-nrc-push-5819910/
Juria:Of his entire family based in Assam’s Nagaon district, only Azizul Hoque finds himself out of the National Register of Citizens. Paralysed in the lower half of one leg, and ailing, the 41-year-old failed to appear for a hearing at a Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT), and has spent the past two years at a detention centre in Tezpur for illegal migrants.Last week, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Centre and Assam govt on his appeal. Struggling to keep her composure, his 26-year-old wife Marzina Khatun, says, “In the last two years, my 4-year-old son and I have gone to meet him at jail numerous times. Every time we go, he looks at our son and starts crying. I start crying too. He keeps repeating, ‘Please take me out of here’. The developments in the Supreme Court have given us some hope. It’s our last hope… everything else has failed.”Khatun is Hoque’s second wife, the first one reportedly left as she didn’t want to live with a disabled. Hoque, a resident of Singi Pathar village, made a living as a hand-cart puller, earning roughly Rs 200 per day, according to his eldest brother Khairul Islam, a vegetable shop owner. indianexpress
CISF jawan tagged doubtful voter, in Assam NRC exclusion list
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cisf-jawan-tagged-doubtful-voter-in-assam-nrc-exclusion-list/article28323458.ece
Guwahati:A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan in Assam has been served notice as a ‘D’, or doubtful voter less than two months after retired soldier Mohammed Sanaullah was declared a foreigner.The tag relegated Mamud Ali, 47, to additional list of people excluded from NRC being updated in Assam. This list has 1.02 lakh names that had earlier passed scrutiny to be in the draft NRC published in July 2018.D-voters are those who have been disenfranchised during electoral roll revision for their alleged lack of proper citizenship credentials with their cases pending in one of 100 Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) across Assam. But the notice that Ali received was from the NRC in the Kamrup district service centre that processed the documents of his family.Mr. Ali is posted at an industrial unit in West Bengal’s Bankura district. He took emergency leave and rushed back home in western Assam’s Dalagaon after a panchayat leader sent him the copy of the notice via WhatsApp.thehindu
Telangana: 40 students fall ill after consuming hostel food in Hyderabad
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/telangana-40-students-fall-ill-after-consuming-hostel-food-in-hyderabad
Hyderabad: As many as 40 students from the Telangana Minorities Education Residential School were admitted in a hospital on Monday after they displayed symptoms of food poisoning here."Of the 40 students admitted, two of them were suffering from diarrhea. The conditions of the students are stable and one student was discharged from the hospital," an official from the Niloufer Hospital said.Reportedly, the students fell sick after they allegedly consumed food from the hostel.ANI
Activists from Across the Country Demand the Release of Sanjiv Bhatt
https://caravandaily.com/activists-from-across-the-country-demand-the-release-of-sanjiv-bhatt/
New Delhi:Terming the imprisonment of Sanjiv Bhatt ‘state repression’, social activists from across the country have demanded the release of jailed IPS officer at a meeting held here by National Confederation of Human Rights Organization,(NCHRO). “Because he spoke the truth before Nanavati Commission about perpetrators of 2002-Gujarat pogrom. It was the only reason for Modi regime to target him” said Shweta Bhatt, wife of Sanjiv Bhatt, while addressing the press conference.“It is not the issue of Sanjiv’s family; it is for all. Today it is Sanjiv; tomorrow anybody among you. Come on the streets; raise your voice louder for justice”, she appealed the nation.“There is no iota of evidence, in which Sanjiv was convicted. The conduct of the case is arbitrary, unjust and unfair”said Adv. K.P. Shareef, Vice-Chairperson of NCHRO. Deepika S Rajawat, the lawyer of Asifa case in Srinagar, Abdul Wahid Sait, also attended Press Conference. caravandaily
Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking rules for LGBT marriage
http://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/delhi-hc-dismisses-plea-seeking-rules-for-lgbt-marriage-362205
Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking directions to the government to frame family laws for LGBT relationships and form a committee to look into these issues. A division bench presided by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Harishankar turned down the plea filed by Tajinder Singh after noting centre's response in the matter stating that drafting of law was the prerogative of the Legislature. IANS
Aadhaar Ordinance is no longer valid as Parliament has passed amended law, Centre tells Delhi HC
https://scroll.in/latest/929952/aadhaar-ordinance-is-no-longer-valid-as-parliament-has-passed-amended-law-centre-tells-delhi-hc
Centre on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that the Aadhaar Ordinance “does not survive” as the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passsed by Parliament, PTI reported. The court was hearing a petition challenging the validity of the Ordinance.The amended law allows the voluntary use of Aadhaar as proof of identity for opening bank accounts and getting mobile phone connections. The Rajya Sabha cleared the bill through a voice vote on Monday, four days after it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
WORLD
Afghan talks: Rival sides agree on 'road map for peace'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/afghan-peace-talks-rival-sides-agree-roadmap-peace-190709012150435.html
Doha:2-day peace talks, attended by Afghan delegates and Taliban representatives in the Qatari capital of Doha, have ended with both sides calling to reduce civilian casualties to "zero" amid the rising death toll in the war-torn country.The so-called intra-Afghan dialogue, sponsored by Qatar and Germany, between Afghan politicians, civil society members, including women, and the Taliban is seen as a substantive step towards peace in Afghanistan."… Committed to respect and protect the dignity of people, their life and property and to minimise the civilian casualties to zero," a joint statement released at the end of the talks in Doha said late on Monday.The statement also pledged to guarantee the security of public institutions."Ensuring the security of public institutions, such as schools, religious madrassas, hospitals, markets, water dams and other working locations," the statement said.Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, a member of the Taliban delegation, said the group of Afghan delegates which also included members from the Afghan government, was on the same page on civilian casualties."Afghan people will be protected, we have always wanted this, they are never the target," he told Al Jazeera."We have all agreed to the fact that the civilians should not be affected, war continues, but our aim is to reduce civilian casualties to zero."The promises came a day after at least 18 people were killed and more than 180 wounded, including scores of children, in a car bomb attack claimed by the Taliban which has been running a bloody armed rebellion since it was removed from power in 2001.The so-called intra-Afghan meetings, which follow six days of direct US-Taliban talks, also in Doha, saw the participation of about 50 Afghan politicians and activists, including 10 female delegates.The gathering was organised in a bid to initiate direct dialogue between the rival sides that have been at constant war.The talks were also aimed at sustaining peace after the expected withdrawal of US-led NATO troops. aljazeera
US, Taliban talks end after rival Afghans agree on 'roadmap for peace'
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-talks/u-s-taliban-talks-end-after-rival-afghans-agree-on-roadmap-for-peace-idUSKCN1U40KY?il=0
Palestinian children’s right to education denied in Israel prisons
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190709-palestinian-childrens-right-to-education-denied-in-israel-prisons/
Palestinian children from Jerusalem arrested by Israeli occupation forces are subjected to “a deliberate policy to de-educate”, reported prisoners’ rights group Addameer. “Over 800 Palestinian children from Jerusalem were arrested in 2018”, and the year “ended with at least 41 detained children from occupied East Jerusalem.” Although, “under international human rights law, Palestinian children, including those in detention, have the right to adequate education”, “this right is denied in Israeli prisons”, stated Addameer. Palestinian children typically get a range of 20 hours a week of classes, compared to an average of 35 hours in regular schools, organisation reported.“Most of the time the classes do not meet the level of the child and at times children do not get any form of education in prison.”MEMO
US Spl Representative : US to reopen PLO office if talks with Israel resume
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190709-greenblatt-us-to-reopen-plo-office-if-talks-with-israel-resume/
US Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, has said that the White House is to reopen the PLO’s office in Washington if Israeli-Palestinian talks resume.In an interview with the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam published yesterday, he said: “PLO office in Washington can be reopened once negotiations are resumed.”“The PLO office could have been kept open if it was involved in a peace process,” he said, noted that it was closed “because President Abbas threatened Israel with going to the ICC.”Regarding the closure of the consulate in Jerusalem, he said: “We have a responsibility to American taxpayers. If we have a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem because we have now recognised that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, the presence of two diplomatic missions in Jerusalem is a waste of money from taxpayers.”He added: “What we have done is that we have established a unit for Palestinian affairs at the embassy, the same group of people who have the same knowledge of dealing with the Palestinians and are in the same building.”MEMO
Israel FM flies over Saudi to reach UAE
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190709-israel-fm-flies-over-saudi-to-reach-uae/
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz flew through Saudi airspace with the kingdom’s consent while making his way to an official visit to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi last week, according to Arab48.Katz visited the UAE as part of UN Environment Conference and discussed the threat of a nuclear Iran, amongst other issues. He also presented “Paths for Regional Peace” initiative to link Israel with the Gulf countries by a railway that would pass through Jordan.This is not the first time that the kingdom has allowed flights to and from Israel to pass through its airspace. Last March, Air India made a journey to Israel by flying over Saudi Arabia for the first time, reducing travel times by 2.5 hours. This move was been seen as a sign of thawing ties between the occupation state and the kingdom.middleeastmonitor
Egypt: Al-Sisi appoints top judges after constitutional amendments
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190709-egypt-president-appoints-top-judges-after-constitutional-amendments/
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi swore in the heads of 2 top judicial bodies over the weekend following constitutional amendments passed in April that granted the president increased power over the selection process allegedly as part of his ongoing fight against terrorism.In June parliament approved two laws granting the president the power to select heads of the military judiciary and the five other judicial bodies in the country. Previously the president was only allowed to appoint the most senior judge and courts selected their own chiefs.Though many Egyptian judges are pro-regime and have issued death sentences en masse to members of the Brotherhood and other members of the opposition, including to children, they are not completely under the president’s command.middleeastmonitor
Egypt sentences 5 convicts to 25 yrs in jail for spying for Iran
http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/72591/Egypt-sentences-5-convicts-to-25-yrs-in-jail-for
A Cairo criminal court sentenced 5 convicts to 25 years in prison in absentia on Sunday over charges ofspying for Iran. Another convict, who was present at the cage, was sentenced to 15 years in jail; meanwhile, all of the convicts were fined US$ 30,000each.A total of 32 sessions of the trial were held secretly since June 2018; however, media reporters were allowed to attend the final trial. Dozens of Egyptians, who allegedly belong to the Muslim Brotherhood group, are being tried over charges of spying for foreign countries and organizations like Turkey, Qatar, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Egypt Today
Sudan: Opposition coalition says military and FFC agreement excludes other parties
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190709-sudan-opposition-coalition-says-military-and-ffc-agreement-excludes-other-parties/
An opposition alliance in Sudan said that the Transitional Military Council has “excluded” political parties by negotiating with Forces of Declaration of Freedom and Change (FFC) only, and not with other opposition groups. Ali Al-Hajj of the Coordination of National Forces told a press conference that his alliance had informed the head of TMC, Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, that they reject the agreement.Al-Hajj, who serves as secretary-general of Popular Congress Party, called on the FFC to negotiate with the parties directly, and exclude the military from the political scene. He added that the parties were meeting on Monday to discuss the deal.On Friday morning, the FFC and TMC, which has been ruling the country since the ousting of President Omar Al-Bashir in April,announced a power-sharing agreement for a transitional period leading to elections. The deal, brokered by Ethiopia and the African Union, includes the establishment of a sovereign council that will lead a transitional period for 3 years and 3 months.MEMO
Yemen's Houthi rebels urge full withdrawal of Saudi-led coalition
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/yemen-houthi-rebels-urge-full-withdrawal-saudi-led-coalition-190709080419434.html
Yemen's Houthi rebels have called for the full withdrawal of a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE after the latter said it had begun reducing its deployment in the war-torn country."We call on the aggressors to withdraw from Yemen, as the Republic of Yemen rejects aggression, siege and air embargo," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of Houthi rebels' Supreme Revolutionary Committee, tweeted. "Withdrawing from Yemen is the ideal decision that must be taken at this time," he added.
Sister of Saudi Crown Prince faces verdict over ‘beating workman’ in France
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/sister-of-saudi-crown-prince-mbs-faces-verdict-over-beating-workman-in-france-5822393/
The sister of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Bin Salaman (MBS), faces a verdict in a French trial pertaining to allegedly beating a workman who was refurbishing her ultra-luxury apartment in Paris.Princess Hassa bint Salman is due to go on trial in absentia on charges of complicity to violence with a weapon and complicity to kidnap an Egyptian-born artisan who was carrying out repairs at her father’s residence on the exclusive Avenue Foch in Sept 2016.indianexpress
Flash: views & NEWS
Book of Palestine: National Liberation vs Endless Negotiations:RAMZY BAROUD
https://caravandaily.com/the-book-of-palestine-national-liberation-vs-endless-negotiations/
Israel's separation wall endures,15 yrs after ICJ ruling
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/israel-separation-wall-endures-15-years-icj-ruling-190709104626363.html
Christian family gives details of crackdown on church in China
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/church-crackdown-china-christian-1564520-2019-07-08
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq
(Released at: 8:30 PM)
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