NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
23 July 2019: 19 Dhul Qadah 1440:Vol: 11, No:252
INDIA
Karnataka Govt loses floor test: Kumaraswamy's quits; BJP likely to stake claim tomorrow
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/karnataka-floor-test-live-updates-kumaraswamy-congress-jds-bjp-speaker-5843611/?#liveblogstart
HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JD(S) govt failed to survive trust vote in Karnataka Assembly. Kumaraswamy has handed over his resignation to the Governor. The Governor accepted his resignation from CM's post. BJP is likely to stake claim tomorrow. “Kumaraswamy has failed the confidence vote, with 99 voting for the govt while 105 members have voted against govt,” Speaker KR Ramesh said. The trust vote was necessitated after 15 MLAs resigned, plunging the govt to a minority.Earlier in the day, Supreme Court had adjourned till tomorrow the hearing on a plea filed by two Independent MLAs, seeking holding of floor test “forthwith” in the state Assembly. The court’s decision was taken after the counsel for Speaker told the court that the trust vote may “most likely happen today or tomorrow.” MLAs who withdrew support to the ruling coalition had sought direction to ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition govt to conduct the floor test. The Speaker has set a fresh deadline of 6 pm today to complete the floor test. Siddaramaiah said, "15-16 of our MLAs violated the whip by abstaining from the House during trust vote, thereby, it is a clear violation of Schedule 10 (of the Constitution) and attracts disqualification."indianexpress
Karnataka: Kumaraswamy quits, Yeddyurappa informs Modi, BJP chief about political development
https://www.newsx.com/national/karnataka-crisis-live-updates-hd-kumaraswamy-floor-test-vidhana-soudha-congress-jds-bjp-yeddyurappa-governor-vajubhai-vala-rebel-mlas
SC extends Assam NRC deadline to Aug.31
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-extends-assam-nrc-final-publication-deadline-to-august-31/article28686813.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today extended the deadline for publication of final National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam from July 31 to Aug 31, 2019. A Special Bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton F. Nariman, however, did not accede to the “fervent” pleas of Union and Assam Govts to conduct a “sample reverification” of the names included in and excluded from the draft NRC published on July 30 last. Both the Govts, in identical but separate applications to the court, said many names have been wrongly included and excluded from draft NRC,and a sample reverification had become necessary to quell the “growing perception” that lakhs of illegal immigrants may have infiltrated the list, especially in districts bordering Bangladesh.“This is too great a matter... People's lives will be affected. We have to be 100% right. There cannot be a speck of doubt on the entirety of NRC exercise... The error percentage in the border districts is just over 7%, while in other districts the average is over 12%,”Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told the court.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Assam said the proposed sample reverification would only take the extended time the court had given till August 31. “It will not harm anybody and will give everybody satisfaction,” he submitted. But court refused the plea, banking on a July 18 report of court-appointed NRC Coordinator, Prateek Hajela, that reverification had been done on a district-wise basis during the adjudication of claims. " Hajela,Centre and Assam have made vehement,fervent pleas for a sample reverification. You tell us, as an officer of the court, if this is necessary?"CJI Gogoi asked him. CJI said court was “more than satisfied” from Hajela's conclusion that a reverification is not necessary.thehindu
JNU sedition case: Court grants 3 months to police to get sanctions to prosecute Kanhaiya, Umar,others
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jnu-sedition-case-court-grants-two-months-to-police-to-get-sanctions-to-prosecute-kanhaiya-others/article28687734.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:A court in New Delhi today granted two months to the Delhi Police to secure requisite sanctions to prosecute ex JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and others in a 2016 sedition case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Khurana passed the order after the police sought more time on the ground that no sanction has been received from the authorities concerned.The court also sought a status report from the DCP on the issue of sanction and posted the matter for further proceedings on Sept. 18.During a brief hearing, the police told the court that it has not received any information from Delhi Govt’s Home Department regarding the sanction.On Jan.14, police had filed a charge sheet in the court against Kumar and others, including former JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, saying they were leading a procession and supported seditious slogans raised in the JNU campus during an event on Feb.9, 2016.PTI
Modi asked me to mediate between India, Pak on Kashmir, says Trump
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-offers-to-mediate-between-india-and-pakistan-on-kashmir/article28660299.ece
US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate the decades-long Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, saying PM Narendra Modi had asked him to. "I was with PM Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject and he actually said 'Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator', I said 'Where', He said 'Kashmir'. Because this has been going on for many, many years," Trump said at the White House, where he was hosting Pakistan's PM Imran Khan."If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. If I can do anything to help, let me know," he added.His statement signalled a shift in long-standing policy that issue must be solved bilaterally.“I think they (Indians) would like to see it resolved. I think you (Khan) would like to see it resolved. And if I can help,I would love to be a mediator.It should be....we have two incredible countries that are very, very smart with very smart leadership,(and they) can’t solve a problem like that. But if you would want me to mediate or arbitrate, I would be willing to do that,”Trump said.“We have a very good relationship with India. I know that your relationship (with India) is strained a little bit, maybe a lot. But we will be talking about India (it’s) a big part of our conversation today and I think maybe we can help intercede and do whatever we have to do. It’s something that can be brought back together. We will be talking about India and Afghanistan both,”he told Khan.thehindu
Kashmir won’t be resolved bilaterally, says Imran Khan; welcomes Trump’s offer of mediation
https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/kashmir-wont-be-resolved-bilaterally-says-imran-khan-welcomes-trumps-offer-of-mediation-5843646/
Hours after US President Donald Trump offered to “mediate” between New Delhi and Islamabad over Kashmir, Pakistan PM welcomed the move, saying the contentious issue between 2 neighbours could never be resolved “bilaterally.”In an interview, Khan after meeting Trump said, “There was one point when there was General Musharraf and PM Vajpayee of India when we did get close to the resolution of the Kashmiri issue. But since then we are poles apart and I really feel that India should come on the table; US could play a big part. President Trump certainly can play a big part.”“We are talking about 1.3 billion people on this earth. Imagine the dividends of peace if somehow that issue could be resolved. Bilaterally there will never be (a resolution of the Kashmir dispute),” Khan said.indianexpress
Kashmir mediation: India denies Trump’s remark, says no such request made
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mea-denies-trumps-mediation-remark-says-no-such-request-made/article28664216.ece?homepage=true
In a sharp rebuttal to Donald Trump's comments, Govt denied that PM Narendra Modi had requested Trump to mediate between India and Pakistan."We have seen [Trump's] remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM Modi to US President," said MEA spokesperson. thehindu
MEA’s denial ‘weak’: Rahul Gandhi demands Modi’s response to Trump’s Kashmir claim
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-demands-modis-response-to-trumps-kashmir-claim-says-meas-denial-weak-5843831/
New Delhi:Minutes after External Affair’s Minister S Jaishankar denied Donald Trump’s claim that Narendra Modi asked him to resolve the Kashmir issue in Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday demanded answers from the PM saying a “weak foreign ministry denial won’t do”.Gandhi tweeted, “A weak Foreign Ministry denial won’t do. PM must tell the nation what transpired in meeting between him & US President.” He also added that if Trump’s claims are found to be true, Modi has “betrayed India’s interests & 1972 Simla Agreement.”indianexpress
PM didn’t make any request on Kashmir mediation to Trump, Jaishankar tells Parliament
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-didnt-make-any-request-on-kashmir-mediation-to-trump-jaishankar/article28671650.ece?homepage=true
Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz, Geelani welcome US push for dialogue on Kashmir
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/hurriyat-leaders-mirwaiz-geelani-welcome-us-push-for-dialogue-on-kashmir/article28672233.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:Senior Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday welcomed Donald Trump’s offer of mediation and his Govt’s stress on the India-Pakistan dialogue on the Kashmir issue.“Being the most affected party, the people of Kashmir want an early resolution to the lingering Kashmir conflict. I have been urging for dialogue at all levels. Every effort, pushing India and Pakistan in that direction, is welcomed by the people of J&K,”said Mirwaiz.He said Trump’s statement was reiteration of the fact that the world powers “were alive to the Kashmir issue and desired a dialogue-based solution.”Geelani said, “US has to play its role for the freedom of Kashmir. We are thankful to Pakistan for raising the issue of Kashmir. It’s a long-pending dispute and has consumed more than 3 generations. It continues to threaten existence of yet another generation in J&K,” said Geelani.thehindu
HC dismisses J&K Jamaat Prez’s plea against PSA detention
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/hc-dismisses-plea-of-ameer-jamaat-dr-hameed-against-psa-detention/
The High Court on Monday dismissed 3 separate petitions against detention orders of three persons under Public Safety Act which included the detention of a Jamaat-e-Islami J&& Ameer (chief) Dr Hameed Ganai popularly known as Hameed Fayaz.A bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey dismissed the petition of Dr Ganai after hearing his counsel Salih Pirzada and the state Govt through its senior additional advocate general, Javed Iqbal.“It is sometimes said in an uncivilized manner that law cannot bind individual actions which are perceived as flaws by the large body of people, but, the truth is and has to be that when the law withstands the test of the constitutional scrutiny in a democracy, the individual notions are to be ignored,” the court said, while dismissing the petition.greaterkashmir
Decide in 6 weeks plea seeking ban on use of pellet guns, SC tells J&K HC
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/decide-in-6-weeks-plea-seeking-ban-on-use-of-pellet-guns-sc-tells-jk-hc/articleshow/70331908.cms
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked J&K High Court to decide within six weeks the plea seeking ban on the use of pellet guns for controlling street protests in the state. A bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi took note of a letter dated July 4 by Registrar General of the High Court that the matter is listed for hearing on Tuesday before a division bench.PIL on the issue was filed before the HC in 2016 by J&K High Court Bar Association seeking stay on use of pellet guns as a large number of people had been killed or injured due to its use. PTI
NIA raids 7 places in Kashmir in connection with illegal money transfer through cross-LoC trade
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-raids-seven-places-in-kashmir-in-connection-with-illegal-money-transfer-through-cross-loc-trade-5844919/
Srinagar:NIA carried out searches at 7 locations in Pulwama and Srinagar against some businessmen in connection with the cross-LoC trade, which is allegedly used by terror groups to send money for spreading trouble in J&K, officials said.Among those raided were Tanveer Wani, president of cross-LoC traders’ association at Pulwama in south Kashmir, they said.PTI
Rajasthan HC acquits 6 Muslim men in 1996 Samleti blast case after spending 23 yrs in jail
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/hc-acquits-six-persons-in-1996-samleti-blast-case/article28666752.ece
23 years after 14 persons were killed and 37 injured in a bomb blast in a roadways bus near Samleti village in Dausa district, the Rajasthan High Court on Monday acquitted 6 persons, including 5 residents of J&K, who were sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court in the case. The court upheld death penalty and life sentence pronounced to 2 convicts in 2014.The blast took place in a Rajasthan Roadways bus headed from Agra to Bikaner on the Agra-Jaipur national highway on May 22, 1996, a day after Delhi's Lajpat Nagar bomb blast which had led to the death of 13 persons. A sessions court in Dausa district's Bandikui town had convicted 6 of the 8 accused of murder, conspiracy, damage to public property and violation of Explosives Act and one of them only of conspiracy, while accepting the claim made in the chargesheet that the J&K residents were associated with JKLF.Abdul Hamid, a medical doctor and native of Firozabad in UP, was sentenced to death as the prime accused.A Division Bench comprising Justice Sabina and Justice Goverdhan Bardhar ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove any connection of 6 persons with the conspiracy to carry out the Samleti blast. Those acquitted were Javed Khan, Abdul Ghani, Latif Ahmed, Mohammed Ali Bhat, Mirza Nisar Hussain (all from J&K) and Raees Baig, a resident of Agra.All of them spent the last 23 years in jail without getting bail or parole.The court maintained death sentence awarded to Hamid and life imprisonment awarded to Salim alias Pappu, while giving credence to the evidence of the bus driver and two policemen, travelling in the same bus, who had identified the prime accused.Syed Shahid Hasan, counsel for J&K residents who had filed an appeal against the Sept.29, 2014 judgment of the sessions court, said he had contended that there was no evidence to link his clients with the incident and no explosive material was recovered from them.“Despite their innocence, they were branded Kashmiri militants and they spent 23 years behind bars, a period longer than life imprisonment,” he said. thehindu
‘SIMI meeting’: SC notice on NIA plea challenging acquittal of 5 accused
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-of-india-students-islamic-movement-of-india-simi-nia-5843436/
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has issued notice on a plea by NIA challenging the acquittal of 5 men accused of organising a meeting of the SIMI in Kerala’s Panayikkulam in Aug.2006.A bench headed by the CJI issued the notice on the petition challenging the HC verdict of April 12 this year. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the NIA.indianexpress
I want to start my life anew: freed Rais Ahmed picked up by NIA on terror charges
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/i-want-to-start-my-life-anew-says-freed-man-picked-up-by-nia-on-terror-charges-1572216-2019-07-22
New Delhi:I don't want to say anything. I am satisfied after coming home. I hope my brother comes soon," said Rais Ahmed, a native of Saidpur village in western UP. Ahmed was arrested on terror charges by NIA.Earlier this month Rais was released from Tihar Jail as the investigating agency was not able to prove the terror charges.Rais was arrested in Dec. 2018 after NIA conducted raids in UP and Delhi and arrested 14 suspects of Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam.Later on June 21 NIA filed chargesheets against 10 suspects. But the investigating agency did not file chargesheets under terror charges against four accused -- Mohammad Irshad, Rais Ahmed, Jaid Malik and Mohammad Azam. After spending six months in jail the four finally got bail in early July. indiatoday
8 convicted in Haren Pandya murder case surrender in Ahmedabad court
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/eight-convicted-in-haren-pandya-murder-case-surrender-in-court-5842964/
Ahmedabad :8 of the 12 convicted for the murder of Haren Pandya, former BJP minister in the state, surrendered before a special POTA court in Ahmedabad Monday. The court had issued an application of warrant for nine convicted in the case.On July 5, the Supreme Court overturned the acquittal of the accused persons by the Gujarat High Court in 2011. indianexpress
Naravane next vice-chief of Army, may succeed Rawat
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/naravane-next-vice-chief-of-army-may-succeed-rawat/articleshow/70337695.cms
New Delhi: In top-level appointments in Army, Eastern Command chief Lt-General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been named as the next vice chief of the 13-lakh strong force, in an indication that he is likely to succeed General Bipin Rawat when he retires on Dec. 31. The other top appointments include Lt-Gen Anil Chauhan as the new chief of the Eastern Command , while Lt-Gens A S Kler, I S Ghuman and R P Singh will head the South-Western, Central and Western Commands respectively.
But it’s the posting of Lt-Gen Naravane, who will replace Lt-Gen Devraj Anbu on August 31, which has evoked the maximum interest. After Lt-Gen Naravane, the second in line for the Army chief’s post is the present chief of Northern Command, Lt-Gen Ranbir Singh, who was the DG of military operations during the “surgical strikes” in Myanmar and PoK. timesofindia
Behind Army’s WhatsApp order: Secret map, other faux pas
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/behind-armys-whatsapp-order-secret-map-other-faux-pas-5843039/
New Delhi :A few months ago, a Brigadier was in an operations room where he opened his smartphone to photograph a fully-marked operational map. The officer, commanding a brigade, then sent it on WhatsApp to his principal staff officer at the brigade headquarters to get a similar map made.The staff officer in turn sent the picture to commanding officers of battalions, and the secret operational map was soon all but public.It was this incident — and a host of similar incidents of security breaches over WhatsApp — which triggered last month’s order from Army HQ to all officers to desist from indiscriminate use of any social media platform.indianexpress
Lok Sabha passes Bill amending RTI Act amidst strong objection from Opposition
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-passes-bill-amending-rti-act-amidst-strong-objection-from-opposition/article28650449.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 3 days after it was introduced.It seeks to amend the landmark transparency law and bring in changes involving salaries and tenures of Information Commissioners (ICs) at the States and Centre.As per the amendment ICs — who currently have 5-year tenures — will have “terms as may be prescribed by the central Govt” and salaries, instead of being on par with that of Election Commission officials, will be decided by Central Govt.Speaker Om Birla announced that the Bill was passed with 218 ‘yes’ votes as against 79 ‘no’ votes.The Bill saw sharp opposition with allegations that the Govt was trying to dilute the effectiveness of the law. Some MPs even called it ‘RTI Elimination Bill.’Leader of Congress in House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said,“The amendments they (Centre) are trying to bring are dangerous. They are trying to attack our democratic right to information. This Govt wants to keep a tab on the Commission, and kill its freedom.”This Bill is removing the two greatest armours of institutional independence and on top of that, by controlling State Information Commissioners, by taking over the power to determine their salaries,Central Govt is destroying it,”Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said. MP Asaduddin Owaisi said the Bill is anti-federal.“It lacks competence. It takes away the powers of the state.”thehindu
‘Diluting RTI Act to impact daily fight against corruption’
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/diluting-rti-act-to-impact-daily-fight-against-corruption/article28665098.ece
House passes human rights bill amid opposition concern
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/house-passes-human-rights-bill-amid-opposition-concern/articleshow/70338123.cms
New Delhi:Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019, passed last week by Lok Sabha,was approved by Rajya Sabha on Monday with home minister Amit Shah seeking to allay fears that the Govt could influence appointments to human rights panels. Shah also said the opposition should not look at every Govt decision with suspicion.While opposition expressed concern that the bill sought to amend the term of office of the chairperson and members of National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commissions from five years to 3 years, Shah said this was done only to fill up vacancies. TOI
Parliament session extended by 10 working days: Minister
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/parliament-session-extended-by-10-working-days-minister
The ongoing Parliament session will be extended by 10 more working days to complete the legislative business and the Govt's target to pass at least 35 Bills, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said. "I officially announce that the Parliament session will be extended for 10 more working days," Joshi said. Asked about the number of Bills to be passed, the Minister said the Govt's target is to pass at least 35 Bills and asserted that it "will pass all the Bills".With the extension of sittings, the session will now conclude on Aug. 9.IANS
Cryptocurrency panel for ban on private digital currencies, jail time of up to 10 years
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cryptocurrency-panel-for-ban-on-private-digital-currencies-jail-time-of-up-to-10-years/article28662389.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The committee set up to look into the legality of cryptocurrencies and blockchain has submitted its report to Finance Ministry and recommended that private cryptocurrencies be banned completely in India. It has also drafted a law, ‘Banning of Cryptocurrency & Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019’, which mandates a fine and imprisonment of up to 10 years for offences.The committee, however, said the Govt should keep an open mind on potential issuance of cryptocurrencies by the RBI. thehindu
Maharashtra: 2 men threatened, forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, 2nd incident in 4 days in Aurangabad city
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/2-threatened-forced-to-chant-jai-shri-ram-again/article28667351.ece?homepage=true
Aurangabad:2 men were allegedly threatened and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Aurangabad city by some unidentified persons, the second such incident here in the last 4 days, the police said on Monday.The incident, which took place on Sunday night at Azad Chowk, triggered tension in the area, following which police stepped up security.A case has been registered and search is on to nab the miscreants, an official said.Shaikh Amer (24), a delivery boy with food ordering app Zomato, and his friend Shaikh Nasir (26) were waiting to hire an auto-rickshaw when four to 5 men in a car allegedly intercepted them, abused their religious identity and threatened to kill them if they did not say ‘Jai Shri Ram’, he said. 2 men, out of fear, then chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’, police official said, adding that later on seeing some passersby, those in the car fled.The incident was captured on a CCTV camera and the footage is being examined to identify the car, the official said, adding that it was not clear if the miscreants were armed.PTI
All madrassas in country to hoist tricolour, sing national anthem this Independence Day: RSS leader
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/all-madrassas-in-country-to-hoist-tricolour-sing-natl-anthem-this-i-day-rss-leader/articleshow/70320788.cms
Dehradun: RSS senior leader Indresh Kumar has said that all madrassas in the country would "for the first time" hoist tricolour, sing national anthem as well as Vande Mataram during the Independence Day celebrations this year. Kumar was in Uttarakhand to participate in a series of events organized by Rashtriya Suraksha Jagran Manch in Mussoorie on Saturday.Kumar said, “Muslim Rashtriya Manch has been roped in to implement this (hoisting tricolour) in all madrassas. Also, there would be events to tell students about the contributions of our freedom fighters during Independence movement.”TOI
Video of SP MLA communal appeal goes viral
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/video-of-sp-mlas-communal-appeal-goes-viral/article28664782.ece?homepage=true
Ghaziabad: In a video that went viral on Monday, Nahid Hasan, SP MLA from Kairana, was heard making a communal appeal to Muslims to not buy goods from shopkeepers close to the BJP. “Buy your grocery from Jhijhana or Panipat [neighbouring towns]. If you take this pain for a month, these shopkeepers would understand your value. Their homes run because we buy goods from them. Still we have to suffer,” he was heard saying. He also described the administration as “BJP-minded.” Later, he clarified that he was speaking for the poor. “I was speaking for the vendors who were being forcibly removed from the market by the administration that is biased towards the BJP supporters,” he alleged.Shamli police have taken cognisance of the video. thehindu
Advocate Paracha says teaching people to apply for firearms because govts failed to protect them
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/muslim-advocate-paracha-says-teaching-people-to-apply-for-firearms-because-govts-failed-to-protect-them20190722212938/
New Delhi: Supreme Court lawyer Mahmood Paracha, who had stated earlier that he would organise camps to provide help to people from Muslims, SCs and ST communities in applying for firearm licenses on Monday justified his comments and said Govts have failed in protecting them.He said, "We are promoting Article 19 to 21 which is a constitutional right to life. That is what we are asking people to do when the Govts have failed and I don't know what the controversy is about. We are only teaching people to fill up the form who don't know how to fill-up the form. What is worrying about others in this?" On being asked why this call is for one particular community only, he said, "Yes, there is a UN report from America that there are minority communities which are being lynched and targeted in a very organised manner. Hence these people will only get this right.These communities deserve it as a matter of right across the country. We are not stopping anyone but this licence cannot be given to people who don't deserve it."He further elaborated on benefits of such camps and said, "Individuals who today think that law enforcement agencies support them and they can kill anybody on road, will now have the fear that their victim will be equipped to protect themselves. This is going to reduce this kind of violence."ANI
Muzaffarnagar Acquittals: UP Govt. Should Appeal or SC Should Take up Issue Suo Motu, Say Community Leaders, Activists
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/muzaffarnagar-acquittals-up-govt-should-appeal-or-sc-should-take-up-issue-suo-motu-say-community-leaders-activists?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi:Aghast at the acquittals in all 40 cases related to murders,gang-rapes and rioting during Muzaffarnagar riots 2013, community leaders and human rights activists say these acquittals should be challenged in higher court by UP Govt or the Supreme Court should take up the issue suo motu.They also suggest that to avoid recurrence of such acquittals in riots cases, community should create a fund to fight victims’ legal cases. Community should not sit at home after distributing relief to victims, they say.Mohammad Salim Engineer, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind expressed concern on the acquittals.Dr. John Dayal talked about shortcomings in the investigation system of the Police in the country and how lack of protection to victims helps the accused. Delhi Minority Commission Chairman Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan said, “these acquittals are part of a pattern. Even in Gujarat, gradually all of the accused were acquitted and even those police officers who were booked, walked free. It is our weakness that we don’t fight legal battles which is as important as relief work.” Indiatomorrow
4 arrested in Jhansi for smuggling explosives
https://www.indiatoday.in/crime/story/smuggling-expletives-jhansi-1572047-2019-07-22?fbclid=IwAR27Bk9FcbJxiA54ETpILhi98292YcDv2gkPJSfgctnyxKFdXFA5mDGzIX8
4 persons were arrested by the UP ATS and the police in Jhansi for smuggling explosive material, the UP ATS said on Sunday.One thousand detonators and 5,000 gelatin sticks were recovered from the possession of the arrested, ATS said.ADG UP ATS said, "4 arrested persons are Charan Singh (Jhansi), Deen Bandhu (Bhilwara,Rajasthan), Pushpendra Jha (Jhansi) and Sitaram Pal (Tikamgarh, MP). Charan was earlier held in smuggling of explosive material. He again indulged in activity after being released. ADG said, "It seems motive (smuggling) was to use it in illegal mining. We were worried about terror or Naxal activities."indiatoday
Petition in Kerala HC to revise Backward Community List, grant Muslims benefits available to SC/ST
https://barandbench.com/petition-kerala-hc-revise-backward-community-list-grant-muslim-community-benefits-sc-st/
A petition has been filed in Kerala High Court seeking revision of Kerala's backward community list and a declaration that the Muslim community is entitled to all benefits available to SC/ST.The petition has been filed by Minority Indians Planning and Vigilance Commission Trust through advocate Haris Beeran. It has arraigned State of Kerala and Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes as respondents.The petitioner contends violations by State of Kerala in following the directions of the Supreme Court in judgment of Indra Sawhney v. Union of India [1992 Suppl. (3) SCC 217] with respect to representation and reservation of members of Muslim Minority Community, SC, ST and also about 70 other backward classes in the matter of public employment.barandbench
IMF cuts India’s growth forecast by 30 bps to 7%
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/imf-lowers-india-s-fy20-growth-forecast-by-30-bps-to-7-1563886980904.html
IMF today revised downward India’s growth forecast for 2019-20 by 30 basis points to 7%, as it sees weaker domestic demand. In April, it had revised India’s growth projection by 20 basis points.Over the last month, RBI as well as the chief economic adviser in the finance ministry Krishnamurthy Subramanian and Asian Development Bank have also revised downward their growth projections for India to 7%.“India’s economy is set to grow at 7% in 2019, picking up to 7.2% in 2020.”livemint
India is facing a ‘silent fiscal crisis’ due to shortfall in tax revenues, says adviser to PM Modi
https://scroll.in/latest/931462/india-is-facing-a-silent-fiscal-crisis-due-to-shortfall-in-tax-revenues-says-adviser-to-pm-modi
India is facing a “silent fiscal crisis” due to a shortfall in tax revenues, according to Rathin Roy, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the PM. “At the heart of the crisis is a shortfall in tax revenues,” Bloomberg quoted Roy as saying on Monday. “It is mainly due to a shortfall in GST revenues (but also personal income tax revenues), compared to the numbers presented in the revised estimates.”According to Budget documents, the Govt aims to collect $370 billion (Rs 25.53 lakh crore) in taxes in the current financial year. “In my professional judgement, you will not able to tax as much as has been forecast in 2019-’20 Budget,” Roy said at an event in Delhi. “Therefore either you will have to borrow more or you will have to spend less. If you borrow more than it has implications for overall economy, or you spend less then it also have implications.”Roy urged the Govt to issue a white paper on medium-term fiscal framework, saying it would be difficult to meet the tax collection target for 2019-’20. scroll.in/PTI
Gujarat: BJP sweeps Junagadh municipal election, Congress reduced to 1 seat
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-bjp-sweeps-junagadh-municipal-election-congress-reduced-to-1-seat-5845693/
Ruling BJP scored a landslide victory in Junagadh Municipal Corporation election today and bucked the trend to retain power in the civic body by winning 54 out of 60 seats. The opposition Congress which was vying to unseat BJP was decimated as it barely managed win one seat even as NCP won 4.In the final result declared after counting of votes for 59 seats, BJP secured 54 seats. NCP got four while Congress tally was reduced to just one. This is a significant shift in favour of the BJP as compared to 2014 JMC election when the BJP had won 41 seats, Congress 16, BSP 2 and while 1 seat had gone to an Independent.
No.of men migrating for marriage doubles in decade
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-of-men-migrating-for-marriage-doubles-in-a-decade/articleshow/70337947.cms
New Delhi: Migration for marriage remains mostly a female compulsion, with women constituting almost 98% of those migrating for this reason. But the number of men migrating for marriage more than doubled between 2001 and 2011 censuses compared to a 33% rise in the number of women doing so. The most number of men migrating for matrimony are in the north-east and south India. TOI analysed the data for migration in 9 years preceding the last two censuses. In almost all states, the proportion of men migrating for marriage increased, with Meghalaya, TN, Mizoram, Kerala, Assam, Manipur, Karnataka and AP recording the highest figures. TOI
WORLD
Boris Johnson vows to 'get Brexit done' as he wins UK PM race
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/boris-johnson-wins-race-uk-prime-minister-190723100926058.html
Boris Johnson has been elected leader of UK's Conservative Party and, by default, country's next PM. Brexit hardliner, ex London mayor, today won the votes of 92,153 members of the ruling party, while his rival, Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt, won 46,656. Johnson is set to become PM tomorrow, after Theresa May formally steps down.In his victory speech, the 55-year-old said his campaign message had been to "deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat [opposition Labour leader] Jeremy Corbyn - and that is what we are going to do"."Do you look daunted? Do you feel daunted? I don't think you look remotely daunted to me," Johnson told party members at Queen Elizabeth ll conference centre in London. "We are going to get Brexit done." Johnson has vowed to negotiate a new Brexit divorce deal with EU before the scheduled Oct.31 deadline,but Brussels has insisted it will not reopen negotiations. aljazeera
US working with Pak to find way out of Afghan war says Trump; Imran says deal with Taliban possible
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-working-with-pak-to-find-way-out-of-afghan-war-trump/article28664826.ece?homepage=true
Washington:President Donald Trump voiced optimism that Pakistani PM Imran Khan could help broker a political settlement to end the nearly 18-year-old US war in Afghanistan and held out the possibility of restoring aid to Islamabad.“I think Pakistan is going to help us out to extricate ourselves,” Mr. Trump said, with Mr. Khan sitting next to him at the start of a White House meeting. Trump spoke of possibly restoring $1.3 billion in American aid that he had cut last year, depending upon the results of the meeting. Khan told Trump that a peace deal with the Taliban was closer than it had ever been. “We hope that in the coming days we will be able to urge the Taliban to speak to the Afghan Govt and come to a settlement, a political solution,”Khan said in the Oval Office meeting.Washington wants Islamabad to pressure Afghanistan’s Taliban into a permanent ceasefire and participation in talks with the Afghan Govt.Reuters
US envoy to return to Afghan, Qatar for peace talks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/envoy-return-afghanistan-qatar-peace-talks-190723024626226.html
US peace envoy will travel to Afghanistan next week and then Qatar to resume negotiations with Taliban and iron out a deal that could end of military intervention,State Department said on Monday. Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad will leave next Monday for the mission lasting through to Aug1 "as part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that ends the conflict in Afghanistan,"State Department said.In Kabul, he will discuss with the Afghan Govt the "next steps in the peace process, including identifying a national negotiating team that can participate in intra-Afghan negotiations," it added.He will then travel to Doha, where "he will resume talks with the Taliban," it said. aljazeera
Saudi tortures preacher after forcing to confess
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190723-saudi-arabia-tortures-prominent-preacher-after-forcing-to-confess/
Prominent Saudi Sheikh Ali Al-Omari was again subjected to torture in a royal prison at the end of May, Twitter account Prisoners of Conscience revealed. The group noted that Al-Omari was subjected to “more brutal” torture than he had before.Latest assault came as a result of the disclosure of a secret interview conducted by Saudi TV 24 with Al-Omari in which he said he is a “terrorist”.On 24 May 2018, the Twitter account said that Saudi TV 24 was preparing to broadcast an interview which was conducted after a round of torture and it included Al-Omari’s admitting that he is a “terrorist”.The group, which Al-Omari allegedly pinpointed, included Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda, Awad Al-Qarni, Abdel-Aziz Al-Fawzan, Jamal Khashoggi and others. The interview was promoted in 2018, but it was not broadcasted because of Khashoggi’s assassination. middleeastmonitor
Egypt:Denied medical care, 2 political prisoners die
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190723-denied-medical-care-2-political-prisoners-die-in-egypt-jail/
Egyptian political prisoner Omar Adel died in Egypt’s Tora Prison at the age of 29.His family tried to visit him on Saturday but were sent home after being told that Omar was being held in solitary confinement as a punishment after they found him with a mobile phone. Since the death of former President Morsi, prisoners have been subject to tightening punitive measures, including a ban on family visits. Last week the price of special permits to visit detainees went up by 500%.MEMO
'Lanka Muslim congress not to accept ministerial portfolios until issues are resolved'
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2019/07/22/fes47-lanka-muslims.html
Colombo:Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, an ally of the Govt said that they will not return to the Govt and accept any portfolio until proper solutions are found for the issues faced by the minority Muslims especially after the Easter Sunday attacks.All Muslim ministers, including Cabinet, state and deputy ministers in Sri Lankan Govt resigned from their ministerial portfolios on June 3 citing the Govt's failure to ensure the safety of Muslims following the attacks.However, parliamentarians Kabir Hashim and Abdul Haleem re-accepted their ministerial portfolios on June 19. Muslim political parties have been raising concerns over arrests of several Muslims.PTI
Syria: Assad,Russian strikes kill 50 people in Idlib
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/syria-assad-russian-airstrikes-kill-50-in-idlib/1538807
Idlib:The death toll from airstrikes carried out by Russian and Syrian regime forces Monday morning in the de-escalation zone in Idlib province rose to 50 civilians, according to White Helmets civil defense agency. Russian jets struck a marketplace in the city of Maarat Al-Numan in northern Idlib, killing 39 civilians, including a White Helmets volunteer, sources from the civil defense agency said. Assad regime warplanes, meanwhile, struck a marketplace in Saraqib in rural Idlib, local sources in the field said. Anadolu Agency
Muslim Caucus to hold 1st meet amid Trump's attacks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/muslim-caucus-hold-conference-trump-attacks-190722231405411.html
Washington:Muslim political leaders and academics are set to gather in Washington, DC, today for what is being billed as the first national gathering of Muslims in politics in United States history.The historic moment comes as President Donald Trump and his supporters ramp up attacks on Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, first 2 Muslim women in Congress. Organised by Muslim Caucus, Muslim Collective for Equitable Democracy 2019 will feature appearances by representatives Omar, as well as a host of other prominent Muslim American figures, including Gold Star father Khizr Khan and Keith Ellison, first Muslim elected to Congress and current Minnesota attorney general.But organisers are disappointed in the low turnout from major Democratic presidential candidates.aljazeera
Ex-Israel spy admits lobbying US on behalf of Sudan military council
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190723-ex-israel-spy-admits-lobbying-us-on-behalf-of-sudan-military-council/
A former Israeli spy has admitted to signing a multi-million-dollar contract with Sudan’s Transitional Military Council to lobby the US to support its rule.The deal was signed by Ari Ben-Menashe,a 67-year-old Israeli businessman based in Montreal, Canada, who heads “Dickens & Madson” lobbying firm. Menashe is a former Israeli spy and boasts a long, controversial career which has reportedly seen him lobby for African opposition figures, witness US-Iranian hostage deals and execute arms deals.Dickens & Madson recently signed a $6 million deal with Sudan’s Transitional Military Council, which has ruled the country since former President Omar Al-Bashir was ousted in April.middleeastmonitor
Amnesty: Israel’s mass demolition of Jerusalem homes a ‘war crime’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190723-amnesty-israels-mass-demolition-of-jerusalem-homes-a-war-crime/
Amnesty International slammed Israeli authorities for the mass demolition of Palestinian homes in Sur Baher, and urged the international community to take action.Israeli forces carried out a longstanding military-issued demolition order yesterday morning, targeting a number of buildings in the community that lies in both the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Dozens of residential apartments were destroyed.In its statement, the global human rights organisation pulled no punches in condemning the home demolitions. MEMO
Flash: NEWS, views, Articles
What does it mean to oppose Brahmanism?Rajeev Bhargava
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-does-it-mean-to-oppose-brahmanism/article28658412.ece?homepage=true
6 reasons why the Economic Survey’s presentation of MGNREGA is misleading:Rajendran Narayanan ,R. Swamy
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-misleading-presentation-of-a-labour-programme/article28660814.ece?homepage=true
Dainik Bhaskar, OpIndia Falsely Report Scuffle as a Communal Incident Perpetrated by Muslims
https://newscentral24x7.com/dainik-bhaskar-op-india-misreport-communal-hate-crime-muslims/
Humans of Assam: ‘If they want to send me to Bangladesh, so be it’:Arunabh Saikia
https://scroll.in/article/931382/humans-of-assam-if-they-want-to-send-me-to-bangladesh-so-be-it
Arvind Subramanian’s paper, other micro data, suggest an impending economic slowdown: K. Basu
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/arvind-subramanian-india-gdp-growth-indian-statistical-system-economy-modi-Govt-5842855/
True or False, Trump Kashmir Bombshell Raises Questions About Modi’s Political Judgment: Siddharth Varadarajan
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/donald-trump-kashmir-narendra-modi
Bhima Koregaon: Of 230 required copies of evidence, only 4 made in 2 months:Sukanya Shantha
https://thewire.in/rights/bhima-koregaon-case-activists-bail-hearing-delay
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq
(Released at: 6:55 PM)
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