NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
28 July 2019: 24 Dhul Qadah 1440:Vol: 11, No:256
INDIA
Karnataka: Speaker Disqualifies 14 More Rebel MLAs Day Before BJP Seeks Trust Vote
https://thewire.in/government/karnataka-political-crisis-trust-vote-yediyurappa
As Karnataka’s tryst with the trust vote continues, fresh turns continue to keep the political drama alive. A day before new BJP CM BS Yediyurappa seeks the trust vote in the assembly to prove his majority and 6 days after another trust vote toppled Congress-JD(S) govt, assembly speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar on Sunday disqualified 14 more rebel MLAs under anti-defection law till the end of the assembly term in 2023.11 Congress MLAs and 3 JD(S) MLAs faced the axe from the speaker, who pronounced his ruling at a hasty news conference. The total number of disqualified Congress MLAs is now 14.The speaker’s action is unlikely to reverse the fortunes of the Yediyurappa govt. The absence of the errant MLAs would reduce the effective strength of the House, rendering the confidence vote no particular hurdle for BJP.20 MLAS had been absent during the Tuesday trust vote — there were 17 “rebels” and one MLA each from the Congress and BSP, along with an Independent, kept away.The effective strength of 224-member assembly, excluding the speaker, who has a casting vote in case of a tie, is 207. The magic figure required will be 104.BJP, with the support of one Independent, has 106 members.“I have used my judicial conscience…I am 100% hurt,” Ramesh Kumar said, when asked about allegations about his conduct in the entire stalemate.Kumar’s decision to disqualify the MLAs in one fell sweep comes in the backdrop of indications from BJP that it would be mulling a no-confidence against him if he does not voluntarily give up the speaker’s post when assembly meets on Monday. BJP slammed the Speaker’s action, calling it “unfair and violative of the law” which, it said, had been taken “yielding to the pressure from a party”.“It is a motivated and defective order,”said senior BJP leader Govind Karjol, adding, rebels would challenge it in the Supreme Court, where they were certain to “get justice.”Karnataka Congress welcomed Speaker’s decision to disqualify the rebel MLAs. It has called a meeting of its legislative wing ahead of the trust vote on Monday. Congress leader Siddarmaiah, in a tweet, called the speaker’s decision as “a victory for democracy”.JD(S) too welcomed it. Shortly after taking the oath as CM, Yediyurappa had said he would move a motion of confidence in the assembly on July 29 to prove his majority, apparently confident of winning it with the expectation that 16 rebel Congress and JD(S) MLAs may abstain as they did on Tuesday last, giving him the edge.thewire
JD(S) rebel to move SC challenging Speaker’s disqualification of 14 MLAs
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/karnataka-political-crisis-speaker-disqualifies-rebel-mlas-bjp-congress-jds-5858108/
Hours after 14 rebel MLAs in Karnataka were disqualified a day ahead of trust vote, JD(S) MLA AH Vishwanath decided to approach the Supreme Court against Speaker Ramesh Kumar’s decision.“The disqualification is against the law…just under a whip served on them, you cannot force MLAs to come to the House,” Vishwanath told PTI. indianexpress
On Eve of Trust Vote, CM Yediyurappa Proclaims, 'I Will 100 %Prove My Majority'
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/on-eve-of-trust-vote-cm-yediyurappa-proclaims-i-will-100-percent-prove-my-majority-2249111.html
A day ahead of seeking the trust vote in the Karnataka assembly, CM BS Yediyurappa on Sunday expressed confidence about proving the majority."On Monday 100% I will prove the majority," he said.PTI
Threat of major terror attack in Kashmir reason behind deploying 10,000 troops: Govt
https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/threat-major-terror-attack-kashmir-nsa-security-meet-centre-deploys-troops-1574397-2019-07-28?fbclid=IwAR2KcassAN8kT5O76a5wxokqImA2ayqPYqO2M0gDWcNfURdcChvCHdvGuxs
Jammu: NSA Ajit Doval on Sunday held a meeting of the counter-terrorism grid in J&K in view of a major terrorist attack threat in the Kashmir Valley.Sources from the Govt said the security establishment on Sunday confirmed inputs that Pakistan Army-backed terrorist groups are planning to carry out a major terror attack on Indian soil, and therefore 100 companies of paramilitary groups have been deployed in the Kashmir Valley.NSA had gone to Kashmir Valley to meet the top officials of the counter security grid, following which the decision to deploy additional force was taken.Sources said the terrorist infrastructure and ISI want to further vitiate the situation in J&K after the successful organisation of the Panchayat elections in the state and the peaceful conduct of Amarnath Yatra. A record number of pilgrims have taken part in Amarnath Yatra.indiatoday
As more troops arrive, parties in Valley warn: Don’t touch Article 35A
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-indian-army-article-35-omar-abdullah-mehbooba-mufti-bjp-amit-shah-5857533/
Srinagar:Uncertainty spread over large parts of the Valley after the deployment of additional forces prompted political leaders to say that this could be part of the plan to abrogate Article 35A. People in many areas started panic-buying of essential items. Senior police officers in J&K described the deployment of the extra forces as “routine”, and intended to relieve their stretched colleagues in the state.J&K Police Additional DGP (Law and Order) Muneer Khan said the “additional requisition of forces has been made to make up for the 200 companies that need to proceed to their battalions for mandatory training exercises”.DGP Dilbagh Singh said the arrival of the additional forces was a law and order measure.As the first batches of these troops started to fly in to Srinagar Saturday, political parties in the Valley warned Centre against “thoughtless adventurism”. Ex-minister Sajad Lone, who is deemed to be close to BJP, warned the Centre that “…adventurism will mean an investment in future for decades of violence and contempt for those who believe in Indian-ness”. “Nobody seems to have the remotest idea of what is in the offing. The rumours of tinkering with Article 35A are spreading fast and there is no reaction from the state or Central govt,” Lone said in a statement.“If the govt… indeed has any such intentions, it would be tantamount to stretching adventurism to unacceptable limits. Any adventurism will erode the credibility of those who believe in the concept of India…”.Apprehensions that Centre might remove Article 35A and Article370 have been growing ever since Assembly elections were delayed, and President’s Rule was extended earlier this year. There is fear in the Valley and in Muslim-majority districts of Jammu and Kargil that the move to remove Article 35A — which empowers J&K Legislature to define permanent residents of the state — is intended to change the demography of the Muslim-majority state. NC president Omar Abdullah said the Centre should repose faith in the Supreme Court and refrain from “bullying the people of the State with the unwarranted and intimidatory threats on annihilating Article 35A and Article 370”. People in the Valley were “going through anxiety in wake of the rumour mongering set afloat by the administration”, he said.Govt official-turned-politician Shah Faesal warned that “any attempt at tinkering” with Articles 370 and 35A “will breed a new phase of alienation in Kashmir”. indianexpress
PM Modi likely to attend key party meeting with J&K leaders
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-likely-to-attend-key-party-meeting-with-jk-leaders-5858623/
New Delhi :PM Narendra Modi is expected to attend a meeting of BJP’s J&K core group on Tuesday, with top party leaders, including its chief Amit Shah, set to discuss political atmosphere and party’s preparedness for assembly elections whenever they are held, sources said.The likely presence of Modi and Shah in the meeting is significant and hints at the party gearing up for the state assembly elections, whose schedule will be finalised by the Election Commission after it receives a go-ahead from the central and state governments on law and order situation.The sources said Union minister Jitendra Singh, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and its state unit president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders from the state will attend the meeting besides the party’s national working president JP Nadda.PTI
UP: Retired Army officer Amanullah thrashed to death in Amethi
https://www.indiatoday.in/crime/story/retired-army-officer-thrashed-to-death-in-amethi-1574464-2019-07-28?fbclid=IwAR0A1VQoygiorbNpd8T5l386Lq9bUIxpJzujy4r_hn8oRwByxsBiQHj6HEY
Amethi: A 64-year-old retired Army captain was beaten to death by unidentified assailants in UP's Amethi district, police said on Sunday.The incident occurred on Saturday night in Godiyan ka Purva village under Kamrauli Police Station limits, they said.The retired Army personnel, Amanullah, and his wife were in their house when a group of people attacked them with sticks, his son told the police, ASP Dayaram said.The attackers thrashed Amanullah across the head due to which he died on the spot, his son said in his statement. He said no family member other than his parents were in the house when the incident took place.PTI
A Near Lynching Stopped By a Lone Woman in Delhi While a Crowd Stood By And Watched
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/9/17319/A-Near-Lynching-Stopped-By-A-Lone-Woman-in-Delhi-While-a-Crowd-Stood-By-And-Watched?fbclid=IwAR2f5Zj9QqJ_jdO29KW3NZILwW-gf1NWQwLONjgDO_PKZS5bzW_Orq_w6bw
New Delhi: 3 men ferociously beating a youth with lathis in the heart of South Delhi, with a crowd of at least 50 watching the ‘fun’, stopped in their tracks when a white haired lady stormed through shouting, “Stop it!” She rushed to the men and tried to separate them from the boy, pushing at them without regard for her own safety. The moment was enough to break the frenzy. The attackers expecting no resistance from anyone, least of all from the youth being beaten, became defensive. And this was enough for the youth who seemed badly injured to drag himself away with what appeared to be a fractured leg.Sonia Kidwai was the good samaritan. She was passing by the posh South Delhi colony Safdarjang Development Area when her driver said that some man was being beaten by men with lathis. “Why didn’t you tell me,” she said and made the driver turn the car around to the spot where she saw the youth being badly beaten as a silent crowd watched. She got out of the car, despite her bad knees and weak eyesight, and without fear or thought of her own safety pushed through the crowd with the single intent of saving the man’s life. She got in between the men with the lathis and the youth they were hitting, pushing at them while shouting at them to stop. Thecitizen
Petition Filed Against 49 Citizens Who Wrote to PM on Hate Crimes
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/petition-filed-against-49-citizens-who-wrote-to-pm-on-hate-crimes?fbclid=IwAR2D8ZDzCS3xjXU48Xk9q2djk3tHEfchpC2Y9ldyAnw9bqj4sw4WHNbXV_c
A petition was filed in a Bihar court on Saturday against 49 eminent citizens, who had written to PM Narendra Modi on lynching of minorities and hate crimes, seeking slapping of sedition and other charges.The petition by an advocate before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate under different sections of IPC related to sedition, imputations and assertions prejudicial to national-integration and hurting religious feelings.Petitioner Sudhir Kumar Ojha has also named actress Kangana Ranaut and directors Madhur Bhandarkar and Vivek Agnihotri, who were among 61 high-profile personalities to counter the letter, as "witnesses".Ojha alleged that the 49 signatories to the letter had, by their act, “tarnished the image of the country and undermining the impressive performance of the PM” and also charged them with “supporting secessionist tendencies”.The matter is likely to come up for hearing on Aug.3. PTI
Probe ordered against lawyer Pracha for teaching Muslims how to acquire gun licenses
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-based-lawyer-teaches-muslims-how-to-acquire-gun-licenses-probe-ordered-1574337-2019-07-28
Lucknow:Mahmood Pracha, a Delhi-based lawyer, has called trouble upon himself after he organised a camp at a mosque in Lucknow, training Muslim men in filling weapon license forms to combat mob-lynching incidents. UP govt has promised strict action and the police have also initiated a probe against him. UP Cabinet Minister and state govt spokesperson Srikant Sharma said, "Mob lynching incidents are highly condemning and there shouldn't be any politics. Some people who belong to the 'tukde tukde' gang don't want the country to progress and this is why they try to disrupt the peace.""police have taken note of the attempt being made to incite people in Lucknow. We will take strict action against those who are trying to flare up tension in the society,"Sharma said.Meanwhile, the circle officer of the chowk area has been directed to probe the matter and take necessary actions.Maulana Sufiyan Nizami said, "The incidents against Muslims are rising. They are being killed by cow vigilantes. Recently people belonging to our community were thrashed for refusing to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'.If anything is being done for self defense which is legal, then there shouldn't be any objection."A police complaint was also filed against him and Paracha.indiatoday
Clerics in Pune send memorandum to Ram Nath Kovind, request to take action against mob lynching
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/islamic-clerics-in-pune-send-memorandum-to-ram-nath-kovind-request-to-take-action-against-mob-lynching/21431163
Pune based group of clerics has sent a memorandum to the President of India to appeal to stop mob lynching acts against the Muslim community and spread the message of secularism and brotherhood. Islamic clerics of Pune sent a memorandum to President of India by the Collector,expressing concern on current situations of the country. Al-Sunnaha Foundation took initiative in the matter. The clerics appealed to Deputy Collector Dr Jai Shree Katare saying, "We, the undersigned are Muslims clerics from Pune City(Maharashtra), strongly condemn the multiple incidents of recent mob lynching against the Muslim community in the country.We urge your good office to take strong cognizance of the increasing incidents and initiate stern action against the culprits and their affiliated associations who are a serious and big threat to the secularism of our country." Members of the organisation said,"Considering the prevailing situation in the country, we propose our wish-list to your good office as a memorandum and request immediate steps to maintain peace, brotherhood and secularism in the country. We have made 5 demands which need to be looked into on an immediate basis for harmony in society." He added, "Central govt should pass a necessary ordinance with an immediate effect to the respective state Govt and law enforcement authorities across our country to handle mob lynching incidents in a serious manner and provide all types of necessary assistance to the victims followed by swift and stern action against the miscreants."mid-day
Minorities Survey: Delhi Minorities Commission rebuts media claims, says it's done every year
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/minorities-survey-delhi-minorities-commission-rebuts-media-claims-says-its-done-every-year-for-annual-report?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi:Delhi Minorities Commission has trashed reports in a section of media that it is conducting a minority survey at the instructions of the Delhi Govt “with an eye on the forthcoming state assembly elections.” In a statement, the Commission said the exercise to collect data about representation of all six designated minorities is an old practice done every year and the data is published in Commission’s annual report. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists,Jains and Parsis are 6 designated minorities in Delhi and nationally. Various print and electronic media have published that Delhi Govt is conducting a survey of minorities (or Muslims) or that Govt.of Delhi, with an eye on the forthcoming state assembly polls,has asked Delhi Minority Commission (DMC) to conduct such a survey. Clarifying this matter, Chairman of DMC Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan said that he is “not aware if Delhi Govt is conducting any such survey, but as far as DMC is concerned, it has not been asked by Delhi Govt to conduct such a survey.”“The fact is that as per Delhi Minorities Commission Act 1999, the Commission works to mitigate problems faced by minorities, intervene on their behalf, and advise the Govt about measures to be taken to ensure just and equal treatment of minorities.As part of this mandate, the Commission collects data each year about the representation of all designated minorities in Govt depts and PSUs in NCT of Delhi, and publishes same in its annual report which is presented to Govt of Delhi and to the Delhi Assembly,” Dr Khan said.The only change this year is, he said, that all Delhi Govt departments and PSUs working in NCT of Delhi are being covered in the survey, instead of a sample survey of some 15 depts. “The change this year is that earlier we used to do a sample survey of some 15 departments, but this time we have widened the net to include all Delhi Govt depts and PSUs working in NCT of Delhi. Some of these depts have branches and subsidiaries and, instead of collecting information from them and sending to the Commission consolidated data, these depts wrote to their branches and subsidiaries to respond directly to the panel and this has been construed by some as an initiative of Delhi Govt,” he said.India Tomorrow
Delhi Minorities Commission's survey: Times Now fakes an "Expose":The Milli Gazette
http://www.milligazette.com/news/16747-delhi-minorities-commission-s-survey-times-now-fakes-an-expose
48JNU teachers get notices for holding strike in 2018
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/07/27/48-jnu-teachers-get-notices-for-holding-strike-in-2018.html?fbclid=IwAR3WZXBkYfIxps5aXNdBuxf-QDJEgGdErVT4NcRE2BcCGPlwwovb-NMq1ck
The teachers association at JNU has sought the support of fellow academics and politicians after 48 teachers were issued notices over their role in a strike in July 2018.According to The Telegraph,JNU V-C M. Jagadesh Kumar had issued the notices to the teachers who participated in a one-day strike in 2018 demanding his ouster. The 2018 strike was launched by JNUTA members to protest against the alleged “harassment, targeting and humiliation of JNU teachers” by V-C and administration. JNUTA was also protesting against the administration's decision to withhold salaries of two teachers.The notices mark an escalation in confrontation between Kumar, who took over as vice-chancellor of JNU in 2016, and teachers and students. According to The Telegraph, this is the “first large-scale action on the teachers and has the potential to trigger the dismissal of several senior professors”. Telegraph claimed the 48 teachers who received notices included current and serving members of JNUTA and senior professors.A panel appointed by JNU administration had ruled in June that JNUTA members had violated rules during their strike last year. JNUTA has rejected the charges. It issued a statement on Friday condemning the action against 48 teachers.JNUTA has appealed to teachers' unions, activists and politicians to extend support for the 48 teachers.theweek /The Telegraph
UP: Dalits protest after sanitation workers not allowed to drink water from temple
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dalits-protest-after-sanitation-workers-not-allowed-to-drink-water-from-temple-5858625/
Muzaffarnagar:Several Dalits have staged a protest after some sanitation workers were allegedly not allowed to drink water from a temple in UP’s Shamli district, police said on Sunday.The workers were cleaning a drain outside the temple in Thana Bhawan town on Saturday. The priest refused to allow them to take water from a handpump inside the temple and closed the door, an officer said.Several people belonging to Valmiki caste staged a demonstration and demanded registration of an FIR against the priest. Police reached the spot and pacified the crowd by assuring an investigation.PTI
Yogi has never even run a municipality: Amit Shah explains BJP’s UP CM choice
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-one-thought-yogi-would-be-cm-he-was-a-temple-head-amit-shah-explains-bjps-up-cm-choice-5858401/
New Delh:Explaining the rationale behind selecting Yogi Adityanath for the top job in UP despite having no political background, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the CM was work-oriented and made up for his lack of experience with his work ethic.Speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony in Lucknow, Shah gave an insight why Adityanath was made UP CM in 2017 despite having no administrative experience.“No one thought Yogi would be CM. Many people called me, saying ‘Yogi has never even run a municipality, why are you making him CM’. It is true. He had no experience in administration but our aim was dedication and loyalty, and(potential to work hard, and BJP handed over the reins to Yogi Adityanath, that decision was right and he has made it right,” said Shah .indianexpress/PTI
India moving: In times of NRC, a look at where the migrants fit in
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-population-census-migration-nrc-politics-5857213/
In a country with a long and often violent history of sons-of-the-soil politics, migration is a politically fraught issue. From the attacks on south Indians in Mumbai in the 1960s and 70s to Northeast’s identity debates, and the anxiety over “Bangladeshi influx” in West Bengal to the unsettled row over National Register of Citizens (NRC), the changing numbers of its people are more than just a figure for a population on the move due to India’s robust economy, while competing for its limited resources. Amidst a global rise of anti-immigration sentiments, riding on populism, this politics is also up close and central back home now. In West Bengal, the BJP’s allegation against other parties of treating illegal Bangladeshi migrants as a vote bank will gather pitch as it makes a bid for power in the state come 2021, while wielding NRC as a sledgehammer. In Maharashtra, BJP’s clever distancing from the Shiv Sena and its anti-migrant rhetoric before 2014 Assembly elections was directed as much at its vote banks in UP and Bihar, as the migrant settlements in Pune-Nashik-Mumbai-Thane urban conglomeration.The gamble paid off, when BJP, contesting all 60 seats in Mumbai-Thane for first time, won more seats than the Sena here. Even in national capital Delhi, tussle between AAP and BJP over the Poorvanchali base is no-holds-barred and transparent, partly the reason why BJP has stuck to Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari as its state chief through thick and thin. BJP has also used its state satraps strategically, whether it is UP CM Yogi Adityanath across the country or Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an Odia, in cities like Surat, with its high number of migrants from the state, in the run-up to the 2017 Assembly elections in Gujarat.indianexpress
Hyderabad public duped by another Ponzi scheme in the name of Halal profits
http://twocircles.net/2019jul27/432258.html
Bushra Begum and her husband Siraj ur Rahman both teachers at the Islamic Universal Research Center at Malakpet, Hyderabad duped several investors mostly women in the name of giving halal profits.The duo convinced the people saying that they had a gold business in Dubai where high returns were guaranteed. They offered to give people double the amount they invested and 3% monthly profit (interest).For a few months she paid the investors regularly but when she stopped paying the monthly returns. She then informed her investors that she had deposited the money in Heera Gold which is closed now with founder CEO, Nowhera Sheikh in jail.Soon word spread and the women started visiting her house to ask back for their deposits. And unable to provide convincing answers to the investors the couple locked their house and fled. No one was able to contact them on their phones.Nearly 11 women have filed complaints with the police at Saidabad police station against Bushra Begum. Each woman is said to have invested more than 5 lakhs. twocircles
Hindus, Muslims must trust each other: Khurshid
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hindus-muslims-must-trust-each-other-salman-khurshid-5857120/
Jaipur:Congress leader Salman Khurshid has said Hindus and Muslims living in India must trust each other. “Both Hinduism and Islam have some very fine elements and combined together they can present an ideal scenario,” he said.Talking about reservation, ex Union minister said when it was mooted after the country’s independence, it had a purpose but over the years, the quota system had to be reviewed and modified.Some sections had to be excluded with the passage of time but it has now become a part of the political agenda of some parties.“Even though the Supreme Court has issued guidelines that it (reservation) should not cross 50 % limit, more communities and classes are demanding it,” he said. Speaking on the Sachar Committee, he pointed out that its recommendations were “brilliant” and had they been implemented, country would have witnessed the growth of secularism.However, report was dropped because it was dubbed as “pro-Muslim”, he alleged.PTI
Nothing communal in Akbaruddin Owaisi's '15 minutes' remark: Karimnagar Police Commissioner
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2019/jul/27/nothing-communal-in-akbaruddin-owaisis-15-minutes-remark-karimnagar-police-commissioner-2010314.html
Hyderabad: While BJP leaders have been going on the offensive against Akbaruddin Owaisi for his alleged remarks against Hindus and RSS, Karimnagar Police on Saturday clarified that there was nothing offensive or inflammatory in his recent public speech at Karimnagar. Karimnagar Police Commissioner VB Kamalasan Reddy said that legal experts had examined AIMIM leader's speech video and the speech transcript before arriving at the conclusion.In such a scenario, there would not be any case registered against the Chandrayangutta MLA, Reddy said.The complaint was lodged by BJP district head B Satyanarayana. Owaisi, at a public meeting, had allegedly accused RSS members of murdering Muslims in mob lynching incidents across the country. While warning them, he recalled his infamous '15 minutes' speech from 2013. newindianexpress
Owaisi: Sad only Muslim MPs voted against NIA, UAPA bills
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/owaisi-sad-only-muslim-mps-voted-against-nia-uapa-bills/articleshow/70415386.cms
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi is disappointed that only Muslim members in Lok Sabha chose to vote against the legislations for enhancing the powers and scope of NIA and amendments to the UAPA. Other than Owaisi, his party MP Imtiyaz Jalil, Haji Fazlur Rehman (BSP), K Navaskani, Mohd Basheer and PK Kunhalikutty (IUML), Hasnain Masoodi (National Conference) and Badruddin Ajmal( AUDF) were the other MPs who had voted against the UAPA bill which got 287 votes in favour. Although Owaisi said one non-Muslim member also opposed NIA bill, he expressed concern that other opponents of the two legislations refused to stand up and be counted against the two legislations aggressively moved by home minister Amit Shah. "It is true that the eight MPs who have voted against UAPA bill are followers of Islam. But this trend is a serious issue and should be a matter of concern for all parties," Owaisi told TOI. Owaisi was in the forefront of the resistance to NIA bill and pressed for a division. In the resultant headcount, other opponents of the bill refrained from translating their criticism into votes against the bill and instead preferred to walk out. TOI
Charges framed against Muslim man who married athlete after lying about religion
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/07/27/Charges-framed-against-Muslim-man-who-married-athlete-after-lying-about-religion.html
A CBI court here has framed charges against Raqibul Hassan alias Ranjit Kohli for allegedly giving false information about his religion while marrying national-level air rifle shooter Tara Shahdeo that subsequently ended in divorce. The court also framed charges against four others for allegedly helping Hassan.The special CBI judge, Ajay Kumar Gudia, read out the charges against the accused in their presence on Friday.The other accused against whom charges were framed are Raqibul's mother Kaushal Rani, ex judge Pankaj Srivastav, the then judicial magistrate of Gaya Rajesh Prasad.All the accused were charged with harbouring Hassan. The accused have denied the charges.The court fixed Aug 23 to begin the process of recording statements of witnesses.The court separated another accused, Ajay,from the case while framing charges.PTI
Govt Gave Orders To Cut 1,09,75,844 Trees In Last 5 Yrs For 'Development'
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/government-gave-orders-to-cut-1-09-75-844-trees-in-last-5-years-for-development-372249.html?fbclid=IwAR1OFhWENPfI0y3B6Q407UCl7eQm5hMa9O1igHyFUQiGgur-QvBieDp-J94
Between 2015 and 2019, environment ministry gave permission to cut over 1 crore trees doe development work. However, what’s not clear here is that was the environment ministry really thinking about environment? Or should it be renamed to ‘Development At A Cost’ ministry?Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, MoS for Environment Babul Supriyo said the ministry gave permission to cut 1.09 crore trees for development purposes between 2014 and 2019. He mentioned that out of all the 5 years, the highest number of trees were cut in 2018-19 for development."Trees are felled for various development purposes with the permission of competent authorities in accordance with the procedure laid down in various Acts.However, the ministry does not maintain data regarding the cutting of trees due to forest fire,"Supriyo said. It gave permission to cut 23.3 lakh trees in 2014-15, 16.9 lakh in 2015-16, 17.01 lakh in 2016-17 and 25.5 lakh in 2017-18.indiatimes
Easter bombings in Sri Lanka likely to be NIA’s first case post amendment of Act
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/easter-sunday-bombings-in-sri-lanka-likely-to-be-nias-first-case-post-amendment-of-act-5858412/
Easter Sunday bombings case in Sri Lanka is likely to be the first case for NIA to probe after Parliament amended an Act empowering it to investigate terror cases abroad, officials said on Sunday.With Parliament giving its nod to NIA (Amendment) Bill and the Law Ministry issuing a notification in this effect on July 25, the first case to be investigated abroad is going to be Sri Lanka blasts, a Home Ministry official privy to the development said. However, so far NIA has not been able to register any case due to lack of its jurisdiction. But with the amended law, the agency can probe the case, the official said.The amended Act gives powers to NIA to probe terror attacks targeting Indians, Indian interests abroad and having links with India.A special court in New Delhi will preside over such cases, according to the amendments.PTI
Accused told Payal Tadvi: Tu chhoti jaat ho ke hamari barabari karegi kya
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/accused-told-payal-tadvi-suicide-case-tu-chhoti-jaat-ho-ke-hamari-barabari-karegi-kya-5852768/
Mumbai: In at least 3 statements recorded by the Mumbai Police investigating the suicide of postgraduate student Dr Payal Tadvi, Class IV employees working in the gynaecology department of BYL Nair Hospital have said that she was subjected to casteist slurs by the three doctors accused of abetting her suicide.Following the death of Tadvi, who allegedly hanged herself in her hostel room at TN Topiwala National Medical College on May 22, the 3 senior resident doctors had been arrested on charges of abetting suicide and caste discrimination. According to statement of a helper in the gynaecology ward, in Dec.2018, when accused doctors Hema Ahuja, Ankita Khandelwal and Bhakti Mehare were taking rounds of the ward, they had reprimanded Tadvi over some unfinished work. They had allegedly said, “Who will do this work, if this is not your work then whose is it? Coming from a lower caste, you think you are our equal?”indian express
Airport privatisation: Panel ignored advice of finance ministry and NITI Aayog, says report
https://scroll.in/latest/932035/airport-privatisation-panel-ignored-advice-of-finance-ministry-and-niti-aayog-says-report
A Govt panel for public-private partnerships ignored guidelines set by the finance ministry’s Department of Economic Affairs and the NITI Aayog for the privatisation of airports, leading to Adani Enterprises winning the bids for six airports, The Hindu reported .The panel allegedly ignored the recommendation to not award the same bidder more than 2 airports, and the requirements of awarding the contracts to companies with prior experience in managing an airport and those which provide the total cost up front for each project so that their financial capability could be gauged.scroll.in
How Gujarat’s new animals Act made Rasulpura neighbours pay the price of a wedding feast
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-cow-slaughter-preservation-of-animals-act-the-price-of-a-wedding-feast-5857244/
At the heart of first reported conviction under amended Gujarat Preservation of Animals Act, 1954, making cow slaughter punishable by life imprisonment and fine up to Rs 5 lakh, lie 2 Muslim families and old neighbours — one devastated by the turn of events, the other saddened it came to this.It was a cold night of January 29 and his family had retired early, recalls Satar Koliya of Rasulpura locality, situated on the outskirts of Dhoraji town in Rajkot district. Around 10.30 pm, Satar came out to check on their 2-year-old calf and, seeing it missing, raised an alarm. They searched till 1 am, and again the next morning, before an acquaintance told them about the remains of a calf found near a burial ground a kilometre away.Satar,who has studied till Class 3 and drives a cash delivery van for a living,says he immediately suspected his 3 neighbours, living in the poorer section of Rasulpura, who had weddings at home the next day. Satar’s son Faruk claims that Imran, whose brother was getting married, could account for the mutton he was going to serve, but Salim Makrani had no clear answer on how he had sourced the meat for the akani(biryani-like preparation) at his daughter’s wedding. Satar went to police, and even as the wedding was on, they took Salim, 42, to jail.On July 6, a Sessions Court at Dhoraji convicted Salim of theft and slaughter of calf and sentenced him to 10 years and Rs 1 lakh fine.indianexpress
23% rural Indians defecate in the open despite having toilets: Study
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/23-rural-indians-defecate-in-the-open-despite-having-toilets-study/story-93VFAdLVRld7GD7k2y0kFP.html
New Delhi:Building state-funded toilets is easier than getting people to use them, a sample survey tracking the govnt’s Swachch Bharat programme has revealed. A key aim of the Swachch Bharat mission is to end the practice of open defecation in the country.At least 43% of people in rural areas in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and UP, accounting for two-fifths of India’s rural population, still defecated in the open in 2018 because of “cultural and other reasons”. However, the share of rural population openly defecating has greatly reduced from 70% in 2014. That’s among key findings of a team of demographers led by Dianne Coffey,a visiting researcher at the Indian Statistical Institute. Team has been monitoring the sanitation scheme’s progress since 2014. This 43% included people with or without toilets. Nearly 23%of people were those who had been provided with toilets under the Swachch Bharat mission but still preferred to defecate in the open. “Although rural latrine ownership increased considerably over this period, open defecation remains very common in these four states. These findings contrast with official claims of completely eliminating open defecation,” said Coffey, executive director of Research Institute for Compassionate Economics. Based on toilet ownership, Govt has so far classified 86% districts,or 624, as “open-defecation free”. Researchers chose these four so-called “focus” states as they accounted for a huge rural share of population and had a higher prevalence of open defecation. HT
Ex-Union Minister Jaipal Reddy dies
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-union-minister-s-jaipal-reddy-passes-away/article28736393.ece?homepage=true
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader S. Jaipal Reddy passed away today in Hyderabad. He was 77. He was Union Minister for I&B, Minister for Urban Development and Minister for Petroleum .thehindu
Unnao woman who accused BJP MLA of rape hit by truck; critical
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/unnao-woman-who-accused-bjp-mla-of-raping-her-hit-by-truck-critical/story-BOyDkCmXrrGZvRvNpNpkRO.html
The woman’s car was hit by a truck in Rae Bareli. Her aunt and lawyer Mahendra Singh died in the accident. Lucknow:Unnao woman who accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar of raping her was critically injured on Sunday when her car was hit by a truck in Rae Bareli. The victim was accompanied by her aunt and lawyer Mahendra Singh, both of whom died in the accident.The woman has been rushed to a Lucknow hospital.BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar is accused of raping her. He along with his brother Atul Singh is in jail since 2018.HT
Bihar: Parents refuse to donate kidney to dying daughter, say ‘she is a girl’
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/parents-refuse-donate-kidney-dying-daughter-say-girl-1502782884.html?fbclid=IwAR21u7Ha9LOt82oRw-3LZXxVyP9cDffHJSOe0_fkDQVTmbYn4QhfmzepTbo
Patna:A teenage girl has been battling for life at a govt hospital in Bihar after both her kidneys have failed. What is shocking, though, is the response of her parents who have refused to donate their kidneys saying they can’t do so since she is a girl!nchan Kumari is a resident of Avgil village under Sadar block in Sheikhpura district. With no money to pay for her kidney transplant, the parents admitted her to the main govt hospital in the district. What was more distressing was that her parents have refused to donate their kidneys on the ground that she is a girl, local media has reported. the statesman
WORLD
Intra-Afghan negotiations to follow US-Taliban deal: US special envoy Khalilzad
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/intra-afghan-negotiations-follow-taliban-deal-khalilzad-190728061121496.html
Direct talks between Taliban and an Afghan negotiating team that will include top Govt officials will take place after the US concludes its own "agreements" with the group, according to US special envoy for Afghanistan. The comments by Zalmay Khalilzad today came after Abdul Salam Rahimi, Afghanistan's state minister for peace affairs, said that a 15-member Govt delegation would meet Taliban within the next fortnight in Europe, without elaborating. Khalilzad, who is currently visiting Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, said that the "intra-Afghan" talks would include Taliban and "an inclusive and effective national negotiating team consisting of senior Govt officials, key political party representatives, civil society and women".aljazeera aljazeera
Intra-Afghan talks only after US agrees to withdraw troops: Taliban
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/afghan-official-says-government-will-hold-talks-with-taliban-5858211/
Kabul: Taliban has said they will not hold direct talks with the Afghan Govt and rejected a statement from a senior minister about plans to hold such a meeting in the next 2 weeks, a senior Taliban official said.State Minister for Peace Affairs Abdul Salam Rahimi said on Saturday it was hoped that direct talks with the Taliban would be held in the next 3 weeks in an unidentified European country. The govt would be represented by a 15-member delegation, he said.But Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, denied that, saying talks with Afghan Govt would only come after a deal had been struck with US on the departure of its forces. “Intra-Afghan talks will start only after a foreign force withdrawal is announced,”Shaheen said.US special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said after Rahimi had made his announcement that talks between Taliban and Afghans would happen after US “concludes its own agreement” with the Taliban.Two sources privy to the talks said the US and Taliban were expected to sign a memorandum of understanding this week to firm up a plan for the withdrawal of foreign troops and for a Taliban pledge to stop militant plotting from Afghan soil.Reuters
Iran intends to restart activities at Arak heavy water nuclear reactor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190728-iran-intends-to-restart-activities-at-arak-heavy-water-nuclear-reactor/
Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi, told lawmakers on Sunday that Iran will restart activities at the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor, the ISNA reported, according to Reuters. ISNA cited a member of parliament who attended the meeting. Heavy water can be employed in reactors to produce plutonium, a fuel used in nuclear warheads.Iran stopped complying in May with some commitments in 2015 nuclear deal that was agreed with global powers, after US unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and re-introduced sanctions on Tehran.The remaining signatories have tried to hold the nuclear deal together, an increasingly difficult task as tensions between Washington and Tehran have soared in recent weeks.Later on Sunday, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China will meet Iran in Vienna to discuss how to save the accord in an extraordinary meeting.middleeastmonitor
At crisis talks, Iran links tanker row to nuclear deal
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/crisis-talks-iran-nuclear-deal-set-kick-vienna-190728072008700.html
Iran considers Britain's seizure of an Iranian oil tanker a breach of 2015 nuclear deal, a senior official said on Sunday, as remaining signatories to the ailing accord met in Austrian capital for emergency talks. Britain, France, Germany,Russia, China and Iran have been trying to salvage the landmark pact since US withdrew from it in May2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran, crippling an already weak economy.Arriving at the meeting in Vienna today,Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi linked tanker row to discussions over the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "Developments have occurred, such as the seizure of the tanker carrying Iranian oil in Gibraltar, which in our view is considered a breach of the JCPOA," Araghchi said in comments carried on Iranian state TV."Countries party to the JCPOA must not create any obstacles in the way of Iran exporting its oil," he added.aljazeera
Israel says Arrow-3 missile shield passes US trials
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190728-israel-says-arrow-3-missile-shield-passes-us-trials/
Israel’s US-backed Arrow-3 ballistic missile shield has passed a series of live interception tests over Alaska, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, casting the achievement as a warning to Iran.Jointly manufactured by US firm Boeing Co, Arrow-3 is billed as capable of shooting down incoming missiles in space, an altitude that would destroy any non-conventional warheads safely. It passed its first full interception test over Mediterranean Sea in 2015 and was deployed in Israel in 2017.“The performance was perfect – every hit a bull’s eye,” Netanyahu said announcing 3 secret tests.Israel views Arrow-3 as a bullwark against ballistic missiles fielded by Iran and Syria.middleeastmonitor
UN again blacklists Saudi-led forces for Yemen child killings
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/year-saudi-led-forces-listed-yemen-child-killings-190727061648880.html
A Saudi-UAE-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels has been blacklisted for a third year by the UN over the killing and wounding of hundreds of children, according to a report.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the annual report submitted to the Security Council on Friday that the coalition killed and wounded 729 Yemeni children in 2018. The figure accounts for nearly half of the total child casualties in the war-torn and impoverished country.UN said it verified 1,689 child casualties in Yemen last year, including the killing of 576 and the maiming of 1,113.
Syria: At least 13 civilians including 5 children killed in Idlib
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/syria-13-civilians-including-5-children-killed-idlib-190728084504747.html
At least 13 civilians including five children have been killed in Syrian Govt air strikes in Idlib province.The attacks came just a day after the UN human rights chief warned that those responsible for the latest wave of killings could be charged with war crimes.Syrian govt, backed by Russian forces, launched an offensive to capture idlib in late April.aljazeera
Sudan opposition rejects report on protesters’ killing
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190727-sudan-opposition-rejects-report-on-protesters-killing/
Sudanese opposition group Professional Association (SPA) has rejected report of investigation committee that acquitted Transitional Military Council (TMC) from involvement in the killing of the protesters during the dispersal of the sit-in in Khartoum on June 3rd, reports Anadolu Agency.SPA spokesman Ismail Altaj told a press conference in Khartoum that the investigation committee has attempted to acquit TMC.”This report has shocked the Sudanese people and the regional and international communities and proved that we need to reform the entire system of justice in the country,” he said.The investigation committee said 87 people were killed during the dispersal of the sit-in on June 3rd in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.middleeastmonitor
Discriminatory, violent rhetoric go unpunished in Sri Lanka: UN official
http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2019/jul/27/discriminatory-violent-rhetoric-go-unpunished-in-sri-lanka-un-official-2010344.html
Discriminatory and violent rhetoric, particularly by the majority community, frequently goes unpunished in Sri Lanka, a top UN official has said as he expressed concern over the growing hate speech incidents in the wake of the Easter attacks.UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly Clement Nyaletsossi Voule urged the political leadership not to dismiss people's desire for freedom, the rule of law or undermine democracy.Voule said while the country's Constitution protects the rights to both freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, however, the application of a number of laws jeopardised those rights, including sections of the penal code, the ICCPR Act as well as the Prevention of Terrorism Act."It has been brought to my attention that these laws are frequently being applied in a discriminatory manner against those people organising around specific issues such as disappearances, land rights, livelihood and access to resources, and development projects," Voule said.PTI
Nigeria to label Shia group a 'terrorist organisation'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/nigeria-label-shia-group-terrorist-organisation-190727172937653.html
A Nigerian court has granted Govt permission to label a local Shia group as a "terrorist" organisation.Dayo Apata, Nigeria's solicitor general, confirmed on Saturday that a federal court allowed the Govt to proscribe the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as such, a move offering the authorities the chance to clamp down harder on the group.IMN members have been marching in the capital Abuja calling for the release of their leader, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since 2015 despite a court order to release him.Zakzaky's office said plans to ban the movement had been considered since 2015 and it was not surprised by the move.The protests have often turned violent. The Shia organisation said at least 20 of its members were killed this week during a series of protests in Abuja.aljazeera
Flash: NEWS, views, Articles
FM Sitharaman’s maiden Finance Bill is constitutionally suspect:P Chidambaram
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/finance-bill-nirmala-sitharaman-rajya-sabha-parliament-5857311/?fbclid=IwAR2ihAA9SWZI6OzgeISL14_rJQg-cIdXoWLT6KIHGkvKcPElrF8c2fxx0yc
Why did Assam prepare 1951 NRC, which has become a touchstone for citizenship today?I. Chakravarty
https://scroll.in/article/931879/why-did-assam-prepare-the-1951-nrc-which-has-become-a-touchstone-for-citizenship-today
India moving: In the times of NRC, a look at where the migrants fit in: indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-population-census-migration-nrc-politics-5857213/
Modi goes secular? BJP’s minimum outreach to Muslims is causing heartburn among party’s supporters:Shoaib Daniyal
https://scroll.in/article/931915/modi-goes-secular-bjps-minimum-outreach-to-muslims-is-causing-heartburn-among-partys-supporters
Rising Vigilantism: Civil Society Fails to Engage With Silent Majority?Tarique Anwar
https://www.newsclick.in/rising-vigilantism-civil-society-fails-engage-silent-majority
Muzaffarnagar's Justice Runs Late: Victims of 2013's horrific rapes and murders await closure, perhaps in vain:Munish Pandey
https://www.dailyo.in/politics/muzaffarnagar-riots-2013-communal-riots-in-india-rape-murders-justice/story/1/31603.html
Is Hindi going the German way?Ruchir Joshi
https://www.thehindu.com/society/is-hindi-going-the-german-way/article28721470.ece?homepage=true
After 23 years in jail and acquittal in 3 states, faith unshaken in system
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-23-years-in-jail-and-acquittal-in-3-states-faith-unshaken-in-system-5857471/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq, (Released at: 7:52 PM)
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