NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
08 OCT. 2019: 08 Safar 1441: Vol: 12, No: 31
INDIA
As Rajnath Receives first Rafale Aircraft; Still few lingering questions surrounding deal: The Wire
https://thewire.in/Govt/as-rajnath-singh-receives-first-rafale-aircraft-a-look-back-at-the-questions-surrounding-the-deal
New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh today received India’s first Rafale jet in an official handover ceremony in Merignac, a suburb of the south-western French city of Bordeaux.The raksha mantri and his ministry also made an event of it as the ceremony coincides with the day Dusshera festival is celebrated in India: after conducting a traditional ‘Shastra Puja’, Singh will take a sortie in a 2-seater trainer version of the aircraft. Over the last year, 7.8 billion euro deal became a source of controversy for Modi Govt, with questions being raised on the process and procedure that was followed. Opposition parties such as the Congress also alleged that Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence had been favoured – accusations that were fuelled by ex French President Francois Hollande’s remarks that Anil Ambani’s name was pushed forward by Modi Govt as part of the overall contract.With the Supreme Court set to issue its verdict the next month on a batch of petitions seeking review of its Dec.2018 judgement, which had dismissed pleas asking for a probe into the fighter jet deal, there are still a few lingering questions surrounding the controversy. One of the procedural questions surrounding Rafale deal have to do with how quickly the plan changed to acquire 126 aircraft and have a co-production plan with HAL to buying only 36 jets and roping in Anil Ambani’s company as an offset partner. Other questions are why was the need for a sovereign guarantee tossed aside? Will the benchmark pricing controversy ever be addressed?Will errors and flaws in the SC’s verdict be addressed? The Wire
On Air Force Day, IAF disproves Pak claim of shooting down Sukhoi fighter
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-air-force-day-iaf-flies-sukhoi-30mki-fighter-jet-that-pakistan-claims-it-shot-down-2113472
Indian Air Force on its 87th birthday today sprung a surprise on Pakistan in response to its claim of shooting down a Sukhoi-30MKI in Feb. In the clear skies above Hindon Air Force Station near Delhi, 3 nimble French-origin Mirage-2000s flanked by 2 larger Sukhoi-30MKI multirole fighter jets flew in what is known as the "Avenger" formation as the spectators below cheered for them. he surprise? One of 2 Sukhoi-30MKIs, whose call sign is "Avenger 1", that flew on the extreme right of the formation today was the same aircraft that Pakistan claimed it had shot down in the air battle in Feb.27, a day after Indian jets dropped Israeli-made bombs in Balakot. IAF has said Pakistan's "false claim" of shooting down a Sukhoi-30MKI was an attempt to cover up for the loss of its own aircraft, an American-made F-16, which Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had shot down before Russian-origin MiG-21 Bison that he piloted fell to enemy fire. NDTV
'More of us will speak every day': Over 180 celebrities, activists write fresh letter to PM Modi
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-more-of-us-will-speak-every-day-180-members-on-fir-against-celebrities-for-letter-to-pm/340172
Days after an FIR was lodged against 49 celebrities who wrote an open letter -- highlighting the rising cases of lynchings in India -- to PM Narendra Modi, over 180 members of the cultural community including actor Naseeruddin Shah, cinematographer Anand Pradhan, historian Romila Thapar and activist Harsh Mander, have said that "more of us will speak every day." Condemning FIR, the group, in a fresh letter issued on Monday, asked how writing a letter to PM qualified as "an act of sedition".Last week, an FIR was filed in Bihar's Muzaffarpur against personalities, including directors Aparna Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and writer-columnist Ramchandra Guha for alleged sedition over a letter they wrote to PM in July, voicing concern over growing incidents of mob lynching."An FIR has been lodged against 49 of our colleagues in cultural community, simply because they performed their duty as respected members of civil society. They wrote an open letter to PM, expressing concern about mob lynching in our country. "Can this be called an act of sedition? Or is harassment by misusing the courts a ploy to silence citizens’ voices?" the letter read. The signatories, which also included writers Ashok Vajpeyi and Jerry Pinto, academician Ira Bhaskar, poet Jeet Thayil, author Shamsul Islam, musician TM Krishna and filmmaker Saba Dewan, promised they will continue to speak up against silencing of "people's voices".outlookindia
FIR against celebrities: Left bodies in Kerala send 1.5 lakh copies of same open letter to PM
https://scroll.in/latest/939818/fir-against-celebrities-left-organisations-in-kerala-send-1-5-lakh-copies-of-same-open-letter-to-pm
Members of SFI and DYFI – student and youth organisations of CPI(M) – in Kerala have sent 1.5 lakh copies of the open letter that 49 eminent personalities had written to Narendra Modi in July. They are protesting against FIR filed against the public figures who had written to the PM about mob attacks and lynchings. They dared Modi to book them for sending the letter as well. “If they feel 49 signatories are traitors, please go ahead and book all of us who have sent the same letter,” said DYFI State Secretary AA Rahim. “We are ready to fill the jails for this cause.”Each of the 2 organisations will be sending Modi one lakh copies of the letter. SFI has already sent one lakh copies to the PM by post while DYFI members have mailed at least 50,000 copies. “We managed to meet the target [of mailing 1 lakh copies] so quickly as all our units [educational institutions] responded very well in spite of the Puja holidays,” SFI State Secretary KM Sachin Dev. “Whatever extra copies our members manage to send will be a bonus,” Dev said, adding that it was a campaign against “the anti-democratic BJP”.scroll/ Telegraph
AHA writes to JNU VC, expresses concern over review of Romila Thapar’s contributions
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/aha-writes-to-jnu-vc-expresses-concern-over-review-of-romila-thapar-contributions
American Historical Association, world’s largest association of historians, has written to JNU, saying that it did not see any reason to review Prof Romila Thapar’s status as Professor Emerita. McNeill cited her impressive record of contributions and achievements, including being named an AHA Honorary Foreign Member. JNU had defended its action by claiming that it was a routine one. It had also claimed that letters had been sent out to others as well to furnish their continuing work so that the university could decide on whether to withdraw the honorary post.nationalheraldindia
Lynching a "western construct", don't use to defame India: RSS Chief
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/lynching-a-western-construct-dont-use-to-defame-india-rss-chief-2113400
Nagpur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today described lynching as a "Western construct", saying it shouldn't be used to defame the country.Speaking at Dusshera event in Nagpur, Bhagwat said "... it is not that only a certain community targets people. The reverse also happens". RSS chief then declared that society must act by "remaining within the limits of Constitution", no matter what the "difference of opinion be, or howsoever provocative actions might have taken place". "We hear people of a community beat people from another community. It is not that only a certain community targets people. Reverse also happens. There are cases where what has actually happened gets twisted," he said, adding,"...self-centred forces blame a particular community to stoke fire between communities". "Branding some incidents of social violence as 'lynching' are actually meant to defame our country, Hindu society and create fear among some communities. Lynching is alien to Bharat and actually has its references elsewhere," he said at an RSS event organised on the occasion of Dusshera."Lynching itself is a Western construct. It is not the word from Indian ethos. Its origin is from a story in a separate religious text. Don't impose such terms on Indians," he claimed.ndtv
Give it a Bharat Sanskriti-Approved Term: Tharoor, Owaisi Target Bhagwat Over Lynching Remark
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/call-it-with-a-bharat-sanskriti-approved-term-tharoor-owaisi-target-rss-chief-over-lynching-remark-2337993.html
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement describing lynching as a foreign phenomenon has evoked a strong reaction from opposition leaders.Congress leader Shashi Tharoor came down heavily on the Sarsanghchalak and said ‘a crime is a crime’ whether you call it with any ‘bharat culture-approved term’ or not.Congress leader said, “The word ‘lynching’ happens to come from West which means action of a mob attacking an individual without trials. You can call it with any bharath sanskriti-approved term, it is still a horrible crime, a crime is a crime.” Asaduddin Owaisi also hit out at Bhagwat and alleged he was not trying to stop lynching incidents.“The victims were Indians. Who garlanded convicts? Who draped them in (tricolour)? We’ve a Godse loving BJP MP. There can’t be a bigger defamation of India than ideology that killed Gandhi/Tabrez. Bhagwat isn’t saying stop lynching, he’s saying ‘don’t call it that’,”he tweeted.news18
It’s a lie to say RSS has nothing to do with lynchings: Maharashtra Congress leader
https://scroll.in/latest/939824/its-a-lie-to-say-rss-has-nothing-to-do-with-lynchings-says-maharashtra-congress-leader
Congress today criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s claim that lynching was a “western construct” and should not be mixed with the Indian context to harm the country’s reputation.“It is as much a lie to say that RSS has nothing to do with lynchings as it is a lie to say that RSS is a cultural organisation, is anti-casteist, pro-reservation and respects the Constitution and tricolour,” Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, PTI reported. “Spreading falsehood is the ideology of the Sangh Parivar.”scroll.in
CPM leader Brinda Karat hits out at RSS chief for his statement on lynching
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/cpm-leader-brinda-karat-hits-out-at-rss-chief-for-his-statement-on-lynching20191008170303/
India Inc knocks on RSS' door: Premji visits Golwalkar's samadhi, Nadar at RSS HQ
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/india-inc-knocks-rss-door-premji-visits-golwalkars-samadhi-nadar-rss-hq-110175
Top industrialists have, in recent past, made a beeline to RSS HQRS in Nagpur with the latest being HCL co-founder Shiv Nadar, who was RSS’s chief guest at this year's Vijaya Dashami event, which is also the outfit’s foundation day. Nadar's visit was just one day after Wipro chairman Azim Premji visited RSS founder KB Hedgewar’s memorial and paid tribute. Premji visited samadhi of second RSS chief MS Golwalkar as well. He also met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and reportedly discussed various issues related to the country, society and economy for about half an hour. He had earlier participated in 'Rashtriya Sewa Sangam', a conclave of NGOs convened by RSS in 2015. He later said, however, that attending an event does not mean that he is promoting anyone.Last month, industrialist Rahul Bajaj had paid homage to the statue of Hedgewar.He, however, did not visit Sangh’s headquarters, which is nearby. Tata Sons' ex Chairman Ratan Tata, too, visited the Sangh HQ twice within 5 months. thenewsminute
J&K ISSUE
China to host Imran Khan, says Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally; but not announces date of Xi's India visit
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/china-host-imran-khan-modi-xi-meet-kashmir-issue-resolved-bilaterally-1607283-2019-10-08
Beijing:As Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrived Beijing today for talks with China President Xi Jinping ahead of his important visit to India, China said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between New Delhi and Islamabad, significantly omitting its recent references to UN and UNSC resolutions.Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during his media briefing today did not make any official announcement about Xi Jinping's visit to India. However, Chinese officials informally said that an announcement would be made simultaneously in Beijing and New Delhi on Wednesday.The foreign ministry has also called for a special media briefing on Wednesday on "Chinese leader's outbound visit.""India and China have a tradition of high-level exchanges. Both sides have communication exchange over high-level Visit. Any new information will be released soon," Geng Shuang said in response to questions on Xi Jinping's visit to India. Both India and China are major developing countries of world and major emerging markets, Geng Shuang said.When asked about Imran Khan's visit to Beijing ahead of Xi Jinping's trip to India and whether the Kashmir issue will figure in his talks with the Chinese leaders, Geng Shuang said that China's stand is that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan."And so you are paying attention to the Kashmir issue, right? China's position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent", Geng Shuang said."We call on India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and consultation on all issues including the Kashmir issue and consolidate mutual trust. This is in line with the interest of both countries and common aspiration of the world," Geng Shuang said.Observers say that it is a significant shift ahead of Xi Jinping's visit to India for his 2nd informal summit with PM Narendra Modi.indiatoday
Xi Jinping’s visit date still not official, China envoy tweets about unleashing Wuhan positives
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-xi-jinping-india-visit-narendra-modi-6058235/
Pak’s Gen Bajwa meets China’s PLA, focuses on J&K ahead of Xi’s India visit
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pak-s-gen-bajwa-meets-china-s-pla-focuses-on-j-k-ahead-of-xi-s-india-visit/story-7thEpEX6ivc2W3qoW6zR5O.html
On a visit to China timed right ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for an informal summit, Pakistan Army chief General Javed Bajwa today met top military commanders of China’s People’s Liberation Army. A statement by Pakistan military’s ISPR said Bajwa discussed the regional security environment, including the situation in J&K, and defence cooperation between Pakistan and China. The army chief apprised Chinese military leadership “about the consequences of the ongoing situation” in Kashmir if it’s not amicably resolved. This, Pakistan statement said, would happen only if India respects UN resolutions and ensures the human rights of Kashmiris. Pakistan military statement said the Chinese military leadership had supported what it referred to as “Pakistan’s principled stance” on Kashmir issue and appreciated “sane Pakistani approach in the interest of peace”.HT
Jointly maintain peace and tranquillity on border before final settlement: Chinese envoy
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/jointly-maintain-peace-and-tranquillity-on-border-before-final-settlement-boundary-dispute-must-not-affect-ties-chinese-envoy-ahead-of-xi-modi-meet20191008165729/
New Delhi: India and China need to maintain peace and tranquillity along their boundary before the final settlement of the issue, said Chinese envoy to India."Before final settlement of the boundary question, we need to jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas," Chinese envoy to India, Sun Weidong told ANI.The remarks by China's top envoy are significant as they come just days ahead of meeting with PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.Recently, ahead of a massive military exercise planned along China border by India, soldiers of Indian and Chinese armies engaged in a face-off near the northern bank of Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh but disengaged after talks between the two sides there.ANI
Malaysian PM Mahathir defends Kashmir remarks that angered India
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/malaysian-pm-mahathir-mohamad-defends-kashmir-remarks-that-angered-india/story-RojvKt4ZGCIrcjQOHfqm6L.html
New Delhi: Days after India asked Malaysian Govt to desist from commenting on the Kashmir issue, PM Mahathir Mohamad defended his remarks that were critical of India and said he had told PM Narendra Modi the same thing at their last meeting.Mahathir defended his comments on Kashmir, which were critical of India, at UN General Assembly. He also said his remarks were an extension of his conversation with Modi when the two leaders met on margins of Eastern Economic Summit in Russia in Sept, according to reports in the Malaysian media. Malaysia, he said, is not taking sides in the matter. “We must know how to manage this problem... (and) our criticism does not side with anyone,” Mahathir was quoted as saying by the media.Mahathir further said: “Just demanding that both parties negotiate and not use violence. That has always been our policy. Do not use violence and instead, negotiate, or go for arbitration or go to the court of law.”He added, “This is what I raised to Modi, when I met him at Vladivostok, and my speech (at General Assembly) is an extension of our stand, that we do not want to see violence erupt. Instead, any dispute, conflict among nations must be settled via negotiation, arbitration or court of law.”HT
US Congress Committee Urges India to Lift restrictions, Communication Blackout in Kashmir
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/us-congress-committee-urges-india-to-lift-kashmir-communication-blackout
The growing chorus in US asking India to lift the communication blockade in Kashmir received support from a powerful US Congressional Committee. House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a tweet, urged India to lift the blackout in Kashmir, saying that it is impacting the lives of people in the state. “India’s communication blackout in Kashmir is having a devastating impact on the lives and welfare of everyday Kashmiris. It’s time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris the same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen,” the tweet read. It also included a link to a New York Times article about preventable deaths occurring due to the blockade.Many US lawmakers have spoken about the need for India to loosen restrictions in Kashmir. Asia-Pacific and Non-Proliferation Subcommittee of House Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing on human rights in Kashmir and other parts of South Asia on Oct.22.thewire
India slams Pakistan for raising Kashmiri women’s rights issues at UN General Assembly
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-slams-pakistan-for-weaponising-womens-rights-issues-at-unga-6058868/
UN: India has lashed out at Pakistan for “weaponising” women’s rights issues for self-serving political gains in J&K, saying it is ironical that a country where violations of women’s right to life in the name of ‘honour’ go unpunished is making “baseless” statements about it in India. First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to UN Paulomi Tripathi during UN General Assembly Third Committee session on ‘Advancement of Women’ on Monday did not directly name Pakistan, but was responding to references made to J&K by Islamabad’s envoy to UN Maleeha Lodhi, who in her speech at the Committee earlier said the women in J&K were suffering due to communication blackout in the state. Lodhi had alluded to a picture of a Kashmiri mother that appeared on the front page of NYT along with an article about how the mother lost her son, who was bitten by a snake, as she could not get medical help on time.PTI
J&K says tourists can return from Oct.10, Mehbooba declines to meet party team
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-says-tourists-can-return-from-october-10-mehbooba-declines-to-meet-party-team-6058224/
Srinagar :More than 2 months after an advisory directed Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists to leave the Valley days before Centre scrapped the state’s special status, J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik lifted the advisory Monday. Following a security review meeting with his advisors and Chief Secretary, a statement Monday said, “this will be done with effect from Oct. 10”. 3 days before the Centre moved to scrap Article 370 and bifurcate J&K, Malik’s administration had cut short Amarnath Yatra and asked tourists to leave, citing intelligence inputs on terror threats. Earlier, underscoring that situation in Kashmir is bigger than party issues, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti refused to meet a delegation of her party members. A day after Governor Malik granted PDP permission to meet its chief, the party Monday deferred the meeting with her until next week.Party sources, however, said that Mehbooba “is in distress” and had refused to meet the delegation stating that “the situation in Kashmir is bigger than any party matter at the moment and that she does not wish to become an international prop”. She has only met with her family at the tourist hut at Chashmashahi where she is being detained. A senior PDP leader, who was recently released after 59 days, said that the party was also not happy with “rhetoric of the Govt portraying the meeting with top leader as some sort of resumption of political process which is a lie”. The leader said the Govt “wants to show these meetings as some sort of a sign of return of normalcy which is not the reality on the ground”. According to leader, Govt had also put conditions that the party delegation which was to meet Mehbooba won’t carry mobile phones and would completely desist from speaking to media afterwards.indianexpress
Silent on Art.370, NC softening towards Delhi?TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/silent-on-article-370-is-nc-softening-towards-delhi/articleshow/71485161.cms
Srinagar: The intriguing silence of National Conference on the nullification of Articles 370 and 35A on Sunday, when a 15-member delegation of party leaders was allowed to meet their bosses for first time in 2 months since Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar were detained, seems to be part of a well thought out strategy, if party insiders are to be believed. In what could well be an indication of going soft towards the Centre on the contentious provisions which are now defunct, NC sources said that party would “rather focus on pressing for restoring statehood to J&K”. It may be noted that while NC members deliberately chose not to talk about the withdrawal of special status to J&K after they met the party bosses on Sunday, they focused on their twin demands for the release of all detained political leaders, including the Abdullahs, and the “lifting of lockdown” in Kashmir. A political analyst said on condition of anonymity that the statements by NC leaders, coupled with the pictures of a beaming Farooq with a victory sign, flanked by wife Molly and MPs Mohammad Akbar Lone and Masoodi, were a sure sign of softening of NC’s stand towards Centre.However, while NC focus seems to have shifted, at least for the time being, to bringing back normalcy in the Valley, PDP has taken a hard line against the nullification of Articles 370 and 35A.TOI
J&K not to remain UT forever: Amit Shah
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-not-to-remain-union-territory-forever-amit-shah/story-alLOsp3pdbOs3QsMfWqFRP.html
Union home minister Amit Shah has said J&K will not remain a Union Territory (UT) forever and that statehood would be restored to it once the security situation improves.HT
Day 65: Normal life remains affected in Kashmir
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/day-65-normal-life-remains-affected-in-kashmir/article29617443.ece?homepage=true
Normal life remained severely affected for the 65th consecutive day on Tuesday in the Valley in the wake of the Centre’s move to revoke J&K’s special status under Article 370.Markets and other business establishments remained closed while most of the public transport was off the roads across the valley today, officials said.PTI
OTHERS
WhatsApp and other OTT service providers on TRAI radar for ‘lawful’ interception
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/whatsapp-others-on-trai-radar-for-lawful-interception-6058255/
New Delhi:Telecom regulator is working on a set of recommendations for Dept.of Telecommunications (DoT) to regulate so-called over-the-top (OTT) service providers. Once the recommendations are accepted by DoT, apps such as WhatsApp may have to register themselves, and potentially allow “lawful interception” of communication sent or received through their platforms. The move comes at a time when regulatory pressure is building up globally on service providers for access to messages even as they claim these are encrypted and they themselves do not have access.“Currently, OTTs aren’t subject to lawful interception. This brings the question of regulatory imbalance between telecom players, which have to adhere to lawful requests of enforcement agencies for interceptions, and OTTs which don’t give, saying the communication is end-to-end encrypted. We are finding out more about the international practices. What is being followed outside, the same should be provided to the Indian Govt as well,” a senior TRAI official said, on condition of anonymity. Globally, US Department of Justice has made fresh arguments for access to encrypted communications.The Supreme Court is, meanwhile, hearing a transfer petition of a case on traceability of WhatsApp messages originally filed in the Madras High Court. indianexpress
Kejriwal ‘denied political clearance’ to attend C-40 climate meet in Denmark
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kejriwal-denied-political-clearance-to-attend-climate-meet-in-denmark-6059397/
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will not be able to attend C-40 Climate Summit in Denmark as the Ministry of External Affairs refused political clearance to his visit, said official sources today. Delhi Govt sources said the CM was scheduled to leave for the summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, at 2 pm today, but could not take the flight as MEA denied him the political clearance to attend the meeting. AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh termed the Centre’s decision to withhold the clearance “unfortunate”, saying it would affect India’s image. He also wondered why the Centre was “so much” angry with AAP Govt.Kejriwal was to lead an 8-member delegation for the summit, slated to begin on Oct.9 and end on Oct.12. “Kejriwal was not going on a vacation but to tell the world how Delhi managed to reduce its air pollution by over 25% through its schemes like odd-even,” Singh told reporters. MEA, however, gave clearance to West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim, claimed sources.PTI
Sanjiv Bhatt’s plea rejected as he has scant respect for courts: Gujarat HC
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/sanjiv-bhatts-plea-rejected-as-he-has-scant-respect-for-courts-gujarat-hc-6058259/
Gujarat High Court has cited that ex IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt had “scant respect for the courts” and “scant regard for truth” as reasons for rejecting his application for suspension of his sentence in the 1990 custodial death case. The order passed by Justice Bela Trivedi on Sept.25 was made public on the HC website on Monday. The order noted that with Bhatt convicted for murder under IPC section 302, initial presumption of innocence in favour of the accused was no longer available. The court of Justice Trivedi also took into consideration public prosecutor Mitesh Amin’s reliance on the observations made by Gujarat HC as well as the apex court against Bhatt in other proceedings.“…it appears that the applicant has scant respect for the courts and is in the habit of misusing the process of law and scandalising the court. Some of the observations made by the SC in the proceedings filed by the applicant substantiates the submissions made by Amin, more particularly in the case of Sanjiv Rajendra Bhatt vs Union of India… in which the court had observed… that the petitioner had made a deliberate attempt to mislead the court… Even this court… had observed that the applicant had scant regards for the truth…”indianexpress
Elgaar Parishad case: HC reserves order on bail pleas of activists
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/elgaar-parishad-case-hc-reserves-order-on-bail-pleas-of-activists-6058402/
Mumbai :Bombay High Court has reserved its order on the bail application filed by activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves, in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case for their alleged links with the banned CPI-Maoist. The activists were arrested by Pune Police on August 28, 2018.indianexpress
Dantewada: Police say Maoist killed in encounter, one cop dead too
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dantewada-police-say-maoist-killed-in-encounter-one-cop-dead-too-6059152/
Dantewada :An alleged Maoist was killed in an encounter in the Katekalyan area of Dantewada, Chhattisgarh police said. An assistant constable who was part of the police team also died, but officers said he did not have bullet injuries and was suspected to have suffered a heart attack. According to PTI, a DRG jawan received minor injuries in the face-off. indianexpress
Bihar Jamaat-e-Islami, SIO provide relief to thousands of flood victims
https://caravandaily.com/bihar-jamaat-e-islami-sio-provide-relief-to-thousands-of-flood-victims/
PATNA: As there were complaints of lackluster approach from the Govt to flood relief work in Bihar, Bihar’s religious organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and SIO along with other NGOs came forward to provide relief works to the flood victims. They rescued people whose houses were submerged in the flood water and provided them food and other necessary items. Hundreds of the cadres associated with the JIH and SIO have been conducting relief works since Sept.25 in Patna, Katihar and Bhagalpur since the state was witnessing heavy rain.People from 1,400 villages of 90 blocks in 15 districts in Bihar were left stranded due to flooding. At least 73 people have died and more than 20 lakh people are estimated to be affected.Bihar SIO’s zonal president Tahoor Ahmed told Caravan Daily that they have provided relief to around 10,000 people in Patna and Katihar alone.“When Patna witnessed the fury of flood, the Govt relief works were very slow. People were extremely worried. Then, SIO and Jamaat decided to carry out relief works. When we have started relief works, there was no relief from the Govt as well as any other NGO. It was raining constantly. When the rain abated, others came out for the relief works,” said Ahmed.Bihar Jamaat’s president Rizwan Islahi said that Bhagalpur touched the danger level of flood but it has not caught media attention. So, his organization has carried out massive relief activities in Bhagalpur too.He said that in Patna, his cadres constantly worked for rescuing people and providing them urgent reliefs in early 5 days.Caravan Daily
Job losses and business shutdowns are a reality in India today: Uddhav Thackeray
https://scroll.in/latest/939833/job-losses-and-business-shutdowns-are-a-reality-in-india-today-says-uddhav-thackeray
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that job losses and businesses shutting down were a reality irrespective of whether one accepts that there is an economic slowdown.“Whether there is economic slowdown or not we will see later but jobs are going, businesses are shutting down this is clearly visible and let us accept that,” Thackeray said in the second part of his interview with party mouthpiece Saamana.HT
Telangana : No certificates for talaq, khula, Muslims in a tizzy
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/081019/no-certificates-for-talaq-khula-muslims-in-a-tizzy.html
Hyderabad: With Wakf Boards in Telangana state and AP having stopped issuing certificates of talaq (divorce) and khula (divorce on wife’s initiative), many Muslims, already grappling with the anguish of their marriage breaking down, feel more let down. In TS, Wakf Board authorities have stopped issuing certificates for about two months now, while people in AP are unable to get certificates since the past month.Wakf Board officials are being careful as they wait for the Govt to issue specific orders on the recently passed ‘Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019’.Officials, on condition of anonymity, said they do not want to take any risk as the matter is very sensitive. In AP, people were asked to move court or wait till specific orders were received from govt. Incidentally, AP Wakf Board issues very few certificates; not over 10,000 per year.A certificate pertaining to nikah, talaq and khula issued by the Wakf Board is considered valid document to show the marital status of Muslims. These certificates are utilised to obtain passport, visa, Haj pilgrimage permits, etc.They are also used in partition suits or marital disputes in courts of law. A talaq or khula certificate is essential in case a woman desires to remarry. Incidentally, while Wakf Act makes it clear that the Wakf Board has no connection with marriage related affairs, TS Wakf Board has a special section to do just that.In Telangana, about 50,000 nikah (weddings) take place every year. TS Wakf Board issues over 35,000 marriage and more than 1,500 talaq and khula certificates per year. Reacting to the news on stoppage of certificates, Anjuman-e-Qazat, association of qazis, warned Wakf Board not to create unnecessary controversies. Congress leaders too submitted a memorandum to the Wakf Board authorities requesting revival of the services to avoid difficulties to the needy. DECCAN CHRONICLE
Everyone Must Respect SC Verdict on Ram Temple: UP CM Day After Dropping 'Good News' Hint
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/everyone-must-respect-sc-verdict-on-ram-temple-says-up-cm-day-after-dropping-good-news-hint-2336507.html
Lucknow: Day after hinting that a ‘good news’ is expected on the Ram Mandir, UP CM Yogi Aditya said on Monday that everyone should respect the Supreme Court verdict on Babri Masjid title dispute case. Speaking to media in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said that people should impose their faith in the proceedings of the apex court on an issue that has been pending for so long and is ‘needed for the development of the nation.’ Without directly referring to Ram temple construction work, UP CM on Saturday had said that some good news was expected soon..news18
No possibility of Masjid construction: Tauqeer Raza
https://www.siasat.com/no-possibility-babri-masjid-construction-maulana-tauqeerraza-1652270/
Lucknow: Grandson of Aala Hazrat and Ittehad Millat Council Chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza held a meeting with Muslim scholars at a flat at Thakur Gunj, Lucknow. Before the meeting, Maulana Tauqeer Raza said in the current scenario, reconciliation is the only solution to the Ayodhya dispute.In view of the situation, whether the court verdict comes in favour or against, Muslim party cannot construct masjid at any cost. Hence both the parties should solve the issue through reconciliation so that peace prevails in the country, he said. Inquilab Daily reported. The joint proposal of clerics and Sunni Central Waqf Board will be submitted before Oct.18. People outside the flat raised slogans against Maulana Raza. Maulana said that some people are obstructing the reconciliation. Some sections in each of the two parties, want one-sided verdict. He blamed VHP and others on one side and AIMPLB and Jamiat Ulama on the other for not resolving the matter.siasat
People should respect SC's decision on Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid case: Mayawati
http://www.uniindia.com/people-should-respect-sc-s-decision-on-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-case-mayawati/india/news/1751935.html
Mayawati has said everyone should respect the Supreme Court's verdict on Ram Mandir/Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, UP and this will be the best for the country. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mayawati said,' After day-to-day hearing of the special bench of the SC on Babri Masjid case, everyone must respect whatever decision is taken and maintain an atmosphere of communal harmony everywhere in the country. This will be best in the wider public and country interest.' UNI
Son suspected to have joined Islamic State, Kerala man declared hostile witness
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/son-suspected-to-have-joined-is-kerala-man-declared-hostile-witness-6058386/
Mumbai: Father of a Kerala man who allegedly left the country to join Islamic State was declared a hostile witness on Monday in a trial against an IRF employee.Kerala man has been missing from the country since 2016, along with his wife, one-year-old daughter, brother, cousin and their families. His father had registered a complaint that IRF employee, Arshi Qureshi, had allegedly influenced his son and his family to join IS.But on Monday, the father denied registering a complaint against Qureshi. He denied his earlier statement where he had said he had often overheard his son talking on the phone about an “Arshi bhai” from IRF. “After I returned from Umrah in 2016, I learnt that some persons from our village, including my son, have gone missing…They left India but I do not know where they went,” father said.“It is not correct to say that I had heard my son talk on the phone around me. I do not know anything about IRF, nor about Arshi,” he said during his examination-in-chief by NIA prosecutor.When complainant was shown FIR filed by police, he admitted that he had signed it, but added he was not aware of its contents as he had neither read it, nor was it read to him. He said he had heard about IRF when police called him for questioning and asked him about IRF.indianexpress
Jaipur hotel denies room to interfaith couple, cites ‘policy, police instructions’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jaipur-hotel-denies-room-to-interfaith-couple-cites-policy-police-instructions-6058359/
Jaipur :A Muslim man and Hindu woman have alleged that a hotel in Jaipur stopped them from checking in on the ground that they hail from different religions.The incident took place on Saturday when the man, a 31-year-old assistant professor based in Udaipur, tried to check into one of Oyo’s SilverKey hotels in Jaipur. “I reached Jaipur on Saturday morning and my friend was supposed to reach later from Delhi,” the assistant professor said.“I had booked a room for two in the hotel through a travel app. I reached the hotel somewhere around 8-9 am. The receptionist then asked me about the other person who was to check in with me and I gave them my friend’s name, but to my shock I was told that ‘this is a problem. Both of you are from different religions, we can’t check you in’,” man said.indianexpress
Law ministry says it's considering Election Commission proposal on collecting Aadhaar data to clean up electoral rolls
https://www.firstpost.com/india/law-ministry-says-its-considering-election-commission-proposal-on-collecting-aadhaar-data-to-clean-up-electoral-rolls-7468641.html
The law ministry is learnt to be considering an Election Commission proposal to give it statutory backing to collect Aadhaar number of new applicants and existing voters to check multiple entries in electoral rolls.In August 2015, a Supreme Court order on Aadhaar card put brakes on Election Commission's project to link UIDAI (Aadhaar) number with voters' electoral data to check multiple entries in electoral rolls.The poll panel was then collecting Aadhaar number as part of its National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP).In a letter to law ministry, the Commission recently proposed that provisions of the Representation of People Act be amended to allow EC seek Aadhaar numbers of those applying to be voters and those who are already part of the electoral rolls.PTI
China puts curbs on teaching of MBBS in English amid surge of Indian students
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-puts-curbs-on-teaching-of-mbbs-in-english-amid-surge-of-indian-students/story-P9irtko25NLOhGiM8GHSbP.html
Beijing: With a record number of students from India enrolling to study medicine in China, the country’s education ministry has authorised only 45 of the local medical colleges from among over 200 to enrol foreign students to teach MBBS in English.Chinese universities have witnessed enrolment of a record number of Indian students to study medicine. China attracts foreign students, specially from India and other Asian countries, due to its affordable courses.At present over 23,000 Indian students are studying different courses in Chinese universities, as against over 28,000 from Pakistan. Considering the growing interest among Indian students about Chinese medical courses, Indian Embassy here on Monday said Chinese Govt has approved 45 medical colleges in the country to teach MBBS course in English to foreign students. Chinese MOE has also clarified that universities which are not in the list of the 45 universities should not admit foreign students for the MBBS programme to be taught in English, a press release issued by Indian Embassy said. HT
WORLD
Turkey says Preparations 'complete' for Syria military action but Trump threatens to 'obliterate' economy if they do 'off limits'; Iran opposes it
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/turkey-military-preparations-syria-incursion-complete-191008082547251.html
Preparations for a major military operation in northeast Syria are complete, Turkey announced on Tuesday after US pulled back troops and cleared the way for a Turkish attack on Kurdish-led forces long allied to Washington. But US President Donald Trump warned he would "obliterate" NATO ally's economy if it took action in Syria that he considered "off limits" following his decision on Sunday to pull 50 American special forces troops from the border region.US withdrawal will leave its Kurdish-led partner - SDF - vulnerable to an incursion by Turkey's military, which brands them "terrorists" because of their links to Kurdish fighters who have waged a decades-long resistance inside Turkey.Turkey's armed forces "will never tolerate the establishment of a terror corridor on our borders. All preparations for the operation have been completed", defence ministry said on Twitter early today."It is essential to establish a safe zone/peace corridor to contribute to our region's peace and stability, and for Syrians to achieve a safe life," it said. .Gabriel Kino, a SDF spokesman, said the militia was ready to take on Turkish forces. Trump's warning on Turkey's economy appeared aimed at placating critics who accused him of abandoning Syrian Kurds by pulling out US forces. Lawrence Korb, ex US assistant defence secretary, said US president's decision was politically motivated with 2020 election approaching. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Affairs Minister Javad Zarif told his Turkish counterpart, in a phone call that Tehran is opposed to Turkey's operation in Syria."
US cuts Turkey’s access to north-east Syria airspace ahead of military campaign
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191008-us-cuts-turkeys-access-to-north-east-syria-airspace-ahead-of-military-campaign/
US military has severely limited Turkey’s access to the airspace over north-east Syria, making the upcoming Turkish military operation into the area difficult without the benefit of air cover.US has taken a series of actions since yesterday which would potentially hinder the operation, with Pentagon spokeswoman Carla Gleason informing reporters that Combined Air Operations Centre has removed Turkey from anti-ISIL coalition’s air tasking order, through which it coordinates the flights of member nations.As well as removing Turkey from US coordination, it has also halted Turkey’s access to surveillance information, crippling its ability to accurately conduct aerial cover during its campaign.MEMO
Israel to build camps as preparation for displacing Arab citizens
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191008-israel-to-build-camps-as-preparation-for-displacing-arab-citizens/
Israel’s District Planning and Building Committee considered a plan on Sunday submitted by Bedouin Settlement Authority in the Negev which aims to build camps as preparation for the displacement of 36,000 Arab citizens, Arab48.com has reported. Plan targets Palestinian-Arab residents within Israel who live in Bedouin villages “unrecognised” by Israeli occupation Govt. Such villages have often been in place for hundreds of years before the creation of the Israeli occupation state. Nevertheless, it is insisting on displacing their residents and replacing the villages with housing projects for Jewish Israeli settlers. A letter has been sent to the head of District Planning and Building Committee asking them not to accept the plan. MEMO
Hamas calls for PA to stop being dictated by Israel
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191008-hamas-calls-for-pa-to-stop-being-dictated-to-by-israel/
Hamas called for Palestinian Authority (PA) to stop being dictated by Israeli occupation.“PA is marketing Israeli dictations as great victories in areas of cooperation between both sides,”Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. He referred to formation of mutual technical committees to oversee the process of funnelling tax money from Israel to PA.“Considering the formation of technical committees to audit tax money as a great victory by Fatah-led PA is an attempt to promote deceptive achievements,” Barhoum said.“This is a cover for PA’s failure and defeat against the Israeli occupation aimed to deceive Palestinian public,” he added.MEMO
Israel's Gideon Saar challenges lengthy Netanyahu Likud rule
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/israel-gideon-saar-challenges-lengthy-netanyahu-likud-rule-191008055708744.html
With a simple tweet, Gideon Saar did what no Israeli politician from the ruling conservative party has done in more than a decade - openly challenge its chief, PM Benjamin Netanyahu.The brazen move against the long-serving Israeli leader has solidly positioned 52-year-old Saar as Likud party's leading candidate to replace Netanyahu, who is fighting for his survival amid a pending corruption indictment and post-election political paralysis. Ex aide and Cabinet minister under Netanyahu, Saar has long been considered a rising star in Likud and one of lone independent voices in a party that has, in general, blindly followed its leader.aljazeera
Ghannouchi:Ennahda won Tunisia’s legislative polls
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191008-ghannouchi-ennahda-won-tunisias-legislative-elections/
Head of Tunisian Ennahda Movement, Rached Ghannouchi, announced that his movement had achieved an “unquestionable victory” during the country’s legislative elections.During a press conference held , he vowed that Ennahda would seek formation of a competent Govt. He added that they would support the Govt of the current PM Youssef Chahed so that the movement could form a partnership Govt.“This is a new phase where the people have entrusted us, and we are willing to meet their expectations and harness all adequate effort,” said Gannouchi.“We will consult with all our partners involved in the war against corruption and poverty, and will work to meet the most important goals of the Tunisian revolution, especially freedom, justice and employment.”middleeastmonitor
Egypt fires 1,070 teachers for alleged terror links
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191008-egypt-fires-1070-teachers-for-alleged-terror-links/
Egypt has sacked over 1,000 teachers for allegedly being affiliated to a terror organisation, Education Minister announced in a press conference. Tarek Shawki said that the teachers were fired for their links to the Muslim Brotherhood and vowed to investigate teachers “unfit to work” to purge Egyptian schools of “destructive ideas” and “politically extreme views”, according to the New Arab.Al-Masry Al-Youm reports that some have been sentenced to death whilst others are “fugitives” outside Egypt. middleeastmonitor
Saudi announces further rule changes with one eye on foreign investors
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191007-saudi-announces-further-rule-changes-with-one-eye-on-foreign-investors/
In its latest bid to attract foreign investors, Saudi Arabia has relaxed rules over the listing of shares on the kingdom’s main stock exchange, Tadawul.Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of Saudi announced the changes with the aim of increasing the attractiveness of the kingdom to companies looking for less investment stringent regulations.middleeastmonitor
Yemeni Govt, separatist STC close to deal on Aden
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/yemeni-Govt-separatist-stc-close-deal-aden-191008055436477.html
Yemen's Saudi-backed Govt and southern separatists are close to a deal that would end a power struggle in the southern port of Aden and see Saudi forces take control of the city temporarily, four sources familiar with the negotiations said.Saudi Arabia, leader of an Arab coalition battling Yemen's Houthi movement, has been hosting indirect talks for a month between the Govt of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Southern Transitional Council (STC) to end the standoff that had opened a new front in the multi-faceted war. STC is part of the military alliance that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to restore Hadi's Govt after it was removed from power in the capital, Sanaa, by Houthis. But the separatists, who seek self-rule in the south, turned on the Govt in August and seized its interim seat of Aden.aljazeera
US blacklists 28 Chinese entities over 'brutal' Xinjiang abuses
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/blacklists-28-chinese-entities-brutal-xinjiang-abuses-191008062927752.html
US plans to blacklist 28 Chinese entities it says are implicated in human rights abuses singling out Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang region. US "cannot and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China", Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said, announcing the move, which bars the named entities from purchasing US products.The blacklisted firms included video surveillance company Hikvision, as well as artificial intelligence companies Megvii Technology and SenseTime, according to an update to US Federal Register set to be published on Wednesday. Ban comes amid heightened tensions between US and China, particularly over trade policy and Beijing's actions in the Xinjiang region.aljazeera
UN, NGOs accused of bungling effort to educate Rohingya kids
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ngos-accused-bungling-effort-educate-rohingya-children-191003081627918.html
On May 13, a group of Rohingya refugee education leaders had the rare chance to ask some of the questions that had been weighing on their minds for more than two years. For first time, they were meeting representatives from the UN and international NGOs tasked with providing education to about half a million Rohingya refugee children living in camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Minutes of the meeting show how community leaders questioned the officials about the slow effort to give refugees formal education, the absence of a Myanmar curriculum in the camps, and the lack of consultation with the community. aljazeera
James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz get Nobel Prize for Physics
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/james-peebles-michel-mayor-and-didier-queloz-get-nobel-prize-for-physics/article29617873.ece?homepage=true
Nobel Prize for Physics has been awarded to James Peebles for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology, and Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for discovering an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics rewards new understanding of the universe’s structure and history, and the first discovery of a planet orbiting a solar-type star outside our solar system. The discoveries have forever changed our conceptions of the world, a statement from the Nobel Assembly at Sweden's Royal Academy of Sciences said.James Peebles took on the cosmos, with its billions of galaxies and galaxy clusters. His theoretical framework, developed over 2 decades, is foundation of our modern understanding of universe’s history, from Big Bang to the present day.thehindu
Flash:NEWS,views,Articles
Foreigners’ Tribunals almost another arm of BJP govt in Assam: Faizan Mustafa
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-foreigners-tribunals-assam-nrc-6058158/
Stories of Yawar Ahmed Bhat:Syeda Hameed
https://thewire.in/rights/the-stories-of-yawar-ahmed-bhat
What on Earth Is a Quantum Computer, and Why Should You Care?Ronak Gupta
https://thewire.in/the-sciences/quantum-computer-qubit-superposition-entanglement-google-supremacy
NRC Panic Is Already Taking Lives in West Bengal:Gurvinder Singh
https://thewire.in/rights/nrc-panic-west-bengal
Why the Proposed Citizenship Amendment Runs Foul of Constitutional Provisions:Anupama Roy
https://thewire.in/Govt/why-the-proposed-citizenship-amendment-runs-foul-of-constitutional-provisions
Is Justice Kureshi being discriminated because of his links to Gandhi or because he is ‘communal’?:RK Misra
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/is-justice-kureshi-being-discriminated-because-of-his-links-to-gandhi-or-because-he-is-communal
Nawabs of Malerkotla in Punjab held out lessons in communal harmony since the 15th Century:Pippa Virdee
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/lessons-from-malerkotla
India economy: Companies cut jobs as unions weakened: Anchal Vohra
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/india-economy-companies-cut-jobs-unions-weakened-191008044054743.html
Kashmir: 9-year-old out to buy bread beaten, locked up
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/kashmir-9-year-old-out-to-buy-bread-beaten-locked-up/cid/1710267?ref=india_india-page
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:44 PM)
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