NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
16 NOV. 2019: 18 Rabiul Awwal 1441: Vol: 12, No: 58
INDIA
Assam NRC a tool to render Muslims stateless: US panel on religious freedom
https://scroll.in/latest/943924/nrc-is-a-tool-to-render-indian-muslims-stateless-says-us-federal-panel-on-religious-freedom
US Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, has described NRCexercise in Assam as a “tool to target religious minorities, and, in particular, render Indian Muslims stateless”.The commission on Friday said NRC was one more example of the “downward trend in religious freedom conditions within India”. The remarks came a day after it appeared before US Congress and criticised the Indian Govt’s actions in J&K. The panel, which is an independent, bipartisan entity of US federal Govt, observed that the final NRC list released on August 31 excluded 19 lakh people, or around 6% of Assam’s population.The commission pointed out the concern of many domestic and international organisations that NRC is a “targeted mechanism to disenfranchise Assam’s Bengali Muslim community”, as well as establish “a religious requirement for citizenship”. USCIRF said the ruling BJP Govt had pushed for the implementation of the citizens’ database in other states, notably Maharashtra, UP and West Bengal. It pointed out that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks about implementing a nationwide register of citizens. The commission alleged that “following Aug.2019 release of NRC, BJP Govt has taken steps that reflect an anti-Muslim bias”. The commission said that for many “impoverished families” presenting the required documents was a challenge because of inadequate family record-keeping, illiteracy, or lack of money to travel to Govt offices and file legal claims. “People were also kept off the list because of minor inconsistencies in paperwork, such as differences in the spelling of a name,”it added.PTI/ scroll.
Citizenship Bill: Protests break out in Assam as BJP set to introduce legislation in Parliament
https://scroll.in/latest/943895/citizenship-bill-protests-break-out-in-assam-as-bjp-set-to-introduce-legislation-in-parliament
As Modi-led Govt is set to push the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill during upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, beginning on Nov.18, protests broke out across Assam on Friday against legislation, PTI reported. The Govt has listed the Bill in its items of business for session.Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend a 1955 law to grant citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Muslim-majority nations of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan if they have lived in India for six years. It had been passed by the previous Lok Sabha but was not tabled in the Rajya Sabha.Opposition parties have criticised the Bill as discriminatory on religious grounds as it deliberately omits Muslims.All Assam Students’ Union asserted that the legislation will not be accepted by people of the state at any cost. Members and supporters of Asom Jatiyabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad took out rallies and held sit-in demonstrations against the re-introduction of the Bill. They accused the BJP and the state Govt of adopting an “anti-Assam policy to settle illegal Hindu migrants in the state by amending the Citizenship Act”.RTI activist Akhil Gogoi said protests were part of anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Bill movement. Gogoi, who is also leader of social forum Krishak Mukti Sangram Parishad, urged all the political parties and NGOs to stand unitedly against the Bill.Samujjal Bhattacharyya, chief advisor of All Assam Students Union, said: “We will not tolerate the Bill at any cost and continue to protest against it. We will not accept the divisive policies of Govt in the name of religion”. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam politician who is considered BJP’s point-man for North East, said the Bill would be introduced within the first two days of the winter session and it will not impact the interests of indigenous people.scroll.in
Mamata Govtto set up detention centres for arrested foreigners, says ‘don’t link it with NRC’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-connection-with-nrc-detention-centres-for-arrested-foreigners-to-be-installed-by-mamata-govt-in-bengal-6122725/
New Delhi :Detention centres will be set up soon by Mamata Govt in West Bengal, PTI reported today. Informing about development, West Bengal Correctional Services Minister Ujjwal Biswas told PTI that these centres shall have “absolutely no connection” with NRC.The state Govt has plans for two detention centres and has already finalised a piece of land in New Town area for the first centre, Biswas was quoted as saying.The process of scouting for land in Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district for second detention centres is also underway, minister added. Talking about the plans, Biswas said it is possible that an existing Govt building in Bongaon could be prepared as the second camp to temporarily contain the people of foreign origin, till the piece of land is finally identified.“These detention camps are being constructed adhering to Supreme Court directives, according to which foreign nationals under trial and those convicted should not be kept with local inmates,” he was quoted as saying.“This has absolutely no connection with NRC. Please don’t link it to NRC,” minister added. As many as 110 foreign nationals are currently under trial and have been kept with local inmates at different correctional homes in the state,sources added.indianexpress
Govtis dumb, says IAS officer who resigned protesting lockdown in Kashmir
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/Govt-is-well-meaning-at-times-but-is-always-dumb-says-kannan-gopinathan
A forthright tweet by Kannan Gopinathan, who resigned from IAS to protest against the crackdown in Kashmir is creating waves on social media. Gopinathan has been travelling to states and addressing public meetings to build up awareness about NRC, sought to be implemented across the country by Home Ministry.NRC is an absurd idea, he maintains, under which Govt is demanding that citizens prove their citizenship with 50-year-old documents. His experience of working in the Govt, he said, proved that few among the poor are either aware or have the wherewithal to preserve documents. He said at a meeting of All India Peoples Front in Kolkata, “Any move by Govt to implement NRC across the nation should not only be seen as an anti-Muslim move, but also 100% as an anti-poor drive of the BJP-led Govt.”The most effective way of opposing NRC, he said, was to follow Gandhian way of Non-Cooperation. Citizens should not waste their time and money in collecting documents, he added.nationalheraldindia
Sabarimala temple opens today: 10 women sent back by police
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sabarimala-temple-live-updates-opens-today-kerala-women-supreme-court-6122419/?#liveblogstart
Kochi: As Sabarimala shrine opened for 2-month-long pilgrim season today at 5 pm,PTI reported that the police has sent back at least 10 women from Pamba. The women, who are aged between 10 to 50, had come from Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers at the temple. “After they reached Pamba, police checked their identity cards and found that they were in the barred age group and informed them about the current situation in Sabarimala. They did not proceed further,” police authorities were quoted as saying.On Friday, state Govt indicated that it would not “take young women to Sabarimala temple” due to the “grey areas” in the Supreme Court’s verdict in the case. The SC had put a batch of review petitions on hold and referred the matter to a larger bench on Thursday. "Yesterday, Govt said that they won't provide security to women, so women are going to #SabarimalaTemple without protection.Now, women are being stopped, so I think Govt is working completely against women,"Trupti Desai said.indianexpress
Islam doesn't ban women from mosques: AIMPLB lawyer Jilani
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/islam-doesn-t-ban-women-from-mosques-says-aimplb-lawyer-1.4282528
Zafaryab Jilani, advocate of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, stated that Islam does not ban women from entering the mosques. He claimed that the writ petition regarding the issue was submitted in the Supreme Court due to some misunderstandings and that the w Board will file a counter affidavit on the issue.“Islam does not ban women from entering mosques. The people who approached the court were denied entry to the mosques due to wrongful actions. No mosque denies entry to Muslim women. If someone denies entry to women, it is against Islam. Even in Mecca and Medina, there are only restriction and not bans” said Jilani.mathrubhumi
BABRI MASJID VERDICT
3 Muslim petitioners want review of Ayodhya judgment as AIMPLB gets set to decide tomorrow
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/ayodhya-verdictkey-muslim-litigant-says-no-to-review-as-aimplb-gets-set-to-decide-today/story-wShlMABJtoksUIeWDtHV0L.html
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/muslim-board-discusses-sc-verdict-with-babri-litigants-776825.html
Lucknow:Ahead of its crucial meeting on Sunday, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) met Muslim litigants in Lucknow to know their views before taking a final call on whether or not to go for a review of the Supreme Court verdict in Ayodhya case.“2 important items on AIMPLB’s agenda at tomorrow’s meeting are to take a decision on challenging the Ayodhya verdict and decide whether or not to accept the five-acre alternative land as directed by the SC,” said Kamal Farooqui, an AIMPLB member.He said apart from members of the executive body, the Board has also invited its legal experts and advocates of Muslim litigants, who fought the Ayodhya case, for the brainstorming session to be held at Lucknow-based Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema. Since the AIMPLB was not a direct party in the Ayodhya case, it would have to rope in at least one out of the total 8 Muslim litigants if it decides to go for a review, which now seems almost certain.But Iqbal Ansari, whose father Hashim Ansari of Ayodhya was one of the first and oldest litigants in the case, has decided not to challenge the Ayodhya verdict, come what may. “These people with fake beard and cap may say whatever they have to say but I will not go for a review of the Supreme Court verdict,” he said emphatically.Ansari said he had got a call from AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani and he had conveyed his stand to him.Mehmoob, incidentally, met Maulana Salman Nadvi, another cleric who was in favour of solving Ayodhya dispute through talks and is now in favour of accepting the court verdict, in Lucknow today. Mohd Umar, another Muslim litigant of Ayodhya, who met Jilani in Lucknow today, however, said he would abide by whatever decision the Board takes on Sunday. “There are some inconsistencies in the verdict and I feel there is a scope for correction. I will go by whatever my seniors in the AIMPLB tell me to do,” he said.Of the remaining four litigants, Maulana Arshad Rashidi (state chief of Jamait-e-Ulama), Maulana Hifzur Rehman, Maulana Hisbullah and Misbahuddin are expected to tow AIMPLB line. AIMPLB held discussions with some of the plaintiffs in the Ayodhya case on challenging the verdict. Jilani met some of Muslim plaintiffs to ascertain their opinion on challenging the verdict.HT/deccan herald
3 Muslim petitioners want review of Ayodhya judgment, says Zafaryab Jilani
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/three-muslim-petitioners-want-review-of-ayodhya-judgment-says-zafaryab-jilani/cid/1719557?ref=top-stories_home-template
Salman Nadwi not allowed to enter Ayodhya; says Muslims should accept 5-acre land
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/muslim-scholar-salman-nadwi-not-allowed-to-enter-ayodhya-says-muslims-should-accept-5-acre-land/516109
Ayodhya: Muslim scholar Salman Nadwi said he is in favour of Muslims accepting the 5-acre land at Ayodhya which the Supreme Court awarded to Muslim parties. Nadwi earlier today was stopped from entering Ayodhya and turned back. The scholar was sent back to Lucknow from Raunahi toll plaza, the entry point of Ayodhya district, since the situation in the city has remained sensitive after the verdict. Nadwi told media that he only wanted to meet people from both communities to establish peace in the backdrop of Ram Temple verdict. He said it’s important to establish peace and harmony between the two communities and the focus should be on the implementation of the verdict. Nadwi who was in news for supporting the mediation process on Ram Temple along with Sri Sri Ravishankar was stopped from visiting Ayodhya today. Times Now
Ayodhya verdict: Jamiat undecided over filing review, forms panel to take call
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/nov/15/ayodhya-verdict-jamiat-undecided-over-filing-review-forms-panel-to-take-call-2062236.html
New Delhi: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's executive committee has been unable to come to a consensus on whether to file a review petition on the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict and formed a panel on Friday to decide on it after consulting with lawyers and experts.Panel comprises Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani, Maulana Asjad Madani, Maulana Habibur Rahman Qasmi, Fazalur Rahman Qasmi and advocate Ijaz Maqbool.An emergency meeting of the working committee of the Jamiat was held to review the recent Supreme Court verdict under the chairmanship of Arshad Madani at the central office of the Muslim body here, a statement said. "Babri Masjid was a mosque in the eyes of law and justice and it is still a mosque according to Shariah and will remain so till the Day of Resurrection regardless of its structure and name," Jamiat executive committee said. "This is because no individual or party has the right to withdraw the claim of mosque in return of an alternative piece of land," it added.It was decided at the working committee meeting that a panel should be constituted which, after consulting with lawyers and experts, would decide whether to submit a review petition or not.Sources said most of Jamiat office-bearers were not in favour of filing a review petition on the Ayodhya judgment, but some were insisting that it was important to challenge the decision.Arshad Madani had on Thursday said Sunni Waqf Board should not accept 5-acre plot, which the SC in its judgment has directed the Centre to allot for a mosque.PTI
Ayodhya: Fresh Demarcation Process of Acquired Land Begins
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/ayodhya-fresh-demarcation-process-of-acquired-land-begins
Ayodhya:A week after the Supreme Court ordered construction of Ram Temple on the site where 16the century Babri Masjid once stood in Ayodhya, the administration in UP town has begun preparing the fresh demarcation process of the acquired land. 67.7 acres land was acquired by the union Govt in Jan.1993 through the Acquisition of Certain Area of Ayodhya Act 1993. The acquired land includes Kot Ramchandar, Jalwanpur and Awadh Khas of Faizabad Tahsil. According to the section 3 of Acquisition Act 1993, right, title and interest of acquired land vest in the union Govt. Acquired land, include residential houses, agricultural lands, Hindu temples and Muslim graveyards.According to sources, before the formal constitution of Trust for Ram Mandir, the status of the land is to be made clear.As such the local administration has been asked to measure the land. The district administration has begun preparations to demarcate the land acquired by the Centre after the demolition of the Babri Masjid before it can be handed over to the Trust to be formed by Centre as directed by the SC. IANS
Ayodhya: Security stepped up ahead of Babri Masjid demolition anniversary
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-security-stepped-up-ahead-of-babri-demolition-anniversary-6122729/
There are loopholes in Ayodhya judgment but review will serve no purpose: Tahir Mahmood
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/there-are-loopholes-in-ayodhya-judgment-but-review-will-serve-no-purpose-tahir-mahmood/articleshow/72079356.cms
Tahir Mahmood, noted jurist and ex chairman of National Minorities Commission, said that Waqf Board should opt for a plot away from the disputed land and build a school or orphanage on it. He said, "going strictly by the letter of the law, there certainly are loopholes in the judgment, but one should not lose sight of the fact that the court was constrained not to decide the case on a purely jurisprudential basis and had to give due weight to extra-judicial considerations."He added,"In Ayodhya judgment, the court agreed that the mosque was not built by destroying a temple, that idols were surreptitiously placed in 1949, and that its demolition was unlawful, and yet it gave the decision contained in its operative part. How does one expect that a plea for review will prompt the court to change its mind?"TOI
Shift Ram Lalla to a makeshift place till temple is built: Seers
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/shift-ram-lalla-to-a-makeshift-place-till-temple-is-built-seers/articleshow/72080441.cms
Ayodhya: Shift Ram Lalla deity out of tent immediately into a makeshift structure till a grand temple is built over the next 2-3 years, devote the full 67-acre acquired land to the temple complex, give 5-acre land for the mosque outside 14-Kosi ‘cultural’ area of Ayodhya, and the mosque should not be named after Babar since he was an aggressor -- this is the common refrain among saints and the Hindu stakeholders in Ayodhya, despite them bickering over issues regarding the composition of the proposed trust.Triloki Nath Pandey, the ‘next friend’ of Ram Lalla who was allotted one-third of the 2.77 acre land by the Allahabad High Court as a representative of the deity in court, told ET that Ram Lalla should not be housed in a tent anymore.economictimes
Want my masjid back: Owaisi asks for Babri, questions Ayodhya verdict
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/asaduddin-owaisi-aimim-want-masjid-back-babri-ayodhya-supreme-court-1619430-2019-11-15
Reacting to Supreme Court's verdict on Ayodhya land dispute, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said he 'wants his masjid back'.Owaisi said he will oppose anything that is against India's Constitution and pluralism. "For me, the Constitution is supreme and it gives me the right to disagree respectfully with any SC judgment. I will oppose anything that is against the Constitution," he said.Owaisi said, "Our fight was not for a piece of land. It was to ensure that my legal rights are realised. The SC also categorically said that no temple was demolished to construct a mosque. I want my masjid back."indiatoday
'Owaisi becoming second Zakir Naik': MoS Supriyo says AIMIM chief 'speaks more than required'
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-owaisi-becoming-second-zakir-naik-mos-babul-supriyo-says-aimim-chief-speaks-more-than-required-2801982
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Babul Supriyo today condemned AIMIM chief for the latter's recent statements regarding the Supreme Court verdict on Babri Masjid title dispute case. MoS said that Owaisi was 'becoming the second Zakir Naik', a reference to his inflammatory statements, and said, "If he speaks more than required, then we do have law and order in our country."DNA india
Expressing Concerns Over Justice, Civil Society Members Request Review of Ayodhya Verdict
https://thewire.in/rights/ayodhya-verdict-request-review-civil-society
New Delhi: A number of prominent personalities have asked for the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya judgment to be reviewed as it has “caused widespread concern among all those who have the interests of justice and fairness at heart”.In a statement, the signatories said that the “first source of concern” is that the court has delivered a judgment “which has been made possible only by the criminal destruction of the Babri Masjid” on December 6, 1992, which the court itself described as an “unlawful act”. They said the archaeological on the site, which the judgment relied on, would not have been possible without the destruction of the majid. thewire
Hyderabad: Sedition case against Muslim women for Babri Masjid protest
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/161119/sedition-case-for-babri-masjid-protest.html
Hyderabad: Saidabad police has registered a sedition case against 2 daughters of Moulana Abdul Aleem Islahi and other women who offered a special prayer for Babri Masjid at Idgah Ujale Shah, Saidabad, on Thursday under various sections.Police has registered a criminal case against Ms Zille Huma alias Huma Islahi, and Ms Shabista, both daughters of Moulana Abdul Aleem Islahi, and others for sedition, act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religions, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, inciting and defilement of a place of worship. The complaint lodged by Saidabad sub-inspector Din Dayal Singh stated that the women had gathered to offer a prayer and dua in connection with the SC verdict.After leading the prayer MsIslahi shouted provocative slogans. Later, speaking to media she criticised the judgment, the police officer said. The complaint stated that the gathering displayed flexies containing “inflammatory” slogans. They appealed to the Muslim community to raise their voice against the judgment.deccanchronicle
POLITICS
Shiv Sena won’t attend Nov 17 NDA meet in Delhi, break-up a formality: Raut
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shiv-sena-targets-bjp-again-horse-trading-under-the-guise-of-presidents-rule-6122526/
Mumbai :As Shiv Sena continued its attack on BJP over Govt formation, the party on Saturday said that it will stay away from today meeting of NDA constituents in Delhi, on the eve of the winter session of Parliament beginning on Nov.18. While Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the party will not attend NDA meeting tomorrow, another party leader Vinayak Raut said they are not attending because they have not been invited.indian express
Maharashtra Govt formation: Draft CMP ready, Sena, Cong, NCP shift focus to power-sharing formula
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-govt-formation-draft-cmp-ready-sena-cong-ncp-shift-focus-to-power-sharing-formula-6122129/
Mumbai :Even as a final decision on whether 3 parties can join hands to form a non-BJP Govt is pending, sources said that preliminary talks regarding the likely power-sharing arrangement are being carried out at the state level.Sources added that the initial proposal being discussed is regarding proportionate distribution of key ministerial portfolios between the three parties.While 42 ministerial berths are up for grabs, sources said the preliminary talks are regarding distribution of 9 key portfolios — home, finance, revenue, cooperatives, public works, water resources, urban development, rural development and agriculture. Congress, which won lesser seats as compared to NCP and Sena, has been insisting on an equitable power distribution model on the ground that each party needs the other to come to power. In the Assembly polls, Sena won 56 seats, NCP 54, and Congress 44.e NCP, on the other hand, is eyeing home, cooperatives, and finance portfolios, and has been bargaining hard on the ground that it has only two seats less than Sena, which is expected to lead formation if it comes into existence.For a consensus on key portfolios, a proposal to group these departments in lots of 3 in the order of importance and annual budgets and dividing them proportionately was discussed at the meeting, a source said. For instance, if home portfolio goes to one party, the revenue portfolio will be held by another, and urban development will be held by the third party. Similarly, key departments driving the state’s rural economy— agriculture, cooperatives and rural development—will be proportionately distributed between 3 parties.On Thursday, first joint meeting between 3 parties in Mumbai saw the emergence of a draft CMP, meant to thrash out differences on governance issues. It is learnt that 3 parties also held initial talks regarding distribution of portfolios. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar are likely to hold further deliberations in this regard on Nov.17-18. Thorat also hinted that the leadership of the 3 parties are yet to take a final call on power sharing. Stating that the talks so far had been constructive, he said, “I can say that you won’t have to wait much longer for an elected Govtin the state.”Pawar on Friday said “talks are focused on providing a stable Govt that can last the full 5 years”. He said he cannot give a deadline for Govt formation, but ruled out “possibility of mid-term polls.”indianexpress
Sena-Congress-NCP meeting with governor postponed
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-Govt-formation-maharashtra-governor-sena-congress-ncp-mlas-meeting-postponed-2133596?pfrom=home-topstories
Mumbai:A meeting between Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and a delegation of Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP MLAs scheduled for this evening has been postponed, Sena leader Eknath Shinde confirmed. The meeting was postponed because members of the delegation were in their respective seats carrying out drought inspection visits and filing election expenditure documents. Sources said MLAs had asked for free time on Friday but were released only today. The meeting is expected to be rescheduled but there is no word, as yet, on a new date. ndtv
Out of power, BJP afraid turncoat MLAs may defect, says NCP leader Nawab Malik
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/out-of-power-bjp-afraid-turncoat-mlas-may-defect-says-ncp-leader-nawab-malik-6122584/
Switching over to Shiv Sena from Congress, how Uddhav's lone Muslim MLA helped in bridging gap between rivals
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/abdul-sattar-the-congressi-turned-shiv-sainik-whose-example-settled-alliance-debate-in-cong-2388037.html
Consensus needed among parties on ‘one nation, one poll’: CEC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/consensus-needed-among-parties-on-one-nation-one-poll-cec-6122811/
Ahmedabad:Simultaneous polls, or ‘one nation, one election’, was “not happening very shortly” unless political parties sit together and evolve consensus and bring about requisite amendments in law,Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said here on Saturday. This is not something in which EC could do much except saying it would also prefer such an arrangement, he added.“And this is not a bureaucratic statement, just saying we agree in principle, etc. However, it is for the political parties to sit together and evolve some consensus, do the requisite amendments in law so that (poll) cycle can be brought together,” Arora said. “Unless that is done, it is kind of a good thing to talk at seminars, but it is not happening very shortly,” Arora said here.PTI
SOUTH ASIA AND J&K
3 J&K ex CMs may remain in detention: minister
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/three-jk-former-cms-may-remain-in-detention-hints-minister-6122079/
Jammu :A day after Lt Governor G C Murmu said that Assembly elections in J&K may be held soon, Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday hinted that three former CMs of the erstwhile state may remain under detention for some more time.Singh said this was the first festive season in J&K in 30 years that not a single incident had taken place. Without naming anyone, he added, “Now you people say that it could be possible as those three people were under detention. This means things will be alright if they stay in detention. Then let them remain in detention.”Singh made these remarks in his inaugural address at a regional conference on Replication of Good Governance Practices in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.NC MP Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti have been under detention in Kashmir since Centre decided on Aug 5.indianexpress
Govthas been harsher than at any time I can remember: Farooq’s sister
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-has-been-harsher-than-at-any-time-i-can-remember-farooqs-sister-6122075/
Srinagar :Awami National Conference president Begum Khalida Shah has described the current clampdown on the political leadership in Kashmir as the worst she has witnessed.“This time, the Govt has been harsher than at any time that I can remember in the past. They have surpassed all previous episodes of atrocity,” said Shah, who is ex CM Farooq Abdullah’s elder sister. Speaking at her home, where she has been detained, she said this was the first time in her 84 years that she had been placed under custody. “I remember when my father (Sheikh Abdullah) was fighting for Kashmir. We were in Gulmarg in 1953 and the military took him away. Even then, the family was not harmed, the reason was (Article) 370. This time, we have all been held hostage on account of ‘the situation’ which they (the Govt) have themselves created.”indianexpress
BJP has succeeded in alienating the entire population of Kashmir: Human rights lawyer Haksar
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/interview/bjp-has-succeeded-in-alienating-the-entire-population-of-kashmir?fbclid=IwAR37unOmojrLn3FELJsgpK1dCBlBxkQrCYFphfQ3owgs-cVFQ9UVocSA9ZU
Human rights lawyer and author Nandita Haksar responding to questions on developments in J&K, has said, "the way BJP has nullified the special status of J&K by the unprecedented clampdown and repression, arrests and detention of even leaders who have risked their lives for India has succeeded in alienating the entire population of Kashmir."Speaking about abrogation of Article 370, Haksar said, " procedure by which the entire process was done has been given a very serious legal challenge by eminent people who have filed petitions before the Supreme Court of India.It sounds a bit technical but people should understand how Govt has sabotaged provisions of the Constitution.”nationalherald
Hand over wanted Indians living in Pakistan if serious about better ties with India: Jaishankar
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hand-over-wanted-indians-living-in-pakistan-if-serious-about-better-ties-with-india-jaishankar-6122222/
London: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the relationship with Pakistan remains “difficult” because it openly practices terrorism against India, and if Islamabad is serious to cooperate with New Delhi, it should hand over the Indians wanted for terrorist activities living in Pakistan.In a wide-ranging interview with French daily Le Monde, the minister said Pakistan does not deny sending terrorists to India.“Relationship is difficult since many years, mainly because Pakistan has developed an important terrorist industry and sends terrorists to India to carry out attacks. Pakistan itself does not deny this situation,” he said, in response to a question about Pak Foreign Minister’s recent statement that relations with India are “close to zero”. PTI
With 40,000 troops, Army exercise in Thar desert assesses capability to strike at enemy territory
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/with-40000-troops-army-exercise-in-thar-desert-assesses-capability-to-strike-at-enemy-territory-6122133/
Jaisalmer:In a clear message to Pakistan, Sudarshan Chakra Corps of Indian Army’s Southern Command is conducting one of the biggest military exercises in Thar desert to assess capabilities to strike across the border deep in enemy territory in Western theatre. The exercise is aptly named Sindhu Sudarshan, signifying the target of reaching Sindhu river.2-month-long exercise Sindhu Sudarshan, which is now in its last leg, comprises 40,000 troops in an ‘all arms’ battle. indianexpress
US expresses concern over threat from ''theocratic groups'' in South Asia:ANI report
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-expresses-concern-over-threat-to-democracy-from-theocratic-groups-in-south-asia-2132881
US House of Representative in a release has expressed strong concern about the threat posed to democracy and human rights by "theocratic groups" operating in South Asia. "US should more actively engage with the Govt of Bangladesh regarding shared interests in safeguarding human rights, religious freedom, and secular democracy in Bangladesh while preventing the growth of religious extremism and militancy," US Congressman Jim Banks said a statement submitted to US House Committee on Foreign Affairs.The statement also called on govts of Bangladesh and Pakistan to deny, disrupt, and dismantle the ability of Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates to continue posing an immediate and ongoing threat to religious freedom and regional stability.The House urges BNP and all political parties to unequivocally distance themselves from Jamaat and other extremist organisations, Banks said.The statement called on US agencies, to halt all partnerships and funding arrangements with groups affiliated with Jamaat and its domestic affiliates, including the Islamic Circle of North America, ICNA Relief, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, and Muslim Ummah of North America.ANI
OTHERS
CBI searches Amnesty offices in two cities, rights body says it’s harassment
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cbi-searches-amnesty-offices-in-two-cities-rights-body-says-its-harassment-6122156/
New Delhi :CBI Friday searched offices of Amnesty India in Bengaluru and New Delhi, saying it was acting on an FIR registered after a complaint from Ministry of Home Affairs about alleged violation of provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and Indian Penal Code by the rights body.Confirming the searches, Amnesty India, in a press release, said: “Over the past year, a pattern of harassment has emerged every time Amnesty India stands up and speaks out against human rights violations in India. Amnesty India stands in full compliance with Indian and international law. Our work in India, as elsewhere, is to uphold and fight for universal human rights. These are the same values that are enshrined in the Indian Constitution and flow from a long and rich Indian tradition of pluralism, tolerance, and dissent.”“As part of Nobel Prize-winning movement, Amnesty India holds itself to the highest evidentiary standards. Over four million Indians have supported Amnesty India’s work in the last six years and around 100,000 Indians have made financial contributions. Our work in India, as elsewhere, is to uphold universal human rights and build a global movement of people who take injustice personally,” it said.indianexpress
Hindu Mahasabha wants Godse’s court statement in school syllabus
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hindu-mahasabha-wants-godses-court-statement-in-school-syllabus-6122109/
Bhopal:Hindu Mahasabha has demanded that Nathuram Godse’s statement in court during the Mahatma Gandhi assassination trial be included in school syllabus. Observing Godse’s 70th death anniversary, some activists of the Hindutva organisation gathered at its office here and garlanded photographs of Godse and Narayan Apte,a co-conspirator in Gandhi’s assassination who was also hanged, and performed ‘aarti’ while police kept guard outside the private building. Mahasabha had in 2017 installed a bust of Godse in the office amid religious fanfare. Calling the office a temple, the outfit had sought a piece of land to build a temple for him. The then BJP Govt had served a notice to the outfit and later seized the bust amid tension.On Friday, the Mahasabha held its event under the banner of Yuvak Hindu Mahasabha (YHM) and later handed a memorandum to the district administration with a charter of four demands, one of which was to include Godse’s court statement in the school syllabus.The second demand was to observe Guru Gobind Singh’s sons’ sacrifice as Bal Shahid Diwas in place of Bal Diwas.indianexpress
Odisha Withdraws Controversial Booklet Relating to Gandhi’s ‘Accidental’ Death
https://thewire.in/education/odisha-withdraws-controversial-booklet-relating-to-gandhis-accidental-death
Bhubaneswar:Following sharp criticism from all quarters, Odisha Govt today said that it had withdrawn a controversial booklet for school children that erroneously said Mahatma Gandhi died due to “an accidental sequence of events”.Nathuram Godse had shot Gandhiji to death on Jan. 30, 1948 at Birla House in New Delhi in the presence of hundreds of people. Godse was then apprehended, tried and sentenced to death. Placing his statement in the ongoing Odisha assembly, state school and mass education minister Samir Dash said that the error in the booklet was inadvertent and there was no intention on the part of Govt to distort or change facts relating to Gandhi’s death. “Booklet will be reprinted and redistributed in schools within a month,” Dash said.The minister added that a person responsible for printing the booklet had been disengaged from service while an explanation had been sought from two other officials in the matter. School and mass education department has also asked education officials at district and block levels to destroy the booklets and other soft copies. thewire
Bhushan, Shourie call for CBI probe into Rafale deal
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/prashant-bhushan-arun-shourie-call-for-cbi-probe-into-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-6122091/
New Delhi :A day after the Supreme Court dismissed review petitions seeking a probe into the Rafale deal, advocate Prashant Bhushan and former Union minister Arun Shourie called for a CBI probe into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets by the Govt. They claimed that the separate judgment authored by Justice K M Joseph mandates that the CBI launch a probe.On Thursday, the Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi turned down petitions seeking a review of its 2018 decision on the matter. It stated that there were no grounds for the CBI to initiate a probe into allegations of impropriety or irregularity in the deal.Justice K M Joseph, who along with the CJI and Justice S K Kaul made the bench, in a separate concurring judgment said though the review had been dismissed, it will “not stand in the way” of CBI from taking action on the document after obtaining previous approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.indianexpress
Govt withdraws controversial amendments to Forest Rights Act
https://thewire.in/environment/Govt-withdraws-controversial-amendments-to-forest-rights-act
New Delhi: Union Govt on Friday withdrew certain controversial amendments to Indian Forests Act 1927. The minister for environment, forests and climate change, Prakash Javadekar, said that the ‘zero draft’ – as the proposed bill was called – had created the ‘wrong impression’ that Govt intended to do away with certain provisions of the Act which protect the rights of forest dwellers and tribal communities.“It was a ‘zero draft’. It was mistakenly taken as a ‘Govt draft’ and circulated. 11 states have drafted their own forest laws. This was just prepared by ministry officials to study how various forest laws can be put together in one draft and circulated. But now we have decided to withdraw the complete draft,” Javadekar said.The decision comes just a few weeks before the Jharkhand assembly elections. The state has a sizeable scheduled tribe population.thewire
Tension in UP district after mosque construction stopped
http://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/43280/tension-in-up-district-after-mosque-construction-stopped.html
Sambhal:A mosque allegedly being erected illegally overnight in Sambhal district, was stopped leading to tension. Police have been deployed in the area.Work at the under-construction mosque in the Saraitareen area was halted late on Wednesday after people from another community objected to it.The roof of building had already been completed when the police locked up the premises to stop prayer gatherings from taking place. DM Avinash Krishna Singh said police force had been deployed at the site to stop further construction and also to prevent any kind of clash.According to reports, some people had started offering namaaz inside a madarsa in Saraitareen some months ago.Later construction of a mosque began inside the same madarsa premises and neighbours from the other community objected to it.The construction was stopped after police intervened, with the sub-divisional magistrate issuing orders that no further construction could take place.On Wednesday morning, people from the other community living in the vicinity informed police that construction was restarted night before.SHO Ravindra Kumar of Hayatnagar police station reached the spot and got the premises locked up.Those who had gathered there went to a nearby mosque, from where they announced on loudspeakers that police had stopped them from offering Namaaz and thrown their holy book out of the "new mosque". Soon, a large crowd gathered there and the women broke the locks in the presence of police.The officials then held talks with members of the community and assured them madarsa premises would be opened and that they could continue with all religious activities barring community prayers.DM said: "Situation is under control and construction has been stopped."IANS
Sedition case: Give Shehla 10-day notice before arrest: court to police
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sedition-case-give-shehla-10-day-notice-before-arrest-court-to-police-6122099/
New Delhi:A court has directed the Delhi Police to issue a 10-day pre-arrest notice to Shehla Rashid if the need arises to arrest her in the alleged case of defaming Army, while disposing of her anticipatory bail application. On Aug.18, Rashid posted a series of tweets, alleging excesses by the forces against children and youths in the Valley. Mentioning two of the tweets, advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, the complainant has said, “She is deliberately and intentionally spreading fake news with the intention to incite violence…”On Friday, Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora said, “Keeping in view the nature of allegations and also considering the submissions of IO (investigating officer) that the investigation is at a preliminary stage, anticipatory bail application is disposed of with directions to the IO that if need arises for the arrest of the applicant/accused, she be issued a ten days pre-arrest notice.”indianexpress
Elgaar Parishad case: Gautam Navlakha gets protection from arrest till Dec 2
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/elgaar-parishad-case-gautam-navlakha-gets-protection-from-arrest-till-dec-2-6122065/
Mumbai :Bombay High Court on Friday granted activist Gautam Navlakha interim protection from arrest till December 2 when the court is expected to hear anticipatory bail pleas of Navlakha and activist and professor Anand Teltumbde, both charged under UAPA sections in the Elgaar Parishad case.Navlakha moved the High Court on Wednesday after a special court in Pune turned down his anticipatory bail application and refused to grant further interim protection from arrest.Justice Prakash Naik observed on Friday that the cases of Navlakha and Teltumbde arise from the same offence and their petitions are being contested on the common issue of maintainability and hence, it would be appropriate to hear them together.indianexpress
Ex-Army doctor held in Hyderabad by UP ATS for Kushinagar mosque blast
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ex-army-doc-held-in-city-by-up-ats-for-kushinagar-mosque-blast/articleshow/72078570.cms
Lucknow: 3 days after stacked explosives went off in a mosque in Kushinagar district of UP, a former army major, Dr Ashfaq Alam, was picked up by UP ATS from Hyderabad’s Old City area and flown to Lucknow on Friday for interrogation. Dr Alam has been arrested, taking the arrest count in the case to six.Dr Alam, who was present in Kushinagar at the time of the blast, is accused of tampering with evidence and criminal conspiracy. Doctor is grandson of one of key accused in the case, Haji Qutubuddin, who would frequent the mosque to offer namaz. Qutubuddin is charged with stashing explosives in the mosque in a bag. ATS officials privy to probe said Dr Alam had come to his hometown Kushinagar to attend a relative’s wedding on Nov 8.Dr Alam served in the Army Medical Corps till 2017 before taking voluntary retirement to prepare for Civil Services examination. Dr Alam’s wife too is a doctor in the Army and is posted in Hyderabad. UP additional DGP (ATS) said, “Alam was unable to give a convincing reply on why he fled the blast site after calling police. He was confronted with the other accused during quizzing. Cleric Azimuddin, who was brought from West Bengal at a salary of Rs 6,000 to serve as the muezzin, kept changing his statements. First, he said the bag with explosives was kept in the mosque even before he became imam. Later, he blamed Qutubuddin for keeping the bag.”Besides Azimuddin, Dr Alam and Qutubuddin, 3 others in police net are Javed Ansari, Izhar and Ashiq Ansari. Another accused, Salauddin Ansari aka Munna, is on the run. TOI
NIA court sentences 5 to jail terms in Burdwan blast
https://in.news.yahoo.com/nia-court-sentences-five-jail-152827283.html
Kolkata: A special NIA court on Friday sentenced five accused in Khagragarh blast case to varying terms from five years to six years in jail after convicting them for conspiracy and waging war against the country and under various provisions of UAPA.The five had pleaded guilty for the blast, in which two suspected terrorists were killed and a third was injured while they were making bombs and explosive devices in a rented house at Khagragarh in Burdwan district of West Bengal. Siddhartha Kanjilal, chief judge at City Sessions Court who was presiding over the special NIA court, sentenced Enamul Haq and Habibur Rahaman to five years' rigorous imprisonment.The court sentenced Habibur Sheikh, Faizul Rahaman and Burhan Sheikh to six years' rigorous imprisonment, NIA lawyer Shyamal Ghosh said. Among those sentenced, two were women.All 19, out of a total 31 accused in the case, had admitted their guilt and were given jail terms of six to ten years.PTI
NIA files chargesheet against 11 in RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja murder case
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-files-chargesheet-against-11-in-rss-leader-jagdish-gagneja-murder-case-6122285/
Mohali: NIA Friday filed its chargesheet against 11 people, including a British national, in the murder case of RSS leader Brigadier (Rted) Jagdish Gagneja. It also moved an application in the special NIA court here for discharging four accused in the case. The court will next hear the case on Nov. 21.During investigation, it was found that Gagneja was killed as part of trans-national conspiracy hatched by senior leadership of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). 8 acts of targeted killings and attempted killings were executed as part of this conspiracy between January 2016 and Oct.2017 in Punjab.All the persons targeted belonged to specific communities and organizations and the objective of the conspiracy was to destabilize the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive the terrorism in the state.The NIA chargesheet has been filed against 11 people including Hardeep Singh Shera, who is the main accused, Dharminder Singh alias Gugni, Pahar Singh, Malook Singh and Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian, UK resident Jagtar Singh alias Jaggi Johal, Gursharanbir Singh Wahiwal, and Harmeet Singh alias PhD who is supposed to be operating from Pakistan.indianexpress
My daughter didn’t wear a headscarf out of fear, says Fathima’s mother, family will seek legal help
http://twocircles.net/2019nov15/433379.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
The family of Fathima Latheef, the 19-year-old who committed suicide in IIT Madras after religious discrimination, said they will seek legal routes for justice. The Chennai police have, meanwhile, transferred the case related to the suicide to the Central Crime Branch. A special team under the Additional Commissioner would probe into the case, according to reports. The girl’s family alleged that members of the faculty were the reason for their daughter’s death and she had to face religious discrimination at the institution. Latheef, a first-year student of Integrated MA programme in Humanities and Social Science at IIT Madras, was found dead in her hostel room on last Saturday.The police have reportedly interrogated 24 people including teachers and students at the IIT Madras in connection with the case.Alleging that faculty members were responsible for the death of their daughter, Latheef’s parents have decided to move legally to get justice. While talking to media, the parents said that Latheef had accused faculty member Sudarshan Padmanabhan, associate professor of Philosophy, for her death in the suicide note on her phone. In another note on the phone, the names of two more faculty members were present. The parents said that their daughter had told them earlier of her difficulties at the institute, including discrimination in the name of her religion. While speaking to a news channel, her mother Sajitha said that Fathima didn’t wear a headscarf out of fear and that they opted South India for education thinking it would be safer than other places. She recalled her earlier conversation with her daughter in which Fathima said that ‘her name itself was a problem there’. After she complained regarding low internal marks, Fathima reportedly had to face strong discrimination from the faculty member. The girl had written in one her notes that ‘they were disgusted to see a Muslim name topping every test’. TwoCircles
Bhopal: Minority commission recommends setting up of a separate minority welfare ministry
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-minority-commission-recommends-setting-up-of-a-separate-minority-welfare-ministry
Bhopal: MP Minority Commission has recommended formation of a separate minority welfare ministry to focus on development of people belonging to minority community. The decision was taken in a meeting of MP Minority Commission that took place in the state capital on Friday. Commission passed resolution unanimously. Chairman of the commission, Niyaz Mohd Khan said that there is a separate ministry in the union Govt for minority welfare, similarly there should be a separate minority welfare ministry in the state also. freepressjournal
Punjab: Dalit man who was forced to drink urine, thrashed succumbs to injuries
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-dalit-man-who-was-forced-to-drink-urine-trashed-succumbs-to-injuries-6122634/
Chandigarh: A 37-year-old Dalit man, who was mercilessly thrashed and forced to drink urine in Punjab’s Sangrur district, succumbed to his injuries Saturday morning at a hospital here, police said.“He succumbed to his injuries at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER),” Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Garg said.He was admitted to PGIMER and his legs were amputated. Garg said section 302 of IPC has been added to FIR registered in this matter.Dalit man, a resident of Changaliwala village, had an altercation with Rinku and some other persons on October 21 but the matter was resolved with the intervention of villagers.He had told police that on Nov. 7, Rinku called him to his house and they discussed the matter. The man had alleged that he was then thrashed by four persons after being tied to a pillar and when he asked for water, he was forced to drink urine.4 persons were arrested on the charges of abduction and wrongful confinement at the Lehra police station in Sangrur, police said.PTI
Anil Ambani, 4 Others Resign From Bankrupt Reliance Communications
https://www.ndtv.com/business/anil-ambani-4-others-resign-from-bankrupt-reliance-communications-rcom-under-insolvency-process-2133592?pfrom=home-topscroll
Mumbai: Billionaire industrialist Anil Ambani has resigned as Director of Reliance Communications as the bankrupt telecom operator nears sale of its assets under an insolvency process."Chhaya Virani, Ryna Karani, Manjari Kacker and Suresh Rangachar have also resigned from positions of directors," the company said in a statement."Manikantan V has also tendered his resignation as a Director and Chief Financial Officer of the company earlier. The aforementioned resignations will be put up to the committee of creditors for their consideration,"company said.The development follows RCom's consolidated loss of Rs. 30,142 crore for the second quarter released late on Friday after provisioning for statutory license fee and spectrum usage dues as compared to a profit of Rs. 1,141 crore in Q2 FY19.ANI
Justice Kureshi takes oath as CJ of Tripura HC
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/justice-kureshi-takes-oath-as-chief-justice-of-tripura-hc
Justice Akil Abdulhamid Kureshi, former Judge of the Gujarat and Bombay High Court, on Saturday took oath as the fifth Chief Justice of Tripura High Court.The new Chief Justice was sworn-in by Tripura Governor Ramesh Bais at a simple ceremony at the Durbar Hall of the old Raj Bhavan.The swearing-in ceremony was attended by CM Biplab Kumar Deb, Deputy CM Jishnu Dev Varma, their cabinet colleagues, two other judges -- Subhashish Talapatra and Arindam Lodh.Leaders of different political parties, senior police officers, civil officials, and para-military officers were also present along with seven sitting judges of Bombay High Court and two sitting judges of Gujarat High Court. IANS
Bhopal gas tragedy activist Abdul Jabbar dies
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/obituary/death-of-an-activist-life-and-death-of-abdul-jabbar
Abdul Jabbar, whose name had for the past 35 years become synonymous with Bhopal gas tragedy survivors’ battle for better rehabilitation and health facilities, died on Thursday-- in near penury and for want of proper treatment through 2 months’ of hospitalisation.For all the funds he raised to help the fellow citizens affected by the poisonous gas, his own modest means prevented Jabbar from getting a good treatment. 62-year-old activist, who fought for justice for nearly 20,000 victims and thousands of survivors of world’s worst industrial disaster in recent times, was buried in a graveyard near the Bhopal Railway station after Friday Namaz with hundreds of his admirers in attendance.nationalheraldindia
Rajasthan Govt Sanctions Rs 1.88 Cr for Madrasas after Centre Stops Grants
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/rajasthan-govt-sanctions-rs-188-cr-for-madrasas-after-centre-stops-grants
Congress Govt led by CM Ashok Gehlot has recently sanctioned Rs 1.88 crore for madrasas in the state, after the Centre stopped giving grants to them under the 'School Suvidha Anudaan' scheme, bringing these educational institutions to the verge of closure.Rajasthan Minority Affairs Minister Saleh Mohammad said "Although Modi Govt makes tall claims for benefits of minority class, but it has shown its real face by stopping funds for madrasas in Rajasthan. However, due to sensitivity of Gehlot on this issue,madrasas in Rajasthan have got a new lifeline", he added. In the current financial year, these madrasas were on the verge of closure as financial assistance of Rs 9 crore has not been given to 3240 madrasas in Rajasthan.The central Govt, via Rajasthan School Education Council, was allocating Rs 5,000 per year for primary education and Rs 12,000 per year for secondary education to these madrasas. However, in the financial year 2018-19, these funds have not been released which meant a cash crunch for these institutes, sources said.IANS
Gujjars miffed at Rajasthan Govt’s bid to include Muslim nomadic tribes in MBC category
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/gujjars-miffed-at-rajasthan-Govt-s-bid-to-include-muslim-nomadic-tribes-in-mbc-category/515533
Gujjars in Rajasthan are again on warpath with the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress Govt. This time, they are trying to save their 5 % reservation as Most Backward Classes (MBC). Ashok Gehlot Govt in Rajasthan has started a survey of Muslim nomadic castes with an intention to include them in MBC. However, Gujjars have vehemently opposed this move.Himmat Singh Gujjar has said that any reservation to Muslim castes is un-Islamic. Vijay Bainsla son of Col Kirori Singh Bainsla who led the Gujjar agitation movement says that Govt can give reservation to anyone but not from 5 % of MBC. Meanwhile, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot is trying to hit two birds with one stone by winning the Muslim vote bank by giving them reservation while on the other hand, this move will put Deputy CM Sachin Pilot under pressure from his own Gujjar community.Muslim Mirasi, Manganiar, Langha, Dadhi, Nagarchi and Rana are some of Muslim castes set to get a reservation.Taking to his Twitter handle Vijay Bainsla said that the MBC society will not tolerate any tampering with MBC 5 % reservation.Times Now
Alwar police cremate 'unclaimed' body of 33-yr-old Muslim man
https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/crime/article/video-alwar-police-cremate-unclaimed-body-of-33-year-old-muslim-man/515530
Alwar: An unclaimed body which was cremated by the Alwar police according to Hindu rituals has turned out to be of a Muslim man. The deceased has been identified as Irshad. Irshad went missing from Uton village of Haryana on Nov. 5. The cause of Irshad's death has not been ascertained yet. According to the police, they had found an unclaimed body in a nullah in Lakkad Chowk, Alwar. A group of people allegedly came to the police station to identify the body. However, they could not do the same and returned. Sher Mohammad, ex-head, MEO Panchayat Alwar accused the police of making a 'goof-up' and said that the police did not let the deceased's family identify him. He said that when Irshad's family went to the police station to identify the body, the police sent them away. Instead of showing the pictures and clothes of the deceased, the police sent Irshad's family away. The police did not cooperate with the family even as they returned the next day. Sher condemned the incident and urged the senior authorities to take action against the persons who are responsible for Irshad's cremation. The family members of the deceased have claimed that he was murdered and that the police must investigate the same. timesnownews
#ReleaseAlisohrab trends after reports of journalist’s arrest by UP Police for tweet on Kamlesh Tiwari
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/releasealisohrab-trends-on-reports-of-journalist-ali-sohrabs-arrest-by-up-police-for-objectionable-tweet-post-kamlesh-tiwaris-murder/272783/
Twitterati have erupted in anger on reports that the UP Police had arrested journalist Ali Sohrab for one of his objectionable tweet, posted in the immediate aftermath of Hindutva leader Kamlesh Tiwari’s murder. According to reports, UP Police arrested Sohrab, who owns the Twitter handle @kakavaani, from his Delhi home.Lawyer Anas took to Twitter to inform about Sohrab’s arrest. He wrote, “An FIR registered in P.S. Hazratganj, Lucknow has resulted in arrest of @AliSohrab007. Transit remand has been granted. Never agreed with him but we’re keeping an eye on this development. Speaking to lawyers in Lucknow.”Anas also said that since none of the charges against Sohrab entailed a punishment of more than three years, getting a bail should not be difficult.Janta Ka Reporter made several attempts to get reactions from the Lucknow Police but they were unavailable for comment.Meanwhile, Twitterati have trended hashtag #ReleaseAlisohrab demanding his imemdiate release.jantakareporter
BHU backs appointment of Muslim professor to Sanskrit department amid protests by students
https://scroll.in/latest/943862/bhu-backs-appointment-of-muslim-professor-to-sanskrit-department-amid-protests-by-students
Banaras Hindu University in UP has backed the appointment of a Muslim professor to its Sanskrit faculty, PTI reported. The administration of the college said that the university is committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone, irrespective of their religion, caste, community or gender.Students of Sanskrit literature department at the college have been for the past week protesting against the appointment of Firoz Khan as an assistant professor in the department.scroll
Delhi is world’s most polluted city; Kolkata, Mumbai also in top 10, says global air quality monitor
https://scroll.in/latest/943917/delhi-is-worlds-most-polluted-city-kolkata-mumbai-also-in-top-10-says-global-air-quality-monitor
India’s Capital Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, according to IQ AirVisual, a Swiss-based group that gathers air-quality data globally. Data also showed Kolkata and Mumbai on its list as the world’s sixth and ninth most polluted cities.AirVisual’s data is updated frequently so the Air Quality Index count and the ranking changes during the day.“Delhi experienced its longest period of hazardous air pollution on record during late Oct.and early Nov.,”AirVisual said. “For 9 consecutive days from Sunday, Oct.27, overall Delhi air quality was in the hazardous zone, a level at which the entire population is likely to be affected.”4 Chinese cities – Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Beijing – were also in top 10 polluted list. Remaining 3 cities include Pakistan’s Lahore at 3rd spot, Tashkent in Uzbekistan at 4th and Kathmandu in Nepal at the 7th.scroll
Tap water in Mumbai safe for drinking; not in 17 state capitals: Govtstudy
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/tap-water-in-mumbai-safe-for-drinking-not-in-17-state-capitals-govt-study/861716.html
Mumbai residents need not buy reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers as a study by the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has found samples of tap water collected from the financial capital compliant with the Indian standards for drinking water, according to a report.However, other metro cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai failed in almost 10 out of 11 quality parameters tested by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which is under the aegis of Consumer Affairs Ministry. Similarly, samples drawn from 17 other state capitals were not as per the specification ‘Indian Standard (IS)-10500:2012’ for drinking water.tribuneindia
WORLD
Israeli army launches fresh air raids on Gaza, targets Hamas
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/israeli-army-launches-fresh-air-raids-gaza-targets-hamas-191116055549476.html
Israel has said it carried out fresh air raids on the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire from the besieged enclave, two days after a precarious ceasefire went into force following a round of fighting that killed dozens of Palestinians. Israeli army said its attacks early on Saturday did not target positions of the Islamic Jihad group but sites belonging to Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate comment by Hamas.The air raids marked the first time Hamas was targeted since this week's escalation began early on Tuesday with Israel's targeted assassination of Bahaa Abu al-Ata, a top commander of Islamic Jihad, the enclave's second-most powerful group after Hamas. After 2 days of violence, in which 34 Palestinians died but no Israeli fatalities, a ceasefire was agreed. Fire from both sides was reported on Saturday.In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli army said it was attacking Hamas targets after "two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory" and were intercepted by air defences. Palestinian security sources told AFP Israeli attacks were aimed at 2 Hamas sites in the north of the territory.aljazeera
Israeli army to probe 'unexpected' Gaza civilian deaths
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/israeli-army-probe-unexpected-gaza-civilian-deaths-191116095847797.html
Israel's military has said it will investigate the death of civilians in Gaza after an attack that it originally said targeted a leader of Islamic Jihad group.aljazeera
Voting closes in Sri Lanka presidential elections marred by attack on convoy of Muslims
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-presidential-elections/article29990416.ece?homepage=true
Colombo:Polls closed this evening after a day of voting for Sri Lanka next President, an election marred by shots fired at a convoy of Muslims heading to cast their ballots in what some called a coordinated effort to disenfranchise minority group.There were no reported injuries in the convoy attack and police were investigating, said Manjula Gajanayake, spokesman for Colombo-based Centre for Monitoring Election Violence. The centre said there were reports elsewhere of minor election law violations, such as supporters influencing voters near polling stations and distributing mock ballots with party symbols.Campaigning for Sri Lanka presidential election was dominated by worries over national security, which was pushed to the forefront after deadly Islamic State-inspired suicide bomb attacks on Easter Sunday that killed 269 people. At the same time, there fear among both Tamils and Muslims about a return to power of front-runner Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a hardline former defence official under his brother, ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa brothers are revered by Sri Lanka Sinhalese Buddhist majority for defeating Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 and ending the nation's long-running civil war. But because of their heavy-handed rule during and after the war, some minorities fear their return.Results are expected as early as Nov. 17. Muslims attacked today were part of a convoy organised by Premadasa supporters and was taking them back to vote in the northern district of Mannar. As they were heading to vote, they were shot at, pelted with stones and blocked by burning tires hours before polls opened.Shreen Saroor, an activist working with displaced Muslims, said the attack made them more determined to vote and they were using public transport and private vehicles to get to the polling stations in Mannar. There is a concerted effort to keep the Muslims away from the ballot box, Ratnajeevan Hoole, a member of the Elections Commission, said.AP
Sri Lanka election: Minorities fear vote result
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/sri-lanka-election-minorities-fear-vote-result-191116060057543.html
Car bomb kills at least 12 in Syrian town held by Turkey
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/car-bomb-kills-at-least-12-in-syrian-town-held-by-turkey
A car bomb exploded today in a northern Syrian town controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters, killing at least 12 people and wounding others, Syrian opposition activists and Turkey's Defense Ministry said. Northern Syria has been hit by several explosions that have killed and wounded scores of people over the past month. That's since Turkey began a military operation against Kurdish fighters in the wake of Donald Trump's decision to pull the bulk of US troops out of northern Syria.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 14 people, including nine civilians, were killed today the town of al-Bab in Aleppo province.PTI
Turkey: Over 6,000 Syrians moved from Istanbul
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191116-turkey-over-6000-syrians-moved-from-istanbul/
Turkey has sent more than 6,000 Syrian migrants in Istanbul to temporary housing centres in other provinces since early July, local governor’s office said on Friday, two weeks after a deadline for Syrians not registered in the city to leave.Authorities had given Syrians not registered in Istanbul until October 30 to move to another province or face forced removal from the city, reported Reuters. middleeastmonitor
Tunisia: Habib Jemli tasked with forming a new Govt
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/tunisia-habib-jemli-tasked-forming-Govt-191116072758961.html
Tunisia's recently elected President Kais Saied has tasked agricultural engineer Habib Jemli with forming a Govt after the Ennahdha party nominated him for the PM's job.After the announcement on Friday, Jemli said cabinet members will be chosen on "their competence and integrity, regardless of their political affiliation", in a video posted on the presidency's Facebook page. Jemli, who described himself as an independent, served as a junior minister in the first Ennahda-led Govt formed in late 2011 after the fall of longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to a pro-democracy uprising. The 60-year-old has two months to form a coalition out of a deeply fractured Parliament in which Ennahdha, as the largest party, took only a quarter of the seats in last month's election. In case Jemli fails, Saied will nominate another PM.Tunisia's new Parliament on Wednesday elected Ennahdha's Rached Ghannouchi as its speaker after the rival Heart of Tunisia party backed him, opening the way for a possible coalition Govt between them. Any new Govt will need the support of at least two other parties to command even the minimum parliamentary majority of 109 seats needed to pass legislation.aljazeera
Bill Gates tops Jeff Bezos as world’s richest person with Amazon slide
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bill-gates-tops-jeff-bezos-as-worlds-richest-person-with-amazon-slide-6122499/
Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates overtook Amazon.com Inc.’s Jeff Bezos as the world’s richest person on Friday, reclaiming the top ranking for the first time in more than 2 years.Gates may have been helped in part by the Pentagon’s surprise decision announced Oct. 25 to award a $10 billion cloud-computing contract to Microsoft over Amazon. Shares of Microsoft have since climbed 4%, giving Gates a $110 billion fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Amazon’s stock is down about 2% since the announcement, putting Bezos’s net worth at $108.7 billion.Gates, 64, had briefly topped Bezos, 55, on an intraday basis last month after Amazon posted its first profit drop in two years, but shares of the world’s biggest online retailer pared the decline.Bloomberg
Flash: NEWS, views and Articles
Babri Masjid demolition trial is a textbook example of how delayed justice can be:Ananya Bhardwaj
https://theprint.in/india/babri-masjid-demolition-trial-is-a-textbook-example-of-how-delayed-justice-can-be/320748/
Fact Check: Afghan and Turkish mosques passed off as Babri Masjid
https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check/story/fact-check-afghan-and-turkish-mosques-passed-off-as-babri-masjid-1619435-2019-11-15
Inheritance of Loss | Muslim Viewpoint:Rahul Noronha
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20191125-the-inheritance-of-loss-the-muslim-viewpoint-1618721-2019-11-15
Ayodhya verdict offers justice for some, but not fairness for all:Shah Alam Khan
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/separated-at-the-seam-ayodhya-verdict-6121983/
BJP has been effective in transmitting its version of Indian history to the next generation of learners:Christophe Jaffrelot
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/education-ours-and-theirs-6121982/
Ayodhya verdict: Misrepresentations, half-truths and lies being propagated on ruling a result of serious misreading of judgment: Kartikeya Tanna
https://www.firstpost.com/india/ayodhya-verdict-misrepresentations-half-truths-and-lies-being-propagated-on-ruling-a-result-of-serious-misreading-of-judgment-7660371.html
Why Sikhs Don't See Khalistan Terror Through Kartarpur Corridor as a Serious Threat:Chander Suta Dogra
https://thewire.in/rights/sikhs-khalistan-threat-kartarpur
Jaishankar’s foreign policy audit sits uneasy with his reading of current global situation:Rajesh Rajagopalan
https://theprint.in/opinion/jaishankars-foreign-policy-audit-sits-uneasy-with-his-reading-of-current-global-situation/322128/
Minority communities’ trust in system and Govt stands shaken and hurt : Humra Quraishi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/minority-communities-trust-in-system-and-Govt-stands-shaken-and-hurt
‘Bitter truths must remain in memory’: CJI Ranjan Gogoi refuses interview requests on last day
https://scroll.in/latest/943839/bitter-truths-must-remain-in-memory-cji-ranjan-gogoi-refuses-interview-requests-on-last-day
UP CM, his Deputy fling corruption charges at each other
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/yogi-at-loggerheads-with-his-deputy-as-both-throw-corruption-punches-at-each-other
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:57 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment