26 NOV. 2019: 28 Rabiul Awwal 1441: Vol: 12, No: 67
INDIA: MAHARASHTRA POLITICS
MLAs pass resolution appointing Uddhav as CM nominee of Sena-NCP-Cong front; to meet Guv tonight to stake claim; Oath to take on Dec 1
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-live-updates-shiv-sena-ncp-congress-bjp-fadnavis-governor-koshyari-sharad-ajit-pawar-6137021/?#liveblogstart
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/maharashtra-govt-formation-live-updates-mumbai-ajit-pawar-devendra-fadnavis-ncp-sharad-pawar-shiv-sena-2400341.html
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister in the Shivaji Park on Dec. 1, NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced on Tuesday hours after Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar resigned from CM and deputy CM posts. Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs met at Trident hotel and passed a resolution appointing Uddhav as CM nominee of their front. MLAs also passed the resolution to form ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’, 3-party alliance in Maharashtra.NCP's Nawab Malik said Uddhav was unanimously elected as the leader and he will definitely be the CM. "He'll now go to Raj Bhavan and stake his claim to form govt. If governor accepts the claim, swearing-in ceremony will be held on Dec.1 at 5 pm at Shivaji Park."Thanking Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her support, Uddhav said those with whom the Sena aligned for the past 30 years, did not trust him, referring to BJP. “But those with we fought for 30 years, expressed faith in me,” Uddhav said.Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena, when asked if 'PM Modi will be invited for the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray as CM': Yes we will invite everyone, we will even invite Amit Shah ji."Sharad Pawar said a delegation will go to Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form government after this meeting. Sources in Congress today said NCP's Jayant Patil and Congress party's Balasaheb Thorat will be Uddhav's deputies. Ajit Pawar has reached residence of Sharad Pawar.indianexpress/ news18
'Slap on faces of their masters in Delhi’: Congress slams BJP after Fadnavis quits
https://www.news18.com/news/india/slap-on-the-faces-of-their-masters-in-delhi-congress-slams-bjp-fadnavis-2401431.html
New Delhi: Congress has slammed Devendra Fadnavis and his BJP party after he submitted his resignation as Maharashtra chief minister to Governor BS Koshyari. “This is a victory of constitutional democracy. They thought that through horse trading, they can form govt,”said senior Congress leader KC Venugopal. “This is not only a failure of Devendra Fadnavis, but also a slap on the faces of their masters sitting in Delhi.”The Congress said the “turn of events” in Maharashtra has also brought into question President Ram Nath Kovind’s role. Demanding Koshyari’s resignation, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “Maharashtra Governor should shed his RSS-BJP cloak and invite the ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ of Sena-NCP-Congress to form the government. The turn of events has also put the role of the President under the scanner.”Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Fadnavis government was formed on lies and deception and crashed like a house of cards.NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik described Fadnavis’s reaction as the “victory of the people of Maharashtra”. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, “In the end, the truth always wins. Today, on the occasion of Constitution Day, democratic values have won and the people of Maharashtra have got justice. On Constitution Day, this incident has been recorded in history, the Constitution has won and the real face of BJP has been revealed.”Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said those following the Constitution won and the losers defeated on Constitution Day.news18
Fadnavis for quits just after Ajit Pawar resigned following SC order of floor test
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/devendra-fadnavis-resigns-as-maharashtra-chief-minister-ahead-of-floor-test-tomorrow-2138939?pfrom=home-topscroll
BJP's Devendra Fadnavis ended a dramatic 80-hour stint in his second term as Maharashtra Chief Minister on Tuesday, a day before he was to face a floor test ordered by the Supreme Court. Fadnavis resigned shortly after NCP leader Ajit Pawar quit as his deputy. "Ajit Pawar gave me his resignation. He told me he was resigning because of personal reasons. BJP had decided from the first day we will not indulge in horse-trading. We only decided to form government because NCP was with us. Since he has resigned, we don't have numbers. So I have also decided to resign," Fadnavis told reporters.The resignations came hours after the Supreme Court ordered an "immediate" floor test, to be telecast live, so that Fadnavis could prove his majority in the assembly. "If the floor test is delayed, there is a possibility of horse-trading, it becomes incumbent upon the Court to act to protect democratic values," said three judges.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, 2 top leaders of BJP, had met right after the Supreme Court verdict. They reportedly discussed the party's options in Maharashtra, whether Fadnavis should quit or go through with a floor test that would be tough for BJP to win.A message from the leadership went to Fadnavis after the meeting. Yesterday, Fadnavis formally assumed charge, signed a relief cheque and also held the first meeting of his new term. But Ajit did not officially join. He was also missing from Chief Minister's meeting last evening and he skipped a memorial for 26/11 martyrs this morning.ndtv
BJP's Kalidas Kolambkar Appointed Pro-Tem Speaker For Maharashtra Assembly
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-bjps-kalidas-kolambkar-appointed-as-assembly-pro-tem-speaker-2139059?pfrom=home-topstories
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari today appointed BJP MLA Kalidas Kolambkar as pro-tem Speaker of Assembly. 8-time Wadala MLA Kolambkar was one of the candidates recommended for the post to the governor."The governor has administered the oath to Kolambkar as pro-tem speaker of the assembly. Kolambkar will administer the oath to remaining 287 MLAs during the assembly session," said an official from Raj Bhavan.The Supreme Court asked Governor to appoint a pro-tem speaker and ensure all elected members of the House are sworn in tomorrow.PTI
'Chanakya' Sharad Pawar outwits BJP, becomes Maharashtra man of match
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chanakya-sharad-pawar-outwits-bjp-becomes-maharashtra-man-of-match/articleshow/72245566.cms
Shiv Sena used its 'sena' to protect NCP MLAs from poachers
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/11/26/how-shiv-sena-used-its-sena-to-protect-ncp-mlas-from-poachers.html
Maharashtra Governor violated Constitution: Rtd SC judge Sawant
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-governor-has-violated-constitution-ajit-pawar-has-no-right-to-issue-whip-says-retired-sc-judge-6137120/
Pune :Retired Supreme Court judge Justice P B Sawant Tuesday said NCP leader and newly-appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar stands on weak ground and has no locus standi to issue whip to MLAs in the Assembly. His comments came hours before the Supreme Court ordered a floor test. Justice (retd) Sawant said Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had “violated the Constitution and the principles of parliamentary democracy”.“Whatever is currently happening in Maharashtra is highly unconstitutional. From the appointment of Chief Minister and Deputy CM and their bid to form government, this is not the constitutional route. Even when Assembly term expired, the appointment of the caretaker chief minister was unconstitutional. The Governor should not have been a party to these unconstitutional happenings… MLAs first have to take an oath, only then the Assembly takes birth and subsequently the government has to be formed,” he said, adding that Governor “failed to maintain the dignity of August office”.Justice Sawant described the Governor as a “puppet in the hands of the Govt.” indianexpress
BABRI MASJID CASE
Ayodhya verdict: Sunni Waqf Board won't file review; dissent prevails
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/ayodhya-sunni-board-wont-file-review;-dissent-prevails
Lucknow:UP Sunni Waqf Board will not challenge the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute. A decision to this effect was taken at a stormy meeting of the Board held here on Tuesday which was attended by seven members. 6 members were unanimous in their opinion that no review petition should be filed, but the seventh member, Abdul Razzaq, struck a discordant note when he said that a petition should be filed. He was overruled by the other members.Razzaq, later termed, the Sunni Board's decision as "ridiculous".Those present in the meeting included Board chairman Zufar Faruqi, Adnan Farooque Shah, Khushnood Miyan, Junaid Siddiqui, Mohd. Junaid, Mohd. Abrar Ahmad and Abdul Razzaq who left the meeting midway.Board chairman, Zufar Faruqi, has been in the eye of the storm ever since he said that no review petition would be filed on the Ayodhya issue after the Supreme Court announced its verdict.Several leaders questioned his decision that was announced without a meeting of the board. Zufar Faruqi told reporters that no decision was taken by the Board on whether the offer of 5-acre land should be accepted or not."The members said the issue would be taken up at another meeting after the government gave a concrete offer of the land," he said.IANS
BJP welcomes Sunni Board decision not to seek review of SC verdict
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ayodhya-case-bjp-welcomes-sunni-waqf-board-decision-not-to-seek-review-of-sc-verdict/1776006/
New Delhi BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday welcomed the Sunni Central Waqf Board’s decision not to go for a review of the Ayodhya verdict and said it was in national interest and aimed at maintaining national harmony.Hussain said the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Ayodhya case has been accepted by all and the countrymen have maintained peace and harmony after its pronouncement.“I welcome the Waqf Board’s decision to not to file review petition on Ayodhya verdict. It is in national interest and aimed at maintaining harmony in the country,” he said. “The way Hindus and Muslims showed maturity and compassion towards each other post the verdict shows how the brotherhood amongst Indians is above all,” he added. PTI
Ayodhya verdict should be respected, puja is being performed at mosque since 1949: Azam Khan
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/ayodhya-verdict-should-be-respected-puja-is-being-performed-at-mosque-since-1949-says-azam-khan/519759
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, today said that the Supreme Court verdict in Ayodhya land dispute case should be respected by all.“Puja is being performed at the mosque since Dec.1949 when the idols were placed there. I have already said that people should not fight with each other and respect the Supreme Court’s decision,” Lok Sabha MP from Rampur said outside the Parliament.Times Now
Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas member Vedanti opposes move of challenging SC's Ayodhya verdict also demands Govt 200 acres of land for Ram temple
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/ram-janmabhoomi-nyas-member-vedanti-opposes-move-of-challenging-scs-ayodhya-verdict20191126170404/
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/give-us-200-acres-land-for-ram-temple-demands-ramjanmbhoomi-nyas-member-vedanti20191126163504/
New Delhi:Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas member Ram Vilas Vedanti on Tuesday opposed the move of challenging the unanimous verdict of the Supreme Court in the decades-long Ayodhya land dispute, saying that Sunni Waqf Board should follow the orders of the SC.Vedanti said: "Sunni Waqf Board is attempting to spread lies and hate through this petition. The top court has given its decision, so now the board should calm down and accept the verdict."He also expressed support to the statements of veteran film actress Shabana Azmi, who earlier opposed the decision to challenge the verdict. Vedanti also demanded Central Government to allocate at least 200 acres of land for the construction of a grand Ram Temple at the site in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh."At least 200 acres of land should be granted for the temple of such stature on lines of Ranakpur mandir, Akshardham Mandir, Sankheshwar temple in Kutch. The nyas would welcome anyone that is appointed by Modi-led government in the trust for the construction of Ram Temple,"Vedanti said.He, however, stated that 67 acres of land in Ayodhya is not enough for the temple. He further suggested a few names that may be considered for appointment to the trust. He asserted that he had served the Ramjanmabhoomi cause for the past several decades and wanted a grand temple at the site that could do justice to the aspirations of people like late VHP chief Ashok Singhal etc who had fought for it their entire lives.Vedanti claimed that he will abide by the decision taken by the Centre on trust and its members.ANI
In protest lies closure; 7-Day story of Ayodhya verdict review: The Quint
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/ayodhya-dispute-verdict-aimplb-review-petition
"Everyone kept saying Muslims welcome Ayodhya verdict. That there is no resentment. That there is no despondency. That there is no disappointment. So much so that civilised protests that should have happened, and rightly so in a democracy, also did not happen," Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), who broke the news that Ayodhya verdict was going to be reviewed on 17 Nov, said.From shock to despondency that gradually seeped in with every passing day, Muslim leaders held several meetings and deliberations before announcing on 17 Nov.that they will review the Ayodhya verdict.The Quint tracked how AIMPLB as well as Jamiat-Ulema-E-Hind organised deliberations, talks and consulted common people through their networks of madrasas and mosques leading them to develop the confidence to file for a review. This attempt described by them is a last attempt to remain 'truthful to their faith while ensuring they maintained peace'. They are to file an appeal by 8 Dec. While the verdict was announced on 9 Nov, India's NSA, Ajit Doval invited religious leaders from the Hindu and Islamic faiths to make a plea to maintain peace on 10 Nov. Mohammad Salim Engineer, who is vice president of Jamaat-E-Islami Hind, said: “Doval saab said that this meeting was to be called before the verdict, but since the verdict came earlier than expected, rather than cancelling it he found it important to be held. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss ways to ensure there is 'peace and harmony,” he said.Among Muslims who were present, were representatives from Jamaat, Jaimiat Ahle Hadees, Ajmer Dargah, Muslim Musharat, Dargah Nizamuddin and others. "Everyone spoke for 4-5 minutes each. I told them that I was hurt, shocked and disappointed by the verdict. Many others raised similar concerns," Engineer who was represent Jamaat-e-Islami at the meet said. "The displeasure was completely blacked out by the media, only the positive reports came out," Engineer added. Also a sentiment echoed by AIMPLB's SQR Illyas, who is also associated with Jamaat. When asked if NSA engaged with the Muslim leaders who were upset, he recalls, "Doval did not respond to us. He just started the conversations but did not deliberate much after. In the end again he said thank you to everyone. He did not ask if we were going to petition the verdict or anything." thequint
J&K & SOUTH ASIA
J&K leaders refuse to sign release bonds
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jk-leaders-refuse-to-sign-release-bonds/article30079167.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration has opened channels of communication with 32 detained political prisoners of the regional parties, but put riders on their release. Meanwhile, 2 leaders, Jammu and Kashmir People Democratic Front’s Hakeem Yaseen and PDP Mohammad Ashraf Mir, were released on Monday, indicating a move to release the leaders in a phased manner.In the past 10 days, a SDM-level officer visited senior leaders of the National Conference (NC), PDP, Peoples Conference (PC) and J&K Peoples Movement (J&KPM) over 3 times and discussed ways and means to ensure their release.The officer, sources said, “insisted on abiding by administration’s suggestion to sign bonds in lieu of their release.”Senior officials confirmed that NC’s top leader Ali Muhammad Sagar, an ex MLA and minister; PDP’s Naeem Akhar, ex MLA and minister; PC chief Sajad Lone, ex MLA and minister, and J&K PM chief Shah Faesal, an IAS topper who quit his job join politics earlier this year,“have repeatedly refused to sign a bond for their release.”Sagar and Akhtar, sources said, told the government point man that such bonds were aimed at “curtailing the rightful political space of regional players, discredit the local leadership in front of the eyes of the locals and were being publicised later only to add to political vacuum post Aug.5.” All these leaders were detained and taken into preventive detention on August 5. The bonds, which the leaders were being asked to sign, reads: “He/she will not make any comment or issue statement or make public speeches or participate in the public assembly related to recent events...for a period of one year from the date of signature of the bond.”The move by the authorities to release NC leader Mubarak Gul for a night on Saturday on parole to meet his ailing sister has failed to break the ice with the regional leaders, “who have put up a joint front inside the sub-jail of MLA Hostel in Srinagar.” However,sources said Lone’s plea to meet his mother was turned down by the authorities. Meanwhile, Yaseen and Mir’s release is a signal that officials negotiating have been able to make some headway. thehindu
'Didn't Challenge Detention Fearing Consequences,' Says Jailed PDP Leader's Daughter
https://thewire.in/rights/kashmir-naeem-akhtar-shehryar-khanum
J&K: Lt Governor orders restoration of Tral shrine after blaze, says guilty will be punished
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-lt-governor-directs-restoration-of-tral-shrine-after-blaze-6137666/
Jammu :Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu today condemned the fire incident at Kounsarbal (Krusbal) Mohalla, Old Tral Township in which miscreants set ablaze a shrine adjacent to a mosque late on Monday. Murmu said such acts are designed to create unrest among the people, adding perpetrators will be brought to book. Police have already launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. Lieutenant Governor also appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm and not get swayed by any rumour-mongering or by any inimical element. L-G has directed DGP to strengthen the security of shrines across Jammu and Kashmir. He also directed Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir to take immediate measures to restore the Tral shrine.indianexpress
2 killed, 7 injured in blasts in Anantnag, Srinagar
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/two-killed-seven-injured-in-blasts-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-anantnag-srinagar/article30087647.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:2 blasts rocked Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag and Srinagar districts today, killing 2 people and injuring 7, police said.In south Kashmir’s Anantnag, militants lobbed a grenade in Wagoora area when government function — ‘Back to Village programme’ — was taking place, killing two people and injuring four others, a police official said.In Srinagar city, an explosion took place in the market near Sir Syed gate of Kashmir University in Hazratbal area in the afternoon, official said.3 persons were injured in the explosion. All are stated to be stable, he said.PTI
Punjab CM advocates peace with Pakistan, slams ‘ISI-operated SFJ’ as hardcore terrorism
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-cm-advocates-peace-with-pakistan-slams-isi-operated-sfj-as-hardcore-terrorism-6137014/
Chandigarh :Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh Monday said Indian would not allow ISI-backed forces, such as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ),to disturb its harmony and stability, even as he advocated peace and friendship with Pakistan to enable both countries to move forward towards development and progress. “We are hoping to achieve friendship and peace with our neighbours. India has been through enough and Pakistan has been through even worse, so I don’t know why we can’t get together and sort this matter out,” Amarinder Singh said.He was addressing diaspora at Birmingham Town Hall as part of 550th birth anniversary celebrations Guru Nanak Dev in UK. Some members of SFJ, banned by India for its pro-Khalistani ‘Referendum 2020’ propaganda, protested outside the venue. CM branded outfit as an “entirely ISI operation”.indianexpress
Sri Lanka does not want to get caught between India and China’s power struggles: President Rajapaksa
https://scroll.in/latest/944940/sri-lanka-does-not-want-to-get-caught-between-india-and-chinas-power-struggles-gotabaya-rajapaksa
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said his government will work with both India and China, and does not want to be caught “in between the power struggle of superpowers”. Rajapaksa, a former defence secretary who won Nov.16 General Elections by more than 13 lakh votes, made the remarks on Monday in an interview with a news agency.“We understand the importance of Indian concerns so we cannot engage in any activity that will threaten the security of India,” he said. “India is a big power, and a big country. We have to understand the point of view of other countries and act accordingly.”Rajapaksa, who is considered to be pro-China, said he wants Lanka to be neutral and work with other countries. “We are so small and we cannot survive to get into these balancing acts,” he added.scroll.in
INDIAN ECONOMY
India Ratings lowers India's Q2 GDP growth to 4.7%; FY20 forecast at 5.6%
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/indias-gdp-growth-in-q2-at-47-fy20-forecast-at-56-ind-ra/article30086752.ece#
Indian economy may have slowed for sixth consecutive quarter in July-Sept.to 4.7 per cent, Fitch group firm India Ratings and Research today said, as it lowered GDP growth forecast for current fiscal for the fourth time. Indian economy expanded 5 per cent in April-June, its slowest annual pace since 2013. 4.7 per cent projection for the second quarter of the current fiscal would mark 6 consecutive quarters of slowing growth, a first since 2012.This comes despite a recent series of fiscal stimulus, including reduction in corporate tax rates. “India Ratings and Research has revised its GDP growth forecast for FY20 to 5.6 per cent. This is the fourth revision and has come in after the agency had revised its FY20 GDP growth forecast only a month ago to 6.1 per cent,” the rating agency said in a statement.The revision, it said, became “inevitable as high-frequency data now suggests that the agency’s estimate of 2QFY20 GDP growth coming in a little higher than 5 per cent is unlikely to hold.”“The new projection suggests that 2QFY20 GDP growth is likely to be 4.7 per cent,” it said. Second-quarter GDP numbers are likely to be announced on Friday.PTI
RBI to cut rates again, but still no respite for economy: Reuters Poll
https://thewire.in/economy/rbi-to-cut-rates-again-but-still-no-respite-for-economy-reuters-poll
Bengaluru: RBI will cut interest rates in December for a sixth time this year, and again before July, according to economists in a Reuters poll who forecast those reductions would either marginally boost the economy or have no impact. Currently the most aggressive major central bank in the world, RBI has cut rates by 135 basis points this year to 5.15%, but inflation has remained low by historical standards and policymakers have barely moved the needle on growth. The Indian economy expanded 5.0% in April-June quarter on a year earlier, its slowest annual pace since 2013, and was expected to grow 4.7% last quarter, according to the latest Reuters poll, taken Nov. 20-25.That was significantly lower than the 5.6% rate predicted in the last poll, and would mark six consecutive quarters of slowing growth, a first since 2012. It also comes despite a recent series of fiscal stimulus from Modi’s government, which was re-elected in a landslide in May. Reuters
Over 92,000 employees of BSNL, MTNL opt for voluntary retirement scheme
https://thewire.in/labour/over-92000-employees-of-bsnl-mtnl-opt-for-voluntary-retirement-scheme
Over 92,000 employees of state-run BSNL and MTNL have so far opted for the recently announced VRS, according to a government source.The source said the scheme and the strong response it has generated marks the biggest milestone in the history of these state-owned corporations.Over 92,000 employees of BSNL and MTNL have opted for the scheme so far, the source added.Nearly 100,000 BSNL employees are eligible for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) out of its total staff strength of about 150,000. The effective date of voluntary retirement under the present scheme is January 31, 2020. ‘BSNL Voluntary Retirement Scheme – 2019’, that was rolled out recently, will remain open till Dec. 3. BSNL is looking at savings of about Rs 7,000 crore in the wage bill if 70,000-80,000 personnel opt for the scheme.According to the plan, all regular and permanent employees of BSNL including those on deputation to other organisations or posted outside the corporation on a deputation basis, who attended the age of 50 years or above are eligible to seek voluntary retirement under the scheme.PTI
EDUCATION & INSTITUTIONS
Chinmayanand rape case: Law student barred from appearing for semester exams
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chinmayanand-case-law-student-barred-from-appearing-for-semester-exams-6136842/
Lucknow ;A university in Bareilly on Monday refused to allow the law student who has accused former union minister Swami Chinmayanand of raping her, to write her third semester examination, scheduled to start from Tuesday, until she produced a court order in this regard. The university administration claimed that the woman did not fulfill mandatory rule of 75 per cent attendance. On the Supreme Court direction, the university had last month admitted the student. She and three others are lodged in a Shahjahanpur jail for allegedly blackmailing and demanding Rs 5 crore from Chinmayanand. The former BJP leader has also been lodged in the same jail since October 20. The student’s lawyer said he would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against the university’s decision. However, the university, on Monday, allowed the girl to appear for a back paper examination. “Today, the university allowed the woman to take her first semester’s back paper examination. But she will not be allowed to take her LLM’s third semester examination which is starting from tomorrow (Tuesday). The Supreme Court had ordered to give admission to her, and we have followed the directive. There is no court direction to allow her to take the examination if she does not fulfill the required 75 per cent attendance,” said University’s Registrar Sunita Pandey indianexpress
JNUSU adamant on restoration of old fee structure, to form human chain tomorrow in Delhi
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/jnu-fee-hike-jnusu-adamant-on-restoration-of-old-fee-structure-in-toto-to-form-a-human-chain-on-wednesday-in-national-capital
New Delhi: JNU Students Union (JNUSU) is adamant on restoration of the old fee structure in toto and has declared that nothing short of it is acceptable to it. On Tuesday evening, the union burnt a copy of November 25 circular about second partial fee hike withdrawal at Freedom Square of the university and announced to hold a human chain at the Connaught Place in the heart of the national Capital to press university administration and Central government to concede its demand. JNUSU, in a statement on Tuesday, appealed to the students and youth across India to join them “for national protest day in defence of affordable and accessible education tomorrow”.It also asked them to organise any form of democratic protest in their respective institutes/area in this connection. Regarding a press release issued by High level Committee (HLC) on Nov 25 wherein the suspension of classes and agitation by students against hostel fee hike has been termed as “loss to the national cause”, the students union retorted, “The administration should know that the real loss to the national cause is a VC unfit for office who is trying to dismantle a university of national stature.” The union called the Nov.25 press release of HLC as “outrageous fraud” by “incompetent vice chancellor” and “his partners in crime of the so-called HLC”.JNU Students Union Vice President Saket Moon categorically rejected the November 25 revision: “We cannot accept it. We want complete withdrawal of fee hike.”India Tomorrow
Muslim Sanskrit prof applies for job in other BHU faculties
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslim-sanskrit-prof-applies-for-job-in-other-bhu-faculties-6136818/
Lucknow :Dr Firoze Khan, whose appointment as assistant professor in Sanskrit Vidya Dharam Vigyan (SVDV) faculty of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) triggered protests by students, has now applied for teaching posts in Sanskrit Dept of the varsity’s Faculty of Arts in the hope of ending the ongoing impasse.Khan, a PhD holder in Sanskrit, has also applied for the post of assistant professor in university’s Faculty of Ayurveda. Sources close to the Jaipur-based professor said that if selected, he would quit from SVDV faculty. He is keen to teach in Faculty of Arts as the students of SVDV have said that they have no problem with Khan, a Muslim, teaching there,they said.“Khan is not much interested in teaching in Ayurveda faculty because it will be like deviating from his field of interest and his area of expertise. Also, books he would have to teach there are not enough as Sanskrit literature in Ayurveda is not that rich when compared to the other department. However, if he is selected in Faculty of Arts, he will then resign from SVDV,”said a source close to Khan.indianexpress
Hindus teaching Urdu in Rajasthan colleges amid row over Muslim Sanskrit prof in BHU
https://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/hindus-teaching-urdu-in-rajasthan-colleges-amid-row-over-muslim-sanskrit-prof-in-bhu/story-X34W5c9Q0mWlDURg5y3IVK.html
Even as Firoz Khan, assistant professor from Rajasthan, had to face protests in BHU for teaching Sanskrit, several Hindu lecturers are teaching Urdu across government colleges in the state.Chhotu Meena (39), associate professor in Government Girls College of Peeplu (Tonk), can be seen taking class Urdu classes in his college. There are 15 students of Urdu in his class who are all Hindus and hail from Tonk, a district with considerable Muslim population.When asked about his experience as an Urdu teacher, Chhotu said, “I have never faced any difficulty in teaching Urdu subject and most of the students even do not know that Urdu language is associated with any particular religion”. Chhotu is not the only Hindu college lecturer who is teaching Urdu in Rajasthan.Krishna Kumar Meena is another Urdu lecturer at the Government College, Tonk. When asked about the BHU controversy, he said, “Language cannot be confined within the boundaries of any religion”.“If we are associating language with religion, then why are we studying English language in the country?” asked Krishna who has 40% Hindu and 60% Muslim students of Urdu language in the college. Sunita Chawla (38), who is an Urdu lecturer at the government college in Sangod town of Kota district, said, “India believes in the tradition of ‘entire world is a family’ and it would be a narrow-minded view if we see language through the prism of religion.”She said that there are over a dozen Hindu college lecturers and around 60 school lecturers who are teaching Urdu in the state.Mukesh Kumar (32), who is an associate professor of Urdu at University of Rajasthan, said, “Urdu or any other language is a literature in itself, so everyone has the right to learn and teach any language.”HT
Hyderabad: Schools in a fix over Vande Mataram
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/261119/hyderabad-schools-in-a-fix-over-national-song.html
Hyderabad: Government schools in the old city are in a dilemma over the instructions of district education officer (DEO), Hyderabad making it mandatory to chant ‘Vande Mataram’ during the morning assembly. They believe it will create unnecessary tension as parents will oppose it. DEO B. Venkata Narasamma held a meeting of deputy education officers and deputy inspectors of schools on Oct.31, in which she reviewed various matters related to functioning of government and aided schools. Minutes of the meeting were prepared by education department and sent a week ago to the headmasters of the schools for implementation. This created confusion among the teaching fraternity, particularly those working in the old city. Mohammed Kashif, whose ward is studying in Asifnagar government school, said that reciting Vande Mataram is against the beliefs of Muslims. It is the basic tenet of Islam that nobody and nothing else is entitled to be worshipped except Allah. “We respect and love our country, but it does not mean that we have to worship it. Students should not be forced to recite Vande Mataram,” he said. He hopes the government will intervene and issue instructions to the education department not to insist on the song during the assembly. President of All India Ideal Teachers Association Prof. Anwarullah Khan said officials should not insist on anything that is not mandatory. Vande Mataram has no legal sanctity such as the national anthem.This kind of instruction will create unnecessary problems in schools, he said.DeccanChronicle
Rajasthan HC nod to ACB probe in madrassa teachers’ appointment case
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/hc-nod-to-acb-probe-in-madrassa-teachers-appointment-case/articleshow/72232012.cms
Jaipur: A single bench of Rajasthan High Court on Monday asked chief secretary (CS) to seize past records of madrassa teachers’ recruitments and get the alleged irregularities investigated by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The matter is related to the appointment of 128 ineligible candidates among 3,500 madrassa teachers’ on contract in 2010. The court has also directed the government to complete ACB probe in three months. The interim orders were given by the court comprising Justice Sanjeev Sharma on a petition filed by one Razia Sultan. The court also expressed displeasure over the action taken against Usman Khan, the then secretary of the board, who was found guilty in the recruitment report of minority department. The court also questioned as to why the state government was protecting Khan in this case. “The court has asked the chief secretary to take all the records of the recruitments, especially of 128 candidates and ask ACB to probe and complete their investigation in three months,”Satendra Raghav, additional advocate general in this case told TOI.TOI
In Odisha school, a Muslim woman is a popular Sanskrit teacher
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/in-odisha-school-a-muslim-woman-is-a-popular-sanskrit-teacher/story-WHWnIxkjXiRUJsG8fX4xhO.html
Bhubaneswar:A huge controversy has been raging over appointment of Firoze Khan as an assistant professor in Sanskrit depr. of BHU with students objecting to a Muslim teacher for teaching Sanskrit. But in a backward district of Odisha, a Muslim woman has been teaching Sanskrit to hundreds of students over last 27 years with her colleagues and officials vouchsafing her credentials as a good teacher. Hasan Tara, a 50-year-old Muslim teacher in Reamal block of Deogarh district has been teaching Sanskrit to her students in Khairpali high school without anyone ever raising any objection.“She is quite a popular teacher in our school and is very diligent in her teaching. My daughter too studied under her and scored good marks in Sanskrit. She very hardworking teacher and tries to ensure that all her students score more than 70% in the Sanskrit exam,” said Khairpalli high school headmaster Anant Satpathy. The school has 160 students spread over in Std 8, 9 and 10.HT
UP accounts for most complaints over midday meal graft: HRD Ministry
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-accounts-for-most-complaints-over-midday-meal-graft-hrd-ministry-6136747/
New Delhi : Over the last 3 years, Union government has received 52 complaints regarding corruption under Midday Meal Scheme (MDMS), of which the largest is regarding the state of UP, HRD Ministry told Parliament. This revelation comes soon after UP government had filed a case against a journalist after he reported how students in a government primary school in Mirzapur were served only roti and salt for the midday meal. 2nd largest number of corruption complaints came from Bihar(11), followed by West Bengal(6). indianexpress
OTHERS
Kanakamala case: 6 guilty, but they are not Islamic State men, says court
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/nov/26/kanakamala-case-six-guilty-but-they-are-not-islamic-state-men-says-court-2067042.html
Kochi: In a major setback to NIA, special court in Kochi has found that 7 persons, arrested for holding a meeting to allegedly plot attacks at Kanakamala in Kannur, were not members of Islamic State (IS). NIA Court Judge P Krishna Kumar, however, found 6 accused persons guilty of being members of a terrorist outfit, among other charges.It also acquitted one person in the case. The court will sentence the convicts on Wednesday. “The prosecution failed to prove that the accused were Islamic State members. It could not provide evidence to prove charges under IPC Sections 121 and 122 – that they waged a war against the country and collected arms and ammunition for the purpose,” the court said.“The court can categorically say accused were not IS members. They are qualified to be called members of a terrorist gang,” the judge said in paragraph 270 of the verdict. In the hearing for awarding the sentence, the convicted persons submitted that their immaturity in using social media landed them in the case. They pleaded for maximum leniency as their families relied on them for meeting daily expenses. Manseed, Swalih and Rashid Ali, Safvan, Moinudheen were found guilty under various sections of UAPA and IPC. new indian express
India, Israel share and value same principles of democracy: PM Modi
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-israel-share-and-value-same-principles-of-democracy-modi/articleshow/72240936.cms
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today thanked Israeli leadership for their wishes on Constitution Day, saying the two countries share and value the same principles of democracy.Israel President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished India on Constitution Day in tweets.On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly had adopted the Constitution. Till a few years ago, the day was observed as ‘Law Day’. “Thank you for your warm greetings on India’s #ConstitutionDay. We remember your visit to India in 2016 with great fondness. We also take pride in our friendship with the vibrant democracy of Israel,” Modi wrote on Twitter in response to Rivlin’s greetings.He also thanked Netanyahu, saying Israel is a cherished strategic partner.“We share and value the same principles of democracy,” he said.PTI
Modi govt’s new bill to regulate digital media has no punishment clause for paid news
https://theprint.in/india/modi-govt-new-bill-to-regulate-digital-media-has-no-punishment-clause-for-paid-news/326649/
New Delhi: 2 years after it was first drafted, I&B Ministry is all set to bring a bill that will give government the power to regulate news websites, newspapers and the printing presses.The draft bill — now called ‘Registration of Press and Periodicals (RPP) Bill, 2019— will replace archaic Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867, which currently regulates printing presses and newspapers.The bill has been uploaded online for comments and suggestions from stakeholders. A draft of the bill, earlier called ‘Registration of Newspapers and Publications Bill, 2017’, was ready 2 years ago but was put into cold storage by the I&B Ministry.When Prakash Javadekar took charge as I&B Minister in May this year, ThePrint had reported about the govt’s plans to take this bill forward, among other policy measures.The bill largely has provisions borrowed from its earlier version — with some changes. A provision proposed in the earlier version of the bill on punitive action on paid news by suspending a publication for 45 days or cancelling their registration by the press registrar general has been removed from the current draft.theprint
Bill to protect rights of transgenders passed in RS
https://theprint.in/india/governance/bill-to-protect-rights-of-transgenders-passed-in-rajya-sabha/326636/
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Tuesday passed a Bill on protection of rights of transgenders after a motion to refer it to a Select Committee of Upper House was defeated. Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on Aug 5.PTI
'NRC revision in his state would cost him his Chief Ministership': Video of Tripura Chief Minister Deb
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/video-of-biplab-debs-comment-on-nrc-goes-viral-heres-what-he-said-6136558/?fbclid=IwAR0RJZ5-3CpsJZjFdIs7VWF-dJFlw99zgeIDhKVsjLLAZTVCbiODUUECYDc
Agartala :A video clip of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has gone viral on social media, where he is purportedly seen saying NRC revision in his state would cost him his Chief Ministership.Deb is seen in the video saying his father and relatives came from Bangladesh and if NRC is implemented in Tripura, he would be among those affected by it, by losing his CM’s chair.“If I implement it in my state…My relatives, my father came from Bangladesh. He has got his citizenship card…After that, I was born in Tripura. So, if anyone suffers a loss due to NRC, I shall lose my Chief Ministership first. Am I a fool that I shall implement NRC to lose CM-ship?” Deb is seen saying in the video clip.The clip was widely shared on Facebook, Twitter and different social media platforms, triggering a volley of comments from netizens. Some of them reminded him he would be safe since Citizenship Amendment Bill is also being moved by the Government of India, while some others were critical of his statement. The video clip is an extract of a press conference by Chief Minister at Raiganj and Kaliyaganj in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, where he went on a bye-election campaign two days ago.Deb’s motorcade was not allowed to move on the regular route and was prescribed an alternative route. He later held a pres conference and criticised Mamata Banerjee for purportedly ‘insulting’ him by stopping his movements. Indianexpress.com tried to confirm the facts of the video clip with CMO. CM’s Media Advisor Sanjay Mishra said the video clip was “taken out of context for dirty politics” by some in order to confuse people.In the full video clip of CM Deb’s press conference, he is seen saying that NRC and Citizenship Amendment Bill are meant to protect Indians from “illegal immigrants, foreign infiltrators, thieves and dacoits”. Earlier last year, Deb had said there was no need to revise NRC in Tripura as there was no public demand for it.indianexpress
Fears loom over NRC, CAB
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/261119/hyderabad-fears-loom-over-nrc-cab.html
Hyderabad: Kannan Gopinathan, IAS officer from Kerala who resigned in protest over the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, on Monday called the NRC not only anti-Muslim but also anti-poor. He was speaking at ‘Public Talk on 1st Session of 17th Lok Sabha’ at MANUU, organised by MANUU Students Union.He said that Union government will not implement NRC without bringing the citizenship amendment bill (CAB).The purpose of this move is to target Muslims as CAB will bail out certain groups while a certain community will not be covered under it. Kannan said with this move, a larger section will be embroiled for a longer period, because this process will take years to complete and it will waste lots of public money. In Assam, it was completed in a span of 6 years and the government has spent 1,600 crores for this exercise and declared about 19 lakhs people as having failed to prove their citizenship. Common people have spent Rs 8,000 crore so far on the appealing process as their names were not included in NRC. Kannan said that if a Muslim who is educated and economically sound prepares documents to prove his indigenous inhabitation, it means he is paving the way for 4 Muslims to be sent detention centres, because a large number of poor and uneducated Muslims would not be able to show documentary evidence.“Now, if you do not resist and stand against the move, then you will not be able to even raise questions about the process as once you are declared intruder or non-citizen of India, then you will lose the fundamental right conferred on you as a citizen of India, “ he said. “In jails, you may not lose certain rights, but in detention centres, you will be deprived of even basic rights which are given to Indian citizens,” he added. Kannan said it is shocking and unfortunate that people have become silent spectators over the anti people polices of the government.Deccan Chronicle.
Jharkhand: Congress promises anti-mob lynching law in election manifesto
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/jharkhand-congress-promises-anti-mob-lynching-law-in-election-manifesto?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi:Congress party has promised a stringent anti-mob lynching law besides several populist schemes in its manifesto for Jharkhand Assembly elections. Jharkhand state has witnessed a chain of incidents of mob lynching in the last few years –mostly in the name of cattle theft, cow slaughter or beef. In the manifesto released in the presence of Congress leaders, including state in-charge RPN Singh and Congress Legislature Party leader in Jharkhand Assembly, Alamgir Alam in Ranchi on Sunday, party has also promised Kisan Fasal Bima (farm insurance), a one-time farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh and pledge to free farmers from the clutches of money lenders. In the last 4 years, several incidents of mob lynching at the hands of self-styled gangs of cow vigilantes have taken place in Jharkhand. Talking to India Tomorrow over phone from Ranchi, Alamgir Alam said the party has promised law to check mob lynching as the state BJP govt has not acted on the Supreme Court guidelines in this regard.“There have been incidents of mob lynching in Jharkhand. Earlier, groups of illiterate people would kill someone thinking him/her as a witch who is bringing harm to someone’s family. This has been an old issue,”he said.IndiaTomorrow
Activist who visited Sabarimala in Jan attacked with chili powder on way to shrine
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/woman-activist-trupti-desai-on-her-way-to-sabarimala-says-will-move-court-if-entry-is-blocked/story-gG7FZH5HBlsujEAp6SSBGL.html
Thiruvananthapuram: Bindu Ammini, one of the two women who had managed to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple in January, was on Monday attacked with chili powder at the police commissioner’s office in Kochi while she was on her way to the hilltop shrine along with rights activist Trupti Desai.Bindu Ammini and Trupti Desai had come at the Kochi Police commissioner’s office to seek security for their visit to the Sabarimala temple in Pathanamthitta district. “Protesters tried to manhandle me,” claimed Bindu as protesters swirled outside the Kochi Police commissioner’s office. Police have asked Trupti Desai to go back but she sought a written request. A senior police official, who didn’t wish to be identified, said she is likely to be sent back to Pune in an evening flight. Protesters have vowed to block their entry to the hilltop shrine after Desai arrived at Kochi airport in the morning. “There is no stay on the 2018 verdict which allowed women of all ages to worship at the temple,” the Bhumata Brigade leader said earlier.HT
16-year-old Dalit tied to pillar, burnt alive in Punjab
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/16-year-old-dalit-tied-to-pillar-burnt-alive-in-punjab-779582.html
Chandigarh:A 16-year old Dalit boy was beaten, then tied to a pillar with a rope and set on fire after being soaked with petrol in Punjab’s Mansa district. A piece of cloth was stuffed inside the teenager’s mouth so that his cries while on fire do not attract attention.The boy was charred to death within minutes. The police on Monday said post-mortem report of the deceased boy, identified as Jaspreet Singh, is awaited while the hunt for the accused his frantically underway. The gory crime was a handiwork of Jashan Singh, Gurjeet Singh and Raju Singh - who planned the murder in cold blood, the police said. Murder of the Dalit boy in the village has its roots in a feud between neighbourhood families that started because of a marriage about 2 years ago. deccanherald
Dalit man’s custodial death inquiry: NHRC pulls up Gujarat Police over ‘callous, irresponsible attitude’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dalit-mans-custodial-death-inquiry-nhrc-pulls-up-gujarat-police-over-callous-irresponsible-attitude-6136957/
Ahmedabad : NHRC has meted out harsh criticism for IG of Prisons in Gujarat Police and other police and administration officials,over their alleged “callous, irresponsible and non responsive attitude” over the inquiry pertaining to the custodial death of a 30-year-old Dalit man in Amreli Jail of Amreli district in Gujarat in 2017. NHRC summon notice, lashed out at IG Prisons of Gujarat for his failure to submit the requisite report or appear before the commission back in September this year despite repeated notices.The matter pertains to the custodial death of 30-year-old Jignesh Sondarva, a resident of Dungar village in Amreli. indianexpress
CBI court takes cognisance of chargesheet against retired Odisha HC Judge Quddusi
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-court-takes-cognisance-of-chargesheet-against-retired-odisha-hc-judge-im-quddusi/story-2FXYWHPN3tnHIvJOxgqoyH.html
New Delhi: A Delhi court today took cognisance of CBI chargesheet against ex Odisha high court judge filed in July this year in connection with its probe into alleged corruption in the debarment of a private medical college -Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences.Ex judge, Quddusi, was arrested along with others in Sept.2017 by CBI. While taking cognisance of CBI chargesheet, Special CBI Judge Anil Kumar Sisodia at Rouse Avenue Courts said, “From perusal of the chargesheet, statements of witnesses and documents filed along with chargesheet, I am of the considered opinion that there is sufficient material to take cognisance of the offence.Accordingly, I take cognisance of the offence as detailed in the chargesheet”.Judge has summoned 7 accused including IM Quddusi for Jan.9. Asked about the development, Quddusi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said: “CBI seems to be adding a few bits here and few bits there. The same would not withstand the test of judicial scrutiny.”HT
Subhash Chandra resigns as chairman of Zee Entertainment Enterprises
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/subhash-chandra-resigns-as-chairman-of-zee-entertainment-enterprises/cid/1721982?fbclid=IwAR2VkdviTKVXGUrjEAsZTtYtPlrAjmYz5WB_txBjITMGi58TPZ-yqYlxBg4
New Delhi:Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) has said its promoter Subhash Chandra has resigned as chairman of the company's board, with immediate effect.The company's board has accepted the resignation, ZEEL said in a regulatory filing."The board accepted his resignation and noted that this is in line with the requirements of Regulation 17(IB) of Sebi Listing Regulations, which inter alia mandates that the chairperson of the board shall not be related to the managing director or the chief executive officer of the company," the company said. Chandra will remain the company's non-executive director, it added.PTI
Bangladesh beats US,UK in sending most tourists to India
https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/bangladesh-beats-the-us-uk-in-sending-most-tourists-to-india-tamil-nadu-top-destination-in-india/1774339/?fbclid=IwAR0wMWLd0QXChvk5ERBzyyouY4Vr6xVxTQaffDN35A3fEOQ0hR7djlvQeoI
Statistics given by Ministry of Tourism to parliament show that the top three countries whose tourists arrived in India in 2018, are Bangladesh, US and UK.The data provided by Ministry also highlights consistent increase in overall foreign tourist arrivals as well as the earnings of foreign exchange over years of 2016, 2017 and 2018. From Bangladesh, 13,80,409 tourists arrived in 2016. The numbers saw a significant increase in 2017 as they jumped to 21,56,557.financialexpress
WORLD
Hardline Hindus pushing Indian govt's agenda on British voters: CNN
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/25/uk/bjp-kashmir-tory-uk-election-ge19-intl-gbr/index.html
On a recent November evening, Bob Blackman scrolled through his phone in a nondescript Indian restaurant in west London, sparsely decorated except for stock pictures of East African sunsets and lions.He proudly pointed to his phone's background photo, which shows him smiling next to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I've been to India seven times in the last three years," Blackman said, sipping a cup of chai, his cheeks flushed from canvassing in the cold, ahead of Britain's first December election in nearly a century. "I am well-known for being a very pro-Indian supporter."Across the table, Kuldeep Singh Shekhawat, the head of a UK-based pressure group linked to Modi's BJP,chimed in: "A hundred percent."Blackman is a three-term member of Parliament for Harrow East, a racially and religiously diverse constituency where 28.2% of the residents are Hindu. Conservative Party politician has a track record of championing Indian -- more specifically, Hindu -- concerns.Brexit and healthcare are the dominant issues in this campaign, but Shekhawat is hoping that a geopolitical crisis some 4,000 miles away will play a decisive role in swinging this tightly-contested seat in Blackman's favor.Shekhawat's organization, the Overseas Friends of BJP UK (OFBJP), is among dozens of Hindu groups in the UK that are calling on 1.4 million British Indians to turn their backs on the main opposition Labour Party, over its criticism of Modi's crackdown on the Indian-controlled part of the disputed Kashmir region.The intrusion of the Kashmir issue on the campaign trail has stirred tensions at a time of rising fears of foreign influence on elections everywhere.Critics in the UK say Modi's tactics in India -- promoting a nationalist Hindu agenda at the expense of the country's diverse minority groups -- are now being exported by his supporters around the world. The activities of the OFBJP, which has roughly 40 chapters globally, are often coordinated by the external affairs department of Modi's party.And while analysts say it is unlikely that the Hindu nationalist groups' strategy will change many minds in Britain, for Shekhawat, every vote is important in what is expected to be a close election.Earlier this month, Labour revised its position on Kashmir, announcing in a letter from the party's chairman that the issue was "a bilateral matter for India and Pakistan" to solve and warning that the issue "must not be allowed to divide communities against each other here in the UK." But the party's U-turn failed to quell the outrage from UK-based Hindu groups."The issue here is Jeremy Corbyn [the Labour Party leader] is anti-India and anti-Hindu," Trupti Patel, president of Hindu Forum of Britain, an umbrella group representing Hindu organizations in the UK, told CNN."If you want to play the politics of voting blocs, then let's play the politics of voting blocs," Patel said, adding that Hindu Forum would be pushing Hindus to vote for anyone but Labour.Suresh Grover, a human rights campaigner and director of the Monitoring Group, said OFBJP branches were established in US and UK to "regularly discuss how to popularize BJP policies overseas, including changing UK's perception of Modi himself."BJP has denied financial links to OFBJP UK or any Hindu organization in Britain.Others have accused Hindu groups -- and Blackman himself -- of finding common cause with Islamophobes and other extremists.
UK's chief rabbi says anti-Semitism 'taken root' in Labour Party; Muslim Council urges to inquiry into alleged Islamophobia in Conservative Party
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/uk-chief-rabbi-anti-semitism-root-labour-party-191126085133774.html
United Kingdom's chief rabbi has slammed the main opposition Labour Party over alleged anti-Semitism, saying it is not doing enough to end racism under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.In an opinion article published by The Times newspaper on Tuesday, Ephraim Mirvis said "a new poison - sanctioned from the very top - has taken root" in the party, which is jostling for support in the run-up to a general election next month. Meanwhile, Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has also urged the body to also open an inquiry into alleged Islamophobia in the Conservative Party."Racism wherever it comes from - whether from the left or the right - is unacceptable, and not enough is being done," MCB said in a statement."As a faith community, we commonly are threatened by Islamophobia," it added. "This is an issue that is particularly acute in the Conservative Party, who have approached Islamophobia with denial, dismissal and deceit."aljazeera
Pakistan Supreme Court suspends notification on Army chief Bajwa’s tenure extension
https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/pakistan-supreme-court-suspends-notification-on-army-chief-bajwas-tenure-extension-6137614/
In a first, Pakistan’s Supreme Court today suspended the notification granting a 3-year term extension to Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. This is, however, just a temporary order as the court will hear the case again tomorrow. The move came just ahead of Bajwa’s retirement on Nov.29. Earlier in August, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved an extension in the tenure of General Bajwa for another 3 years. “General Bajwa is appointed Chief of Army Staff for another term of 3 years from the date of completion of current tenure,” the brief notification issued by PMO had said. Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that only the President of Pakistan can extend the tenure of Army chief. After suspending govt’s notification, the court adjourned hearing until Wednesday. The court also issues notices to defence ministry, federal government and Gen Bajwa, The Dawn reported. Attorney General Anwar Mansoor contested the observations by the chief justice, saying that the extension was announced after the approval of the President. However, the chief justice suspended the extension notification and fixed the next hearing for further proceedings. He also observed that when the matter was discussed in the Cabinet, only 11 out of 25 members approved the extension. “Does the cabinet not want to give members the time to think? 14 members of the cabinet still have not said ‘yes’ to army chief’s extension,”top judge noted.Bajwa will be forced to step down Thursday if the court overturns the government’s extension order. indian express
UK demands China give UN access to Muslim detention camps
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/china-uighur-muslim-camps-uk-un-access-a9218206.html
UK has called on China to give UN observers “immediate and unfettered access” to detention camps in China where up to a million Uighur Muslims have been held.It comes after leaked Communist Party documents showed how Uighurs and other ethnic minorities are cut off from their families and subjected to systematic brainwashing at camps in Xinjiang.Responding to the release of the documents, Foreign Office said it had “serious concerns about human rights situation in Xinjiang and Chinese govt’s escalating crackdown, in particular extra-judicial detention of over a million Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities”.independent.co.uk
China Cables: One mosque for every 530 Muslims in Xinjiang, says Beijing
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-cables-one-mosque-for-every-530-muslims-in-xinjiang-says-beijing/story-r5gsNsuWGCQ7uV7q1cVDCN.html
China today aggressively countered new international allegations on “brainwashing” internment camps for Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, saying there were no ethnic, religious or human rights issues in Xinjiang and the crackdown in remote province was against “violent and terrorist crimes”.A lengthy response from the Chinese foreign ministry today called news articles and statements “smearing and slandering accusations”. The statement said the current governance policies in Xinjiang will be continued; “…we will continue to do our own thing well”. Spokesperson, Geng Shuang said, “there are nearly 200 million religious believers in China, of which over 20 million are Muslims, over 380,000 religious staff, about 5,500 religious groups and more than 140,000 places for religious activities registered according to law.”There is one mosque for every 530 Muslims in Xinjiang,Geng said.“There are 24,400 mosques in Xinjiang, and an average of one mosque per 530 Muslims. This information can be found in 7 white papers on Xinjiang issued by Chinese government since 2015”. China, he said, had sent invitations to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Office of the High Commissioner to visit Xinjiang.HT
Istanbul to host World Halal Summit, Halal Expo
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/istanbul-to-host-world-halal-summit-halal-expo-3505959
5th World Halal Summit and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) 7th Halal Expo will kick off in Istanbul on Thursday.Leading companies, top officials, decision-makers, experts, academics, scientists, and students from 80 countries -- including the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Far East, America -- will attend the summit.4-day annual summit is organized in cooperation with the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC). yenisafak.com
views, Articles, FEATURES
Pawar And Thackeray - The Super Chanakyas Of The Day:Swati Chaturvedi
https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/pawar-and-thackeray-the-super-chanakyas-of-the-day-2138987?pfrom=home-topstories
‘He Was My Superhero’: Karkare’s Daughter Remembers 26/11 Martyr
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/26-11-mumbai-terror-attack-martyr-hemant-karkare-daughter-book?fbclid=IwAR2mt7AyWVEXkmFr-wK9TfGR1uKQiRJnC8m9W5AbRxW_NCEEKr-TSOzCvms
India needs Aazadi from Biased Media: It is killing Indian democracy:Prem Anand Mishra
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/india-needs-aazadi-from-biased-media-it-is-killing-indian-democracy?fbclid=IwAR3BOh797JmpIMwExsp1vO-_Y2K4-mOxw8p93QkQX2jkT20MCj5RVuYpav8
Did Muslims Beat an Old Sikh Man? No, Cops Deny Communal Angle
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/did-muslims-beat-old-sikh-man-no-cops-deny-communal-angle-fact-check
Explained: When Supreme Court reviews a decision: Apurva Vishwanath
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/supreme-court-babri-masjid-ram-temple-review-petition-6135075/
Ayodhya verdict hopefully ends all future disputes over places of worship: Athar Hussain, Director, CORD
https://twocircles.net/2019nov26/433461.html
In Maharashtra, the failure of politics is coupled with institutional abdication and rigging:Suhas Palshikar
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/maharashtra-government-bjp-shiv-sena-ncp-fadnavis-ajit-pawar-6136602/
Global Coal-Based Power Set for Record Decline, India's Economic Slump Also a Factor
https://thewire.in/energy/india-coal-power-plant-economy
D Voter, De-Nesting and Despair: The ‘D Company’ of Assam:Shah Alam Khan
https://thewire.in/rights/assam-nrc-foreigners-tribunal-char
What explains recent rise in Reliance Naval’s Stock?
https://thewire.in/business/reliance-naval-stock-rise-explain
Modi govt owes states ₹5,812 crore in MGNREGS wages:Ashlin Mathew
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/modi-government-owes-states-rs-5812-crore-in-mgnregs-wages
How BJP, Pragya Thakur mocked 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare: FPJ
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/how-bjp-and-pragya-thakur-mocked-2611-martyr-hemant-karkare
MP ‘honey trap’ case: Sex, lies and video
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sex-lies-and-video-trap-6078060/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:37 PM).
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