Evening NEWS DIGEST
30 Aug. 2016: 26 Dzulqa'dah 37: Vol:7, No:150
RBI, govt exploring
introduction of interest-free Islamic banking
Mumbai:Reserve Bank and the
govt are exploring introduction of interest-free banking, also known as Islamic
Banking, to financially include sections of the society that remains excluded
due to religious reasons."Some sections of Indian society have remained
financially excluded for religious reasons that preclude them from using
banking products with an element of interest."Towards mainstreaming these
excluded sections, it is proposed to explore the modalities of introducing
interest- free banking products in the country in consultation with the govt,"
RBI said in its annual report for 2015-16.Islamic or Sharia banking is a
finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is
prohibited under Islam.Earlier this year, Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank
(IDB) had announced it will open its first Indian branch in Ahmedabad. India's
Exim bank had signed MoU with IDB for a USD 100 million line-of-credit to
facilitate exports to IDBs 56 member countries. Globally, Islamic banking has
witnessed a significant increase, especially in the wake of the financial
crisis.PTI
RBI to explore
interest-free banking
RBI, govt exploring
introduction of Sharia banking
India, US sign deal to
share military assets and bases
India and the US have
signed an important agreement to use each other's land, air and naval bases for
repair and resupply, taking a step toward reinforcing defence ties as they seek
to counter an aggressive China."US has agreed to elevate defence trade and
technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with its closest allies
and partners," said a joint statement after the pact was signed.At a press
conference with US Defence Secretary Ash Carter, Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar said the agreement will allow the Indian and US navies to have an
easier time supporting each other in joint operations and exercises and when
providing humanitarian assistance. The deal is seen as a milestone in the
India-US defence relationship because of the outsized political importance it
had taken on in India, where concerns were raised over whether the country's
autonomy would be undermined. But both leaders made it clear that the logistics
agreement did not allow the basing of US troops in India.The signing of the pact
will "make the logistics of joint operations so much easier and so much
more efficient," said Carter.NDTV
US, India sign pact to
share military assets, bases
India’s bid to join US
alliance could irk China, Pakistan: Chinese media on LEMOA
Beijing:Attempts by India
to join US’ alliance could “irritate” China, Pakistan or even Russia and bring
“strategic troubles” to New Delhi while making it a centre of geopolitical
rivalries in Asia, China’s state-run media commented on Tuesday. In an
editorial written ahead of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence
Secretary Ashton Carter signing a logistics agreement, state-run Global Times
said India may loose strategic independence if it leans towards the
US.Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) allows India and US
militaries to access each other’s military facilities for refuelling and
replenishment. “This is undoubtedly a leap forward in US-India military
cooperation. US media highly applauded this deal, with Forbes hailing it as a
‘war pact’ and believing that India is shifting away from Russia, its Cold War
ally, toward a new alliance with the US,” the editorial said. “If India hastily
joins the US alliance system, it may irritate China, Pakistan or even Russia.
It may not make India feel safer, but will bring strategic troubles to itself
and make itself a centre of geopolitical rivalries in Asia,” it said.“India holds
dear its independence and sovereignty after squeezing out of the UK’s
colonialism. It views itself as a major power and is developing on the wave of
the emerging countries,” the editorial said.PTI
Islam is misinterpreted to
youngsters who are brainwashed into terror activities:Acharya Gopal Chandra
Kolkata:Hindu religious
leader Acharya Gopal Chandra Khatri of World Brotherhood Forum on Monday said
that Islam was misunderstood and misinterpreted across the world. “Islam is
misinterpreted to youngsters who are brainwashed into terror activities.
Organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) are trying to say that we all
are equal,” he told The Indian Express, on the sidelines of a seminar held by
JIH here. Referring to the ongoing cow census being conducted by an
RSS-affiliated body, he said, “It is not good. In the name of cow census, the
so-called gau rakshaks are going overboard.There are personal sentiments of
people that need to be looked at.”Khatri also alleged that politicians were
using this opportunity to create communal divide for their own interest. “They
should realise that if they start a fire it would consume them as well,” he
said.The seminar titled, ‘Peace and Human Integrity’, is part of several
programmes being organised by JIH from Aug.21 to Sept. 4. Several religious
leaders spoke about the prevailing communal tension, and how it should be
tackled. “The aim is to bring an overall communal harmony in India. The seminar
today has been organised because there is a need for an interaction among all
religious leaders. We intend to put up a non-political, social forum for such
an interaction,” said JIH president, Md Nooruddin.Another panelist in the
seminar, Abdul Aziz, president of Milli Ittehad Parishad, said there was a
prevailing political storm in the country where Muslims and Dalits were being
targetted. indianexpress
Kashmir unrest: Senior
journalist, Muslim leader Zafarul Islam Khan pulls out of Modi govt’s Muslim
delegation
New Delhi: The Modi govt’s
plan to send a Muslim-majority delegation to Kashmir is yet to take off, but a
prominent Muslim figure said he has refused to be a part of the team. Zafarul
Islam Khan, the editor of Milli Gazette and ex-chief of the All India
Majlis-e-Mushawarat, said he was pulling out of the delegation because the govt
appeared to be more focused on putting
an end to stone pelting than coming up with bridge-building measures.Khan said
he was invited to have a meeting with home minister Rajnath Singh on
Aug.21.After the meeting, Khan said he wasn’t convinced that the govt was eager on formulating confidence-building
measures as much as the need to end the wave of protests. “It was clear during
our interaction that the home minister wanted the throwing of stones at
security forces to stop. He did not give commitments on humanitarian
gestures.”Khan said he made 3 demands to help soften the protests. He suggested
evacuating all injured protesters in danger of losing their sight due to
pellets to Delhi for treatment. The Centre should also give compensation to
those injured, he said, while a formal decision to abandon pellet guns should
be announced.“It was evident that the home minister was not ready for any
confidence-building measures as of now. He did not show interest to bring the
injured away from the Valley, no readiness to immediately stop pellet guns, no
readiness to announce compensations.”HT
Kashmir: Non-lethal options
to pellets were cleared in 2012 but file gathers dust
New Delhi:J&K Police
and Central govt forces had tested and
approved in 2012 the acquisition of low-lethality riot-control equipment that
could have prevented many casualties in the ongoing street violence in UP,
according to documents obtained by The Indian Express. But the acquisition
process got stuck in bureaucratic red-tape, despite a public commitment made by
the then PM Manmohan Singh after police shot dead 110 protesters across Kashmir
during the unrest in 2010.Indian Express
Opposition leaders sounded
out, all-party team heads to the Valley next week, led by Rajnath Singh
New Delhi:A day after PM Narendra Modi again reached out to the Valley,
this time with the message of unity and affection, govt sources said an all-party delegation, led by
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will visit UP on Sept.4 and will meet a cross-section of
people as part of a process to return normalcy. “The delegation is expected to
visit Srinagar and Jammu on Sept. 4, 5 and 6, and meet all those who are
interested in restoring peace in the Valley,” a govt source said Monday. Asked
if the delegation would meet separatists, the source said, “We cannot stop
members of the delegation from meeting people they choose to, but a general
consensus will be arrived at by all members of the delegation prior to the
visit. Delegation will talk to anyone who wishes to discuss the issue within
the framework of democracy and the Constitution.” indianexpress
Separatist shutdown
continues in Kashmir
Srinagar:Separatist
shutdown continued in Kashmir on Tuesday despite relaxation of curfew in the
Valley. “Except for Pulwama town and 2 police station areas of Nowhatta and MR
Gunj in Srinagar, there would be no curfew anywhere in the Valley,” a senior
police official said. “In order to maintain law and order, restrictions under
section 144 CrPc will, however, continue.”Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh is
set to visit the troubled state on Sept.4 heading an all party delegation to
the Valley which will hold meetings with local leaders aiming to stop the
unrest.Officials, however, said the delegation has no plans to meet any
separatist leader who have been put under detention. Separatists have extended
their protest shutdown call up to Sept.1.IANS
Curfew lifted from Pulwama;
situation improving: police
Terror funding: NIA to quiz
Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son, Hurriyat cries foul
Srinagar: NIA has summoned
Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s elder son Nayeem Zafar Geelani for
questioning in connection with a probe into suspected terror funds. Hurriyat
described the move as an attempt to “pressurise and intimidate” the separatist
leadership.Nayeem, Geelani’s elder son, is a doctor who was in Pakistan for 12
years before returning to the Valley in 2010.The case pertains to a preliminary
enquiry registered by NIA to probe flow of funds into various bank accounts
from overseas which are allegedly being used for terrorism.NIA has already
questioned Hurriyat leader and Geelani’s personal secretary Peer Saifullah, who
is in police custody since Saturday.Sources said nothing incriminating was
found against Saifullah.Hurriyat said the move to summon Geelani’s son was an
attempt to “intimidate” him. It said the central agency had also “harassed and
questioned” Hurriyat leaders Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah
and Geelani’s son-in-law Altaf Ahmad Shah.“After miserably failing to curb and
contain the current mass uprising by all the military might, a much notorious
NIA has been given the task to drag these fabricated cases to Delhi, thereby
pressurising the leadership,” the Hurriyat said. “These inhuman,immoral and
undemocratic tactics will not deter the pro-freedom people from advocating
their just cause.”Hurriyat said Centre was “frustrated” to the extent that it
was “framing and arresting pro-freedom leaders”.indianexpress
SC rejects plea of Kashmir’s
longest serving prisoner
New Delhi: Supreme Court has
dismissed a plea of Kashmir's longest serving prisoner, Ashiq Hussain Faktoo,
to reconsider his conviction and life term.A top-ranking former commander of
the Islamist outfit Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JM) and a separatist, Faktoo has been
serving a life term on account of his alleged involvement in the murder of
human rights activist Hridhay Nath Wanchoo in 1992 and has been in jail since
1993.ANI
Non Resident Kashmiris
write to John Kerry, seek his help to address Kashmir crisis with India
Srinagar:Non Resident
Kashmiris from US have addressed a letter to Secretary of US Department of
State John Kerry on the occasion of his visit to India.NRKs, on behalf of the
suffering people of Kashmir, have called upon John Kerry to utilize his
authority to convince the Indian govt, during his ongoing visit to New Delhi,
to turn to the path of sanity and thus, maintain the security and stability in
the entire South East Asia."NRKs have urged that it’s right time for John
Kerry to put an end to the violence perpetrated by India in Kashmir – the
territory unwillingly occupied for six decades, and fulfill the promise of
Self-determination," read the letter. Greater kashmir
Kashmiri diaspora protest
in US against killings, rights violations
Muslim cop moves high
court, seeks right to grow beard
Kochi: A Muslim policeman
has approached the Kerala high court seeking a declaration that he is entitled
to grow a beard and that police authorities' stance that it cannot be allowed
is in violation of the constitutional right to practice religion freely. Riyas
K, who is a civil police officer attached to the armed reserve police camp at
Ernakulam, filed the petition to the high court after his requests seeking permission
to spot a beard permanently were declined by police authorities and the state govt
.In denying permission, the state police chief cited the police manual but no
specific provision that deals with the code of appearance of police personnel
was referred in the order, the petition said."Police manual does not
contain any provision prohibiting the growing of beard. There is also no
statute, service rules, or govt order prohibiting personnel in Kerala Police
from growing beard. The legal position therefore is that there is no law
prohibiting sporting of beard by a police officer," the petition filed
through advocate PK Ibrahim stated.In the absence of any legal provision to
prevent a police official from growing a beard, denial of permission is
arbitrary, illegal, and sheer denial of fundamental rights guaranteed under various
articles of the constitution, the petitioner argues.TOI
Cop moves HC to grow beard
‘Don’t compel Muslim kids
to do Surya namaskar’
Mumbai: One of the hotly
debated issues in the education committee meeting on Monday was that of making
Surya namaskar compulsory in BMC schools.Noorjahan Shaikh, an education
committee member and corporator from Baiganwadi said,“There are 400 Urdu-medium
schools under BMC.We Muslims can only pray to Allah and cannot take darshan of
any other deity. By passing this proposal for Surya namaskar, the BMC is
forcing it on our community.” She demanded that the proposal be revoked.Another
Muslim corporator called the move a misuse of power. “144 BMC schools have
closed between 2000 and 2016. There are children dropping out and enrolment is
low,” he said and warned that schools will be empty with Muslims pulling their
children out of BMC schools if compelled in this manner.Members questioned if
Surya namaskar formed part of the educational curriculum.Education committee
chairperson Hemangi Worlikar said the matter will be decided upon by the
Commissioner. Freepressjournal
Jamiat-e-Ulema to appeal
Surya Namaskar decision
Mumbai:A prominent
organisation working for the welfare of Muslims is all set to approach the
Bombay high court against BMC’s decision to make Surya Namaskar compulsory in
all municipal schools. Jamiat-e-Ulema, Maharashtra’s contention is that the
civic body’s decision allegedly violates fundamental rights of Muslim citizens
enshrined in the Indian Constitution. “We are challenging the BMC’s decision of
making Surya Namaskar compulsory in civic-run schools on grounds that it
violates the fundamental rights of Muslims provided under the Constitution of
India,” said Advocate Tahwar Khan Pathan, appointed by the body to file the
petition.He added that Surya Namaskar is against Islam and is part and parcel
of yoga which requires spiritual and physical bowing before the sun for bhakti
(devotion) and the one performing it requires to recite shlokas (prayers) and hence,
a Muslim cannot perform it. asianage
Revoke resolution of Suryanamaskar:Chheda
to civic chief
Mumbai: Seeking to strike a
chord with the city’s Muslim voters, Pravin Chheda, opposition leader in the
civic body, met civic chief Ajoy Mehta on Monday along with with a 22 member
delegation of the Congress minorities cell and demanded a revocation of the
resolution regularising Surya namaskar in civic-run schools. freepressjournal
'No matter if they remain
illiterate, but I can't allow Muslim children do Surya Namaskar'
Congress minority panel
joins protests against making Surya Namaskar mandatory in BMC-run-schools
Union minister Ramdas Athawale wants beef ban lifted after
Udit Raj comments
New Delhi: People should be
allowed to eat the meat of bulls and bullocks for its high protein,Union
minister Ramdas Athawale said on Monday, after BJP parliamentarian Udit Raj
linked sprint legend Usain Bolt’s success to beef. Both Dalit leaders touched
an emotive issue as many states have banned the eating of beef and slaughter of
cows, considered sacred in Hinduism, and self-styled cattle protectors have
stepped up efforts to impose the prohibition.Junior social justice minister
Athawale agreed “50%” with Raj’s remarks, saying if people want, they should be
allowed to eat beef.“Cow slaughter is already banned … Farmers who have
buffaloes, which are aged and unproductive, can at least sell them and earn a
livelihood,” said RPI(A) leader, whose party is an NDA constituent. Athawale opposed
Maharashtra govt’s decision to ban beef last year.The majority of Hindus don’t
eat beef, but cow and buffalo meat used to be a source of protein for many poor
Dalits.“Bolt is a big sports personality and I agree 50% with Udit Raj that
eating beef has made him strong and thus he could win medals. But if we see it
in a larger perspective, there are sportsmen who do not eat beef or eat just
mutton or are simply vegetarians but won awards,” Athawale said. HT
If people want, they should
be allowed to eat ‘beef’: Union minister Ramdas Athawale
SP supports Udit Raj’s beef
statement, says he is under pressure from BJP:ANI
Mumbai: Samajwadi Party on
Tuesday extended its support to BJP leader Udit Raj, who said Jamaican sprinter
Usain Bolt won nine Olympics gold medals because of consuming beef as a source
of protein.SP leader Abu Azmi said Raj’s statement reflected his original
stance and is now under pressure from the BJP.“I agree with Udit Raj. On one
hand, he is in BJP and on the other hand,he is being disturbed by atrocities
committed against Dalits. When I met him, I asked his opinion on beef slaughter
to which he couldn’t answer because he was scared of BJP,”he said.He questioned
the ruling dispensation’s double standard on beef banning and said that there
some states, including a BJP ruled state, which allows slaughtering of cows.
Maha distances itself from
beef-ban monitors,facts don’t
Mumbai:Seeking to distance
itself from a controversial call issued by its animal husbandry department in
May for “Honorary Animal Welfare Officers” to serve as “eyes to monitor the
beef ban” imposed last year, the Maharashtra govt has claimed that the exercise was undertaken
by a former commissioner of the department “on his own initiative”. However,
records in the possession of Indian Express clearly show that the call for
applications was an official initiative launched through govt channels — in the form of a letter dated May
12, 2016, signed by SS Bhosale, the then commissioner of animal husbandry, and
sent to all the seven offices of regional joint commissioners and 33 district
deputy commissioners of the department.Bhosale’s letter was also copied to office
of the principal secretary (animal husbandry) in the Mantralaya —same official
who has now claimed that Bhosale’s move was a personal initiative. Indian
Express
Day one of 2-day ban: MNS
protests over meat shop closure during Jain fest Paryushan
Mumbai: Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday staged an agitation at Dadar to protest the
closure of meat shops ordered by the state govt and municipalities in deference
to Jain community observing Paryushan, period of abstinence. Monday was the
first of 2-day ban when all mutton and chicken shops in the city were to remain
closed. Shops will be closed for business once again on Sept. 5.MNS workers,
meanwhile, protested closure by asking mutton shops in Dadar not to down
shutters. Activists were later detained by police. “They can observe their
religion, but why should they force other people to abstain from eating meat?
We are against this sort of behaviour and have asked meat shops in our area to
remain open,”said MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande. indianexpress
MNS man behind beef sale in
Ambernath, says Police
Mahatma birthplace ranks No1
in forced migration of Dalits
As Dalit uprising in
Gujarat captures national attention, Mirror finds out that Porbandar has
recorded the highest number of cases of forced Dalit migration in the state. Call
it irony, but Porbandar in Saurashtra, the birthplace of Mahtama Gandhi, has
recorded the maximum cases of forced Dalit displacement and migration in
Gujarat. What's further ironical is that the displaced also includes an elected
sarpanch too.Suman Chavda, 44, was elated when he got elected as the sarpanch
of Vinzrana village of Porbandar in 2012. Out of 1,500 people living in this
village, over 500 are Dalits. However, soon afterwards, according to Sumanbhai,
44, his problems began. "Not just the upper castes but even OBCs ganged
up. I was constantly reminded by the panchayat members that I was a Dalit and
hence my presence was only for cosmetic value. My being a sarpanch was
immaterial." "I had faced discrimination in the past, too.
Unfortunately, of late, intolerance and bigotry towards Dalits has only intensified',
he says. The population in Vinzrana comprises Dalits, Mers, Brahmins, Muslims
and Rabaris (shepherd).Mumbai Mirror
Asked about SP leaders
leaving party,Azam cites ‘sinking ship’
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party
leader Azam Khan has compared his party to a “sinking ship” while speaking
about leaders deserting the SP. Asked about SP leaders who were leaving the
party, Khan said in Rampur on Sunday: “When a ship develops a hole and is about
to sink, rats are the first ones to flee.”Later, he clarified that such leaders
were leaving the party because they feared they would be denied tickets in next
year’s Assembly polls. indianexpress
Subramanian Swamy: L-G
Najeeb Jung 420 like Kejri, need Sangh person in Delhi
New Delhi:BJP leader and
Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy is at it again. This time, the MP has trained
his guns at Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung, saying he was unsuited to head the national
capital.“In my opinion, this LG of Delhi Jung is unsuited for this high post.
He is another 420 like Kejri. We need a Sangh person in Delhi,” Swamy said. indianexpress
Bengal, Bangla and Bangal:
Assembly passes resolution
Kolkata: State Assembly
Monday passed a resolution to change the name of West Bengal to Bangla in
Bengali, Bengal in English and Bangal in Hindi. The Opposition Congress, BJP
and Left opposed the move. indianexpress
Haji Ali Dargah management
hold deliberations before moving SC
Mumbai:The management of
the famous Haji Ali Dargah have started deliberations on challenging the Bombay
High Court verdict, that lifted the ban imposed on women from entering the
sanctum sanctorum of the shrine here, in the Supreme Court. “We held detailed
discussions yesterday over the issue in the wake of the HC verdict and sought
opinion of each of the management members. But we are going to hold a few more
rounds of meetings to get the opinion of other stakeholders as well,” Sohail
Khandwani, a trustee of the century-old Dargah told PTI,”Also, on Friday, we
would be holding meetings with religious scholars besides having consultations
with our councils based in Mumbai and Delhi after which a final decision on the
issue would be taken”, he said.PTI
RSS turning temples into
arms stores, shakhas: Kerala Minister
Kerala’s Temple Affairs
Minister Kadakampally Surendran Monday claimed that RSS has converted temples
into its shakhas, and that its cadres are allegedly storing weapons in the
temples. “Govt has got several complaints about illegal operation of RSS
shakhas at temples. Govt will take strong action against the conduct of (such)
shakhas,’’ he said.He also alleged that the Sangh is trying to keep devotees
away from temples by turning them into “storehouses of arms” and giving “arms
training” to its cadres.BJP rubbished the allegations and slammed LDF govt’s
“anti-Hindu” stance.Surendran’s remarks come a day after Public Works Minister
G Sudhakaran said lighting of lamps, as has been the practice traditionally,
and singing of religious hymns at govt programmes and functions should be avoided.
“Our Constitution has no religion or caste. Hence (there is) no need to light
nilavilakku (traditional lamps) during govt functions,’’he had said.indianexpress
Tension in Moradabad over
WhatsApp video
Lucknow:Tension prevailed in
Moradabad city’s Nagphani area as members of the Muslim community took to the
streets late Sunday to protest against a video circulated on social media
platform WhatsApp, purportedly showing 2 youths being beaten up and forced to
chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.Suspecting that the video was shot somewhere in the
district, the mob marched to the Shahi Imam’s residence to seek instructions
over the matter. Soon, senior district officials and police rushed to the spot
to inform the mob that the video was shot in Gujarat’s Surat district earlier this
month and the accused had already been arrested. indianexpress
‘Marital rape’ of girls
under 18 not criminalised due to social realities: Home ministry to Delhi HC
New Delhi:Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA) has cited “social realities” as the reason for not
criminalising ‘marital rape’ of girls under 18 years of age in the country.“Although
the age of consent is 18 years and child marriage is discouraged, marriage
below permissible age is avoidable but not void on account of social realities.
It is submitted that the social, economic and educational development of the
country is still uneven and child marriages are taking place. It has been
decided to retain the age of 15 years under the exception 2 of Section 375 so
as to give protection to husband and wife against criminalising the sexual
activity between them,” said MHA affidavit filed before Delhi High Court. Indianexpress
Kalburgi, Pansare and
Dabholkar melded modern sensibilities with tradition: Seema Chishti's article
Kashmiris must use fresh
methods, free of radical Islam, free of violence: Rajmohan Gandhi's article
Islam does not discriminate
in allowing entry to places of worship: Syeda Hameed's article
Media on terror cases
Parbhani masjid blast
acquittals: Court doubted state's intention in prosecuting the accused
Mumbai: The complicity of
public prosecutors, coupled with a lethargic attitude of the Maharashtra state
in prosecuting the accused in 2003 Parbhani Masjid bomb blast case lead to the
acquittal of all the accused, various orders of the previous judge recorded
during the trial have shown.On Nov.21, 2003 a bomb exploded at Mohammadiya
Masjid, Rehmat Nagar, Parbhani killing one person and injuring 34 others.
Nearly 13 years later, on Aug.18, 2016 the session judge MS Jawalkar acquitted
all 4 in the case sighting lack of evidences.But if 13 years later, lack of
evidence is sighted as a reason, it begs the question: how well was the
prosecution doing its job? When Twocircles.net investigated into this aspect,
it was revealed that in the orders passed prior to the judgment, it showed that
the prosecution never showed any enthusiasm in ensuring that the accused are
convicted;in fact many a times the prosecution irked the court by remaining
absent during trial or by filing frivolous applications of adjournments with
the aim of delaying the case.What is even more questionable that the prosecution
remained absent even on the date when 6 witnesses were present in the court for
recording of evidences. Such careless attitude in conducting trial had even
earned Maharashtra state a punishment in terms of imposed fine of Rs. 12,000.
TCN
Sharad Pawar to fight for
‘illegal detention’ of Muslim youths in terror cases
Mumbai: NCP president
Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he was planning to discuss what he called “illegal
detention” of Muslim youths with secular parties and bring the issue to the
notice of the PM.Insisting that there was no need to make this a “political
issue”, Pawar, however, said this was an issue that merited national
discussion. He said a delegation of 28 non-political Muslim organisations
called on him in Aurangabad two days back and made this suggestion. Pawar said
the Muslim organisations had provided him with details about specific cases of
Muslim youths picked up by Maharashtra ATS on mere suspicion that they were
associated with the ISIS. “The representatives of these organisations gave me
specific cases where Muslim youths have been picked up by the ATS and no
charges have yet been filed nor have they been produced before a magistrate.
The law says that any person who has been arrested must be produced before a
magistrate within 24 hours of being arrested. But these organisations gave me
documents about cases where the arrested youths have not been produced before a
magistrate for 120 hours or days. This is illegal detention,” Pawar said. Livemint.com
Pawar slams arrests of
Muslim youths for alleged IS links
IS case:NIA seeks police
custody of Yasmin for recruiting
NIA has sought custody of a
29-year-old woman Yasmin Ahmed who was allegedly instrumental in recruiting 21
youths from Kerala for terror group IS. tehelka
IS running terror classes
in Kerala, Yasmin tells NIA
WORLD
Bangladeshi Jamaat leader Mir
Qasim to be executed in days after losing final appeal
A Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
leader faces execution within days after he lost his final appeal against a
death sentence over 40-year-old war crimes allegations. Mir Quasem Ali, who was the chief financier
for Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, was convicted in 1971 war crimes case.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said:'Now he has a chance to seek presidential
clemency. Or else the verdict could be executed anytime whenever the state
wants.'Their families said they had refused to seek a presidential pardon as
they did not want to legitimise the whole trials process.Tuesday's decision is
considered a major blow for the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party, which the
63-year-old Ali had helped revive by setting up charities, businesses and
trusts linked to it after it was allowed to operate in the late 1970s.His son
Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who was part of his legal defence team, was allegedly
abducted by security forces earlier in August, which critics say was an attempt
to sow fear and prevent protests against the imminent execution.The war crimes
tribunal set up by the govt has divided
the country, with supporters of Jamaat and the main opposition BNP branding
them a sham aimed at eliminating their leaders.The executions and convictions
of Jamaat officials plunged Bangladesh into one of its worst crises in 2013
when tens of thousands of Islamist activists clashed with police in protests
that left some 500 people dead. The Jamaat, which is banned from contesting
elections, called a nationwide strike for Wednesday, calling the charges
against Ali 'false' and 'baseless' and accusing the govt of exacting 'political vengeance'. Defence
lawyers have said the charges against him were baseless.His lawyer Khandker
Mahbub Hossain said: 'Mir Quashem Ali wasn't directly involved in war crimes.
False witnesses were provided to frame charges against him. Future generation
and law experts will scrutinise the verdict whether it was justified.'The court
ruling comes a day after a visit to Dhaka by US Secretary of State John Kerry
who said the best way to combat extremism was 'to live up to the core values of
democracy'.Rights groups have criticised the war crimes trials, saying they
fall short of international standards and lack any foreign oversight.A group of
United Nations human rights experts last week urged Bangladesh to annul Ali's
death sentence and to retry him in compliance with international standards. Dailymail
Court delivered verdict
based on false witnesses and evidences, says Mir Quasem’s lawyer
Jamaat-e-Islami calls for
shutdown on Wednesday over Mir Quasem’s war crimes verdict
Bangladesh SC upholds death
penalty of Mir Quasem
'Rejected': Bangladesh
Supreme Court upholds Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali's death sentence
3 killed as Pak Jamaat
leader's convoy comes under attack in Pak
Peshawar: At least 3
persons, including 2 policemen, were killed today after militants attacked the
convoy of a Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan leader in this northwestern city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
province. Gunmen ambushed the vehicle of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shad Nawaz Khan
when it was passing through Rabaat area of Lower Dir District, police said. Khan's
brother Sohail Khan died on the spot, they said. Constables Wahab and Zubair,
who reached the spot during the fire exchange, were also killed in the cross
firing. Reason behind the killing of Sohail was stated to be an old enmity. PTI
Target ISIL, not each
other, US tells allies in Syria
US defence secretary has
called on Turkey and Kurdish forces in northern Syria to stay focused on
fighting the ISIL group and not to target each other.Monday's statement by Ash
Carter came after Turkish forces launched a two-pronged operation last week
against ISIL, and Kurdish forces from YPG inside Syria. "We have called
upon Turkey ... to stay focused on the fight against ISIL and not to engage SDF,
and we have had a number of contacts over the last several days," Carter
said. "We have called on both sides to not fight with one another, to
continue to focus the fight on ISIL ... That is the basis of our cooperation
with both of them - specifically not to engage." The SDF is a group of
fighters formed to fight against ISIL and is led by the YPG.US-led coalition
has been backing the YPG with training and equipment to fight ISIL, while at
the same time the US has also supported Syrian opposition groups fighting with
the Turks in northern Syria. Hulusi
Akar, Turkish chief of staff, was quoted as saying that Kurdish forces around
Jarablus have been attacking Turkish soldiers there."They have to withdraw
to the east of Jarablus. Otherwise we will do what is necessary," he
said.On Monday,Turkish-backed Syrian rebels said they were advancing towards
Manbij in northern Syria,city captured earlier this month by Kurdish forces.aljazeera
UN passes millions to
Syrian regime, UK newspaper says
London: UN has paid tens of
millions of dollars for contracts run by people and groups closely linked to
Syrian regime, Guardian newspaper said Tuesday.The paper said some of the
contracts awarded as part of the UN aid program to Syria went to companies
under EU and US sanctions, as well as govt departments and charities run by
people closely associated with regime leader Bashar al-Assad. Critics of the UN
mission told the daily that aid was being focused in govt -held areas of the
country and was, in effect, propping up the regime.A UN spokesman told the
newspaper that its priority was to reach as many vulnerable civilians as possible
but that it had to work with organizations approved by the regime. “Our choices
in Syria are limited by a highly insecure context where finding companies and
partners who operate in besieged and hard-to-reach areas is extremely
challenging,” he said.anadolu agency
Taliban appoints Ibrahim
Sadar as new military chief
Taliban has appointed a new
military chief as the insurgents try to gain ground rather than talk peace
under a new leadership, Taliban officials said in telephone interviews over the
weekend.
They said the appointment
of Maulvi Ibrahim Sadar, once a close ally of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammed
Omar.
Israeli army detains 18
Palestinians in West Bank raids
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:56 PM)
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