Evening NEWS DIGEST
28 Sept. 2016: 25 Zil Hajj 37: Vol:7, No:168
Mewat robbery, gangrape:
Culprits of such heinous crimes would not be spared, says NCM report
New Delhi: A National minority
panel, which visited Mewat last week to look into gangrape and murder case that
took place in August, has noted in its report that the incident has “shaken”
people in the area. It also emphasised that there is a need to convey a clear
message that the “culprits of such heinous crimes would not be spared”.“The
incident has shaken the people of the area and there is lot of resentment,
especially among the Muslim community, partly due to the allegations that the
culprits were gau rakshaks. There is a need to convey a clear message that
culprits of such heinous crimes would not be spared. Such a step is more relevant
in context of the Mewat district,” the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
said in its report, which has been approved at a meeting of the panel Tuesday. A
2-member delegation of NCM, comprising its Chairman Naseem Ahmad and panel
member Praveen Davar, had visited Dingerheri village of Mewat district on Sept.
22 to look into the incident.The committee interacted with the families of the
victims, local villagers and district officials, including Mewat Deputy
Commissioner Mani Ram Sharma and S P Kuldeep Singh. A family member told the
panel that they had no enmity with anybody in the village or outside. “Most of
the persons who interacted with us at the crime spot were critical of the role
of the police so far,” said the panel.One of the Mewat gangrape victims
recently alleged that their attackers were cow vigilantes but the Haryana
police Friday said no evidence has come to fore so far.NCM, however, said
people at the crime spot told them that the rape victim had stated that the
accused persons had confronted them about whether they ate beef. “But this fact
has been omitted from the statement recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC and
that the accused persons were gau rakshaks,” said the panel, quoting locals.In
its recommendations, the NCM said, “The role of police in handling the case is
also being widely criticised. Although the state govt transferred the case to the CBI, since law and
order is the state subject, the govt is
well advised to take steps to promote communal harmony and restore people’s
confidence in the functioning of the police.” indianexpress
Mewat gangrape: NCM points
fingers at gau rakshaks, questions police inaction
People's faith shaken:
National Commission for Minorities panel to govt
NCM confirms Mewat gangrape,
says accused were ‘Gau Rakshaks’
Minority panel recommends
permanent jobs for Mewat rape victims
With eye at UP polls,Modi
govt to hold direct dialogue with minorities
In a major minority
outreach, Modi govt has decided to hold direct dialogue. Minority Affairs
Ministry has decided to hold 100 "Progress Panchayats" as they are
called, all across the country in the next few months. These Progress
Panchayats will be used to evaluate and take feedback on programmes run by
Minority Affairs Ministry for the minority community.Coming close on the heels of
the concluding National Council address in Khozikode, in which PM Narendra
Modi, referred to Deendayal Upadhyay and asked everyone to emulate his view of
not treating Muslims as a vote bank.The first Progress Panchayat will be held
on Sept.29, in Hathin and Bichor village of Mewat district of Haryana. Apart
from Minority Affairs Minister, two other MoS, Indrajeet Singh and Krishnapal
Gurjar will also participate. The first panchayat in Hathin will start at 10.25
am and the second in Bichor will begin at 12.30 pm.In these panchayats,
scholarships and programmes run under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme
(MSDP) will also be evaluated and feedback will be taken. When asked whether
these panchayats are being held with an eye on UP elections, Naqvi said,
"if this was done to woo Muslims of UP, then we would have held the first
panchayat in UP itself and not Mewat. Problem is that every effort of this
government is always viewed through a politically jaundiced eye". BJP
insider's view this panchayat as an effort to reach out to minority community
in order to blunt their aversion of BJP politics because of which they vote en
masse to any party who is in a position to defeat BJP.As soon as the
announcement of 100 panchayat became public, opposition party ridiculed the
effort by the Modi govt. JDU member and RS MP, KC Tyagi said, "if BJP
really wants to do anything for Muslims then they have to leave their
contentious demand of Uniform Civil Code,Common Civil Code and the issue of
cow. If they are serious about this, they should not flare-up situation like
Kairana and Muzzafarnagar and should work honestly to readdress legitimate
grievances of Muslims". Congress party spokesperson Meem Afzal too hit out
at the BJP and said that in the last 2 and a half years they have not done
anything for the minority community and now when the UP election is around the
corner, they are doing this. "It's not progress but politics," said
Afzal. India today
After PM Modi's Muslim outreach,
govt launches new plan
Modi govt's 'Progress
Panchayats' for minorities
Modi govt to begin minority
outreach from riot-hit Mewat
One year on, Dadri, No
azaan sounded from village mosque was no kheer shared for Eid
Dadri(UP): There is nothing
to tell the mosque apart from the buildings around it, except for the
loudspeaker that announces the azaan, the Islamic call for prayer.But there is
no azaan from the mosque even though dusk has enveloped the village and it is
time for maghrib, or prayers offered during sunset.Residents of the village
said the loudspeaker has fallen silent since Sept.28 last year, when Akhlaq
Saifi was lynched and his younger son Danish severely injured in a murderous
attack by fellow villagers for allegedly eating and storing beef in their
house.The village muezzin, Mohammad Dawood, told The Hindu they had stopped the
azaan as they feared it might provoke the right wing elements. “According to
those who witnessed Akhlaq’s killing, the crowd had threatened to shut down the
mosque. That did not happen but the mosque does not sound the azaan anymore,”
he said.Dawood is new to Bishahra. His predecessor was so shaken by Akhlaq’s
lynching that he left the village and never returned. Much has changed in
Bishahra in the year since the incident. Once a communal melting pot, this
largely Hindu village with a miniscule Muslim population is no longer a picture
of harmony. Locals said the killing has driven such a wedge between the two
communities that for the first time in living memory, there was no animal
sacrifice on Eid-ul-Zuha earlier this month for fear of accusations of cow
slaughter.Even the customary exchange of greetings and kheer (rice pudding) was
shunned. “It was the coldest Eid-ul-Zuha this time in my entire life. No goat
was sacrificed and no greetings were exchanged between the two communities. We
mostly kept to ourselves. It was very painful to see this,” said Mohammad Ali
Jan, who irons clothes on the village road.Sanjay Rana, a local BJP leader
whose son Vishal is accused of leading the lynch mob, said Thakurs used to send
milk to Muslim households on Eid to prepare kheer. But not this
time.Ironically, Akhlaq’s family used to host the village celebrations. Located
in the heart of a Thakur settlement, his Hindu neighbours would gather at his
house to enjoy a non-vegetarian platter prepared from animals sacrificed for
the festival.But Akhlaq’s house today symbolises the shattered relationship
between the two communities: a lock hangs on the door, its windows are shut and
grass, at least a foot tall, surrounds it.Divide has not spared even school
children. 15-year-old Mustafa Saifi alleged that he is regularly abused and
taunted by boys in the school.Another villager alleged conversations are laced
with sarcasm. “It was as if they want to tell us that you belong to Akhlaq’s
community.There is a stigma around us now,” he said.the hindu
Branded culprits, proven
victims: 1 yr since Dadri lynching
A year after Ikhlaq’s
lynching, Bisada sitting on a communal tinderbox
Dadri beef lynching changed
India’s political conversation
1 year since Dadri
lynching, Mukhtar Naqvi claims communal tension have reduced under NDA govt
Dadri case crawls: 1 year,
18 hearings, 8 adjournments
Dadri: A year passes,
without trial
Dadri revisited: Cops say
they found 2kg meat, vet hospital says it got 5kg to test
Dadri: How peaceful Bisada
became a ‘badnaam’ village
Cops set to clear Akhlaq
family of cow slaughter charge
KASHMIR
ISSUE & SUOTH ASIA
Unfazed by pull-outs, Pak
to go ahead with SAARC summit
Unfazed by the decision of
India and three other SAARC member nations to not participate in the grouping’s
summit here, Pakistan on Wednesday said it would go ahead with the event in Nov.
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan would host 19th SAARC
summit in November, Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.Zakaria was quoted as
saying that it was learnt from the External Affairs Ministry’s tweet that India
is not going to participate in SAARC Summit. Zakaria called the decision
“unfortunate.” “While we have not received any official communication in this
regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate,” he said. Pakistan was
committed to regional peace and would continue working for the broader interest
of the people of the region, according to the report. Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said India is
making propaganda to foil the conference that was scheduled to be held in
November, according to Pakistan Today newspaper.Besides India, Bangladesh,
Bhutan and Afghanistan have pulled out of the summit, indirectly blaming
Pakistan for creating an environment that is not right for the successful
holding of the meet.PTI
Pakistan counters SAARC
snub, claims ‘world knows it’s India financing terrorism’
Islamabad SAARC summit
unlikely after India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan pull out: The Hindu
Pakistan stands isolated,
Islamabad Saarc Summit likely to be called off
After India’s SAARC
pullout, Pakistan now finds itself out of favour with Afghanistan, Bhutan,
Bangladesh
Pakistan urges World Bank
to stop India’s projects on Neelum, Chenab rivers: Reports
New Delhi: Following its
meeting with the international lender, World Bank, on Tuesday on the Indus
Waters Treaty issue, Pakistan has urged the bank to prevent India from making
illegal constructions on the Neelum and Chenab rivers, embassy officials said,
as reported by Pakistan daily Dawn.On Tuesday, Pakistan had approached World
Bank with senior officials taking up the matter with the international lender
which had mediated the water-sharing deal. Meeting took place amid reports that
India could revoke the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty. A delegation of the Govt
of Pakistan led by the Attorney General for Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, met
with senior officials of The World Bank at the World Bank Headquarters in
Washington DC to discuss matters relating to Pakistan’s recent Request for
Arbitration given to India pursuant to Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty,
1960, Geo News reported. On August 19, Pakistan had formally requested India
for settlement of outstanding disputes pertaining to India’s construction of
Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants on rivers Neelum and Chenab rivers
respectively, by referring the matters to the Court of Arbitration as provided
in Article IX of the Treaty.
Pak approaches World Bank
after India considers revisiting Indus treaty
No decision yet to suspend
Indus panel
Delhi's revocation of Indus
treaty will be an act of war:Pak
Pakistan says India will
‘disintegrate’ when Kashmir is free
Given the paltry trade,
revoking Pakistan’s MFN tag will only be symbolic
New Delhi:Govt is building a case for scrapping most-favoured
nation (MFN) status granted to Pakistan, though it doesn’t mean much in trading
terms even if the country doesn’t take action to curb cross-border terrorism.
India-Pakistan bilateral trade came up to a paltry $2.6 billion in 2015-16 —
tilted largely in India’s favour.Indian exports to Pakistan accounted for $2.2
billion during this period. Given that India has an overall goods trade of
$643.3 billion, business relations with its neighbour is negligible at best.So,
any decision to revoke MFN status will be nothing more than a symbolic – and
political – gesture.HT
Excellent article On Uri,
rather than Pak, India seems to be getting isolated internationally: Kejriwal
tweets article
New Delhi: Delhi CM Arvind
Kejriwal has come under fire yet again after he shared an article by a national
daily which made a case in the favour of Pakistan over Uri attack. The article
claimed that it was not Pakistan but India which was getting isolated
internationally after Uri attacks by Pakistan terrorists. "Excellent
article. On Uri, rather than Pak, India seems to be getting isolated
internationally," Kejriwal tweeted.TOI
Not in India’s corner:
Ex-ambassador MK Bhadrakumar's article on Uri attack
Twitterati tears into
Kejriwal for saying India, not Pakistan, is globally isolated over Uri attack
Army clarifies no
infiltrators killed in encounter after Uri attack
Jammu: ARMY has
denied killing 10 infiltrators along the LoC with Pakistan last week. The
reported encounter was billed in media reports as an Indian strike-back after a
militant attack in Uri left 18 soldiers dead.Though there was no official
statement on the two “encounters” on the LoC, including one at Uri, army
sources described the media reports as “a flight of imagination”.“At no point of
time did the army say that 10 terrorists were killed. We simply said there was
cross-border firing at two places on the LoC, including Uri,” a source at the
Delhi-based army HQRS said.“We don’t know from where the media got these
reports quoting unnamed intelligence officials. All TV channel reporters
flashed the report of 10 militants having been killed. There was chaos. When we
did nothing, how can we say anything,” the source said. Udhampur-based Northern
Command, which is quick to break news of encounters in the restive state, was
mum on the issue when HT approached it for confirmation. A Northern Command
officer asked HT to mail queries via “proper channel” to defence
spokespersons.“In the first place, we (the Northern Command) never said that 10
terrorists were killed. When we didn’t say so, why should we deny anything,” an
officer said on the condition of anonymity.HT
Pakistan army 'exercising'
near border adjoining Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer: After Uri attack,
Pakistan Army and Air Force have started its biggest core level joint war game
exercise some 15-20km away from the international border adjoining Jaisalmer. Movement
of vehicles and other activities of Pakistan Army near the international border
have been informed too. Exercise started on Sept. 22 and will continue till Oct.
30 which will be partaken by 15,000 army and 300 air force personnel.TOI
Transport ministers of
India, Iran and Afghanistan to meet to expedite Chabahar port and trade link
New Delhi: India, Iran and
Afghanistan will hold a tripartite meeting on Wednesday to discuss issues
regarding speedy implementation of transport and trade corridor from India to
Afghanistan via Chabahar port.Iranian minister for road and urban development
Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi and Afghanistan's transport and civil aviation minister
Mohammadullah (Batash) and will meet shipping and highways minister Nitin
Gadkari.TOI
Baloch separatist
Brahamdagh Bugti plea sent to Intelligence Bureau, final call rests with
Cabinet
New Delhi: Union cabinet
will take a call on Baloch separatist Brahamdagh Bugti's request for political
asylum. His application is currently being vetted by intelligence agencies.The
Union home ministry has sent Bugti's application to the Intelligence Bureau for
security clearance and expects a report in a week. "After an examination
of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security
agencies for an in-depth vetting," a home ministry official said. timesofindia
China remains India'sprimary
security challenge:UK report
London: China remains
India's primary security challenge because of its assertiveness on the border
dispute, a report by a think-tank in the UK said today.The 'Strategic Survey
2016: The Annual Review of World Affairs' by the International Institute for Strategic
Studies (IISS) said India's relations with Pakistan and Nepal had deteriorated
in the past year but China remained a primary concern because of its
assertiveness on the border dispute."For policymakers in New Delhi, this
created fears of encirclement and hardened their attitude towards Beijing, even
as China continued to be India's largest trading partner, and [PM ] Modi sought
to establish stronger trade and investment links with Beijing," the report
said.PTI
Amid Pak tension, Jaitley
hints at upping defence budget
Mumbai: Finance minister
Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday that the security challenge that the nation faces
will get priority in resource allocation over all requirements as sovereignty
of the country is 'most important'. timesofindia
150 govt employees under
J&K police scanner, PSA against 6
Srinagar:J&K police
have prepared a list of about 150 govt employees, including gazetted officers, and
sent it to deputy commissioners in the Valley, asking them to look into their
role in the protests, that broke out after the killing of Burhan Wani.
Officials said that 6 govt employees, including a gazetted officer, have also
been booked under PSA — a law that allows govt to put a person behind bars for
6 months without a trial. J&K govt spokesperson and state education
minister Nayeem Akhtar said,“This is a usual exercise by the admin.to find out
if there is any evidence (against these employees). If evidence is found
against anybody, the law will take its own course — whether an employee or
non-employee. Obviously, whoever creates trouble will have to pay for
it.”Sources said that district police chiefs in Valley have prepared lists of govt
employees who,they believe, are part of protests or are “instigating”
protesters.Lists — about 150 employees figure in them — have been forwarded to deputy
commissioners concerned.indianexpress
Kashmiris warn India its
crackdown is turning some to militancy:Reuters
Srinagar: Simmering anger
over India's crackdown on 10 weeks of protests in Kashmir risks drawing more
young people to radical rebellion, demonstrators and security officials warn,
as the sense of despair and alienation from New Delhi deepens.In the worst
unrest in the disputed Himalayan region for six years, more than 80 civilians
have been killed and thousands wounded, a widespread curfew is in place and
suspected ringleaders are being held without charge."They are treating us
like 'dons', like we are criminals," said Bilal Bhat, a 27-year-old
journalist who is active in a local youth civil rights movement. Bhat was taken
in by police in August and told to stop posting articles on Facebook. It was
the second time he has been held. But the scale of the violence and security
crackdown, and, more recently, a sharp escalation in tension between the
neighbouring countries, have made the outside world sit up and pay attention.India's
security forces have also reinforced their already large presence in Kashmir,
drafting in 20,000 paramilitaries and 10,000 more soldiers.A senior Home
Ministry official said India's security forces had reduced their use of pellet
ammunition, which has drawn widespread condemnation, and had been instructed
only to fire when they felt directly threatened."It is clear that the
local Kashmiri youths were being used by Pakistan to attack Indian
forces," the official said, responding to questions from Reuters about the
use of force and risk of youth radicalisation.
OTHERS
Maharashtra: Muslim leaders
form panel to plan quota stir
Mumbai: With the state govt
being non-committal on Muslim reservation, community leaders have stepped up
their plan to launch an agitation.On Monday, an 11-member coordination
committee was formed to interact with prominent Muslim NGOs, religious
organisations, institutions and prepare a strategy. "We want to keep it a
peaceful movement. Special Backward Classes (SBC) among Muslims that the
previous govt had identified and granted
reservation for, deserve it as they have lagged behind," said MIM
legislator Waris Pathan. Responding to NCP leader Majeed Memon's memorandum to CM
Devendra Fadnavis on the issue, minority
affairs minister Dilip Kamble said the high court, through interim order of
Nov.14, 2014, had allowed 5% Muslim quota in education and stayed reservation
in jobs and that govt would further move
only after the final verdict on the issue.Congress MLA Amin Patel said:"Our
govt had given reservation to Muslims on the basis of their backwardness and
not on religious ground. NDA govt did
great injustice by letting the ordinance for Muslim quota to
lapse."Ex-minister and Congress MLA Arif Naseem Khan explained the plan
the previous govt had made.TOI
Muslim groups plan meetings
across Mumbai to demand quota
Thousands of Muslims attend
rally under the name of Shivaji in Raigad
The Muslim Shivshahi
sankalp Medava (rally) was organised on Sept.24 at Raigad under the banner of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Muslim Brigade and the Tipu Sultan Brigade, and received a
positive response from the thousands who attended the rally.This rally was
named Mission Raigad and aims to make Maharashtra riot-free and spread secular
qualities of the Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji.Despite continuous rains
and landslides in nearby area, more than 4,000 people from all parts of the
state took part in the rally.Chief organiser of the rally, Shaikh Subhan Ali,
said in his keynote address that Shivaji loved Muslims and teachings of Islam.
He pointed out that nearly 30% of his soldiers were Muslims. “Riots always harm
all communities…it is time now to come under the banner of Maratha Seva Sangh
for the purpose of a social front to make our state riot free and spread the
peace which Shivaji dreamt of,” he added.Noted personalities of Maratha Seva
sangh and Sambhaji brigade Manoj Akhre, Arjun Tanpure, Jayant patil, Toufiq
Patel and Shrimant Kokate attended the same as guest and addressed the people.TCN
Saamana cartoon
controversy: Cartoonist regrets hurting Maratha sentiments
Mumbai:A day after an
office of Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ was stoned over a cartoon it carried
alluding to the ongoing Maratha rallies, the cartoonist Wednesday expressed
regret over his work, which has triggered sharp reaction from across the
political spectrum in Maharashtra. Saamana had published the caricature that attempted
to make fun at the campaign for Maratha reservation that is under way in the
state. Following that, Saamana’s office in Navi Mumbai was pelted with stones,
reportedly by members of the Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha organization.PTI
Saamana targets Muslims to
deflect attention even as cartoonist apologises
Mumbai:A day after its
clarification over the caricature on Maratha protests met with little
acceptance, an isolated Shiv Sena tried to shift focus away from the
controversy by directing its anger towards the Muslims.In an editorial in the
party mouthpiece, Saamana on Wednesday, the party said, “It is surprising that
Muslim leaders give a call saying even we will protest, heat up the atmosphere,
at a time when there is trust being shown [by the govt ] towards the
Muslims.”Targeting the BJP for furthering vote-bank politics ahead of
elections, especially in UP where there is a sharp Hindu-Muslim divide, the
Shiv Sena said the PM should instead focus on making the Muslim community
realise the laws and culture of the country.
PM Modi, Pranab Mukherjee
condole death of ex-Israel President Shimon Peres
New Delhi:President Pranab
Mukherjee, PM Narendra Modi and a host
of other leaders today condoled the passing away of former Israel President
Shimon Peres, saying he made courageous efforts to achieve peace for his
country and the region.In a message to Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin,
Mukherjee conveyed his heartfelt condolences and said he was deeply saddened to
learn about the demise of Peres.“In his passing, Israel has lost a statesman
who made courageous efforts to achieve peace for his country and the region.
The worldwide admiration and accolades that he received for his work –
including the Noble Peace Prize, are a testimony to the values that he stood
for.“Peres was a visionary who strongly believed in the power of knowledge,
innovation and technology,” he said in a statement. Mukherjee said India
remembers Peres as a steadfast friend of country, whose lasting contribution to
strengthening of the close bilateral partnership between India and Israel will
be long remembered. “I would request you, Excellency, to kindly convey my
deepest sympathies to his bereaved family. May the Almighty give them the
strength to bear this loss,” he said. PM Narendra Modi in a tweet said, “In
ex-President Shimon Peres, we lost a key world leader and a friend of India. Pained
by his demise.Our condolences to people of Israel.” Congress president Sonia
Gandhi described him as a defining political figure.“Peres will be remembered
as a steadfast pacifist and hopeful believer in peace and coexistence,”she said
in a statement. LK Advani said he was deeply grieved to learn about the demise
of Peres, who represented many political parties in the Knesset.PTI
Hamas calls Peres a
criminal, Abbas hails him as brave
Gaza: Hamas welcomed the
death of ex-Israeli president Shimon Peres Wednesday, calling him a
"criminal", while Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas lauded the
"brave" Nobel Peace Prize winner.AFP
Shimon Peres obituary:
Peacemaker or war criminal?Jonathan Cook
Salafi hate speeches could
destroy plurality of society:PFI
Kozhikode: The hate
speeches of certain Salafi preachers in Kerala pose a serious threat to the
plurality of the society but it is an isolated phenomenon, said Popular Front
of India state general secretary KH Nazar.Addressing a news conference here on
Tuesday, he said such speeches were the byproducts of extreme spirituality and
degeneration of religion. "The hate spread by certain Salafis are not a
big social issue and it can be tackled within the community," Nazar said
adding that such outbursts should not be seen as the common attitude of the
Muslim community.TOI
Bastar teens not Maoists,
killed in fake encounter: Villagers
Raipur:A week after
Chhattisgarh Police killed two “Maoists” in Bastar district, villagers in
Barsoor are staging a protest for the past two days alleging that the 2 were
killed in a fake encounter. The villagers said the two deceased, aged 16 and
18, were from the Barsoor region in Dantewada and had gone to a relative’s
village in the same district to inform them about a death in the family when
they were shot dead. On Sept.24, the police had said they gunned down two
Maoists in the Sanguel forests of the Burgum region. The police said the two
were likely from the Barsoor area committee of the Maoists. Police confirmed
protests outside Barsoor police station by villagers, who demanded an FIR into
the incident. indianexpress
People’s Tribunal on those
acquitted in terror cases to be held on Oct.2 in New Delhi
Mumbai:A first of its kind
People’s Tribunal on those acquitted in terror cases is set to be held on Oct.2
in New Delhi. Tribunal will see participation of those exonerated in 10 terror
cases in various states, with them narrating their experience of the criminal
justice system and their struggle to rebuild their lives after their release. Cases
include the recently concluded Aurangabad arms haul case in which eight persons
were acquitted as well as the Malegaon 2006 blast where eight men, who had
spent 5 years in prison, were discharged by a special NIA court in Mumbai.
Those who were exonerated will speak before a jury, which includes Justice AP
Shah, ex Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and others, including
academicians and lawyers. Jury will then compile a report based on the
testimonies presented before them to enable them to engage with various
stakeholders on the issues of rehabilitation and compensation.Organised under
collective Innocence Network — which includes individuals and organisations
working for the rights of those wrongfully prosecuted, including those who have
been exonerated — the tribunal will also see the release of a book on the 7/11
Mumbai train blasts.“The idea is to establish an innocence collective similar
to the one in the US and other countries. Abroad, such movements with a
thorough understanding of the justice framework as well as advocacy methods
have yielded good results,” said Sharib Ali, Program Head, Quill Foundation,
which along with the JTSA is facilitating the Innocence Network. indianexpress
First of its kind ‘Peoples’
Tribunal on Acquitted Innocents’ to be held on Gandhi Jayanti
Mumbai: I am not a
terrorist, clarifies Muslim man branded so on WhatsApp
Mumbai:A 30-year-old man was
forced to do a sit-in outside a police station here holding a placard to
clarify that he is not a terrorist, after rumours were allegedly spread on a
mobile app branding him a terrorist.Saeed Ali Khan on Tuesday lodged a
complaint regarding purported messages and photos posted on WhatsApp branding
him a terrorist, an official at Virar police station said on Wednesday.The
matter is being looked into and further action will be taken after thorough
investigation, police said. Khan claimed that police initially refused to take
his complaint, following which he, along with his family members, staged a
protest in front of the police station.During the protest, Khan and his family
members held placards with message ‘My name is Saeed Sher Ali Khan. I am not
terrorist’.Khan, who also submitted the photos and messages along with his
complaint, said the problem started after he refused to pay extra maintenance
as sought by his landlord.PTI
My name is Khan, I am not a
terrorist, says Virar man
SC defers hearing on
Shahabuddin’s bail till tomorrow
New Delhi" The Supreme
Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on
the plea to cancel the bail of ex-Siwan MLA and RJD leader Shahabuddin
for one more day.The hearing of the plea was adjourned for two days after his
lawyer asked for some more time to reply. indianexpress
Delhi 2nd most
polluted major city in the world: WHO study
New Delhi: A new report by
WHO on ambient air pollution levels shows that with very high levels of
particulate matter measuring 10 microns or less, Delhi is among the most
polluted cities in the world, second only to Riyadh among the big cities. The
report — Ambient Air Pollution: A Global Assessment of Exposure and Burden of
Diseases — found that 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air
quality levels exceed WHO limits. indian express
Global competitiveness:
Pakistan stands last in South Asia, India jumps 16 spots
Karachi: Pakistan has been
ranked at 122, last amongst its South Asian neighbours, in the Global
Competitiveness Index+ (GCI) by World Economic Forum (WEF).The forum has ranked
India at 39th spot , followed by Sri Lanka 71, Bhutan 97, Nepal 98 and
Bangladesh at 106 at the GCI, reports the Business Reporter, a financial daily
of Pakistan.ANI
CBI abused me, tortured my
family, says bureaucrat BK Bansal's suicide note
New Delhi: Ex-director
general, Corporate Affairs, BK Bansal who allegedly committed suicide on
Tuesday along with his son has accused some CBI officers of torturing him and
his family. Bansal, an additional secretary-rank officer in the ministry of
corporate affairs, was arrested by CBI on July 16 for allegedly accepting bribe
from a company.Shocking details have emerged from the suicide note written by
Bansal and his son Yogesh.In the 7-page suicide note, Bansal gives details of
how on the intervening night of Sept.18 and 19, women officers of CBI allegedly
abused and beat up his wife. timesofindia
Salman Chishty of Ajmer Dargah
to address Organisation of Islamic Countries's global youth meet in Istanbul
Mumbai: In a recognition of
the country's Muslim community, the second-largest in the world, an Indian has
been invited to attend a prestigious conference of the Organisation of Islamic
Countries' Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation
(ICYF-DC). Haji Syed Salman Chishty of Dargah Ajmer Sharif has been invited to
address the ICYF-DC's 3rd Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports
Ministers opening in Istanbul on Oct.4."This is a great honour for India
and Indian Muslims. I shall speak on 'Empowering Youth for Peace, Solidarity
and Development', which is the main theme of this global conference to be
attended by representatives from 52 countries," Haji Chishty, 27th
direct descendent-custodian of Sufi saint, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty, said
via phone from Istanbul.Recommendations of the conference will be included in
"OIC 2025 Action Plan", encompassing the adoption of the OIC Youth
Strategy, he said. Haji Chishty said that under the leadership of its Secretary
General, Iyad Ameen Madani, OIC has declared youth engagement in the Islamic
world as one of its key priorities and the member-states have made investing in
youth their main priority. IANS
World
Swiss lawmakers approve
step towards face-veil ban
Switzerland's lower house
of parliament narrowly backed a ban on face veils on Tuesday, echoing moves by
neighbouring France and other European nations.The plan by right-wing
politician Walter Wobmann - who led a successful campaign to outlaw new minarets
in 2009 - still has to pass through the upper house and the govt before it
becomes law.But it joins a list of measures championed by populist and
right-wing movements that have polarised Alpine nation, and drawn some
criticism from abroad, including most recently a referendum ordering curbs on
immigration from the EU.Wobmann, from anti-immigration Swiss People's Party,
has said the veil ban will preserve Swiss culture and curb radicalism. He is
also pushing for a referendum on the issue. aljazeera
Germany boosts security for
Muslim centres in Dresden after mosque bombing:Reuters
German police are stepping
up protection of Muslim institutions in Dresden after 2 improvised bombs
exploded in the eastern city on Monday evening, one at a mosque and one at an
international conference centre.No one was hurt by the blasts although the imam
of the mosque was inside the building with his wife and sons."Even if we
so far have no claim of responsibility, we must go on the basis that the motive
was xenophobic," Horst Kretzschmar, head of Dresden police, said.
New York launches ad
campaign to fight anti-Muslim rhetoric, violence:Reuters
US: Father of Muslim teen
falsely accused of making a bomb, files defamation lawsuit
32,000 people
arrested since military coup bid: Turkey
Istanbul: Turkish
justice minister says 32,000 people have been arrested since the country’s
failed coup, and more may follow.In a live interview with private broadcaster
NTV on Wednesday, Bekir Bozdag said 70,000 people have been processed and
32,000 were formally arrested since the July 15 coup attempt.“There may be new
arrests or releases according to the evidence and information gathered in the
investigation,” Bozdag saidd. He also said Turkey was building a courthouse in
the outskirts of Ankara, the national capital, for the prosecution of suspected
coup plotters.AP
Deadly air strikes
hit 2 Aleppo hospitals
6 people were
killed in air strikes on 2 hospitals in rebel-controlled Aleppo as a deadly
Syrian govt onslaught continued and the
civilian death toll climbed.A medical association said there were only six
hospitals now remaining in the besieged city that has been been pounded by
massive aerial bombardment and artillery attacks since a US-Russia implemented
ceasefire collapsed last week."The attack happened at 4am local. One warplane
targeted both [hospitals] directly," Adham Sahloul of Syrian American
Medical Society, which supports the hospitals, said on Wednesday."There
are only 6 hospitals currently operational now that the M2 and M10 have been
temporarily taken out of service," he said. Both hospitals had been
targeted in previous aerial attacks, according to Sahloul, who described the
bombings as "deliberate".Wednesday's attacks were the latest in the
Syrian govt 's major push to recapture the key northern city that has seen the
most intense bombardment of the five-year war in recent days.Artillery shells
also hit the al-Maadi neighbourhood near a bread distribution facility, killing
six people, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies
on a network of sources on the ground for its information.It said dozens were
wounded and the number of dead was likely to rise because of the severity of
injuries.Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, accused the Syrian govt of using toxic chemicals in two recent
attacks in Aleppo, and urged UN Security Council to take action.aljazeera
Warplane targets
bakery in Syria’s Aleppo, killing six
Russian warplanes
pound Aleppo neighborhood, 22 killed
Letter from Aleppo:
'My city is not just a death toll'
NGOs call for
humanitarian corridor in Aleppo
US-led coalition
troops in Iraq reach 8,000: Official
Baghdad: The number
of troops on the ground in Iraq as part of a US-led coalition against the Daesh
now stands at some 8,000, a US official announced on Tuesday. "The number
of coalition forces in Iraq is now 8,000 personnel, including 4,500
Americans," US Army Lieutenant-Colonel John Dorian said at a press
conference held at the US embassy in Baghdad.This number, he stressed, would
not be increased without the express consent of the Iraqi govt .Dorian went on
to put the number of militants in Iraq’s Daesh-held city of Mosul at somewhere
between 3,000 and 5,000. Anadolu agency
Israel detains 39
Palestinians in West Bank raids
Ramallah:Israeli
forces have rounded up dozens of Palestinians, including a lawmaker, in
overnight raids in Israel-occupied West Bank, according to a local Palestinian
NGO. Seventeen Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces in East Jerusalem’s
Shufat refugee camp and Beit Hanina neighborhood after raiding their homes, the
Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement on Wednesday. Seven more
Palestinians, including Hamas MP Mohamed al-Natsheh, were arrested in the West
Bank city of Hebron, NGO said. Anadolu agency
Pentagon backtracks
on Daesh chemical attack claim
The Pentagon has
backtracked on a claim that a rocket fired last week by Daesh militants at an
Iraqi air base that was hosting US troops was in fact not a chemical weapon at
all, USA Today has reported.Although the Pentagon last week confirmed that
Daesh had tried to attack US forces with mustard gas, they have since
backpedalled on the claim stating that US Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford’s
testimony before Congress regarding the event was based on information
available at the time. middleeastmonitor
Iraq, Iran accused
of sending children to fight ‘jihad’ in Syria
Iraqi civil rights
groups have accused their govt of
staying silent as Iranian-sponsored militias and organisations recruit child
soldiers to fight a “jihad” in Syria, Al Jazeera reported on Monday.Campaigners
accused Baghdad of adopting a policy of silence or complicity as Iran uses
organisations and armed militant Shia factions under its control to press
children to take part in the Syrian bloodletting that has now claimed 400,000
lives since 2011.The families of some of these children have complained that
Iraqi officials have done little to address their grave concerns regarding the
welfare of their children. middleeastmonitor
Palestinians call
on FIFA to ban matches in settlements
An official from
the PLO on Tuesday called on football's ruling body FIFA to ban Israeli teams
from playing matches in Jewish-only settlements across the occupied West Bank.
"By allowing games to be held on Palestinian land where settlements have
been built, FIFA is involved in political and business activity that supports
these settlements, which are considered illegitimate and illegal by
international law," Ali Ishaq, a member of the PLO's committee in charge
of the sports department, said in a statement.The call comes two days after New
York-based Human Rights Watch urged FIFA to act on the issue of six clubs who
play in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. aljazeera
Amnesty: Israeli
forces guilty of ‘pattern of unlawful killings’
Amnesty
International has accused Israeli forces of displaying “an appalling disregard
for human life by using reckless and unlawful lethal force against
Palestinians”, in a new statement timed to coincide with the anniversary of an
uptick in violence dated 1 Oct. 2015.The international human rights group says
it sent a memorandum to the Israeli authorities on 14 Sept detailing 20 cases
of “apparently unlawful killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces seeking
clarification about the status of investigations.”In at least 15 of the cases,
Amnesty says: “Palestinians were deliberately shot dead, despite posing no
imminent threat to life, in what appear to be extrajudicial executions.” middleeastmonitor
Israeli PM rejects
‘2-state solution’: Palestine leader
New York: Mahmoud
Abbas has reiterated the difficulties involved with reaching a peace deal with
Israel under PM Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the latter continued to reject the
Palestinians’ longstanding demand for a "two-state solution based on 1967
borders". In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Abbas accused Netanyahu of
seeking to normalize relations with Arab countries without withdrawing from
Palestinian land occupied by Israel in 1967, in line with the terms of a 2002
Saudi-proposed peace initiative. Anadolu Agency
BDS condemns Arab
participation in Zionist conference in New York
Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions Movement (BDS) strongly condemned on Tuesday Arab participation
in a Zionist conference held in New York about the threat posed by Iran,
Arab48.com has reported.The movement claims that UAE ambassador to the USA,
Yousef Al-Otaibi, Bahrain’s former ambassador Sheikha Haya Rashid Al-Khalifa, Saudi
academic Mohamed Al-Yahya and the Lebanese researcher Toni Badran took part in
the conference, which was also attended by former Israeli Foreign Minister
Tzipi Livni. middleeastmonitor
Iranian threat to
‘erase Saudi Arabia from existence’
An advisor of
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has threatened to erase Saudi Arabia from
existence if it harms his country, while pointing out that Iran does not seek
wars, Moheet.com reported on Tuesday. Hassan Firouzabadi made his comment on
the fringe of the Iran Defence Show.“If Saudi Arabia made such a mistake,” he
explained, “it would be punished to the degree that there would be no remains
of the Saudi regime and Wahhabism in the world.” Saudis, he added, do not have
human cadres for the purpose of war. middleeastmonitor
Ahmadinejad bows
out of Iranian presidential race
Former Iranian
president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will not run for president in next year’s
Iranian election. Ahmadinejad’s decision comes following the “advice” of
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who warned his candidacy would increase
divisions in Iran.“In carrying out the intentions of the leader of the
revolution, I have no plans to take part in the elections next year,”
Ahmadinejad said in a letter to Khamenei, published on his website
dolatebahar.com.“You [Khamenei] advised me it is not expedient to run and I
announced my obedience,” Ahmadinejad’s letter stated. middleeastmonitor
Ghannouchi did not
say he has no objection to Bashar Al-Assad, aide insists
The political
advisor of the Head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement has denied claims that Rashid
Al-Ghannouchi has no objection to Bashar Al-Assad, Quds Press reported on
Tuesday.“Al-Ghannouchi is always calling for reconciliation among the Arabs,”
explained Lutfi Zaytoun, “and was always against turning the Syrian uprising
from popular to armed revolution and then to a civil war.”He pointed out that
the veteran Ennahda leader supports whatever is agreed by all of the sides in
Syria and accepted by the nation. “He also calls for the whole world to support
the Syrian people, who are suffering in this crisis.”Tunisia’s Al-Shorooq
newspaper reported on Tuesday that Ghannouchi had called for Arabic
reconciliation, saying that he does not object to the Syrian president. Zaytoun
told Quds Press, however, that the quotes cited “are completely false.” middleeastmonitor
Detainees of
Egypt’s notorious Scorpion prison: “we’re living, but we are in tombs”
Human Rights Watch
have released a detailed report on the abuses that take place in Egypt’s
notorious Scorpion prison (Tora prison), where inmates are kept in cells
without beds, visits by families and lawyers are restricted and authorities
interfere with medical treatment.The report, which is based on interviews with
relatives of detainees, lawyers, a former prisoner and medical files of sick
and deceased prisoners reveals that between May and Oct. 2015 at least 6
detainees died after being denied medical care, medicine, or requests to
release them on medical grounds.Interior Ministry authorities have refused to
provide high-ranking members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Gama Al-Islamiyya
with live-saving medication in abuse that is politically motivated and a way to
silence the opposition.Scorpion prison is notorious for being the detention
centre which houses “enemies of the state” – the 1,000 estimated detainees are
made up of Brotherhood leaders, alleged members of the Islamic State group and
journalists and doctors who oppose Sisi. middleeastmonitor
Hindu community
lauds passage of Pak Hindu Marriage Bill
Washington:Hindu
community in US has lauded the passage of the Hindu Marriage Bill in Pakistan's
National Assembly, which now officially recognises Hindu marriages throughout
the country."The Hindu Marriage Act is viewed as an attempt to bring
legitimacy to marriages occurring within the Hindu population, which had
previously not been officially recognised," Hindu American Foundation
(HAF) said in a statement on Tuesday.PTI
Jim Yong Kim
re-appointed as World Bank President
Washington: Jim
Yong Kim has been re-appointed for a second 5-year term as World Bank
president, beginning July 1, next year, the bank announced."Humbled to
have the honour of serving a second term as the head of this great institution.
I would focus on building a more inclusive world free of poverty," Kim
said in a statement.PTI
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:24 PM)
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