Evening NEWS DIGEST
31 Jan.2017: 2 Jamadiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:103
Economic Survey projects
slower growth, no rate easing; market recovers a bit
Expect the pain from
demonetisation to linger on in the economy in the new financial year and do not
expect interest rates to fall sharply. Those are the key takeaways from the
Economic Survey tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. GST, which has created a lot
of euphoria in industry and markets, may actually play spoiler as tax
collections are expected to be rather muted, which may hurt the government's
public capex and various social sector allocations. Following the announcement,
the BSE Sensex which was down over 150 points before the release, cut losses
and was trading 85.77 points lower at 27,763.79 at the time of writing this
report. The survey sees GDP growth in FY18 at 6.7-7.5 per cent, as it sees
three key risks to growth in the form of a possible spike in oil prices, rise
in global trade tension and a spillover of the demonetisation pain beyond 2
quarters as estimated earlier. economictimes
Economic Survey has a cure
for Modi govt's biggest headache - job creation
Eco Survey projects growth
slump, slower rate easing in FY18; here's how D-St analysts reacted
India Economic Survey 2017:
President's speech signals a populist Budget ahead
President Pranab Mukherjee
has appeared to lay the foundations for a populist Budget when he drew
parallels between the Champaran movement in the independence struggle and the
poor’s strength of character in the ongoing battle against black money.
Mukherjee, in his address to Parliament ahead of the crucial Budget Session,said
that Champaran, whose centenary is being celebrated this year, gave a new
direction to the freedom struggle, channelising ‘jana shakti’. He said resilience
demonstrated by the poor in the fight against black money and corruption was
remarkable.money control
President Mukherjee lauds
note ban, surgical strikes; favours joint polls
Budget Session: Ordinances
on bank notes, Enemy Property tabled in Parliament
An Ordinance under which
old denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 will cease to be liabilities of
the RBI was tabled in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Ordinances on 'The Enemy
Property (Amendment and Validation) 2016 and 'Payment of Wages' (Amendment),
promulgated on Dec 22 and 28 of last year, respectively, were also tabled in
both the Houses on the first day of the Budget session.Specified Bank Notes
(Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016, promulgated on Dec.30 last year, in
pursuance to announcement by PM Modi on Nov.8 to scrap notes, was tabled in Lok
Sabha by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs SS Ahluwalia. He tabled
the other 2 ordinances as well.In the Rajya Sabha, the 3 ordinances were tabled
by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.The
Ordinance on bank notes provides that the specified old currency of Rs 500 and
Rs 1,000 will cease to be liabilities of the RBI from Dec. 31, 2016 onwards.PTI
Ex-ATS officer Mujawar
seeks probe into 26/11 autopsy reports
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ex-ats-officer-seeks-probe-into-2611-autopsy-reports-4499954/
New Delhi: In a fresh twist
into 2008 Malegaon blasts, ex-Maharashtra ATS officer Mehboob Mujawar has
demanded investigations into the postmortem reports of two unidentified men who
were reportedly killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The autopsy reports are
part of chargesheet filed by Maharashtra ATS into 26/11 attacks investigations
against Mohd. Ajmal Kasab. Mujawar had claimed that the 2 prime suspects of
Malegaon blasts — Ramji Kalsangre and Sandeep Dange — were killed by senior ATS
officers on Nov.26, 2008 and were later shown as victims of 26/11. He was
recently examined by NIA which is now probing the Malegaon blasts along with
other right wing terror cases. Mujawar said, “NIA has recorded my statement. PM
reports needs to be investigated and DNA samples of these unidentified bodies
can be obtained for verification. I have more evidence to back my claims and
will present it at an appropriate time.” NIA officials however said that a
probe is underway and more cooroboration is required. indian express
Malegaon blast: Accused
tries to assert patriotism while seeking bail in HC
Mumbai:Malegaon blast
accused, Lt Colonel Shrikant Purohit claimed before the Bombay High Court on
Monday that there existed little evidence against him and that he was being
falsely incriminated in the case.Purohit went on to recount before the court
how he had “killed many terrorists” while in service, and “prevented an
infiltration bid,” thus, attempting to establish that he was a patriot who had
“risked his own security” for the nation and hence, could not have taken part
in any terrorist activity himself.Purohit’s counsel advocate Shrikant Shivade
read out from his service record telling the court that while in service,
Purohit “had killed three terrorists...risking his own life and safety.. that
he displayed courage in the face of hostile fire..”The submissions came while
the court was hearing a plea filed by Purohit seeking bail in the case.HC is
likely to continue the hearing on Purohit’s plea today.HT
Sanction vitiated as
procedure flouted: Purohit's counsel in bail plea
Hafiz Saeed in house
arrest: Protests in Pak, India reacts cautiously
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-reacts-cautiously-to-reports-of-saeed-s-detention-2302734
India reacted cautiously to
the reports of detention of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and 4 others under an
anti-terrorism act by Pakistan.External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas
Swarup said govt has seen reports on Pakistan Interior Ministry order placing JuD
and Falah e-Insaniyet Foundation under watchlist and also the notification
under which foundation has been included in the second schedule of their
anti-terror legislation under UNSC Resolution number 1267.Saeed, who was
detained at his Lahore HQRS, has been shifted to his residence which has been
declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province. The provincial
authorities have also started to remove the banners of JuD from the roads of
Lahore. National flags have been hoisted at JuD offices in Lahore, instead of
party flags, on the directives of the provincial home dept. Supporters accused Sharif
govt of succumbing to the wishes of US. Another spokesman, Farooq Azam, announced
protests in Karachi by "different religious and Kashmiri leaders". Other
govt officials have said recently that a broader diplomatic campaign pushed by
India to isolate Pakistan has taken a toll, even involving pressure from
longtime ally China. PTI
My arrest will give fresh
impetus to Kashmiris struggle: Hafiz Saeed
Lahore:A defiant Hafiz
Saeed said his detention would give a “fresh impetus” to the Kashmiris’
“struggle against India”,Saeed said if Indian PM Narendra Modi thinks that he
would get respite in Kashmir after his arrest he is seriously mistaken.“We have
declared 2017 a year of solidarity for Kashmiris,” he said adding that all
programmes planned for Feb.5 will be held across Pakistan and PoK. He vowed to
challenge his house arrest in the Lahore High Court.PTI
Hafiz Saeed's detention a
'policy decision': Pak Army
Republic Day invite for Pak
defence advisor first time in 3 yrs
New Delhi: In a rare
gesture amid the chill in diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan, the
Pakistan High Commission’s defence and army advisor Brig Chaudhary Amir Ajmal
was invited to the Republic Day parade last week, sources said.The last such
invitation was extended in Jan.2014, before NDA govt came to power, when
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest. The advisor is the
top-ranking serving Pakistan Army official in India and heads the High
Commission’s defence wing. Currently, there are two more officials in the wing,
one each from the Navy and Air Force.Government sources said Brigadier Ajmal
had sought an invitation, and was sent one last week through the Ministry of
External Affairs’s protocol division and not through the usual contact point,
the Defence Intelligence Agency. He was extended “due courtesy” along with
officials of similar rank from other countries in the VVIP enclosure on
Rajpath, said sources.Indian Express
Weakening Article 370 will
be the biggest anti-national act, says Mehbooba Mufti
Jammu:In a clear message to
ally BJP, J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti on
Monday said anybody weakening Article 370, which grants special status to the
state, will be doing the “biggest anti-national act” even as she contended that
a “conspiracy is being hatched against our culture and state” in this
regard.She also attacked those opposing setting up of colonies for Kashmiri
Pandits in the valley, saying that by doing so, they do not want in their
“heart of hearts” the displaced people to return.Speaking in Legislative
Assembly, she underlined that Pandits cannot go back to live in their original
villages and other places in Kashmir in the prevailing security situation when
even political workers and MLAs and MLCs are seeking a protective set-up.PTI
Missing Najeeb: Protest
held at Delhi Police HQRS; SIO seeks President's intervention
New Delhi: The family
members of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed including his mother and dozens of
students held a demonstration outside the Delhi Police headquarters here on
Monday as a mark of protest against an alleged raid by police at the houses of
Najeeb's grandfather and other relatives in UP's Badaun district earlier this
week.As more than 100 days passed since Najeeb's mysterious disappearance from his
hostel room at JNU, day after scuffle with some members of a Hindu-right
student group, Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) has written to
President Pranab Mukherjee seeking his intervention for safe recovery of Najeeb
and justice with his family.The protesters were angry at the alleged police
raid at Najeeb's house while, they alleged, those who assaulted him in the
night of 14 Oct 2016 at JNU hostel, have not even been interrogated and they
are scot-free. On the other hand, Najeeb's family has filed a habeas corpus in
the Delhi High Court and made nine students and members of ABVP accused.
"More than 100 days has been completed on disappearance of Najeeb, a young
student of JNU campus, when students and concerned citizens ask questions to
govt, police and JNU administration there is no response from the either side
of the authorities," wrote Syed Azharuddin, National Secretary of SIO, in
his letter to the President.indiatomorrow
A day of protest for JNU
students: Asian Age
New Delhi: It was a day of
protests for JNU students on Monday. While the JNU Students’ Union protested
against the alleged raid in the house of missing student Najeeb Ahmed’s
relatives house in Badaun, the RSS-affiliated ABVP held a protest against the varsity’s
new admission policy for M.Phil/Ph.D. courses.The protest by JNUSU outside the
Delhi police HQRS comes after a team of Delhi police, along with the Badaun
local police in UP, carried out a search at Najeeb’s maternal grandfather’s
house on Saturday.“Insensitive attitude of the police still continues. After
being completely failed to trace whereabouts of Najeeb, the poli-ce under crime
branch, has now gone to the extent of forcefully entering into Najeeb’s house
in Badaun. Whereas, Najeeb’s assault-ers are given impunity,” said JNUSU
general secretary Satarupa Chakrabo-rty.The protest also witnessed Najeeb’s
mother Fatima Nafees, Student Islamic Organisation of India and Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind organisation supporting the JNU students.In a separate incident, JNUSU
tried to meet UGC chairman over the issue of UGC gazette notification but were
allegedly dragged out of UGC office by the security guards and the Delhi
police. Intensifying their struggle, union said it would be launching an
“indefinite” hungerstrike from Monday night if May 5 UGC regulation were not
revoked.
JNU protests bring traffic
to a halt at many places
AMU: Teachers’ Association
alleges violation of norms in VC’s selection:PTI
Aligarhl:AMU Teachers’
Association has accused the varsity’s executive council of flouting norms while
drawing up names for the selection of the next V-C, claiming that the list
includes those facing “serious graft charges”. AMUTA’s executive committee has
also passed a resolution describing the manner in which the panel of 5 names
was drawn up as “illegal”. In an official statement today, the Secretary of
AMUTA,Mustafa Zaidi, alleged that UGC norms have been flouted brazenly by
including names of persons facing “serious charges of graft” in the list and
described it as “shocking”.
states polls & politics
Samajwadi-Congress
supported by over 73 per cent Muslims, Yadavs: ABP News-Lokniti survey
Lucknow: The pre-poll
survey conducted by ABP News-Lokniti CSDS found the alliance of Samajwadi
Party-Congress to be the most-preferred electoral option for Muslims and Yadavs
in the upcoming UP assembly elections 2017. The opinion poll claims that
coalition of Samajwadi Party and Congress enjoys the support of over 73% of
Muslims and Yadavs in the poll-bound state. The findings of the ABP
News-Lokniti CSDS opinion poll gives a major boost to the campaign of Samajwadi
Party, as the party has traditionally targeted Muslim-Yadav electoral base to
storm to power. Yadavs constitute approximately 20% of the state population,
whereas, the Muslim voters form 18% of the state’s electoral roll. The combined
electoral base could drive Akhilesh Yadav back to power. ABP News-Lokniti CSDS
survey, while predicting 74% of Muslims to support Samajwadi -Congress, claims
that another 21% would side with BSP, whereas, 3% could vote for BJP.india.com
Shia-Sunni joint front to
oppose Samajwadi-Congress alliance: TOI
Lucknow: A section of
Muslim clerics from both Shia and Sunni sects came together under a unified
front against the SP-Congress alliance for UP elections on Monday, a day after
CM Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi undertook a massive
road show in Muslim-dominated areas of Lucknow. As a joint front, however, the
clerics said they would decide within a day or two on which party to
support.Interestingly, the dais included Imran Hasan Siddiqui, president of Al
Imam Welfare Association, who only recently publicly extended his support to
BSP. Headed by Maulana Kalbe Jawad, the clerics said that both the SP and
Congress not only fooled Muslims in the past 5 and fifty years respectively but
people of all religions, failing to fulfil promises made.
RSS School’s Hindu Values
& a Madarsa’s Discipline in Western UP: thequint
A RSS-managed school in
Western UP’s Muzaffarnagar is firm about discipline and ‘Hindu’ values which it
wants to inculcate in its students.While the students of an Islamic school in
Deoband undergo a rigorous schedule of reciting Quranic verses, going through
Arabic scriptures and law books through the week.The Quint recently visited the
Saraswati Shishu Mandir school and the Darul Uloom madarsa in Deoband, ahead of
the Assembly polls in Feb. thequint
BJP's Yogi Adityanath praises
Trump ban, compares western UP to Kashmir
Bulandshahr: BJP lawmaker
Yogi Adityanath has praised US President Donald Trump's temporary ban on
citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries - roundly condemned within the US
and worldwide - and said similar action is needed to check terrorism in India.
While campaigning for the UP polls to be held from Feb.7, the firebrand leader
also focused on his party colleague's claims of a Hindu "exodus" from
western UP and warned that the region could soon "become another Kashmir".
Addressing a rally in Bulandshahr, he referred to Trump's immigration order
temporarily banning entry to the US for citizens of seven countries and
refugees from around the world, and said: "Similar action is needed to
contain terror activities in this country."He also alleged during his
speeches that the situation in western UP is similar to the Kashmir Valley
around three decades ago, when "Kashmiri Pandits were terrorized and
forced to leave". Situation, he claimed, was especially grim in Muzzafarnagar,
Baghpat, Meerut and Ghaziabad. He accused the ruling Samajwadi Party and
Mayawati's BSP of allowing it to happen with their policies over the years.NDTV
OTHERS
Living in fear: Dalits
still at receiving end of caste atrocities in UP
Lucknow: For the Dalit
Katheria family of the nondescript Daulatpur village in Mainpuri district of
western Uttar Pradesh, the New Year turned out to be traumatic.Hari Om
Katheria, 35, his wife Meera and brother Shyam Sunder were thrashed by Chhotey
Lal, an upper caste Thakur, for not greeting him with a ‘Ram Ram’.On Jan.15,
Hari Om was working in his field when Chhotey Lal passed by. Chhotey Lal was
infuriated as Hari Om did not wish him ‘Ram Ram’ and thrashed the Dalit farmer
with his slippers.When Hari Om’s wife Meera and brother Shyam Sunder
intervened, Chhotey Lal thrashed and abused them too.Later that night, Chhotey
Lal and his henchmen went to Hari Om’s house and after thrashing the family
again, set the poor farmer’s house on fire.The incident was reported by some
sections of the media but was largely washed away amid the high-profile family
feud in the Samajwadi Party.Atrocities against Dalits have continued despite
Constitutional safeguards that came into force 68 years ago.HT
RSS breathes easier in
Tamil Nadu under new CM
RSS, which found itself
stifled under the previous regime of late Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa, is
breathing easier in state today.RSS media coordinator for the state N
Sadagoppan said organisation found it easier to conduct marches and
demonstrations since O Panneerselvam took over as CM.“During Jayalalithaa’s
rule, even if the courts gave permission to RSS to hold a march, the government
would go and get a stay on it. But today, things are a bit different,” he said,
adding, “We are happy with the OPS govt.” RSS functionary’s admission came a
day after about 1,000 swayamsevaks marched from Egmore to Chintadripet to
commemorate the birth anniversaries of Saint Ramanuja, Guru Gobind Singh, BR
Ambedkar and Subhas Chandra Bose.HT
SC refuses to stay new TN
law that allows Jallikattu
New Delhi:Supreme Court
refused to stay a new legislation passed recently by Tamil Nadu assembly
allowing bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the state.A bench of justice Dipak
Misra and justice RF Nariman also permitted the Centre to withdraw a Jan.7, notification
allowing Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.SC permitted animal rights bodies and other
individuals to amend their pending petitions to challenge the new
legislation.PTI
Jallikattu, like Shah Bano:
Article written by Prashant Bhushan , Advocate Siddhartha K. Garg
Gujarat HC Grants Custody
Of 23-Yr-Old Muslim Girl To Her Hindu Girlfriend
A Hindu girl has legally
obtained the custody of her Muslim friend and the duo has resolved to stay
together. The two had earlier approached the Gujarat High Court expressing
their desire. The 23-year-old Muslim girl had earlier indicated her desire to
live with the petitioner and was accordingly allowed by the court to go with
her friend. The girl had, however, voluntarily stated that she would return a
month later and submit before the court her status and her wellbeing.
Accordingly, on Monday, she presented herself before the court and affirmed her
willingness to stay with the petitioner and stated that she was ‘happy at the
place where she is residing and had not changed her mind about it’.A division
bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice Biren Vaishnav, considering her
statement, observed that, ‘In that view of the matter, ordinarily, no further
discussion would be needed in the habeas corpus petition.’The court, however,
refused to tender to the plea led by the girl for returning her belongings and
documents from the shelter home she was previously residing in. Court stated:
“It is not part of this habeas corpus petition. We have no basis to accept her
version that all the mentioned documents and belongings are in custody of the
shelter home and at any rate we are not inclined to examine this issue in an
unrelated petition.”Muslim girl from Ahmedabad had alleged that she was
sexually harassed by her family and had even written to the Chief Justice
earlier. She had sought the court’s intervention and wanted to be rescued from
her family. She even sought help from a local NGO, but refused to leave her
family when they arrived, allegedly under family pressure. However, a few
months ago, she had moved to the NGO’s shelter home for good. Livelaw.com
Himachal: ISIS posters
found near Solan army cantonment
Shimla: Posters of
the Islamic State (IS) surfaced near an army cantonment in Himachal Pradesh’s
Solan district on Tuesday, a police official said. The posters and a flag
saying “ISIS Coming Soon”, written in English, Hindi and Urdu, surfaced on the
walls near Subathu cantonment, the official told IANS. Subathu is some 50 km
from the state capital here One of the posters warned of triggering three bomb
blasts from Subathu to Nepal. The police said investigations were on and also
asked the locals not to feel threatened by the posters. Earlier, a temple in
Solan was defaced with “ISIS coming soon” written over its walls in English and
Arabic. The incident happened in January in Dharampur.IANS
False Terror Cases: Can
Compensation Assuage a Victim’s Trauma? Alok Prasanna Kumar
Indians angry at Trump’s ban
on Muslim refugees should look at what Modi is doing: Darshana Mitra
Think Trump's 'Muslim ban'
is unacceptable? Here's how India deals with refugees:Ipsita Chakravarty
WORLD
Major European pension
funds heavily invested in Israeli settlements
Europe’s 5 largest pension
funds have €7.5 billion invested in companies with business activities in and
around Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT),
according to a new investigation by a Danish media and research
centre.According to Danwatch, the 5 funds in question – the Government Pension
Fund of Norway, Dutch government pension
fund ABP, Dutch pension fund PFZW, Danish pension plan ATP, and Swedish pension
fund Alecta – are invested in 36 Israeli and international publicly-traded
companies, “most of which have long been under public scrutiny because of their
activities in the [OPT].”As noted by Danwatch, “18 European countries warn their
citizens and businesses in no uncertain terms against undertaking financial and
economic activities that could support illegal Israeli settlements” in the OPT.
middleeastmonitor
Trump, aides donated to
illegal Israeli settlements
US President Donald Trump
and a number of his aides had donated thousands of dollars to illegal Israeli
settlements built on occupied Palestinian territories, The Washington Post
revealed.American paper revealed that Trump and his senior aides have strong
links with the Israeli Jewish settler community, including within the
settlement of Beit El, which is located deep in the occupied West Bank near the
city of Ramallah where the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority (PA) is
located. Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has donated tens of
thousands of dollars to Jewish settlers in Beit El, which was established in
1977, while Post indicated that Trump himself made a $10,000 donation in
2003.David Friedman, who was chosen by Trump to be the new US ambassador in
Israel, is the president of the American Friends of Bet El Institutions, which
raises about $2 million a year. According to Washington Post, the website of
this organisation says it has helped bring about an influx in young couples and
is working to create “facts on the ground” to prevent international attempts to
uproot the community. Middleeastmonitor
Palestinians decry Israel's
settlement bill
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/palestinians-decry-israel-settlement-bill-170130153602119.html
Palestinian politicians in
Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory have warned of dangerous
consequences if Israel's parliament passes a bill to legalise land grabs in the
West Bank. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hanin Zoabi, a Palestinian politician in
Israel's Knesset, said the bill is "an act of annexation" and part of
Israel's broader plans to "expand settlements and Judaize Jerusalem".
Zoabi, a member of predominantly Arab Joint List electoral coalition, argued
that Israel's hardline Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is no longer
worried about international criticism" now that Donald Trump has become US
president. aljazeera
Rights organisation seeks
arrest of ex-Israeli general
A British human rights
organisation has filed a legal application for the arrest of ex-Israeli general
over alleged criminal behaviour and war crimes.Arab Organization for Human
Rights in UK (AOHR UK) has requested that British Counter Terrorism Command
(SO15) commence an investigation and seek to arrest Israeli Major-General
Elazar Stern over his negligence in failing to either prevent or investigate
allegations of criminal behaviour.AOHR said that “Major General Stern held a
position of ‘Superior Responsibility’ in terms of the duty to prevent or punish
and thus was obliged to either report instances of, or commission
investigations into any instance of alleged criminal behaviour by troops under command
of IDF”. middleeastmonitor
Washington becomes first
state to sue Trump over ‘Muslim ban’: The Independent
Washington state's attorney
general declared on Monday that he was suing President Donald Trump over his
temporary ban on immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim
populations, making it the first state to announce a legal action against the
Trump administration over one of its policies. Trump's executive order also
suspended US' entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the
weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport. "If successful it would have the effect of invalidating the
president's unlawful action nationwide," Attorney General Bob Ferguson said
at a news conference.
US attorney general Sally
Yates fired in Muslim ban row
US President Donald Trump
has sacked the country's acting attorney general after she took the rare step
of defying the White House by refusing to enforce his sweeping immigration
ban.Sally Yates had early on Monday ordered Department of Justice lawyers to
stop defending Trump's executive order, resulting in her dismissal just hours
later."The acting attorney general, Sally Yates, has betrayed the
Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect
the citizens of the United States," the White House press secretary's
office said in an unusually caustic statement. "Ms Yates is an Obama
Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal
immigration." aljazeera
WATCH: How to identify
‘good’ Muslims? A new device that tests for radicalism
New Delhi: Last year, the
word Islamophobia repeatedly made an appearance in headlines the world over.
Unfortunately, as we end the first month of 2017, it continues to be a
sentiment that is dominating mind space and socio-cultural ethos. Now, after US
President Donald Trump signed the executive order on immigration from seven
Muslim-dominated countries, the issue has intensified. One of the outcomes of
Trump’s orders and the existing racial and religious undercurrent in countries
is the expression of rebellion by virtue through creative means. And of those,
humour and sarcasm are what work best. One such example is a video created by a
comedy group Fusion Comedy, called How to Vet Muslims. indianexpress
Turkey dismissed more than
90,000 public servants in post-coup purge , says minister: Reuters
Turkish authorities have
dismissed more than 90,000 public servants for alleged connections to a coup
attempt in July as part of a purge critics say has broadened to target any
political opposition to President Tayyip Erdogan. Labour Minister Mehmet
Muezzinoglu said 125,485 people from the public service had been put through
legal proceedings after the coup attempt, and that 94,867 of those had been
dismissed so far. Turkey has been rooting out followers of the US-based Muslim
cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of having infiltrated state
institutions and plotted to overthrow the government. Gulen, who has lived in
self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the charge and condemned
the coup.
366 breaches of Syria
ceasefire in one month
Syrian Network for Human
Rights (SNHR) revealed it had documented 366 violations of ceasefire agreement
in Syria, mostly by forces loyal to Bashar Al-Assad. Middleeastmonitor
World Sikh body Condemns
Quebec Mosque Attack
Quebec City:In a press
statement, World Sikh Organization of Canada condemned the terror attack on
Sunday, Jan.29, in Quebec. During the attack last night, 2 gunmen entered the Centre Culturel
Islamique de Québec in Sainte-Foy, Quebec City and killed 6 people. Terming the
incident as horrific, World Sikh Organization said that the Sikh community
stands in solidarity with Muslims.WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, “Our
thoughts and prayers are with the victims of last night’s horrific shooting.
Today, Canadians stand together to condemn this act of terror and stand in
solidarity with Muslim community.”Sikh24 Editors
With IS gone, East Mosul residents
face uncertain future
When Islamic State
militants swept into Mosul in 2014, they wandered into Manaf Younes' billiards
hall and declared it un-Islamic, taking away his billiard balls with a stern
warning. A hall that was often packed with players until midnight was suddenly
abandoned. Photographs of awards that made Younes proud gathered dust for two
years and the billiard tables remained covered up.Iraqi government forces have
now pushed the militants out of east Mosul and are poised to attack the west.
While Younes is thrilled, like many other small businessmen in the city, his
joy is tempered by uncertainty as he tries to revive his ex life."I am
broke. I had to sell my two cars to survive. Now my landlord is demanding 2
years of back rent," said Younes, picking up a trophy that reminded him of
the old days.US-led airstrikes have demolished scores of buildings and left
huge craters that destroyed roads. Rooftops have collapsed into the bottom
floors. Other buildings have gaping holes from rockets or machinegun
fire.Mortar bombs still land in the city and gunfire is heard.Reuters
Nigeria: Former Muslim
preacher with 130 wives dies at 93
Abuja: A former Muslim
preacher, who rose to fame in Nigeria for marrying more than 100 women, has
died at the age of 93, media reports said. Mohammed Bello Abubakar died from an
unknown illness on Saturday in Bida of Niger State and large crowds turned out
for his funeral on Sunday, Daily Mail reported. His personal assistant, Mutairu
Salawudeen Bello, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) his employer had died at
home “following a brief illness”. Abubakar became a controversial figure for
his unusual interpretation of the Koran — that a man could take as many wives
as he was able to comfortably accommodate. “Baba (Abubakar) told us that his
time was up; he personally told me that he had completed his divine assignment
and was ready to meet his creator.”In 2008 he faced criticism from other Muslim
preachers who demanded that he must divorce 82 of his 86 wives within 48 hours.
But Abubakar said that it was his ‘divine’ mission to keep marrying. Of the 130
wives he has wed, some are believed to be pregnant. He already has 203
children.IANS
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:29 PM)
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