Evening NEWS DIGEST
14 Jan.2017: 15 Rabius
Sani 1438: Vol:8, No:88
High-level panel to look
into Haj subsidy issue: Naqvi
New Delhi: The government
has formed a high-level panel to look into the Haj subsidy issue in light of a
2012 Supreme Court order on gradually reducing and abolishing subsidy given to
pilgrims by 2022, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here today.Speaking
to reporters on the sidelines of an event, the Minister of State for Minority
Affairs (Independent Charge) said the panel, inter alia, is expected to figure
out if the pilgrims can travel to Saudi Arabia paying less or equally if there
is no subsidy."Questions and issues about Haj subsidy have been raised
from time to time. We have formed a high-level committee to study in detail
different aspects related to the subsidy," Naqvi said.The committee is
doing its work and will hold talks with various stakeholders and furnish its
recommendations "soon", he added."We have given a free hand to
the committee to conduct its study. But the thing which needs to be looked into
is whether the Hajis (pilgrims) can travel spending less or paying equal
charges in the absence of subsidy," he said.PTI
Haj subsidy under
examination by government once again
Muslims divided over
Centre’s proposal to remove Haj subsidy: newindianexpress
Hyderabad:Centre’s proposal
to remove subsidy for poor Muslims to go on Haj Pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina
has led to debate among intellectuals and politicos of TS Muslim community.
While some opposed this proposal outright, others welcomed this move saying
that the funds spent for this purpose can be used for welfare and education of
the poor. Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir criticised Centre for
considering the idea of removing Haj subsidy. He attacked AIMIM chief Asaduddin
Owaisi for asking Centre to stop providing subsidy to those who go on Haj
pilgrimage. “MIM chief, whose income has spiraled from Rs 8 lakh in 2004 and Rs
4.5 crore in 2014 (as per election affidavits) may not require it. But, Haj
subsidy granted by British in 1932 is a boon to poor and retired officials for
one Haj pilgrimage in their life time,” he said urging Centre not to remove
subsidy.Few intellectuals from the community said welfare and development of
Muslims is a Constitutional obligation. Hence, they argue that by cancelling
Haj subsidy of Rs 690 crore, Centre cannot bring any contribution to their
welfare. Differing with this view, a few back the move, saying that this would
help government in spending more money for welfare of poor Muslims.
Haj subsidy withdrawal:
Congress leader Shabbir asks Asaduddin to apologize
Apart from the Haj, India
subsidises a range of pilgrimages – most of them Hindu
Every few years,
the question is raised of the Haj subsidy given by the government to Muslim
pilgrims flying to Mecca on state-owned Air India – whether it should continue,
whether it is financially viable, whether it compromises India’s secular
credentials. Now, just after Saudi Arabia increased its quota of the number of
Indians who will be permitted to make the pilgrimage for the first time in 3
decades, the minority affairs ministry has formed a committee to reconsider the
subsidy. The govt said it was following up on the Supreme Court order of 2012,
which dictated that the subsidy should be phased out in 10 years.There have
been questions about the way in which the subsidy is administered. It has been
claimed that funds routed through Haj Committee to various community leaders
were distributed as political largesse. Some say that there have been various
irregularities in the flow of cash. Others contend that the subsidy is no
subsidy at all but merely a transfer of funds from one part of the state
machinery to the other: people availing of the subsidy travel to Saudi Arabia
on the national carrier, Air India. The pilgrims fly out from Mumbai and in
2016 were given a concession of Rs 45,000 for their airfare.While these
objections to the Haj need to be considered, what has passed without scrutiny
is the fact that India also spends money on a raft of pilgrimages, directly or
indirectly. Chief among these are 4 Kumbh Melas, held in Haridwar, Allahabad,
Nashik and Ujjain. Millions of people attend each fair. To ensure that they go
off smoothly, Central funds are routed through state governments to pay for
constructions on the mela grounds, facilities for pilgrims and security. In
2014, for instance, Centre spent about Rs 1,150 crore and the UP govt Rs 11
crore on the Allahabad Kumbh. Of this, Opposition parties alleged that Rs 800
crore had been misused. Last year, Union culture ministry also set aside Rs 100
crore to be granted to the Madhya Pradesh for Simhastha Mahakumbh, which is
held in once in 12 years in Ujjain. The state govt had already spent Rs 3,400
crore on the event. Scroll.in
Freedom fighters demand
Modi's apology on the KVIC calendar issue
Agra:Following the
demonetisation exercise which threw the country into chaos for more than two
months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is again in the eye of the storm, this
time over his picture printed on the Annual Khadi and Village Industries
Commission calendar and diary, a place that was erstwhile reserved for pictures
of Mahatma Gandhi, who was an international proponent of khadi or handwoven cloth.Now,
the Opposition parties have taken up this fresh issue and renewed their attack
on Modi claiming that Modi is conspiring to sideline Mahatma Gandhi and replace
that great personality as the national icon. Freedom fighters of Agra have also
opened up a front against Modi on this issue and demanded that Modi should
issue a personal apology on this gaffe and the KVIC recall the calendars and
diaries that have Modi's image spinning charkha printed on them. They have
warned that the freedom fighters of Agra will hold a protest at the Parliament
if the Modi govt did not make amends immediately. indiatoday
Gandhi will gradually be
removed from currency notes: Haryana minister Anil Vij
Ambala:Anil Vij, a minister
from Haryana in PM Narendra Modi-led government, on Saturday sparked a fresh
controversy, saying Mahatma Gandhi will gradually be removed from currency
notes and that Modi is a bigger brand name than Gandhi. "The day Gandhi
came on the rupee, its devaluation started. Gradually, he will be removed from
the notes also," Vij said. However, the minister later withdrew his
statement against Mahatma Gandhi. The whole controversy started with Modi's
picture spinning the charkha donning the cover page of the Khadi Village
Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar and diary, instead of the iconic picture
of Gandhi weaving khadi on a simple charkha, wearing his trademark loin cloth.
IANS
Khadi icon row: Rahul
Gandhi mocks Vij, says Hitler, Mussolini were “popular brands” too
Demonetisation
‘Humiliated’ by note ban
events, do away with interference: RBI staff to Guv
Mumbai:Feeling “humiliated”
by events since demonetisation, RBI employees on Friday wrote to governor Urjit
Patel, protesting against operational “mismanagement” in the exercise and the
Centre impinging its autonomy by appointing an official for currency
coordination.In a letter, they said the autonomy and image of RBI has been
“dented beyond repair” due to mismanagement and termed appointment of a senior
finance ministry official as a “blatant encroachment” of its exclusive turf of
currency management.“An image of efficiency and independence that RBI
assiduously built up over decades by the strenuous efforts of its staff and
judicious policy making has gone into smithereens in no time. We feel extremely
pained,” United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees said in the letter
addressed to Patel.PTI
If I Were at RBI, I’d Have
Withdrawn From Demonetisation Implementation: Y.V. Reddy
New Delhi: Former RBI
governor Y. Venugopal Reddy, who has earned a global reputation for his acumen
as a central banker, has admitted that if he were still head of the central
bank, he would have quietly conveyed to the Centre his inability to carry out
demonetisation on the scale announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In an
interview with The Wire on Saturday, Reddy readily conceded that it is the
Centre’s prerogative, as a sovereign, to take the decision to demonetise.
However, he would have told the prime minister that it was impossible to effect
a quick replacement of currency on such a massive scale. “First I would have
tried to impress upon the govt that it should withdraw only Rs 1000 notes
so as to minimise the disruption. If the
government still wanted to go ahead with removing 86% of currency in
circulation I would have conveyed my inability to execute it,” he said. the
wire
Demonetisation is a major
assault on poor: Economist Bardhan
Mumbai: The demonetisation
exercise is a major assault on the poor and won’t change the structural roots
of corruption in India, says Pranab Bardhan, professor of economics at
University of California, Berkeley. A strong proponent of universal basic
income, he says it could be one of the ways in which the government can
compensate citizens for the harm caused by the note ban. livemint.com
RBI row: Opposition slams
BJP govt for destroying credibility of autonomous body
New Delhi: In wake of the
letter written by employees of RBI to its governor Urjit Patel condemning the
demonetisation drive, the Congress and JD(United) dubbed it as ‘shocking state
of affair’, while stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government
have destroyed the credibility of the autonomous body that controls the
country’s monetary policy.ANI
Modi govt has decimated
independence & functionality of RBI: Randeep Surjewala
Note ban hurting Nepal,
says envoy
New Delhi:Nepal’s
ambassador Deep K Upadhyay on Friday said that people in his country were
facing a lot of hardship due to India’s demonetisation move and failure to
resolve the problem soon may erode their faith in the Indian government’s
assurances.“They are worried. I have pursued the issue at all levels, including
at the diplomatic level. I hope it will be solved soon. I am requesting the
government of India, please resolve it as early as possible. Otherwise people
may lose their faith in the government of Nepal and naturally in government of
India too,” Upadhyay said during an interaction at the Foreign Correspondents
Club of South Asia here. indianexpress
OTHERS
Zakir Naik’s IRF moves High
Court against immediate ban
Islamic Research Foundation
of Zakir Naik has challenged in Delhi High Court the Centre’s decision to
immediately ban the organisation, claiming no reasons were given for taking
such action under UAPA.Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, before whom the matter was
listed, heard part arguments on behalf of the organisation and the Centre and
asked the government to produce the relevant record on Jan.17 so that the court
can see whether there was material for urgent ban of IRF.IRF, in its plea, has
challenged the notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which had
imposed an immediate ban on the organisation under UAPA.According to IRF, the
notification gives no reason and cites no material for taking such a step as
was required by the law laid down by the Supreme Court.It said the immediate
ban was imposed without giving them any show cause notice.Opposing the
maintainability of the plea, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain said
the government did not want to wait for some “catastrophic” incident or
“pralay” to happen before taking a decision. ASG said the matter is now before
the Tribunal, set up under the UAPA, which will take up the issue on Feb.6 on
which date the organisation will be provided all the affidavits filed by the
govt.IRF, on the other hand, contended that dates or content of the alleged
speeches and statements have not been mentioned in the notification.It also
said the Tribunal refused to accept or admit, before Feb.6, its plea
challenging the immediate ban and thus, it had to come to the high court.It
said that it was limiting its plea to the immediate ban and not raising the
issue of freezing of its accounts under the Foreign Contribution Regulation
Act.PTI
HC asks Centre to submit
report on Zakir Naik’s IRF ban
No one wants to take over
IRF-run school: mumbaimirror
Mumbai: Govt has approached
Muslim institutions to take over the running of the school, but no one has
shown any interest. The controversy surrounding Zakir Naik has put a question
mark over the fate of 185 students studying in a school run by his foundation.
The Islamic International School in Mazagaon is managed by the educational
trust of Zakir Naik’s IRF and holds classes from nursery to Std X.After the
Centre’s ban on IRF, the government approached Muslim educational institutes to
take over the school but so far, no one has accepted the offer. Among the
institutions approached is Anjuman-I-Islam school, which is the largest Muslim
educational institution in the state. But authorities have not shown interest
in running the school. President of Anjuman, Zahir Kazi, told Mirror,“There
have been discussions between the education department and us, but nothing in
writing has been given to us. Moreover, we follow a different pattern or
syllabus. Our institution is run by a Muslim trust but we do not impart only
religious education and hence it will be difficult to take over IIS and run it
according to our norms. We are still waiting for the government to approach us
officially.”Earlier, the management of the Islamic International School had
alleged that the education department was “doing everything possible” to shut
down the school. However, when Mumbai Mirror visited the school on Saturday,
the administration incharge claimed that there was no problem. “There is
absolutely no problem here and we do not think the school will be shut. Even if
some other body takes over the school, it will be for the good of the students.
We are functioning normally.” Mumbai Mirror
Iran's Rafsanjani was
instrumental in improving relations with India at cost of ties with Pak:
Iftikhar Gilani's spl story
Not many people know that
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of Iran, who passed away recently,
was instrumental in a remarkable turnaround in Iran’s bilateral relations with
India at the cost of its ties with Pakistan. In March 1994, an Indian military
aircraft touched down at a snowed-in Tehran airport carrying the ailing
minister of external affairs Dinesh Singh on a secret mission. Hospitalised at
the AIIMS and barely able to walk, the minister had a surprise visitor the day
before. Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao had come calling to urge the minister
to deliver an urgent letter in person to Rafsanjani.UN Human Rights Commission
(now Council) was set to pass a resolution against India, prompting Rao to
visit Singh and exort him to proceed to Tehran and blunt Pakistan’s edge at
Geneva. It was not the India of the 21st century. In 1992, India had mortgaged
its gold reserves and its economic woes were far from over. Russia was licking
its wounds after the break-up of the Soviet Union, India’s most bankable ally.
Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), supported by influential Western
nations, was moving a resolution at the UNHRC to condemn alleged Indian human
rights violations in Kashmir.The resolution, if passed, would have been
referred to the UN Security Council to initiate economic sanctions and other
punitive measures against India. OIC convention requires decisions to be
arrived through consensus. A retired senior Indian diplomat mentioned this episode
at a Track-II interaction in a Gulf country few years ago. He said Rao had
shrewdly chosen Rafsanjani to force his country to abstain from voting. Rao
believed that once there was no consensus, the resolution was bound to fall
through. The Iranians had no clue why the ailing Indian Minister was arriving
in Tehran at short notice. Breaking protocol, Iranian foreign minister Ali
Akbar Velayati was waiting at the tarmac with bated breath. Later, Velayati
would narrate in private gatherings that Singh’s perilous journey had intrigued
him greatly. Singh held meetings with President Rafsanjani and the Speaker of
the Iranian Majlis Nateq-Nouri. By evening, Singh had returned to his bed at
AIIMS in Delhi, but not before seeking an assurance from President Rafsanjani
to Prime Minister Rao that “Iran will do all it can do to ensure that no harm
comes to India”. But what Iran gained by yielding to India’s plea is still a
mystery. Some say Rao had committed to settling issues bilaterally with
Pakistan, which he later articulated with his famous “sky is the limit”
statement on Kashmir. 72 anxious hours later, Delhi learned that Iran had
killed the OIC move to table the resolution — with far-reaching consequences
for the region in the next decade.
Youth bulge may become a
bane for India: US intel report
New Delhi: A US
intelligence report analysing global trends has said that in the wake of
unmatched economic progress, youth bulge may prove a bane rather than a boon
for India. After every four years, when results of the presidential elections
are out, National Intelligence Council (NIC) of US releases a long-term
strategic analysis for the new administration, parts of which are declassified
for public debate.A 256-page report, released here by NIC officer Robert S
Williams for South Asia, says India needs to create as many as 10 million jobs
every year in the coming decade. Even in the global context, NIC, which in US,
serves as a bridge between the intelligence and policy communities, has
predicted rising tensions within and between countries of different regions
over the next five years.“Insufficient opportunity as a result of inadequate
resources and social discrimination could contribute to the radicalisation of a
segment of the region’s youth,” report said. It also raised a red flag at
widespread pre-natal sex selection that is making the youth population
disproportionate. DNA
Bangalore; Exhibition in
Mangaluru conveys tenets of IS, teachings of Quran
Bangalore: In an attempt to
convey to the masses the true meaning of Islam, Karnataka Salafi Association
has organised The Miracle, an exhibition on Islam in Mangaluru. The exhibition
is being held from Jan 9-15 at the Nehru Maidan in the city.Speaking to
Bangalore Mirror of the initiative, Sharifa, in-charge of the organisation’s
women’s section and the one organising the exhibition, says its objective is to
make people understand what Islam actually preaches, and dispel misconceptions
tagged to it. “This is being held for the first time in Dakshina Kannada,” she
said.The exhibition premises is spread over 30,000 square feet of 500
informative panels in English and Kannada. Separate video theatres in the 2
languages offer multimedia sermons.Bangalore Mirror
Anger in MP after police
officer probing a multi-crore scam is transferred
The abrupt transfer on
Monday of a senior police officer who was investigating cases related to a
hawala scam estimated to be worth Rs 500 crore in Katni, a business hub in
Madhya Pradesh, has led to allegations from the Opposition and members of the
public that the state government was trying to protect its leaders, including
an influential minister.Gaurav Tiwari was barely six months into his tenure as
Superintendent of Police in Katni, 400 km east of Bhopal, when BJP government
transferred him to Chhindwara.The move sparked protests in the town, which shut
down for two days following the transfer order. Citizens came onto the streets
to demand the revocation of the order, people have posted messages of
solidarity on the officer’s Facebook wall, and government employees in the
district have threatened to go on strike from Feb.3.The massive popular anger
in Katni is mainly directed against Sanjay Pathak, the minister of state for
Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises, who is seen as the man who prevailed upon
the chief minister to shift Tiwari out of the district. scroll
Kolkata: Imam blames 'sexy
manner' of girls for rape: DNA
Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan
Masjid, Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati said that girls of present generation are
presented in a ‘sexy manner’ and that is why they become 'prey to men’s lust'.
“One should take example from how the women of Rajasthan wear a veil on their
face or the women of Punjab who wear a dupatta over their dresses. Present day
women here go about in such a sexy manner that they become ‘insaano ke hawas ka
shikaar’ (prey to men’s lust),” Barkati said at a press conference on Friday.He
said that the many have adopted the Islamic rule of purdah even in places like
America and that would bring down the number of cases of violence against
women. “Even Hindu sages are appreciating the purdah system and when they ask
women to dress up in a sober manner, they receive a lot of flak,” he said.DNA
Women would be respected if
they wear veil: Maulauna Noor-ur Rahman Barkati
Muslim clerics in fight
over Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque imam's fatwa
Mumbai:A week after the
shahi imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Mosque, maulana Nurur Rehman Barkati,
issued a fatwa against PM Modi, the controversial cleric faces a fatwa from a
Mumbai-based mufti (one qualified to issue fatwas).In his fatwa, mufti Manzar
Hasan Khan Ashrafi Misbahi, chief mufti of Madrassa Darul Uloom Ali Hasan Ahle
Sunnat, has not only dismissed Barkati's "fatwa" against Modi as an
outrageous and condemnable political statement, he has also questioned the
controversial imam's credentials to lead namaz or prayers.TOI
Arnab Goswami’s new media
venture is funded by NDA MP and Mohandas Pai
There has been a lot of
speculation on the potential investors in journalist Arnab Goswami’s new media
venture after he quit Times Now as its editor-in-chief.It has now emerged that
among those who’ve invested in Republic are Rajeev Chandrasekhar, an NDA MP in
Rajya Sabha and Mohandas Pai, a former executive of Infosys.Although
Chandrasekhar identifies himself as an independent MP, his association with the
BJP-led NDA is not a secret anymore. Not too long ago, he had actively
campaigned for the NDA in Kerala assembly elections in May last year.His
‘independence’ had also come under intense scrutiny last year when an email sent
by Amit Gupta, the Chief Operating Officer of Jupiter Capital, was leaked to
media. Chandrasekhar owns his media ventures that includes Asianet in Kerala
and Suvarna News and Kannada Prabha in Karnataka. jantakareporter
Crisis in AMU’s Murshidabad
campus
Kolkata: Faced If the fund
marked for Murshidabad campus of the AMU is not disbursed by the end of March,
it may jeopardise the career of more than 500 students studying in the campus.
The director of the campus, which is officially called the Murshidabad Centre,
said the allotted fund would lapse on March 31, “shattering dreams” of many.
The campus, located in the erstwhile constituency of President Pranab Mukherjee
in Jangipur, was inaugurated in 2014 by the President. The campus received Rs.
60 crore of the Rs. 107.80 crore marked for the institution in August 2013.
However, the director of the University, Dr. Badaruddoza, has no idea if they
will receive the rest of the fund by March 31 this year. thehindu
Will probe if Bakshi
complains of conspiracy:Army chief
New Delhi: Army chief
General Bipin Rawat said prompt action would be taken if Lieutenant General
Praveen Bakshi, who cut short his prolonged leave on Friday to resume duties as
the Eastern Army Command (EAC) chief, formally complained of the alleged
conspiracy to defame him over the last few months. "If General Bakshi has
any grievance, or if there is anything that needs to be investigated, and it is
formally brought to my notice, we will look into it," Rawat, who
superseded Bakshi, said."We have both reached out to each other since I
was appointed the chief. All that he has told me is that he accepts the
government's decision and will support the organisation... He has been
supportive of me and I will be supportive of him," Rawat added. timesofindia
Naushad acquitted of terror
charges, rearrested in Bijnor
Lucknow: Naushad, a
resident of Bijnor, who was acquitted of terror charges was arrested again by
police on Friday.Police had arrested Naushad in 2007 claiming that he was
planning a terror attack.However, in 2015 he was acquitted by a special court
after spending more than eight years in jail.The state government had
challenged the order in the high court. The high court had issued a nonbailable
warrant against him in December last. Naushad, who was arrested in Bijnor on
Friday, will be taken into transit remand and brought to Lucknow on Monday .
The next hearing of the matter is on Jan.31."The police furnished a false
report in the HC alleging that Naushad has fled and got a warrant against him.
Naushad was at his home all the time and was arrested from village Chak
Udaychand Chamli in Bijnor district," said Naushad's lawyer and activist
Mohammad Shoaib.TOI
NIA frames charges against
Zabiuddin for conspiring terror attacks in India
New Delhi: A special NIA in
New Delhi on Friday levelled charges against Zabiuddin Ansari aka Abu Jundal in
a matter related to conspiring terror attacks in various parts of India. The
charges against Jundal, who is also the convict in the Aurangabad arms haul
case, have been framed under the IPC Section 153 A and other sections of UAPA.
The trial on the same will begin from Jan.31.Advocate M S Khan, appearing for
Jundal, however, had opposed NIA’s contention, claiming that allegations
against his client were false.ANI /PTI
Muzaffarnagar riots: 2
years on, SIT yet to get govt’s nod to chargesheet 602 accused
Lucknow: 2 years after it
requested the state government’s sanction to file chargesheets in 57 cases
against 602 accused including leaders from the BJP, Congress and BSP, a SIT
formed by the state government itself to investigate the 2013 Muzaffarnagar
riots is yet to get a nod for the same. On Wednesday, a meeting was held in the
home department where SIT officers placed evidence against the accused before a
four-member committee. “We are examining the evidence produced by the IOs to
take a final decision,” Joint Secretary Chhedi Lal Gupta, who heads committee,said.Indian
Express
Muzzafarnagar Riot victims
to vote for hope, rehabilitation
Lucknow: Saleem, 32, was a
happy man until fierce riots broke out in Muzaffarnagar 3 years ago. Like
thousands of riot victims, he and his family stayed at a rehabilitation centre
for over six months.He later shifted to a rehabilitation centre on the
outskirts of Shahpur town, close to his native village Kakra.To reorganise the
devastated lives of riot victims, Saleem later formed ‘Danga Peedit Sangharsh
Samiti in Jan.2014.Samiti organised its first demonstration at Budhana tehsil
office to raise the problems of riot victims.3 years on, Saleem and his
associates have dedicated themselves to bring scattered votes together and make
riot victims a potential force during the assembly election.Saleem is now the
hope of hundreds of riot victims who seek their advice to solve their day to
day problems. hindustantimes
UP elections: Will the
ghost of Muzzafarnagar riots return to haunt this village?
The ghost of the Muzzafarnagar riots continues
to haunt this small village, Phugana. There were around 2,000 Muslim families
living in this village peacefully until August 2013 changed everything. A riot
that broke changed the lives of many and several Muslim families were forced to
leave this village which they once called home. one india
PM Modi should promise Ram
temple if BJP wants seers’ support in UP polls: Chief priest Acharya Satyendra
Das
Ayodhya:The seers will
support BJP in the upcoming UP elections only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi
promises to get the Ram temple constructed in Ayodhya during his tenure, the
chief priest of the makeshift temple at the Ram Janm Bhumi-Babri Masjid
disputed site said here.The chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, said that
‘mahanat’ and ‘sadhu’ are believers of Lord Rama and their only wish is to see
a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya.Reacting to Das’ demand, the Mahant of Rasik
Niwas temple in Ayodhya, Raghuvar Sharan, alleged that the BJP leaders who
gained politically due to the Ayodhya Ram temple movement never raised the
issue in Parliament.PTI
RSS Muslim wing’s mission
against conversions, Naxals
Nagpur: After a conference
involving Kashmiri students in New Delhi, the RSS' Muslim wing is planning
similar events in Naxal-hit states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The target
audience here are Naxals and Christian missionaries, with the aim of dissuading
them from violence and conversions respectively. The missionaries are being
asked to shift their agenda to improving the tribals' life rather than changing
their faith. Indresh Kumar, convener of Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) and
executive body member of RSS, will be visiting Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur on
Feb.3. This will follow a two-day stay at Nagpur where he will hold meetings at
RSS HQRS. Kumar will be attending a ceremony to install an idol at a temple in
Raipur, where a large congregation of tribals is expected. Another function is
being planned at Jagdalpur town in the Naxal stronghold of Bastar region,
followed by one in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, another Naxal affected
state. "The agenda is to wean away Naxals from violence and also seek the
cooperation of the missionaries in the process. Talks have been held with the
latter and they have agreed to cooperate," Kumar said.He said RSS is also
looking at other organizations, which may also like to work in this direction.
It wants the tribals to become stakeholders in the region's natural resources
and also the development process.TOI
Mohan Bhagwat insists RSS
not ‘working against anyone’ but only for empowerment of Hindu community
New Delhi: RSS
chief Mohan Bhagwat has insisted that his organisation is not “working against
anyone” but only “working to unite Hindu community and for its empowerment”, ANI
reported. Bhagwat was speaking at an RSS programme in Kolkata. His comments
came in the backdrop of high-octane tension between the Bharatiya Janata Party
and West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress.“Can anyone stop us? No one can
stop us. We have to work. We have and we will keep on doing it. Increase
activism, it doesn’t increase from preaching,” he added in his message on Makar
Sankranti. indianexpress
Waqf Board row: CBI to
grill AAP leader Amanatullah Khan
New Delhi: With the CBI
preparing to question senior AAP leader and former chairman of the Delhi Waqf
Board, Amanatullah Khan, in connection with its ongoing probe into the alleged
irregularities in operations of the board, a fresh round of confrontation
between Delhi government and the Centre is set to intensify. Mr Khan, sources
said, will soon be summoned for questioning by the agency.ASIAN AGE
Livemint’s spl story on thew
issue of triple talaq
New Delhi: On 20
November, some 200,000 people crammed into Kolkata’s Park Circus maidan. Some
slumped against the bamboo grills, while others slouched on the ground in the
front rows in the packed-to-capacity venue. An aerial view published in the
media showed a tightly packed cluster of white skull caps and some, mostly
black and white, headscarves. On the podium was a congregation of bearded men
in white robes and turbans. One of them stood at the lectern, addressing the
crowd. “We don’t need suggestions from the govt or courts on what we should do
with our laws. It is our business. Let us deal with it,” he roared.The
gathering was much like a political rally. For those who could not be
accommodated at the venue, giant screens were put up in different parts of the
city. This was the 25th All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)
conference—a 3-day event, and the biggest gathering of the Board in 2016.The
conference came at a time when the Supreme Court was hearing a lawsuit seeking
a ban on three specific practices permitted under Muslim Personal Law: triple
talaq, polygamy and nikah halala.“Whenever the demand for a uniform civil code
is raised, it is in context of something related to Muslims, and that is why
Muslims think it will affect them alone, even though we know it will affect
many Indians,” says Zafar-ul-Islam, editor of the New Delhi-based newspaper,
Milli Gazette.“We oppose uniform civil code because it will take away all the
religious freedom that the Constitution has given us. We follow the criminal
laws as per the Constitution, at least we should have the right to live our
personal lives based on our religious teachings,” he adds.“Those who are misusing
triple talaq should be punished,” says Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind general secretary
Maulana Mehmood Madani. Yet, he adds, the rights of women are not being
compromised because of the existence of triple talaq.Most AIMPLB members this
reporter spoke with say they are against the misuse of triple talaq. In fact,
they say, the word ‘talaq’ itself is considered bad in Islam, with the Quran as
well as the Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet and practices from his daily
life) referring to incidents that show how the religion views divorce in poor
light even though the option is available.“Islam has given divorce as the last
option only if nothing else works out and there is no way the marriage can
survive…but it is not the preferred route,” says Mufti Fuzailur Rahman Hilal
Usmani of the Darussalam Islamic Centre, Punjab. “When a man marries, he takes
the responsibility of the woman and children. At no point can a man say I can’t
take care of them. He is obligated to. A woman can contribute but she is not
obligated to,” explains Syed. Jalaluddin Umari, vice president, AIMPLB. “Her
money is her money alone. Even if she is earning, the money is for her. The
meaning of talaq is that the man who had taken the responsibility says he will
not take it anymore. If a woman legally takes up these responsibilities, she
can also give talaq. The problem is with those interpreting religion, not the
religion.”
Ullekh NP's Book Excerpt:
How AB Vajpayee was foiled in his bid to have Narendra Modi removed as Gujarat CM
WORLD
Bashar al-Assad personally
linked to chemical weapons attacks for first time
International investigators
have said for the first time that they suspect President Bashar al-Assad and
his brother are responsible for the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian
conflict, according to a document seen by Reuters.A joint inquiry for the
United Nations and global watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had previously identified only military units and did
not name any commanders or officials.Now a list has been produced of
individuals whom the investigators have linked to a series of chlorine bomb
attacks in 2014-15 - including Assad, his younger brother Maher and other
high-ranking figures - indicating the decision to use toxic weapons came from
the very top, according to a source familiar with the inquiry.Reuters
‘Israel cooperates with
Russia on Syria air strikes’
Israel cooperates with
Russia on its air strikes and military operations in Syria, an Algerian writer
and political analyst claimed on Friday. Anwar Malik also stressed his belief
that the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad and the Iranians are no more than
tools used by the “bigger players” in the region. “If Israel carries out a
military operation in Syria,” he wrote on Twitter, “it would be in full
cooperation with Russia. The Iranian mercenaries and the Assad idiots are just
tools used in an international plot that is bigger than their sectarian
mentality.”On Friday, the Israeli air force targeted one of Syria’s air force
bases to the west of Damascus, Anadolu and Russia’s Sputnik news agencies
reported. middleeastmonitor
Turkey, Russia coordinate
air operations in Syria
Turkish and Russian
militaries are coordinating their respective air operations in Syria to avoid
mishaps, the Turkish defense minister said on Friday.Speaking at a signing
ceremony on “Cyber Security Cooperation” in Ankara, Fikri Isik said the Syrian
regime could eventually join the coordination arrangement.“The necessary
coordination has been made in Syria to ensure that the air elements of Turkey
and those of the regime or Russia are not confronted,” Isik said.On Thursday,
the Turkish military announced that Turkey and Russia had signed an agreement,
allowing the 2 countries to work in coordination for the safety of their
military aviation in war-torn Syria.According to the army’s statement, the Turkish
General Staff said that the delegations from the two countries met in Moscow on
Thursday.”The purpose of the deal is to specify the mechanisms for coordination
and cooperation for flight safety of Russian Aerospace Forces and Turkish Air
Force during offensive against terrorist targets,” military said. middleeastmonitor
UK: Corbyn calls for probe
into Israeli 'interference'
The leader of the UK's
Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has called for an inquiry into the activities of
an Israeli embassy officer who was caught on tape in an Al Jazeera
investigation discussing a plot to "take down" British politicians.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, Corbyn described the actions
of Israeli embassy official Shai Masot as "improper interference in this
country's democratic process". Explaining that he was
"concerned" by UK foreign minister Boris Johnson's announcement that
the embassy's activities were a closed matter, Corbyn urged May to launch an
inquiry: "This is clearly a national security issue." aljazeera
UN funding threat due to
illegal Israeli settlements resolution
UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres is prepared to meet with US lawmakers, a UN spokeswoman said,
as some US senators push to cut funding to the world body over a Security
Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlements. The US abstained from 23
Dec.vote, allowing 15-member Security Council to adopt the resolution with 14
votes in favour. Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump had called for
Washington to wield its veto.On Thursday,Republican Senators Ted Cruz and
Lindsey Graham introduced legislation to cut UN funding until the president
certifies that the Security Council has repealed the resolution. However, the
legislation stands little chance of advancing in Congress, where it would need
Democrats’ support and even some Republicans consider the move as too
extreme.“The secretary-general very much welcomes an opportunity to discuss any
issues with US lawmakers,” UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said. “We’re always eager
and available to meet with US lawmakers as needed.” middleeastmonitor
Lieberman calls on Trump to
form alliance with Israel and moderate Arab states
Israeli defence minister
has called on US President-elect Donald Trump to form an alliance to fight
terrorism, including Israel and moderate Arab countries amongst the membership,
the Jerusalem Post, has reported.“This is what Israel should be focusing on with
the new administration,” explained the extreme right-wing Avigdor Lieberman.
“In effect, it is similar to the coalition that the US established in 1991
ahead of the First Gulf War, only this time with Israel as a member.”Lieberman
believes that even those Arab countries which do not have diplomatic relations
with Israel will agree to join the coalition under pressure from the US.“Moderate
Arab world understands that the real threat against it is not Jews, Zionism or
Israel, but rather the radicals in the Muslim world.” middleeastmonitor
Thousands of Israeli-Arabs
demonstrate against demolition of homes in Israel
Around 20,000
Palestinian-Arab citizens of Israel took to the streets of Qalansawe on Friday
to protest against the demolition of Arab-owned homes by the Israeli
authorities. The demonstration followed a call by the High Follow-up Committee
for Arab Residents of Israel for a countrywide response to the demolitions,
Arab48.com has reported.The protesters raised the flag of Palestine and banners
condemning the “crimes” carried out by the Israeli government in predominantly
Arab cities. These include the demolition of 11 Arab homes in the Qalansawe and
the 108th demolition of Al-Araqib village in the Negev Desert. middleeastmonitor
US lifts 20-year economic
embargo on Sudan: aljazeera
US has announced the end of
a 20-year economic embargo on Sudan, lifting trade and financial sanctions in
an effort to foster ties with the Sudanese government.The announcement made by
outgoing President Barack Obama's administration on Friday comes after an
executive order to permanently repeal a range of sanctions as a result of
Sudan's efforts to improve security in the region.For the first time in two decades,
Sudan will be able to receive imported goods and services from the US, as
authorised by the US Department of the Treasury.
WhatsApp vulnerability
allows snooping on encrypted messages
A security vulnerability
that can be used to allow Facebook and others to intercept and read encrypted
messages has been found within its WhatsApp messaging service.Facebook claims
that no one can intercept WhatsApp messages, not even the company and its
staff, ensuring privacy for its billion-plus users. But new research shows that
the company could in fact read messages due to the way WhatsApp has implemented
its end-to-end encryption protocol. The guardian
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:11 PM)
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