Evening NEWS
DIGEST
19 March. 2017: 19 Jamadiul Akhir 1438: Vol:8, No:145
Adityanath's elevation: ‘Hindu Rashtra’, or BJP-RSS Tussle?TheQuint
There are two ways to view BJP’s
stunning decision to appoint Yogi Adityanath as CM of UP and back him with 2
deputy CM s – including Keshav Prasad Maurya, whose political grooming was in
the VHP and Bajrang Dal. The first is to read the decision as
signal to people that the BJP and the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo backed by the
Sangh Parivar in its entirety, have interpreted the verdict as endorsement of
majoritarian politics and not just a majority mandate. Despite the sidelining
of the Yogi in the early stages of the campaign and Hindu Yuva Vahni – his
social outfit – fielding candidates, his appointment is perhaps the bluntest
message that could be delivered to supporters and detractors alike. The
singular construal of this decision is that construction of the Ram temple is
now inevitable, subject to BJP drawing a legislative plan and timeline.Reading
the development on these lines, one cannot escape the conclusion that it is
part of a diabolical plan to maximise Hindu consolidation in favour of the
party. Diehard critics of Modi would also conclude that the appointment is just
another instance of the idiom ‘a tiger never changes its stripes’. The Yogi
being stationed in Lucknow indicates that the PM, after successfully forging
Hindu consolidation in favour of the party, decided not to rest his oars and
has chosen to continue this process ahead of 2019 in hopes of maximising gains.
The second view is more rounded and begins with the presumption that the
decision-making process within the Sangh Parivar is not linear and not all
decisions are taken singlehandedly by the Modi-Shah duo. Without entering into
details on reports that RSS pressured Modi into appointing the Yogi in place of
Manoj Sinha, who was reportedly his first choice, the decision has to be viewed
as a complete matrix, and its impact requires assessment.Quite clearly, when
first indications of the decision began trickling in on television channels in
the afternoon of Saturday, the entire cadre of the Sangh Parivar was caught by
surprise. Modi after all, despite resorting to language aimed to further
communal polarisation, had steered clear of Yogis, Sadhvisand Swamis (Maharaj
too) for more than 2 years. Why, then, did he opt for Adityanath, clearly the
most vituperative face of the aggressive Hindu lobby within the BJP?Firstly,
with identity politics a major factor in the state and given BJP’s success in
forging a correct caste formula, the caste identity of the CM was important. On
this aspect, Adityanath fits the bill because he is originally a Rajput, caste
which turned out for the BJP. With Maurya from the non-dominant (read
non-Yadav) section of OBCs, and Dinesh Sharma a Brahmin, BJP has given
representation at the top to major castes that backed it. The only other
significant caste block that lost out, is the non-Jatav or Most Backward
Dalits. But, this is not the first time that the scheduled castes have been
denied top posts! Adityanath’s appointment has generated another round of
euphoria in the Sangh Parivar cadre, the second after the runaway mandate. This
is indicative of its primary agenda, because the Yogi is a Hindutva icon and
not known as an advocate for development. This marks a moment of realisation
for Modi – while his power comes significantly due to tactics that polarise and
remains the popular draw, his place in history will be judged by the quality of
governance.
Yogi’s elevation a sign Modi is moving toward Hindu India
A saffron-robed Hindu holy man was sworn in on Sunday to lead UP,
sealing what appears to be a shift in course by PM Narendra Modi that could
redefine world's largest democracy as a Hindu nation. The choice as UP CM of
Yogi Adityanath, a firebrand Hindu ascetic with a history of agitation against
minority Muslims, stunned observers who said it marked a departure from the
platform of development for all on which Modi rose to national power in 2014. "Modi
is saying India is a Hindu country and shall remain so," veteran
journalist and commentator Shekhar Gupta said. "Modi and the BJP had
promised the poor of India good times to come," said Paranjoy Guha
Thakurta, editor of EPW. "When they fail to create jobs, revive the
economy or lift investment, they are going to fall back more on the
majoritarian agenda." Omar Abdullah, said in a tweet that Muslims in UP
"must be terrified of what the future has in store for them." Reuters
Hinduism is not India, big assault on secularism: Oppn trashes Yogi as
UP CM
New Delhi: Criticising Yogi Adityanath's selection by BJP as CM of UP,
senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Saturday said it is a "big
assault" on secularism, but his party said it will act as a watchdog of
people's interests."It is a big assault on secularism in the country.
Maybe, the BJP or RSS would like to endorse their cause of Hinduism. India is
not Hinduism. Hinduism is not India," Moily pointed out.Congress
spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Congress Party will continue to act
as a watchdog of people's interests and play a constructive role in progress of
state of UP".In tweet, former Union Minister Khurshid said, "No more
pretence! Yogi Adityanath to sit where Pantji, NDT, Bahugana et al once sat.
Great test PM has put BJP trolls to. Explain this. (sic)".Another former
Union Minister Rajiv Shukla said, "There is a question mark on whether
Yogi Adityanath will fulfil the three issues of good governance, development
and taking everybody along. This will also be a challenge for him and one
wonders how he will be able to deliver on these fronts. He will have to find a
solution."Another Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said,
"Congratulations UP! Hello media the man you called 'fringe' is now
mainstream!."ASIAN AGE
Yogi Adityanath becoming UP CM is mockery of PM Modi’s call for
inclusive growth: CPI(M)
New Delhi:Strongly condemning the BJP’s decision to appoint Yogi
Adityanath as the CM of UP , the CPI(M)
on Sunday said the move is shocking and will bodes ill for the state. “Yogi
Adityanath becoming the CM of UP is a mockery of PM Narendra Modi’s call for inclusive growth,” CPI-M
said. “The appointment of Yogi Adityanath as the CM of UP is a shocking decision by the BJP. This choice
by the RSS, executed by its political arm, the BJP, is a deliberate move which
bodes ill for the state,” CPI (M) said. Indianexpress
Muslims shouldn't lose heart, should face it with courage:
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind head over Assembly election results
New Delhi: India's largest socio-religious Muslim organization has
appealed to Muslims in the country, especially those living in UP, not to lose
heart and hope over the recent Assembly election results. "Rrecent
Assembly election results are surprising and Muslims' concern over the outcomes
is natural in view of the anti-Muslim policies of BJP. It is indeed a tough
time, but Muslims should face it with courage," said Maulana Syed
Jalaluddin Umari, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind here on Saturday hours after Yogi
Adityanath was elected CM of UP. "There can be many reasons for this
situation. Unity is required to achieve any goal and also there is a gap
between Muslims and other communities which sometimes create doubts and issues
among them. It should be our prime responsibility to bridge such gapes for
better understanding and communication," said Maulana Umari. "We are
citizens of this country, and we have rights and freedoms like others and we
should use them. Like others we should be ready to face all types of situations
here," he said.Maulan Umari said that BJP won in UP mainly because of
division of non-BJP votes but he also said that BJP has worked hard for the
last 70-80 years and it has not got success overnight.IndiaTomorrow
Kharge criticises BJP’s choice of Yogi as UP CM
Muslim community disappointed with PM Modi for choosing Yogi Adityanath
as UP CM: Maulana Rashidi
New Delhi:Expressing deep disappointment over the BJP’s decision to
elect their firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath’s as CM of UP, Muslim Cleric Maulana Mohammad Sajid
Rashidi questioned the saffron party that how can a man with a history of
propagating divisive agenda lead PM Narendra Modi’s development plans for the
state. Speaking to ANI, the cleric said, “I am deeply disappointed with BJP’s
selection and I don’t understand how a man who is charged with attempt to
murder, a person who propagates divisive agenda, can be face of UP CM .”Citing Adityanath’s recent hate speeches
against Muslims, the Maulana further said that at least 13% of Muslims voted
for the BJP in the state assembly polls believing in PM Narendra Modi’s development agenda for UP ,
but now they are deeply disappointed with latter’s selection.ANI
Indian Minorities Front protests against Yogi’s candidature
Lucknow:Protesting against Mahant Yogi Adityanath's appointment as UP CM,
Waliullah Engineer, president of the Bahujan Awam Party, a small outfit in East
UP's Bhadohi district, has written to President Pranab Mukherjee, asking him to
intervene and put a stop to Yogi's swearing in ceremony on Sunday. In a
one-page letter to the President on behalf of the Indian Minorities Front,
Engineer has said alleged statements by Yogi—on how Muslim women's bodies
should be pulled out of their graves and raped—are comments unbecoming of a person
about to occupy the CM 's office. He said, "If these statements were,
indeed, made by Yogi Adityanath, his appointment the constituional post of CM
will not only be against humanity, but also against the Indian constitution and
the laws of the UN." Timesofindia
Mohsin Raza lone Muslim face in Yogi cabinet
New Delhi:BJP hadn’t fielded any Muslim candidate in UP Assembly polls 2017, a move which attracted
barrage of criticism from opposition that party discriminated with a community
which comprises state’s 20% population. On Sunday, as Yogi Adityanath took oath
as 21st CM of UP, everyone thought that cabinet this time won’t have any Muslim
face. However, much to everyone’s surprize, the list included one Muslim face –
Mohsin Raza, retired cricketer who recently joined BJP. 40-year-old Raza was
appointed party’s spokesperson in the state. However, his appointment has
surprised many. Raza’s appointment was quite inevitable as there are several
departments in UP which can only be run by a Muslim candidate. Raza is likely
to be given the charge of Minority Affairs Ministry. financialexpress
RSS, VHP hand behind Yogi’s crowning:HT report
RSS red flag spoiled Manoj Sinha’s chances of becoming UP CM :HT
Building Ram temple tops Adityanath’s wish list: Shashi Skekhar,
editorinchief, Hindustan
We will work without discrimination, says Yogi Adityanath
Adityanath as UP CM: It’s Bait and Switch as BJP Foists Hindutva In
Place of Vikas:The Wire
Hindutva vs Hinduism: Adityanath's appointment shows BJP has little
faith in its development plank:Ajaz Ashraf
Adityanath selection exposes limits of Modi's power: Jyoti Malhotra
Yogi sworn in as UP CM, gets 2 deputies, 47 ministers
For state leader, Modi taps firebrand politician who once advocated
killing Muslims: Washington post
Bihar BJP to adopt UP model to wean away Muslims from grand alliance
Patna:Following the party’s landslide victory in the assembly elections
in UP , where Muslims have a significant presence, the Bihar unit of the BJP is
working on a strategy to attract a large chunk of Muslims by focusing on
progressive women and poor members of the community. Keeping in view the 2019
Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party in the state claimed to have put in
place advance planning to reach out to Muslims, particularly women and the poor
with progressive ideas. During the Nov.2015 Bihar assembly elections, in which
the BJP could win just 53 out of total 243 seats, to 178 won by RJD-JD
(U)-Congress ‘grand alliance’, Muslims were believed to have voted largely for
the GA.Revealing the party’s new strategy, Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai
told HT on Saturday, “We will follow our party’s UP model, which largely
succeeded in weaning away ‘progressive’ women and poor people of the community
from BSP and the SP-Congress combine.”HT
Triple talaq-hit women voted for BJP in UP: Prasad
Gandhinagar: Muslim women "affected by the triple talaq practice
voted for the BJP in good numbers" during the recent UP assembly polls,claimed Union Minister for Law
and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday."In UP , the women who have
been affected due to the practice of triple talaq, voted for the BJP in good
numbers. The state has the highest number of victims of this practice,"
said Prasad, who was here for the 8th Convocation of Gujarat National Law
University."It is unfortunate that Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple
or Priyanka Gandhi are silent on the issue," he said.Prasad said the
central govt has placed before the
Supreme Court a strong argument against triple talaq, as the practice is
"not an issue of religion, but of gender justice, gender equality and
gender dignity." "The matter (of triple talaq) is pending in the
Supreme Court. It is not an issue of religion, but of gender justice, gender
equality and gender dignity," he said."We perform worship, but any
wrong practice like untouchability can't become part of the prayer, because it
is against the Constitution. Not discriminating against women is also the part
of the Constitution,"he said.TOI
Ban triple talaq, group of Muslim women lawyers, activists urges PM
Modi:India Today
A grand Ram temple will be built, constitutionally: Prasad
Ahmedabad: Union law and justice minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad said here
on Saturday that "a grand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya,
constitutionally"."The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court has already
given its verdict that Ram Lalla (Lord Ram) was born at the same place where
Ram Lalla resides at present. The bench also considered that the other side had
failed to prove the existence of Babri mosque. The case is pending in the
Supreme Court," he said."The constitutional ways are in favour of the
Ram temple. After the SC verdict, a grand Ram temple will be built (in Ayodhya)
as per constitutional way," Prasad said on being asked when the Ram temple
will be built. timesofindia
Paswan favours legal solution to Ayodhya temple issue
Patna: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said the vexed issue of
construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya should be resolved legally. "The
Ayodhya issue must be resolved through a court verdict," the Union
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister told reporters. "Even PM Narendra Modi did not speak on contentious
issues like Ram Temple at Ayodhya and scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution
conferring special status to Jammu and Kashmir and instead sought votes in the
name of development and eradication of corruption during electioneering in UP
and other states," Paswan said at a press conference. PTI
BJP's Victory in UP a Lesson for Those Who Cheated Muslims for 70 years:
Owaisi
Kishanganj: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that BJP's victory in UP is a big lesson for those who 'cheated'
Muslims for past 70 years.Talking to reporters at party office here after
touring Kishanganj, Owaisi questioned those who charged him and his party for
helping BJP in elections and said "I want to ask those who give lectures
on secularism that why secular forces were defeated in Uttarakhand and Odisha
(in local bodies elections) where my party did not put up candidates".For
parties which claim to fight for Muslims' cause, he said the Sachar committee
report exposes the plight of Muslims for these parties.In reply to a query,
Owaisi, who was accompanied by party's Bihar unit chief Akhtarul Iman and
others, said that people would vote for his party one day. Stating that
Seemanchal region is his second home, AIMIM chief said that he has not visited
the area during poll time, rather he has always stood with the people of
Seemanchal during floods or other disasters.news18
Letters for 2 years, SOS to PM, Election Commission still awaits EVM
papertrail funds
New Delhi:IN A letter to PM Narendra Modi 4 months ago, the Election
Commission sought urgent release of funds to procure enough Voter Verified
Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines to cover all polling stations ahead of the
next Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The EC has sent over 10 reminders to the govt
on the matter, since June 2014, and the
letter to Modi by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, on Oc. 25, 2016, was
an SOS of sorts. CEC very rarely writes directly to the PM, with its
communication to the govt on electoral matters normally limited to Law and Home
ministries.Several parties, including BSP, SP and AAP, have raised doubts about
tampering of EVMs following the UP and
Uttarakhand results.Before 2014 general pols, BJP had talked of EVM tampering
on many occasions. VVPAT machines produce a printout of the vote cast using an
EVM, which can be shown to the voter to dispel any doubts. This printout is
then deposited in a box and can be used to resolve any dispute regarding the
election. indianexpress
Muslims should open their minds to PM Modi:Haseeb Siddiqui, general
manager of Muslim Fund Trust, Deoband
Deoband:Haseeb Siddiqui is general manager of the Muslim Fund Trust,
Deoband, which is a financial institution that works on interest-free loan
module adapted as per Quranic Shariah model. The locals, who across castes and
communities avail the services of the Muslim Fund Trust, recognise Siddiqui as
a social worker and spokesperson on Muslim issues. Popularly known as Abbaji,
Siddiqui has actively participated in politics as a BSP member and now looks
after the Trust full-time. In an interview, Siddiqui talked about why Muslims
need to review their “political prejudices”.He said,"BJP won without
nominating any Muslim candidate in UP. However, around 5-10% Muslims voted for
the BJP and I don’t think there is any problem with this. Muslims in India
should now be able to see who or what is betraying them. Many promises that
have been made to us, have never been fulfilled. We have been told that BJP can
never do any good for Muslims. This has become a mindset among Muslims. But Muslims
should see how much truth there is in these statements. We need to
introspect." "Muslims should give the BJP a chance. BJP eliminated
any hope of getting Muslim votes from their election strategy and focused on
the rest 70% of the population in the state. Yes, they did not try to woo us.
But the majority chose them. If the people of the state chose them, we should
open our minds too. No mainstream Muslim organisation has met Modi and spoken
to him about the community’s issues and concerns. Somebody will have to take
the initiative to start a dialogue if the country has to develop," he
added. sundayguardianlive
OTHERS
Kerala: Wife falsely ‘implicates’ man as Islamic State agent
Kochi: A day after an UP native was taken into custody by the Ernakulam
police for suspected IS (Islamic State) links, further probe has revealed that
his wife had falsely lodged a complaint with the cops about his “terror links”.
Aluva Police had taken into custody Ahlad aka Imran (25) on the basis of a
complaint filed by his wife, Thrikkarippur native, that her husband had been
working for the outlawed outfit.“We dispatched a team to UP and took Ahlad into custody on his arrival at
the Musafir Nagar railway station and brought him to Aluva late on Friday.
However, we could find no evidence of him being linked to IS despite
interrogating him for hours,” said KG Babu Kumar, DSP, Aluva.Primary probe
revealed he had married the woman about 8 months ago. The woman had come to
Aluva in search of Alhad and found him staying at a lodge here. Soon an
argument broke out between the two following which Alhad allegedly beat up the
woman. In a fit of rage, she filed a false complaint on his terror links.Deccan
Chronicle.
Arrested youth has no IS links:The Hindu
Terror suspect held in Tripura: Habib Mia falsely implicated, says
family
Agartala: Family of a terror suspect, who was picked up from Agartala by
a team of the Karnataka police, alleged he had been falsely implicated in a
12-year-old case. Four members of the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Karnataka police
brought one Habib Mia to Bengaluru on Saturday after gaining transit remand
from a city court.Jharna Begam, spouse of the accused said, her husband, a
plumber, was summoned to the East Agartala Police Station on Thursday for
‘verification of his mobile SIM card’. However, he was detained at the station
in connection with a case registered in Bengaluru.The Tripura police, however,
claimed that Habib Mia was arrested on ‘specific inputs’ provided by the
Karnataka police on his role in a terrorist strike at the Indian Institute of
Science at Sadashivnagar in Bengaluru on Dec.28, 2005.Family members claimed he
had never gone out of Tripura and could not have committed the crime. The hindu
Threats, slurs, insults; It’s a hard life for lawyers defending terror
suspects: HT spl report
Advocate R Mahadevan has relatives who won’t talk to him any more. They
don’t understand why he represents ‘people who hate their country’. “I tried
explaining the importance of a defence lawyer, but now I have just come to
accept these things,” Mahadevan says.He is currently representing suspects in
the Bangalore serial blasts case, when nine bombs exploded in the city in 2008,
killing 2 and injuring 20.It’s not easy arguing for the damned. Threats of
violence and death are common. Some lawyers find notes stuck on their cars,
detailing the whereabouts of their children.And then there are the attacks from
within their circle — friends distance themselves; neighbours ask, why do you
do it? At a family wedding, a relative may start an argument; during a festive
gathering, suddenly the focus shifts to you.“At a friend’s son’s wedding, I was
asked by a relative, ‘Why did you undo the hard work done by the police?’ It
was disturbing to think that even people who know me think of my work like
this.”In Lucknow, Mohammad Shoaib was beaten up in a courthouse, by other
lawyers, for defending Aftab Alam Ansari, accused in the 2007 Lucknow court blast
case. Charges against him were later withdrawn. “I had evidence that Ansari was
at a doctor’s office on the day of the blast,” Shoaib says. But terror is one
of those crimes where you are guilty, to most of society, until proven
innocent. Which is why, constitutional experts say, the role of the criminal
defence attorney in terror cases is even more vital.Multiple acquittals in
cases like the Akshardham temple attack of 2002 (all 6 accused acquitted) and
the Delhi serial blasts of 2005 (2 of 3 acquitted), with the judgements raising
questions about the investigation process, underline this point.“A large number
of innocent people are arrested in terror-related cases,” says civil rights
lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan. “Most of these suspects are poor and
can’t afford good lawyers. In such a situation, not only should there be more
lawyers to fight their cases but more organisations helping them with lawyers
who will fight pro bono.”The role of the defence lawyer in sensitive terror
related cases is also very important as it upholds the values of the
Constitution. In the case of Ajmal Kasab [the lone surviving gunman in the 2008
Mumbai terror siege] we had two lawyers arguing for him as he was the citizen
of another country. This is the kind of transparency we need to uphold.—Ujjwal
Nikam, public prosecutor who handled the 1993 Bombay serial blasts and the 2008
Mumbai terror siege cases, among others.Instead, such organisations are few and
fiercely embattled.The legal cell of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, one of India’s
largest Muslim NGOs, is currently funding representation for over 600 people
accused in cases across the country, most but not all of them Muslim.Since
2007, when the organisation started supporting such cases, they have seen 120
people acquitted. “In the beginning, there was only Shahid Azmi working on such
cases in Mumbai. Now we have five lawyers willing to help in the city. We also
have lawyers in Delhi and UP . But Shahid Azmi was killed, the other lawyers
they are routinely threatened and the establishment makes light of these
threats,” says Gulzar Azmi, secretary of the legal cell. HT
Police rule out terror, say tractor tyre and firecracker behind Agra
‘blasts’
Lucknow:Although the cause of two explosions reported near Agra
Cantonment railway station on Saturday is yet to be confirmed, both police and
railway authorities have prima facie ruled out the terror angle.Officials
attributed the first ‘blast’, which occurred at 5 am at a house in Rasoolpura
area, to a firecracker. The second one, which took place 45 minutes later at a
waste disposal area near platform no. 5 of the station, was reportedly caused
due to the bursting of a tractor tyre.“We have collected samples from the blast
sites, and they are being examined by forensic experts. However, the tyre of
the tractor trolley was found to have a hole. We are verifying the facts,” said
deputy inspector general of police (Agra range) Mahesh Kumar Mishra.The first
blast occurred at the residence of Ashok Kumar, a plumber, he added.
Posters inviting teenagers to join ISIS found in Bihar:Times Now
Bihar: Posters bearing the name and flag of terror organisation ISIS was
found pasted on an electricity pillar in Bihar's Rohtas, police officials
said.The posters asked teenagers in Bihar to join the terror outfit.SDPO of
Dehri, Mohammad Anwar Javed Ansari said that the police has seized the poster
bearing the name and flag of Islamic terror organisation ISIS.The SDPO said
that the issue is being probed. The officer, however, suspected it to be foul
play by some anti-socials to create fear in minds of people.The police has been
directed to be alert in view of recovery of the poster, the SDPO added.
Centre wary of J&K ‘madrasas’ linked to terror:Asian Age
New Delhi: The home ministry has sought a detailed report from the Jammu
and Kashmir govt on whether terror
operative and hardliners, including members of the Hurriyat, were using
religious places, especially madrasas, for radicalising youth and doing other
subversive activities.It is being suspected for some time now that separatists
have managed to make inroads into madrasas in Kashmir valley, and are using
this opportunity to radicalise young students.It is also believed that terror
groups are using the hardliners, like Hurriyat members and their overground
workers (OGWs), to target religious places and madrasas.The issue had come on
the radar of Central security and intelligence agencies in the wake of
unprecedented violence seen in the valley following the killing of Burhan Wani
last July.Sources said once the Centre receives a detailed report from the
state govt , it will work on a detailed plan as to how religious institutions
can be insulated from the increasing threat of radicalisation.“Since the state
security agencies, including local police and their intelligence units, are
better equipped to get ground-level report as to what exactly is happening in
Kashmir, we have asked them to submit details on this,” a senior ministry
official said.“So far we are yet to receive the report. Once we get the details
both the Centre and the state govt will jointly chalk out a plan to deal with
the problem,” the official said.
Kashmir Editors’ Guild asks cops to apologise for assault on journalists
Srinagar:lKashmir Editors’ Guild (KEG) has announced that J&K
police’s press notes and advertisements would not be published until action is
taken against policemen, who assaulted journalists 2 days ago in Srinagar. Journalists
wereattacked while covering a protest outside separatist Syed Ali Geelani’s
residence. “Given the fact that the police have not even registered an FIR, for
which the photographers have moved an application, the KEG decided that it
will, in protest, not publish any press notes of the police or any
advertisement from the police organisation till police chief does not apologise
for the assault and act against the accused officials,” a KEG spokesman said.In
a statement, the KEG alleged that the police had attempted to run a vehicle
over photographers and “made a serious bid on the life of AFP photographer
Tawseef Mustafa by trying to suffocate him”. Indian express
Indian clerics to reach Delhi on Monday: Sushma Swaraj
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to one of the
two clerics of Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, who were later traced after
going missing in Pakistan."I just spoke to Syed Nazim Ali Nizami in
Karachi. He told me that they are safe and will be back in Delhi
tomorrow," she said in a tweet.Pakistan had on Saturday conveyed to India
that the two missing clerics had been "traced" and that they had
reached Karachi.Syed Asif Nizami, the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat
Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, and his nephew Nazim Nizami -- had gone to Pakistan on
March 8 and were to return to India on March 20.PTI
Indian delegation leaves for Pak for Indus commission
A 10-member Indian delegation on Sunday left for Pakistan to take part
in the meeting of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) beginning on Monday in
Islamabad.A govt source said India is
"always open" to discuss and resolve concerns Pakistan have over its
projects under Indus Water Treaty (IWT) bilaterally.The source, however, reiterated
that there will be "no compromise" on India exploiting its due rights
under 57-year-old pact.PTI
RSS to debate increasing Jihadi attacks in West Bengal
Coimbatore:RSS today accused the West Bengal govt of remaining a mute spectator to attacks
unleashed by Islamic fundamentalists in the state and appeasing the
'jihadis'.RSS Joint General Secretary Bhagaiah said National Executive Council
of RSS will debate the issue of alleged "terror being unleashed" by
Islamic fundamentalists in West Bengal for the last three years.After debating
the issue during the three-day RSS meet here, a resolution will be adopted and
sent to the Centre to take steps to prevent 'jihadi' attacks on society and to
pressurise the West Bengal Govt to rein
in the fundamentalists, Bhagaiah told reporters here.The Council meet was
inaugurated by RSS Sarsanghachalak, Mohan Bhagawat today and is being attended
by more than 1,400 representatives from across the country, he said.PTI
When 2 teen sisters gang-raped in front of father in Gujarat & it
doesn't make national headlines
Ahmedabad: In a shocking and shameful incident, 2 teen sisters were
allegedly gang-raped in front of their father in a moving car in Dahod district
of Gujarat - the home state of PM Narendra Modi - on 15 March. Though the
national media picked the news two days later, the brutal incident could not
make national headlines.The sisters, aged 13 and 15, and their father were
dragged from their shop in the Bhutpagla village in Dahod district on Wednesday
and pushed into an SUV and the kidnappers fled away. In the moving car,
according to police, the girls were raped in front of their father by 6
abductors - 5 of whom including one called Kumat Baria were arrested. Media
reports say that sisters' brother, who was arrested in a prohibition case some
time back, had told police he used to procure liquor from Kumat. As a revenge,
Kumat and his accomplices abducted girls and gang-raped them.IndiaTomorrow
Aurangabad: ASI stays firm against demand for prayers inside Bibi Ka
Maqbara mosque
Aurangabad: Amidst growing voices for permission to allow prayers inside
the Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has ruled out the
possibility of allowing entry towards the mosque that is located within the
historic monument.The ASI, in its written reply to groups seeking permission
for entry inside the mosque, has asserted that Bibi ka Maqbara is a non-living
monument and therefore the desired permission cannot be granted.While the
mosque is an integral part of the Bibi Ka Maqbara, the entire monument has been
declared as centrally protected, ASI has said.Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, who
claims to be a direct descendant of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, was
among the first to seek permission for offering prayers inside the mosque
situated in the historic Bibi ka Maqbara here, following which a couple of
advocacy groups also started pushing fort the same.Janjagran Samiti, one of the
group, said it was contemplating legal measures to seek permission for 'Namaz' (prayer)
inside the mosque."Muslim community members have convened a special
meeting on Sunday to pursue the demand for entry into the mosque located within
the Bibi Ka Maqbara for offering prayers. The stand taken by ASI can be negated
in the court of law and we are gearing up for the same," Mohsin Ahmed,
group president, said.He said, "The mosque will be maintained well if we
are allowed to enter it for prayers regularly and consequently, the sentiments
of the Muslim community would also not get hurt."A delegation led by the
advocacy group—minority educational and welfare foundation—has also submitted a
memorandum to the ASI demanding access to the mosques concerned for offering
prayers. Group leader Mohammed Anikh Patel has argued that majority of the monuments
governed by ASI have mosques inside them that are open for prayers. timesofindia
Note ban opens up new channels of corruption;Austrian economist
New Delhi: Describing demonetisation as an attempt ‘akin to striking a
rock with an egg’, eminent Austrian economist Heinz D Kurz has said it is ‘much
too weak and misdirected an instrument’ to root out corruption. Actually, he
said, the Indian govt ’s move opened up new avenues of corruption.“As far as I
understand the situation, the policy of demonetisation has already been
abandoned by the govt , because it turned out to be an attempt akin to striking
a rock with an egg. “I strongly doubt that the demonetisation exercise will
root out corruption and engender more transparency. It is much too weak and
misdirected an instrument to achieve these goals,” Kurz said.“By introducing the
Rs2,000 banknote, a currency of twice or even four times the value of the
banknotes that have been declared illegal, in the system... This can hardly be
called demonetisation,” he added.Kurz is a professor of economics at the
University of Graz, Austria.PTI
Delhi home to about half of 24,000 Refugees, 9,000 asylum seekers:
Forced out of home, looking for respect
Delhi:Refugees in delhi With no option but to leave their countries,
refugees are fighting a daily battle of survival with the hope that one day
they can return home. Sadio Sheikh, 28, is inconsolable when asked about her
parents. A refugee from Somalia, she lives alone in Delhi. Just a mention of
her parents unleashes a flood of dark memories she is unable to deal with. She
does not want to talk about her parents, her past, why she left Somalia. But
she is willing to talk about her life as a refugee in Delhi.“It is tough being
a single woman refugee in Delhi. I face a lot of hardships, and at times
harassment; the biggest problem is most people here do not know who refugees
are,” says Sheikh.While Sheikh is not willing to discuss the harassment she
faces, Neija from Myanmar, also a single woman refugee who lives in west
Delhi’s Bodella village, is more forthcoming.Delhi is home to about half of the
24,000 refugees and 9,000 asylum seekers — mostly Somalis, Syrians, Afghans,
Burmese — registered with UNHCR in India. Then there are about 8,000 Tibetans
in the capital; 4,500 of them live in Tibetan refugee colony at Majnu Ka Tila,
now known as New Aruna Nagar.Every refugee in Delhi has his or her own story,
own experiences: while most Afghans talk of feeling at home in India, the
Somalis feel marginalised and are mistaken for Nigerians.But there are a few
common threads -- lack of access to education, jobs and healthcare because of
their not-so-clear legal status in India, which is not a signatory to the 1951 UN
Refugee Convention. There is no national refugee law, which means decisions on
them are mostly administrative and different groups are often treated
differently. Mohammad Usman, 34, from Myanmar, a casual labourer, says, “We are
living in poor conditions; our own Chin brothers here seem to be better off
than us. But we are happy, at least we feel safe,” says Usman.HT
Girl students asked to remove burqas to write SSC exams in school: new Indian express
Hyderabad: Sri Vignana Vardhini (SVV) High School located in Saidabad
here finds itself in a controversy after a teacher allegedly forced Muslim girl
students to remove their burqas before writing SSC exams. Tension prevailed
outside the school as irate parents of the students staged a protest near the school
on Saturday.“We did not tell anyone to remove burqas. Several students from
different religious backgrounds have appeared for examinations in the past 25
years in our school,” N Veerender Babu, correspondent of the school, said. “On
Friday students were made to remove their burqas before the exams. Today again
when the school asked them to remove their burqas, their parents were
infuriated,” said Amjed Ullah Khan, MBT leader, who lodged a complaint with police
against school management for hurting religious sentiments.
Rejected for jobs 40 times, this Saddam Hussain goes to court for a new
identity
Ranchi:His grandfather had lovingly given him his name, hoping that one
day he would grow up into a ‘positive’ human being. Some 25 years later, the
marine engineer from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand is despondent on being forced to
bear the burden of his name.Two years after passing out as a marine engineer
from Tamil Nadu’s Noorul Islam University, Saddam Hussain says he has failed to
find a job because of his namesake: the former Iraqi ruler executed in 2006.
Saddam Hussein was a dictator blamed for atrocities on his subjects until
toppled by the US in 2003.“People are scared to hire me,” laments Jamshedpur’s
Saddam. His job application has been rejected each of the 40-odd times he has
appeared for interviews with multinational shipping companies. His batchmates
around the world have secured employment, but Saddam remains unemployed despite
ranking second in his batch of 2014.For the initial six months, Saddam was
unable to decipher why he was being rejected. “I then inquired with the HR
departments of the companies and some of them told me my name was the problem,”
he recounts. He was told that having a crew member with a name that arouses
instant suspicion could be an operational nightmare. hindustantimes
Brother of Maulana Mehmood Madni held for rape charges
Agra;A Muslim cleric was arrested in an alleged rape case on Saturday in
Deoband area of Saharanpur district. The woman — in her twenties and a resident
of Jind district in Haryana — in her complaint against Maulana Masood Madni,
who is in his forties, said that he raped her on the pretext of performing a
“ritual” which could help her bear children. Police have sent the woman for
medical examination to confirm rape. The accused, meanwhile, was produced
before court and sent to jail.SSP of the area, Luv Kumar, said Madni is the
brother of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind general secretary Maulana Mehmood Madni. Security
has been tightened in Deoband to maintain law and order following the arrest of
Masood Madni. “The woman has alleged that she had been to a mazar (a place of
worship) in Deoband seeking divine help for a child. She said she has been
married for 6 years. She allegedly met a person at the mazar who suggested that
she meet with Maulana Masood Madni, and referred to him as a “spiritual doctor”
who may help her conceive. The woman and her husband approached Madni and
shared their numbers too,” said the SSP.On Friday, according to the complaint,
Madni called the woman for some ritual to his house in Deoband and asked her to
come alone. “The woman alleged that she was administered a sedative and then
raped. We have lodged an FIR under IPC Section 376 (rape) against the accused,”
added the SSP. indianexpress
Manipur economic blockade lifted after 130 days
New Delhi:4-month long Manipur economic blockade imposed by the United
Naga Council(UNC) was lifted on Sunday evening. The resolution of the lifting
of the indefinite blockade was decided in a tripartite talk, involving UNC, govt
of India and Manipur govt in Manipur’s Senapati district. indianexpress
DSP, 3 cops injured as Jat protesters clash with police
Fatehabad(haryana);A DSP was among four policemen injured when Jat protesters
clashed with police during their march towards Delhi here today, police said. A
Jat leader, however, claimed that police had lobbed tear gas shells and tried
to disperse them when they were marching in a peaceful manner. He claimed a few
protesters were also injured.The clash took place in Dhani Gopal village on
Sirsa-Hisar Delhi National Highway when police tried to stop tractor trolleys
carrying protesters from heading towards the national capital, police said.
They said some stones were also pelted by the protesters as they clashed with
the cops.PTI
Jat quota agitation: Protesters clash with police in Fatehabad, set two
buses on fire
Jat leaders call off agitation in Delhi after talks with Haryana CM
India-UAE conference on globalisation to be held in Dubai
WORLD
Nepal Election Commission removes ‘Hindu state, monarchy’ from Rastriya
Prajatantra Party
Nepal’s poll watchdog has decided to remove “Hindu state and monarchy”
clauses from the statute of the pro-monarch and pro-Hindu Rastriya Prajatantra
Party, saying that they contradicted constitutional provisions of a republican
system and secularism. Election Commission’s (EC) decision sparked a protest
from the party with Deputy PM and
Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Kamal Thapa urging the EC to
correct its decision. “EC has robbed the party of its soul by deleting a
section about Hindu state and monarchy off the party’s statute,” said Thapa,
also the Chairman of the RPP. The EC decided to remove the portion that
advocates Hindu state and monarchy from the RPP statute, saying the sections
contradicted constitutional provisions of republican order and secularism.After
emergency meeting, RRP termed it as “unconstitutional” and decided to challenge
it in a court.PTI
Clashes in Syria's Damascus after surprise rebel attack
Heavy clashes rocked eastern districts of the Syrian capital on Sunday
after rebel fighters launched a surprise assault on govt forces there, a monitor and state television
said.Steady shelling and sniper fire could be heard across Damascus on Sunday
as rebel factions allied with former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front
launched an attack on govt positions in
the city's east. The attack began early on Sunday "with two car bombs and
several suicide attackers" on the Jobar district, said Rami Abdel Rahman,
head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.Rebels then
advanced into the nearby Abbasid Square area, seizing several buildings and
firing a barrage of rockets into multiple Damascus neighbourhoods, Abdel Rahman
said. aljazeera
London comes out against war in Syria
Hundreds of people marched across London in solidarity with the Syrian
people and their struggle against long-time ruler Bashar Al-Assad.The protests,
which began at lunchtime, passed through the busy shopping district of Oxford
Street, on to Regent Street, passed Piccadilly until it ended outside 10
Downing Street, the official home of the PM . It was organised by the
Solidarity for Syrians programme. middleeastmonitor
‘My son was no terrorist,’ says French airport attacker’s father who blames
alcohol, drug abuse
Paris:The father of the French man shot dead at Orly airport in Paris
after attacking a soldier said Sunday his son was “not a terrorist” and that
his actions were caused by drink and drugs. “My son was not a terrorist. He
never prayed and he drank. This is what happens under the influence of drink
and cannabis,” the father of Ziyed Ben Belgacem told France’s Europe 1
radio.Ben Belgacem triggered a major scare at Orly international airport south
of Paris on Saturday morning when he grabbed a female soldier on patrol and put
a gun to her head.The attack came around two hours after Ben Belgacem, who had
several convictions for armed robbery, fired on police after being pulled over
for speeding after spending the night in a bar.The father, who was released
from police custody on Sunday after being questioned, said his son phoned him
minutes after the shooting “in a state of extreme agitation”.“He said to me:
‘Daddy, please forgive me. I’ve screwed up with a police officer.’He then cut
short the conversation and drove to the airport, stealing another car en
route.His father then presented himself at a police station, where he was later
informed of his son’s death.AFP
Germany not 'convinced' Gulen behind failed Turkey coup
:Germany's intelligence chief said that US-based Islamic preacher
Fethullah Gulen was not mastermind behind a failed July 15 coup aimed at
ousting President Tayyip Erdogan.AFP
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:01 PM)
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