Evening NEWS
DIGEST
06
April 2017: 08 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:159
SC terms ‘evasion of justice’ for 25 yr delay in hearing of Babri
demolition case against Advani, top BJP leaders; may order joint trial of all accused to
conclude in 2 yrs
The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it will use its
extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to transfer the
Babri Masjid demolition related trial in Rae Bareilly against top BJP leaders
LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi to Lucknow, where a CBI court is hearing
conspiracy and other serious criminal charges against "lakhs of unknown
kar sevaks" for actual act of razing down the 15th century mosque. A Bench
of Justices PC Ghose and Rohinton Nariman, while reserving the judgment on the
CBI's appeal for revival of the conspiracy charges against the BJP leaders,
indicated during the morning hearing that it plans to order for a joint trial
in Lucknow. Terming the 25-year pendency in Babri demolition trials an
"evasion of justice," Justice Ghose said the Supreme Court plans to
order the joint trial to be completed in 2 years. "Kindly notice that this
is a matter of 1992. 25 years have passed. Our answer is have it on a
day-to-day basis and finish it off in the next two years," he
observed.Justice Nariman at one point remarked how "many of the accused
are dead and some will die now." As far as Rae Bareilly case is concerned,
the court has examined 57 witnesses and have to examine another 105. In
Lucknow, in the case against kar sevaks, 195 witnesses had testified before the
trial court and it has to examine a whopping 800 more. The court said the
pendency of the trial itself for so long was by itself an "evasion of
justice". Arguing for Advani, senior advocate KK Venugopal countered that
the Allahabad High Court had set aside the transfer of the Rae Bareilly case to
Lucknow in Feb.2001. The Supreme Court had accepted the UP govt 's discretion to continue the trial
separately in Rae Bareilly and not club it with the Lucknow one.A transfer of
the Rae Bareilly trial to Lucknow will negate all the past orders.Additional
Solicitor General and CBI counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul said the Feb.2001 order of
the High Court did not negate the joint charge sheet filed against Advani, Dr.
Joshi and some known leaders of BJP and Hindutva groups. CBI said the HC order
of 2001 had said that a prima facie case of conspiracy has been made out
against the leaders and it still stood against them."HC had never said
that charge of criminal conspiracy introduced in Lucknow FIR cannot be applied
to the accused [Advani, Joshi, etc] in the Rae Bareilly FIR. CBI has found an
overarching conspiracy. Conspiracy as a charge still remains against
them," Kaul argued.When asked by the Bench about the practical difficulties
of a joint trial in Lucknow, Kaul said witnesses have to recalled and trial may
have to start "de novo [afresh]".But senior advocate Kapil Sibal,
arguing for petitioner Haji Mehboob, said the trial need not start anew. A
joint trial would require only the granting of right to an accused to recall
and cross-examine witnesses. It does not require fresh charge sheet and framing
of charges all over again.The sudden development came on an appeal filed by the
CBI in 2011, during UPA era, in the SC against the dropping of conspiracy
charge against Advani and leaders such
as Uma Bharti, Dr. Joshi, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Ritambara, Giriraj Kishore and
Vishnu Hari Dalmia. thehindu
SC reserves order on plea against BJP leaders in Ayodhya case:PTI
Babri demolition: CBI tells SC Advani, 12 others part of larger
conspiracy
Babri demolition case: SC frowns on 25 yr delay in hearing
Babri Masjid demolition case: SC expresses displeasure, may order joint
trial of all accused
MEAT,COW VIGILANT & POLITICS
Rajasthan imposes 10% ‘cow protection surcharge’ on stamp duty on
non-judicial instruments
Jaipur : Those making rent agreements, mortgage papers and lease
agreements in Rajasthan will now have to pay a surcharge of 10% on stamp duty
for cow protection.The finance department has imposed the surcharge on all such
non-judicial instruments, order for which was released on March 31 last.“In
exercise of the powers conferred of the Rajasthan Stamp Act, 1998 and in
supersession of this department’s notification, state govt hereby orders surcharge at the rate of 10 % on stamp duty payable on all instruments for
the purposes of conservation and propagation of cow and its progeny,” states
the order.In her budget speech, CM Vasundhara Raje had proposed the surcharge for
development of basic infrastructure facilities and protection and propagation
of cows.However, judicial stamps, revenue ticket and insurance ticket have been
excluded from the order.PTI
After UP, now raids to be conducted in Bengaluru to shut down illegal meat
shops: financialexpress
New Delhi: After crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in UP, other
states have also taken steps in the same direction. In the latest developments,
Yogi wave has reached Souther parts of the country as well with Bruhat
Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city corporation of Bengaluru
announcing to form squads that will conduct raids to shut down illegal meat
shops in Bengaluru. BBMP has made a list
of about 250 illegal meat shops in city which houses about 3,600 meat shops in
total. “We will soon form 2 squads to conduct surprise inspections and shut
illegal meat shops,” said Dr Sriram, in-charge and deputy director, animal
husbandry, BBMP, the report added. Bengaluru has some strict guidelines for
setting up meat shops in the city. The license is provided for two different
categories: one, for shops that sell fresh cut meat and second, for shops that
have cold storage facilities. Also, near the Outer Ring Road, shops are only
allowed if the road width is over 40 feet while for other places, the road
width has to be at least 60 feet. The owners also have to get the willingness
of the neighbours.
Naqvi’s response on Alwar incident: “No such incident has happened”
New Delhi: Members in the Rajya Sabha today expressed grave concern over
the killing of a man in Alwar district of Rajasthan by a mob of cow vigilantes,
with Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien asking the govt to probe it and inform the House about the
facts.Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Congress member Madhusudan Mistry
said there was a “complete breakdown of law and order” in Rajasthan as “a gang
of gau-rakshaks” stopped a truck carrying cattle and mercilessly thrashed four
of its occupants after letting off the “Hindu” truck driver. One of them
succumbed to injuries later. But Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi squarely rejected the
allegations and said it was a very sensitive issue, but “no such incident has
happened, the way the matter is being presented here.”“A message should not be
sent out that the House supports cow slaughter,” he said, and added that “state
govt has refuted (the allegations). We do not justify hooliganism.”Members of
other opposition parties joined the issue with Mistry claiming similar
incidents were taking place in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat as also UP, all ruled by
BJP. thehindu
Rajasthan lynching case echoes in parliament; Rajnath Singh promises
justice
Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Lok Sabha members that the Centre
will ensure justice in the case while Minister of State for Parliamentary
Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Rajya Sabha that a "message should
not go out that the house is supporting cow slaughter".IANS
Alwar Lynching: Man killed by Gau Rakshaks was dairy farmer, not cattle
smuggler
Pehlu Khan, who was murdered by cow vigilantes in Alwar on April 1 while
he was transporting cows to Mewat, was a dairy farmer and not a cattle
smuggler.Khan and other four men were attacked by a group of gau rakshaks who
suspected them of transporting the cows for slaughter.he succumbed to his
injuries on April 3.According to reports, Khan had a dairy farm in Jaisinghpur
in Nuh tehsil of Mewat in Haryana. He had gone to Jaipur with the intention of
buying milch buffaloes but instead, he ended up buying cows as he was offered a
good deal. “That was the worst decision ever. It took my father’s life,” said
his son Irshad.He and his brother Aarif were with their father on the day of
the incident. “My father was in a pickup truck with a Rajasthan number plate,
along with Azmat, who is also from our village. There were two cows and two
calves in the truck. Irshad, I and another villager were in the other pickup
truck which had three cows and 3 calves,” said Aarif. Tehelka
Hour before Alwar attack, gau rakshaks targeted 11 others
Alwar: There are several juice shops, a few salons, some tyre and
automobile repair shops, and a food stall at the Jagwas crossing in Behror area
of Alwar, on National Highway 8. But on Saturday evening, as a few dozen gau
rakshaks halted traffic and checked vehicles, nobody saw anything. Not even a
homeguard who was posted at the spot. “I get only Rs 325 per day. I didn’t see
anything,” said the homeguard, Anil Kumar.A kilometre ahead, near the Shaheed
Ram Kumar crossing, three big stones mark the spot where the gau rakshaks on
motorcycles reportedly chased two pickup trucks which were carrying cows,
blocked their way, and dragged the occupants out. After asking their names,
they allowed the driver, Arjun, to leave. The remaining five — Pehlu Khan,
Azmat, Irshad, Aarif and Rafiq — were beaten up even as they tried to reason
that they had purchased the cattle at a fair in Jaipur. The stones were used to
vandalise their vehicles. Pehlu Khan, a resident of Haryana, succumbed to his
injuries on Monday.
Cattle protection campaign a milch cow for Hindu nationalists
Jaipur: Killing of a Haryana Muslim dairy farmer who was attacked along
with four others in Alwar on April 1 by an alleged right-wing Hindu group while
transporting cattle purchased in Jaipur has put the spotlight on gau rakshaks
(cow protection vigilantes).In Rajasthan, they operate under different names –
Gau Raksha Dal, which claims to be a national body with presence in 22 states;
the Rashtriya Mahila Gau Raksha Dal that operates in Haryana and UP as well and the Bajrang Dal, the extremist
youth wing of the VHP.Gau Raksha Dal vice president Babulal Jangid says the
body has the biggest network of “cow protectors”, and claims the Dal has 15,000
workers but they are not an organised group. “There’s no registration, no
record on papers, we know each other and operate through contacts,” says the
43-year-old.Rashtriya Mahila Gau Raksha Dal, a body of 2,200 women vigilante,
is headed by Sadhvi Kamal, called Didi by her supporters. The saffron-robed
39-year-old was thrust into spotlight recently after she forced the Jaipur
administration to seal a hotel for allegedly serving beef. The hotel is owned
by a Muslim businessman.“It’s a business,” says Noor Mohammad, a social
activist who works with Meo-Muslims in Rajasthan’s Mewat region. “Gau rakshaks
want money. If you pay them, they let you go. Otherwise they snatch it from you
and lodge police complaint against you for cow smuggling,” he says.The Alwar
Police registered a case of illegal transport of bovine against the 5 men
assaulted on April 1. “For export of bovine from Rajasthan for agricultural or
dairy farming purposes or for participation in a cattle fair, a special permit
needs to be issued by the district collector or an officer authorised by him
for the purpose. These men from Haryana didn’t have the permit,” superintendent
of police Rahul Prakash says.Kavita Srivastava of PUCL counters SP. “They were
illiterate dairy farmers. They didn’t know the legalese. Police have no moral
authority to book them for smuggling when they had transport permits from a
municipal body,” she says. HT, too, wrote on April 6 that the men had permits
from civic bodies to transport the animals. HT
3 arrested in Alwar lynching case, search on for 6 more
Jaipur: 3 persons were arrested in connection with the death of a Muslim
man who was brutally beaten up by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan’s Alwar district,
police said on Thursday.“We have arrested three persons in connection with the
case under Section 302 (dealing with murder) of the Indian Penal Code while
search for six others named in the FIR is going on,” a police official told
IANS.“We have identified the three on the basis of a video footage”, he
added.IANS
'He said he was Hindu, they let him go': How one man escaped an attack
by cow vigilantes in Alwar
We don't hit even animals the way they beat up my father: Alwar victim's
son
3 arrested for 'openly' carrying beef In Assam, hurting religious
sentiments
Guwahati: 3 persons including a minor returning home with half-a-kg of
beef have been arrested in the outskirts of Jorhat town of Assam, 300 km from the
state capital, Guwahati. The police said the 2 men were arrested on Tuesday for
hurting religious sentiments since they were "openly carrying" the
beef. Police said the 2 men,
construction workers, and the minor had gone to a grocery shop with a bag in
hand. The shopkeeper asked them what was in bag. Beef, they responded, and
showed him. It is not clear what the shopkeeper objected to, but soon people
gathered; the altercation grew louder." Locals lodged an FIR accusing them
of trying to provoke them on religious lines. On interrogation, they admitted
to public display of beef and an altercation with locals," the Jorhat
police chief Prashant Kumar Bhuyan said. 2 men were remanded in judicial
custody by a local court while the minor has been sent to a juvenile home.The
men told the police they bought the meat from a slaughterhouse. The police said
they were ascertaining if the slaughterhouse had the requisite permits.NDTV
Minor among 3 Muslims arrested in Assam for displaying beef in market
Rattled by crackdown against slaughterhouses, meat exporters eye
Malaysia relief: financialexpress
New Delhi: Meat exporters, rattled by UP govt ’s clampdown on illegal abattoirs, have a
reason to be relieved. A delegation from Malaysia, a major buyer of meat from
India, is slated to visit buffalo-meat export processing units in the state
later this month in a bid to ramp up purchases.Official sources told FE that a team
comprising veterinarians from Malaysia will be visiting 23 processing meat
processing units in UP , besides inspecting 12 units in Maharashtra, Punjab and
AP.The delegation would be assessing how safety and quality standards are
implemented at the meat processing units.
‘Transporters Scared Of Riding Out With Buffaloes, Hindu Farmers Afraid
Of Selling, Traders Shut Shop
OTHERS
Rajya Sabha passes all 4 GST bills to pave way for rollout
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha passed four supplementary legislations on Thursday
to finally pave way for the roll out of the much-awaited GST for July 1. The
four supplementary bills are the Central GST Bill, 2017, the Integrated GST
Bill, 2017, GST (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017 and the Union Territory GST
Bill, 2017. Only last month on March 29, the Lok Sabha had passed these bills.
Lok Sabha had approved these bills on March 29. What remains now is that all
states will have to pass the States GST Bill after which the new indirect tax
regime can be rolled out. Arun Jaitley, replying to about an 8-hour-long
debate, said the GST will not lead to inflation as suspected by some sections,
adding that this reform will usher in a uniform indirect tax regime in the
country. indianexpress
Rajya Sabha passes all 4 GST bills without amendments
Israel eases visa policy for Indian businessmen
Jerusalem:Israel will offer 5-year multiple entry visa for Indian
businessmen to increase the bilateral trade ahead of PM Modi’s planned visit to the Jewish state later
this year. Visa issuance to Indians wishing to come to Israel has been an issue
of discussion between the two sides for many years. Several Indian businessmen
who have visited Israel in the past as part of business delegations have raised
concerns regarding Israel’s visa policy and Indian officials have pursued the
same with relevant Israeli ministries. Official sources said the decision comes
amid “growing partnership between the two countries” as they celebrate “25
years of establishment of diplomatic relations.”DG of Israel’s Tourism Ministry
recently said the country was looking to ease visa norms for Indians planning
to come to Israel and would be even open to issuing paper visas to those who
have concerns regarding future travel to the Arab world. “The visa process is
now better and hopefully would be even easier. A tourist from India looking to
get visa stamped on paper can get it that way and there will really be no
problem with that,” Amir Halevi, Director General of Tourism ministry, told
PTI.PTI
Israel Aerospace Industries signs near $2 billion missile deal with
India
Chinese official media warns India over interference in K-issue
Beijing may interfere in the Kashmir issue, if India chooses to play
dirty with China by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh, as per
the Chinese official media.Taking exception to MoS Home Kiren Rijiju’s remarks
that Arunachal Pradesh was “an inseparable part of India”, the China Daily and
Global Times editorials stated using Dalai Lama as a tool against China for its
veto against India in theNSG and UN ban on JeM chief Masood Azhar was wrong.“With
a GDP several times higher than that of India and military power that can reach
up to the Indian Ocean, if China engages in a geopolitical game with India,
will Beijing lose to New Delhi?” said the Global Times.Tehelka
Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Visit: Answer ‘blows with blows’ if India plays
dirty, says Chinese media
Indo-Pak issues should be resolved through dialogue: UN
India and Pakistan should find a peaceful solution to their issues
through engagement and dialogue, the UN has said, as it noted that its observer
group is investigating alleged ceasefire violations in the PoK.“UN Military
Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) is investigating alleged
ceasefire violations on the Pakistan-administered side of the Line of Control.
And as we’ve said before, we continue to underline the need for the parties to
find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue,” associate
spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Eri Kaneko said on Wednesday. Kaneko
was responding to a question by PTI at the daily press briefing about Pakistani
troops violating the ceasefire by shelling mortar bombs on forward posts along
the LoC in Poonch district of J&K yesterday.PTI
J-K: Youths held for playing Pak anthem in Ganderbal
Srinagar; Police detained some youths for allegedly playing the
Pakistani national anthem at the start of a local cricket match in central
Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Police said officials are probing the reported
match in which players also wore uniform matching with that of the Pakistani
cricket team.
Rohingya muslims being trained as terrorists: BJD MP
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohingya-muslims-being-trained-as-terrorists-in-india-bjd-mp/
New Delhi: 40,000 Rohingya muslims have illegally entered India from
Myanmar and they are being trained as terrorists, a member said in the Lok
Sabha on Thursday and urged govt to take action against them.Raising issue, BJD
MP B Mahtab said the situation is alarming. There are dark clouds of terrorism
in J&K and a new terror group is emerging, he said. indianexpress
Ground Report: Rohingyas face expulsion again, this time in Jammu
Regarded by UNHCR as “one of the most persecuted, excluded and
vulnerable communities” in the world, Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar living in
Jammu are worried about an unusual situation that is threatening to rob them of
their livelihood and their settlements, once again.Advocate Hunar Gupta – a
member of the BJP’s legal cell and standing council of the central govt – filed a PIL before the Division Bench of the
High Court seeking identification and deportation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis
from Jammu. thequint
'It is like feeding us to the sharks': India's plan to deport 40,000
Rohingya refugees draws flak
Kerala launches free legal aid in triple talaq cases
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-launches-free-legal-aid-in-triple-talaq-cases-4602020/
Muslim women in Kerala divorced under triple talaq practice would now
get free legal aid under an initiative launched by the state minorities
commission amid a debate over the issue across the country.The initiative was
formally launched on Wednesday and 21 complaints were received from women who
were divorced and left to fend for themselves, commission sources said. The
commission, headed by retired judge PK Haneefa, has formed panels comprising
four women advocates each in all 14 districts of the state to give the women
appropriate advice and legal assistance.The divorced women can approach the
members of the panel in their respective districts for legal advice and
assistance free of cost to fight their cases, Haneefa said. The commission, constituted
for the comprehensive educational advancement, welfare, protection and
empowerment of minorities in the state, has published phone numbers
(0471-2315122, 2318122) for women to approach the panelists.PTI
Talaq through post card, SMS valid:Khalid Saifullah
Hyderabad: Talaq will take place even if it is given by way of post
card, SMS or WhatsApp message. These are primarily means of communication and
if the talaq is conveyed by any of these methods to the person concerned, it
will take effect, said Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, secretary, AIMPLB.“It
is not necessary that talaq should be pronounced face to face only”, said the
globally-known scholar. Participating in a seminar on ‘Muslim Personal Law and
Current Issues’ here on Thursday, Rahmani expressed surprise at the objections
being raised for talaq through internet. When the courts were hearing cases
online and import/export business was taking place online, what was wrong if
someone pronounced talaq through internet, he said. telanganatoday
Judiciary silently implementing Uniform Civil Code: Sebastian Paul
Thiruvananthapuram: Ex- MP Sebastian Paul said that judiciary, through
its several creative interventions, is silently implementing Uniform Civil Code
(UCC) in the country. He was speaking on the topic 'Do we need Uniform Civil
Code' at Samvada, The ESSENSE-TOI debate Series 2017 held here on
Wednesday."On the question whether we need UCC, answer is yes. Article 44
of the directive principles of the Constitution states that the state shall
endeavour to secure for citizens a uniform civil code. Our stand on UCC must
not depend on who rules the Centre," Paul said.BJP leader advocate Anjana
Suresh asked why Muslim community stands against reforms when Hindu, Christian
and Parsi communities accepted changes over the years. She also stated that
political parties are taking stand against UCC for minority appeasement. Anjana
pointed out how the then Rajiv Gandhi govt enacted Muslim Women (Protection of
Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, to set aside the Shah Bano case.Writer J Reghu
said that attempts to implement UCC by RSS and BJP are made to trap not only
the Muslim community but also secular political parties. He also refuted claims
of Anjana Suresh that Hindu community welcomed changes in personal law. He said
that even Swami Vivekananda has opposed Age of consent bill 1891, which aimed
at raising marriageable age limit of girls from 10 to 12. telanganatoday
Sessions' court to hear Najeeb's missing case on May 3
New Delhi: A sessions' court today stayed the March 30 order of the CMM
Court, which asked all the 9 JNU students to appear before it and record their
consent refusal to undergo the lie detector test in the case related to missing
student Najeeb Ahmad. Senior Council Siddharth Luthra appeared in the session
court on behalf of the nine JNU students.During the last hearing, Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass asked the nine students to appear before the
Court "without fail".The court also turned down the submissions of
nine students stating there is no law that allows a magistrate court to either
direct or to record consent or refusal for conducting a lie-detector test.The
matter will be next heard on May 3.ANI
Najeeb case: 9 JNU students to appear before court today
Maha seeks ban on Sanatan
Sanstha, sends proposal to Centre
Maharashtra govt has sent a proposal to the Centre seeking a
ban on right wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha, Legislative Council was
informed on Thursday.The Goa-headquartered outfit has been linked to two high
profile murder cases and also terror activities in the coastal state and
Maharashtra.The govt has sought a ban on
the Sanstha under the UAPA, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar
said.PTI
MP:Sheopur tense after RSS shakha row, 10 Muslims held
Sheopur town of MP is simmering since Sunday evening when a group of
Muslims objected to a new RSS shakha in Gandhinagar locality and allegedly beat
up more than 10 activists of the outfit. Police have so far arrested 10 Muslims
in connection with the incident. 1 minor accused has been released on bail. In
all, 76 Muslims, 60 of them unidentified, have been booked in 4 FIRs lodged in
connection with the incident. RSS activists alleged that the Muslims did not
want shakha near a mosque. The next day, members of Muslim community submitted
a memorandum to authorities, alleging that community was being targeted and
accused of offences it did not commit. They alleged that a group of right-wing
Hindu activists had hurled stones at the mosque before they gathered for the
shakha. They also said that they lodged 2 FIRs about separate attacks on
Muslims, but the police have not acted on them. Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat
claimed that the shakha was never held on the ground before last few days. He
said the RSS activists Sunday gathered at a ground near the mosque and started
raising slogans. When Muslims objected that the raising of slogans was
disrupting their prayers,a scuffle broke out, Rawat said. indianexpress
Over 150 rallies on Ram Navami: Swords, saffron flags, chants of Jai Shri
Ram in Bengal
Kolkata: Youths in saffron clothing, wielding swords and chanting ‘Jai
Shri Ram’, whizzed through the streets on their bikes on Wednesday as members
of various outfits backed by the VHP, RSS and BJP took out over 150 rallies to
celebrate Ram Navami. While BJP said the processions were aimed at
“strengthening and spreading their ideological foundations for Hindutva”, TMC
said the saffron party is attempting “to divide people on communal lines”.Many
of the rallies were organised in districts that have a history of communal
tension. The metropolis itself saw 22 such processions. While the police
continue to remain on tenterhooks, no incidents of violence were reported.
Youths were seen carrying swords, knives and other weapons. Slogans like ‘Jai
Bajrangbali’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ rent air. Posters pledging construction of
the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya were also spotted. In Chakraberia, situated in CM
Mamata Banerjee’s Bhowanipore constituency, youths arrived as early as 9am,
carrying weapons.“Ram is always with his weapons. How can there be Ram Navami
without us bearing weapons?” said Aveek Chakraborty, a BJP supporter. State BJP
president Dilip Ghosh too had said on Tuesday, “Lord Rama carried a bow and
arrow. So how can his puja be done with empty hands? When Muharram is observed
there is no talk of polarisation. When Eid or Christmas is celebrated, there is
no talk of polarisation. But, when Ram Navami is celebrated, they say it will
lead to polarisation. If Ram Navami does lead to polarisation, let it be. We
will do it.” indianexpress
After armed rallies on Ram Navami, Imam of Tipu Mosque asks Mamata to
'ban RSS' in Bengal
Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha approves bill legalising bullock cart races
Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha passed
an amendment Bill legalising bullock cart races in the state. indianexpress
Ban on cash dealings exceeding 2 lakh not applicable for bank, PO
withdrawals: IT
New Delhi: Ban on cash transaction in excess of Rs 2 lakh will not be
applicable to withdrawals from banks and post office savings accounts, income
tax department said today.PTI
RBI keeps policy rate unchanged
RBI kept the key policy rate or the repo rate unchanged at 6.25% in the
first bimonthly policy review of 2017-18. thehindu
Amid row, Ajmer deewan declares his son successor
Ajmer: Dargah deewan of Ajmer Syed Zainual Abedin Ali Khan has declared
his son Syed Nasiruddin his rightful successor, thus putting an end to the
controversy which broke out over his suspension from the post by his younger
brother Syed Allaudin Alimi.It may be mentioned that Alimi had declared Khan a
'murtad' following latter's statement on
triple talaq issued on the eve of closing ceremony of 805th annual Urs.TOI
Dargah Ajmer to challenge Ajmer blast verdict
Jaipur: The Ajmer Dargah has decided to challenge the lower court's
verdict in the bomb blast case. Anjuman Syed Zadgan (a parent body of Khadims)
would approach Rajasthan High Court to appeal against the acquittals. A
complainant, Syed Sarwar Chishty, who is also a khadim at Dargah Ajmer said,
"Honorable court itself had questioned the clean chit given by the
investigation agencies for Pragya. The court had also expressed displeasure
over the agencies failing to arrest accused who are declared absconders—Sandeep
Danga, Suresh Nair, Ramchandra Kalsangra. timesofindia "
Saifullah does not belong to IS: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
told Parliament that he never said that Saifullah, a Kanpur resident who was
killed in an encounter with the police in Lucknow last month, was associated
with the Islamic State (IS).Singh said NIA was still investigating the
Ujjain-Bhopal train blast case but based on the material recovered from
Saifullah’s hideout some people had concluded that the accused belonged to the
IS. thehindu
Now, Dalit thrashed for riding mare in another Haryana village by
upper-caste men
Almost a month after a Karnal village witnessed tension after
upper-caste men barred a Dalit groom from carrying out the marriage ritual of
ghurchari, a Dalit groom was thrashed in a village of Charkhi Dadri for riding
a mare to reach the bride’s place as part of the ritual.Latest incident
occurred in Sanjarwas village on Tuesday night where a group of upper-caste
youth thrashed the Dalit.SHO of Baund Police station, Vikram Singh, said they
had registered an FIR against 15-16 youths of Rajput community for attacking
the Dalits. “We are conducting raids to the nab the accused,” said the SHO.
Indian express
Mandatory Vande Mataram in civic bodies angers Muslim corporators across
UP
Varanasi: The growing debate of nationalism and patriotism is seeing a
number of steps being taken by district administrative personnel and
authorities intended to boost the ‘patriotic feeling’ in civic bodies
employees, and this is not going down well with the Muslims of the state.TCN
Bihar:‘Muslim hub’, village wants to be renamed after Yogi
Hindutva is way of life; nothing wrong with India becoming 'Hindu
Rashtra': Adityanath
CBSE biology students asked which is better, burial or cremation? HT
The teachers and students described Class 12 CBSE Biology paper as
tricky and moderately difficult. However one question about cremation practices
in the paper led to people questioning the HRD minister.The question under
Section D was based on air pollution and asked students to justify with
arguments whether one should “bury” or “burn” to control air pollution.“How is
this question relevant to Biology? Does the CBSE wants to promote burial and
not burning? They even asked impressionable minds to give reasons in support,”
said Alok Bhatt who tagged the question paper to HRD minister Prakash Javadekar
on Twitter.HT
AMU campus violence: FIR against pro VC, 16 others
Agra: Following the orders of the CJM, Aligarh, police have registered
criminal cases of murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy against 17 people
including the pro V-C, proctor and deputy proctor of AMU, in connection with
the death of 2 students in violence on campus in April last year. Mohammad
Zoraiz, who had been booked in 6 of the 11 cases registered in connection with
the violence and murders of the two youths in April last year, had filed an
application under section 156 (3) which was accepted by the CGM court and they
ordered police to register a case on the basis of facts mentioned by the
petitioner and investigate the case.TOI
Students protest outside HRD Ministry seeking rollback of UGC
notification
New Delhi: Students of JNU and some other
universities on Wednesday demonstrated outside the HRD Ministry, which looks
after education affairs in the country, and demanded withdrawal of UGC
notification 2016 that has effected massive cut in seats at MPhil and PhD
programs at central universities including JNU.Led by JNU Students Union
leaders including President Mohit Panday and Secretary Satarupa Chakraborty,
the students were protesting against the drastic cut in seats of research
programs at JNU and other universities.IndiaTomorrow
MP govt to start ‘Purohitgiri’ diploma course for priesthood, caste no
bar
Bhopal: MP govt will start a
one-year diploma course on ‘Purohitgiri’ (Hindu priesthood). There will,
however, be no specifications on caste as both Scheduled Caste and Brahmins can
apply for the course. Brahmins across MP had held protests in May last year
against the state govt ’s proposal to train people from scheduled caste
community as priests. HT
India ranks 9th among 41 countries in corruption in businesses: Survey
WORLD
UN asks for 72-hour cease-fire in Syria to deliver aid
Geneva: UN on Thursday urged the US, Russia, Turkey and Iran to help
establish a 72-hour cease-fire in Syria in order to deliver humanitarian
aid."We asked Russia, Turkey, Iran and US that we need green lights for
the full April and May UN plan which is to reach more than one million people
in the hardest-to-reach and besieged civilians of Syria," UN humanitarian
adviser Jan Egeland said after a meeting of International Syria Support Group's
Humanitarian Access Task Force. Anadolu
Autopsy 'shows chemical weapons used in Syria attack'
Autopsy results have revealed that chemical weapons were used in an
attack which killed more than 80 people in Syria's Idlib province, according to
Turkey's justice minister.Thirty-two victims of Tuesday's attack were brought to
Turkey where three subsequently died."Autopsies were carried out on three
of the bodies after they were brought from Idlib. The results of the autopsy
confirms that chemical weapons were used," Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag
said."This scientific investigation also confirms that Assad used chemical
weapons," Bozdag added, without giving further details. aljazeera
Autopsies reveal chemical weapons used by Assad’s regime in Syria:Turkey
‘Say goodbye, baby’: A father bids farewell to twin toddlers after Syria
gas attack
US warns of unilateral Syria moves if UN fails to act
US has warned it could take unilateral action if the UN fails to respond
to a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Syria that killed more
than 80 people, including many children. "When UN consistently fails in
its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are
compelled to take our own action," US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley said. The
warning came during an emergency meeting of UNSC called by France and Britain
after attack in Idlib province. Britain,
France and US presented a draft resolution demanding a full investigation of
the attack, which they blamed on the Syrian govt. But talks ended without a
vote after Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said text was
"categorically unacceptable". Haley lashed out at Moscow for failing
to rein in Damascus, standing in the council chamber to hold up photographs of
victims - one showing a young child lying lifeless, a mask covering his face.In
a press conference at the White House later in the day, US President Donald
Trump said the chemical attack had crossed "many, many lines" and had
abruptly changed his thinking about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. aljazeera
Israeli army 'among world's child rights violators'
Occupied East Jerusalem - Flanked by his mother and aunt, Ahmed Mahmoud
strolled up the narrow street that leads to the main road in Issawiya in
occupied East Jerusalem. It was mid-afternoon in early Dec 2016, and the
15-year-old had recently earned good grades at school. As a reward, the trio
were on an outing to buy him a new pair of shoes, when they encountered a group
of teenagers running towards them.Ahmed realised that clashes were taking place
in the area between young men from the neighbourhood and Israeli border guards.
"I wanted to return home but then the bullet hit me," he said.
"I fell to the ground. My aunt started screaming. She was screaming at my
cousin, who lived nearby, for help." aljazeera
King Abdullah praises Trump's Israel-Palestine efforts
King Abdullah II of Jordan has expressed his trust in Donald Trump's
vision of tackling challenges in the Middle East, including the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Speaking in front of the White House together with
Trump, the Arab monarch said on Wednesday that the US leader's "early
engagement is beginning to bring Palestinians and Israelis
together"."I am very delighted for your vision and holistic approach
to all the challenges in the region," he told Trump. aljazeera
Knesset approves accelerate demolition of Arab homes
Israeli Knesset approved on Wednesday a new bill that facilitates
measures leading to the demolition and removal of Arab homes in Israel,
Palestinian website Arab48.com reported. The new law targets Arab homes which
were built without licenses. It will speed up the judicial and administrative
measures that are normally taken prior to the demolition of these unlicensed
homes.Deputy Attorney General Erez Kamitz said that Israeli planning officials
claim there are 50,000 buildings built without permits in Arab communities.middleeastmonitor
Israel appoints its first woman Muslim diplomat
Israel has appointed its first female Muslim diplomat, who will soon
represent Tel Aviv in Turkey. Rasha Atamny, 31, a Palestinian Arab born in Baqa
al-Gharbiya town in central Israel, will serve as the embassy’s first secretary
in Ankara, the Times of Israel reported. hindustantimes
Babies born to Muslims will outnumber Christian births by 2035: Pew
Research
New Delhi: More babies are born to Christian mothers than to anyone else
currently, but in 20 years, the number of infants born to Muslim mothers will
be higher, by a modest amount, according to new estimates released by the Pew
Research Center, a US research body."Less than 20 years from now, the
number of babies born to Muslims is expected to modestly exceed births to
Christians", new Pew Research Center demographic estimates show.That's
because in recent years, as well as looking ahead, Christians have had and will
have a disproportionately large share of the world's deaths because of their
populations' relatively advanced age. By contrast, the relatively young
population of Muslims has meant higher fertility rates as a whole across Muslim
populations.
Hindus will see decline in births between 2055-2060, Islam to become
world's largest religion by 2075: Pew
Muslim babies set to outnumber Christian births, Islam to become world's
largest religion by 2075
Bin Habtour resigns as head of ‘national salvation’ govt in Yemen
The head of the “national salvation” govt in Yemen, Abdul Aziz bin Habtour, has resigned
his post, in protest against Houthi interference in his work.Sources close to Habtour
confirmed that he submitted his resignation to the President of the Supreme
Political Council, Saleh al-Samad, days after the Houthis forcefully took
control of General Authority Insurance and Pensions building on Tuesday.One
source said Habtour’s authority was undermined by President Saleh al-Samad who
annulled several of Habtour’s decisions in the Ministries of Awqaf, Health and
Higher Education.middleeastmonitor
Ahmedinejad wades into forthcoming Iranian election
Mahmoud Ahmedinejad declares his support for former Iranian Vice
President and presidential candidate Hamid Baghaei in forthcoming presidential
elections. middleeastmonitor
Kabul wants Russia to bring Taliban to talks
Afghan govt has said it will push regional
neighbors as well as Russia to press the Taliban for peace as Moscow gets ready
to host a conference on Afghanistan in mid-April. In an exclusive interview,
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai said he would go to Moscow
with an open heart and mind.“We would also like to make sure that we explain to
them that any kind of peace process has to be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and,
if any peace process is pushed without the Afghan leadership, it will fail,” he
said.Zamir Kabulov, the Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan, said
earlier this week the Taliban’s demand for foreign forces’ withdrawal was
“legitimate”.Russia’s purported support for the Taliban is seen as a
counter-weight to an emerging Daesh in Afghanistan, which Moscow believes could
spill over into Central Asia and subsequently Russia itself.Anadolu Agency
Suu Kyi denies ethnic cleansing of Rohingya
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has denied security forces carried out
ethnic cleansing of the country's Rohingya Muslims, despite the UN and human
rights groups saying a crackdown by the army may amount to crimes against
humanity.Tens of thousands of people have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since military
began a security operation last October in response to what it says was an
attack by Rohingya armed men on border posts, in which nine police officers
were killed.aljazeera
Turmoil in White House: Bannon latest victim of Trump's chaotic
management style
US President Donald Trump removed
chief strategist Steve Bannon from the US National Security Council.Bannon, one
of the president's closest aides, is a controversial figure: the former editor
of the right-wing conspiracy theory website Breitbart News (which also acts as
a platform for white nationalism), has described himself as a
"Leninist" who wants to "destroy the administrative
state."Bannon is the latest victim of the president's famed chaotic
management style. Trump reportedly enjoys playing his advisers and confidants
against one another and letting them fight it out for his time and his
ear.Further complicating things is an open door policy at the White House which
allows even low-level staffers such as former Apprentice winner Omarosa
Manigault to gain access to him. Bannon's elevation to the National Security
Council (NSC) in Jan, which came in conjunction with the demotion of the
director of National intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, was seen as a radical move, which drew criticism even from members of
his own party.The New York Times reported that Bannon's departure from the NSC
comes as a result of a power play by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter
Ivanka Trump, and at the insistence of National Security Adviser Lt Gen HR
McMaster. firstpost
‘I wonder who they voted for’: Indians facing identity crisis in US
under Trump
OPINION: Mosul on way to becoming second Aleppo
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