Evening NEWS
DIGEST
20 April 2017: 22 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:170
Sloganeering, flag raising have become tests for nationalism: ex-Delhi
HC chief justice AP Shah slams rising cult of nationalism
New Delhi: In a critique of the present political scenario, former Delhi
high court chief justice A P Shah has said that Indians are forced to stand up
for the national anthem and told what they can or cannot eat, see or speak about.
He added that dissent in thecountry’s universities is curbed and “sloganeering
and flag raising have become tests for nationalism”.Speaking at the MN Roy
memorial lecture in Delhi, Shah mentioned, without naming her, the online abuse
Gurmehar Kaur faced for her views. He said that the country’s institutions of
learning “are under attack” and there is a “concerted attempt to destroy any
independent thought”. Shah added that in the present times “sadly if anyone holds
any view that differs from the govt’s acceptable view, they are immediately
dubbed as anti-national or desh-drohi’’. Shah said that these markers are used
to intimidate and “browbeat voices of dissent and criticism, and more
worryingly, can be used to slap criminal charges of sedition against them’’.He
compared ideas of VD Savarkar with those of Rabindranath Tagore about
nationalism and how they viewed India. Shah said that India being a diverse
country, people must respect the diversity of ideas. “We must respect these
differences, not silence those who hold a different view on nationalism and
patriotism for the country.” He added that promoting just one perspective; “one
that idolises the nation and staunchly rejects any internal or external
criticism” will only polarise citizens against each other. indianexpress
Can enforced nationalism promote culture? Is being anti-national equal
to being anti-govt? AP Shah
FULL TEXT: If you differ with govt, you're immediately called
'anti-national', says Justice AP Shah
Ex-Delhi CJ AP Shah slams rising cult of nationalism, bats for free
speech
After ED, now NIA issues non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik for
promoting enmity among communities
Mumbai: NIA on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant against
televangelist Zakir Naik for promoting enmity between religious groups. Naik is
already facing a case for money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate. A
Mumbai court had already issued a non-bailable warrant which was opposed by his
counsels, Taraq Sayyed and Mubin Solkar, on the ground that court had no
jurisdiction over the case.However, the arguments were rejected by the counsel
appearing for the Enforcement Directorate and submitted that Zakir Naik had not
replied to the summons issued by the agency. Similarly, he has also not made
his address public. india.com
NIA court issues non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik
Gau rakshaks who allegedly killed Pehlu Khan equal to Bhagat Singh,
Chandrashekhar, Krishna: Sadhvi Kamal
New Delhi: Self proclaimed spiritual leader and head of a cow vigilante
organisation, Sadhvi Kamal said that cow vigilantes, also known as Gau Rakshak,
who allegedly lynched to death Pehlu Khan, a Muslim farmer in Alwar on April 1
are equal to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. Kamal met up
with Vipin Yadav, one of the person arrested in relation to the Alwar lynching
case, and made these equation. Apart from that she is also seen making
comparison between the killers and Krishna, the Indian god.This Sadhvi Kamal
met accused Yadav when police were taking him to write his examination and said,
“Lord Krishna also went to jail for the upliftment of people. Don’t sit idle at
the jail. Teach all the inmates to chant Jai gau mata.”Drawing comparison
between the cow vigilantes and the freedom fighters, she said, “When Bhagat
Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad and Sukhdev went to jail, then they were perceived as
criminals and bad people but are now known as heroes. Similarly, people like
Yadav will also be known as heroes in the future for protecting gau mata.”india.com
They (Alwar accused) are today’s Bhagat Singh: Sadhvi
Justice for Pahlu Khan: Civil groups plan demonstration at Rajasthan
Assembly
Jaipur: In order to pressurize the Rajasthan BJP government for speedy
justice in the Pahlu Khan lynching case, various civil rights groups and
political parties have planned to stage demonstration for three consecutive
days outside the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly here next week.At their joint
meeting on Thursday, they made a national call for the protest demonstration
here from 24-26 April.Through the protest demonstration, the Rajasthan civil
groups will demand closure of all FIRs lodged against Pahlu Khan, his family
members and his fellow travelers and compensation to Pahlu Khan' family and
other victims.Among the main organizers of the protest are Rajasthan Nagrik
Manch, PUCL, MKSS (Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,
Adhikar Manch, Ambedkar Vichar Manch, NFIW (National Federation of Indian
Women), CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party and JD(U). indiatomorrow
Alwar lynching: Pamphlets claim accused are social workers who help
police
Alwar lynching: call for united fight against fascism
Pehlu Khan’s murder by gau rakshaks: 85-year-old mother protests;
demands justice
4 Hindus held for cattle smuggling in Bharatpur as Raj police step up
vigilance: hindustantimes
Bharatpur: Under threat from vigilantes and police squads, cow smugglers
in Rajasthan have begun transporting the animals to illegal slaughterhouses in
Haryana through unused roads. Sikri police arrested a Hindu villager and three
of his sons for trying to smuggle as many as 63 heads of cattle through
Bharatpur in Rajasthan on Tuesday night. A police team led by Sikri station
house officer Kesar Singh set up barricades along the dirt road on a tip-off,
nabbing Bolkheda resident Gutti Gurjar and his sons Kanhiya Gurjar, Memal
Gurjar and Nandram Gurjar.SP Kailash Chandra Bishnoi said the four were trying
to transport cows from Kishangarh in Ajmer to a slaughterhouse in Haryana. accused
have confessed to the crime, he said, adding that the animals have been sent to
the Jay Shri cattle shelter.E MLA Jahur Khan said Meo community was infamous
for smuggling cattle. “We urge Hindus to avoid selling their cows to Muslim
cattle traders. A panchayat meet aimed at stopping cow slaughter will be held
at Gulpada village on April 22,” he added.Khan said 30-40% of cow smugglers in
the region belong to the Hindu community.
BABRI MASJID CASE
Babri demolition case: Muslim bodies welcome SC
New Delhi: Muslim bodies welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to revive
conspiracy charges against the BJP
heavyweights ranging from the architect of Ram Janmabhoomi movement, LK
Advani to saffron hawks like Uma Bharti and Viinay Katiyar.Khalid Rasheed
Firangi, member of Muslim Personal Law Board on Wednesday said, “Faith of
millions of Muslims has been restored in the judiciary by reviving the case against
conspirators. We welcome the SC decision. We had been waiting for this for the
last 25 years.”He said, “the manner in which BJP has been talking on issues
like beef ban, triple talaq, azaan, I think the ruling has come at the right
time.”He felt that the SC ruling has come “as a respite” for the minorities
when the community was “feeling low and was under the impression that
everything was going against them.”Dr SQR Ilyas, joint convenor of Babri Masjid
committee, All India Muslim Personal Law Board said that the case was now
reaching it’s logical conclusion.“It was a crime of national shame yet no
action was taken against all those who were involved,” he said. Dr Ilyas hoped
that the accused “will finally be convicted.”Welcoming the Supreme Court order,
Zafaryab Jilani, convenor of All India Babri Masjid Action Committee and a
lawyer for the Sunni Waqf Board in the Babri case, pointed out that the case
was solely concerned with the conspiracy that led to the actual demolition and
was far more serious than the title suit. “The SC’s verdict has strengthened
secularism and I hope that the accused get the punishment they deserve”, he
said.Zafaryab Jilani said that the case against the conspirators should be
taken to its logical conclusion. D.Chronicle/AsianAge
‘Faith of millions of Muslims in judiciary restored’
Babri Masjid case: Lalu accuses PM Modi of 'crafting' Advani trial, Katiyar
says 'may be his claim has truth'
New Delhi: BJP leader Vinay Katiyar has come out in support of RJD
chief Lalu Prasad Yadav after latter alleged that the Supreme Court order
allowing trial of top BJP leaders in the Babri Masjid case was a
"well-thought-out politics" of the PM Narendra Modi to remove BJP
veteran LK Advani's name from the Presidential race."Maybe his statement
has truth to it, don't know," Vinay Katiyar said on Lalu Yadav's remark
'Modi's conspiracy to remove Advani from Presidential race.
Has Advani, former future PM, just become the former future President of
India?
SC invokes constitutional power to transfer Babri Masjid case
New Delhi:“Let justice be done, though the heavens fall”, the Supreme
Court said on Wednesday quoting a Latin phrase to invoke its extraordinary
constitutional authority to transfer the trial of a case against the VVIP
accused from Rae Bareli court to a Lucknow court for joint trial of two sets of
cases arising out of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.The apex court brushed
aside the contention of senior BJP leaders LK Advani and M M Joshi that
invocation of Article 142 of the Constitution “to do complete justice” to the
parties before it, would scuttle their fundamental rights.Top court said this
power exists with it as the judgement delivered by it will finally end the
litigation.A bench of Justices P C Ghose and RF Nariman said it was “without
substance” the submission that exercise of Article 142 would scuttle the
fundamental rights of the individuals.“Almost 25 years have gone and yet we are
solemnly reminded that respondent nos. 4 and 5’s (Advani and Joshi) fundamental
rights should not be curtailed by any order passed under Article 142,” the
bench said.PTI
BJP UP unit says Babri mosque ruling ‘doesn’t make us convicts’, Centre
cautious
New Delhi:Centre’s ruling BJP said on Wednesday it will study in detail
the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing the trial of its top leaders for criminal
conspiracy in Babri Masjid demolition before commenting on the case.Its senior
leader and law minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, asserted that his party
highly respects veteran leaders such as LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who
will be tried following the apex court’s decision.Putting up a brave face, the UP
unit of the BJP said it has full faith
in the judiciary after the apex court allowed the CBI plea seeking trial of
Advani, Joshi and Bharti, among others.“We will go to the trial court. This
does not make us convicts,” state BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said.“We
will present evidence before the trial court, where it will be examined and
cross-examined,” he said.HT
Welfare Party welcomes SC’s verdict in Babri demolition, demands
resignation
Bidar: WPI has extended welcome to the Supreme Court verdict to go ahead
with criminal conspiracy charges against top BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi
(both parliament members) Uma Bharti, union minister and others in the 1992
Babri masjid demolition case.Party national General Secretary PC Hamza said
those named in the case should voluntarily relinquish of their posts or they
might be removed.“It is to be welcomed though after 25 years, the intervention
of the apex court will pave the way to deliver justice. Those who are framed
with serious charges like conspiracy should not hold any ministerial posts.
Others in the case also must resign membership of the Lok Sabha. Likewise the
President must intervene and ask Kalyan Singh to quit the post of Rajastan
governorship,” he added.
Babri demolition case: BJP veterans’ trial may see Ram Temple return as
poll issue in 2019
OTHERS
Kashmiri students ‘called stone-pelters’, beaten up in Rajasthan
university
Jaipur: A group of Kashmiri students at a private university in
Rajasthan were on Wednesday allegedly called terrorists and beaten up by
locals, upset over soldiers being targeted by stone-throwers in the strife-torn
border state.The assault is the latest incident of violence against Kashmiris
studying at Chittorgarh’s Mewar University, which has around 500 students from
Jammu and Kashmir.“6 of us were assaulted in three separate attacks that took
place at the same time in the market. The attacks seemed coordinated,” said
Bahar Ahmed Giri, a student of pharmacy.Though no one suffered serious
injuries, students are upset with the university administration for failing to
protect them and have demanded the arrest of the offenders.They were beaten up
for no reason, Giri said. “They hurled abuses, called us terrorists and said we
throw stones at the army. They told us to go back to Kashmir and threatened
that they won’t let us study here,” he said.Police have registered an FIR
against two unknown people for causing hurt but gave a different version of
events. Hindustantimes
‘Islamic banking way forward for JK’s development’
Rajouri:A panel of experts today said that Islamic banking has huge
scope in J&K and it is the way forward for the state’s development, as the alternative
banking will not only bring financial inclusion but provide equity based and
interest less finances for businesses, institution building and entrepreneurs. The
experts where speaking at 2-day international conference on “Islamic Banking
and Finance: Way forward for inclusive and sustainable development”, which
commenced today at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University campus here today. The
conference is organized by Schools of Management Studies and Social Sciences of
BGSBU and sponsored by Khyber Industries, Srinagar and J&K Bank Ltd, a
varsity spokesperson said.“The objective of the seminar is to acquaint scholars
from both academia and industry about the concept of Islamic Banking,
opportunities and challenges for its future growth,” said the spokesperson. The
event was inaugurated by VC of BGSBU Prof Javed Mussarat.Dr Shariq Nissar, a
leading scholar in the field of Islamic banking and finance gave a detailed
presentation regarding development on Islamic finance in Indian context and
stressed upon the need of creating adequate manpower for delivering to the
expectations of industry as for as the
implementation of Islamic finance is considered. greaterkashmir
9 arrested ISIS suspects are self-taught radicals:UP Police
Lucknow: UP Police on Thursday said the 9 arrested ISIS suspects from
Jalandhar, Mumbai and Bijnor in a joint operation with the state ATS were ‘self
radicalized’.ADG UP Police Daljit Chaudhary said, “The youth arrested are not
in liaison with any group, they are self-motivated, self guided and
self-radicalised.” The police have evidence against four held and others are
being interrogated. “In the searches conducted, no incriminating evidence has
been found as yet but it can be called a possible criminal conspiracy,” he
added.Chaudhary further said that they are misguided youth and can be admitted
to the mainstream after counselling.“Special Cell Delhi Police, CI cell
Andhra,Maha ATS, Punjab and Bihar Police were involved in the operation,” it
added. free press journal
Nationwide raids ; 6 ISIS suspects held in Delhi, Mumbai
Govt has no info on death of Indians in Afghan bombing
New Delhi:The govt has no information about the death of any Indian when
the US dropped its most powerful non-nuclear bomb in an ISIS stronghold in
Afghanistan. A top Home Ministry official said the central govt has received no information regarding death of
any Indian when the ‘Mother Of All Bombs’ was dropped on an Islamic State
tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan, close to the Pakistani border on April
13.“We have no information about death of Indians in the bombing in
Afghanistan,” the official said. There were media reports that 13 suspected
Islamic State fighters from India were among the 96 militants killed when US
military dropped the non-nuclear bomb.Kabul-based Pajhwok Afghan News agency
quoted an unnamed security official as saying that “13 Indian Daesh militants
were also among those killed”. PTI
Maharashtra govt to monetise Wakf lands
To generate revenues for the welfare of Muslim community, the state govt
is planning to monetise the huge parcels
of Wakf lands spread across Maharashtra.State govt statistics suggest that Maharashtra has around
93,418 acre of wakf land spread over about 23,566 registered properties, with
the maximum in Aurangabad division, which was part of the dominion of the Nizam
of Hyderabad. However, a task force under Principal Secretary (revenue) had
pointed out that around 70% of these lands — most of which are prime properties
— were under illegal occupation, encroached upon or transferred."Around 30%
of these lands are unencumbered. There
are legal provisions which allow these lands to be leased out for purposes like
charity, commercial use, agriculture, and set up of schools, colleges,
hospitals, and educational institutions. The govt is thinking on these lines," a senior
state minority welfare department official told DNA. This will also prevent
these parcels from being encroached upon. Instructions will be given to the
Wakf board on the issue."It will generate revenues to the tune of crores,
which can be used for the welfare of the community," he said, adding that
the Wakf lands could also be used for setting up educational institutions,
which in turn would help students from the minority community. Shabbir Ahmed
Ansari of the Tehreek-e-Auqaf welcomed the move and pointed to how these lands
could be used for farming, commercial use, etc. He added that the neighbouring
state Karnataka, had established hospitals and nursing homes on Wakf lands,
too.DNA
Maharashtra govt may lease out all encroached Wakf plots
UP govt starts taking opinion on triple talaq
Lucknow:A week after UP CM Yogi Adityanath asked women ministers of his govt
to gather opinion of Muslim women on the
issue of triple talaq through social organisations that would be placed before
the apex court, the exercise formally began in Lucknow on Wednesday.Representatives
of telecom companies were also called to the meeting to take their suggestions
regarding use of technology for conducting the survey in this regard and more
such meetings are expected before the questionnaire and survey is given final
shape. The exercise should not be seen as an interference in personal law. We
are addressing the issue of equal rights of women, assuring them that wherever
their rights would be suppressed, we would stand by them,” said Rita Bahuguna
Joshi, adding that women alleged that the 5 crore signatures being claimed by
AIMPLB in support of non-interference into personal law were based on vague
questions like whether one supports the Shariat law or not, and whether one
supports the Muslim Personal Law Board or not. indianexpress
Bengali group on last minute signature collection drive against triple
talaq: hindustantimes
Kolkata : A group of Bengali Muslim intellectuals has launched a last
minute drive to collect 1 lakh signatures from Muslim women and men demanding
abolition of triple talaq and polygamy with the objective of submitting them
before the President and PM before the country’s apex court starts hearing on
the legality of triple talaq, halala marriage and polygamy on May 11.“We have
already collected about 55,000 signatures, most of them from Muslim women.
We’ll submit the signatures by May 9 and on May 10 we’ll sit on a day-long
dharna at Jantar Mantar. We want the centre to strongly advocate abolition of
these practices during the hearing in the court,” said Osman Mallick,
headmaster of a govt -run high school in West Bengal. He had also filed a
petition in Supreme Court last Novr. hindustantimes
Why Did UP Information Commissioner Hafiz Usman Raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’
Slogans? thequint
UP State Information
Commissioner, Hafiz Usman’s speech at a RTI-related function at Panchayat
Bhawan in Moaradabad on Tuesday evening has left many people confused. People
are still wondering why he raised Hindu, nationalistic slogans like ‘Jai Shri
Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ etc.Hafiz Usman had been invited as the chief
guest at the function. Apart from the DM, DIG, Commissioner etc, there were
several senior officials present at the function.During his address, Usman
became very agitated and began speaking very animatedly about the triple talaq
issue. He reminded those present that the women who suffer due to the triple
talaq are people too. He then added that if there is any country in the world
where people are free, it is India. He compared India’s situation with tight
censorship in Saudi Arabia.The Programme Coordinator tried to object to the
religious overtones in his speech. thequint
MP: Man stabbed for supporting Sonu Nigam’s azaan tweet on Facebook
Ujjain: 2 men stabbed a Gopalpura resident on Wednesday evening, after a
disagreement on singer Sonu Nigam’s social media rant against the azaan turned
violent.Sources said one of the victims, Shivam Rai, had spoken in favour of
Nigam’s stand against the use of loudspeakers for the Muslim call for prayer in
a Facebook post. This infuriated the accused, Mohammad Nagori and Faizan Khan,
spurring them to threaten him over the phone.“Later, they asked me to meet them
in Freeganj area. When I reached there with my friend, Ayush Shreewas, they
attacked us with knives,” Rai told mediapersons. Shreewas, who sustained grave
injuries in the attack, was admitted to the district hospital.Madhavnagar
police station in-charge MS Parmar said a case of attempted murder has been
registered against the accused under Section 307 of the IPC. They are yet to be
arrested. hindustantimes
What Hindu neighbors of mosque say about Azaan and Muslim neighbors of
temple about Aarti
Publicity stunt or conspiracy: Bbc report exposes Sonu Nigam’s Azaan claim
Man who announced Rs 10 lakh for shaving Sonu Nigam’s head is no imam or
maulana
You have no sense of responsibility, angry court tells Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar
New Delhi: The country's top
environment court came down forcefully on spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
stating, "You have no sense of responsibility. Do you think you have the
liberty to say whatever you want?"Yesterday, Sri Sri said that if any
damage has been caused to the environment by the huge three-day cultural
festival he held on the banks of River Yamuna in Delhi last year, it is the govt
and the court who should take the blame, because they allowed the event. ndtv
Jharkhand tribal students protest ‘saffronisation’ of higher education
Ranchi:Hundreds of tribal students took out a ‘funeral procession’ of
the BJP state govt on Tuesday, accusing
it of saffronising higher education and ‘killing’ democracy to please the
party’s ideological mentor, the RSS.The students took out the procession in the
state capital after an uproar of over a month against the Raghubar Das govt rechristening Ranchi’s oldest college - Ranchi
College as Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University.Mukherjee was the founder of
the Bharatiya Jana Sangha, the forerunner to BJP. hindustantimes
States oppose 'imposition of Hindi' in schools
President's approval to make Hindi compulsory in CBSE and Kendriya
Vidyalya has ruffled feathers with most non-Hindi speaking states accusing the
Centre of suppressing other native languages.Deputy leader of Trinamool Saugata
Roy alleged the move is meant to implement the BJP's majoritarian idea based on
their slogan, 'Hindi, Hindu, and Hindustan'. "The Centre should have been
more cautious before implementing the decision in non-Hindi speaking
states." timesofindia
Adityanath bans liquor shops in places of worship
UP CM Yogi Adityanath ordered on
Wednesday a ban on liquor shops in Hindu and Islamic religious places such as
Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Deoband, Dewa Sharif, Misrikh-Naimisharanya,
and Piran Kaliyar Sharif in the state.HT
EC to get 30,000 new VVPAT machines by July for Gujarat, Himachal polls
New Delhi: Election Commission of India will get 30,000 new paper trail
machines in July, augmenting its present stock to a level where it can deploy
these units in all polling stations during the Assembly polls in Gujarat and
Himachal Pradesh later this year.“We have 53,500 VVPAT machines. In the next
three months, we will get 30,000 new machines. Nearly 84,000 units are sufficient
for use in all polling stations in Gujarat and Himachal,” a Commission official
said.The poll watchdog will make a formal announcement that VVPAT machines will
be used in all polling stations in the two States when the poll schedule are
announced.While the term of the 182-member Gujarat Assembly is ending on Jan.2,
2018, the term of the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly will end on Jan.7.PTI
Nitish , Sonia explore possible national tie-up?
New Delhi: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar met Congress head Sonia Gandhi on
Thursday at her residence and is learnt to have discussed the current political
situation in the country.Kumar has been calling for forging a grand alliance of
secular parties at the national level on the lines of the 2015 electoral
alliance or 'Mahagathbandhan' in Bihar to take on the BJP under PM Narendra Modi,
and is learnt to have raised the issue with Gandhi. Congress is a partner in Bihar
govt with Kumar's JD-U and Lalu Prasad's RJD, after the three parties contested
and won the assembly elections as part of the grand alliance.PTI
Mayawati: BSP may join Congress,SP to forge anti-BJP front just ahead of
2019 Lok Sabha polls, not before
New Delhi : Mayawati, days after indicating that she was ready to join
hands with rivals Samajwadi Party and the Congress to take on the BJP in 2019
Lok Sabha polls, said that any such decision will be taken just before the
general elections, a report by ‘The Indian Express’ has said. Making the
remarks at BSP HQRS in Lucknow, she said that there was no need to enter the
alliance “foolishly” and end up helping Congress and the Samajwadi Party.As per
leaders present in the meeting, the party supremo is reported to have said. financialexpress
China has no right to rename Indian cities, Arunachal an integral part
of country: Govt takes a firm stand
New Delhi: Union I&B minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday no
foreign country has the right to rename Indian cities, responding to the
Chinese action of unilaterally changing the names of six places in Arunachal Pradesh.China
renamed the places in Arunachal Pradesh in an apparent retaliation against the
Dalai Lama’s visit last week to India’s easternmost state, which Beijing
disputes as part of its territory.“Every inch of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to
India ... let them rename. How does it matter? It’s like you renaming your
neighbour. It does not change his name,” Naidu said in a tit-for-tat response
to Beijing’s symbolic snub.
China may use old maps, or even force Google, to validate its claims
over Arunachal. Here's how
Hajj subsidy: panel set to make hajj affordable for Indians
Riyadh: The Indian govt is
finding out ways through which Haj pilgrims can perform their rituals at an
affordable cost, which also includes accommodation and travel to Saudi
Arabia.The panel is headed by former bureaucrat, Afzal Amanullah. The study has
been completed and the report will be submitted within a month to the govt ,
said Afzal. He said that travel cost is a major factor and constitutes lion
share for the Haj trip. Amanullah ruled out the possibility to have an open
bidding at international level for airlines to ferry pilgrims as a bilateral
Haj agreement between Saudi Arabia and India. He also said that India is facing
difficulties in securing accommodation on a long term in holy cities of Makkah
and Madina.Amanullah and other members of the panel were in Saudi, who held
talks with Haj operators and Indian officials with the regard to enhance the
services for pilgrims.The govt has
constituted the committee aftermath of Asaduddin Owaisi’s suggestion for
removal of subsidy to the Haj pilgrims.The committee headed by ex- bureaucrat,
Afzal Amanullah to review the Haj policy between 2013- 17 and asked to suggest
frame work for Haj Policy for the next five years 2018-22. siasat
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
‘I Hope That I Will Get Justice’: Sacked BSF Tej Bahadur
Babri demolition case: Blow to Advani, but BJP stands to gain from SC
order: ANALYSIS by DK Singh
Modi's New Strategy For Making Inroads Among Muslims: ex BJP MP Chandan
Mitra
No discrimination based on caste, religion, says Muslim principal of
college set up by Yogi Adityanath
WORLD
Panama Papers: Pakistan SC orders probe after split verdict, PM Sharif
survives for now
Islamabad: PM Nawaz Sharif was
given a 2-month reprieve on Thursday as Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered
further investigations into corruption allegations against him, saying there
wasn’t enough evidence to order his removal.Sharif had a narrow escape after a
split decision by the 5-member bench of the Supreme Court, with 2 judges recommending
that the premier be told to step down.The bench ordered the setting up of a
joint investigation team (JIT) within a week to probe allegations linked to the
Panama Papers leaks. Three judges ruled in favour of the JIT, which was
directed to complete its probe in two months.The Supreme Court also ordered
Sharif, 67, and his two sons, Hasan and Hussain, to appear before the JIT.“A
thorough investigation is required,” Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said, announcing
the highly anticipated ruling following a months-long hearing stemming from the
Panama Papers leaks last year that linked Sharif’s family to offshore
assets.The Supreme Court launched an investigation into the Sharif family’s
offshore wealth last year after opposition parties threatened to launch street
protests. The opposition accuses Sharif of failing to explain the source of
money in offshore companies owned by his children and of lying to Parliament.
The case was launched on Nov.3 and the court held 35 hearings before concluding
proceedings on Feb.23. Details of the Sharif family’s offshore assets surfaced
when papers from the Panama-based law firm of Mossack Fonseca were leaked last
year. The assets, mostly in London, were managed through offshore companies
owned by Sharif’s children.
Panama Papers Verdict: SC's split decision in favour of Nawaz Sharif
will keep PM from being disqualified
Siraj ul Haq joins calls for Pak
PM’s resignation
Islamabad: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan(JI) head Siraj ul Haq on Thursday
joined calls from opposition parties for PM Nawaz Sharif’s resignation in order to make
way for a transparent probe into the Panama papers as ordered by the Supreme
Court of Pakistan in its landmark judgement. “We had announced that our party
would accept the Supreme Court’s verdict. But in opinion, this case is not over
yet. It has entered the next stage,” Haq said.SAMAA
After SC verdict, Sharif now at 'mercy' of Pak Army
Islamabad : Even though today's Panamagate verdict by the Pakistan
Supreme Court neither gave a clean chit nor a disqualification to PM Nawaz Sharif, it essentially places the leader
at the mercy of the Army. Sources say this verdict is a takeover of Sharif by
the army.At least 8 offshore companies were found to have links to the Sharif
family in the documents that were leaked following which the case was filed by
various petitioners - PTI chief Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq -
seeking disqualification of PM Sharif
over his alleged misstatement in his address to the nation on April 5 and his
speech before the National Assembly on May 16, 2016. ANI
Pakistan National assembly passes bill on compulsory teaching of Quran
in schools
Islamabad: Pakistan’s National Assembly passed a bill endorsing
compulsory Quran education for all Muslim students studying in govt schools from class 1 to 12, a move apparently
aimed at weaning away children from religious seminaries. The ‘Compulsory
Teaching of the Holy Quran Bill 2017’ was tabled before the house by state
minister for federal education and professional training Balighur Rehman.The
bill provides that students from class 1 to 5 will learn to read the Arabic
text of the holy book, while students from class 6 to 12 will also learn to
read the Arabic text with simple Urdu translation.The minister clarified that
this piece of legislation is only meant for the Muslim students.The bill will
need President Mamnoon Hussain’s signature to become law.The law will be
applicable to all federal educational institutions in the country but it will
be mandatory for Muslim students. The provinces can separately legislate on
teaching of the Quran.HT
Israel approves construction of 212 new settlement units in Jerusalem
Israeli Planning and Construction Committee has approved the
construction of 212 new settlement units in Pisgat Ze’ev and Ramat Shlomo
settlements in the occupied city of Jerusalem. Israeli army radio said the
project is part of a “large settlement plan to be implemented during the new US
admin era”. Last month, Israel’s cabinet approved the establishment of a new
settlement in the West Bank for settlers evicted from Amona outpost and
confiscated hundreds of dunums of Palestinian private lands in Ramallah for
that purpose.
UN: Gazans should not ‘held hostage’ over power crisis
UN’ Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay
Mladenov said on Wednesday that residents of Gaza should not be held as
“hostages” during an ongoing energy crisis that he blamed both
Palestinian-controlled institutions for as well as Israel.Commenting on the
electricity crisis in Gaza, Mladenov said in a statement: “I am following with
great concern the tense situation in Gaza, where a new energy crisis is now
unfolding.”Mladenov blamed the electricity crisis on the need to reform Gaza
Electricity Distribution Company, noting it is “essential to improve revenue
collection and transparency in line with international standards.” The UN
official also blamed the Israeli occupation for the crisis, saying:
Chairman of Egypt’s leading newspaper resigns
Chairman of Egypt’s biggest-selling state-owned paper, Al-Ahram,
resigned after protesting about interference in the running of the
publication.Ahmed El-Sayed Al-Naggar had been among prominent journalists who
criticised govt ’s transfer of 2 Red Sea islands to Saudi in April last year.
Iran accused of manipulating Palestinian cause while hiding its
colonialism against Ahwazi Arabs: middleeastmonitor
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:11 PM)
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