Evening NEWS
DIGEST
29
April 2017: 02 Shaban 1438: Vol: 8, No:177
Don't view triple talaq through prism of politics, PM Modi appeals to
Muslims
Batting for equality for Muslim women, PM Narendra Modi today appealed to the
'enlightened' members of the community to not see the triple talaq issue from
the prism of politics. He was hopeful that such members could spearhead efforts
to end the infamous practice. Modi was speaking at a function to mark the
Basava Jayanti celebrations in the honour of Kannada philosopher Basaveswara.
He referred to the triple talaq issue while referring to the 12th century
reformers movement to end regressive practices."I urge you (Muslims) not
to view the triple talaq matter from a political perspective. Come out and find
a solution to end this regressive ritual. Such a solution will have its own
majesty and generations will remember you," he said.The PM said he was hopeful that powerful people would
emerge from society and help "eradicate outdated practices and evolve
modern systems".Modi called upon Indian Muslims to lead not just those
from the community in the country, but to show the "path of
modernity" to Muslims across the globe. "That is the kind of power
and energy this land gives to all of us", he said to a thunderous
applause. Referring to triple talaq, Modi said, "I am sure enlightened
people will also emerge from among Muslims and come forward to end this
practice, liberating our Muslim daughters and mothers from this scourge. I am
sure enlightened Muslims will take this responsibility upon
themselves."IndiaToday
Don’t politicise triple talaq, Modi tells Muslims
BJP minister who linked triple talaq to lust once dissed Hindus
Lucknow: A Cabinet Minister in
the BJP's UP Govt triggered a row on Saturday with his views
about triple talaq. Swami Prasad Maurya said that Muslim men use the
exploitative practice to "satisfy their lust by changing wives" and
the BJP was hard at work to get these women justice."These talaqs have no
basis... if someone only for satisfying his lust keeps changing his wives and
forces his own wife and children on the streets to beg... no one will call this
as right... BJP stands with Muslim women who have been given talaq
unreasonably, and arbitrarily," Maurya said late on Friday night in Basti
district, 200 km from state capital Lucknow.The 63-year-old BJP leader's
comment, which was slammed not just by political parties but the harshest
critics of triple talaq as well, come around the time that PM Narendra Modi called upon the community
leaders to take the lead to save their daughters and cautioned them against
letting the issue get politicised.
Muslims choose triple talaq to satisfy lust: Swami Prasad Maurya
Subramanian Swamy backs Maurya, says Islam permits men to commit
atrocities against women
New Delhi: Backing UP Cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya’ controversial
comment on triple talaq, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said that in
Islam there is no gender equality and women have third class status. Talking to
ANI, Swamy said,”There is no doubt that in Islamic practice and preaching women
have been given second or third class status. Triple talaq, marrying four wives
tradition are examples of that.”“Islam religion permits men to commit atrocities
against women. Maulana’s may disguise the fact but this is the reality of
Muslim religion,” he further added. india
Shaista Amber Threatens To Move SC against UP minister Swamy Prasad
Maurya
Lucknow : All India Muslim Women’s Personal
Law Board (AIMWPLB) on Saturday demanded Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet minister
Swamy Prasad Maurya’s resignation a day after he made a controversial statement
saying, “Muslim men resort to triple talaq to quench their ‘lust’ by changing
wives”. AIMWPLB President, Shaista Amber told ANI, “Where on the one hand,
Muslim women are fighting for their injustice, Cabinet Ministers like Swamy
Prasad Maurya are making such obnoxious statements. He should be given strict
punishment and should be sacked from his post. I would appeal to Yogi ji to
sent Maurya to a mental asylum.”siasat
Extend triple talaq to all communities, demands men’s rights group
Kolkata: The most ardent supporter of All India Muslim Personal Law
Board perhaps could not have seen this coming -- Hridaya, a platform of
tortured males based in the city have come out with the demand that triple
talaq should be extended to all communities in the country to save men, and
women, from harassment.They held a ‘satyagrah’ on Rani Rashmoni Road in central
Kolkata on Saturday morning to press for their demand.Incidentally, Hridaya has
about 5,000 members in West Bengal and just about 20% of them are Muslims, its
convener said.“Hridaya, through this satyagrah, demands equal divorce law for
all communities.Triple Talaq is one of the most simplistic separation marital
procedure and the same needs to be extended to all communities. Hridaya is
strongly against abolishing of triple talaq as the same would bring disharmony
in the society,” read a statement issued by the body.“Our decision has nothing
to do with our Muslim members. We view triple talaq as a convenient,
hassle-free way of ending troublesome relationships where the breakdown in
irreversible,” convener of the satyagrah, Suprotim Ghosh, told HT, admitting
that the demand for extending the benefits of triple talaq to all communities
will be considered a bit outlandish.Braving heat and humidity of end-April,
Ghosh and members of his organisation assembled on Rani Rashmoni Road from 11
on Saturday morning. They held aloft placards pleading for quick end to
troublesome husband-wife relations.Incidentally, as the day of final hearing of
triple talaq by the supreme court -- May 11 -- draws near, the camps on both
sides of the divide are conducting their last minute campaign. A satyagraha was
also carried out in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. “In the absence of simplistic
separation law, the warring couples have to run from pillar to post in court
rooms for separation and thus the most productive life of women and men are
wasted,” argued Hridaya members. “While a quick end to the agony allows both to
start a new life.”They have also claimed that banning triple talaq will also
increase domestic violence. “In many cases children are the worst sufferers of
estranged couples living under same roof,”said another member.HT
Modi govt, not Muslims, is politicising Triple Talaq, says Muslim
Personal Law Board
Mumbai: Hitting out at PM Narendra Modi's suggestion that the Muslims
should ensure the issue of Triple Talaq was not politicised, All India Muslim
Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and opposition parties on Saturday said that he
himself was politicising the issue of TripleTalaq for electoral gains."The
entire Triple Talaq debate has been started by PM Modi himself, his Govt , and his own men and
party. They are politicising the issue for electoral gain and to defame the
Muslims."Instead of worrying about Muslim women, the PM should do something for hundreds of thousands
of women who have been divorced and left abandoned by Hindus", Asma Zahra,
Chief of Muslim panel's women's wing said."Cases of crimes against women
are rising day by day. PM should
announce some immediate measures so that women of the countrt feel safe and
secure", she added.ummid.com
PM himself politicizing Triple Talaq: Mushawarat chief
New Delhi: Responding to the statement of PM Narendra Modi that Muslims should not
politicize the issue of Triple Talaq, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat
(AIMMM), the umbrella body of major Indian Muslim organizations, said that PM
himself is politicizing the issue."PM himself is doing politics when he again and
again mentions the issue of Triple Talaq," said Navaid Hamid, national
president of AIMMM.Hamid alleged that PM's remarks on triple talaq do not show
his true concerns for Muslim women."It has more taunting connotations than
the concerns of the plight of the Muslim women," said Hamid."PM ,
please stop politicizing and stop creating kind of hatred for the Muslim
community in the country..." he added.He, however, hailed the PM for publicly
admitting that it is an internal issue of the Muslim community and they
themselves resolve it.IndiaTomorrow
PM himself indulging in politicisation of 'Triple Talaq' issue: Cong
New Delhi: Reacting to the statement by PM Narendra Modi that there should not be a
politicisation of the 'triple talaq' issue, the Congress today said that the PM
himself had been indulging in the politicisation of the issue.Talking to
reporters here, AICC senior spokepseson and leader of the opposiiton in Rajya
Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said,''the PM himself is the champion of the
politicisation of the triple talaq issue. His statement today itself is an
example of a politicisation of the issue.''Asserting that none of the
Opposition parties, be it JD-U, the RJD, the SP or the DMK had ever said
anything on the issue, Azad said,''it is the BJP leaders and the RSS pracharaks
who have been raising the issue in their electoral campaign. The statement by
the Opposition parties have come only in response to the statements by the BJP
leaders. PM should put a control on his partymen.''Asked about the party's
stand on the issue, Azad said there was a proper procedure laid down in the
Quran wherein no one could give divorce by simply sating 'talaq' to a woman
thrice.''I do not think any Muslim conversant of the tenets of the Quran would
endorse the way of talaq being referred to by the BJP leaders. A detailed
procedure has been laid down in the Quran in this regard,''he said.Accusing BJP
of raking up the issue to 'create a new vote bank', Azad said,''when the matter
is subjudice, the BJP should not try to create a new vote bank.''UNI
Can PM Modi speak on gau rakshaks widowing Muslim women, asks Azam Khan:
ANI
Rampur: Hours after PM Narendra
Modi appealed to the Muslim community to find a proper solution for triple
talaq, Samajwadi Party criticized saying that he should also speak up on other
issues which are being faced by the Muslim women.“PM Modi should also focus on other problems of
Muslim women. Muslim women are losing their husbands and son due to violence by
Gau Rakshaks,” Samajwadi Party leader told ANI.Earlier, Congress dubbed PM ’s
assertion as insignificant adding that he made the statement eyeing upcoming
elections in Karnataka.“PM Modi made the statement eyeing upcoming elections in
Karnataka. He has been doing this and will also continue to do in future. He is
following the ideology of RSS. His speech does hold any significance,” Congress
leader Mallikarjun Kharge said. ANI
Not just Triple Talaq, PM Modi should speak about Muslim women losing
husbands to Gau Rakshaks: Azam Khan
Sadhvi Prachi wants triple-talaq victims to slap Muslim clerics, adopt
Hinduism: hindustantimes
Bareilly: The ongoing debate over triple talaq plunged to a new low with
controversial VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi on Saturday suggesting Muslim women who
have been divorced by uttering the Arabic word thrice should adopt Hinduism
after “slapping” Islamic clerics.Triple talaq – under which a Muslim man can
divorce his wife by uttering “talaq” thrice – has been thrust under the
national spotlight after a number of women approached the Supreme Court to ban
the practice.
Positive about SC ruling on triple talaq : Justice Asok Ganguly
Kolkata: Former Supreme Court judge Asok Kumar Ganguly today said that
he was positive about the outcome of the apex court's ruling on constitutional
validity of 'triple talaq', hearing of which will begin on May 11. "I
think none is above the Supreme Court. The justice which will be delivered
after hearing will be final. I am positive about the outcome," Justice
Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on triple talaq. He had
been asked about the Muslim Personal Law Board's stand on the issue. "I
have full confidence in the constitutional accountability of the Supreme
Court," he added. "I wonder for how long women would be considered as
commodity in this society. I think the Muslim women don't feel free under the
present triple talaq system," Justice Ganguly said. Justice Ganguly
referred to the outcry when Rammohan Roy had spearheaded the 'Satidaho Birodhi'
(anti-bride burning) movement and Iswarchandra Vidyasagar called for widow
remarriage in Hindu society in the 19th century. Economictimes
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind launches Muslim law awareness campaign
New Delhi; In the wake of recent media debates and political
intervention on matters of Islamic Shariah, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has launched
what it calls an awareness campaign for Muslim Personal Law. Through the 14-day
campaign from 21 April, the organisation will reach out to Muslim masses and
people from other communities to remove their "misconception" on
Muslim law and teachings of Islam on family issues like marriage and
divorce.Jamaat said it is mostly the ignorance of the Muslim masses about
Islamic family laws and their consequent faulty conduct while dealing with
domestic disputes that have created a distorted image of Muslims and
Islam.Talking to the Statesman, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, president of
Jamaat-e- Islami Hind and also vice-president of All India Muslim personal Law
Board, said, “It must be recognised that the primary reason for violation of
Shariat is large-scale ignorance of Muslim masses and lack of sincere
commitment to Islamic norms. A large section of Muslim society does not even
know basics of Islam. Many Muslims do not know the rules and instructions which
would guide them in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance and the like. Hence,
there is an imperative need to educate, uplift and morally reform the Muslim
society.”He said the current debate on triple talaq in the media and elsewhere
is to divert attention from real issues of the community. Talking about the
contradictions in Muslim Personal Law and Indian laws under the Constitution,
Salim Engineer, general secretary of the Jamaat, said Muslims in India have
constitutional right to practice Muslim Personal Law. “Indian constitution has
given us right to practice our religious laws. It is our constitutional right,”
he said During this campaign, the organisation plans to reach out 4-5 crore
people, according to Mohammad Jafar, convener of the campaign and also a member
of All India Muslim Personal Law Board. He told the Statesman, “For this 700
public meetings and 8000 Friday sermons will be used. The campaign will also
cover 2000 villages."Statesman
Husband divorced after 3 hours, shaved as punishment after bride
declares him ‘greedy’, she marries another man same day
A husband was divorced after 3 hours and had his head shaved as a punishment
after his wife said he was 'greedy' and married another man on the same
day.Rubana Parveen, 18, married Muntaj Ansari, 26, on Wednesday morning, in
Chandwa village, in eastern India. But after the traditional Muslim nuptials
the auto rickshaw driver started demanding a huge dowry and insisted on buying
an expensive motorbike. The bride’s father, Bashir-ud-din Ansari, 58, who owns
a hotel, had already bought him a motorbike but Muntaz wasn’t satisfied and
demanded a better model.A witness said: ‘Everyone kept telling the groom to
calm down and tried convincing him to accept what he was given. 'But he kept
threatening to go home without his new bride. The groom and bride’s father were
arguing a lot. It was a crazy scene.’ Bride Rubana decided to call a local
‘Qazi’, also known as a Muslim judge or adjudicator, and with her family’s
support she declared an open ‘Talaaq’, which is a Muslim divorce.Bashir-ud-din
said he made sure Muntaj’s family return all gifts and dowry money already
paid. Muntaj’s family were so ashamed they wrote a letter of apology promising
to return everything.Local residents were outraged with Muntaz’s behavior and
as a punishment they made him wear a garland of shoes with a placard reading:
‘I am greedy for dowry’. They even shaved a strip of hair off his head, along
with his brother.But later that evening Bashir-ud-din, who is a father of four,
arranged for another local man to marry his daughter.He contacted the family of
Mohammed Elias, 25, who lived 25kms from Rubana, and arranged for the pair to
marry that same evening. That night wedding celebrations continued as
planned.Bashir-ud-din said: ‘I’ve no regrets for what has happened. I’m just
happy that my daughter doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life with that
greedy man. 'She’s now thankfully very happy she’s married and I bless them for
life.’DailyMail
OHERS
India, Pakistan must discuss Kashmir: President Erdogan
Ankara; In what appears to be a departure from Turkey's traditional
stand on Kashmir, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Pakistan and India must
discuss their festering dispute.In an interview ahead of his visit to India,
Erdogan also said that the obvious similarity between separatist Kurds and
Kashmiris was one between "apples and oranges"."If we compare
apples to oranges, we will make a mistake, a big mistake," the President
told news portal WION."We have no problems with the Kurdish people,
Kurdish citizens in Turkey. We have a problem with terrorist
organisations."With regard to the Kashmir question, there is no similarity
whatsoever. The nature of the two disputes is different."There is a
territorial dispute in J&K . Pakistan, as a state, is pursuing its own
theory and arguments. And they are right."But India as a state is also
pursuing her own agenda, her own arguments and she is right too." Erdogan
added that in J&K , "there is a state of India, and there is one of
Pakistan, who are both in need of settling this dispute once and for
all".Erdogan said Turkey would never use the Organisation of Islamic
Conference (OIC) against India."We would never release statements against
India... All we want to see is open the channels for dialogue in order to bring
India and Pakistan closer to one another, in order to hopefully settle the
dispute on Kashmir once and for all."This is what is troubling us, this is
what we are working on."Asked why Turkey blocked New Delhi's admission to
the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Erdogan said Ankara had "always been
supportive of India's entry into NSG and also that of Pakistan in a similar
way".He said both countries "have nuclear capabilities and both are
right".The President denied linking India with Pakistan. "We are not
linking the two. That is why I said India's right and Pakistan's right
too."They have both nuclear capabilities. We are trying to act very fairly
and are supportive of India. And India's PM has thanked me for that support."Similarly
we have been supportive of Pakistan too."Erdogan said there should be no
permanent or non-permanent seats in the UN. Instead, he suggested that 20
member countries should rotate every two years in the Security
Council."India is a very important power in that regard and India should
be represented at the Security Council... The Security Council has never been
reformed, it needs to be updated."IANS
Turkey may use FETO as bargaining chip for India's NSG bid
New Delhi:Amid speculations that FETO in India could cause friction
during talks between visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indian
PM Narendra Modi, analysts have
suggested that Turkey could use the issue of Fethullah Gulen-linked educational
institutions as a bargaining chip with India, in return of supporting New
Delhi's entry into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) group.According to
senior Syrian journalist Dr. Waiel Awwad, Erdogan who now enjoys extended
executive powers post the referendum, will call the shots in Turkey as his goal
is to fight the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) across the
world."This is one of the main (aim of) Erdogan, to fight the Fethullah
organisation and institutions around the world and he has to show the world
that he is the man who pulls the shot. There may be some kind of evidence
presented by the Turkish President to the Indian side (on presence of FETO in
India). The Turkish President could start using it as a barraging chip to
India. He has his own interests in having good relations with India," Dr.
Awwad told ANI.ANI
Economic windfall eyed from Erdogan's India visit
New Delhi; Turkish business world is expecting stronger economic ties,
more direct investments, and solutions to existing problems from Turkish
President Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to India on Sunday and Monday, according to
analysts and Turkish officials.Canan Celebioglu, head of the Turkey-India
Business Council of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), told
Anadolu Agency on Saturday that the trade balance between the two countries,
which favors India, must become sustainable for Turkey’s benefit as well.“The
share of bilateral trade is around 2 % of Turkey’s $350 billion foreign trade
volume. This figure is below 1% of India’s total trade volume, which is almost
$700 billion. It shows that we are quite below the current potential,” she
said.Celebioglu noted that India, which is on the way to becoming the largest
market in Asia, stands among the world’s top 10 economies in terms of both GDP
and purchasing power parity rankings with its young 1.3 billion population,
rapid growing middle class, fast urbanization, and economic transformation.
Anadolu agency
Turkey and India set to rediscover a lost friendship
Turkey seeks defence ties with India
New Delhi;Looking beyond traditional military ties with Pakistan and the
NATO member countries, Turkey is eager to build a defence partnership with
India.A senior Turkish official said that apart from defence, Ankara wants to
explore nuclear and space opportunities with India and intends to join hands
with it for a more just world order.“India is one of the biggest importers of
defence material in the world and has an excellent defence industry. That is
why we are keen to build partnership with India’s defence industry,” said H.
Ilnur Cevik, Senior Adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.Turkey
and Pakistan have been traditional friends since the 1950s when both joined the
Western Bloc. But Cevik maintained that Turkey has decided to create space for
cooperation with India. thehindu
SC advice to Centre, Valley protesters: Take 2 steps back, talk
New Delhi:The Supreme Court Friday observed that peace will perhaps
remain elusive in the Kashmir Valley if issues of “secession” are raised while
stones are pelted, and schools and colleges remain shut. A bench led by Chief
Justice of India J S Khehar also remarked that it would be appropriate if “both
sides take two steps back” and “address core issues”.“If you keep throwing
stones, and close schools and colleges, how will talks happen? You first talk.
But if you are suggesting secession, nothing will happen. Talks have to be
within the framework of the Constitution,” remarked the bench, also comprising
Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul.The bench said that “one cannot clap
without both hands” and that it could issue some orders, including suspension
of use of pellet guns by the armed forces, if the J&K Bar Association could
make sure there would not be any violent protests nor would harm be caused to
anyone through stone-pelting.The court asked the Bar Association to take “one
positive step” to defuse the crisis. “The students must return to schools and
colleges as education can empower them,” observed the bench.Meanwhile, Attorney
General Mukul Rohatgi ruled out any dialogue between the central Govt and separatists raising issues of “Azadi” and
“accession” in the Valley.He submitted that the Govt was firm that it would speak only to legally
recognised stakeholders and not those who call elections as state terrorism.On
being asked by the bench as to what could bring peace in the Valley, the AG
said that it was not possible to withdraw security forces or tie their hands
since national security was at stake in the border state. indianexpress
'Stone-pelting must STOP': SC orders Kashmiri students to go back to
school in bid to bring peace to J&K
Won’t talk to separatists: Centre tells SC on Kashmir crisis
Govt told the Supreme Court it was ready to talk to
recognised political parties in J&K to resolve the crisis there but not with the
separatists. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi made it clear that the Govt would come to the negotiating table only if
the recognised parties participate in the dialogue and not the separatist
elements. He made the submissions before a bench, comprising Chief Justice J S
Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, while rubbishing the claim of
the J&K High Court Bar Association
that the Centre was not coming forward for discussion and dialogue to resolve
the crisis.PTI
Go meet people in Kashmir Valley, Ladakh, address their concerns, Amit
Shah tells BJP state ministers
Jammu: Giving a clarion call to leaders and workers for expanding the
party base not only in Jammu but all the three regions of the state, Bharatiya
Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday asked BJP ministers in Mehbooba
Mufti led coalition Govt to visit
Kashmir Valley and meet cross section of people there.Quoting Shah, BJP MLA
from Nowshera Ravinder Raina said that the party president asked BJP ministers
that they shall not remain confined to their own assembly constituencies, but
they shall go to remote areas of Kashmir Valley and also Ladakh region, meet
common people and address to their problems. Addressing a meeting of party
leaders and workers including ministers, legislators and office bearers at the
Convention Centre here, he reminded participants that for BJP, nation always
comes first and it has been the priority of both the Central and the state Govt
to restore peace and normalcy in the
Valley, Raina added. indianexpress
Noise over Kupwara attack aimed to spread hate against Muslims: Farooq
Abdullah
New Delhi: National Conference chief Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday
claimed that the "beating drums" on the death of three army soldiers
in north Kashmir's Kupwara district was aimed at spreading hatred against
Muslims."The noise is not so much about 25 CRPF jawans getting killed in
Chhattisgarh, rather, the noise is about three army men killed in Kupwara. They
are beating the drum to increase hatred towards Muslims, please keep this in
mind," Farooq said."Now a days, new tricks are being played, be
careful. This is not an attack on particular sect of people, but on all of
us," he added. timesofindia
WhatsApp Modi? Kashmir social media blackout fails to stop youth from
logging on and posting discontent
Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir banned 22 social media sites in
an effort to calm tensions in the disputed region after videos depicting the
alleged abuse of Kashmiris by Indian forces fuelled protests. But the sites remained online Thursday as the
local telecom company struggled to block them and defiant Kashmiri citizens
continued to post their discontent with the climate in the region.The Govt said Wednesday that the one-month ban was
necessary for public safety because social media were being 'misused by
anti-national and anti-social elements.' dailymail
Kashmir: Mobile internet services restored after 2 weeks
Mobile internet services were
today restored in Kashmir, two weeks after they were suspended in view of
widespread student protests in the Valley against alleged highhandedness of
security forces at a college in Pulwama on April 15. Restrictions placed on
accessing internet on mobile phones on April 17 have been lifted four days
after the state Govt directed the
internet service providers not to allow access to 22 websites and applications,
observing they were being misused by anti-national elements to disturb peace in
Kashmir.PTI
Election Commission to soon call all-party meet to assure them EVMs are
tamper-proof
New Delhi:In the wake of the growing chorus of demands from political
parties questioning the authenticity of EVMs in ensuring free and transparent
polling, the Election Commission has said that it will call an all-party meet
soon to assure that the machines were tamper-proof and secure.Chief Election
Commissioner Nasim Zaidi made an announcement to this effect today.Zaidi added
that the poll panel intended to use Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in
all the upcoming elections to bring in more transparency and help boost the
confidence of voters in the electoral process."We will soon hold an
all-party meeting in which they will be told how our EVMs are non-tamperable
and secured as per our administrative and technical safeguard system," the
Chief Election Commissioner told reporters in Delhi. He was replying to questions
about charges levelled by several political parties against the transparency of
EVMs. Recently, 16 opposition parties had appealed to the Election Commission
of India to revert to the ballot system of voting, claiming that the faith of
the people in EVMs had been "eroded".IndiaToday
Delhi civic polls have shown that EVM is ‘Every Vote Modi’: Yogi
Gorakhpur: Showering praises on PM Narendra Modi, UP CM said
that the recent Delhi civic polls results have shown that ‘EVM’ stands for
‘Every Vote Modi’, referring to the recent charges against the polling
machines. Adityanath also vowed that law-breakers will be reprimanded strictly
in the state.“We had urged earlier too. People who do not respect the law can
leave UP and who don't will be dealt strictly with,” he stated. “There has been a transformation in law and
order situation in UP and this will continue in the future too (sic),” he
added. The comments come in the wake of a recent crackdown on illegal
slaughterhouses in the state and increasing cow vigilantism across the country.Deccan
Chronicle
Akhilesh again questions credibility of EVMs
Lucknow: Ex-UP CM Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday again questioned
the credibility of EVMs after the state police found a chip-like device used in
stealing petrol.“When petrol can be stolen with the help of a remote through a
chip without any internet connection then EVMs too. Need to stop the wrong use
of technology,” the Samajwadi Party president tweeted.Mr. Yadav’s remarks came
two days after the STF in Lucknow raided several petrol pumps and found them
using a chip board like device inside the dispensing machines for petrol theft.IANS
Malegaon blast accused Purohit moves SC for bail
New Delhi; Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, the prime accused
in the 2008 Malegaon blast, moved the Supreme Court on Friday, barely days
after the Bombay High Court rejected his bail application. Purohit's advocate
Neela Gokhale mentioned the matter before the bench led by the Chief Justice of
India JS Khehar and sought a date for Monday. The bench, however, advised
Gokhale to go through the process and the matter would be taken up in due
course of time.On April 25, the Bombay High Court denied Purohit bail while
granting it to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur for the lack of "incriminating
or objectionable material" against her. Referring to a NIA report, the HC
had said, "Purohit was the one who prepared a separate 'Constitution' for
'Hindu Rashtra' with a separate saffron colour flag. He also discussed taking
revenge for the atrocities committed by the Muslims on Hindus."DNA
Malegaon blasts: HC seeks NIA stand on Sadhvi Pragya’s plea
Mumbai:The Bombay High Court today sought the NIA’s stand on a plea by
the Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur against the trial court’s
permission to a blast victim’s father to assist the prosecution in the case.A
bench of justices V K Tahilramani and M S Karnik issued the notice also to the
victim’s father, Nisar Bilal, seeking his stand on Sadhvi’s plea and posted the
matter for further hearing in June.Facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blasts
case, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has moved the high court against the special
NIA court order permitting the victim’s family to assist the prosecution in the
trial. The anti-terror court had in February this year permitted Bilal, the
father of a victim who had died in the September 29, 2008 blasts, to intervene
in the case and assist the prosecution in the trial against Sadhvi and 10
others.PTI
7 kids hurt in crude bomb blast at Urdu school in Patna
Patna: 7 students of a state Govt -run Urdu middle school in Patna City
suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, on Saturday morning, when a
low intensity bomb blast was triggered off on the school premises, 500 metres
from Khajekalan police station in eastern Patna.The explosion occurred on the
roof of an under construction building of the Urdu School around 11 am, when a
boy, in a group of seven, hit a ball type object they had found in the
building. The boys suffered splinter injuries from what is suspected to be an
improvised ‘desi’ bomb.Police said injuries to four students, identified as
Mohammad Faizan 10, Mohammad Arman 9, Mohammad Adil, 7, and Mohammad Jishan, 8,
were serious. Three others sustained minor injuries. All the injured were
rushed to nearby Guru Govind Singh hospital for treatment. hindustantimes
Man ‘cooked-up’ story of IS threat, attack: Police
Ahmedabad/surendranagar: Cyber Cell of Ahmedabad Detection of Crime
Branch (DCB) and Surendranagar police on Friday said a man who had recently
claimed threats to his life by members of Islamic State as they were behind his
research papers on a drug formula for treating HIV/AIDS and other diseases,
including Malaria, had cooked-up the story. Surendranagar-based Mukesh Shukla,
who uses prefix such as ‘Doctor’ and ‘Scientist’ before his name, had also made
up a story of a chemical attack on him April 21. He had told police that he was
attacked by three unidentified men when he was returning home, and robbed of Rs
24,000 cash, a 54 GB pen-drive containing his research on HIV, and his Aadhaar
card. Following the FIR, local police sought help from the DCB, Ahmedabad,
considering a IS “threat letter” and the chemical attack. Shukla was also
provided police protection, which continued till Thursday, sources said.A few
days ago, Surendranagar SP Deepak Meghani had said: “We don’t want to take any
chance. We are probing the case from all angles… We are also probing if there
could be any locals involved in the alleged attack on him on April 21.” DCB
dispatched a team to Surendranagar and started investigation. In the meanwhile,
an expert of Arabic language told the DCB officials that language used in the
letter was not proper. The expert found that sentence formation was abrupt and
random. Officials said that after several attempts they decoded the letter and
came to conclusion that it was written using Google translator. “We checked the
computer system of Shukla and extracted all the data. We examined the data and
found a letter written in English got translated exactly as the threat letter
through the Google application,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police, DCB,
Rajdeepsinh Jhala. indianexpress
Pak national held at Delhi airport after he claims he's an ISI agent
New Delhi: A 38-year-old
Pakistani national was detained at Terminal 3 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi
International airport after he claimed to be a part of the Pakistan’s
ISI.Around 4.15 pm, a passenger approached the information desk in the
international retail area and informed one of the staff that he wanted to share
information about the ISI. The staffer alerted the security and the CISF then
took the 38-year-old Pakistani national into custody. The Intelligence Bureau
was also informed, who reached the spot to question the Pakistani national.The
passenger has been identified as 38-year-old Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh, who arrived
in Delhi from Dubai and was bound for Kathmandu. During questioning, Sheikh
revealed that he is connected with the ISI but has claimed that he wants to
quit ISI and remain in India. He has further claimed that his family is under
the control of the organisation and he wants to stay in India. timesnow
These are all rumours…Bhai is fit and fine: Chhota Shakeel on reports
that Dawood Ibrahim critical after heart attack
New Delhi: With unverified news reports, late Friday evening, stating
that India’s most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim is in a critical condition
after suffering a heart attack, his close aide Chhota Shakeel has dismissed
them as baseless, saying Dawood is ‘fit and fine’.Speaking to Times of India,
Shakeel also refuted reports, some in the Pakistani media, that Dawood had
passed away following the attack. “Listening to my voice, do you think any such
thing has happened? These are all rumours,” he told TOI over a telephone
conversation from Karachi. “Bhai is fit and fine.”Unverified news reports began
surfacing last evening that Dawood, who is reportedly residing in Pakistan,
suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Karachi’s Aga Khan Hospital. Some
reports claimed he was in a critical condition while others said he had passed
away. indianexpress
Dawood Ibrahim is 2nd richest gangster of all time; 10 things about
most wanted global terrorist
New Delhil:The reports of Dawood Ibrahim being seriously ill have led to
speculations about the successor of his business empire.Some reports suggest
that his brother Anees would inherit the trans-continental business of the most
wanted international terrorist while others hint at a more equitable sharing of
Dawaood Ibrahim's assets among his family members and trusted aides.According
to Forbes, Dawood Ibrahim is one of the richest gangsters of all time. In 2015,
Forbes estimated Ibrahim's net asset at USD 6.7 billion.IndiaToday
Dawood Ibrahim ‘aide’ gets bail, to walk out of jail after 13 years
Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court on Friday granted bail to Umar Ismail
Bukhari alias Mamumiya Panjumiya — alleged aide of underworld don Dawood
Ibrahim — in connection with an arms haul case lodged in Ahmedabad in 1993.
With this Mamumiya Panjumiya will be out of jail for the first time after he
was arrested in 2004, and subsequently in various others cases, including the
Gosabara arms landing case in Porbandar in which he was later acquitted. indianexpress
School in Meerut gives veg tiffin order, wants ‘military’ haircut for
boys: indianexpress
Meerut: A private school in Meerut has ordered its students not to bring
non-vegetarian tiffin and also allegedly verbally conveyed to the boys that
they must sport a “military” haircut. The instructions, issued via a notice on
April 2, had barred students from bringing omelette or other non-vegetarian
food in their lunch boxes. It had added that offenders would be dealt with
sternly. The diktat has upset a section of parents of the 2,850-odd students
who study at Rishabh Academy. Run by a trust of Jains, the school has a temple
on its premises. Its students come from varied castes and religious
backgrounds. Following notice, some parents held a demonstration outside the
school on Thursday. They also met District Magistrate Sameer Verma while
alleging that the school was trying to impose the “RSS agenda” on their wards.
Upper caste members pour kerosene in Dalits’ well in revenge in MP
village
Bhpoal/Agar Malwa: A Dalit villager’s decision to hire a band party to
welcome the bridegroom at his daughter’s wedding in a village in Madhya Pradesh
drew a cruel retribution from upper caste villagers who allegedly poured
kerosene into a well used by so-called low castes.The incident in Mana village
in Agar Malwa district, about 200 km from the state capital, last week once
again underlined caste fault lines in the country.As the Dalits could not drink
the contaminated water they dug a hole on the banks of the Kalisindh river for
an alternate source of water. Simultaneously, they also used a pump to suck out
the contaminated water in the well. hindustantimes
BJP to field 10% Muslim candidates in W. Bengal municipal polls
Kolkata: In a major policy shift, the BJP has decided to field at least
10% Muslim candidates in the upcoming municipality elections in West Bengal
even as party president Amit Shah has instructed the party leadership in the
state to involve educated and indigenous Muslims in the party's affairs. economictimes
Zakia Jafri plea against clean chit to PM Modi: No scope for further
probe, SIT tells Gujarat HC
Ahmedabad: Defending its closure report giving clean chit to the then CM
Narendra Modi and 60 others in the 2002
riots, the Supreme Court-appointed SIT on Friday told the Gujarat High Court
that there was no scope for any further investigation into the allegations of
Zakia Jafri, wife of former Congress MP Ahsan Jafri who was killed in the
Gulberg Society massacre. Zakia has challenged the SIT clean chit to Modi and
the others, including several police officials and politicians. She had alleged
that Modi along with the others were responsible for the widespread riots,
which were part of a “larger conspiracy”.A day after lawyers representing Zakia
concluded their submissions before the High Court, SIT counsel C S Vaidyanathan
argued that Zakia’s complaint was “investigated, reinvestigated and further
investigated” under the supervision of the apex court till the closure report
was filed before the magisterial court in 2012 in Ahmedabad. And therefore,
there was nothing left in the allegations which require further probe, the SIT
counsel said. Vaidyanathan argued that the SC ordered the report be placed
before the magisterial court as per the provision since the investigation was
done under Section 173 (8) and directed the lower court decide the matter in
accordance with the law.“ indianexpress
BJP MP asked Police to ‘Fire on these Pigs’ referrring to Muslims:
Samajwadi Party report on Saharanpur violence: twocircles
A 5-member Samajwadi Party delegation that visited Saharanpur to
investigate the violence happened in the city on April 20 has alleged that
Saharanpur MP Ram Lakhanpal Sharma asked the police to fire on the
Muslims.According to the delegation, Sharma said, “Fire on these pigs (Muslims).
I am the captain here and I am ordering you. I have the Govt in the state now.”This allegation was
confirmed by some of our police sources, while other sources were unable to
recall the exact words of MP as it was chaotic all around.SP delegation also
alleged that when the police force did not follow the orders of Ram Lakhanpal
Sharma, his younger brother Rahul Lakhanpal Sharma grabbed the collar of some
officers on the spot and threatened them.That was the moment when MP, his
brother, and their supporters started violence against Police officials.On
April 20, MP Ram Lakhanpal Sharma and his supporters carried out a procession
in ‘respect’ of B R Ambedkar in Saharanpur, even after the administration
denied them giving the permission to carry out the procession.When the
procession march entered the Dudhali village which has over 85 % populations of
Muslims and 15 % of Schedule Castes, BJP members started passing derogatory
comments against the Muslim community.
SC to hear Babri Masjid demolition case on Thursday: A look at the case
history
The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing, related to the
Babri Masjid demolition case involving senior BJP leaders, to Thursday. A bench
headed by Justice PC Ghose stated it will take up the matter on Thursday when
Justice RF Nariman, who was present during the last hearing, will be back. Two
sets of cases were filed in regard to the Babri Masjid demolition. One is FIR
No. 197/1992 which was filed against unknown karsevaks involved in the
demolition of the structure. The second is FIR No. 198/1992 which was filed
against top leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay
Katiyar, and others. newindianexpress
Kerala: Moulavi murder: Spl prosecutor sought
Kozhikode: The state Govt may
consider the request from the officer-bearers of the Choori mosque committee in
Kasaragod that a special prosecutor of their choice may be appointed in the
case related to the murder of Riyaz Moulavi, who was killed inside the mosque
allegedly by Sangh Parivar workers on March 21.The office-bearers are learnt to
have contacted the CM 's office and conveyed their preferences. "They want
Adv M Ashokan as the special prosecutor and me as his assistant. The Govt may heed to the demand," said Adv C
Shukkur, former Govt pleader from
Kasaragod. timesofindia
Assam’s 2-child norm in draft policy ‘unnecessary’, ‘anti-women’
Kolkata: Assam’s suggestion of implementing a two-child policy is not
only “unnecessary” but is also “anti-women” and “anti-poor”, says an
expert.“Assam’s total fertility rate (TFR) at 2.2 is not too far from India’s
replacement level fertility, which is 2.1. Therefore, the suggestion of
implementing a two-child policy would not only be unnecessary but also grossly
severe,” Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India,
told IANS over email.“In the past, in UP , Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh when
the law in these states debarred women with more than two children from
contesting panchayat elections, we saw an increase in sex-selective abortions,
women being deserted, and women giving their children up for adoption,” she
said.Muttreja said the policy is “a violation of a couple’s prerogative to a
rights-based approach to family planning, and indicates that numbers matter
more than people do”.IANS
WORLD
Pak Army 'Rejects' Nawaz Sharif's Decision To Sack Aide Tariq Fatemi
After News Leak
Islamabad: PM Nawaz Sharif today faced a crisis when
Pakistan's powerful army rejected his move to sack top aide Tariq Fatemi and
demanded full implementation of recommendations by a committee which probed a
story on a rift between the army and the Govt . Sharif Govt was quick to go in
damage control mode after confrontation with the army over a "notification"
and announced that "real notification" to implement the
recommendation of probe was yet to be issued. Difference came to fore between
army and Govt after the military, in an
unusual move, rejected the "notification" by the Govt to sack special foreign affairs assistant Mr
Fatemi by Mr Sharif following the findings of a probe
committee."Notification on Dawn Leak is incomplete and not in line with
recommendations by the Inquiry Board. Notification is rejected," army
spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said in terse statement on Twitter.Minutes
later, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in veiled criticism of the
hasty reaction by the army said, "Twitter reactions were highly dangerous
for the country.""There are several issues of great importance and
it's unfortunate that they are being dealt with through tweets. State
institutions don't communicate with each other through tweets," Khan
said.PTI
'Old friend' of PM Nawaz Sharif triggers new row in Pakistan
When an "old friend" from a country meets the PM of a hostile neighbour, it is bound to raise
eyebrows.The "old friend" is none other than the man in the picture
above, Indian industrialist and chairman of the JSW Steel Sajjan Jindal, and
the PM is Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif. However, in the context of the estranged
neighbours coming to a near diplomatic face-off over Pakistan alleging a
captured former Naval officer as an "Indian spy" and sentencing him
to death, the visit has triggered a row in Pakistan.Jindal, believed to be a common friend of Indian PM Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, met the
Pakistani PM at Murree on
Wednesday.Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, who led the FO team at the Muree
meeting, did not respond to the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee
on Friday, reported the Dawn, a Pakistani daily.Jindal's visit coincided with
the Indian envoy Gautam Bambawale's appeal filed with the Pakistan foreign
office against the death sentence given to Kulbhushan Jadhav on the basis of
questionable court hearing that concluded he was an "Indian spy".
Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Sharif tried to play down Jindal's visit, amid
the controversy. ibtimes
Dawn leaks: Nawaz Sharif's top aide likely to be sacked
Tensions rise between Pakistan Govt , military
Anger after Iran soldiers killed by Baluchi fighters from Pakistan
Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Tehran to
protest against the killing of nine Iranian soldiers by Baluchi fighters attacking
from neighbouring Pakistan, Iran’s IRNA reported yesterday.The Sunni Baluchi
group called Jaish Al-Adl, or the Army of Justice, has claimed responsibility
for the attack on Wednesday in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province, where the Baluchi
Sunni Muslims have long been repressed by the Shia theocracy in Tehran on
ethnic and religious grounds.“Iran expects Pakistan to take serious and
essential measures to arrest and punish those terrorists responsible for the
killing of our nine guards,” IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram
Qasemi as saying. middleeastmonitor
Hezb-i-Islami's Hekmatyar to Taliban: Lay down arms
Laghman; Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Afghanistan's Hezb-i-Islami,
has called on the Taliban to come to the negotiating table in his first public
appearance in 20 years.At least 200 people welcomed Hekmatyar on Saturday in
Afghanistan's eastern Laghman province, where he was conducting meetings with
members of his team for the past two days."Ask the militants who are they
fighting with? The Govt ? The people - the innocent people of
Afghanistan?" Hekmatyar said at the public gathering."If you lay down
your guns and come forward, I will be the first one to call you my brother. To
the Taliban, [I say] come forward, let's talk about peace and prosperity, and
join us in this peace process in Afghanistan."Hekmatyar is expected to
make a speech in the coming days in Kabul, where many Afghans have mixed
feelings about his return.Large posters of Hekmatyar and his group members were
seen lying torn on streets."Dwelling on the past events will bring nothing
to this country. If we hold on to what he did in the past, we will never move
forward," Zakariya Safari, who was present at the gathering said."But
at the same time, we cannot be sure whether Hekmatyar's return will bring any
peace to the country because it is not as easy as it sounds."It will
require many groups and individuals who have different ideologies and beliefs
to come to one solution. It does not seem that easy to me." aljazeera
Former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar ‘wants peace’
-US marines return to Taliban stronghold of Helmand
Israel to build 25,000 new settlement units in Jerusalem
For 2 years, the Israeli Govt has
been planning to build 25,000 new settlement units in Jerusalem, an Israeli
minister with knowledge of the plans revealed on Thursday.Israeli Housing
Minister Yoav Galant told the Israeli television Channel 2 on Thursday that his
ministry had been discussing the plan with Jerusalem’s Jewish municipality for
two years.He stated that 10,000 settlement units of the 25,000 are to be built
in West Jerusalem, the part of the holy city occupied in 1948, and 15,000 were
to be built in East Jerusalem, the part of the holy city which was occupied in
1967 and which the Palestinian Authority hopes will be the capital of its
future state.Yesterday,middleeastmonitor
Palestinian 'day of rage' in support of prisoners
Ramallah, West Bank - At least 50 Palestinian protesters were injured in
clashes with Israeli forces on a "day of rage" held across the
occupied Palestinian territories to show solidarity with more than 1,500
prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons.The majority of injuries resulted
from tear gas inhalation, while some protesters were shot with live or rubber
bullets, a ministry spokesperson told Al Jazeera. Director of Ramallah Hospital
Ahmad Bitawi said more than 20 people were injured. He said most were leg injuries
and not life threatening.The "day of rage" was called for by Fatah,
the political party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the
national committee to support the prisoners' hunger strike. aljazeera
Israel raids Beit Ummar, sprays houses with sewage
Brotherhood leader Akef’s health to be assessed to allow for his release
An Egyptian court ordered that a medical committee be formed to examine
former Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mahdi Akef after he was diagnosed with
cancer while serving a life sentence in prison, the Anadolu Agency reported.The
Turkish news agency quoted a source who spoke on condition of anonymity as
saying that the Cairo Criminal Court yesterday adjourned its ruling on a number
of defendants who suffered ill health until 3 May and ordered that a medical
committee be formed to examine them as a prelude to their possible release.Akef
and other defendants, including the Brotherhood’s Deputy Supreme Guide Khairat
Al-Shater, had been sentenced to life for the role they allegedly played in
protests held on 30 June 2013 against the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo’s
Mokattam neighbourhood where demonstrators called for then President, Morsi to step down. middleeastmonitor
Turkey: Over 1,600 suspects held in nation-wide operations
A massive public security operation has seen almost 1,628 people
detained across Turkey, the police department said early Saturday.The operation
named ‘Huzur Turkiye - 5' (Peace Turkey) was conducted late Friday simultaneously
in strategic areas and public places across 81 provinces, according to Security
General Directorate.World Bulletin
Daesh attacks kill 14 Iraqi policemen in Mosul
Nineveh, Iraq; At least 14 Iraqi policemen were killed in a spate of
suicide bombings in western Mosul on Saturday, according to a local police
officer. Six Daesh bombers blew up themselves in Bab al-Toub district in
Mosul's Old City with Daesh militants seizing control of two buildings in the
area where federal police personnel were stationed, First Lieutenant Harith
Kazim told Anadolu Agency. "Fourteen police personnel were killed and 20
others injured in the attacks," he said.
Syrians recall life under siege in Al-Zabadani
Idlib; Syrians evacuated from Al-Zabadani district under a March 30
agreement between the Syrian regime and opposition groups have recounted their
suffering in the besieged area. On April 19, Some 3,700 people were evacuated
from five besieged districts -- Madaya, Al-Zabadani, Al-Jabal al-Sharqi, Ain
al-Fijah and Baqin -- northwest of Damascus. The evacuees from Al-Zabadani were
transferred to the opposition-controlled Idlib city. Anadolu agency
Myanmar: Mob forces closure of 2 Muslim schools
Yangon:Fearing violence, two Muslim religious schools in Myanmar’s
largest city were closed after an anti-Muslim mob claimed they were being
operated as mosques, a police source said Saturday.More than 100 people led by
ultra-nationalist Buddhist monks gathered Friday evening in Yangon’s Tharkayta
Township, forcing authorities to shut down two Muslim madrasahs in the area
immediately. Anadolu
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Unseeing the people: Policies of India, Pakistan on Kashmir appear to
help each other’s case while keeping Kashmiris in limbo: Salman Anees Soz
Hindutva mobs flex muscles against Muslims.Sikhs, Christians should
speak up before it’s too late: Sunny Hundal
What Indians should know about war before demanding a military crackdown
in Kashmir, Chhattisgarh; Sushil Aaron
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:58 PM)
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