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50 Dalits convert to Islam in Moradabad; blame Yogi Govt torturing them;
say over 500 persons will be converting
New Delhi: In a surprising incident, 50 Dalits from Moradabad, UP have decided to adopt Islam as their religion.
These people allege that Dalits are being “ignored” and “tortured” under Yogi Govt
rule. As per the allegations, BJP
workers “mistreated” Dalits in violence hit Saharanpur and Sambhal which
recently faced massive clashes between two groups; post which “they lost their
faith in Hinduism”. This group of 50 people has also fluxed the Hindu idols
they had in their houses in rivers. The group of people claims that they had
very high aspirations from Yogi and Modi Govt, but they have been disappointed
and have declared the Govt as ‘Anti-Dalit’. As per reports, after hearing about
this group of people; a bunch from Bajrang Dal approached them and tried to
convince them for not changing their religion, but the Dali group was not ready
to relent. According to TOI a report,
dozens of members of the Valmiki community took out a procession here on
Saturday, carrying idols of Rama, Ganesha and other Hindu gods. They took the
idols to the Ramganga and immersed them in the river in what they said was a
symbolic farewell to Hinduism. The Valmikis said that because of continuous
atrocities against Dalits in the state, in places such as Saharanpur and
elsewhere, more than 500 members of their community would be converting to
Islam. The protesters also declared that they would re-build the Babri mosque
in Ayodhya.Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj's national president Lalla Babu Dravid
said, "Incidents of attacks on Dalits have increased after Yogi Adityanath
became UP CM." ABP LIVE /TOI
Video: Disappointed with Yogi raj, Bajrang Dal’s Valmiki members break
idols, affirm to join Islam
Amid 'threat', Valmikis bid Hinduism 'farewell': TOI
Ambedkarite army enters caste wars of UP: The Quint
On 5 May, it was a Thakur rally passing through a Dalit neighbourhood in
UP’s Saharanpur that sparked off clashes between the 2 communities.Based out of
his village of Chhutmalpur in Saharanpur, 29-year-old Chandrashekhar Azad helms
a group of young Dalit volunteers. They call themselves the Bhim Army. It is an
organisation that has come to play a key role in the region’s caste conflict
since the clashes in Shabbirpur.On 9 May, when the police denied permission for
a Dalit mahapanchayat in the district, clashes erupted between the cops and
Dalit protesters in 10 different localities of Saharanpur.The protesters went
on to burn down a police chowki,numerous vehicles and a memorial for Maharana
Pratap that was being built by upper caste Thakurs. At least 11 police
personnel and a SDM were injured in stone-pelting. Despite his army of
Ambedkarites being blamed for the arson and violence on 9 May, Vinay Ratan
Singh is unapologetic and even defensive about the actions of the mob.Founded
in July 2015, the Bhim Army is yet to complete even 2 years of its existence.
But it’s already caught the eye, and ire, of many in UP.Rural Saharanpur’s new SP,
Vidya Sagar Mishra, admits that the Bhim Army is on his radar too. The
Quint
Attacks on Dalits in UP: People protest against Yogi govt
New Delhi: In probably first protest against Yogi Adityanath since he
became CM of UP in mid-March this year, people demonstrated at
the UP Bhawan here on Saturday shouting
slogans against the Yogi Govt over the
recent attacks on Dalit community in India's largest state.They were shouting
slogans against the BJP Govt of the
state over attacks on Dalits in Saharanpur district earlier this
week."Many houses and shops have been burnt down by the dominant caste in
the area. BJP Govt , UP police and administration still have not taken any
action," alleged the protesters.They demanded justice and proper
compensation for the affected people.Many students and student leaders from JNU
had joined the protest.The protesters warned that if their demands were not met
by 21st May, they will take out a march towards PMO. Gathering was addressed by
Gujarat Dalit youth icon Jignesh Mewani, JNU student leaders Mohit Panday and
Umar Khalid, social activist Nadeem Khan and DU professor Ratan
Lal.IndiaTomorrow
Over 50% Dalits landless, 40% of people displaced for ‘development’ are
Adivasis:CES annual report
New Delhi: Even as NDA Govt completes
3 years in power amid tall claims of development, the India Exclusion Report
2016 released by Centre for Equity Studies(CES) has presented a dismal picture
of the condition of historically disadvantaged groups in terms of exclusion
with respect to four public goods. The report was released on Friday in New
Delhi. This is the third edition of the annual flagship publication of CES. India
Exclusion Report reviews exclusion with respect to four public goods, one each
in the areas of the social sector; infrastructure; land- labour, natural
resources and legal justice. For 2016 Indian Exclusion Report, the topics
chosen were, pensions for the elderly, digital access, agricultural land, and
legal justice for under-trials.The report termed Dalits, Tribals, Muslims, and
Elderly and Disabled as worst hit by continuous exclusion from the 4 chosen
fundamental public services.“The headline of this and indeed every exclusion
report so far has been that the evidence is consistent that for virtually every
public good that we examine, it is always the same sets of peoples who are excluded,”
writes Harsh Mander, who has edited the report in its introduction.“These are
the historically oppressed group of women, Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, persons
with disabilities and casual informal workers and the poor. This report only
confirms these findings, and illuminates the multiple ways in which even the
democratic state in the Indian republic has failed these oppressed peoples and
not assured them equitable access to the public goods essential for them to
lead lives of dignity,” he writes.“The rate of landlessness was highest among
Dalits at 57.3%. Among Muslims, it was 52.6%, and 56.8% of women-headed
households were landless. Around 40% of all those displaced by “development
activity” were Adivasis,” reads the report.“Land reform efforts have not
benefited Dalits, women or Muslims significantly. Land allotments to SC/ST
households were often only on paper, as allottees were forcefully evicted or
not allowed to take possession,” the report further adds.According to Navaid
Hamid, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the findings of report
aren’t surprising.He said, “The Govt of
India which usually calls for sabka-saath and sabka-vikas should spell out the
reasons why there is still such exclusion of Muslim in provision of public
goods.”TwoCircles
Dalit family faces social boycott for 8 months in Karnataka village
Mysuru: The family of a man who was allegedly involved in a murder has
been facing social boycott for the last eight monthsin Hommaragalli village in
HD Kote taluk.The family of Doddaiah, an agriculture labourer, has been denied
access to water, public health services and employment. The village elders, who
are also dalits, imposed the social boycott after Doddaiah’s 2 nephews who live
next door allegedly murdered a man of the same village.The assailants
surrendered to the police soon after, but the village elders were not
satisfied. They called a meeting and imposed a fine of `5 lakh on Doddaiah’s
family to be paid to the kin of the deceased.When Doddaiah expressed his
inability to pay the huge sum, it was lowered to `3.5 lakh and declared that
until it is paid they will be socially boycotted from the village.
Dalits barred from yajna in Bhopal
Bhopal: Right under the nose of the Govt, upper caste people are
allegedly preventing over 200 Dalits from participating in a yajna at Kolukhedi
locality on the outskirts of Bhopal. The yajna started on May 12 and Dalits say
they were threatened with dire consequences if they dared visit the holy site.
A group of them who want to participate in the yajna approached the district
administration for help but in vain.'Panch Kundaliya Shri Vishnu Mahayajna' is
being held near a temple in Kolukhedi in Berasia tehsil and will end on May 16,
2017. timesofindia
RSS outfit wants Manusmriti reworked
New Delhi: RSS’s cultural affiliate Sanskar Bharti is planning to tie up
with the Union Ministry of Culture to promote activities that will “correct the
lies that people have been fed” about ancient Hindu scriptures being
“anti-Dalit and anti-woman”, starting with the Manusmriti, a senior
office-bearer of the organisation said.According to Amir Chand, joint
organisational secretary, Sanskar Bharti, the Sangh outfit believes that people
should be educated about “the acceptance that our scriptures teach” through
performing arts and awareness activities, such as seminars.“We are debating the
removal of portions from the Manusmriti, which are anti-Dalit and anti-woman
and often quoted in arguments against Hindu scriptures,” he said.“There are
some references in Manusmriti where some objectionable things have been
mentioned. It should be deleted. We do not support them. We have to see
Manusmriti in today’s context. We will suggest to the Govt that they look into this,” said Chand. When
contacted by the paper, Union Minister of Culture,Mahesh Sharma said, “We have
not received any such proposal. We will take cognizance once we get
it.”Manusmriti is a compilation of rules and regulations prepared by Manu meant
for the conduct of a varnashrama, or a social system based on caste. Scholars
date the codification by Manu to 200 CE, though claims are made for a much
earlier date.According to Chand, fresh research should be commissioned on
Manusmriti.Chand said that the scriptures never “promoted anti-Dalit or
anti-woman sentiments” and described such interpretations as “propaganda” and
the result of “ignorance”. “Many did not know that Rigveda has 47 richayen
(hymns) written by a woman. How can such vedas be anti-woman? It is ignorance
about our own scriptures that lead many to criticise them. I can understand
that Manusmriti has something wrong, but that can be removed after thorough
research into who wrote it,” said Chand. indianexpress
UP minister says Muslim exodus 'shameful' act, orders probe
Rampur: UP minorities affairs minister Baldev Singh Aulakh has sought a
detailed report from the Sambhal district administration about the exodus of
Muslim families from Nandrauli village after they were attacked and their
houses burnt down.Aulakh said that CM Yogi Adityanth has told authorities that
the exodus of any community should not take place in any part of the state.
"The culprits should be punished, because the exodus of the minority
community from the village is a shameful act. Govt will take all necessary
action after it gets the report," he added. timesofindia
Communal tension in UP village leads to minority exodus
Who decides whether to sanction prosecution of Yogi Adityanath? Why,
Yogi himself: scroll
UP govt’s decision to refuse sanction for the prosecution of CM Aditynanath and others named in a FIR for
allegedly inciting communal violence in Gorakhpur in 2007 has prompted a vital
question. Is it legitimate for the state’s Home department to deliberate on the
request of UP Police, which comes under
this very dept that is seeking sanction to prosecute the CM , who also happens
to be the home minister of UP? Parvez Parvaz, complainant in one of the FIRs
lodged after the 2007 incident, spoke to Scroll.in over phone: “That is the
most disturbing thing about the state govt’s decision, which was conveyed to
the Allahabad High Court by state Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar through an
affidavit filed on May 11.”Calling it “a subversion of constitutional scheme of
things” and a clear case of “clash of interest”, Parvez, Gorakhpur-based
journalist and activist, asked who should decide whether Adityanath should be
prosecuted. “How can Adityanath, who has kept the Home portfolio to himself,
reject or accept a request of state police seeking his ministry’s sanction to
prosecute him? Isn’t it like an accused sitting on a judge’s chair?” The
request has been pending with the Home dept since July 10, 2015, when Crime
Branch-CID, after completing its investigation of Adityanath’s alleged hate
speech on Jan.27, 2007, which resulted in riots in Gorakhpur and nearby areas,
sought the state Govt’s permission against him and four others.
Hindu man Malviya beaten up in Ujjain for allegedly hurting cows by ‘cow
vigilantes’, 2 arrested
Ujjain: A group of self-proclaimed ‘cow vigilantes’ allegedly thrashed a
man on the suspicion that he had cut the tail of a cow, with the video of the
incident going viral. 2 of the accused have been arrested, a police official
said.The incident took place on May 13, 2017, near a temple in Peeplinaka area
in Ujjain district. In a video of the incident the accused were seen beating
the man with a belt, and kicking and punching him while alleging that he had
cut the tail of a cow. However, Jiwajiganj police station in-charge OP Mishra
said the accused had a dispute with the victim over money and therefore, they
thrashed him.A case was registered based on a complaint of the victim,
identified as Apuda Malviya, he said. The accused, identified as Chetan
Sankhla, Vikas alias Bhura, Nilesh Sankhla and Shubham, have been booked under
IPC sections pertaining to voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation,
Mishra said.Police had on Sunday arrested Chetan and Vikas while the others are absconding, the
official said.Further investigation was on in the incident, he said.PTI
‘Gau Rakshaks’ brutally thrash man in Ujjain; video
http://www.india.com/news/india/gau-rakshaks-brutally-thrash-man-in-ujjain-watch-video-here-2130261/
Cow vigilantes brutally assault
man in Ujjain; 2 arrested
'Gau Rakshaks' brutally thrash man in Ujjain for allegedly hurting cows
Pehlu Khan’s case transferred from Alwar to Jaipur following family’s
request
6 cases related to the alleged cow smuggling and subsequent mob-lynching
of Pehlu Khan in April were transferred from Alwar to Jaipur on May 11, keeping
in mind the assertion made by Khan’s family that the local police is too close
to Alwar’s political leadership – considered to be patronising the cow
protection groups in the area.Against this backdrop, political and human rights
activists welcomed the Rajasthan govt’s decision to transfer the case out of
Alwar.The survivors of the deadly attack – Irshad and Arif, along with Azmat
and Rafiq – and a few prominent activists in Rajasthan met the IGO (Jaipur
range), Hemant Priyadarshi, who will now supervise all 6 FIRs related to the
case. Priyadarshi informed the family that a new investigative officer Ram
Swaroop, additional superintendent of police, Kotputli, will be the new IO
investigating the cases.“IG has assured us that the cases will be investigated
independent of the political powers who may try to influence the case,” Sumitra
Chopra of CPI (M) said.the wire
Pehlu Khan’s family meets IG, seeks immediate arrest
Gujarat: Riot over petty issue in Vasad, 17 booked
Vadodara/ Anand: 17 persons were booked for rioting by Vasad police on
Friday night. The rioting between members of Patel and Darbar community in
Vasad town of Anand district had left two persons injured.According to police,
the rioting started over a petty issue of driving a car in reverse. Groups from
the two communities first entered into heated argument in the stretch between
Parshnath complex and Sardar Patel High School.Later, members of both the
communities started pelting stones at each other which damaged glasses of three
cars parked in the area. The situation was brought under control only when
teams of Vasad and Anand police rushed to the spot and dispersed the crowd. TOI
UP: With new govt at helm, Peda riots main accused and BJP leader
shifted back to Bijnor jail from Maharajganj
Bijnor:In a relief of sorts for BJP leader and 2016 Peda riots main
accused Aishwarya Chaudhary, the UP Govt
has now decided to shift him back to a
prison in his home district here, almost 6 months after the erstwhile Samajwadi
Party(SP) regime had sent him to Maharajganj prison, almost 800 kms from
here.The order was issued by Surya Prakash Singh Saingar, joint secretary, UP
govt. A copy of the Govt order is with
TOI.Chaudhary was accused of inciting mobs in Peda village that led to the
killing of 4 persons and left at least a dozen injured in September last
year.While Chaudhary was in jail, his wife Suchi Chaudhary was given a BJP
ticket from Bijnor city, from where she won.The head of BJP-affiliated
Adhivakta Sangh, Chaudhary was initially lodged in Bijnor jail. However, on
Oct.30, 2016 UP Govt had ordered to
shift him to Maharajganj jail. He was shifted on February 8 this year. TOI
SOUTH ASIA & Kashmir
India skips China's Silk Road summit, warns of 'unsustainable'
debt:Reuters
New Delhi: India has not sent an official delegation to attend the
"Belt and Road Forum" in Beijing and instead criticised China's
global initiative, warning of an "unsustainable debt burden" for
countries involved.Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting dozens of world
leaders and senior officials on Sunday for the country's biggest diplomatic
showcase of the year, touting his vision of a new "Silk Road" that
opens trade routes across the globe.Govt officials from New Delhi did not travel,
Indian officials said, although scholars from Indian think-tanks have flown to
Beijing to attend some of the meetings at the forum.Indian foreign ministry
spokesman Gopal Baglay, asked whether New Delhi was participating in the
summit, said India could not accept a project that compromised its sovereignty.India
is incensed that one of the key Belt and Road projects passes through Kashmir
and Pakistan. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over
the disputed region."No country can accept a project that ignores its core
concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity," Baglay said.He also
warned of the danger of debt. One of the criticisms of the Silk Road plan is
that host countries may struggle to pay back loans for huge infrastructure
projects being carried out and funded by Chinese companies and
banks."Connectivity initiatives must follow principles of financial
responsibility to avoid projects that would create unsustainable debt burden
for communities," Baglay said.New Delhi's criticism of the Belt and Road initiative
came as Xi pledged $124 billion to the plan, and called for the abandonment of
old models based on rivalry and diplomatic power games.Leaders from 29
countries and ministerial delegates from many more are attending the forum in
Beijing, including India's smaller neighbours - not just Pakistan, but also Sri
Lanka and Nepal. As well as the corridor through Pakistan, India is worried
more broadly about China's economic and diplomatic expansion through Asia, and
in particular across countries and waterways that it considers to be its sphere
of influence.
India boycotts China’s B&R meet, mounts diplomatic pressure against
CPEC
India's absence from Belt and Road forum is likely to displease China
Chinese Prez pledges billions for new Silk Road, snubs India
Beijing:Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday pledged $14.5 billion to
the Silk Road Fund as he described his signature foreign policy push as
inclusive, one that should not be held hostage to old rivalries and power
games.China is hosting at least 29 heads of state, including Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Pakistan PM Nawaz,
Sharif, for a two-day “Belt and Road” conference which India has chosen to give
a miss.“We should build an open platform of cooperation and uphold and grow an
open world economy,” Xi said in his inaugural address to the Belt and Road
Forum (BRF) as he also highlighted the importance of China-Pak Economic
Corridor (CPEC), reason New Delhi has stayed away from Beijing’s most important
diplomatic event of the year.Chinese President, who is positioning himself as a
global leader and chief advocate for free trade, seemed to have snubbed India
when he said the belt and road initiative respected “territorial integrity”.“All
countries should respect each other’s sovereignty, dignity and territorial
integrity, each other’s development paths and social systems, and each other’s
core interests and major concerns,” Xi told the gathering at the sprawling
China Convention Centre.A part of the One Belt, One Road plan, or Belt Road
Initiative (BRI), that aims to build a new Silk Route, CPEC is a cluster of
road, rail and energy projects that will connect Pakistan’s southern Gwadar
port on the Arabian Sea and Kashgar in China’s western Xinjiang region.India
has reservation about the project as it passes through PoK, which New Delhi
says challenges its sovereignty by lending legitimacy to Pakistan’s claim over
the territory. hindustantimes
Behind China’s $1 trillion plan to shake up the economic order: New York
Times
Sharif, Modi may meet, back channel links on
Islamabad: PM s Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan and Narendra Modi of India
might meet in Kazakhstan, a top Pakistani official has said, amid reports of
back channel contacts.Sartaj Azia, advisor to Sharif, said that a meeting
between the two leaders cannot be ruled out on the sidelines of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit next month in Kazakhstan. But it was too
early to speak about such a meeting, the Nation newspaper quoted him as saying
on Wednesday. “Pakistan could consider the meeting if interest was shown from
the other side”.Aziz said SCO Summit was important as Pakistan would become a
permanent member of the organisation.The report said there was widespread
speculation about a possible Sharif-Modi meeting after the Pakistani PM recently met Indian business tycoon Sajjan
Jindal, who “reportedly conveyed a message of the Indian premier to the
Pakistani leader”.IANS
Pak says ‘misadventure’ by India at LoC could lead to ‘unintended
consequences’
Islamabad:Pakistan said any “misadventure” by the India Army at the
LoCcould lead to “unintended consequences” as the two neighbours accused each
other of violating a fragile ceasefire along the LoC in J&K .While New Delhi
said two civilians – a father and daughter – were killed in Rajouri district in
Jammu by mortars fire by Pakistan, Islamabad said “3 to 8” people were killed
on its territory in shelling by Indian troops. Pakistan also summoned India’s
deputy high commissioner JP Singh to protest the firing by Indian forces along
the LoC, the foreign office said in a statement.“(The) Indian army has been
targeting innocent civilians on both sides of line of Control in recent past.
Any misadventure by Indian Army across Line of Control will be a
miscalculation, shall be responded with full force and could lead to unintended
consequences,” the Pakistani army’s media arm said in a statement.Local media
reported that as many as 8 people, including five women, were injured in Azad J&K
in Indian shelling. hindustantimes
Pakistan tells UN that India is 'converting Kashmir's Muslim majority to
minority'
New Delhi: Pakistan yesterday wrote to the UN again, this time claiming
that India is attempting to "change Kashmir's demographic", Pakistani
media reported.India's efforts, Pakistan's letter alleged, are "to convert
the Muslim majority" in Kashmir "into a minority, to pre-empt the
results of a UN-administered plebiscite", according to The Express Tribune
which quoted a Govt statement from
yesterday. Pakistan writes to the UN often, urging it to interfere in
Kashmir.This letter also alleged that in Kashmir, India has issued permanent
residence certificates to non-residents, alloted land to retired Indian army
personnel and non-Kashmiris and established separate townships for Kashmiri
pundits and "West Pakistan refugees", reported the Tribune. The
letter was written by Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's foreign affairs adviser. The
letter was delivered to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs in
New York by Pakistan's ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, GeoTv reported.Aziz
also told the UN in his letter that the "non-implementation of the UN
Security Council resolutions is leading to a grave human tragedy in the
Valley", Pakistani media reported."It is only by the implementation
of the UN Security Council resolutions that we will be able to end the immense
sufferings of millions of Kashmiris in J&K and bring peace and stability to South
Asia," the letter added. timesofindia
Voters of Kashmir: Gujjars come out to vote disregarding separatist call: indian express
When the Srinagar parliamentary constituency registered 7.1% polling, a
new low, its Kangan Assembly segment saw the highest voting. Most of that was
driven by its Gujjars. Like they do every time Kashmir goes to polls, the
Gujjars came out in droves to vote, again disregarding the separatist call.That
has earned them the tag of “gaddars (traitors)”. However, as the Gujjars of
Kangan explain, casting a vote for them is like a nazrana (offering) to their
peer. Their loyalty is not to a political party but their “spiritual leader”,
Mian Altaf, who is the sitting National Conference MLA from Kangan. Altaf holds
the title that is held by his family.Unlike the Bakarwals, J&K’s other
nomadic tribe, most of the Gujjars now live a settled life, including the ones
in Kangan.“For us, casting a vote for the Mian is a kind of obligation,” says
Ghulam Nabi Bejard, 76, who was among the first Gujjars to do his matriculation
in Kangan. “It has never been a question of development for us either.”However,
Bejard also admits that it may not remain the case for long. In 2014 Assembly polls,
less than 1,400 votes separated Altaf and his non-Gujjar rival, fielded by the
PDP. Farooq Ahmad Bejard, 31, a teacher at Chariwani govt school, says it is
mostly the old Gujjars who now vote. “The youth remain away. We can’t remain
secluded to what is happening in Kashmir. We have friends there.” The memory of
last year’s incident in Saroore near Bari Brahmana, in Jammu region, where
Gujjars were attacked by alleged Sangh activists also remains fresh. Reasi
attack on a nomadic family by “cow vigilantes” is confirming some of those
fears. Almost one in 2 Gujjars in Kangan has relatives in areas of Jammu. They
say every time they receive calls for them, they find “there is a sense of
apprehension”among them.Adds Mohammad Yaqoob of Wangat village, “We are being
treated like a football. Here in Kashmir, we are Hindustanis, in Jammu, we are
Pakistanis, and for Delhi, we are Kashmiris. They are forgetting that we are
jungle people, who only want to live in peace.”
Ex-army man's wife sends 56-inch blouse to Modi
A former soldier's wife, shaken by recent attacks on Indian troops by
Pakistan, has sent a 56-inch blouse to PM Narendra Modi in an apparent reference to
claims that he had a 56-inch chest, largely seen as a symbol of courage.In a
letter to PM ,Suman Singh, wife of ex-armyman Dharamvir Singh, reminded Modi
that the BJP had before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls claimed if it came to power,
Pakistan would not "dare" attack Indian soldiers."But the
situation is even worse now," she wrote.Her husband told reporters here
that the letter addressed to the PM , along with the blouse, had been submitted
to Zila Sainik Board in Fatehabad.Dharamvir said he had served in the Army from
Dec. 1991 to 2007 and retired as a havaldar. Being an ex-army man's wife, he
said, Suman had expressed anguish at the recent spate of killings."She
told me that women send their sons, brothers, husbands to the border to defend
their motherland and not to get beheaded and get pelted with stones. Where has
the 56-inch chest gone now, she asked," the Fatehabad resident said.PTI
No extradition request with Ministry of External Affairs for Dawood,
Hafiz Saeed, reveals RTI
New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs has said that it has not
received any request so far to extradite Hafiz Saeed and 1993 Mumbai bombings
accused Dawood Ibrahim from the agencies probing them. Ministry was responding
to an RTI query seeking to know the action taken by the Govt to bring back
fugitive gangster Ibrahim and Saeed.PTI
Muslim Personal Law
Separation more common than divorce in all religions, Census data
reveals: TOI
While there is no denying that the regressive practice of triple talaq+
needs to end, just how prevalent is it in the Muslim community and how are
divorce and separation handled in other religious communities? The share of
divorced women is indeed high among Muslims — 5 for every 1,000 ever married
women, according to Census 2011.This is twice the rate among Hindus, but almost
the same as Christians and less than that among Buddhists.But a different
picture emerges when one looks at separation, another common way in which legally
married couples split up. This may or may not be followed by divorce. In our
male-dominated society, it often means abandonment by the husband.The share of
separated women among Muslims is 6.7 per 1,000 ever married women. This is less
than the rate among Hindu women (6.9) and almost half the rate for Christian
and Buddhist women. Combined, separated and divorced women make up 9.1 of every
1,000 ever married women among Hindus and 11.7 among Muslims.This gap has
shrunk as it appears that among Hindus, separation is more easily embraced and
socially acceptable than a complicated legal battle. For those concerned about
injustice to women, this too needs to be considered.Among Christians and
Buddhists, the combined rate of separation and divorce is 16.6 and 17.6 —
almost 50% more than Hindus and Muslims. Among the 6 major religious
communities in India, Jain and Sikh women have the lowest separation or divorce
rates at 6.3 per 1,000 ever married women.This could be because of higher
educational levels and better income among families of these two communities,
or it could be the result of more social control.Comparing 2011 with 2001 shows
that in Buddhist communities, the increase in share of separated and divorced
women is the least at 34%, followed closely by Muslims with 39% and then Hindus
at 40%.The most dramatic rise is shown in the Sikh community (108%), possibly
due to breakdown or abandonment after marriages with partners settled abroad.
TOI
Male Muslims cannot universally dissolve marriage: Najma
Manipur: Hailing Supreme Court’s decision of examining whether the
practice of triple talaq is ‘is fundamental to religion’ and whether ‘it falls
in the category of enforceable fundamental rights, Manipur Governor, Najma
Heptullah on Saturday dubbed it a right move. Heptullah told ANI, “I am pretty
delighted that the Supreme Court has ultimately taken this decision and has
made a right move. Marriages amongst Muslims is a contract which entails the
names of the bride and the groom along with their parents. There is a statement
as well which says the person has been accepted ‘qabool’ as their lawfully
wedded partner in the presence of three witnesses. Nowhere is it penned that
the groom can unilaterally dissolve a marriage.”“I assume there should be a
provision where both men and women should have the liberty to seek divorce on
rational premises. In our country, Parliament makes laws, but who decides their
implementation? NGO’s can engender the pressure on the system to comply with
the laws but, cannot grant the punishment if laws are abrogated,”she added.ANI
Sufis join the chorus against triple talaq in single sitting
Lucknow: Triple talaq in one sitting is not just un-Islamic but also
un-Quranic and the unlawful practice of 'Halala' is nothing but forced
punishment on women, said Sufi cleric Maulana Syed Hasnain Baqai in the city on
Saturday.Successor of the Khanqah Baqaiyah Safipur Sharif in Unnao district,
the Sufi cleric blamed the AIMPLB for creating uncalled for controversy around
the issue while the Quran has laid out clear ways of pronouncing divorce spread
out in 3 months. timesofindia
Islamic scholars: Triple talaq an unfortunate act:TOI
New Delhi: As the debate over triple talaq takes centrestage with the
Supreme Court taking up the matter, delving into past records of the comments
of eminent Islamic scholars reveals that they had all weighed in with their
criticism of the controversial practice. From recommending the ideal
circumstances of divorce to clarifying the sharia stand on the subject, the
experts were united in condemning its misuse. Terming triple talaq a sin,
Maulana Abul Ala Maududi, founder of Jamaat-e-Islami had said, "If people
knew that triple divorce is superfluous and even a single talaq would dissolve
the marriage, of course, leaving room for revocation during the next 3 months
and remarriage thereafter, innumerable families could have been saved from
disruption."Renowned graduate from Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Ashraf Ali
Thanvi had recommended the Quranic method of talaq. "A man pronounces a
revocable talaq. He reconciles and resumes cohabitation. A few years later
under some provocation he pronounces a revocable talaq again.On recovering from
provocation he resumes cohabit-ation again. Now two talaqs are over. Thereafter
whenever he pronounces a talaq it will be counted as the third talaq which will
dissolve the marriage forthwith," he said. Describing instant triple talaq
as accidental, ex- president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana
Mujahidul Islam Qasmi, said it was an unfortunate act that should not happen.
"If one talaq is given out of three, both parties will have time to
reconsider. The meaning of triple talaq is that it is final talaq. Its misuse
has destroyed many homes. Poor and weak women suffer the most," he said.
OTHERS
Ex-Gujarat Univ prof says papers 'cleared' by Modi were not on
curriculum
A fresh controversy seems to be brewing over PM Narendra Modi's MA degree
from the Gujarat university.An Ex- professor of the university has said that
the subjects Modi is said to have taken for the course were not offered in the
curriculum at the time. Professor Jayanibhai Patel in a Facebook post has
quoting a media statement by the university VC, pointing out some glaring
inaccurcies.The Facebook post reads: "The breakup of marks in second year
MA shows that Modi obtained 64 marks in political science, 62 marks in European
and social political thoughts, 69 marks in modern India/political analysis, and
67 marks in political psychology," he said."However, there seems
something wrong with the names of the papers, to my knowledge, there were no
such papers offered in part-2 to internal or external students. I was on
faculty of department of Political Science and used to teach there, during 1969
- 1993 June." Professor also recalls that Modi was irregular in the
classes for MA Part 1 course, and was therefore advised to appear for the exams
as an external student.The Gujarat University however has rubbished professor
Patel's claims. Media reports quote university registrar Dr Mahesh Patel as
saying "The mark-sheet which is being shown was prepared 30 years ago. The
subjects mentioned in that are those which were offered at that time."
Professor Patel has stood by his Facebook post, and said that he has nothing
more to add.TOI
Foreign secy Jaishankar to visit Tel Aviv next week ahead of PM Modi’s
Israel trip
New Delhi:Foreign secretary S Jaishankar is embarking on a two-day trip
to Tel Aviv next Thursday to finalise the July visit of PM Narendra Modi that will bring the 25-year
relationship totally above board with a focus on agriculture, desalination of
sea water for drinking purposes and sanitation.Jaishankar is expected in Israel
on May 18-19 for meetings with his counterpart Yuval Rotem and PM Benyamin Netanyahu. The Foreign secretary and
his Israeli counterparts will discuss the agreement expected to be signed
during Modi’s visit.HT
Lucknow court begins scanning of Babri demolition files
Lucknow : Lucknow sessions court office has begun scanning files
received from the Rae Bareli court in connection with the Babri Masjid
demolition case after the Supreme Court ordered the case transfer last
month.Earlier, the Lucknow court was hearing a case against kar sevaks for the
demolition. A separate case, for allegedly instigating the mob, was filed
against senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Uma Bharti, LK Advani and
Murli Manohar Joshi, in the Rae Bareli court.The Supreme Court, on April 19,
ordered that the case be transferred and heard on a day-to-day basis in Lucknow
and a verdict be delivered within 2 years. indianexpress
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by next year: Swamy
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Sunday claimed that the Ram
temple will be constructed at Ayodhya by next year.Speaking at Narad Samman
Samaroh organized by the Vishwa Samwad Kendra – an affiliate of BJP’s
ideological mentor RSS, Swami hoped that ongoing hearing in the Ram
temple–Babri Masjid case in the Supreme Court should be over by November this
year paving way for the constructing of Ram temple.“I hope by next year Ram
Mandir will be constructed at Ayodhya” he said in the presence of Uttarakhand CM
Trivendra Singh Rawat.In March this
year, Swamy had said that the temple would be constructed by 2024 .The fiery
BJP leader while addressing small gathering of RSS cadre and journalists raised
the issue of uniform civil code which the Central Govt wants implement in the country.HT
Indira most acceptable ruler, PM, of a democratic country even today, says
President Mukherjee: indianexpress
New Delhi:Indira Gandhi is the “most acceptable ruler, PM , of a
democratic country even today,”President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday,
hailing Indira as “one of the most remarkable personalities of the 20th
century”. The former PM had raised her voice “against communal and sectarian
forces”, and courage, conviction and fearlessness were hallmarks of her
functioning, both nationally and internationally, he said.
To control Siddiqui damage, BSP gets new Muslim faces
Lucknow : With the exit of Naseemuddin Siddiqui from BSP, the party has
started inducting new leaders from the Muslim community. Ex-BSP minister and
Congress leader Anees Ahmed Khan, alias Phool Babu, told mediapersons in
Lucknow on Saturday that he has rejoined the party and will work towards bring
Muslims into the party fold. “Naseemuddin did not let any Muslim leader grow in
the BSP. He got me sacked twice. It was my demand that he should be removed
from the party. Now that he has been removed, I have rejoined the party. This
should have happened a long time ago,” he said. Before Siddiqui was expelled,
ex-Union minister and SP leader Rasheed Masood had joined BSP on May 4. On
Saturday, party chief Mayawati announced names of 3 leaders, including two
Muslims, as BSP’s official media panelists — the first such move by BSP, which
has never had an official spokesperson. Mayawati said that MH Khan, Faizan and
Ummed Singh will put forth their views on behalf of the BSP in media
discussions on all matters. Notwithstanding these moves, Siddiqui’s expulsion
and his decision to take on Mayawati head-on is likely to hit BSP’s attempts to
woo the minority community, which constitutes more than 18% of the state’s
population. It could play a significant role in the outcome of upcoming urban
local bodies’ elections, which BSP will contest on its symbol for the first
time. Dozens of Muslim leaders, including candidates of UP polls and
functionaries of the party’s Muslim brotherhood committees, have shown
solidarity with Siddiqui, who had been BSP’s most prominent Muslim face for
over 2 decades. He was the only Muslim among BSP’s national office-bearers.
Afzal Ansari, ex-MP and brother of BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, said Siddiqui was “a
big leader” in BSP “but his exit will not affect party’s Muslim outreach…He
never raised any issues affecting Muslims….actually worked like a barrier in
the party; he was scared someone else will take his position.” indianexpress
After expelling BSP’s Muslim face, does Mayawati now plan to woo UP’s
Brahmins?
Mosque board sacks Kolkata’s Imam Barkati
Kolkata: Days after his controversial comments regarding the use of red
beacon on his vehicle, the influential cleric of Kolkata, Moulana Syed Noorur
Rahman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Mosque here was removed from
his post by the Mmosques’s Board of Trustees.Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday,
the head of the Board, Shahezada Anwar Ali Shah said Barkati was removed “from
the post of the Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque for his anti-national comments.”
Barkati could not be reached for his response.The development comes on a day
when Barkati was asked to remove the red beacon from his vehicle by the civil
administration. However, he claimed that he has done so “voluntarily”.Observers
termed Barkati’s removal “a kind of a coup” by State administration to oust the
most powerful cleric of the city, who was often seen in public with the CM .
the hindu
Rohtak gang rape: Woman’s skull shattered, sharp objects inserted into
private parts
Rohtak: More gory details in the gang rape and murder of a Dalit woman
from Sonipat emerged on Sunday, even as her family alleged that their plea
seeking help from the police prior to the killing went unheeded.A 20-year-old
woman was allegedly gang raped and killed in Haryana’s Rohtak by her jilted
lover and his friend, who smashed her face with a brick and crushed the body
under the wheels of their car to conceal her identity.An autopsy of the victim
showed the bones of the woman’s skull were shattered into pieces and “some
sharp-edged objects may have been inserted in her private parts”.“The findings
suggest that it was a brutal rape and murder,” said Dr SK Dhatterwal, head of
the department of forensic medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical
Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak, who conducted the post-mortem examination.Two
people, including the main accused Sumit, who is a Dalit, have been arrested by
the Haryana police which has formed a SIT to probe the case.The police have
arrested 24-year-old Sumit and 28-year- old Vikas on the charges of rape,
murder and abduction.PTI
Inflated girl child numbers behind Haryana’s ‘remarkable’ improvement in
sex ratio, finds audit: The Wire
A Beti Bachao Beti Padhao audit has discovered the truth behind how
Haryana achieved a massive improvement in its notoriously low sex
ratio.Notorious for having the worst sex ratio in India, Haryana recently
reported that it had made massive improvements, raising the number of girls in
the state by leaps and bounds. In 2011, according to the nationwide census,
India’s sex ratio stood at 919 girls for every 1000 boys. For Haryana, this
number was 834, according to a TOI report. Surprisingly, it reached 900 at the
end of 2016, galloped its way to 935 in the first quarter of 2017, and by March
2017, this number had touched 950, according to several media reports, including
NDTV. Celebratory news? Everyone thought so, until the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
campaign became suspicious of these numbers and decided to do an audit, TOI
reported.The investigating campaign team found that there had been widespread
and systematic inflation to achieve these ‘remarkable’ numbers, Outlook
reported. TOI reports that out of ten states, eight are guilty of misreporting
or, in some way, fudging the numbers. The probe, which began in April, found
that Panipat, which in March seemed to have reached a sex ratio of 1007:1000,
had overshot the reality by 135, bringing the actual number to 872. Narnaul,
which reported the birth of 968 girls, was revealed as having only 841.
Similarly, the district of Jhajjar (949) is now down to 845, Sonipat (948) came
down to 870, Kaithal (939) is now 890 and Faridabad (926) was lowered to 872,
according to the Times of India report.The audit found that in some cases,
these numbers were inflated, while in others, the staff were ordered to
register the birth of girls on a priority basis and leave the boys for the next
quarter, creating a manipulated outcome. “On priority, staff registered all
girls born, which delayed the registration of boys. This reflected in the sex
ratio and it appeared there has been a tremendous improvement. But it would
have eventually been corrected because the boys too are being registered,
although a little late,” an unnamed official told TOI. Other inflations may be
owing to clerical errors, as Hisar showed – its reported a ratio of 933 which
has been corrected to 932. State coordinator of the campaign has claimed that
they will ensure infallible recording by the end of the year and has also said
that the annual data has indeed been showing marked improvements.
In meeting with PM, Badruddin Ajmal raises citizenship issues of Assam
residents
New Delhi: In a recent meeting with PM Narendra Modi, Member of
Parliament from Assam and national president of AIUDF, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal
has raised 3 major issues of citizenship of Assamese Muslims."We told him
(Modi) that names of 48 lakh women have been removed from the voter list. This
should not be done. Their names should be reinstated in the NRC (National
Register of Citizens). We urged the PM to order an enquiry into it,"
Ajmal, 2-time Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri," told India Tomorrow outside
PMO.He was part of a high-level delegation of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind that met PM
Modi here on Tuesday. "Another issue that I raised was about list of
D-voters. The D-voter list has been
prepared in an improper way. Hindu computer operators wrote Muslim names
wrongly, and now those names do not match with documents due to incorrect
spelling. And thus people were declared as Bangladeshi. This is injustice, and
it should be probed and list should be rechecked," said he."Besides,
girls have been kept with criminals in jails, rather than in detention camps.
Action should also be taken in this regard."He said that PM has assured
him of action into all issues."PM has noted everything and assured us to
look into all 3 major issues," said Ajmal, whose AIUDF has 13 MLAs in Assa.IndiaTomorrow
Tales of horror from Minors’ observation home in Pune:
‘Officials ignored sexual assault complaints, forced boys to clean toilets,
watch porn’
Pune: Minor residents of an observation home in the Pune city were
forced to watch blue films in “E-learning” hall by officials and staffers of
the home, according to a complaint registered with the Pune city police. The
complaint also lists other horrific details: it says the authorities not only
ignored complaints of sexual assault made by some of the minor boys, against
other boys living at the same observation home, they encouraged the latter to continue
to assault the victims.As per the complaint, observation home authorities also
forced the minor boys to clean the toilets and drainage lines.Vilas Pandare
(42), secretary and manager of an orphanage, lodged a FIR at the Ghodegaon
police station in Pune rural on May 11. indianexpress
WORLD
Head of Algeria’s Islamic party threatens to resign
The head of Algeria’s largest Islamic party has threatened to resign if
his movement decided to join the new Govt .“I will quit my post if the [party]
voted in favour of joining the Govt ,” Abdul-Razzaq al-Maqri, the head of the
Movement of Society for Peace, told Anadolu Agency on Sunday. Last week, the
movement said it has received an offer from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to
join the new Govt .Maqri said the Shura Council, the party’s decision-making
body, will take a final decision on the offer during its coming meeting, which
is expected to be held on Friday.The movement came third in the May 4
parliamentary elections with 33 seats.Bouteflika’s ruling National Liberation
Front (FLN) clinched 164 out of 462 seats in the assembly, while the National
Democratic Rally – a coalition partner of the FLN – came in second with 97
seats.
Founder of Islamic movement Sk Darwish
in Israel dies
Arab-Israeli religious leaders have paid tribute to the founder of the
influential Islamic Movement in Israel, who died Sunday morning at the age of
68.The organisation said, in a statement, that Sheikh Abdullah Nimar Darwish
was being mourned “by the entire Palestinian people and our Arab and Islamic
nation” and would be buried Sunday in the northern town of Kufr Qasem.Darwish
founded the organisation in 1971 with the intention of reviving Islamic
sentiment among Arab citizens of Israel with a focus on providing social
services, in line with the founding principles of the Egyptian Muslim
Brotherhood.
Israel arrests prominent Palestinian writer , 13 others
Israeli forces have carried out raids on homes across the occupied West
Bank and detained at least 14 Palestinians on Sunday, among them a prominent
intellectual and former political prisoner.Suha Barghouti, the wife of Ahmad
Qatamesh, said "a large force" of Israeli soldiers arrived at their
home in the West Bank city of al-Bireh at 4:30 am local time and detained her
husband."Until now, we don't know what is going on or where he is,"
she told Al Jazeera by telephone on Sunday morning, explaining that Israeli
soldiers also searched her brother-in-law's nearby home. aljazeera
Islami Bank Bangladesh transfers executive in a move to curb Jamaat
Islami's control
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has removed the head of its human
resource division amid a tug-of-war between the 'old guard' belonging to
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and newly-appointed executives over control of the
largest bank of the country. The removed executive, Md Mahboob Alam, is also an
executive vice president of the bank.The bank's board of directors took the
decision to remove him from the division on Saturday.The heads of public
relations division and corporate social responsibility division will also be
removed as per the board's decision, 2 of the directors confirmed bdnews24.com.
They said Mahboob was given charge of another department and the same would
happen to the two others.The new leadership of the bank are fighting for
control of the bank with Jamaat supporters after taking charge five months
ago.In Saturday's meeting, the board also decided to give Tk 4.5 billion Zakat
money to the PM's Zakat fund, instead of distributing the money directly
itself.It will distribute Tk 130 million of Iftar fund among the people through
the social welfare ministry.Islami Bank, accused of having links with Jamaat
leaders, went through a major shake-up in its top brass in Jan. Former
secretary Arastoo Khan was made the chairman of the bank, while Parvez was
reassigned as its vice-chairman after the bank ousted the old guard and recast
the board of governors.bdnews24.com
Woman kicked out of bank in US for wearing hijab
New York: A Muslim-American woman was allegedly kicked out of a bank in
the US for ‘wearing a hijab’ — with staff threatening to call police if she did
not ‘remove her hood’. Jamela Mohamed had gone into a branch of Sound Credit
Union in Washington state on Friday to make a car payment. Jamela, an American
and a member of the credit union, recorded part of the incident on her mobile
phone, claiming it shows blatant ‘discrimination’She said she had been wearing
a sweater and had the hood up because it was a Friday, which is when Muslims
offer weekly prayers in the afternoon. The teller asked Jamela, to take off her
hood.PTI
Rebels to leave Qaboun as army advances in Damascus
Syrian Govt forces and armed opposition groups have reached an agreement
to evacuate rebel fighters and residents from the Qaboun neighbourhood of
Damascus, as the Syrian army and its allies continue to advance in areas in and
around the capital. The evacuation, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday,
will see rebels and civilians move to Idlib, an opposition stronghold in
northwestern Syria. Syria's state news agency, Sana, reported on Saturday that
the deal had been reached after rebels surrendered following intense clashes in
Qaboun. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated that Govt forces have
taken back most of the neighbourhood, leaving around 20 % still under the
control of rebel groups Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam and Rahman Corps. Aljazeera
cyber-attacks hit 200000 victims in 150 countries:aljazeera
Friday's wave of cyber-attacks has hit 200,000 targets in at least 150
countries, head of the EU's police agency said, adding he feared that number
would grow when many people return to work on Monday.Europol Director Rob
Wainwright told ITV's Peston on Sunday programme that the attack was
indiscriminate. Rob called the fast-spreading hack "unique" because
the ransomware was being used in combination with a worm, meaning that the
infection of one computer could automatically spread it through an entire
network.
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Ambedkarite 2.0: Saharanpur's Bhim Army signals the rise of a new,
aggressive Dalit politics: Shoaib Daniyal
How Kejriwal averted a midnight coup within AAP:TheWire
Who’s behind the fake news site Hindutva.info? What is the secret of its
popularity? Pratik Sinha, altnews.in
Fifth Column: A media lynching: Arnab Goswami is breaking a journalistic
rule that is definitely etched in stone: Tavleen Singh
Irfan Habib on majority communalism: Ajaz Ashraf
Why are only Opp parties being torn apart by the media while BJP’s scams
are ignored? CHARU KARTIKEYA
Schedule Tribe across Tamil Nadu except for one district: The curious
case of Erode Malayalis: Amit Kumar, TCN
Acquitted in Mumbai blasts case, Abdul Wahid Sheikh pens book on 9 years
in prison
Left behind, but not left out: How women in Birbhum took to handlooms to
earn a living and become independent
Beef, triple talaq, Article 370,Ram temple are issues raised by parties,
they can’t be govt policy: Ram Vilas Paswan
France’s Macron dumps parliamentary candidate after Israel lobby
pressure: electronicintifada
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:08 PM)
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