Evening NEWS
DIGEST
INDIA
UP: After Dalits, now Thakurs threaten to convert to Islam
Aligarh:Retaliating to the threat of religious conversions by Dalits of
a village in Aligarh, local Thakurs have threatened to embrace Islam if their
issues are not resolved. They have accused Dalits of giving a casteist colour
to "minor disputes" and victimising Thakurs in the process. On
Sunday, some 2,000-odd Dalits from Keshopur Jhopri village, while accusing
upper caste Thakurs of persecuting them, had immersed posters of Hindu gods in
a rivulet, symbolising their resolve to bid farewell to Hinduism. However,
their gesture has not gone down well with Thakurs, who have now threatened to
convert to Islam unless their issues with the Dalits are sorted out. Lakhan
Singh, a Thakur leader from the village, said Dalits were unnecessarily giving
a casteist angle to minor disputes and even the police and the administration
were supporting them. Countering the claims made by Dalits, Singh said,
"On the contrary, people from our community were beaten up and even our
women are not safe here."A dispute over laying of a drain pipeline from
Thakur households had triggered the clash on May 16. Dalits had allegedly
pulled out the pipes claiming that they drained out near the site where they
proposed to build a temple dedicated to Bhairav Baba. FIRs were lodged by both
sides and 11 people belonging to both communities were arrested. Lakhan Singh,
who teaches at a self-financed degree college, claimed that police have booked
6 Thakurs under section 307 of the IPC and provisions of the SC/ST Act on a
complaint by Dalits and this was not acceptable. He denied that the drains had
been dug up to thwart Dalits from building the temple on the site of a dried
well."Dalits are only staging a drama. If changing their religion can
resolve the issue, then we are also ready to do it," said Singh, adding
that those who were arrested were respectable people with a clean
record.Another Thakur, Prince Chauhan, said, "We belong to educated
families and are not goons. Dalits are taking advantage of the law to get the
upper hand over us."TOI
Dalits ‘threaten’ to convert to Islam over construction of drain in
Aligarh village
Dalits In UP Village Threaten To Convert To Islam After Being Allegedly
Targeted By Police
Saharanpur sample of BJP caste politics as Thakurs emboldened by UP CM
from community take on Dalits
Saharanpur:Saharanpur caste clashes, which are being seen as the Yogi
Adityanath Govt 's first major law and order challenge, had political
undercurrents, claim leaders of the Dalit and Thakur communities that were
locked in a bloody conflict which also sucked Muslims into it. Spiral of
violence started from Shabbirpur village, home to around 600 Dalits and over
900 Thakurs.Dalit victims of the clashes say upper caste Thakurs prevented them
from installing a statue of BR Ambedkar on the premises of Ravidas temple in
the village. Jatav Dalits in the village say Thakurs bottled their feelings up
till "Behenji (Mayawati) was in power, but things have changed
now"."With Yogi Adityanath, a Thakur, at the helm of the govt,
members of his community are asserting their authority."During BSP rule,
they used to say 'do not even touch Dalits. They are high-voltage power lines'.
Now, they have unleashed carnage. This Govt is barely two months old, five years is a long
time," says 62-year-old Dal Singh, who is nursing his injuries at the
district hospital in Saharanpur.Shyam Singh (55), whose house was torched in
the clashes, alleges, "BJP is trying to consolidate its Thakur vote bank
through violence as the local bodies polls are close.""BJP tried to
pit Dalits against Muslims in Sadak Dudhli village, where clashes had erupted
in April during a rally organised to mark Ambedkar Jayanti. They are eyeing
Dalit votes," alleges Swapnil Bhaskar, another victim of the clashes.
Rajya Sabha MP PL Punia, who recently visited Saharanpur to meet those injured
in the clashes, says, "There is an Ambedkar statue at the residence of the
village head. But the other group made a big deal about installing a bust on
the temple's premises.""Kshatriyas inflicted atrocities on Dalits and
the administration was complicit in the deed. BJP leaders enacted a drama of
leading an Ambedkar rally in Sadak Dudhli. The party is openly supporting
Thakurs," Punia claims.BJP activists, led by local MP Raghav Lakhanpal
Sharma, had on April 20 taken out a march in Sadak Dudhli without the
administration's approval to mark Ambedkar Jayanti, which Dalits celebrated on
April 14. Its participants clashed with the Muslim residents.Jignesh Mewani,
the face of last year's Dalit agitation in Gujarat, says, "Fascist forces
have broken loose ever since Yogi Adityanath became the UP CM . They feel encouraged. Earlier, there were
no rallies on the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap. This time, they broke
with tradition.""Dalits in the village alerted the police when the
situation took a turn for the worse. According to the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the administration is required
to take preemptive measures in such a case, but it did absolutely nothing. It
shows someone else was pulling the strings,"Mewani, who is a lawyer,
alleges."A pregnant woman was attacked with a sword and an attempt was made
to immolate a child. What happened to the policy of 'sabka sath sabka
vikas'?" he asks.PTI
Bhim Army’s efforts to woo Dalits put on test, BJP alleges its rivals
were behind Dalit rally: indianexpress
New Delhi:Bhim Army’s huge rally in the national capital having served
as a show of strength, BJP leaders have acknowledged it as a challenge to its
own efforts to consolidate support among Dalits but stressed that the party
will handle the situation “ideologically.”BJP leaders feel that the Bhim Army
is trying to take up the space seen as being ceded by a weakening BSP.“Bhim
Army is a socially regressive organisation; it asks people who failed class X
to join them. Besides, their protests are sponsored by outsiders,” said Bizay
Sonkar Shastri, ex-MP and BJP leader from UP.He claimed Christian missionaries
have been “eyeing” the community that forms the core support of Bhim Army for last
175 years. “Several books, including GW Briggs’s The Chamars, give evidence that
Christian missionaries had urged Jatavs to join them as they were ignored by
Hindus.Many leaders have used the same tactics to keep the community with them.
Now Bhim Army too is being sponsored by outsiders,”Shastri said. Thousand
attended Sunday’s rally where Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar and other
leaders highlighted attacks by Thakurs on Dalits in Saharanpur. BJP sources
conceded that they were concerned following the success of the rally. “Nowadays,
one cannot write off such a development as isolated, so the party is watching
closely. Public rallies and outbursts against the BJP and its ideology could
inspire or influence other groups too,” agreed a party leader. “This is also
like agitation that happened in Gujarat [against cow vigilantes] and
Maharashtra [a silent protest by Marathas against reservation].” Recent
uprisings of this kind have given rise to leaders such as Jignesh Mewani and
Hardik Patel, he noted.
6 injured in fresh clash in Saharanpur village as caste tension flared
again
Lucknow: At least 6 persons were injured, one of them from gunshots, as
caste tension flared again in Shabbirpur village and surrounding areas in
Saharanpur district after BSP supremo Mayawati's visit. Members of two
communities again fought a pitched battle in which many were injured, soon
after the Dalit leader concluded her visit and drove back to New Delhi after
accusing the ruling BJP of stirring the caste cauldron in the state.Some Dalits
pelted stones at houses of members of the Rajput community and set one house on
fire before the ex- CM's visit. Rajputs retaliated and both clashed in
Chandrapura village, neighbouring Shabbirpur, of UP.One person sustained
gunshot injuries. 5 others were injured by swords, two of them with critically,
an official said. Additional police force was rushed to the scene of
clashes.IANS
Dalit rally a warning to all parties first, govt next:Congress
Head of Congress Scheduled Caste wing K Raja has said rally at Jantar
Mantar is a turning point in Dalit movement, needs to be taken seriously. Raja
said, "I have spent a lot of time with the victims of the Saharanpur
violence and the people there. What is becoming clear is that it was a case of
the administration conniving with those who have committed those atrocities or
the administration remaining silent. The police were there but they did not
stop [the attacks]. So, this is one of a series of such incidents happening in
the country in the last 3 years. The anger among Dalits is building up. Earlier
they used to look up to a political party to come to their rescue but now… the
kind of voluntary mobilisation that has happened from across many states… that
really shows that Dalits want to assert themselves.They want to make their
voice heard without having to come under the umbrella of any political party.
It is a kind of turning point in the Dalit movement where, within a short time,
they are able to connect with a large number of Dalits through social media and
telephones. So if the govts at the Centre and in the states…if they don’t take
it seriously, if they don’t demonstrate that they are committed to protecting
their rights… they will be in for serious problems." He added, "I
would say it is a warning bell to the Govt in power that they can no longer
tolerate these kinds of atrocities." Raja said, "It is a warning bell
to all political parties in the first instance and then to the Govt. That is
the sense I also got." indianexpress
CPM too agrees: Emerging Dalit movement is a message to all political
parties
New Delhi:A day after young Dalit leader Chandrashekhar’s call for a
struggle from Jantar Mantar, the Left parties agreed emerging movement is a
message for the entire political class. CPM leader Brinda Karat said there is
anger against dominant political parties “who have done their politics in the
name of Dalits and have betrayed the community”.“Their anger is against saffron
terror and those leaders who have used Dalit name to further their politics and
not addressed any of the real issues which are both economic and social,” she
said.indianexpress
MP: 10 booked for trying to convert 71 tribal children to Christianity
Madhya Pradesh Police today arrested 10 people for allegedly trying to
convert tribal children of Jhabau and Alirapur region to Christianity. All the
71 children have been rescued and the arrested have been booked under Section
3/4-4 of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act 1968.Out of the 71 children,
60 minors--32 boys and 28 girls-- were rescued by the Ratlam GRP and the other
11 minors--including 7 boys and 4 girls--were rescued from around the Choti
Gwaltoli police station in Indore.Bibles have been recovered from the minors
who are claiming that they have been reading the holy book for a long time.The
parents of the minors in Jhabua and Alirapur have been summoned by the Ratlam
GRP and Indore police. Parents claim that the children were being taken to
Nagpur with their consent and that they too were practising Christians. The
state Govt however is treating this as a
case of religious conversion. india today
Yogi effect: RSS men convert 43 Muslims in UP to Hinduism
https://scroll.in/article/838416/yogi-effect-rss-men-convert-43-muslims-in-uttar-pradesh-to-hinduism
With Adityanath’s elevation as the CM of UP creating a climate of
uncertainty among the state’s minorities, activists of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh are finding greater success in their programme to persuade
Muslims to convert to Hinduism. Over the past month, at least 2 instances of
Muslims being converted to Hinduism have been recorded in Faizabad. Hindutva outfits
refer to the conversions of members of minority communities as “ghar wapasi” – home
coming.19 Muslims were converted on April 23, while 24 more were converted on
May 20. Both sets of conversions took place in a temple in Faizabad, even
though all the converts were from Ambedkar Nagar, said Surendra Kumar, an RSS
worker in Ambedkar Nagar district, who helped organise the ceremony. Himanshu
Tripathi, the manager of Arya Samaj Mandir where the conversions took place,
said that he was in contact with nearly 100 Muslims who would be converted to
Hinduism “in due course”.“We have successfully accomplished two events of ghar
wapasi after Yogiji became the CM,” Tripathi said. “I am in touch with about
100 more Muslims who have shown inclination to get back to Hinduism. You will
hear of more such cases in the time to come.”“We organised ghar wapasi because
they expressed their desire to become Hindus.”Kumar belongs to the Nat caste,
which is listed as a scheduled caste in UP. While one section of this caste
follows Hinduism, another practises Islam. All new converts belonged to the Nat
community. “As I myself belong to this caste, I could easily explain to Muslim
members of the community about the risk of continuing to follow Islam,” Kumar
said, “and the benefits they might get by becoming Hindus.” Scroll.in
Jharkhand lynching: 2 officers,30 cops watched 4 murders
Rajnagar (jharkhand): It was not just a mob that witnessed the lynching
of 4 men in a village near Jamshedpur for nearly five hours early on May 18,
following rumours of child-lifters being present in the area. Present at the
spot were also a Deputy Superintendent of Police, a Circle Inspector, 2
Assistant Sub-Inspectors and at least 30 policemen, including those from the
local station in Rajnagar. The Indian Express tracked down 2 of the policemen
who are seen speaking to the mob in videos of the incident and spoke to several
eyewitnesses to piece together the sequence of events that ended with the
deaths in Shobhapur of Naim (35), Sheikh Sajju (25), Sheikh Siraj (26) and
Sheikh Halim (28).It’s not a story of policemen looking the other way. Here,
they were watching the lynching unfold in front of their eyes. On the night of
May 17, Naim, Sajju, Siraj and Halim, all residents of Haldipokhar, reached
Shobhapur, 15 km away, to visit Halim’s brother-in-law Sheikh Murtaza.
3 years of Modi govt: Job-creation promise falls short as unemployment
rate up
India’s unemployment rate has registered a slight increase since the BJP
Govt began its term in May 2014, despite
the Govt ’s professed emphasis on job creation, according to an analysis of Govt
data.The unemployment rate in 2015-16
was 5% of the labour force, up from 4.9% in 2013-14, the year before the BJP
assumed power.As the BJP Govt completes
three years in office this week, IndiaSpend is analysing five of its key
electoral promises–on employment, Swachh Bharat, roads, access to electricity
and terrorism. In the first part, we look at how the Govt has performed on job creation.“The country has
been dragged through 10 years of Jobless Growth by the Congress-led UPA Govt,”
BJP had said in its manifesto for the 2014 general election, “Under the broader
economic revival, BJP will accord high priority to job creation and
opportunities for entrepreneurship.” At a rally in Agra in 2013, Narendra Modi,
then campaigning for the position of PM , had said the BJP would create 10
million jobs: “If BJP comes to power, it will provide one crore jobs which UPA
govt could not do despite announcing it before the last Lok Sabha polls,” the
paper DNA had quoted Modi in a Nov.2013 story.Yet, the 2016-17 Economic Survey,
based on data from the labour ministry, stated:“Employment growth has been
sluggish.”Based on ‘Usual Principal Status’–according to which those who have
spent a major part (183 days or more) of the preceding 365 days before a survey
on economic activity are counted as having been part of the labour force–the
labour ministry’s report on Fifth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey
(2015-16) said unemployment was 5%.The figure for 2013-14 was marginally lower,
at 4.9%, according to labour ministry data.The survey includes workers in both
formal and informal parts of the economy, as well as those working as casual
workers in public works programmes.Further, Economic Survey pointed to a shift
in the pattern of employment from permanent jobs to casual and contract
employment. The increasingly “temporary” nature of work, it said, has an
“adverse effect” on the level of wages, stability of employment, and employees’
social security. hindustantimes
Still a jumla govt, 3 years later? Study finds Modi govt has fulfilled
only 9% of promises
Yogi Govt’s ‘honeymoon’ comes under shadow as crimes soar: thequint
2 months is not a long time in politics to fall from grace, especially
when a landslide of public support has propelled you to power.But in U , honeymoon
period of the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP Govt seems to have been spiked by a series of
incidents of heinous crimes and law and order issues. Serious crime figures
have seen a sharp increase – in many cases going up manifold.Having come to
power in March with a three-fourths majority, riding on anti-incumbency and
promising a turnaround in the law and order situation, which BJP said had
collapsed during the Samajwadi Party (SP) regime, the situation, in less than
two months, has turned against the ruling party.From murders to rapes to
dacoities to caste conflicts and communal tensions, the Govt seems to be tottering in the face of soaring
crime and shaken public confidence. The situation has come to such a pass that Allahabad
High Court last Saturday expressed concern over the crime situation in UP.
BJP govt's 'honeymoon' comes under shadow as crimes soar: Mohit Dubey,
IANS
After a string of murders in UP, Adityanath’s claim on tackling crime
questioned
UP meat traders warn of statewide stir during Ramzan over ban on
slaughter houses
Varanasi: All India Quraishi Vikas Manch and Al-Quraish Welfare Society
have warned the UP Govt of an indefinite sit-in at all the district
headquarters in the state over the ban on slaughter houses.They claim that
check on buffalo meat trade due to ban on slaughter houses has caused
starvation like situation among the butchers and their families, they said,
adding, if the state Govt fails to find
out any solution to their problem before the commencement of holy month of
Ramzan, they would start the indefinite sit-in.Leaders and members of AIQVM and
AQWS along with activists of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)
carried out a procession and staged a massive demonstration at district
headquarters on Monday. They also submitted a memorandum to the district
magistrate to forward it to the CM . timesofindia
‘Human shield’ case: Brother of man on jeep terms cruel to awarding
Major; NC calls it slap on Kashmir face
Srinagar: Appalled by Army decision to award a commendation certificate
to Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi, the officer who allegedly ordered his troops to
tie Farooq Ahmad Dar to a jeep bonnet and had him paraded as a ‘human shield’
against stone-pelters, Dar’s family called it a “mockery” while Valley parties
reacted with fury. National Conference called it “a slap across the face of the
mainstream in Kashmir”.Ghulam Qadir, elder brother of Farooq, questioned the
award to the officer who is under probe: “Is this justice? It is a mockery in
the name of an inquiry. This is cruel, not justice.’’ He said the family was
hoping justice would be done. “My brother was tied to a jeep and taken to
dozens of villages, without being at fault. He was not a stone-pelter, nor
involved in anything subversive. His phone has not been returned till date.’’He
said Farooq has been “in depression” ever since the April incident. “He is not
able to concentrate on his embroidery work. He has confined himself to his
room. Had this kind of an incident taken place elsewhere, then justice would
have been done,” Ghulam Qadir said. The mainstream parties face reacted with
dismay and anger on the award to the officer. National Conference spokesman
Junaid Mattu wrote on Twitter: “Major Gogoi being honoured is a slap across the
face of the mainstream in Kashmir.Feel ashamed, disgusted and hopeless. What a
travesty!” J&K Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir said: “This type of an
incident happened for the first time since the country got independence. And I
want to ask CM Mehbooba Mufti: What happened to the inquiry she had initiated
on the incident? They should speak whether this is right or wrong.’’ J&K
PDP youth wing president Waheed Rehman Parra said: “The time has come when
Delhi needs to understand it is time to win the youth of Kashmir rather than defeat
them. And this (award to the officer) doesn’t communicate the message that the
youth here want to listen.’’ indianexpress
Outrage at India award for 'human shield' soldier:Aljazeera
Was I an animal, asks Farooq Dar who was tied to a jeep by Major Gogoi: hindustantimes
Srinagar: Which law in the country makes use of human shield legal, That’s
the only question Farooq Dar, the weaver from Chill village in central
Kashmir’s Budgam district who was tied to a jeep by army on election day in
April, has for those supporting Major Leetul Gogoi’s action.“If it was legal
under any Indian law, what can I possibly say,” he asked. “I can’t pick up a
stick and go and fight with those honouring the officer,” a disheartened Dar
told HT. Dar however has a very stern question to what he calls humanity.“I
want to ask only one thing, was I an animal that I was tied and exhibited,” he
asked. “Kya mein koi bhains ya bail tha”,” (Was I a buffalo or a bull?”.
FIR against army Major for ‘tying’ Kashmiri youth to jeep not quashed: IGP
Kashmir
Srinagar:FIR lodged against an army Major for allegedly using a Kashmiri
youth as a human shield against stone pelters has not been quashed and the
investigations will continue, a police officer said. IGP Kashmir zone Muneer
Khan said, “FIR stands and investigations into the case will continue.”IANS
Kashmir situation critical, award to Major Gogoi can escalate tension:
Sharad Yadav
New Delhi: JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav on Tuesday said the decision to
award Army officer Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi, who tied a Kashmiri man to the
bonnet of his jeep and took him around to deter stone pelting at his troops and
election staff, will lead to escalation of tension in the Valley, news agency
ANI reported. Major Gogoi was awarded a commendation certificate by Army Chief
General Bipin Rawat “for sustained efforts on counter-insurgency”. indianexpress
J-K: Inspection finds half of Rajouri’s 1,200 anganwadi centres shut
Jammu: A recent inspection in Rajouri, J&K , found 50 % of the anganwadi centres in the district shut.
These centres are run under centrally sponsored Integrated Child Development
Scheme.The inspection found a number of the centres had been shut for nearly a
year but monthly salaries — Rs 3,600 for an anganwadi worker and Rs 1,850 for a
helper — were being drawn regularly. At many places, anganwadi centres and
state Govt -run schools were found with the same children registered on their
rolls, indicating rations were being drawn under both ICDS and Sarb Shiksha
Abhiyan (SSA), sources said.The surprise inspection last Wednesday covered over
1,200 anganwadi centres across Rajouri district, barring those in Nowshera and
Qilla Darhal tehsils. indianexpress
Protesting students in J-K’s Pulwama beat up cop, torch his motorcycle
Srinagar:Protesting students on Tuesday beat up a cop and torched his
motorcycle in J&K ’s Pulwama town.Students of the local higher secondary
school took to the streets and started pelting stones at the security forces demanding
the release of their fellow students arrested for stone pelting by the
police.Tear smoke shells were used to quell the protests.A policeman who was in
civvies was stopped by the protesting students.“The protesting students
severely beat the policeman and later torched his motorcycle. He has been
admitted to hospital for treatment,” a police officer said.IANS
Indian Army destroys Pak forward post in Noushera sector
New Delhi: In response to the recent infiltration bids from the Pakistan
side of LoC, Indian Army struck a Pakistani forward post in Naushera
sector.Calling for proactive counter-terrorism operations in order to maintain
peace and stability in J&K, Major General Ashok Narula, briefing the media
on Tuesday, said that infiltration activities must be curbed as they might
negatively influence the youth in the area.“Pak Army has been providing support
to armed infiltrators by engaging our forward troops from their weapon
emplacements and pill-boxes closer to LoC. At times they have not even
hesitated to target villages in the proximity of LoC,” Narula said.Saying that
the Indian Army has been proactively dominating the LoC region, Narula added
that locations aiding infiltration of terrorists have been identified and
destroyed. “Infiltrations are likely to increase to with melting of snow and
opening of passes,” he said.indianexpress
9 booked for ‘kidnapping and religious conversion’ in MP
Bhopal: 9 persons were booked for under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of
Religion Act on Tuesday by Ratlam Govt Railway Police while they were taking 60
tribal children to Nagpur. GRP said the accused, including two women, were
detained at Ratlam railway station by the Railway Protection Force after they
reportedly received complaints about suspicious movement of the tribal
children. The rescued children have been sent to shelter homes in Ratlam and
Jaora.GRP Police Station in-charge, Abhishek Gautam, said that police teams had
been sent to Nagpur and Jhabua for verification after the accused claimed that
the children were being taken to attend a summer camp. “Parents were under the
impression that their children were going to attend a camp but the actual purpose
of the Nagpur visit was to read the Bible. There was a mismatch in the
statements given by the accused,” GRP SP Krishnaveni Desavatu said . Till late
on Monday, GRP had said there was no evidence to back the allegation of forced
religious conversion.This comes after arrest of two persons from Indore on
similar charges for taking 11 children to Nagpur. In all, 11 persons have been
taken into custody and 71 tribal children rescued from Ratlam and Indore so
far.Indian Express
Court directs UP govt to compensate PhD scholar acquitted in Sabarmati
Express blast case
New Delhi: UP Govt has been
directed by a Barabanki court to compensate former AMU scholar Gulzar Ahmed
Wani, who was acquitted of terror charges after 16 years of incarceration in
the 2000 Sabarmati Express blast case. The court directed the Yogi
Adityanath-led Govt to pay compensation
to Wani in terms of the average income in accordance with his educational
qualification for the time he spent in jail, saying he was a victim of
“negligence” of officials in probing the case.The court held the UP Govt responsible for the damage caused by its
officials to the state exchequer for their negligence in probing the case
leading to financial loss. It said the officials had not obtained sanction to
prosecute the accused and a charge sheet was filed in dereliction of their
duty, violating Wani’s physical independence and also harming him physically
and mentally.Additional Sessions Judge M.A. Khan, in his judgement written in
Hindi, said if the Govt feels, it can
recover the compensation amount from the concerned police officials. It said if
the Govt failed to pay the compensation,
Wani would be at liberty to approach the Allahabad High Court.His counsel MS
Khan said “an intellectual person’s life has been spoilt. There is an
irreparable damage to his career. He was such an educated person and would have
excelled in his life. The erring police officials should be punished and they
must be taught a tough a lesson.”While reprimanding the police officials for
their lapses in investigation, the court said neither did they try, nor did
they gather any evidence in support of the charge of criminal conspiracy
against the accused. The judge said it was the duty of senior police officers
to check the charge sheet, remove the defects and file it in the court, but
they showed negligence in their duty which also harmed the Govt . The court
directed the Govt to take appropriate
action against the erring police officials and said that a copy of the
judgement be sent to the district magistrate, Barabanki, and the Home Secretary
of the state govt.
Acquitted in blast case, ex-AMU scholar still has 7 cases against him
Lucknow: Gulzar Ahmed Wani, the terror suspect who was lodged in jail
for 16 years before being acquitted in a terror case in a Barabanki court in UP,
still has 7 cases pending against him in Nagpur and Kashmir. Since there no
cases pending against him in UP, arrangements are being made to shift Wani to
Nagpur from Lucknow district jail, where he was since 2010. On Saturday,
Barabanki court acquitted Wani, an AMU researcher, along with Abdul Mobeen in
the Sabarmati Express blast case. Both were acquitted for lack of evidence.“A
letter requesting arrangement of a police force to send Gulzar Ahmed Wani to
Nagpur has been sent to SSP Lucknow. As per jail records, there is no case
pending against him in UP but there are 7 cases pending against him — 4 in
Nagpur and 3 in J&K,” said Shashi Kant Mishra, Superintendent, Lucknow
district jail. Mohammad Shoaib, who represented Wani in the Lucknow blast case,
said he was not aware of the details of the cases in Nagpur and J&K. “No
one had told me about cases against him in J&K,”he said. indianexpress
'Surprised' at their language, HC issues contempt notice to 3 AMU profs
Agra: Allahabad high court has issued contempt notices to three
professors of AMU for "violating" its order on a writ petition and
for using unsuitable language while responding to it. The writ petition had
been filed by AMU fine arts faculty member Madhu Rani, challenging the
promotion of a colleague, Zeba Hasan. Issuing the contempt notice, Justice
Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justice Daya Shankar Tripathi stated, "The court
is amazed at the language employed in the impugned office memo dated March 31,
2017, where a three-member committee constituted by the university had made
recommendations that the university will proceed to consider the matter in the
light of rules and regulations 'uninfluenced' by the orders of the high
court."Issuing the notice, the judges further stated, "We are
surprised at this understanding of the law by persons of the rank of university
professors. In our opinion, they have not only used contemptuous language but
have willfully disobeyed the order of the high court dated April 7, 2016 as
affirmed by the SC." timesofindia
Cow vigilantes not above law, says Athawale
Aurangabad:Cow vigilantes are not above the law and if they came across
any illegal activity they should report the same to police, said Union minister
Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday. “No one, including the gau rakshak (cow vigilante),
is above the law. So if anybody feels that some illegal act is going on, he
should report the matter to police instead of taking the law into his own
hands,” he said. The minister of state for social justice and empowerment was
talking to the media in Aurangabad on Tuesday afternoon.In reply to a query,
the Dalit leader said it is unfortunate that people are beaten up mercilessly
for skinning dead cows as part of their livelihood. Speaking about political
scenario in his home state Maharashtra, RPI (A) leader, whose party is an ally
of BJP, said he is confident Fadnavis-led coalition Govt will complete its term (which ends in
2019).PTI
AIMPLB's u-turn on Triple Talaq victory for Muslim women: BJP
New Delhi:Expressing contentment over the affidavit submitted by the All
Indian Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in the Supreme Court, the BJP on
Tuesday said the board has realised its mistake and has thus taken a u-turn.BJP
leader Shazia Ilmi said many facts have come to fore proving that Triple Talaq
neither comes within the boundaries of Islam, nor the Constitution or
humanity."AIMPLB has taken a u-turn. This is because the large number in
which the Muslim women have approached the Supreme Court. This is victory of
all women who want to be freed from Triple Talalq. AIMPLB has realised its
mistake and thus taken a u-turn," Ilmi told ANI.Another BJP Shaina NC
hoped that the board would also be welcoming of a legislation to do away with
the 'regressive act.'"If Qazis can advise bridegrooms not to resort to
Triple Talaq, surely they should be welcoming of a legislation to do away with
a regressive act which has been done away in all Islamic countries,"
Shaina told ANI.ANI
AIMPLB has realised the need to take action on Triple Talaq, says Congress:
ANI
While hoping for a positive change following an affidavit submitted by
AIMPLB stating to advise brides and grooms not to resort to triple talaq in one
sitting, the Congress Party on Tuesday said it signifies the board?s
realisation to take some action in regard to the issue.Congress leader Meem
Afzal suggested that a better thing would be the groom giving an affidavit
stating that he would never give triple talaq, but would give divorce by the
right means as mentioned in the Quran. This advice has been given since a long
time.The affidavit shows that the Muslim Law Personal Board is realising that
action has to be taken on issue considering its seriousness, Afzal said.Another
Congress leader Shobha Oza said that it is good if the society awakens and does
not let injustice take place with the Muslim women.Many Muslims are against
Triple Talaq. It is good that the society awakens and does not let this injustice
happen with even one daughter. Good if the change comes from within the
society, Oza said.
New rules bar instant triple talaq push for patch-up, set 3-month
window: Muslim Personal Law Board's affidavit
Of the
8-point guidelines in the affidavit submitted by the All India Muslim Personal
Law Board, the most noteworthy is the last.It says clearly that those
pronouncing triple talaq, instantaneously, should be boycotted, socially.The
Guidelines stipulate that couples must try and overlook each other’s
shortcomings and not rush to dissolve their marriage. It urges families to step
in if there is a marital dispute, try and save the marriage and also calls for
setting up of an arbitrator from each side.In case of a relationship breaking
down irreconcilably, it reiterates three methods of divorce it sees as Islamic
and adviseable. The first is if the husband pronounces Talaq, he must do so at
a time when the woman is not menstruating, what is termed the “purity period”.The
jurisprudence behind this being that it is a time of discomfort for the woman
at any rate and this must not be added on to her troubles. The “waiting time”
(iddat), is traditionally of three months and must be waited out.In case there
is no reconciliation, then the couple may be deemed divorced and free to lead
separate lives. In case the wife is pregnant then the “waiting period” will
extend to the time that the child is born, with all expenses to be paid by the
husband and the dower too paid immediately if not paid earlier (the dower or
meher is part of the nikah-nama, a pre-settled amount to be paid by the husband
in case of divorce). The second method prescribed is when in three successive
months (when again, the wife is not menstruating) the husband has to pronounce
divorce once each month.In case, before the pronouncement of the third talaq, a
reconciliation takes place, the marriage holds. If it does not, then the couple
are deemed to be divorced and free to lead independent lives.The third method
is of Khula, where a woman, if she does not want to live with her husband can
divorce him. indian express
May approach court to speak at Mecca Masjid: Rao, Hindu member of TRS
Hyderabad: A doctor, who is also a TRS member, has said that he would
have no option but to approach the court if permission was not given to him to
speak at Mecca Masjid. "If need be, I will also quit the TRS. All I want
to do is to express myself," AS Rao, who also runs a nursing home, told
TOI.Rao, who did his medicine from Osmania Medical College, said he had
promised in his representation to the authorities that he would not speak
anything that would "damage the sanctity of Mecca Masjid". Asked why
he was so particular to speak at a masjid, he said that was because the MIM was
being allowed to speak after the namaz.Rao has sought permission to speak on
the third Friday of the month of Ramzan, which falls on June 16.The 47-year-old
is also quite open about his political ambitions. "I intend to contest
from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat in the next elections in 2019," he said.He
said he had tried for the seat from in 2014 but did not succeed."Even if I
am denied a ticket this time, I will still go ahead and contest," he
said.In response to a question on why he was keen on using Mecca Masjid as a
platform to speak, he said in no other masjid in the country , political
speeches were allowed."In any case, I do not wish to speak about politics,
but about the lack of development in Old City ," he said.Rao is furious
that minorities welfare secretary Omer Jaleel has not responded to his request
for permission to speak at Mecca Masjid. City Police Commissioner, too, has
been approached but he has not got a response from there as well. Allowing Rao
to speak would be a `sensitive issue', but he is willing to follow any
condition that is laid down to allow him to speak.TOI
Hyderabad-based rights group seeks justice for Makkah Masjid Blast
victims
Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based human rights organisation, Civil Liberties
Monitoring Committee has expressed grave concern over the delay in providing
justice to the victims of police firing following the Makkah Masjid bomb blast
in Hyderabad.Makkah Masjid blast completed 10 years on May 18th, 2017.After the
RSS-backed Govt came into power, says
CLMC, investigative agencies have given
clean chit to the Hindutva ‘terrorists’ who were in jail under the charges of
bomb blasts.TwoCircles
Friday namaz in sign language at
Kerala mosque:TOI
The austere beauty of azan or
Muslim call to prayer might still elude them but a new mosque, specially
designed to cater to differently-abled believers, will enable those who are
hearing impaired to appreciate finer points of a Friday sermon. Inaugurated on
Monday, Masjid Al-Rahma at Pulikkal in Malappuram, built on a serene 5-acre
campus, has facilities whereby speeches during Friday namaz will be rendered in sign language, the first
mosque to do so in the country. Similarly, sermons at every prayer meet in the
mosque will avail the services of a sign language specialist and will be
displayed on LCD screens installed on walls of the mosque.
The word ‘industry’ comes from Indus: VHP leader
When the British came to India and saw how advanced it was, they coined
the word “industry” after the river Indus, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s joint
general secretary Swami Vigyananand said on Saturday. According to the Times of
India, Vigyananand was addressing a summit in Bengaluru organised by the World
Hindu Economic Forum, which he heads, when he made the statement. "I am
telling you the 'industry' word has come from us – Indus. We were very
industrialised...that is why they used the word,” he said.WHEF brings together
Hindu members of the business, banking, trading and related industries so they
can “cooperate and collaborate globally” to “generate surplus wealth and make
society prosperous”. It was set up in 2012, and often reflects on the economic
contributions of Hindus through the ages.
UP: Nahid Hasan MLA booked for stoking communal passion
Meerut: Samajwadi Party's Kairana MLA Nahid Hasan was on Sunday booked
for allegedly trying to disturb communal harmony in Jhinjhiana area here.Police
registered a case against MLA under sections 153 and 504 of IPC. The case was
registered 2 day after Hasan allegedly used several mosques of the area to make
public announcements against one Neeraj Kashyap, who had allegedly uploaded
derogatory comments against a community on social media sites.Hasan was
demanding slapping of stringent NSA against Kashyap. Kashyap was booked 2 days
ago, soon after the controversial post was put on the social media. He was also
sent to jail, police said.After Kashyap's arrest, Hasan had been demanding
slapping of NSA against him and had also called a panchayat to mobilise support
in Kairana.However, police stepped in and did not allow the panchayat. TOI
Indian held in Pakistan may have had links with SIMI: ATS
After an Indian national was arrested from F-8 area of Islamabad on
Sunday over allegedly possessing inadequate travel documents, the Maharashtra
ATS got in touch with the Centre to probe if the 'Nabi', who figured in the
interrogation, is the same 'Nabi', who had connections with the (SIMI) in
2005-06.Meanwhile, a case has been filed against Sheikh Nabi Ahmed, the Indian
national who was caught in Pakistan, under Article 14 of the Foreign Act and
has been sent to 14-day judicial remand.A copy of the FIR read "Indian
citizen named Sheikh Nabi Ahmed arrested in Sector 8 Islamabad; Police on May
19 found incomplete documents with Ahmed; He was also unable to provide his
biodata to police upon inquiry; He has been arrested under Section 14 of the
Foreign Act and has been sent to a judicial remand. ANI
In Malegaon, BJP Muslim faces contradict party
Malegaon: Jamal Siddiqui, chairman of the Maharashtra BJP’s minority
wing, passionately stresses the need for Muslims to join the BJP in large
numbers so that they can go on to influence Govt policies for the welfare of the community.Sitting
in a bylane of Malda in Malegaon, Siddiqui is interrupted by Shaikh Akhtar, 32,
a powerloom owner and a BJP candidate in the upcoming municipal
elections.“Triple talaq is a fundamental right of Muslims. Even if the Supreme
Court gives a judgment against triple talaq, we will not accept it,” says
Akhtar, whose 249 votes in the last municipal elections, in 2012, had made him
the highest vote winner among the BJP’s then Muslim candidates.Akhtar is soon
hushed up by Jamal, but their debate is reflective of the contradictions facing
the BJP as it tries to make an aggressive electoral foray into Malegaon. One of
India’s most densely populated Muslim areas, Malegaon is where two blasts, in
2006 and 2008, had brought terror attacks by alleged Hindu groups into the
public discourse. indianexpress
BJP leader Syed Zafar Islam appointed non-official director of Air India
New Delhi: BJP's national spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam was today
appointed a non-official independent director of Air India. Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi has approved his appointment to
the post for three years, an order issued by Department of Personnel and
Training (DoPT) said. Islam, ex investment banker, joined the BJP on April 5,
2014. economictimes
Bihar CBI court issues production warrant against Shahabuddin in scribe
murder case
Muzaffarpur: A CBI special court, at the north Bihar district headquarters
town of Muzaffarpur, on Monday, issued a production warrant against former
Siwan MP and senior RJD leader Md Shahabuddin, in a case pertaining to the
murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, at Siwan in north Bihar, in May last year. Hearing
a petition for production warrant, filed by a DSP rank investigating officer, court
of special CBI judge Anupam Kumari granted the prayer and asked CBI officials
to produce the former MP through video conferencing, on May 26.HT
Delhi MCD bypolls: Congress wins Sarai Pipal, AAP takes Maujpur ward
New Delhi: Congress bagged one seat and the AAP another in the
by-elections to 2 municipal wards in Delhi, the results of which were announced
on Tuesday.Mukesh Goel of Congress won Sarai Pipal Thala ward of North Delhi
Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and AAP's Reshma emerged victorious in Maujpur
ward of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). Goel, who was Leader of
Opposition in NDMC House, defeated BJP's Mangat Ram Sharma by a margin of 2,743
votes. Congress leader polled 10,946 votes.Reshma of AAP defeated Congress'
Rekha Sharma. PTI
WORLD
Trump Proclaims ‘Reach For Peace’ In Key Mideast Speech; but offers no new
details to achieve goal
President Donald Trump used his centerpiece Holy Land speech on Tuesday
to reaffirm his commitment to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but he
offered no new details on how to achieve a goal that has eluded US leaders for
decades.Rounding out a 28-hour stay in Jerusalem, Trump praised Israeli PM
Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas alike, saying both
were ready for peace. But he avoided any mention of a Palestinian state and did
not address a campaign promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem, something Netanyahu yearns for.“I had a meeting this morning with
President Abbas and can tell you that the Palestinians are ready to reach for
peace,” Trump said in a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.“In my meeting
with my very good friend Benjamin, I can tell you also that he is reaching for
peace. He wants peace,” he said. “Making peace, however, will not be easy. We
all know that. Both sides will face tough decisions. But with determination,
compromise, and the belief that peace is possible, Israelis and Palestinians
can make a deal.”While Trump has spoken frequently in the months since taking
office of his desire to achieve what he has dubbed the “ultimate deal,” he has
not fleshed out any strategy that he or his administration might have towards
achieving it.During his time in the region, part of a nine-day foreign trip
that has taken in Saudi Arabia and will be followed by the Vatican, Italy and
Belgium, Trump spent barely an hour with the Palestinians. He traveled 8 km
south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, to see Abbas.
Reuters/ forward.com
Remarks by President Trump and President Abbas of the Palestinian
Authority in Joint Statements
Trump envisions Israeli-Palestinian peace after talks with Abbas,
Netanyahu
Trump: Palestinian, Israeli leaders ready to ‘reach for peace’
Trump condemned in pro-prisoner
march in Bethlehem
Bethlehem;Dozens of Palestinian protesters marching in solidarity with
the hunger-striking prisoners in Israeli jails on Monday evening in Bethlehem
city chanted slogans condemning US and the visit of its president, Donald
Trump, to the region.One protest chant described the US as “the head of the
snake.”Participants marched from al-Deheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem,
to the prisoner solidarity tent in Manger Square outside the Church of
Nativity. Earlier, violent clashes broke out between young protesters and
soldiers from the Palestinian Authority security apparatuses in Bethlehem after
the latter attacked the march they staged in solidarity with the hunger
strikers in Israeli prisons.PIC
Medicines in such short supply in Gaza, treatments will stop
Medication supplies in the Gaza Strip have reached dangerously low
levels after the decision was made to stop providing hospital and health
centres in the southern municipalities with the required items, a senior
official in the Ministry of Health warned today.Munir Al-Barsh, General
Director of Pharmacy in the in Gaza, stressed during a press conference that as
of April, there were 170 types of medications that are not available and the
deficit rate has reached 35 per cent, while the number of medical supplies that
are unavailable reached 270. This indicates the seriousness of the consequences
for the patients with chronic diseases, cancer and those on dialysis.He also
noted that the shortages in basic services, such as cancer medication, infant
formula, dialysis services, emergency services, surgery, intensive care and
specialised units of patients with hepatitis, cystic fibrosis, cardiac
catheterization and open heart services suggest a health catastrophe that will
negatively impact the lives of the patients. Treatments will stop as a result
of the shortages, he warned. middleeastmonitor
Ariana Grande concert: 22 killed in Manchester blast
UK police say they have arrested a 23-year old man in connection with a
suicide bomb attack in Manchester which killed 23 people, including the attacker,
and wounded dozens at a concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande."With
regards to last night's incident at the Manchester Arena, we can confirm we
have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester," Greater Manchester
Police said on Twitter on Tuesday.An improvised explosive device went off late
on Monday as thousands of - mostly young - fans streamed out of Manchester
Arena in the northern English city at the end of Grande's performance, police
said.The deadly explosion, which caused scenes of chaos and panic, sending
screaming families and children fleeing, also wounded at least 59
concert-goers, many of whom are in critical condition.Ian Hopkins,chief
constable for Great Manchester, said children were among those confirmed dead.
The attack came ahead of a June 8 general election. aljazeera
UK: 19 dead, 50 injured at Manchester concert blast
Manchester Arena attack: Muslim leaders condemn ‘horrific’ suicide
bombing
10 Afghan soldiers killed in Kandahar army base attack
At least 10 Afghan soldiers have been killed in an attack on an army
base in the southern province of Kandahar, according to defence officials.The
assault at Camp Achakzai in Shawali Kowt late on Monday came just a day after
20 Afghan policemen were killed when Taliban fighters stormed their outposts in
the neighbouring province of Zabul.No group has so far claimed responsibility
for the Kandahar attack."Ten brave army soldiers were martyred and nine
others wounded. The wounded soldiers were taken to hospital and they are in
stable condition," the ministry said in a statement. Dawlat Waziri,
defence ministry spokesman, told the Reuters that at least 12 attackers had
been killed by Govt troops after several
hours of fighting. Aljazeera
Daesh caliphate days are ‘numbered’ in Iraq, says head of UN Assistance
Mission for Iraq
“The days of the so-called Daesh caliphate in Iraq are numbered” and
discussions on how to rebuild the country have begun, reported Jan Kubis, head
of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). In a briefing to the UN Security
Council, Kubis announced that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently
received the long-awaited submission of the Iraqi Forces Coalition’s vision of
a national settlement.
13 pro-govt fighters killed in Iraq's Mosul
Nineveh:At least 13 pro-government fighters were killed in the fight to
capture the center of al-Qayrawan district in western Iraq's Mosul city from
Daesh on Monday night, according to a militia commander on Tuesday. The Hashd
al-Shaabi militia wrestled control of the district’s center from Daesh early
Tuesday following an overnight offensive.“13 fighters were killed and nine
others injured in the operation,” Mohammad Reda al-Hassani told Anadolu
Agency.He said 41 Daesh militants had also been killed in the fight.Anadolu
Agency.
Military probe into Myanmar abuses against Rohingya Muslims clears
troops
YANGON:The military on Tuesday cleared soldiers of carrying out widespread
human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims in western Myanmar despite
evidence from the UN and rights groups. The investigation into allegations in a
UN report of killings, rapes, beatings and disappearances during a military
operation in Rakhine state’s Maungdaw district found three soldiers guilty of
relatively minor offenses.The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR) had said crimes committed against the Muslim minority by soldiers and
police could have amounted to crimes against humanity. Anadolu Agency
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Jharkhand lynching: Vigilante justice serves only to uphold anti-Dalit
and anti-Muslim majoritarian pride:
Arnav Das Sharma
Saharanpur Protests Herald a New Phase in Dalit Politics: The Wire
New generation: Dalit politics is being reshaped by young leaders like
Chandrashekhar Azad and Jignesh Mevani: TOI Editorial
Welcome to Everyday Life of a Muslim in Times of Lynch Mob:Nazia Erum
We are so inured to anti-Muslim bias that we have forgotten
Hashimpura:Dhrubo Jyoti
30 years after Hashimpura massacre: Will we get justice in our lifetime,
ask survivors:Asad Ashraf
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:33 PM)
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