Evening NEWS
DIGEST
INDIA
Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's passport revoked
Mumbai: The external affairs ministry has revoked the passport of Zakir
Naik."Mumbai Regional Passport Office has approved the NIA's request to
revoke Zakir Naik's passport," a spokesperson for the anti-terror agency
said today.The 51-year-old televangelist, who is currently abroad, is being
probed by the NIA for charges related to terror and money laundering.Naik had
his passport renewed in January last year and it was valid for 10 years.He was
served a show-cause notice by the passport authorities asking as to why his
travel document should not be revoked.PTI
Mayawati resigns as Rajya Sabha MP in protest over Dalit atrocities
New Delhi:Upset over not being allowed to raise various incidents of
violence against Dalits and other minorities, BSP chief and former Uttar
Pradesh chief minister Mayawati today resigned from Rajya Sabha.Mayawati met
Rajya Sabha Speaker PJ Kurien and discussed the issue and tendered her
resignation. "When the ruling parties do not give me time to speak then it
is appropriate for me to resign," Mayawati said.Earlier in the day,
Mayawati had told Kurien that if she is not allowed to speak on Dalit
atrocities she will resign. The Speaker had asked her to cut short her
impromptu speech in the House. Mayawati later walked out of Rajya Sabha in
protest. Accusing the BJP of being anti-Dalit and anti-minorities, Mayawati
said, "Since the BJP has come to power, there has been atrocities on
Dalits, minorities starting from Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad, then the Gau
Rakshaks (cow vigilantes).""And then in UP with EVM tampering," she
went on, repeating her earlier allegation of the tampering of the voting
machines in the high-stakes Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. Led by Satish
Mishra, BSP leaders also raised slogans in Rajya Sabha against "anti-Dalit
policies" of the Narendra Modi government. They jumped into the Well of
the House shouting: "Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi
chalegi"(anti-dalit government will not be tolerated). Mayawati's term in
the Upper House was till April next year. IndiaToday
'Not allowed to speak' on anti-Dalit violence, Mayawati resigns from
Rajya Sabha
Mayawati’s resignation from Rajya Sabha unlikely to be accepted as
letter breaks parliamentary procedure
The resignation of Mayawati, a Dalit leader and a former chief minister
of UP, may not be accepted since it does not follow a prescribed format, but
her move could her score a political point by projecting herself as a champion
of the Dalit cause.HT
RS to witness a short duration discussion tomorrow on mob lynching
A short duration discussion on cases of mob lynching will be held in
Rajya Sabha tomorrow. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were earlier today
adjourned following protests by the opposition parties.Congress Party earlier
on Monday gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha, requesting discussion on repeated
incidents of lynching and atrocities unleashed on Dalits and minorities.ANI
9-judge Supreme Court bench to decide whether right to privacy is
fundamental
New Delhi :The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred to a nine-judge
constitution bench the question whether right to privacy is a fundamental right
on which hinges the challenge to the validity of the Aadhaar scheme. Referring
the matter to the larger bench, a 5-judge constitution bench headed by Chief
Justice JS Khehar said that hearing in the matter will commence on
Wednesday.Justice Khehar said the bench will decide “whether there is no right
of privacy in the Indian Constitution”. The apex court said that the nine-judge
bench will also examine the correctness of the position taken by a eight-judge
bench in 1954, and subsequently by a six-judge bench in 1962.The court said
both in 1954 and 1962, the benches had held that privacy is a not a fundamental
right. However, after the mid-1970s, benches of two and three -judges had
consistently taken the position that privacy is a fundamental right.PTI
INDIA-CHINA PAK & J&K
Don’t use ‘trespass’ as ‘policy tool’ to realise ‘political targets’,
China tells India
Beijing: India should not use “trespass” into the Doklam area in the
Sikkim sector as a “policy tool” to achieve its “political targets”, China said
on Tuesday.While asking New Delhi to immediately withdraw its troops to avoid
any escalation of the situation, the Chinese foreign ministry also said it was
in “close communication” with foreign missions in Beijing on the standoff with
India, but refused to confirm whether it held a special briefing for them on
the issue.“Since the illegal trespass by Indian border personnel, many foreign
diplomats in China felt shocked about this and [wanted] to confirm whether it
was true,” ministry spokesman Lu Kang said when asked about the reported
briefing.“The Chinese side maintains close communication with the foreign diplomatic
missions on the issues they are interested,” Mr. Kang said.China reportedly
held a “closed door briefing” last week and conveyed their side of the story on
the standoff near the Bhutan tri-junction.PTI
Doklam standoff : India should be
ready for all-out confrontation, warns Chinese media:
India should get ready for an “all-out confrontation” along the entire
stretch of the disputed boundary with China, country’s state media said on
Tuesday, threatening to open up new fronts of conflict on the 3,488 km
non-demarcated border between the two countries.China isn’t afraid to go to
“war” with India and will be ready for a long-term confrontation, the Global
Times comment piece said.The threat of new geographical points of conflict
being opened up along LAC comes amid People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently
carrying out live-fire drills in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) close to
Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by China as part of south Tibet. Continuing hostile
posturing by China’s state-controlled media is a crucial aspect of Beijing’s
overall aggressive stand taken on ongoing military impasse at Donglang across Sikkim
border.HT
India poisoning atmosphere for bilateral talks: Chinese daily on Sikkim
standoff
China Now Warns of War And "All Out Confrontation" With India:The
Citizen
China doesn't fear war with India: Chinese daily
158 Indian soldiers killed in cross border attack, claims Chinese media
Beijing: In a bizarre claim, the Chinese media said that at least 158
Indian soldiers were killed and several others injured after China fired
rockets across Indian border installations on Monday.This development came
after China reportedly indulged in live ammunition drill with a fully equipped
brigade in the area today close to Tibet border.Citing a two-minute footage
that was broadcast on China Central TV (CCTV), Dunya news reported that the
Chiense soldiers attacked Indian posts using rocket launchers, machine guns,
and mortars.ANI
Chinese cross border rocket attack kills 158 Indian soldiers, claims Pak
Dunya News
Pak media report on China attacking India is fake news: Chinese website
Beijing :China's state-run media on Tuesday rejected as "fake"
a Pakistani news report that claimed over 150 Indian soldiers were killed in
Sikkim in a Chinese rocket attack."Chinese media outlets have carried out
a series of investigations, claiming that the fake news should not be taken
seriously," People's Daily Online reported.Chinese mainstream media
outlets have denounced Pakistani media's "groundless" report, said
the online edition of the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece.The state-run
Global Times also published a report today, calling the Pakistani media report
"groundless and fake." Chinese authorities have not yet responded to
the report.PTI
India rubbishes Chinese media report claiming its army killed 158 Indian
soldiers
New Delhi: India has categorically denied reports coming from Chinese
media that the Chinese Army killed 158 Indian soldiers and fired rockets across
the Sikkim border. This came a day after China's army conducted new drills in
Tibet that included targeting enemy aircraft and tanks. "Such reports are
utterly baseless, malicious and mischievous. No cognisance should be taken of
them by responsible media," Ministry of External Affairs Minsiter official
spokesperson Gopal Baglay said. economictimes
India quashes ‘malicious’ reports in Pakistani media claiming China
killed 158 Indian soldiers in Sikkim
India lacks power to challenge China, only ‘shouts about it’: Farooq
Abdullah
New Delhi: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah on
Monday asserted that India lacks the power to take China-occupied Kashmir back
from Beijing.“In Ladakh, China has occupied the Aksai Chin. We shout about it,
but do not have the power to take it back,” Farooq said, adding that the only
way to resolve the tension with China is to be friends with them, as war is not
a solution.“India should enhance their diplomatic channels and with that they
should resolve this matter. China is Pakistan’s friend, had we maintained our
friendship with China, they would not have been friends with Pakistan,” he
said. He asserted that China’s motive is to make the Karakoram by-pass, which
would serve as their silk route and will connect them to the port. Which
eventually passes through region occupied by China.ANI
No Pak letter needed for PoK man’s medical visa as region part of India: Sushma
New Delhi: India will give medical visa to a man from Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir (PoK) without a request letter from Islamabad, external affairs
minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday, reiterating that the disputed region
“is an integral part of India”.Swaraj’s announcement came in response to a plea
by a 24-year-old PoK resident, Osama Ali, who appealed to the minister to waive
the request letter from Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistan prime minister’s advisor on
foreign affairs.Ali, who had been diagnosed with a tumour in the liver, is
seeking medical treatment at a private hospital in Delhi. “PoK is an integral
part of India. Pakistan has illegally occupied it. We are giving him visa. No letter
required,” Swaraj said in a tweet, responding to a report in the Indian Express
highlighting Ali’s dilemma. The report quoted Ali’s family as saying that Aziz
has refused to write a letter to the Indian govt. PoK, a 13,297-square km area
with an estimated population of about 4 million, is under Pakistan’s control
since 1947 but India says it is part of the state of J&K.Swaraj’s tweet
came amid heightened tensions between the neighbours, especially over rising
militancy and civilian protests in Kashmir which India says are orchestrated by
Pakistan.Though India has been giving medical visa to people from Pakistan, on
July 10, Swaraj put out a series of tweets saying the Indian government needs
Aziz’s “recommendation for the grant of medical visa to Pakistan nationals”.
indian express
Pak bans tourists from visiting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after troops
drown
Muzaffarabad: Pakistan has banned tourists from a valley in
Pakistani-occupied part of Kashmir a day after it said four of its soldiers
drowned after their vehicle was hit by Indian gunfire and plunged into the
Neelum River.Choudhary Mohammad Fareed, a top government official in Neelum,
says the “threat” to people is too great and that no new tourists would be able
to enter. The stay permits for those already in the valley will not be
extended.Picturesque Neelum Valley stretches along the boundary separating the
Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and parts of Kashmir in India and draws many
tourists.AP
‘Larger debate’ needed on Constitution’s Art.35A which accords spl
rights to natives of J&K: Govt tells SC
New Delhi: Centre has expressed its reservations in responding to a
petition before the Supreme Court that calls for declaring as
“unconstitutional” the Article 35A — which grants the Jammu and Kashmir
legislature powers to define the state’s “permanent residents”.Attorney general
KK Venugopal told the bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar that the NDA
government was not keen on filing an affidavit in the case, and wants a “larger
debate” on the issue, which it said was a “very sensitive” matter.The attorney
general asked the CJI to refer the matter to a larger bench as constitutional
issues were involved in the case. The court said a three-judge bench will hear
the matter after six weeks.The Article 35A of the Constitution provides special
rights and privileges to the “permanent residents” of J&K — a provision
which came into effect in 1954 when the the President used the powers conferred
on him by Article 370 to introduce the ‘Constitution (Application to J&K)
Order 1954’. hindustantimes
IS supporters create Kashmir group to step up presence in India:HT
report
New Delhi:At a time when the Islamic State is being squeezed out of its
strongholds such as Mosul in Iraq, members and supporters of the group have
stepped up efforts to gain a toehold in India by creating a group focussed on
Jammu and Kashmir.The group – Ansarul Khilafah Jammu Kashmir – has an active
channel on the encrypted messaging service Telegram that is used to disseminate
the usual IS propaganda along with manuals for making weapons and planning and
carrying out attacks.In recent weeks, the channel has featured a call to Jammu
and Kashmir Police personnel to defy their officers and direct their weapons at
the “enemy of Muslims and Islam”. On July 5, the group put out detailed
instructions on how IS supporters “on the ground in Kashmir” and “present at
the clashes against the Enemies of Islam” could prepare for attacks.On Monday,
the group put out instructions in Hindi on how attacks could be carried out
with large trucks, such as the ones in Nice France and the German capital
Berlin last year, along with potential targets.The group’s emergence has
coincided with the increasing adoption of Islamic State banners and flags by
disaffected youngsters of Kashmir during the unrest that followed killing of
Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a year ago.Indian security officials
insist the IS has no real presence in the Kashmir Valley and they also point to
the fact that the group has not so far claimed responsibility for an attack
anywhere in India. However, they acknowledge the group led by Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi has no dearth of sympathisers, including in Kashmir.Amarnath
Amarasingam, a senior research fellow at the London-based Institute for
Strategic Dialogue who is one of the world’s leading experts in tracking the
IS’ online activity, told HT the terror group “definitely has an interest in
South Asia, and is trying to plant a stronger hold there”.“Whether it happens
is another matter. The interest in Kashmir is very old amongst jihadists, just
like their interest in Palestine is old. For them, anywhere they see Muslims
suffering is a potential theatre of jihad, a place to send help and fight
back,” he said.There is a precedent of IS-linked terrorists in India forming a
group named Ansarul Khilafah. Last Oct, NIA busted a group of 6 men from
Kerala’s Kannur district who formed “Ansarul Khilafah Kerala” and were using
Telegram to coordinate and plot IS-style attacks. The men, led by Manseed alias
Omar al-Hindi, were reportedly radicalised online.Amarasingam said such groups
are “usually a mixture” of IS members based in countries such as Syria and
disparate sympathisers. “Some groups definitely have people who are in direct
communication with IS operatives in Syria, and they often transfer money, share
logistics and tactics, and also communicate attack claims for IS to release.
Other groups are strictly made up of fanboys,” he added.On Sunday, the Telegram
channel of Ansarul Khilafah Jammu Kashmir was replete with tributes to Sajad
Gilkar, a slain terrorist whose body was wrapped in the IS flag at his funeral
in Srinagar on Wednesday. It featured a photo of Gilkar standing before a brick
wall with the graffiti “ISIS Town” and described him as a mujahid who lived by
the “flag of tawhid” even though say he was linked to Hizbul Mujahideen.Since
the group was created on Telegram on June 2, it has shared among its more than
100 members a number of manuals that provide information on handling weapons
commonly used by terrorists, such as AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled
grenades, and on making suicide vests and car bombs. These include the “Open
Source Jihad Trainer” and the “Book of Terror”.In another message posted on
July 7, the group called on Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel to “distance
yourselves from aiding Kuffar and their agents with Muslim names (CM etc and
your officers)” and “declare your disobedience to the commands of the taghut
(your leaders and officers)”.It also called on the police not to target
terrorists and, using Quranic verses, asked them direct their “weapons at the
enemy of Muslims and Islam”. HT
Indian Army jawan shoots dead Major after officer reprimands him for
using cellphone on duty in Kashmir
New Delhi: Angry over being ticked off for using cellphone on duty, an
army jawan posted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector on Tuesday pumped 5 bullets
into a major, killing him on the spot. Major Shikhar Thapa belonged to 71
Armoured Regiment but was attached to 8 Rashtriya Rifles, the army’s elite
counter-insurgency unit deployed in Uri, close to the LoC, an army spokesperson
said, confirming the fratricidal killing.HT has learnt that Thapa pulled up the
jawan, whose identify is not known, and told him he would be reported to the
commanding officer for using mobile phone while on duty in a sensitive area.
The phone was damaged while being confiscated, which led to an argument after
which the jawan shot the officer with his AK-47 rifle at around 12.15am.
India will be watching how US punishes Iran for ‘malign behaviour’
Washington: Donald Trump administration may not dump the Iran deal as
the President had promised as a candidate but, in a move India will be tracking
closely, it will enforce it more strictly and hold Teheran accountable for its
“malign behaviour”.The administration was working on a “strategy that will
address the totality” of Iran’s actions, which will not be focussed narrowly on
the implementation by Teheran of its end of the deal, a senior Trump
administration official said Monday. The term “malign behaviour/activity” was
used for Iran’s purported support of terrorism and proliferation, hostility to
Israel, support of the Assad government in Syria and the “arbitrary detention
of foreigners” including Americans.Though not surprised, New Delhi will be
watching closely for signs of resumption of the sanctions that the Obama
administration had deployed against Teheran and which had compelled India to
drastically cut its crude oil imports from Iran, a long-time supplier and
ally.More significantly perhaps, New Delhi will be worried about the potential
impact of renewed US-Iran hostilities on its plans for co-development of
Chabahar port in Iran that is key to India’s push for strategic and trade links
into landlocked Afghanistan and beyond into Central Asia.Under an agreement
signed with Teheran in 2016, a year after the Iran deal, India is contracted to
develop parts of the port but has faced problems finding suppliers for the
machinery and equipment needed, specially from western manufacturers anxious
about impending sanctions from Trump administration, in line with the
president’s poll promises.For now though, Trump administration appears prepared
to stay with the deal as it gave congress the executive branch’s quarterly certification
Monday of Teheran’s adherence of its end of the deal as required by law instead
of stating, as it could have, it was rescinding the agreement.HT
OTHER
State legislatures have ‘exclusive’ powers to enact laws on cattle
protection: Govt
State legislatures have “exclusive” powers to enact laws for
preservation of cattle, the government told the Rajya Sabha Tuesday when asked
what it proposed to do in response to the Rajasthan High Court’s suggestion to
declare cow a national animal. Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said in a
written reply that the Government of India was not a respondent to the case
hearing which the Rajasthan High Court advised the state to declare cow a
national animal.“Rajasthan High Court vide order dated 31.5.2017 advised that
cow should be declared a national animal and directed the state government of
Rajasthan to take steps for preservation and conservation of cows and for
declaring cow as a national animal.“It is learnt that government of India was
not a respondent to this case,” Harsh Vardhan said.He was asked whether the
Rajasthan High Court had recently advised that cow should be declared a
national animal and what action the government proposed to take on it.PTI
Will ensure there is no shortage of beef in Goa, says CM Manohar
Parrikar, Congress makes fun
New Delhi:Goa CM Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that he is going to
ensure there is no shortage of beef in the state. Speaking in the Goa Assembly,
he said, “We have not closed the option of getting meat from Belgaum (in
Karnataka) or some other place to ensure that there is no shortage.” “I can
assure the inspection of beef, coming from neighbouring states, will be done by
proper doctors or those authorised for it,” he said.Parrikar also said that
around 2,000 kg of beef was slaughtered daily at the state’s only legal
abattoir, the Goa Meat Complex, at Ponda, around 40 km from Panaji. “The rest
(of the beef demand) is met by Karnataka,” Parrikar said. “The government does
not have any intention to restrict bringing animals for slaughter at the Goa
Meat Complex from the neighbouring state.” added the CM. indianexpress
MHA asks states to file FIRs over violence in name of cow protection
New Delhi :The Centre has asked state governments to compulsorily
register FIRs in all “untoward incidents” happening in the name of cow protection,
the Lok Sabha was informed today.Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said
the responsibility to maintain law and order, protect life and property and
incidents of attacks on cattle traders, beef eaters, Muslims, Dalits and dairy
farmers rests primarily with the state governments.An advisory with regard to
untoward incidents over cattle, disturbance of law and order by miscreants in
the name of cow protection, compulsory registration of an FIR for cognisable
offences irrespective of territorial jurisdiction, and making available a copy
of the FIR has been issued to states/UTs, he said replying to a written
question.PTI
Indian Americans express outrage over mob lynchings in India through
protests across US
The Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), an umbrella coalition
of progressive organizations across the United States and various coalition
partners held protests in three cities across the US, to express their outrage
over the growing mob rule against minorities in India and the policies of the
government that are emboldening such forces. Protests were held in Washington
DC, San Diego and San Jose on July 16. A fourth protest in New York city is
scheduled on July 23, 2017.These protests are similar to the ’Not in My
Name’ protests that have been held across various cities in India. Besides
the AJA coalition, the protests in San Jose were jointly organized with the ’Multifaith
Voices for Peace and Justice’. The South Asia Solidarity Initiative (SASI),
will be part of the protests in New York City on July 23. twocircles
Gopal Gandhi justifies effort to save Yakub Memon, says death penalty is
wrong
New Delhi:Opposition vice presidential candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi
justified his efforts to save Yakub Memon, a convict in the Mumbai blast case
from the gallows. He said that the practice of capital punishment was medieval
and wrong. Gandhi faced criticism from the ruling party but said that he takes
Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar as his inspiration and they were against
death penalty and wanted to abolish it.In the presence of former prime minister
Manmohan Singh and top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, Gopalkrishna
Gandhi on Tuesday, filed his nomination papers. JD (U)’s Sharad Yadav, CPI(M)’s
Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja, NCP’s Tariq Anwar and Praful Patel, NC’s Farooq
Abdullah and DMK’s Kanimozhi were also present.indianexpress
Venkaiah Naidu resigns: Smriti Irani gets I&B, Narendra Tomar Urban
Ministry
New Delhi:With Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu resigning from Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet, Smriti Irani was given additional charge of
the Information & Broadcast Ministry and Narendra Tomar was made the
Minister for Urban Development. Tomar is currently the Union Minister for Rural
Development and Panchayati Raj and Irani is the incumbent Minister for
Textiles. In a Cabinet reshuffle in 2016, both the Union Ministers lost their
portfolios. Irani was replaced by Prakash Javedekar as the HRD Minister and
Piyush Goyal replaced Tomar and was given additional charge of Minister of
Mines.On Monday, Naidu was picked as the NDA nominee for the vice presidential
election in August. The decision to nominate Naidu was taken at the BJP
parliamentary party meeting. PM Modi was reportedly not inclined on allowing
Naidu to leave his Cabinet. However, Amit Shah pushed his nomination saying the
party needs an experienced hand in the Rajya Sabha.He was accompanied by PM
Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and veteran leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and LK
Advani on Tuesday to file his nomination papers at the Parliament. Leaders from
the AIADMK, TRS and Shiv Sena were also present when Naidu filed his papers.
indian express
Azadi Kooch Concludes Today: 50 years later, 7 Dalit families in
Banaskantha to get their land back
Ahmedabad:Banaskantha district administration has decided to give
possession of land to seven Dalit families of Lavara village who had been
fighting for it since 1970s. Incidentally, the district administration’s
decision comes a day ahead of Dalit leaders’ plan to forcibly take possession
of the land as part of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (RDAM)’s Azadi Kooch
march, which is set to conclude in Banaskantha on Tuesday.“Three Dalit families
will get possession of the land by tomorrow. The process for giving possession
to the remaining four families is on,” Banaskantha District Collector Dileep
Rana told The Indian Express. On the timing of giving possession of the land,
Rana denied that it had anything to do with Dalits’ march Azadi Kooch. “The
work on this had started earlier. In the 1970s, land was given to the Dalit
community. I do not know what happened at that time and how they lost the
possession of their land. The moment the Dalit families started claiming the
land, we started our work to ensure that they get it,” Rana added.Azadi Kooch,
a march led by Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch leader Jignesh Mewani to
commemorate one year of the Una flogging incident, is set to end at Dhanera
town in Banaskantha on Tuesday. indianexpress
After school, Rajasthan varsity to teach Akbar’s Haldighati ‘defeat’ by
Maharana Pratap
New Delhi: After the revision in class 10 schoolbooks, the University of
Rajasthan’s (RU) history department is set to include a book that projects
Rajput king Maharana Pratap as a victor in the 1576 Battle of Haldigati against
Mughal emperor Akbar’s forces.Historical evidence shows that Pratap had fled the
battlefield with more casualties on his side and later continued his guerrilla
warfare against the Mughals. The dominant view about the battle so far has been
in favour of the Mughal army.But those who dispute the dominant view, including
the revised history schoolbook, say that the Mughal army’s failure in capturing
or killing Maharana Pratap, its decision to not pursue Pratap’s army after he
fled, and Akbar’s displeasure with his generals Man Singh and Asaf Khan prove
that Pratap prevailed in the war.School education minister Vasudev Devnani had
in March this year questioned Akbar’s victory asking why he attacked Mewar 6
times if he won the battle, and pronounced the Rajput king the victor.The
history department of RU, in a meeting of its board of studies last month,
decided to include Dr Chandra Shekhar Sharma’s Rashtra-Ratna Maharana Pratap in
the list of recommended readings in the paper ‘Rajasthan Through the Ages’ in
the second semester of MA History.Sharma’s book, according to the minutes of the
meeting, has a fresh interpretation of Maharana Pratap, and projects him as a
great freedom fighter, besides projecting him as a victor in the battle of
Haldighati.The board also decided to include a topic ‘Debate on the outcome of
the Battle of Haldighati’ in the topics to be covered under the paper. The
university’s academic council subsequently approved the board’s decisions,
which means students shall be studying the revised syllabus from this year
onwards. hindustantimes
UP: 32-year-old Naseem shot on son’s first birthday over ‘interfaith
marriage’
Meerut: A 32-year-old man on his way home with a cake for his son's
first birthday was shot dead in Muzaffarnagar on Monday, allegedly targeted for
his inter-faith marriage in a restive region that hasn't been the same since
the 2013 riots.Naseem Ahmad had married Pinky Kumari in 2015, after threats
over their relationship forced the two to elope from their village. They moved
to Andhra Pradesh, where the couple had a child. The couple arrived in
Muzaffarnagar because Naseem wanted to celebrate their son's first birthday at
home.His grieving relatives said it was a risk he should not have
taken.Eyewitness Mohammad Qadir recalled the murder: "3 men on a bike
suddenly blocked the path of Naseem, who was himself riding a motorcycle. They
shot him in the chest from close range and escaped as quickly as they had
come."On a complaint filed by Naseem's family, police have lodged an FIR
against Pinky's father Rajesh Kumar, her brother Pradeep, and two other
unidentified persons. However, no arrests had been made till the filing of this
report. Police sources said the murder had triggered communal tension in the
region.Soon after the murder, angry villagers blocked traffic and demanded the
immediate arrest of the culprits. Senior cops rushed to the spot in a bid to
pacify the crowd, and additional forces were deployed in the area to ensure
peace. timesofindia
UP Police on alert for communal tension after Muslim man throws himself
under truck
Uttar Pradesh Police were put on high alert on Tuesday after they
received intelligence that a series of incidents might have been planned to
incite communal violence in the state. There was tension in the town of Deoband
in Saharanpur district after a Muslim man jumped under a truck carrying
Kawarias, Shiva devotees who participate in the annual Kanwar Yatra. The man
died on the spot. A video of the incident has been widely shared on social
media. In the clip, the man – identified as Wahid from Deoband’s Laheswada
locality – appears to deliberately throw himself under the truck. SP of
Saharanpur (Rural) Vidya Sagar Mishra told Scroll.in that the police had
received the video on WhatsApp. “But its authenticity has yet to be verified,”
he said. “It seems like it is just part of a bigger picture. We are interrogating
bystanders, but the situation is under control.” scroll
Muzaffarnagar:5 injured in Thakurs, Dalits clash
Muzaffarnagar: 5 persons were injured in a clash between two communities
at Dukhad village here, police said today. Sanjay, who belonged to the Takhur
community, had gone to the Dalit locality for some work where an altercation
broke out between him and another man, police said. Soon the situation turned
violent as more people from both sides joined them and engaged in brickbats,
leaving five of them injured, an official of Khagoliya police station said. He
said the injured, Sanjay, Yogender, Vikas, Monti and Sachin, were rushed to a
nearby hospital. A case has been lodged by the police and security stepped up
in the village, the official said.PTI
Dalits assert right over land; forcibly evicted
Madurai:An attempt by around 50 Dalit families from Kuravakudi near
Usilampatti to assert their right over more than one acre of land, for which
pattas were issued to them in 1998, was thwarted by few caste Hindus claiming
to be the land owners, who on Sunday allegedly demolished and burnt the
makeshift huts erected by the Dalits. Dalits, who filed a petition in this
regard with Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao on Monday, alleged that the people
engaged by the caste Hindus burnt the huts in the presence and support of
police personnel from Usilampatti range. However, the police claimed that the
land in question, the subject of several litigations over the years, was
presently under the control of caste Hindu families since the last ruling of
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in 2016. thehindu
Mangaluru :Muslim Central Committee miffed at not being invited for
peace meet
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Muslim Central Committee
on Monday criticised the district administration for not inviting the
organization for the peace meeting chaired by district minister B Ramanath
Rai.The district administration had held a peace meeting on July 13 after 48
days of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC in district (barring
Mangaluru city police commissionerate) following incidents of communal clashes
and murders. Though ministers Rai, UT Khader, MLAs K Abhaychandra Jain, B A
Mohiuddin Bava and leaders from various organisations took part in the meet and
expressed their opinion, major political parties including BJP and JD(S)
boycotted the meet.Muslim Central Committee leaders on Monday sought a
clarification from deputy commissioner KG Jagadeesha as to why they were not
invited for the peace meeting.Committee president KS Mohammed Masood told
reporters that the Muslim Central Committee founded in 1968 has around 800
Jamaats under its jurisdiction."Previously, we used to get invitation for
all such meetings, but we don't know why we were not invited this time.
Officials in the district administration know the significance of our
organization that has taken several initiatives to preserve harmony in the
region. Former DG and IGP Ajai Kumar Singh also had appreciated the initiatives
taken by the committee in a letter in 2010 for resolving a communal issue
through dialogues with VHP and Bajranga Dal. It is unfortunate that the
district administration has ignored our organization when they held peace
meeting recently," Masood said. timesofindia
Nagaland CM Liezietsu hints at stepping down as governor orders floor
test
Guwahati: With his back against the wall, Nagaland chief minister
Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who is currently heading a minority faction of the
ruling Naga People's Front, hinted at stepping down tonight before taking the
floor test on Wednesday at 9.30 am following a fresh notice from governor PB
Acharya.The governor's directive came soon after the Kohima bench of Gauhati High
Court cleared the decks for the trust vote to resolve the ongoing crisis over
leadership within the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF). timesofindia
SC asks Centre to frame scheme to promote widow remarriage
New Delhi: Expressing concern over the plight of widows who are forced
to live a life of destitute after being abandoned by family members, the
Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to frame scheme to promote their
remarriage to bring them in mainstream society.A bench of Justices Madan B
Lokur and Deepak Gupta said that although the government had framed many
schemes over the years for rehabilitation of widows but it failed to uplift
their life and they continued to live a miserable life after being dumped by
their family in holy places like Vrindavan. It said that the Centre must take
steps to remove the social stigma attached to widowhood and also to
rehabilitate them by imparting skills so that they could lead an independent
life. timesofindia
4 held for transporting buffalo allegedly for slaughter in Maharashtra
Thane:The police have arrested four persons under the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act after they were found transporting a buffalo in a
vehicle allegedly for slaughter. They were allegedly taking the buffalo to the
nearby Bhiwandi township on Monday when they were nabbed at Kalyan city, the
police said.PTI
Mohsin Shaikh murder: Salian writes to slain techie’s kin, agrees to
take up case as SPP
Pune :Senior lawyer Rohini Salian has written to the family of techie
Mohsin Shaikh, agreeing to their request to take up the case of his murder as a
special public prosecutor. The family had requested her to take up the case
after the sudden withdrawal of advocate Ujjwal Nikam. The state government had
cancelled Nikam’s appointment as special public prosecutor (SPP) on May 19,
following a request from him. Shaikh was allegedly beaten to death by the
members of radical organisation Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) in Pune on June 2 in
2014. indianexpress
WORLD
Protest calls grow as Israel tightens grip on al-Aqsa
President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party has called for a "Day of
Rage" to protest against new security measures introduced by Israel at a
Jerusalem site which is holy to both Muslims and Jews.The call follows the
implementation of metal detectors and turnstiles at the entrance of al-Aqsa
compound after a deadly shootout there on Friday.In that incident, two Israeli
security officers died after an alleged attack by three Palestinians - who were
themselves killed by Israeli police following the violence.Tensions have soared
since Friday. The Red Cross said on Tuesday that at least 50 Palestinians were
wounded in overnight clashes with Israeli police remaining near the sacred
site, known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims.At
least four paramedics were injured, and 15 others were hit by rubber bullets,
the charity said.The Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements have also called for
protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over the new security measures. aljazeera
US hits Iran with new economic sanctions
US government has unveiled new economic sanctions against Iran,
targeting at least 16 individuals and entities for supporting what it said was
"illicit Iranian actors or transnational criminal activity". In a
statement issued on Tuesday, the US treasury department said it is imposing the
new sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile programme and for
contributing to regional tensions.Those sanctioned had backed Iran's military
or Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by developing drones and
military equipment, producing and maintaining boats, and procuring electronic
components, the US said.Others has also "orchestrated the theft of US and
Western software programmes" sold to Iran's government, the treasury
department said.The US state department had also designated two other Iranian
organisations involved in Iran's ballistic missile programme, according to the
treasury department.The news comes just a day after the US administration
declared that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal, while threatening more
sanctions for breaching the "spirit" of the agreement.Al Jazeera's
Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, DC, said that those listed in the
sanctions are now prohibited from using American banking system, and any assets
they have in the US would be frozen. aljazeera
Qatar lashes out at UAE over QNA hacking
Qatar accused the UAE of violating international law after reports
suggested Abu Dhabi orchestrated the hacking of the Qatari official news agency
and social media sites."The information published in the Washington Post
... revealed the involvement of the UAE and senior Emirati officials in the
hacking of Qatar News Agency," Qatar's government communication office
said in a statement on Monday. The report "unequivocally proves that this
hacking crime took place", the statement quoted Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al
Thani, director of the government communication office, as saying.
Myanmar: UN probe 'can only aggravate' Rakhine tension
A UN mission investigating allegations of rape, torture and killings of
Rohingya Muslims would only "aggravate" troubles in Rakhine state,
the security adviser of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi told diplomats.Thaung
Tun's comments on Tuesday came less than a month after Myanmar declined to
grant visas to three UN-appointed experts who would probe allegations of abuse
against the minority by the armed forces."We dissociated ourselves from
the decision because we found that it was less than constructive," Thaung
Tun told UN officials and diplomats."We feel that that mission can only
aggravate the situation on the ground," he said.Aung San Suu Kyi and
several high-level Myanmar officials have been painfully reluctant to address
the Rohingya issue, and are often criticised for their failure to stem human
rights abuses. Aljazeera
Turkish and Kurdish forces clash in northern Syria, tensions rise
Mounting tensions between Kurdish and Turkish troops in northern Syria
have threatened to open a new front in the country’s complex war.The two US
allies have traded blame over recent clashes in the Kurdish-controlled city of
Afrin.YPG fighters say Turkish military deployments in areas under their
control amount to a declaration of war.But Ankara considers the YPG an
extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey.
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
BJP & Church find common ground on ‘Love Jihad’ in Kerala: CPM has
called ‘love jihad’ hidden agenda of Sangh in Kerala to use religion as a tool
to get minority votes: HT
A generation has grown up amid violence. Yet, state can fall back on its
heritage of tolerance, confluence:Wajahat Habibullah, indianexpress
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:53 PM)
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