Evening NEWS
DIGEST
26
Aug. 2017: 03 Zilhajja 1438:Vol:8, No:265
How BJP, Sangh funded, promoted monster called
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh: catchnews
Large scale
violence broke out in parts of Haryana and Punjab soon after a CBI court in
Panchkula convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of rape.
Over 30 people has been killed in Haryana in violence.BJP Govt in Haryana
stands accused of gross administrative failure. On the eve of the verdict, it
allowed lakhs of Dera supporters, or Premis as they are called, to gather at
Panchkula. Dera supporters also mobilised themselves at Sirsa, Dera’s bastion. Administrative
failure of Khattar Govt stems from its political compulsions.BJP in Haryana
enjoys close ties with Dera Sacha Sauda and this seems to have impaired it from
cracking down on Dera goons on time.Nothing embodies this failure more than
Haryana education minister Ram Bilas Sharma’s comment that the Section 144
imposed in Panchkula “did not apply to Dera supporters”.He even went to the
extent of defending the people who had gathered at Panchkula. He reportedly
described the Dera supporters as “simple, peace-loving people” who wouldn’t
“harm even a plant”.Sharma’s links with the Dera are well known. He is reported
to have recently donated Rs 51 lakh to the Dera as a mark of his support for
the cult.But it isn’t just Sharma. A number of leaders in the Haryana BJP have
deep ties with the Dera and this close relationship has the blessings of the
party’s top leadership.The other major backer of Ram Rahim in the Haryana BJP
is health minister Anil Vij. Vij donated Rs 50 lakh from Haryana Govt funds to
the Dera’s sports project. Another minister, Manish Grover, who holds the
portfolios of printing, stationery and urban local bodies, also donated Rs 11
lakh to Dera from his discretionary fund.The support for Dera extended even to
the Central govt, with Union minister for sports Vijay Goel also promising to
support the Dera with Central funds.Between 3 BJP leaders – Sharma, Vij and
Grover – the Dera was given over Rs 1 crore. This is despite the fact that even
at the time of the donations, Ram Rahim faced charges of rape and murder. What
is even more sinister is that the BJP’s Central leadership – PM Narendra Modi as well as BJP head Amit Shah –
were active participants in this cosy relationship of the party with Dera.
During the campaign for the Haryana Assembly polls in 2014, PM Modi reportedly
showered praise on rape-accused godman while addressing a rally in Sirsa.
Apparently, this was the first time that a major political leader had openly
invoked the Dera during an election campaign. Congress and Akali Dal leaders,
who often sought support of the Dera in the past, made it a point not to
publically name Dera or its chief. On the other hand, the 2014 Haryana election
was also the first time when Dera chief openly voiced his preference for a
political party – BJP. According to a report, the deal with guru was sealed by
none other than BJP chief Amit Shah. Report said that Shah met guru in the
first week of Oct. and “sought his blessings” for the Assembly polls in Haryana
and Maharashtra. The report said that 6 days after the meeting with Shah, BJP
general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya took 44 BJP candidates for Haryana polls
to meet the Dera chief. Apparently, guru showered his blessings on BJP
candidates during the meeting. Modi Govt also used Ram Rahim to push its Swachh
Bharat initiative.BJP insiders say that guru is a valuable political ally for
the party, as he commands the loyalty of over 1 crore followers across the
country, particularly in Haryana and Punjab.“Dera commands a large voter base
of over a crore, with a large percentage of Dalits. They vote en bloc.BJP
leaders have been in regular touch with guru and expected him to play a major
role in bringing votes the party’s way in Haryana and Punjab in the 2019 Lok
Sabha polls,” a senior BJP leader told Catch on the condition of anonymity.For
the BJP, Dera’s significance isn’t just related to elections. It is said to
occupy a key place in the broader gameplan of BJP's parent organisation – RSS.“Sangh’s
aims are not always associated with BJP. BJP is focused on elections, Sangh
works for society. Sangh has been cultivating various Deras – Radha Soami
Satsang, Dera Sacha Sauda etc – for some years now,” a Sangh functionary based
in Amritsar had told Catch during the Punjab elections earlier this year.“Deras
work with Dalit community, particularly Dalit Sikhs, who are ill-treated by
Panthic Sikhs.Deras help in bringing them back into the Hindu fold,”
functionary added. Functionary was extremely categorical in saying that the
interests of the Sangh were at odds with Panthic politics.“They (Panthic Sikhs)
emphasise on the minority nature of Sikhs.We don’t see them in that way. Often
even mainstream Sikh leaders take radical positions or appease radical
elements.Deras can help us counter this,”he added.Apparently to pursue this
agenda, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat spent some time at Mansa in South Punjab in
2014. During his visit, he reportedly met the head of the Radhasoami sect Baba
Gurinder Singh Dhillon. Dera Sacha Sauda has its roots in the Radha Soami sect.
Its founder Khema Mal aka Balochistani Shah Mastana, was a disciple of Baba
Sawan Singh of Radhasoami lineage.It is clear that in Punjab’s socio-political
landscape, RSS and the Deras are on the same side.
Ram Rahim Singh
enjoyed BJP's patronage
‘PM is of India,
not BJP’: Haryana HC takes Centre to task over Panchkula violence
Chandigarh: PM is of the nation and not the BJP, the Punjab
and Haryana high court remarked on Saturday as riots engulfed two states after
controversial “godman” Gurmeet Singh was convicted of rape.The court made the
stinging observation as the Centre and Haryana Govt came under scrutiny for administrative lapses
after at least 31 people were killed and property worth millions of rupees were
damaged in riots that broke out on Friday when Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief was
convicted.PM Narendra Modi condemned the
violence and appealed for peace.But the court termed the Centre’s response to
the violence “only a knee-jerk reaction”. “Why do you (the Centre) treat the
region as colonies?” asked a full bench of acting chief justice SS Saron and
justices Surya Kant and Avneesh Jhingan.“National integrity is above parties.
Are we one nation or a party nation?” the court responded after additional
solicitor general Satya Pal Jain argued that such violence had happened in states
ruled by other parties.HT
HC castigates Govt,
says CM Khattar is protecting guru
Punjab and Haryana
High Court on Saturday castigated the state Govt holding it squarely responsible for the
violence that erupted in Panchkula on Friday eventually leading to the death of
30 people. The HC slammed state Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan and held CM
ML Khattar responsible for protecting the Dera Sacha Sauda.“You [state Govt ]
have been misleading [us]. There has been a sea difference between
administrative and political decisions. Administrative decisions were paralysed
because of political decisions. You have placed a DCP under suspension, but was
he the only person responsible for all this? Are you trying to tell us that?,”
the HC asked AG Mahajan.“CM is the Home Minister. Why have you allowed people
to assemble for seven days. CM is protecting them,” the HC observed. indianexpress
Spl cell, bottled water,woman
aid for guru In Rohtak Jail?
Panchkula:Gurmeet Singh
has been moved to a prison in Haryana's Rohtak. The rape convict will be lodged
in a special cell, will get bottled mineral water and an assistant to stay with
him, sources in the Haryana jail said.He made a dramatic entry at the court
yesterda, driving 250km to Panchkula from Sirsa, where his sect is
headquartered, in a bulletproof car. There were about 200 cars in his convoy as
ardent devotees followed him. After being convicted and arrested, Dera chief
was taken to Rohtak by helicopter. Video from the court premises showed a woman
carrying out several bags and pieces of luggage as he left. Public and private
property was damaged by followers of Ram Rahim after the verdict. After he
landed in Rohtak, Ram Rahim was taken to a police guest house that served as a
makeshift jail. He was shifted to a prison only much later in the
evening.Denying the reports of special treatment to Dera chied, Haryana top
cop, according to ANI, said "some channels and papers reporting on special treatment to guru.
I clarify he is in Sunaria Jail, not in a guesthouse." NDTV
Sakshi defends
rapist guru,calls case bid to malign culture
New Delhi: Creating
an embarrassing situation for BJP Govt , party leader Sakshi Maharaj, said that
rape convict, self-styled godman was a kind soul.“Who is right? Crores of
people who see god in Ram Rahim or that girl who filed a complaint? Accusing a
noble soul like Ram Rahim,” said the controversial Hindutva leader. Maharaj
said Rahim’s conviction was an attempt to “malign Indian culture". He went
on to blame the court for violence that had erupted soon after Rahim was
convicted." "Can the Supreme Court or High Court call the Shahi Imam
(head) of Jama Masjid in this manner? He is also wanted in many cases...Is he
their relative? Ram Rahim is a simple man so he is being harassed," he
said.News18.com
Gurmeet Ram Rahim
supporter's open dare: Will wipe out India if anything happens to Pitaji
Journalists
attacked by supporters after court verdict
Enraged followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh attacked media vehicles and journalists on Friday after
CBI special court in Panchkula held the self-styled godman guilty of raping and
sexually exploiting two female disciples.Outdoor broadcasting vans of 3-4
television news channels were attacked by the supporters outside the court
complex in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh. Some OB vans were set on fire.A
total of 15 incidents of violence were reported within 45 minutes in Punjab and
Haryana after the HC verdict became known.A few journalists were injured in attack,
witnesses said. Cameras of photojournalists and TV cameramen were damaged by
the sect followers.hindustantimes
Journo who ‘exposed
rapes in Dera’ was killed: Case at final stage in same court
On Facebook, Kerala
CM Slams Sangh Parivar Over Sakshi Maharaj's Support to Dera Chief
Take judge by air
to Rohtak jail to pronounce quantum of sentence against Dera chief: HC
Dera chief is lodged in the Rohtak jail and
the quantum of sentence will be announced on Monday.Punjab and Haryana HC ordered
Haryana administration to make arrangements to take CBI judge Jagdeep Singh and
2 of his staff members to the Rohtak district jail by air for pronouncing the
quantum of sentence against Dera Sacha Sauda chief. thehindu
AK-47, pistols
recovered; sedition cases against Dera followers
Chandigarh: Haryana
Police have recovered an AK 47, 5 pistols and other weapons from two vehicles
of Dera followers and registered two sedition cases against followers, including
private security guards, of Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Govt said on Saturday. economictimes
Panchkula violence
LIVE: 36 dead, 269 injured says Haryana police chief; 552 arrests made so far
BS Sandhu, Haryana
Police Chief, said that 552 arrests have been made in relation to the violence
in Haryana so far. Sandhu said that 36 people have been killed and 269 people
have been injured. Out of the injured, 212 people were civilians. Property
damage was also noted at 18 public and private locations in Haryana. He also
said that about 3,000 to 4,000 people were at the Dera Sacha Sauda ahram in
Sirsa and they are vacating gradually. He added that 24 vehicles were impounded
by police in Panchkula. Also, five pistols (79 rounds), two rifles (52 rounds),
an AK 47, 3 petrol bombs, iron rods and hockey sticks were also recovered. firstpost
Over 300 trains
canceled after deadly protests: Reuters
Panchkula:Indian
authorities have arrested hundreds of people and canceled more than 300 trains
passing through two northern states after at least 29 people were killed in
violent protests following the conviction of a self-styled ’godman’.A spokesman
for the northern division of Indian Railways said 340 trains have been canceled
on Saturday as a precaution.
He called rape act
of god, even “Lord Krishna behaved same way': Victims' Statements Reveal
Horrific Tales
New Delhi: Was the
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a self-styled Godman, raping
his followers on the pretext of being an incarnation of Lord Krishna? Was the
assault and humiliation of the victims a result of the fact that he used his
‘godly’ status to the best of his advantage?Going by the statements of the
prosecution witnesses, it can be said that the victims were made to believe
that what had happened to them was not a crime. It was rather an act to purify
them of their sins.One of the victims of Ram Rahim had deposed before CBI court
that she was raped by the ‘Messenger of God’ forcefully and, after the assault,
she was told that even “Lord Krishna behaved the same way”.After having joined
the Dera as a sadhvi, little did she know about the word ‘maafi’. Whenever she
met a fellow sadhvi, they would question her if the Godman had forgiven her for
her sins.According to witnesses, Gurmeet Ram Rahim used to call his act of
raping his female followers, an act to purify them of their earlier sins, and
thus, forgive them. On one fateful night, she, too, was called inside the
cave.After greeting her ‘Guruji’, whom she revered as nothing less than the
God, she went in. When she was asked to confess her past mistakes, she spoke of
a man she had known. On the pretext of purifying her of her past mistakes, the
godman not only raped her but called it an act similar to what was performed by
Lord Krishna.She was later threatened with dire consequences, to the extent of
burning her family members. She soon managed to come out of the misery by
leaving the Dera with her brother.The abode of the self-styled godman was a
cave-like structure, with a road opening up to the women’s hostel. This
entrance was guarded by the sadhvis. One night the victim was called inside and
considering Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s position among his followers, she willingly
obliged. While she wanted to sit on the floor, ‘Pitaji’ coaxed her to sit on
the bed instead.Failing to resist, she was raped all night by the Dera Sacha
Sauda chief. While leaving the cave, she was threatened to keep quiet or face
dire consequences.Guerilla News
We are considered
pious but we live as prostitutes: Read full text of Sadhvi's letter that nailed
Ram Rahim
‘Pitaji’ Gurmeet
used to give ‘maafi’ to women disciples inside his ‘gufa’; maafi was code word
for rape?
Guru convicted of
rape: How Babas run Ponzi schemes with selfish politicians, foolish
bhakts:Sandipan Sharma
OTHERS
Beef ban law to be
tested in light of privacy verdict: SC
New Delhi:Maharashtra
law, which makes carrying or keeping beef at home an offence, is going to be
the first legislation to be tested on the plank of right to privacy which has
now been declared a fundamental right as the Supreme Court on Friday said that
it would examine the law in the light of its privacy verdict delivered two days
ago.The SC is examining a bunch of petitions filed by social activists,
challenging the verdict of the Bombay High Court which upheld Govt's decision
to ban slaughter of bullocks, but struck down Section 5D of Maharashtra Animal
Preservation (Amendment) Act,1995 law which empowered the police to enter, stop
and search a person on suspicion of possessing beef. The HC had said that a ban
on imported beef would be an infringement of right to privacy..Appearing before
a bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, senior advocate Indira Jaising
contended that the case had to be examined in the light of apex court's verdict
holding right to privacy as a fundamental right. She contended that right to
food of one's choice was part of fundamental rights and Govt could not frame a
law to encroach upon the right.. She pleaded the bench to adjourn the hearing
for two weeks to enable her and other lawyers to go through the verdict and
prepare their case on the basis of the the recent ruling.The bench agreed with
her submission and said, "The verdict would certainly have some bearing on
the present case". The court, thereafter, adjourned the hearing for two
weeks.Months before the SC delivered the verdict on privacy, Bombay High Court
in May last year held that right to privacy ingrained in the right to life
guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and had struck down Section 5D
as unconstitutional for being violative of right to privacy.Interestingly, the
state Govt, in its appeal, contended that privacy was not a fundamental right.
As a nine-judge constitution bench declaring privacy as part of fundamental
rights, the defence of the state Govt on
the ground of privacy holds no ground and the state would have to raise another
ground to challenge HC verdict. The SC in its verdict also dealt with food
habits of people while deliberating on right to privacy and said that a state
should not have "unqualified authority" to intrude into certain
aspects of human life which amounts to violation of right to privacy."I do
not think that anybody in this country would like to have the officers of the
State intruding into their homes or private property at will or soldiers
quartered in their houses without their consent. I do not think that anybody
would like to be told by the State as to what they should eat or how they
should dress or whom they should be associated with either in their personal,
social or political life," SC said in its verdict. indian express
SC observes Right
to Privacy may affect beef ban
UP: Mob Attacks
Villagers, Vandalises Property After Cow Carcass Found in UP Villge Pond
New Delhi: A mob
reportedly attacked a village in Bulandshahr, UP , after a cow carcass was
found floating in a local pond on Friday morning.“Hundreds of men,” TOI quoted
villagers in Adauli as saying, “”attacked every soul they spotted and
vandalised scores of houses”. According to the newspaper, houses and religious
structures of a “certain community” were targeted. “Many houses were looted,
and two of our religious structures vandalised. After the attack, many
frightened families have locked their houses and left for safer places fearing
further attacks,” a villager told TOI.According to a report in the Hindi daily
Patrika, mob consisted of members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a Hindutva group
formerly led by UP CM Adityanath. The paper has also posted a video of the
incident, after the police arrived at the scene. SP (city) Praveen Ranjan TOI,
“A PAC battalion was deployed at the village along with forces from seven
police stations. Strong action will be taken against perpetrators of the
violence. We have just received a police complaint on the basis of which an FIR
will be lodged. No one is going to be spared. So far, situation is under
control.”The cow was sent for a post mortem and then buried, added SP (rural)
Pradeep Kumar Tiwari. According to Jansatta, though the police was able to calm
the situation down and also took some people away for questioning, after they
left violence resumed and stones were pelted at some villagers.“Like everyday,
I was going about my daily routine when suddenly a large crowd began running in
my direction, some of whom started thrashing me and even threw away the vegetables
on my cart into the drain,”Aabad Ali, vegetable vendor, told TOI. “There were
many who were beaten up.”The Wire
Gau Ke Naam: Noida
Goes Pure Veg; Chicken, Mutton, Pork and Even Fish Go Off Market: monthNewsclick
The crackdown on
beef has now extended to all forms of non-vegetarian foods in Noida – one of
the satellite towns of the national capital. Meat sellers at Sector 8 talk
about the hassles created by district administration and what they personally
face as they are left with no means to earn for the past five…
Chhattisgarh BJP
leader who ran cow shelters sold dead cattle to butchers, traded in bones and
skin: Police
Raipur:Chhattisgarh
BJP leader Harish Verma who was arrested after the death of nearly 300 cows at
his cow shelters routinely sold dead cattle to butchers and traded in their
skin and bones, according to police.State’s Gau Sewa Ayog (official body for
bovine welfare) levelled this allegation against Verma in its complaint to the
police.“Gau Sewa Ayog’s allegation was found to be true,” Durg IG of police
Deepanshu Kabra said Saturday. “Some of
the accused have given statements that dead cows were sold to butchers.Details
will come out soon,” said Kabra.Verma, whom BJP suspended after his arrest on
August 18, is linked to three cow shelters where cattle deaths, allegedly of
starvation and lack of medicines, were reported.He ran Shagun Goshala (cow
shelter) in Durg district; his wife, Laxmi Verma, operated the Phulchandra
Goshala in adjoining Bemetara district; and his relative, M Narayanan, was in
charge of Mayuri Goshala, also in Bemetara, said police. All three cow shelters
functioned with funding from the Gau Sewa Ayog.Verma is now in police custody.
Meat exporter Moin
Qureshi sent to ED custody till Aug 31
New Delhi: Meat
exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi was today sent to 5-day custody of the Enforcement
Directorate by a city court for "thorough investigation" in a money
laundering probe against him and others.Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj sent the
accused to ED custody till Aug.31 after the probe agency said his custodial
interrogation was required to unearth crime proceeds and money trail and to
confront him with the documents. While seeking his custody for 14 days, EDs
special prosecutor N K Matta told the court that Qureshi was in possession of
more evidence in this case and was withholding them, jeopardising the probe.PTI
Life has become
‘difficult’ for minorities under Modi govt: Azam Khan
Rampur (up):Muslims
are being “harassed” and it has become “difficult” for minorities to lead a
normal life since Narendra Modi dispensation assumed office, senior Samajwadi
Party leader and Rampur MLA Azam Khan has alleged.Ex-UP minister said, “Muslims are being harassed –
sometimes in the name of cow(slaughter) and sometimes in the name of religion.”
“Life has become difficult for minorities since Modi-led BJP came to power,” he
added.He also alleged that BJP govt was trying to “redefine” Shariat laws, in
the wake of a Supreme Court verdict invalidating the Muslim practice of instant
divorce. He alleged that the residents of Rampur, a Muslim-majority town, were
facing “maximum atrocities” in the hands of law-enforcement agencies since BJP
came to power in UP . PTI
West Bengal:Muslim
clerics urge to celebrate Eid on a low key to avoid communal unrest
Days ahead of Bakri
Eid, Muslim clerics urged people of the community to maintain a low key during
sacrificing of animals and to maintain cleanliness during the Friday namaz in
Kolkata. Qari Fazlur Rahman, who leads the Eid namaz at Red Road in Kolkata —
the largest conglomeration of Muslims offering their prayers in the city — said
they had been going to different areas to generate awareness among people to
celebrate Eid in such a way that no clashes happen. "We are urging people
to maintain peace and harmony, and to offer sacrifices at a covered place and
not in a way that might be disturbing to others," he said.Maulana Shafique
Qasmi, Imam of Nakhoda Masjid — the biggest masjid in the city — was also of
the same opinion. He even said that cow sacrifice should be avoided at places
where it has the potential to spark off communal tension or unrest. "I
told people that Islam preaches peace and we are to ensure that no one is
inconvenienced owing to our actions. At certain places where there is a mixed
population, I have suggested people to opt for goats or dumba goats. The aim is
to sacrifice an animal according to inscription. If avoiding sacrificing a cow
can help avoid trouble and controversy, we should take account fo that,"
Qasmi said.
MP town tense after
‘Pak flag’ found atop a temple
Bhopal: Tension
erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Narsinghpur district on Thursday after a “Pakistani
flag” was found hoisted atop a Hanuman temple, prompting authorities to
prohibit gathering of more than 4 people in the district HQRS.A case has been
registered against unidentified persons for hurting religious sentiments,
police said on Friday.Police also prohibited sharing of “communally sensitive”
contents on social medial platforms. Locals saw the flag when they went to the
Panchmukhi Hanuman temple on the outskirts of Narsinghpur town, some 190kms
from Bhopal, in the morning.HT
Gorakhpur tragedy:
Kafeel Khan among 2 more doctors suspended over deaths
Gorakhpur:2 doctors
of BRD Medical College Hospital in Gorakhpur, including Dr Kafeel Khan, who was
in charge of the encephalitis ward, have been suspended in connection with the
death of children there earlier this month.Dr Khan, in charge of 100-bed AES
ward, and Dr Satish, in charge of anaesthesia, have been suspended after the
state Govt ’s approval, medical college principal Dr PK Singh said. Probe committee
headed by chief secretary Rajive Kumar had recommended initiating criminal
action against the then principal of the medical college, Dr Satish, Dr Khan
and M/s Pushpa Sales Pvt Ltd.PTI
Aadhaar security: WikiLeaks
hints at CIA access to India's national ID card database
WikiLeaks on Friday
published reports that suggested US' CIA is using technology provider Cross
Match Technologies to discreetly extract Aadhaar data. "OTS, a branch
within CIA, has a biometric collection system that is provided to liaison
services around the world — with the expectation for sharing of the biometric
takes collected on the systems. But this 'voluntary sharing' obviously does not
work or is considered insufficient by CIA, because ExpressLane is a covert
information collection tool that is used by CIA to secretly exfiltrate data
collections from such systems provided to liaison services," WikiLeaks
said on its website.WikiLeaks published documents' claimed that CIA used
ExpressLane - a cyber tool devised by Cross match Technologies for online
spying.Cross match Technologies is a US company that specialises in biometric
software that also provides biometric solutions to UIDAI, statutory body for
Aadhaar."Have CIA spies already stolen #India's national ID card
database?," tweeted WikiLeaks along with an article attached.In another
tweet, they published an article that says "Aadhaar in the hand of
spies".However, official sources in India have denied any such claims, say
media reports.Earlier, defending its decision to make Aadhaar a necessary
document for availing benefits of Govt schemes, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar
Prasad informed the Supreme Court that the Govt has formed a high-level committee for Aadhaar
data protection. dnaindia
Law panel’s report
on uniform civil code not before 2018
New Delhi: Law
Commission of India, tasked with examining whether the time is ripe for
bringing in a uniform civil code in the country, could take up to a year to
submit its report to the Govt , top sources in the commission told HT.“The
commission has time until August 2018 to wrap up its report. We will do it
before that,” a senior commission official who did not want to be named, said.A
member of the team working on the code said the commission would require months
to examine the issue and come up with comprehensive recommendations. After the
Supreme Court’s verdict on instant triple talaq, it was widely perceived that
the commission will submit its report soon, paving the way for BJP-led Govt to begin the legislative process for bringing
uniformity in personal laws.“It (uniform code) is a very wide subject. The
court considered only instant triple talaq… We want to present a report that is
acceptable to all stakeholders,” the official said. hindustantimes
Kashmir’s Pulwama:
8 security personnel, 2 militants killed; encounter underway
Eight security
personnel were killed while five were injured in an encounter with militants
today in Pulwama's district police lines in J&K . 4 policemen and 4 CRPF
jawans were killed. 2 of the 4 CRPF personnel include Jaswant Singh and
Dhanawade Ravinder. 2 CRPF personnel have received bullet injuries.The
militants launched the attack on a guard-post upon entering the town's district
police lines at around 3.40 am, the police said. They used grenades and
gunfire.Several families were evacuated from the vicinity of the incident. The
evacuation is still on through a helicopter.india today
Rebels storm police
camp in Kashmir; 10 killed: AP
Article 35A row:
Hearing delayed, can't lower guard, says Mirwaiz
Though the hearing
on Article 35-A which confers special rights on J&K’s permanent residents
has been deferred, people of Kashmir need to remain vigilant, the Hurriyat
Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday, hours after the
Supreme Court said it would hear all pleas related to the constitutional
provision after Diwali.“The hearing has been deferred, but we cannot drop our
guard,” he told reporters outside Jamia Masjid in Downtown after addressing a
Friday congregation there.Mirwaiz said that it was after stiff resistance by
people of Kashmir against attempts at abrogating Article 35-A that the hearing
of the case has been deferred. “But Article 35-A continues to be a matter of
our life and death and is a very sensitive issue. We need to be vigilant and
can’t down our guard,” he said.He said the people of Kashmir would watch the
developments closely and accordingly decide the future course of action.Mirwaiz
had yesterday warned of “massive street agitation” if Article 35-A was rolled
back.
JRL postpones Aug.29
strike call, protest programme over article 35A scrapping
Cooperation is
always better than confrontation: UN envoy calls for peaceful dialogue between over
Doklam
As China's volley
of verbal attacks against India continues across Doklam plateau, the UN has
urged both sides to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue.Jorge
Chediek, Special Envoy to UN Secy General on South-South Cooperation, said,
'The best situation from the perspective of United Nations is that every
country gets along with each other.'Cooperation is always better than
confrontation. So we look forward to the two countries solving their
differences in a peaceful way, as they expect themselves to do and continue
their collaboration with each other as well as with other countries.' Even as
the world community is monitoring the increased tension between India and
China, the latter has upped the ante by acting on its threats of creating
trouble in other areas of LAC.The recent being the Pangong incident when the
Indian and Chinese forces came to blows and hurled stones at each other, making
the whole of LAC, especially the vulnerable areas, very volatile. Hence, a
worried international community is waiting for signs of de-escalation. Chediek
said that while he was not engaged in any process of looking into the Doklam
crisis, he did raise concerns regarding the border tensions itself, emphasising
on the need to come up with a peaceful resolution to the crisis through
dialogue.DailyMail
Gujarat riots:SC
asks trial court to decide case in 4 months
New Delhi: Supreme
Court has asked the lower court in Gujarat to decide within four months the
trial in a 2002 Gujarat riots case related to Naroda Gam incident in which 11
persons were killed. A bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar was informed that
the trial was in progress in the matter and defence evidence was being recorded
by a special court in the state. Top court asked the lower court to complete
recording of evidence of the remaining defence witnesses in two months.
"Under all circumstances, we hope and expect that the trial court shall
render its judgment in the instant second matter within four months from
today," the bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY
Chandrachud, said.The bench was also informed that two out of the nine cases,
which were probed by the SIT, were pending before the lower court. PTI
Taj Mahal is a tomb
and not a temple, ASI tells court
Agra:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has told an Agra court that the Taj
Mahal-- widely regarded as a masterpiece of Muslim architecture—is a tomb and
not a temple as claimed by a group of petitioners.In a written statement filed
in the court of civil judge (senior division) on Thursday, the ASI refused to
accept the contention that the world heritage site was built on a temple
dedicated to Hindu god Shiva.The court in April 2015 admitted a law suit filed
by six lawyers, who had claimed the Taj is a Hindu temple, Tejo Mahalaya and as
such followers of the religion should be allowed access inside the premises of
the monument to perform ‘darshan’ and ‘aarti.’They also asked for opening of
the locked rooms in the monument.The court has fixed the next hearing on
Sept.11. hindustantimes
Army probe had
found Purohit dealt in illegal weapons deals: indianexpress
New Delhi:Lt Col
Shrikant Prasad Purohit, Malegaon blast accused who was granted bail Monday by
the Supreme Court, left Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai with an Army escort two days
later. He said he was ready to don the uniform again. But a report of the DG of
Military Intelligence (DGMI), which indicted Purohit for his “activities
unbecoming of an Army officer”, is likely to come in the way of his
reinstatement.The report dated July 27, 2011 lists the findings of a DGMI probe
that began soon after Purohit’s name came up in the blast case. It not only
detailed his involvement with Hindutva radicals and his alleged role in the
Malegaon blast but also accused him of dealing in arms illegally and selling
ordnance weapons.Report stated that Purohit was “involved in procurement and
disposal of wpns (weapons) for monetary benefits”. It said he initially dealt
with a Pune-based arms dealer but later started interacting with Rakesh Dhawde(an
accused in Malegaon case). According to DGMI,Dhawde had access to illegal
weapons and explosives. “Easy availability of weapons to Purohit helped in
raising his status among core group who were seeking explosives and weapons to
execute violent activities,” the report stated.
Court sends suspect
Zeeshan Ali to jail
New Delhi: Zeeshan
Ali deported from Saudi Arabia earlier this month, has been remanded in
judicial custody till Sept.21 in a case of terror funding.Additional Sessions
Judge Sidharth Sharma passed the order yesterday after he was produced before court
by the police following his custodial interrogation. 29-year-old Ali, a native
of Jharkhand and a relative of a 2007 Glasgow airport attack suspect, was
deported from Saudi Arabia in connection with the case.PTI
WORLD
Thousands of
Rohingya flee for Bangladesh as fresh violence erupts in Myanmar kills 96:
Reuters
Thousands of
Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar are trying to cross the border
with Bangladesh, Bangladeshi security officials said on Saturday, as fresh
fighting erupted in Myanmar's northwestern Rakhine state. The death toll from
widespread attacks staged by Rohingya insurgents on Friday has climbed to 96,
including nearly 80 insurgents and 12 members of the security forces, the Govt said, prompting it to evacuate staff and
villagers from some areas.The attacks marked a dramatic escalation of a
conflict that has simmered since last Oct, when a similar offensive prompted a
major military sweep beset by allegations of serious human rights abuses.The
treatment of approximately 1.1 million Muslim Rohingya in mainly Buddhist
Myanmar has emerged as the biggest challenge for national leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, who late on Friday condemned the morning raids - in which insurgents
wielding guns, sticks and homemade bombs assaulted 30 police stations and an
army base.Some 3,000 Rohingya arrived at the Naf river separating Myanmar and
Bangladesh on Saturday, Manzurul Hassan Khan, a Bangladeshi border guard
commander, told Reuters."About 500 Rohingya, mostly women and children,
spent the last night in a marshy area waiting to cross over," said Khan.
"We protected them the whole night.Today they went back." Reuters
reporters saw hundreds of Rohingya crossing into Bangladesh near the border
village of Gumdhum as gun shots could be heard from the Myanmar side. They
could be seen squatting in a marshy area, hiding in the bushes from border
guards."We managed to escape the shooting in Myanmar and tried to enter
Bangladesh. We waited all night after we were pushed backed by Bangladesh
border guards last night. This morning, we managed to enter somehow," said
Hamid Hossain, 42, who crossed into Bangladesh on Saturday with a group of
three families.A 25-year-old man whose relatives said he had been shot by
Myanmar security forces on Friday died as he was carried to Bangladesh for
treatment. He was buried near a refugee camp close to the border on Saturday,
according to camp resident Mohammed Shafi, who said he witnessed the
burial.Bangladesh's foreign ministry on Saturday said it was concerned that
thousands of "unarmed Myanmar nationals" had assembled near the
border to enter the country. In Myanmar, the Govt said there had been several
large clashes involving hundreds of Rohingya across northwestern Rakhine on
Saturday. Fiercest fighting took place on the outskirts of the major town of
Maungdaw, near the Alodaw Pyae Buddhist monastery.Maungdaw resident Nay Myo
Lin, 27, told Reuters by telephone that security forces opened fire on scores
of what appeared to be Muslim men with guns near the monastery.Arakan Rohingya
Salvation Army which instigated the October attacks claimed responsibility for offensive,
presenting it as a defence against Myanmar army.
Violence continues
in Myanmar’s Rakhine State; 89 people killed
Rohingya Muslims
fleeing violence in Myanmar stopped at Bangladesh border, stranded at Naf river
No Rohingya to be
allowed into Bangladesh:Govt
Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative urges India to reconsider advisory on Rohingya Muslims
New
Delhi:Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on Saturday urged the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider withdrawal of an advisory with
regard to the proposed deportation of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar.The Advisory
titled 'Identification of illegal migrants and monitoring thereof' was issued
on August 8 which emphasises the detection and deportation of illegal migrants
from Rakhine State i.e. Rohingyas.CHRI, in its statement, said the Govt 's
advisory on Rohingya Muslims "runs contrary" to India's
constitutional and international commitments.CHRI mentioned that India was a
state party to Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights(ICCPR), which upholds right to life.IANS
Israel revoking
Israeli Arabs’ citizenship: Newspaper
Jerusalem: Israeli
authorities have revoked the citizenship of hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of
Israeli Arabs in the southern Negev region over the past 2 years, Israeli daily
Haaretz revealed Friday.According to the paper, Israel’s Interior Ministry has
changed the status of these Israeli Arabs from “citizens” to “inhabitants”,
which has led to the forfeiture of many of their basic rights.Reacting to the
report, Talab Abu Arar, an Israeli Arab member of the Knesset (Israel’s
parliament), demanded that the ministry reverse the move. According to Abu
Arar, the citizenships were surreptitiously stripped by the ministry’s office
in the city of Beersheba (the Negev’s largest city) when Israeli Arab residents
applied to renew their national ID cards or passports.Anadolo agency
Israeli councilman:
500 Jewish families will settle in Jerusalem
Some 500 Jewish
families will live in occupied East Jerusalem within the next decade, Arieh
King, the director of the Israel Land Fund organisation and a Jerusalem city
councilman, announced yesterday.“Sheikh Jarrah, or Shimon Hatzadik, is going
through a revolution, and we will see its outcome in something like five
years,” King told Jerusalem Post.There are currently five Jewish homes in Sheikh
Jarrah neighbourhood occupied Jerusalem, but King is encouraging Israeli Jews
to settle in four other compounds in the city. middleeastmonitor
ISIL makes gains
against Syrian army in Raqqa province; at least 34 Syrian soldiers killed
ISIL fighters have
killed at least 34 Syrian govt troops and seized their vehicles, pushing back
the army advancing on Maadan, one of the last ISIL-held towns in Raqqa
province.UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the early Friday
counterattack by the ISIL group also left 12 of its fighters dead. Development set
the Govt back about 30km to the west of
Maadan and allowed ISIL to recapture a number of villages in the areas it lost
to advancing Syrian soldiers last month.ISIL media channels posted images of
the attacked Syrian army convoy and bodies of more than a dozen soldiers.Maadan
lies halfway between Raqqa city and Deir Az Zor city, where Govt forces control about half the city and a
nearby airbase, but both of them are besieged by ISIL.US-backed Syrian fighters
are bearing down on Raqqa city from all sides. Half of the estimated 20,000
people trapped there are children, an official with the UN children's agency
said Friday.Fran Equiza spoke to AP in Damascus following a visit to three
camps in northern Syria where he met displaced children from Raqqa and Deir Az
Zor."I was completely overwhelmed,"he said."There are 10,000
children trapped in Raqqa in extremely dire conditions. No electricity, no
water, probably very little food ...and the battle almost every day.The level
of suffering, losing friends, relatives, family of these children is absolutely
staggering."On Friday, the Russian military, which provides air support to
the Syrian army, said it was currently focusing on Govt 's offensive in Deir Az
Zor."Breaking the blockade of the city will mark the defeat of the most
capable part of the IS in Syria," said Sergei Rudskoi of the military's
general staff. aljazeera
IS asks Hezbollah,
Syrian Army for withdrawal from Syria-Lebanon border: source
Beirut:Islamic
State has asked the Syrian Army and its ally Hezbollah to let it withdraw from
Syria’s border with Lebanon to the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, an official
in the pro-Assad military alliance said on Thursday.Syrian Govt forces and their Lebanese ally, Iranian-backed
Hezbollah, are trying to oust Islamic State militants from the western Qalamoun
region of Syria on Lebanon’s border.“IS asked for negotiations and a
withdrawal, and the Syrian side and Hezbollah agreed,” the official
said.Reuters
'Civilians killed'
in Somali military operation
Mogadishu:A Somali
official on Friday accused the country’s armed forces and its foreign backers
of killing nine civilians -- including a woman and a child.Ali Nur Mohamed,
deputy governor of the Lower Shabelle region, told reporters the civilians were
killed when foreign troops with Somali forces raided a farm near Bariire
village."Forces from the Somali Govt and foreign troops stormed a farm near Bariire
village earlier on Friday [and] killed at least nine people. Anadolo agency
Saudi Grand Mosque
cleric condemns inter-Muslim conflict ahead of Haj pilgrimage: Reuters
Mecca:The imam of
Mecca’s Grand Mosque denounced those who “cause conflict among Muslims” in his
last Friday sermon before the annual haj pilgrimage, as rifts widen among Gulf
neighbours and wars rage across Middle East.Saudi Arabia, which hosts and
supervises the haj, has with other Arab Govt s imposed sanctions on Qatar and
cut all transport links with the country in recent months, accusing it of
supporting Iran and backing Islamist terrorism - charges Doha denies.Relations
between Shia Muslim-led Iran and predominately Sunni Saudi Arabia are at their
worst in years, with each accusing the other of subverting regional security
and supporting opposite sides in conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
No Hajj for Qataris
this year amid Saudi dispute? aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Ban on Sale and
Slaughter of Cattle Triggers Mobocracy:Prof. Shah Manzoor Alam
Not Only
Encephalitis, Lack of Oxygen Also Triggered Gorakhpur Tragedy:Tarique Anwar
Article 35A: Kashmir
may erupt like never before as locals panic over changing demographics of
state:Sameer Yasir
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:50 PM)
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