Evening NEWS
DIGEST (Early)
21
Aug. 2017: 28 Zulqidah 1438:Vol:8, No:261
Lt Col Purohit,
main accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case, granted bail by SC
New Delhi:The
Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit,
the main accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case which killed 7 people.Last
week, Purohit, in his application for bail, had told the court that he was in
jail for the last nine years and was entitled to be granted bail. Denying his
involvement in the incident, Purohit told the court that even assuming that the
charges that he had supplied the bomb were true, even then he would have to be
out of jail as offence attracted a maximum of 7 years imprisonment. Appearing
for NIA, Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh opposed the bail plea,
saying there was evidence of his involvement in the Malegaon blast.At least
seven persons were killed and nearly 100 injured when a bomb strapped to a
motorcycle exploded in Malegaon in Nashik district on Sept.29, 2008.On April 25
this year, the Bombay High Court granted bail to another accused in the case,
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. Purohit had challenged April 25 Bombay High Court
order which granted bail to another accused, Sadhvi but rejected his plea. Both
Pragya and Purohit were arrested in 2008. Sadhvi, who is suffering from cancer,
is undergoing treatment at a MP hospital.According to the investigating
agencies, the Malegaon blast was allegedly carried out by right-wing group
Abhinav Bharat. NIA, which was handed over Malegaon blast probe from ATS, had
given a clean chit to Pragya, but said that the charges levelled against
Purohit are of serious and grave nature.While opposing Purohit's bail plea, NIA
had argued that there was evidence in the form of audio and video recordings,
call data records and the statements of the witnesses which prove his
involvement in the case.According to NIA, Purohit had allegedly taken active
part in the conspiracy meetings of Abhinav Bharat and even agreed to arrange
explosives to be used in the blast.Referring to NIA report, the Bombay High Court
had said, "Purohit was the one who prepared a separate 'constitution' for
the 'Hindu Rashtra' with a separate saffron colour flag. He also discussed
taking revenge for the atrocities committed by the Muslims on Hindus."The
HC also refused to accept Purohit's contention that he had attended the
meetings as part of a "covert military intelligence operation".The
court pointed out that according to the statements of the witnesses, it was
Purohit who had said that Abhinav Bharat should not be just a political party,
but should work as an "organisation of extremists", having the
capacity to "eliminate persons opposing the same".Purohit has claimed
that the NIA was "selective" in exonerating the accused persons, and
that the agency had made him a "scapegoat" in the Malegaon case.india
today
Malegaon blast
accused Purohit gets bail; Congress, MIM accuse govt of ‘protecting all
RSS-connected accused’
New Delhi: Congress
and the BJP govt on Monday traded barbs at each other, with the former accusing
the latter of “protecting” all the accused “connected to the RSS” after the
Supreme Court granted bail to Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit, the key accused
in the 2008 Malegaon serial blasts case. The opposition party also raised
questions over NIA chief Sharad Kumar getting 2 extensions and expressed hope
that justice would be delivered in the case “without fear or favour”.“Col
Purohit gets Bail. It was expected as the present BJP Govt is protecting all
the accused connected with RSS in all Bomb Blast cases (sic),” Congress leader
Digivijaya Singh wrote on Twitter. “NIA chief has been given two extensions to
ensure their acquittal. He may now be further rewarded for a suitable post
retirement position (sic),” he said, in another tweet. Echoing similar views,
All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of communications dept Randeep
Singh Surjewala wondered why the Narendra Modi-led Govt was struggling to find
an efficient police officer to head the NIA, so much so that it gave two
extensions to its current chief. “Why is that the Modi Govt cannot find any
competent police officer in India to head NIA that they have to give 2
extensions to its current chief?“We sincerely hope that the law will take its
own course and justice will be done, free from fear or favour, in this case,”
he added. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused Modi-led Govt of going soft on
the cases where the Hindus are alleged accused. “In the larger picture, since
2014, since PM Narendra Modi took the charge at the Centre, there has been a
pattern in such cases. All cases involving the Hindus as the alleged accused
are dropped,” Owaisi. Stating that everyone has the right to bail, Owaisi
questioned as to why it is not being granted to Muslims, Dalits and tribals. indianexpress
Malegaon: After
bail, Purohit to be attached to Army unit
Lt. Col. Purohit,
an accused in the Malegaon blast who was granted bail, will be attached to an
Army unit but will remain under suspension from service.According to IANS
report, Purohit continues to be under suspension, but since he has now been
granted bail, he has to be attached to an Army unit. Under suspension, he will
be treated as “under open arrest”, wherein usually a soldier is supposed to
wear only his uniform. Purohit, under suspension, can wear civilian clothes as
well. His stay in his Army unit will come along with restrictions, like limited
area of movement, not leave the station without permission and reporting daily.
He will also not be allowed to attend any public event or gathering. indianexpress
SC granted bail to
Col. Purohit on the basis of NIA charge sheet: lawyer Harish Salve
New Delhi:Senior
lawyer,Harish Salve, appearing for Purohit in connection to the Malegaon blasts
case expressed satisfaction over the Supreme Court's verdict and said the bail
plea was granted by the court on the basis of the charge sheet filled by NIA.He
said that chargesheet filed by ATS was contradictory, hence the top court went
by NIA charge sheet.ANI
Shiv Sena hails
bail to Malegaon blast accused Purohit, calls him a ‘hero’, who fought against
terrorists
Panaji: Shiv Sena welcomed
the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to Lt. Col. Purohit in the 2008
Malegaon blast case and termed him as a “hero” who fought against terrorists.
PTI
In Kerala pamphlets
criticising polytheism: 37 arrested
Kochi: Police has arrested
37 persons for distributing pamphlets containing materials allegedly
denigrating another religion in Moothakunnam and Vadakkekara area near North
Paravur. According to the officers, local residents complained to police that a
group of people, under the banner of Wisdom Global Islamic Mission, distributed
the pamphlets containing remarks against polytheism and inviting them to
embrace Islam.Later, the group was taken into custody and a team of officers
under Aluva Rural SP AV George conducted a detailed interrogation. The police
recorded the arrest by evening.The officers recovered the notices with title
‘Vimochanathinte Vazhi’ (Path of Liberation), which allegedly contains the
remarks on polytheism, termed as a severe sin by Islam.The notice ends with an
invite to join Islam religion. However, it also has remarks against terrorism
and fundamentalism.The incident came to light when a group of local residents
disrupted the distribution of pamphlets in Moothakunnam area, which led to a
scuffle and later created a tension in the area for a few hours. The local
residents alleged the group came to the area with maps having the location of a
temple and other places of worship in the area.Rural SP AV George said all the
37 persons were booked under section 153 A (promoting enmity between different
groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.,
and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of IPC. “We are not
accusing them of any terror activity. However, one of the pamphlets which they
were distributing had statements like ‘welcoming people to Islam’ and that
‘idol worshiping is wrong’.We recognise their right to propagate their
ideology.However, going to households which practises idol worship with
pamphlets saying it is wrong is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony”, he
added. Wisdom Global Islamic Mission, meanwhile, denied the reports that they
propagated communal hatred through the booklets. “While Fascism and terrorist activities are
going up, it’s required to protect humanity and secularist values. The contents
in the pamphlets distributed as part of the door-to-door campaign by the
volunteers of Wisdom Global Islamic Mission are not intended to upset religious
sentiments,” said a press release issued by its office bearers V M Jabir and
Mohammed Ali Kochi. newindianexpress
39 members of
Islamic outfit held for ‘promoting enmity’ in Kerala
SC to tomorrow
pronounce judgement on triple talaq
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sc-to-tomorrow-pronounce-judgement-on-triple-talaq/1/1030746.html
New Delhi:The
Supreme Court would tomorrow pronounce a historic judgement on the
controversial issue of whether the practice of triple talaq among Muslims is
fundamental to the religion. A 5-judge constitution bench headed by Chief
Justice J S Khehar had reserved its verdict on May 18 after a six-day marathon
hearing during the summer vacation.During the hearing, the apex court had
clarified that it may not deliberate upon the issue of polygamy and said it
would only examine whether triple talaq was part of an "enforceable"
fundamental right to practice religion by the Muslims.Besides CJI Khehar, the
bench also included Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and S Abdul
Nazeer.The Govt had termed all the 3 forms of divorce among the Muslim
community - talaq-e-biddat, talaq hasan and talaq ahsan, as
"unilateral" and "extra-judicial".It has said that all
personal laws must be in confirmity with the Constitution and rights of
marriage, divorce, property and succession has to be treated in the same class
and has to be in conformity with the Constitution.Senior advocate Kapil Sibal,
appearing for AIMPLB, had equated the issue of triple talaq with the belief
that Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya and these were matters of faith which cannot
be tested on grounds of constitutional morality.PTI
Supreme Court
rulings on privacy, triple talaq this week
SC sending out
worrying signals, misuse of CBI institutionalised: Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal
In a candid and
wide-ranging exchange at the NH Round Table, Kapil Sibal explains his worries
about the judiciary and potential threat to democracy and the Constitution.
Sibal said, "I will be attracting contempt of court if I say that! And I
do believe that the Judiciary cannot have a different standard than the
standards held by society. So, judges are influenced by society. But having
said that, let me tell you what my problem with the judiciary is. I cannot
comment freely because I am a counsel in the case; but when the Supreme Court,
for example, ordered an investigation by the NIA, essentially a
counter-intelligence agency, to inquire into a marriage in Kerala, a marriage
between two consenting adults, to me it is worrying." Replying to the
quetion that you are referring to the Love Jihad case? he said, "The court
did not use the term Love jihad; the media did and erroneously at that. The
bride had converted to Islam several years before the marriage. In fact the
bride and the groom got to know each other through a matrimonial advertisement
that appeared on a portal some time in November last year. The bride was 24
years old and the groom was 27. He responded to the advertisement along with 70
other suitors and she chose him. They got married in Dec. So how was it a case
of Love jihad?" When questioning about his reaction to the apex court’s
readiness to hear the Triple Talaq case, he replied, "Well, it is the
prerogative of the court and the CJI to decide what they would hear. But when
you declare in the presence of the PM at
a function at Allahabad that during the summer vacation you would hear three
specific cases, people wonder if the public announcement was meant for the PM’s
ears. It sends out a wrong message. And when you decide to hear three cases,
one on Triple Talaq, another on minorities in Assam and a third one I am unable
to recall but also doing with the minority community, people do start wondering
if it is just a coincidence. And then the court also takes up the Babri Masjid
case and directs that hearing be concluded within a specific time-frame. People
will wonder if these are the most urgent cases for the Supreme Court to hear
during the vacation." When questioning this Govt's use of agencies like CBI,
ED etc,he said, "There is now little doubt that they are the long arms of
the Govt. When the apex court said they would order an inquiry by an
independent agency like the NIA in the Kerala wedding case, I told the court
that I could file an affidavit and list the number of U-turns agencies like NIA
and CBI have taken in the last three years." He added, " These
agencies are being misused to target any leader who poses a threat to this
dispensation. They are being silenced, co-opted and we even have cases in which
these agencies are telling people that they would be let off if they give a
statement against this leader or that." nationalheraldindia
Rajnath says China tension
to end soon, Beijing makes angry comment
New Delhi: Days
after footage emerged of Indian and Chinese soldiers fighting at the border at
Sikkim, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the confrontation will end soon.
China offered no assurances, instead blaming India again for the altercation
that has extended into its third month and for the clashes that erupted with
soldiers from both sides throwing stones at each other."A deadlock is
going on between India and China in Doklam. But I think a solution will come
out soon. China will also take a positive step from its side," Singh said
as he addressed the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). "We
want to maintain good relations with our neighbours. We don't want conflict, we
want peace."NDTV
Ladakh scuffle:
‘Extremely dissatisfied’ China blames India
Beijing:China laid
the blame at India’s door on Monday for an altercation along their border in
the western Himalayas involving soldiers from both of the Asian giants. Both
countries’ troops have been embroiled in an eight-week-long standoff on the
Doklam plateau in another part of the remote Himalayan region near their
disputed frontier. Last week, a source in New Delhi, who had been briefed on
the military situation on the border, said soldiers foiled a bid by a group of
Chinese troops to enter Indian territory in Ladakh, near Pangong lake.Some of
the Chinese soldiers carried iron rods and stones, and troops on both sides
suffered minor injuries in the melee, the source said. Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that last Tuesday, Chinese border forces were
carrying out “normal” patrols on the Chinese side of the actual line of control
in Pangong lake are.“During this time they were obstructed by Indian border
forces and the Indian side took fierce actions, colliding with the Chinese
personnel and having contact with their bodies, injuring the Chinese border
personnel,” Hua told a daily news briefing.What India did went against the two
countries’ consensus to keep the peace on the border and it endangered the
situation there, she added. “China is extremely dissatisfied with this” and had
lodged solemn representations, Hua said.Reuters
China's army
conducts military exercises 'to strike awe in India'
China's People's
Liberation Army's (PLA) conducted military exercises in an unknown location to
"strike awe in India", said the state-backed Global Times on Monday,
citing a China Central TV report and another Chinese newspaper report from late
last week. timesofindia
After '7 sins'
racist rant, Chinese state media issues another anti-India video
Israel says will
never support Pakistan on Kashmir:TOI
Jerusalem:Under no
circumstances will Israel support Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, top Israeli
authorities have said. This is significant given that the country has been
relatively silent over Kashmir, which is described as the core issue between
India and Pakistan, despite standing shoulder to shoulder with India in the
fight against terrorism.For India, the main issue with Pakistan is cross-border
terrorism which continues to fan unrest in J&K.For a while, after India
established full diplomatic relations with Israel in the early 90s, Israel had
endorsed India's position that Kashmir was an integral part of the country.
However,as India's West Asia expert Rajendra Abhyankar described it, a certain
entente cordiale emerged between Israel and Pakistan after 2003 with Israel
starting to look at Pakistan as an important country of the Muslim world.
Key legal file
justifying Art 35-A goes missing: Report
Srinagar: A
63-year-old file containing legal opinion on Article 35A has vanished from
North Block’s high-security vaults at a time the provision, which grants
special rights and privileges to permanent residents of J&K , faces a legal
challenge to its constitutionality, reports The Telegraph.Quoting sources, the paper,
, said the 1954 file contained the then attorney-general’s opinion justifying
the insertion of Article 35A into the Constitution that year through a
presidential order rather than a constitutional amendment.“Our employees are
frantically searching for the file, which is crucial to the case as we have to
convey our stand in the Supreme Court at the next hearing on August 29,” a
senior Union home ministry official is quoted to have said.He said the file had
disappeared from the ministry’s legal and administrative records section,
perhaps during the ministry’s Swachh Bharat campaign between June 22 and 26 in
2015 when it weeded out hundreds of old files.“All section officers had
undertaken the drive, which was meant to get rid of the old and less-important
documents,” official said.kashmirmonitor
CPI(M) warns
against attempts to tinker with Article 35A
Jammu: J&K unit of the CPI(M) said any attempt to tinker
with Article 35A would have “disastrous and catastrophic results”. “Any attempt
to disturb Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution will have disastrous and
catastrophic results which is bound to endanger the relationship of the state
with Indian union,” regional secretary Shyam Prasad Kesar said. He also urged
the Centre to file a strong counter affidavit in the apex court to defend
Article 35A in the “larger national interest”.“Keeping in view the
sensitivities of J&K , it becomes imperative for the political leadership
of the country to exhibit maturity and ensure already tense situation in the
state is allowed to be raked up,” Kesar said at a meeting of the CPI(M)
regional committee at Jammu. CPI(M) leader cautioned that the RSS-BJP are “hell
bent” to dilute the unique and distinct identity of the state.PTI
Local court rejects
bail plea of J&K Jamaat leaders
Srinagar: District
and Session Judge Kulgam has rejected the bail application of J&K Jama’at-e-Islami
chief spokesperson, Advocate Zahid Ali, and Jamaat’s Kulgam Amir, Farooq Ahmad
Sheikh.Jamaat has expressed its dismay over the decision. A statement issued by
the organisation here said that the bail was rejected “despite the fact that
they have been under constant police custody for 15 days”. “They were arrested
by Kulgam police after attending a funeral function at Gopalpora Kulgam (4th
Aug.2017) and FIR under section 153 RPC and 13 UAPA was lodged against them in
police station Damhal Hanjipora under the instructions of concerned SSP Sridhar
Patil,” said the statement, adding that the “false and frivolous allegations”
were leveled against them.Jamaat said the District and Sessions Judge, Kishore
Kumar Bhagat, rejected the bail application despite the duo spending 14 days in
custody stating that the bail was “not warranted by the law relating to the
bails”.“This is the first such application which has been rejected by any judge
in the valley under section 13 UAPA. Jama’at-e-Islami J&K denies the false and baseless allegations
leveled against its functionaries and demands a free and impartial probe into
this case based on the wrong and biased allegations leveled by the police,” the
statement said. kashmirreader
‘Insaniyat,
Kashmiriyat, jamhooriyat’ needed to resolve Kashmir issue, says Geelani: IANS
Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has
sought “insaniyat”, Kashmiriyat” and “jamhooriyat” to resolve the Kashmir
dispute -- ideas he derided when then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee propagated them
in 2003.“We want India to exhibit insaniyat, Kashmiriat and jamhooriyat.
Nothing else,” ailing Hurriyat chairman said.The nearly 2.30-minute video clip,
recorded apparently on Sunday, comes amid NIA swooping on separatist leaders,
including Geelani’s 2 sons and a son-in-law.
3 J&K students
booked in Hyderabad for not standing during National Anthem at movie hall
3 engineering students hailing from J&K have been booked by Cyberabad police for
allegedly disrespecting the National Anthem by not standing when it was being
played in a cinema hall in Hyderabad.The incident occurred yesterday afternoon
when the three students studying at a private college here went to a cinema
hall under Rajendra Nagar Police Station limits to watch a Hindi movie and
allegedly did not stand up when the National Anthem was played before the
film's screening, the police said on Sunday."The management of the theatre
lodged a complaint with police, stating that the three persons did not stand up
when the National Anthem was played when all others in the cinema hall were
standing," DCP PV Padmaja said.3 students, in their 20s, belong to J&K
, police said.PTI
Israel eyes 1 lakh
tourists from India by 2018
Mumbai:Looking at
the steady increase in tourist arrivals from India, Israel is eyeing one lakh
Indian travellers to visit the country by the next year.“We have been very
focused in tourism promotions in India and easing the visa process. This year
in the first seven months till July we have already hosted 34,000 Indian
tourists. This is expected to go up to 55,000 by the end of this year,” Israel
Ministry of Tourism India Director Hassan Madah said.He added that there are
currently 3-4 direct flights plying from Mumbai to Tel Aviv, and numerous
connecting flights from the Middle East. There are talks of introducing direct
Air India flights connecting New Delhi with Israel in a few months, he said
adding if it commences then the tourist traffic is likely to surge from India
and the number this year may reach nearly 90,000.There are few global airlines,
who are waiting for the Air India flights to be launched, and then introduce
their fleets in this direct route.For tourism promotions in India,Israel
Ministry of Tourism is spending USD 5-6
million in India this year, he said adding going forward as the tourist traffic
grows the Budget is likely to grow.PTI
AIADMK merger LIVE
updates: OPS takes oath as Deputy CM as both camps unite, ‘Sasikala to be
expelled’
New Delhi: 2 rival
factions of AIADMK led by Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and O
Panneerselvam have announced their merger today in their party headquarters. A
decision is likely to be taken on the “formal expulsion” of V K Sasikala and
her family members, a key demand by the OPS camp that still remains unmet. In a
resolution on Aug.10, CM’s camp had already delegitimised Deputy general
Secretary and Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran setting the stage for a
merger.The merger talks began gaining momentum after Palaniswami agreed to some
of the demands put forth by Panneerselvam. CM set up an inquiry commission to probe the
death of J Jayalalithaa and announced that her Poes Garden residence, Ved
Nilayam, would soon be converted into a memorial. However, no decision was
taken on the demand of a CBI probe in the late CM ’s death.CPI(M) politburo
member Prakash Karat termed the merger of AIADMK factions as opportunistic and
alleged that the BJP was behind it. He said, “Opportunistic decision by the 2
factions, at the behest of BJP. will be rejected by the people of Tamil Nadu.” indianexpress
PM Modi assures
support to OPS, Palaniswami as rival factions of AIADMK unite
As rivals factions
of ruling AIADMK on Monday decided to merge, PM Narendra Modi assured all support to Tamil
Nadu Govt for the growth of the state. ” I congratulate Thiru O Panneerselvam
& others who took oath today. I hope Tamil Nadu scales newer heights of
progress in the years to come,” PM Modi tweeted. indianexpress
Bihar’s 700-cr
Srijan Scandal part III: Red flags raised 4 yrs ago, govt probe headed nowhere: indianexpress
Bhagalpur: 4 years
before the Bihar Govt finally ordered a probe into the Rs 700-crore Srijan
scam, suspected to involve several high-ranking officials, a chartered
accountant based in Godda, Jharkhand, had raised red flags about the money
making its way into the accounts of the cooperative society.In emails he sent
to Bihar CM, Nitish Kumar, state Cooperative Dept, and to then Union finance
minister, P Chidambaram, Sanjit Kumar asked how a Govt cheque of Rs 7.32 crore had
been deposited with the Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti LTD, a
Bhagalpur-based registered society, when it was neither authorised to function
as a bank nor to accept such high-value cheques, as per RBI norms.Kumar, who is
originally from Bhagalpur, claims he received no acknowledgement from the state
Govt, but that in response to his letter to Centre, RBI Assistant Manager Priya
Pravas Ranjan wrote to the registrar of cooperative societies, Bihar, to look
into the matter. “But the RBI’s instructions went unheeded,” he says.Two days
ago, the officer who deposited the cheque with Srijan, then Banka district
magistrate Jayshree Thakur, was dismissed.
Srijan Scam Accused
Mandal Dies in Bihar Hospital
New Delhi: Mahesh
Mandal, a key-accused in the Srijan scam, died at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical
College Hospital (JLNMCH) in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district late on Sunday.Doctors
said Mandal was suffering from multiple ailments involving the kidney, heart,
diabetes and hypertension. He was taken to the hospital after he complained of
acute discomfort due to urine retention.Mandal, who was an official in the
Bhagalpur district welfare department, was arrested on Aug.13 from this
residence at Pista village in Jagdishpur block of district for being a conduit
in the Rs 700-crore Govt fund transfer scam, which also involved the NGO Srijan
Mahila Sahyog Samiti. “Mandal had a kidney and sugar problem for which he had
been taking medical treatment earlier. When his condition deteriorated on
Sunday night, he was sent to Mayaganj hospital where he died”, Ramanuj Kumar,
jailer of the Bhagalpur central prison, said. Mandal had earlier been provided
dialysis in a prominent hospital in Mumbai, reported the Hindu.Mandal’s family
blamed the hospital administration and the police officials for negligence and
resorted to violence in the hospital premises. According to the Hindu, the
family has charged that the Govt did not provide proper treatment to him as he
might have spilled the beans in the scam.THE WIRE
Mumbai youth lead
from front in flood relief ops for other states
Mumbai: As floods
wreak havoc in several states in the country, students in the city are doing
their bit to help those in distress. While some are raising funds, others will
be sending clothes and other essential supplies. Some students are even planning
to visit the flood-affected areas to work as volunteers. Around 1.2 crore
people have been affected by one of the worst deluges witnessed by the country
in recent years. The number of deaths due to the flood in Bihar rose to 153 on
Sunday, while over a crore people have been marooned in 17 districts. In Assam,
11 people died in flood-related incidents. Nearly 15 lakh people have been
affected by the floods in West Bengal since last month.Mukhlis Aalam, a student
at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, who hails from Araria, one of the worst
affected districts in Bihar, said that a group of students who hail from Bihar
are doing relief work in various capacities. “Earlier, the water level was very
high, but now it’s receding. We are transferring money from Mumbai and other
cities to volunteers on the ground, who then purchase medicine and water and
supply for them. Boats and banana rafts are being used to reach people,” he
said, adding that a few students from Mumbai will soon go to the flood-affected
areas.Another group of students in TISS has also planned to collect money and
clothes from the students at the institute. Student organisations such as AISA
and Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) are using their nation-wide
network of activists for relief work. SIO recently held a fund-raising drive in
various parts of the city. Organisation held gatherings, classroom
announcements, and donation boxes placed in college campuses to raise funds.
SIO activists also arranged for fund raising after Friday prayers in
mosques.“After a survey of the affected sites, our activists identified the
most affected areas. The surveying team has devised a few disaster relief
strategies and has listed down the requirements from various areas. To meet
these requirements, we collected money from across the city,” said Simab Khan,
city secretary, SIO.HT
Malerkotla tense torn
pages of religious book found
Malerkotla: In yet
another sacrilege incident, a few torn pages of a religious book were found
scattered outside the local bus stand in this Muslim-dominated town of the
state on Sunday, sending the security agencies in a tizzy.Though no arrest has
been made yet, the police said a case under relevant sections including 295 A
of IPC has been registered against unidentified men. Punjab minister and
Malerkotla MLA Razia Sultana, who reached the town amidst tight security
arrangements later held a press briefing during which she claimed that
"Few pages of Quran Sharif were found near the local bus stand in the
morning by some passersby who immediately reported the matter to police."While
there were no signs of the situation escalating to communal violence, but the
security agencies remained on their toes with high police deployment all
through the day to prevent the circumstances from going out of control.
HC asks Maharashtra
police about steps to check cow vigilantes on Bakr-Id
Bombay High Court has
asked the Maharashtra police what preventive measures it proposes to t ake
against cow vigilante groups ahead of Eid ul Adha (Bakr- Id) next month. The
court made it clear it will not frame any or guidelines rules on how the issue
needs to be handled and noted that maintenance of law and order is the
responsibility of the police.A division bench of Justices BR Gavai and MS
Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation filed by city resident Shadaab
Patel, expressing fear that cow vigilante groups may stir up trouble during
Eid. Among other things, he demanded a helpline to deal with such groups.The
petition sought a direction to the state to take effective steps to protect
citizens, especially those who deal in cattle or transport cattle, from “lynch
mobs”. “Maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the police. We
clarify that we are not going to frame any guidelines or rules on how the issue
needs to be handled. We only want law and order to be maintained. Tell us what
preventive steps you (police) will take,” Justice Gavai said.The court said it
would hear the matter further on August 23.PTI
Telangana: Muslim
clerics divided on bull sacrifice
Hyderabad: Muslim
scholars are divided over sacrificing bulls during the Eid ul Adha festival
next month. While scholars like Maulana Syed Hamid Hussain Shuttari spokesman
of the All India Sunni Ulama Board, Dr Syed Aasif Umri, vice president, Jamiat
Ahle Hadees, Hamed Mohammed Khan of Jamaat e-Islami and Hakeem Soofi Syed Shah
Mohammed Khairuddin Quadri are opposing the sacrifice of bulls, there is no
word from the Muslim United Front.On Sunday, Maulana Shuttari advised the
community against sacrificing bulls. “Let’s avoid sacrificing bulls to defeat
the conspiracy to create communal violence,” said Maulana Shuttari. Dr Syed
Aasif said that though several communities consume beef in the country the
issue is raked up the only during Eid ul Adha. “They want to create hatred. Quran
says that Muslims should avoid any practice if it harms the community,” he
said.The scholars showed a ‘fatwa’ from Jamia Nizamia Islamic seminary. However,
Muslim United Front has not come forward on this. M. Raheemuddin Ansari, chief
of MUF, said that they are closely monitoring developments. “As of now we have
not issued any advice on sacrificing bulls,”he said.DeccanChronicle
Muslim Clerics Campaigning
to avoid Sacrificing Bulls On Bakri Eid, due to constant threat of violence
RSS Muslim wing to
discourage sacrifice of cows on Bakra Eid
Kolkata: New Imam
of Tipu Sultan mosque will be guided by norms to avoid controversy, says board
Members of Wakf Estate of Prince Golam
Mohammad on Sunday said the new imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid would be guided by
strict norms to avoid any kind of controversies. The decision comes after the
previous imam Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati was ousted for his controversial
statements and fatwas.Shahzada Anwar Ali, patron manager of the trustee board
said that about half a dozen profiles had been zeroed in upon for the post and
appointment would be done soon after Bakri Eid. “A panel of officials would be
made soon after Eid to start the proceedings of appointment. One of the
criteria would be to stick to Shariya or Islamic law in his preachings,” Ali
said while speaking to DNA.He said that the namaz for Bakri Eid would be led by
acting Imam Haroon Rashid who had done the same for Id-Ul-Fitr as well.DNA
Utkal Express
derailment probe blames negligence: Track was under repair, Rlys cracks whip on
top officials
New Delhi: VHours
after a preliminary probe report indicated that the Kalinga Utkal Express
derailed due to negligence on the part of those carrying out track maintenance
work at Khatauli yard, the Railways Ministry on Sunday sent three top
officials, including a Railway Board Member and a zonal General Manager, “on
leave” and suspended four others. Railway Board Member (Engineering) Aditya
Kumar Mittal, Northern Railway General Manager R K Kulshreshta and Delhi
Divisional Railway Manager R N Singh were “sent on leave” with immediate
effect, a day after the accident in which 22 people were killed.Railway
officials said this was the first time that a Railway Board Member — a
Secretary-level post — has faced action for an accident. As Member
(Engineering), Mittal was the senior-most officer in charge of tracks, land,
civil engineering projects and station development. A 1978-batch officer of the
Indian Railway Service of Engineers (civil engineering), he was set to retire
at the end of this month. Earlier, Mohd Jamshed, Railway Board Member
(Traffic), who rushed to the accident site, said “exemplary punishment” would
be taken against top officials as well as field staff.indianexpress
UP ATS Finds 'No
Evidence' to Back Terror Angle in Utkal Express Derailment
New Delhi: UP ATS
on Sunday said that there was "no tangible evidence" to back any
terror angle in the Utkal Express derailment in which 23 people lost their
lives, and more than 150 sustained injuries. Anand Kumar, ADG, Law and Order
UP, said: "ATS team working on the ground zero has found no evidence so
far." Kumar added that the ATS team was still in contact with the railway
safety officers. News18.com
Hindus, Muslims put
differences aside, join hands in rescue operations
To Stop 'Love
Jihad', Hindu Body Asks Muslims To Taste 'Panchagavya', Apply 'Tilak' Before
Entering Garbas
Just a few days
after Hindu Utsav Samiti (HUS) in Madhya Pradesh urged the administration to
use Aadhaar cards to keep non-Hindus away from Garba events, Sanskriti Bachao
Manch (SBM) has demanded that entry should be given only if participants apply
tilak on forehead and drink Panchagavya, besides unique identity
number.Panchagavya is a concoction prepared by mixing 5 products of cow-- dung,
urine, and milk, curd and ghee. Out look
13 Muslim students
tops Gita contest in West Bengal
In an event
organised by Kolkata's Shankhnad Samrasata Mission at in Sodepur area, 13
Muslims students won the Bhagvad Gita contest with 286 others. Governor of
Tripura Tathagata Roy, who inaugurated the event on Monday, expressed his
pleasure in being part of the unique competition. Around 4500 students from 65
schools participated in this event. And for the first time that many Muslim
students showed keen interest in the Gita chanting competition. OneIndia News
Police team
attacked in Godhra, 250 booked
Police in Godhra
booked a mob of around 250 people for allegedly attacking a police team which
had gone to Khankariya locality of the town on Saturday night following a
tip-off about some animals of cow progeny being kept there for
slaughter.Following the raid, police claimed they rescued 20 cows, two bullocks
and a calf from the locality. No policeman was injured in the alleged
stone-pelting by the mob.indianexpress
WORLD
Qatar Denies
Blocking Saudi Hajj Pilgrimage Flights: AFP
Qatar has denied it had banned Saudi Arabian
flights from landing in the emirate to transport Muslim pilgrims to Mecca,
after an accusation by authorities in Riyadh. Saudi Airlines on Sunday said
Qatari authorities had refused to grant a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight,
scheduled to transport Qatari hajj pilgrims, permission to land at Hamad
International Airport. The flight is one of a select few that will allow
Qataris to land in Saudi Arabia, which last week temporarily opened its borders
to pilgrims to the Saudi city of Mecca, the most revered site in Islam, more
than two months into a diplomatic crisis that has seen Riyadh cut all ties with
Qatar and ban its citizens from entering.An official source in the Qatar Civil
Aviation Authority on Monday "described as baseless the news... that
allegedly claimed that the state of Qatar refused to allow Saudi Airlines to
transport Qatari pilgrims," according to a report carried on the state-run
QNA news agency.Qatar's civil aviation authority confirmed that it had received
a request from the Saudi carrier for permission to land and had referred the
airline to the ministry of Islamic affairs "in accordance with past
practices".
Erdogan:Turkey,Iran
discussing joint action against Kurds
Turkey and Iran
have discussed possible joint military action against Kurdish militant groups,
after talks in Ankara last week between the chief of staff of Iran's armed
forces and Turkish leaders, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.Speaking to
reporters before departing on an official visit to Jordan, Erdogan also said a
more effective struggle against the outlawed Kurdistan PKK and its Iranian
affiliate, Party of Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), would be possible through
joint action with Iran. middleeasteye
'We're prisoners':
Syrians trapped in SDF camps after escaping IS
Civilians fleeing
the Islamic State group's two remaining Syrian strongholds face "horrific
conditions" in dozens of poorly equipped camps on the outskirts of Syrian
cities.Many of these camps lack clean water, food and healthcare. Some are run
by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, according to camp residents. SDF denies
it runs the camps, despite them being in territory under its control.The
fighting in areas where US-backed forces continue to battle IS militants has
forced tens of thousands of Syrians from their homes into dozens of camps in
Hassakeh and Raqqa provinces.Many find themselves trapped in terrible
conditions."Living in an actual prison would have been easier than living
in one of these camps," said Ahmed, who fled his home in Deir Ezzor along
with his parents and 5 brothers and moved to al-Sad camp, also known as Arisha.
Arisha is located in the southern suburbs of Hassakeh and is considered one of
the biggest IDP camps housing about 6,000 people."We are like in the camp,
not even allowed to leave," added Ahmed. Middleeasteye
Russian air strike
kills 200 Daesh militants in Deir Ez-Zor
Russian air strikes
on a military convoy heading for Deir ez-Zor in western Syria are reported to
have killed over 200 Daesh fighters and destroyed military vehicles and weapons.Russian
defence ministry confirmed the attack in a statement today: “Russian Air Force
destroyed another large column of ISIS [Daesh] fighters that was heading to the
area of the city of Deir ez-Zor, where international terrorists are trying to
regroup and equip their last base in Syria.” middleeastmonitor
Iraq army launches
anti-ISIL assault in Tal Afar
Thousands of
civilians are leaving the Iraqi city of Tal Afar as the army tries to retake it
from the ISIL group.Iraqi ground forces backed by a US-led coalition have
surrounded the area. Shia militias are moving in from the south, and Kurdish
Peshmerga fighters are entering from the north.Around 2,000 ISIL fighters are
believed to be in the city. aljazeera
Israeli opposition
says Abbas tried to resume security ties with Israel
Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas told Israeli opposition lawmakers on Sunday that he had
proposed rolling back his month-old suspension of security coordination with
Israel, but that it did not respond to the overture, the delegation said. “We
recently communicated with them (Israeli security officials) in an attempt to
resume some kind of cooperation,” Abbas told a visiting delegation from
Israel’s left-wing Meretz party, according to a statement issued by lawmakers.middleeastmonitor
We asked Israel to
resume security cooperation:Abbas
Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has insisted that he asked Israel to resume
security cooperation, but Israel preferred not to reply, Safa reported on
Sunday. The claim was revealed originally by Haaretz.Speaking during a meeting
with a delegation from Israel’s left-wing Meretz Party in the West Bank city of
Ramallah, Abbas said that security cooperation is currently carried out through
US mediators. He pointed out that he had issued clear directions to PA security
services to prevent any attack planned to be carried out in occupied Jerusalem,
fearing that the situation there might flare up.PA leader recognised that
Israel had never been affected by any political stagnation in relation to
security cooperation.
PA slammed for donating
medicine to Venezuela not Gaza
Palestinian
Authority is facing sharp criticism from online activists and social media
users after it sent pharmaceutical aid to Venezuela while Palestinians in Gaza
are suffering from a shortage in medical supplies and electricity as well as
salary cuts. Activists slammed PA, accusing it of contradicting itself by
sending aid to a country located thousands of miles away from occupied
Palestinian territory at the same time as contributing towards the suffering of
its own people in Gaza.middleeastmonitor
Bangladesh
sentences 10 to death for plot to kill PM
A Bangladesh court
has sentenced to death 10 leaders and activists from a banned armed group for a
plot in 2000 to kill PM Sheikh Hasina by
planting bombs at one of her rallies. Judge Mamtaz Begum sentenced the suspects
on Sunday in the capital, Dhaka, and ordered them to be shot to death, which is
unusual in Bangladesh, where most executions take place by hanging.Prosecutors
said two bombs were found a day before Hasina was scheduled to address a rally
at a college campus in the southern town of Kotalipara.Those convicted belong
to Harkatul Jihad-al-Islami group. aljazeera
End house arrest of
opposition leader:Iran’s ex President
A former President
of Iran has called upon Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to end the house
arrest of opposition leaders who disputed the results of 2009 presidential polls.
Mohammad Khatami posted the appeal on his personal website, urging Khamenei to
“resolve” house arrest of reformist politicians Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein
Musavi.2 men have been under house arrest since 2011 along with their wives,
Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi. Middleeastmonitor
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
No Mughals in
Maharashtra: Sarah Farooqui
Islamic terrorism
is the real enemy, the rest just anti-India smear campaigns, claims R Sriram
article
BJP-RSS are playing
full time games against Muslims, no need to apologise:Humra Quraishi, Milli
Gazette Online
By sneering at
Hamid Ansari’s diplomatic stint in West Asia, Modi undermined India’s foreign
policy: Danish Khan
Hadiya’s Struggle
Against Her Family & Courts May Soon Resonate With All Indian Women: J.
DEVIKA
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:32 PM)
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