Evening NEWS
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Oct.2017: 10 Safar 1439:Vol:9, No:34
Claim Taj Mahal is Tejo Mahalaya temple palace
is ‘concocted’, ‘self-built’: Centre tells Agra court
The central Govt in its response to a suit filed in an Agra
court has stated that the claim Taj Mahal is Tejo Mahalaya Temple palace is
“concocted” and “self-built,” according to a report by Bar&Bench. Centre’s
statement in response to a suit filed in 2015 by 6 lawyers in the Court of
Civil Judge, Agra, has come amidst a heated campaign by hardline nationalists
against the Mughal monument.The suit filed by the 6 lawyers had contended that
Taj Mahal is a temple palace ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ and seat of Lord Agreshwar Mahadev
Naagnatheshwar. It also claimed that the property belonged to the deity.6
lawyers had said that the suit is being filed to assert the right of ‘Darshan’,
‘Pooja’ and performance of all the rituals at Taj Mahal. They had also opposed
Muslims offering Namaz within the property. They claimed that Mughal ruler Shah
Jahan had usurped the said Tejo Mahalaya’ palace from ‘Raja Jai Singh’ for
converting the same into a memorial of his late wife, Mumtaz.However, the
Centre called the plaintiff’s version a “concocted, self-built” story
attempting to let down the image of the nation and public at large.Govt also asserted that Taj Mahal was built by Shah
Jahan in the memory of his wife Arjumand Bano Begum known by the name
Mumtaz.Centre also said that as per the records available, the said property
was taken “in lieu/ exchange” of other properties given to Raja in turn.It also
stated that Muslims are offering Namaz in a mosque nearby which is separate
from Taj Mahal.Meanwhile, Special Task Force today arrested UP Navnirman Sena leader Amit Jani and his associate
for allegedly outraging religious feelings by posting on WhatsApp a
photoshopped picture of the Taj Mahal with saffron flags atop its pinnacle and
minarets. Outlook
Yogi Govt to introduce NCERT books in
madrasas; Science, Maths Compulsory
Lucknow:Yogi Adityanath Govt has decided to
introduce NCERT books and make math and science compulsory subjects at the
higher secondary level in madrasas. The move comes after the state Govt recently
started the process of online registration of madrasas, apart from asking them
to provide details of teachers, number of students and management committee
members.“UP Madrasa Board is working on the proposal, which has been given the
initial go ahead. We will not touch religious curriculum, and instead have
planned to introduce additional steps to make madrasa education more effective
and job-oriented,” state Minority Affairs Minister, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary
said.“The idea is to not only make subjects like math and science compulsory,
but also introduce vocational education so that students coming out of madrasas
in the state can compete with other schools as well,” he added. Chaudhary said
the proposal is still in its initial stages and the department is working on
giving it final shape. He further said, “State Govt is working on the lines of
introducing visible changes in the curriculum to ensure that students coming
from madrasas can complete with others in professions like medical as well as
engineering.”Earlier in the day, Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma had also tweeted,
“NCERT books will also be incorporated for study in madrasas, the madrasa board
is making preparations…math and science will be made compulsory at the Alia
level…After permission from the Govt , board is making preparations.”Subjects
like math, home science, science, general studies, logic and philosophy were
introduced to madrasa curriculum at the higher secondary level a few years ago
as part of the modernisation initiative. However, these subjects are optional.
The compulsory subjects include Arabic and Persian literature, Urdu literature,
Theology (Shia/Sunni), General English etc.“Madrasa education is in two parts.
One is Dinayat or Islamiyat, the other is general education. While we are not
making any changes in the Dinayat part, we are just trying to ensure that the curriculum
is divided classwise as per the age and aptitude of the child. As far as the
second part — general education — is concerned, we are trying to standardise it
according to modern trends and global point of view,” said Rahul Gupta,
registrar of UP Board of Madrasa Education.Gupta further said that NCERT
already has science, maths and social science books in Urdu and the board is
working on a draft to introduce modern education so that students can compete
with those of any other board. He also said that after completion, the draft
will first be cleared by the board and then sent to Govt for final approval.
Yogi's saffron agenda pushed into madarsas
with new schoolbook:Mail Today
NCERT books in madrassas will increase
pressure on students: Clerics
Bareilly: After UP Govt cleared a proposal to
introduce NCERT books in approximately 19,000 madrasas across the state,
clerics and madrassa managers opposed the move, claiming "it will create
unnecessary pressure on students who also have to study at least eight
religious books in Arabic and Persian". They also claimed that the move
might affect the future of these students as "they will not be able to
gain specialisation in either of religious or modern education due to work overload".
Mufti Mohammed Salim Noori, spokesperson of Dargah Aala Hazrat, said, "New
modern syllabus should be designed after consulting experienced madrassa
teachers. The future of madrassa students will hang in balance after they are
made to study NCERT books because they will have half-baked knowledge of both
modern and religious education. If parents want their children to study NCERT
books, they will enrol their kids in a school rather than sending them to
madrassas." He also added, "Why is Govt not introducing NCERT books
in Sanskrit schools? Instead of focusing on the development of state, UP Govt
is concentrating on regularly introducing new directives for madrassas."Maulana
Shahbudin Razvi, general secretary of Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa and head of Madrassa
Razviya Nurool Uloom, said, "Before introduction of NCERT books, the focus
of the Govt should be on enhancing the basic infrastructure of madrassas. Madrassas
need experienced teachers for this purpose."Barelvi cleric Maulana Tauqeer
Raza Khan who also runs a madrassa said that they already have been teaching
modern education in madrassas. Mufti Mohammed Miya Qasmi, founder of Madrassa
Arabia Kashif Uloom, said, "We have no objection if students are taught
English, computer science and other subjects along with religious education.
However, if the same format of schools is introduced in madrassas, it will
defeat the purpose of setting up madrassas whose aim is to specialise students
in Quran and Hadith. NCERT textbooks will divert the attention of students from
religious education." timesofindia
Congress hails Yogi Govt's decision to
introduce NCERT books in Madrasas
New Delhi; Congress hailed UP Govt's decision
to introduce NCERT books in Madrasas across the state. Congress leader Salman
Khurshid said, "I think nothing is wrong in that. I think madrasas have
been teaching modern education other than their own religious teachings. These
books should be made available. I am sure Madrasas will be happy to comply with
it. It will make the people, who come out from madrasas employable. They can't
just become priest and go to the mosque. So, I think this is good
decision."BJP also welcomed UP Govt's initiative and lauded Yogi
Adityanath for implementing Narendra Modi's vision.ANI
Dalit, Muslim groups in Bengal unite to mark
Babri demolition and Ambedkar death anniversary
Kolkata : A number of Muslim and dalit
organisations have come together to hold a mega public gathering in Kolkata on Dec.6
to mourn the demolition of Babri masjid and observe death anniversary of B R
Ambedkar simultaneously.This is the first time an initiative of this kind has
been taken in the state. The motto, organisers say, is “to fight manuvadi and
brahminical fascism.”In Bengal, people belonging to scheduled caste (23%) and
Muslim (27%) communities comprise nearly half the population.“Earlier, dalits
used to observe Ambedkar’s death anniversary while Muslims mourned the
demolition of Babri masjid.This year, we have decided to bring all programmes
under one banner and hold a single event on Dec. 6,” said Sukriti Ranjan
Biswas, president of Samya, Shanti, Sampriti Mancha (forum for equality, peace
and harmony), an amalgamation of dalit and Muslim organisations founded in late
2016.Around 3 dozen dalit and Muslim organisations based in various parts of
Bengal are coming together to make the initiative successful.Biswas - a dalit
leader who mostly works among refugees from Bangladesh - alleged that
politicians have always used dalits against Muslims for electoral gains. “We
will foil their plan,” he said. Organisers believe that the event will become a
major step towards forging a dalit-Muslim unity in Bengal against BJP and
saffron organisations.BJP has been in the crosshairs of Dalit and Muslim groups
across India after attacks were perpetrated by cow vigilantes groups.“Initial
steps towards dalit-Muslim unity were taken last year to maintain peace and
harmony and defeat divisive campaign by Brahminical fascist forces. With the Dec.
6 rally, we hope to strengthen this unity,” Mohammad Kamrujjaman, general
secretary of Mancha, said. Incidentally, several organisations set to
participate in the event earlier came together and took out a rally in Kolkata
in support of the Rohingya Muslims. Thousands marched in the city protesting
the Centre’s stand on the refugees from Myanmar.HT
Ayodhya issue: UP Shia Waqf Board chief meets
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; supports temple at the site
Lucknow: Amid reports of mediation talks by
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the Ayodhya issue, UP Shia Central Waqf Board chairman
Waseem Rizvi met the Art of Living founder in Bengaluru today and apprised him
of the Board’s stand that a Ram temple should be built at the site.“I met Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar and apprised him of the (Shia) Board’s stand that a Ram temple
should be constructed at the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. I have met all seers
and mahants contesting the case for the construction of a temple in court. All
of them are ready for talks,” Rizvi told PTI over the phone.Shia Waqf Board is
drafting the terms and conditions of a mutual agreement, he said.“Shia Central
Waqf Board does not want any mosque to be constructed at Ram’s birth place.
Instead it should be constructed elsewhere in a Muslim populated area,” he
said. Rizvi said that the number of mosques in Ayodhya were sufficient for the
Muslims residing there. There is no need for a new mosque, he said. He claimed
that those demanding the construction of a mosque at Ram’s birthplace, or near
it, only wanted to linger the dispute.“The demolished mosque belonged to the
Shia Waqf and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has no right to
decide on it. Only the Shia board has the right to decide,” Rizvi claimed.I
have conveyed my intentions to Ravi Shankar, he said, adding that the
initiative would strengthen Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.PTI
Ayodhya snub for 'outsider'
'Compulsory Aadhar threat to national security.
I Am Sure SC will strike it down': Subramanian Swamy
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said
that he will write a letter to PM Narendra Modi, emphasising on how
"compulsory Aadhar" is a threat to the national security."I am
writing a letter soon to PM detailing how compulsory Aadhar is a threat to our
national security. SC will I am sure strike it down," Swamy
tweeted.Swamy's tweet comes after the Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to
the Centre on a petition challenging mandatory linking of Aadhaar number with
mobile connections.The top court has asked the Central Govt to file response within the next 4
weeks.OUTLOOK
Plea seeking minority status for Hindus in 8 states
filed in SC
New Delhi:A pleas seeking minority status for
Hindus in eight state was filed in Supreme Court on Monday. The petitioner
sought a court directive to announce the community in the states that including
J&K. The plea was filed BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.The
petitioner wrote in the plea that the National Minority Commission was formed
by passing the Act in 1992– it was implemented in 1993 in all the states
excluding J&K. According to the law, communities that would be given the
status of a minority by the state Govt will be considered minorities. Muslims,
Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsi communities were identified as
minorities. in 2014, Jains were also included in the list. But Hindus were not
included despite being a minority in eight states.Dainik Jagran reported that
the plea said Hindus were minority in 8 states– Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram
(2.7% ), Nagaland (8.75%), Meghalaya (11.53% ), J&K (28.44 % ), Arunachal Pradesh (29% ), Manipur
(31.39% ) and Punjab (38.40% ). In these states, majority communities are
enjoying the benefits meant for minorities. Hindus in these states are not
being extended the benefits of being a minority community. India.com
Kashmiri separatists won’t talk to interlocutor,
say appointment ‘a new tactic’
Srinagar:Kashmiri separatist leaders on
Tuesday said they won’t have any talks with the central Govt ’s interlocutor
for J&K , calling his appointment “a new tactic” by New Delhi.Joint
Resistance Leadership (JRL),conglomerate of senior separatist leaders, rejected
any possibility of engaging in parleys with former Intelligence Bureau chief
Dineshwar Sharma.The statement was issued by JRL leaders Syed Ali Geelani,
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik.“To be part of this so-called dialogue
process would be a futile exercise for any Kashmiri since this new tactic has
been adopted by the Indian Govt after
its failure to crush the aspirations of the freedom loving people through
military repression,”they said.The statement added: “In principle we have
always advocated and supported sincere and productive dialogue as a means to
resolve the conflict in J&K .“Our stand on dialogue requires the basic
acknowledgment that there is a dispute that has to be resolved.“Indian Govt has continuously refused to accept this basic
premise and the reality on the ground.”Reacting to the opposition to Congress
leader P Chidambaram’s demand for greater autonomy for J&K , the statement
said: “Even the assertion by their own leaders on restoration of autonomy to
the state has been rejected by the Indian Govt although the same is guaranteed by their own
constitution.”leaders took strong exception to Sharma’s statement that J&K has to be saved from becoming another
Syria.The statement said: “To compare the internationally recognized
70-year-old political and humanitarian issue of Kashmir to that of the
sectarian war and power struggle in Syria is deception and propaganda as there
is no relation between the two situations.”IANS
2 months after his arrest by NIA, J-K
photojournalist’s family waits for answers
Pulwama: Tahab village’s Rubeena Akhtar takes
out old newspapers she keeps in a gunny sack.“Kashmir Times, Greater Kashmir,
Kashmir Uzma,” she murmurs as she takes the papers out one by one, and shows
the photographs in them. “Look. In all of them, you will find pictures he has
taken.” The credit line reads ‘Kamran Yousuf/Pulwama’. Akhtar’s son,
20-year-old photojournalist was arrested by NIA on Sep. 4, for allegedly
colluding with stone-throwing protesters. Nearly two months later, his family
asks for evidence that they have found against him.“They have alleged he was
taking money,” says Akhtar,42, when Indian Express meets them earlier this
month. “Kamran had three bank accounts — 2 of them were closed long back
because of no transactions. The only operational bank account has Rs 1,900 in
it.”Pulwama SSP Mohammad Aslam admits there is no FIR against him. “But there
are certain FIRs registered against others where we are trying to establish if
he had any role. That is being verified.” Pressed about a specific case against
Kamran, Aslam said they were investigating a video uploaded by him of a
Tricolour being burnt by protesters in Karimabad village.NIA PRO Alok Mittal,
however, says Kamran was arrested as “his name surfaced in the investigation of
a terror-funding case”. “We came to know later that he is also working as a
photojournalist.”With his mother a single parent, Kamran started working early.
At the time of his arrest,he was working as a freelance photojournalist for
several local dailies and as a reporter and stringer for 2 Urdu channels,
Gulistan News and Musnif TV. “You can check it yourself,” says Kamran’s maternal
grandfather Yousuf Ganai as he spreads out several documents and identity cards
on the floor.The documents include an identity card from the ECI authorising
him to cover the parliamentary bypolls for Srinagar and Anantnag
constituencies, a card from Gulistan News showing him as its reporter, and an
identity card from Munsif TV identifying him as its stringer. Indian Express
MP ‘forcible conversion’:HC handsover children
to parents
Indore: A week after 7 Christian children were
made to deboard a train at the railway station here by Hindu Dharm Jagran Manch
activists, Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday handed over the children to
their parents.A habeas corpus petition had been filed before the Indore bench
by the parents who contended that the children were going to Mumbai to attend a
Bible-reading session with their consent but were illegally detained and kept
at a secret location.On Oct.23, Anita Joseph, a resident of Christian Quarters
in Scheme No 78, was to board Avantika Express with the seven children, who
live near her house, and her 19-year-old old daughter to Mumbai. Before the
train started, some right-wing activists reached the station and accused her
and one Amrit Kumar Matera, who had come to drop off the children, of taking
the children forcibly to Mumbai and later to Kerala for conversion, and beat
them up.Based on a complaint by activists of the Jagran Manch, GRP booked Anita
and Amrit for alleged kidnapping and under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of
Religion Act, and sent the children to a shelter. Sophie, Anita’s daughter, was
asked to go home because she is an adult. The two were remanded in police
custody. A day later, Amrit was booked under POCSO, allegedly under pressure
from the activists.When the habeas corpus case came up on Monday, the bench of
Justices S C Sharma and Alok Verma asked the prosecution to produce the
children. The parents said they were concerned about the safety of their wards
and that despite requests the police did not release them. They alleged that
the sequence of events was politically motivated.“Constitutional rights of the
petitioners have been imperiled by illegal detention of their children without
any reason,” the petition said.Dennis Micheal, who filed the petition on behalf
of the parents, said he was severely beaten when he reached the police station
after hearing the news. He said the activists beat and abused the children and
their relatives but the police did not act against them.The petition alleged
that respondent No 6, Vinod Sharma, a right-wing activist who led the group to
the station, was threatening the petitioners. The petition also sought
registration of FIR against Mishra and others. indianexpress
Faridabad lynching: Junaid Khan case judge
says senior law officer helping accused, seeks action
Chandigarh:The judge of the trial court
hearing Junaid Khan murder case has sought action against a senior Govt lawyer for allegedly helping persons charged
with killing the 15-year-old. In an interim order on Oct.25, Additional
District and Sessions Judge, Faridabad, YS Rathore said that Additional
Advocate General Naveen Kaushik was assisting the counsel of the main accused,
Naresh Kumar, in cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. As per court
records, the judge said Kaushik was “suggesting questions to be put to the
witnesses” at 2 hearings, on Oct.24 and 25.“This act of Naveen Kaushik,
Additional Advocate General Haryana amounts to professional misconduct and is
against legal ethics and highly unbecoming of an Advocate, particularly because
he is a Law Officer in the office of Advocate General, Haryana,” Judge Rathore
said on Oct.25.Stating that it is a sensitive case in which “according to
prosecution case, one boy of minority community was killed during the quarrel
in a train over sharing of seats with passengers of majority community after
the deceased was allegedly abused on religious lines”,Judge said in case
Kaushik appears along with the defence counsel, “it will send a wrong signal
and will also create a feeling of insecurity amongst the victim party and will
adversely effect the aim of the court to conduct free and fair trial”.Judge
Rathore added, “Accordingly, a letter be written to Hon’ble Punjab &
Haryana High Court, Chandigarh for taking up matter with State Govt, Office of
Advocate General,Haryana and Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana, Chandigarh
for taking necessary action against him.”According to Judge Rathore’s order,
when the court told Kaushik that he could not appear along with defence counsel
in the case, being a law officer of Govt , Kaushik said he had “come only to
watch the court proceedings”, and that “on being confronted, Naveen Kaushik has
left court room”.IndianExpress
Junaid Khan lynching: Haryana law officer
ticked off by trial court linked to RSS outfit
Pehlu Khan died of heart attack, said hospital
owned by BJP leader:TCN
Mob-lynching in India is neither new nor
specific to certain regions of the country. However, over the past few years,
the nature of such has changed from mere angry mobs to targeted attacks on
individuals belonging to certain communities, especially Muslims. And Pehlu
Khan happened to one such Muslim whose life ended at the hands of the so-called
cow vigilantes. He was beaten to death in full public view, the ghastly event
was recorded and circulated in public, the media went berserk (for some time at
least), and yet there are ‘debates’ over who, or what killed him.When Rajasthan
Police exonerated 6 people accused of murdering Khan, a number of people were
shocked.But for Rajasthan Police and Govt, this was the result of meticulous
cover-ups and planning. And the role of Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of
State for Culture, Environment, Forests and Climate Change and his hospital
shows the levels at which justice for Pehlu Khan was denied. Sharma as part of
Kailash Healthcare Limited which runs Kailash Hospital, where Khan was brought
after the attack. But before we get into what the doctors at Kailash Hospital
did, let us go back to what conducted by a medical board of three Govt doctors from Community Health Centre (CHC),
Behror, revealed. In their findings, Govt doctors wrote: “After careful
examination of dead body by medical board, the fact[s] reveal that cause of
death is shock brought as a result of antemortem thoraco-abdominal injuries
mention[ed] in PMR [post-mortem] report sufficient to cause of death as
ordinary course of nature.” And yet, the police and the prosecution are trying
to negate the report with statements from doctors at the private Kailash
Hospital in Behror where Khan had passed away.TCN
A year after Bhopal jail break, encounter
deaths of 8 SIMI activists, loopholes remain in probe: lawyers
A year after 8 SIMI activists escaped from
Bhopal Central Jail and were killed in subsequent encounter, lawyers
representing kin of those killed have said that several questions surrounding
the encounter still remain unanswered. They said that they will take the next
step of legal recourse after they receive the official report of inquiry
commission."The commission didn't allow cross-examination of the
prosecution's witnesses and (cross-examination of) the articles that were
presented before the panel," said Deepchand Yadav, senior lawyer on
Monday. "Neither keys that were supposedly made by toothbrushes to open
the locks of ISO certified high-security jail, were shown before commission,
nor the sheets that were used to make ladders and scale the walls were
presented. We were not even taken along by the panel during spot
examination", he added. Senior lawyer Syed Sajid Ali said that there were
grievances with the administration, as facts were suppressed and even the
commission didn't leave scope for equal opportunity."There are hundreds of
locks in jail that are changed daily on rotation basis and entries are made in
registers. The prisoners have no idea which lock would be installed in which
cell or barrack, yet, keys were made."Casting doubts on the police
theory,Ali said, "In (Bhopal) Central Jail, it is not possible to open a
lock from inside the cell. But as per the account of the police, eight persons
made keys, opened the locks, came out of cells, managed to break out of barrack
too,walked passed all security with no camera functioning that day, and scaled
the walls." Raising further questions on the encounter, Ali wondered how
the 8 men allegedly killed one guard while leaving the other unharmed and then
dressed up, shaved and covered just 10 kms in eight hours after which they were
shot dead."We have come to know through the media that the probe by
justice (retired) SK Pandey Commission has given a clean-chit to
administration. Once the report is tabled in the Assembly and we get it, we can
challenge it in the high court", he said. The lawyers have claimed that
there are many loopholes in the investigation — ranging from contradictions in
versions given by officials of the escapees being armed or unarmed and on the
recovery of weapons. "After the encounter, media persons had reached spot
but no weapon was to be found, yet later in the evening the police had suddenly
claimed that weapons were found on the spot." huffingtonpost
Year after jailbreak and encounter of 8 ‘SIMI
men’, kin have no hope of getting justice:HT
China denies report of plan to build 1,000-km
tunnel to divert Brahmaputra waters to Xinjiang
Beijing: China denied as “false” a news report
that it plans to build a 1,000-km tunnel to divert water from the Brahmaputra
river at a site close to the India border to arid Xinjiang in the country’s
northwest.Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post had reported on Monday that
more than 100 Chinese engineers were involved in testing techniques that could
be used to build the tunnel, which would be the world’s longest. “This is a
false report,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a regular
ministry briefing when she was asked about the report. “China will continue to
attach great importance to cross-border river cooperation,” she added.HT
Jaipur Municipal Corporation staff begins day
with national anthem, ends with national song
Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Tuesday
began the practice of playing the national anthem at start of day and the
national song in the evening at its headquarters. It directed all its staffers
to be present.By the end of this month, the national anthem and song would be
played at all zonal offices and fire stations, Mayor Ashok Lahoti said. He said
the first stanza of the national song would be played on speakers and the
employees can then go home.“This is to develop a positive work culture in the
office. The national anthem will be played at 9.50 am and national song at 5.55
pm and all the staff will be present and pay respect,” Lahoti said.The anthem
and song would be played on speakers in the entire office premises and the
staff do not need to assemble at one place, the mayor said.“Wherever we are in
the office premises, we will stand and pay respect when the national anthem and
national song are played,” he told PTI.
Agra alleged gangrape of Hindu girl case: CCTV
shows victim went to meet accused on her own, say Police
Agra:These revelations will upset radical
elements who are trying to plunge Agra into communal tension over an alleged
gangrape of a Hindu girl by some Muslim guys. Agra police has come up with a
CCTV footage that could throw out the kidnap-gangrape theory making it apparent
that the girl had herself gone to meet the guy.SSP Agra Amit Pathak said that
the girl, a resident of Shahganj police station area in Agra had allegedly been
abducted by a Muslim youth named Tahir alias Johnny who is a resident of Sarai
Khwaja. Girl's parents had alleged that Tahir took their daughter to Dholpur
with him on the pretext of marrying her and then raped her along with 8-10 of
his friends. When the girl became seriously injured and became unconscious,
Tahir called the parents of the girl and informed them that she has had an
accident. The parents reached the spot where Tahir had called them and brought
their daughter to Agra, where she was admitted to SN Medical College.SSP said
that while the girl was in the hospital, she regained consciousness for some
time and told her parents that she had been raped by 8-10 guys including
Johnny. The parents filed an FIR of kidnapping and rape in Shahganj police
station against Johnny and 8-10 unknown youth and the police has arrested
Johnny. The girl's medical test has not yet been conducted as the police is
waiting for her to regain full consciousness and register her statement before
a magistrate. However, he said, after checking CCTV footage from the Sadar
police station gate as well as the Saiyyan Toll Booth on Agra-Gwalior highway,
it is clear that the girl had gone to meet Tahir voluntarily, riding her own
scooter. Whether she met with an accident or was indeed raped, will be clear
after the medical test is conducted.India Today
NIA submits status report on Kerala
conversions
New Delhi:In a status report filed before the
Supreme Court on Monday, NIA said they have examined 5 women and a man, who
claimed that they were lured to convert to Islam and a “common thread” ran
through all the cases. 70-page report in a sealed cover was filed by the agency
pertaining to the ongoing investigation in the case where Asokan, father of a
25-year-old Hindu woman, has alleged that his daughter was forced to convert to
Islam and marry a Muslim man.As reported by The Hindu, NIA told the SC that it
was not able to question Akhila alias Hadiya even once as her father said she
was not in “right frame of mind.” NIA said its officers had examined nine such
cases of conversion to Islam. In at least four cases, the involvement of
members of PFI was established. NIA said it had examined a woman named Sainaba,
an activist of SDPI —political arm of PFI — would question her again. thehindu
All passport holders in Deoband will have to
get papers verified by Saharanpur cops
Saharanpur Police will conduct a passport
verification drive in Deoband and other areas of the city amid reports of
terror modules hiding in the area and neighbouring regions. 2 suspected Bangladeshi terrorist had recently managed to
get Indian passports on Deoband addresses.This move comes after UP’s ATS
arrested Abdullah, a Bangladeshi national, in August for allegedly preparing
fake identity cards, especially for those from his country, and helping them
with safe hideouts in India. He is also accused of being a member of the
Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a militant outfit.“Keeping in mind several
incidents, direction is issued to conduct address verification of passports
holders residing in 6 different police station areas, including Deoband. These
are areas where several people from outside Saharanpur district have settled.
Police team of concerned police station will assist officials of LIU in the
drive, “ said Babloo Kumar,SP, Saharanpur. An enquiry into Abdullah’s passport
is still underway, he added. business-standard
YC Modi,who probe Gujarat riots,takes charge
as NIA chief
New
Delhi:Senior IPS officer YC Modi, who was part of a Supreme Court-appointed
team that probed the 2002 Gujarat riots cases, on Monday took over as NIA
chief, succeeding Sharad Kumar. In an official statement, the probe agency
said, Yogesh Chander Modi, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre,
took over as DG of NIA.He succeeded Sharad Kumar, a 1979 batch IPS officer of
Haryana Cadre, who completed his tenure.Modi was part of the SIT that probed
the Gujarat riots cases in Aug.2010 and remained part of the team till July
2012.SIT had cleared Narendra Modi, who at that time was Gujarat CM, in Gulbarg
Society massacre case.HT
Rajnath attributes IS failure in India to
communal harmony
Hyderabad:Attributing the failure of IS-backed
terror outfits in radicalising Indian youth to communal harmony, Home Minister
Rajnath Singh on Monday said a few youth in India were influenced by such
ideology.Singh said that IS and its network, however, succeeded in setting up
recruiting cells elsewhere in other countries and have carried out several
operations."India has not been unaffected by these global developments but
compared to other countries, only a small number in India is influenced by the
radical ideology of IS," said Singh.deccanherald
Secret SID report warns Maha govt of Muslim
unrest while CM terms report as baseless: TOI report
State Govt policies like the beef ban, the clean chit to
Malegaon blasts accused Sadhvi Pragya and the education policy that treats
madrasas students as ‘out of school children’ has been causing some heat burn
among the Muslim community in the state says a secret report by the state
intelligence department.6-page report, that was accessed by TOI, cautioned
Maharashtra Govt about unrest among Muslims.The report by SID that was
submitted to state home dept in Aug.just before Eid and Ganeshotsav, urged that
the Govt to take precautions as both
festivals would be celebrated in the same week. Ganeshotsav festivities went on
from Aug.25 to Sept. 5, Bakri-Eid was on Sept.2.According to SID finding, TOI
reports that, discontent among the community was a result of Govt policies like the beef ban and delay in
rolling out educational quotas for Muslims. Education dept's policy, which
treats students studying in madrasas as `out-of-school children' (outside the
formal education system), was causing a heartburn to some sections of the
community, the findings revealed.The report by TOI goes on to say that
Intelligence officials had notified the state Govt that some religious groups were using the
execution of Yakub Memon and the clean chit given to Malegaon blasts accused
Sadhvi Pragya to portray the state govt as anti-Muslim. Moreover, the arrest of
some Muslim youngsters for suspected "ISIS sympathies" by ATS had
angered the community furthermore. The recent increase of ‘violence’ by
gaurakshaks against Muslims and Dalits has only made matters worse. CM Devendra
Fadnavis, however, has rubbished the claims and termed the report as baseless.
"No such report has been submitted.If you have any such report, then it
must be fabricated," he told TOI.
Arrest of IS suspects: ATS questions Imam of a
Gujarat's mosque
Surat: Following the arrest of two suspected
IS operatives from Surat, Gujarat ATS officials on Monday picked up a maulana
(Imam) of the Botawala mosque in Surat. ATS also carried out search operations
at residences of the arrested operatives. Maulana Ishaq of Botawala mosque was
picked up near Makkai pool bridge in Nanpura. However, he was released after a
round of interrogations. Maulana has been instructed to not leave the city till
the time investigations are over.SP of the Gujarat ATS K K Patel said, “We have
interrogated Maulana Ishaq and took his statements. We have told him not to
leave the city till investigations ends. We have seized the CPU of the computer
which Kasim was using at the hospital. We have also seized Jamaica work permit
letters from his residence. Both the seized items have been sent to FSL for
further analyses. We have also taken statements from Kasim’s friends and family
members.” Indianexpress
Muslim Outfits including Mushawarat, Jamaat,
seek political say:‘Why is Muslim missing from poll narrative of BJP, Cong?’
Indian express report
Ahmedabad: Representatives of 4 Muslim organisations
have expressed concern that the community is missing from the poll narrative of
both the BJP and the Congress. At a press meet of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Insaf
Trust, Hamaari Awaaz, Gujarat Unit of Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, a view was
expressed that both the Congress and the ruling BJP were either “ignoring
Muslims or avoiding” the community’s core problems like their demand for due
representation in polls and discriminating against them in all the spheres of
life.“Congress asking Muslims to abandon their religious attire and yet wanting
their votes is a dangerous trend if it spreads to other parts of the country,”
said Kaleem Siddiqui of Insaf Trust. He was referring to a report about a
Congress party meeting reportedly making a suggestion that Muslims should keep
a low profile during voting. Chairman of Congress Committee’s Minority Cell,
Khurshid Ahmed Saiyed said, “A meeting of Gujarat Congress minority leaders was
held on Sunday at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan. There was no such advice given to Muslims.
But knowing that BJP is master of polarisation by showing fake videos or
photographs of Hindus clad in Islamic dresses in wrong context… a party worker
was telling his colleagues that Muslims should be wary of such things and keep
a low profile”. Mohammed Shafi Madni head of Gujarat unit of Muslim
Majlis-e-Mushawarat said that Muslims constitute 10% population, and in 21
Assembly seats where they constitute 20% population, Muslim candidates should
be fielded. He also said the Govt should not keep representation of Muslims
limited to Waqf Board or Haj Committee, they should hold stake in all Govt bodies.Social worker Umar Vohra said that
Muslims had no social space in the State as avenues of inter community
interaction. He said that Muslims were not demanding reservation in jobs but
they must be given reservation in education. They said that the Disturbed Areas
Act that came into being in 1986 was the biggest reason for ghettoisation of
Muslims, which must be abolished or injustice to Muslims in the name of this
law must be stopped at the earliest.“But no party was talking about this,” he
added. The community leaders alleged that BJP Govt was effectively
discriminating against the Muslims by denying allotment of homes under
affordable housing schemes. They also demanded Govt must stop denial of
benefits to the community in the name of appeasement on the one hand and giving
same benefits to other communities. They said this discrimination must be
stopped immediately.
Bajrang Dal’s ‘reminder’ about cow protection
law, a sign for BJP govt to stay on course
New Delhi:At the end of its 3-day national
convention in Bhopal on Sunday, Bajrang Dal blamed the Govt for failing to bring in a central law to
protect cows and vilifying Hindutva groups who revere the bovine. Bajrang Dal passed
3 resolutions, which included one on ‘commitment to cow protection’.These
‘reminders’ from the Dal about a cow protection law, the need to hasten the
construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, the call for scrapping Article 370 in J&K
and the reiteration of all Indians being
Hindus, are messages to Govt to stay the
course and consolidate the majority vote. hindustantimes
Ahmedabad infant deaths: Panel gives clean
chit to hospital, says did its best, facilities all well
Ahmedabad : The committee set up by the
Gujarat Health Dept to probe 18 newborn deaths at the Civil Hospital in
Ahmedabad on Monday gave the hospital a clean chit, stating that it had “done
its best in dealing with the nine cases”, and that the facilities there are in
“good condition”.Death of 9 infants on Saturday at hospital — the state’s
biggest medical institution — had sparked protests, leading CM Vijay Rupani to direct an immediate
investigation. indianexpress
AAP revokes Amanatullah’s suspension, Vishwas
fumes
New Delhi:AAP has revoked the suspension of
Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan, three days before the party’s annual national
council meeting, inviting a stinging backlash from its founder member Kumar
Vishwas. The move is expected to further alienate Vishwas within the party.
Khan’s suspension in May had capped a bitter spat within the party following a
string of poll upsets. The MLA had called Vishwas an “agent of the BJP” while
accusing him of plotting to split the AAP.The party had formed a 3-member
committee comprising Ashutosh, Atishi Marlena and Pankaj Gupta to look into
Khan’s issue. However, it was largely seen as an exercise to mollify Vishwas
and prevent a split. “Ashutosh called me yesterday and told me that the party has
decided to revoke the suspension. I think my services are required in the
upcoming polls in Gujarat,” Khan said. However, Vishwas lashed out at the
decision, suggesting that the party was merely trying to provoke him into
reacting so that he can be thrown out in the guise of disciplinary action.PTI
Halt to selective targeting of NGOs, activists
demanded
New Delhi : A group of leaders and scholars
from different backgrounds on Monday urged the central Govt to "refrain from targeting any organisation
or group as part of its political agenda" so as to ensure their
freedom.The group includes senior lawyer Prashant Bushan, writers K.
Sachidanand and Nivedida Menon and film producer Gopal Menon.In a joint
statement, they demanded a halt on "demonising social activists, NGOs, the
impartial media, the progressive and minority organisations and Muslims"
who seek a peaceful and secure life in harmony with their fellow
citizens."While hate-mongers and extremist outfits connected with Hindutva
politics roam free by dividing people and instigating violence on religious
minorities and progressive sections, the central Govt and state Govt s under its control remain
passive without fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities," the
statement said. The signatories to the statement also included representatives
of the Delhi State Minorities Commission, All India Milli Council, Rashtriya
Dalit Mahasabha, South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, WPI, Alliance
for Justice and Peace, Dalit Voice, Jamiathul Ulama- and the National
Confederation of Human Rights Organisations. ANS
Gujarat polls: Muslims queue up for BJP tickets
AHMEDABAD: Muslims had turned up in large
numbers in 2011 when then CM Narendra
Modi tried an image makeover and launched Sadbhavna Mission to attract the
minorities.A year later, however, the "sadbhavna" failed to translate
into reality with the saffron party not fielding any Muslim candidate in the
2012 Gujarat assembly elections. This, even after the BJP offered tickets to
Muslims in the local body polls in 2010 and many of them emerging winners.Five
years down the line, Muslims leaders are seeking some "real
sadbhavna" and hoping that BJP — that has since 1980 fielded only one
candidate in assembly elections in year 1998 — to turn a new leaf politically
and field minority candidates for making greater inroads into the community.BJP
Minority Morcha has demanded several seats in the upcoming elections. Mehboob
Ali Chisti, BJP Minority Morcha in-charge believes that since there are around
350 Muslims who secured seats for BJP in local body polls in urban areas in
2015, Muslims could win assembly polls for BJP in certain constituencies.
"During the recent Parliamentary Board meeting, many Muslim community
leaders have requested for party ticket. Representations have been made for
Jamalpur-Khadia, Vejalpur, Vagra, Wankaner, Bhuj and Abdasa seats," Chishti
said.
WORLD
UK should mark Balfour centenary by
recognising Palestine: Labour
Labour Party has made a powerful appeal to
British PM Theresa May to mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration by
formally recognising the Palestinian state.Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily
Thornberry told Middle East Eye that the time was now right to do this. “I
don’t think we celebrate the Balfour Declaration but I think we have to mark it
because I think it was a turning point in the history of that area and I think
the most important way of marking it is to recognise Palestine.British Govt have
said they will do, it's just a question of when the time is right and it seems
to me this is the time,” Thornberry said. Thornberry will be attending an
official dinner at which the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will be present. She will
be going in place of the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who was invited but will
not attend. Thornberry said she feared that Israel had "lost its way"
and was heading for a one-state reality.“And in that way they are letting down
the Israeli people because you cannot have a democratic, Jewish one state in
that area. So they will have to choose.”She acknowledged that Lord Balfour's
letter had been a "turning point in the history” of the region, but that
today Britain should measure all of its actions and statements on Israel by the
standard of whether they will secure two viable states.Asked whether she felt
uneasy that no Palestinian representatives had been invited to the official
dinner, Thornberry said she would be attending a Balfour meeting with
Palestinians as well.
7 Palestinians killed as Israel strikes Gaza
tunnel:aljazeera
At least 7 Palestinians have been killed after
Israeli forces destroyed a tunnel in a southern town of the Gaza Strip, in an
attack described by besieged enclave's rulers as a dangerous escalation. Ashraf
al-Qidra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that nine
others were also wounded in the Khan Younis area and were taken to the nearby
al-Aqsa Hospital for treatment.The ministry officially identified five of those
killed as members of al-Quds Brigades, military wing of Islamic Jihad:Brigade
Commander Arafat Marshood, Deputy Commander Hasan Abu Hasanein, Ahmad Khalil
Abu Armaneh, 25, Omar Nassar Al-Falit, 27 and Jihad al-Samiri.
Gaza vows to respond to Israeli air strikes
Singapore bans Mufti Menk from entering
country
Singapore has banned Mufti Ismail Menk, a
renowned preacher, from entering city-state, with Govt contending that his views promote religious
discord.Menk, a Zimbabwean preacher with more than two million followers on
Twitter, and Haslin bin Baharim, a Malaysian scholar, were barred from entering
Singapore to give lectures on a religious-themed cruise scheduled for late Nov.Singapore's
Ministry of Home Affairs said that its decision to reject Menk's application
for a short-term work pass stemmed from his "segregationist and divisive
teachings", while Baharim promoted "disharmony between Muslims and
non-Muslims". The ministry claimed that Menk said Muslims were not allowed
to greet people of other faiths on their religious festivals.It also accused
Baharim of holding views that promote friction between Muslims and non-Muslims,
whom he allegedly described as "deviant." aljazeera
Kurdish Peshmerga helped IS members flee
Hawija, say Iraqi officers: middleeasteye
Iraqi commanders in the battle for Hawija have
claimed Kurdish Peshmerga forces helped hundreds of Islamic State (IS) group
militants to escape the group’s final stronghold in northern Iraq. “IS fighters
have escaped Hawija via Peshmerga positions and [before the Hawija battle
began] the Peshmerga received 160 IS leaders,” said Mahdi Taki, commander of
the Hashd al-Shaabi’s 52 Brigade. "We are getting this information
directly from our Peshmerga contacts.There are some bad Peshmerga who love
money more than patriotism, and they are taking bribes from IS.” Hawija was
deserted on 5 Oct. after a 2-day battle to liberate the town.'There are some
bad Peshmerga who love money more than patriotism, and they are taking bribes
from IS'.Beyond extensively-mined roads and premises rigged with IEDs, ground
forces had found resistance stripped to a bare minimum of snipers and militants
left to man mortar positions or carry out suicide attacks against advancing
soldiers.Before military reached the town, many hundreds of IS militants and
commanders had reportedly fled Hawija, and effectively vanished.With area
surrounded by Iraq’s combined military forces, the final escape route for IS
members was across scrubland towards static Peshmerga positions lining disputed
borders then controlled by the Kurdish Regional Govt. Peshmerga was only Iraqi
force not to participate in the Hawija offensive, despite having made claims
the land is historically Kurdish.Some 1000 IS militants reportedly surrendered
to Peshmerga forces, Kurdish security officials have reported, while Iraqi
forces continued to liberate Hawija and the surrounding areas.Hawija’s IS governor
had told militants to surrender to the Peshmerga rather than risk being killed
by the advancing Iraqi forces, one IS militant held by Peshmerga at a screening
centre in the border town of Dibis told NYT. But Iraqi commanders leading Hawija
front lines told MEE that many more IS leaders, fighters and families had
bribed the Peshmerga to be allowed to pass freely into Iraqi Kurdistan.
Syrian opposition 'hopeful' for breakthrough
at Astana
Representatives of some of Syria's armed
opposition groups attending talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, say they are
hopeful of achieving a lasting ceasefire agreement in eight of the country's 14
war-ravaged provinces.Ayman al-Asemi, a member of the Free Syrian Army's
military council attending the talks, said while the meetings would not produce
a final settlement to the war, they could see a final agreement to the set-up
of four so-called "de-escalation zones."The Astana talks are aimed at
finalising a plan for four de-escalation zones, which will include certain
areas of Idlib, Latakia, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Eastern Ghouta, Deraa and
al-Quneitra.The closed-door meetings are also seeing discussions on the release
of detainees held by the Govt of
President Bashar al-Assad and food and aid deliveries to besieged
areas."This war is far from over," al-Asemi told Al Jazeera. Aljazeera
NGO: Over 100,000 people detained in Syria
since 2011
More than 100,000 people have been detained
inside war-torn Syria since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011,
according to a London-based NGO.In a statement on Monday, Syrian Network for
Human Rights (SNHR) said some 106,727 people have been held since March 2011.It
said Syrian regime was responsible for the sweeping majority of detentions in
the war-ravaged country. NGO said 13,104 people were tortured to death since
March 2011, including 166 children and 57 women. “Syrian regime is responsible
for torturing 12,986 people to death,” it added.The report was released as a
new round of peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian conflict began in
Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on Monday. middleeastmonitor
17 Civilians killed in air strike on Libyan
city of Derna
At least 17 people have been killed and more
than 30 wounded in an air strike in Libya's eastern city of Derna, a medical
official has told Anadolu agency.An official at Al-Huraish State Hospital in
Derna, who declined to be named, said on Monday that a "state of
emergency" was declared at the medical facility and a call for blood
donations was made as the dead and wounded were rushed to the hospital.It is
not clear which country or group was behind the deadly attack.The US has
carried out at least 4 known air strikes in Libya since 2015. UK and France
have also Special Forces operating under a cloud of secrecy in the country. aljazeera
'150,000 Americans couldn’t beat us': Taliban
fighters defiant in Afghanistan
quatting on the floor, a brown shawl draped
over his shoulders, the Taliban commander and his bodyguard swiped on their
phones through attack footage edited to look like video games, with computerised
crosshairs hovering over targets. “Allahu Akbar,” they said every time a Govt
Humvee hit a landmine. Mullah Abdul Saeed, who met the Guardian in the barren
backcountry of Logar province where he leads 150 Taliban militants, has fought
foreign soldiers and their Afghan allies since US-led coalition invaded
Afghanistan when he was 14. Taliban now controls its largest territory since
being forced from power, and seems to have no shortage of recruits.By
prolonging and expanding its military presence in Afghanistan, the US aims to
coerce the Taliban to lay down arms, but risks hardening insurgents who have
always demanded withdrawal of foreign troops before peace talks.In interviews
with rank-and-file Taliban fighters in Logar and another of Afghanistan’s
embattled provinces, Wardak, The Guardian found a fragmented but resilient
movement, united in resistance against foreign intervention.Referring to Barack
Obama’s surge, Saeed said:“150,000 Americans couldn’t beat us.” And an extra
4,000 US soldiers, as Donald Trump will deploy, “will not change the morale of
our mujahideen,” he said. “Americans were walking in our villages, and we
pushed them out.” For the Taliban to consider peace, he said, “foreigners must
leave, and the constitution must be changed to sharia.”Active Taliban
footsoldiers rarely agree to meet western reporters. Men such as Saeed, who
spoke without leadership permission, provide valuable insight into a movement
that after 16 years in armed opposition remains largely an enigma.the guardian
Bahrain to boycott summits attended by Qatar:
king
King of Bahrain has said his country will not
take part in any summit or meeting attended by Qatar unless Doha "corrects
its approach", as a major diplomatic crisis in the Gulf nears its
five-month mark.Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Monday said that
Qatar had shown that it did not respect the treaties and charters that Gulf
Corporation Council (GCC) was founded upon, according to BNA, official news
agency."As long as Qatar continues this approach, Kingdom of Bahrain
cannot participate in any GCC Summit or meeting attended by Qatar unless it
corrects its approach, comes to its senses, and responds to the demands of the
countries that suffered so much from its policies," he said during his
weekly cabinet meeting in the capital, Manama. aljazeera
Freeze shares of Nawaz’s sons in 6 companies:court
Islamabad: The accountability court on Tuesday
ordered that shares of former PM nawaz Sharif’s sons, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain
Nawaz, in 6 companies be frozen.Hearing a case against the 2, the court ordered
Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to freeze the shares of
Hassan and Hussain in 6 companies.On Tuesday, a NAB prosecutor, Afzal Qureshi,
submitted a report pertaining to the shares of Hassan and Hussain in 6
companies. The case was adjourned till Nov.14. Samaa
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
In light of Hadiya case, freedom to marry who
you want must be a fundamental right:Tahir Mahmood
Land of Hindus? Bhagwat, Modi, Sangh Parivar
are using ‘Hindustan’ all wrong:Shoaib Daniyal
Deendayal Upadhyaya, Bigoted ‘Guiding Force’
of a Hindu Rashtra:Pavan Kulkarni
Claim that statue of Swami Vivekananda was
‘beheaded’ by Muslims in Bhadohi, UP, is fake news: Alt News
Fact-check: Did Ahmed Patel resign as a
trustee well before an alleged ISIS operative was arrested: Alt News
Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan accused of rape
by three French women; 'slander campaign launched by adversaries', says
academic
Tipu Jayanti: Few have divided state as tiger
of Mysore has. Is he a demon as portrayed?Bangalore Mirror
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