Evening NEWS
DIGEST
14
Oct.2017: 23 Muharram 1439:Vol:9, No:19
BJP officials go on spending drive in Gujarat
after delay in poll date announcement
New Delhi: After the Election Commission (EC)
on Thursday failed to announce the exact dates for the Gujarat polls – meaning
the model code of conduct (MCC) is not in force – the BJP announced sops worth
hundreds of crores.According to a report in the Indian Express, standing
committee of BJP-ruled Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) was convened on
Friday to finalise a mega event for Sunday where Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani is
expected to inaugurate development works worth Rs 780 crore.Similarly, the
BJP-ruled Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Friday (AMC) extended its standing
committee meeting by an hour and a half to clear projects worth Rs 530 crore in
just 10 minutes. AMC today also concluded the ninth ‘Shahri Garib Kalyan Mela’
in Ahmedabad where of a total 4103 beneficiaries, 3262 were given kits
including cheques, funds and bonds under the ‘Manav Garima Yojana’, reported
the Indian Express.In Vadodara, the VMC cleared 59 development projects this
week, of which road projects itself are worth Rs 47.50 crore.According to the
Indian Express report, among the schemes cleared is a Rs 165.75-crore project
for providing drinking water to the city from Mahi river at a capacity of 150
million litres per day and the beautification of the Sursagar Lake at a cost of
Rs 38 crore. The projects also include widening of the Kalaghoda Bridge, a
flyover on the Sussen Crossroads, a storm water drain parallel to the national
highway on the east zone of the city as well as approval for a budget of Rs 15
lakh to “settle a court case” in the matter of non-payment of electricity dues,
the report in the Indian Express said.VMC proposal to provide services to Sri
Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living Foundation event on Oct.19 stated:“Lakshmi puja
and satsang event is to be held at Polo ground on Oct.19 by Art of Living
founder Sri Sri Ravishankar. Since it is a religious festival, the municipal
commissioner seeks power to extend logistical services to the foundation such
as medical assistance, lighting, hoardings, banners and cut outs at no
cost.”Union home minister Rajnath Singh will visit Bardoli in Surat district
today to attend the ‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’, which is due to conclude on Sunday
and PM Modi will address the gathering at Gandhinagar on Monday. UP CM Adityanath
is expected to lead the yatra in Kutch district in the constituencies of
Mandvi,Abdasa and Mundra.The Wire
Poll code delayed by Election Commission,
Gujarat officials open project purse-strings
Gujarat Poll Date announcement
delayed:Congress accuses BJP of pressuring Election Commission
New Delhi: Congress plans to lodge a complaint
with the Election Commission of India on the poll panel not announcing dates of
Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections together. It was a violation of
the principle that all parties have a level playing field. Modi Govt was
resorting to “shameless pressure tactics” on the autonomous body and
denigrating its authority and power, senior Congress spokesperson Abhishek
Singhvi said. He alleged that within 10 minutes of the Commission announcing
the dates of the Himachal Pradesh elections, the Gujarat Govt announced sops worth hundreds of crores.“...
Gujarat Govt on Thursday declared a slew of sops aimed at wooing the agitating
Patidars, the Valmiki community, lakhs of Govt employees and the powerful builder lobby. Why
was it in such a tearing hurry,” he asked. Singhvi said that anticipating the
announcement of election dates for Gujarat on Thursday afternoon, and the
consequent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, BJP-ruled Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation (AMC) advanced its standing committee meeting by an
hour-and-a-half to clear proposals estimated at Rs530 crore in just 10
minutes.“The anomaly of announcing elections in Himachal first, and not
announcing the elections in Gujarat, casts a serious shadow of suspicion on the
workings of the Election Commission,” he said.“The frenzied, desperate and
last-minute attempt by BJP to force this change so as to enable PM Modi
announce various sops like a Santa Claus in Gujarat on Oct.16;this speaks
volumes about how BJP is staring at a complete decimation in Gujarat,” he said.
Singhvi pointed out, that barring 2002-2003(due to Gujarat riots), Gujarat and
Himachal have had polls together since 1998. He found it odd that BJP, which advocated
simultaneous State and Central elections, was so loath to hold just 2 elections
together. Singhvi said BJP “is trying its best to influence the functioning of
the Election Commission. Just like it belittled the authority of the RBI, the
judiciary, and other important institutions, it is trying to pressurise the
Election Commission. We demand that the dates of Gujarat polls be announced and
Model Code of Conduct immediately enforced.” thehindu
ECI decision to not announce Gujarat poll
dates surprises former CEC SY Quarishi
New Delhi:Ex-Chief Election Commissioner S.Y.
Quraishi has said that the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI)
to not announce the dates for Gujarat Assembly polls even as it announced the
dates for Himachal Pradesh elections, created a “ground of suspicion” as PM
Narendra Modi is expected to visit Gujarat next week.The terms of both the Assemblies
come to an end in Jan.2018.The model code of conduct comes into effect the
moment ECI announces the poll dates, barring Govt from announcing any new
scheme or project. He said the Commission’s decision also went against the
“spirit of simultaneous polls.”“What were the compulsions of the Commission to
announce the poll dates for Himachal and not Gujarat?They must have some good
reasons to justify this. Modi’s visit to Gujarat next week creates a ground of
suspicion and its unfortunate,” he said.“I am quite surprised by ECI’s decision
as the Gujarat Assembly also expires around the same time as Himachal Pradesh.
Why didn’t they club it?” he said.Different schedules would also impact
governance, he felt.“The results of both the States will be announced together
as the results of one State, if announced before, could influence the results
in another.The model code of conduct paralyses administration, governance and
other works.It goes against the spirit of simultaneous elections,” he said. thehindu
Election Commission a toothless tiger: Varun
Gandhi
Hyderabad:BJP MP Varun Gandhi termed the
Election Commission as a "toothless tiger" which, he said, has never
derecognised any political party for not submitting poll expenditure details
within the stipulated time.Gandhi also said political parties spend a lot on
poll campaign, denying opportunity to people from humble background to contest
elections. His remarks come even as the BJP is under opposition attack for
"pressuring" the Election Commission to not declare elections to the
Gujarat Assembly with those for Himachal Pradesh legislature. PTI
Gujarat govt wanted more time: Election Commission
New Delhi:The election commission (EC)
defended its decision of not announcing the schedule for the upcoming assembly
polls in Gujarat simultaneously with Himachal Pradesh, by pointing out that the
state Govt needed more time for carrying
out relief and rehabilitation work for flood affected people.The poll panel
said the Himachal administration on the other hand, pressed for completing the
polling exercise before mid-Nov., when snow fall is in the higher reaches. hindustantimes
EC may not hold Gujarat, Himachal counting
together
New Delhi: Election Commission may not hold
counting for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat simultaneously on Dec.18, according
to a senior EC functionary."Results for Gujarat and Himachal assembly
polls need not and may not be declared the same day.The idea is to only finish
polling in Gujarat before Dec.18 so that Himachal results do not affect the way
Gujarat votes. This means polling in Gujarat can be held right until Dec
17."Given that there must be a 46-day gap between announcement of poll and
actual polling, the announcement of Gujarat assembly poll dates can wait till
Nov.2," panel said.TOI
SC bars deportation of Rohingya Muslims until
case hearing, says govt can't be blind to plight of women, kids
The Supreme Court has deferred hearing on the
deportation of Rohingya Muslims in India to 21 Nov. It, however, allowed
petitioners to approach it in case of contingency. The apex court also said the
Govt should be sensitive to the Rohingyas and cannot be oblivious to the plight
of innocent women and children, reported CNN-News18. It further rapped the Govt
saying that there is a need to strike a
balance between human rights and national security."Children and women do
not know anything about it. As a constitutional court, we cannot be oblivious
to it. We expect that the executive will not be oblivious to it," the
bench said.The court said, "We have to strike a balance. It is not an
ordinary case. The issue involves human rights of many," as per ANI.
Furthermore, the SC also added that Rohingyas cannot be deported till the
matter is being heard in the court. "Do not deport. You take action if
something wrong is found," the court told the Govt.A bench comprising CJI
Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and
Y Chandrachud said the issue was of great magnitude and therefore, the
state has a big role.The top court made it clear that there was a need for
holistic hearing and it is neither going to be swayed by the arguments of
senior lawyer Fali S Nariman, who is representing the petitioners, nor by any
other senior counsel and the submissions have to go by the letter of the
law."We will not permit any emotional arguments," the bench
observed.During the brief hearing, the bench suggested to the Centre not to
deport the Rohingya Muslim refugees, but Additional Solicitor General (ASG)
Tushar Mehta requested that it should not be written in the order as anything
coming on record will have an international ramification."We know our
responsibility," ASG said.At the outset, Nariman argued about the rights
of the Rohingyas and said no person can be deprived of the liberty granted
under the Constitution and other statutes. He referred to the Union home
ministry's order and said though it says that the Myanmar issue might aggravate
the security challenge, it does not say that all Rohingyas are
terrorists.Observing that Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has given a
statement about Govt's decision to deport all Rohingyas from India, Nariman
said "such an order ought not have been passed. This is the essence of the
whole case." Nariman said he has no objection to Govt agencies going
against terrorist elements among the Rohingyas but his client was not a
terrorist and there was no such allegation.firstpost
SC hasn’t given any reprieve, Rohingya will be
deported: MHA
Union Home Ministry has said that the Supreme
Court ruling on Rohingya do not give any reprieve to the petitioners, and that
the Centre’s instructions to states and Union Territories on identification and
deportation of illegal migrants stands valid. Centre’s observation came after
the Supreme Court decided to give a detailed order on the petition on Nov 21.A MHA
spokesperson said, “The matter pertaining to deportation of Rohingya came up
for hearing before the Supreme Court. Central Govt is of the opinion that
deportation of illegal immigrants has to be dealt with only by Central Govt because
it is essentially an executive function (of Govt ).” indianexpress
Rohingya influx is a conspiracy, they should
be sent back before unrest: RSS leader Joshi:
Bhopal:RSS functionary Bhaiyyaji Joshi came
down hard on the issue of growing numbers of Rohingya migrants in India. Referring
to the influx he said,“It appears they have come to India not to take shelter
but as part of conspiracy and are trying to settle here, they stay in places
like Jammu and Hyderabad. There is a need to do a background check of these
elements as they can pose a danger to the country.”He said, “Some have managed
to get Aadhar number,some PAN card and some are on voter list. We don’t want
them to die of hunger or fall prey but there’s a limit to how long outsiders
can stay. They should be sent back before they become a cause of unrest.”
Diwali cracker ban: SC refuses to modify
ruling,‘anguished over communal angle’
New Delhi: The Supreme Court refused on Friday
to modify its order banning firecracker sales in Delhi-NCR, saying it was
anguished at people giving the ruling a communal angle.On Monday, the SC
reinstated its ban on the sale of firecrackers in and around New Delhi ahead of
Diwali, a preemptive step aimed at preventing a toxic haze from engulfing the
region like last year.“We are pained to hear when people give a communal angle.
Everybody knows I am a very spiritual person but this is something different,”
said justice AK Sikri who heads the bench that issued the order. The other
judge is Ashok Bhushan. Both judges said they welcomed criticism of their order
since people have a right to express. But to give it a communal angle was
anguishing. Also, there was not a ban on bursting crackers nor has the court
disallowed anyone from celebrating the festival.“The matter is still pending.
This is an experiment which we want to try for this year. We will take a stock
of the situation,” the court said, refusing to get drawn into the argument that
culturally crackers were an integral part of Diwali celebrations in India. hindustantimes
Delhi HC notice on pleas to ban loudspeakers
at religious structures
The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a
response from the Centre, Delhi Govt and police on a plea seeking direction to
ban loudspeakers at religious structures, claiming it violates fundamental
right to privacy of people living nearby.The petition filed by a rights
activist said loudspeakers violate fundamental rights of citizens and person
right of left alone, their physical and mental peace, one’s spatial control,
personal space and hence it encroach one’s fundamental right to
privacy.Petitioner Sanjjiiv Kkumaar said “loudspeakers were never part of any
of the religions whether it’s Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam,
Sikhism or Zoroastrianism”. He argued “loudspeaker came into existence in 1924,
that is less than 100 years and hence banning it will not hit (violate) Article
25 or 26 of the Constitution of India”.HT
Amit Shah denies son took unsecured loan but Jay
Shah’s filings say otherwise:The Wire
New Delhi:BJP president Amit Shah broke his
silence on the swirling controversy surrounding his son, telling the India
Today group on Friday that although “no one has levelled allegations of
corruption”, the decision to file criminal and civil defamation cases against The
Wire for writing about the business affairs of Jay Amitbhai Shah was a sign
that he was open to an enquiry.BJP leader defended the growth in revenue of one
of Jay Shah’s companies, Temple Enterprise, noting that the commodities business
was marked by high turnover but low profits and that his son’s firm had lost a
crore and half of rupees despite earning revenues of Rs 80 crore. Though this
loss was duly reported by The Wire in its recital of the company’s fortunes,
Amit Shah claimed that it was not.Shah said this in response to a question from
India Today TV’s Rahul Kanwal at a specially event,‘Gujarat Panchayat’,
telecast by Aaj Tak from Ahmedabad on Oct.13.When Kanwal asked next whether it
would have been possible for Jay Shah’s small companies to receive the kind of
“unsecured loans and letters of credit they did if he was not Amit Shah’s son”,
BJP president denied there had been any such loans. “Please understand, he got
a letter of credit, he did not get a loan,” Shah then went on to explain how
the LC was fully secured against the cash margin and goods purchased.The
‘letter of credit vs loan’ explanation refers only to the Rs 25 crore borrowed
by another of Jay Shah’s companies, Kusum Finserve, from the Kalupur Commercial
Cooperative Bank. However, Amit Shah’s denial of any unsecured loan or
borrowing by his son’s companies is contradicted by Jay Shah’s own filings with
the Registrar of Companies and other official statements for his company,
Temple Enterprise Pvt Limited.In a reply to The Wire last week, and duly noted
in the story published on Oct.8, Jay Shah’s lawyer had said, “Since working
capital facilities were not available to a new business/company, interest
bearing Inter Corporate Deposits (ICD) were taken from time to time from KIFS
Financial Services Ltd., a registered NBFC, to run this business.”However, Amit
Shah’s unwillingness to acknowledge the reality of his son taking an unsecured
loan from KIFS Financial Services Ltd. of Rs 15.78 crore means the question that
Aaj Tak said everyone is asking still remains unanswered: How did a small
company with little to show by way of track record in the years preceding
2015-16, suddenly manage to make such unsecured borrowings?
‘Every BJP reform burdened the poor’, RSS
trade union chief attacks Centre on economic policies
RSS’s trade union president Saji Narayanan on
Saturday criticised BJP-led Union Govt’s economic and labour policies. “On the
economic and labour front, BJP Govt is nothing more than UPA-III!”, Narayanan
wrote in an article for Outlook India. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh head said that
the Indian economy was going in “a wrong direction” because the “identification
of issues, priorities, methodology adopted to analyse them and the remedies
prescribed are highly defective and based on a failed western capitalist
model”. He claimed that every new reform Govt undertook benefited the rich and
“burdened” the poor. Narayanan criticised Govt’s Niti Aayog, which replaced the
Planning Commission of India.He said that many bureaucrats and advisors who
were part of the Congress-led UPA Govt had been retained by NDA dispensation. scroll
Jaipur:Day after Muslim man assaulted outside
hotel, no complaint filed
Jaipur:Allegedly assaulted after checking into
a Barmer hotel with a Hindu woman on Thursday, Padu Khan suffered a fractured
rib cage, his uncle Lateef said on Friday. “I met him at Mathura Das Mathur
Hospital in Jodhpur this morning and the doctor said he had suffered a
fractured spine,” Lateef said.“The doctors told him about some good spine
hospitals in Ahmedabad, and he went on his way. I last spoke to him when was at
Abu Road (on Gujarat border), then he switched off his phone.”Lateef said that
he returned to his home in Jalore, while one of Khan’s cousins agreed to
accompany him to Ahmedabad.“His parents passed away a few months ago, within 12
hours of each other. Khan now lives here with us,” Lateef said. Both Khan’s and
his cousin’s phone numbers were switched off, he added. The family hails from
Sangana gram panchayat under Sayla panchayat samiti of Jalore district. Khan
was reportedly dragged out of the hotel in Balotra area of Barmer district and
assaulted by a mob, which allegedly included Shiv Sena members, after he
checked in with a Hindu woman. Recalling the Shiv Sena’s role in the Babri
Masjid demolition, Sena’s Barmer chief Jabar Singh Sodha said, “Whenever there
is a religious issue, all (other) political parties recede in the
background.”He continued, “This is laxity by the administration; hotels have
been directed (to record details of occupants), yet an illegal thing happened.
This is not a Hindu-Muslim issue, kisi dharm ki bachhi ho, kisi dharm ka ladka
ho (the girl and the boy may be from any religion), but if they go into a hotel
like this and do wrong things, then it is wrong; it is wrong in any society.”
“Someone followed her, or did a recce (on her)… because what they (the couple)
did was wrong. If the boy ensnared the girl… both families are at fault,” he
said. He added that he had been out of town for past few days. Barmer SP
Gagandeep Singla said, “We tried taking the statement of the man, Padu Khan,
aged about 25, but he was very reluctant about lodging a complaint. He didn’t
reveal the identity of the girl either. We are trying to convince him to submit
a complaint.” indianexpress
Muslim man beaten up by mob for spending time
with Hindu woman in hotel
Cow-protection vigilantes attack men carrying
‘buffalo meat’ in Faridabad
Faridabad:A group of men was allegedly
assaulted by so-called cow protection groups in Old Faridabad on Friday, the
latest in a string of attacks by right-wing Hindu groups on people over
suspicions that they may be selling or consuming cow meat.Police have filed
cases against the victims as well as “15-20 unknown persons” who attacked them,
and will investigate the origin of the meat that the men were carrying for
which they were assaulted.“We were beaten black and blue and told to raise
slogans like ‘gau mata ki jai’ (hail the cow mother) and hanuman ki jai (hail
hanuman) —which we refused”, said Azad, who was one of the people attacked.
Three of the four victims appeared to be Muslims.He added that the assault
continued even after the policemen arrived on the scene.“We have registered a
case under sections of Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act Act
against Asad, Shehzad, Shakeel and Sonu”, said ACP Mujesar Radhey Shyam. Officer
said another FIR has been registered under sections of rioting, causing hurt
and criminal intimidation against 15-20 unknown people.Azad, being treated for
his injuries at a hospital, said he and his accomplices buy meat from the
Fatehpur Tageh area and sell it in Old Faridabad meat market.“We sell buffalo
meat in Old Faridabad market and we do this every day,” he said, denying they
were carrying cow meat.Friday’s attack, according to victim, started after
group was intercepted near Bajri village on Nangla-Pali road.HT
15 people accused of killing Akhlaq get jobs
in NTPC, family of accused who died gets
Rs 8 lakh as compensation
In a strange turn of events, people accused of
murdering Mohammad Akhlaq have got contractual jobs at the National Thermal
Power Corporation (NTPC) on Friday.On Sept.28, 2015, Akhlaq and his son Danish
were attacked by a mob on suspicion of slaughtering and consumption of calf.
While Akhlaq died on the spot, Danish suffered serious injuries.All the 18
accused of lynching Akhlaq are out on bail, as promised by BJP leaders in the
run-up to UP state elections earlier this year. The fifteen accused got jobs in
NTPC following a meeting between BJP leader Tejpal Nagar and NTPC officials.The
family of one of the accused, Ravin Sisodia, who died in prison because of
multiple organ failures will also get Rs 8 lakh as compensation. Moreover,
Sisodia’s wife will also get a job in primary school, Nagar told the media on
Friday.After the death of Sisodia, his body was wrapped in Indian flag and
Union Culture minister Mahesh Sharma paid his respect to the dead body of the
accused.Nagar said, “I told NTPC officials that why not take workers from the
city if they are already recruiting people from outside? They agreed to the
demand.”One NTPC official confirmed Nagar’s claim but said, “We have given jobs
to local people. It has nothing to do with the Akhlaq’s lynching.” Akhlaq’s
village Bisahara is situated in the vicinity of NTPC, whose establishment was
done after acquiring some land from the village as well.Talking to News18,
Akhlaq’s brother Mohammad Jan said, “We have no problem is someone is getting a
job to support their families. But the issue is that after the two years of the
incident, all accused are out on bail and no charges have been put on them
yet.”TwoCircles
Akhlaq Murder Accused to Get Jobs, Rs 8 Lakh
For Deceased Accused's Family
Yavatmal pesticide poisoning: Farmers’
families battle death and despair
Yavatmal: Life has come to a stop for Ranjana
Kamble (24), a resident of Andhbori village in Yavatmal district. 8-month
pregnant first-time would-be mother has been waiting for her husband Vinod to
respond to treatment for the last one month. Vinod,a farm labourer, developed
respiratory problems on Sept.17 after he returned from the farm of district BJP
leader Raju Dange where he had sprayed pesticide. Admitted to hospital, he has
been on life support since.Bandu Sonule (48) of Monali village was not as
lucky. He died two days after being admitted on Sept.19, leaving his wife
Geeta, 2 children and mother distraught. He too had sprayed pesticide at the
farm of Shankarrao Chowdhury.Around 50 farmers or farm labourers — 22 in
Yavatmal — have died and nearly 800 have been hospitalised due to an
infection,caused by spraying of a pesticide on cotton crops in Vidarbha region,
known for farmer suicides.20 have lost vision too.Farmers in Yavatmal, who
mainly grow cotton, soybean and lentils, say they use a highly potent mix of
pesticides, both in powder and liquid form.HT
Gauri Lankesh murder:SIT releases sketches of 2suspects
Bengaluru:After 38 days of investigation, SIT
probing the murder of activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh on Saturday
released three sketches of two suspects and sought help from the public to
identify them.SIT chief B.K. Singh said that the sketches, including two
different ones of a suspect, were prepared after analysing the CCTV footage and
getting physical description of suspects from eyewitnesses. The SIT had
questioned over 250 persons in the case.Investigation had revealed that the
accused stayed at least one week in the area to do recce before attacking Gauri
Lankesh. SIT officials said investigation was on to trace the motorcycle used
by the accused. Video clips of a motorcycle rider, who is suspected to be
involved in the crime, have been obtained. thehindu
Dowry case judgment against women’s rights: SC
to revisit its ruling banning automatic arrests
New Delhi:The Supreme Court said on Friday it
will reconsider its own three-month-old ruling restricting automatic arrests in
dowry cases, terming July judgment detrimental to women’s rights.Women rights
activists had slammed the verdict which, they said, diluted the anti-dowry law
by barring police from arresting the accused without verifying allegations. A
bench headed by chief justice Dipak Misra said it did not agree with the
earlier verdict.“We think it’s dilution of woman’s rights...We are not in
agreement with the view taken as it is liable to affect the rights of woman,”
the bench said while hearing a petition seeking modification to the July order
laying down guidelines on complaints under section 498 (A) of the IPC. The
section deals with subjecting married woman to cruelty. hindustantimes
Reconsider new Haj policy, urges Rajasthan
body
Jaipur:The reduction of embarkation points for
Haj pilgrimage from the existing 21 to only 9 across the country, recommended
in the new Haj policy for 2018-22, has left the pilgrims disturbed in Rajasthan
because of termination of flights from Jaipur. Haj flights from the State
capital had started in 2005 after a 7-year-long agitation.Rajasthan Haj Welfare
Society general secretary Haji Nizamuddin said that the termination of flights
from Jaipur would put the pilgrims to a great inconvenience, as they would be
required to travel to either Delhi or Ahmedabad to board the special flights.
“It will impose an additional expenditure and cause a great difficulty to old
and infirm pilgrims,” he said.thehindu
Govt unlikely to contest cort's order
criminalising sex with minor wife; feels judgement will curb child marriages
New Delhi: Govt feels that Supreme Court’s
order criminalising sex with minor wife will work as a deterrent to child
marriages and is unlikely to challenge the apex court order.According to a
senior Govt functionary, the top court
order will help curb child marriages as it has created the needed "legal
deterrent". The functionary said that the Govt is happy with the verdict
and is unlikely to challenge it. PTI
Barelvi clerics may challenge SC order criminalising
sex with minor wife
Meerut: The SC judgement on criminalising sex
with a minor wife drew mixed reactions from clerics.While the Barelvis are
mulling a legal course to challenge the verdict, clerics in Deoband chose to
adopt a soft approach. Maulana Shahbudin Razvi, national general secretary,
Jamat Raza-e-Mustafa, a Sunni Barelvi organisation said, "Indian law says
any girl below 18 years is a minor, but Sharia says a girl turns adult at the
age of 13. If such a girl is married to a man...they have the right to consummate
it"."If the law of the land is against Sharia, that does not render
the latter invalid," said Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani, V-C, Darul Uloom
Deoband.President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Maulana Arshad Madani said, "Any
woman who begins her menstrual cycle is considered a major in Sharia.. But,
that is in countries where Sharia is applicable. In India one must obey the law
of the land"TOI
Waiting for CBI's response, missing JNU
scholar's family, students spent night on road
New Delhi:Relatives and friends of missing JNU
scholar Najeeb Ahmed spent entire Friday night outside the CBI headquarters
here in the hope of getting an answer from the agency regarding his
whereabouts.Ahmed's mother, his sister and his brother and scores of students
slept on straw mats spread on the road outside the agency's office and demanded
to talk to the CBI chief Alok Kumar Verma.NSUI leader Sunny Dhiman told IANS
that Verma did come to meet the protesters but said nothing of substance to
provide any hope."He consoled Najeeb's mother but was still as clueless as
ever about his whereabouts... We hope to get something from it (CBI) when the
hearing is due in the case where they are supposed to submit its report.. They
have been lambasted even previously twice by the court for their slow
action," Dhiman, who was at the forefront of the protest, told IANS over
phone.As of now, the protesters are still picketing the CBI HQ and Ahmed's
mother Fatima Nafees has called for a public meeting to support her at 5 p.m.
on the spot where JDU Sharad Yadav, CPI-Marxist leader Brinda Karat and poet
Munawwar Rana are expected to attend.IANS
Modi govt to give Muslims girls who graduate
before marrying Rs 51,000 'Shaadi Shagun'
Meritorious female students who complete
graduation before getting married will get a special gift of Rs 51,000 from the
Modi govt. Proposal by Maulana Azad Education Foundation has been cleared by
the Ministry of Minority Affairs, reported News 18. Shaadi Shagun Scheme is
aimed at incentivising higher education among women. All students funded by the
Azad Foundation are eligible to apply for this provision.The proposal was
submitted to Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Naqvi in July. Hussain Ansari,
treasurer of Education Foundation said: “We felt that families of Muslim girls
and other minorities are always in dilemma about their daughter’s graduation
studies and marriage. The minority groups prefer to save money for their
daughter’s marriage rather than spend it on their graduation.” This is in
addition to the existing Begum Hazrat Mahal Scholarship given to students from
six minority communities - Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and
Jains. However, parents of wards who earn more than Rs 2 lakh per annum cannot
avail this scholarship. dnaindia
Modi govnt to give Rs 51k as part of Shaadi
Shagun scheme for graduate Muslim Girls
Shia Waqf Board backs UP govt's proposal for
100m tall Ram statue in Ayodhya
Lucknow: UPShia Central Waqf Board chairman
came out on Friday to support UPGovt ’s proposal to install a huge 100-metre
high statue of Lord Rama on the banks of river Sarayu in the temple town. The
project, estimated to cost around `200 crore, is part of the larger
beautification plan of the areas in and around Ayodhya.Lauding the state Govt ’s
decision, UP Shia Waqf Board chairperson Waseem Rizvi said Shia Board supports
the proposal to uphold the essence Awadh’s Ganga-Jamni tehzeeb (culture of
communal harmony). He added that the grand statue of Lord Ram would be in
furtherance of the tradition introduced by the Nawabs of Awadh besides bringing
global acclaim to the temple town. newindianexpress
Kancha Ilaiah case: We’re not here to ban
books says SC
New Delhi:It is not up to the Supreme Court to
use its powers to ban books, which are a free expression of a writer’s thoughts
and feelings about the society and world he lives in. Courts cannot be asked to
gag free expression. The SC has always placed the fundamental right to free speech
at the highest pedestal.This is what the Supreme Court recorded in its two-page
order while dismissing a petition to ban a book written by writer and activist
Professor Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd called Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu .The
petition filed by advocate K.L.N.V. Veeranjaneyulu also took exception to a
particular chapter in a book titled ‘Post-Hindu India’ called ‘Hindutv-Mukt
Bharat’. Book is critical about the caste system prevailing in India,
especially in the Arya Vysya community. thehindu
Protests after encounter in J&K: 1
civilian killed, 4 injured
Srinagar:One civilian was killed and at least
4 others critically injured when security forces allegedly opened fire on
protesters in Pulwama district near the site of the gun-battle in which 2
militants, LeT commander Waseem Shah, were neutralised. According to locals,
civilian casualty and injuries occurred when forces opened fire to quell the
protest. A senior Pulwama police officer, however, told HT that the civilian
was killed because “he was caught in the cross-fire”.Locals gathering in large
numbers near an encounter site and pelting stones on security forces carrying
out counter-insurgency operation to distract them and help militants escape has
been a common phenomenon in Kashmir lately.“Gulzar Ahmad Mir was brought dead
with a firearm injury,” an official at the district hospital Pulwama said. He
added that two others were rushed in critical condition with firearm injury and
they were referred to Srinagar hospitals.“Another 2 were brought with pellet
injuries -- with one of them hit in the right eye. We have referred them to
Srinagar hospitals as well after preliminary check-up.”HT
Protests, clashes rock Kashmir against
braid-chopping; Friday prayer not allowed at Srinagar jamia masjid
Srinagar:Many areas of Kashmir witnessed
massive protests and clashes between the youth and the Govt forces on Friday
against the continued braid chopping incidents, with people accusing Govt of failing
to deal with the “grave issue.”On directions of Govt, all educational
institutions remained closed for the second consecutive day Friday, while
authorities disallowed the Friday congregational prayers at historic Jamia
Masjid for the third consecutive week.The call for protests was given by
Kashmir’s joint separatist leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq and Yasin Malik. A witness said that strict curbs remained in place in
Mahraj Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari and Safa Kadal areas in Downtown
Srinagar. Govt didn’t allow congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia
Masjid for the third consecutive week, triggering strong resentment from the
Jamia Auqaf.greaterkashmir
No power can stop resolution of Kashmir issue:
Rajnath
Bardoli: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on
Saturday said no power in the world can stop the Govt from resolving the Kashmir issue and hit out
at Pakistan for its "impious" activities against India.Singh said the
NDA Govt has given a free hand to the
Army to act against terrorists and give a befitting reply to any firing from
across the border+ in Kashmir."I would like to say that nobody needs to be
worried about Kashmir. No power in the world can stop us from resolving the
issue," he said. Addressing a gathering here in Surat district as part of
the BJP's 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra', Singh attacked Pakistan saying it sends
terrorists into India and wants to break the country."Pakistan is our
neighbouring state. Its name is 'Pak'-istan, but it regularly indulges in
'napaak' (impious) activities, tries to break India and sends terrorists into
India ," he said.PTI
Amid Chinese reported build up away from site
of showdown, Bhutan talks Doklam with China
New Delhi: Amid reports that Chinese troops
remain stationed in the Doklam region — though away from the site of the
showdown with India — Bhutan has again discussed the situation with the Chinese
mission here in the context of its border dispute with China.Diplomatic sources
here said Bhutan's ambassador to India Vetsop Namgyel met Luo Zhaohui, his
Chinese counterpart here, on Sept. 27 to discuss the issue of Chinese
activities in the Doklam region.The meeting took place at the Chinese embassy
around 4 pm. This was exactly a month after India and China announced disengagement
of their troops from the eyeball-to-eyeball standoff on Doklam plateau which,
as both New Delhi and Thimpu believe, is located in Bhutan but is claimed by
China.To be sure, the disengagement announced by India and China on Aug.28
still holds. timesofindia
BJP files complaint against Congress minister
Roshan Baig over expletive against PM Modi: indiatoday
Bengaluru:BJP's Bengaluru unit has filed a
criminal defamation complaint against Karnataka Minister Roshan Baig, who was
filmed using a Tamil expletive to insult PM Narendra Modi.BJP said that if police don't
file an FIR against Baig, it will take the matter to court. The party isn't
interested in an apology, and wants him out of CM Siddaramiah's cabinet.Baig is
the Minister for Infrastructure, Urban Development, Information and Haj.
WORLD
Trump refuses to certify Iran deal, threatens
new sanctions
Washington: The nuclear deal with Tehran is
the worst in the history of the US and he would no longer be certifying for its
continuation, President Donald Trump announced on Friday, unveiling a new
American strategy on Iran that could heighten tensions in West Asia. The new
policy abandons the focused approach of the previous Obama administration on
rolling back Tehran’s nuclear weapons programme and threatens punitive measures
against Iran for a range of alleged transgressions. Trump has also called upon
American allies to join in the effort to confront Iran, adding that he would
not allow it to obtain a nuclear weapon and threaten America like North Korea
is currently doing.Terming Iran the world’s “leading state sponsor of
terrorism,” Trump said Tehran was in violation of the terms of the agreement, a
doubtful claim as other countries party to it do not share that view. He blamed
his predecessor Barack Obama for singing the deal when sanctions were leading
to a "total collapse of the Iranian regime.” According to Trump, the deal
would not stop Iran’s nuclear pursuit. “… in just a few years, as key
restrictions disappear, Iran can sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons'
breakout,” the President said. “The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided
transactions that the United States has ever entered into.”the hindu
US allies,EU, Russia back Iran deal after
Trump threat
World leaders were quick to react to US
President Donald Trump's decision to "decertify" an international
deal on Iran's nuclear programme.2015 deal, reached between Iran and the US,Britain,
France, Germany, Russia and the European Union, saw Tehran curtailing its
nuclear programme in exchange for the easing of crippling economic sanctions.
Trump's speech put him at odds with US allies in Europe, as well as Iran and
Russia, with leaders saying they would stick by the landmark pact."We
encourage the US Administration and Congress to consider the implications to
the security of the US and its allies before taking any steps that might
undermine the JCPOA, such as re-imposing sanctions on Iran lifted under the
agreement," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela
Merkel and British PM Theresa May said in a joint statement. In Brussels,
Federica Mogherini, EU foreign policy chief, said Iran deal is an international
agreement and "it is not up to any single country to terminate
it."Russia's foreign ministry said there was no place in international
diplomacy for "threatening" and "aggressive" rhetoric,
adding that such methods were doomed to fail. aljazeera
EU: Trump doesn't have power to cancel Iran
deal
Israeli study warns PM against ending Iran nuclear deal
An Israeli study recently conducted by Tel
Aviv’s Institution for National Security Studies warned aboutnegative
consequences of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to cancel the nuclear
deal with Iran. The institution called for maintaining the deal as the best
option, stressing the need to continue coordination between Israel and the US
against Tehran. Study, conducted by General Amos Yadlin, states that although
the nuclear deal with Iran poses a strategic danger to Israel in the long run,
it would be wrong to think that cancelling the deal would not pose strategic
dangers.Yadlin notes that “opponents of the agreement argue that it actually
paves the way for Iran to establish a nuclear threshold just short of a bomb,
while in the second decade of the agreement there will be no way to stop Iran
from crossing the nuclear threshold. middleeastmonitor
Israel announces conditions to accept
Palestinian reconciliation: middleeastmonitor
Israeli officials have announced their
conditions for accepting the Palestinian reconciliation agreement signed on
Thursday between Fatah and the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in the
Egyptian capital Cairo.According to officials in the office of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, “Any reconciliation
between the PA and Hamas must meet the Quartet’s conditions: accepting
international agreements, recognising Israel and disarming Hamas.” They
explained that Israel will not accept any reconciliation that does not include
these points.“Continued tunnel activity, rocket building and the exporting of
terrorism against Israel is in contradiction of the Quartet’s conditions and US
efforts to restart the diplomatic process,” officials added.
Christian priest calls for Palestinian
resistance weapons to be retained
A member of the Christian-Islamic Committee in
support of Jerusalem and the Holy Places, Father Manuel Musallam, has called
for the Palestinian resistance groups not to give up their weapons, and to
retain them until Palestinians receive their full rights and freedom.Speaking
to Shehab news agency, Father Musallam said that Palestinian people have 2
demands: first is national reconciliation among Palestinian factions to
preserve Jerusalem and all holy places, “which is demanded by the various
religions and groups and is fundamental.”The 2nd demand, he added,
is to keep the resistance weapons to protect Palestine and the Palestinian
people, as well as the Palestinian reconciliation. He described any attempt to
remove the weapons as “treachery”.middleeastmonitor
Egypt extends state of emergency for 3 months
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
extended yesterday Egypt’s countrywide state of emergency for an additional
three months. The renewed three-month state of emergency will start today,
according to a presidential decree.“ State of emergency will be applied across
the country, effective as of 1:00 am on Friday, for an additional 3 months, due
to ongoing security concerns,” the presidential decree read.“The armed forces
and the police will take the necessary measures to confront the dangers of
terrorism,”decree added.The parliament is yet to approve the presidential
resolution.middleeastmonitor
Attack on mosque kills 20 in Central African
Republic
Bangui, CAR: More than 20 Muslims were killed
in a mosque in the Central African Republic's southeast during Friday prayers,
community leaders said Saturday.“The victims were at the mosque when Anti-balaka
militants stormed the mosque, killing at least 20 worshipers,” said Abdouraman
Bornou, a local community leader.The incident took place at the Djimbi Mosque,
in the country’s southeast.Ousman Mahamat, a Muslim community leader, said he
was outraged at the behavior of some of his countrymen who promote
inter-communal hatred.Violence erupted in the central African state in 2013,
when Muslim Seleka rebels ousted then-President Francois Bozize, Christian
leader, who himself came to power in a 2003 coup.Fierce fighting has continued
between Muslim Seleka and Christian Anti-balaka rebels. Anadolu agency
Kurds on high alert as Iraqi forces mass near
Kirkuk
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/kurds-high-alert-iraqi-forces-mass-kirkuk-171013081422969.html
Kurdish Regional Govt (KRG) has deployed
thousands of troops around the disputed oil city of Kirkuk for fear of an
attack by Iraqi Govt army and militia, a senior official said."Thousands
of heavily armed peshmerga units are now completely in their positions around
Kirkuk," a top aide to KRG President Masoud Barzani posted on social media
on Friday."Their order is to defend at any cost," Hemin Hawrami wrote
on Twitter. According to AP, as many as 6,000 Kurdish troops have been deployed
in the Kirkuk area.The alert came after the Kurdish authorities accused the
Iraqi Govt of massing forces in readiness for a reported offensive to seize
Kurdish-held oil fields around Kirkuk, as tensions soared after a vote for
independence last month. Aljazeera
Turkish troops enter northern Syria in new
operation
Turkish troops travelling in a convoy of 12
armoured vehicles have entered northern Syria in a new military
operation.Turkish news media reported that the vehicles carrying the troops
crossed into Idlib province late on Thursday.The development came after Turkey
said it was sending troops into Syria to enforce a de-escalation zone in Idlib,
which is largely controlled by the Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance.The
de-escalation zone forms part of an agreement reached between Turkey, which
backs forces battling the Govt of
President Bashar al-Assad, and Iran and Russia, which support his Govt .Turkish
media sources said the convoy included about 80 soldiers. Local sources told Al
Jazeera the troops were headed towards the western part of Aleppo province.Al
Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Antakya, near Turkey's border with
Syria, said dozens of military vehicles have crossed into Syria."We know
from different sources that the Turkish military is in the western outskirts of
the province of Aleppo, but their final destination is going to be Idlib.
"It remains to be seen what will happen to the Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham fighters,
the former al-Qaeda affiliate; are they going to put up resistance against this
operation? Are they going to pull out and hand over their
weapons?"Civilians there have been living in fear of potential clashes
between Turkish-backed opposition Free Syrian Army fighters and HTS. aljazeera
ISIL faces imminent Raqqa defeat: Syria's
Kurdish YPG militia
ISIL is on the verge of defeat in Syria's
Raqqa and the city may finally be cleared of the group's fighters on Saturday
or Sunday, the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said."The battles are continuing
in Raqqa city. Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is on the verge of
being finished. Today or tomorrow the city may be liberated," YPG
spokesman Nouri Mahmoud told Reuters news agency by telephone."The battles
are continuing in Raqqa city. Daesh is on the verge of being finished.Today or
tomorrow the city may be liberated," YPG spokesman Nouri Mahmoud told
Reuters. YPG dominates the US-backed SDF, an alliance of Arab and Kurdish
militias that has been battling since June to defeat ISIL at Raqqa, which
served as the group's de facto capital in Syria.Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra,
reporting from Antakya in Turkey, said only about 7% of the city was still
under control of ISIL on Saturday. "Thousands of people have been trapped
in those areas. Many are now being evacuated, with thousands ending up in
refugee camps. These camps lack basic infrastructure and services, and a cold
winter is just a few weeks ahead," Ahelbarra said."It's a very
difficult situation for so many." aljazeera
IS attacks kill at least 50 in east Syria
Kurdish, says Red Crescent:Reuters
Beirut: Islamic State suicide attackers killed
at least 50 people in a triple car bomb attack on Thursday among a group of
refugees in northeast Syria, a medical source in the Kurdish Red Crescent said.
The attack took place at Abu Fas, near the border of Deir al-Zor and Hasaka
provinces, said a war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights, which said earlier that at least 18 people had been killed. The dead
included refugees fleeing the fighting in Deir al-Zor as well as members of
Kurdish Asayish security force, the Observatory reported. Syrian state
television said dozens had been killed in the attack. US-backed SDF alliance of
Kurdish and Arab militias is pressing it from the north and a rival offensive
by Syrian army, supported by allies including Iran and Russia, is attacking it
from the west. Reuters
Islamic school's girl-boy segregation ruled
unlawful by UK court
London:An Islamic school's policy of
segregating boys and girls in classrooms has been ruled unlawful by a court
panel in the UK today. A 3-judge bench of the Court of Appeal in London ruled
that the policy of Al-Hijrah school in Birmingham of compulsory segregation
from Class 5 onwards caused detriment and less favourable treatment for both
male and female pupils by reason of their sex, and was contrary to the UK's
2010 Equality Act. The ruling will have an impact on other faith schools that
follow similar policies in Britain. In a test case ruling, the master of the
rolls, Sir Terence Etherton, Lady Justice Gloster and Lord Justice Beatson
unanimously allowed a challenge by the UK's schools watchdog Ofsted against a
previous High Court ruling in favour of the school. Around 20 other schools of
Islamic, Jewish and Christian denomination are believed to have similar
segregation policies in the country, which will now have to be reviewed.During
the appeal hearing, Al-Hijrah's interim executive board had claimed that boys
and girls at the school were treated entirely equally despite the segregation,
which was attributed to religious reasons. PTI
Pakistan senate: Increasing legal marriageable
age of girls from 16 to 18 is un-Islamic
Senate of Pakistan has pounded a legislation
governing the minimum age girls can marry, saying a Bill to increase the legal
age from 16 to 18 was un-Islamic.The chairman of the Senate Standing Committee,
Rehman Malik, cited advice from religious scholars as reasons why he thought
the committee should reject the Bill.Rehman Malik said the bill, which suggests
increasing the minimum age for girls to marry from 16 to 18,was contrary to
Islamic injunctions."I have also discussed it with religious scholars and
they also believe that girls can be married before the age of 18 according to
Islam, so these kinds of bills cannot be passed,"RT quoted Rehamn.IndiaToday
Bangladesh's first Hindu Chief Justice accused
of graft after he leaves country
Dhaka: Bangladesh's first Hindu Chief Justice
S K Sinha was today accused of graft and money laundering after he left the
country amid reports that the Govt was
upset with him over his decision to scrap parliament's authority in impeaching
Supreme Court judges.In an unusual move, the country's SC said the apex court
judges earlier this month decided not to sit in the bench of Sinha over
allegations of graft and moral lapses brought to their notice by President
Abdul Hamid.The Supreme Court issued a statement as Sinha overnight left for
Australia saying he was "embarrassed" over the controversy
surrounding his July ruling. He also denied claims by the Govt that he was sick."This written statement
(of Sinha) is misleading," reads the Supreme Court statement signed by its
Registrar General Syed Aminul Islam.PTI
UNESCO race exposes rift between Egypt, Qatar
Cairo/Doha :A race for the helm of the United
Nations’ cultural agency has exposed a diplomatic tiff between Egypt and Qatar.
On Friday, UNESCO selected former French culture minister Audrey Azoulay as its
new chief after edging Qatar’s Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari after a fifth
round of voting. This came hours after Azoulay defeated Egyptian candidate
Moushira Khattab in a run-off vote for the post.UNESCO vote was marred by
tension between Egypt and Qatar with Cairo accusing Doha of using its financial
power to influence the UN agency’s 58-member executive council. In a statement
on Saturday, Qatar’s foreign ministry said the results of the Qatari candidate
“have reflected its good reputation and distinguished stature” in the world.
The ministry said it has not been dragged by “conflicts caused by some
officials of a competitor state, which only sought to undermine Qatari
candidate”, in an implicit reference to Egypt. On Friday, Al Jazeera television
aired a video it said was by an Egyptian diplomat chanting against Qatar during
the final round of vote. Anadoluagency
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Non-announcement of Gujarat poll dates invites
questions:S. Y. Quraishi
By playing Hindutva game for decades, Congress
helped BJP rise: Saeed Naqvi, IANS
I am in Guantánamo Bay. US Govt is starving me to death:Khalid Qassim
Activist writes open letter to former Republic
journalist, says ‘what you sow, so shall you reap!’
We Rank 100 in 119 Nations For Wasting Our
Children But Yet We Don't Care, Shame!NATASHA SINGH
One person from armed forces kills self every
3 days: TOI
Rohingya repatriation minister: Exodus may be
'planned'
Why removing ‘H’ from BHU and ‘M’ from AMU is
an unworkable idea: Faizan Mustafa
Pranab Mukherjee thought he could be Congress’
PM choice: Excerpts from his memoirs
Gujarat Polls: What’s the Secret Behind Amit
Shah’s ‘Mission 150’?
Where is my son? A year on, painful question
remains unanswered for this mother: IndiaTomorrow.net
In the name of Najeeb : Left and exclusion of
Muslims in JNU:Waseem RS for TCN
Muslim Council Dimapur to regulate Muslim
community
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