Evening NEWS
DIGEST
21
Oct.2017: 30 Muharram 1439:Vol:9, No:25
Union minister Hegde calls 1st
freedom fighter Tipu Sultan a “brutal killer, ‘mass rapist’
Stirring a fresh controversy over the
Karnataka govt sponsored Tipu Jayanti celebrations, Union minister for Skill
Development and BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from Uttara Kannada, Anant Kumar Hegde has
asked the state’s chief secretary to keep his name out of the list of invitees
for the event that celebrates the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, 18th
Century ruler of Mysore. Hegde, a known Hindutva hardliner who has often made
headlines for his radical, anti-Muslim views, has opted out of the Tipu Jayanti
celebration that his party has opposed since Congress-led Karnataka Govt initiated it in 2015. The Union Skill
Development minister’s remarks on Twitter and in the letter he wrote to the
Karnataka chief secretary over his reasons to stay away from the function are
rabid and have triggered a war of words between BJP and the Congress.5-time MP
from Uttara Kannada constituency, who was inducted into PM Narendra Modi’s Cabinet last month, said on
Twitter. Hegde also shared a copy of the letter that his personal secretary
wrote to the state’s chief secretary, SC Khuntia, regarding his decision to
stay away from the event that has been a polarising issue since it was first
celebrated. The letter states: “The instructions (to not include Hegde’s name
in the list of invitees) may be brought to the notice of all departments in the
State celebrating Tipu Jayanti.” In 2016 too, Mr. Hegde had said he condemned Karnataka
govt’s decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti “despite stiff opposition” from a
section of the people and claimed that the former ruler of Mysore who is hailed
by historians as a Indian freedom fighter for resisting the British East India
Company in four wars was “against Kannada language and was anti-Hindu”.Hegde
has found himself in the middle of a controversy several times. While his
derogatory remarks about Islam have drawn criticism, he was also accused of
assaulting a doctor in Uttara Kannada earlier allegedly because the doctor
refused to treat Hegde’s ailing mother on priority basis even as several other
patients waited their turns for getting medical attention. apnlive
Row over Tipu Jayanti: Karnataka CM says 'Tipu
is entire nation's hero'
Bengaluru: As the debate over the celebrations
for Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary rages on, Karnataka CM Siddaramiah has criticized union minister
Anantkumar Hegde for writing him a letter and asking his Govt to not invite him for Tipu Jayanti
celebrations in the state.Taking a jibe at Hegde, Siddaramiah said that the
union minister should "first learn about Tipu " before making any
statements. CM said that 18th century ruler of erstwhile Mysuru kingdom was a
"hero for the country" who had fought against the British.timesnownew
Linking Aadhaar number to bank accounts
mandatory in applicable cases, RBI clarifies
New Delhi: RBI on Saturday clarified that
linkage of Aadhaar number to bank accounts is mandatory in applicable cases.
The central bank’s response came after some media reports quoted a reply to a
RTI Act application that Aadhaar number linkage with bank accounts is not
compulsory. “The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of
Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under Prevention of
Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) 2nd Amendment Rules, 2017
published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017,” RBI said in a press release.It
also stated that these rules have statutory force and, therefore, banks have to
implement them without awaiting further instructions.In June, the Govt had made Aadhaar mandatory for opening bank
accounts as well as for any financial transaction of Rs 50,000 and above. A Govt
notification had stated that existing
bank accounts should furnish the Aadhaar number issued by UIDAI by Dec. 31
2017. It added that the account will cease to be operation if the account
holder fails to do the same. indianexpress
At 2.5 million, India tops list of
pollution-linked deaths:Study
Pune:India has topped the list of countries
with pollution-related deaths in 2015, with 2.51 million people dying
prematurely in the country that year due to diseases linked to air, water and
other forms of pollution, according to a new study published in the reputed
medical journal, The Lancet. India accounted for about 28%of an estimated 9
million pollution-linked deaths worldwide in 2015, the study found. It also
topped the list of deaths linked to polluted air (1.81 million) and water (0.64
million).Most of the pollution-related deaths — 92 % — were reported in low and middle income
countries, and in rapidly industrialising nations such as India, China,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Madagascar and Kenya, the study said. China, with 1.8
million pollution-linked deaths in 2015, followed India on The Lancet list.
Most of these deaths were due to non-communicable diseases caused by pollution,
such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), according to The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health’s
study.The study is part of a two-year project that involved more than 40
international health and environmental authors led by Philip Landrigan, an
environmental scientist, and Richard Fuller, founder of NGO Pure Earth, and the
secretariat of the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. Among the authors
of the study are former environment minister Jairam Ramesh and IIT-Delhi’s Prof
Mukesh Khare.According to The Lancet report, air pollution was the biggest
contributor, linked to 6.5 million deaths in 2015, ahead of water pollution
(1.8 million) and workplace-related pollution (0.8 million). indianexpress
India accounted for 24% of all newborn deaths
in 2016: UN
India had the largest share – 24% – of newborn
deaths in the world in 2016, a UN report said. The number of children in the
world who died before their fifth birthday continued to decline in 2016, but
was still significant at about 5.6 million, the report titled “Levels and
Trends in Child Mortality 2017” said. This works out to nearly 15,000 deaths
per day. The number of such deaths was 12.6 million in 1990.Report was
published by an inter-agency group, comprising the UN Children’s Fund, WHO and
World Bank.Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa accounted for almost 77% of
newborn deaths in 2016, according to the report. Newborn deaths refer to deaths
during the first 28 days of life. 5 countries accounted for half of such
deaths: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Ethiopia.Based on current trends, the report projected that 30 million newborns
would die between 2017 and 2030, with 80% of them in Southern Asia and
sub-Saharan Africa. Among under-five deaths, India and Nigeria accounted for a
third of the world’s share. Pneumonia and diarrhoea were the cause of 24% of deaths
below the age of 5. scroll
At least 160 militants killed this year,
Kashmir needs political initiative, says DGP: indian express
Srinagar: At least 160 militants have been
killed in J&K Police’s latest security campaign this year but Kashmir needs
a “political initiative” and the central Govt should take steps to prevent “jobless” youth
from being “influenced by a lot of unwanted and dangerous stuff”, State DGP
Shesh Paul Vaid said.”There is no doubt
that there is a need for a political initiative. Whether there is one going to
be taken soon, I am ignorant about it. But I think some progress is happening.
Political initiative is the need of the hour,” said Vaid.According to J&K’s
top police officer, “there is a problem in the political narrative in Kashmir”.“Mainstream
parties do not talk about India, tell people how it benefits them to be a part
of India. Look at what a senior leader has been saying — stone-pelters are
freedom fighters. He has been a CM …The
mainstream political leaders need to speak in favour of India here and that
will help change the narrative on the ground. I don’t know why they hesitate,”
said Vaid. He was apparently referring to a reported remark by NC president
Farooq Abdullah.Following the massive unrest that followed the killing of
militant leader Burhan Wani in an encounter last year, Vaid said his worry now
is to prevent another “trigger” that will spark strife on the streets again.
”My worry is that there shouldn’t be a trigger like the one last year. We are
constantly preventing a trigger that is planned from across. But we must also
be aware and prevent sudden triggers created by controversies surrounding
issues like Article 35 A. We can’t do much in such cases,’’ he said.
383 police personnel killed in line of duty in
last one year: IB Director Jain
New Delhi:As many as 383 police personnel,
including 56 belonging to the BSF and 42 from the J&K, have laid down their
lives in the line of duty in last one year, Director of Intelligence Bureau
Rajiv Jain said on Saturday. Addressing the ‘Police Commemoration Day’, where
Home Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in paying tribute to martyrs of
police forces, Jain said the 383 police personnel were killed while performing
various duties across the country from Sept.2016 to Aug.2017.Among these police
personnel, 76 belonged to the UP Police, 56 belonged to the BSF, 49 were from
CRPF, 42 from the J&K Police, 23 belonged to Chhattisgarh, 16 were from
West Bengal, 13 each belonged to Delhi and the CISF, 12 each were from Bihar
and Karnataka and 11 from the ITBP.Majority of the police personnel died while
dealing with cross-border firing from Pakistan, fighting militancy in J&K,
Naxals and other law and order duties.The day is observed to pay homage to 10
policemen killed in firing by Chinese troops in 1959 and 34,400 others who laid
down their lives protecting India’s unity and integrity. thehindu
Modi Govt nothing but UPA III, says RSS-affiliate BMS
New Delhi: BJP-led NDA Govt is continuing with
the policymaking processes of its predecessor, resulting in a scenario with no
new jobs and sluggish economy, the labour wing of the RSS has said.Bharatiya
Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which claims to represent over 5,000 affiliated unions,
has upped the ante against the Govt ’s economic policy, claiming it has neither
resulted in job creation, nor given indigenous production a fillip. Outfit will
organise a march to Parliament on November 17, against what it calls the
“anti-labour policies”. BMS president Saji Narayanan told HT the participation
of common man in policymaking is totally absent today as was the case during
the UPA regime.“UPA Govt had thrown into
the dustbin certain reforms due to public resentment. This Govt picked them up saying they are its own
reforms. The present reforms are mere continuation of those of the UPA. That is
why this Govt is nothing but UPA III as
far as economic and labour reforms are concerned,” he said.He, however,
rejected former finance minister Yashwant Sinha’s criticism of the Govt ’s
economic policies. He said the senior BJP leader was the “pioneer in hijacking
NDA’s swadeshi economics to LPG (liberalisation-privatisation,globalisation)
camp.”hindustantimes
NIA wants Zakir Naik tried under terror laws
New Delhi:Seeking extradition of Zakir Naik,
NIA has sent a detailed investigation report about alleged "terror"
activities of the preacher and sought prosecution sanction from the home
ministry against him under the UAPA and relevant sections of the Indian Penal
Code.Sources said the ministry has been informed that investigation against
Naik is complete and his role in radicalizing Indian Muslim youth to join
jehad; spreading enmity between religious groups and disturbing communal
harmony and attempting forced conversions through his NGO - IRF — has been
backed by strong evidence.The prosecution sanction against Naik has been sought
under the stringent Section 18 of UAPA, which relates to terror conspiracy, Sections
10 and 13 of UAPA, which deal with being member of an unlawful outfit and
Section 153 of IPC, which deals with inciting communal hatred, said sources.As
soon as MHA gives prosecution sanction, NIA will file its charge-sheet against
Naik, his associates and IRF, which will be used to send a formal extradition
request to Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, where he is said to be living and
travelling frequently. Timesofindia
No Beef Ban In Meghalaya, Asserts BJP
BJP has said there would not be any beef ban
in Meghalaya and alleged that the Congress was "misleading" the
people on the issue to gain political mileage ahead of the assembly elections
next year.The Centre has not imposed any beef ban in Meghalaya, state BJP
president Shibun Lyngdoh said, adding the May 23 notification only regulated
the manner in which animal markets were supposed to function and how animals
brought for trade were to be treated.BJP spokesperson JA Lyngdoh said in a
statement that the party "has already clarified that it (beef ban) will
not be imposed in the northeastern states. Livestock is a state subject. It is
up to the states to decide".He also said beef ban would not be imposed in
the state, adding preventing cow slaughter was neither a good economic measure
nor had constitutional backing. Noting that the ruling Congress is running out
of ideas to fight the BJP, the party spokesperson said that CM Mukul
Sangma was "misleading" the people on the issue to gain political
mileage ahead of assembly elections next year. Sangma had reportedly said that
the Centre's notification should be withdrawn as it would impact the state's
economy and the food habits of the people.PTI
AMU students issue ultimatum to VC over
invitation to BJP leaders for Sir Syed’s bicentenary
Students of the AMU have given an ultimatum of
24 hours to V-C Tariq Mansoor after the administration invited BJP members for
Sir Syed’s 200th bicentenary celebrations in the campus. The students have
alleged that they were kept in the dark over the invitations extended to BJP
Aligarh District President Devraj Singh and Sandeep Kumar Singh, a MoS in UP Govt
and the MLA from Athrauli. Sandeep is
the son of Etah MP Rajveer Singh and the grandson of Rajasthan Governor Kalyan
Singh.In a letter written to V-C, the students also asked the University
administration to clarify if BJP members were invited because of pressure from
the state Govt. “Please state if the administration received a Fax from the Govt
(via Proctor) to invite them (BJP MLAs)
and please make the Fax public if that is the case,” the letter says. The
students added that failing to explain or apologise, the administration will
have to face the wrath of the Govt .“Inviting people who promote and capitalise
on communal politics to remember a person like Sir Syed is an insult to his
memory and for the students of AMU. We have always stood against people and
parties that seek to divide our society and this is no different. We have
always prevented BJP members from entering the campus, this was clearly an
attempt by the party to infiltrate the campus. They just came, sat and
observed…did not even speak. What were they doing here?” asked Faisal Nadeem, a
student of AMU. The other reason why AMU students are angry at the invitation
extended to the BJP is that just a couple of days ago when DU students had
tried to organise a talk on Sir Syed’s Bicentenary celebrations, it was interrupted
by members of the ABVP. Members of the ABVP called Sir Syed an anti-national
and that he supported the two-nation theory. “At a time when we are remembering
the great service that Sir Syed did to this nation, ABVP wants to drag his name
also into the mud…as students of AMU, we will not let this happen,” Nadeem
added. Clarifying its stand on the issue, a message issued by AMU News, official
page of PRO of the AMU administration said, “A Minister was nominated by UP
state Govt to be ‘Minister in waiting’ for visiting ex-President as part of
protocol.University was intimated by district administration regarding the
same.”TCN
Rejected Afzal Guru’s mercy plea on govt’s
advice: Pranab
New Delhi:Former president Pranab Mukherjee
said on Friday he rejected Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s mercy
petition on advice from the Govt as he
could not have assumed the role of the court which had already considered the
death sentence at various stages.Mukherjee, who is against the continuation of
the death sentence, also insisted that it was for lawmakers to amend the law
and abolish capital punishment, which is in the Indian Penal Code. During his
tenure from 2012 to 2017, Mukherjee rejected 30 mercy pleas.“Before a mercy
petition comes to the President, it passes through various stages and different
actions had already been taken. The President goes by the advice of the Govt ,”
he told HT.“If the Govt advises
rejection of the mercy petition, the President naturally will go by that. The
President cannot assume the role of the court which had already considered the
death sentence at various stages.”“I did not believe in keeping the files
without taking any action. I disposed them off and accepted the Govt ’s
recommendations to reject mercy petitions except in 1 or 2 cases where I
discussed with the then home minister and both of us agreed on commuting the
death sentence. Rest all, I confirmed,” he said. Speaking about Kashmir, he
said the situation “definitely requires undivided attention” of all those
concerned. “We were able to manage the situation during UPA-I and UPA-II. Similarly,
this Govt is also making efforts. Let us
see how the situation develops and how problems are resolved.”“More than often
the secessionist elements take advantage by constantly launching agitations but
we shall have to resolve the issue with the cooperation of the people and the Govt
in J&K,” he added. Asked about the
revival of Congress, he said the party has the “capacity to face the situation,
tackle adversities and come out with ideas and principles”.“...whenever there
is crisis the party had the capacity to overcome that. I have no doubt that
Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders and workers will be able to overcome
the crisis and Congress will play its own role.”HT
Babri Masjid case hearing on Dec 5, UP govt
given the task to translate case documents
New Delhi: UP govt has raised the pitch for
construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site (above) as CM Yogi Adityanath
celebrated the Diwali festival in Ayodhya.The UP govt has raised the pitch for
construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site (above) as CM Yogi Adityanath
celebrated the Diwali festival in Ayodhya.Even as the UP Govt raised the pitch for construction of a Ram
temple with CM Yogi Adityanath celebrating a grand Diwali in
Ayodhya coupled with a visit to the disputed site, the Supreme Court hearing of
the Ramjanmabhoomi - Babri Masjid case is scheduled for Dec.5 - on the eve of
the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the structure.It is to be noted that
the case, which remained in the cold storage for seven years in the Supreme
Court, has been a flashpoint between Hindus and Muslims since 1992.After a
preliminary hearing of 13 appeals, a bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra had on August
11 said that first, the voluminous case documents running to nearly 10,000
pages - most of them in Urdu, Pali, Sanskrit Arabic and Persian dating back to
16th century - had to be translated for the benefit of both parties and the
court.533 documentary evidences in the case include scripts and even
palimpsests. Giving the responsibility of translation to the UP Govt , the
judges gave 10 weeks time to complete the task.According to sources, the work
is "going on at a fast pace and will be over by the date of next
hearing".
US biased, always tries to create pawns:
Jittery China on growing New Delhi-Washington ties
New Delhi: Growing Indo-US ties may well be
making Beijing slightly jittery.With US secretary of state Rex Tillerson
appreciating India's efforts for a global rule-based order and accused China of
"at times" undermining the same order, China has been harping on
Asian solidarity to counter Western 'agenda'.The growing bond between India and
US though has left China feeling the heat. On Thursday, Beijing hit back and
accused US of being biased. "We hope the US side can look at China`s
development and role in the international community in an objective way, and
abandon its biased views of China," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang
said.On Saturday, an article in the state-run Global Times went a step further
and described Indo-US ties as 'more symbolic than substantial.' Harping on
China's efforts to develop the region into an economic hub courtesy its
controversial Belt and Road initiative, the report said Washington has a habit
of creating pawns. "Beijing is never against the US and India upgrading
their relationship, but opposes any move that targets China. That only
escalates tensions in the region and exposes the White House's calculated ruse
to make as many nations as possible into pawns." zeenews
India says ready for stronger US ties after Tillerson’s
call
New Delhi:India stood ready to further
strengthen ties with the US, the Govt said on Friday, after US secretary of state
Tillerson vowed to dramatically expand cooperation as a way to counter China’s
influence in Asia.An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Tillerson had made
an important speech on the future of India-US relations and India looked
forward to detailed discussions next week.“We appreciate his positive
evaluation of the relationship and share his optimism about its future
directions,” the spokesman said. livemint
AAP, Congress share stage at JNU, vow to bring
back Najeeb Ahmad, fight BJP
New Delhi:Sharing the platform at an event for
Najeeb Ahmad on Friday, AAP and the Congress called for a “united front” to
bring back the JNU student who has been missing for over a year, and to fight
the BJP. At “pratirodh sabha” organised by JNU Student’s Union, AAP MLA Alka
Lamba said it will not be an easy fight for the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha
election.“2019 election will be fought by the country’s youth, where they will
talk about unemployment and lack of development. It is time we make them
realise that students coming together in Delhi to demand something is the voice
of students from across the country. It will be a fight between civil society
and tana sahai sarkar,” said Lamba, urging students to organise such events so
that “like-minded forces can come together to fight for a common cause”. Congress
leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said various agencies have failed in their responsibility
to bring back Najeeb. “We don’t know what happened that night. Why are those
who had a fight with Najeeb not being questioned? This means they are hiding,”
Aiyar said, referring to the nine students who got into a scuffle with Najeeb a
day before he disappeared from the hostel. Indianexpress
Congress eyes anti-BJP front in Gujarat,
invites Hardik, Alpesh, Jignesh Mewani
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress reached out on
Saturday to Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mewani, activist leaders
who could bring crucial support ahead of the state elections due in a few
months.Patel, Thakore and Mewani have led powerful campaigns against the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party Govt for their
communities.“If Hardik Patel wants to contest elections in future, the Congress
is ready to give him ticket. Jignesh Mewani is leading an agitation for the
rights of Dalits and Alpesh Thakore is fighting issues like corruption and
alcohol addiction. The Congress invites them to join hands with us,” said
Gujarat Pradesh Congress committee president Bharatsinh Solanki at a press
conference.Patel, 24, who has been at the forefront of an agitation for
reservation benefits in college admission and Govt jobs for his otherwise politically influential
Patidar community, is yet to reach the age in which he is allowed to contest
election.While Patel has said he has no intention of contesting elections,
Mewani – who emerged as a Dalit leader in the wake of the Una flogging incident
– told HT that his “movement” has a political “perspective” but he would
respond to the Congress invitation after consulting community members and
organisations.Thakore, who has been leading OBC, ST and ST Ekta Manch, was not
available for comment.
Nalanda man allegedly made to lick spit for
entering influential villager’s house, 8 booked: indianexpress
Patna:A 54-year-old man in Bihar’s Nalanda was
allegedly made to spit and lick his own saliva, and was also beaten with
slippers for “trespassing” on the house of a fellow villager on Thursday. The ‘punishment’
was handed over to the man, who is a barber by profession, by the Azadpur
village panchayat that falls under Noorsarai police station. Nalanda police on
Friday lodged a case against eight persons, including the Azadpur mukhiya, in
this regard. No arrest has been made so far in the case.Police said Mahesh Thakur
had allegedly entered the house of one Surendra Yadav on Wednesday evening
without knocking. Yadav is reportedly an influential farmer and enjoys a good
rapport with fellow villager.indianexpress
RSS worker, a journalist with Hindi daily,
shot dead in UP, violence breaks out
Lucknow: A RSS worker, who was also associated
with the ruling BJP and a Hindi daily, was shot dead in UP’s Ghazipur district
on Saturday morning, triggering violence in the area.Police said around 7am two
bike-borne miscreants pumped six bullets into Rajesh Mishra (35) at his
construction-material shop at Bramhapura village. He died on the spot.An agency
report said the deceased was also a journalist with Hindi daily Dainik
Jagran.Rajesh’s brother Amitesh Mishra, who was sitting with him, suffered
serious bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in nearby
Varanasi. His condition is stated to be critical.Police suspect personal enmity
could be the cause behind the attack.Enraged over the killing, agitated locals
soon hit the streets and vandalized four vehicles in Mishra Bazar area of
Ghazipur. Hindustantimes
Muzaffarnagar: Clashes break out over burning
crackers, 2 arrested
Several
people from the Dalit community were injured in a clash over burning of
firecrackers at Muzaffarnagar’s Charthawal town, the police said on Saturday. Trouble
started when some Dalit youths opposed the bursting of crackers by another
group, they said.“Two persons have been arrested and a case has been registered
against 30 people,” police out-post in-charge Naresh Bhati said.Security has
been tightened in the town and police personnel have been deployed to thwart
any untoward incident, he said.In another incident, at least six people were
injured after two groups clashed over bursting of firecrackers at Kirti
village, the police said.PTI
Jharkhand ‘starvation’ death: Victims’ mother
allegedly heckled by residents over ‘bringing bad name to village’
Ranchi:The family members of Santoshi Kumari,
the girl who died allegedly due to lack of ration in Jharkhand’s Simdega district
on September 28, were allegedly harassed and heckled by some women residents of
the village on Friday night. On Saturday morning, she went to the house of
activist Tara Mani Sahu, who has been taking up their cause, in nearby Patiamba
village. The administration, which swung into action following reports in this
regard, reached the village, Karimati, and talked to the mother. She has now
been brought back to her house. Officials said they would register an FIR if
she lodges a formal complaint.Activist Sahu said: “We got the information that
she has been forced to leave the village after being heckled and all her
belongings being thrown outside by her fellow residents. We informed the Deputy
Commissioner to send security for her this morning.” indianexpress
10-yr-old dead as Bulandshahr's Jama Masjid
dome collapses
Meerut: A 10-year-old boy died and six other
people were injured when one of the domes of the centuries-old Jama Masjid
collapsed on Diwali evening in Bulandshahr.The falling debris caught a few
youths off-guard.According to witnesses, the mosque is one of the oldest
Islamic religious structures in the district and is in a dilapidated condition.
They said nearby drains have weakened the foundation of the structure.Mohd Tasleem,
67, a resident of the area, said, “The structure is very old and is in a
dilapidated condition. Locals claimed that they have approached the authorities
concerned several times seeking urgent repairs of the dilapidated structure,
but their pleas fell on deaf ears. Drain water has weakened the foundation of
the structure.”There is a narrow lane on one side of the mosque. After the dome
collapsed, locals rushed to the spot and it took them quite some time to dig
out the injured youths.According to the imam of the mosque, Zainul Abidin,
“Jama Masjid has 3 domes and all of them are made of limestone and bricks,
dating back to more than eight centuries. On Thursday evening, a few youths and
children were playing when the structure collapsed, killing 10-year-old Mohd
Saad on the spot. Two other boys are seriously injured. They are recuperating
in district hospital.” timesofindia
Rajasthan law: No probe against judges,
officers without sanction
Jaipur:Vasundhara Raje Govt in Rajasthan is ready with a Bill to replace
an Ordinance promulgated last month which prohibits investigation without prior
sanction against “a Judge or a Magistrate or a public servant” for any “act
done by them while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of their official
duties”.Under the new law, the media too cannot report on the accusation
against such a person until the prosecution gets the go-ahead from the
sanctioning authority, which may take up to 6 months.In the assembly session
that starts Monday, the Govt will bring
in Code of Criminal Procedure (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill to replace The
Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance,2017, promulgated on
Sept.6.Ordinance made additions to sections 156 (3) and 190 (1) of CrPC which
empower a magistrate to take cognizance of an offence and order an
investigation. indianexpress
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar resigns citing
personal reasons
New Delhi:Solicitor General of India Ranjit
Kumar resigned from the post Friday, citing “family” reasons. He is the second
senior law officer of the Govt to quit
in the last few months — Mukul Rohatgi had stepped down as Attorney General in
June this year.There is no word on who will succeed Kumar. Additional Solicitor
General Tushar Mehta is considered a front runner for the post. Kumar’s one-line
resignation letter to the Govt said “due
to certain personal family issues, I hereby tender my resignation with
immediate effect”.Kumar said: “I confirm resignation due to family
issues.”Indian Express,
Can't call yourself Muslim if you worship
other gods:Deoband
New Delhi: Influential Islamic seminary Darul
Uloom Deoband on Saturday issued a fatwa against Muslim women who performed
'aarti' on Diwali in Varanasi, pronouncing that they can no longer be
considered 'Muslim-Ulema' if they worship other gods."If anyone worships
any god except Allah they don't remain Muslim-Ulema," a representative for
the Islamic seminary told ANI.The edict comes days after a group of Muslim
women performed aarti and dedicated prayers to Lord Rama on the eve of Diwali
in Varanasi. The event was organised by Muslim Mahila Foundation and Vishal
Bharat Sansthan to promote communal harmony. timesofindia
WORLD
'UAE on the verge of splitting Yemen in two'
After a tumultuous marriage of more than 27
years, South Yemen appears to be edging closer to divorcing the north in a move
politically and financially sponsored by the oil-rich UAE. In the southern
coastal city of Aden, unified Yemen's familiar flag of three horizontal bars
has all but vanished, replaced by the former Communist nation's emblem of a red
star within a sky-blue chevron, while pictures of Emirati royals adorn the
hallways of Govt buildings and
ministries.Military units once loyal to the Govt of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi are also
distinctly absent. Instead, local militias and Yemeni soldiers are flanked by
Emirati troops - tasked with guarding key installations and protecting Aidarous
al-Zubaidi - UAE's 'man in the south' and leader of the southern secessionist
movement. Perceived by some as the only credible rival to Hadi, the 50-year-old
militia leader set out his vision for the region on Friday saying an
independence referendum would be "held soon."Speaking to a raucous
crowd of southerners hungry for secession, he announced the formation of a new
303-member parliament, a body analysts say will be administered under his
presidency. Aljazeera
Tillerson blames Saudi-led group for Gulf
diplomatic rift stalemate
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said
he has little hope that the months-long Gulf diplomatic crisis will be resolved
soon, blaming the Saudi-led group of countries for lack of progress.Tillerson
made the comments on Thursday, a day before he embarks on a trip to the region
in a renewed attempt to mediate the dispute."I do not have a lot of
expectations for it being resolved anytime soon," he said."There
seems to be a real unwillingness on the part of some of the parties to want to
engage." Aljazeera
US to visit Saudi-bloc over Gulf-Qatar rift
US’ Secretary of State has started a
diplomatic tour across the Middle East to ease tensions over the Qatar rift.Rex
Tillerson is blaming the Saudi Arabian-led alliance for not engaging in
dialogue with Qatar. Qatar has shown eagerness to enter into
negotiations.“There seems to be a real unwillingness on the part of some of the
parties to want to engage,” Tillerson told Bloomberg. “It’s up to the
leadership of the quartet when they want to engage with Qatar because Qatar has
been very clear – they’re ready to engage.” middleeastmonitor
No Rohingya woman safe as rapists run rampant,
say experts: Reuters
cox‘s bazar: Rape is being used as a weapon of
war in the Rohingya crisis, with no woman safe from the risk of sexual attack
as Myanmar’s Muslim minority is driven out of its homeland, according to
experts in the field and those caught up in the crisis.Doctors treating some of
the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh from
Myanmar in recent weeks have seen dozens of women with injuries consistent with
violent sexual attacks, according to UN clinicians.And women interviewed by the
Reuters tell of violent rape by Myanmar security forces as they flee their
homes, part of a mass Rohingya exodus.“Burmese (Myanmar) military has clearly
used rape as one of a range of horrific methods of ethnic cleansing against
Rohingya,” said Skye Wheeler, a sexual violence expert with HRW who has
assessed the fast-filling camps.“Rape and other forms of sexual violence has
been widespread and systematic as well as brutal, humiliating and traumatic,”
she said.Yet villagers fleeing the violence say rape is a routine weapon in the
military’s armory, with the UN now deliberating whether the violence amounts to
genocide. Speaking to Reuters from the relative safety of her camp, Nurshida
recalled how her class of 30 was marched in silence to their school last month,
held at gunpoint by uniformed soldiers, then manhandled into the main
auditorium. The gang rape began immediately.“All of the schoolgirls were raped
and there were loud screams everywhere,” said Nurshida, sitting in a mud hut in
Bangladesh’s Kutupalong camp where she is waiting to register as a
refugee.Authorities say her story fits a horribly familiar pattern.“The stories
we hear point to rape being used strategically as a weapon of war,” aid Rashed
Hasan, a lieutenant colonel in Bangladesh army.Women of all ages and
backgrounds have reported similarly brutal sexual assaults - as well as
witnessing family killings, losing children and being forced from their homes.
My Interview With a Rohingya Refugee: What Do
You Say to a Woman Whose Baby Was Thrown Into a Fire? NYT
Putin, Erdogan discuss Syria, Astana peace
process in phone call
Moscow:Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed an upcoming meeting of the Astana
process on the Syrian conflict in the Kazakh capital in late October, the
Kremlin said on Saturday.During their phone conversation, Putin and Erdogan
talked about joint efforts within the Astana process, including the creation of
“de-escalation zones” in Syria, and further coordination towards resolving the
Syria situation, the Kremlin said in a statement. Astana talks are brokered by
Russia, Turkey and Iran. In mid-September, the three countries agreed to post
observers on the edge of a de-escalation zone in northern Syria’s Idlib region
largely controlled by Islamist militants.Putin and Erdogan also said agreements
reached between Russia and Turkey in Ankara in late Sept. were being
successfully implemented, particularly in trade and economic relations.Reuters
West Bank: Israel forces raids Darwish
Hospital
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171020-qalqilya-israel-occupation-forces-raids-darwish-hospital/
A number of Palestinian patients at the Darwish
Nazzal Hospital in Qalqilya, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank,
were injured yesterday and suffered severe suffocation, especially in the
children’s ward, after Israeli occupation forces raided the hospital’s
courtyards, firing live ammunition, gas bombs and smoke at the
hospital.Minister of Health Jawad Awwad issued a statement condemning the
attack, describing it as “barbaric act and despicable crime” which violates all
international norms and human rights conventions.He added that the occupation
forces’ repeated raids and attacks on hospitals indicate their systematic
policy against hospitals and the entire Palestinian health sector, which is a
violation of international laws and poses a threat to the lives of Palestinian
patients.He stressed the need for immediate and urgent intervention by all
international health organisations operating in Palestine in order to rein in
the occupation, noting that he will be sending urgent letters to them in this
regard.middleeastmonitor
Hamas: We are keen on the reconciliation and
will not abandon the resistance
Head of Hamas Abroad, Maher Salah, stressed
the movement’s commitment to the resistance, noting that it will only support
the truth and justice.In his speech during the 9th Guardians of Jerusalem
Conference held in Istanbul today, Salah said:"Those who believe Hamas and
the Palestinian people would abandon the resistance are delusional. Rest
assured that Hamas will not abandon the resistance; resistance is part of its
name."He cited statements made by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a religious event
regarding Israel’s existence, Salah said: “Israel will not celebrate its 100th
birthday… it is destined to demise.” middleeastmonitor
52 Egypt police suffer casualties in ambush: aljazeera
At least 52 Egyptian police and conscripts
were killed and six more wounded in a gun battle on Friday during a raid on a
hideout of fighters in the western desert, security sources said. Sources had
said late on Friday at least 30 police were killed.Egypt is battling armed
groups concentrated in the Sinai peninsula, including an ISIL affiliate, that
has killed hundreds of security forces since 2013.Reuters quoted sources as
saying deaths occurred on Friday when the officers were following a lead to an
apartment thought to house 8 suspected members of Hasm.Hasm is a group that has
claimed several attacks around Cairo targeting judges and policemen since last
year.
Afghanistan: At least 15 army cadets killed in
suicide attack near Military Academy in Kabul
Kabul: A suicide bomber killed 15 Afghan army
trainees as they were leaving their base in Kabul on Saturday, the defence
ministry said, in the latest deadly attack in the capital."This afternoon
when a minibus carrying army cadets was coming out of the military academy, a
suicide bomber on foot targeted them, martyring 15 and wounding 4," defence
ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.Kabul crime branch chief General Mohammad
Salim Almas said police have launched probe into the attack.AFP
Mogadishu bombing death toll rises to 358
The number of people killed in last week's
devastating bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu has risen to 358, according
to the govt.As well as the confirmed death toll, 228 people were injured in
what was the deadliest attack in the country's history, Somalia's news agency
quoted the information and internal security ministers as saying late on
Friday.The announcement came as a car bomb exploded outside Mogadishu, killing
the driver, police said, with a witness saying there were at least two bodies. aljazeera
Turkey says Kurdish militant banner in Raqqa
shows US sided with terrorists
Turkey said on Friday that a huge banner of
jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan unfurled in central Raqqa by
US-backed Kurdish forces would further harm already fraught relations between
Ankara and Washington.The banner of Ocalan was raised on Thursday at a ceremony
to mark Raqqa’s capture from Daesh in a campaign spearheaded by Kurdish Syrian
YPG fighters, with military support from the US.Turkey considers the YPG to be
an extension of Ocalan’s Kurdistan PKK, which has waged a three-decade
insurgency in Turkey’s southeast and is designated a terrorist organisation by
the United States, European Union and Turkey.Ankara says that weapons supplied
to fighters in Syria have ended up in PKK hands, threatening Turkish
security.“I wonder what more evidence the US needs to accept that the … YPG is
a terrorist organisation,” Turkish PM Binali Yildirim told reporters as he left a
mosque in Istanbul. Middleeastmonitor
Aleppo: 250,000 people displaced as winter
approaches
A quarter of a million people displaced in
northern Aleppo are in urgent need of humanitarian aid as the upcoming winter
season sees the temperature drop, Syrian news agency Zaman Al-Wasl reported
yesterday.Refugees from one of Syria’s most populous provinces are awaiting
basic supplies from charities and camp administrators, including tents, heaters
and blankets, as more civilians continue to flee fighting in the Jizera
area.However, camp administrators have little to offer as international
organisations fail to provide the sites with the necessary aid. middleeastmonitor
Iraq issues arrest warrant for Kurdistan vice
president
Iraq has ordered the arrest of Kurdistan
Regional Govt Vice President Kosrat
Rasul after he called Govt troops sent
to Kirkuk this week “occupying forces”.Spokesman for the Supreme Judicial
Council, Abdul Sattar Al-Birqdar, said in a statement that the Court of Inquiry
has issued the arrest warrant because it believed Rasul’s comments incited
violence. “The court considered Rasul’s statements insulting and incite against
the armed forces,” he said.On Wednesday, Rasul issued a statement saying the
Iraqi military operation in Kirkuk is another Kurdish genocide, in reference to
the genocide that was inflicted on the Kurds in 1988 by the regime forces at
the time. middleeastmonitor
Spain to suspend Catalonia's leaders, call
elections
Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has confirmed that Spain will go
forward with Article 155 after his cabinet held a crisis meeting to decide how
to put an end to Catalonia's secession drive.The previously untapped article of
Spain's constitution will enable Madrid to seize powers from the wealthy
northeastern region.Rajoy listed four goals for enacting Article 155: A return
to legality, to recover normality and co-existence, to continue with economic
recovery and to have an election in Catalonia in "normal political
circumstances".The Catalan Govt will be dissolved as a result. aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
How Israel engages in 'water apartheid'
Saudis and Emiratis are on a Yemeni collision
course: Omair Anas
Discovering Jashn-e-Chiraghan, the Mughal
Festival of Lights:RUCHIKA SHARMA
Is Narendra Modi losing his mojo?BBC
Pavan Varma: EC Hasn’t Given Credible Answer
on Gujarat; BJP Wrong to Use Religion to Polarise:Karan Thapar
With 27% of world GDP, India was richest
country under Muslim rule: Shashi Tharoor
Maulana Mahmud al-Hasan, tallest leader of
India: Muslim Freedom Fighters Series: Syed Ubaidur Rahman
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:38 PM)
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