Evening NEWS
DIGEST
18
Nov.2017: 28 Safar 1439:Vol:9, No:50
Moody's rating upgrade for India: Don't be
lured into false belief: Manmohan
New Delhi: NDA Govt should not be "lured
into false belief" that the economy is out of the wood, former PM Manmohan Singh said today, reacting to the
Moody's upgradation of India's sovereign credit rating.US-based agency upped
India's rating to Baa2 from Baa3 and changed its rating outlook to 'stable'
from 'positive', saying the reforms will help stabilise rising levels of
debt."I am glad that Moody's has done what they have done but we must not
be, I think, lured into false belief that we are out of the woods," he
said, reacting to a query on Moody's rating, here. The economy needed strong
purposeful guidance to move forward at the rate which the Govt itself says they
want the country to move eight to 10 % , Singh said. His comments came in the
wake of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terming the Moody's upgrading India's
sovereign rating after 13 years as "belated recognition" of reforms
undertaken.Singh also cautioned that the soaring prices of the crude oil could "hurt
the fiscal system" of the country."Now the crude oil prices are USD
62-64 whereas few months ago, they were about 40-45. So it can hurt balance of
payment. It can also hurt the fiscal system as well," Singh said.Asked how
different he would have implemented GST, Singh said there was "undue
haste" in implementing the new taxation system and blamed the bureaucracy
for its lack of preparedness."Both in administration and implementation, I
think there is much to be desired and the very fact that the council has met so
many times, they have now reduced rates of 211 items." That showed that
there was undue haste in implementation and bureaucracy had not done its
homework, he said.PTI
Moody's Rating Goes Against People's Mood:
Kapil Sibal
New Delhi: Congress leader Kapil Sibal said
the upgradation of India's rating by US credit rating agency Moody's was not in
sync with the "mood of the people"."Contrast the mood at Moody's
with the mood of the people. While you bask under their upgrade worry about
livelihood millions have lost," Sibal said in a tweet."Moody's talks
about sunshine tomorrow. We are worried about the dark clouds today," he
said..IANS
Chidambaram mocks govt’s sudden love for
Moody’s, says Modi regime had flayed its methodology some months ago
Mumbai:A day after Moody’s upgraded India’s
sovereign rating to Baa2 from Baa3 with a stable outlook, former finance
minister P Chidambaram on Saturday mocked the Narendra Modi-led central Govt ’s
sudden love for the global credit rating agency, saying that the present
dispensation had flayed the rating methodology only a few months ago.“Just some
months ago, Govt had said the Moody’s
methodology was all wrong… A long letter was written by Shaktikanta Das
(ex-economic affairs secretary) questioning Moody’s ratings methodology, saying
they’ve to revise their methodology as it’s all wonky,” Chidambaram said.The Congress
leader said the same agency and Govt had
projected growth at 6.7 % for current
financial year. “It was 8% in 2015-16,
7.1% in 2016-17 and will be 6.7 % in 2017-18. Is that North or South, you
conclude,” he said.
Moody's rating: Yechury slams Modi govt, says
country lags behind in various global indices
CPI(M) general-secretary Sitaram Yechury said
there was nothing to celebrate about the Moody's upgrading India's sovereign
credit rating as the country 'lags' behind in all parameters of other global
indices.He also criticised the Narendra Modi-led Govt for delaying the winter session of the
parliament and said these were the 'signs' that it was not willing to face the
House." Govt is trying to represent the upgradation of India's ranking by
Moody's rating agency as a sign of progress. But what is this rating all about?
This rating tells us in which country the industrialists and investors will
have more profit," he said at a party programme here.PTI
Moody’s Boost to Modi: What We Should and
Shouldn’t Celebrate:A K Bhattacharya
India’s highest credit rating in decades makes
Modi’s job harder: Bloomberg
Moody's upgrades for India vindicates Modi’s
economic policies, rating should have gone 2 notches higher: experts
Moody’s withdraws Reliance Communications'
credit rating after missed payment
Mumbai:Rating agency Moody’s said it has
withdrawn its credit rating on Reliance Communications, as it considers the
Indian telecom operator to be in default for missing an interest payment on its
bonds that was due last week.Debt-laden Reliance Communications posted a fourth
straight quarterly loss last week and said it had failed to pay interest on
some debentures, sending its shares tumbling.“Moody’s has withdrawn the ratings
as a missed scheduled payment of either interest or principal is considered a
default under Moody’s definitions,” the rating agency said in a note.Reuters
Reliance Communications and Aircel lash out at
rivals for causing them 'irreparable damage' with false advertising
Survey by Pew Research on Modi’s popularity is
a ‘con job.’ Here’s how!jantakareporter
On Thursday, a large section of the Indian
media went ballistic in carrying stories based on a so-called survey by the
US-based Pew Research, which said that 9 out of 10 Indians had favourable
opinion of PM Narendra Modi.Seldom does
one see a democratically elected leader enjoying 90% approval rating anywhere
in the world unless he or she has followed the path of what General Pervez
Musharraf did in Pakistan in 1999 or what General Al-Sisi orchestrated in Egypt
in 2013. In both cases, military dictators contested elections after
overthrowing their democratically elected Govt s with the help of military and
subsequently declared themselves winners by more than 90% vote share.Soon after
overthrowing Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif Govt , Musharraf opted for a controversial
referendum in 2002. Astonishingly, more than 97% Pakistanis ‘extended’ their
support to him. Atleast that’s what Musharraf claimed. Likewise, Al-Sisi too
‘won’ 96.1% vote share in 2014 when he ran for Egypt’s presidency post jailing
of his former boss Mohammad Morsi through a coup.Pew Research has sensationally
placed Modi into the same league. But should you care about it at all the same
way a section of the Indian media – TV channels and newspapers alike- did on
Thursday morning? The answer is PLEASE NO. That’s because, as rightly termed by
the Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien, the exercise is nothing more than a ‘con
job.’Just because PM Modi has tweeted
the ‘survey’ as a badge of honour, it doesn’t mean the fake publicity exercise
automatically acquires credence.The imaginary survey by Pew reportedly spoke to
just 2,464 respondents in India between 21 February and 10 March this year. At
least that’s what the agency claimed when it went berserk on Twitter on
Wednesday evening (India time) and posted more than two dozens of tweets
highlighting several aspects to illustrate just how popular Modi was ahead of
the Gujarat assembly polls.It is simply ludicrous to assume that one can
predict the mood of India, a country of 1.25 billion population, by speaking to
just 2,464 people. That is, if Pew indeed spoke to even 2,464 people. It looks
more like a case of Pew taking the mickey out of an average Indian’s intelligence
or the American agency being funded to publish insanely favourable headlines
for Modi ahead of Gujarat elections.
India Abstains From Voting on UN Rohingya
Resolution
Colombo: India on Thursday abstained from
voting on a UN Committee’s resolution on human rights situation in Myanmar in
regard to the Rohingya Muslim minority. Among the 26 countries which abstained
along with India, were Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Japan.China and the Russian
Federation were among ten countries which voted against the resolution. China
and the Russian Federation are against any form of UN international
intervention directed by the West in the internal affairs of Myanmar and other
developing countries. China and Russia are “crusaders” for the cause of
“national sovereignty” with the West using human rights as an instrument to
intervene in other countries which do not fall in line with its policies. China
and Russia want Myanmar and Bangladesh to settle the refugee issue bilaterally
rather than bring in third parties to settle the dispute.However, the
resolution was carried with 135 voting for. Countries which supported the
resolution included Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Maldives and Afghanistan. Bangladesh
voted for it obviously because it is bearing the brunt of the Rohingya Muslim
refugee problem with 600,000 new entrants since August 25 adding to a backlog
400,000. Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan voted for because they are Islamic
countries in sympathy with fellow Muslim Rohingyas persecuted Myanmar’s
Buddhist majority.Third Committee’s draft resolution, which will be put before
the General Assembly in December, called upon Myanmar to end military
operations that had "led to the systematic violation and abuse of human
rights" of Rohingya Muslims in the country's Rakhine state. It urged
Myanmar to grant access to UN fact finding teams and called for full and
unhindered humanitarian aid access to Rakhine State. It also asked Myanmar to
grant full citizenship rights to the Rohingyas and urged U.N.
Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to appoint a Special Envoy to negotiate
with Myanmar. thecitizen
Mumbai: Massive protest against new Haj
policy, Naqvi accused of working for Private Tour Operators
Mumbai: Accusing Minority Affairs Minister
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi of working as “agent” of Private Tour Operators (PTOs),
Muslims led by Congress MLA Asif Shaikh on Friday staged a massive protest at
Mumbai’s Haj House.Following the protest which started soon after Friday
afternoon prayers, Haj Committee of India CEO Maqsood Khan rushed to meet the
protestors and promised to address their grievances on priority basis.The
protesters however were not convinced and demanded immediate restoration of the
earlier Haj policy for Haj 2018.According to the new Haj Policy, draft of which
was presented to the govt for consideration in the last month, the Govt has allowed woman pilgrims without mehram – a
male close relative.The new policy has also dropped the exception from Qurrah –
draw to select the final list of Haj pilgrims, the applicants who are applying
for the last 4 years. In addition to this, the govt has also agreed to increase
by 05% the quota of PTOs, the protestors said.“There is no sense or logic in
increasing the quota of PTOs when number of people willing to perform Haj
through Haj Committee of India exceeds far more than its own quota”, Asif
Shaikh, Congress MLA from Malegaon who was leading the protest, said.“It seems
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is working as agent of PTOs. I smell a large scale
corruption behind the decision. There is definitely something in the new Haj
Policy which should be probed”, he alleged.Asif Shaikh also demanded immediate
restoration of exception granted to those applying consecutively for the last
four years. He also demanded from the Haj Committee of India to drop the idea
of allowing woman pilgrims without Mehram.“This is against Islamic principles
and Shariah, and Govt has already been
informed about this. Despite the reservation stated by the community on the
issue, the govt is enforcing such things”, Asif Shaikh said.ummid.com
Idea of nationalism almost non-existent in
Islam: Union minister Giriraj
Bhopal:Union minister Giriraj Singh has raked up
a controversy saying that the idea of nationalism is almost non-existent in
Islam.Addressing a gathering in Bhopal, Singh said that the meaning of
nationalism is different in Islam.“When we talk about nationalism we imply
patriotism. In Urdu the meaning of nationalism is different and it is termed as
Kombiat.As per encyclopedia of Islam the Komb does not relate to nation but
people who are of same community. Therefore, in Islam the idea of nationalism
is almost non-existent. Many people may not agree with my opinion,” he said.He
further urged the future generation to not forget the Indian culture.The Minister
pitched for pitched for nationalism while saying, “nationalism is not only
about politics or acre of land.”ANI
Babri case: Sri Sri meets AIMPLB's Khalid
Rasheed
Lucknow: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar on Friday reached Lucknow's Aishbagh Eidgah to meet AIMPLB member
Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali. Art of Living founder said, "We both agree
that we have to build the bridge between the two communities. We have to create
a friendly atmosphere of belongingness and togetherness so that we can solve
all the issues of the country."He added that there was really no conflict
between these Hindu and Islamic communities as they have been living together
for centuries."We have to take forward the idea of brotherhood through the
talk. We all respect the law, but the law cannot connect the hearts of people.
A law will remain a law and people will have to follow it but what is important
is that the feeling of togetherness and harmony has to come from within. That
will remain forever," the spiritual guru said.He added that the leaders of
both the communities were trying their best to make ends meet."One thing
which I can foresee from this discussion is nation's betterment. But we all
should have patience as it may take time," Sri Sri said. Khalid Rasheed
said the two leaders held discussions on how to bring these two communities
together and spread communal harmony in the entire nation."We are thankful
to Sri Sri for teaching people to live their lives in an orderly manner. The
important thing is to erase internal disputes between these two communities in
order to take the nation towards a path of peace and development. I believe if
the leaders of these two communities keep on meeting on regular intervals then
all the issues will be solved eventually," he added.ANI
Babri Masjid: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar meets Sunni
cleric, says "we have to build bridges"
Darul Uloom not willing to meet Ravishankar
Lucknow: Darul Uloom at Deoband has rejected a
proposal to meet Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar to find a solution
to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.According to reports, the Islamic
seminary was contacted by PMO to find out if it supported the efforts by
Ravishankar to resolve the dispute through negotiations.But the seminary,
located in UP 's Saharanpur district, made it clear that it was with the AIMPLB
on this issue.A senior cleric of the seminary said that no purpose would be
solved by meeting Ravishankar as the stand of the seminary on the Ayodhya issue
was the same as that of the AIMPLB."A meeting with Ravishankar at this
juncture may send a wrong message and create unnecessary confusion," the
cleric added. deccanherald
BJP is using Sri Sri as a 'pawn' in Ram temple
dispute: SP's Vidyarthi
Ballia: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar, working to find an amicable solution to the Ram Temple dispute, is
being used as a "pawn" by the BJP to polarise the Hindu vote bank, a
senior SP leader said on Saturday.With the Supreme Court set to begin the
hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya from 5 December,
Ravi Shankar has offered to mediate in the issue."Ravi Shankar is a pawn
of the BJP, which has realised that people have come to know the reality of its
jugglery on development. They have tried to rake up the Ram temple issue by
pushing the spiritual guru in the front to polarise the Hindu vote bank,"
Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ramashankar Vidyarthi said.PTI
Won’t surrender our claim, say Muslim
litigants
Delhi HC seeks Centre's response on plea
against title 'Shahi Imam'
Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the
Ministry of Minority Affairs after an application was filed seeking to restrain
the Waqf Board from using the title 'Shahi Imam' for Jama Masjid's Imam,
Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari.A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and
Justice C Hari Shankar also sought the response of Delhi Waqf Board on the plea
which sought to stop the practice of referring imams of the other mosques
as'Shahi'. The court's direction came after an application, seeking removal of
the title 'Shahi Imam', was moved in pending PILs that sought directions to the
authorities to declare the historic Mughal-era Jama Masjid here as a protected
monument and remove all encroachments in and around it.The plea, filed by Ajay
Gautam, also sought to restrain Syed Ahmed Bukhari and other persons from using
the title of 'Shahi Imam', working under the control and supervision of the
Delhi Wakf Board for any purpose or business."Shahi Imam means an officer
appointed by the shah (emperor). Now, the Delhi Waqf Board is neither
appointing a Shahi Imam nor maintaining any such record," the application
said.Centre sought more time to place the documents regarding its decision that
Jama Masjid should not be declared a protected monument.The bench agreed to
this but directed the Centre to positively place the documents on the next date
of hearing, i.e, Feb 27.DNA india
Jama Masjid Imam’s Shahi title contested as
being unconstitutional
Tell Hindu Girls That Muslim Men are
‘Terrorists’, and Other ‘Lessons’ from an RSS-backed ‘Hindu’ Fair
Jaipur: On paper, 5-day fair organised by the
Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation (HSSF) which got underway here on
Thursday aims to “philosophically explain and practically expound how Hindu
spirituality and traditional Hindu lifestyle provide a solution to contemporary
challenges – family and human values, women’s honour, patriotism, environment,
ecology and pollution”.Judging by some of the “solutions” on offer, however,
the event seems to have served as a platform for Hindutva outfits to share
their toxic wares on unsuspecting visitors – including lakhs of students from
local Govt schools, for whom attendance
was made compulsory.“The orders (for Govt schools to bring their students) were given so
that the students can be exposed to our rich Hindu culture. What else could be
the motive?” Ratan Singh, district education officer, told The
Wire.Chennai-based HSSF describes itself as an independent organisation. In
reality, it is linked to RSS and its affiliate, the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati. RSS
and BJP leaders are among those who lead the foundation’s activities in different
parts of the country, though most of the Hindus who attend the fairs they
organise do so in the belief that it is a religious event rather than one with
any political agenda.“HSSF just provides a platform for organisations engaged
with Rashtriya Sewa Bharati to impart services to society. Its ideology is the
same as that of the RSS, but the 2 are not linked,” Gunwant Singh Kothari, RSS
pracharak and HSSF’s national coordinator, told The Wire.At the fair, the
Bajrang Dal was openly distributing pamphlets and manuals on ‘love jihad’ to
every female passer-by. When a student refused to accept the pamphlet, calling
it “rubbish”, coordinator, Chauthmal Gupta murmured, “These youngsters don’t
listen these days.” Thewire
After Padmavati, hall owners not to screen
movie on Muzaffarnagar riots
Muzaffarnagar: After controversy hit Bollywood
movie 'Padmavati', it is the turn of a movie based on Muzaffarnagar riots of
2013 to trigger protests, with cinema hall owners here voluntarily deciding not
to screen it in the face of opposition. 'Muzaffarnagar - The Burning Love' was
released on Friday. Even though the administration has not made any moves to
curb its screening, cinema hall owners have chosen to exercise caution after
protests erupted in the city.In June 2016, 'Shorgul', loosely based on the
riots, was also not screened by theatres in Muzaffarnagar fearing riots and
communal unrest in the area. 'Muzaffarnagar - Burning Love' produced by Manoj
Mandi, resident of Morna village in the district, was shot at various locations
here in 2016. Mandi had recreated some incidents from the riots for the film, a
source said."It is painful for me that a film, which is about
Muzaffarnagar, is not being screened in the district. None of the theatre
owners have agreed to screen it. I don't know why. I think the owners are being
told by the district administration not to screen it. There is no objectionable
content in the film," said Mandi.TOI
After Tipu Jayanti, only a matter of time
before Siddaramaiah celebrates Kasab Jayanti: Union Minister
New Delhi:Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde
attacked Karnataka CM and Congress
leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday, saying that since the latter had celebrated
Tipu Jayanti, it was only a matter of time before he started making people
celebrate Ajmal Kasab’s Jayanti. In a statement to ANI, Hegde
said:“Siddaramaiah did not celebrate Kittur Chennamma festival but he is busy
celebrating Tipu Jayanti.”Criticising the Congress leadership in the state,
Hegde said Karnataka has become a safe haven for criminals. He also spoke about
immigrants in the state, saying, “There 9 lakh Bangladeshis in Bangalore,
you’ll find immigrants in Belgaum, Bijapur, Hubli, Dharwad and even in Kittur.
Check under your legs, bombs could have been planted.”Hegde had kicked up a
controversy in October last month after he asked not to be invited to the
celebrations around Tipu Jayanti. In a letter to Karnataka CM ’s Secretariat
and Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner, the Minister of State for Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship asked them not to include his name on the list
of invitees for the programmes for Tipu Jayanti to be held on Nov.10.Karnataka
is set to go to polls in April 2018. The current state Assembly’s tenure ends
in May 2018.
My husband forcing me to convert to Islam, has
married a younger woman: Former model files complaint
Mumbai: In a dramatic accusation, a former
model living in Mumbai’s Bandra area, Rashmi Shahbazker, has filed a complaint
with Mumbai police against her husband for domestic violence and of forcing her
to convert to Islam.The woman, a Hindu by birth, is married to a Muslim. She
had earlier told the media that she was married Asif 12 years ago and he
physically abused her several times.She has also alleged she was subjected to
physical abuse because she refused to convert to Islam.she said, "He
pressurises me, saying that if I don't follow Islam I can't be his
wife."The former model further alleged that her husband has married
another woman and both were trying to evict her from the house."My husband
has recently married a Hindu girl who is half his age. He is now trying to
evict me from our marital home. I am facing a serious threat to my life,
tortured and assaulted too," she said.She also alleged that her husband
and his family have brainwashed their child, saying "Since your mom is not
Muslim she is 'Shaitan'."Times Now
Right to life stands on higher pedestal than
right to religion: Bombay HC
Mumbai:Observing that the right to life
contemplated as a fundamental right under the Constitution stands on a “higher
pedestal than the right of religion”, the Bombay High Court recently granted
the custody of a minor girl child to her maternal grandmother. The father of
the child is Muslim while the mother, who was a Hindu, had converted to Islam
after marriage.The child’s paternal and maternal grandmothers were contesting
for her custody since her mother has died and her father, accused of killing
her, was on death row in UAE.“ Right to live with dignity, right to preserve
childhood and the human rights of the child are contemplated within the
Fundamental Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Though the
Constitution grants Right to Religion under Article 25, under such
circumstances, Article 21 stands on a higher pedestal than the Right of
Religion. In fact, all the religions have noble principles and thoughts wherein
human dignity is revered. No religion teaches that the child be exposed to
vices, dishonesty and falsity,” said Justice Mridula Bhatkar. indianexpress
Gujarat Elections: Video ‘spreading hate’ goes
viral, complaint filed with Election Commission
BJP's ongoing election blitzkrieg on social
media has sparked off a major controversy in Gujarat as a video with communal
overtones surfaced. Human rights activists have taken objection to the
advertisement, calling it as an attempt to "polarise citizens" ahead
of 2017 Assembly polls. A civil rights group has complained to the Election
Commission and the police in this regard on Friday.The group, Human Rights Law
Network, has taken objection to the offending advertisement, demanding that it
be banned. They have also sought action against the people who have made the video
that can hurt sentiments of a minority community. HRLN activist and lawyer
Govind Parmar sent the complaint to the Election Commission and the Crime
Branch through email. "The video shows people of the majority community
being terrified of Muslims. The video has been created to spread hatred against
Muslims and polarise the society," Parmar says.It adds, "The
advertisement should be removed from the all social media platforms and action
should be taken against all characters depicted in the video and its
makers." Parmar says, "We have asked the Cyber Crime Cell unit of the
Crime Branch and the Chief Election Commissioner to investigate the matter as
the advertisement showing Muslims in a bad light." 'Communal tactics' The
1.15-minute long video in Gujarati, which has been widely circulated on social
media, propagates that women are safe under BJP reign. ahmedabadmirror
Gujarat elections: Fear-the-Muslim video
chills in poll heat
UP BJP
Leader Threatens Muslims, Says Vote For BJP Or Face Difficulties
Flanked by two minister of Yogi Adityanath
cabinet on a dais, a local BJP leader in UP reportedly threatened the Muslims to vote for
the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming civic body polls or “face
difficulties” – a possible model code of conduct violation. Indian Express
reported that while addressing a rally in Nawabganj, BJP leader Ranjeet Kumar
Srivastava, who is campaigning for his wife for the upcoming civic polls in
Barabanki district, threatened Muslims that if they do not vote for her they
should be ready to face difficulties.During his address on Nov.13, Srivastava
said, "Agar Ranjeet Sahab ki patni ko tumne vote de kar ke chunav nahi
jitaya… To yeh doori jo tum banane ja rahe ho, ab agar yeh doori banegi to tumko
Samajwadi Party bachane nahi aayegi. BJP ka shashankaal hai. Jo kasht tumko
nahi jhelne pade the, woh kasht tumko uthane pad sakte hain,” said Srivastava.
(If you don’t vote for Ranjeet Sahab’s wife and get her elected, then you will
distance yourselves and Samajwadi Party won’t come to your rescue. This is the
BJP’s reign. You may have to face the difficulties which you did not have to
undergo earlier). Two other ministers from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, Dara
Singh Chauhan and Ramapati Shastri, were also present on stage when Srivastava
made the remarks during the campaign for the civic body polls which will be
held in three phases in the state on Nov. 22, 26, and 29.OUTLOOK
'Vote for BJP, or else...': Party leader
threatens Muslims to vote for it or face consequences in UP 's Barabanki
Alwar Killing: Minorities Commission Issues
Notice to Rajasthan Govt
New Delhi; National Commission for Minorities
(NCM) has issued notice to Rajasthan Govt over the brutal murder of dairy
farmer Ummar Khan. Ummar, 42, was allegedly shot dead by a gang of self-styled
Gau Rakshaks on Friday morning in Alwar district.NCM chairman Syed Ghayorul
Hasan Rizvi, through the notice, has sought full details about the incident and
action taken against the culprit cow vigilantes. Caravan daily
Rajasthan: Day before Ummar’s burial, wife
delivers boy
No truck ferrying paralysed cow due to fear,
Meerut woman seeks help from PM Modi, Amit Shah
Lucknow: 24-year-old Jyoti Thakur is in an
unusual predicament. Her seven-year-old cow is paralysed and has to be taken to
the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly for treatment. The
problem: Fearing attack by cow vigilantes, no truck driver is ready to ferry
the cow from Meerut to Bareilly — a distance of over 200 km.Since November 13,
Thakur has been seeking help on Twitter from PM Narendra Modi, CM Yogi Adityanath, External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,
Textile Minister Smriti Irani and even BJP president Amit Shah. She is yet to
receive a response from any of them. Thakur, an MBA who works at a private firm
in Bengaluru, is currently at her native Lala Mohammadpur village in Meerut’s
Kankarkheda area.“So far, no one has given me any assurance. We are helpless,”
said Thakur, adding that due to the situation, she is not being able to return
to Bengaluru. Thakur said that her cow, Moni, fell ill on October 28.
Initially, a private veterinary doctor treated Moni and her condition improved.
But two days later, she suddenly fell.“She was then treated by doctors of Govt veterinary hospital at home. After a few days,
when there was no significant improvement in her health, the doctors advised us
to take Moni to the Bareilly IVRI, as they don’t have facilities for X-ray and
any specialised unit,” she added. indianexpress
Israeli PM to be in India for 3-day visit
from Jan 14
New Delhi: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in
India for a three-day visit on January 14 as the two countries work towards a
free trade agreement.The two countries are also working on a proposal for the
Heron TP, medium-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to meet multiple mission needs
of the Indian armed forces.Upon his arrival, Netanyahu will be received by PM Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, like he did
China’s Xi Jinping and Japan’s Shinzo Abe.Netanyahu will be in India till
January 16, 2018 and from Gujarat he will travel to New Delhi. Agra is another
proposed stopover for Netanyahu, the second Israeli PM to visit India after Ariel Sharon in 2003. hindustantimes
Door-to-door search near Hyderabad palace
ahead of Ivanka’s visit
Hyderabad: Anti-Naxal 'Greyhound' and
anti-terror 'Octopus' commandos will be deployed to carry out combing
operations and for area domination around Falaknuma Palace on November 27 and
the day after for the high profile visit of US President Donald Trump's
daughter Ivanka Trump and PM Narendra
Modi.Special Protection Group and US Secret Services are working in tandem to
decide on deployment of snipers at vantage points to fortify Falaknuma Palace,
the venue of the official dinner.Cops will also conduct door-to-door searches
in three colonies in vicinity of Falaknuma — Fathima Nagar, Farooqi Nagar and
Al Jubail Colony. The proposed visits of Ivanka to Charminar, Laad Bazar and
Chowmahalla Palace are yet to get security clearance. Timesofindia
Assam BJP led govt ‘harassing’ intellectuals,
showing ‘dictatorial tendencies’: Congress
Guwahati : BJP-led Govt headed by Sarbananda Sonowal was harassing a
section of intellectuals of the state for recently taking part in a meeting
where Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief Maulana Syed Arshad Madani had made some controversial
remarks, Debabrata Saikia, Leader of the Opposition, alleged here on
Saturday.“There is no prima facie evidence of the six intellectuals of the
state endorsing or even agreeing with maulana Madani’s comments. (Yet) cases
have been registered against them in different police stations,” Saikia, senior
leader of the Congress party, in a statement said. Saikia said that prompt
decision of the police to interrogate them stood out as a glaring example of BJP-led
Govt’s “undemocratic tendencies”, he
said.Saikia’s statement came in the wake of registration of at least 3 FIRs
against leading Assam intellectual Hiren Gohain by some individuals accusing
him of being party to Maulana Madani’s alleged threat last Monday of creating
violence in case names of large number of Muslims were left out of National
Register of Citizens (NRC) currently under preparation in Assam. indianexpress
In Assam, National Register of Citizens sparks
fresh fears among the state’s minorities:Ipsita Chakravarty
Bareilly: 3 days after ‘hunger death’, sacks
of ration fill family’s hut
3 days after a 55-year-old woman died in
Bareilly, allegedly due to lack of food even as the authorities deny starvation
death, one side of the family’s polythene sheet-covered ramshackle hut at Nai
Basti, in Fatehganj area of Bareilly, is stacked with sacks. These are sacks of
rice and wheat, delivered on Thursday, 2 days after Sakina died — and days
after her younger son, Shamshad, was denied ration at the local PDS shop since
she was not present to give her biometric registration in the form of thumb
impression.Shamshad, 18, said that the shop owner, Ahmed Navi, asked him to get
“ammi (mother)” if they were to receive ration for the month. At home, where
most of the space is occupied by two rotten cots and the sacks of ration,
Sakina’s husband Mohammed Ishaaq said she was paralytic and could not move.
While they earlier took her to the ration shop in a hand-drawn cart for thumb
impression formality, she was too ill this time to be moved, Ishaaq said. The
family gets 35 kg wheat and rice per month for Rs 85 under the Govt ’s
Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Shop owner Navi said, “Ishaaq never told me that his
wife cannot move, otherwise I would have got her thumb impression at their
home…after all, we also have to complete formalities before distributing ration
under the scheme.There are 80 beneficiaries under the Yojana here, and they get
regular ration.”While the family said Sakina had not eaten for four days before
her death, Bareilly District Magistrate R Vikram Singh told Indian Express on
Friday, “There is no doubt that the family is very poor but it is hard to
believe that she died of starvation. She died early Tuesday morning, and was
buried the same evening. Postmortem could not be conducted to establish the
truth (cause of death).”Singh also accused the newspaper that first reported
Sakina’s death due to starvation of fabrication. “The news is politically
motivated to denigrate the Govt ,” he alleged. To illustrate that the family
was not in abject poverty, DM said the family’s bank account — in Sakina’s name
— has Rs 4,500.Ishaaq showed a bank passbook, with the last transaction of Rs
500 marked on October 8 and the balance at Rs 567. “I could not withdraw rest
of the money since the bank employee told me that some amount has to be left.
Or else the account will be closed,” Ishaaq said.Indian Express
Regret RBI decision to not pursue Islamic
banking: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
Srinagar: Moderate Hurriyat Conference
chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday expressed regret over RBI's decision not
to pursue the proposal of introducing Islamic banking in the country.“Govt (is)
blinded to the benefits that Islamic banking can bring to its people and
overall economy. As per the IMF, Islamic finance assets grew at a double-digit
growth rate from $200 US billion in 2003 to $1.8 trillion at the end of 2013
that include non-Muslim countries (like) China, Germany, UK & US,” Mirwaiz
said in his Twitter post.Mirwaiz said the people of Kashmir have been demanding
Islamic banking for a long time now. “Express regret at Govt of India’s
rejection to introduce #IslamiBanking due to its politically motivated
religious agenda. #Kashmir has been demanding Islamic banking for a long time
to accrue of the benefits of banking as per Islamic law and in turn help the
economic growth of J&K,” the separatist leader, who is also the chief
preacher of Kashmir, said.PTI
Centre’s fresh dialogue process in J&K
will promote interest of Muslim Separatism, alleges Panun
Jammu:Panun Kashmir—an amalgam of Kashmiri
Pandits-- on Friday warned Centre about the relapse of dialogue process started
in the state recently into a device that will eventually promote the interests
of Muslim separatism and fundamentalism. ''If the dialogue processes is based
on the same premises and political motivations as that guided the previous team
of interlocutors lead by Dileep Padgoankar or Working Group on Centre State
relations lead by Justice Sageer, we will witness further bleed of national
credibility in the state,’’Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Panun Chairman said. He said that
Panun Kashmir wants Centre to realize that autonomy politics in the state,
right since the accession of J&K , has been a protracted campaign to
promote secessionism and Islamisation.'' Autonomy, self-rule, independence have
acted as different stages as well as complimentary ventures for the spread of
religious fascist separatism in the state,’’ he said and added that to consider
them options of retrieving the situation in J&K has been a long protracted suicide.UNI
'How many more pieces will you cut India
into?': Farooq Abdullah slams BJP
New Delhi: In a blistering attack on the
ruling BJP, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah censured its
anti-Muslim rhetoric and asked when will they cease to divide India along
communal lines. "BJP leaders in UP give speeches and threaten Muslims that
if you don't vote for us (BJP), we'll show you... India belongs to everyone, be
they Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian. And it is their right to freely vote for
whoever they want to. You can't force anyone," Abdullah said at a
gathering in Jammu. He was alluding to a viral video in which a BJP leader in UP
is heard threatening Muslim constituents to vote for his wife in the upcoming
civic polls or face dire consequences. Abdullah then said: "You have made
one Pakistan, how many more Pakistans will you make? How many more pieces will
you cut India into?"Unperturbed by the criticism of his remarks on
Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, the Kashmiri leader reiterated that the disputed
territority belongs to Pakistan and the Indian Govt is wrong to take a tough
stance along the border in J&K."Yes, I say it (PoK) belongs to them
(Pakistan). Are they (Pakistan) wearing bangles? They also have atom bombs! Do
you want us to be killed by them? You are sitting in palaces, think about the
poor people living in border areas, who are bombed daily," he added. timesofindia
Telangana Muslim group postpones meet for
global conclave
Hyderabad: The south zone police has convinced
a Muslim group to postpone its public meeting on Nov. 28 in the vicinity of Taj
Falaknuma which will house delegates of the GES. A group of local Muslims
celebrates Milad-un-Nabi, birthday of Prophet Muhammad, every year at
Falaknuma. About 7,000 people attend the meeting where Islamic scholars deliver
sermons.“This year, they had applied for the permission and it was accorded.
But as soon we came to know about the dinner being hosted by PM Narendra Modi for Ms. Ivanka Trump and other
delegates, we approached the organisers and they agreed to postpone it. We are
grateful to them,” said V Satyanarayana, DCP (South). “The huge gathering posed
a security threat as any mischief element might mingle with the crowd and
spread unrest,” said the official. Syed Saifuddin, one of the organisers of the
public meeting, said that Islam spreads the message of peace and harmony. “When
the police approached us we readily agreed as we all want peace to prevail,” he
said. deccanchronicle
Jamia authorities postpone hostel inauguration
as students protest against invitation to Mufti, Rajnath
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia students on
Friday, held a sit-in protest against the invitation extended by University
authorities to J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti
and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to inaugurate the J&K hostel. Students
holding placards held a sit-in protest against the CM and Home Minister in
front of the central canteen.The students said they believed that that
conferring of this “honour and magnanimity” to J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti and
Rajnath Singh is a “scurrilous” attack on the integrity and culture of the
University.They said that their conscience does not allow them to welcome
Rajnath Singh and Mufti—a person who “purports” to be a representative of the
people of J&K but whose consistent effort has been that the people should
change their aspirations and succumb to the demands of the “Indian state”.“For
the last seventy years, the political situation in J&K has been a blot on the democracy in India.Successive
Indian Govts have committed mistakes in their quest to control a territory
where people have for all these years expressed their desire, through various
means possible, to break free from the “idea of India” and imagine a future of
their own—but the people of J&K have had to bear the heavy costs of these
mistakes,” students said.TCN
Jamia Students Protest against Mehbooba
Mufti’s Visit
Rs 9 crore spent in seven years but no
candidate cleared UPSC: story of MANUU Residential Coaching Academy
Hyderabad: In 2009-2010 during the UPA regime
in an attempt to aid minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women
write various competitive examinations, UGC established 5 Residential Coaching
Academies (RCAs) in 5 universities across India to provide coaching to the
aspirants with residential facilities.The residential coaching academies were
established in AMU, MZNUU,Dr BR Ambedkar University, Jamia Hamdard and Jamia
Millia Islamia for providing coaching in UPSC, state PSC, Judicial Services,
Public Sector Banks and Insurance and Indian Railway Services examinations.One
of the academies and the only one in South India was established at MANUU,
Hyderabad. University has received a grant of Rs 8.45 crore from the UGC since
2010 and spent an additional Rs 58 lakh to establish the same. However, as per
an RTI filed by TCN, the MANUU Civil Service Examination-Residential Coaching
Academy (CSE-RCA), which is providing coaching to students since 2010, has not
helped even one student qualify the UPSC exam and less than 15 students have
been able to clear any competitive exam.TwoCircles
Sultan Moiuddin tops Maharashtra MBBS finals,
wins 14 Gold Medals
Nashik: Sultan Moiuddin Shaukat Ali, a student
of Dr Vasant Pawar Medical College Nashik topped the Maharashtra MBBS final
exams and bagged 14 Gold Medals in various subjects. In a double delight for Dr
Vasant Pawar Medical Colleg, Mansi Mayuri Gujarathi of the same college bagged
07 Gold Medals and came second.Sultan Moiuddin bagged the 09 Gold Medals in
various subjects of final years and topped the Mahatarshtra University of
Health Sciences. He also bagged 05 medals as consolation prize.He was awarded
the medals at the 17th Convocation od MUHS by Maharashtra Medical Education
Minister Girish Mahajan who was presiding over the gala function.Dr Sultan
Moiuddin also received a cash price of Rs.10,000 from Johnson & Johnson
Mumbai.Sultan Moiuddin, who hails from Palghar and comes from a humble family
background, completed SSC with 93% of marks from Rana English High School. He passed
HSC from Azam Campus Pune scoring 94% marks.Ever since his childhood he wanted
to become a doctor. But, poor economic condition of his family was the hurdle
to fulfill his dream. Hence he took admission in an engineering college.One day
he received a phone call from his mother. He said everything is fine but
"he is feeling uneasy" and repeated his desire to become a
doctor", according to Inquilab.ummid.com
AMU Faculty elected as Fellow of Royal Society
of Chemistry
Dr Asad Ullah Khan, Professor in Biotechnology
Unit, AMU, has been elected as Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry. The
designation FRSC is given to a group of elected Fellows of the society who have
made major contributions to chemistry and other interface disciplines such as
biological chemistry. The names of Fellows are published each year in The Times
(London).The contribution of Prof Asad in the field of drug designing against
antibiotic resistant bacteria gained this recognition to his credit. He has
been working for a decade on antibiotic resistance in bacteria and trying to
develop way to get rid of this global problem. He has discovered many molecules
and experimentally proved them as drug candidates against resistant bacteria
for future antibiotic development.
Ghulam Muhammed Siddiqui dies, buried in Mumbai
Mumbai: Ghulam Muhammed Siddiqui, well known
writer and one of the founders of IDRAAK and once a close associate of ex MP
Syed Shahabuddin, passed away Thursday night after a brief illness, family
sources said.His was buried in Bandra Kabrastan, Naupada after Friday prayers ,
family sources said. Ghulam Muhammed had served in the banking sector in the
Gulf countries for a few decades. He was very active in Majlis Mushawart, All
India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other Muslim platforms and
NGOs.IDRAAK and Mashwara Group were outcome of his brainchild and he took head
on the challenges posed by the Leftists activists by exposing their dual nature
in case of Palestine and also in India, where the cause of the community was
sabotaged by nefarious designs by activists with Muslim Names.ummid.com
Mumbai's Ghulam Muhammed Siddiqui Saheb is no
more: Siraj Wahab, Arab news
WORLD
Saudi 'swaps assets for freedom' after arrests
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/saudi-arabia-swaps-assets-freedom-arrests-171118083433633.html
Saudi authorities are striking agreements with
some of those detained in an alleged anti-corruption crackdown, asking them to
hand over assets and cash in return for their freedom, according to sources
familiar with the matter.The deals involve separating cash from assets, such as
property and shares, and looking at bank accounts to assess cash values, one of
the sources told the Reuters news agency.Dozens of princes, senior officials
and businessmen, including cabinet ministers and billionaires, have been detained
in this month's sweeping crackdown, which is being seen as an attempt to
strengthen the power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Among those arrested
was billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the kingdom's most prominent
businessmen.One businessman reportedly had tens of millions of Saudi riyals
withdrawn from his account after he signed the deal. In another case, a former
senior official consented to hand over ownership of four billion riyals worth
of shares, the source said.Saudi Govt earlier
this week moved from freezing accounts to issuing instructions for
"expropriation of unencumbered assets" or seizure of assets, said a
second source familiar with the situation.US is closely watching the situation
in Saudi Arabia, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday. aljazeera
Reports: Saudi prisoners to be freed in
exchange for 70% of their wealth
Will Saudis impose Qatar-style blockade on
Lebanon? Reuters
Some Lebanese politicians and bankers believe
Saudi Arabia intends to do to their country what it did to Qatar - corral Arab
allies into enforcing an economic blockade unless its demands are met.Unlike
Qatar, the world's biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas with a population
of 2.7 million, Lebanon has neither the natural nor financial resources to ride
it out, and people there are worried.Up to 400,000 Lebanese work in the Gulf
region, and remittances flowing back into the country, estimated at between
$7-8bn a year, are a vital source of cash to keep the economy afloat and the
heavily-indebted Govt functioning."These
are serious threats to the Lebanese economy which is already dire. If they cut
the transfer of remittances, that will be a disaster," a senior Lebanese
official told Reuters.Those threats came from Lebanon's former PM Saad Hariri, who resigned on November 4 in a
shock broadcast from Riyadh that Lebanese political leaders have ascribed to
pressure from the Saudis.
UN chief: Saudi’s war on Yemen is ‘stupid’
United Nations Secretary General Antonio
Guterres has urged the Saudi authorities to lift the blockade imposed on Yemen
and to reopen the country’s sea, air and ground ports immediately. UN chief’s
spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said yesterday: “The Secretary-General is very
much disappointed we’ve not seen a lifting of the blockade. The
Secretary-General and his humanitarian team are heartbroken at the scenes we’re
seeing from Yemen.”“This is a man-made crisis,” continued the UN spokesman,
adding that Guterres had called it a “stupid war”.During a press conference at
the UN headquarters in New York, Dujarric revealed that Guterres had written a
letter to Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, regarding the blockade
imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen since 6 November. He urged Riyadh
to lift the blockade that “is already reversing the impact of humanitarian
efforts”. middleeastmonitor
Palestine: Saudi, Egypt using Rafah crossing
to pressure us
Rafah
crossing between the besieged Gaza Strip and Egypt is being used a tool to
pressure Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to enter into US-backed peace
talks with Israel, a Palestinian Authority official has said.“The Rafah
crossing has become a tool that Egypt and Saudi Arabia use to pressure
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to accept the entry into a new round of
US-backed negotiations with Israel,” the PA official said, warning that “the
negotiations could reach results that may affect the rights of the
Palestinians.”According to the Cairo agreement which was signed on 12 October,
Egypt agreed with Fatah and Hamas to reopen the Rafah border crossing last
Tuesday, but the official said that “Saudi Arabia seemed to have pressured
Egypt to retreat until the PA approves the two-state solution deal.” middleeastmonitor
UAE and Israel are like ‘brothers’ says senior
general
UAE and Israel are like brothers, said one of
Abu Dhabi’s senior military general.During an interview with an American news
agency Defence & Aerospace Report, Staff Major General, Pilot Abdullah Al-Hashmi,
answered questions about UAE military capability.Al-Hashmi said that that US
should have no concerns about arming the UAE because the Emirates seeks to
become not just an ally but “the strategic ally” of the US. Relations between
the two countries is a “win-win situation …. because when you build the UAE
capability you are building the USA capability,” he explainedLater in the
interview, Al-Hashmi was asked if increasing UAE military capability was a
threat to Israel is any way. The General implied that the 2 countries are like
brothers and that the USA was like the “older brother” who can oversee any
differences the two countries may have.
Israel official interviewed in Saudi paper:
Iran is a common threat
Kuwait hosts conference against normalisation
with Israel
Conference to Resist Normalisation with Israel
in Gulf began in Kuwait today. Organised by the BDS Movement in the Gulf,
consisting of BDS and anti-normalisation organisations in the region, the forum
will discuss papers addressing the forms of normalisation, criteria for
combatting normalisation and the dangers of normalisation. The legal aspects of
normalisation and resistance are also on the agenda.Panellists will also
discuss strategies for boycott, including the concept and influence. South
Africa’s experience will be highlighted along with the student movement in
America and the Palestinian issue, and the Zionist violations of the rights of
Palestinian workers.Sponsored by the Kuwaiti National Assembly, the conference
has received popular and partisan support from numerous organisations in the country.
Amnesty accuses Philippine Govt forces of war crimes
Manila, Philippines - Diego swam across the
chilly waters of Lake Lanao in pitch darkness to make it to the opposite shore
before first light.It was August 4, and the young father was fleeing the main
battle zone in Marawi, a city on the southern island of Mindanao in the
Philippines, where, for three months, he was held hostage by Maute fighters
linked to ISIL.A bloody battle between the fighters and govt forces was raging
in Marawi since May, pushing thousands of residents to flee."I was crying
all the time. There was always a gun pointed at me," Diego, who used a
pseudonym for fear of retribution, told Al Jazeera."I lost count how many
times they shot at me and beat me."Diego thought his ordeal was over when,
after swimming for 2 straight hours, military officers found him on the other
side of the city.Instead, however, he was brought to a university campus where
he said he was blindfolded and shackled.Diego's story has now been corroborated
by a new report by human rights group Amnesty International, issued nearly four
weeks after Philippine authorities declared total victory over the Maute
fighters in Marawi. aljazeera
Lanka arrest 19 after Buddhist-Muslim
violence; 4 injured
Colombo:Sri Lankan police arrested 19 people
after a clash between “extremists” from the majority Buddhist and minority Muslim
communities in which four people were injured, a spokesman said on
Saturday.Tension has been growing between the two communities this year, with
some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to
Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites.Some Buddhists nationalists
have also protested against the presence in Sri Lanka of asylum seekers from
mostly Buddhist Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority.Reuters
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Unmasking Padmavati: How Jaisi’s Anti-Feudal
Tale is Twisted to Push a Fascist Narrative:Amaresh Misra
Demonetisation roll-out deeply flawed,
introduction of Rs 2000 notes puzzling: Richard Thaler, Nobel Laureate
To Prove Hardik And Nehru Are Womanisers, BJP
IT Cell Head Tweets Pictures Of Nehru Embracing..His Sister Vijayalakshmi
Pandit
The colour-coded Israeli ID system for
Palestinians: Linah Alsaafin
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:50 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment