Evening NEWS
DIGEST
26
Nov.2017: 06 Rabiul Awwal 1439:Vol:9, No:57
Bhagwat's remarks on Ayodhya case challenge to
SC, he has Gujarat polls in mind: Muslim outfits
Lucknow: Muslim organisations reacted sharply
to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's strong pitch for building a Ram Temple on the
disputed site at Ayodhya, terming it as a direct challenge to the SC before
which the matter wass pending, and demanded action against him. They also
alleged that RSS chief was trying to help the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat
elections by diverting the attention of voters from "real" issues with
such statements. "The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has faith in the
judiciary and will try to implement its order... by issuing this statement
Mohan Bhagwat has taken law into his hands," the spokesman of AIMPLB,
Maulana Khaild Saifullah Rehmani, said. He demanded that the government take
action against "such people who are openly showing disrespect to the
courts and taking law into their hands". Bhagwat has issued "a
one-sided statement that only a temple will be constructed at the site and this
is unacceptable to us", Rehmani said, adding this amounts to showing
disrespect to the court. The convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee and
member of the Board, Zafaryab Jilani, alleged that such remarks
"challenging" the apex court are a threat to democracy. Jilani, who
is also a senior counsel, said that it appears that Bhagwat has tried to help
BJP in the Gujarat Assembly elections through his statement. "Bhagwat has
given an open challenge to the SC....As per the Constitution, the SCis supreme
and its orders have to be implemented in the country...it has asked for
maintaining status quo on the site...through this statement Bhagwat has given a
direct challenge to the SC and this is also a threat for democracy," he
said. PTI
Muslim law board says RSS chief’s remarks on
Ram temple a challenge to SC
RSS playing with fire on Ayodhya dispute:
Owaisi
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the RSS
of "playing with fire" on the issue of Ram temple with its
"obnoxious" statements. Reacting to Mohan Bhagwat's comments that
"only Ram Mandir and nothing else" will be built at the disputed site
in Ayodhya, AIMIM chief said: "This is a very delicate matter and RSS is
playing with fire on this issue."The obnoxious statement by RSS chief
clearly gives a message that RSS is assuming to be the SC. RSS is trying to
give a message that they know what the judgment of the SC will be, and that
would be on the basis of ‘aastha' (faith) but not on evidence or
Constitution," he added.IANS
RSS chief, other leaders disavow violence in
the name of 'cow vigilantism' at Hindu Dharma Sansad
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and several other
leaders disavowed violence in the name of 'cow vigilantism' at 3-day Hindu
Dharma Sansad at Udupi, which culminates on Sunday. However, he reiterated that
there was nothing wrong with protecting the cow and that scientific approaches
to harnessing the benefits of cow products should be considered."Cow
protection is a must, but we have to operate in peace," Bhagwat said.On
the other hand, Pravin Togadia, International Working President of VHP,
compared the US legal system which prohibits the slaughter of horses to that of
India and questioned why a similar legislation for cows cannot be passed in
India. Pejawar seer Vishwesha Teertha also extended his support for a
nationwide legislation on cow slaughter, and added, "It is not the
responsibility of the Union govt alone. The state governments must also support
such a legislation and impose a ban on cow slaughter."The comments come in
the wake of several attacks by 'cow vigilantes' or 'gow rakshaks' across India,
and amidst attempts by the central government to bring in a ban on cattle
slaughter by making the sale of cattle for slaughter illegal.The statements
were made at the Hindu Dharma Sansad in Udupi, a 3-day festival that culminates
with the Vishwa Hindu Samajotsava on Sunday. Organised by VHP, the Sansad is
aimed at "reforming the Hindu community", and this year, participants
spoke about cow protection, state control over temples, religious reforms, etc.
Multiple discussions revolved around the seeming demise of 'Hindu Dharma' with
leaders expressing concerns over the lack of reforms within the religion to
adapt to current times. During his speech, Dharmasthala Dharmadikari Veerendra
Heggade emphasized that the ‘Hindu Dharma’ has become stagnant and urged people
to look upon the works of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar to reform the Hindu
society which could lead to its empowerment. thenewsminute
Untouchability, caste discrimination hurdles
for Hindu brotherhood, says Togadia
Udupi: On the second day of the Dharma Sansad
here, VHP International Working President Pravin Togadia said, "Though
caste discrimination has come down in our country, it hasn't gone away
completely. For its eradication, Hindus should be treated equally. Entry should
be given to all temples of India without caste discrimination. Eat food without
pankthi bheda (food served separately for Brahmins), have the same water for
all castes and the dead should be buried in one place."He added, "We
unknowingly discriminate between castes and there we should have
reconciliation. We have to respect and love each other. The poor are denied
education and famers are dying due to the loan burden. We envision a
povertyless Hindustan. We want peace, united and prosperity here."TOI
Hadiya mentally unstable, NIA report more
important: Father’s SC strategy
Heavily guarded and barricaded gate of Kerala
House in New Delhi is proof of the palpable tension inside the building.It is
in this building that Hadiya, 25-year-old Muslim convert from Kerala is being
housed for a day, before she goes before the Supreme Court on Monday to give
her testimony.For her father, who has been making every attempt to thwart
Hadiya’s freedom to choose how she lives her life, this seems to have done
little to change his mind. On Sunday, Ashokan has come up with his latest
strategy: He is going to argue in court that the SC must consider NIA report in
the case before they hear Hadiya.Ashokan's lawyer Raghunath claimed that Hadiya
was heavily indoctrinated and that she was mentally unstable."We will
argue that the NIA report that has enough proof of indoctrination, should be
first considered before listening to Hadiya's side. Whatever it is that she
will say in court, we will tell the court that more weightage must be placed on
NIA report and not on Hadiya's statements. Just like the Kerala HC did not give
much importance to Hadiya's statement, we will ask the SC to do the same.” Thenewsminute
Suspended Gorakhpur’s BRD doctor Dr Kafeel
Khan cleared of graft charges
Lucknow:Suspended paediatrician at Gorakhpur’s
BRD Medical College and Hospital (BMCH), Dr Kafeel Khan, has been cleared of
corruption charges after police failed to find any evidence. Dr Khan is one of
the nine people arrested after a spate of child deaths, allegedly due to lack
of oxygen and other medical reasons, at the hospital in August this year. After
receiving prosecution sanction from the state govt, police chargesheeted him
and ex-BMCH principal Dr Rajiv Mishra under various sections of the IPC,
including criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
Gorakhpur SSP Satyarth Aniruddha Pankaj said Dr Khan has not been chargesheeted
under Prevention of Corruption Act and the Information Technology Act. However,
he has been chargesheeted under IPC sections 409, 308 and 120-B.Dr Mishra, in
addition to the same charges, is also accused under Prevention of Corruption
Act.On Oct.27 police had filed chargesheet against 6 other suspended BMCH
staff, including Dr Rajiv Mishra’s wife Dr Purnima, and Manish Bhandari,
proprietor of Pushpa Sales Private Limited that had won the contract to supply
liquid oxygen. They were chargesheeted under IPC Sections 308 and 120-B, and
Prevention of Corruption Act. All accused are lodged in Gorakhpur jail.2 days
ago, the Food Safety and Drug Administration also filed a complaint in a
Lucknow court against Pushpa Sales Private Limited for allegedly supplying
medical oxygen without a wholesale license.Meanwhile, a retired BMCH principal
is now under investigation over awarding the contract to Pushpa Sales Pvt Ltd
in 2014. indianexpress
Gorakhpur BRD Hospital Child Deaths:Some
charges dropped against Dr Kafeel Khan
Govt has no intention of introducing Islamic banking:
Naqvi
Hyderabad:India has a wide network of
different banks to meet the financial needs of people and hence the government
has no intention to consider introducing Islamic banking, Union minister
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. Islamic or Sharia banking is a system of finance in
which interest is not charged.“In India, the government will not allow Islamic
banking, because India is a secular and democratic country,” the minister told
PTI here. “There are different government and scheduled banks and the existing
banking system is for all. Hence, the government is not thinking of introducing
the concept of Islamic banking,” he said.“Some organisations and some people
had made a suggestion on this issue (to introduce Islamic banking), but we do
not have any such intention,” he said. PTI
TV journalist Rohit Sardana in trouble over
his derogatory tweet on revered women in Islam
New Delhi: Hundreds of Muslims on Friday held
a protest against TV journalist Rohit Sardana on Friday in New Delhi for his
derogatory tweet referring to women in Islam and Christianity including Prophet
Muhammad's wife Ayesha, daughter Fatima and Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Protesters
took out a candle vigil from Batla House to Jamia Nagar police station and
filed complaint with police against Sardana.Addressing the protest gathering
Maulana Jinan Asghar said:“Rohit Sardana has made offensive comments about the
revered personalities in Islam. We will continue our protest till the
government of India takes strict action against him. We can’t tolerate such
attempts to insult these pious personalities.”“This country has a rule of law.
Every citizen of each faith has a responsibility to respect the sacred
personalities in respective religion. We will not tolerate insult of any
revered personality of any religion in this country,” he averred.Condemning
Sardana's tweet Maulana Asghar said, “TV Channel he works for needs to take
right step in the matter."Protesters said that they will hold a massive
protest outside Police Headquarters in Delhi if FIR against him not lodged
soon. Raising slogans against Sardana, they also demanded his arrest.Several
groups of Muslims in various other cities also took out protest march on Friday
against Rohit Sardana and filed police complaints. The complainants alleged
that Sardana’s derogatory tweet was aimed at causing communal disharmony.On the
complaint of Muslims’ Association of Peace and Harmony a FIR against Rohit has
also been lodged at Mumbai’s Mira Road police station under.2 other FIRs were
filed at Dabeerpura Police Station in Hyderabad and Faizabad. On 16th Nov.
Sardana was reacting to a similar tweet posted by his India Today colleague and
TV journo Gaurav Sawant, who wrote similar kind of tweet on the revered women
in Islam.IndiaTomorrow
UP Police dismiss reports of fanfare over
Hafiz Saeed’s release
Lucknow:Lakhimpur Kheri administration has
dismissed reports that members of a community in the district celebrated the
release on Friday of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest in Pakistan.After
his release, there were reports that some members of the community at Begum
Bagh Colony in the Shivpuri area decorated their homes with “green flags,”
burst crackers and shouted slogans in support of Pakistan and Saeed.Both the
police and the DM have dismissed the report as a rumour.DM Akash Deep said the
police reached the area after the matter came to the notice of officials.The
flags were put up for an upcoming festival, and the police removed them, he
told The Hindu.“The model code of conduct is in force for the municipal
elections. Only the flags on government polls were taken down,” Deep said. Thehindu
UP civic polls: Second phase of local body
elections marred by faulty EVMs, names missing from voter lists
The second phase of local body polls in Uttar
Pradesh ended on Sunday with about 52 percent of the electorate exercising
their right to vote. However, reports of malfunctioning EVMs, names missing
from electoral rolls, and bogus voting continued to mar the polling process.Polling
took place in 25 districts on Sunday: Varanasi, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad,
Gautam Budhnagar, Amroha, Rampur, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Aligarh, Mathura,
Mainpuri , Farrukhabad, Etawah, Lalitpur, Banda, Allahabad, Lucknow, Sultanpur,
Ambedkarnagar, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Sant Kabirnagar, Deoria, Ballia and
Bhadohi.Issues regarding EVMs were reported across the state, especially in
Lucknow and Ghaziabad. Authorities ordered replacement of faulty EVMs at
several places. Early morning reports claimed that EVMs at booth numbers 254
and 255 in Lucknow's Sarojini Nagar were malfunctioning. As a result, polling
began late at this booth.Several such reports also came from Ghaziabad.
According to reports, the display on the machines did not show the date and time,
and information like ballot unit number and control unit number were also
missing.Instances of bogus voting were also reported across the state. The
Varanasi Police detained eight women and two men on charges of alleged bogus
voting. In Ghaziabad, 5 men have been detained by the police for bogus voting. firstpost
UP civil polls: Voters irate after names
struck off the list
Muzaffarnagar case:Court to frame charges
against BJP MP Baliyan
Meerut: The local court in Muzaffarnagar will
frame charges against BJP MP Sanjeev Baliyan and other accused on Dec.15 in the
case of hate speech before the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.Baliyan and six others,
including BJP MP Bhartendra Singh, party MLA Suresh Rana and VHP leader Sadhvi
Prachi, are accused of inciting violence through their speeches in a
Mahapanchayat in Nagla Mandaur on August 30, 2013, ahead of the Muzaffarnagar
riots. thehindu
2007 Gorakhpur dargah burning case: HC to hear
petition against Yogi as ‘fresh’
Allahabad: Allahabad high court on Friday
directed to put up as ‘fresh’ a petition challenging an order of additional
district judge (ADJ), Gorakhpur that was in favour of Uttar Pradesh chief
minister Yogi Adityanath and 6 others in the ‘dargah burning case’ of Gorakhpur
of 2007. ADJ had set aside the order of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM),
who had taken cognizance of the charge sheet filed against Adityanath and the
six others in the case.Hearing an application by Rasheed Khan, manager of the
dargah and another person, Justice Rahul Chaturvedi directed to put up the
matter on Dec.13, 2017 in the list of freshly filed cases.The petitioner had
lodged an FIR on Jan.28,2007 at Gorakhpur’s Kotwali police station, alleging
that the then MP Yogi Adityanath and 6 others had burnt the dargah and looted
its cash box.Thereafter, the state govt had granted sanction to prosecute
Adityanath and others.HT
Hijab row: Thousands of Muslim girls have
passed out without a single complaint, says principal of Christian school in
Barabanki:TOI
New Delhi:A day after the Imam-e-Juma of Shia
central mosque in Barabanki lodged a complaint with the basic shiksha adhikari
(BSA) that his daughter, a student of class VII in the town's famous Christian
missionary school, Anand Bhawan, was not allowed to wear hijab (headscarf)
inside the premises, school principal Archana Thomas said the row was the first
of its kind in the 70-year-old institution's history.In his complaint, Maulana
Mohammad Raza had said that wearing hijab was their "right and
choice" and their fundamental rights had been violated."Our
prospectus makes it clear that students have to adhere to our uniform. Our
school was set up in 1948 and although more than half of our students are from
that community, we never had a controversy like this," Thomas told TOI
over phone.The principal said several hundreds of Muslim girls have passed out
of the school without any complaints. "They take off the hijab once they
enter the premises and may cover themselves again once they step out," she
said."The girl's father has told reporters that I forcibly took off her
scarf, which is not true. The girl has been our student since nursery and she
never faced any problems here till last week," Thomas added. Lily
Fernandes, president of registered society of Maids of the Poor, the body that
runs the school said, "The row is both unnecessary and sad. We have Muslim
teachers too in our school. Many of them cover their heads, some of them until
their ankle. But as a rule, they enter classrooms without any of these
things." Saharanpur sheher qazi Nadeem Akhtar, who attended a convent
school and earned an MBA later, said the imam should not have sent his daughter
to that school if he was so particular about hijab. "However, the school
should also consider that Sikh men and Muslim women have been allowed to cover
their heads even in armies of several countries. A place of learning should be
the last place for clash of egos," Akhtar added.TOI
UP: School principal bars student from wearing
headscarf, govt orders probe
Boy posted some photo of PM Modi. Is it such a
big crime that he should be jailed?:Shaqib’s kin
Fatehabad: 5 months ago, Shaqib, 19, went
without food for about six days, demanding that his parents buy him a
smartphone. He is now in jail in Hisar, Haryana, 270 km from his home in Khera
Mewat village in UP’s Saharanpur district, for allegedly sharing on WhatsApp a
morphed photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Shaqib was picked up on Nov.
18 after Mukesh Kumar, a ‘BJP worker’ in Tohana, in Haryana’s Fatehabad
district, complained about the photograph. A police team from Tohana had
travelled to Shahpur-Kalyanpur village in Uttarakhand, where Shaqib worked as a
tailor. He is now serving a 14-day judicial remand in Hisar jail.“He had gone
without food for 6 days, insisting that we buy him a touchscreen phone,” says
Shaqib’s mother Julekhan, 45.For the residents of Khera Mewat, a village with a
population of about 8,000, a smartphone is a rarity. “Most of the villagers are
uneducated and work as daily wagers, hardly earning Rs 100-200 a day. How can
we afford smartphones,” says Mehboob Hasan, 44, a neighbour who has dropped by
to console the family. He points to Jule’s phone, an Intex set that the family
bought for about Rs 1,000.Julekhan says that when Shaqib stuck to his demand,
four months ago, his father Salim, 47, who earns about Rs 6,000-8,000 a month
working as a daily-wage labourer, borrowed money to buy Shaqib the phone he
wanted for Rs 7,500. Shaqib, a Class 3 dropout, is the fourth of Salim and
Jule’s 5 children.Consoling Julekhan as she breaks into sobs, Shaqib’s paternal
aunt Fareeda, 35, says, “He sent some photo of the prime minister on his phone
and he was arrested for it? Is it such a big crime that the boy has to be put
behind bars?” indianexpress
Padmavati row:
Saini burdened with debt; police probing 'communal angle'
Jaipur/New Delhi: Chetan Kumar Saini, the man whose body was
found hanging at Jaipur's Nahargarh Fort, was burdened with loans on his head.
40-year-old was a resident of Jaipur's Shastri Nagar who reportedly ran a
jewellery and handicrafts business. Reports say Saini had to repay a total of
Rs 10 lakh to various persons including money lenders. On Thursday, his wife
had received a phone call asking Saini to clear the debt.It has also been found
that Saini had borrowed Rs 7 lakh sometime ago for his sister's marriage.The
death of 40-year-old in mysterious circumstances has put in the investigators
in the tizzy. Police have not ruled out the 'suicide' angle.Prima facie reports
say Saini did not suffer from internal or any major external injuries except
for some bruises on his face. Along side his body were scribbled messages
written on rocks relating to the controversial film 'Padmavati'. Saini's hands
were stained with coal, which was apparently used to scribble the notes.Police
Sources say Saini was killed and the messages written were to spark communal
tension in the region. The murder had nothing to do with the
"Padmavati" row and the messages were put up to divert investigation
into the murder. The message, scrawled on rocks nearby, read, "(We don't
burn effigies, we hang them”.Police are quizzing 6 persons in connection with
the case.ABP
AP: Jagan Mohan Reddy promises funds
totemples, mosques, churches
Kurnool: Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan
Reddy on Saturday promised a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000 to masjid imams and
assured ₹15,000 a month for maintenance of all the temples, mosques and
churches.Addressing Muslim minorities in an “atmeeya sadassu“ at Putlur in
Pathikonda constituency in Kurnool district, Jagan said his father Y.S.
Rajasekhara Reddy had extended 4% quota to Muslims, but CM N. Chandrababu Naidu
ditched them after promising 8%.
Dawood’s son is a maulana, moves into
mosque:The Hindu report
Mumbai:India’s most-wanted gangster Dawood
Ibrahim Kaskar is reported to be suffering from depression as his 31-year-old
son Moin Nawaz D. Kaskar has become a maulana, a religious master.“Moin is
reportedly against his father’s illegal activities,” Thane Anti-Extortion Cell
head Pradeep Sharma told The Hindu. Sharma said the information regarding his
son — gained from questioning Dawood’s brother Iqbal Kaskar, who is in judicial
custody in an extortion case — has been included in the charge sheet submitted
in the designated court by the Thane AEC. Sharma said the interrogation also
revealed other “nuggets of internal strife in the family”. Iqbal Kaskar, was
arrested in September in connection with 3 cases of extortion. Sharma said,
according to Iqbal a deeply worried Dawood is afflicted with bouts of
depression over who would handle his underworld empire. Dawood also has 2
daughters — Mahrukh, who is married to Junaid, son of Pakistani cricketer Javed
Miandad, and, Mahreen, who is married to a US-based businessman’s son.“His son
is practically estranged from the family, but it is not clear if he is on
speaking terms with his father,” said Sharma.Moin, according to Iqbal Kaskar,
is now a respected and qualified maulana, and has moved out of the family’s
palatial bungalow in Clifton, Karachi, and is staying in a nearby mosque. His
wife and 3 children are also living with him in quarters provided by the mosque
management.The Hindu
Minority members in Delhi police under 4%
New Delhi: Delhi Police, which has a strength
of around 80,000 personnel, employs less than 4% of members from minority
communities in its ranks, according to a report by the Delhi Minorities
Commission (DMC).The annual report, released by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
on Friday, also shows that Muslims, the largest minority group in Delhi, form
less than 2% of the police force here.The report said the force has 1,388
Muslim personnel and 697 Christian personnel. It said the Delhi Police employs
856 Sikh personnel.“The Delhi Police has 1.79% personnel from the Muslim
community. In total, it has 3,035 personnel from minority communities who form
3.91% of the total strength of the force,” the commission said in its report.In
the report, the DMC has identified 12 departments and corporations of which
members of the minority communities are a part. Apart from the police, the
Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has a total of 26 members from minority communities
which is the lowest among 12 departments and corporations.PTI
BJP did what ISI could not in 60 years:
Kejriwal
New Delhi:Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that
by dividing India on the Hindu-Muslim line, BJP has done in three years what
Pakistan and its ISI could not do in 60 years. "Pakistan's biggest dream
is to divide Hindustan on the lines of Hindus and Muslims," he said.
"Those people who're dividing the country on the lines of Hindus and
Muslims are ISI agents." "Under the veils of patriots, they're
anti-nationals. They want to weaken the country. That dream that Pakistan has
been seeing, which ISI could not do in 60 years, BJP has done in three
years," Kejriwal said at Aam Aadmi Party's National Conference held here
on the occasion of the party's fifth anniversary, which saw participation of
representatives from 22 states. PTI
3-day grand Tableeghi Ijtema begins in Bhopal
Bhopal :Namaz is the foundation of Islam and
it is the identity of a Muslim said
Maulana Aliqadar of the city at the first day of the 3 days World
Islamic Congregration— Ijtema at Ghasipura in the outskirts of the city on
Saturday.Maulana described the importance of five pillars which are five
obligations for a Muslim.He said after listening Azaan (call to offer Namaz)
offers Namaz develops a direct connect with the Almighty. Inside a Mosque one
keeps following orders of Almighty and the same should be followed outside the
Mosque with equal obedience.He said that through Tableegh (Conveying of message
of Islam) Muslims are working on Islam across the world.Several preachers of
Bangle wali Masjid Delhi reached the city on Saturday. Member of organising
committee Ateequllah Islam said that Maulana Saad, Maulana Shaukat, Maulana Jamshed, Maulana
Shehzaad and Maulana Inam have reached the city and would attend Ijtema. Dailypioneer
WORLD
Hariri: Hezbollah's regional positions
'unacceptable'
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has
warned Hezbollah against interfering in regional conflicts, saying he postponed
his resignation to discuss ways to disassociate Lebanon from wars in
neighbouring countries.Speaking during a meeting with the Higher Islamic
Council, the official body for the country's Sunni Muslims, on Saturday, Hariri
stressed that Lebanon was being targeted and that it risked being dragged into
chaos."The postponement [of resignation] at the request of President
Michel Aoun was to give an opportunity to discuss and negotiate our principal
demands to make Lebanon neutral and keep it away from the conflicts and the
wars in the region, and to implement the policy of disassociation …and commit
to the Taif Agreement," Hariri said."As we have previously announced
on several occasions, we will not accept Hezbollah's positions that affect our
Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries," he
added. aljazeera
Syrian opposition 'serious' on transition
without Assad
Ankara:A senior member of the Syrian
opposition has said that they are “serious” about forming a transitional
governing body without the leader of the country’s regime. Syrian opposition is
“serious about establishing a Transitional Governing Body (TGB) without the
head of the regime, Bashar al-Assad,” Nasr al-Hariri, head of the opposition’s
delegation,High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said. Hariri’s comments came late
Friday in Saudi capital Riyadh after he was selected as chief negotiator for
Syrian National Coalition ahead of Syrian peace talks in Geneva. He called on
the UN to supervise any talks to resolve the seven-year conflict in Syria.“Upcoming
round of negotiations in Geneva should be direct and serious, as well as follow
a clear agenda,” Hariri said. He urged all parties to “put all issues on the
negotiations table”.A total of 36 members of HNC will attend Syrian peace talks
in Geneva next week.Anadolu
Erdogan, Saudi king talk summit, Syria on
phone
Istanbul:Turkey's president and the Saudi monarch
spoke on the phone Saturday about this week’s Sochi summit,bilateral relations,
and the Syria crisis, according to a Turkish presidential source.The phone call
between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Salman bin Abdulaziz came 3 days after
Erdogan met the Russian and Iranian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Hassan
Rouhani, in Sochi, Russia for talks on Syria. Erdogan and Salman also discussed
bilateral ties and regional issues, said the source, who asked not to be named
due to restrictions on speaking to the media. Anadolu
‘Trump passed sensitive intelligence about
Israel to Russia’
US President Donald Trump has passed Russia
some sensitive intelligence information about Israel’s mission in Syria,
Huffington Post has reported. Quoting an article in Vanity Fair, it claimed
that Trump passed the information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and
Russian Ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kislyak, in May.An article in Times of
Israel explained the details of the Israeli intelligence mission, which was
carried out by the Mossad and another intelligence unit. It cited an Israeli
official describing Trump’s move as a “stab in the back for the system of
sharing intelligence information between Israel and the US.”The sources for the
Vanity Fair article, said Huffington Post, were “experts in the Israeli
intelligence operations.” It added that the information related to an espionage
operation against Daesh, with plans to plant explosives in laptop
computers.According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli government shared
intelligence information with the Americans despite warnings by officials in
Washington that Trump, under Russian pressure, might pass details to
Moscow.Anadolu claimed that Trump did not name Israel when he passed the
information to Russia, but did give key details about the operation against
Daesh.The concern in Israel is that information given to Moscow could be passed
on to Russia’s ally Iran, which Israel considers to be its most dangerous
enemy.middleeastmonitor
Over 24,700 women killed in Syria since 2011:
NGO
More than 24,700 women have been killed in
Syria since the outbreak of the country’s civil war in 2011, according to a
London-based NGO.In a new report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR)
said a total of 24,746 women have lost their lives in Syria since March
2011.The Syrian regime was responsible for the death of 20,919 women, making up
around 84.5 percent of the overall death toll, the NGO said. Anadolu
3,613 Palestinians killed in Syria since 2011:
NGO
A total of 3,613 Palestinians have been killed
in Syria since the outbreak of the country’s civil war in 2011, according to a
London-based NGO.The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) said 463
women were among the victims.The group said over 1,642 Palestinian refugees,
including 105 women, remain in detention by Syrian regime authorities.According
to the NGO, some 204 Palestinian refugees died due to the lack of nutrition and
medical care.Approximately 85,000 Palestinian refugees fled Syria to Europe by
the end of 2016, group said. According to UN estimates, around 450,000
Palestinian refugees still live in war-torn Syria. Anadolu
Syria: Secret underground hospital to treat
injuries
Saudi Crown Prince: 95% of those arrested
agreed to return funds
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
revealed that 95 per cent of those arrested on corruption charges in Saudi
Arabia agreed to a settlement and to return state funds.In an interview with
the NYT, Bin Salman pointed out that about one per cent of the detainees were
proven innocent and their cases have been closed, while four per cent denied
corruption charges and expressed their desire to go to court.Authorities
arrested over 200 individuals on 4 Nov. This included 11 princes, four current
ministers and dozens of former ministers and businessmen on corruption charges.
They are being detained in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Saudi public prosecutor,
Saud Al-Mojib, said on 10 November that the number of people arrested on corruption
charges reached 208 people, seven of whom were released “for lack of sufficient
evidence”. He added that investigations indicated that at least $100 billion
was siphoned in corruption and embezzlement operations.In response to a
question by Thomas Friedman, who conducted the interview, about what is
happening at Ritz and whether the campaign against corruption was a power play
to eliminate his family and private sector rivals before his father King Salman
hands power over to him, he said. “It’s ludicrous to suggest that this
anticorruption campaign was a power grab.”He pointed out that many prominent
individuals detained in the Ritz had already publically pledged allegiance to
him and support his reforms, and that “a majority of the royal family” is already
behind him. middleeastmonitor
Saudi denies including Tunisia’s Ghannouchi on
‘terrorist list’
Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tunis has denied
reports that the President of Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement has been included in a
new “terrorist list” announced by the four countries besieging Qatar, of which
the Kingdom is one. The embassy condemned the publication of such “false news”
without having it verified first.BBC Arabic TV apologised for reporting the
inclusion of Ghannouchi on the list, which includes 2 organisations and 11
individuals who have received support from Qatar.High-level sources in Ennahda
revealed that Shaikh Rached Ghannouchi is considering legal action against a
number of media outlets which published the claim that he is on the list. The
movement is part of the govt in Tunisia. “Contrary to what some media are
discussing,” explained Ennahda in a press statement, “President of Ennahda,
Rached Ghannouchi, has nothing to do with the recent terrorist list issued by
some countries.” The mention of Ghannouchi’s name in this regard is a desperate
attempt to defame his ideas and his long struggle for freedom and democracy, as
well as resistance to tyranny, extremism and terrorism, the movement said.
“Ennahda reserves the right to sue the parties that promote such libellous
claims.”Furthermore, Ennahda expressed surprise at the inclusion of the
International Union of Muslim Scholars in the latest terrorist list. Such
groups, it insisted, are neutral and known for their honesty, tolerance and
attachment to the spirit of diligence required when involved in disputes and
conflicts. middleeastmonitor
Dubai security chief calls for bombing of Al
Jazeera
A senior security official in the UAE has
sparked outrage after calling for the bombing of Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based
media network.In a series of posts on Twitter on Friday, Dubai Lieutenant
General Dhahi Khalfan launched a scathing attack against Al Jazeera, accusing
it of provoking a bomb and gun assault on a mosque in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
earlier in the day."Alliance must bomb the machine of terrorism ...
channel of ISIL, al-Qaeda and the al-Nusra front, Al Jazeera the
terrorists," ex-police chief and now head of security in the Emirate told
his 2.42 million followers on the social media site."For how long will
they [Al Jazeera] continue to tamper with the security of Egypt and Arab
world?"he tweeted.Al Jazeera
Will the GCC summit be held next month as
planned? aljazeera
A prominent Kuwaiti journalist has said that
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit will be held on schedule next month
with Qatar's participation, despite increasing indicators that the annual meeting
will be postponed due to the regional diplomatic crisis. In an interview with
the German Deutsche Welle (DW) broadcaster on Friday, Ahmed al-Jarallah, who
has close ties to Kuwaiti policymakers, said that a solution to the Gulf crisis
is imminent. Jarallah, an editor of several newspapers and magazines in Kuwait,
made the comments to DW during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh as part of
a Kuwaiti delegation. He said leaving Qatar out of the group would make the
country "vulnerable to other agendas".
US did not propose peace plan, it is
blackmailing us, claims PLO’s Erekat
Secretary General of Palestinian Liberation
Organisation Executive Committee has claimed that Washington has not proposed a
peace plan and is actually “blackmailing” the Palestinians, Safa news agency
reported on Friday. “We have continuous meetings with US administration, but
have not received anything official to date,” explained Saeb Erekat in a
televised speech broadcast from Washington. “All that is being said by the
media are not leaks, but expectations. Unlike its predecessors, the current
American administration has not announced that it is adopting the two-state
solution and opposing [Israeli] settlements.”The veteran official noted that
the Palestinians told the Trump team that they would only accept the two-state
solution and work out the final-status issues according to international
resolutions as the basis for any future agreement. middleeastmonitor
Abbas denies investigations into aide’s
alleged corruption
Palestinian Authority President has denied
that investigations are taking place into corruption allegations made against
his close aide Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Safa news agency reported on
Friday.Al-Habbash is the Chief of the PA’s Judges and Mahmoud Abbas’s adviser
on religious and international Islamic relations. He is accused of graft and
using his positions to further his own objectives.Several Palestinian sources
and mass media also revealed Habbash’s wealth over the past few days and how he
used his position to recruit close relatives and give them senior positions
within the authority. The reports gave details of how he has bought villas,
apartments and other real estate across the occupied West Bank, and allege that
he has “faked” ownership documents. middleeastmonitor
Palestinians fight for marriage, residency in
Jerusalem
Israel's occupation has curbed the freedom of
movement for many Palestinians and split families in some areas. Thousands are
crammed into what's effectively no-man's land in Kufr Aqab, which falls inside
the municipality of Jerusalem, so it's governed by Israel; but, it's on the
Palestinian side of the separation wall.At least 12,000 people mainly from the
occupied West Bank are affected by Israel's ban on family reunification. aljazeera
Morsi: Take me to the hospital, my health is
worsening
Take me to hospital immediately because my
health situation has become serious and deteriorates day after day, ex-Egyptian
President Mohamed Morsi demanded in court.“I did not refuse the court’s
decision to undergo a medical examination,” he stressed during a court
session.“At my own expense, I request to undergo a medical examination under
the supervision of specialised doctors,” he said.“I need to be transferred to a
private hospital immediately, I can’t see with my left eye,”Morsi
reiterated.Responding to his demands, judge stressed that the medical
examination request must be signed off by the prison doctors first to decide on
whether the defendant requires the medical check.MEMO
Pakistan: 6 dead, over 200 injured as
anti-blasphemy protestors clash with police in Islamabad
At least six people were killed and around 230
injured after police and security forces tried to clear anti-blasphemy
protestors in Islamabad late on Saturday, AFP reported.After the deaths, top
civil and military officials on Sunday decided to not use force to disperse the
protestors and negotiate with them, instead, Dawn reported, citing unidentified
officials. By evening, the Pakistan Rangers took control of the area occupied
by anti-blasphemy protestors in Islamabad, and the police and Frontier Corps
troopers were deployed in other parts of the city, Radio Pakistan reported.The
Tehreek-i-Labaik – a little known hardline group that began a sit-in on
November 6 – has been leading the protests since the Pakistan government amended
the oath election candidates must take while they are sworn in.The change was
called a mistake and was quickly reversed, but the demonstrators have linked it
to blasphemy. They have demanded that Law Minister Zahid Hamid’s resignation
for overseeing the amendment. By Saturday, the protests spread and clerics from
the Tehree-i-Labaik began calling for Pakistanis to come and defend the “honour
of the Prophet”.The sit-in blocked major roads and caused traffic jams,
prompting the judiciary to pull up officials for not acting. On Saturday, 8,500
armed security personnel, including the police and paramilitary forces
confronted the protestors. The two sides hurled rocks at each other, and
demonstrators blocked more roads and set vehicles on fire.On Sunday, the
Pakistan Rangers also cordoned off four main thoroughfares of Islamabad, the HT
reported, citing local media sources.Meanwhile, private television broadcasts
were blocked and use of social media sites were restricted. scroll
Pakistan calls in army to end anti-blasphemy
protests; at least 174 people injured
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
In Uttar Pradesh, Dalits and Muslims must
endure caste hatred, state bloodletting, denial of justice:Harsh Mander
Is minority intimidation new state policy in
Yogi’s UP?
Watch: Arun Shourie on why SC must enquire
into judge Loya’s death, & erosion of institutions:TheWire
Why Is Big Media Silent On the Chilling Story
Of a Judge’s Death?The Wire
Nehru Stands Above Ambedkar In The Writing Of
India’s Constitution:Sudheendra Kulkarni
Gujarat in 1857 – When Hindus and Muslims
fought together:Amaresh Mishra
Will next Saudi king allow temples?By Balbir
Punj
Shocking Statement by UP CM on Secularism
Demands His Immediate Dismissal:Justice Sachar
Advani has been an MP from Gujarat for over
two decades. Yet, for the first time, he has not been invited to campaign in
the state:Coomi Kapoor
Yogi Govt Resorts to "Unofficial"
Bans on Movies Inspired by Muzaffarnagar Riots, Babri-Demolition:Newsclick
Indian police ask interfaith couples: Is it
love or terror?Reuters
Judge Loya’s Death: Ex-Bombay HC Judge seeks
SIT probe to assure subordinate judges that “they are not orphans”
Who killed Sohrabuddin? Debate around judge’s
death puts focus back on murders by Gujarat police:HarshMander
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:38 PM)
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