Evening NEWS
DIGEST
03
Dec.2017: 13 Rabial Awwal 1439:Vol:9, No:63
UP Civic Polls:Confusion cleared! It’s not BJP
who won maximum seats; but independent candidates
BJP has been celebrating its success after UP
Civic Polls 2017 Results but it is NOT saffron party who bagged the maximum
number of seats in the electoral battle. BJP is happy because of the party’s
victory in 14 of the 16 mayoral seats but in fact, as far as data shows, it is
the Independent candidates who have won the maximum number of seats in the UP
Civic Polls 2017. Independent candidates have left the saffron party far behind
in nagar panchayats and nagar palika parishads.Out of the total 5,433 seats of
nagar panchayats members, Independents have bagged 3,875 seats i.e. 71.31% of total seats. On the other hand, BJP won
only 664 seats i.e 12.22% of the total seats. Samajwadi Party won 453 seats
i.e. 8.34% of the total seats. Moreover, BSP won 218 seats i.e. 4.01% while
Congress bagged 126 seats. There are total 438 seats of chairpersons in nagar
panchayats. Independent candidates have won 182 seats i..e 41.55% while BJP has
won 100 i.e. 22.83.Independents have fared much better than other parties in
nagar palika parishads. Out of 5,260 wards in 198 nagar palika parishads,
Independents have won 3,380 i.e. 64.25 % while BJP bagged 922 wards i.e 17.53 % .Out of
total chairpersons of 198 nagar palika parishads, BJP has won 70 and SP 45,
Independent candidates bagged 43 seats.Out of 1,299 seats of municipal
corporators, BJP emerged victorious in 596 but independents clinched 224 seats. Noteworthy, Independents here too won more than SP, BSP and Congress. Congress
has alleged tampering of EVMs in the UP civic polls, leading to the victory of the
ruling BJP in 14 of the 16 mayoral seats. While the mayoral poll was held
through EVMs, ballot papers were used for elections to Nagar Palika Parishads
and Nagar Panchayats. BJP swept the UP civic polls bagging 14 mayoral seats, while
Mayawati-led BSP won the mayoral posts in Aligarh and Meerut towns in western UP. financialexpress
Of 12644 UP Civic Posts non-BJP Candidates Win
10,278 And Yet Media Insists Rout is Victory: SANDEEP PANDEY
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/12423/Of-12644-UP-Civic-Posts-non-BJP-Candidates-Win-10278-And-Yet-Media-Insists-Rout-is-Victory
Civic body results show that BJP will fail to
get majority in UP if assembly elections
are held today: Amaresh Misra
Behind the Publicity Smog: Significant Losses
for BJP in UP Since Assembly Polls: VAGRAJ BADARAYAN
Reality check: BJP’s ‘landslide win’ in UP
civic polls is yet another lesson for the Opposition:Dhirendra K Jha
https://scroll.in/article/860063/reality-check-the-bjps-landslide-win-in-up-civic-polls-and-a-lesson-for-the-opposition
11 Muslims win municipal polls in temple town
of Ayodhya
Lucknow:Known as the temple town, Ayodhya has
played a key role in the rise and rise of BJP in the last three decades.
However, despite being the heart of its communal rhetoric, the saffron party
could not paint the whole city saffron. The results of the Ayodhya Municipal
Corporation elections are the latest proof. 11 Muslim candidates, mostly on
Samajwadi Party tickets, have emerged victorious and they will enter the
newly-constituted Ayodhya Municipal Corporation.Interestingly, among the Muslim
winners is a close relative of one of the oldest litigants of Babri Masjid
case. Asad Ahmed, nephew of Haji Mahboob, has won from the Ward 18 that is
known as Pramhans Ram Mangal Das ward. Haji Mahboob lives just 200 meters from place
where Babri Masjid once stood.However, lone Muslim candidate fielded by saffron
party was defeated by an Independent Muslim candidate.Despite massive
campaigning by BJP leaders including CM Yogi Adityanath, who had even kicked off the
statewide urban civic body election campaign from here, the party won only half
of the total seats of Ayodhya Municipal Corporation.BJP won 30 out of 60 seats
in the newly constituted corporation – Ayodhya was upgraded to Municipal
Corporation by the Yogi Govt in May this
year.The rest 30 seats were won by 18, BSP 2, Congress 1 and Independents
9.Caravan News
UP Civic polls: Opposition alleges tampering
of EVMs
Lucknow: A day after the BJP feted itself for
winning 14 of the 16 mayoral seats in the state, allegations of bungling in
voter lists and manipulation of EVMs arose from the opposition parties. BSP
supremo Mayawati said “with full confidence” that saffron party would lose the
general elections in 2019 if ballot papers are used, instead of EVMs.She was
speaking to reporters after paying tribute to Buddhist monk Bhadant Pragyanand,
who died on Nov.30. “If the BJP claims that they enjoy the mandate of the
people, and the entire country is with them, then they should set aside the
EVMs and hold the elections through ballot paper. And, I can say with full
confidence that if the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are held by ballot paper, (BJP)
will not come to power,” she declared.Elsewhere, Akhilesh Yadav, president of Samajwadi
Party, took to Twitter to point to a discrepancy in the BJP’s voteshare. “BJP
has only won 15% seats in Ballot paper areas and 46% in EVM areas,” he
tweeted.At many places like Meerut, Kanpur and Lucknow, there have been reports
of candidates who voted for themselves ending up with zero votes, raising
questions about the process.“EVMs have been tampered with to ensure victory of
BJP candidates. This is clear from results of seats where ballot papers were
used. BJP’s performance on EVMs and ballot papers is different,” claimed senior
Congress leader Pradeep Mathur.Even AAP, a first time entrant into the UP civic
polls, has raised doubts on BJP’s results.Vaibhav Maheshwari, the party’s state
spokesman said BJP should definitely be worried as the urban body polls have
not been “exactly in their favour”, as the party was claiming. hindustantimes
Where ballot papers were used, BJP votes down:Akhilesh
UP civic polls EVM tampering allegations: CEC
AK Joti says body has no role to play in local elections
New Delhi: CEC on Sunday sought to downplay
the allegations of a number of opposition parties alleging that BJP had won 14
of the 16 mayoral seats because of EVM tampering in the UP civic polls. Speaking to reporters CEC AK Joti
said that the local bodies elections are under the jurisdiction of state
election commissions and the country’s premiere election body has no role in
it. “Local body election is under the jurisdiction of state election
commissions & CEC plays no role in that. We lend them M1 EVMs if they ask
for it. We never lend M2 EVMs, currently used by CEC. M1 EVMs have not been
used by CEC since 2006”, he said.Joti added that if any candidate thinks EVMs
have been tampered with, the person can complain to the returning officer.“If a
candidate thinks EVM malfunctioned, he can complain about it to the Returning
Officer. RO can refer to the slip by VVPAT Machines”. financialexpress
SC took care of all concerns: Minister on
Muslim leaders' objection to draft triple talaq law
New Delhi:Minister of State for Law and
Justice PP Chaudhary today dismissed some Muslim leaders’ objection to Govt’s
proposed move to bring in a legislation in the winter session of Parliament to
effect the Supreme Court order on triple talaq.The community leaders said the Govt
should have drafted the law in
consultation with the community as had been the practice in the past.‘’The govt
would bring any law only in the light of the Supreme Court order which has
taken into account all concerns,’’ Chaudhary told UNI over phone from Gujarat
where he is campaigning for Assembly elections when asked about Muslim leaders'
reaction to the reports about the Govt having readied a draft law on instant triple
talaq.UNI
Draft law to end triple talaq ready; Muslim
leaders say not consulted
New Delhi: Govt move to bring in a legislation in the winter
session of Parliament providing for three years of jail term for those giving
instant triple talaq has evoked objections from some Muslim leaders. Dr Syed
Zafar Mehmud, who was also OSD to Sachar Committee set up to report on the
social, economic and educational backwardness of Muslims, said it would have
been better if the Govt had consulted a
cross section of community leaders in the drafting of the law.UNI
Penalizing for Triple Talaq, a direct
interference in Shariah: Jamaat
New Delhi:Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has termed the
reported Govt move to enact law to
penalize those giving Triple Talaq as ‘direct interference in Shariah’ and
infringement of fundamental rights of Muslims. JIH President Maulana Syed
Jalaluddin Umari and Vice President of AIMPLB said: “Most of the Islamic
scholars accept pronouncement of triple talaq in one sitting as leading to a
final and irrevocable divorce. However if a person pronounces triple talaq in
one sitting but says that he intended only a single divorce, then it will be
treated likewise”. On reports that Govt is planning to come up with a law that
penalizes those who give triple talaq, He said that it will be a direct
interference in Shariah Law and an infringement of our fundamental rights
guaranteed by Constitution’’. theindianawaaz
Owaisi opposes triple talaq bill, calls for
Muslim unity to protect ‘shariat’
Hyderabad:Strongly opposing the proposed
legislation on triple talaq, MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday called for
unity among Indian Muslims to protect the ‘shariat’.Stating that the Supreme
Court verdict on the issue is confusing and nobody can say if uttering talaq
thrice in one sitting annuls marriage or it is considered only one talaq, he
wondered how the Govt can bring a bill
in the Parliament.MP asked the Modi Govt if it would provide financial aid to women if
their husbands were sent to jail for three years.Addressing a public meeting at
MIM HQRS Darussalam on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabbi, he warned that the
legislation could lead to a new problem of husbands abandoning their wives. He
criticised Modi for speaking about the rights of Muslim women but ignoring
“Hindu sisters”. Claiming that “20 lakh Hindu women are abandoned by their
husbands”, Owaisi asked Modi if he would come to their rescue as well.He said
the Sangh Pariwar shows sympathy for Muslim women but was not allowing a film
to be released.“When you can’t allow a film (‘Padmavati’) to be released, how
can you interfere in my shariat,” Owaisi asked.“If Muslims can unite to
strengthen country and to save shariat, we can definitely do something,” he
added.MP said the community should also learn lessons from Patels, Gujjars,
Jats and Marathas who came together to fight for their rights and for
reservation.“You have to see the symbols of our forefathers,” he remarked while
also referring to the other dinner hosted at Golconda Fort for delegates of
Global Entrepreneurship Summit this week. In the civic polls in UP, we won 32
seats but Congress got only 19 seats and could not win a single seat in
Amethi,” he added.IANS
Bharatiya Mahila Andolan welcomes draft law on triple talaq; demands
ban on polygamy, mut’ah
New Delhi: An NGO spearheading the movement
against triple talaq on Saturday welcomed the draft law prepared by the Centre
to curb the practice, but demanded that it should also prescribe arbitration
before divorce as well as ban ‘halala’ and polygamy. According to the draft
law, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a
jail term of three years for the husband.The bill also proposes social security
and other safeguards for victims, besides giving options to the wife to seek
custody of minor children and demand maintenance for herself and dependent
children.“While we welcome the provisions (of the draft law), glimpses of this
bill as appearing in press, leave a lot to be desired. While the bill pronounces
triple talaq as an offense, it has not given an alternative method for
divorce,”Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), one of the petitioners before
the Supreme Court on the issue of triple talaq, said in a statement.Along with
triple talaq, other discriminatory practices like halala, mut’ah marriage and
polygamy must also be addressed in the bill, it demanded. Halala refers to a
practice where a woman has to consummate her marriage with another man before
she can return to her former husband.Mut’ah marriage is regarded as a temporary
marriage which is only for a specified duration. “Mut’ah marriage, which has an
inbuilt divorce provision, must also be struck down as there cannot be any
automatic divorce.“If polygamy is not struck down, we may see a spike in
polygamy as men will resort to polygamous marriages without resorting to
divorce, or giving a staggered divorce over 3 months and then remarrying,” the
NGO argued. indianexpress
Instant triple talaq non-bailable offence, 3 yrs
jail, fine for guilty: Draft law
Draft on triple talaq not fair to Muslim women:clerics
in UP
Bareilly: With the Centre all set to table the
draft law on triple talaq in upcoming session of Parliament beginning Dec. 15,
prominent Muslim clerics in UP on
Saturday demanded that the BJP-led Govt should discuss the niceties of the proposed
legislation with them before turning it into a law. Central Govt has sent the draft to states for a feedback
before tabling it in the winter session of Parliament.Prominent Barelvi clerics
here on Saturday said that the draft was not fair to Muslim women. Mufti
Mohammed Salim Noori, spokesperson of Dargah Aala Hazrat , told TOI,
"According to the draft law, if a man gives instant talaq, he will be sent
to jail. The law says that this form of divorce is illegal, As Reported By TOI.
According to the Newspaper,But, it is against Shariat and also not practical.
Due to the fear of legal action, the couple will be forced to live together in
a house even after triple talaq. It is not fair. TOI
No out-of-court settlement of Babri Masjid
dispute, says Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Saturday
rejected any possibility of an out-of-court settlement of the Babri Masjid
dispute. At its monthly press meet in Delhi,JIH chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin
Umari said that the community is committed to resolve the issue, but an
out-of-court settlement is not acceptable to Muslims. Though JIH did not name
any outfit or individual, it took a dig at people who have been advocating an
out-of-court settlement for the dispute.JIH’s secretary general Muhammad Salim
Engineer said, “There have been attempts by people and organisations to
intervene in the Babri Masjid dispute by becoming self-appointed mediators. All
India Muslim Personal Law Board and JIH await the court judgment and are
committed to abide by it.” newindianexpress
Babri Masjid case: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind rules
out possibility of out-of-court settlement: caravandaily
Should hear demolition case first, then title
suit: Ayodhya probe judge Liberhan
New Delhi: Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan,
whose commission of inquiry held that the demolition of the Babri Masjid on
Dec.6, 1992 was “meticulously planned”, has said that the Supreme Court should
have heard the Ayodhya title suit case only after the demolition case has been
cleared.His remarks come days before the Supreme Court starts final hearings in
the title suit case from Dec 5.Speaking to the Indian Express, Liberhan, who
submitted his report in June 2009 indicting Atal Bihari Vajpayee along with L K
Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, said:“the SC’s decision to hear the appeal in
the matter of the Ayodhya title suit (the decision of the Allahabad High Court in
2010) on a day-to-day basis from December 5 will adversely affect the
demolition suit. What is the point of doing this? If it is decided that it is
Wakf property, then one side is established as guilty of demolition. And if the
Hindu sides get it, then the act of demolition becomes seen as ‘justified’ — to
reclaim own property. This demolition is known to people alive and must be
decided first. They can take a few weeks or months to do it.”The “demolition
suit” he is referring to relates to the criminal conspiracy case currently
being heard in Lucknow against Advani, Joshi,Uma Bharti and others. Critiquing
the decision of Allahabad High Court which ended up partitioning the land into
three instead of deciding on the suit, he said: “Allahabad HC decision is not
the answer. A decision had to be made on the title suit of the property and
they went and partitioned the land.”Liberhan says that the current political
dispensation, ruling parties as well Opposition, are both indifferent to the
circumstances under which the Masjid was torn down and its larger implications;“None
of the political parties today want to do something or even genuinely feel like
they should do something on the demolition of Babri Masjid. They just want to
encash it in their own ways. In the present political environment, even the
philosophical idea of imagining the so-called secular society is not there, it
is just limited to sloganism.”He said: “Muslims’ faith in the judicial system
must be restored. The problem is there are not many civil society organisations
who are actively engaged on this subject.” Liberhan is also critical of the way
the judiciary ruled on the instant triple talaq case: “What business is it of
the Supreme Court to decide on personal laws, habits and rituals people
practice? I am also opposed to judges deciding who is a Sikh, how Parsis should
conduct themselves or their rituals etc.” “Courts have started intervening in
matters they cannot control which are not in their domain,” said
Liberhan.Indian Express
Activists to SC: Refrain from ruling in favour
of any one community in Babri Masjid case
New Delhi:A group of social activists and
intellectuals, including Shyam Benegal, Aparna Sen, Teesta Setalvad, Aruna Roy,
Medha Patkar, Kumar Ketkar and Anand Patwardhan have approached Supreme Court,
seeking to implead themselves in the Babri Masjid demolition case.They urged
the court to treat the case not merely as one of land dispute and refrain from
adjudicating in favour of either Hindus or Muslims, saying an order favouring
either community may lead to violence. The application said, “It is the
apprehension of the Applicants that if the Hon’ble Court adjudicates the
present Civil Appeal/s in favour of either (of) contesting communities, it is
bound to forge extreme opinion amongst the communities on both sides which may
result in aggravated incidents of violence as had been perpetuated earlier by
the involvement of various political parties posing a serious threat to the
secular fabric of the country.”The applicants submitted that “the only
situation lies today in each of us Indians rising above narrow confines of
class, caste, community and gender and dedicate the spot that has come to
signify conflict to a constructive non-religious purpose”.Referring to 2010
verdict of Allahabad HC, which ordered division of the disputed land among Ram
Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Wakf Board, it said “The judgment gives an
impression that it is more of a political solution adopted by a court, not a
decision-based, as it should have been, strictly on facts and law.” The
application said successive Govt s abandoned obligations to uphold the rule of
law and made it the judiciary’s responsibility.“The implications of the HC’s
attempt at placating all parties is unsettling for other reasons as well. It
can be interpreted to mean that it is perfectly all right to demolish an old
structure and to lay claim on the basis of some real or imaginary right, and to
do so even by taking the law into your own hand,” it said. The SC will hear
appeals against the HC verdict from Dec 5. indianexpress
Refrain From Deciding Babri Masjid/Ram
Janmabhoomi Case In Favor Of Any Particular Community: Activists File
Intervention Application In SC
Will celebrate forthcoming Diwali in Ram
temple: Swamy
Ahead of Dec.5 hearing of Babri Masjid case in
the Supreme Court, firebrand BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has reiterated that
the construction of Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya will begin soon
and that devotees will start visiting the temple to offer prayers to Lord Ram
by next Diwali. While delivering a lecture on 'Ramrajya' here on Saturday, the
senior BJP leader noted that the Allahabad High Court has “already went deep in
the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, so there is nothing remaining with the
Sunni Waqf Board for rebuttal”. "We
will celebrate the forthcoming Diwali in Ram temple," he said just days
ahead of the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the medieval-era structure. indiatvnews
RSS chief’s comment is a way of influencing
the Supreme Court on Ayodhya dispute: Justice AM Ahmadi
Obama says India needs to 'cherish, nurture
and cultivate' its Muslim population
New Delhi: India needs to "cherish and
nurture" its Muslim population, which is integrated and considers itself
Indian, ex-US president Barack Obama said on Friday. It is an idea that needs
to be reinforced, he emphasised at the HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi. Obama
touched on a host of topics, including his relationship with Narendra Modi and
Manmohan Singh, terrorism, Pakistan, hunt for Osama bin Laden and his love for
Indian dal and keema, during his address and the question-answer session that
followed.Obama, the first African American president of the US, said he had
emphasised the need for religious tolerance and the right to practice one's own
faith during closed door talks with PM Narendra Modi during his last trip to India in
2015. Obama had made similar comments during a public interaction on the last
day of his 2015 visit, which had come against backdrop of controversy over
religious conversions. Responding to questions during the interactive session,
Obama said his comments then were general in nature and he had repeated it in
the US as well as in Europe. "There's a counter narrative taking place, at
all times, but it's particularly pronounced now...You are seeing it in Europe,
you are seeing it in the US and sometimes you see it in India where those old
tribal impulses reassert themselves under leaders who try to push back those
impulses and under leaders who try to exploit them," Obama said. Obama
said it is necessary to make sure that voices which talk about working together
are encouraged. Replying to an India-specific question, Obama spoke of India's
"enormous Muslim population", which is successful, integrated and
thinks of itself as Indian. That is unfortunately not always the case in some
other countries, Obama added. Referring to India, he said, "And that is
something that needs to be cherished and nurtured, cultivated. It's important
to continue reinforcing it."Asked about Modi's response when he emphasised
the need for religious tolerance and the right to practice one's own faith,
Obama said he would not like to share the details.To a separate question, he
said Modi's "impluse" was to recognise the importance of Indian
unity."I think he firmly believes the need for that in order to advance to
the great nation status," Obama said.Referring to Osama bin Laden's
presence in Pakistan, he said the US had no evidence that Islamabad was aware
of the presence of Osama in its territory. Questioned on his equation with
Modi, who often referred to him as "my friend Obama", the former US
president noted that he also shared great rapport with Manmohan Singh."I
like him (Modi) and I think he has the vision for the country. But I was also
great friends with Dr (Manmohan) Singh."He lauded the steps taken by Singh
to modernise the economy that launched the "foundation of modern Indian
economy".PTI
Obama: ‘India should cherish, nurture its
large Muslim population that thinks of itself as Indian’
Told PM Modi Privately That Country Shouldn't
Be Divided On Religious Lines: Obama
Obama praises Manmohan, says he told Modi country
shouldn’t be divided on religious lines
Centre withdraws rules to regulate fish,
aquarium markets but clarifies makes no changes in cattle trade for ban order
The environment ministry has withdrawn rules
made earlier this year relating to the regulation of fish market and aquarium
in a bid to ensure aquatic creatures are kept in hygienic conditions. An
environment ministry official, however, clarified on Sunday that Govt had made
no change to its May 26 order banning the sale of cattle for slaughter. “We
will take some time to withdraw the rules,” the official who wished to remain
unnamed told HT. Under the rules that now stand withdrawn, aquarium owners and
their establishments were required to register themselves and follow certain
standards to keep fish healthy. The Govt has withdrawn the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (Aquarium and Fish Tank Animal Shop) Rules, 2017, notification issued
on Nov.30 said. Following representations, Govt made amendments to withdraw the
May order.HT
First phase of Chabahar port opens, to boost
trade between India and Iran
Tehran:The first phase of the Chabahar port
was inaugurated on Sunday by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening up a new
strategic transit route between Iran, India and Afghanistan, bypassing
Pakistan.The port in Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation’s
southern coast lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from
India’s western coast and is considered as a “gateway to golden opportunities”
for trade with central Asian countries.The first phase of the Chabahar port
project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port and it was inaugurated by Rouhani
in the presence of representatives of several countries of the region.According
to the ministry of external affairs, minister of state for shipping Pon
Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration.“The routes of the region
should be connected on land, sea and air,” Rouhani said at the inauguration
ceremony, according to his office.The port is likely to ramp up trade between
India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to
New Delhi for trade with the two countries. India has been closely working with
Afghanistan to create alternative, reliable access routes, bypassing
Pakistan.PTI
Sushma's surprise stopover at Tehran ahead of
inauguration of Chabahar port
New Delhi: In a surprise visit, External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday stopped over in Tehran for a short
lunch meeting with her counterpart Javad Zarif. The meeting comes a day before
Iran President Hassan Rouhani is expected to inaugurate the first phase of the
Chabahar port.Swaraj was returning from the Russian city of Sochi where she
attended the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
"Reinforcing our traditionally close and civilisational linkages, EAM
@SushmaSwaraj had a luncheon meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran Dr Javad
Zarif in #Tehran. Both sides discussed issues of mutual interest," MEA
spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. timesofindia
Doklam is in our area, says China
Beijing: Chinese military has hinted at
maintaining sizeable presence of its troops near the area of Doklam standoff
during winter, asserting that the region is in Chinese territory.India and
China resolved 73-day tense standoff on Aug.28 at Doklam after People’s
Liberation Army stopped building a strategic road close to India’s narrow
Chicken Neck area connecting north-eastern States.Bhutan also claims the Doklam
area to be its part.India objected to the road building by PLA, saying that it
endangered the security of the narrow corridor. According to official accounts,
both China and India in the past used to withdraw troops from the advanced
regions of that area during the winter which is harsh.PTI
Scholars, civil society groups discuss
property rights of half-widows in Kashmir
Srinagar: A consultative meeting of Islamic
scholars representing different schools of thought and civil society members on
Thursday, was organised by a Valley-based civil society group–Ehsaas–over the
property rights of half-widows.During the day-long deliberations between
religious scholars, educationists, and civil society members, property rights
of half-widows were discussed and a signature campaign endorsing the memorandum
on property rights to be submitted to J&K govt was also started.“I have
been working in a factory, a bookshop, and a school to educate my child. There
is a need to help half-widows who have been left to raise three to four
children on their own,”Safiya Azad, a half-widow said during the meeting. Another
half-widow Shamima said she had been left to fend for her two children after
her husband was subjected to enforced disappearance in 2000. She said she had
rejected the ex-gratia relief offered to her and instead sought the whereabouts
of her husband that to this day she did not know.Presiding over session,
Chairperson of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APD), Parveena
Ahanger said the property issue of the half-widows was more important than
their marriages.“Even if some of these women take the ex-gratia relief, they
only get Rs 12,500 of the Rs 1 lakh while the children get Rs 70,000 and the
parents of the disappeared persons the rest,” Ahanger said. She added that
there had been cases of in-laws harassing half-widows.Muslim Khawateen Markaz
(MKM) chairperson Anjum Zamruda Habib said there was a need to share the pain
of half-widows.TCN
HC refuses to restrain Republic TV and Arnab
Goswami on Sunanda Pushkar coverage
Delhi High Court has refused to restrain
Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and his channel from broadcasting programmes and
debates on the death of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar.
Justice Manmohan, who delivered a 61-page judgement, however, said that the
coverage on Sunanda Pushkar’s death has to be “tempered and balanced”.The
judgement also said that Congress MP from Kerala had a “right to silence” under
the Constitution and “no person can be compelled to give testimony or answer
questions which may incriminate him”.It said that Republic TV must give Tharoor
a written notice, by electronic mode, before running any story on Pushkar’s
death.The order said, “If the plaintiff (Tharoor) refuses or does not reply
within a reasonable time, he will not be compelled to speak and the story will
be aired with the disclosure that he has refused to speak to the defendants (TV
channel and Goswami).” jantakareporter
Telangana waqf board fails to produce title
deeds in court
Following the High Court directive to
Telangana State Waqf Board to digitise records within six weeks, the Muslim
endowments body is grappling with the issue of locating documents of
institutions.While senior board officials maintained that gazette notifications
are available, the problem is that they are not able to locate link papers,
which are considered as title documents. These include the waqfnama (deed of
waqf) and muntakhab (book of endowment).Sources said that the unavailability of
these documents has not augured well for the Telangana State Waqf Board. There
are at least two judgements related to land parcels, which the board claims are
endowed to waqf institutions, that have not come in the board’s favour in the
past year.Speaking on the issue, Telangana State Waqf Board member Syed Akbar
Nizamuddin Hussaini said, “There are at least two cases the board has lost in past
one year.These include a land parcel of approximately 4.5 acres endowed to
Masjid-e-Karodgiri in Karwan and another of similar size endowed to the Qutb
Shahi Masjid in Attapur. While documentation is available for other properties,
it is very important to dig out waqfnamahs and muntakhabs of several other
properties as they are title documents.” Thehindu
McDonald’s forced to apologise after video of
security guard asking a Muslim woman to remove hijab goes viral
New Delhi:In a shocking incident, a
19-year-old student was asked to remove her hijab or leave at a McDonald’s
outlet in London. The bizarre demand made by a security guard at the outlet
riled the girl so much that she has vowed not to enter the fast-food chain ever
again. Incident took place at McDonald’s restaurant on Seven Sister’s Road in
Holloway, London and she and her friends were appalled by the
discrimination.After the security guard kept pestering her to take off her
headscarf, she decided to film the incident. To the query of the Muslim woman
why she can’t stand in line at the eatery, the man wearing a security ID card,
can be heard on the video saying, “It’s just a matter of taking it [hijab]
off.” As he gestures his hand over his head to ask so, woman retaliates, “It’s
not just a matter of taking it off. I wear this for religious reasons and I’m
not ashamed of it, and I will stand in line and I will get the food I want
because this isn’t OK.”As one of the fellow bystanders decided to support the
girl and stop the guard, he is seen telling him to mind his own business. When
she is irked further and tries to get to the bottom of things and ask on whose
orders such a “hate crime” is being implemented, another staff at outlet asks
her to stop filming which she denies.indianexpress
Speakers express concern over attempts to
distort history for political gains
Chennai: In the backdrop of raging political
controversy over the fiction film Padmawati, distinguished academics,
historians and intellectuals on Saturday expressed concern over the attempt by
the present dispensation to institutionalize the distortions of the Indian
history for political gains. Speaking at the 2-day national seminar on “Towards
Equality, Justice and Fraternity in Contemporary India – Creating a Better
Tomorrow through History” here, they warned of dangerous consequences of
playing with the history.Dr K Saleem Ali, IPS (Retd) who is also a historian of
repute and ex-DGP of Tripura, dealt upon the historiography in the country
saying that India is under threat from the historians who only focused on five
subjects Timor, Mughal emperors Babur and Aurangzeb, Pig and Cow and DNA of the
Gandhi family to create fissures in the society. He said maintain neutrality is
very tall order for any historian. The seminar was organized IOS with the
collaboration with the New College, Chennai. In his presidential remarks IOS
chairman Dr Manzoor Alam said history is being manufactured to vilify the
Muslim rule in the country. On the occasion, former judge of Madras High Court,
Justice GM Akbar Ali said it is unfortunate that India failed to achieve the
desired socio-economic equality in the last 67 years. In his key note address,
Prof Kapil Kumar underlined that Muslim contribution was ignored in the history
books. risingkashmir
No fingers or iris for Aadhaar, Bengaluru
woman Sajida loses pension
Bengaluru: Sajida Begum, 65, has been living
at the Leprosy Hospital on Magadi Road for the past 10 years. Her family left
her at the hospital years ago and does not come to visit. This leprosy
patient’s only sustenance is Rs 1,000 pension that she gets every month. Three
months ago, this was stopped for the lack of an Aadhaar card.Sajida has lost
her fingers and also her sight to the debilitating disease. In August this
year, she got a letter from the deputy tahsildar’s office in Rajajinagar that
her pension would stop in seven days if she failed to link it with her Aadhaar
card. Sajida has no card. Fingerprint and iris scan are mandatory for Aadhaar
verification, but Sajida doesn’t have those biometrics.Dr Ayub Ali Zai,
administrative medical officer, Leprosy Hospital, said, “She buys clothes and
meets her meagre needs with that money. But since August she hasn’t received
pension. She is totally blind in both the eyes, has no fingers or toes. I don’t
know how her biometric identification can be done.” Zai wrote a letter to UIDAI officials
requesting them to exempt her from biometric verification considering her
problem. “We don’t know if this is just an administrative delay in sending
pension or if they have stopped it,” he added.Sajida sobs inconsolably when
asked about her family. “I don’t know where my daughter and son-in-law are.
Nobody comes to see me. Please give me my money,” she cried. newindianexpress
Jodhpur tense after two groups clash
Communal tension prevailed in Soorsagar area
of Jodhpur after a clash between two groups, police said on Saturday.The police
have arrested 11 people for the Friday night clash, said Sameerkumar Singh, the
deputy commissioner of police (West). Additional police force has been deployed
in the area to maintain peace, he added.According to a senior police official,
trouble began after a young man was beaten up by some miscreants.The man later
returned with others to take revenge, but by the time they reached, the
miscreants had fled the scene. The angry group then set a shop on fire, which
resulted in stone pelting from both sides. The clashing groups also set on fire
two cars and six motorcycles parked on the road.When police arrived, they too
came under the attack of stone pelters.After two hours of ruckus, the police,
along with a team of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, managed to bring the
situation under control, the official said.HT
Bhopal gas tragedy: 33 yrs on survivors still
await adequate payout
Bhopal: 33 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy,
survivors are still fighting for adequate compensation and proper medical
treatment for ailments caused by the toxic leak.Families of the deceased and
people who bore the brunt of the industrial disaster are now signing a
petition, to be sent to the Supreme Court, requesting it to start hearing a
curative petition of the Govt filed in
December 2010 for more compensation.US company which then owned the chemical
plant here, from where the poisonous gas leaked in 1984, has not yet adequately
compensated the victims, a Madhya Pradesh minister said.The victims of the
“world’s worst disaster” had not been paid adequately by US-based Union Carbide
Corporation now owned by Dow Chemicals,
MP’s Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vishwas Sarang told
PTI.PTI
Muslims recall Prophet’s message of love and
peace
Mumbai: Processions and playing of devotional
songs marked Eid-e-Milad, the celebrations of Prophet Muhammad's birthday on
Saturday. Flags and banners decorated mosques, mausoleums and many Muslim homes
as the community recalled the Prophet's message of love and peace.All India
Khilafat Committee took out its procession from the iconic Khilafat House in
Byculla. But before priests and many politicians jumped on an open jeep to lead
a cavalcade of delightfully decorated trucks, some of them sermonized to a
sizeable gathering at the venue. "Think of the sacrifice the social system
has made at the altar of politics. This day should also remind us why the
oppressed must get united," said Dalit leader and Dr B R Ambedkar's
grandson Prakash Ambdekar, the ceremony's chief guest.TOI
Blood donation, feeding poor on Milad-un-Nabi
in Telangana:TOI
Hyderabad: With several Islamic scholars
calling on the Muslims to contribute to society on Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday
of Prophet Mohammad, many people have come forward to organise social service
programmes in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana.Milad-un-Nabi was
celebrated on Saturday. Poor-feeding and blood donation programmes are being
held all over the city. A few prisoners, who have obtained bail but could not be
released for want of money as surety, will be paid the necessary amount for
their release. Large-scale tree plantation will also be taken up in the city
and elsewhere in Telangana. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Telangana and Odisha
unit, is holding a fortnight long "Seerat campaign" highlighting the
life and preachings of Prophet Mohammad. It is organising the campaign in
Telangana from Dec. 3 to 17, said JIH Telangana president Hamid Mohammad Khan.
He said JIH would distribute literature, leaflets, and booklets in Telugu and
English on the life of the Prophet.TOI
Mangaluru woman, muslim man made to split over
‘love jihad’: thequint
Following sustained pressure from a right-wing
group, a 20-year-old Hindu woman was forced to break off her relationship with
a Muslim man in Mangaluru recently.Members of Durga Vahini, women’s wing of
VHP, “counselled” woman, Priya*, alleging that her boyfriend Naveed* was a drug
peddler.The inter-faith relationship came to light after photographs of Priya
and Naveed were circulated on social media over the past few days, reported
Daijiworld. Members of Durga Vahini came across the photographs and sought to
meet the woman in order to convince her against pursuing her relationship.After
managing to track Priya and her parents, the group reportedly arranged counselling
sessions for her and allegedly told her that Naveed had run-ins with the
police. They also alleged that he had recently been caught by the crime branch
of city police for trafficking ganja. Durga Vahini members also claimed that
Priya had become addicted to the drug.A video released appears to show that the
woman had yielded to the pressure from the members of the organisation. Some
reports say that the man was previously arrested for drug peddling, though
police were not ready to confirm or deny same.An unverified audio doing the
rounds in Mangaluru, a woman can be heard asking what is wrong if she’s in a
relationship with a Muslim man, as her previous relationships with Hindu men
had failed.
WORLD
Trump recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli
capital would fuel violence:Arab League
Any move by the US to recognise Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital would fuel extremism and violence, Arab League
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Saturday.He spoke a day after a
senior US administration official said US President Donald Trump was likely to
make the announcement next week.The Palestinians want Jerusalem as the capital
of their future state, and the international community does not recognise
Israel’s claim on all of the city, home to sites holy to the Jewish, Muslim and
Christian religions. middleeastmonitor
Hamas Threatens 'Intifada' Over US Moves on
Jerusalem
Gaza City: Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas
which controls Gaza called Saturday for a new "intifada" if
Washington recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or moves its embassy
to the disputed city.Reports in Washington have suggested US President Donald
Trump may on Monday fulfil a campaign pledge on the American embassy, which
like all other foreign missions is currently located in the coastal city of Tel
Aviv."We warn against such a move and call on the Palestinian people to
revive the intifada if these unjust decisions on Jerusalem are adopted,"
Hamas said in a statement.Any decision to move its embassy there would be
"a flagrant attack on the city by the American administration" and
give Israel "a cover for continuing its crime of Judaising the city and
emptying it of Palestinians," it said. Status of Jerusalem is a key issue
in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the
city as their capital and previous peace plans have stumbled over debates on
whether, and how, to divide sovereignty or oversee holy sites.The last
Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which claimed the lives of some 3,000
Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis, was sparked by right-wing opposition leader
Ariel Sharon's visit to the city's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in 2000. AFP
Trump likely to recognise Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital next week: Reports
Palestinians warn Trump against Jerusalem
embassy move
Palestinian president's office and senior
officials have warned of the potentially destructive effects of any move
denying their claim to occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of their future
state.The warnings come as US President Donald Trump is due to decide as early
as the next week whether to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Saeb
Erekat, secretary-general of PLO Executive Committee, says he has spoken to
Arab leaders, who have relayed the same message "that Jerusalem is a red
line, not just for Palestinians but for Arabs, Muslims and Christians
everywhere".Erekat said:"Everyone has informed US administration that
Jerusalem isn't just a Palestinian question, it's an Arab, Islamic and
Christian question."US administration understands the enormity of the
subject.In a statement to the official Palestinian Wafa news agency, Nabil Abu
Rudeina, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said US recognition
of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of the US embassy to
Jerusalem would be equally dangerous for the fate of the peace process, and
threaten to push the region into instability. aljazeera
Egypt confiscates property of 14 people linked
to Brotherhood
Egyptian authorities decided on Friday to
confiscate property belonging to 14 individuals due to their links with the
Muslim Brotherhood, Almesryoon.com has reported. The property in question is
said to be owned by close relatives of members and officials of the movement,
which has been banned in Egypt since the 2013 military coup brought Abdel
Fattah Al-Sisi to power. The committee assigned by the authorities to carry out
this measure said that it includes the confiscation of all moveable and
immoveable property, whether it is directly or indirectly owned by the Muslim
Brotherhood officials.It added that the owners of these properties are banned
from operating their bank accounts, deposits, bonds, banknotes and anything
related to financial services under the sovereignty of Central Bank.It is worth
mentioning that Egyptian authorities have decreed that confiscated property of
any Muslim Brotherhood official or member will not be released to his heirs
unless they are definitely not part of the movement. middleeastmonitor
Cairo University dismisses six ‘opposition’
lecturers
Cairo University has dismissed six lecturers
who are opponents of the current regime in Egypt,for absenteeism and membership
of the Muslim Brotherhood. Amr Hamzawy, assistant professor at the Faculty of
Economics and Political Science, was among those dismissed. The university
justified his dismissal by his absence from work without permission. Quoting
anonymous sources, Al Watan said that Hamzawy exceeded the official absence
period, having been away from work since 1 July, 2016 after an attachment
period at American University in Cairo. The lecturer then travelled to the US
without the permission or approval of Cairo University, where he remains,
apparently for his own safety. The sources added that Hamzawy had asked Cairo
University to approve his attachment at a US institute. However, the request
was rejected in November last year, when he was told of the need to return to
work in Cairo, something about which he was warned three times.Hamzawy is known
for his liberal views and usually writes articles against the ruling regime in
Egypt. Since he left for America, he has not returned to his home country, even
though he has not been named in any of the cases where political detainees are
put on trial. middleeastmonitor
Egypt’s Ex-premier Shafiq arrested in UAE,
being deported to Egypt
Former Egyptian PM Ahmed Shafiq, who last week
announced his intention to run for the presidency in 2018, has been arrested at
his home in the UAE and is being deported to Egypt, a source close to his
family told Reuters on Saturday. Shafiq’s daughter could not immediately be
reached for comment. A spokesman for Egypt’s foreign ministry did not
immediately answer a call seeking details. Middleeastmonitor
Saleh forces deny Houthi claims over control
of Sanaa
Forces loyal to Yemen's former President Ali
Abdullah Saleh have denied claims by Houthi rebels who say they have gained
control of most of the country's capital, Sanaa, according to an official in
Saleh's Republican Guard.Iranian-backed Houthi fighters say they had regained
control of three military bases, the diplomatic district and other
neighbourhoods around the area. They also said they had taken over the city of
Dhamar, south of Sanaa, as well as its surrounding regions.Sanaa has been
shaken by escalating violence between Saleh's supporters and Houthi rebels. At
least 40 people have reportedly been killed since Wednesday amid ongoing
fighting between the two sides, with residents now fearing a new front in an
already devastating war.Though clashes subsided on Saturday night, residents in
Sanaa told local media outlets that fighting resumed on Sunday. aljazeera
Yemen’s Saleh says ready for ‘new page’ with
Saudi-led coalition
Ex-Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said he
was ready for a “new page” in relations with the Saudi-led coalition fighting
in Yemen if it stopped attacks on his country. The call came as his supporters
battled Houthi fighters for a fourth day in the capital Sanaa while both sides
traded blame for a widening rift between allies that could affect the course of
civil war. Together they have fought the Saudi-led coalition which intervened
in Yemen in 2015 aiming to restore the internationally recognised Govt of President
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthis forced him into exile.
Rohingya women sold as sex slaves in
Bangladesh
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/rohingya-women-sold-sex-slaves-bangladesh-171203075517252.html
Rohingya girls and women in Bangladesh's Cox's
Bazar are being sold as sex slaves, according to a victim and aid agencies.
15-year-old Khartoun* told Al Jazeera she was sold into sex slavery after she
arrived in Bangladesh by boat to escape a brutal military crackdown. She was
alone - her mother, father and sister had been killed by a mortar shell fired
by the Myanmar military during a sweeping crackdown against Rohingya people.
Upon Khartoun's arrival in Sept,2 women approached her on the beach and told
her they would help her."They told me if I went with them they would look
after me and help me find a husband," Khartoun said.Instead, she was
locked up for three weeks and sold to a Bangladeshi man, who she said, raped
her and sexually abused her for 12 days."He said 'I will choke you, I will
stab you. I will kill you … Do you want to be killed the way the military kill
people in Myanmar? I won't let you go,'" Khartoun said.Olivia Headon of
the International Organisation for Migration said urgent action was required to
keep women and girls safe in Bangladesh's refugee camps.A local aid agency that
led Al Jazeera to Khartoun said its staff working with trafficking victims have
received death threats from criminal gangs.The organisation, which did not want
to be named for fear of reprisal, said some girls as young as 13 have been
abducted by the traffickers. aljazeera
Qatar-GCC crisis: 'Loyalties can shift
overnight'
6 months into the Qatar-GCC crisis, which has
opened an unprecedented rift among the Gulf countries, the opposing sides
appear no closer to a resolution.Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab
Emirates, along with Egypt, continue to enforce a blockade against neighbouring
Qatar, which has refused to comply with a controversial list of demands.The
blockading countries accuse Doha of supporting "terrorism",
allegations that Qatar vehemently denies. The dispute has put this month's Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in jeopardy, with Bahrain even calling for a
freeze of Qatar's membership. Aljazeera
Thousands rally in Hanover against anti-Islam
AfD party
Thousands of people have rallied in the German
city of Hanover against the far-right Alternative for (AfD) party, which
elected its new leadership in the city.The demonstrators on Saturday shouted slogans
and carried placards reading "Hanover against Nazis" and "Stand
up to racism".Some of the protesters staged sit-ins to block access to the
venue holding the congress of the anti-Islam, anti-migrant party, delaying its
start by nearly an hour."We are ashamed that AfD was voted [in Germany's
last election], and we don't want them to be in our town and our congress
hall," female protester said. AlJazeera
Assad regime airstrikes kill 8 civilians in
East Ghouta
At least 8 civilians were killed Saturday when
forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad in Syria attacked residential areas in Eastern
Ghouta, a Damascus suburb, Anadolu Agency correspondents reported from
Damascus.The regime airstrikes targeted Haresta, Madyara, Arbin and Misraba
areas, the correspondents said, adding six civilians were killed in Arbin,
while two women were killed in Haresta.
Syria's Jaafari quits Geneva talks over
Assad's future
The head of the Syrian government delegation,
Bashar al-Jaafari says there can be no progress in talks to end the fighting,
if the opposition keeps demanding President Bashar al-Assad step down.Its
delegation has returned to Damascus and says it hasn't decided whether to go
back to Geneva when talks resume on Tuesday.The talks were originally based
around a UN-backed goal of a transitional government body, but the Syrian
government, backed by their Russian allies, and UN Special Envoy Staffan de
Mistura have backed away from the plan. aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Imposition of Exemplary Costs on Petitioner
Reignites Controversy Over Supreme Court’s Role: THE WIRE
Gujarat Model, AWOL:It is missing from the
BJP’s campaign for the state. What might replace it?Seema Chishti
BOOK EXCERPT:‘People’s judge’: Gauri Lankesh
on the unmatched judgments of Justice Ajit Prakash Shah
If UP Civic Poll Results Reflect Nation’s
Mood, It’s Good News For the Opposition: MK VENU
Gujarat polls: Triple talaq ruling apart,
Muslim women don't seem to buy BJP's saviour narrative: Sharanya Gopinathan
Ex-Judges Of Higher Judiciary PB Sawant, BG
Kolse-Patil Demand An Independent Inquiry Into Death Of Judge Loya
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