Evening NEWS
DIGEST
11 Dec.2017: 21 Rabial Awwal 1439:Vol:9, No:69
INDIA
Pak minister’s presence at Chabahar port
opening indicates shift in ties with Iran: Report
Islamabad: The participation of a Pakistani
minister at the inauguration of the first phase of Iran’s Chabahar port - even
though the country is not part of the strategic project - represents a
“significant shift” in the two neighbours’ ties, a media report said on
Monday.As Iranian President Hassan Rowhani inaugurated the first phase of the
Chabahar port last week, Pakistan’s minister for ports and shipping Hasil Khan
Bizenjo was standing next to him.“This was no coincidence, as Hasil Khan
Bizenjo was asked to stand next to Rowhani in a carefully choreographed move,”
the Express Tribune reported regarding the minister’s presence on the occasion
despite the fact that Pakistan is not part of the project.“The objective behind
this move was clear - Iran wanted to send a message that it would not allow
India or any other country to use Chabahar against Pakistan,”a senior Iranian
diplomat reportedly told the daily on condition of anonymity.Such a firsthand
account of close cooperation between Pakistan and Iran is unusual and
represents a significant shift in the 2 neighbours’ ties, which have often been
marred by a trust deficit and mutual suspicion, paper commented.The turnaround
is also important when seen alongside Pakistan’s participation in the Saudi-led
counter-terrorism coalition, it said.Iran, which is not part of the grouping,
considers the initiative an attempt to further Saudi’s agenda in West Asia.That
is one of the reasons that Pakistan has been treading a careful path on the
issue as it has the potential to undermine ties with Iran, the report
said.Pakistan, according to official sources, has assured Iran that Islamabad
would not become part of an initiative that targets Tehran.Tehran, in return,
has pledged that it would not allow any regional country, including India, to
undermine Pakistan’s interests, the report said.The Chabahar port opens a new
strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan, while bypassing
Pakistan, and reflects growing convergence of interests among the three
countries.The port is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by
India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up
trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access
to New Delhi.PTI
In 1st winter stay, 1800 Chinese
troops camping at Doklam
New Delhi: Around 1,600-1,800 Chinese troops
have now virtually established a permanent presence in the Doklam+ area, near Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet
trijunction, with construction of 2 helipads, upgraded roads, scores of
pre-fabricated huts, shelters and stores to withstand the freezing winter in
the high-altitude region.Indian security establishment sources said while India
"achieved its strategic objective" of not letting China extend its
existing road in Doklam southwards towards the Jampheri ridge, the fallout has
been "the almost permanent stationing of People's Liberation Army (PLA)
troops in the region "."Earlier, PLA patrols would come to Doklam,
which is disputed between China and Bhutan, between April-May and Octr-Nov.
every year to mark their presence and lay claim to the area before going
back," said a source."Now, after 73-day eyeball-to-eyeball troop
confrontation at Doklam between India and China ended on Aug. 28, PLA troops
have stayed put in what we consider to be Bhutanese territory for the first
time this winter. But the status quo prevails at the earlier face-off
site," he added.This fits in with what the Army chief, General Bipin
Rawat, meant when he warned in September that China would continue with its
efforts to nibble away disputed territories through "salami slicing",
muscle-flexing and other measures.With Indian troops deployed in tactically
dominating positions in the trijunction region, China is keen to usurp Doklam
to add strategic depth to its narrow Chumbi Valley, which juts in between
Sikkim and Bhutan. timesofindia
After Doklam withdrawal, Chinese troops
'camping' on Doklam near Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction: Report
Israeli-made drone, operated by India, crashes
in China: Jerusalem Post
Just weeks after India cancelled a massive
missile deal with Israel, an Israeli-made drone may be in the middle of an
international spat, this time between India and China, after a Heron drone
operated by the Indian military crashed in China. China’s Defense Ministry said
that the drone which crashed last week in China’s Chumbi Valley after crossing
a line of control between the two countries, violated China’s sovereignty and
that Beijing would “resolutely defend” China.“This action by India violated
China’s territorial sovereignty. We express strong dissatisfaction and
opposition,” Reuters quoted Zhang Shuili, a military official in China’s
western battle zone command, as saying in a ministry statement, adding that
“China’s border defence forces took a professional and responsible attitude in
conducting an inspection of the device.”News of the crash comes just weeks
after India reportedly cancelled a half a billion-dollar missile deal with
Israel. The missile contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems allowed for
India to purchase Spike anti-tank guided missiles. Instead, the Indian Govt has asked the country’s DRDO to nix the deal
and develop its own “home-grown” anti-tank missile, in an attempt to build up
its own defense industry.India’s Economic Times reported that the Heron drone,
made by Israel Aerospace Industries, had taken off from a base in the Siliguri
Corridor on a training mission over India when it developed technical problems
and crashed near the Doklam Plateau and where there is a concentration of
Chinese troops."The drone's communication link broke with the ground
control station, it was regained and then lost again, preventing it from being
controlled, before crashing in the Chumbi Valley," Economic Times quoted a
top Govt official as saying."The
drone's DAS based at the control station has been sent to IAI to check what
went wrong. The analysis will be out in a
few weeks," the official added. Heron is IAI’s most advanced drone
with a 40h endurance, maximum take-off weight of 11,685 pounds and a payload of
2,204-pounds. They can be used for both reconnaissance as well as combat and
support roles and can carry air-to-ground missiles to take out hostile targets.
Indian Air Force already operates close to 180 Israeli-made UAVs, including 108
IAI made Searchers and 68 unarmed Heron 1s for surveillance and intelligence
gathering as well as a fleet of IAI produced Harpy UAVs, which carry a
high-explosive warhead and self-destructs to take out targets such as radar
stations. jpost
Handling of Doklam shows importance of India-China
ties: Wang Yi
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said
India and China’s strategic interests outweigh “partial frictions” and handling
of the Doklam standoff through diplomatic means reflects the importance of
bilateral ties.Ahead of his visit to India to attend the Russia-India-China
(RIC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting to be held in New Delhi today, during which he
would also hold talks with top Indian officials, Wang said China always values good
neighbourliness and friendship between the two countries as “we are each
other’s big neighbours and ancient civilisations.” He said India-China
strategic interests outweigh differences and “partial friction.”“We have
handled the issue of cross-border incursions by the Indian border troops into
China’s Donglang area through diplomatic measures,” Wang told a symposium here last week,
maintaining Beijing’s stand.PTI
Russia urges India to line up behind China's Belt
& Road initiative: Reuters
New Delhi;Russia threw its weight behind
China's massive Belt and Road plan to build trade and transport links across
Asia and beyond, suggesting to India on Monday that it find a way to work with
Beijing on the signature project.India is strongly opposed to an economic
corridor that China is building in Pakistan that runs through disputed Kashmir
as part of the Belt and Road initiative.India was the only country that stayed
away from a May summit hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote the
plan to build railways, ports and power grids in a modern-day recreation of the
Silk Road.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said New Delhi should not let
political problems deter it from joining the project, involving billions of
dollars of investment, and benefiting from it.Lavrov was speaking in the Indian
capital after a three-way meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj at which, he said, India's reservations
over the Chinese project were discussed.
Don't drag us into your domestic politics, win
victories on your own: Pak to India over Modi’s remarks on Guj polls
Pakistan today said India's politicians should
not drag the country into its domestic politics during campaigning for the Gujarat
assembly polls."India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral
debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies,
which are utterly baseless and irresponsible,"Pakistan's Foreign Office
spokesman Mohammad Faisal said.India should stop dragging Pakistan into its
electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated
conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible.PM Narendra Modi claimed at an election rally
that there was an attempt by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls.Modi
also raised questions about the alleged appeal by ex-DG of Pak Army Sardar
Arshad Rafiq for making senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel CM of Gujarat.PTI
Pakistan on alleged interference in Gujarat
polls: It’s a ‘fabricated conspiracy’
Former Indian army chief exposes PM Modi’s
‘lies’ in Gujarat election rally
Ex-Army Chief General (retired) Deepak Kapoor
has exposed PM Narendra Modi’s ‘lies’ during an election rally in Gujarat. Modi,
in an election rally sensationally alleged that Pakistan was interfering with
Gujarat polls.To support his elections, he had said that few Congress leaders
had held a meeting in Delhi Pakistani officials to work out a strategy to
ensure BJP’s defeat in Gujarat. Meeting indeed took place at the suspended
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house. But those who attended the meeting
included ex-PM Manmohan Singh, ex-army
chief,Gen Deepak Kapoor and ex-Pak foreign minister, Khurshid Mahmud
Kasuri.Also present were ex-foreign minister K Natwar Singh, and former
diplomats Salman Haidar, TCA Raghavan,Sharat Sabharwal, K Shankar Bajpai and
Chinmaya Gharekhan, among others. Bajpai, Raghavan and Sabharwal had served as
Indian High Commissioners to Pakistan. Confirming that that he was part of the
meeting at Aiyar’s residence, General Kapoor told Indian Express, “Yes, I was
part of the meeting and we discussed nothing more than India-Pakistan
relations.”Kapoor was the 23rd Chief of Army Staff and retired in March 2010.
Another close aide to Aiyar said that Kasuri and Aiyar had been friends have
met on several occasions in the past.Modi last week had alleged, “There were
media reports yesterday about a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house. It was
attended by Pak’s high commissioner, Pak’s ex-foreign minister, India’s ex-vice
president and ex-PM Manmohan Singh,”Modi
was quoted by PTI. jantakareporter
Gujarat elections: Manmohan says Modi must
apologise for Pakistan collusion remark
New Delhi:In a sharp counter-offensive on PM Narendra Modi over his ‘conspiracy with
Pakistan’ remark, former premier Manmohan Singh on Monday said he was setting a
“dangerous precedent” with his “ill-thought transgression” and asked him to
apologise to the nation.In a strongly-worded statement, Singh rejected as
“innuendos and falsehoods” Modi’s comments, saying he did not discuss the
Gujarat elections with anyone at the dinner hosted by Mani Shankar Aiyar for
Pakistan’s former foreign minister Kurshid Kasuri here.“I sincerely hope that PM
will show the maturity and gravitas
expected of the high office he holds instead of concentrating his energy solely
on erroneously conceived brownie points.“I sincerely hope that he will
apologize to the Nation for his ill thought transgression to restore the
dignity of the office he occupies,” he said.Singh said he was “deeply pained
and anguished” by the “falsehood and canards” being spread to score political
points by the PM in what he said was a
“lost cause” in Gujarat.“Fearing imminent defeat in Gujarat, desperation of PM to hurl every abuse and latch on to every
straw is palpable. Sadly and regrettably, Sh. Modi is setting a dangerous
precedent by his insatiable desire to tarnish every constitutional office,
including that of a former PM and Army
Chief,” he alleged.PTI
Manmohan: Pained at PM Modi spreading falsehood
to score political points
‘Just to win elections anyhow’: Shatrughan takes
potshots at PM Modi for alleging Pakistan hand in Gujarat polls
New Delhi :BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who is the
saffron party’s in-house critic, on Monday whipped up yet another controversy
after he targeted PM Narendra Modi over
his reference that “Pakistan is interfering in the Gujarat election” and
opposition party members met Pakistani officials at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house.
Actor-turned-politician took to Twitter this morning and posted two tweets
without naming anyone in particular. However, his tweets did not leave much
room for doubt, inviting a flurry of reactions from Twitterati. indianexpress
Rahul Gandhi elected Congress president
unopposed, to take charge on Dec16
New Delhi;Along expected lines, Rahul Gandhi
was elected as Congress president unopposed on Monday, signalling a
generational shift in the Grand Old Party, which his mother Sonia Gandhi
shouldered for 13 years. The announcement was made by Congress’ Central
Election Authority chairman Mullapally Ramachandran.Ramachandran said the
47-year-old leader would formally take over the reins of the party on Dec. 16,
two days before the declaration of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly
election results.Sonia Gandhi will officially hand over the mantle of the
132-year-old party to her son around 11 am on Dec. 16 after which Rahul will
meet leaders from across the country at the Congress headquarters, party
leaders said. A press release from the Congress said a total of 89 nominations
were received in Rahul’s favour and they were found to be valid during
scrutiny. indianexpress
Candidate should not contest elections from 2
seats: EC tells SC
New Delhi;Following a petition seeking a ban
on contesting elections from two constituencies, the Election Commission told
the Supreme Court on Monday that a candidate ideally should not do so.The court
was hearing a petition filed by one Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who sought a
prohibition on contesting elections from two constituencies at all levels –
Parliament and state assemblies. Upadhyay has challenged Section 33(7) of the
Representation of People Act that allows a person to contest polls from two
constituencies.indianexpress
Mayawati warns of embracing Buddhism if BJP,
RSS don’t stop communal propaganda
Nagpur: For second time in 2 months, BSP
supremo Mayawati warned of replicating Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in embracing
Buddhism along with crores of her followers, if right wing organizations like
BJP and RSS, fail to stop its casteist and communal propaganda against poor
Dalits, tribals, Muslims and other backward classes.Lashing out at saffron
organizations' plans of building a Ram temple at disputed site in Ayodhya, she
said it would not bring any benefits to the deprived sections of the society
but would led to more poverty and unemployment.Addressing a mammoth rally at
the historic Kasturchand Park, ex-UP CM challenged the saffron parties to
change its mindset towards these deprived sections of the society, else she
would be forced to follow Dalit icon, who embraced the Buddhism at
Deekshabhoomi on Oct.14,1956, with lakhs of followers."Before leaving the
Hindu religion, Dr Ambedkar requested saints and seers like Shankaracharya to
remove discrepancies like casteism and untouchability which alienated those
from the reserved category, on Oct.13, 1935. He granted them a long time of
over 21 years to improve the system and plug loopholes. It was only after their
failure that the Bharat Ratna was forced to take the ultimate step," she
told the huge gathering of her activists, arousing loud cheers. Besides
Maharashtra, BSP activists from states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,
thronged the venue in large numbers braving scorching heat for nearly three
hours, as the Mayawati arrived late.Taking a dig at Fadnavis-led BJP-Sena Govt,
she said due to pro-poor policies of her regime, not a single case of suicide
was recorded in UP, while Maharashtra and particularly Vidarbha, witnessed
highest number of farmers ending their lives. "Farming community here are
in dire straits due to sheer neglect of centre and state. Both are giving false
assurances to the poor farmers, but doing nothing in a reality." Accusing
BJP, NDA and RSS of forcefully implementing their Hindutva agenda, she said
they were exploiting Dalits, tribals, farmers, and businessmen through their
wrong policies."BJP Govt failed to fulfil even 1/4th of their assurances
made after Lok Sabha polls. GST and demonetization had added to the people's
woes. NDA is facing opposition to its policies from its own constituents.New
India can't be built by just 'Jumlebazi'."TOI
SC says it cannot ask J&K Govt to form minority commission
The Supreme Court on Monday said it cannot ask
the J&K Assembly to pass a
legislation to set up a minority commission in the state, Live Law reported.
Instead, the court said the Centre will discuss the subject.“How can we ask or
direct the state legislature to legislate in a particular manner?” Chief
Justice of India Dipak Misra told the petitioner, Jammu-based lawyer Ankur
Sharma. “The Centre says they will deliberate on it and get back to this
court.”The Supreme Court bench then adjourned the hearing for eight weeks, ANI
reported.On May 1, Govt had told the Supreme Court that a high-level committee
of senior officials of the state and central Govt s had been formed to consider
setting up a minority commission for J&K .On August 8, the Supreme Court
had criticised a state Govt affidavit,
which said its officials were unable to find time to discuss the subject with
the Centre. The bench gave the state and Centre three more months to make a
decision. scroll
Ex-CJI RM Lodha condemns killings over cow
protection, inter-religious marriage
New Delhi;Ex-Chief Justice of India R M Lodha condemned
killings in the name of cow protection and “love jihad”, and threats to
artistic freedom. He said the laxity in police action “is shaking me every
day”.Speaking at an event on Human Rights Day, he said: “In the name of cow
protection, human beings were slaughtered. Cow vigilantes are mushrooming
everywhere. Sedition charges are being invoked against activists. Cartoonists,
actress and students were charged with sedition charges.”On violence in the
name of inter-religious marriages, he asked: “Should religion be a factor when
two adults fall in love?”He said: “People have been killed in the name of love
jihad”. He said “the violators of human rights are not accountable to society”
but that “there is laxity in the police action. This question is shaking me
every day.” indianexpress
Rajasthan hacking: ‘Some forces trying to
destroy communal harmony in society’
Kolkata:Protest marches under the banner of
Bangla Sanskriti Mancha were held in Kolkata and Kaliachak on Monday, demanding
strong punishment for the accused in the murder of West Bengal migrant labourer
Mohammad Afrazul. In Kolkata, a peaceful protest rally was taken out from
Jadavpur to Dhakuria, which was attended by academicians and students, among
others.In Malda, 2 rallies were organised — one from the house of the victim in
Saiyadpur village, another in Kaliachak block. Both witnessed huge
participation. Several participants demanded the death sentence for the killer
of Afrazul, who was murdered in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand. President of Bangla
Sanskriti Manch, Samirul Islam, said, “Our protest is against the radicalisation
of a section of the country. All of us Hindus, Muslims have lived together in
harmony and peace. There are forces
trying to destroy the communal harmony of our society.”Another participant at
the Kolkata rally said attacks were organised not only against minorities, but
against anyone daring to raise their voice against the Govt . “From Akhlaque to
Gouri Lankesh, no one is safe. Govt is
not taking action against perpetrators of such attacks, which is very
concerning for all of us,”college student said. indianexpress
Delhi: Students, Activists Protest Against
Killing of Muslim Labourer Afrajul In Rajasthan
UP: Hindu outfit demands effective law against
‘love-jihad’
Agra: Activists of a Hindu outfit ‘Akhil Bharat
Hindu Mahasabha’ have demanded effective law to check the cases of love-jihad.They
had gathered at the collectorate on Saturday and also submitted a memorandum
addressed to CM .While allegedly justifying the brutal killing of a migrant
labourer Afrazul who was hacked and then burnt in Rajasthan a couple of days
back, the recently appointed national spokesperson of the Mahasabha Ajju
Chauhan said that such reaction could be expected from a person who has lost
his daughter or sister because of love-jihad.“There is need for effective law
against ‘love-jihad’. Although the anti-Romeo squad had brought down such
cases, they still continue to happen. The incident like the one in Rajasthan
should not happen, but such action is very likely from a person in a fit of
rage,” said Chauhan.“We have demanded the CM to bring up an effective law to check the
incidents. National president of the Mahasabha Rakesh Limaye has prepared a
draft to permanently stop the cases of love-jihad,” said Chauhan.“The couples
from different faiths who intend to marry should be required to submit joint
application before DM or SDM and this should accompany the affidavit of parents
so that it can work as ‘no objection certificate’. The authenticity of this
affidavit should be verified to ensure if it is not given under pressure or
threat,” said Chauhan in the memorandum submitted on Saturday.Known for making
controversial statements, Ajju Chauhan had recently given a call for promoting
marriages of Hindu boys to well educated Muslim girls ‘as answer to
love-jihad’.HT
MP: Saffron agenda push through quiz
competition draws flak
Bhopal: An attempt by the ruling BJP’s youth
wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), to further saffron agenda through an
international quiz competition in schools and colleges across Madhya Pradesh
has met with criticism from the opposition Congress and educationists.Titled
‘Mere Deendayal’ after Deendayal Upadhyay, founder of BJP’s progenitor
Bharatiya Jana Sangh, quiz seeks to raise awareness about him (50%) and the
schemes of BJP-helmed state Govt (30%)
and Centre (20%).While the competition is not compulsory, BJYM is pushing to
get 30 lakh students to participate, and has asked Govt teachers and professors
to extend support. Congress and educationists have raised their voice against
it, citing politicisation of education although the organisers said it would
help students learn about Upadhyay and the Govt s’ schemes, whereas Govt said it was a motivational move.“We are not
providing any aid to them. The quiz competition is a motivational thing for
students and there is nothing wrong in informing students about beneficial
schemes,” minister of state for school education and technical education Deepak
Joshi said.Noting that till now, Govt was using students for increasing crowd in
their programmes, Kunal Chaudhary, president of MP Youth Congress, said now,
“they have started misguiding students by asking them to learn about BJP and
its leaders”.Educationist Zamiruddin questioned why they were mixing politics
and education, and reasoned that it could be because they want to change the
students’ mindset. “It is very dangerous for the future of students. Are they
afraid of their failure of providing good education and infrastructure to
students?” he asked.The organisers are charging Rs 10 per participant. Govt teachers and professors have been asked to
motivate students to take part in good numbers and get registered
themselves.Interestingly, they will also provide booklets to the participants
in a few days and ask them to prepare in 20 days for the competition, that is
being organised on Jan.23, the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose.Sources said the booklet, which is in the final stages of
preparation, contains information glorifying Jana Sangh heroes and the various
beneficial schemes of the state and central Govts. hindustantimes
Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Bhat expelled for
meeting Centre’s representative
Ex-All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Muslim Conference senior leader Prof.
Abdul Ghani Bhat was removed as the party president on Sunday, days after
meeting with Govt of India special
representative Dineshwar Sharma and expressing willingness to talk to New
Delhi.“As you know, Bhat’s secret meeting with
Sharma has been a cause of concern for the party. In this backdrop, a
meeting of the Muslim Conference leaders was held in Srinagar. It was decided
that Muhammad Sultan Magray will be the new president of Muslim Conference for
the period of 6 months,” read the letter written by Muslim Conference to APHC chairman
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.thehindu
Handwara encounter: 3 militants, one civilian
killed in overnight operation by security forces
Srinagar: 3 militants and a civilian were
killed in an overnight operation by security forces in North Kashmir’s Unisoo
village, close to Handwara. The search operation is still going on. Around
midnight, Army and special operation group of JK police launched an operation
at Unisoo.Forces had information that a group of militants is hiding in one of
the houses in the village. Around 4 am, the militants opened fire on the forces
while they were zeroing in on them and this triggered an encounter in which
three militants were killed.A 25-year-old woman, identified as Mysra, was also
killed in cross firing during the encounter, said a senior police officer. indianexpress
In Assam’s Sipajhar, Bengali Muslim residents
claim they were targetted in eviction drive
“My father would have been alive had those
Bangladeshis been evicted before,” said Kalyan Das, a student of Class 11 who
lives in Sipajhar in Assam’s Darrang district.The body of his father,
58-year-old Ananda Das, was found next to a wetland in the area on the
afternoon of Nov. 23. Das, a farmer, had gone missing two days
earlier.According to Mukut Ali, the police officer investigating his alleged
murder, the body bore “no signs of external injuries”. In over 2 weeks, there
has been no medical confirmation of the reasons and circumstances that led to
Das’s death. On Dec. 7, Ali said that the post-mortem report was still pending.
The local police, however, is treating the death as a case of murder. “Since
his body was found next to a water body, we suspect he was asphyxiated
underwater,” said Ali.Das’s death set off a chain of events, which started with
mob violence and ended with the eviction of 60 families who were allegedly
encroaching on Govt land.The discovery of Das’s body plunged Sipajhar into
turmoil almost immediately. In a matter of hours, residents of Upper Kuruwa
village, where Das family lives, descended on Gondhiyapathar, neighbouring
village, where the body was found, and burnt down three houses. The irate mob
contended that Das had been killed by people from Gondhiyapathar.Also in the
fray were local activists from All Assam Students’ Union and the Prabajan
Virodhi Manch, which describes itself as “a forum against infiltration”. The
term “infiltration” refers to illegal immigration. According to Ali, who was
present when the houses were demolished, there was “little the police could
do”.“We were comprehensively outnumbered, it was a mob of around 2,000 people,”
he said.By evening, the district administration stepped in. Announcements were
made on loudspeakers that people living in Gondhiyapathar must vacate their
houses within a week. District administration said they were illegally
occupying Govt land. But the bulldozers
arrived sooner than that. By the afternoon of Nov. 24, sixty-odd houses were
flattened.sroll.in
Karnataka: Muslims, Jains and Dalits extend
support to Lingayat cause
Vijayapura: The mega rally organised at the
Ambedkar District Stadium on Sunday for demanding religion tag for Lingayat was
supported by people from different faiths and communities, including Muslims
and Jains, and Dalits.Though the organisers of the rally had organised food and
water for participants at different places in the city, the leaders of Muslims
and Jains also made their contribution.Several groups of Muslims and Jains who
had put up their stalls on the stadium premises offered mineral water, bananas,
bread and other eatables to the participants.“We have been supporting the
demand for Lingayat religion as we feel that their demand is justified;
therefore, we have decided to extend our support by offering eatables and water
to those coming from the far-flung areas of the State,” said Irfan Shaikh, a
member of Begum Talab Parisara Rakshana Samiti.He said that several Muslims and
Dalits were ideologically with the campaign as they believed that the preaching
of the 12th Century social reformer Basaveshwara matched largely with the
belief of Islam and Ambedkar.“Islam and the ideologies of Ambedkar do not
believe in the caste system and they both propagate equality; Basaveshwara also
followed similar belief in his life and preached them through his Vachanas.
Thus, many organisations of the two communities decided to extend their support
to the cause,” Shaikh said. thehindu
‘Ghar wapsi’ of deserters revitalises Congress
in poll-bound Tripura
Agartala:Considered a sinking ship not so long
ago, the Congress in poll-bound Tripura has received a shot in the arm by a ‘ghar
wapsi’ of a different kind.On Friday, about 1,000 members returned to the
Congress after less than two years with TMC. They had followed six Congress
MLAs who had joined TMC in June last year to protest the party’s alliance with
the Left Front for the West Bengal assembly polls.The six, led by former state
Congress chief Sudip Roy Barman, quit TMC to join Bharatiya Janata Party in
August this year.Tapan Datta, a BJP leader returned to the Congress too. He was
a former Congress district president and a close associate of Barman.“I was
misguided by some workers to join the Trinamool. I realised my mistake and
returned to my own party. I am now committed to work for better prospects of
the Congress,” said Mujibar Islam, a former Congress general secretary and
state president of the NSUI, the student wing of the party.HT
RSS leader Indresh Kumar demands law to punish
those who disrespect India, tricolour
Jaipur: RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Sunday
said those who do not love India should leave the country and a law should be
enacted to punish those who disrespect the tricolour.Alleging that the Congress
divided the nation, he said it was a big lie that it helped India attain
Independence.“If you cannot love Bharat then leave Bharat. And, a law should be
enacted to punish those who disrespect the country or the national flag,” Kumar
said at an event here. “It is a fact that the Congress divided India and it is
a big lie that it helped the country attain Independence. Who divided the
nation - Jawaharlal Nehru. Who united the nation - Vallabhbhai Patel,” he
said.Kumar said there was no “temporary article in any constitution in the
world like Article 370 in the Constitution of India”.There was a need to bring
the people of Kashmir into the mainstream, he said.PTI
Few Indian Muslim women opt to go for Haj
unescorted
New Delhi: For the first time ever, Indian
Muslim women above 45 will be allowed to travel in groups of four or more
without a male guardian following recent changes in the national Haj policy.
But instead of a flood of applications, the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has
received barely a trickle.Of the total applications for Haj 2018, the
proportion of women opting to go without a male guardian (mehram) is not even
one % . Most of these 1% applications are from Kerala. Not even one application
under the revised norms has been received from many states and Union
Territories, including Lakshadweep, Assam and Bihar – regions with a relatively
high proportion of Muslims. Maqsood Ahmed Khan, CEO of the Haj Committee of
India said most applications received from Kerala had been online, and that
such applications are processed immediately as compared to offline
applications. newindianexpress
Indians urge US to withdraw its recognition of
Jerusalem
Indian citizens and community leaders have
written a letter urging the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the
capital of Israel.In a public address released yesterday and signed by
“concerned Indian citizens, especially from leaders of the Indian Christian
community”, the signatories appeal the decision, citing the relevance of
Jerusalem to all three Abrahamic faiths.The letter reiterates the stance of the
international community against the declaration and reflects on how the
decision will impact the Palestinian population.“[The decision should be revoked]
considering that this kind of irresponsible decision and disparate and
impulsive action would accelerate tension in Palestine and would worsen the
life and livelihood situation of the marginalised, especially the aged,
otherwise abled, women and children in the occupied territories.” The signatories of the letter include leading
members of the Delhi Minority Commission, National Council of Churches in
India, Vidya Jyothi Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations and the ISI-Indian
Social Institute. middleeastmonitor
Radicalisation must be fought on battlefield
as well as in mind: M J Akbar at India-ASEAN connectivity summit
New Delhi;India today called for a “war”
against terrorism and said radicalisation must be fought on the battlefield as
well as in the mind. Addressing the India-ASEAN connectivity summit here,
Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar also said India recognises
that existential threat comes from ideologues that believe in
faith-supremacy.Talking about connectivity, he emphasised on the need for
ensuring freedom of navigation in all waters, seen as a reference to China’s
expansionist behaviour in the South China Sea.“We believe in pluralism, and
equality of culture and faith; and we recognise that the existential threat
comes from ideologues who believe in faith-supremacy with their evil, barbaric
terrorist militias,”he said.PTI
Hyderabad student is a victim of gun culture
in Chicago; Mohammed Akbar is recuperating after surgery
Hyderabad: Chicago's gun culture resulted in a
30-year-old student from Hyderabad suffering a bullet injury in the Albany Park
neighbourhood recently.It was not just Mohammed Akbar who was shot at on that
day on December 6. In shootings that happened in different parts of the US
city, as many as 13 people were injured. One victim died in the shootings.
However, police find no connection between the shootings. Why Mohammed Akbar
was shot at, however, still remains a mystery. According to Chicago police
sources, the assailant with a weapon walked up to Akbar and shot at him around
8.45 am.The incident took place in the 4700 block of North Whipple. According
to Itefaq Shareef, who hails from Hyderabad and lives in Chicago, Akbar has
been operated upon at the Illinois Masonic Hospital. Akbar had been shot on the
left cheek and after the surgery is said to be doing well. "He cannot talk
for another two weeks," he informed MBT leader Amjed Ullah Khan at whose
request he had gone to see Akbar.TOI
WORLD
European Govts refuse to follow Trump on
status of Jerusalem
European foreign ministers have strongly rejected
calls by Israel’s PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, to follow Donald Trump’s example and
recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Opposition from across the European
spectrum came as Netanyahu made the first official trip to EU by a sitting Israeli
premier in 22 years.Even the Czech Republic, one of Israel’s closest allies,
warned that the US president’s decision was bad for peace efforts, while France
said Jerusalem’s status could be agreed only in a final deal between Israelis
and Palestinians.Netanyahu called on European Govt s to back a much-mooted US
peace initiative despite the fact that Trump has yet to reveal any details
about it.Making clear that the EU would not write a blank cheque for an unseen
Trump peace plan, France’s foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, urged
Washington to disclose what was being drawn up by Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s
Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior
adviser.“We’ve been waiting already for several months for the American initiative,
and if one is not forthcoming then the European Union will have to take the
initiative,” Le Drian warned.The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini,
reiterated the bloc’s commitment to a two-state solution, telling Netanyahu
that it would continue to recognise “international consensus” on Jerusalem. EU
would increase its peace efforts and hold talks with the Palestinian president,
Mahmoud Abbas, next month, she added.theguardian
Despite furor over Jerusalem move, Saudis seen
on board with US peace efforts:Reuters
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia pulled no punches when it
condemned President Donald Trump’s move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital
of Israel. But Palestinian officials say Riyadh has also been working for weeks
behind the scenes to press them to support a nascent U.S. peace plan.Arab
officials privately say that Riyadh appears to be on board with a broader U.S.
strategy for an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan still in its early phases of
development. 4 Palestinian officials, who spoke on condition they not be named,
said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas discussed in detail a grand bargain that Trump and Jared Kushner, the
president’s son-in-law and adviser, are expected to unveil in the first half of
2018.One official said Prince Mohammed asked Abbas to show support for the U.S.
administration’s peace efforts when the two met in Riyadh in Nov.Another
Palestinian official said Prince Mohammed told Abbas: “Be patient, you will
hear good news. This peace process will go ahead.”Kushner, 36, whose father
knew Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, has also nurtured strong personal ties
with the 32-year-old crown prince as he asserts Saudi influence internationally
and amasses power for himself at home.The Saudi royal court did not respond to
requests for comment. A White House official said Kushner did not ask the crown
prince to talk to Abbas about the plan.Palestinian officials fear, and many
Arab officials suspect, that by closing the door on East Jerusalem as the
future capital of a Palestinian state, Trump will align with Israel in offering
the Palestinians limited self-Govt inside disconnected patches of the occupied
West Bank, with no right of return for refugees displaced by Arab-Israeli wars
of 1948 and 1967.The Palestinian officials said they were concerned that the
proposal that Prince Mohammed communicated to Abbas, which purportedly came
from Kushner, presents exactly that scenario.As told to Abbas, the proposal
included establishing “a Palestinian entity” in Gaza as well as the West Bank
administrative areas A and B and 10 % of area C, which contains Jewish
settlements, a third Palestinian official said. Jewish settlements in the West
Bank would stay, there would be no right of return, and Israel would remain
responsible for the borders, he said.The proposal appears to differ little from
existing arrangements in the West Bank, widening Palestinian control but
falling far short of their minimum national demands.“This is rejected by
Palestinians. Abu Mazen (Abbas) explained the position and its danger to the
Palestinian cause and Saudi Arabia understood that,” the official said.
US Jerusalem move: Fury spreads from Jakarta
to Rabat
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/jerusalem-move-fury-spreads-jakarta-rabat-171210211023133.html
A wave of anger against a US decision to
recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital has spread from Asia, through the
Middle East, to North Africa, with tens of thousands of people taking to the
streets to denounce the controversial move.Protesters filled central avenues
and squares in a number of major international cities on Sunday, waving the
flag of Palestine and shouting slogans to express their solidarity with the
Palestinians, who see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. According
to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 157 people were injured on Sunday in
confrontations with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem and
Gaza. At least 4 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the US
declaration. Clashes also erupted on Sunday at a protest in Beirut, where
demonstrators fought with security forces outside US embassy in the Lebanese
capital. Demonstrators set fires in the street, torched US and Israeli flags
and threw stones at police officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Adnan Abdullah, a protester in Beirut, said Trump's Jerusalem decision
"will not happen as long as there are people like us".Another
demonstrator, whose face was hidden behind a black mask, held up a tear gas
canister and condemned Lebanese forces for "defending America".Arab
foreign ministers, in a resolution on Sunday, urged Trump to rescind the
decision and have called for a UNSC condemnation of the shift in US
policy.Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Indonesians rallied outside the US embassy in
Jakarta to vent their anger for a second day. Protesters carried Palestinian
flags and banners saying "Pray for Palestine".In Turkey's Istanbul,
thousands of demonstrators took to the streets again, transforming the city's
Yenikapi Square into a sea of Turkish and Palestinian flags. In Rabat, Morocco's capital, protesters
yelled slurs against Trump and carried banners saying Jerusalem belonged to
Palestine. aljazeera
4 killed, 1,632 wounded by Israel in 4 days
Palestinians burn photos of Saudi king, crown
prince:Press TV
Palestinians come out in force in the Gaza
Strip to protest US recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital,”
burning the pictures of American and Saudi heads of state.The rally, organized
by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), drew thousands in
the besieged enclave to protest the most serious inroad in recent years to the
third holiest site in Islam. The
protesters set fire to American and Israeli flags as well as portraits and
effigies of US President Donald Trump, and tore up pictures of Saudi King
Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Palestinian Samanews
website reported.“Al-Quds is Palestine’s eternal capital and not an inch of it
will be conceded,” to Israel, Jamil Mazhar, a PFLP leader, told the rally.The
protesters also condemned what they called Arab states’ alignment with
Washington, which is Israel’s oldest and strongest ally, and held up placards reading “Down with Al Saud.” Presstv
Palestinians refuse Bahrain delegation entry
to Gaza
Palestinians have refused a Bahraini
delegation from entering Gaza after the group visited Israel amid ongoing
controversy over the US decision on Jerusalem.The interfaith "This is
Bahrain" civil society group defended its visit to Israel on Monday, a day
after its trip was reported, as a gesture of tolerance. 25-member group, which
is on a 5-day tour, includes Sunni and Shia Muslim leaders, Christians, the
leader of a Hindu temple, and a Sikh.It aims to visit Islamic, Christian,
Jewish and other holy sites, the group said, according to a statement carried
on Bahrain's state news.Ater widespread outrage, a coalition of various
political factions condemned the group's attempt to visit the besieged Gaza
Strip, home to two million Palestinians.In a statement on Monday, Palestinian
National and Islamic Forces in Gaza said there was no place for those who
normalise relations with Israel in Gaza - or any other place of the occupied
Palestinian territories.It added that the people of Gaza would prevent the
delegation from entering the enclave. aljazeera
Malaysian army ‘ready to perform its duty’
towards Palestinians
Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) is ready to perform
its duty towards the issue facing Jerusalem, Defense Minister Hishammuddin
Hussein.“We have to be prepared for any possibilities. ATM has always been
ready, waiting for instructions from the top leadership,” the Malaysian state
news agency Bernama quoted Hussein.“Let us pray that this dispute would not
lead to chaos,” Hussein added. middleeastmonitor
Erdogan Calls Israel 'Terrorist State'
Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on Sunday described Israel as a "terrorist state" and vowed
to use "all means to fight" against the US recognition of Jerusalem
as the country's capital."Palestine is an innocent victim... As for
Israel, it is a terrorist state, yes, terrorist!" Erdogan said in a speech
in the central city of Sivas."We will not abandon Jerusalem to the mercy
of a state that kills children."Turkish president has used his position as
the current chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to call a
summit of the pan-Islamic group on Wednesday."We will show that applying
the measure will not be as easy as that," he added on Sunday.AFP
Middleeastmonitor exclusive source: US
secretly handed Saad Al Jabry over to bin Salman
An exclusive source for The New Khalij
confirmed that the US authorities have secretly handed over the former Saudi
minister Saad Al Jabry to Saudi Arabia.According to the source, who preferred
not to be identified, Al Jabry, who is described as the right hand of the
former crown prince Muhammad bin Nayef, was able to leave Saudi Arabia for the
United States but when the new crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman requested his
return back to Saudi Arabia, he refused with the excuse of being ill, saying
that he will return after he finishes his treatment.The source said that Al
Jabry’s long-term stay outside the kingdom angered bin Salman, who fears that
Al Jabry would form a lobby against him.The famous Saudi Twitter user Mujtahidd
had published rumours that, Saad Al Jabry – a former Minister of State and member
of the Council of Political and Security Affairs who was by King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Mujtahidd said that Al Jabry was very close
bin Nayef and that bin Nayef had been relied on him as an adviser who
eventually rose to such prominence that he was responsible for 80% of the
Ministry of Interior’s sensitive work.
Saudi to allow cinemas from early 2018
http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/523878/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-to-allow-cinemas-from-early-2018
Jeddah:Saudi Arabia said on Monday that the
process to license public theaters has begun, and the first cinemas were likely
to open early next year.“As the industry regulator, the General Commission for
Audiovisual Media has started the process for licensing cinemas in the
Kingdom,” the Ministry of Culture and Information said in a statement.“We
expect the first cinemas to open in March 2018,” it said.A resolution was
passed on Monday in a meeting under Minister of Culture and Information Awwad
Al-Awwad paving the way for licenses to be granted to commercial movie
theaters.“This marks a watershed moment in the development of the cultural
economy in the Kingdom,” the ministry said.Work in the cinema sector is
expected to generate more than SR90 billion which will be added to the
country’s GDP and will help create more than 30,000 permanent and more than
130,000 temporary jobs by 2030, the statement said.The ministry made it clear
that the content of movies will be subject to the parameters of the Kingdom’s information
policy.Saudi Gazette
Putin orders beginning of withdrawal from
Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a
surprise visit to a Russian base in Syria and ordered his troops to start
withdrawing from the war-torn country.Syrian state TV reported that Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad met with Putin at Khmeimim Air Base, southeast of Latakia, on
Monday morning.Russia's state news agency Novosti cited Putin as saying that
"in general, the combat work in this territory is completed by the
complete eradication of terrorists".Putin made the stop in Syria on his
way to Egypt, where he met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi later on
Monday.As the Syrian Govt 's main ally in the war, Russia started its
intervention in Sept.2015, after an official request by the Syrian Govt for military help against rebel groups.Since
then, Russia mainly conducted air strikes against groups opposed to the govt,
including the Syrian National Coalition, ISIL, al-Nusra Front, and others.In
addition, Russian military advisors and special operations forces are stationed
in Syria. aljazeera
UN urges immediate evacuation of 137 Syrian
children
UN children's agency has called for the
immediate evacuation of scores of sick Syrian children from a besieged
rebel-held enclave on the outskirts of Damascus, amid continued violence. 5
children in Eastern Ghouta have reportedly died, while 137 others require
immediate medical assistance, UNICEF said in a statement on Sunday.The
children, aged seven months to 17 years, are unable to access medical help for
conditions ranging from kidney failure and severe malnutrition to wounds
sustained from conflict."The situation is getting worse day by day,"
said Fran Equiza, UNICEF's representative in Syria. aljazeera
Rohingya Muslims: Rape of persecuted minority
by Burma’s soldiers 'methodical', investigation finds
The rape of Rohingya women by Burma's security
forces has been sweeping and methodical, the AP found in interviews with 29
women and girls who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh. These sexual assault
survivors from several refugee camps were interviewed separately and
extensively. They ranged in age from 13 to 35, came from a wide swath of
villages in Burma's Rakhine state and described assaults between Oct. 2016 and
mid-Sept.Foreign journalists are banned from the Rohingya region of Rakhine,
making it nearly impossible to independently verify each woman’s report. Yet
there was a sickening sameness to their stories, with distinct patterns in
their accounts, their assailants’ uniforms and the details of the rapes
themselves.The testimonies bolster the UN’s contention that Burma's armed
forces are systematically employing rape as a “calculated tool of terror” aimed
at exterminating the Rohingya people. The Burma armed forces did not respond to
multiple requests from the AP for comment, but an internal military investigation
last month concluded that none of the assaults ever took place. And when
journalists asked about rape allegations during a Govt -organised trip to
Rakhine in September, Rakhine’s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint,
replied: “These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their
appearances — do you think they are that attractive to be raped?”Doctors and
aid workers, however, say that they are stunned at the sheer volume of rapes,
and suspect only a fraction of women have come forward. Medecins Sans
Frontieres doctors have treated 113 sexual violence survivors since August, a
third of them under 18. The youngest was 9. Many women said the uniforms bore
various patches featuring stars or, in a couple cases, arrows. Such patches
represent the different units of Burma's army.AP
Jeremy Corbyn, Noam Chomsky win peace prize
amid media silence
UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been
awarded the Sean MacBride Peace Prize along with Noam Chomsky and Japanese
anti-military base activists, yet the award received scant coverage in the
British media.The International Peace Bureau presents the Sean MacBride Peace Prize
to individuals, organizations or movements for their work in the areas of
peace, disarmament and human rights.Corbyn, along with renowned scholar Noam
Chomsky and the All Okinawa Council Against Henoko New Base, were deemed this
year’s recipients. Corbyn received his award in Geneva Friday.The Labour leader was recognized for
his “sustained and powerful political work for disarmament and peace.” His
longtime work with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the UK and the Stop
the War Campaign was commended, as was his efforts for peace as a
politician.rt.com
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Venkaiah the Vice President Must Learn to
Leave the Politician in Him Behind:APOORVANAND
Neech aadmi: More than Mani Shankar Aiyar’s
remark, it is the response to him that is shocking:Ajaz Ashraf
The Time When Hindi Journalism Turned Into
‘Hindu’ Journalism;KRISHNA PRATAP SINGH
Modi’s Pakistan Remarks Only Point to the
BJP’s Insecurities in Gujarat:M.K. VENU
How a Local Australian Election Will Impact
Adani’s $4-Billion Mine:KABIR AGARWAL
Rebuild Babri Masjid. Admit there's no proof
to show Lord Ram was born on the exact spot:RAJEEV DHAVAN
At Mani Shankar Aiyar’s dinner: Former army
chief, ex-diplomats; Liz Mathew
Why is PM Narendra Modi obsessed with
Muslims?Jyoti Malhotra
Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan writes to CJI:
‘I have decided to give up court practice’
Jama Masjid zone makeover: Fingers crossed as
Old Delhi redevelopment body submits plans
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