Evening NEWS
DIGEST
16 Dec.2017: 26 Rabial Awwal 1439:Vol:9, No:73
INDIA
Interpol gives clean chit to Zakir Naik,
cancels red corner notice
New Delhi:In a major setback to Indian
agencies, the Interpol has refused to issue a red corner notice (RCN) against
the Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik."A letter has been sent by the Interpol
to the lawyer of Dr Zakir Naik informing that the request of Red Corner Notice
by Indian agencies against him, has been cancelled due to insufficient
evidence," said a close aide of Zakir Naik.India Today is in possession of
Interpol letter which is dated Dec.11, 2017.In a letter to London-based
attorney Peter Binning of Corker Binning law firm, which had earlier written to
Secretary General of Interpol, France, seeking for a refusal to issue the red
corner notice against Naik, the Interpol has said,"After a thorough
examination, the commission found that the data challenged raised questions as
to compliance with applicable roles. As a result, it considered that the
retention of this data in the Interpol information system was not compliant
with the Interpol's rules and decided that it should be deleted."The
decision was sent to the Interpol General Secretariat, which deleted the data
from Interpol's files in Nov. 2017. Grounds on the basis of which RCN request
has been cancelled is insufficient evidence provided by Indian agencies. Indian
agencies had earlier requested the Interpol to issue a red corner notice in an
attempt to extradite Dr Zakir Naik and bring him to India to face the law after
being charge-sheeted by NIA in terror cases.According to reports, Naik is in
Malaysia, which has given him asylum. Indiatoday
Interpol denies India's request for red corner
notice against Zakir Naik, cites lack of evidence as reason
Interpol cancels Red Corner Notice against
Zakir Naik
Assam citizenship: SC says claims of left out
persons to be included in subsequent NRC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that
claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in draft National Register
of Citizens (NRC) for Assam to be published by Dec.31, would be scrutinised and
included in the subsequent list, if found genuine.The SC made it clear that
publication of draft NRC was not the “end of the process” and claims and
objections of aggrieved parties could be filed and would be verified in
accordance with law.“We reiterate the aforesaid observation meaning thereby
that the claims/cases of the left out applicants whose names are not included
in draft NRC to be published on or before Dec.31, 2017 will be scrutinised and
thereafter, if found eligible, would be included in the subsequent draft NRC,”
a bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman said.The SC gave the
liberty to Assam to give wide publicity or coverage to its direction so as to
ally all fears and apprehensions that may exist.The apex court had on Nov. 30 said that on the expiry of midnight of
Dec. 31, the draft NRC pertaining to 2.38 crore claims, would be published. NRC
is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam.PTI
Rajasthan HC sets 10 stringent guidelines for
religious conversion, inter faith marriages
Jodhpur: In a historical decision, the
Rajasthan High Court on Friday charted out stringent guidelines for religious
conversion through marriage in the state.In the hearing of a petition, the division
bench comprising of Justices Gopalkrishna Vyas and Vineet Mathur issued a
10-point guideline to be followed by those seeking religious
conversion.Additional advocate Shivkumar Vyas informed that one of the
guidelines requires the parties seeking conversion through marriage, to
approach the District Collector.“They have set some guidelines, wherein if
there is any religious conversion, all necessary documents have to be sent to
District Collector, who will then send a notice to their parents. Thereafter,
following the set procedure, the District Collector will take the prescribed
legal action and then the marriage will take place in compliance with the
respective special marriage act,” Vyas told ANI.The guidelines are to be
followed until a law in enacted.Issuing fresh guidelines for matters relating
to religious conversions, Justice G.K. Vyas warned that strict action would be
taken against those found forcing people to convert."If any particular
organisation is found guilty (of forcing) for caste conversion, its licence
will be cancelled," he observed.On Nov.28, amicus curiae appointed by the
Rajasthan High Court to look into the legality of religious conversions in the
state had advised the court to issue guidelines for conversions until a law was
enacted by Govt in this regard. The amicus curiae was appointed by the court
following a habeas corpus petition filed by Chirag Singhvi, brother of Aarifa
Modi alias Payal Singhvi, which challenged the conversion of his sister from
Hinduism to Islam and then her marriage to a Muslim man. newindianexpress
Rajasthan HC issues fresh guidelines for
religious conversions, intimations required 30 days in advance
MP: 30 priests singing carols detained, car
burnt after Bajrang Dal raises conversion cry in village
Bhopal:More than 30 priests and seminarians
singing carols at a village near Madhya Pradesh’s Satna town were detained on
Thursday after Bajrang Dal activists accused them of forced conversion. One
priest was also arrested under the state’s anti-conversion law on Friday.Some
of the priests and seminarians, released in the early hours of Friday, alleged
they had been roughed up by members of the right-wing group on the police
station’s premises. Both the police and Bajrang Dal activists denied the
allegations.8 priests who had come to the Civil Lines Police Station on Friday
to inquire about the previous day’s detentions were also detained, while their
car was torched. Police said they were unaware of who torched the car, and
added that they had registered a case in connection with the incident.On
Friday, M George, who teaches at St Ephrem’s Theological College, and five
unknown persons were booked under Freedom of Religion Act and Sections 153-B
and 295-A of IPC on a complaint by one Dharmendra Dohar, who alleged he had
been offered money to convert to Christianity.A resident of Bhumkahar village,
the 21-year-old alleged that missionaries were active in his village for the
last two years, and that he had been given “Rs 5,000, a cross and a Bible”
after he took a dip in a pond to change his faith.Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of India (CBCI) denied allegations of forced conversion, and said that 30
seminarians and two priests from the Theological College were detained by
police when they were conducting a carol singing programme —a routine practice
during Christmas season for the last 30 years.Secretary General of CBCI, Bishop
Theodore Mascarenhas, said that charges
of conversion were yet to be proven, and accused the police of complicity with
right-wing activists. He alleged that police stood by as the priests and
seminarians were assaulted. indianexpress
Catholic priest arrested for ‘forced
conversion’ in MP after Bajrang Dal men assault clergymen
MUSLIM MARRIAGE &
TALAQ BILL
AIMPLB says govt should have consulted Muslims
before approving draft law on triple talaq
Lucknow: All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) said on Friday that Centre should have consulted Muslims before it
approved a draft law under which the practice of instant triple talaq would be
made illegal and would attract a three-year jail term for the offending
husband.Before approving the draft law the Centre should have consulted the
Muslim community, and also the experts, AIMPLB spokesman Maulana Sajjad Nomani
said."If we live in a democracy, then we should have been given an
opportunity. We also want to stop the practice of triple talaq. If the
government's intention is to really stop it, then the Islamic way of stopping
would have been more acceptable...If the law is forced upon, then it is not
correct, he said.Head of Muslim Women League,Naisha Hasan, said, "Before
approving the draft of the bill, the Centre should have held discussions with
the people...There should be a provision that the person giving triple talaq
should not be sent to jail immediately, and the path of mediation should be
opted,"she said.PTI
Punishment in triple talaq unclear: Personal
Law Board
Cabinet clears bill criminalising triple talaq
New Delhi: Union Cabinet on Friday cleared a
bill that criminalises the triple talaq, ahead of it being taken up in the
Winter Session of Parliament. In Nov. , the Narendra Modi Govt said it was
ready with a bill that would provide a legal framework to prosecute Muslim men
calling off marriages using a custom outlawed by the Supreme Court.The proposed
bill hands out a three-year jail sentence as well as fine, and states that the
offence will be cognisable and non-bailable. Titled the ‘Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017’, the proposed law also gives a
“victim” of Talaq-e-Biddat a right to seek maintenance from her husband before
a magistrate’s court. She will also be entitled to her children’s custody, the
draft law says. hindustantimes
Triple talaq law politically motivated: S A R
Geelani
Kolkata: Ex-Delhi University Lecturer SAR
Geelani has strongly criticised the proposed law on triple talaq describing it
as "politically motivated". Speaking at a peoples convention on
various human right, Geelani said that people should be persuaded first for
their acceptance of any law before its legislation."Even if the
legislation against triple talaq is passed in the Parliament, its
implementation will be very tough without its acceptance by the Muslim society,"
he said.Stating that there are different schools in Islam, Geelani said
"you need to pursue people on new legislation first before bringing it to
Parliament for legislation.""Such legislation is politically
motivated and Govt must have something in its mind," he observed going
against the Centres nod to a draft law against triple talaq.To a question on
Kashmir issues, he said,"Neither India nor Pakistan, but people of Kashmir
valley should have the right to decide their own fate." PTI
Sr Sri supports legislation against triple
talaq
Kolkata: With the Union Govt giving its nod to
a draft law against triple talaq to make it a criminal offence, Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar today supported it and said that India should honour gender equality to
be at par with the world.Asked about proposed law on triple talaq, the founder
of the Art of Living Foundation also said that men and women should enjoy equal
rights and he has always supported this.PTI
NCW chief welcomes cabinet's approval of
triple talaq bill
National Commission of Women’s (NCW) acting
president Rekha Sharma on Saturday welcomed the Cabinet's approval of a Bill to
make instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offence.“We fought
because we were getting complaints regarding this. We welcome this move by the
Cabinet. I also would like to add that any welfare scheme or policy should not
be based on religion. The law should be common for everyone. This move is for
the betterment of our society. I want triple talaq to be abolished all
together,” she told ANI.ANI
Agra: Muslim clerics call Modi's triple talaq
bill an interference with Islamic laws
Agra: With the Modi cabinet finalizing the
draft of the law on triple talaq which contains a provision of up to 3 years in
prison and fine for offenders, Muslim clerics are coming out openly against
this law, claiming that it is an interference with the Islamic law.Mufti Mohd
Mudassir Khan Quadri, secretary Tanzeem Ulema-e Ahle Sunnat, Agra, said,
"Muslims will not tolerate interference of the Modi Govt in the Islamic
law. If Modi had to prepare a law to restrict triple talaq, he should have consulted
Islamic clerics first. He further said that even now it wasn't too late and
Modi could still call a meeting with clerics for their inputs on the law before
placing it before the Parliament.Qadri warned that if the Govt does not make an
announcement in this regard soon, it will be treated as an anti-Muslim step of
the Govt and be dealt with accordingly. He said that it is clear that Modi
wants to polarize the majority of Hindus in his favor before 2019 parliamentary
elections by showing his anti-Muslim character through such
laws.Jamiat-e-Ulema-Hind spokesman Sageer Ahmed said, "BJP is in majority
and can for any law. Whether the triple talaq law will bring any social change,
it still hard to say. So far it only appears more like a political stunt." indiatoday
Triple Talaq bill ‘demonises’ Muslim community
in guise of protecting women: Owaisi
Hyderabad: AIMIM president and MP Asaduddin
Owaisi took serious exception to the Centre's "hurry" to introduce
the bill treating triple talaq a crime.He expressed concern that the
government's attempt to expedite the introduction of legislation criminalising
triple talaq without any attempt to appreciate the legal nuances
involved."In the absence of any genuine attempt at either holding broader
consultations, the introduction of this legislation is essentially an attempt
to demonise the Muslim community in garb of "saving' and 'protecting'
Muslim women", Owaisi said in a strongly worded letter to Union law
minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.In his 7-page letter, he further wrote, "It
is regrettable that a Constitutional value as important as gender justice is
being used to merely further cynical political goals. There is absolutely no
chance of significant legal policy questions being addressed or
discussed."Opposing the initiative, he warned the authorities that there
"would have severe consequences on rule of law and social cohesion in this
country.""It seems particularly out of place to make new legislation
that is solely applicable to Muslim men. However, it may also be argued that
the proposed scope of the legislation is merely re-legislation with
discrimination' since it is exclusively meant to apply existing provisions only
to Muslims", the MIM chief lamented.Mumbai Mirror
Will the PM give justice to those Muslim women
who lost their husbands in the name of cow slaughter? asks Owaisi
Bill on triple talaq may be inadequate, says
Mahila Andolan founder Zakia Soman
Muslim Women Bill, cleared by Modi Govt on Friday, may not
ensure complete justice to victims of triple talaq, fear activists. Zakia
Soman, founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) who hails from
Ahmedabad, said, “Cabinet clearing the Bill is a welcome step but what India
requires is a comprehensive law on Muslim marriage that will end all kinds of
injustice to Muslim women like nikah halala (divorced woman required to marry
again and consummate it to be able to return to her first husband) and
polygamy.” Need for such a law, said Soman, was because “while women following
Hinduism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and other religions have laws in place,
Muslim women have no law to fall back on in case their rights are violated.”
However, Soman fears their recommendations may not be included in the final law
and end up as mere “suggestions”.On Friday, BMMA wrote to opposition party
leaders like Rahul Gandhi of Congress, Akhilesh Yadav of SP, Mayawati of BSP,
Mamata Banerjee of TMC and Left leaders, appealing to them to work together to
see that a comprehensive Bill was brought out.Soman said, “Recommendations of
various parties were sought in the making of previous laws like RTI.A similar
drive should be launched to get suggestions from the public to improve this
Bill, especially since it affects the lives of lakhs of Muslim women in the
country.” According to Soman, more than the quantum of punishment, the bigger
concern was whether women would get rights to the house, maintenance, custody
of children and other welfare provisions.Ahmedabad Mirror
Congress to oppose triple talaq bill if it
violates SC ruling
With Union Cabinet clearing a bill to
criminalise instant triple talaq, Congress on Friday said that it will study
the law before commenting but oppose it if it violates the Supreme Court
verdict.“We have neither seen the bill nor its content and its scope.
Parliament has started today, it is inappropriate to speculate on a bill not
yet available to the Parliament... which has been promised,” said Congress
spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.“We will certainly see the actual content
and react in a measured responsible manner, depending on the language and the
content,” Singhvi said, adding: “But I want to remind you that well before the
judgment of the SC came, we have given you very specific strong answers
supporting the stoppage of triple talaq.”“Any further bill which seeks to
criminalise human action must be within the 4 corners of the 5 judgments
written in that case. We have to see the bill if it is within the 4 corners of
different nuances of the 4-5 judgments of that case. Yes, then we will support
it.“If the bill seeks to violate and transgress the limits of that SC judgment,
we may have to do a rethinking and let us see that,” he added.IANS
OTHERS
Rajasthan Afrazul killing: 12 policemen
injured, 175 arrested after mob violence; section 144 to continue
Over 175 people were arrested and 12 policemen
were injured in a demonstration as mobs defied prohibitory orders in Udaipur
following the murder of a Muslim migrant labourer from West Bengal, according
to reports. Section 144, which was issued as a precautionary measure, will
continue in both Rajsamand and Udaipur. Labourer, identified as Mohammed
Afrazul, was burnt alive last week. The accused, who was later arrested,
recorded himself beating the victim and later setting him on fire.The accused,
identified as Shabhu Lal Raigar, has called his action 'a war against love
jihad' The Indian Express reported.Following the murder, protests broke out
demanding the death penalty for Raigar and the protesters also shouted slogans
against right-wing groups. When the protest videos went viral, the right-wing
reportedly decided to hold their own demonstration.Police chasing activists
during the protest rally. News18 reported that in an attempt to control the unruly
mob, police had to lathicharge the protesters and both sides got injured in the
clash that followed. The protests took place near Court Circle in Udaipur
around 5 pm.Sudhir Joshi, ASP (city), was among those injured in the clash, the
police said. They also claimed that at least 20 activists were also detained,
the report added.The mob forcibly closed down shops, created a ruckus on roads
and pelted stones in the city, forcing authorities to press additional forces
into service on Thursday, TOI reported. Police said tension started about 1.30
pm and continued until late evening.A 24-hour ban on internet services was
imposed in Udaipur after several inflammatory videos were circulated in the
district,according to IndiaToday. Firstpost
Rajasthan Hate killing: Hindu Outfits Attack
Police in Udaipur, Prohibitory Orders in Place
Minorities demand stern action post Afrazul
killing
Jaisalmer:A protest rally by members of
minority community in Jaisalmer decried the brutal murder of Afrazul commited
in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan.The protesters condemned the incident and
also handed over a memorandum to the district collector which was addressed to
the CM of Rajasthan.In the memorandum,
it was mentioned that tension prevails in the state in the aftermath of the
killing of Afrazul and after a video of him being burnt was shared on the
social media. A demand of financial assistance of 25 lakh rupees for the family
of Afrazul along with a job to a family member was also made. The community
demanded stern action in light of the increased atrocities being committed in the
name of so called 'Love Jihad' and cow protection. It also demanded that the Govt
should take strong steps to ensure communal amity. Indiatoday
Rajasthan murder: 10 Muslim men arrested for
organising rally in support of the victim a week ago
Rajasthan Police on Friday arrested 10 people
and detained at least 13 others in connection with a rally organised by a group
of Muslim men in Udaipur city to protest against the killing of a Muslim
labourer in neighbouring district of Rajsamand.“10 persons have been taken into
custody,” SHO of Pratapnagar police station Hanuwanth Singh told Scroll.in. scroll
‘No
faith’ in Rajasthan, Afrazul’s family to move rights panel for Bengal trial
Family members of Afrazul Khan, a migrant
construction worker killed in Rajasthan, will approach NHRC with a request that
the murder trial be moved to West Bengal.“Afrazul’s family believes that the
deceased will not receive a fair trial in Rajasthan. His wife and daughters
also fear attacks if they go there for the proceedings,” said Asit Basu,
special committee member of West Bengal bar council.HT
Malegaon Blasts: Why ATS, CBI, NIA reached
different conclusions, asks HC
Bombay High Court today asked how the findings
of NIA, which had absolved 9 Muslim men in its charge sheet and instead named
four members of a Hindu extremist organisation in the 2006 Malegaon blasts
case, were so different from those of the CBI and Maharashtra ATS.A bench of
justices Naresh Patil and NW Sambre, which was hearing petitions challenging
the discharge of the nine men in the trial court, pointed out that the
Anti-Terrorism Squad, which probed the case first, booked them for the blasts
which had claimed 37 lives, and CBI, which took over the case a year later,
endorsed it. However, NIA, to which the probe was transferred in 2011, filed a
charge sheet absolving them of all charges, and instead named four others, who
were members of a Hindu extremist organisation, as the accused."How can
the conclusions of NIA be so different from that of competent probe agencies
such as the CBI and the state ATS? When ATS and CBI charged nine men for their
role in the case, then how did the NIA arrive at the conclusion that both
probes were wrong, and then named a new set of persons as accused?" the
bench said.The bench was hearing petitions filed by Maharashtra Govt and 4
accused challenging the discharge of the nine men booked earlier. Accused --
Manohar Narwaria, Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh and Lokesh Sharma -- have also
challenged an order of trial court rejecting their bail applications.Soon after
the blasts in Malegaon, a town in north Maharashtra with a sizeable Muslim
population, ATS arrested Noorul Huda, Raees Ahmed, Salman Farsi, Farogh
Magdumi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali, Asif Khan, Mohammed Zahid, Abrar Ahmed and
Shabbir Masiullah Batteriwala. However last year, a special court in Mumbai
discharged them from the case, as NIA submitted that it had found no evidence
against them. The probe revealed that a Hindu extremist organisation was behind
the blast, it said. ATS moved the HC against the trial court's order, terming
it as contrary to the evidence on record. Assistant Public Prosecutor Mankunwar
Deshmukh, ATS counsel, told the HC that the special court order had "no
legal basis"."Previous HC judgements, including its bail orders in
the 2008 Malegaon case, had made it clear that in cases where probe agencies
had filed contradictory charge sheets, the court must take cognisance of all
charge sheets during the trial," advocate Deshmukh said.PTI
De-Freezing Accounts: SC rejects Teesta
Setalvad, husband's plea; says they owe explanation
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today held that
activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband owe an explanation to Gujarat Police
for alleged misappropriation of "huge funds" received by their NGOs
for the victims of the 2002 riots.The top court, which dismissed their pleas
challenging the Gujarat High Court order rejecting de-freezing of their
personal bank accounts, said investigations against them and their NGOs --
Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace -- were still in progress and
there were allegations of non-cooperation by them in the probe which
strengthens suspicion against them.It said police was in possession of
materials pointing out circumstances which create "suspicion of the
commission" of offences of cheating, breach of trust, forgery and criminal
conspiracy.The freezing of nine bank accounts by Ahmedabad Police had come soon
after its crime branch started probing a case in which Ms Setalvad and others
were accused of embezzling Rs. 1.51 crore collected to convert Gulbarg Society,
which was affected by riots, into a museum.While dismissing their appeals
against the Oct. 7, 2015 verdict of the high court, a bench comprising Chief
Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar, said "the suspicion
entertained by the investigating agency as to how the appellants (Teesta
Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand) appropriated huge funds, which in fact were
meant to be disbursed to the unfortunate victims of 2002 riots will have to be
explained by the appellants.""Indisputably, the investigation is
still in progress. The appellants will have to explain their position to the
investigating agency and after investigation is complete, the matter can
proceed further depending on the material gathered during investigation,"
the bench said.PTI
BJP used Patel youths in 2002, Babu Bajrangi
real Hindutva leader, says Hardik Patel
A day after voting process concluded for the
Gujarat Assembly elections, Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel on
Friday fired a fresh salvo at the ruling BJP, alleging the party “used Patel
youths” to come to power in 2002 and later “left them in a lurch”. He also
hailed Naroda Patiya riots convict Babu Bajrangi as the “real leader” of
Hindutva. In a Facebook, Hardik said he was not “anxious about the results on
Dec.18” and will “continue fight for justice” regardless of which party wins
the elections. Hardik, accompanied by PAAS Morbi convener Manoj Panara, paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on
his 67th death anniversary, and urged the Patidar community to “ignite the
spark in their agitation”.Hardik said, “I want to tell you that don’t worry
about the results. It will be our victory. Continue to do the work you have
been doing to bring awareness. The forthcoming days belong to us… I have
already begun my work. I visited Ambaji temple to renew my energy to fight
against Narendra Modi, who inflicted
atrocities on my community. The fight will go on regardless of the result, and
I will fight honestly. I will meet all communities to awaken them.” Hardik, who
also put out a series of tweets about
his visit to Ambaji, meeting with tribal communities, and about “cowards who
never stepped out of their homes to fight”, echoed the apprehension of “EVM
hacking”.“BJP is a tyrannical party. There is a lot of debate about EVM
hacking. It can happen. If the elections are free and fair, BJP will lose hands
down. The SC on today rejected the Congress petition for counting of VVPAT
slips to confirm EVM results. Why do we have a VVPAT then? Budsil ki tarah jo
ghar me baitha rehta hai, wo haar hi jaata hai.”Patidar leader put out a tweet
claiming that the exit polls prediction favouring the BJP was a “ploy” to prove
the EVM results right. Hardik went on to say that the Patidar community must
remember that “the BJP has used Patel youths in their Hindutva agenda, but left
them in the cold when they needed help”. Indianexpress
Questions raised over EVMs should be answered,
doubts should be resolved: Congress
A day after Patidar agitation leader Hardik
Patel citing public apprehensions made an appeal to use ballot papers for
voting instead of EVMs, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said the questions
surrounding the alleged tampering of EVMs should be answered. “Doubts should be
resolved. It is necessary for democracy that the elections are unbiased.
Questions raised over EVMs should be answered,” he said.
Gujarat polls: Muslim turnout falls by 3.58%
Ahmedabad: The voting pattern among Muslim
electors was no different from the general voting pattern in the 2017 Gujarat
assembly polls. Voting by Muslims was down by 3.58% against the 3.61% decline
in general polling. From 72.17% in 2012, voting by Muslims had come down to
68.59% this time. There are at least 34 constituencies where Muslim voters are
sizeable in number, i.e., 15% or more. Muslims are little over 9% of total
population in Gujarat. There are 4 constituencies where Muslim voters decide
the fate of candidates- Jamalpur-Khadiya(61.28%); Danilimda(48%), Dariapur
(46.23%) and Vagra (44%).While voting by Muslims in Dariapur was down by 5.93%
this year, polling at Jamalpur witnessed a dip by 3.28%. In constituencies like
Vagra and Danilimda, the decline in turnout among Muslim voters is slight over
1%. Congress fielded Muslims on 3 of these 4 seats. (Danilimda seat is reserved
for ST candidate.) TOI
Hyderabad erupts in protests against US
Jerusalem move
Hyderabad: Protests broke out in parts of the
city on Friday against USA recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.As many as
18 people associated with the controversial organisation Darsgah
Jihad-o-Shahadat were detained during one protest. Police said that soon after
Friday prayers, DJS activists arrived at Darul Shifa grounds and began to raise
slogans. The activists walked on the US and Israeli flags and were picked up
soon after they attempted to burn them.“DJS activists were picked up around 2
pm and released at 5.30 pm. They were prevented from burning flags,” deputy
commissioner of police (south zone) V Satyaranaya said.In Humayun Nagar, dozens
of activists associated with the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) took to
the streets in support of Palestine and gathered outside Masjid-e-Azizia after
Friday prayers.They raised slogans against Israel even as they called the
attention of people to the conflict in Palestine and said that Jerusalem is the
third holiest site in Islam.While police were posted outside the masjid, a
larger number of cops arrived at the scene during the protest. The flag and
placard carrying protesters then moved from the masjid to towards Masab Tank
and after Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, they returned. The protest, SIO president
Laeeq Ahmad Khan said, “The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a
clear violation of international laws and several UN resolutions. Especially
resolutions 476 and 478 which categorically call for withdrawal of embassies
from the city of Jerusalem.”A similar protest was organised at Darul Shifa
ground where Maulana Mohammed Husamuddin Sani condemned the move. Thehindu
Recognise Jerusalem as Palestine capital,
sever ties with Israel, Owaisi tells govt
Mumbai: Muslim body from Mumbai asks Centre to
clear stand on Trump’s Jerusalem move
Mumbai: Asking Govt to clear its stand on the
US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, All
India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) on Friday said it was opposing Trump’s
declaration. “We are having an in-house meeting to discuss the issues
concerning Jerusalem because it violates Oslo agreement,” said SM Mallik,
executive member, AIMMM (Mumbai). Calling the Trump’s decision ‘unjustified and
irresponsible’, AIMIM said the US move violate previous peace efforts initiated
on various international platforms. “President Trump just destroyed every
possibility of a two-state solution. It shattered decades of diplomacy and
disrupted the Arab-Israeli peace talks. 1967 borders must be respected and
Jerusalem must remain the capital of Palestine,” said Saeed Khan, vice
president, ad hoc committee of AIMMM (Mumbai). The members also asked the
Indian Govt to clear its stand, like it did in case of NAM — wherein India
formed a bloc of nations who did not support either US or Russia — because
relations with Palestine dates back to pre-Independence era. AIMMM also
extended its support to an online petition ‘Jerusalem must remain the capital
of Palestine’, which has garnered more than 14 lakh votes so far.“ Govt of
India must take a note of it. The Indian policy has been in favour of Palestine
since we believe in human rights and justice. It is time for the Govt to come
forward and support Palestinians and oppose the declaration made by Trump,”
Saeed said. HT
India most reliable regional partner of
Afghan: Pentagon
India is Afghanistan’s “most reliable regional
partner”, the Pentagon told US Congress as it welcomed additional economic,
medical, and civic support from India to Afghanistan. “India is Afghanistan’s
most reliable regional partner and the largest contributor of development
assistance in the region,” said Pentagon in its report to Congress.This
assistance includes civil development projects such as the Afghanistan-India
Friendship Dam and the Afghan parliament building, report said.India provides
significant training opportunities for Afghan officers and enlisted personnel
and has frequently offered to increase its burden sharing for Afghanistan, it
said, adding that approximately 130 Afghans travel to India each year to attend
various military and commissioning programmes. India has also donated limited
security assistance, most notably 4 Mi-35 aircraft, Pentagon said.PTI
Muslims and Not 'Special Segments' to Get
'Minority' Benefits in State: J&K to SC
New Delhi: Refusing to treat Hindus as a
'minority' in J&K , the state Govt has told the Supreme Court that it will
continue to give 'minority' benefits to the Muslims, although the state is not
bound by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act and Muslims comprise
a majority population here.In a 10-page affidavit that chooses to use “special
segments of society” instead of ‘Hindus’, the J&K Govt has taken a peculiar
position.It accepts the NCM Act so far as it recognises Muslims as one of the
six minority groups in the country but holds in the same breath that the
J&K Govt is not bound to identify minorities within the state under this
Act.The state has further refrained from making any assurance on setting up the
state minority commission to identify religious and linguistic minorities in
J&K, which will include Hindus.CNN-News18
Force can’t bring peace in Kashmir, govts have
to take risks: Mehbooba Mufti
Panaji:Force cannot bring peace in Kashmir and
governments should take risks for it, J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday. PM Narendra
Modi’s “uninvited” visit to Lahore was one such risk but unfortunately it was
followed by a terror attack in Pathankot, she said.According to Mehbooba, who
was speaking at the Ideas Conclave organised by India Foundation, a think tank
of which patrons are senior BJP leaders, peace measures taken by Atal Bihari
Vajpayee led to de-escalation of tension for almost 10 years. “Force alone
cannot change the situation in J&K. It requires the Govt to take risks just
as PM Modi visited Lahore uninvited. It was statesman-like,” she said.
Court
seeks NIA’s reply on stone pelter’s bail plea
New Delhi;An alleged stone pelter, arrested by
NIA in connection with its probe into the funding of terror and separatist
activities in Kashmir Valley, on Friday moved a court in New Delhi seeking
bail. District judge Poonam A Bamba sought a response from the NIA by Jan.18 on
the application moved by 24-year-old Javed Ahmed Bhat, claiming that he was wrongly
implicated in the case.NIA arrested Bhat on September 5 for his alleged
involvement in stone pelting and organising groups of youths who would throw
stones at the security personnel involved in counter-insurgency operations.In
his bail application moved through advocate M S Khan, Bhat claimed that he
neither indulged in any anti-national activity, nor was associated with any
organisation or participated in stone pelting. “He (Bhat) is having clean
antecedents and there is no material of any nature connecting him with the
incidents of stone pelting in any manner whatsoever. He is a permanent resident
of Kashmir, having roots in the society and a wife and a child to look after,”
the application said.PTI
We support Kashmir Muslims: deputy speaker of
Turkey’s parliament
Ankara: Deputy speaker of Turkey’s parliament
on Monday voiced support for Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. In a meeting with
Shah Ghulam Qadir, the speaker of the Pok Legislative Assembly, Ahmet Aydin
said that Turkey is closely following the troubles of Muslims in the disputed
region.Aydin called on Pakistan and India to find a solution for Kashmir in
line with UN resolutions."We favor reaching a solution through dialogue
between Pakistan and India in line with UN resolutions in light of the
legitimate demands of the Kashmiri people," said Aydin.Anadolu agency
J&K Jamaat decries land allotment to army
Srinagar: Jamaat-e-Islami J&K today termed
as “vicious plan” the allotment of 1,600 kanals of land to the army at Humhama
here saying it is aimed to “deprive the local population of their land on the
pattern of Palestine.”“The veiled allotment of 1600 kanals of land to the army
at Gogo land Humhama is a matter of great concern for the people and this is
the vicious plan to deprive the local people of their land on the pattern of Palestine”,
advocate Zahid Ali, chief spokesperson of Jamaat said in a statement. “Despite
the publication of this sorrowful news in the media, the silence of the local
Govt and administration is meaningful and points towards something fishy. This
process has been going on for long with the result that the army cantonments
and camps are almost in the main areas of the valley and a big chunk of fertile
land have been taken over by the army and other Indian agencies with the
connivance of the local governments from time to time,” the statement said. greaterkashmir
Friday prayers disallowed for 2nd week in
Jamia Masjid in Srinagar
Srinagar: No Friday prayers were allowed for
the second successive week in the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar,
where curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in view of call by separatists
to hold a rally in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.Joint Resistance
Leadership (JRL), comprising both the factions of Hurriyat Conference (HC) and
JKLF, had urged people to attend a rally at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on
Friday.However, curfew-like restrictions were imposed in most parts of
Anantnag, besides Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and downtown Srinagar on Friday as a
precautionary measure to foil the rally by separatist organisations.UNI
Holy Quran has beautifully portrayed message
of peace and harmony: Army Chief
New Delhi: In what seems to be a good effort
by the Indian army to bring the Muslim youths in J&K to mainstream and keeping them away from
religious fundamentalists, Army Chief, Bipin Rawat has said that the youths
should follow the message of peace mentioned in the holy Quran.The message of
peace and harmony is “beautifully portrayed” in the holy Quran and people often
do not understand its essence, he told a group of students. He also said that
the holy book does not propagate violence.Interacting with the group of
madrassa students at his office in New Delhi, General Rawat also asked them to
pick up sports like cricket and football and work towards containing terrorism
so that Kashmir valley flourishes again.“How many of you have read the holy
Quran?” General Rawat asked the 25-member group which is in New Delhi as part
of a national integration tour being conducted by the army. “I will tell you
what is the message in it. It is the message of peace and harmony. And, it has
been beautifully portrayed in it. And, all this noise made by the ISIS, it is
nowhere mentioned in Quran,” he said.“So, you must follow the message embedded
in the holy text. You think people understand the message. We do not properly
understand it. In simple ways, Quran has given the lessons (on human values),”
Army chief asserted.The students, aged 13-22, arrived in New Delhi on Dec. 12
and many of them were visiting Delhi for the first time. Siasat
Govt ignored warnings over GST roll out:
Sources
Mumbai:Govt ignored several warnings from
private companies that the complex technology required for a nationwide GST to
work smoothly was not ready for launch, several people who worked on the
project said.Weeks before the July 1 start of India's biggest tax overhaul in
decades, Govt declared itself ready and chided industry experts who said more
time was needed to prepare for the changes.Over 10 tax and IT consultants who
worked on the project said that behind the scenes Govt was ignoring warnings
for more testing of the complex system even as it was pushing through late
changes. While sources said Infosys, which built GST technological network,
made "basic errors", they said Govt officials have not accepted any
responsibility for glitches in GST roll out.The Govt is still making changes to
tax rates, filing deadlines, and other features, making it difficult to
stabilise the system, they said, declining to be identified for fear of losing
future Govt contracts."At that time, the powers in New Delhi were mocking
industry, saying 'the government's ready, but industry's not," said the
director of a financial planning firm involved in developing the GST
network."Now people are laughingly asking, 'so who was really not
ready?" he said.Reuters
Muzaffarnagar riots: Non-bailable warrant
against minister Suresh Rana, BJP MLAs
Muzaffarnagar: A local court has issued
non-bailable warrants against UP minister Suresh Rana, former Union minister
Sanjiv Balyan, BJP MLAs Sangeet Som and Umesh Malik and others in connection
with a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case following permission from the state Govt to
prosecute them.Additional chief judicial magistrate Madhu Gupta on Friday
issued the fresh non bailable warrants and asked the accused to appear in court
on Jan.19, 2018, according to officials of SIT. SIT had sought permission from
the UP Govt to prosecute the accused under Section 153A of IPC for allegedly
making hate speeches and the state Govt has permitted it, they said.It is
alleged that the accused participated in a mahapanchyat and incited violence
through their speeches in the last week of Aug. 2013. They are also facing
charges under various sections of IPC for allegedly violating prohibitory
orders, deterring public servants from discharging thier duties and wrongful
restraint.PTI
Bengaluru:Dr forces Muslim ldy to say 'Krishna
Krishna'
Bengaluru: A woman has alleged that a Govt
doctor forced her to chant “Krishna Krishna” to carry out a tubectomy surgery
on her. The doctor, woman claimed in her police complaint, threatened to cancel
her surgery if she did not obey his order. According to the complainant,
Naseema Banu (22), a resident of Nandini Layout in Yeshwanthpur, she and her
husband had decided that Naseema would undergo tubectomy surgery after the
birth of their second daughter 10 months ago.Knowing of a tubectomy surgery
camp being held at Chintamani Govt Hospital on Tuesday, Naseema, her husband
and aunt left for Chintamani and enrolled her name in the hospital. After hours
of waiting for her turn, when Naseema went to the operation area, she saw
doctors asking patients to chant “Krishna Krishna” during the operation.Deccan
Chronicle
Former TV show producer Suhaib Ilyasi
convicted
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday convicted
TV serial producer Suhaib Ilyasi in connection with the death of his wife,
Anju.The argument on the sentence will be held on Dec. 20.IIyasi who had shot
to fame with the TV show 'India's Most Wanted' was arrested in March 2000 after
his wife was rushed to a hospital from their east Delhi house with fatal stab
wounds. Later, charges were framed against the serial producer after his
in-laws alleged that he had tortured Anju for dowry.TOI
Babri masjid case: Sri Sri says out of court
settlement is best
New Delhi: Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar while speaking to
media on Friday said that out of court settlement is the best solution to settle
the Ram temple-Babri Masjid dispute. In a bid to mediate a solution between the
tussling parties, Ravi Shankar, in Kolkata, said, “I am speaking to many
stakeholders, both the communities should come together, out of court
settlement is the best.” financialexpress
WORLD
900 wounded, 4 killed incl wheelchair-bound
Gazan as Israel cracks down on protesters
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171216-4-killed-900-wounded-as-israel-cracks-down-on-protesters/
Israeli occupation forces yesterday killed
four Palestinian protesters and wounded 793 others in occupied West Bank,
Jerusalem and the besieged Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said.The
Palestinian sources identified the four dead as Basil Ibrahim, 29, from
Jerusalem, Mohamed Aqel, 21, from Hebron, Yaser Sukkar, 23, and Ibrahim
Abu-Thurayya, 29, from Gaza.One of the dead, Abu-Thurayya, was disabled having
lost both his legs previously. He was shot by an Israeli sniper in the
head.Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRC) said that the Israeli
occupation wounded 793 protesters across the occupied territories.According to
the PRC, 566 were wounded in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem and 227 in
the Gaza Strip. It noted that the Israeli occupation forces shot 111 of them
with live bullets. Spokesman of the Palestinian Ministry of Health Ashraf
Al-Qidra said in a statement that the Israeli occupation forces used explosive
live bullets in its crackdown on the unarmed protesters.Al-Qidra called for the
regional powers and the international community to protect unarmed Palestinian
protesters from the “savage crackdown” of the Israeli occupation. middleeastmonitor
Palestinians killed in protests against
Jerusalem move
Israeli troops kill 4 Palestinians, wound 160
in protests over Jerusalem
US sees E. Jerusalem's Western Wall as part of
Israel
US expects the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old
City will be part of Israel, a senior Trump administration official said Friday
as Vice President Mike Pence prepares to visit the region."I think we
can’t envision a scenario under which the Western Wall would not be part of
Israel," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "But
as the president said, the specific boundaries of sovereignty of Israel are
going to be part of the final status agreement." Western Wall is in East
Jerusalem that was seized by Israel in 1967. Palestinians are seeking East
Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, and the U.S. has never
recognized Israel's sovereignty over lands it captured in Arab-Israeli
War.Capital recognition has consistently been seen as a final status issue in
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and Trump's declaration appeared to many,
including Palestinians, to undercut that long-established understanding.
Trump aide heads to Israel after Jerusalem move
France 'has no plan' to move embassy to
Jerusalem
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian
said that his country had no plans to move its embassy to Jerusalem.AA
US recognition hurts Jerusalem businesses:
Official
Jerusalem:U.S. President Donald Trump’s
decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has negatively
affected businesses in the holy city, according to Jerusalem’s chamber of
commerce.“Trump’s decision has adversely affected the city market and tourism
business,” chamber’s director Fadi al-Hidmi told Anadolu Agency on Saturday. He
said there has been a dramatic decline in the number of tourists and hotel
reservations in recent days, causing an economic recession in the
city."Security concerns are the main reason for this decline,” al-Hidmi
said. “Many reservations have been canceled after the U.S. recognition.”He said
even before the U.S. move, Palestinian entreprenuers have complained of the
difficulty of getting Israeli licenses to start a tourist business or repair
existing shops.anadolu agency
Iraq Sunni powers refuse elections before
return of 3 million displaced people
The Coalition of National Forces in Iraq, the
main representative of political Sunni forces, said that parliamentary
elections would not be transparent while there are around three million
displaced Iraqis, the Anadolu Agency reported.Iraq had announced it would carry
out elections in May 2018, however the head of the coalition, Ahmed Al-Masari,
said: “The aim of the elections is to carry out reforms and having real and
qualified representatives for the Iraqis who represent the voters without
pressure.”He said that this would not be achieved in light of the current “disastrous
circumstance” as there are more than 2.9 million displaced people “living in
bad conditions as they cannot return back to their destroyed cities” which are
controlled by armed groups “affiliated to certain security services”.The
statement noted that the head of the UN mission told Al-Masari that he
“understands the fears of the coalition regarding the elections.” middleeastmonitor
Shia paramilitaries should be part of Iraq
state security bodies: Ayatollah Sistani
Baghdad:Iraqi Shia paramilitary groups who
took part in the war against Islamic State militants should be incorporated
into state security bodies, the nation’s top Shia cleric said.n a message
delivered at the Friday sermon in the holy city of Kerbala through one of his
representatives, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said all weapons used in
fighting the insurgents should be brought under the control of the Iraqi
government.Sistani’s position is in line with PM Haider al-Abadi, who wants to prevent the
commanders of the militias known as Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) from
using the power and clout acquired during the war in elections due on May 12.Reuters
Syria blame game continues after failed Geneva
talks
The United States has urged the Syrian Govt to
"participate fully" in negotiations with the opposition, while a
Syrian official blamed opposition preconditions for yet another failed round of
talks in Geneva.Referring to the negotiations, which ended in the Swiss city on
Thursday without any results, the US state department commended the Syrian
opposition's "constructive participation", which it said stood in
contrast to the "obstructionism and procrastination" of the Govt
delegation.
"We support [UN Special Envoy for Syria
Staffan] de Mistura's call for the regime's supporters to use their leverage to
urge the regime to participate fully in tangible negotiations with the
opposition in Geneva," Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert
said on Friday.This was the eighth round of Syria peace talks in Geneva. aljazeera
Pakistan SC clears Imran Khan, refuses to
reopen case against Sharif family
Islamabad:Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday
rejected a petition seeking the disqualification of cricketer-turned-politician
Imran Khan as an MP for not declaring his assets, but disqualified his close
aide Jahangir Tareen for life.In a separate case, the apex court rejected an
appeal by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the anti-corruption
watchdog, to reopen a Rs 1.2-billion money laundering case against former
premier Nawaz Sharif and members of his family.An adverse ruling in both cases
would have rendered Khan, head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, and
Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif ineligible for
next year’s general election. Shehbaz Sharif is set to be the PML-N’s PM ial
candidate following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif for dishonesty in
July.“The Bani Gala property is Imran Khan’s. He bought the land for his
family,” Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said, referring to Khan’s sprawling house on
the outskirts of Islamabad that had been at the centre of allegations against
him. hindustantimes
Billionaire Sabih al-Masri detained in Saudi
Arabia
Palestinian billionaire businessman Sabih
al-Masri has been detained in Saudi Arabia on a business trip to Riyadh, his
family confirmed to Reuters news agency.80-year-old founder of Zara Investment
Holding and chairman of Arab Bank was held in the Saudi capital for questioning
last week about "information related to corruption", according to Rai
al-Youm. Arab news website reported on Saturday that no formal charges were
made against al-Masri, who reportedly also holds Saudi and Jordanian
citizenship.Al-Masri, one of Jordan's most prominent businessman, is the cousin
of the billionaire Munib al-Masri, the wealthiest person in Palestine. Aljazeera
US may stop spouses of H-1B visa holders from
working
In a move that could potentially affect
thousands of Indian workers, the Donald Trump administration is considering a
decision where it will seek to revoke an Obama-era rule that extends work
authorisation to the spouses of H-1B visa holders. Since 2015, the spouses of
H-1B, or high-skilled, visa holders waiting for green cards have been eligible
to work in the US on H-4 dependent visas, under a rule introduced by the
previous Obama administration. Indianexpress
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Why criminalising Triple Talaq is unnecessary
overkill:FAIZAN MUSTAFA
Modi Govnt's Triple Talaq Law Is Deeply
Flawed:Mohd Asim,Senior News Editor, NDTV
Gujarat elections: Pakistan spectre, talk of
Rahul Gandhi’s Hindu credentials worrying, writes Barkha Dutt
BJP Should Stop Assuming Hindus are Communal:Jawid
Laiq
Bengali Muslim workers have left Rajsamand out
of fear after Mohd Afrajul’s murder: PUCL fact-finding report
A battle of consequence: A campaign of
interesting OTMs (other than Modi): Rajmohan Gandhi
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