Evening NEWS
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17 Jan.2018:29 Rabial Aakhir 1439:Vol:9, No:100
INDIA: Haj subsidy issue
Muslims were cheated in name of Haj subsidy:
AIMPLB
Lucknow:Govt's decision on revoking Haj
subsidy has no meaning as there was no such concession and Muslims were being
cheated in its name,All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said."The
subsidy was not given to those going on Haj but it was for Air India that is
running in losses. It was an eyewash. Muslims were cheated in the name of the
subsidy," AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Wali Rahmani told PTI."In
normal days, tickets for Saudi Arabia come for Rs 32,000 but during Haj, Air
India used to charge Rs 65,000 to Rs 1 lakh from those going for Haj. The fare
will be less without subsidy," he said."Haj-bound Muslims are bulk
purchasers of Air India tickets and so their fare should be less. It's rule of
International Air Transport Association that if anyone is going for pilgrimage,
he will be given 40% discount.If the
fare is not less, it should at least the same as on normal days," he
said. Shia Personal Law Board Chairman
Yasoob Abbas, on the other hand, said the board favoured subsidy on
Haj."The Govt used to give subsidy
to reduce loss of Air India. If the amount is now spent on education of Muslim
children, it will be good but the poor who used to go to Haj will not do so
now," he said.Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said that Haj
subsidy should not be revoked completely and facilities for those going for the
annual pilgrimage should be increased.PTI
Haj pilgrims should be given liberty to choose
airline: Zafaryab Jilani
Lucknow: AIMPLB leader claimed that while
scrapping Haj subsidy is not an issue; pilgrims must be given the liberty to
choose any airline of their choice.“We are not rejecting the Govt’s proposal to
scrap subsidy for Haj pilgrims, we, along with several other Muslim
organisations, will demand that pilgrims be allowed to fly with any airline of
their choice. It has been observed that fares of Air India are double that of
other carriers. Govt must permit Haj pilgrims to choose an airline of their
choice,” AIMPLB’s Zafaryab Jilani told ANI.ANI
Ending Haj subsidy discrimination towards
Muslims: Maulana Khalid Saifullah
Lucknow: AIMPLB expressed its strong
resentment against the central govt's decision to scrap haj subsidy from this
year and termed it as discriminatory, unfair and undemocratic."The
decision is undemocratic, discriminatory and unfair towards the minority
community," said AIMPLB spokesperson Maulana Khalid Saifullah
Rahmani."Haj subsidy was not an exception, and Muslims don't benefit
alone.Govt spends much more funds on
other communities than what it spends in the name of Haj subsidy," said
Maulana Rahmani, who is also the secretary of umbrella organisation of Muslim
community."Subsidy was actually being provided to Air India," he
said.However, some Muslim organisations welcomed the decision to end Haj
subsidy completely from this year, as against SC's order of gradually
abolishing it by 2022. They said that they had been opposing the subsidy for
long but added that the decision should have been implemented from next year
since process for Haj 2018 has already begun."Muslims organisations had
been asking for scrapping subsidy since long as it was really not benefiting
Muslims as much as it was bringing a bad name to the community," said Imam
of Aishbagh Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali. However, cleric
demanded that the monopoly of Air India as the national carrier for Haj
pilgrims should end and an open market tender should be floated for competitive
pricing in airfare that would benefit hajis. TOI
‘Subsidy compliant with Constitution’
Jamaat asks Govt to setup Haj Corporation,
float global tender for airlines
New Delhi:In the backdrop of withdrawal of Haj
subsidy, india’s leading Muslim body, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind JIH today urged the
centre to setup Haj Corporation of India along the lines of Tabung Haji,
Malaysia and floating a global tender for hiring private international airlines
for Haj.Reacting over Govt decision, the
Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind – Muhammad Salim Engineer said: “We
are concerned at the decision of Govt to
abruptly end the so called Haj subsidy given to Muslim pilgrims travelling to
Saudi Arabia for performing Haj. Although the decision is in line with the SC
judgment of 2012 to slowly withdraw the subsidy by 2022, this step is
incomplete. Moreover a false impression is being created that this subsidy was
an appeasement of the Muslim community and a drag on tax payer’s money.But the
reality is that this subsidy was a payment taken from the Indian Hajis and
given to the national carrier Air India, which had a monopoly for ferrying
Hajis to Saudi Arabia. With no announcement yet on removing the monopoly of Air
India to ferry Hajis and with no scope for letting the pilgrims to purchase
tickets from an airline of their choice, this decision to withdraw subsidy is
bound to increase the overall cost of performing Haj which will impact many
pilgrims from the poor and deprived sections of society.”He said, “Jamaat is
therefore deeply concerned by the decision to withdraw Haj subsidy and urges
the Govt to spell out how it plans to
permit other airlines to fly Hajis from India given the exorbitant prices our
national carrier Air India charges Indian pilgrimages over the India-Saudi Haj
route. We wish to remind the Govt of its duty to establish Haj Corporation of
India along the lines of Tabung Haji, Malaysia and floating a global tender for
hiring private international airlines for Haj”.theindianawaaz
Withdraw Air India as official carrier of Haj
pilgrims: Hyderabad Muslim leaders
Hyderabad: Withdrawal of the Haj subsidy by
the Union Govt will not affect pilgrims
in the state all that much, according to the State Haj Committee officials.“The
previous year, no subsidy was granted to pilgrims embarking from Hyderabad.
Pilgrims whose airfare crossed Rs 65,000 were given subsidy last year, said
professor S.A. Shukhoor, special officer, Telangana State Haj Committee. In
2016, pilgrims from TS received a subsidy of Rs 16,000 each. “Since 2012,
following the Supreme Court ruling, Govt has been reducing the subsidy
component, but it has not largely affected pilgrims,” said professor Shukhoor.
All India Sunni Ulema Board chairman and president, Maulana Syed Shah Hameed
Hussain Shuttari, said that Muslims who are economically strong and can afford
the pilgrimage have been asked to perform it. “So it will not affect people to
a large extent. But at the same time, subsidy for other communities should also
be withdrawn,” he said. TS Haj Committee wants the Union Govt to stop making Air India the official carrier
for Haj pilgrims from this country because it charges much more. Tehreek Muslim
Shabban president Mohammed Mustaq Malik said that if the Haj subsidy is
scrapped, it may not have much impact. “But at the same time, sincere efforts
should be made to bring down the airfare by changing the travel policy. Govt is trying to bail out Air India at the cost of
Muslim pilgrims.”Deccan Chronicle
Haj subsidy: Muslims want open carrier bid
Hyderabad:Muslim leaders have welcomed Centre's
decision to do away with Haj subsidy from this year, but demanded the Haj
Committee of India be given a free hand to call for international tenders and
to award contract to the lowest bidding airlines to ferry pilgrims to Saudi
Arabia.Muslim leaders have also demanded that the Centre utilise money saved
from the Haj subsidy on education of Muslim girls. They said that since Haj is
obligatory only on Muslims, who have financial and other resources to undertake
the journey, the withdrawal of subsidy would not matter. However, they felt
that the so-called subsidy was introduced only to help Air India, which enjoys
a monopoly over ferrying about 1.5 lakh pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Air fares are
simply jacked up during the season.Jamaat-e-Islami Hind head (Telangana and
Odisha) Hamid Mohammad Khan said the subsidy only helped compensate loss-making
Air India. "There should be open bids and airlines that bid the lowest
should be awarded contract," he said. Journalist Fazil Hussain Parvez said
if Air India's monopoly is removed pilgrims will save a lot.Not all
stakeholders were happy, NSUI national secretary Aamer Javeed called move
"another act against Muslims". He said, "It will be a serious
setback for underprivileged Muslims." MESCO honorary secretary Fakruddin
Mohammad said subsidy should be used for better facilities for pilgrims.
Salarjung Museum board member Syed Zakir Hussain said subsidy should empower
Muslim girls.TOI
Withdraw Air India as official carrier of Haj
pilgrims: Muslim leaders
TN govt opposes Centre’s cancellation of Haj
subsidy, demands review
Tamil Nadu Govt opposed the Centre’s move to
end Haj subsidy given to Muslims, saying that it will ask Govt to “reconsider
this”.CM Edappadi Palaniswami said, “I
have just seen the news that the Centre has rejected the Haj subsidy. We will
ask Centre to reconsider this.”Slamming the Central Govt’s move, DMK Working
President MK Stalin tweeted, “The regressive decision of BJP led Central Govt to
end #Hajjsubsidy, in spite of its constitutionally having been upheld by the
Supreme Court is condemnable. The efforts by BJP to alter our nation’s
trajectory away from its secular ideals is insidious.”In addition to the ruling
AIADMK, other prominent parties have also condemned the cancellation. Tamil
Nadu Congress Committee chief S Thirunavukkarasar, head of Tamil Maanila
Congress GK Vasan, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Chief Vaiko, Desiya
Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam Chief Vijayakanth, Pattali Makkal Katchi Chief S
Ramadoss, Thamimun Ansari of Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi were among those who
condemned the move.thenewsminute
Haj Subsidy Withdrawal: What About Funds Given
For Hindu Pilgrimages, Asks Owaisi
Attacking the BJP for calling Haj subsidy a
form of Muslim appeasement and vote bank politics, AIMIM head Asaduddin Owaisi claimed
the party's Govt in UP gave funds for
pilgrimages, and wanted to know if that would be stopped. Funds are also given
for the Kumbh Mela, while the Congress Govt in Karnataka gives grants to those
who undertake 'Chardham Yatra', Owaisi claimed, adding he himself had demanded
withdrawal of the Haj subsidy long ago."Haj subsidy this year is (Rs) 200
crore & it would have been phased out by 2022 as per SC order, since 2006 I
have been demanding that should be removed & used for Muslim girls
education upliftment," Owaisi tweeted.Owaisi, in another tweet, asked if BJP
Govt in UP would stop the funds, which
he said, are given for pilgrimage to Ayodhya, Kashi and other temple
towns."#Haj Subsidy BJP /RSS had called It appeasement, vote Bank Pol my
Qs to BJP will you bring a Bill in parliament remove Article 290A of
Constitution, Will BJP Tell Yogi govt to stop 800 crore for pilgrimage to
Ayodhya,Kashi,Mathura 1.5 lakh to each Manasarovar yatri?" he
asked."Haj Subsidy 3 Qs to BJP/RSS Why did Haryana Govt give 1 Crore to Dera Sacha Sauda was it for
electoral appeasement? 4qs why did Modi govt gave grant of 100 crore to MP govt
for Simhastha Maha Kumbh & MP govt had spend 3,400 crore was this not
appeasement," Owaisi said in a series of tweets.Claiming that the Congress
Govt in Karnataka gave Rs 20,000 to each
pilgrim who undertook 'Chardham Yatra', Owaisi asked whether it was not
"appeasement of majority".Would NDA Govt "walk the talk" by allocating enough
funds for the education of Muslims girls, he asked."I challenge the Modi Govt
to walk the talk by allocating 2,0000
crores for Muslim girls scholarships...Will wait and see in next budget
18-19," he said.PTI/out look
Haj subsidy: ‘Hasty’ decision evokes protest
in Kerala
Malappuram:The decision to withdraw subsidy
for Haj pilgrimage from this year on by the union Govt has drawn mixed response
in the state. The state Govt , state Haj panel and majority of Muslim organisations
have registered protest against the haste of union Govt in the issue as the subsidy was anyhow going
to be stopped completely by 2023 as per an earlier Supreme Court order. “The union Govt acted in a haste that may harm the secular nature
of our country. While the current paltry subsidy amount of `10,000 was going to
be stopped within five years, withdrawing this in haste may create a feeling of
targeting minorities, especially Muslims. People cannot be blamed if they take
this as an anti-secular move by the central Govt ,” said minister in charge of
Haj in the state Dr. K.T. Jaleel.Kerala State Haj Committee is neither ready to
welcome the move nor protest against it.“There is no place for protests in
raising this issue as Haj is mandatory only for those who have sufficient means
to undertake the pilgrimage,” said the Haj panel chairman Thodiyur Muhammed
Kunhi Musliyar. “This should be
considered as an assault against the secularism. Haj subsidy is a benefit of
secularism like all other subsidies for various pilgrimages. Though it was not
a right, we have to protest against the way by which the union Govt has acted to stop it by superseding the
Supreme Court order to do away with the subsidy completely in phases by 2023,”
he said.Former Haj panel chairman and general secretary of Samastha Kerala
Jamiyatul Ulema, Alikutty Musliyar said that the union Govt ’s move can be
welcomed. deccanchronicle
Withdrawal of Haj subsidy will make Israeli PM
happy: IUML
Tiruchi: IUML chief KM Kader Mohideen said
that withdrawal of subsidy on Haj pilgrimage by Modi Govt will make visiting
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu happy.He pointed out that the announcement had
been made when MNetanyahu was on an official tour to India. The arrangement
introduced by ex-PM Indira Gandhi was nothing but shouldering the difference of
fare between air and ship travel to Haj.The announcement would put an end to
wrong propaganda and attempts to demean the Haj pilgrimage by the BJP, he
added.thehindu
CPM says Centre's 'sudden withdrawal' of Haj
subsidy arbitrary, motivated by other considerations
New Delhi: CPM alleged that the govt's move to
withdraw the subsidy for Haj was "arbitrary and motivated by other
considerations."Govt stopped the subsidy for the annual pilgrimage
"abruptly". The SC had in 2012 said the subsidy should be phased out
over 10 years, it said. "The sudden withdrawal of the subsidy seems
arbitrary and motivated by other considerations," a party statement read.
CPM asserted it never supported "state subsidy or funding of
pilgrimages".After this move, there should be no "central or state Govt
funding" for subsidies and grants
for pilgrimages, it said.PTI
Modi troubling Muslims, says Lalu on Haj
subsidy removal
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has been
sentenced to 3-and-a-half years in jail in a fodder scam case, on Wednesday
launched a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi.Referring to the removal of Haj
subsidy by Modi Govt , RJD supremo said that PM was troubling Muslim people with his actions.zeenews
OTHERS
Israel prepares for air bridge to India over
Saudi: media reports
Air India has signed a contract with Israeli
airlines El Al to launch direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv, passing
through the Saudi skies, Felesteen.ps reported.Citing a report by Israeli paper
Yedioth Ahronoth, Felesteen.ps said that the two airlines signed the contract
in the wake of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India.Yedioth Ahronoth
said that Netanyahu’s visit to India aimed to reach deals related to energy,
technology, cinema and other sectors, noting that the “air bridge through Saudi
is considered a normalisation step without introductions.”Israeli politicians,
according to Yedioth Ahronoth, said that the contract between the Indian and
Israeli airlines was the most important achievement of Netanyahu’s visit to
India because it would cut two hours out of an eight-hour flight, leading to a
reduction in the costs of flight tickets and aircraft fuel.The paper said that
India and Israel are waiting for Saudi to accept the passage of the aircrafts
owned by 2 airlines through its skies.middleeastmonitor
Netanyahu: US embassy move to Jerusalem will
take place in 2018
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the US will
relocate their embassy to Jerusalem within the year, following President Donald
Trump’s recognition of the city as the capital of Israel last month, Haaretz
has reported.Currently on an official trip to India, Netanyahu directed his
comments at reporters accompanying him earlier today and said his predictions
were based on a “solid assessment”. “There are 3 things happening in the US
that never happened before,” Netanyahu said. “One is moving the US embassy. My
solid assessment is that it will go much faster than you think: within a year
from now.”He then praised the US stance on Iran and Trump Administration’s
announcement that it would be cutting aid to UN Palestinian refugee agency
UNRWA. “Secondly, there is a dramatic change vis-a-vis Iran. The president has
made time [to consider a] necessary change in relation to the nuclear program.
You know that this will happen. Cancelling the agreement is what he said he
plans to do.” “The third thing is to challenge UNRWA for the first time. For 70
years the organization perpetuates Palestinian narrative and the abolition of
Zionism, and this is the first time they [the Americans] challenge this. It’s
good that they are doing something that is challenging this organization,” he
concluded.middleeastmonitor
Netanyahu in Gujarat: Grand roadshow
culminates at Sabarmati Ashram, Israeli PM describes Gandhi as ‘humanity’s
great prophet'
PM Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart
Benjamin Netanyahu today held a roadshow in the city under a heavy security
blanket as thousands of people lined up along the route to greet them. After
arriving in Modi’s home state, the two leaders, along with the Israeli PM ’s
wife Sara Netanyahu, set out in a car from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport
here. Around 50 stages were erected on the roadside along the stretch to
showcase performances by troupes of different states to welcome the guests.
People carrying Indian and Israeli flags stood in large numbers on both sides
of the tastefully decorated road. Modi and Netanyahu waved at the people, who
greeted them with loud cheers. The roadshow concluded at Mahatma Gandhi’s
Sabarmati Ashram, after traversing 8 km. Gandhi had spent a large part of his
life in the Sabarmati Ashram after he returned to India from South Africa to
lead India’s non-violent freedom struggle.
He left the ashram in 1930 when he took out the Dandi March from here,
with a vow not to return to the place till India got Independence. During his
visit to the ashram, Israeli PM described Mahatma Gandhi as one of the great
prophets of humanity.In a four-line message jointly signed by Netanyahu and his
wife Sara in the visitor’s log book at the ashram, the Israeli dignitaries said
their “visit was inspiring”. “An
inspiring visit to the hearth of one of humanity’s great prophets of inspiration-
Mahatma Gandhi-,” Netanyahu wrote in the book. Indiatvnews
Ahmedabad: Netanyahu doesn’t stop to greet,
Indian Jews upset
Radical Islam can 'upset' international
system: Netanyahu
New Delhi:The threat of radical Islam and its
terrorist offshoots can "upset" the international system, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, batting for stronger
ties between India and Israel to overcome the challenge.Addressing the
inaugural session of 'Raisina Dialogue' here, Netanyahu hailed India as
Israel's "natural friend and partner", drawing a wide smile from PM Narendra Modi, who was in the audience. Netanyahu
said closer ties between democracies was essential to secure the common future
of humanity at a time "our way of life and the quest for modernity and
innovation" are being challenged. "Most notably the quest for
modernity, the quest for innovation is being challenged by radical Islam and
its terorist offshoots from a variety of corners and this can upset the
international system.One of the ways to overcome such a challenge is to
strengthen the relation between our 2 great denmocracies. The alliances of
democracies is important to secure our common future," Netanyahu said,
addressing the inaugural session of the 3-day conference where a range of
geopolitical issues will be discussed.Netanyahu began his 16-minute speech by
identifying military strength, economic prowess and political power as the
prerequisites for the development of a nation, factors which he said were
behind the Jewish nation's rise from the "ashes"."The weak don't
survive, the strong survive. You make peace, alliances with the strong. You are
able to maintain peace by being strong," he said.Foreign Secretary S
Jaishankar, former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, union ministers VK
Singh, Jayant Sinha and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor were present at the event,
organised jointly by Observer Research Foundation and MEA.The theme of the
dialogue this year is 'Managing Disruptive Transitions: Ideas, Institutions and
Idioms'. The event has an impressive lineup of more than 150 speakers and over
550 delegates.Army chief General Bipin Rawat and Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba
will address a session, along with Admiral Harry Harris, Commander, US Pacific
Command, General Chris Deverell, Joint Forces Commander, UK, among others,
tomorrow.PTI
Netanyahu seeks alliances for peace, to fight
radical Islam
Radical Islamic terror a threat to modernity:
Israeli PM
Army chief Rawat on terror: Put curbs on
Internet, social media; people won’t like it, but have to take a call
New Delhi: At the third edition of the Raisina
Dialogue that was attended by PM Narendra Modi, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu,
Army chief General Bipin Rawat among others, speaking at the occasion, General
Rawat questioned the increasing use of technology among terrorist groups. He
also expressed his concerns about the misuse of nuclear and chemical weapons by
terrorist groups and called it ‘A disaster for humanity’ if it falls into the
wrong hands.While speaking at Raisina Dialogue, Army chief said, “Terrorists
are using systems which are highly technology enabled and transcending
international borders. We need to disrupt terrorists & their sponsors.”
General Rawat also said, “Need to identify nations who are sponsors.”He further
continued, “Threat of nuclear and chemical weapons falling into the hands of
terrorists can be a disaster for humanity.”“Putting some checks & curbs on
Internet & social media that terrorist organisations always resort to, in a
democratic country people won’t like it, but have to take a call on whether we
want safe & secure environment or willing to accept curbs temporarily so
terrorism can be dealt with,” said the Army chief.financialexpress
Aadhaar may cause death of citizens' civil
rights,petitioner tells SC
New Delhi: Aadhaar Card may cause the death of
citizens' civil rights, senior lawyer Shyam Divan said before 5-judge
constitution bench of the Supreme Court, on Wednesday.In the ongoing hearing of
the matter related to the constitutional validity of linking Aadhaar card to a
number of Govt schemes, Divan who is
appearing for the petitioners, said that a people's constitution was being
converted into a state's Constitution and it was incorrect to take people's
biometric data for Aadhaar Card.The bench, headed by CJI Dipak Misra and 4
other judges Justices AM Khanwilkar, Adarsh Kumar Sikri, DY Chandrachud and
Ashok Bhushan, was hearing a number of petitions challenging validity of the
identification system.Since the inception of the Aadhaar card, its validity and
possible leakages of data have surfaced time and again. The apex court has also
received petitions regarding the linkage of this 12-digit number with mobile
phones, bank accounts and so on, the last date for which was extended to March
31 this year.ANI
Aadhaar is designed to ‘tether citizens to electronic
leash’, SC told
SC Aadhaar hearing: Court adjourned for the
day, to continue tomorrow
After a heated day of debate in the Supreme
Court over Aadhaar, the court has adjourned for the day and the hearing will
continue tomorrow. moneycontrol
Justice Arun Mishra recuses himself from
hearing Loya case
New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Arun
Mishra has recused himself from the controversial case of Special CBI Judge
Justice Loya’s death.The incident has come as a first level of victory for the
four rebelling supreme court judges who raised the issue of ‘partial
dissemination’ and allocation of special cases by CJI Justice Dipak Misra, to
some chosen Judges. During the last hearing of Justice Loya death case, Justice
Arun Misra said, “Let the documents be placed on record within 7 days and if it
is considered appropriate copies be furnished to the petitioners. Put up before
the appropriate bench”. The phrase, ‘put up before appropriate bench’ is
generally used by a bench which wants to recuse, is an admission that that it
is currently not being heard by an appropriate bench and must be placed before
the Chief Justice for his order, assigning it to some other judge.The statement
came when Justice Arun Mishra was hearing 2 petitions filed by Congress party
activist Tehseen Poonawalla, and Bandhuraj Sambhaji Lone, a Mumbai-based
journalist; seeking an independent probe in Loya’s death case.abplive
Justice Arun Mishra wants CJI Misra to
reassign Judge Loya case to ‘appropriate bench’
Could Judge Loya case to a new bench help
resolve SC crisis ?indiasamvad
No resolution in sight: The SC crisis is far
from over
There seems to be no resolution in sight for
the crisis in the Supreme Court following open questioning of the functioning
of CJI Dipak Misra as administrator of the court by his four colleagues in the
collegium. The proposed peace talks over lunch today between Misra and Justices
J. Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph did not take
place as Chelameswar did not attend court.Chelameswar was on leave today as he
was unwell. A notice was issued regarding the non-sitting of court number two,
which is presided over by Chelameswar, stating that all matters listed before
it will not be taken up today. It is not clear if he will be able to attend the
court tomorrow. However, as per the cause list of the Supreme Court for
tomorrow, cases are listed before chambers of the second senior-most judge of
the court.Misra had met the four 'rebel' judges on Tuesday, but little headway
was made in that initial round of peace negotiations. The four judges felt that
Misra has so far been unable to offer any concrete proposal for resolution of
the structural issues that they have raised. As the judges ended their brief
meeting on Tuesday, they decided that they would meet again today, possibly
over lunch. The four judges are learnt to have had a meeting last evening at
Chelameswar's residence.theweek
CJI Misra likely to meet 3 ‘rebel’ judges to
break ice, unwell Chelameswar on leave
Jamat-e-Islami Hind’s statement regarding
growing fascism not a good omen for India: Soz
Srinagar: Former Union Minister and senior
Congress leader, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz on Tuesday said that Jamat-e-Islami
Hind’s statement regarding ‘growing fascism’ in India should be a matter of
great concern to all Indians.“It should be a matter of great concern to all
Indians, irrespective of their religious denominations, that Jamat-e-Islami
Hind is extremely fearful about growing fascism in India and, in its opinion,
the future of democracy is bleak in India,” Soz said in statement, adding that
“when I saw the statement, I felt alarmed on this development.” “I have known
Jamat-e-Islami Hind as one of the most transparent Muslim organizations in
India, showing utmost respect to the Constitution of India. Jamat-e-Islami Hind
had all along taken the position that since all people are equal before the
Constitution of India, no community or individual should be fearful about the
future,” he said.Soz said that now this organization too has expressed
apprehensions that the future of India’s democracy is not safe and the present
dispensation has decided openly to promote majoritarianism and all minorities
are at the receiving end.“This democratically functioning organization is now
of the opinion that it is not that India is growing into fascism, but the
fascism is already here,” he said. “It is not a good omen for the country as
this organization is disciplined and it has always been working transparently
and democratically. This organization by its own constitution stands committed
to promote human brotherhood in India,” he added.freepresskashmir
Jamat-e-Islami Hind doubting future of Indian
democracy matter of concern: Soz
Shia, Sunni clerics file FIR against UP Shia Board
chief
New Delhi;Shia and Sunni clerics unitedly
filed an FIR against the UP Shia Waqf
Board chief for allegedly spreading hatred against the Muslim community and its
educational institutions. At a press conference at New Delhi, they lashed out
at Wasim Rizvi for stating that madrassas are breeding grounds for terrorists. “The
remarks of Rizvi are patently false and have been deliberately and dishonestly
made as part of a conspiracy. This is part of a larger conspiracy to create a
rift and animosity between the Hindus and the Muslims and also between Shia and
Sunni communities. We are filing an FIR against him,” Shia cleric Syed Kalbe
Jawad Naqvi said.PTI
Students should be taught Gita, Quran, Bible
twice a week: Union minister Maneka Gandhi
School students must be taught from six major
religious texts – including the Gita, Quran and Bible – to inculcate tolerance
for different faiths, Union women and child development (WCD) minister Maneka
Gandhi has said.“These days, there is a lot of religion-based tension. One of
the reasons is that children don’t know enough of other religions, and operate
on blind hatred. Teaching from scriptures of major religions such as Hinduism,
Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam will help dispel religious stereotypes
that students develop at a young age,” Gandhi said.Union minister, who raised
the matter at the Central Advisory Board of Education meeting on Monday, now
plans to ask the HRD ministry to conduct classes on the six religious
scriptures at least twice a week.“How many of us have read our religious
scriptures? I have read the Quran. How many of us know that Prophet Mohammed
was anti-war? We were taught moral science during our school days, but it is not
done anymore,” Gandhi said.HT
Yogi to chair meet on ministers of minority
affairs from north Indian states
New Delhi: In a choice that is also a
political statement by the Centre, UP CM
Yogi Adityanath will preside over a
meeting of ministers for minority affairs of north Indian states to discuss
development plans for minority communities in Lucknow on January 18.Union
minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will attend the meeting to which
minority affairs ministers from UP, Punjab, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Haryana, J&K
, Delhi, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh have also been invited."We shall
discuss how minority communities can be empowered without appeasement,"
Naqvi said in what seems to be a bid to signal a departure from traditional
sops such as Haj subsidies that have been wound up and instead turn the focus
on facilities such as health, education and banking.timesofindia
Several Muslims beaten by VHP men: Gujarat minority rights
body
Ahmedabad: A minority rights organization has
expressed anguish at a group of Muslims allegedly being beaten and their
vehicles vandalized by VHP workers in Paldi on Monday after the mysterious
disappearance of Pravin Togadia.Alpsankhyak Adhikar Manch (AAM), minority
rights body, submitted a memorandum to the district collector stating that
Muslims were beaten by VHP workers and sought legal actions in the case. The
memorandum, submitted by city-based advocate and activist Shamshad Pathan,
stated that VHP workers had beaten innocent Muslims on Monday when Hindu
right-wingers were trying to block roads in protest."VHP had held a road
block programme at Paldi Crossroads after Togadia, who has Z+ security, went
missing on Jan.15. At that time, an elderly Muslim man with a beard was beaten
and his 2-wheeler was damaged by VHP workers. VHP workers had also smashed glasses
of autorickshaws belonging to Muslims.Many Muslim autorickshaw drivers were
saved from the mob fury only due to the intervention of police. The entire
incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed by city traffic police. VHP
workers resorted to violence and tried to foment communal hatred," reads
the memorandum submitted to collector.TOI
‘Love jihad’ assault: Baghpat police keeps names
of accused under wraps
Meerut: Three days after a Muslim youth and
his two brothers were beaten up allegedly by members of Hindu Yuva Vahini and VHP
at a Baghpat court complex where the youth was to get married to a Hindu girl
from Punjab,Baghpat police is keeping the names of the ‘identified’ accused
under wraps. The police had filed a case under relevant sections of the IPC
against ‘unidentified’ men and had said that the men will be identified from
the videos at hand and action will be taken. On Tuesday, the police claimed to
have identified the accused but refused to give away the names of the accused.
No arrest has been made in the case so far.While the station house officer of
Baghpat police station denied that the identification process has been
completed, SP Baghpat said that the accused have been identified but the names
cannot be disclosed.timesofindia
Muslim councillor from Meerut hands over cow
to Police, says “it is a dangerous animal”
Fed up by the constant attacks on Muslims
across the country in the name of so-called cow protection, a Muslim from
Meerut-Abdul Gaffar Khan-handed over his cow to the local police station. In
conversation with TCN, Khan said, “I felt horrible doing this…this cow came to
me as a calf and I have reared it since to the present time where it a fully
grown cow. It is very dear to me, but given the present circumstances where
Muslims are attacked on such a consistent basis, I believe that it is a
dangerous animal for a Muslim to keep. I am scared and hence decided to hand
over the cow.”Confirming the decision of Khan, Nechandi Police Station-in
charge Sanjay Kumar said that two people who had bought cows were harassed and
beaten by members of right-wing Hindu organisations. Even the people who sold
the cow were harassed by the same people, following which Khan, who is the
local councillor, decided to take the step.According to Azeez, one of the
buyers, “we bought two cows from Mannu Singh and asked him to drop the cows at
the dairy since it was dangerous for us to transport them. However, members of
the Bajrang Dal attacked us regardless and we were taken to the local police
station. The attackers were led by BJP councillor Rohit Rohilla. The police
failed to take action despite the fact that we had a receipt of the payment of
Rs 34,000 signed by both parties. One of the cows was eight months pregnant
while the other was five months pregnant. Both the cows were confiscated from
us.”It was this incident that led to Khan submitting his cow to the police
station as a form of protest.TwoCircles
Bengal imams oppose ‘sops’ from Centre, state
Govts
Kolkata:All Bengal Minority Youth Federation
and committee of imams in West Bengal said on Tuesday they do not need special
"favours" from the Centre and state Govt s.They want the Govt s to
revise rents of the 40,000-odd Wakf estates spread over Bengal so that Wakf
Board can take care of imams and muezzins.The speakers, though, addressed the
audience on a dais set in white and blue — a mix that is to the liking of West
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee."The
monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000 to imams is of little value at current market
prices. Instead, let Govt s update the rents of the Wakf estates. The Wakf
Board can then take care of the imams and muezzins on its own," said
federation general secretary Kamaruzzaman. timesofindia
UP: Dalits threaten protests after 22-yr-old
attacked by Hindu group activists
Muzaffarnagar:Dalit outfits have threatened to
launch an agitation after a 22-year-old lower caste man was allegedly assaulted
and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by activists of a right-wing Hindu group in
west UP ’s Muzaffarnagar, officials said.A video clip of the assault on Vipin
Kumar emerged on Wednesday, sparking caste tension in the region that saw
clashes between Dalits and Thakurs in May last year.Police said the incident
occurred on Jan.14 when Vipin was assaulted at Megha-Shikarpur village,
allegedly for leading a group of Dalits planning to convert to Buddhism and had
removed portraits of Hindu deities from their homes.HT
Centre seeks changes in CrPC, Evidence Act to
make phones’ images,videos, CCTV footages of riots admissible
New Delhi: Centre is seeking amendments in
certain Sections of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act
to make images and video recordings on cellular phones as also CCTV footages
during riots admissible as evidence for effective prosecution of rioters.The
Union Home Ministry has sent a proposal for amendments in Section 321 and 82 A
of CrPC and 111 B of Indian Evidence Act and also sought an opinion from the
Law Ministry. While Section 82 of the CrPC relates to proclamation of an
absconding accused, Section 321 pertains to withdrawal of an accused from
prosecution. Section 111 of Evidence Act refers to proof of good faith in
transactions between two or more parties. newindianexpress
Waqf Board submits draft policy in Delhi HC for
management of Khusro park to check encroachment
With the Delhi High Court expressing concern
over rampant encroachment inside and around Amir Khusro Park, which is also
known as Tikona graveyard, the Delhi Waqf Board on Tuesday submitted a draft
policy for managing the property as a “model green graveyard” while addressing
the concerns of graveyard and space crunch.The waqf board said the draft policy
was necessary to be implemented by a managing committee for the regulation of
burials in this graveyard and proposes against permanent graves. The draft
policy contains measures to regulate security, burial, financial aspects etc,
which the board said,were necessary since the land of graveyard requires to be
protected from future encroachment and keep it in good shape. “If implemented,
this policy shall not only ensure that this graveyard becomes a model graveyard
but shall also act as a harbinger for the reforms of other graveyards in the
city, thereby reducing the pressure on the resources,” it said. While preparing
this policy, the board has made efforts not to interfere with the religious
part of burial practices. It is to be noted that till date there are no set
rules or policy followed for management of graveyards in Delhi and they are not
recycled in general, with the waqf board saying there is a hesitant consensus
on the reuse of graves and construction of permanent graves prevents further
burial in the same grave. As per the draft policy, the total area covered by
the structures would not exceed 10% of the total area falling within the
boundary walls. This 10% includes the existing dargahs and mosques.livelaw.in
Report on illegal sale of Waqf property tabled
in Delhi
Karnataka:Right-Wing Youth Arrested for
Harassment, Communal Propaganda Against SFI Leaders
A 22-year old man has been arrested after
being accused of harassing and threatening Madhuri and Hamza, leaders of SFI in
Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.Harish Devadiga alias Kakkinje Harish,
from Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada district, was taken into custody after
messages targeting Madhuri Bolar, SFI Dakshina Kannada District Secretary, and
Hamza Kinya, SFI Dakshina Kannada District Joint Secretary were circulated on
social media.Right-wing vigilantes circulated WhatsApp messages about the two
student leaders, "warning" Hamza Kinya against "roaming around
on bike with our Hindu girls in broad daylight".One of the WhatsApp
messages being circulated contained a picture of Madhuri along with her friends
including Hamza, with the text (in Kannada):“Hamza Kinya is roaming around on
bike with our Hindu girls in broad daylight… If he is further seen roaming
around with Hindu girls, Hindu organisations must reply to him (act on
him.)”The picture was taken while Madhuri, first year M.Com. student, was
travelling in a bus to a camp along with fellow activists Hamza, Suhas Adiga
and Ganesh Bolar. They had shared the picture on Facebook.On 9 Jany, Madhuri
met the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner TR Suresh at his office and filed a
complaint with the cyber crime cell of the Mangaluru city police. She was
accompanied by her mother Bharati Bolar, herself a member of the Beedi Workers
Union affiliated to the CPI(M).Newsclick
Viral video: UP BJP leader threatens police
for filing case against Hindus
Meerut: A local BJP leader in UP 's Meerut has
been caught on camera bullying the police force to withdraw a case against him
and others.The leader, Kapil Dutt Sharma, had been named in a case linked to a
communal flare-up, according to an NDTV report.In the video, Sharma shouts at a
senior police official saying, "How did you file a case against
Hindus?"Widely circulated in western UP , the video was taken on a mobile
phone camera last Saturday.Meerut district police chief, Manzil Saini said that
a detailed report was sent to the police headquarters in this
connection."We have sent an intelligence report on this individual to our
senior officers... There have been instances of misbehaviour earlier too",
she added. Sharma, a local BJP leader and formerly also an office bearer in the
local party unit, barged into the office of Man Singh Chauhan, a senior police
official in Meerut.During a flare-up between Hindu and Muslim shopkeepers on
Thursday, Sharma went to a market area, sided with one community and later went
to the police station in favour of that community."Will these people not
call anyone? Did I get to the spot and create a ruckus? I was helping the
police in fact. And then I find out that there is a case against me? What
enmity are you taking out against me? And what enmity do you have against
Hindus, that you filed a case against them?" Sharma is seen telling the
senior police officer, insisting that the Hindus were living in a part of the
city where they were in a minority, and suppressed. In the video, the officer
is continuously shouted down by Sharma, who says, "This has happened
because of you, and you are filing a case against our people? You don't know
Meerut's history. You don't know?""What will you say? You tell me how
you filed a case against Hindus? You think we are 'bhaade ke tattoos' (hired
men who can be taken lightly)? How did you file a case against Hindus?" an
aggressive Sharma continued. Police officers have confirmed the leader is known
for such hooliganism.Asian Age
MP: Police stop ABVP, Sanatan Sangh activists
from entering Christian college
Vidisha police on Tuesday arrested Updesh
Rana, a self-styled member of the hitherto unknown organisation Vishwa Sanatan
Sangh and 24 activists of ABVP when they tried to enter the area to participate
in a pre-announced programme of 'Bharata Mata Aarti' in a Christian missionary
college. According to the district SP, the arrests were made under preventive
sections. MP Catholic Diocesan Schools' Association on Monday had moved the
Jabalpur High Court seeking protection. During the court hearing on Monday, Govt
had promised security to the association following which unprecedented security
arrangements were made outsideall Christian missionary schools and colleges in district.
ABVP on Jan. 4 had performed the aarti in many schools and colleges in the
district and were allegedly stopped from performing the same inside St Mary's College
campus by the management on grounds that communal tension was being incited
under the garb of performing the aarti.ABVP and Vishwa Sanatan Sangh activists
had also barged inside St Mary's campus on January 4 and vandalised property.
The activists who were pushed out of the campus by the Police had vowed to
return back to the campus on Jan.16.ABVP tried to galvanise support for today's
aarti across all colleges in the district but in the end not many turned
up."Only a handful of activists numbering around two dozen tried to enter
the city but we arrested them as preventive sections were in force following
the Govt's assurance to the court on Monday," Vidisha SP said.india today
Amnesty postcard campaign against pellet guns
in J&K
Srinagar:Following
global outrage over the indiscriminate use of pellets against civilian
protesters, Amnesty International launched a postcard campaign advocating
complete ban on the use of pellet gun in Kashmir Valley.Officials said campaign
demands an independent investigation into cases of killings or serious injuries
caused by the use of pellets against protesters in Kashmir. The human rights
watchdog will submit signed postcards and a petition to CM Mehbooba Mufti.
“Pellet-firing pump-action shotguns have been responsible for killing, blinding
and injuring thousands of people in Kashmir. The campaign aims to bring people
from across J&K to write postcards to the state CM,” said Amnesty International
India, while launching campaign and online petition. Aakar Patel, Executive
Director,Amnesty India said pellet gun, commonly used in bird hunting, has
caused widespread damage and its repeated use has produced a generation of victims,
many of whom have lost eyesight in both eyes. thecitizen
Terror funding case: Shabir Shah moves Delhi
court for bail, wife alleges he is being 'slowly poisoned' in prison
New Delhi: A Delhi court directed the ED to
file its reply to a fresh bail plea of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah
in a money laundering case related to alleged terror financing, even as his
wife claimed he was being "slowly poisoned" in the prison.In his bail
application, the accused told the court that investigation in the case has been
completed since the agency has filed its charge sheet and there was no chance
for Shah to hamper the probe.Advocate MS Khan, appearing for Shah, told the
court that no purpose will be served by keeping him in custody.Shah, who
appeared before the court through video conference, also said he was lacking
treatment inside the jail. "Trial is only going on because I am alive. If
there is no Shah, there will be no trial," 62-year old Shah
said.Meanwhile, Shah's wife Bilquies Shah, also moved an application before the
court through the defence lawyer and claimed that her husband was suffering
from various ailments and was on regular medicine for last six years.She
alleged that Shah was facing difficulty in getting those medicines inside the
jail and was now also suffering from sudden loss of consciousness."My
husband had similar fainting attacks in Tihar Jail. Repeated requests were made
to the jail authorities but no steps were taken in this regard. This is a clear
indication of slow poisoning of my husband by the jail authorities," she
told the court in her application.The court, meanwhile, initiated the trial and
started recording the statement of the prosecution witnesses. It posted the
matter for further hearing on 26 Feb.firstpost
Family of Kashmiri man arrested for 2000 Red
Fort attacks claim their son is innocent, Hurriyat calls it a ‘conspiracy’
Srinagar: Delhi Police and Gujarat ATS
arrested a Kashmiri man, said to be in his 30s, over his alleged involvement in
2000 Red Fort attack in New Delhi. Bilal Kawa was arrested from Indira Gandhi
International airport. Police have said that he is suspected to be linked to
LeT and a proclaimed offender in the case.Reacting to the arrest and the
claims, family members of Bilal Kawa held a protest demonstration in the press
colony Srinagar on Friday, alleging that their son is being implicated in the
false case and he was going for treatment when he was arrested in Delhi.“He has
been going to Delhi since last 17 years and he was never arrested and we don’t
know why he has been arrested now,”
family members of Bilal told media persons during the protest
demonstration.According to Bilal’s mother Fatima Begum, he was living a normal life and was engaged in leather
business and claimed they yet to know what charges he is being framed. “He is
innocent. He is being framed,” she added.On Jan.11th a Delhi court remanded
Bilal Ahmad Kawa to 10 days’ police custody. According to a report in The
Hindu, the investigating officer in the case while seeking his police remand
has submitted that Bilal was the kingpin of the attack and accused him of
receiving money from Pakistan and other countries through hawala operators and
the same were used in the Red Fort attack and other terror attacks in J&K
by LeT. Another report in The Tribune confirmed that the Jammu Kashmir Police
had not received any notice declaring him a proclaimed offender and no case was
registered against him in the local police station.Hurriyat Conference (M) has
condemned the arrest of Bilal and have claimed that he is being made a
scapegoat ahead of 26 January and has sought unconditional release.TwoCircles
WORLD
Global NGOs criticise drastic US cuts of UNRWA
funding
International NGOs have condemned the US Govt 's
decision to cut more than half of its planned funding to the United Nations
agency for Palestinian refugees.Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human
Rights Watch, said in a Twitter post late on Tuesday that Washington was
"holding Palestinian kids' humanitarian needs hostage to political
agendas".Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council,
urged the US Govt to reverse its
decision announced on Tuesday to withhold $65m out of $125m aid package
earmarked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian
Refugees (UNRWA)."The move will have devastating consequences for
vulnerable Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including hundreds of
thousands of refugee children in the West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and
Syria who depend on the agency for their education," he said in a
statement on Tuesday."It will also deny their parents a social safety net
that helps them to survive, and undermine the UN agency's ability to respond in
the event of another flare-up in [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict."On
Twitter, Egeland said: "Cutting aid to innocent refugee children due to
political disagreements among well-fed grown men and women is a really bad
politization of humanitarian aid. US holds back $65m aid to Palestinians." aljazeera
US cuts UNRWA funding by more than half
China county bans Muslim children from
religious events: Reuters
Chinese Govt authorities have banned Muslim
children from attending religious events during winter break, in a county in
western China that is mostly populated by Muslims. The notification for the ban
has been posted online by the education bureau, as authorities step up their
suppression of religious freedoms.School students in Linxia county in Gansu
province, home to many members of the Muslim Hui ethnic minority, are
prohibited from entering religious buildings over their break, a district
education bureau said, according to the notification.Students must also not
read scriptures in classes or in religious buildings, the bureau said, adding
that all students and teachers should heed the notice and work to strengthen
political ideology and propaganda. China is an atheist, communist state.Reuters
Saudi King orders non-refundable deposit of $2
billion in Yemen's apex bank: Reuters
Saudi Arabia's King Salman ordered a deposit
of $2 billion in Yemen's central bank to shore up the weak Yemeni currency,
Rial, Saudi Govt said.The move was made a day after the Yemeni PM issued a
public plea for funds to prop up the Yemeni currency and help stave off hunger
in the country.
Rouhani: Gulf pressure on Qatar unacceptable,
unfair
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has expressed
support for Qatar, dismissing any "unjust and unfair pressures" on
Doha by its Arab neighbours, as he urged the Gulf countries to resolve their
differences through dialogue and negotiations.His comments on Tuesday came as a
regional diplomatic dispute has entered its eighth month.Iranian leader made
the remarks during a meeting with the speaker of Qatar's Advisory Council,
Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, in Tehran, the Iranian capital."We believe
that any pressure on the Qatari Govt and
people is unacceptable, and if there are differences between the countries of
the region, especially the neighbour countries, they should only be resolved
through dialogue," Rouhani said on the sidelines of the Parliamentary
Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Conference.aljazeera
Iran’s leader accuses Saudis of ‘treason’
against Muslims
Iran’s supreme leader accused Saudi rulers of
committing “treason” against Muslims by aligning themselves with the US and
Israel.Addressing parliamentary representatives from Islamic countries gathered
in Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US decision to recognise Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital was “a big mistake” and “doomed to failure”.“Regional Govt s
that are cooperating with the United States and the Zionist regime to fight
against Muslims are certainly committing treason. That is what Saudi Arabia is
doing,” Khamenei said, according to his official website. Middleeastmonitor
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Cancelling Haj Subsidy Is a Good Step, Now the
Govt Should Stop Spending on All
Religions;Faizan Mustafa
Second Assassin, 4rth Bullet Petition on
Gandhi Murder Still Live in Supreme Court: Next Hearing Feb 19: thecitizen
Hey Mr CM, Is Rape Now the New Normal For You
in Haryana?RASHMI OBEROI
Bhima-Koregaon protests reflected acts that
define Dalit consciousness and its agenda:Harish Wankhede
Judges must recuse themselves from hearing
cases where there is potential conflict of interest:Dushyant Dave
Modi, Pawar and Deve Gowda as CMs led
India-Israel ties:Nicolas Blarel, assistant professor at a Netherlands
University
‘Birla-Sahara Diaries And Loya Case Are of
Intense and Anxious Interest to Present Rulers’:MK VENU
RSS leader's diatribe against aggrieved judges
vindicates the judges:Charu Kartikeya, catchnews
Haj 2018 likely to be costlier, but not
because of subsidy abolition (News Analysis): IANS
Fact check: Will Haj subsidy withdrawal by
Modi Govt make pilgrimage costly for
Muslims?financialexpress
Haj Subsidy is a Misnomer, It is based on
Half-Truths, Ignorance and Ideology:Zakia Soman
Haj subsidy scrapped; will Modi govt stop
‘Hindu appeasement’ too? Zehra Shafi
Dropping the Idea of Islamic Banking in India
Will Leave Millions Shortchanged:SUNIT ARORA
Why CJI Dipak Misra is being accused of
derailing probe into medical bribery scam: ANURAG DEY
CJAR calls for In-House Inquiry against CJI
Dipak Misra by five senior-most judges of the SC
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