Evening NEWS
DIGEST
09 Jan.2018: 20 Rabial Aakhir 1439:Vol:9, No:94
india
SC modifies order, says playing of national
anthem in cinema halls is not mandatory
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has modified its
November 30, 2016 interim order and made it optional for cinema halls to play
the 52-second National Anthem before every show.A Bench led by Chief Justice of
India Dipak Misra clarified that it is not mandatory to play the Anthem before
screenings in cinemas. It left the choice of whether to play the Anthem or not
to the discretion of individual cinema hall owners.However, if the Anthem is
played, patrons in the hall are bound to show respect by standing up. The court
clarified that the exception granted to disabled persons from standing up
during the Anthem "shall remain in force on all occasions". The SC,
this time, instead of shooting from its own shoulders, banked on a Home
Ministry order of 2015 which directs that "whenever the Anthem is sung or
played, the audience shall stand to attention"."Playing of the Anthem
is directive, but showing respect is mandatory," Chief Justice Misra
orally observed.The SC took umbrage from its judgment in the famed Bijoe
Emmanuel versus State of Kerala judgment, which dealt with three children
belonging to the Jehovah Witnesses sect who refused to sing the anthem in the
school assembly though they stood up in respect, to drive in the point that
standing up is indeed a sign of "proper respect" to Anthem.
"Proper respect is shown to the
National Anthem by standing up when the National Anthem is sung," the
Bench quoted Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy's words in the Bijoe Emmanuel
verdict.The modification would be in place till the Centre takes a final
decision on the recommendations of a 12-member high-profile inter-ministerial
committee regarding occasions, circumstances and events for the solemn
rendering of the Anthem. The ministerial panel would examine whether any amendments
are necessary to Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act of 1971 to expand
or specify the meaning of "respect" to the National Anthem. Committee,
which was set up on Dec.5,2017, would submit its report in 6 months. Attorney-General
KK Venugopal, for the Centre, submitted the ministerial committee would conduct
a comprehensive study of the issue. The Govt began the hearing by referring to its latest
affidavit, suggesting to the court to modify its Nov. 30 order and give cinema
owners discretion till the inter-ministerial panel takes a final call. Referring
to incidents of complaints filed under 1971 Act against Infosys founder
Narayanamurthy and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for disrespecting the Anthem,
Venugopal submitted "respect or disrespect to Anthem has to be decided on
a case to case basis. Your Lordships cannot think of a 1000 ways of respect to
the Anthem".Leaving the ball in Govt's court, the Bench finally summed up:
"3 things are obvious. Anthem has to be respected as it is the salutation
to the motherland. List of occasions for showing respect to the Anthem. Proper
decorum has to be maintained during the Anthem." thehindu
SC rules National Anthem not mandatory in
cinema halls; Opposition, experts welcome move
Modi a threat to democracy and Constitution,
this is the Gujarat model: Jignesh Mevani at Yuva Hunkaar' rally
New Delhi: The Modi Govt poses a “threat” to the country’s democracy
and Constitution, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani said on Tuesday at a youth rally
for which the Delhi Police had refused permission. The newly-elected MLA from
Vadgam in Gujarat termed the refusal to grant permission to the ‘Yuva Hunkar’
rally in Parliament Street an example of the “Gujarat model” of politics.“125
crore people of this country are watching that someone is not being allowed to
speak for merely demanding release of Chandrashekhar Azad, effective implementation
of the Constitution and two crore jobs to the youth.“If an elected
representative does not have the right to do so, then this is Gujarat model,”
Mevani said to a crowd comprising student activists from Delhi, Lucknow and
Allahabad among other places.The rally – held in Parliament Street in the heart
of the national capital where prohibitory orders are in force through the year
– was demanding the release of Dalit outfit Bhim Army founder Azad.The
gathering also sought to emphasise issues like educational rights, employment,
livelihood and gender justice. Mevani said he will stand guard against the
politics of hatred and stick to constitutional values and the “politics of
love”, along the lines of statements made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi
after the Gujarat polls. “I believe in politics of unity. I believe in politics
of love, not love jihad. Alpesh Thakore, Hardik Patel and I are being targeted
because we demolished their (BJP) pride and arrogance in Gujarat..There’s a looming
threat to our democracy and Constitution today,”he said.Although authorities
had maintained till the last minute that Mevani and his supporters did not have
permission to hold the event, it seems the rally organisers and Delhi Police
reached a compromise later. JNU student leaders, including Kanhaiya Kumar,
Shehla Rashid and Umar Khalid, were present on stage, metres away from the
Parliament Street Police Station.Assam farmers leader Akhil Gogoi and senior
Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan were also present, apart from students
from JNU, Delhi University, Lucknow University and Allahabad University among
others.PTI
Hunkaar rally:Modi bubble has burst, says Umar
Khalid
New Delhi: Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani's 'Yuva
Hunkaar' rally began on Tuesday at Parliament Street, even as the Delhi Police
maintained that no permission had been granted for the same. The rally, which
began around 1 pm, saw a modest turnout, reported PTI. Student leaders speak
Various student leaders spoke against the Modi Govt and demanded justice for Rohit Vemula, Najeeb
Ahmed and the release of Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad. 'Modi Bubble'
has burst but student movements across the country have exposed the Modi Govt for not delivering on Vikas, says Umar Khalid.
"Govt wants to reduce subsidy on
education but give business incentives to Adani and Ambani," he added.
Assam farmers leader Akhil Gogoi and senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant
Bhushan were also present apart from students from JNU, Delhi University,
Lucknow University and Allahabad University among others. Bhushan said his
generation had failed to bring social equality in the nation , As Reported By
Hindu. According to the paper,"It is now time for the youth to fight the
battle," he said. Heavy security Around 2,000 security personnel,
including the paramilitary forces, have been deployed in the national capital
in view of the rally. A senior officer from New Delhi district told PTI that
additional forces from other districts of the city have been called in.the
hindu
Post Bhima Koregaon Violence, Police Target
Dalits Across Maharashtra; Minor Boys Worst Hit
Mumbai: Sarita Kamble stood in front of the
tall, wooden door of the Dongri Observation Home for almost ten minutes before
entering. “He can’t see me crying. It will make him weak. Let us go in once I
feel composed,” she hastily tells her husband, Sanket, as she struggles to hold
back her tears.It’s Jan.6, 3 days since her 15-year-old son was picked up by
Chembur police for “unlawfully assembling on the street”, “rioting” and the
most serious of all – “voluntarily causing grievous hurt to any person being a
public servant in the discharge of his duty”. Sarita’s son studies in class
nine at a municipal corporation run school near Deonar. He is one of the 16
boys, all below 16, to be booked and later lodged at Dongi Children’s Home for
their alleged roles in the riot and vandalism at Chembur on January 3. Sarita,
like other parents, has come to see her son.One law student from her
neighbourhood in Govandi had told her that her son Rahul might be kept in
“jail” for ten years. “That boy told me the sections are grave. He opened some
page on his mobile phone and read it aloud,” Sarita says. “your son has gone in
for ten years now,” Sarita recalls his exact words.But once she steps inside
the observation home and speaks to the social workers from Resource Cell for
Juvenile Justice (RCJJ) – a Field Action Project started by the Centre for
Criminology and Justice Dept of TISS – Sarita gets some clarity. “They (social
workers) said under-18 children cannot be kept here for over 3 years. But my
son is still a child. He is innocent. I cannot let him be here for even a day
more,” she tells The Wire while waiting outside the Probation Officer’s office,
hoping to see her son. According to S Mane, senior police inspector from
Govandi, Sanket, Rahul, along with 39 others, had indulged in vandalism and
caused harmed to public property. These teenage boys, according to the police,
were out on the street protesting against the violence unleashed on Dalits at
Bhima Koregaon near Pune on Jan.1. But Sarita says her son was on his way to
tuition class. “He was wrongly booked,” she repeats to everyone she speaks to
in the next six hours inside the juvenile home.In Mumbai alone, close to 300
persons, all belonging to Bahujan communities have been arrested. DGP's control
room confirmed a total of 502 FIRs have been registered across Maharashtra in
the aftermath of the Bhima Koregaon violence.“We have not collated any data so
far on the number of arrests made. But most arrests have been in Mumbai,
Aurangabad, Nanded and some parts of Nagpur,” says the officer attending to
calls on Monday morning. News reports from various district confirms the number
of persons arrested could be anywhere between 4,000 and 5,000. At least 5,000
more have been booked, but yet to be arrested. Besides being a part of unlawful
assembly, most of them have been booked under serious, non-bailable charges
such as vandalism and attempt to murder.The Wire
Hindutva Leaders Named in Bhima-Koregaon
Violence Should be Tried Like Yakoob Memon:Prakash Ambedkar
Koregaon: Veteran Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar,
made a demand that right-wing activists Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide – who
are accused of inciting violence during celebrations of Battle of
Bhima-Koregaon on Jan.1 – should be arrested and tried like Yakub Memon. Ekbote
(56) and Bhide (85) have been slapped under sections of the Prevention of
Atrocities Act. 2 allegedly sparked the riots that engulfed the entire state,
including Mumbai, by desecrating the memorial of Govind Gaikwad – a Dalit icon
– at Wadhu village near Pune on Dec.29, 2017. Gaikwad is credited with performing
Shivaji Maharaj’s son Sambhajiraje Bhosale’s funeral when nobody else would
touch the body as it could have invited the Mughals’ wrath. “The violence which
erupted at Bhima Koregaon was premeditated. People were incited and were given
weapons to carry out violence. Ekbote (who runs Samast Hindu Aghadi) and Bhide
(who founded Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan) are the masterminds of these attacks.
3 people lost their lives and many people suffered injuries. My question to the
Govt is how come these accused are on
the run? Why are they not behind bars? I appeal to the Govt that people who are
responsible should be arrested under section 302 of IPC just like Yakub Memon,”
Ambedkar – the president of the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh – told Newsclick. newsclick
Dalit prof at Hyderabad univ complains against
ABVP leader over ‘abusive’ FB post
Hyderabad:A Dalit professor at the University
of Hyderabad has accused authorities of ignoring his complaint against a leader
of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated ABVP, who allegedly made an
abusive comment against him on social media.K Laxminarayana of School of
Economics complained in his letter to vice-chancellor P Appa Rao on Nov.30 last
year that Karan Palsaniya, a research scholar, used filthy words on his
Facebook page against him for asking a question about privatisation and
saffronisation of education.“There had been no communication from the
vice-chancellor’s office until Dec.30. I sent a reminder as to what action the
authorities are taking with regard to my complaint. I got a mail from them
stating that the complaint was referred to a proctorial board which would look
into it,” Laxminarayana told the HT.“2 days back, I mailed again to the board
as well as V-C to know the status of my complaint. Till now, I have no clue as
to what is happening. It clearly shows the kind of discrimination the Dalit
faculty and students are facing in the university,” he added.
Dalits in Gujarat's Una to Convert to
Buddhism, Cite Discrimination by Other Castes
Ahmedabad: Dalits of Una region, including the
family that was flogged in full public view in July 2016, are converting to
Buddhism as a mark of protest against discrimination and atrocities by members
of other castes. Conversions will likely be held on April 14, the birth
anniversary of Dalit icon Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.Vasrambhai Sarvaiya, one of the
five Dalit youths who were flogged publically at Mota Samadhiyala village of
Una Taluka said:"Quite clearly, Dalits are still being discriminated
against even after so much uproar and protest by community.We have zeroed in on
2 dates:Jan 26 and April 14."
Snowden says reporter who exposed Aadhaar
‘breach’ deserves an award
New Delhi:American whistleblower Edward
Snowden on Tuesday came out in support of a national daily reporter, who has
been booked for exposing alleged flaws in UIDAI system. The Tribune newspaper
had reported last week that its journalist was able to track down people
offering access to the Aadhaar data for Rs 500. On Jan.7, UIDAI filed a case
against the journalist and three others named in her report, leading to
widespread criticism.Taking to Twitter, Snowden said instead of an
investigation, the journalist needed to be rewarded for exposing that the
Aadhar data was not secure and could be obtained at a cost of only Rs 500.In
his tweet, the former United States Govt contractor, who has taken asylum in Russia,
also suggested that action should rather be taken against UIDAI, the body that
runs Aadhaar programme.“The journalists exposing the #Aadhaar breach deserve an
award, not an investigation. If the Govt were truly concerned for justice, they would
be reforming the policies that destroyed the privacy of a billion Indians. Want
to arrest those responsible? They are called @UIDAI,” Snowden tweeted.ANI
Lawyers’ association moves Bombay HC seeking
investigation into Justice Loya’s death
Bombay Lawyers’ Association has filed a
petition in the Bombay High Court appealing for an investigation into the
mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of CBI judge Brijgopal Harkishan
Loya in 2014, NDTV reported on Monday. The association has the court to set up
a commission of inquiry that will be headed by a retired Supreme Court
judge.Loya had died when he was hearing a matter related to the allegedly
staged encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh – a case in which Amit Shah, now
the BJP chief, was an accused. Loya’s family has raised a number of questions
about his death, as reported by the Caravan on Nov.20.Nearly 10 days after the
Caravan published its report, the demand for an investigation into Loya’s death
gathered support from many circles. Around 150 advocates of the 1,700-member
Latur Bar Association, retired Bombay High Court judge BH Marlapalle and ex-
Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah have sought an inquiry.Ex-Navy Chief
Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, ex-BJP
leader Arun Shourie, Delhi CM Arvind
Kejriwal and the CPI(M), too, want the matter investigated.However, on Nov. 29,
Loya’s son reportedly told the Bombay HCthat the family has no complaints or
suspicions about the circumstances of his father’s death. Anuj Loya also
claimed that the family had no suspicions about the integrity of the
investigating agencies, and they are certain that his father died of a heart
attack. scroll
Judge Loya’s Death: Another PIL Filed In
Bombay HC Seeking Probe By Commission Of Inquiry
SC upholds freedom of expression for media,
refuses to revive case against Rajdeep Sardesai
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has said that the
media must be allowed freedom of expression and refused to revive a defamation
case against senior TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. Dismissing an appeal filed
by the daughter of a senior bureaucrat from Bihar, a bench headed by Chief Justice
Dipak Misra said: “You must learn to tolerate in democracy. This court may have
upheld the validity of the defamation law but that does not mean that every
case can be categorised as defamatory.”The petitioner wanted Sardesai to face
defamation proceedings for a report that was aired in 2010 in which she was
accused of being involved in a land-allotment scandal.The bench said there may
be instances of wrong reporting but they cannot be called defamatory and
advised the petitioner to rest the matter.“Don’t hold it forever,” the court
said.The petition was filed against Patna high court’s September 2017 order
that quashed the defamation case against Sardesai and held there was no direct
allegation against him.Sardesai was the editor-in-chief of the IBN network at
the time. hindustantimes
SC sets aside order cancelling larger tobacco
health warnings
The Supreme Court put on hold a lower court’s
order that quashed central rules mandating larger health warnings on tobacco
packages, in a setback for the country’s $11 billion tobacco industry.The high
court of Karnataka last month struck down federal Govt rules requiring 85% of a tobacco pack’s
surface to be covered in health warnings, up from 20% earlier. The rules had
been in force since 2016.The Supreme Court, which heard petitions brought
forward by tobacco-control activists, stayed the Karnataka court’s order on
Monday, citing the need to protect the health of citizens.Reuters
Hounded by Hindutva activists for WhatsApp
text saying she likes Muslims, girl kills self; BJP Yuva head arrested
Karnataka: A local leader of Bharatiya Janata
Yuva Morcha from Mudigere region in
Chikmagalur district of Karnataka, Anil Raj, has been arrested and several
other Hindutva activists from the region are being tracked by the police following
the suicide of a 20-year-old girl, who was allegedly harassed for her posts on
social media.Dhanyashree, a first year B.Com. student, was allegedly hounded by
youth activists from Hindutva groups like Bajrang Dal and BJYM, after she
reportedly said on a WhatsApp group that she liked Muslims. She committed
suicide on Jan.6.In a police complaint, her mother, Saraswathi Suvarna, a
tailor, has said the harassment began on Jan.4, when an unidentified caller
questioned Dhanyashree about her WhatsApp message. According to the complaint,
the caller, who later identified himself as Santosh, a Bajrang Dal activist
from Mangalore, also asked Dhanyashree why she was wearing a head scarf in some
of her photographs posted on social media.Santosh reportedly made repeated
calls, and even spoke to Suvarna on one occasion. Telling Suvarna to “control”
her daughter, Santosh allegedly warned her that “embarrassing pictures” of
Dhanyashree would be posted on social media.According to Suvarna, a group of
men, who identified themselves as Bajrang Dal activists, visited their home the
next day and threatened to defame her daughter.On Jan.6, when Dhanyashree was
alone at home, she committed suicide. She reportedly left behind a note stating
that she could not bear the harassment by Hindutva activists and their false
claims that she was involved with a Muslim boy. The harassment had caused
humiliation to her family members, she said.Calling it “moral goondagiri’’,
police officers in Chikmagalur district said while BJYM local leader Anil Raj
was arrested on the basis of Suvarna’s complaint, a search has been launched
for others accused of harassing the girl, including Santosh. indianexpress
BJP-RSS hate politics cause of mass lynchings
in country:Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha leader Ragesh
Udaipur: Rajya Sabha member and secretary of
Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha KK Ragesh said that the 'politics of hate' of BJP and
RSS is the reason for mass lynchings that had taken place across the country.
"Some 30 such incidents of violence against the minorities have taken
place in several states and in most of the incidents, the suffering families
have effectively not received any relief," Ragesh said while speaking to
media persons.The parliamentarian, who was part of a team of 27 delegates of
the 'Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan', came to Udaipur on Sunday and held a public
hearing at Gujarat Samaj Bhawan here. "Hate violence is in the name of cow
slaughter or religion and at many places, people and police tried to
criminalize the victims, even police has refrained from taking stringent action
against the wrongdoers and they act at the will of the ruling party,"
Ragesh said.The team had also gone to Alwar and met victim Pehlu Khan's family
and even spoke to the authorities. "Secular forces have to come together
to battle communal clashes taking place. Unfortunately, the govt which should
be resisting such incidents is, on the contrary, aiding them. We will
definitely put up cases before the parliament," he said.The delegation
which is compiling a fact-finding report on these incidents would submit it to
the parliament in the coming days, Ragesh informed the media. On Sunday, the delegation
heard grievances of people who had been sufferers of such incidents. Rashida
Begum, wife of Jaffar Khan, a union leader who died in Pratapgarh in June last
year, allegedly after being beaten up by sanitation workers also met the
delegation. She claimed that none of the promises that the authorities had made
including granting job to one of the dependents in the family or monetary
assistance had been fulfilled. Some of the members of minorities complained
that police had falsely implicated them in cases related to communal tension
whereas most of them were not even present at the spot.TOI
People of different communities take part in
Sadbhavna rally in Aurgangabad
Aurgangabad:
Persons of different communities from 32 various organisations in the
city including thatof the Marathas, Dalits, Muslims, OBCs and others, on Monday
tookout a massive peaceful Sadbhavna rally, called 'Shivrai to Bhimrai',here,
in the wake of the Bhima-Koregaon violence last week. The mute rally started
from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue in a
completely peaceful atmosphere. The purpose of the trally was to show integrity
of all communitiesagainst the policy of RSS to'divide and rule' amongst the
communities. It was alleged that the RSS wanted to divide the communities on
thebasis of social, political and religious issues and it has enteredin conspiracy
to crush the Dalit youths.It also wanted to create a rift between the Dalit and
Maratha communities..The rally was taken out by 32 organisations without giving
slogansand they fluttered blue, saffron, green and red flags without abanner of
any political parties. Women were leading the rally, followed by senior
citizens and students. Organisers of the rally were Sambhaji Brigade, Baliraja
ShetkariSanghatana, Rashtriya Maratha Mahasangh,RPI-Bahujan Mahasangh,
ShivKranti Sanghatana, CPI, Sambhaji Brigade, Maratha Seva Sangh,
Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar Vichar Prabodhan, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, WPI and Akhil
Bhartiya Sena among others.UNI
Saudi increases India's Haj quota by 5,000:
Naqvi
New Delhi:Saudi Arabia has increased India's
Haj quota by 5,000, the second hike in two years, taking the number of pilgrims
who can perform Haj from the country to 1,75,025 lakh, Union minister Mukhtar
Abbas Naqvi said.Naqvi claimed that the increase over the past two years - of
nearly 40,000 - is a "record expansion" since Independence.The
increase in India's quota will be effective from Haj to be held later this
year. Saudi Arabia last year increased India's quota by 35,000. In 2017, Haj quota
was 1,70,025.PTI
Displaying Modi’s photo in madrassa is against
sharia: Darul Uloom fatwa chief
New Delhi.Darul Uloom fatwa department
chairman Mufti Arshad Farooqui today claimed that displaying photo of PM Narendra Modi in a madrassa was against
sharia, reported ANI. Reacting to a directive issued by Uttarakhand Govt, which
makes it mandatory for all educational establishments in the country (including
madrassas) to put up a picture of PM Modi in their premises, Mufti said,
"There has never been any order to put photos of any PM ever, why
now?""Govt must think before issuing orders that contradict Sharia.
Such orders affect religious sentiments of Muslim," Mufti said.Last
Friday, Madrassas of Uttarakhand had shot down directive which was issued
shortly after Independence Day last year.Office bearers of madrassas in the
state refused to comply with the directive "on religious grounds."The
state CM Trivendra Singh Rawat then
urged madrassas to give up reluctance and "come out of their traditional
thinking and function like other educational institutions". Timesofindia
Shut down Madrasas, they produce terrorists!
Massive row after Modi gets shocking Shia Waqf Board chief Wasim Rizvi ’s
letter
A massive row erupted has after Shia Central
Waqf Board urged PM Narendra Modi to shut down madrassas in India and turn them
into “secular” schools affiliated to CBSE or ICSE boards. Shia Central Waqf
Board’s letter alleged that madrasas should be shut down as education imparted
in these Islamic schools encouraged students to join terrorist ranks. Shia
Board has also demanded that madrassas be replaced by schools affiliated to
CBSE or the ICSE that will offer students an optional subject of Islamic
education. It also suggested that all madrassa boards should be dissolved. In
the letter, Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi argued for shutting
down the madrassas by presenting shocking reasons about their
functioning.Rizvi’s claims invited angry reactions from his opponents. “Rizvi
is the biggest joker, the most opportunistic person. He has sold his soul to
RSS. I challenge this buffoon to show one Shia or Sunni or Madrasa where such
teachings are imparted. If he has proof then he should go and show it to the
Home Minister,” AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi told ANI. All India Muslim
Personal Law Board spokesman Khalilur Rehman Sajjad Nomani as saying that
madrassas had played a key role in the freedom movement and by raising
questions on these schools, Rizvi was insulting them. financialexpress
Shia Waqf Board chief Wasim Rizvi claims
madrassas produce terrorists, Owaisi calls him 'biggest joker'
UP: BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, wife suffer heart
attack in Banda jail, both referred Lucknow for treatment
Lucknow: BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari suffered a
heart attack on Tuesday morning when his wife, Afsa Ansari, arrived to meet him
in Banda jail where the mafia-don-turned politician is incarcerated. As per the
sources, even the wife suffered a heart attack after seeing Ansari in pain
inside the jail. Both were rushed to the trauma centre of the district hospital
in critical condition and referred later to state capital Lucknow. Mukhtar had
not been keeping well for quite some time. The sources said that Mukhtar
complained of pain in chest while talking to his wife who also suffered the
attack on seeing Ansari suffering. According to Dr KL Pandey of Banda district
hospital, both had excruciating pain in the chest. Mukhtar is reported to have
other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension as well. newindianexpress
Cow vigilantes stopping beef supply in Goa
have BJP support, claims Congress leader
Panaji:A Congress leader on Tuesday alleged
that many of the cow vigilantes blocking the entry of trucks carrying beef into
Goa had the support of the BJP-led state Govt. Ex-Congress MP Francis Sardinha
also said the state Govt should stop
trying to “satisfy its bosses in the Sangh” and focus on the issues of public
interest. “Many of these cow vigilantes are sponsored by the BJP-led state Govt.
This is because the Govt wants to satisfy its bosses in the RSS,” Sardinha told
a press conference at the state Congress headquarters here.He added that the
Manohar Parrikar-led Goa Govt should
stop trying to please its bosses in the Sangh and concentrate on the issues
being faced by the common man. Beef traders across the state are finding it
difficult to run their business as the supplies from Karnataka have come to a
halt after the cow vigilantes, along with the police, began stopping the
vehicles at the border. Sardinha said beef was a staple food in the coastal state
and that it was a part of the cuisine of the minority communities. “Almost 50 %
of the tourists, who come to Goa, eat
beef,” he added. The Congress leader alleged that the cow vigilantes were
harassing the beef suppliers, despite the fact that the imports from Karnataka
were completely legal.All Goa Qureshi Meat Traders’ Association president Manna
Bepari had earlier said that the suppliers from Karnataka categorically said
that they would “not resume the supplies till action is taken against the so-called
cow vigilantes”. He had also said that around 25 tonnes of beef were brought
from Belagavi every day.PTI
‘I will eat beef if I want to’,
Siddaramaiah-Adityanath’s war of words continues
Bengaluru:Continuing the tirade against his UP
counterpart Yogi Adityanath, Karnataka CM
Siddaramaiah on Monday questioned the
former’s right to criticise the people’s food habits.“I have taken care of
cows, I feed them and I have also cleaned cow dung. What moral rights Yogi
Adityanath has got to criticise me? Has he ever taken care of cows?” tweeted
Siddaramaiah.He said on what grounds has Adityanath questioned the food habits
of the people.“Many in Hindu religion eat beef and I will eat if I want to eat
beef, but I don’t like beef that’s why I don’t eat it. Who is he to ask?” the
Karnataka CM said in another
tweet.Earlier on Sunday, Siddaramaiah lashed out at the UP CM ’s earlier address in Bengaluru and opined
that the latter could “learn a lot” from him. Adityanathquestioned Siddaramaiah
on why he was “endorsing beef eaters” if he was a Hindu. hindustantimes
New brand of Sikh militancy: Suave, tech-savvy
pro-Khalistan youth radicalised on social media
Chandigarh:A new brand of Sikh militancy has
surfaced in Punjab — educated, suave, clean shaven and mostly millennial young
men and women from families with no links to the pro-Khalistan movement,
according to police.Radicalised through social media by Khalistani groups
active abroad, these young Sikhs are recruited to kill specific targets set by
their handlers, said police after busting several modules behind “targeted
killings” in Punjab last year.“It’s a new way of spreading terrorism.
Pro-Khalistani forces are radicalising people using cyber space… That’s why we
handed the probe into all such cases to NIA,” state director general of police
Suresh Arora said. “You never know how many such modules they have prepared for
anti-national activities.”The alarm rang after police arrested five men who are
said to be part of a module that had shot dead RSS members in Ludhiana, Dera
Sacha Sauda followers and a Christian pastor between Oct.31 and Nov.7,
2017.These new-age militants have no trace of any Khalistani activity in at
least three generations of their families. None of them is from households that
suffered the worst during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They also have no links to
“victims” of Punjab’s violent insurgency in the 1980s and early 1990s. HT
Telegram exchanges say militant killed in
Nov.was ‘first militant’ of IS in J&K:indianexpress
Even as the Centre has ruled out the presence
of Islamic State (IS) in J&K, state Police have reported a “closed Telegram
channel” that claims to be “the official channel” of Islamic State in J&K (ISJK). According to police, the channel, ‘Al
Qaraar’, has claimed that a militant from Srinagar who was killed in an
encounter on Nov.17 last year was the “first militant of the organisation”.In a
confidential report sent to DGP SP Vaid on Dec.12 last year, J&K Police CID
has said that “through its Telegram channel, Al Qaraar media group of ISJK has
circulated a poster threatening attacks in India”.The communication (CID SML/SR/2017/763-66),
sent by then IGP (CID), Abdul Gani Mir, to DGP Vaid, says:“Recently, a closed
Telegram channel, namely Al Qaraar, cropped up. The channel claims to be the
official Telegram channel of ISJK… (ISJK) has claimed that Mugees Ahmad alias
Khattab, R/O Parimpora Srinagar, who got killed in a shootout in Zakura area of
Srinagar, was the first militant of the organisation”.
Family of expelled AMU Kashmiri scholar for
‘Hizbul links’, calls for his return
Suspended AMU Kashmiri research scholar Mannan
Bashir Wani's family called for his return back to home. “His father came and
informed the police. He was in Aligarh and then disappeared. We also know of
some photo being shared on social media, and we are investigating the matter,”
a senior police officer said. Wani’s family has said that he had last left home
a month ago for Aligarh and then disappeared. Mubashir Wani, brother of Mannan
and a govt engineer, told HT that the entire family is in a state of shock. “We
will be glad if he returns.” “All we want now is for him to come back,” his
mother is seen wailing in a video clip that surfaced on Monday. In a video
uploaded on local news platforms, Mannan’s father Bashir Wani is seen saying,
“He is a mature person and I was never expecting this from him. If he has any
issues, he could have addressed it some other way. I have no words to express
what we are going through.” His reported joining militancy comes at a time when
the J&K police are encouraging local
militants to shun the gun and return home.Wani was awarded the ‘Best Paper
Presentation Award’ in an International Conference on ‘Water, Environment,
Energy and Society’ held at AISECT
University, Bhopal in 2016.The award, AMU’s website says, was conferred to Wani
for his paper ‘Flood Risk Assessment of Lolab Valley from Watershed Analysis
Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques’.He also raised issues of killings of
hundreds of Kashmiris every year and had criticised Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for his
statements against the hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani.HT
Salahuddin welcomes AMU scholar into Hizb
Srinagar; Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed
Salahuddin has welcomed AMU doctoral scholar Abdul Manan Wani into the militant
outfit. Thehindu
Kashmir teen who refused to give up militancy
despite father’s FB plea dies in Anantnag encounter
Srinagar: 18-year-old Farhan Wani was one of
the militants killed by security personnel in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district
on Tuesday.The teenager, hailing from Khudwani village in Kulgam, had joined
the militant ranks in mid-2017. In Nov., the young militant’s father – Ghulam
Mohammad Wani – put up an emotional Facebook post urging him to relinquish
violence and return home. The plea, however, went in vain.“My dear son, my body
has begun betraying me ever since you left us. I scream from the pain you have
inflicted upon us, but still believe that you will return home...” Ghulam had
posted on Farhan’s page on Nov.24.A senior Kulgam police officer confirmed to
HT that Farhan was killed on Tuesday.HT
J&K interlocutor Sharma acting as super CM:
Omar
New Delhi:Taking on the ruling PDP Govt in J&K, National Conference leader Omar
Abdullah on Tuesday accused the Govt of aggravating the insurgency situation in
the Valley. “You had held me responsible for creating Burhan Wani. But did you
ever think about the number of Burhan Wani’s you have given rise to in the past
one-and-a-half-years. If I am to be blamed for one, then you must realise how
many have you produced.”Speaking in the Assembly, the Opposition leader also
questioned the need for a special representative on Kashmir. He asked the Centre to spell out the roles
and responsibilities of interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma and the time period for
which he would be engaged.indianexpress
Relief for Indian techies as US says no change
in H-1B visa extension policy
Washington: In a relief to Indian techies, the
US authorities on Tuesday said the Trump administration was not considering any
proposal that would force H-1B visa holders to leave the country.The
announcement by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) came days after
reports emerged that the administration was considering tightening the H-1B
visa rules that could lead to deportation of 7,50,000 Indians. The reports said
the administration was mulling an end to extensions for H-1B visa holders.
USCIS “is not considering a regulatory change that would force H-1B visa
holders to leave the United States by changing interpretation of section
certain language in Section 104 C of American Competitiveness in the 21st
Century Act (AC21) statute that states that USCIS may grant the extensions,” an
official said.This provides for H-1B extensions beyond the six-year limit.PTI
H-1B visa extension: No change in policy, says
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
China avoids direct response after Indian Army
chief claims PLA reduced troops in Doklam
Beijing:China skirted a direct response to
Army chief General Bipin Rawat’s remarks that there was a major reduction of
Chinese troops in Doklam, but insisted that its soldiers stationed in the area
were exercising “sovereignty rights”.China and India were engaged in a 73-day
tense standoff at Doklam in the Sikkim sector, which ended on August 28.“Dong
Lang (Dokalam) area has all along been part of China and under China’s
continuous and effective jurisdiction. There is no dispute in this regard,”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told the media when asked about
Rawat’s remarks. Rawat said on Monday Indian and Chinese troops had resolved an
issue over the recent attempt by Chinese teams to build a road on the Indian
side of the border at Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh.Rawat also said there was a
major reduction of Chinese troops in the Doklam area.PTI
China says Gwadar naval base report is
speculation
China counselled the “outside world” not to
speculate on Beijing’s reported intent to open a naval base in Gwadar, the
starting point of the CPEC. “I am not aware of what you mentioned,” the Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said, when asked to comment on reports
that China would establish a naval base in Gwadar, to supplement its already
existing Indian Ocean facility at Djibouti.“As you know the building of CPEC is
an important part of the Belt and Road initiative, and China and Pakistan are
also making efforts to build the CPEC, which is in the common interest of the
countries along the route,” Lu observed.He added: “So, I don’t think it is
necessary for the outside world to make too much guesses in this regard.”In
Pakistan, the daily, Pakistan Today said that Beijing and Islamabad had no
plans to build a Chinese naval base in coastal areas of Pakistan,and the matter
had never been discussed between the two countries. thehindu
Ahmedabad: 2 rescued after part of mosque
collapses
Ahmedabad: Part of an under-renovation mosque
collapsed on Monday afternoon, near Teen Darwaja in Bhadra Plaza. 2 persons,
who were in shops, sustained injuries after being hit by falling debris and
were hospitalized by Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES).null AFES
officials said they got a call at 1pm on Monday from Alif Mosque, adjoining
Karanj Police Station, that a portion of a wall had fallen on nearby shops.
"Fortunately a number of people were out for lunch and the number of
injured was less. We questioned the mosque authorities, who said that the
structure was under repair. The reason for collapse is yet to be
ascertained," said an AFES official.2 person injured were identified as
Mohammad Umar, 68, and Mohammad Aslam, 45. timesofindia
Muslim Clerics Welcomes Court’s Order To Ban
Loudspeakers From Religious Places
Lucknow: Muslim clerics have welcomed the
implementation of Allahabad high court order regulating use of loudspeakers at
religious and public places. They however apprehended that the state
administration could discriminate against Muslims and the order could be used
as a tool to target the community ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Welcoming
the UP govt’s move on removal of illegal loudspeakers from religious places,
Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Zafaryaab Jilani said, “I
welcome the order as this is in the interest of the society and the nation. The
order should be implemented without any discrimination. If the police are given
powers to implement the High Court order and they discriminate then there will
be protests.’’ Member of Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Kasmi opined,“There
should be no scope for discrimination against anybody on any ground. Govt
should either impose a blanket ban on loudspeakers or should regulate its use
without any bias.”President of All India Imam Association, Maulana Sadiq
Rashidi said,”
AIMPLB asks Muslims to seek approval for
loudspeaker use; Sadhus want UP govt to reconsider order
RSS-Linked Stalls to Sell Books on Love Jihad,
Intolerance Debate at World Book Fair
New Delhi: Intolerance debate, 'love jihad',
ethics in journalism are some of the subjects that Rashtriya Sahitya Sangam, a
group of publishing houses run by people associated with RSS, hopes to shed
light on through books at the World Book Fair 2018. The book fair is organised
by the National Book Trust in the city. Hum Asahashud Log (We Intolerant
People) by Lokendra Singh was released on Monday. The writer says that Mohammad
Akhlaq's lynching was the trigger behind the book. Akhlaq, the UP resident, was beaten to death by a mob in
September 2015 on suspicion of consuming beef. Singh also spoke about Gauri
Lankesh's murder and said how 'these movements are part of the fear'. news18
WORLD
UN urges Israel to stop forced relocation
policy
Geneva:UN refugee agency on Tuesday called on
Israel to halt its policy of relocating over 33,000 Eritreans and Sudanese. "UNHCR
is again appealing to Israel to halt its policy of relocating Eritreans and
Sudanese to sub-Saharan Africa," William Spindler, the agency’s spokesman,
said in a news conference on Tuesday in Geneva.The appeal came after some 80
cases were identified in which people relocated by Israel risked their lives by
taking dangerous journeys to Europe via Libya.On Jan.1, Israel ordered thousands
of African migrants to leave the country by April or face imprisonment.Rights
groups and activists expressed their outrage over the decision.“We have had a
history of being migrants, and we find this treatment of African migrants
disturbing and racist,” Jessica Sherman, spokesperson for Jewish Voices for a
Just Peace (JVJP), said last week. According to UN, there are some 27,000
Eritreans and 7,700 Sudanese in Israel. Anadolu Agency
Arab Knesset member: No deal for Palestine
under Trump
Jerusalem - Ahmad Taibi, a prominent Arab
member of Israel's Parliament, said a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict under Donald Trump would be impossible. Speaking to Al Jazeera from
his office in the Knesset, Taibi said there is no political solution on the
horizon, despite US statements to the contrary."There was nothing on the
horizon when Trump came to power, and now that he is in power, a solution is
impossible," he said.Taibi also dismissed the so-called "deal-of
the-century", which, according to media reports offers the Palestinians a
state in Gaza and parts of the West Bank, minus Jerusalem. According to Taibi,
Trump and his allies have made a radical departure from previous US policies,
especially on the issues of Jerusalem and illegal Israeli settlements."No
doubt that the Trump decision is a complete adaptation of the Israeli narrative
about Jerusalem and is a complete departure from the US foreign policy on the
Middle East," Taibi said.However, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's minister of
regional cooperation, told Al Jazeera that Trump's decision on December 6
should not hinder Palestinian claims to have occupied East Jerusalem as their
capital."We claim that Jerusalem is our capital and should not be divided,
but that's only a claim, not a diktat," Hanegbi, a member of PM Benjamin Netanyahu's
Likud party said."Palestinians can claim East Jerusalem as their capital
and we can negotiate a settlement. Although we annexed East Jerusalem, it is
still up for negotiations," said Hanegbi.Taibi dismissed press reports
about the so-called "deal of the century", which reportedly enlisted
Saudi Arabia to pressure Palestinians into accepting a state in Gaza and parts
of the West Bank, minus East Jerusalem. aljazeera
Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Kushner’s
financial ties to Israel raise further doubts over peace broker role
Doubts have been raised as to the suitability
of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner for
the role of Middle East peace negotiator, amid new revelations of his ongoing
business ties to Israel.A report in the New York Times yesterday revealed that
Kushner has been benefitting from various property and investment trusts worth
some $761 million, many of which have ties to Israel.In May 2017, shortly
before Kushner accompanied the president on his official trip to Israel, the
family business reportedly received a $30 million investment from Israeli
insurance company Menora Mivtachim.Just one month earlier, in April, Kushner
also worked with the Steinmetz family from Israel to buy some $200 million
worth of Manhattan apartment buildings. He has also repeatedly taken out loans
from Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank.“No one could ever imagine this scale
of ongoing business interests, not in a local peanut farm or a hardware store
but sprawling global businesses that give the president and his top adviser
personal economic stakes in an astounding number of policy interests,” Robert
Weissman, the president of Public Citizen, a non-profit Govt ethics group said.MEMO
Israel arrests 17 Palestinians in W. Bank
raids
Israeli forces rounded up 17 Palestinians in
overnight raids in the occupied West Bank, according to the Israeli military.
Individuals have been arrested for “suspected involvement in terrorist
activities”, army claimed on Tuesday, without clarifying details.According to
official Palestinian statistics, some 6,400 Palestinians are currently
languishing in Israeli prisons, including 62 women and 300 minors. Anadolu
Israel to hold local elections in occupied
Golan Heights
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180109-israel-to-hold-local-elections-in-occupied-golan-heights/
Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has
issued a decision to hold local elections in the Golan Heights for the first
time since Israel occupied the Syrian territories in 1967, Israel Hayom
reported.The paper said the move aims to strengthen Israeli sovereignty over
the Golan Heights and to integrate the local Druze community.The ministry
explained that it had appointed temporary local councils to manage villages in
the area until municipal elections are held in early Oct.Analyst and political
activist, Salman Fakhr Al-Din, said in an interview with Quds Press that
“conducting the elections under the supervision of the occupying state needs
clarification and in-depth discussions within the whole Golan community, to
understand the real purpose of these elections, especially if the region is
under the UN supervision.”Fakhr Al-Din, who is also a resident of the village
of Majdal Shams in the Golan, wondered whether the Israeli authorities intend
to prevent some electoral lists from participating in the elections under the
pretext of their loyalties to “hostile parties”. middleeastmonitor
Syria's Ghouta: 126 killed in 11 days, monitor
says
At least 23 people have been killed in Syrian
and Russian air raids on the outskirts of the country's capital Damascus.The
UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the figure includes 6
children and four women killed in Monday's attacks on the rebel-held Eastern
Ghouta district. The monitor, which gathers its information from a network of
sources inside Syria, added since Dec. 29 a total of 126 people have been
killed in air strikes on the besieged area, including 29 children and 28 women. aljazeera
Qatar: UN report proof Saudi-led blockade
illegal
A blockade against Qatar by several fellow
members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is arbitrary and negatively
impacting the people of the region, according to a new UN investigation. Saudi
Arabia, UAE and Bahrain, as well as Egypt, cut diplomatic, trade and travel
ties with Qatar in June last year, accusing it of supporting
"terrorism". Doha strongly denies the charge.In November 2017,
representatives from the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR) visited Qatar, where they met with some 20 Govt al and
civil society groups, as well as people who had been affected by the blockade. aljazeera
Kuwait emir warns over prolonged Qatar-GCC
crisis
7-month-long blockade imposed on Qatar is
being discussed at a two-day GCC summit in Kuwait.In his address, the emir of
Kuwait urged nations to settle their differences. Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al
Sabah warned of greater regional instability if the dispute between Doha and other
Arab countries is not settled.
Bangladesh court upholds govt ban on Rohingya Muslim
refugees marrying citizens
Dhaka: A Bangladesh court today upheld a Govt ruling
banning marriage between its citizens and refugees from Myanmar's persecuted
Rohingya minority, who have fled ethnic violence in the neighbouring country.The
High Court in Dhaka dismissed a legal challenge from a father whose son married
a Rohingya teenager in a Muslim ceremony in September despite laws forbidding
such unions. AFP
Egypt sets March 26-28 as presidential
election date
Cairo: Egypt will hold a presidential election
on March 26-28, with the incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to seek
a second term in office.Sisi, who won a landslide victory after he led the
military overthrow of elected President Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in
2013, has yet to announce his candidacy.Candidates must submit their official
bids to the commission between Jan 20-29. Announcing the date, national
election commission said a run-off would be held on April 24-26 if needed.It
will be Egypt's third election since the 2011 uprising which ended Hosni
Mubarak's long rule.Reuters
North Korea reconnects military hotline with
South
Seoul:North Korea reopened a military hotline
with the South on Tuesday in a further sign of thawing ties between Seoul and
Pyongyang.According to a South Korean Govt official cited by local news agency Yonhap,
the hotline will be fully functioning by Wednesday.The move highlighted the
progress made by the Koreas in their first formal meeting in over 2 years.Minister-level
representatives convened at border village of Panmunjom earlier in the day to
focus on the North’s offer to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in the
South next month.North Korea is known to have offered to send a senior
delegation of officials and athletes to PyeongChang 2018, while the South asked
to find ways to reduce the chance of a conflict at the border among its
proposals..A joint statement issued after the talks confirmed the North had
accepted South Korea’s pitch to hold military dialogue in order to reduce
tensions. Anadolu
Iran leaders shift focus to defending nuke
deal::Aljazeera
Iranian officials have made various public
appearances to criticise US' policies towards Iran and reinforce their position
on the 2015 nuclear deal, in what appeared to be a coordinated effort. After
days of protests and counter-protests in several cities in Iran, the country's
top leaders on Monday shifted their focus back to US' plans to cancel nuclear
agreement and looming threat of new US sanctions. Known as Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA), the hard-won agreement was signed in 2015 under Obama
administration between Iran and the P5+1 countries-US, Russia, China, France, UK
and Germany. In exchange for the easing of sanctions, Iran agreed to halt
uranium enrichment.
Narrow sanctions won't help Rohingya Muslims:
Activists
WASHINGTON:Targeted and partial sanctions will not stop Myanmar’s
campaign of oppressing Rohingya Muslims, the head of a prominent U.S.-based
organization advocating for Rohingya Muslims argued Monday.Speaking at a
Washington press conference, Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, chairman of Burma Task
Force USA, said Myanmar’s military would not end its constant attacks on
Rohingya Muslims unless the U.S. and the UN impose full sanctions against
Myanmar."Our request from America, the Senate, and the Congress is that
they should pass a bill which requires full sanctions on Burma [another name
for Myanmar], and they should use each and every means available," he
said."Myanmar is not going to listen unless full economic sanctions are
applied." Anadolu
Anti-austerity protests in Tunisia turn deadly
A 55-year-old man has died after a protest
over Govt austerity measures in Tunisia, the country's state news agency TAP
has reported.5 others were injured during the demonstration, which took place
in Tebourba, 40km west of capital Tunis.Tunisian Ministry of Interior confirmed
on Monday evening that a 55-year-old man had died in a local hospital after
being admitted with symptoms of dizziness. Other protests took place in some
other parts of the country on Monday, after Govt's decision to raise taxes
under its Finance Act. aljazeera
FLASH:
VIEWS & NEWS
Accounts of Dalit protests in Maharashtra are
incomplete, need to be leavened by context:Christophe Jaffrelot
Talaq Bill:An albatross around Govt's neck:Saira
Shah H
Any efforts to make Hindi official language of
UN will renew fears of non-Hindi speakers:Manuraj S
Freedom of Speech and Expression Cannot Be
Compromised:M.K. VENU
Jaitley’s Support for Electoral Bonds Is a
Reminder That Political Parties Are Sovereign in India:Jagdeep S.Chhokar
Talaq Bill & BJP’s selective concern for Muslim
women: Flavia Agnes
6 months after Alimuddin’s murder, residents
of his village continue to live in fear
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