Evening NEWS
DIGEST
08 Feb.2018:21 Jamadiul-1 1439:Vol:9, No:116
INDIA
Babri case: CJI says SC won't hear political
or religious arguments, to hear as 'pure land dispute'; next hearing on 14
March
The Supreme Court commenced its hearing into a
crucial hearing on a batch of petitions in the politically-sensitive Ram
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case today, and said that it would not
hear arguments based on politics or religion, Times Now reported. According to reports,the
SC made it clear that it would deal with title dispute case as a pure land
dispute and refused to hear it on a day-to-day basis. Times Now quoted Chief
Justice of India Dipak Misra as saying that poor citizens were waiting for
justice, and 700 petitions in the case "can be disposed by devoting a few
hours". Books including Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana were submitted in the
apex court on Thursday, along with 87 witness depositions.But due to the
incomplete documentation process, the SC fixed 14 March as the next date of
hearing, according to ANI.Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy
quoted Misra as saying that the court would "certainly go on the principle
of day-to-day hearing" after the next hearing.Times Now reported that the
top court has given 2 weeks' notice for submission of documents in the matter.Today's
hearing assumes significance as a special bench headed by Misra had rejected
the submission by Sunni Waqf Board and others that the pleas be heard after the
2019 general polls.The bench had on 5 Dec., 2017, directed the listing of the
matter today. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan and Dushyant Dave,
appearing for some of petitioners, had pressed for postponing of the hearing,
saying it would have repercussions on the country's polity.They had also sought
a hearing by a 5-judge Constitution Bench. After the court rejected the
submission for postponing the hearing till 2019, including hearing of the
matter by a Constitution Bench, it asked senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, who
appeared for the deity, to commence his case on 5 Dec. At that point, Sibal,
Dhavan and Dave sought the leave of the court to withdraw from the
hearing.firstpost
Ayodhya case: Supreme Court says won’t
entertain any intervening application at the moment
Treat Ayodhya case as a 'land issue': CJI
HC order splitting Ayodhya land an insult to
justice, Sunni Waqf Board tells SC
AIMPLB demands action against those speaking
of building temple on Babri Masjid site
Hyderabad: All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) has demanded contempt of court proceedings against those speaking of
building Ram temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.The
apex body of the Indian Muslims, which is beginning its crucial 3-day plenary
here on Friday, said the court and the Govt should take action against those
making such statements.“This is a clear case of contempt of court. The court
and the Govt should take action,” said Board spokesman Moulana Sajaad Nomani.He
told reporters that the Board would present its case before the Supreme Court
and would abide by its verdict.Nomani said the Board had not received any
proposal from any organization regarding the Babri Masjid case to queries about
reports that some organisations sent a proposal offering alternate land for
building a mosque.Babri Masjid committee of Board will place its report before plenary
and the same will be discussed.IANS
Sri Sri renews efforts on Ayodhya row, meets Muslim
delegation
Bengaluru; Renewing his mediation efforts on
the Babri Masji case, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today held a
meeting here with Muslim leaders, including members from the All India Muslim
Personal Law Board and Sunni Waqf Board.After the meeting, the AOL said eminent
members of the Sunni Board, AIMPLB and others met Ravi Shankar and expressed
support for an out-of- court settlement in the Ayodhya matter.“They have
supported the proposal of shifting the Masjid outside to another place. Many Muslim
stakeholders are cooperating in this matter,” an AOL statement said. It said
that 16 leaders from multiple organisations attended the meeting at which
representatives and scholars from various states were present too.“A bigger
meeting is slated to be held in Ayodhya soon,” the statement said.Muslim
Personal Law Board executive member Maulana Syed Salman Hussain Nadvi attended
the meeting, as also UP Sunni Waqf Board
chairperson Zufar Ahmad Farooqui, Maulana Wasif Hasan of Teelay Wali Masjid in
Lucknow and retired IAS officer Dr Anis Ansari, AOL executive said.Other
attendees were Centre for Objective Research and Development director Athar Husain Siddiqui, businessman A
R Rahman, London-based World Islamic Forum chairman Maulana Isa Mansuri,
Lucknow advocate Imran Ahmed, ex-Haj committee of India chairman A Aboobucker
and Dr Musa Kaiser of Bengaluru.PTI
Muslim delegation meets Sri Sri on Babri
Masjid issue
'Give disputed Ayodhya land to Hindu parties':
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's aide presents 'compromise formula' to AIMPLB
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's aide
has presented a "compromise formula" to AIMPLB in the Ayodhya
dispute, according to News18.Ayodhya Sadbhavna Samnvyay Maha Samiti, which is
promoted by Ravi Shankar, has proposed to the AIMPLB to give the disputed land
for the Ram Temple to the Hindu parties.Samiti president Amarnath Mishra
proposed in a letter to the AIMPLB president that they instead construct a
mosque on the land to be given by Nirmohi Akhara.UNI reported that copies of 8-page
letter to AIMPLB chairperson Maulana Rabe Hassan Nadvi, were given to eight
other persons, including PM Narendra
Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Mishra's letter is the first
proposal given by a Hindu organisation to AIMPLB.firstpost
Triple talaq bill is a big 'dhoka' against
Muslim men and women: AIMPLB
New Delhi: AIMPLB termed the triple talaq bill
a big "dhoka" (deception) and hit out at NDA Govt for trying to
strong-arm its passage despite objections. Dubbing the triple talaq bill
"flawed", a spokesperson for the board said that it was not opposed
to the proposed legislation, but wants the "flaws"
removed."Muslim Personal Law Board is not opposing the Triple Talaq Bill,but
raising objections on the major flaws which are against fundamental rights of
Muslim men and women. Bill is big 'dhoka',"AIMPLB spokesperson Moulana
Khaleel-ur-Rehman Sajjad Nomani told ANI.He claimed that efforts were being
made to enact a "very wrong law"."There is no such law in the
whole world... an effort is being made to make a very wrong law. There are
other such flaws. The Muslim Personal Law Board's stand is to get those flaws
removed," reported PTI quoting Nomani.The board requested all opposition
parties to consider whether the bill can be passed in its present form.Nomani
alleged the bill in its present form would ban the institution of talaq
itself."It is generally publicised that this bill is presented to stop
triple talaq. But, the fact is, if you read the bill, this bill is to ban the
entire institution of talaq," Nomani said.If a man gives triple talaq
despite stating in the marriage contract that he won't, his wife could
challenge it in a court of law, citing the nikahnama as proof, the board
said.TOI
AIMPLB: remove flaws,loopholes, will welcome talaq
bill
SC demands answers from UP govt on Taj Mahal
protection efforts
New Delhi:The Supreme Court demanded a
detailed plan for the future of Taj Mahal, warning UP Govt’s “ad hoc” approach
jeopardised the centuries-old monument to love. Smog has been slowly yellowing Taj’s
brilliant marble and conservationists have long fought to close polluting industries
near the icon.But years of interventions — including using mudpacks to draw the
stain from the stone — have failed to arrest the slow decay of India’s biggest
attraction. The Supreme Court has ordered the state Govt to produce a “vision
document” outlining its plan for protecting the wonder of the world within a
month.In particular the court expressed concern about a “sudden flurry of
activities” in the Taj Trapezium Zone — a buffer around the monument to protect
it from pollution. “Leather industries and hotels are coming up there. Why?”
the court asked, describing the Govt conservation plan for the Taj as ad hoc
and inadequate.hindustantimes hindustantimes
Don't meddle in our affairs or we'll stop
producing girls, Khap leaders warn Supreme Court
Leaders of Khap Panchayats have warned the top
court of India not to meddle in their 'age-old traditions' lest their community
will 'destabilise the society' by stop giving birth to girls. The threat comes
a day after the SC reprimanded the Khap panchayats over issues of 'honour
killing' and reiterated its stand on "inter-faith/caste" marriages by
saying "no one should be allowed to interfere in marraige of 2 consenting
adults."Hearing a writ petition by NGO Shakti Vahini on "honour
killing", a three judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice DY
chandrachud and Justice AM Khanwilkar had said "Where two consenting
adults agree to enter into matrimony, no individual rights, group rights or
collective rights shall interfere therein or harass the couple."When the
lawyer appearing for Khap Panchayats (Caste Panchayat) objected over marriages
between Sapindas (same gotra marriage),as they are considered siblings, the CJI
retorted: "Who are you to interfere?" "Don't be conscience
keepers. If two adults want to get married nobody should interfere," court
had said .Unimpressed with the order, Naresh Tikait, head of Balyan Khap, told TOI,
“We respect the Supreme Court but cannot tolerate the SC’s interference in our
age-old traditions. If these kinds of orders are passed by the SC, we will stop
producing girls or won’t let them study so much that they start taking their
own decisions. Just think, what will happen to society if girls become lesser and
lesser in numbers?"“Maybe, the SC has taken this stand influenced by vulgar
exhibition of modernity in cosmopolitan cities, but they must understand that
village life is different and we are bound by our traditions,” said Rajbir
Singh Malik, head of Malik Khap, Khaps are caste or community organisations in
villages which at times act as quasi-judicial bodies and pronounce harsh
punishments based on regressive and age-old customs and traditions.outlookindia
Gorakhpur children massacre: To hide its criminal
negligence, Yogi govt punished Dr Kafeel Khan, Dr RK Misra and wife Dr Purnima
Misra:jantakareporter
Yogi Adityanath Govt punished three
individuals Dr Kafeel Khan, Dr. RK Misra and his wife Dr. Purnima Misra to hide
its own culpability in the Gorakhpur massacres, according to a janta ka
reporter report. UP Govt appointed KK Gupta as DG of Medical Education even
though he was removed from the position by previous Akhilesh Yadav govt in
2015. Gupta, who ought to have been prosecuted for criminal negligence, was
made head of an inquiry team to probe the children’s massacre. Janta ka
reporter reports that how a massive cover-up exercise was carried out by the UP
Govt with the help of pliable media outlets. According to report, the most
atrocious of the report is of DGME KK Gupta which says that Dr. Purnima Misra,
W/o Dr RK Misra was the kingpin of corruption in BRD Medical College &
Nehru Hospital. It goes on to add that the grave mistake of Dr Khan was that he
was doing private practice while being in govt service. But this Supreme Court
Order clearly states that it is not a crime for a doctor in Govt service to do
private practice as long as it is not affecting his / her official commitments.
Jantakareporter writes that It’s a real travesty of justice that a few
individuals were severely punished for doing their job with utmost sincerity
while the corrupt and incompetent continue to enjoy the immunity because of
their proximity to the ruling dispensation. The news portal writes, "In
nutshell, just to hide their failures, Adityanath Govt simply made few
scapegoats. The people in power – the health minister, DGME, Principal
Secretary of Medical Education, DM, CMO and others were not even questioned on
their failures. Though a director of Pushpa Sales was arrested, the Govt didn’t
touch anyone from Inox Air Products."
Yogi govt to withdraw cases against BJP
leaders accused in Muzaffarnagar riots
The leaders who stoked communal fire in
Muzaffarnagar in 2013 that led to one of the worst riots of this decade are all
set to roam around free as the Yogi Adityanath Govt has decided to withdraw
cases filed against them in connection with the riots.Law and Justice Minister
of UP Brijesh Pathak said that the Govt has decided to withdraw all ‘political’
cases related to Muzaffarnagar riots.But he did not elaborate about the nature
of the ‘political’ cases. He kept mum when asked what was ‘political’ about
inciting mobs to attack properties and individuals of a particular community
for which these leaders were booked under serious sections of criminal law.No
one in Govt is ready to answer whether Sadhvi Prachi, whose fiery speech on Aug.31,
2013, is believed to have triggered the riots, will also go scot-free. Or if
the BJP MLA from Thana Bhawan, Shamli, Suresh Rana, who is also the Cane
Development Minister, and Sangeet Singh Som, BJP MLA from Sardhana, will also
get reprieve?No one has answers.nationalheraldindia
Kasganj communal clash: 2 more arrested, 29,
all Muslims, accused charged with sedition and killing Gupta
Lucknow:2 more accused in the Kasganj communal
clash, in which one person was killed, were arrested from the district on
Wednesday. Those arrested were identified as Waseem and Naseem, brothers of
prime accused Saleem. With this, the total number of arrests in the murder case
has gone upto 19. 29 men, all Muslims, are accused of killing 22-year-old
Abhishek Gupta. They were charged with sedition for allegedly raising
“pro-Pakistan and anti-India” slogans shortly before the clashes on Jan. 26
this year. The charge follows a complaint submitted by Abhishek’s father Sushil
Gupta.In FIR, Sushil stated that his sons Abhishek and Vivek participated in
the Tiranga Rally. When they were passing through the tehsil road, a group from
the Muslim community stopped them in front of Rajkiya Balika Intermediate
College.They all were carrying firearms, Gupta alleged. They snatched Tricolour
from them, threw it on the ground and raised slogans “Pakistan Zindabad” and
“Hindustan Murdabad”, complainant alleged, adding, accused also said they had
to chant with them if the Rally wanted to pass through the area.According to
Kasganj police, so far 16 cases are being investigated by SIT in the incident.indianexpress
Elevation to Supreme Court: If Govt returns
Justice Joseph’s file, Collegium is likely to send it back
New Delhi : With indications that Govt may
consider returning the Collegium’s recommendation to elevate Uttarakhand High
Court Chief Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court, sources have told The
Indian Express that if this happens the Collegium proposes to send the name
right back for the issuance of the Presidential warrant.Justice Joseph’s name
was the only one of a judge, forwarded by the Collegium for elevation to the
Supreme Court, with the other being that of Indu Malhotra who was elevated
directly from the Bar — the first woman to be so recommended.Sources say that
there was a consensus in the Collegium over proposing Justice Joseph’s
elevation. In April 2016, Justice Joseph had quashed the Centre’s orders on Presidential
rule in the state, deeply embarrassing the NDA Govt.Sources said that if the Govt
neither returns the file nor clears it or if it returns it and then sits on it
despite the Collegium sending it back, the Collegium is of the view that it
will “not send any other names for elevation to the Supreme Court, at least
until as long as this Collegium is in place”.The Collegium consists of the
Chief Justice and four seniormost Judges Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi,
Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph. Its composition will change only in June when
Justice Chelameswar retires.indianexpress
Made claims on Loya death: Facing contempt
charge, lawyer wants to apologise
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has allowed
advocate Satish Uke, who is facing contempt charges, to tender “unconditional
apology” to Bombay High Court. Appearing for Uke, senior advocate Kapil Sibal
told a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha that his client wants to
tender unconditional apology.The bench replied, “If you want to tender apology,
it has to be to the Bombay HC. If the learned judges of the High Court accept
it, we have no problem, because contempt is of HC.”Uke had hit the headlines
recently after Sibal and other Congress leaders appeared with him at a press
conference where lawyer claimed that he was privy to information on late CBI
Special Judge B H Loya.Uke was found guilty of contempt of court by Bombay HC
and sentenced to simple imprisonment for two months and slapped a fine of Rs
2,000. indianexpress
3 Muslim youth acquitted of terror charges
New Delhi:Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind which provides
legal assistance to the innocent youth arrested on terror charges once again
gained a major victory, when the 3 Muslim youth arrested on terror charges were
exonerated. President Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, who has
acquitted more than 100 innocent people, has welcomed the court ruling. He
reiterated that the Muslims of the country are not terrorists. However, he
lamented that the real culprits are roaming freely who are a threat to not only
Muslims but the entire nation, while the innocents are being arrested.President
Jamiat has issued a report in which Gulzar Azmi president Legal Aid Committee,
stated that the session court judge has exonerated Haroon Abdur Rasheed Naik,
Asrar Ahmed Abdul Hameed and Azharul Islam Mohammed Ibrahim Siddiqui in terror
charges; however, it pronounced 6 years sentence for keeping fake
currency.siasat
My son was doing his duty: Father of Major
accused in Shopian firing moves SC to quash FIR
New Delhi:The father of army major Aditya
Kumar has moved the Supreme Court, demanding that an FIR registered against his
son by J&K Police in the shooting
death of three civilians be quashed.His son was just doing his duty and was
“wrongly and arbitrarily” named, lieutenant colonel Karamveer Singh said in his
petition, adding the officer’s intention was to save army personnel and
property. Maj Kumar, who is with 10 Garhwal Rifles, was named in FIR filed
against his unit after the army firing on protesters left three people dead in
Shopian on Jan. 27.Police have accused the Garhwal unit of murder, attempt to
murder and endangering life.The soldiers opened fire “only to impair and
provide a safe escape from a savage and violent mob engaged in terrorist
activity”, the plea said.The FIR was arbitrary as the incident was related to
an army convoy on military duty in an area under AFSPA, he said.HT
Hiz claims it freed LeT's Naveed in Srinagar
hospital raid
Srinagar: Kashmir’s home-grown militant outfit
Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on a Srinagar
hospital during which gunmen shot dead two policemen and freed a Pakistani
Lashkar-e-Taiba militant brought for treatment in custody.In a nearly 8-minute
audio released on Wednesday, Kashmir’s Hizb commander Riyaz Naikoo claimed it
was his men who raided the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital to free Naveed
Jhatt. Naikoo said Jhatt had “reached south Kashmir” safely.On the killing of
the two policemen guarding Jhatt, Naikoo said, “They were forced to kill
Kashmiris to free their Pakistani brother.”HT
Srinagar hospital: 4 arrested for helping militant
escape
Srinagar :In a major breakthrough, the J&K
Police have arrested at least four
people who are believed to have helped Pakistani militant Naveed Jat alias
Hanzulla escape from custody during a hospital visit. Raids were carried out at
several locations in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts last night
during which arrests were made.“The SIT started the probe and due to scientific
evidence we ascertained who or what were involved. They were identified, raids
were conducted. We apprehended two terrorists and two Over Ground Workers.
After their arrest we are left with Naveed and another terrorist who are still
at large,” said ADGP Muneer Khan in a press conference.indianexpress
Delhi court grants bail to LeT suspect in 2000
Red Fort attack
Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Wednesday
granted bail to Bilal Ahmad Kawa, a suspect in the terror attack at the Red
Fort in 2000, ANI reported. Kawa, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, was
arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi earlier this
month.The police had then alleged that the 37-year-old’s bank account was used
for the hawala transactions that funded the Red Fort terror attack, as well as
militant operations in J&K .On Wednesday, Additional Sessions Judge
Sidharth Sharma said there were others accused who had been acquitted or
discharged by the trial court and the Delhi High Court, and they were facing
more serious charges than Kawa, PTI reported. The court granted bail to Kawa on
a personal bond of Rs 50,000, and asked him not to obstruct investigation.In
his bail plea, Kawa said no purpose would be served by keeping him in
custody.scroll
Another Kashmiri youth beaten up in Haryana
Ambala: 5 days after two Kashmiri students
were beaten up by a group of youth in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district, a
student from Kashmir was attacked by youths at a private university at Mullana,
50 km from Ambala. Incident occurred at Maharishi Markandeshwar University on
Wednesday.Mullana SHO Rajesh Kumar and university security in-charge Manbir
Singh said the complainant, Mudasir Ahmed, who is studying for a bachelor’s
degree in radiology, and Krishan Kumar, a second year bachelor of pharmacy
student, had an argument before he beat him up. Kumar was placed under
suspension soon after the altercation. udasir, who hails from Sopore, said
Kumar used to intimidate him and pass remarks about Kashmiris to which he
objected. “On Wednesday, he sought to meet me but when I met him at the market
near the university, he slapped and beat me along with some outsiders,” Mudasir
said.HT
Haryana to withdraw 70 FIRs, Jats adamant on
disrupting Amit Shah’s rally
Rohtak:Even as Haryana Govt announced to
withdraw 70 cases against Jats registered during the February 2016 quota stir, All
India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti president Yashpal Malik said they will go
ahead with their plan to disrupt BJP national president Amit Shah’s Jind rally
on Feb. 15.HT
Union Minister Giriraj booked in land grabbing
case in Patna
PATNA:Union Minister and BJP MP from Nawada in
Bihar Giriraj Singh has been booked in a case of land grabbing along with 32
others in Danapur of Patna district.On the direction of the Patna Civil court,
an FIR was lodged at the Danapur police station, on the outskirts of Patna
against Mr. Singh, who is Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,
allegedly for forcibly grabbing over 2 acres.Resident of Asopur village in
Danapur Ram Narayan Prasad had petitioned in the SC/ST special court the 33
persons had conspired to grab his over 2 acres for sale and purchase.Danapur
police station officer-in-charge Sandeep Kumar said the case has been lodged
under various sections of IPC and SC /ST Act as well.The Rashtriya Janata Dal
has demandedSingh’s resignation.thehindu
Budget Session: Chidambaram poses 12 questions
to Modi, claims real GDP growth nil since 2014
Mocking the Modi Govt's economic policies, P
Chidambaram said that we are the only country that claims that the jobs have
gone down but the GDP has gone up."Where have all the jobs gone? what is
this mystery? I will tell you," Chidambaram said as he read out a data
about a slew of vacancies across Govt departments. He asked 12 questions related to the state of
the economy as he claimed that the real GDP of the country, in various sectors,
has not changed since 2014. The real GDP values are adjusted for inflation,
while the nominal GDP figures are not. firstpost
CBI probing how Aircel-Maxis draft report
reached Chidambaram: Sources
NEW DELHI: CBI is conducting an internal
inquiry into how a 2013 draft report prepared by it in connection with the
Aircel-Maxis probe reached former finance minister P Chidambaram's residence,
from where the Enforcement Directorate had seized it during a raid, CBI sources
said.Sources in the ED said the document was seized by the sleuths of the
agency on January 13+ from the Jor Bagh premises of the Chidambaram family.The
agency, on that day, had searched a number of premises in Delhi and Chennai,
linked to Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram.PTI
Tharoor fears BJP planning ‘major assault’ on
the Constitution
BJP Govt is looking to make a’major assault’
on the Constitution if the ruling party gets a majority in both the Houses of
Parliament, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who feels the attack on various
constitutional provisions, like Article 370
on Kashmir and secularism, will be part of attempts to create a Hindu
Rashtra (nation).Tharoor, a second-time Lok Sabha member from
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, also feels that the Congress and like-minded
secular parties should come together on a common platform to resist the
Hindutva onslaught in the next Lok Sabha elections. Even the Left parties could
come on that platform post elections if necessary, according to him.IANS
Sushma Swaraj meets Saudi King, discusses
steps to boost strategic ties
Riyadh;External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
on met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and discussed steps to further intensify
the bilateral strategic partnership in all sectors and to work towards each
other’s progress. Swaraj, who arrived on Tuesday on her maiden visit to Saudi
Arabia, called on King Salman here. “Steps to further intensify our strategic
partnership in all sectors and to work together towards each other’s progress
came up during warm discussion,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson
Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Earlier, Swaraj met her Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir
and discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade, energy, defence and security
ties. Kumar said the discussions between the two leaders focused on enhancing
trade and investment, energy, defence and security, culture and people-to-people
ties. The two leaders also discussed the regional and global situation, Kumar
said.PTI
Saudi temporarily bans poultry imports from
India over bird flu
Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned imports of
live birds, hatching eggs and chicks from India after a form of bird flu that
is highly lethal for poultry was found, the Saudi agriculture ministry said on
Thursday.In January, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said,
citing a report from the India's agriculture ministry, that India had reported
an outbreak of a highly contagious bird flu virus near Bengaluru in the
southern state of Karnataka.The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and
Agriculture said in a statement that its ban was issued in accordance with the
warning released by the Paris-based OIE, the Saudi state news agency SPA
reported. According to OIE report, posted on its website, the H5N8 virus was
detected on December 26 among birds in the village of Dasarahalli, killing nine
out of 951 birds. The others were culled. No details were given on the type of
birds involved.Reuters
Palestine’s deputy envoy: PM Modi to “touch
and see” Israel’s atrocities during his visit
Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas will show PM
Narendra Modi how Israel is “destroying”
the two-state solution in the occupied territories by constructing settlements
and military checkpoints.“The PM will
“touch and see on the ground” how Israel is destroying the two-state solution,”
Dr Wael Albattrekhi, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Palestine Embassy in New
Delhi has said.PM Narendra Modi will be
visiting Palestine on Feb.10, as part of his three-nation tour to the UAE and
Oman.“We believe and expect that India will stand with justice, right and with
the resolutions of international legitimacy and international consensus
regarding the Palestinian issues and the conflict between Israel and Palestine,
in order to end the Israeli occupation,” Dr Albattrekhi said ahead of PM’s
visit.nationalheraldindia
India looks to pile pressure on China, seeks
overhaul of UN sanctions committees
Washington;With China determined to block any
effort to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar declared a terrorist by the
UN, India has launched a diplomatic drive for more transparency and
accountability in the way the world body sanctions terrorists, or other
entities.The near-term objective of this ambitious project — a change of this
kind at the United Nations could take 20 years or more — is to “raise the bar”
for China, said an official familiar with the push, and make it difficult for
Beijing to hold or block such an effort from the safety of anonymity.India’s
permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin launched the drive Tuesday,
as he questioned the functioning of sanctions committees, saying these formed
the “subterranean universe” of the security council.“Unlike in the security
council, where vetoes are cast in public meetings and explanations made
publicly, in the subterranean universe, no such practice exists,” he said
during a debate on the working methods of the security council.hindustantimes
India’s education budget still far short of what
Kothari Commission recommended: RTE Forum
Right to Education (RTE) Forum on Wednesday
expressed its concern over the education budget for the country which, it said,
continues to fall short of the global average and the recommendations of the
Kothari Commission. The forum, which invited several parliamentarians to
discuss the funds for education in the Union Budget 2018-19, pointed out the
reduced allocation for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the other one meant
for secondary education. Asking for an increased “transparency and
accountability”, Forum’s convener Ambrish Rai said Govt reduced SSA’s
allocation by 17 % in last three years (not including this year).IANS
Rajasthan Man held after slapping a Muslim beggar, forcing him to chant ‘Jai Shri
Ram’
JODHPUR: A 22-year-old man was arrested by
Sirohi police after a disturbing video of him slapping a Muslim beggar and
forcing him to chant "Jai Shri Ram" went viral on social media
groups.In the 3-minute video, Vinay Kumar Meena, in an inebriated condition, is
seen slapping Mohammad Salim (45) and hurling expletives at him. "The
accused was heavily drunk and recorded the video himself. Meena grabbed Salim's
beard and slapped him multiple times, asking him to chant "Jai Shri Ram",
while the victim trembles in fear. Meena again punched and slapped him,"
an official informed TOI."The accused is a resident of Pali. He had come
to meet his father who works at Abu Road. Meena realised that he was in trouble
after the video went viral. To salvage his reputation, he shot another video
wherein he apologised for the act and spoke about his firm belief in the
diversity of the country," he said, adding that Meena was arrested on
Tuesday.TOI
Woman’s parents allegedly kidnap her for marrying
a Muslim man, HC tells them to get marriage registered
Mumbai: In good news for a Mankhurd-based
Muslim man, his Hindu wife on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court of her
willingness to continue living with her husband and his family. This comes
after the woman was allegedly kidnapped by her parents, who opposed the
‘inter-caste’ marriage. The woman, a native of Mangalore, was produced before
the division bench of Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice BP Colabawala, who were
hearing the habeas corpus petition of her husband Iqbal Chaudhary.According to
Iqbal, he met his wife on Facebook way back in 2011 and after having a love
affair for nearly six years, the couple decided to marry in June 2017. His wife
left her parent’s house in Mangalore and came down to Mumbai in June last year
and within a few days she got converted into Islam. The couple got married as
per rituals of the Muslim community.“After they got married, the wife’s family
went to Iqbal’s house and threatened them; later, a group of men too barged
into the house and made similar threats. While the couple were spending some
time together in Vashi, the wife was kidnapped by some unknown persons, who
Iqbal claimed were from her family,” said advocate Hasnen Qazi, who represents
Iqbal in the court.freepressjournal
No proposal to remove Darwin's theory from
curriculum: HRD
NEW DELHI: There is no proposal to remove
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution from school or college curricula, the
Rajya Sabha was informed today."CBSE has intimated that Charles Darwin's
evolution of species is a part of the curriculum under the elective subject of
Biology for class 12," Minister of State for HRD Satya Pal Singh said in
response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.PTI
India ranks 44 out of 50 nations in global
Intellectual Property index
Washington :India has “increased
substantially” its score in the latest international Intellectual Property (IP)
index released by the US Chambers of Commerce on Thursday, ranking 44th out of
50 countries. India’s overall score has increased substantially from 25 per
cent (8.75 out of 35) in the 5th edition of the Index to 30 per cent (12.03 out
of 40) in the 6th edition, according to the annual report prepared by the
Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of the US Chambers of Commerce. Despite
improvement in the score, India continues to remain towards the bottom of the
ladder. It now ranks 44 out of 50 countries.PTI
WORLD
Maldives President sends envoys to China,
Pakistan and Saudi ; India not on list
New Delhi:Maldives’ beleaguered President
Abdulla Yameen, facing pressure from the world community to end a state of
emergency, has dispatched envoys to the “friendly nations” of China, Pakistan
and Saudi Arabia to lobby for support but has no plans to send a representative
to India, one of the island nation’s closest allies.PTI, however, quoted the
island nation’s envoy to India Ahmed Mohamed as saying, “ India was in fact the
first stop planned and proposed for a visit of a special envoy of the president
of Maldives. However, the dates proposed were not suitable for the Indian
leadership.”“We understand the external affairs minister is out of country and
the PM is leaving for UAE during the
week,” he added.An official said three members of the Cabinet, on the direction
of Yameen, will visit “friendly nations of the Maldives and provide updates on
the current situation”.Economic development minister Mohamed Saeed was sent to
China while foreign minister Mohamed Asim left for Pakistan on Wednesday
evening. Agriculture minister Mohamed Shainee was scheduled to travel to Saudi
Arabia on Thursday.The move showed Yameen’s regime had decided to align itself
closely with China, which had on Wednesday opposed any foreign intervention in
the Maldives while responding to Nasheed’s call to India to use its military to
end the turmoil in the island nation.hindustantimes
Ex-Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia gets 5 years in
jail for corruption
Dhaka:A Bangladesh judge convicted opposition
leader Khaleda Zia of corruption and sentenced her to five years in jail on
Thursday as police clashed with thousands of her supporters outside the
court.The court found the two-time former premier guilty of embezzling money
meant for an orphanage, a charge she had consistently dismissed as politically
motivated.Zia, leader of BNP, is expected to appeal against the verdict, but it
may affect her ability to stand in a general election slated for December.“This
is a false and staged case. No way we will accept this verdict,” BNP secretary
general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told AFP after the hearing.Zia’s lawyer Khandkar
Mahbub Hossain said the ruling was “political vengeance” and would be
overturned by a higher court.Ahead of the hearing police fired tear gas at
thousands of opposition activists who defied heavy security to escort the car
taking Zia to the magistrates court.The private television station Somoy said
at least five police officers had been injured and 2 motorcycles torched during
the clashes that broke out several kilometres (miles) from the court premises.
Around 3,500 opposition activists and officials were arrested in a sweep by
security forces ahead of the verdict according to BNP spokesman Rizvi
Ahmed.Human Rights Watch on Thursday urged the Govt to stop what it called
“arbitrary arrests and detentions”.“The Bangladesh Govt’s claims to be open and
democratic ring hollow as it cracks down on political dissent,” said the
group’s Asia director Brad Adams. “The Govt has a responsibility to prevent and
minimise violence, but it needs to do so in a way that respects basic rights,
not flouts them.”Many private schools declared a holiday on Thursday in
anticipation of the verdict, while several ride-hailing services announced a
day-long suspension of their operations.AFP
Khaleda Zia jailed for five years in
corruption case
Myanmar 'starving out' Rohingya in Rakhine:
Amnesty
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/myanmar-starving-rohingya-rakhine-amnesty-180207141718699.html
Authorities in Myanmar have robbed, abducted
and deliberately starved Rohingya men, women and children, in an effort to make
life "so intolerable" for members of the minority group that they
will leave the country, Amnesty International says. In a briefing released on
Wednesday, the human rights group alleged that "ethnic cleansing
continues" against the Rohingya, nearly 690,000 of whom have fled Myanmar
since the state launched a violent crackdown in northern Rakhine state last
August.Security forces have robbed Rohingya families at checkpoints as they
attempted to flee to Bangladesh and abducted women and girls from their
villages, prompting others to leave in fear, Amnesty reported.However, the
Rohingya said the main reason they continue to flee the country is a shortage
of food."We weren't able to get food, that's why we fled," Dildar
Begum, 30, from a village near the town of Buthidaung in Rakhine state, told
Amnesty International.The food shortage has been caused in large part by the
actions of Myanmar's security forces, who are blocking Rohingya from accessing
their rice fields, markets and humanitarian aid, Amnesty said."Deliberate
actions by the Myanmar authorities ... are in effect starving out many Rohingya
who have tried to remain in their villages," the group said.Amnesty based
its findings on interviews conducted in Bangladesh with 11 Rohingya men and
eight women who fled their homes in December and Jan.Earlier this month, AP
uncovered evidence suggesting that hundreds of Rohingya had been massacred in
late August by Myanmar authorities and buried in mass graves.aljazeera
‘We’ll starve you out’: How hunger was used to
target Rohingya in Myanmar
George W. Bush says Russia meddled in 2016
U.S. presidential poll
ABU DHABI:Former United States President
George W. Bush on Thursday said “there’s pretty clear evidence that the
Russians meddled” in the 2016 presidential election.Without mentioning
President Donald Trump by name, Mr. Bush appeared to be pushing back on Mr.
Trump’s decisions on immigration, as well as trying to have warmed relations
with Russia.“There’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled. Whether
they affected the outcome is another question.” Bush said in Abu Dhabi at a
summit put on by the Milken Institute, an economic think tank based in
California. Bush said that “it’s problematic that a foreign nation is involved
in our election system. Our democracy is only as good as people trust the
results.”AP
East Ghouta reels under intense Russian,
Syrian bombing
Residents and medical sources in Eastern
Ghouta have warned that the Damascus suburb is running short of food, water and
medical supplies amid intense Russian and Syrian bombardment of the rebel-held
area.The area's designation as a de-escalation zone by Turkey and allies of the
Syrian Govt, such as Russia and Iran, has not prevented Syrian forces aided by
Moscow from trying to capture the area.Nearly 200 people have died in four days
of intense bombardment in the area, whose 400,000 residents have been besieged
since 2013. Ahmed Al-Khaled, a wheelchair-bound 34-year-old father of two, told
Al Jazeera the area was being "pounded by rockets" day and night by
Syrian warplanes, and that residents had few places where they could seek
safety.Ahmad Ahmad, a local councillor, told Al Jazeera that Eastern Ghouta was
facing a "catastrophic situation"."People here feel that there
is no shelter or safe place to avoid the shelling," he said, adding:
"I feel a serious threat to me and my family's life."Ahmad explained
that, given the shortages of food and water, many were taking desperate
measures to stay alive."Weare suffering from a major shortage of drinking
water and food. aljazeera
Syria: Israel launched missiles at military
targets
Syria has accused Israel of launching air
raids on military positions near the capital Damascus, saying the attack showed
its support for "terrorist organisations" operating in the area.The
raids early on Wednesday targeted military forces in Jamraya, 10km northwest of
Damascus, the Syrian military said in a statement carried by state news agency
SANA."This morning Israeli warplanes fired several missiles from Lebanese
airspace on one of our military positions in the Damascus countryside," it
said. "Our air defence systems blocked them and destroyed most of
them."UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,
said some Israeli missiles did hit Syrian targets."Syria's air defence
system blocked some of the missiles, but others hit ammunition depots near
Jamraya,"said SOHR chief Rami Abdel Rahman.aljazeera
Yemeni Nobel laureate: Saudi , UAE occupy
Yemen
Yemeni Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman
has called for an end to what she says is a military occupation of her country
by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in an exclusive interview with the Reuters news
agency.An outspoken rights advocate and activist with Yemen's Islah party,
Karman won the prize in 2011 after camping out in a tent for months in
pro-democracy protests that eventually forced Yemen's longtime leader Ali
Abdullah Saleh to step down."Saudi-Emirati occupation ... betrayed the
Yemenis and sold them out, exploiting the coup of the Houthi militia backed by
Iran on the legitimate Govt, to exercise an ugly occupation and greater
influence", Karman told Reuters by phone in an interview from her base in
Istanbul, Turkey.aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Could the violence on the LoC graduate to
higher levels of political and military standoff?Happymon Jacob
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Finds Favor
Again:Abdallah Hendawy , Geneive Abdo, Bloomberg LP
Nine years and counting: Zakkariya, injustice
and jails of the ‘Agrahara’:Fayiza CA for TwoCircles.net
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:03 PM)
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