Evening NEWS
DIGEST
7 March 2018:18
Jamadiul-2 1439:Vol:9, No:136
INDIA
By rewriting history, Hindu nationalists aim to assert
their dominance over India: Reuters
New Delhi:During the first week of January last year, a
group of Indian scholars gathered in New Delhi. The focus of their discussion:
how to rewrite the history of the nation. Govt of Hindu nationalist PM Narendra
Modi had quietly appointed the committee of scholars about 6 months earlier.
Details of its existence are reported here for the first time.Minutes of the
meeting, reviewed by Reuters, and interviews with committee members set out its
aims: to use evidence such as archaeological finds and DNA to prove that
today’s Hindus are directly descended from the land’s first inhabitants many
thousands of years ago, and make the case that ancient Hindu scriptures are fact
not myth.Interviews with members of 14-person committee and ministers in Modi’s
Govt suggest the ambitions of Hindu
nationalists extend beyond holding political power in this nation of 1.3
billion people - a kaleidoscope of religions. They want ultimately to shape the
national identity to match their religious views, that India is a nation of and
for Hindus. In doing so, they are challenging a more multicultural narrative
that has dominated since the time of British rule, that modern-day India is a
tapestry born of migrations, invasions and conversions. That view is rooted in
demographic fact. While the majority of Indians are Hindus, Muslims and people
of other faiths account for some 240 million, or a fifth, of the populace. The
committee’s chairman, KN Dikshit said, “I have been asked to present a report
that will help the Govt rewrite certain
aspects of ancient history.”Committee’s creator, Culture Minister Mahesh
Sharma, confirmed in an interview that the group’s work was part of larger
plans to revise India’s history.For India’s Muslims, who have pointed to
incidents of religious violence and discrimination since Modi took office, the
development is ominous. The head of AIMIM, Asaduddin Owaisi, said his people
had “never felt so marginalised in the independent history of India.”“Govt,” he
said, “wants Muslims to live in India as second-class citizens.”Modi did not
respond to a request for comment for this article. Referring to the emblematic
colour of Hindu nationalist movement, RSS spokesman Manmohan Vaidya said that
“true colour of Indian history is saffron and to bring about cultural changes
we have to rewrite history.” Balmukund Pandey, the head of the historical
research wing of RSS, said he meets regularly with Culture Minister Sharma. “The
time is now,” Pandey said, to restore India’s past glory by establishing that
ancient Hindu texts are fact not myth.Sharma said he expects the conclusions of
the committee to find their way into school textbooks and academic research.
The panel is referred to in Govt documents as the committee for “holistic study
of origin and evolution of Indian culture since 12,000 years before present and
its interface with other cultures of the world.”Sharma said this “Hindu first”
version of Indian history will be added to a school curriculum which has long
taught that people from central Asia arrived in India much more recently, some
3,000 to 4,000 years ago, and transformed the population. Hindu nationalists
and senior figures in Modi’s party reject the idea that India was forged from a
mass migration. They believe that today’s Hindu population is directly
descended from the land’s first inhabitants. Historian Romila Thapar said the
question of who first stood on the soil was important to nationalists because
“if the Hindus are to have primacy as citizens in a Hindu Rashtra (kingdom),
their foundational religion cannot be an imported one.” To assert that primacy,
nationalists need to claim descent from ancestors and a religion that were
indigenous, said Thapar. Culture Minister Sharma said he will present the
committee’s final report to parliament and lobby the nation’s Ministry of HRD
to write the findings into school textbooks. That ministry, which is
responsible for education and literacy programmes, is also headed by an
adherent of RSS, Prakash Javadekar.“We will take every recommendation made by
the Culture Ministry seriously,” Javadekar said. The minutes and interviews
with committee members lay out a comprehensive campaign to achieve this,
including the dating of archaeological sites and DNA testing of human
remains.Culture Minister Sharma said he wants to establish that Hindu
scriptures are factual accounts.
Try to find correlation between ancient Indian history
and epics: Govt committee
After Lenin and Periyar, Ambedkar Statue Vandalised in
UP’s Meerut
New Delhi: After Lenin and Periyar statues, a statue of
BR Ambedkar was vandalised in Meerut district’s Mawana Khurd on Wednesday
morning.UP police swung into action and rushed a team to the spot to avoid any
untoward incident. However, sources said that it is not a “fall-out of any
political vendetta”, but related to local caste tension. No clashes have been
reported in the area and the statue has been re-installed, they said.2 days ago
a finger of a BR Ambedkar statue was found broken in Aligarh, following which
local residents had protested. Last year also there were reports of Ambedkar
statue vandalism in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar. Calling B R Ambedkar a "holy
symbol", Dalit activist John Dayal condemned the incident. He further said
BJP should expel H Raja for his ‘casteist Periyar’ post, which was put up hours
before the Periyar statue was vandalised in Tamil Nadu.“From statues to human
beings, we are just a step away. And this is scary. This has to be condemned. H
Raja should be arrested immediately for creating hatred among communities. It’s
a criminal act, and I am surprised that BJP did not throw him out. It’s going
to affect the party severly in South. Tripura governor Tathagatha Roy’s
statement has only added fuel to the fire and he should not have tweeted that,”
Dayal said.news18
After Lenin, Periyar, Jan Sangh founder Mookerjee's
statue vandalized: PM condemns incidents
Following the pulling down of Lenin's statue in Tripura
two days ago and vandalism of Periyar's statue in Tamil Nadu a day later, PM Narendra
Modi condemned these incidents in strong words, saying stern action will be
taken against those found guilty, a statement by his office read.Home Minister
Rajnath Singh said PM Modi has spoken to him and "expressed strong
disapproval of such incidents". PM's reaction came a little ahead of
reports of vandalism of the bust of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad
Mookerjee in Kolkata. delhidailynews
Lenin, Periyar, SP Mookerjee, Ambedkar: Statue vandalism
the new political flashpoint
Ayodhya dispute: AIMPLB general secretary says only
court order acceptable
Lucknow:A day after spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar pitched for an out of court settlement of the Ayodhya issue, AIMPLB
said today that only a court order on the matter was acceptable to it.The board
also took exception to a recent reported statement made by the Art of Living
founder on the Ayodhya issue."Sri Sri's statement that after court's
decision situation of the country can become like Syria and Muslims should
leave their claim on Ayodhya is threat to Muslims and the court both. This is
an attack on the country's well being," AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana
Wali Rehmani said.As far as the board is concerned, we have already said that
the decision of court will be acceptable to all, he said.Asked about a letter
written to AIMPLB by Ravi Shankar yesterday, in which he suggested Muslims gift
one acre at Ayodhya site to Hindus who will provide 5 acres for a mosque,
Rehmani said, "he will comment on it only after discussion with board
members".Asked about Rabi Shankar's concerns regarding communal violence,
Rehmani said, "If he has any such apprehension, he should find a way out
to avoid a situation of communal clashes.PTI
Ayodhya dispute: Shiv Sena launches scathing attack on
Sri Sri Ravi for 'Syria' remark
The Shiv Sena today slammed spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar for his remarks on the Ayodhya dispute through a stinging column in its
magazine Saamana. Accusing Sri Sri of interfering with the Ram Mandir-Babri
Masjid process, Saamana article said that the spiritual guru has issued a
license of chaos and violence by comparing India to Syria. "Saying that
peaceful and tolerant India can become Syria is a sign of lack of control. It
is important to find out which agency this guru is associated with," the
article said.indiatvnews
Sri Sri’s agenda exposed, court should take notice:
Maulana Ajmal
Barelvi clerics
cold-shoulder Sri Sri’s mediation bid
Contempt action against Sri Sri sought
Hyderabad: Legal luminaries, Muslim religious scholars
and political leaders have demanded that the Union of India should take action
against Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, for inciting the people with regard to the Babri
Masjid and Ram Temple issue.Justice P. Lakshman Reddy, ex-judge of the High
Court, said that proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act have to be
initiated against Ravi Shankar as he has attempted to influence the Supreme
Court through his statement.He said the Ram Temple and Babri Masjid case is
purely a civil suit and the verdict will be based on the record and proof, and
will not consider any extraneous circumstances. N. Ramachander Rao, BJP MLC and
member of the Bar Council of India, said it must be seen in what context Ravi
Shankar made such a statement. If it is a word of caution it would not fall
under the definition of incitement or spreading hatred among communities and if
it is for certainly inciting the people it is objectionable.Pappu Nageswara
Rao,criminal lawyer in HC said that Centre has to looked into whether the
statement of Sri Sri attracts Section 153(A) of IPC or not.DeccanChronicle.
Jamiat comes out in support of PFI, slams Jharkhand BJP
govt for banning it: muslimmirror
New Delhi:After Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, another prominent
Muslim group Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has slammed Jharkhand’s BJP Govt for prescribing ‘Popular Front of India’
(PFI). Jamiat said the decision of banning the outfit smacks ‘partisan attitude
of the Govt while Hindutva outfits have been inciting violence and hatred
against minorities in the state. It also said Jharkhand witness dozens of
mob-lynching incidents but the state Govt failed to bring the culprits to
book.In a statement issued to media on Tuesday, Maulana Mahmood Madani, General
Secretary of Jamiat criticized the ban imposed on PFI in Jharkhand.He said that
“allegation of being a terrorist was not a matter of joke while the country
stands united in the fight against the menace of terrorism. Therefore it is an
onerous responsibility of Govt s to take this issue with due care and
sensitivity and adopt a tough stance on terrorism, he said.He said the ban on
PFI seems to be a vindictive action against members of a particular
religion.“But in this regard, they should refrain from steps which smack of
partisan or vindictive action against members of any particular religion, caste
and creed etc as it will lead to developing sense of victimhood among the
marginalized section”.
Aadhaar linking deadline: Govt tells SC it
could be extended beyond March 31
New Delhi:Almost daily people in India are getting tens
of messages from their banks, phone service providers and various other
companies and agencies that they must link the Aadhaar number to bank accounts
and phones numbers etc before March 31. However, the central Govt has told the SC,
which is hearing a constitutional challenge to Aadhaar programme, that it is
open to extend the March 31 deadline to link Aadhaar with phone numbers and
bank accounts. The Govt has said that
the deadline could be extended in case the decision in the Aadhaar case doesn't
come before March 31.According to PTI, the Centre has said that more time would
be needed to conclude the prolonged hearing in the Aadhaar case and hence the Govt
may extend the deadline from March 31.A
5-judge Constitution bench comprising CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AK Sikri, AM
Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan agreed with the contention of
Attorney General KK Venugopal."We have extended the deadline in the past
and we will extend the deadline again but we may do it by the end of month to
enable the petitioners in the case conclude the arguments," Venugopal
said.India Today
Aadhaar hearings: Aadhaar bank account linkage violates
the 'Right to Equality' argue the petitioners
Don't make Aadhaar number mandatory for enrolling NEET
candidates, SC tells CBSE
New Delhi:The Supreme Court directed the CBSE not to
make Aadhaar number mandatory for enrolment of students appearing in the NEET
2018 and other all India exams.A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief
justice of India Dipak Misra, directed the CBSE to upload the information on
their website.On Feb. 27, Gujarat High Court dismissed a plea challenging CBSE's
decision seeking Aadhaar number or Aadhaar enrolment number from those desiring
to appear for the NEET.The appeal in the SC challenged the HC order.thehindu
Database on Hate Violence Launched in Delhi
New Delhi: A dedicated portal that would document hate
violence in the country was launched on Wednesday here at the Constitution
Club. The database, a first of its kind after the HT tracker was shutdown, is a
joint civil society effort and is run by a large network of civil society
organizations both at the national and at the grassroot level.“The objective of
the database is to encourage community based reporting and intervention through
a common documentation platform for civil society of marginalised groups:DOTO
database. A platform that addresses both immediate and long-term issues related
to the systemic violation of fundamental rights, erosion of constitutional
values and the organization and deployment of ‘hate’,”said organizers. “The
work on the database had started in late 2017. The incidents recorded on the
database are post the year 2014.”“Currently, our database has 488 incidents in
which 2607 victims are reported.In his speech, Dr. Zafrul Islam Khan, Chairman,
Delhi Minorities Commission, while lauding the efforts behind the database,
talked about suffering of thousands of Muslims and Dalits.Prof. Ram Puniyani,
senior activist, pointed out that the efforts like this database are a major
step in moving towards social justice. Dr. John Dayal illustrated the years of
experience of civil society and Christian Networks in documenting cases of
violence against Christians, and how they have been using church-based
documentation, specific helpline to record data and thereafter the network of
lawyers and advocacy tools at national – international level to pursue
justice.Eminent civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad, founder of Peacemap and
Helpline, was also present at the launch. Other dignitaries who spoke included
Adv Sanjay Hegde, Senior Adv, Ravi Nair, Civil rights activist, and senior
journalist Saba Naqvi.DOTO database are supported by various organizations
including Quill Foundation, NCHRO, Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind, Jamiat Ulema Hind,
APCR, Citizens Against Hate, United Against Hate, Citizens for Justice and
Peace, SIO, Fraternity,N MSO, Jamiat Ahle Hadees, Mushawarat.caravandaily
Database for hate crimes launched in Delhi
President Kovind praises AMU role in education, nation
building
Aligarh:The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind today
commended the role of Aligarh Muslim University, AMU in imparting education and
its special role in ‘India’s development’. He emphasised that mutual respect
and acceptance of alternative ways of thinking and living are India’s natural
way of life.Addressing the annual convocation of the AMU today the President
said that students of AMU have made their mark not only in India but also in
the other parts of the world, particularly in Asia and Africa.He recalled that
during his state visit to Ethiopia in 2017, he was happy to learn that the wife
of Ethiopian Govt was an alumna of
AMU.theindianawaaz
UP Police Cracks Down on AMU Students Who Called to Show
Black Flags to President Kovind
Aligarh: UP Police has issued notice to 6 students of
AMU for opposing President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit in the institute on its 65th
annual convocation on Wednesday. The students have been asked to file bonds of
Rs 5 lakh each declaring that they would not indulge in any disruptive
activities including showing black flags to the President.Aligarh SSP Rajesh
Pandey told the Times of India that notices were issued to the students under
CrPC’s preventive sections 107 and 116 and they are being asked to file bonds
of Rs 5 lakh each.The students who were issued notices are Mohd Junaid Ahmad,
Mohd Nadeem Ansari, Adnan Aamir, Jayad Shervani, Rao Faraj Waris and Imran
Khan.Students have been protesting against the President’s remark made in 2010
against the Muslims and Christians living in the country. “We are not opposing
the visit of the President; we oppose the ‘sanghi’ mindset,” student union
Secretary Mohammad Fahad had said.india.com
UP police issues notices to 6 AMU students for opposing
President’s visit on convocation day
BHU violence: Judicial probe lets ex varsity V-C off the
hook, indicts Yogi Govt for inaction
New Delhi:Letting former Banaras Hindu University (BHU) V-C
GC Tripathi off the hook, the judicial inquiry, set up by the varsity to probe
the incident of lathicharge on students protesting an incident of sexual
harassment last year, has blamed the state administration for inaction and even
alluded to a political conspiracy behind the agitation and the subsequent
violence on campus. Ex-Allahabad High Court judge VK Dikshit, who was appointed
in Sept.2017 by the then university V-C, submitted his report to the BHU
authorities this month. According to university sources, a copy of the report
has been shared with NHRC, National Commission for Women and HRD
Ministry.indianexpress
MP HC disposes Muslim man’s plea to get back wife, sends
her back to parents
Bhopal: MP High Court has disposed a habeas corpus
petition filed by a Muslim man who said that the parents of his Hindu wife had
“illegally detained” her because they did not approve of their marriage. Sameer
Khan moved the high court in Jan., saying he married 23-year-old woman in Sept.and
that the couple lived in Indore, where he runs a boutique. When her parents
came to know of the marriage they took her away and did not let her return, he
stated.The woman was produced in the court of justice J K Maheshwari on Feb.26.
She said in court that she wanted to return to Sameer if he agrees not to marry
again and she is not asked to change her name. Advocate Kuldeep Pathak, petitioner’s
counsel, said after Sameer agreed to the conditions, the woman agreed to return
to him. Govt advocates then suggested
that the judge hear the woman in his chamber because she had not been able to
make up her mind and appeared confused.When the court met again at 3.30 pm, the
woman said she wanted to go back to her parents, who were present in court. The
parents told the court that they will take care of their daughter.Though the
order was given on Feb.26, a copy of the judgment was made available laterThe
judge disposed the plea, saying the girl was not in illegal
detention.indianexpress
UP: Mob torches shop of Muslim youth who eloped with
Hindu girl
Bareilly: A mob allegedly burnt down the pharmacy of a
Muslim youth, who eloped with a Hindu girl, and later ransacked his house in a
village here. BJP MLA Chhatrapal Gangwar gave an ultimatum of 24 hours to
police to find the girl, failing which he said he would take up the matter with
the CM .Meanwhile, fearing police action, men from both communities have fled
the village after police filed FIRs against them. According to police, Raees
Ahmed, 20, had eloped with a 16-year-old Hindu girl after Holi at Nadeli
village under on March 3.TOI
No third party can interfere in marriage of consenting
adults: Supreme Court
New Delhi:When two consenting adults get married
irrespective of their background, no relative or a third person can interfere
or threaten or unleash violence against them, the Supreme Court said on
Wednesday. Centre told the top court that state Govt s must provide protection
to couples fearing for their lives due to inter-caste or inter-faith marriages
and such couples should inform the marriage officers of any such threat so that
they can be protected.A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it will
pass a detailed judgement on a plea filed by NGO Shakti Vahini, which had moved
the apex court in 2010 seeking protection of couples from honour killings.PTI
Teesta Setalvad’s Organisation Calls for Help as She
Faces Threat to Personal Freedom
New Delhi: CJP, which has been working “to promote
harmony and secure justice for the victims and survivors of the Gujarat
genocide of 2002”, has accused the state Govt of “deliberately using malicious and
fabricated cases to perpetuate a witch hunt” against it. Moreover, it has
claimed that its secretary, Teesta Setalvad, now “faces imminent threat of her
personal freedom being curtailed should the anticipatory bail granted in 2011,
be cancelled.”Seeking support from its friends in these trying times, the
organisation has pointed out that it has been “persecuted and harassed multiple
times over the years for daring to speak truth to power”.The most recent
challenge to it came in the form of the Gujarat Govt filing an application before the Gujarat high
court asking it to quash the anticipatory bail application with respect to the Naroda
Gam case, in which the organisation has been accused of non co-operation with
the police investigation.The Wire
Jailed UP strongman Atiq X factor in key LS bypoll
Allahabad:There’s BJP, there’s SP backed by BSP, there’s
the Congress. And yet, all the buzz in UP’s political circles before the
high-profile Lok Sabha bypoll in Phulpur Sunday is about an independent
candidate who’s not even on the campaign trail.That’s because the late entry of
Atiq Ahmed, a former MP and 5-time MLA from Allahabad West, on the last day of
nominations 14 days ago, is being seen by the SP as a ploy engineered by the
BJP to polarise votes and upset calculations. Facing over 40 of cases of
murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and assault, Ahmed is
currently lodged in Deoria Jail for assaulting faculty members of an
agricultural institute in Allahabad in 2016.“Everyone knows Atiq Ahmed is
contesting on the directions of the BJP. But this has got people more angry,
all the minorities will vote for us,” claims SP Allahabad district president
Krishna Murti. Bypolls will be held on March 11 at Phulpur, vacated by Deputy CM
Keshav Prasad Maurya, and Gorakhpur, traditional constituency of CM Yogi Adityanath. On Sunday, SP pulled off a surprise
by announcing that it had support of BSP. But on Monday, Ahmed’s entry remained
the main topic of discussion among the predominantly Muslim weaving community
in Allahabad’s Mau Aima.Significantly, BJP is now playing up Ahmed as its main
rival in Phulpur. indianexpress
I don’t celebrate Eid, am proud of being a Hindu: UP CM
Adityanath
Lucknow:Tensions ran high in the state Assembly on
Tuesday as CM Yogi Adityanath responded to Leader of Opposition Ram Govind
Chaudhary’s remark that he was a CM only to “so-called Hindus”, said he does
not celebrate Eid and is proud of being a Hindu. “I do not celebrate Eid, I am
a Hindu and I am proud of it. Wearing a sacred thread at home but coming out
wearing a cap…this kind of hypocrisy is not something BJP Govt indulges in,” he
said, adding that if someone wants to celebrate Eid peacefully, Govt would
provide all support. CM further said, “There is nothing wrong in being proud of
being a Hindu.”Lashing out at rival parties in his reply to the motion of
thanks to the Governor’s address, he further said that while their Govt s used
to teach students “Ga se Gadha (donkey)”, his govt had changed it to “Ga se
Ganesha”. Earlier in the day, Chaudhary had, while speaking on the proposed
amendment to the motion of thanks to Governor’s address, said that the present Govt
was playing with the expectations of “Dalit, backwards and Muslims”. He further
alleged that it appeared that Adityanath was the CM of only “so-called Hindus”
and advised him to try to become a CM to all. Bringing up a recent statement
made by Adityanath during Holi celebrations in Mathura, Chaudhary said that
while just like Holi and Diwali are celebrated by the former, Eid was equally
significant, and claiming he does not celebrate Eid because he is a Hindu is
against the decorum of the post he holds.Citing the Kansganj violence,
Chaudhary also alleged that if the country would ever be divided, it would due
to the wrong policies of BJP. The leader of opposition further said that there
was a new trend of taking out “Tiranga Yatras” just to extend the differences
between Hindus and Muslims,and alleged, “Apka prateek Bhagwa raha
hai.”Chaudhary said that BSP and SP have come together because BJP was ignoring
the interests of the poor, Dalits, Muslims and Backwards. indian express
Ignored By Media, Nashik Long March Highlights Agrarian
Distress
Mumbai: The simmering agrarian distress that has escaped
media headlines took a new turn with the organising of the massive Long March
of the Maharashtra unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which began from
the CBS Chowk at Nashik on March 6 at 4.30 pm with tens of thousands of farmers
from all over the state. The March stopped near the Valdevi river and today,
March 7, it will proceed towards Igatpuri in Nashik district.The march will
cover a distance of 200km and will reach Mumbai on March 12 when the farmers
will move to gherao the state Assembly. Lead by kisan leaders the march will
“denounce the BJP state Govt for
betraying all its assurances given to the peasantry during the last 2 years” on
the above issues as well as the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission
and the implementation of Forest Rights Act.thecitizen
Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Shetty stabbed inside
office, attacker arrested
Bengaluru:In a massive breach of security, Karnataka
Lokayukta, Justice Vishwanath Shetty, a retired judge of the Karnataka High
Court, was stabbed thrice in his stomach in his office on Wednesday. The
accused gained access to the Lokayukta office in the guise of an advocate
intending to lodge a complaint.The assailant, identified as one Thejas Sharma,
was overpowered by staff at the office who arrived on hearing the screams of
the retired judge. Justice Vishwanath Shetty was rushed to the Mallya Hospital
in Bengaluru, where his condition is stated to be critical. The Vidhana Soudha
police have arrested Sharma and are questioning him regarding the motive behind
the attack.Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said Sharma was a contractor from
Tumakuru and he had complained to the Lokayukta about issuance of some tenders.
indianexpress
Gujarat: As sex-ratio worsens, govt plans to rope in
religious leaders to ‘change mindset’
Gandhinagar:Holding “social behaviour, mindset of the
people and reference for boys owing to certain cultural reasons’’ as factors
responsible for falling birth rate of females in Gujarat, Principal Secretary
(Health and Family Welfare Dept) Jayanti S Ravi on Tuesday said that the govt
has decided to rope in the services of temples, mutths, religious institutions,
religious leaders, and kathakaar (discoursers) to check falling birth rate of
girls and create awareness among the people about the social damage caused by
it. Sample Registration Survey data of 2016, which was released by the office
of Registrar General and Census Commissioner recently, revealed that sex ratio
has worsened in Gujarat. In urban centres of the state, the sex ratio of girls
in the age group of 0-6 years has fallen to 848 per 1,000 boys from 890 girls
per 1,000 boys in 2011, despite a number of incentives given by the state Govt for girl child over the decade. However, the
survey stated that sex ratio in the age group 0-6 years in rural Gujarat was
914 girls per 1,000 boys.Jamaat-e-Islami’s Gujarat unit representative Iqbal
Mirza said:“What is astonishing is that parents themselves are not allowing
girls to be born.This makes the issue very serious. We need to change
materialistic approach of the society to tackle this issue.”indianexpress
Peace school syllabus row: Chargesheet to be filed
within a month
Kochi:The police team probing the case related to the
teaching of textbooks propagating communal hatred in Peace International
School, Kochi, will file a chargesheet before the court within one month. Peace
Educational Foundation director and Islamic preacher MM Akbar will be named the
first accused while the key operators of Navi Mumbai-based Burooj Realization, Islamic
educational organisation, which prepared the controversial book, Dawood Mohamed
Vaid, Sameed Ahammed Sheikh and Sahil Hameed Sayed, would be the other accused
along with principal of the school and the administrator.Meanwhile, 3 managing
committee members, who are leading businessmen in Kochi, have been omitted as
they had no role in preparing the syllabus.Akbar, dubbed as Kerala’s Zakir
Naik, also told officers during the
interrogation that the syllabus prescribed for the students was prepared by a
panel headed by him. Meanwhile, Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court
rejected the bail petition moved by Akbar on Tuesday.newindianexpress
Pakistan accepts India’s humanitarian proposals for
exchange of prisoners
Karachi:Pakistan has accepted humanitarian proposals
received from India for exchange of prisoners over 70 years of age,
facilitating the visit of medical experts from both sides to examine the
mentally challenged prisoners for their repatriation and revival of judicial
committee mechanism. Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, while accepting
the proposals, also suggested that the exchange be applicable to child
prisoners under 18 years of age and those who are over 60.“Foreign Minister,
after consulting with all the stakeholders, has approved the following
humanitarian proposals, which had been received from the Indian side, regarding
the civilian prisoners incarcerated in both the countries: Exchange of three
categories of prisoners, women, mentally challenged or with special needs and
those above 70 years of age.ii. Revival of Judicial Committee mechanism. iii.
Facilitating the visit of medical experts (from both sides) to meet and examine
the mentally challenged prisoners for their repatriation,” a statement issued
from Foreign Office said.Foreign Minister also expressed the hope that India would
positively reciprocate Pakistan’s proposals, in the spirit that they have been
made. He also stated that it was his desire that through such initiatives,
Pakistan and India would embark on the road to a comprehensive dialogue and
make a conscious effort to de-escalate the extremely vitiated current
environment and the situation on the Line of Control and the Working
Boundary.the hindu
Rohingya refugee case: SC grants Centre more time to
file affidavit
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has granted more time to the
Centre to file an affidavit in the Rohingya refugees case, where it argued that
India did not want to become the world’s refugee capital. Earlier this year in
February, the Centre had responded to a plea which alleged that Rohingya
refugees who wanted to enter India after fleeing persecution in Myanmar were
being ‘pushed back’ at border by BSF in violation of UN principle of
non-refoulement.Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for two Rohingya refugees
who are in camps in India, had argued that BSF had adopted a policy called
“non-engagement” to prevent the influx of more refugees from Myanmar. Bhushan
told the court, “By this policy, the BSF does not arrest the Rohingya trying to
enter India, but they push them back and do not allow them to pass through the
border. Indian security forces push back Rohingya refugees using chilli and
stun grenades.” indianexpress
Rs 2,000 crore compensation package approved for PoK
refugees from J-K: Govt
New Delhi:The Govt said it had sanctioned a Rs 2,000-crore
compensation package for the refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
living in J&K .In a written statement, Union minister of state for home
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told Rajya Sabha that the financial package was
sanctioned on Dec. 22, 2016.He said 36,384 families were provided Rs 5.5 lakh
each.PTI
J-K: 17 protesters died of pellet gun injuries in
2016-17, says Home Ministry
17 protesters died of pellet gun injuries in J&K in the past two years, the Rajya Sabha was
informed on Wednesday. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir
also said that two security persons were killed by protesters in the Valley in
2016.As many as 13 protesters were killed in 2016 when security forces used
pellet guns to thwart the agitators while four other protesters were killed in
2017, he said. The minister in a written reply also said the Govt has
constituted an expert committee on July 26, 2016 to explore other possible
alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons.PTI
Dawood 'Keen To Return To India', But Indian Govt Not
Agreeing To Preconditions: Lawyer
Established criminal lawyer Shyam Keswani on Tuesday
said that mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, who is wanted for his role in the
1993 Bombay blasts and is currently in Pakistan, is "keen to return to
India" but his preconditions were not agreed to b Indian Govt. Keswani,
speaking to media outside Thane Court where he was representing Dawood's
brother Iqbal Ibrahim in an extortion case, said that among Dawood's conditions
are that he should be lodged only in the high-security precincts of the Arthur
Road Central Jail in Mumbai."He had also conveyed his intentions through
(ex-union minister and eminent lawyer) Ram Jethmalani a few years ago but the
Indian Govt has not entertained any of
his preconditions to return," Keswani said.newsworldindia
As tussle over AP special status continues, TDP
ministers may quit Modi Cabinet soon
Vijayawada:There are reports that TDP is all set to end
its alliance with BJP at the Centre amid the continuing dispute over special
package for Andhra Pradesh.TOI reported on Wednesday that after the Centre
refused to grant special category status to AP, most of TDP MLAs and MLCs are
believed to have told the party leadership to pull out of the Modi-led NDA Govt
at the Centre. In fact, TDP chief and AP
CM N Chandrababu Naidu is reported to be preparing to start the pull out by
asking two TDP ministers - Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdhary – to resign
from the Narendra Modi Cabinet.As TDP MPs continued to stage protest inside and
outside Parliament over the issue, Naidu today said “the Centre must fulfill
assurances made in Rajya Sabha including Special Category Status, provisions of
AP Reorganization Act, and give hand holding to Andhra Pradesh. Until we
achieve these, TDP MPs will continue to fight inside and outside
Parliament.”TOI
WORLD
Violence continues in Lanka despite emergency
A shop and a mosque in central Sri Lanka have been
attacked as communal violence continues in the South Asian island nation
despite the declaration of a state of emergency over anti-Muslim riots.A
resident of Madawala, a village close to the hill city of Kandy, said he saw a
shop burning at 11:30pm on Tuesday, just hours after President Maithiripala
Sirisena issued the emergency decree and imposed a curfew there."I heard a
building was on fire and went outside to take a look and saw a massive
blaze," Mohamed Manazir said.The shop which sold spare parts belonged to a
Muslim man, he said."There are no other major incidents in Madawala. The
police and army have taken full control of the area now, and the fire brigade
has succeeded in putting out the fire," Manazir said.Ground Views, a local
news website, meanwhile said mobs attacked a mosque in the Wattegama village,
located to the northeast of Kandy. Colombo-based website posted on Twitter
pictures of a shattered glass door and a broken chairs, and an audio clip from
a man who said he was inside the mosque when the attack happened."The
mosque is under attack by mobs. Police are shooting," he was quoted as saying
by Ground Views. aljazeera
Sri Lanka: Mobs clash with police, torch mosque
Lanka: Political rhetoric leaves minorities insecure
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
expresses serious concern over anti-Muslims violence in Sri Lanka
New Delhi:
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has expressed serious concern over the situation in Sri
Lanka. In a statement to the media today, JIH President Maulana Syed Jalaluddin
Umari said: ''We are deeply concerned about reports coming from Sri Lanka related
to imposition of an emergency to control large scale violence against Muslims
in the towns around the city of Kandy. We urge the government of Sri Lanka to
take stern action against the rioters and quickly address fears regarding the
safety and security of Muslims in the affected areas’’.Maulana Umari stated:
“There are certain Sri Lankan lawmakers who are using provocative language
while some local religious leaders are inciting violence. They should be
apprehended and confidence building measures should be initiated so that
normalcy is restored as soon as possible.” He welcomed the statement of Sri
Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who has condemned the targeting of
minorities as “racist and violent acts.” and asked for being aware of the values
of peace, respect, unity and freedom.Regarding India’s role, the JIH President
urged the government of India to partner with the Sri Lankans to ensure a swift
resolution of the problem and support them to counter the violence against
minorities. newsdigestdaily.in
US lauds Afghan offer to open talks with Taliban
US has lauded Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer to
open negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, with senior US State Dept official
Alice Wells saying armed group has some "legitimate grievances" over
governance. "We've always said that the legitimate grievances raised by
the Taliban over justice, over corruption, over predatory governance of the
past - those issues need to be resolved," said Wells at a press briefing
in Washington on Monday.Last week, President Ghani offered Taliban peace talks
"without preconditions", with a view towards recognising the armed
group, which has been fighting US and Afghan forces for 16 years, as a
legitimate political party.Wells welcomed Ghani's proposal, saying the Kabul
conference at which it was made was "a really historic and benchmark
event".Afghan Taliban have yet to formally respond to the offer.The group
has been resurgent in the battlefield in recent months, with a US watchdog
reporting in October that 43 % of the country was being contested between the
Afghan Govt and the Taliban.In January,
a BBC study found that the Afghan Taliban directly controlled 4 % of the country,
but were openly active in 70%of Afghanistan.Responding to a question on
relations with Pakistan, Wells appeared to soften US position on Afghanistan's
eastern neighbour, with whom relations have been fraught since last
year.aljazeera
Syria army intensifies fight against rebels in Ghouta
Rebels in Syria's Eastern Ghouta "refuse to
leave" and have reiterated they will defend the area, saying a
Russian-proposed withdrawal was not a serious offer, a spokesperson of one of
the rebel groups in the enclave said.Wael Olwan, of the Failaq al-Rahman (Rahman
Legion), a major armed group linked to the Free Syrian Army in Eastern Ghouta,
said on Wednesday that Moscow insists on using military escalation as a means
to cause "mass displacement"."Russia's persistence at causing
mass displacement is a crime that cannot be ignored," he said.Earlier on
Wednesday, Reuters reported that a military spokesperson for an unnamed rebel
group said that they will not accept a negotiation brought forward by
Russia.Since Feb.18, Russian-backed Govt warplanes intensified their bombardment of
Eastern Ghouta, killing at least 770 people to date, according to the
SOHR.aljazeera
Aid groups vow to deliver life-saving supplies to Ghouta
Geneva:UN will try to resume the delivery of critical
food and health supplies to the town of Douma in Syria's Eastern Ghouta on March
8 if conditions allow, UN officials have announced.A UN spokesperson said
Tuesday that a humanitarian aid convoy carrying food and health supplies for
75,000 people was only partially able to unload its content on Monday, as heavy
shelling from and into Eastern Ghouta continued, forcing the convoy to retreat. aljazeera
US-backed Syria force to redeploy 1,700 from IS fight to
Afrin
Raqa:A US-backed alliance of Syrian fighters has
announced it would redeploy around 1,700 members from front lines against the
Islamic State group to a Kurdish enclave under Turkish attack.Turkey and allied
Syrian rebels are waging a weeks-long offensive on Afrin, which is held by a
Kurdish militia that makes up the bulk of the SDF. At a news conference on
Tuesday, SDF announced it would pull fighters out of areas of eastern Syria,
where they have been fighting pockets of IS jihadists, in order to shore up
defences in Afrin. "We took the difficult decision to pull our forces out of
Deir Ezzor province and battlefronts against Daesh to head to the Afrin
battle," said Abu Omar al-Idlibi, an SDF commander, saying his fighters
numbered 1,700. US and coalition officials have said they will not get involved
in the Afrin fighting and expressed concern it would detract from the SDF's
operations against IS. "We fought Daesh. We helped the coalition in Raqa,
but without the coalition defending its partners," Idlibi said.AFP
Brotherhood Supreme Guide “dying slowly” in Egypt:
daughter
The daughter of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide
wrote on her Facebook page yesterday that her father is suffering from
illnesses contracted inside the Egyptian prison where he is being incarcerated
and doesn’t have any blankets or soap.Duha Mohamed Badie said that her father
is “dying slowly” in Tora prison.“Blankets have been taken away [from my
father’s prison cell]. He has been sleeping on the floor for more than a year
now, and without blankets. The only chair in the cell has been taken away,” she
wrote.Since a 2013 military coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi, who hails
from the Brotherhood, the group’s leaders and members have been subjected to an
unprecedented crackdown. A series of arrest campaigns has left hundreds behind
bars.Many members of Brotherhood, like Badie, are facing multiple trials in
multiple court cases and are serving prison sentences or being held in pre-trial
detention.Mohamed Badie, 74, is suffering from several health problems: “He
cannot sit on the floor or get up without leaning on that chair, and he cannot
prostrate or even kneel [during the Muslim prayer]. He used to pray [sitting]
on that chair.”Duha Badie also complained that her father is not even allowed
to use the washroom in privacy. Officers “storm cells at any time,” violating
Badie’s privacy, she wrote.Duha Badie asked, “How can [this happen to] an old
man who has been denied [family] visits for a year and a half, and has been
held in solitary confinement for nearly 5 years?” MEMO
Military operation displaces residents in Sinai
Al Jazeera has obtained exclusive footage from the Sinai
Peninsula that shows the aftermath of a major Egyptian military operation that
began a month ago against armed groups in the desert region.Witnesses told Al
Jazeera the military has demolished schools and dozens of homes, using heavy
weapons and arms machinery that range from howitzers, fighter jets, tanks and
attack helicopters. Tawfik Hamid, an Egypt domestic affairs analyst, said that
there was a deliberate message behind the show of arms."It has a very
strong symbolic meaning by sending a message both to the radicals and Egyptian people
[who] want to feel that something is being done seriously," Hamid told
said.Yet the destruction in the Sinai has displaced many residents, who say
they have nothing to return to.Al Jazeera
Indonesian Islamic varsity bans burqas on campus
An Indonesian state Islamic university faced criticism
from Muslim groups and activists on Wednesday after it banned female students
from wearing full-face veils citing fears over the spread of radical ideology
on the campus.Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, the
majority of whom practice a moderate form of Islam.But the country has seen a
recent rise in more conservative interpretations of the religion, which many
see as a threat to its long-standing reputation for religious tolerance and
diversity. State Islamic University in Yogyakarta city, on Java island, said it
had 41 students using full veil, or burqa, who would be offered counselling
sessions and ultimately be asked to take off the veil if they wanted to graduate.
Reuters
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Finance Secretary Received Gold Biscuits as
Gift for Diwali But Failed to Order Probe:thewire
How to Win Elections: Modi-Shah Primer:Seema Mustafa
Sri Sri Ups the Communal Ante By Wading into Ayodhya’s
Murky Waters:ALEESHA MATHARU
How RSS Has Reduced History to a Morality Play Between
Hindu ‘Heroes’ and ‘Other’ Villains;Ajaz Ashraf
Kashmir: Civilian killings threaten new anti-India
protests;Rifat Fareed, aljazeera
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:14 PM)
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