NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
29 April 2018:12 Shaban 1439:Vol:10, No:09
INDIA
Dalmia Group 'adopts' Red Fort:Opposition
parties accuse Modi govt of 'selling' historic monument to corporates
New Delhi:Opposition parties questioned govt's
move to allow a private entity to maintain the iconic Red Fort, days after a
corporate house signed an agreement with the tourism ministry under its 'Adopt
a Heritage' project. Congress on Saturday took potshots at the BJP over Dalmia
Bharat Group signing an agreement with the tourism ministry.It posted a poll on
Twitter, asking neizens which monument would be next “leased out to a private
entity” in the country. Dalmia Bharat Group, under the memorandum of
understanding, would maintain 17th-century monument and build basic
infrastructure around it and has committed a sum of Rs 25 crore for the purpose
over a period spanning 5 years.Sources in the know claimed the Dalmia Bharat
group bagged the contract for Rs 25 crore after beating IndiGo Airlines and GMR
group.“President announced a govt scheme on World Tourism Day in 2017 that
those interested in value addition to any service of monuments can come
forward. Some services of Red Fort has been given to Dalmia Group. No profit
activity will take place,”Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma
said.Under the scheme, private, public sector companies and corporate
individuals are invited to adopt heritage sites for promoting sustainable
tourism through conservation and for developing them.First-of-its-kind adoption
enables Dalmia group to construct, landscape, illuminate and maintain
activities related to provision and development of tourist amenities. In addition to promoting sustainable tourism
through conservation, Dalmia Bharat will also introduce other key amenities for
the visitors like app-based multilingual audio-guide, digital interactive
kiosk, digital screen, free W-Fi and cafeteria along with souvenir shop which
will help in promoting local art and craftsmanship.The decision opposed by Congress,
CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress, which slammed the government for virtually
handing over the symbol of India's Independence to a corporate."PM
Narendra Modi is preparing to mortgage India's symbol of Independence, Red Fort
to corporates. Does Modiji or BJP even understand the importance of Lal
Quila?"Congress' spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.TMC chief Mamata
Banerjee tweeted, "Why can't the Government even take care of our historic
Lal Qila? Red Fort is a symbol of our nation. It is where India's flag is
hoisted on Independence Day. Why should it be leased out? Sad and dark day in
our history."Deploring the move, the CPI (M) said that the government has
virtually handed over the Red Fort to the Dalmia group.newindianexpress
Red Fort. Couldn't Spare Rs. 5 Crore, Asks
Opposition
Historians object to Centre’s move to give Red
Fort for upkeep to corporate group
Historians of AMU have taken strong exception
to the Union Govt’s decision to give the Red Fort, protected monument, to a
corporate group under the central Govt’s ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme. Scholar Irfan
Habib, who is professor emeritus in the department of history in AMU, said that
the Govt should not have given the Red Fort to a corporate group as they are
not archaeologists or historians and are not aware of the “style” of that era.“Govt’s
aim is just to increase the tourist footfall and revenue, but in the process,
private firms are being allowed to destroy the beauty of these protected
monuments,” Habib said. RC Agarwal, ex-joint director, Archaeological Survey of
India, said the move was not in the interest of the monument. “Dalmia group has
no in-house expertise. They will also hire someone on contract and this will
not be good for the monument,” he said, adding that basic amenities should not
be provided at the cost of the monument itself.Agarwal also agreed with Habib’s
view that ministry doesn’t have archaeologists, conservators and historians,
and as a result, they do not "seem to understand that preserving heritage
should be the primary motive while marketing should be the secondary
concern". Shireen Moosvi, professor in history dept of AMU and ex secretary
of Indian History Congress,said “They should not modernise heritage as this is
our identity and people want to see it.” Citing the example of conservation work
undertaken by Agha Khan Trust at Humayun’s tomb, Moosvi said the colours, paint
and brackets at Mughal emperor’s mausoleum are not like the original. “With
such interventions, historical monuments will become like 21st century
buildings,” she added.TOI
Inputs from RSS chief, gurukul heads may be
included in Modi govt’s new education policy
New Delhi: BJP-led NDA Govt ’s new education
policy is likely to incorporate inputs and suggestions given by RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwat and educationists associated with the Sangh-backed gurukul system, HRD
minister Prakash Javadekar has indicated.“We would want to have a subject in
class XI and class XII looking at ancient India and its contribution to various
fields like science and astronomy,” Javdekar said speaking at the Virat Gurukul
Sammelan in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain Saturday.The event was organised jointly by
the BJP Govt in Madhya Pradesh and
Mahrishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratisthan. Bhagwat and MP CM Shivraj
Singh Chouhan were also present at the event.Classes XI and XII students will
study a subject called ‘Bharat Bodh’ that will contain lessons on ancient
India.Javdekar said that he has received 34,000 suggestions on the proposed curriculum.While
Javdekar hinted at inclusion of Vedic education in the new education policy, CM
Chouhan pledged his Govt ’s support to provide legal status to the gurukul
system of education.“The state will register the gurukuls and treat them on a
par with mainstream schools. Every district will promote the gurukul system and
Govt will help trusts to open new gurukuls,” Chauhan said. “We will try to make
the gurukul education autonomous,” added the CM.Bhagwat asked the existing
gurukuls not to depend on Govt s for support. He said more parents are adopting
homeschooling in the absence of an education system that could ensure holistic
development of their children.“The education should be changed if needed. Even
science undergoes change,” said RSS chief.“Newton was challenged by Einstein
and Einstein was challenged now by recent discoveries of quantum physics,” he
said. Minister of state for HRD Satyapal Singh, who was also present, said,
“We are coming with a new education policy and I believe including Vedic
education will make education system holistic.” theprint
Muslim teachers' request to provide time for
Friday prayers leaves Delhi govt in jitters
A Delhi Minorities Commission letter
forwarding a request to provide time for Friday prayers to Muslim teachers in
primary schools has left Delhi Education Dept in jitters and officials hiding
behind technicalities.The letter surfaces at a time when consolidation of votes
in communal lines has taken a toll on the electoral prospects of political
parties with secular credentials. On one hand, act of supporting Delhi
Minorities Commission recommendation might be played as minority appeasement
for votes by Opposition parties at the cost of school education to children,
and on the other hand, opposing it might be construed as siding with
majoritarian politics.The letter addressed to the Education Dept of Delhi and
those of Municipal Corporations of Delhi on 11 April came with the subject
‘Regarding permission to Muslim employees of Govt of NCT of Delhi to offer Juma prayers between
1-2 pm on Friday of every week’. The letter stated, "In this connection on
the basis of this letter, the commission has desired for a detailed report. You
are hereby requested for forward the detailed report in the aforementioned
matter for consideration and further necessary action at end of the Commission
latest by 27 April 2018."firstpost
Break for Jumu'ah prayers not allowed during
school hours: Delhi Gov
Mann-Ki-Baat programme:PM Modi remembers
Prophet, talks about his teachings of harmony
New Delhi: Days before crucial polls in
Karnataka, which has a sizeable presence of Muslim population, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday made a reference to
one of the greatest teachings of Islam and said the Prophet himself had said
that the biggest lesson for life is to help poor and feed the needy.“Prophet
himself had once said greatest teaching of Islam is to help the poor and needy
and feed them irrespective of whether you know him or not,” Modi said in his
monthly radio broadcast Mann-Ki-Baat programme over All India Radio.PM said
very shortly the sacred month of Ramzan will be on and this will be the time to
reflect on the teachings and messages of the Prophet Mohammad.“From Prophet’s
life, we must learn to live in equality and harmony,” Modi said.“The Prophet
had great faith in knowledge and love and affection. He was never proud of
anything. Prophet used to say it is the pride that kills one’s knowledge,” PM said.dailyexcelsior
Suspended UP Minority Commission Member Held
For Allegedly Impersonating Yashwant Sinha
Ex-UP Minority Commission member Kunwar Afzal
Chaudhary was arrested for allegedly impersonating as ex-BJP leader Yashwant
Sinha to get his personal works done by authorities, police said. CM Yogi
Adityanath sacked Chaudhary, a BJP leader from Ghaziabad, with immediate
effect.According to the police, Chaudhary was making phone calls and mounting
pressure on officers for getting his work done, posing himself as ex-Union
finance minister Sinha.SSP Vaibhav Krishna said Chaudhary was quizzed by the
crime branch of police. A probe was initiated against him when he tried to dupe
the district authorities for getting his illegal works done, the officer said.
Chaudhary also pretended to be UP deputy CM Dinesh Sharma and ex-Gujarat CM Shankar
Singh Vaghela over phone calls to get some works done, he said. "He made
phone calls to me to release 2 accused of thrashing a UP roadways bus conductor
in a very dictating way,"SSP said, adding that he once even asked the
district magistrate, Ritu Maheswari, to decide a land matter in favour of
retired officer."Such activities created suspicion and a probe was
launched to trace out the caller,"he said.Yesterday, the crime branch
arrested Chaudhary and his accomplice Krishna Kumar. PTI
AMUSU keeps BJP MPs away from symposium
AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) has organized a
symposium for MPs but did not invite any parliamentarian from the ruling BJP.
The symposium, "Marginalised section in India Tolerance, participation and
legitimacy of the state" saw participation from MPs from various political
parties, including Rashtriya Lokdal, SP and Jan Adhikari Party.This is not the
first time when BJP MPs have not been invited by the students union, which in
fact had even warned the university administration against inviting any BJP or
RSS functionary to the varsity’s convocation this year.They had initially
raised objection to even the participation of the President of India, Ramnath
Kovind, at the convocation function but had relented on the plea that he holds
a constitutional post.President of AMU students union, Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani
said that no BJP or RSS person will be allowed in the campus as they always
pass statements against the institution and which are aimed at dividing the
society and nation.He said, recently, a senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP,
Subramanyam Swami made a statement dubbing AMU as a "hub of
terrorists".Earlier, local MLAs had also commented against AMU.
Interestingly, no Congress MP’s turned up at the symposium. However, 6 MPs were
invited including Abhijeet Mukherjee, Deependra Singh Hooda, Pratap Singh
Bajwa, Tariq Anwar, Sanjay Singh and Guarav Gogoi.TOI
AMU students slam RSS' request to hold
'shakha' in campus
Anger is simmering among the students of AMU
following a request made by an RSS functionary to hold their 'shakha' at the
varsity campus.Furious at the 'audacity' of such an idea, AMU students have
threatened of dire consequences if such an attempt is made by the saffron
outfit to encroach into the institution. Haji Jamiluddin, a retired academician
and an AMU alumnus said that since BJP came to power, RSS is becoming bolder
and has even started recruiting some misguided Muslim youth into its cadre in
order to look like a secular organisation. Jamiluddin said that the RSS is only
aiming at destroying the minorities and establishing a Hindu dominion in the
country. Entering a prominent minority institution like AMU will be a major
victory for them.He said that allowing an organization like RSS to enter AMU
campus will be equal to throwing black ink on face of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder
of AMU.Jamiluddin demanded that the Muslim youth who has made the request to
hold a 'shakha' inside the university campus should be arrested
immediately.Ex-AMU professor AA Qureshi too said that the Muslim youth who
requested the permission to hold shakha inside the campus has sold his soul to
the RSS. No AMU student, whether former or current, would write such a letter
and orchestrate the entry of a divisive organisation like RSS into the campus.India
Today,
RSS Muslim Manch seeks AMU, Jamia VCs permission
for shakhas
Violence in Azamgarh over FB post, 15 held:TOI
15 people were arrested from Saraimeer area of
Azamgarh district on Saturday after clashes broke out in the region over an
allegedly derogatory post on Facebook. Facebook user was apprehended a day
earlier and booked under the IT Act. The accused Amit Sahu on Thursday had
allegedly written a post on Facebook, titled, “Islam mein burqa kyon (Why does
Islam advocate the use of burqa)”.Following this, enraged members of Muslim
community gheraoed the Saraimeer police station on Friday, demanding Sahu’s
immediate arrest for hurting their religious sentiments. Based on a complaint
by Obaidur Rehman of Pathani Tola, police registered an FIR against Sahu under
sections 66A and 295A of the IT Act. Sahu was apprehended on Friday night and
sent to jail on Saturday.On Saturday, scores of demonstrators gathered at
Saraimeer and demanded action under the NSA against the accused.Fifteen
demonstrators were arrested for rioting, said Azamgarh SP AK Sahani, adding
that Sahu’s post had been removed from his Facebook wall. A case has been
registered against the miscreants and they will be charged under the NSA.TOI
Azamgarh town tense after objectionable
Facebook post on Prophet
Ayodhya case purely property dispute:Hindu
bodies to SC
New Delhi: Hindu religious bodies have told
the Supreme Court that Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya was purely a
“property dispute” and the issue of political or religious senstivities cannot
be a ground to refer the matter to a larger bench. A bench of CJI Dipak Misra
and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer was told by senior advocate
Harish Salve, appearing for original plaintiff Gopal Singh Visharad who was
among the first to file a civil suit in the case way back in 1950, that there
was no need to refer the matter to a larger bench since a three-judge bench was
already seized of it. Salve said that as per the prevalent practices and
traditions of the apex court, the appeals against orders passed by a full bench
of any High Court have always come up for adjudication before a three-judge
bench of the top court, instead of a two-judge bench.However,Salve maintained
that factors like “politically sensitive, religiously sensitive” should be kept
out of the court room. “These (issues) are all those things which should be
kept outside the gate of the court,” he said, adding that the matter was a
title suit which would be adjudicate on whether the property belongs to ‘A’ or
‘B’. Former Attorney-General and senior advocate K. Parasaran, appearing for
the deity, Ram Lalla Virajman, supported Salve’s arguments and said the matter
should be heard by a three-judge bench only.He too said the court should not
send the matter to a five-judge bench as several evidence and documents will be
needed to be examined and the larger bench should not do it as it is a property
dispute.At the outset, Advocated Ramachandaran said the matter needed to be
referred to a larger bench as it is matter of “sheer importance”. He said that
considering the importance of the matter, the arguments of the state Govt, a
full bench of the high court had dealt with the matter. “This case in the high
court was dealt by the full bench not because there was substantial question of
law or there was conflict of opinion among judges, but only due to the sheer
importance of the matter, the background and the parties involved,” he said.He
said the outcome of this case will have wide ramifications on the social fabric
of the country as two major communities are involved in it.The hearing on the
matter remained inconclusive and would continue on May 15.PTI
It seems L-G does not to reconstitute the
Delhi Waqf Board: Amanatullah Khan
New Delhi:Reconstitution of Delhi Waqf Board,
which was dissolved in 2016 over allegations of corruption, is awaiting L-G's approval,
official sources said,while AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan alleged that it seems Anil
Baijal was not willing to reconstitute the body. In Oct.2016, then Lt Governor
Najeeb Jung dissolved Delhi Waqf Board after 2 of its members resigned alleging
corruption.Jung had referred the matter to CBI for a probe into alleged
"corruption" and procedural "irregularities" in the
functioning of the board chaired by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan."With the
election of Himal Akhtar to the Board from Bar Council quota last month, the
last hurdle in reconstitution of the body was cleared. Now, L-G's approval and
notification to the elected and nominated members is awaited," a Govt source said."A file of members nominated
by Delhi Govt on Board is lying pending
with L-G (Anil Baijal)," source said.Amantullah Khan claimed that the
issue was raised by AAP, including CM Arvind Kejriwal, in the budget session of
the Assembly, but nothing happened.PTI
For 2nd consecutive yr, over 50 Muslims
qualify for UPSC
New Delhi: For the second consecutive year,
over 50 Muslim candidates have qualified for the coveted civil services.An
analysis of the civil services examination results, declared by UPSC on Friday,
shows that 51 candidates from the community cleared the three-stage
examination. This is one short of the figure from the previous year, when 52
cracked the exam. In percentage terms, 5.15 % of the successful candidates are Muslims as
990 qualified this year.Saad Miya Khan, at number 25, secured the highest
rank.The increasing number of Muslims clearing the exam, considered the
toughest in the country, is being attributed to the community’s concerted
effort to groom Muslim youths for top bureaucracy. Syed Zafar Mahmood, ex-civil
servant, who has been running Sir Syed Coaching and Guidance Centre under the
parent organisation, Zakat Foundation of India, since 2007,which offers
scholarships to about 50 students annually.This year, 26 students from his
centre qualified.Some other popular academies for Muslim students are IKLAS IAS
Academy in Chennai, Aaghaz Foundation in Lucknow, Hamdard Study Circle in New
Delhi, MP Waqf Board in Bhopal, Noor and Jahan Foundation in Hyderabad.As there
were 14.2% Muslims in India as per Census 2011, the aim should be to reach a
proportional representation in administrative and police services, Mahmood
said. “We still have a long way to go but the growth has been remarkable since
last year”newindianexpress
Around 50 Muslims crack civil services exam, 5
of them are in top 100
2008 Malegaon blast case: MP High Court sets
aside trial of two former-ATS officials
Mumbai:Indore bench of the MP High Court has
set aside the trial of 2 former officials of the Maharashtra ATS in the case of
alleged kidnapping and disappearance of Dilip Patidar, a witness in the
Malegaon 2008 blast case. Maharashtra Govt has so far not granted sanction to
prosecute them. In its order passed on April 13, the high court observed that
then ATS officials, Rajendra Ghule and Ramesh More, had acted within the
discharge of their official duty and therefore, Govt sanction would be
necessary to prosecute them. It said that the CBI, the prosecuting agency in
the case, shall be free to obtain sanction under Section 197 of CrPC and to
proceed with the case, in case it is granted.The court went on to quash the
Indore special CBI court’s order of July 2017, which had led to the 2 men
facing trial for offences,including wrongful confinement, kidnapping and giving
false evidence.Patidar, a 28-year old resident of Indore, stayed along with his
family as a tenant of Ramji Kalsangra, the main accused in the blast which
occurred on Sept.29, 2008.With Kalsangra absconding, Maharashtra ATS, which was
investigating the case, had approached Patidar on Nov.10, 2008. He was taken to
Mumbai on Nov.11 and his statement recorded as a prosecution witness. ATS had
claimed that Patidar consented to give a statement to the magistrate under
Section 164 of the CrPC and since he did not have any identity proof, he was
asked to return home to get it. Patidar has been missing since.indianexpress
Kasganj communal violence: SIT files
chargesheets over murder, violence
SIT probing the Kasganj communal clashes on
Friday filed 2 chargesheets — one in the Abhishek Gupta murder case and the
other in a case of violence that followed the murder. The chargesheet in the
case of 22-year-old Gupta’s murder names 24 persons, including a 60-year-old
man. Of them, 23 are lodged in jail, while one is absconding. The property of
the accused on the run has been attached as per an earlier court directive.
Chandan was shot dead while taking out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in his locality on
January 26 to mark Republic Day. His murder led to a series of violent clashes
in Kasganj town.“Chargesheet against 24 accused in the Chandan Gupta’s murder
has been filed in the court of CJM, Kasganj. The court has taken cognizance of
the chargesheet, which is filed on various charges including murder,” said the
investigating officer, Inspector Ramesh Chand.Among those chargesheeted are
prime accused Saleem and his two brothers Rashid and Wasim. They are prominent
businessmen in Kasganj. Wasim was a member of a district industrial cell.
Additional SP, Om Prakash Singh, who is heading SIT, said, “Role of 5 other
persons is being probed in the murder case. As per evidence collected against
them, action would be taken.”Meanwhile, the chargesheet in the case of violence
names 36 accused, including 27 Muslims and nine Hindus. All accused are lodged
in jail.indianexpress
Gujarat, where survivors of Naroda Patiya
massacre plan for their next battle
On April 29, survivors of the massacre at
Naroda Patiya, where 97 people were killed in the 2002 riots of Gujarat, gather
to discuss their future course of action. On April 20, the Gujarat High Court
acquitted exBJP Minister Maya Kodnani, who had been jailed for being the
“kingpin of the violence”.Advocate Shamsad Pathan, who appeared for the victims
in the case, admitted that the verdict amounted to a big setback and they would
have to decide how to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict.After
the riot, survivors shifted to safe places such as Narol, Juhapur and Vatva.
Even after 16 years of the violence, only a handful of families have returned
to their original homes, while the rest have settled in other places.“It’s no
use going back there because it only brings us memories of those brutally
killed,” said a victim, now settled in Juhapura. He lost 3 members of his
family.Working with Jan Sangharsh Manch, an outfit set up by the late advocate
Mukul Sinha to fight for justice for the victims of the riots, Mr. Pathan is
bringing survivors, witnesses and others together to chalk out a strategy for
their legal battle in the Supreme Court.thehindu
‘Kathua mastermind had twin motives Saving
rapist son, scaring away nomads’
Jammu: Sanji Ram, the mastermind of rape and
murder in J&K ’s Kathua, has told investigators that after knowing that his
son had also raped the abducted nomad girl, he decided that she should be murdered
– to protect his son and scare away the nomads, police sources said on Friday,
reports IANS.Sanji Ram told investigators that he came to know about the victim
having been raped after four days.“After he came to know that his son Vishal
was among those who had raped the victim, Sanji Ram decided that the victim
could not be left alive,” a sources cited Sanji Ram as having told the
investigators. A juvenile accused, who is Sanji Ram’s nephew, according to the
revelations made before the investigators, had raped the victim on Jan.10 –
same day she was abducted.freepressjournal
‘Rape’ in Madrasa: Muslim Body Demands
Exemplary Punishment to Culprit through Fast-Track Court
New Delhi: All India Muslim Majlis-e
Mushawarat (AIMMM) has demanded a fast-track court to prosecute the person
accused of allegedly raping a minor girl inside a madrasa in Ghaziabad in UP. A
17-year-old boy has been arrested from the neighborhood of the madrasa.Navaid
Hamid, President of AIMMM, has also demanded “exemplary punishment” to the
accused when proven guilty.A 10-year-old girl from Ghazipur in Delhi was
allegedly raped by a 17-year-old boy, known to her and her family, inside a
madrasa in Ghaziabad area of UP on 21st
April. Until recently, girl’s family would live in the neighborhood of the
madrasa and the accused knew her and her family. Girl went missing on 21st
April from near her house in Ghazipur when she out to purchase some household
item. When she did not return, her family lodged a missing complaint with the
police. CCTVs showed the girl with the accused. Later her mobile signals were
traced to the madrasa. The minor accused was arrested by the Delhi
Police.caravandaily
‘Dr Kafeel Khan Sache Bharati’ Families of
Children He Saved Greet Doctor As He Steps Out of Jail
Gorakhpur: Dr Kafeel Khan was released from
jail a pale shadow of his former, confident self. Eyes staring, reflecting the
terror of eight months in jail without bail, the doctor had not been forgotten
by the families of the children he had managed to save at BRD hospital in CM Yogi
Adityanath’s constituency. Carrying placards, they welcomed him back with “Dr
Khan is our hero.” For the rest it was a quiet journey home with the doctor
unable to factor in his ‘freedom’. With a stamp on the palm of his hand marking
the release. His family, happy and relieved to have him back, have still the
morrow to consider. As it will be of regular court appearances, and a struggle
to win the case against the UP Govt .Videos and photographs after Dr Khan
emerged from jail. People wait for “our hero” Dr Khan outside the jail.Dr Khan
emerges to be greeted by his wife and little daughter, and the rest of the
family along with a posse of journalists who he kept pleading with to let him
go. “Please I am mentally exhausted,” he said.thecitizen
Bhima Koregaon violence: Dalit teen’s death a
case of murder, says ‘fact-finding panel’
Pune;Members of a self-declared “fact-finding
committee” formed by the Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerna Abhiyan —the body
which had organised the Elgaar Parishad in Pune on December 31 — on Saturday alleged
that Puja Sakat, a 19-year-old Dalit girl who was found dead earlier this
month, was murdered.At a press conference on Saturday, the committee shared its
“report”, along with photographs of Puja’s body during post-mortem, purportedly
showing marks of blood near her mouth.Professor M N Kamble, a member of the
committee as well as the Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, said, “If the girl had died
because of drowning in the well, then how could she have been bleeding from her
mouth…There were injury marks on her face and hands. We suspect it to be a case
of murder.” Police have been treating Sakat’s death as a suicide and have
booked nine persons, on the complaint of her family, on charges of abetting her
suicide. Committee, however, alleged that Sakat was “killed by Hindutva
activists” and linked her death to the violence in Koregaon Bhima on Jan.1. Committee
accused police of lodging a case of suicide instead of murder to “protect
Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote.”indianexpress
Phagwara: Dalit youth shot at during clash
with members of pro-Hindu organisations succumbs to injury
Jalandhar:Phagwara is on edge after a Dalit
youth who was allegedly shot during a violent clash between Dalit activists and
members of pro-Hindu organisations succumbed to a bullet injury last night at
DMCH in Ludhiana. He was allegedly shot in the head on April 13, hours
before Ambedkar Jayanti, over the
renaming of a Chowk. Senior police and administrative officials confirmed that
18-year-old Yashwant, alias Bobby, had succumbed to his bullet injury. The
police has thrown a tight security blanket over Phagwara town and sealed off
all entry points to the neighbourhood where his family lives. Mobile internet
services in the area have been snapped.Asha Ghai, aunt of the deceased, on
phone, confirmed that body has reached Phagwara and preparations for the
cremation is being done under tight security. Yashwant was first taken to a
Jalandhar hospital, and due to the critical nature of his injury, he was
shifted to DMCH Ludhiana for treatment on April 14. Ever since he was admitted
to the Ludhiana hospital, the youth had been on life support system and there
was no improvement in his condition.indianexpress
Ahead of Budh Purnima, 300 Dalits in Gujarat's
Una to Convert to Buddhism Today
Ahmedabad: Dalit families of Mota Samdhiya
village in Una taluka of Gujarat will convert to Buddhism on Sunday to protest
against discrimination against the Dalit community.They are likely to be joined
by around 300 Dalits from across the region, who will also embrace Buddhism.
Those who will convert include people who were flogged and paraded half-naked
through Una town in July 2016 by cow vigilantes, allegedly for skinning dead
cattle.About 300 forms, having the details of persons and their consent to
convert to Buddhism, have already been collected and handed over to the
district administration, but Dalits say that the numbers will go much higher as
others will give their consent at a function that has been organised at Mota
Samdhiya village on Sunday to mark Budh Purnima.Buddhist monks from Porbander
have been invited to preside over the function and invitations have been given
to local political leaders as well.Ramesh Sarvaiya, one of the victims of the
Una Dalit flogging incident, told News 18, “We got beaten and insulted in full
public view almost two years ago. Several promises were made by the government,
including Anandiben Patel, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat. None of
those promises have been fulfilled by this government. What is the point of
being a part of the religion that does not accept us as its own. After a lot of
consideration, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had chosen Buddhism as the religion where
there is no discrimination. I along with others will convert to Buddhism on
Sunday.”news18
Una Dalit flogging case: Dalit victims set to
embrace Buddhism today
Supreme court’s SC/ST Act ruling: Dalits,
tribals organisations plan big rally on May 1
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/dalits-tribals-organisations-plan-big-rally-on-may-1-5155538/
New Delhi:In a demonstration expected to be
bigger, and more organised, than the Bharat bandh held on April 2, Dalit and
Adivasi organisations from across the country plan to take to the streets on
May 1 against the Supreme Court’s order on the Scheduled Castes and Schedules
Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.‘National Coalition for Strengthening POA
Act and its Implementation’, a collective of over 500 Dalit and Adivasi groups,
has given call for holding peaceful demonstrations on May Day. “…this day is
celebrated globally for realisation of the rights of working class.In India,
most of the working class belong to SC and ST community,” read a statement
issued by the Coalition.indianexpress
Brahmins learned, PM Modi is one, as was Ambedkar:
Gujarat Speaker
Gandhinagar:Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra
Trivedi on Saturday described both PM Narendra Modi and Dr B R Ambedkar as
“Brahmins”, and Krishna as an “OBC” who was “made God” by Rishi Sandipani.
Trivedi was addressing a “Mega Brahmin Business Summit” in Gandhinagar.The
“learned” Brahmin community has never been “power hungry”, and was instrumental
in the success of kings such as Chandragupta Maurya, and of gods such as Lord
Ram and Lord Krishna, Trivedi said.“Brahmins made the gods, and I have always
said that Lord Ram was a Kshatriya, but it was the “rishis and munis” (learned
sages) who made him god,” he said at the business summit-cum-job-fair organised
by the Samast Gujarat Brahma Samaj at the Mahatma Mandir.“The shepherd of Gokul
— today we would refer to him as an OBC — who made this OBC a god? It was
Sandipani Rishi, a Brahmin,” Trivedi said, referring to Lord Krishna. Brahmins
safeguarded the Sanskrit language, he said:“Bhagwan Vyas, the son of
Matsyakanya, was made a god by the Brahmins.”indianexpress
BJP and RSS are spreading hatred in India:
Rahul Gandhi at 'Jan Aakrosh' rally
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is addressing
a public rally - 'Jan Aakrosh' - at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, his first
in the national capital since assuming the top party post."BJP and RSS
spread hatred and we spread love. Dalits are being attacked. Rohit Vemula had
to die. But the PM had not one word to say.Congress party is India's imaarat .
We protect the minorities, Dalits and farmers."PM Modi used to spread lies
about Congress and it's leaders. Now people are realising the strength of
Congress and its workers. In Gujarat, we
were told we will get 25 seats. But see what happened.They (BJP) had every
institution - CBI, ED - every worker and see what we did." Rahul Gandhi
says the people of India are very unhappy with this government.
SP-BSP alliance poses tough challenge to BJP
in Kairana, Noorpur bypolls
Bijnor: A day after announcement of poll dates
for by-elections in UP’s Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly constituencies,
political activity has begun in both areas. After the recent drubbing the
ruling party received in eastern UP's Phoolpur and Gorakhpur, the two bypolls
in western part of the state are seen as an acid test for BJP as much as for
the SP-BSP combine. The bypoll results will also set a tone for the 2019
general elections in the region.While there is still time for announcement of
candidates, BJP is banking on sympathy wave in both the seats and is almost set
to field Avani Singh, wife of deceased MLA Lokendra Chauhan, in Noorpur and
Mriganka Singh, daughter of BJP MP Hukum Singh, in Kairana.Chauhan died in a
road accident in Sitapur on Feb.21 while Hukum Singh died after prolonged
illness on Feb.3.However, according to a BJP insider, the party’s popularity in
the region has taken a hit after death of Dalits during the April 2
violence.“SP-BSP alliance will certainly pose a tough challenge for BJP. The
recent violent protest by Dalit groups has also left the party concerned.
Besides, the opposition is exploiting the Dalit agitations to their advantage,”
a BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.timesofindia
PM Modi, Xi Jinping want peace in border area,
will not let another Doklam happen
Wuhan: As the informal summit concluded on
Saturday, PM Narendra Modi and President
Xi Jinping vowed that India-China border will be a quiet place. Narendra Modi
and Xi Jinping also pledged that they will personally advise the militaries of
both the countries to prevent a Doklam-like scenario in the future. At the 2-day
informal summit in Wuhan, the meetings between the two leaders are expected to
have a positive impact on a number of matters, said Foreign Secretary Vijay
Gokhale. "2 leaders underscored that it is important to maintain peace
along India-China border region and decided that they will issue strategic
guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communications and to
build trust and understanding," Gokhale said briefing the media yesterday.
To handle the situations at the border, Modi and Xi have decided to work on
making the mechanism strong. Gokhale said that the two leaders agreed that
Special Representatives from India and China will have to be more involved to
make efforts to come to a mutual settlement on border talks. Timesnownews
Iran varsity wants India’s help to boost yoga &
ayurveda
New Delhi: A university in Iran has approached
India to start courses in yoga, ayurveda and unani medicine for its students.In
an invitation dated 24 April, the Iranian Embassy in India wrote to National
Commission for Minorities chairperson Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, requesting him
to visit the Al-Mustafa International University, which counts “disseminating
Islamic teachings” as one its chief activities.For this initiative, Rizvi is
all set to go to Iran on a five-day visit starting 9 May. He is expected to
discuss the logistics involved in starting these courses.The vice-chancellor of
the university recently met Rizvi for a preliminary discussion. “The university
basically wants India to help Iran in the area of health,” Rizvi said.“After my
visit, I will approach the AYUSH ministry to decide on the nature of
courses.”theprint
101 Muslim couples get married in mass
marriage ceremony in Aurangabad
Aurangabad(Maharashtra): 101 Muslim couples
married in a mass marriage ceremony in Aurangabad. The marriage ceremony was
organised by a prominent Congress leader Baba Siddique. Baba Siddique is known
for organising such events since past several years. People in large numbers
from the state flocked to witness the unique marriage ceremony.ANI
WORLD
Israeli forces kill 4 Palestinians, wound 955
at Gaza protest
Israeli soldiers shot dead three Palestinian
demonstrators and wounded more than 950 at the Gaza border, despite UN human
rights chief urging Israel to stop using excessive force against Palestinian
protesters.A fourth victim, a 15-year old boy named Azzam Hillal, died of his
wounds on Saturday. He was shot in the head by Israeli military during Friday's
protest. Among the wounded, 178 were
shot with live ammunition on Friday while others sustained injuries from
rubber-coated steel rounds,or required treatment for tear gas exposure.
Thousands gathered in the besieged Gaza Strip for the fifth-straight Friday as
part of a mass sit-in known as the Great March of Return movement. Palestinians
have been demanding the right to return to their homes seized by Israel in
1948. Protests raised the total death toll to at least 45 Palestinian
demonstrators, with more than 6,000 wounded since the mass movement began on
March 30. There have been no Israeli casualties. Al Jazeera's, reporter, said
thousands of demonstrators were seen "running towards the border fence
with Israel, the closest that they have ever been in the past five weeks of
protests"."We heard an opening of live fire [by Israeli forces]
trying to push people back from that border,"Dekker said."Israel has
made it very clear that they want people to stay away from ... what they call a
buffer zone. They say people will be shot."18 medical personnel and
journalists were among the wounded.Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for Gaza's
health ministry, said Israeli forces also targeted medical service points twice
with quantities of unidentified gas east of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in
central Gaza.A number of victims experienced convulsions, severe vomiting and
suffocation as a result of their exposure, he said.Amnesty International on
Friday called for Govt s worldwide to impose an arms embargo on Israel
following the country's "disproportionate response" to the
demonstrations along the border fence. "The nature of these injuries shows
that Israeli soldiers are using high-velocity military weapons designed to
cause maximum harm to Palestinian protesters that do not pose imminent threat
to them,"Amnesty report noted. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid
Ra'ad al-Hussein condemned Israel's use of "excessive force" against
Palestinian protesters, saying its security forces must be held to
account.aljazeera
Gaza protests: All the latest updates
PA intelligence official behind PM's convoy
blast:Gaza official
An official in the Hamas-administered Gaza
Strip has accused a senior intelligence officer in the Palestinian Authority
(PA) of involvement in the bomb blast that targeted the West Bank-based
Palestinian PM 's convoy last month.Rami Hamdallah's motorcade - which included
the PA's intelligence chief Majed Faraj - was attacked just after it crossed
through the Israeli-controlled Erez checkpoint, known to Palestinians as Beit
Hanoun, in northern Gaza on March 13.Hamdallah and Faraj - who returned to
Ramallah in the West Bank later in the day - were unharmed but seven security
guards were wounded in the blast.Iyad al-Bozom, spokesman for Hamas Govt's
interior ministry, made allegations at a press conference on Saturday in
Gaza.He said that while he does not explicitly accuse the Palestinian General
Intelligence Service as an institution of involvement, elements within the
department were behind the blast."Our investigations were clear and
complete. We are not accusing the Palestinian Intelligence, but in the course
of our investigation we discovered that Brigadier-General Baha Balousha of the
intelligence department orchestrated the attack," said Bozom.Bozom said
the interior ministry's investigation was thorough and extensive and resulted
in the arrest of the main perpetrators behind the attack. Al Jazeera
PLO Legislative body to discuss ending ties
with Israel
Legislative body of the Palestinian Liberation
Organization (PLO) is set to discuss suspending the recognition of Israel, in
addition to several other critical issues of Palestinian politics. For the
first time in nine years, the Palestinian National Council (PNC) is scheduled
to convene in Ramallah on Monday, in a meeting that has Palestinians split
between supporters and opponents of the gathering.Critics of President Mahmoud
Abbas have rejected the PNC meeting as a shrewd political manoeuvre, while
others see it as a potential turning point in Palestinian politics.PNC is
expected to vote in a new 18-member Executive Committee of the PLO, the
governing body of the organisation, and discuss transforming the Palestinian
Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, into a state with its
own institutions and monetary system.aljazeera
New Secretary of State Pompeo briefs Saudi ,
Israel on Trump plans for Iran N-deal
Washington’s new chief diplomat was to meet
Saudi and Israeli leaders today to rally coordinated opposition to Tehran and
brief them on President Donald Trump’s threat to end the Iran nuclear deal.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touched down in Riyadh shortly after
Tehran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen fired missiles across the kingdom’s border.
US officials travelling with Pompeo said Huthi missiles had been supplied by
Iran, and cited the attacks as evidence that regional powers should work
together. Pompeo had dinner with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin
Salman, and was due to meet his father King Salman.Then he was due to fly on to
Jerusalem to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and then on to Amman in Jordan,
wrapping up a weekend of talks with some of Iran’s most fervent foes in the
region. Trump is due to decide on May 12 whether to reimpose nuclear-related
sanctions on Tehran, putting in peril landmark nuclear deal, which most world
powers see as key to preventing Tehran from getting bomb.AFP
Mike Pompeo to Saudi : End Qatar Blockade
On his first trip as the United States' top
diplomat, Mike Pompeo is imploring Saudi Arabia to end the blockade against
Qatar, which has been in place since June 2017. US officials told reporters
that the US Secretary of State would urge Saudi Foreign Minister Adel
al-Jubeir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman to resolve the Gulf
Crisis in a series of meetings on Saturday and Sunday. aljazeera
Qatar dismiss Saudi ultimatum for troop
deployment in Syria: middleeastmonitor
Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman Al Thani has said that Saudi Arabia’s ultimatum over Doha sending
troops to Syria or losing US support is not even worth responding to.“This
statement [by the Saudi Foreign Ministry] is not worthy of an answer. Qatar
refutes the brainwashing of the public opinion in the Arab world in such a
way,” RT quoted Thani as saying on Saturday.He added that the Saudis would not
be able to manipulate the public with such statements because “Arab
consciousness is much greater than what they imagine.”On Wednesday, Saudi’s
Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Qatar must “send its military forces
[to Syria] before US president cancels US protection of Qatar, which consists
of the presence of a US military base on its territory.”
Germany moving to limit arms sales to Saudi,
UAE, Turkey
A draft bill in Germany aims to ban weapons
exports to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkey for their involvement in military
conflicts.The bill aims to prevent weapons exports and all other related goods
and services to countries that may use them for human rights abuses.The draft,
proposed by the social-democratic opposition party Die Linke, focusses mostly
on Saudi Arabia and UAE for their role in the war in Yemen, but it also singles
out Turkey for its military mission in northern Syria where the country has
been fighting Kurdish forces.aljazeera
UNRWA: 3,500 Palestinian refugees flee Syria's
Yarmouk camp
An estimated 3,500 Palestinians have fled the
embattled Yarmouk refugee camp during a week of violence, according to the UN,
as the Syrian Govt escalates its ongoing
military operation in southern Damascus.Yarmouk, which has been besieged by the
Syrian Govt and opposition groups since
2013, was once home to nearly 200,000 people, among them Palestinian refugees,
Syrians and others."Those stark figures tell their own tragic story, of
the destruction of a once thriving refugee community, now reduced to abject,
untold suffering," Chris Gunness, a spokesperson for UNRWA, the body
responsible for Palestinian refugees, said."Many are sleeping in the
streets and begging for medicine."There is almost no water or electricity.
Their suffering is unimaginable."On April 19, the Syrian Govt and allied armed groups, including some
Palestinian factions, launched a renewed military offensive targeting Yarmouk
and surrounding areas citing the presence of fighters.Monitors have accused the
Govt of carrying out an intense campaign
of air raids as well as using barrel bombs, missiles and shells.As of Friday,
at least 31 people had been killed over a week of intensified violence,
according to the UK-based Action Group for Palestinians of Syria.l Jazeera
Yemen strike kills 38 Houthis including two
commanders: Saudi TV
An air strike on Yemen's capital by a
Saudi-led military coalition has killed dozens of Houthi rebels including two
commanders, according to a Saudi TV station.Saudi state-owned news channel Al
Ekhbariya said on Saturday that more than 50 rebels were killed in an overnight
attack on a Houthi interior ministry building on Friday, including two
high-ranking rebels. A police building adjacent to the Houthi-controlled
ministry was also struck..Houthis confirmed an air raid on Sanaa but gave no
details.On Saturday, Houthis staged a large-scale funeral for the two
commanders in Sanaa, in a display of military strength.aljazeera
Egypt court sentences 6 to death over 2013
violence
Egypt’s highest appellate court on Saturday
confirmed the death penalty for six people in connection with violence in the
wake of the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.The Court of
Cassation upheld the death sentences against the six after being convicted of
storming a police station in Minya in central Egypt and killing a security
official, a judicial source said on condition of anonymity because he was
unauthorized to speak to media.The court also commuted the death sentences
handed down against six other defendants to life in prison, the source said.The
appellate court also confirmed life sentences against 59 defendants and cleared
47 other people in the same case, according to the source.Saturday’s verdicts
are final and cannot be appealed.middleeastmonitor
Egypt to execute 6 Brotherhood loyalists over
police station attack
Son of Brotherhood leader disappears, despite
being found not guilty
The son of a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader
in Egypt, Anas El-Beltagy, has disappeared despite being found not guilty of
charges of inciting violence.El-Beltagy’s ordeal began on 31 December 2013 when
he was arrested at a friend’s house and tortured for a month at Nasr City
police station. From here he was moved to Abu Zaabal prison where he was put in
solitary confinement. Anything he ate or drank was smuggled to him and anyone
found to be helping him was punished.From here he was moved to two different
prisons and held in cells measuring one by two metres. Detainees kept in
Egyptian prisons have often described the dire conditions inside where they are
regularly tortured, not given enough food to eat and denied medical
treatment.During his years spent incarcerated a number of charges were levelled
at him – involvement in the Al Jazeera case in which three journalists were
accused of airing “fake news”, beating prison guards at Scorpion prison and
taking part in illegal demonstrations.It took four and half years for a Cairo
court to find El-Beltagy not guilty – by this time he was 25 years old and had
already wasted precious years of his life. Still, with the charges cleared his
family expected to see him within a month. But before this could happen
El-Beltagy disappeared.middleeastmonitor
Khaleda may get crippled, fear her personal
physicians
BNP today alleged that its 'critically ill'
Chairperson Khaleda Zia cannot be taken to a specialised hospital for better
treatment as a file in this regard remains stuck at the PM 's Office. Besides,
Khaleda's three personal physicians feared that she can be crippled and can
lose her eyesight if she is not given proper treatment immediately in any
specialised hospital."We've come to know the jail authorities in
consultation with doctors recommended sending her (Khaleda) to a specialised
hospital. What we've heard that this file remains stuck at the PM 's
Office," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.He came up
with the allegation at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
Khaleda's three physicians also spoke at the press conference about her
physical condition.The BNP leader said their chairperson's health condition is
gradually falling for lack of proper treatment only because of the Govt 's
delay in taking a decision to send her whether to United Hospital or Apollo
Hospitals.thedailystar
Koreas to sign peace deal, pursue 'complete'
denuclearisation
North Korea's Kim Jong-un and South Korea's
Moon Jae-in have pledged to formally end the 1950s Korean War and pursue
"complete denuclearisation" of the peninsula in the first inter-Korea
summit since 2007.The two leaders signed a joint statement after an historic
summit on Friday that saw Kim become the first North Korean leader to step into
South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. The peace talks were held
in Panmunjom village along the demilitarised zone.A strictly choreographed day
of talks and symbolic gestures momentarily gave way to some spontaneity when
Kim asked his South Korean counterpart to reciprocate by briefly stepping into
North Korea. aljazeera
UNSC team visits Rohingya in Bangladesh camps
Kutupalong: A UN Security Council team visited
Rohingya refugees trapped in the no man's land along the border between
Bangladesh and Myanmar Sunday, as it weighs its response to one of the world's
worst refugee crises.Myanmar has faced intense international pressure since the
start of a military campaign in August that has driven some 700,000 Rohingya
Muslims over the border into Bangladesh, where refugees have provided harrowing
testimony of murder and rape by security forces and local mobs.The UN delegates
will interview refugees in the Bangladeshi camps before travelling to Myanmar
and meeting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been denounced in the West
for her failure to speak up for the Rohingya.The council is urging Myanmar to
allow the safe return of the Rohingya and take steps to end the decades of
discrimination that the stateless Muslim minority has suffered in the
Buddhist-majority country.AFP
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
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Contemporary UP' review: Not a
spontaneous outburst
Mecca Masjid Blast Case: How CBI and NIA
Turned a Blind Eye to Evidences:Newsclick
Kathua rape case sparks rumours, polarisation
as J&K Police marshals forensic evidence to nail accused:Rashme Sehgal
The rise of Hindu radicalisation, mass
manipulation and the remaking of India:Samar Halarnkar
‘Anti-Hindu’ Charge Against Congress Reflects
on Accusers, Not Accused — Prof Ram Puniyani
Back to the Beginning: Air Force RFI For
Fighters to Replace Scrapped Rafale Deal:MOHAN GURUSWAMY
One Year Before General Elections, Modi Faces
His First Oil Dilemma:Noor Mohammad
Aakar Patel: The agenda of Modi’s China visit
remains a ‘secret’ from Indians
One hundred Muslim and Hindu interfaith
couples listed on 'love jihad' hit list:Annie Gowen
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