NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
18 June 2018:03 Shawwal 1439: Vol:10, No:46
INDIA
CBSE removes 17 languages from national
teacher test
The Central Board of Education has removed 17
languages from the list of options for Central Teacher Eligibility Test 2018,
Times of India reported on Monday. The board has now limited the options of
languages to Hindi, English and Sanskrit. The languages that have been dropeed
include Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Bengali. So far,
candidates were allowed to choose two languages out of 20 options. However,
they will now have to choose two from the three available options.The test is
mandatory for appointment of teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas as well as private
institutions affiliated to the CBSE. The test is divided into to papers – one
for those opting to teach Classes 1 to 5 and the other for those opting to
teach Classes 6 to 8. The test has two compulsory language sections. While the
first is to decide proficiency in chosen medium of instruction, the second is
for communication and comprehension.Experts believe the move could leave
candidates from southern states at a disadvantage. In 2016, around 7.06 lakh
candidates across the country applied for the test, including 12,700 from Tamil
Nadu.Retired director of government exams, K Devarajan, told TOI that in Tamil
Nadu, candidates select English as language 1 and Tamil as language
2.Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu claimed that the move violated Articles 14,
15, 16 and 21 of the Constitution. “Rights of minority language students from
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal and
Gujarat have been denied,” he told the newspaper. “If teachers are not allowed
to write in these languages, how will they teach students?” scroll.in/TOI
Centre drops Tamil, 16 other languages from
teacher test
DMK slams dropping of Tamil, 16 regional
languages
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi has
slammed CBSE’s decision to drop 17 languages, including Tamil, Malayalam,
Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Bengali from the list of options for CTET 2018,
as reported by the Times of India on June 18. TOI also reported that while
until last year, 20 language options were available for candidates, now “CBSE,
which conducts the test mandatory for teacher appointments in central
government schools like Kendriya Vidyalayas as well as private institutions
affiliated to CBSE, has limited the options to Hindi, Sanskrit and English,
with candidates having to should choose two from these”.DMK leader took to
Twitter to express her anger at the decision which will come as a blow to
speakers of several regional languages. “The decision to drop Tamil and 16
other regional languages from CTET is highly condemnable and strikes at the
root of federalism. Students of CBSE whose mother tongue is Tamil will be put
to a great disadvantage without teachers. Students are forced to study Hindi
and Sanskrit instead of their mother tongue. This will lead to another language
struggle throughout the country. This is another of BJPs efforts to make a
Hindi-Hindu Hindustan,” said Kanimozhi.nationalheraldindia
Modi Calls for Discussion on Simultaneous
Elections
New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi has broached the
subject of conducting simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state
legislative assemblies at the fourth meeting of the governing council of the
policy think tank NITI Aayog. Addressing 23 chief ministers, one Lieutenant
Governor and several Union ministers who are members of the council, the PM urged
for a wider debate in the matter, Hindustan Times reported.“PM called for
widespread debate and consultations on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and
Vidhan Sabhas, keeping in view various aspects such as the resulting financial
savings and consequent better utilisation of resources,” an official release
for meeting said. Rajiv Kumar, vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, quoted the Prime
Minister’s observation that the country remains in “perpetual election mode,”
suggesting the creation of one uniform voter list for all elections at the
meeting, an NDTV report said.He said even the exercise of preparing the
electoral rolls for the three-tier elections – municipal, state and country –
consumes considerable time and money and is an elaborate exercise. NITI Aayog
had last year suggested synchronised, two-phase Lok Sabha and assembly polls
from 2024 so as to ensure minimum ‘campaign-mode’ disruption to
governance.Earlier in January, President Ram Nath Kovind had suggested the idea
of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.Kovind’s
remarks were in sync with Modi’s comments, wherein he had advocated simultaneous
polls during a meeting of NDA allies. Election Commission (EC) and the Law
Commission of India too are studying the viability of simultaneous polls.In
April, Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat had remarked that simultaneous
elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies were a possibility if necessary
amendments were made to the constitution and a sufficient number of electronic
voting machines were made available. The EC had also come up with the
alternative of ‘one year one election’ in the case of simultaneous elections
not working out.thewire
Centre ends suspension of anti-terror ops in
J&K: Over 40 killed since 16 May
A month-long suspension of anti-terror
operations ends in Jammu and Kashmir as Centre on Sunday decided not to extend
its unilateral initiative, declared on 16 May to coincide with the holy month,
evoking dismay among people in the state.The home ministry announcement, a day
after Eid festivities, said that operations against the militants will resume.
"The Government of India decides not to extend the suspension of operations
in Jammu and Kashmir announced in the beginning of Ramzan," a ministry
statement said.It said the "security forces are being directed to take all
necessary actions as earlier to prevent the militants from launching attacks
and indulging in violence and killings".A record 20 grenade attacks, 50
militant strikes and 41 killings took place in Kashmir during the month-long
suspension of security operations, officials quoted by HT said.According to officials, there were 18
incidents of terror between 17 April to 17 May and the figure rose to more than
50 during the suspension of operations. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in a
series of tweets said that the decision to not conduct counter insurgency
operations in the state had been taken "in the interests of the
peace-loving people of Jammu and Kashmir, in order to provide them a conducive
atmosphere to observe Ramzan".firstpost
Kashmir issue one of Modi govt's biggest
failures: Cong
New Delhi: Congress attacked PM Narendra Modi
over the Kashmir issue, calling it one of his government's biggest
"failures", and wondered what India gained out of his foreign trips
when he failed to stall "horrible" UN report on the alleged human
rights violation there.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera underlined his party's
concern over the situation in the Valley, and asked the government to make
public the measures it is taking for the security of the pilgrims of the
Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to start on June 28."Are you
(government) capable of giving the pilgrims security?" he asked at a press
conference here. The Congress has been waiting for 4 years for an all-party
meeting on the Kashmir issue, Khera said.PTI
Kashmir: Police, doctor differ on cause of
death of civilian post Eid celebrations
Doctors and the police differed on the cause
of death of a youth in violence after Eid prayers in Anantnag in South Kashmir
on Saturday. The police claimed 20-year-old Sheeraz Ahmed was killed when a
grenade exploded in his hand, but doctors said he had been hit by pump action
gun bullets in the neck and chest, Indian Express reported.Nearly two dozen
people were injured in violence after Eid prayers in several parts of Kashmir
on Saturday. Clashes between protestors and security forces were reported in
Shopian, Srinagar, Pulwama, Sopore and Kupwara.Protests broke out after Eid
prayers at Ashajipora in Anantnag. Protesting youth allegedly threw stones at
security forces. The police used tear gas shells and pellet guns to disperse
the crowd, reported the HT. Ahmed was killed during the clashes.“Most of the
youths [who were brought to the hospital] had pellet injuries,” Anantnag
District Hospital medical superintendent Dr Majeed Mehrab told Indian Express.
He said 23 youths other than Ahmed, and some policemen, were brought to
hospital with injuries. Nine people were taken to Shri Maharaja Hasi Singh
Hospital in Srinagar by 1 pm, according to Greater Kashmir.Dr Saleem Tak of the
Srinagar hospital said that 12 people from various parts of the Kashmir Valley
were admitted on Saturday. “All of them have been hit by pellets,” he said.
“Seven of them have been hit in their eyes.” In Shopian, 7 protestors were
injured in similar clashes between security forces and civilians.One person was
injured in clashes in Safakadal area of Srinagar soon after the prayers, PTI
reported, quoting a police official.Earlier on Saturday, an Indian Army soldier
was killed in alleged ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control
in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. Suspected militants also fired at
security forces at Lasjan, injuring a jawan of the Central Reserve Police
Force.
J&K confidential document: Police want
youths going to Pakistan to get clearance certificate
Following inputs that youths from Valley are
crossing over to Pakistan on valid visas for arms training, Jammu and Kashmir
Police has recommended that youths intending to visit Pakistan should be asked
to get a clearance certificate from police before embarking on the trip. “Any
youth between the age group of 18-30 years, who intends to go to Pakistan on
valid visa, should get clearance slip from the concerned district SSP or FRRO
office,” reads a confidential police report prepared by Jammu and Kashmir
Police, accessed by Indian Express. “Anybody failing to provide the said slip
at checkpoints, the said person should not be allowed to cross over, even though
if with valid visa.”“For the past some time, particularly since 2016, a new
trend in the terrorist recruitment has emerged and local youth of valley are
being sent to Pakistan on valid documents, where they are being trained in
terrorist camps and then sent back either through the same route or along with
the group of terrorists via LoC as part
of infiltration,” says the report that was prepared recently.Indian Express
Suggestion of India, Pakistan, China
trilateral summit great idea: Chinese envoy
New Delhi:Bilateral ties between India and
China can’t take the strain of another Doklam episode, Chinese envoy to India
Luo Zhaohui said on Monday, emphasising on the need to find a “mutually
acceptable solution” on the boundary issue through a meeting of the Special
Representatives. Chinese envoy said at an event in New Delhi that “some Indian
friends” had suggested a trilateral summit comprising India, China and Pakistan
was a “very constructive” idea. Leaders of China, Russia and Mongolia hold a
similar meet, he noted.“This is a proposal suggested by some Indian friends and
it is a very a good and constructive idea. Maybe not now, but in the future,
that is the great idea.”Dwelling on Sino-Indian ties, he said it is quite
natural to have differences but they need to be controlled and managed through
cooperation.“We need to control, manage, narrow differences through expanding
cooperation. The boundary question was left over by history. We need to find a
mutual acceptable solution through Special Representatives’ Meeting while
adopting confidence building measures,” he said.“We cannot stand another Doklam
(sic),” the envoy said.PTI
4 Assam Rifles jawans killed in Nagaland
ambush
Guwahati: At least 4 jawans of the 40th Assam
Rifles were martyred and six injured in an ambush laid by suspected NSCN
(Khaplang) terrorists at Aboi in Mon district of Nagaland near Indo-Myanmar border.A
defence source said that two fatal casualties on the Assam Rifle side have been
confirmed while two of the six injured jawans are in a critical state. The
injured jawans have been airlifted on an Army chopper to Jorhat in Assam for
medical aid. The jawans were collecting water when they were attacked by
terrorists who were in hiding. This is the second time that Assam Rifles jawans
have been targeted in the state in this manner.TOI
Manipur extrajudicial killings campaign calls
upon Rajnath to safeguard activists
Imphal: Over a thousand Indians on Sunday
called upon Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Manipur Chief Minister N
Biren Singh to end harassment and attacks on activists and human right
defenders who highlighted alleged extrajudicial executions in the state, rights
watchdog Amnesty International India said.On June 11, a petition was launched
by Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM), which
also commenced the global "BRAVE" campaign" demanding that there
must be no attacks on human rights activists, said an Amnesty International
India release.It also sought that the government ensure all complaints of
intimidation and attacks against these activists are investigated in a timely,
independent and impartial manner, it added.IANS
Nirav Modi travelled from London to Brussels
on Indian passport last week
Nirav Modi, the main accused in the Rs
13,000-crore PNB fraud, is still using Indian passport for travelling. There
are reports that the diamond merchant used Indian passport for travelling as
recently as last week on June 12, when he took Eurostar train to travel from London
to Brussels. Though Indian government has revoked Modi’s passport on February
24, he is still using Indian documents to travel as no red corner notice has
been issued against him. CBI moved the Interpol only last week on June 11 for a
red corner notice. The agency did so after a charge sheet was recently filed
against Modi. Since Interpol sometime rejects requests for red corner notice in
the absence of a charge sheet, CBI waited for the charge sheet to be filed to
move red corner notice against Modi. economictimes
Is the Nirav Modi case compromised? Top CBI
sleuth's email ID blocked after 'suspicious activity': Report
BJP MP Kamlesh Paswan hired shooters to kill
my brother: Dr Kafeel Khan
A week after Kashif Jameel was shot by unidentified
shooters in Gorakhpur, his brother Dr Kafeel Khan organised a press conference
in UP Press Club in Lucknow in which he alleged that Kamlesh Paswan, MP from
BJP, was the man behind the attack.Kamlesh Paswan is MP from Basgaon seat. His
business partner Satish Nangalia was also named by Dr Khan during the press
conference on Sunday. Khan alleged that Paswan hired shooters to kill Kashif
Jameel as Paswan had been trying to grab a piece of land belonging to Dr Khan’s
uncle.However, Kamlesh Paswan conducted a press conference immediately after
the allegations came out in media and called them ‘baseless’. According to Dr
Khan, Kamlesh and his associates Satish Nangalia, Nikahat Ara, and Numan tried
to grab the land — which originally belongs to a maternal uncle of Kashif and
Kafeel — in Feb.this year. Kashif’s family registered an FIR in the case, and
Kashif, along with his cousin and uncle, was pursuing the lawsuit in the
court.Dr Khan alleged that Kashif was threatened by Paswan’s men just a few days
before the attack, in order to make them withdraw the case and to sell the land
to Paswan. Otherwise, he would be killed.Dr Khan further alleged that it was
Kamlesh Paswan’s decision to chose such a spot for the attack which was about
400 meters away from the Gorakhnath temple so that fingers could be raised on
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who was resting in the temple that night.While
addressing the delay in his brother’s treatment, Dr Khan accused City SP Vinay
Kumar Singh and Praveen Singh, CO at Gorakhnath for violating the Supreme Court
guidelines and the Police Act by delaying the surgery of his brother for about
4 hours. Kafeel demanded the removal of both the police officers.He further
demanded a CBI probe or investigation under the supervision of a High Court
judge, otherwise, case could be affected given the power of Kamlesh .According
to local sources, the land in question is worth Rs 25 crore. Kamlesh and 12
others were booked for land grabbing and violence on Feb.18 this
year.TwoCircles
Modi Govt will have to do lot more to win over
Muslims: Naqvi
New Delhi: Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
has said the Modi government would have to do a lot more to gain the confidence
of Muslims "whose minds have been poisoned over the last 70
years".Naqvi also said BJP government would remind Muslims of the schemes
the government started for their development and the efforts it made against
'triple talaq' during the campaigning for the 2019 elections. "We have to
do a lot more to gain the confidence of Muslims because their minds have been
poisoned over the last 70 years. But, the good thing is that the new
generation, the women are evaluating the BJP on its merits and demerits. This
is a very positive development," Naqvi told PTI. PTI
"Should PM React If Dog Dies?":
Pramod Muthalik On Gauri Lankesh Killing
Bengaluru:Pramod Muthalik, the chief of the
Karnataka-based rightwing group Sri Ram Sene, has provoked anger with a comment
in defence of PM Narendra Modi. Hitting out at people who have accused PM Modi
of keeping silent on the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, Pramod Muthalik
questioned on Sunday, "why should the PM react if some dog dies in
Karnataka?"Pramod Muthalik's Sri Ram Sene is notorious for a vicious
attack in 2009, on young men and women at a pub in Mangalore.Investigators are
looking into the outfit's possible links to the murder last year of Gauri
Lankesh, who was known for her strong views against rightwing groups."2
murders happened in Karnataka and two happened in Maharashtra during the
Congress regime. No one is uttering a word over Congress government's failure.
Instead, they are asking why PM Modi is silent and not commenting on Gauri
Lankesh's death. Many wanted PM Modi to react after Lankesh's death. Why should
PM react if some dog dies in Karnataka?" ANI said quoting Pramod Muthalik.
NDTV
Delhi: Thousands march to PM’S house against
‘undeclared emergency’, stopped midway by police
New Delhi: Even though most of the TV channels
under-reported the Aam Aadmi Party’s announcement to hold a march to the house
of PM Narendra Modi against what it called ‘undeclared emergency’ in Delhi,
tens of thousands of people come out on the streets of the National Capital to
take part in the march on Sunday.However, they could not reach PM’s residence
as they were stopped midway on the Parliament Street by the Delhi Police and
contingent of paramilitary forces.AAP had called for the march to force the PM
to end the bureaucrats’ strike, which the party claimed was instigated by the
PM.For the past seven days, Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, along with
three senior leaders of his government and party, are camping inside the
waiting area of Lieutenant Governor’s house seeking appointment for a meeting
but the LG Anil Baijal has refused to meet them.In view of this march, IAS
officers’ association held a press conference on Sunday to say that they are
not on strike. The Kejriwal government said the babus were not listening to the
ministers and not attending their meetings.caravandaily
"Can't hold strike in someone's house":
HC on Kejriwal sit-in
In a
strong reprimand for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the capital's high
court today observed that his week-long sit-in at the office of Lieutenant
Governor, Anil Baijal, is unwarranted. "This can't be called a strike. You
can't go inside someone's office or house and hold a strike there," said
the court.Mr Kejriwal is holding an unprecedented protest against the
Lieutenant Governor, who, he says, is working in a brazenly partisan fashion
and at the instance of PM Narendra Modi to prevent the Delhi government from
functioning.Specifically, Chief Minister contends, bureaucrats or IAS officers
are refusing to show up to work - or working only selectively - and Lieutenant
Governor must intervene to change that. The court hearing this morning was
based on a petition that argues that the protest is unconstitutional, that
Kejriwal and his ministers "consider themselves above the law" and
should be ordered to get back to work.The court said it will take up the case
on Friday and asked for the officers to be included in the petition.NDTV
AAP's Sisodia, On Hunger Strike At Lt
Governor's, Taken To Hospital
Asked PM to intervene, resolve ‘constitutional
crisis’ in Delhi, say four CMs after NITI Aayog meeting
New Delhi:Chief Ministers of 4 states took up
their Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal’s continuing dharna at Raj Niwas with PM
Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing
Council Sunday. Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, N Chandrababu Naidu of AP, HD
Kumaraswamy of Karnataka, and Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala sought Modi’s
intervention in ending the “constitutional crisis” in Delhi.Kejriwal and three
of his ministers have been sitting in at the office of Delhi’s lieutenant
governor for the past week to press their demand that L-G should get the
capital’s striking govnt officials back to work. Kejriwal did not attend
Sunday’s NITI Aayog meeting.“I along with the Hon’ble CMs of Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Kerala have requested Hon’ble PM today to resolve the problems of
Delhi government immediately,” Banerjee tweeted after the meeting with Modi.
Talking to reporters later, she said that a situation like the one in Delhi
“cannot have a place in a democracy”.Asked how the PM had responded, Banerjee
said he had not said anything, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said,“We
will see.”indianexpress
Clash Between 2 Groups in MP’s Shajapur on
Eid, Section 144 Imposed
Communal tension persisted in Maniharwadi area
of Shajapur district on Saturday (on Eid) after members of two communities
clashed over volume of the sound of DJ which led to stone pelting in the
area.However, the promptness of police prevented a major communal clash and no
casualty was reported until a day after the incident. City police arrested
30-35 people in connection with the incident on the basis of CCTV footage, and
booked them under relevant sections of the IPC.According to Shajapur police, a
few Muslim youths, who were celebrating Eid by playing DJ music at Maniharwadi
Market square of the city on Saturday afternoon, allegedly pelted stones at a
procession being carried out by the Rajput community on the occasion of
Maharana Pratap birth anniversary, following an argument over lowering the
volume of the DJ music.About half a dozen people received minor injuries during
the clash. While two cops were injured; one of them lost his sight. In addition
to that, around 10 vehicles were set on fire and a number of shops were
vandalised, according to the police. Heavy security forces have been deployed
in the area and section 144 of the CrPc has been imposed, prohibiting the
assembly of four or more people.newsclick
Uttar Pradesh: Tension in Bhadohi after
clashes
Bhadohi:Tension prevailed in the Kotwali area
of Bhadohi when 4 persons were injured following clashes between people from
two communities, police said Sunday. SP Sachindra Patel said, “In the violence
that erupted here between two communities yesterday, 4 persons sustained
injuries in stone pelting. As many as 18 persons have been arrested.” SP said
the problem started almost three days ago, when a few boys belonging to the
minority community allegedly entered a marriage place in a Dalit locality
forcibly, and started objecting to songs being played there. The boys were
allegedly beaten and chased away, the official said.“On the day of Eid, after
the Muslim boys had offered namaz, they saw the Dalit boys who had chased them
away, and started beating them. At this point, stone pelting between the two
communities broke out. Police reached the spot and controlled the situation. As
many as 13 Muslim and 5 Hindu boys were arrested,” SP said.TOI
Mamata counters minority politics barb with
‘BJP’s Muslim hatred’
KOLKATA:Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee
has finally come out with a strong counterpoint to the BJP’s “minority
appeasement” rhetoric against her. Addressing a congregation on Red Road on
Saturday on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, she said those who accuse her of
Muslim appeasement are “neither friends of Hindus nor of Muslims”.“Some people
say that I love Muslims, and you (BJP) love Hindus. But why do you hate
Muslims?” she asked and added, “Some accuse me of Muslim appeasement. My
question to them is whether loving Hindus means you have to hate Muslims. I
respect and love all communities and religions. This country belongs to
everybody.”Political observers believe that Banerjee, with this “Muslim hatred”
coinage, will make BJP follow her with rebuttals because the party can’t ignore
the Muslims in a state where they form 27% of the electorate. Banerjee’s going
on the offensive charged up her party ranks who had felt shy to respond to BJP
state president Dilip Ghosh’s claim that the CM’s chanting mantras on the dais
or her flaunting her Hindu lineage showed that the “minority appeasement”
campaign against her was gaining public acceptance. TOI
Chandrababu Naidu joins Muslims in Eid prayers
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.
Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday joined Muslims in offering Eid-ul-Fitr
prayers.Wearing a skull cap, he stood with Muslims to offer Eid ‘namaz’ at
Municipal Grounds in Vijayawada.He greeted Muslim leaders and commoners on the
occasion of Eid, which marks culmination of holy month of Ramadan. Addressing
the gathering later, he conveyed his greetings to the Muslims in Urdu. He said
Muslims observed the fast during the month for the well-being of the
mankind.Naidu said he prayed to the Almighty Allah for all help to the state
and for the prosperity and happiness of the people.ANI
Eid celebrated peacefully amid prohibitory
orders in Ranchi
Ranchi/Jamshedpur: Eid was celebrated with
great fervour in the state amidst heavy deployment of police force in the
capital and other sensitive areas on Saturday. Thousands of devotees offered
namaaz at various mosques across the state and greet each other on the
occasion.Governor Droupadi Murmu and chief minister Raghubar Das extended Eid
wishes and appealed to people across every community to enjoy the festival with
peace and harmony.In Ranchi, prayers were offered at over 55 places, including
Harmu Idgah, Ekra masjid, Jama masjid and other mosques at Doranda and Badgai.
The Eid prayers started at around 7AM and concluded by 10AM in the capital.
People from different faiths also gathered at the Idgah and wished their Muslim
brethren.The district administration was on high alert for the past several
days in view of the festival and the clashes between two groups of people at
different places in the district. Apart from deployment of police across the
city, there was heavy presence of security forces at sensitive places including
Ekra Masjid, Kishoreganj, Nagri, Itki, and Khelari.TOI
Jharkhand lynching: BJP MP to offer legal aid
to the murderers of Muslim men
RANCHI: BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey
promises to pay legal bills of accused in connection with the lynching of two
Muslim men in Jharkhand’s Godda on suspicion of cattle theft.“They’ve been
falsely implicated. They’ve been sent to jail. Those, who can’t fight their
case, the government provides them legal aid. And since I am their MP, I, in my
capacity, will take care of every single expense that they will incur in
fighting their case from the lower court to the Supreme Court,” he was quoted
by NDTV.2 Muslims Chiraguddin alias Charku Ansari, 35, and Murtaza Ansari, 30,
were beaten to death by mob of some 100 people on June 13 accusing them of
stealing cattle in tribal-dominated Dullu village in Godda district while the
other three managed to fled the spot.The two deceased were residents of
Taljhari in the district.Following the incident, Godda police arrested arrested
persons, Munsi Murmu, Kaleshwar Soren, Kishan Rai Tudu and Johan Kisku under
various section of IPC. It registered a FIR against the four and 100 other
unknown persons who are yet to be arrested.siasat
Madras HC Rejects Plea To Ban Popular Front Of
India
Chennai: Madras High Court has dismissed a PIL
seeking ban on the Popular Front of India observing that it cannot decide which
organisations should be banned and which organisations might
continue.Petitioner K Gopinath had approached the High Court after sending
representations to the Centre and State Government seeking ban on PFI but
getting no response from there. According to LiveLaw.in, the petitioner had
alleged that Popular Front is an extremist and militant Islamic fundamentalist
organisation and thus it should be banned. He approached the High Court seeking
a direction to the authorities to consider his demand.Refusing to entertain his
plea, the bench of the Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice PT Asha
observed in their order on last Friday: “It is not for this Court to decide
which organisations should be banned and which organisations might continue.
That is in the realm of the Executive powers of the State.”Popular Front has
been strongly raising the issues of human rights violations of Muslims and
other backward communities in different parts of the country. It was active in
ensuring justice to some victims of cow lynching in BJP-ruled Jharkhand.Caravan
News
Kerala Police looking at details of all former
SIMI activists
Kochi: As per the investigation by Kerala
Police into the arrests of IS sympathisers in Kerala, a few of the arrested
have a history of being SIMI associates. Officers said the SIMI's earlier tone
of activities in the state had certain underlying similarities with the IS
doctrine and campaign.Union Ministry has asked for reports on SIMI from all
states as the ban on the organisation ends on Jan.31, 2019.newindianexpress
Hyderabad mosque opens its doors to all faiths
Hyderabad:People of different faiths attended
the open mosque event held at Masjid-e-Quba in Nanalnagar of Mehdipatnam on
Sunday. The programme, first in the city, was organised by the managing
committee of the mosque to dispel misconceptions about Islam and mosques in the
minds of people of different communities.Intach member P. Anuradha Reddy, one of
the visitors to the mosque, said, “It is a great start by organisers to promote
better understanding between communities.”She said that as a woman she was
never allowed to enter mosques except the historic places. “Now I got an
opportunity to see what a mosque looks like from inside and observe the
activities there,” she said. A group of women volunteers explained about the
rights of women and girls in Islam including education, property and their
position in the families. “Volunteers also explained to us the rights of
animals and how one should be kind towards they,” Ms Reddy said.Printed charts
explaining the basic tenets of Islam were putup on the first floor of the
masjid for visitors. Dates and sheer khurma was served to visitors at ground floor.D. Chronicle
Hyderabad: Masjid-e-Quba holds open house to
dispel misconceptions about Islam
Gujarat: Dalit groom reaches bride’s home on
horse under police protection in
A marriage procession of a Dalit youth was
carried out under police protection at Parsa village of Mansa taluka in
Gandhinagar district on Sunday after some locals from upper-caste Darbar
community objected to the groom riding a horse, and threatened them of dire
consequences. Police protection was sought by the groom, Prashant Solanki, a resident
of Mehsana town, on reaching Parsa village, where he was scheduled to tie the
knot with Varsha Parmar.After reaching close to the village in a car, Prashant,
who works at a dairy plant, was scheduled to reach the bride’s house on a horse
with the wedding party and a DJ team accompanying him. “However, as soon as we
reached the village, some 10-15 villagers, belonging to the Darbar community,
threatened the person who had brought the horse. They threatened us saying that
the groom cannot ride a horse because it is something which only “shoorvir”
(courageous) like Darbars can do,” said Vipul Solanki, cousin of the groom.The
groom’s family called the police and sought protection. Police personnel were
deployed at the village and the marriage procession was held under police
protection.indianexpress
Despite Pending SC Verdict, Ayushman Bharat
Insurance Using Aadhaar as Identifier
New Delhi: Although the Supreme Court order on
the legitimacy of the government’s drive to make Aadhaar mandatory for
entitlements is pending, the entire architecture of the new National Health
Protection Scheme has been built around it.At the press conference in February,
which was held to announce the roll-out of this programme, The Wire had asked
officials if Aadhaar card would be mandatory to avail the scheme’s benefits.
They had said Aadhaar would be used for identifying beneficiaries, but
beneficiaries would not be denied insurance coverage for the lack of
it.However, the actual tender documents show the scheme has built in a
mechanism to deny people healthcare if they do not have, refuse or cannot
obtain an Aadhaar number. For those who do have the number, the scheme is
likely to deny benefits if their biometric credentials do not work. The scheme
documents do not say if any alternative mechanisms are allowed, to ensure that
people are not denied their rights and entitlements.All patients who approach
to avail the scheme will be advised to obtain an Aadhaar card/number within a stipulated
time frame, if they do not already have one. Patients will be given treatment
without Aadhaar only the first time, according to the documents.Early in the
tender document, it says: “The benefits under the AB-NHPM Risk Cover shall only
be available to an AB-NHPM Beneficiary through an EHCP after Aadhaar based
identification as far as possible.”It offers the following caveat: “In case
Aadhaar is not available then other defined Government recognised ID will be
used for this purpose.”On denial of benefits, it says: “No person shall be
denied the benefit in the absence of Aadhaar Card through use of alternate
Government ID.”thewire
WORLD
UN expresses 'grave worry' over Saudi-UAE
operation in Hudaida
UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein
has voiced concern that the Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates-led military
operation in Yemen could endanger millions of civilians, as the coalition
continues to pound Houthi fighters in the port of Hudaida."I emphasise my
grave worry regarding the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition's ongoing attacks in
Hudaida - which could result in enormous civilian casualties and have a
disastrous impact on life-saving humanitarian aid to millions of people which
comes through the port," Hussein said on Monday.He was speaking at the
opening session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where he gave an
overview of the overall human rights situation, while denouncing the threat of
growing "chauvinistic nationalism" around the world.On Monday,
coalition Apache attack helicopters pounded Houthi positions, as civilians fled
in search of shelter from the biggest battle of the war in three
years.aljazeera
US bombs Syrian positions, Syrian military
source tells state media
Syrian state media, citing a military source,
reported early on Monday that US-led coalition aircraft had bombed “one of our
military positions” in eastern Syria, leading to deaths and injuries.The strike
took place in al-Harra, southeast of Albu Kamal, it reported. There were no immediate
details on casualties.A commander in the military alliance backing Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad also told Reuters that drones, “probably American,”
had bombed positions of Iraqi factions between Albu Kamal and Tanf and Syrian
military positions.A spokesman for the coalition was not immediately
available.middleeastmonitor
Israel strikes Hamas targets in Gaza over
burning kite flying
Israeli jets have struck nine targets
belonging to Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip, in response to
incendiary kites and balloons Palestinians sent across the border, the military
said.The attacks, which came early on Monday, were accompanied by sirens
sounding in Israeli areas near the Gaza Strip at daybreak.It was not
immediately clear what was struck or whether there were casualties. In recent
weeks, Palestinians have been attaching oil-soaked rags to kites and flying
them over the Gaza border fence to start fires in Israeli territory.So far, no
Israelis have been hurt by the fires, but they have caused $2.5m in damage to
farmland, according to Israel's government.aljazeera
Israel targets rights groups with bill to
outlaw filming of soldiers
Israel moved on Sunday to snap the lens shut
on rights groups that film its troops’ interactions with Palestinians by
introducing a bill that would make it a criminal offense.Rights groups
frequently film Israeli soldiers on duty in the occupied West Bank,
documentation the organisations say is necessary to expose abuse by the
military.A video filmed by Israeli rights group B’Tselem in 2016 showing an
Israeli soldier shoot dead an incapacitated Palestinian assailant drew
international condemnation and led to the soldier’s conviction for manslaughter
in a highly divisive trial.The proposed law, formulated by the ultranationalist
Yisrael Beitenu party in PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, would
make filming or publishing footage “with intent to harm the morale of Israel’s
soldiers or its inhabitants” punishable by up to five years in prison.The term
would be raised to 10 years if the intention was to damage “national
security”.middleeastmonitor
Afghanistan: Taliban resume fighting as Eid
ceasefire ends
On the final day of a 3-day Eid al-Fitr
ceasefire, the Taliban said they would resume fighting, despite President
Ashraf Ghani's announcement that the government was extending its own ceasefire
with the group by 10 days.In the statement on Sunday, the Taliban repeated their
preconditions for peace talks, including that they would only negotiate
directly with the US and that foreign forces should leave Afghanistan."Our
fighters will now resume their operations across the country against the
foreign invaders and their internal puppets," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah
Mujahid told Al Jazeera.In an unexpected move, Ghani on June 5 announced an
unconditional ceasefire with the Taliban until June 20, coinciding with the end
of Ramadan.On June 9, the Taliban announced that their fighters would stop
attacking Afghan security forces for the three days of Eid for the first time
in the nearly 17-year conflict.Hundreds of soldiers and police officers have
been killed since the Taliban launched their spring offensive in April this
year in a bid to control large swaths of the country.The first day of the
ceasefire on Friday started with Taliban, civilians and officials offering Eid
prayers together in mosques across the country.Pictures and videos emerged on
social media later that day of Afghans celebrating Eid with men identified by
them as Taliban fighters."It was a moment of extreme happiness for us that
we got to celebrate Eid this way - without any fear," Zahid Khan, a
resident of Jalalabad told Al Jazeera.The celebrations were cut short with a
first attack claimed by the ISIL on Saturday that killed at least 30 people and
wounded more than 65 in Nangarhar province.The second attack, a suicide bombing
in Jalalabad on Sunday, close to the governor's office in Nangarhar province,
killed at least 18 people. No group immediately claimed
responsibility.aljazeera
India Welcomes Afghanistan's Decision to
Extend Ceasefire With Armed Groups
New Delhi: India welcomed Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani’s announcement extending the unilateral ceasefire with militant
groups and hoped that the gesture would be reciprocated by them as well as
their supporters.Last week, the Afghan government announced a seven-day
ceasefire with an aim to encourage the Taliban to join the reconciliation
process. Subsequently, the Taliban also announced a three-day ceasefire till
June 17.External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India
supports a “truly” Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and
reconciliation process in an atmosphere free of terror and violence. “We
welcome the decision of President Ghani to announce ceasefire and its
extension. We hope this gesture would be reciprocated by armed groups and their
supporters with complete cessation of terrorist violence,” Kumar said,
responding to a question on Ghani’s announcement. He said India supports all
efforts that can bring lasting peace to the war-torn country.PTI
Separation of children from families drives US
immigration debate
The US policy of separating families has drawn
bipartisan condemnation and is adding new furvour to ongoing US immigration
policy reforms. Trump administration has faced increasing criticism over what
advisers have claimed is a conscious decision to take minors away from
undocumented immigrant parents and guardians.More than 2,000 children have been
separated from their families. Their parents have been detained and charged with
illegally entering the country. Critics on both sides of the aisle have said
such actions are not in accordance with US values, but the Trump administration
and its defenders say it is part of "get tough" policy against
undocumented migrants.aljazeera
Ex-Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia critical, not
able to walk on her own: BNP leader
Dhaka:
Bangladesh's imprisoned former PM Khaleda Zia is critically ill and not
able to walk on her own, a senior leader of the main opposition BNP has
said.The 72-year-old three-time former premier was jailed for five years in
February in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million takas (about USD
250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after
her late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-politician.Khaleda used
to walk to the family members whenever they visited her at the jail but now she
is critically ill, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.timesnownews
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Politics of Opportunism: BJP-Congress Flip
Flop vs AAP Firmness on Delhi Statehood:SUBODH VERMA
Kashmir Ceasefire Is Dead, Now Brace for More
Violence:Happymon Jacob
End of the Road for Dialogue with Separatists
in Kashmir?Mudasir Ahmad
Interview: 'AGP Will Break Alliance If BJP
Passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill'
Shujaat Bukhari Silenced: Tribute to slain
editor from Rising Kashmir newspaper staff
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:37 PM)
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