NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
11 July 2018:26 Shawwal 1439: Vol:10, No:63
INDIA
Adultery should remain a crime for sanctity of
marriage: Centre tells SC
New Delhi: Centre has contended that adultery
should remain an offence and opposed a petition before the Supreme Court that
sought to make men and women equally liable under Section 497 of the IPC. A Constitution
bench of the SC is re-examining the constitutionality of Section 497 of IPC
that incorporates provisions for the adultery law. The bench will also
adjudicate whether the exemption granted to women from being punished for
adultery required to be changed. “Adultery should remain an offence. Diluting
adultery law will impact the sanctity of marriages. Making adultery legal will
hurt marriage bonds,” the Centre said in its affidavit before the SC. Centre
said Section 497 was enacted so as to safeguard the sanctity of marriage.The
court is hearing a petition filed by non-resident Keralite Joseph Shine, filed
through advocate Suvidutt Sundaram, challenging the constitutionality of
Section 497 IPC read with Section 198(2) of the CrPC, which deals with
prosecution for offences against marriages.The petitioner has said Section 497
IPC was unconstitutional as it discriminated against men and violated Article
14, 15 and 21. “When the sexual intercourse takes place with the consent of
both the parties, there is no good reason for excluding one party from the
liability,” PIL contended. Adultery is not considered a criminal offence
towards women in India and has been in limelight for being discriminatory
towards men. On Jan.5, a 3-judge bench of the SC, headed by CJI Dipak Misra,
referred PIL to a Constitutional bench. The bench had contended the provision
seemed “quite archaic, especially when there is societal progress”. In 3
earlier judgments in 1954, 1985 and in 1988, the court had upheld the provision.
Centre objects to dropping of adultery as an
offence
Homosexual: Centre leaves it to wisdom of SC
to decide on constitutionality of Section 377 IPC
New Delhi: Union Govt has told the Supreme Court that it would leave
it to the wisdom of its judges to decide the constitutionality of Section 377
IPC, which criminalises sexual activities "against the order of
nature", including homosexual activities.It, however, said the court
should specify that the right to choose a partner should not extend to
perversions like incest. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted
before a Constitution Bench led by CJI Dipak Misra that by freedom of choosing
a partner, a person should not be allowed to choose his sister as his partner.
Such an act would go against the tenets of Hindu law."My choice of partner
should not be my sister...prohibited under Hindu law. Allowing the choice of a
partner should not extend to incest...sado-masochism...," Mehta said.In a
sharp retort, Justice DY Chandrachud said the Bench was not here to adjudicate over
any "kinky notions" of sexual orientation.Justice Chandrachud
addressed Mehta to say that the prerogative of this hearing was to understand
the nature of a relationship and bringing it under the protection of Article 21
(fundamental right to life) of the Constitution.CJI said the court was
considering the issue of "protecting the relationship". The court was
not confining its ambit to LGBTQ or sexual orientation, it is looking into the
aspect of 2 consenting adults who will not be liable for criminal action for
their relationship.Justice Rohinton Nariman intervened to say that the Bench
was delving into the "content" of the fundamental right. Justice
Chandrachud said, "Mr. Mehta, we are not even on the sexual act. We are
examining whether the relationship between two consenting adults is itself a
manifestation of Article 21...We are on the nature of the relationship and not
going to talk on marriage, etc."He further observed,"It should not
come to a situation where two homosexuals enjoying a walk on the Marine Drive
be distrubed by the police... we want to protect relationship."Handing
over a 4-page affidavit to the Bench, Mehta said, "We will leave it to the
wisdom of the court".But the affidavit makes it clear that the Centre is
staying neutral only on question of whether Section 377 IPC is constitutional
or not.Mehta made it clear that if the court ventures into aspects like same
sex marriage, etc, Centre would respond with a detailed affidavit showing
"legitimate State interest" after "wider consultations in the
govt".thehindu
SC raps authorities, says protecting Taj Mahal
may be a ‘hopeless cause’
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has condemned apathy
shown by authorities to the cause of protecting Taj Mahal, saying the
preservation of the monument may be a “hopeless cause.” Green Bench of Justices
Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta was miffed to find out that the authority in
charge of the Taj Trapezium Zone was still entertaining applications from
industrialists to expand their factories into the protected zone despite a
long-standing moratorium from the SC.The Bench told petitioner-activist MC.Mehta
that if “they (authorities) trouble us we will trouble them back.”The court
directed the chairman of the authority to appear before it on the next date,
June 31.Justice Lokur compared the Taj to the Eiffel Tower of Paris, saying 16th
century marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his departed
wife, Mumtaz Mahal, was far more beautiful.The court said while Eiffel sees 80
million visitors, Taj has 5 million, and yet it is crumbling.In May, ASI said
unwashed socks worn by visitors and rampant algae seem to turn the Taj Mahal
from its natural white to yellow, brown and green.ASI, charged with the
maintenance of the historic monument, said numerous footfalls everyday has
taken a toll on the Taj. It is not possible to distribute socks to all the
visitors. Many go wearing their own socks. The discussion in the court ranged
from the commitment or the lack of it on the part of the authorities to protect
the monument to getting disposable socks from abroad.HT
No interim order against ruling on ‘creamy
layer’ in quota for SC, ST govt. staff in promotions: apex court
The Supreme Court has refused to pass an
interim order against its 2006 verdict, which dealt with the application of
‘creamy layer’ in reservation for SC and ST categories in Govt job promotions.A Bench of CJI Dipak Misra and
Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said a 7-judge Constitution bench
is needed to consider the 2006 M Nagraj case verdict. Attorney General K.K.
Venugopal said the matter should be heard urgently by a seven-judge
Constitution Bench, as lakhs of jobs in railways and Services were stuck due to
confusion over various judicial pronouncements.The Bench said one Constitution
Bench was seized of various matters and the issue could be taken up only in
August first week.PTI
Media reports on setting up of shariah courts
fake: Muslim Personal Law Board
Lucknow:All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) has hit out at a section of the media for spreading fake news
regarding its plan to set up ‘shariah courts’ in each district of the country.“@AIMPLB_Official
never demanded a parallel court system. It has been and will be running Darul
Qazas under the arbitration act. Our Darul Qazas are only arbitration centers
that are helping the society. Please ignore fake news,” it tweeted.AIMPLB
secretary Zafaryab Jilani said there was no proposal for setting up new ‘darul
qazas’ on the agenda of the board’s meeting in New Delhi on July 15. “We had
set up our first centre in 1993 and more centres have come up since. Their
progress report is presented to the board from time to time,” he said.“We do
not call them ‘shariah courts’ as is being made out by a section of the media.
A similar attempt to stoke a controversy and challenge the legality of these
centres was made earlier too, and a petition was filed in the Supreme Court,
which upheld their validity in 2014.”Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, member
of the board’s executive council, said it was precisely to counter these
propaganda and misinformation that the body had decided to constitute a special
panel of its own to present the “true picture”.A case in point was also the
heat generated on the instant triple divorce bill, Mahli said.“The board is
very happy with the way its women members led a countrywide protest and played
an active role in the passing of triple talaq bill.”He said campaign not only
created awareness but also helped in removing misconceptions among both Muslims
and non-Muslims that instant triple divorce was one of the most deplorable
practices and should be shunned by the community.HT
Will not easily give in to India's demand to
deport Zakir Naik: Malaysian PM
Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad has said his Govt
would not give in easily just because India demanded that preacher Zakir Naik
should be deported for alleged terror activities and money laundering, a media
report said. 3 days after meeting Naik, wanted in India for alleged terror
activities and money laundering, the Malaysian PM said his Govt would always ensure it looked into all factors
before responding to any demand."We do not easily follow the demands of
others. We must look at all factors before we respond," Mahathir was
quoted as saying by New Straits Times."Otherwise, someone will become a
victim," he said.Responding to questions on Naik, who is has permanent
resident status in Malaysia, and India's request to have him extradited,
Mahathir said the Govt would always
ensure it looked into all factors before responding to any demand.PTI
Zakir thanks Malaysian PM for not deporting
him; vows not to break laws
Zakir
Naik has thanked PM Mahathir Mohamad for not deporting him and promised not to
break any laws of the country.Naik, in a statement published in Malaysian
papers, thanked Mahathir for examining his case from an "unbiased
perspective". aik said Mahathir's decision reaffirmed his faith in
Malaysia's justice and communal harmony. "I am humbled to be a part of
this diversity, and I also acknowledge the sensitivities it entails.I would
never wish to disrupt or jeopardise this balance in any way or to break the
rule of law of this country because it is my primary concern to foster the
social harmony currently enjoyed by its citizens," he said.He said that
while he hoped for justice and peace to return to India, he remained indebted
to Malaysia - not just as one seeking fair treatment, but as an "individual
with a love of humanity".He also claimed that over the last few years,
thousands of news articles, YouTubevideos and social media posts have
attributed "appalling statements" to him that he did not make.PTI
Never promoted terrorism in any form: Zakir
Naik
India will lose 'special privileges' if it
buys crude from Saudi , US: Iranian diplomat
New Delhi:Iran will end “special privileges”
for India if New Delhi tried to replace Iranian crude with supplies from Saudi
Arabia, Russia, and the US, said a senior Iranian diplomat in New Delhi on July
10.Speaking at an event organised by the All India Minorities Front at Parliament
annexe, Massoud Rezvanian Rahaghi said that Iran had tried to help India
whenever possible on strategic issues like energy and connectivity, but argued
that India’s investment promises in the port of Chabahar have not been
delivered.“In previous round of U.S. sanctions between 2012 to 2015, Iran did
its best to ensure security of oil supply to India....However, if India were to
replace Iran with countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, US and others for
the 10% of its oil demand then it may have to revert to dollar-denominated
imports which mean higher CAD and deprivation of all other privileges Iran has
offered to India,” Rahaghi said.Iranian response comes days after India was
asked by the Donald Trump administration to drastically cut down crude supply
from Iran. Ministry of External Affairs has maintained that Delhi would consult
“all stakeholders” in ensuring energy security.thehindu
Iran criticises India for not making promised
investments in Chabahar port
Rahul meets Muslim intellectuals, Congress
says 'nothing religious' about it
New Delhi:Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today met
some Muslim intellectuals here even as the party has sought to downplay it and
said Congress doors are open for all sections of people. "We are not going
by religious credentials of any one....Congress leaders have always interacted
with all sections of people - especially intellectuals. We do no take it as a
meeting with Muslim intellectuals", Congress spokesperson Priyanka
Chaturvedi said.According to party sources, Muslim intellectuals and social
activists including the likes of lyricist Javed Akhtar, academician Zoya Hasan
and social activist Shabnam Hashmi have been invited for the meeting.According
to Congress sources, the meeting will be followed by more such interactions to
enlist people's views on various issues especially in the context of ensuing
monsoon session of parliament and also elections due in 3 BJP ruled states like
MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.Meeting between Gandhi and Muslim intellectuals
including a few retired Govt officials
will have special significance as All India Muslim Personal Board has recently
made recommendation for introducing Shariat courts - a move that has been
marred by controversies.UNI
Ban on PFI, SDPI will have adverse impact on
society:CPM
Thiruvananthapuram: Imposing a ban on SDPI or
PFI and its operations could have adverse impact on Kerala society, feels the
CPM. Even as vociferous demands for banning the outfit are doing the rounds,
the CPM is of the view that such organisations should be socially ostracised
rather than legally banned.Post-Abhimanyu murder, clamour for banning SDPI has
gained ground. Though many in the Left front, including senior CPI leaders,
have raised the demand for banning the outfit for allegedly promoting extremist
activities, the CPM has kept mum on the same.Citing the examples of the Sangh
Parivar, CPI(ML) and SIMI, in addition to that of the Communist party itself, CPM
state leadership feels banning the outfit might not be a clever move at this
juncture. Imposing a ban will only lead to the organisation gaining support
among the masses or making a reappearance in other forms. newindianexpress
Key witness in 2008 serial blasts case turns
hostile
Ahmedabad: In a setback for Gujarat police, an
important witness in the 2008 serial blasts case has turned hostile before the
special court that is trying the case. Over the last decade, nearly 80 persons
from 11 states have been arrested in this case and jailed and the prosecution
has examined as many as 1,050 witnesses before the special court so far.
Ironically, 2 material witnesses who link the accused with the crime have
turned hostile. Talib Abdul Gaffar Maniyar of Surat did not support the
prosecution’s case when he took the witness box 10 days ago. He also disowned
the statement he had made before police earlier. The prosecution declared him hostile.
He was supposed to identify suspects who had participated in conspiracy
meetings, but the identification did not materialize because of Maniyar’s
retraction, said a defence lawyer. A special prosecutor confirmed that the
witness turned hostile during his examination-in-chief. Sources said Maniyar
was earlier associated with the SIMI. After SIMI was banned by the central Govt
in 2001, his friends in SIMI stayed in
touch with him. He would be invited to various programmes between 2001 and
2008. In his statement before police, he said he had participated in some
meetings held in Ahmedabad. He was thus one witnesses, apart from 26 secret
witnesses, who had witnessed the suspects being present at the alleged
conspiracy meetings.Maniyar is the second important witness who has not
supported the prosecution’s case. In March 2017, Khalid Adnan Gujarati of Surat
was the first material witness to be declared hostile by the prosecution. He too
was an important witness to the alleged meetings where the accused persons
hatched the serial blasts conspiracy. timesofindia
Elder brother of Dr Kafeel Ahmed charged with
fraud, wrong guy arrested for attempt on life of younger sibling
Investigation into the life-threatening attack
on Kashif Jameel, the younger brother of Kafeel Ahmed Khan, took a curious turn
last week.Gorakhpur Police both arresting a man in relation to the murder and
then filed a case of forgery and illicit financial transactions against Adeel
Ahmed Khan, elder brother of Kashif and Kafeel.On June 30, Gorakhpur Police
arrested Ashish Raj Srivastava alias Bholu and claimed that he was the actual
shooter. Srivastava, who has been an employee of Adeel Ahmed, was released the
next day. But after being released from police custody, Srivastava aka Bholu
alleged the Gorakhpur police of trying to torture him in an attempt to make him
accept the charge that he shot at Kashif Kameel on June 9. Bholu’s arrest also
becomes suspicious because he was arrested just a day after Kashif’s family met
Yogi Adityanath, the state’s CM , requesting him to refer the case to CBI.Even
the family of Kashif Jameel raised questions over the arrest and alleged
violent interrogation of Srivastava and said that the police is doing so
because they have apparently failed to arrest the real culprit in the case. TCN
Waseem Rizvi claims receiving death threat
from Pakistan
Lucknow: UP Shia Waqf Board chairman Waseem
Rizvi claimed today that he has received death threat from Pakistan-based group
Jamaat-e-Islami.In a statement issued here today, Rizvi said:"The threat
message from Jamaat-e-Islami came through email. Rizvi said that he has informed
the SSP about this.According to a spokesperson of the Lucknow Police, they are
in process of registering a case under the IT Act.PTI
Indian intelligence infiltrated IS ring to
track, arrest Afghan suicide bomber sent to hit Delhi:Indian express
New Delhi:In an audacious counter-intelligence
operation, unprecedented in its scale and scope, Indian security agencies
infiltrated an Islamic State ring to thwart a bid by an IS Afghan suicide
bomber to strike New Delhi.The operation included the Indian “plant” supplying
the IS operative with explosives — without triggers — and even arranging for
his accommodation in the capital.The arrest by Indian agencies happened in New
Delhi around Sept.2017 but it’s only now that top diplomatic and intelligence
sources have confirmed details to the Indian Express.IS operative, who lived in
New Delhi in the guise of an engineering student, was flown to Afghanistan days
after he was arrested and is, at present, understood to be in custody at a key
US military base in Afghanistan.In fact, so “high value” is this Afghan bomber
that his confessions and interrogations are seen as one of the possible reasons
behind the string of successes achieved recently by US forces against the
Taliban in Afghanistan, sources said.Sources have said that an 18-month-long
surveillance operation in Afghanistan, Dubai and New Delhi yielded intelligence
that a group of 12 IS operatives were being sent after training in Pakistan to
carry out bomb attacks in the region.One of them, an Afghan national in his
mid-twenties and the “son of a wealthy businessman,” was given New Delhi as his
target for a suicide attack.Sources said that as part of his undercover
“mission,”he got himself admitted to a private engineering college on the
outskirts of the capital, along the Delhi-Faridabad highway. Initially, he
lived in the college hostel but, sources said, he subsequently rented a
ground-floor apartment in Lajpat Nagar.As many as 80 Indian investigators and
security personnel had to be deployed for “physical surveillance” during the
peak 1-month period of the operation to ensure that the target was never out of
sight and did not slip away, sources said.There is an indication, from his
questioning, that the suicide bomb attack in the Manchester arena in UK on May
22, 2017, killing 23 people, could have been triggered by a member of the same
IS group which included the Afghan picked up from New Delhi.There is
information that IS operation began with sleuths of R&AW tracking a
suspicious transfer of $50,000 by individuals under their watch from Dubai to a
location in Afghanistan and then linking the dots with intelligence shared by
US about New Delhi being a possible target in the near future for an IS strike.
Departmental inquiry initiated against J&K
IAS officer Shah Faesal for ‘sarcastic’ tweet
Srinagar : A departmental inquiry has been
initiated against 2010-batch IAS officer Shah Faesal for his April 22 tweet
which said, “Patriarchy+ Population+ Illiteracy+ Alcohol+ Porn+ Technology+
Anarchy = Rapistan!”. Faesal,ex MD of J&K State Power Development
Corporation, had topped the civil services exam and is the only Kashmiri to
have done so. He is currently on leave from the state Govt and is on a Fulbright scholarship to the US.On
Tuesday, he posted an image of the letter he received by email with a message
that read, “Love letter from my boss for my sarcastic tweet against
rape-culture in South Asia. The Irony here is that service rules with a
colonial spirit are invoked in a democratic India to stifle the freedom of
conscience. I’m sharing this to underscore the need for a rule change.”The
letter he posted stated,“The department of personnel and training, Govt of India, a copy of communication along with
its enclosures, in which several references have been made by you in which
contents are prima facie in contravention of the extant provisions of all India
services (service rules).”The letter states that the Govt of India has asked J&K General
Administration Department to initiate an inquiry into Faesal’s tweets, as he
“allegedly failed to maintain absolute honesty and integrity” in discharge of
his official duty. Faesal said,“It’s nothing but bureaucratic over-enthusiasm…I
don’t think this warrants any action. Rape is not part of Govt policy that criticism of rape would mean
criticism of Govt policy and invite
action.”indianexpress
Shah Faesal probe: Bureaucratic
over-enthusiasm, says Omar Abdullah in IAS officer’s defence
Ex-J&K CM Omar Abdullah came out in
defence of Shah Faesal, IAS officer who faces disciplinary action for his posts
on social media. Defending the officer, Omar Abdullah tweeted: “I see this
notice as a case of bureaucratic over-enthusiasm where people who are pushing
the files at the top do not understand the spirit of the times we are living
in. IANS
J-K: NIA steps up quizzing of Hurriyat
leaders, others in terror-funding case
New Delhi:Days after PDP-BJP Govt in J&K fell, after BJP withdrew support, NIA has
begun its crackdown on separatists and has called, among others, a Hurriyat
faction member related to a PDP legislator for questioning in connection with a
case of terror funding.Sources said the agency last week called for questioning
10 people from the Valley, including Hurriyat leaders.They were questioned on
suspicion that they played a role in funding anti-India agitations.It is learnt
that among those called is Mohammad Shafi Reshi, an advocate affiliated to
Hurriyat’s SAS Geelani faction and is uncle of Yasir Reshi, an MLC of the
PDP.Another person called is Hurriyat leader Ghulam Nabi Sumji, sources said. A
former MLA of Muslim United Front, Sumji had resigned from the Assembly in 1989
to join the Hurriyat to represent Muslim Conference. Last month, the then
Mehbooba Mufti Govt had approved Sumji’s
pension application in what was seen as an attempt to make peace with Hurriyat.Sources
said that barring one, none of those summoned have turned up for questioning —
they are understood to have sought more time. “Most of them have said they are
not well. They will be called for questioning again,” said an official privy to
investigation details.indianexpress
Intel agencies in JK target social media to
fight radicalization
New Delhi: Intelligence units operating in
Kashmir have begun to break into social media groups, which they say have
emerged as the biggest instruments of radicalization in the Valley.“There are
more than 500 active WhatsApp groups in the Valley and these are key
instruments of radicalization. We have now identified some of these groups and
have stealthily broken into them and have started tracking whenever any
incriminating message is sent. We have made a slow, but steady start at slowing
down radicalization,” said a senior intelligence official, seeking
anonymity.The local commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad
use WhatsApp to send out their message to the youth, while “the smaller mosques
in some of the districts are notorious for recording clips and quickly
circulating them on WhatsApp”, said the official quoted above.livemint
Spike in militant recruitment after end of
Valley ceasefire: J&K data
New Delhi :There has been a spike in the
recruitment of local youths by militant groups in Kashmir following the end of
the Ramzan ceasefire. According to data compiled by J&K’s Multi-Agency
Centre (MAC), month of June saw 27 youths from the Valley — mainly from the
districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam in South Kashmir — joining
militancy. “The increase in the number of local youths picking the gun last
month came after June 16, which was Eid, when the ceasefire ended and the
security forces decided to undertake operations,” said Srinagar-based security
official.indianexpress
Modi’s economics to fail like Vajpayee’s
‘India Shining’, says Subramanian Swamy
As the Lok Sabha election is less than a year
away, Modi Govt has reiterated that it
will stick to fiscal prudence, while senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said
that economic development is not going bring in votes. Subramanian Swamy said
that the economy is not in a good state and that the Govt will need to five more years to fulfil
promises.Economist and statistician Swamy said, “Economic development is not
going to bring in votes. (Atal Bihari) Vajpayeeji used ‘India Shining’ as his Govt
’s campaign motto but failed.” According to the Rajya Sabha member, ‘Hindutva’
and corruption-free India are going to get votes for BJP as did in
2014.financialexpress
Muslims demand review of SC order restricting
Namaz at Taj Mahal
Agra: The Supreme Court has restricted the
Friday Namaz offered at the Taj Mahal to only the local Muslim community,
restricting the outsiders from entering the Taj Mahal. A local resident Syed
Ibrahim Zaidi through a review petition had asserted that since Namaz is
permitted to be offered in all heritage monuments without any distinction of
local and outsider, the same rule should be applied to Taj Mahal as well.
However, the SC turned down the petition which has angered the local Muslim community
which is demanding that the ministries of Home, Culture, and Tourism should
coordinate among themselves and ensure that the fundamental right of the
Muslims to offer Namaz at any mosque in the country is upheld. Bhartiya Muslim
Vikas Parishad chairman Sami Aghai said that this was a clear attack on the
fundamental rights of the Muslims that have been guaranteed by the Constitution
and this cannot be tolerated. indiatoday
Court denies Muslim woman maintenance under
Hindu law
Bhopal: MP high court has ruled that maintenance
under Hindu Marriage Act is substantive right of a wife but under Muslim law, a
woman has right to sue her husband for maintenance only if he neglects or
refuses to maintain her without any lawful cause. With this, Justice Vandana
Kasrekar overturned the order of a lower court, which had allowed application
of a Muslim woman for interim maintenance under Section 24 of Hindu Marriage
Act. Kaneez Hasan had filed the application for interim maintenance in the
court of civil judge, Sirmaur (Rewa district), when the judge was hearing her
husband’s petition for restitution of conjugal rights since she was living
separately. Kaneez sought maintenance and legal expenses under section 24 of
Hindu Marriage Act.The trial court ordered the husband to pay Rs 2,500 a month
as maintenance though his counsel argued that the duo is governed by Muslim Law
and maintenance can’t be granted under Hindu Marriage Act. The husband
challenged it in HC. Kaneez’s counsel argued that the trial court’s order was
“proper and just” as it is empowered under Section 151 CrPC to grant such
relief. After hearing arguments, the judge said: “Both the parties in the case
are Muslims. Under Muslim law, there is no provision for awarding maintenance
pendente lite (during pendency of case), it’s only provided under Hindu
Marriage Act. However, if the wife wants interim maintenance, she is entitled
to file a plea under Section 125 of CrPC before a family court.” TOI
Nitish slams Giriraj Singh's statement on Nawada communal clashes,
calls it stunt
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar slammed Union Minister Giriraj Singh for
accusing his Govt of being communal and provoking violence in the state during
Nawada clashes.In the past also Singh has accused Bihar Govt of having a
mindset of suppressing Hindus.Terming Singh's statement a media stunt, Kumar
said the minister is making statement on a matter which is under police
investigation and is pending before the court. This creates an unhealthy
atmosphere for the people of the country.indiatoday
Delhi university proposes to introduce Islam and international
relations paper in MA
New Delhi:Political Science department of Delhi University has proposed to introduce a paper named “Islam
and International Relations” in its masters course. If introduced the students
will study “Islam and the question of transnational terrorism” as a topic in
their syllabus.The paper will also cover sub-topics like “Islam and the west after
9/11”, “Iraq war and making of ISIS”, “the Afghanistan war and making of
Al-Qaeda”, “US, military industrial complex and Islamic extremism”,“Wahhabism,
petrodollar Islam and the globalization of transnational jihad” among others.At
times when world is struggling with religious fundamentalists and terrorists
who are compromising the peace and tranquility of the nations across the world,
the course tends to “explain as to how in recent times, genealogy and
archeology of the religious and political thought in Islam and its connection
with the systemic contours of societies and political institutions has emerged
to be one of the most contested subjects in humanities and social sciences,”
stated the course objective. The course then lays out “as to how such an
interest has been the product of the radicalization of political Islam and the
growing unhealthy interface that has developed between Islam and violence, as a
result of the globalization of Jihad that has brought in the medieval notions
of a contest between adobe of Islam (Dar al-Islam) and land of unbelievers (Dar
al-harb). Owing to this, Islam has become a prominent element in the sphere of
security studies. On this count, the study of Islam becomes very crucial for
the students of International Relations”.A teacher of political science at a DU
college, on condition of anonymity said that the work on the plan of
introducing the course was going on since last more than one year but
“in-silos”, fearing the strong opposition from the left faction. The department
has uploaded the course on its website and has invited suggestions from all
stakeholders. If introduced, it will be offered as an elective paper for
semester III and IV students.“The paper Islam and International relations is
under the broad umbrella of topic of international relations,” said Professor
Navnita Chadha Behera, HoD Political Science, DU.Other sub-topics that paper
proposes to cover includes “Orientalism and the western interpretation of
Islam”, “Islam's encounter with colonialism and modernity”, “Islam: From
Prophethood to Imperialism” etc.dailypioneer
AIMPLB senior functionary calls bitcoin against Islamic law: deccanchronicle
Hyderabad: Calling bitcoins to be un-Islamic, the All India Muslim
Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has asked the Muslim community shun them. In a
statement issued on June 29, AIMPLB senior functionary Maulana Wali Rahmani
said financial currencies must be rooted within the Islamic finance model, such
as paper currency, which can be exchanged in equal measure with gold and
silver. “Bitcoin has no set rules, which is considered as a contract annulment
in Islam. That is why it is forbidden,” he said.While RBI has also banned any
transactions in bitcoin in India, the Muslim world remains divided over the
crypto currencies. While Saudi cleric Shaikh Assim Al Hakeem had pronounced the
bitcoin to be an open gate for money laundering, drug money and haram
(forbidden) money, UAE allows digital currency and is home to a number of
cryptocurrency “noobs”. Muslim scholars in Egypt and Turkey too have stated
that bitcoins were incompatible with Islam because their value was “open to
speculation” and they could be used in “illegal activities”. Sharia principles,
in addition to banning interest payments, emphasise on real economic activity
based on physical assets, and frown on speculation.
Skin of banned animal found in Jaunpur; panic prevails among Muslims
as Hindutva outfits attack houses
Shahgunj: Skin of a banned animal was found in Ashrafpur village of
Jaunpur. After the complaint of former Pradhan a case has been registered
against 6 persons, while 2 were arrested and sent to jail. The incident created
tension in the area Muslims are forced to go to a safer place leaving the
village.According to sources, a skin of banned animal was found 4 kilometres
away from the village on July 2. On finding the skin, members of Hindutva
outfits reached the village and expressing suspicion over some Muslims of
Quraysh community lodged complaint with the police led by former Pradhan of the
village. A case has been registered against 6 persons and 2 have been arrested
and sent to jail.Members of Hindutva outfits are reaching the village scaring
Muslims. Some of them attacked Muslim houses and vandalised them. This has
created panic among the Muslims of the village and they are forced to flee from
the village in panic.siasat
Israel ambassador calls on UP CM Adityanath
Lucknow:Ambassador of Israel to India Daniel
Carmon on Tuesday called on UP CM Yogi Adityanath
at Lucknow, officials said.“A delegation led by Carmon met UP CM at his official residence in Lucknow,” Govt spokesperson said. On the occasion, Adityanath
presented an idol of Lord Buddha to the ambassador.PTI
A week after felicitating Ramgarh lynching
convicts, Jayant Sinha expresses regret
New Delhi:A week after he felicitated 8 men
convicted in a lynching case related to cow vigilantism in Jharkhand, Union
Minister Jayant Sinha expressed regret for the incident on Wednesday, even as
he reiterated that guilty will be punished. Union Minister had come under
severe condemnation from the opposition due to his actions.“Law will take its
own course. Guilty will be punished & innocent will be spared. If by
garlanding those men (Ramgarh lynching case convicts) an impression has gone
out that I support such vigilantism then I express regret,” Sinha was quoted as
saying by ANI. After facing flak from several quarters, Sinha had said he
“unequivocally condemns all acts of violence and rejects any type of
vigilantism” and is committed to “honouring the due process of
law”.indianexpress
Gujarat's largest Muslim ghetto gets its first
Govt high school
Ahmedabad: Juhapura, one of the largest Muslim
ghettos in Asia, which saw a massive influx after the 1993 post-Babri riots and
the 2002 post Godhra riots, has finally got its first Govt secondary and higher secondary school. On
Monday, the Govt Secondary and Higher
Secondary School opened its doors to local students in neighbourhood which is
home to an estimated 3.5 lakh people. The school has a capacity of 420 students
in classes IX to XII and has already admitted 380 students, including 180
girls. The school is seeing 15 students turn up to register every day.The area
has 30 primary schools and 10 higher secondary school, but most of these are
grant-in-aid or self-financed schools. This is the first Govt high school. TOI
Rashtriya Muslim Manch to Organise First Ever Grand Namaz and Quran
Recitation in Ayodhya
Lucknow: For the first time in the history of Ayodhya, a grand namaz
along with a Quran recitation session will be organised on the banks of Saryu
river.The event is being organised by the Rashtriya Muslim Manch tomorrow.
Around 1500 Muslim clerics are expected to take part in the event along with
many Hindu devotees.The clerics will also visit around 200 mausoleums of Sufi
saints.Media coordinator of Rashtriya Muslim Manch, Raza Rizvi said, "We
are organising a grand event in which more than 1500 Islamic scholars and
clerics will be participating and performing wazu (ablution) with the running
water of Saryu river in Ayodhya, as it is said in Islam that running water is
pure, and then they will offer namaz. Post that Quran Khani (recital) will also
be organised to give out a message of peace and brotherhood to the world. We
believe that these prayers will contribute towards building of Ram Temple soon
in Ayodhya amidst peace and brotherhood."The event seeks to send out a
message of peace and brotherhood and is also seen as an attempt by Rashtriya
Muslim Manch to break its anti-Muslim image. RSS national executive member
Indresh Kumar is patron of Rashtriya Muslim Manch.news18
Students's Union Members 'Barred' From
Academic Council Meet: JNUSU
New Delhi: JNU students’s union (JNUSU) has alleged
that their office-bearers have been “illegally debarred” from attending upcoming
Academic Council (AC) meeting on Friday by the varsity administration.The
students’s union claimed that it is mandated in the JNU statutes that the JNUSU
office bearers are special invitees to the AC.“However, in an utterly bizarre
move, the JNU administration has informed the JNUSU that it will be debarred
from attending the upcoming AC meeting on July 13 due to an ongoing inquiry
against them for an alleged act of indiscipline in the last AC meeting,” said
the JNUSU in a statement.JNUSU wishes to communicate to the administration that
no such inquiry has been instituted or nothing regarding any such inquiry has
been intimated to the office bearers. It is therefore utterly baseless for the
administration to keep out the JNUSU, which is a representative body of all JNU
students, said the statement.PTI
Unnao rape case: CBI files charge-sheet
against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar
CBI on Wednesday filed charge sheet against
accused UP BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar
in Unnao rape case. The development
comes days after the national investigative agency filed charge-sheet against
the brother of Kuldeep Singh Segar and 4 other in connection with the killing
of Unnao rape victim’s father. CBI arrested Kuldeep Singh Sengar on April 13
after Allahabad High Court slammed the Yogi-Adityanath-led UP Govt . In April,
the victim girl tried to commit suicide outside the Yogi Adityanath’s house.
NewsX
Ghatkopar plane crash: Maria Zuberi’s family
demands independent inquiry
Family members of Maria Zuberi, who was killed
in a plane crash in Ghatkopar on June 28, questioned the silence of Govt authorities and the companies involved. The
family has filed a complaint with Mumbai police against the concerned officials
alleging that they were responsible for the crash directly or indirectly.While
addressing the media persons in Mumbai, on Tuesday, Zuberi’s husband Prabhat
Kathuria said, “The family has attempted to file an FIR, but the police are yet
to register it. The crash of the Beechcraft Airplane, ten days ago, left, not
just us, but all of Mumbai in shock.”Deputy Commissioner of Police Akhilesh
Kumar said the police had not registered an FIR till Tuesday evening. “We
received a complaint application on Tuesday evening. Besides, our investigation
is in progress and we are awaiting DGCA report,” he said.nationalheraldindia
Modi Govt is targeting my family: Yogendra Yadav
National president of Swaraj India party,
Yogendra Yadav, today accused PM Narendra Modi of targeting his family
following Income Tax raids on two hospitals run by his sisters in Rewari,
Haryana.Even as the raids were ongoing in Kalawati Hospital and Kamla Nursing
Home, both established in 1979, at time of writing this report, party sources
said that both the hospitals make donations to Yadav’s Party.nationalheraldindia
Cost of Modi’s demonetisation: IAF raised bills
of Rs 29.41 crore to ferry currency notes, reveals RTI
Over Rs 29.41 crore was spent on using Indian
Air Force’s ultra-modern transport aircraft —C-17 and the C-130J Super Hercules
— to ferry the newly-issued Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 currency notes
post-demonetisation, according to an RTI reply.The move to scrap the old Rs 500
and Rs 1,000 notes was announced by PM Narendra Modi on Nov. 8, 2016, and saw 86% of currency being sucked out of the system,
needing an urgent operation to replenish it with the new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500
notes issued after demonetisation.financialexpress
A Swami banned from entering Hyderabad for 6
months
The Hyderabad Police’s decision on Wednesday
to ban Swami Paripoornananda, a Hindu religious leader, from the city for six
months for allegedly making provocative statements against other
communities.The decision came precisely two days after Telangana Police meted
out a similar treatment to film critic Kathi Mahesh by externing him from
Hyderabad for six months for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of
Hindus through his alleged derogatory comments on Lord Ram and Sita, reported
IANS. Police served the externment order to Swami under Section 3 of Telangana
Prevention of Anti Social and Hazardous Activities Act 1980 citing that his
acts are calculated to cause harm and danger to persons or property.SIASAT
WORLD
UN concerned about new Israeli restrictions on
Gaza
UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace
Process, Nicolay Mladenov, has expressed his concern at the latest Israeli
restrictions imposed on the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli-led
siege for 12 years.“I am concerned by the consequences of Israel’s decision to
temporarily suspend imports and exports with the exception of basic
humanitarian supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing,” Mladenov explained.“Humanitarian
assistance is no substitute for commerce and trade. I urge [Israeli]
authorities to reverse this decision.”The United Nations, he pointed out, is
continuing its engagement with Israeli and Palestinian counterparts, as well as
regional and international partners, to reduce tensions, support
intra-Palestinian reconciliation and resolve all humanitarian challenges.“This
latest development must not divert us from this urgent course of action. Everyone
must step back from the trajectory of confrontation and escalation.”P
Hamas condemns PA actions to undermine lifting
of Gaza siege
Hamas has welcomed all efforts to alleviate
the suffering of the besieged people in the Gaza Strip, the movement’s
Political Bureau said on Tuesday. However, it also condemned the Palestinian
Authority’s attempts to undermine efforts to ease or lift the siege.“All serious
initiatives are welcomed with open arms and we appreciate the efforts made by
more than one party in this regard,” said the bureau. “However, the movement
deplores the PA’s attempt to disrupt these efforts under the illusion that the
easing of the humanitarian situation in Gaza is part of the ‘deal of the
century’.”A statement from Hamas pointed out that the PA is contributing to the
siege by imposing sanctions, cutting salaries and obstructing regional and
international efforts to have it lifted. “This is separating the Gaza Strip
from the West Bank — intentionally or unintentionally — and paves the way for
Trump’s deal.”MEMO
Israel to demolish Palestinian homes in
Bethlehem
Israeli occupation authorities handed
demolition orders to owners of two Palestinian houses and a fence in the
neighbourhood of Nahaleen in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Chairman of
Nahaleen Municipality Subhi Zaidan told the news agency that the Israeli
occupation forces accompanied by employees from the Israeli Civil
Administration distributed the demolition orders.MEMO
Israel ‘not ruling out’ eventual ties with
Syria’s Assad
Israel held out the prospect of eventual
contacts with Syria under President Bashar al-Assad, in a nod to his
regime-consolidating advances in a 7-year-old civil war that Israeli officials
had initially predicted would topple him.Assad’s Russia-backed forces have
advanced in southwest Syria and are on course to reach Quneitra, a rebel-held
district abutting Golan Heights frontier with Israel. That has stirred Israeli
concern that he may try to deploy troops there in defiance of a 1974 UN
demilitarisation accord on Golan.Touring Israeli-occupied Golan, Defence
Minister Avigdor Lieberman ramped up threats to use armed force should Damascus
encroach militarily. “Any Syrian soldier who will be in the buffer zone risks
his life,” Lieberman told reporters.However, Lieberman appeared to signal
acknowledgment that Assad would regain control of the Syrian side of the
Golan.middleeastmonitor
Israel foiled 160 assassination attempts on
Arab leaders
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180711-israel-foiled-160-assassination-attempts-on-arab-leaders/
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has foiled
more than 160 assassination attempts against former and current Arab leaders;Kurdish
journalist in Israel Mahdi Majeed claimed. Majeed said he discovered the
information in classified intelligence documents, which would be revealed
later, without specifying the dates of the assassination attempts or the way
they were foiled.“Without the Israeli Mossad, half of the current Arab leaders
would have been buried,” Majeed said on Twitter.
Turkey arrests televangelist ‘Harun Yahya’,
followers for forming criminal gang, fraud, sexual abuse
A notorious televangelist has been arrested by
Turkish police from his home on dozens of charges that include fraud, sexual
assault, and military espionage.Adnan Oktar was arrested in Istanbul by the
city's police financial crimes unit after an operation that had spread over 5
provinces.According to Turkish daily Hurriyet, security forces seized an arms
cache, body armours and armoured vehicles at the televangelist's residence.
Oktar was caught as he was trying to run away, the daily added.A total of 235
arrest warrants were issued in a major crackdown on his supporters, with 79
arrested so far in raids supported by helicopters.The detention warrant accuses
Oktar and his followers of dozens of charges, including money laundering, forming
a criminal organisation, sexual abuse of children, torture, illegal recording
of personal data, and political and military espionage.Oktar is host of talk
show programmes on his television channel, A9, where he mixes discussion of
Islam and dancing with women he calls "kittens".He has been regularly
denounced by Turkey's religious authorities, with Ali Erbas, head of Turkey's
Diyanet religious affairs agency earlier this year saying that Oktar had
"likely lost his mental balance". According to Reuters, Oktar hosts
talk show programs on his television channel, A9, on which he has discussed
Islamic values and sometimes danced with young women he calls “kittens” and
sang with young men, his “lions”.In 2006, Oktar wrote the Atlas of Creation
under his pen-name Harun Yahya, arguing that Darwin’s theory of evolution is at
the root of global terrorism. He has written more than 300 books, translated
into 73 languages, his channel says on its website.aljazeera
Report: 27 Syria regime fighters killed in
surprise attack near Latakia
At least 27 Syrian regime forces and pro-Govt fighters have been killed in a surprise attack
by opposition factions in the western province of Latakia; the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said .The surprise attack was launched late on
Monday against a village and observation posts controlled by the regime forces
in Latakia near the border with Turkey.“At least 27 regime forces and loyal
fighters were killed in violent clashes and artillery shelling on the village
of Atira,” the head of the observatory Rami Abdul Rahman said.According to
Abdul Rahman, the rebels and Islamist fighters forced the regime forces out of
the observation posts during the attack during which another 40 regime
fighters were wounded.memo
IS fighters quietly regrouping a year after
Mosul,Raqqa fell
Islamic State fighters have been quietly
regrouping in the desert a year after their key stronghold of Mosul in Iraq was
taken and Raqqa in Syria fell late last year, with an estimate putting the
number of fighters in the two countries at more than 8,000.Reports about
fighters regrouping in the Syrian desert and in Libya have emerged since
October last year, and US Army spokesman Col Ryan Dillon recently admitted that
the dreaded terror group hasn’t given up despite being defeated
militarily.“Many have run…back into the desert areas and into these vast rural
areas to hide and attempt to regroup,” Dillon said. “Others have attempted to
go back into and blend back in with population centres as well.”
Egypt using fatwas to limit population growth
Egyptian Govt has resorted to Islamic edicts to curb the
country’s high population growth rates, a German report has said.Germany’s
Deutschlandfunk Radio reported that the fatwa – or Islamic legal opinion – in
Egypt has become an important means of combating population growth, adding that
Egyptian Edict House has allowed the use of contraceptives in spite of the fact
that Al-Azhar scholars oppose it.Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has
often warned of danger of population growth and described it as one of the
country’s biggest problems, just like terrorism.Early marriage in rural areas
hinders family planning programmes, German report said.MEMO
US ambassador meets leaders of Al-Islah party
in Riyadh, praises ‘Muslim brotherhood of Yemen’
US ambassador to Yemen, Matthew Toler, praised
the role of Al-Islah, the Muslim Brotherhood of Yemen, in pushing forward the
political process in a country despite a raging three-year war.This came during
the US ambassador’s meeting with leaders of the Yemeni Al-Islah party, in the
Saudi capital on Monday headed by Chairman of the Supreme Yemeni Congregation
for Reform, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Yadumi. According to Al-Sahwa Net website,
which is associated with Al-Islah, Al-Yadumi discussed the latest developments
in Yemen and a number of issues and topics of common concern with the US
ambassador. Most prominent of which were developments in the West Coast and the
city of Al-Hudaydah, the tragic humanitarian situation caused by the coup d’état
on the State’s institutions and the need to make efforts to end this
suffering.Al-Yadumi reiterated Al-Islah’s support for the efforts of UN envoy
Martin Griffiths and all efforts that are aimed at stabilizing and achieving
peace in accordance with the three terms of reference of the Gulf Initiative
and its executive mechanism, outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference and
international resolutions, on top of which Resolution 2216 in order to end the
coup and restore the stolen weapons.MEMO
Pakistan: Suicide blast kills ANP candidate,
supporters at election rally
A suicide bomb attack at an election rally in
the northwestern city of Peshawar, Pakistan, has killed at least 20 people,
including prominent local politician Haroon Bilour, police said.The attack on
Tuesday at a campaign event organised by the Awami National Party (ANP) also
wounded at least 69 people, according to the local police chief.Bilour was a
provincial assembly candidate for the July 25 general elections. His father,
Bashir Bilour, also a prominent ANP politician, was killed by a suicide bomber
in 2012.Police said the bomber struck when Bilour was about to address some 200
supporters."According to our initial investigation, it was a suicide
attack and Haroon Bilour ... was the target," police official Shafqat
Malik told AFP.aljazeera
Afghanistan: Gunmen attack Jalalabad education
building
At least 10 people have been killed and
another 10 wounded in an attack at a Govt building of the eastern Afghan city
of Jalalabad, local officials said. Armed men entered an office of the
education department in the provincial capital of Nangarhar at around 9:30am on
Wednesday, setting off at least two big explosions and sparking an hours-long
battle with security forces. "So
far, 10 bodies have been recovered and taken to local hospitals,"
Attaullah Khogyani, spokesperson for the Nangarhar provincial governor, said in
a statement. "10 people have also been wounded."One security guard
was among the dead, Asif Shinwari, spokesperson for the Nangarhar education
department told Tolo News, a Kabul-based news website.No group has so far
claimed responsibility for the raid.This is the third major attack in Jalalabad
in less than two weeks and the second one in as many days.aljazeera
OIC calls for Afghan cease-fire
Riyadh:A summit of religious scholars
organized by the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation has called for
a new cease-fire in Afghanistan, a request already dismissed out of hand by the
Taliban.The summit held by the 57-nation organization ended Wednesday.
Participants issued a communique asking all sides in the conflict to put down
their arms and begin “direct Afghan negotiations” to end the country’s nearly
17-year war.Govt of President Ashraf
Ghani had welcomed the conference, which came after a cease-fire for the Muslim
holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The Taliban accepted a three-day truce, but rejected
Ghani’s offer to extend it.The Taliban dismissed the Saudi summit before it
began, saying they only want direct talks with the US on the withdrawal of all
American troops.AP
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Secularism, Plurality Under Pressure, We
Resisted That Pressure: Hamid Ansari
Turkey's Erdogan Starts Presidential Rule,
Names Son-in-Law as Finance Minister:Reuters
Politics over namaz inside historic Taj mosque
likely to survive beyond 2019:Hilal Ahmed
'Let Govts Be Open to Criticism,' Says IAS
Officer After Tweet Leads to Inquiry
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:05 PM)
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