NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
22 July 2018:08 Ziqada 1439: Vol:10, No:71
INDIA
Day After Alwar Killing, Centre Mulls Changes
in IPC to Deal With Mob Lynching
New Delhi: A day after a man was lynched in
Rajasthan’s Alwar, the Centre is considering the possibility of amending the
Indian Penal Code to define 'mob lynching' as a penal offence, a senior
government functionary has said. Another option being considered is to draft a
model law that states can adopt to prevent incidents of mob lynching, he said.
"Everything is in the preliminary stage as the entire Supreme Court order
asking the Centre to come up with a new law has to be examined," he added.
If the IPC is amended, the government will not have to bring a standalone law
on mob lynching. If the burden of proof to prove innocence is put on the
accused, then certain sections of the CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act would
also require amendments, the functionary said. He said it will take several
days before the government firms up its stand. The government may also further
strengthen the framework relating to social media to ensure that rumours which
may lead to such incidents are checked. Several cases of lynching and mob
violence have been reported from across the country in the recent past, the
latest being from Rajasthan where a man was beaten to death on Friday.PTI
Alwar mob lynching: 3rd accused
arrested; victim's autopsy report reveals fractured ribs, broken wrist
A day after 2 men were taken into custody in
the Rajasthan lynching case, a third accused was arrested by the police on
Sunday, according to several media reports.The autopsy report revealed that the
ribs of the victim, Akbar Khan, were fractured due to a thrashing. The broken
ribs led to water filling in his lungs, which caused his death, CNN-News 18
reported. Khan's wrist was also broken, according to the autopsy.On Saturday, two
accused, Dharmendra Yadav and Paramjeet Singh Sardar, were arrested. A group of
villagers lynched Khan, 28, in Alwar district on Saturday allegedly on
suspicion of cow smuggling. Khan and his friend Aslam were taking two cows to
their village in Haryana through a forest area near Lalawandi in Alwar when 5
men attacked them, said Subhash Sharma, Station House Officer, Ramgarh Police
Station.Reports said Khan was taken to the hospital three hours after the
incident. The victim's father, Suleiman, has called for quick action and said,
"We want justice. The culprits should be arrested soon."BJP leader
Gyan Dev Ahuja on Sunday said the Alwar lynching accused must be released as
sources have informed him that Khan was taken to the police station and beaten
up for being a 'cow smuggler', CNN-News reported. VHP leader Naval Kishore
Sharma also threw his weight behind Ahuja.firstpost
3 Arrested In Alwar After Man Killed For 'Cow
Smuggling'
Alwar lynching victim was sole breadwinner,
family faces uncertain future
Akbar Khan, the man who was beaten to death on
suspicion of being a cow smuggler in Rajasthan, was the sole breadwinner of his
family.Hailing from Haryana’s Mewat district, Khan had gone to Lalavandi
village (in Alwar district) with his friend Aslam to buy two cows to expand his
milk supply business, his family said.Aslam Khan, who returned to Kolgaon
village in Haryana’s Mewat district on Saturday morning, said he hid in the
fields taking advantage of the dark while a crowd attacked Akbar. Khan said
they had bought the cows for Rs 60,000 from one of the villagers there and
Akbar was walking the cows while he was riding the motorcycle alongside when
they heard the gunshots.“Some started shouting that we were trying to steal
cows.They rushed towards us.I got scared and ran towards the field. Akbar was
holding the cows then,” Khan said. He said he cannot recognise any of attackers
because of the darkness, but can recognise their voices as they were “abusing
us very loudly”.Akbar’s family members said he wanted to start his own dairy in
the village with 10 more cows. He had taken a loan from his in-laws and friends
to buy 2 cows on Friday.He lived in the village with his wife,7 children and
parents.Villagers said his wife,Asmina, 30, lost consciousness on hearing about
the attack. Later, Asmina said the family owned 3 cows and did its best to care
for them. They supplied milk to the dairy owners in the area. “How can I lead a
life without my husband? I have 4 son and 3 daughters,”she said. Family members
denied allegations that he was smuggling cattle.They said he had borrowed Rs
50,000 from his mother-in-law and the rest from friends. Sher Mohammad,
sarpanch of Mev Panchayat in Alwar,said that when Union ministers felicitate
lynching accused, then vigilantes get encouraged to kill innocents, referring
to minister Jayant Sinha’s act.HT
Lynching in Alwar, Union minister sees a ‘conspiracy’
given ‘the PM’s popularity’
My husband was killed because he was Muslim,
says Alwar lynching victim’s wife
Taking Alwar Mob Victim To Hospital, Cops
Stopped For Tea, Cow Transport
'Safer to be a cow than a Muslim': Shashi
Tharoor tweets after Alwar lynching,
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor launched a
scathing attack against BJP after the Alwar lynching case. He said that in
several places in the country, it is safer to be a cow than a Muslim. Left
leader Sitaram Yechury has also backed the Cong leader in his comment. Several
other leaders also came out in support of Tharoor."It seems safer in many
places to be a cow than a Muslim," he said in a tweet. "Why BJP
Ministers' claims about reduction in communal violence don't stand up to the
facts," he said referring to the recent Alwar case where a Muslim youth
was lynched by a mob.He said that BJP's claims that lynchings have gone down
don't reflect in the situation in the country. timesnownews
Central law will prevail over personal law:
Bombay HC
Bombay
High Court has held that Central law shall prevail over personal law in
instances when both are conflicting. HC made the observation while hearing an
abortion plea of a 16-year-old rape survivor wherein the accused’s family
claimed that Muslim personal law permitted the marriage of a 16-year-old and
there was no rape.The court, however, held that as the Central law has set the
age of majority for girls at 18 years, it would prevail over personal law.
During the hearing of an abortion plea filed by the father of the rape
survivor, who was 22-weeks pregnant, the division bench of Justice Naresh Patil
and Justice Girish Kulkarni was informed by counsel appearing for the accused
that as per Muslim personal law, a girl can get married after attaining 15
years of age, hence the case could not be construed as rape and the abortion
plea should be dismissed. However, assistant Govt pleader Kavita Solunke
submitted that as girl in question was not a Muslim, personal law could not be
applied to her and her plea for abortion could not be dismissed as Central law
had fixed the age for marriage at 18 years and she was governed by Central law
and not personal law.After hearing both sides, the court upheld the state’s
arguments.The court and said that when laws were in conflict over an issue, the
law governing the entire population would prevail and in the current case as
the girl was not a Muslim, age of marriage prescribed under Central law would
prevail.The court then directed the Govt to initiate the process of appointing a
committee of experts to examine girl.HC also directed the Govt to submit the report on whether the abortion
of 22-week foetus could be permitted. deccanchronicle
Delhi university to start course on “Islam &
transnational terrorism”, Minority Commission issues notice
New Delhi:Delhi Minorities Commission has
issued a notice to the Delhi University over its proposed course on “Islam and
International Relations” under which various controversial topics like “Islam
and Transnational Terrorism”, “Wahhabism”, “Petrodollar Islam” and “Globalisation
of Transnational Jihad” will be taught.Political Science Dept.of university is
considering a proposal to start an elective course titled “Islam and
International Relations” at the third or fourth semester of MA (Political
Science). The draft of the proposed course has been uploaded on the website of
the Delhi University and some media outlets have carried news reports on
it.Delhi Minorities Commission has issued a sou motu notice to Registrar of
Delhi University and asked him: “Has the university, while starting a course on
“Islamic terrorism” deliberated that individuals and groups belonging to many
religions have indulged in terrorism across the world in recent times?” “In
such a situation, starting a course only on “Islamic terrorism” will send a
wrong message to society, increase communal tension and help hate politics,”
said the commission. The minority panel has also asked the Registrar of the
varsity to send all information about this course, a list of the books which
will be used to teach this course and if persons and groups belonging to other
religions also will be studied under this course.Recently, there were media
reports about a similar proposed course to be started at JNU. The title of the
course was “Islamic Terrorism.” But after the swift intervention of the
minority commission and some Muslim organizations including Jamiat Ulama and
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, JNU backtracked and its Registrar wrote to the panel that
no such course has been approved.Under the title of “Course Objective”,it
reads:“This paper introduces masters students to the multi-layered and
multi-faceted theoretical, conceptual and philosophical issues that act as road
maps when we attempt at understanding the linkages between the history, culture
and theology of Islam and the structuration processes that are involved in the
functioning of international relations. The course explains as to how in recent
times, the genealogy and archeology of the religious and political thought in
Islam and its connection with systemic contours of societies and political
institutions has emerged to be one of the most contested subjects in humanities
and social sciences."caravandaily
Sexual preference can be a personal choice:
Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
In the Govt ’s first formal comment on its
decision not to oppose decriminalisation of Sec 377 that makes homosexuality
illegal, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the stance recognises changing
social attitudes. He also said the offer to Congress for a legislative ‘package’
on gender rights is not posturing. He said, "many societies are changing
and the Govt ’s stand on Section 377 is an example too. There was a view that
may be sexual preference is also a personal choice. Why not decriminalise it?
Other issues like same-sex marriages are a separate matter.This was a purely
human issue. It is a recognition of changing attitudes in India." On
triple talaq bill, the minister said,
"more than 30 years ago, the Shah Bano case offered a big window when the
Supreme Court held that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to maintenance. The
clergy at the time was not willing to concede even a pittance of less than Rs
200 for the divorced wife. But at that time, the society did not rise to the
occasion. Late Rajiv Gandhi, who was the PM, did not back the progressive
intervention of someone like Arif Mohammad Khan. Now the SC order declaring
triple talaq unconstitutional offers a close similarity. The firm commitment of
PM to this reform is a big difference. This also came about as a large number
of Muslim women went to court challenging triple talaq. Now the issue of nikah
halala is in court. Both issues have two common factors. Both have been
regulated in substantial measure in Islamic nations." "Triple talaq
is going on unabated despite the SC order. I am open to any meaningful
suggestion. But the whole issue is centering around not making it criminal. If
a wife files a complaint at a police station, the offending husband is granted
bail. If a section is so determined to hand out triple talaq in spite of the
order of the SC, how will a bailable provision be a deterrent? Is it raised
with regard to dowry deaths? The law, like the one on domestic violence, is
applicable to Hindus and Muslims alike. So to say who will feed the family if
the errant husband is jailed is a misleading argument. In the nikah halala
case, we have cases where a woman is forced to “marry” a relative of her
husband and divorce again to undo a triple talaq," he continued. TOI
Will support talaq bill if alimony provision
added: Cong women's chief
New Delhi:The chief of the Congress women's
wing has said the party would support the instant triple talaq bill if the
Centre includes a provision of alimony. All India Mahila Congress president
Sushmita Dev alleged that the BJP Govt was trying to strike a quid pro quo with the
passing of the Muslim Women(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill and women's
reservation bill."We were never against the instant triple talaq bill. But
the bill, in its present form, would be harmful to the interests of the Muslim
women. It should have a provision of alimony for the victim," Dev told
PTI."I tabled an amendment in the Lok Sabha for the provision of alimony
in the bill, but it did not get passed. If the amendment is accepted, then we
would definitely support the bill," she said.Dev said the aim of the bill
was to ensure justice for the Muslim women and end the practice of instant
triple talaq. "But what will happen to the livelihood of the women if
their husbands go to jail?" she asked, adding that this aspect should be
kept in mind.Last Monday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had written to PM Narendra Modi, asking him to ensure the
passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in Monsoon Session of Parliament. A day
later, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad responded to the letter with a
"new deal" of equality and adequate representation by joining hands
to pass the bills on women's reservation, instant triple talaq and nikah
halala."The Govt is indulging in
dealings. Did they say in their manifesto that the they would pass both the
bills together? We didn't have the majority. But they have clear majority. If
the Congress and BJP both support the women's reservation bill, then it can be
passed," Dev added.PTI
We believe in Islamic laws without an iota of
doubt, say Barailly's Muslim women, refute Nida Khan's triple talaq, Halala
related allegations as baseless
Bareilly: While BJP leaders on one side stood
up in support of Nida Khan, Muslim women are raising voice against her. Some
went on to say that Nida Khan who is against Sharia laws was not fit to become
the daughter-in-law of Aala Hazrat family.A delegation of an organisation ‘Sab
Ka Haq’ met the team of district minority commission which arrived from
Lucknow. The women members of the organisation met Rummana Siddiqui and Kunwar
Iqbal of Minority Commission and refuted the allegation that Nida was forced to
sleep with her father-in-law to facilitate her remarriage to her first husband.
They said the allegation is baseless.They demanded unbiased probe into the
matter and strict action against the culprits. President of the organisation
Rafia Shabnam told that commission members that she will submit a memorandum to
the PM Narendra Modi with one lakh
signatures of Muslim women which would categorically state that we the Muslim
women believe in all the teachings of Islam and we feel ourselves secure in our
religion and we believe in Islamic laws without an iota of doubt. siasat
Loudspeakers permitted under noise pollution
rules: Delhi Police tells HC
New Delhi:The police have told the Delhi High
Court that loudspeakers were permitted under noise pollution rules which only
lay down restrictions, like timings and decibel level, to regulate their use.
Delhi Police made the submission before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita
Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar which was hearing a PIL seeking ban on use of
loudspeakers at religious places in the national capital.Delhi Govt additional standing counsel, Gautam Narayan,
told the court that under Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
use of loudspeakers was permitted and it only lays down conditions regulating
or restricting their use. The police, in an affidavit placed before the bench,
said that if the petitioner, activistSanjjiiv Kkumaar, wanted a ban on
loudspeakers, he should challenge the rules.The court listed the matter for
further hearing on Oct.16 to give time to the petitioner to file his response
to the affidavit of Delhi Police.The plea has said loudspeakers were never part
of any religion as the instrument came into existence only in 1924. It also
claimed that loudspeakers were never part of any religion whether Hinduism,
Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism or Zoroastrianism. The
petitioner has also said the use of loudspeakers takes away the right of the
citizens to speak with others, their right toread or think or the right to
sleep.PTI
Kerala school denies promotion to 2 Muslim
students, child rights panel intervenes
The national child rights panel has directed
its Kerala counterpart here to take immediate action on a complaint that the
management of a private school here had allegedly denied promotion to two
Muslim students.The direction was based on a complaint by Naushad Thekkayil who
alleged that girl students had not been promoted to the next class as they were
wearing uniforms with long sleeves.The complainant alleged the girls-Fathima
Thasneem and Hafsa Parveen, studying in sixth and second standards of a private
school at Thiruvallam near here-had not been promoted to the next class by its
principal. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked the
state panel to take immediate action for violation of child rights and also
ensure that the children should not be deprived of studies and promoted to
higher classes.The directive was given in a letter sent to Chairperson of
Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, CJ Antony, a copy of
which was released to the media.indianexpress
UP Police to deploy digital volunteers to
check social media rumours, fake news
Lucknow:In the wake of several mob lynching
incidents triggered by rumours spread through WhatsApp and other social media
platforms, the UP police is forming teams of digital volunteers at all the
police stations to counter fake news spread by anti-social elements."All
the 1469 police stations across the state will shortlist 250 people from
various walks of life including teachers, retired servicemen, retired army/ policemen,
serving/ex-pradhans, priests/maulvis, student leaders, lawyers, SPOs and other
prominent people," said UP Director General of Police OP Singh while
speaking to media."The selection of digital volunteers would be done at
the sole discretion of SSP or SP of the district. Those willing to contribute
can also apply on UP Police official website. The volunteers will be selected
only after thorough verification of their background. We would ensure that
people who are influential, well respected, peace loving and cooperative are
only selected," added DGP.indiatoday
Trilokpuri again: 10 men held after stone
pelting, communal tension escalated
New Delhi:A scuffle during a cricket match on
Thursday night at Trilokpuri’s block 20 escalated into stone pelting and communal
tension in the area, which had seen trouble in February as well.Trouble started
when 18-year-old vegetable vendor Shoaib was allegedly beaten up by “boys from
another community,” around 9.30 pm,his family claimed. Shoaib’s sister Sadiqa
said, “We heard a noise in the lane near our house. When I called our elder
brother about it, he told me Shoaib has been beaten up by some boys who live
nearby.” Police have arrested 10 men, including Shoaib, and deployed around 50
officers in the area as a precautionary measure.DCP (east) Pankaj Kumar Singh
said, “We arrested Shoaib, Noor Mohammad, Rashid, Rahul, Ankit, Lalit, Saqib
and three more men."DCP Singh said, “Our investigation has revealed the
role of each of these boys.” Shoaib sustained injuries on his head, back and
shoulders, and was rushed to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital. His mother Farhad
(45) alleged, “He was denied entry there and we took him to Mayur Vihar Phase I
police station, where officers refused to register our complaint… they
lathicharged us, even women were beaten up.”Recalling the incident, Rashid’s
eight-month pregnant wife Rukhsar (22) claimed: “He was home. I was serving him
dinner when police came and dragged him away… they also pushed me and I fell.
He wasn’t even at the scene of fight”.indianexpress
Media Hub in Noida Plastered With Islamophobic
Posters, Police Delay Filing an FIR: NewsClick
Noida: Hindu Sena, a right wing group,
reportedly put up several anti-Muslim hoardings targeting the religion and its
holy scripture Quran in Noida's Film City area on Friday.One of the hoardings
read: "Gair Muslim ki pakdi gayi ladkiyon se vaishyavriti mat karwao, yadi
zabardasti vaishyavriti karwaoge to Allah tumhe maaf nahi karega (Do not
involve non-Muslim girls in prostitution, and if you do so forcefully, Allah
will never forgive you).” 'Quran 24:33' is written on the top of the hoardings,
as if it was taken from the holy scripture of Islam. A hoarding which was
dropped on the floor read: “Aseem Waqar ka bayan – Muslim Gujarat ko nahi bhool
sakta. To Hindu bhai kyun bhoolein ki 10 crore Hinduon ka narsanhar Muslim
shasakon ne kiya (Aseem Waqar stated that Muslims cannot forget what happened
with them in Gujarat. So how can Hindu forget that 10 crore Hindus were
massacred by Mughal emperors).”Another hoarding said: "Islam me shadi nahi
hota hai. Karar hota hai. Nikah ka arth shadi nahi hai. Meher me paise dekar
ladkiyon ko khaeeda jata hai. (Marriage is a contract in Islam. Nikah does not
mean marriage and by giving money to the girls in meher, they actually buy the girls).”One
of the posters also said that Hindu does not vote for Modi because of road,
petrol, onion or tomato, but they vote to save themselves (Hindu community) and
their generation.These posters were put up in Film City in NCR, which is a home
to several mainstream media houses, where police patrols round the clock. A
person named Surjit Yadav of Hindu Sena has reportedly put up these hoardings.
After receiving several complaints, police have removed the hoardings. This
kind of hate-mongering in an area which is frequented by reputed journalists,
who set the agenda for the ‘prime time’, is quite dangerous. Speaking to
Newsclick, a journalist said, "Till 10 o'clock in the night, there were no
such hoardings but when I was returning to the home finishing my night shift, I
saw almost 50 hoardings put up. Later after complaining to the Noida police,
those were removed."He further said that the police did not file an FIR
against Surjit Yadav, even after receiving a written application and said that
they will do the FIR process on Sunday as they had to look into a murder case.
3 militants killed in encounter in Kulgam
Srinagar ;Security forces killed 3 militants
in an operation in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Sunday morning. The militants were
believed to be behind the abduction and killing of a policeman on
Saturday."3 bodies of terrorists were recovered with 3 weapons from the
encounter site so far. The group tortured our colleague Constable Mohd Saleem
of Kulgam and killed him brutally,"said DGP SP Vaid.3 militants were
encircled at Wani Mohalla of Khudwani area in Kulgam early in the morning. The
hiding militants fired upon the search party of the Army, police and CRPF.The
slain militants are believed to have kidnapped Constable Saleem from his
residence on Friday night in Kulgam. The body of the policeman was recovered on
Saturday in Kulgam.Police said body bore torture marks.thehindu
Girls Go Missing in Kashmir, Stoke Tensions;
At least 5 missing from Srinagar alone: thecitizen
Srinagar:Young
girls ‘mysteriously’ disappearing from different parts of Kashmir, particularly
in the capital Srinagar, has sparked anguish among the people with J&K
Police failing to make any breakthrough in the cases.The latest victim of the
emerging trend is a 19-year-old girl, Aisha Yasin, a resident of Nowgam
locality on the outskirts of Srinagar. The teenage girl has been reported
missing by her family since July 17 and a report about her ‘mysterious
disappearance’ was filed by her uncle on Thursday.“She had left home saying that
she was going to market. When she didn’t return, we became worried and called
our relatives, but in vain. Due to the fear of social stigma, we didn’t tell
anyone about it. It was only when the night was over that we informed the
police,” Mohammad Yasin, the victim’s father, said.Aisha is not the only girl
who has been reported missing this month. According to police data, at least 5
girls disappeared mysteriously in July from Srinagar alone. There are similar
cases from other parts of Valley. Police sources said more than dozen females
have been reported missing from last three months and majority of them happen
to be teenage girls.“My daughter had gone to school but when she didn’t return
home, we informed police and filed a complaint. 2 weeks have gone by but there
is no trace of her. Even police has been unable to find her,” said Nazeera
Akhtar, whose daughter, Talya Rasool, is missing since July 6.A senior police
officer said there is no evidence to suggest involvement of any organised crime
racket behind the missing girls’ cases that have been reported to the police
this year.thecitizen
Dhule lynching: ‘Victims were pushed, dragged
400 metres before being lynched’
Mumbai :A distance of 400 metres separates
Gotilamba from Rainpada village in Dhule district in Maharashtra. On July 1,
this 400-m distance turned fatal for 5 people from nomadic tribal communities.
The five were were lynched at Rainpada on suspicion of being child
lifters.Piecing together the sequence of events, police probe has revealed that
local residents first confronted the 5 at Gotilamba, after they were spotted
offering biscuits to a local girl.As rumour of child lifters’ presence spread
from Gotilamba to Rainpada, the victims were pushed and dragged through the
400-m stretch by the mob. They died as a result of the beatings.Dhule police
are now looking for two villagers from Gotilamba, who they have identified as
“instigators”. The police suspect these two people manhandled the victims and
led them to Rainpada, where a Sunday bazaar was underway. As the word spread
that child lifters had been caught, the locals decided to teach them a
“lesson”, the police said.“The victims were members of the Govani community
that begs for a living. In this case, the victims, who were camping at
Pimpalner — around 40 km from Rainpada — left early July 1 morning,” Dhule SP M
Ramkumar said.“They took a bus from Pimpalner and around 10 am, got off at the
last stop of Hanumanpada where they begged… They reached Gotilamba by 10.30 am.
This is where they offered biscuits to a girl and were spotted by the 2
accused,” SP said. So far, police have found 40 clips of the incident shot by
bystanders on mobile phones. The police say those arrested are seen assaulting
the victims in the videos. “Our focus is to arrest those who assaulted the
victims, not the bystanders,”SP Ramkumar said. “We are studying the clips to
zero in on the accused.”indianexpress
Assam NRC: Bonafide Indians will get
opportunities to prove citizenship, says Rajnath
New Delhi :With only eight days to go for the
publication of the 2nd and final draft of the National Register of Citizens in
Assam, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said there was no need to panic as
adequate opportunity for claims and objections would be available top all
bonafide Indians to prove their citizenship. Sensing that there might be a law
and order situation if many were left out of the list, Singh said NRC, to be
published on July 30, was only a draft.“All claims and objections will be duly
examined. An adequate opportunity of being heard will be given before disposal
of claims and objections. Only thereafter, final NRC will be published,” the
home minister said. Singh further said that according to Citizenship Rules, a
person not satisfied with the outcome of claims and objections could appeal in
the Foreigner’s Tribunal. “Therefore, there is no question of anyone being put
in a detention centre after the publication of NRC,” he said.In a series of
tweets, Singh said NRC was being updated in line with the ‘Assam Accord’ and
the exercise was being carried out in a totally impartial, transparent and
meticulous manner. “I will like to assure everyone that NRC exercise is being
carried out in a totally impartial, transparent and meticulous manner and will
continue to be so,” he said.In a bid to pacify those whose names might not make
it to the final draft, the home minister said no one would be harassed. “We
will ensure that every individual gets justice and is treated in a humane
manner. All individuals will have sufficient opportunity for all remedies
available under the law,” he said.indianexpress
Threatened by Hindutva groups, Kerala writer
Hareesh withdraws novel depicting caste system
Malayalam writer S Hareesh has announced withdrawal
of his novel “Meesha’’,being serialised in ‘Mathrubhumi’ weekly, following
alleged threats from Hindutva outfits.Members of Hindutva outfits and fringe
elements have been protesting against Hareesh, as well as the publishers,
alleging that the novel insults temple-going Hindu women and traditions.On
Saturday, BJP Mahila Morcha members marched to the head office of Mathrubhumi
in Kozhikode, demanding novel’s withdrawal.The novel, narrated in a Dalit
background, depicts caste system that prevailed in Kerala about half-a-century
ago.Mathrubhumi weekly’s editor, Kamalram Sajeev, tweeted the novelist’s
decision on Saturday, “S Hareesh withdraws his novel ‘ meesha’, literature is
being mob lynched, darkest day in Kerala’s cultural history, lightless days to
follow.indian express
Gorakhpur infant deaths: Another round of
victimisation has started, says Kafeel Khan
New Delhi:Kafeel Khan, who recently walked out
of jail after being arrested in connection with the death of infants at a
state-run hospital in Gorakhpur last year, today alleged that he is being
victimised again.He also demanded that all those who failed in their
responsibilities to provide oxygen to the kids be put behind bars.Khan, who
worked as nodal officer at BRD Medical College, at Gorakhpur, was granted bail
by the Allahabad High Court on April 25. Over 60 children, mostly infants, had
died at the hospital within a week in August, 2017. There were allegations that
the deaths occurred due to disruption in oxygen supply.Interacting with
journalists at an event organised by the ‘Dwarka Collective’,an initiative by
local residents, Khan said he was the junior most doctor and had no say in the
hospital administration but despite this, he was targeted.“I had continuously
tried to save the lives of nearly 400 kids admitted to the hospital, but we
could not save the lives of 63 kids due to no oxygen,” he said.“Those children
lost their lives because of the callous attitude of people sitting in the
capital (Lucknow),”he added.The vendors had written almost 40 letters to the
HoD, the principal secretary over 6 months asking for dues to be cleared, Khan
said, adding that they had even threatened to stop the supply of oxygen
cylinders.Khan alleged that there were 10 charges against him, but Gov could not produce any evidence to prove those
charges. “Who is going to give back the nine months I spent in jail? Another
round of victimisation has started,” he said, alleging that state Govt was
neither removing him nor revoking his suspension. Khan demanded that all those
who were responsible for the oxygen supply should be put behind bars.PTI
Govt to
increase scholarship for girl students from minority communities
Ministry of Minority Affairs has decided to
increase scholarship of schoolgirls belonging to minority communities by up to
15%. Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), a subordinate organisation of
the ministry, has decided to increase the total budget for its 'Begum Hazrat
Mahal National Scholarship Scheme' for schoolgirls.It has also decided to start
aggressive campaign to increase awareness about the scheme.PTI
No-confidence motion: Number count leaves
Opposition red-faced
12-hour debate on the no-confidence motion
moved against the Modi Govt was fierce,
but in the end the Treasury carried the day and the Opposition saw some
depletion in its ranks when the votes were counted. The Hindu spoke to the
floor managers of major parties involved in the debate and an interesting
picture has emerged on voting preferences.The NDA ranks, which should have
totalled up to 312, came down to 294 with the Shiv Sena’s 18 members refusing
to participate in the day’s proceedings.However, the ruling coalition got a
shot in the arm with the AIADMK voting with the Govt . With the southern
support, the numbers for the Govt should
have gone upto 331, with AIADMK’s 37 MPs. However, the tally on the electronic
board at voting was 325 MPs with the Govt ; that meant that 4 AIADMK MPs and
two BJP MPs did not vote. “Kirti Azad is abroad for personal reasons and
Porbandar MP Vithal Radadiya is seriously ill and couldn’t make it,” one of the
Govt ’s floor managers said. 11 members of TRS walked out before the vote, and
BJD abstained.The strength of those opposing the Govt should have stood at 144, but the electronic
board showed only 126. In the Congress, two members were absent including MP Pradesh
Congress Committee President Kamal Nath and Arunachal Pradesh MP Ninong
Ering.thehindu
CWC authorises Rahul Gandhi to take call on
alliances for 2019 polls
New
Delhi:The Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body,
on Sunday authorised party chief Rahul Gandhi to take decisions on pre-poll and
post-poll alliances for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. AICC General
Secretary Ashok Gehlot said the Congress chief would form the election campaign
committee.“Rahul Gandhi has been authorised to form the election campaign
committee and take decisions on the pre-poll and post-poll alliance,” Gehlot
said. While Congress has advocated a policy of forging state-specific alliances
to tackle the Narendra Modi juggernaut, Gandhi has kept the cards close to his
chest for next year’s elections.indianexpress
WORLD
Israel evacuates 800 White Helmets from Syria
to Jordan
Israel has evacuated 800 White Helmets
rescuers and their families from Syria to Jordan overnight at the request of
the US and European countries.On Twitter, the Israeli military said it had
"recently completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of Syrian
civil organisation and their families" after a "request of the US and
additional European countries".Israeli military also tweeted that the
"civilians were subsequently transferred to a neighbouring country".
It did not give details regarding the number of those evacuated, but Jordan on
Sunday said it had taken in 800 White Helmets rescuers from Israel and plans to
transfer them to the UK, Canada and Germany.Canadian officials told public
broadcaster CBC that they "agreed" to accept 50 White Helmets
volunteers and their families, which could mean up to 250 people.The request
came as the White Helmets volunteers and their families were threatened by
advancing forces of the Syrian Govt in
the south of the war-ravaged country.Raed al-Saleh, head of the Syrian Civil
Defence, confirmed to Al Jazeera that some of its volunteers were evacuated.
"A number of volunteers were evacuated to their families for purely
humanitarian reasons," he told Al Jazeera. "They were trapped in a
dangerous area," he added. White Helmets came to prominence in 2012 for
their work rescuing those trapped in rubble after air raids by Syrian Govt and Russian warplanes. Al Jazeera
Syrian White Helmets: 800 Rescue volunteers
evacuated to Jordan by Israel
Philippine President to sign law for more
autonomous Muslim region
Cotabato City, Philippines:The indigenous Moro
Muslims, a minority population in the predominantly Christian Philippines, are
on the verge of securing their own substantially autonomous territory as
Congress hands over a law for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign on Monday.If
all goes according to plan, Bangsamoro Organic Law will establish the
Bangsamoro autonomous region on the country's southern island of Mindanao and
may put an end to five decades of violent conflict that has left more than 100,000
people dead. While the law is expected to be signed on Monday, it will still
need to be ratified by a plebiscite, which is expected to take place later this
year.The Bangsamoro, which means "Nation of the Moro", will replace a
nominally autonomous Muslim region which has largely been run by the central Govt
in Manila, and has failed to quell the
Moro rebellion.The law will allow the Bangsamoro Govt to have its own parliament, retain the lion's
share of local revenues, regularly receive a fixed portion of the central Govt 's
revenues and manage the territory's natural resources.It will also incorporate
Islamic law into the region's justice system.In return for autonomy, the law
will require the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to gradually
disband its thousands-strong army.Despite the bill only covering "85 to 90
percent" of items originally afforded the rebels in a 2014 peace agreement
that foreshadowed the measure, leaders of the MILF say they are satisfied."This
may not be a perfect law but it is good to start with," said Ghazali
Jaafar, MILF's second-in-command.The law's passage will cap off 22 years of
negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine Govt.
Saudis ban Kuwaiti group over Brotherhood
links
Cairo: Saudi authorities have banned dealings
with a Kuwaiti charity group over suspected links with the Muslim Brotherhood,
Saudi aper Okaz reported on Saturday.The Ministry of Labour and Social
Development has issued a circular banning charity associations and non-Govt al
institutions in Saudi Arabia from dealing with the Social Reform Society in
Kuwait for its ties to the Brotherhood, the paper added.The circular also bans
Saudi institutions from dealing with any other group that have direct or
indirect links with organisations designated as terrorist in Saudi Arabia.The
move comes in response to available information that the Kuwaiti group maintains
a “suspicious relationship with terrorist” Brotherhood, Okaz reported. Social
Reform Society is seen as a main financier of the Brotherhood, which is
outlawed in Saudi Arabia, Okaz quoted unnamed Kuwaiti sources as
saying.gulfnews
Blair advising Saudis under $12m deal with his
institute: Report
Tony Blair is advising the Saudi Govt under a £9m ($11.8m) deal with his
"institute for global change," the Sunday Telegraph reported.The
former UK PM 's group reached an agreement earlier this year to help support
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's modernisation programme under a
"not for profit" arrangement, the Telegraph reported.Saudi Arabia’s
Vision 2030 is a programme of reforms intended to open up and diversify the
kingdom's oil-centric economy by selling public assets, including a stake in
the world’s biggest oil producer, Aramco, and reinvesting the funds.The deal is
first major agreement to have emerged involving Tony Blair Institute (TBI),
which Blair established in 2016 after winding down his commercial operations,
the Telegraph said.The newspaper said the institute received a $10m payment in
January for the work, which is being carried out by its staff based in the
Middle East. The payment was made from Media Investment (MIL),a
Guernsey-registered firm that is a subsidiary of the Saudi Research and
Marketing Group, according to the Telegraph. Sources told the newspaper that
the total provided to the institute so far exceeded $12m. The funding is not
mentioned on the institute's website, in spite of a subsequent post praising
Saudi Arabia and its crown prince. Blair's office said the institute was
"under no duty to disclose donors or donations" and declined to say
what discussions Blair had held with members of the Saudi royal family or Govt about the funding.middleeasteye
Iran lifts ban on non-Muslim city council
member after outcry
A top Iranian body on Saturday lifted a ban
imposed by a hardline-led council on a politician from the minority Zoroastrian
religion who had been elected to a city council in the central city of Yazd,
the state news agency IRNA reported.The rare reversal came after a widespread
public outcry, lobbying by reformists and criticism by President Hassan Rouhani
over of the ban by the Guardian Council, which vets laws and elections for
compliance with Iran’s Islamic constitution. The Expediency Council, tasked
with resolving conflicts between parliament and the Guardian Council, backed
parliamentary amendments allowing members of recognised religious minorities to
run for city councils, IRNA reported.middleeastmonitor
Khamenei backs threat to stop Gulf exports if
oil sales halted
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
has supported a suggestion by President Hassan Rouhani who hinted earlier this
month that Tehran may block regional oil exports if its own sales are stopped
following the US' withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal with world
powers.Rouhani's apparent warning on July 3 that Iran may disrupt oil shipments
from neighbouring countries came in reaction to looming US sanctions and
efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to force all countries
to halt purchases of Iranian oil.Even though Rouhani did not mention the Strait
of Hormuz, his comments were nonetheless seen as a threat to the narrow
strategic passageway located between Iran and Oman, through which at least
18.5m barrels of oil moved every day in 2016, according to a US energy
department report.aljazeera
Germany drops economic sanctions against
Turkey
Germany has lifted economic sanctions on Turkey
and relaxed its travel advice to the country, German officials said, after
Ankara ended its two-year state of emergency.A 1.5 billion-euro ($1.7bn) limit
on export guarantees to Turkey would not be renewed this year, Germany's
economy ministry told AFP, confirming an earlier report by the newspaper
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.aljazeera
Blast hits Kabul airport following exiled
Afghan vice president’s return, casualties feared
Kabul:An explosion near Kabul’s international
airport injured several people on Sunday, officials said, shortly after Afghan
Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum returned to the country after more than a
year in exile.Scores of senior government officials, political leaders and
supporters had gathered at the airport to greet the powerful ethnic Uzbek
leader and former warlord, clad in a Western suit and sunglasses.An explosion
was heard as the convoy of vehicles was departing. But Dostum, who was
travelling in an armoured vehicle, was unharmed, said his spokesman Bashir
AHmad Tayanj.“The blast was probably caused by a suicide bomber,” said interior
ministry spokesman Najib Danish, adding there were an unknown number of
casualties.Dostum, who is linked to a catalogue of human rights abuses in
Afghanistan, was mobbed like a celebrity as he left the chartered plane from
Turkey where he has lived since May 2017.His return, which has been the subject
of much speculation, comes amid violent protests in several provinces across
northern Afghanistan, his traditional power base.AFP
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Mobs are killing Muslims in India. Why is no
one stopping them?Rana Ayyub
Lynch Mobs Now a Full Fledged Extortion
Industry, Although Minister Suggests ‘Conspiracy’ Because of PM’s Popularity
The most powerful vote bank has always been
the Muslims and this does not belong to BJP:Tavleen Singh
No-Confidence Debate Reveals that 2019 is Far
From Settled:Harish Khare
Mob Violence And Political Will — Aijaz Zaka
Syed
Shashi Tharoor: It seems safer in many places
to be a cow than a Muslim:SHASHI THAROOR
Anatomy of lynching: Muslims live in fear
after Hapur violence; cows still suffer on streets despite holy tag
WhatsApp Rumours Take Communal Turn, Target
Rohingya Muslims
Reuters: Islamist parties running in
Pakistan's election
'Our bodies are Turkish, our souls Islamic!'
The rise of Turkey's ultra-nationalists:Tom Stevenson
Lynch mobs now full fledged extortion
industry, although minister suggests ‘conspiracy’ because of pm’s popularity
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:28 PM)
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