NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
25 July 2018:11 Ziqada 1439: Vol:10, No:74
INDIA
SC will first decide role of mosques in Islam,
then hear plea seeking Hindus right to pray’ at Ayodhya
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today asked BJP
leader Subramanian Swamy to mention his plea, seeking enforcement of his
fundamental right to pray at the disputed site in Ayodhya, after it pronounces
its verdict on question of whether mosques are integral to Islam. On 20 July,
the special bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra reserved its order on a plea by
Muslim groups of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute seeking
reconsideration by a larger bench on the observations made by it in a 1994
verdict that a mosque was not integral to Islam.M Siddiq, one of the original litigants
of the Ayodhya case who has died and is being represented through his legal
heir, had assailed certain findings of the 1994 verdict in the case of M Ismail
Faruqui holding that a mosque was not integral to the prayers offered by the
followers of Islam.The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and
DY Chandrachud, asked Swamy to seek listing and urgent hearing of his plea on
right to pray after the pronouncement of verdict in the main matter.Swamy had
moved the SC seeking enforcement of his right earlier as well.Swamy, at whose
instance the sensitive land dispute case in Ayodhya was fast-tracked, had filed
a separate petition stating that he had a fundamental right to offer
hassle-free prayer at the birthplace of Lord Ram.The special bench of the SC
has a total of 14 appeals filed against the high court judgement delivered in
four civil suits. PTI
Mention Ayodhya plea after verdict on whether
mosques integral to Islam: SC to Swamy
Don’t take any action based on NRC final
draft, MHA advises Assam govt.
Home Ministry has advised the Assam Govt that
no action should be initiated by the administration or the police based on the
draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) that is to be published on July
30.“There is no question of referring the persons whose names do not figure in
the draft NRC to the Foreigners’ Tribunal as people are entitled to file claims
and objections and due opportunity has to be given to them before final
publication. The question of referring any person to a detention centre based
on NRC exercise also does not arise. State Govt has been asked to issue clear
instructions in this regard to all administrative and police functionaries,”
Home Ministry said on Wednesday.As per directions of the Supreme Court,
Registrar General of India (RGI) is to publish the final list on July 30 to
segregate Indian citizens living in Assam from those who had illegally entered
the State from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971.MHA has asked the Assam Govt and
neighbouring States to ensure maintenance of law and order in the run up to and
post-publication of draft NRC.“State Govt of Assam has been advised to set up a
State-level coordination committee under chairmanship of Chief Secretary to
ensure coordination among State agencies, NRC authorities and Central agencies.
Round the clock control rooms at the State capital and district headquarters
are to be activated to receive complaints and coordinate prompt response,” Home
Ministry said.RGI has been asked to use all means of communication including
websites, toll-free numbers, SMS etc, to provide information to public about draft
NRC. An intensive public awareness campaign has been launched to disseminate
information regarding NRC process, options available for individuals whose
names do not figure in the draft NRC, the procedure and timeline for filing
claims and objections so as to address the concerns of people left out of the
draft list, Home Ministry added.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had in a
statement earlier assured that every individual will get justice and will be
treated in a humane manner.thehindu
No action to be initiated by administration or
police based on draft NRC: MHA
Assam gets central nod for new detention camp
for ‘declared foreigners’
Guwahati: Assam Govt has got go-ahead from Centre
to build a new detention facility for holding people who were unable to prove
their citizenship at the Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) in the state, officials
said. 6 existing camps — in jails at Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Tezpur, Jorhat,
Dibrugarh and Silchar — hold 1,000-odd ‘declared foreigners’. Overall, FTs in
Assam have declared over 85,000 people as ‘foreigners’.The new centre, with a
capacity to hold 3,000 people, is seen as an effort to reduce overcrowding and
related problems in the existing camps. It is planned in Matia area of Goalpara
district at an estimated cost of Rs 47 crore. District administration officials
in Goalpara said that 20 bighas of land was sanctioned last year for the
purpose.indianexpress
India invites Interpol officials to New Delhi
over Zakir Naik, Nirav Modi
New Delhi:In a crucial development, the Indian
officials will meet the officials of Interpol to raise their concerns over the
delay in issuance of Red Corner Notice.India Today has learnt that the Govt of
India had raised the issue with Interpol a few days back.An officer, who is
part of this development, told India Today that India had invited Interpol to
come here and understand the legal system to which Interpol has agreed. India
is likely to make Interpol understand the judiciary system. Sources have also
told India Today that the decision to invite Interpol came after a delay in
issuing a Red Notice in Nirav Modi case and Zakir case. An RCN request against
Zakir is pending since last few months.However, according to sources, this
meeting is not for any individual case but Nirav and Zakir case will also be
brought during the meeting which is expected in a few days.In case of Nirav Modi,
an RCN was eventually issued by the Interpol but before that several rounds of
communication between the Indian agencies and Interpol took place due to which
it was delayed and Modi was travelling from one country to another country till
June 12.indiatoday
Interpol to consider India's request to issue
red corner notice against Islamist preacher Zakir Naik
Malaysia police confirm India has not sought
Zakir’s extradition
On social media rumors, CJI Dipak Misra says
citizens must check themselves:PTI
New Delhi: CJI Dipak Misra has said the
blatant reliance on social media needs to be checked by citizens themselves in
order to ensure peace and order in the society.CJI said there was a surge in
mob lynching incidents recently based on "viral texts on social
media" leading to "mobocracy".CJI was delivering speech at a
function organised by ILA, where eminent jurist NR Madhava Menon delivered a
lecture on "Courts, Media and Fair Trial Guarantee"."There is a
recent surge in mob lynching, please don't misunderstand me because I have authored
the judgement,there is a recent surge in mob lynching based on viral text on
the social media and this leads to mobocracy and loss of individual life, in
certain cases."The blatant reliance on social media needs to be checked by
the citizens themselves; to ensure peace and order in the society,"CJI
said.He said that citizens need to be more responsible and filter the
information before relying and acting.
Centre asks states to appoint nodal officer,
task force to check lynching
https://thewire.in/politics/centre-asks-states-to-appoint-nodal-officer-task-force-to-check-lynching
New Delhi: To check incidents of lynching, Centre
has asked all states to appoint a superintendent of a police-level officer in
each district, set up a special task force for gathering intelligence and
closely monitor social media content, so that no one is attacked on the
suspicion of being child-lifters or cattle-smugglers. Union home ministry also
said wherever it is found that a police officer or an officer of the district
administration has failed to comply with the directions to prevent, investigate
and facilitate expeditious trial of any such crime of mob violence and
lynching, it should be considered as an act of deliberate negligence and
misconduct, and strong action must be taken against the official concerned.The
advisory has been sent to the states and union territories following a Supreme
Court directive issued in this regard on July 17. “All state governments, UT
administrations and their law enforcement agencies are requested to implement
the directions of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit. A detailed report on
the action taken in the matter may please be sent to the ministry at earliest,”
advisory sent to chief secretaries and DGPs of states and UTs said.This is the
second advisory on the issue, within a month.PTI
Rajasthan Bill to exclude buffalo from bovine
Act before Union Home Ministry
New Delhi:Amid a series of incidents of mob
violence related to cow vigilantism in Rajasthan, Union Home Ministry is
considering a proposal from Vasundhara Raje Govt to amend Rajasthan Bovine
Animals(Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or
Export) Act. “We have received Bill from the Rajasthan Govt and it is under
process. Views have been sought from the ministries concerned,” a home ministry
spokesperson said. Sources said the proposal would seek the exclusion of
buffaloes and its progenies from the list of bovine mentioned in the Act. It
would also empower the state to seize vehicles used in the illegal
transportation of cows and make arrests.Rajasthan Bovine Animals Act was first
enacted in 1995. Since then, there have been several amendments, such as
banning the slaughter and transportation of bovine.Home ministry officials said
the suggestion to exclude buffaloes and its progenies from the list of bovine
was made after legal opinion pointed to a central law that makes a distinction
between cows and buffaloes, and excludes buffaloes from the list of bovine. It
clarifies that ‘bovine animal’ means and includes cow, calf, heifer, bull and
bullock, a senior Govt official said.The state Act makes no distinction between
cow and buffalo, so the move to amend it may bring relief to meat traders in
Rajasthan from cow vigilantes, officials said. Rajasthan Assembly had cleared
the Bill in March this year and sent it to President Ram Nath Kovind for
assent. Assembly had also approved amendments, incorporating provisions of
arrest and seizure of vehicles carrying cow progeny.As many as 20 states have
various regulations on slaughter or sale of cows. Slaughter of buffaloes is banned
in 15 states.indianexpress
Alwar lynching: Judicial inquiry ordered under
CrPC section dealing with custodial death
Jaipur:A judicial inquiry has been ordered
into the death of Haryana resident Rakbar alias Akbar, 31, who was allegedly
caught by cow vigilantes and handed over to the police, even as Rajasthan Home
Minister Gulab Chand Kataria and DGP OP Galhotra reached Alwar on Tuesday to
take stock of the situation.Rajasthan Govt on Tuesday made a requisition to CJM
Alwar for a judicial inquiry, and the CJM appointed ACJM Rajgarh to conduct the
probe. The request was made under Section 176 of CrPC, which deals with
custodial death.The decision comes after a visit by police officials under
Special DG of Rajasthan Police, NRK Reddy, to Alwar on Monday. Akbar’s autopsy
revealed that he had 13 injuries and died as a result of those injuries. The
post-mortem was conducted by Dr Rajiv Kumar, Dr Amit Mittal and Dr Sanjay
Gupta, who observed: “We… are of opinion the cause of death in this case is shock
as a result of ante mortem injuries sustained over body mentioned in PMR.” The
post-mortem was done at 12.45 pm on July 21 and the doctors noted that “all
injuries are of about 12 hours prior to duration”.indianexpress
Jamaat’s top leadership visits Alwar lynching
victim’s family in Haryana
New Delhi:A high-level delegation of
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind visited the family of Alwar lynching victim Akbar Khan in
Haryana on Tuesday and assured them all possible help. Jamaat leaders expressed
solidarity with deceased Khan’s family and met with his kin and lawyers for
collecting the details. Condemning the incident, the delegation expressed
condolences and guaranteed every possible help to his family. The delegation,
comprising Vice President of Jamaat, Maulana Nusrat Ali, Secretary General
Mohammad Salim Engineer and others also expressed grave concerns over the
increasing incidents of lynching particularly in this area.The delegation
demanded the Govt to nab all the culprits of this heinous crime as soon as
possible.It also demanded for an impartial probe in the case and reasonable
compensation for Akbar’s kin. The delegation called for strict action against
the policemen who were involved of excesses in this case.Caravan Daily
Jamaat delegation visits Alwar lynching victim
Akbar Khan’s village, meets family:the Indian awaaz
Jamaat Leaders visit family of Akbar
Khan:india tomorrow
Lynching: Relatives rebut Govt version on
Rakbar death
Jaipur/Nuh:Rajasthan Home Minister GulabChand
Kataria said investigation into the death of a Haryana farmer, Rakbar Khan, who
was severely assaulted with sticks and firearms by a group of 7 men in Alwar
district last week, suggested that he died in police custody.Rakbar’s family,
however, rubbished the reports as an attempt to shift the blame for his death
onto the police and shield the cow vigilantes responsible for the murder.
Dismissing Minister’s statement of police complicity in Rakbar’s death, his
uncle Noor Ahmed said the reports were an attempt to protect the cow
vigilantes. “There could be negligence on the part of the police in delaying
medical aid to him, but he was not beaten up by them,”said Ahmed.President of
All-India Mewati Samaj Ramzan Chaudhary, said both police personnel and cow
vigilantes were responsible for Rakbar’s death.thehindu
PM Modi asked states to deal sternly against
cow vigilantes indulging in violence: Centre tells Rajya Sabha
PM Narendra Modi has asked state govts to take
strong action against cow vigilantes who indulge in violence, Rajya Sabha was
informed on Wednesday. Written reply of Union minister of state for home
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir came in response to Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan's
question on whether Govt has taken cognisance of the statements made by PM on
Aug.6, 2016, June 30 and July 16, 2017."Hon'ble PM has stated that the
state govts must deal sternly against anti-social elements that create violence
in the name of cow protection," he said.Ahir said 'police' and 'public
order' are state subjects under Seventh Schedule to the Constitution and state
govts are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, registration and
investigation of crime and for prosecuting the criminals through their law
enforcement agencies.PTI
We need a clear signal from the top to stop
mob lynchings:Shashi Tharoor
In a wide-ranging conversation, Congress
leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor spells out Congress party’s idea of
secularism, explains how Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s hug in Parliament
“shifted the media narrative”, and speaks of the abetment to suicide case
against him. Comenting his remarks that 'it is safer to be a cow than a Muslim
in India', he said,"We need a clear signal from the top. Taking refuge
behind the idea that law and order is a State subject and therefore is not Central
govt’s concern is appalling. It is beyond debate that the forces that have been
emboldened by the victory of BJP, that are loosely described as the Sangh
Parivar, are behind all this. The violence is committed in the name of
protecting the cow, which itself is an idea that has been unleashed by the
leadership that is in power today. [Ex- US President Barack] Obama, soon after
a high-school shoot-out, was on national TV to reassure the public, express his
anguish and share the pain of the victim. I have never seen our PM doing anything of this sort, even though there
have been incidents after incidents."thehindu
Mob attack in UP, cops to rescue. 4 men
assaulted over dead buffalo
In the middle of a huge backlash over the
death of a man attacked by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan, 4 men transporting a
dead buffalo were assaulted by a mob in UP in the early hours today. The men, accused of
stealing the buffalo, were saved from the mob by policemen who reasoned with
the militant crowd for over half an hour and persuaded them to let the law take
over. The incident took place before dawn in the Hathras district.Villagers
alleged that they caught the men taking away the dead buffalo in a pick-up van.
The buffalo had been poisoned by the men, they alleged. The men, 2 Hindus and 2
Muslims, were beaten, dragged and abused.A mobile video shot by a villager and
circulated online shows the aftermath of the assault; the men are seen on the
ground, surrounded by villagers.One of the men pleads with the villagers and is
heard saying over and over that he is not a cattle thief and that he had gone
to the village to pick up a dead buffalo on the instructions of a contractor he
works for. The man says he was asked to take the buffalo to a designated spot
given to him by the contractor. The crowd refused to believe him.Another mobile
video in circulation shows a police officer asking the angry villagers to let
the police take the men into their custody. The officer stays calm as villagers
shout at him. At one point, he asks for the mobile recording to be stopped.The
police finally managed to rescue the 4 men from the mob. ndtv
Assistant Sub-Inspector lynched by criminals
in MP
An Assistant Sub-Inspector who had gone to
arrest a wanted criminal was brutally done to death by a group of criminals and
their supporters in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, police said on
Wednesday.Eight persons have been taken into custody in the case.Umreth police
station ASI Dev Chand Nagle had gone to Jamunia Jethu village to arrest Johar
Singh, against whom an arrest warrant had been issued, when the group of 8-10
persons armed with axes and batons attacked him on Tuesday night, Additional
Superintendent of Police Neeraj Soni said.ASI was accompanied by another police
official, apart from a revenue official. However, the police personnel were
unarmed.IANS
Waseem Rizvi
backs RSS leader's advise to 'stop eating beef', says its 'haram' in
Islam
New Delhi: UP Shia Waqf Board chief Waseem Rizvi has come
out in support of RSS' Indresh Kumar who said that people should stop eating
beef to curb mob lynching incidents. Rizvi said that Muslims should stop eating
beef as it is 'haram' (forbidden) in Islam. "I think Indresh Ji's
statement has a point. Religious sentiments should not be hurt. If law is made
to stop killing of cows, lynching will stop. You can't kill someone who is
given the status of mother by a community," Rizvi told ANI. "Muslims
should stop eating beef. Killing of cows should stop. Meat of cows is 'haram'
in Islam as well," he added.oneindia
Stop eating beef, give cow status of ‘Rashtra
Mata’; say some RSS and BJP leaders to end mob lynching
Muslims being killed even if spotted with a
cow they rear: Azam Khan
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party leader Mohd Azam Khan
has said the safety and security of minorities in the country was in danger,
adding that post independence this was by far the worst period for Muslims. He charged
BJP govts at the Centre and in the state with being mute spectators to mob
attacks in the name of cow vigilantism."For the sake of certain Hindu
votes, innocent Muslims are being targeted and killed," he
said."Muslims are being killed even if they are spotted with a cow which
they rear,"he said, alleging that even the apex Court's serious
observations had failed to prompt BJP govts to stop the mob frenzy.IANS
Attacks in country seem directly or indirectly
state-sponsored: Swami Agnivesh
New Delhi:Social activist Swami Agnivesh
Tuesday alleged that there was a “pattern” to the attacks taking place in the
country, whether it was on him or the lynching in Alwar. He said the attacks
seemed “directly or indirectly state-sponsored”. Agnivesh was attacked in
Jharkhand’s Pakur on July 17, allegedly by youths who have links to
BJP-affilated groups or RSS.The activist said, “This is a pattern. It’s not
just about Alwar or Jharkhand. If you see the last 2 years, these incidents
seem to be directly or indirectly state-sponsored. There has been no action in
any of these cases.” He alleged that attacks were being carried out against
“Minorities, Dalits and Adivasis” and activists who spoke up for these sections.indianexpress
Dismiss Centre plea against minority status:
Jamia Millia to Delhi HC
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Tuesday
opposed in the Delhi High Court the Centre’s stand opposing the order of the
National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), which
declared the varsity as a religious minority institution. Seeking dismissal of
the Centre’s revised affidavit on the issue, JMI said in a reply that the
Centre’s stand on “arbitrary altering of written pleadings in the matter is
against the provisions of the law”. It said that the Centre’s application in
court, to take new affidavit on record, be rejected with “punitive damages”.JMI
said that the Union of India had filed an affidavit in Aug.2011 categorically
and unequivocally admitting that it respects the declaration made by NCMEI,
which declares the university to be a minority educational institution.“Now the
Centre sought to replace the existing affidavit on record with a new affidavit
through which an absolute contrary stand is sought to be taken. After almost
seven years the UOI is trying to alter its written pleadings, admissions on
oath by way of its affidavit… and deny Jamia the minority educational
institution status that has been rightfully declared by NCMEI,” the affidavit
said.JMI also said that the Centre’s prayer to replace the previous affidavit
on record is “categorically and unequivocally objected” as it “will cause
prejudice and injustice to the parties”. JMI response came after a bench headed
by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal recalled its April 13 order, allowing the
Centre to withdraw their affidavit filed in Aug.2011 that granted Jamia
minority status, and had taken on record their new reply on pleas seeking to
quash NCMEI’s Feb.2011 verdict.“Granting this prayer will also set a bad
precedent for future judicial procedures where the parties will vacillate and
change their written pleadings according to their whims and fancies,” the
affidavit said.The bench had issued a notice to parties involved in the case
and sought their stand on Centre’s application to withdraw the original
affidavit filed in 2011 and substitute the present one in its place.It had
observed that it was “unfair and unjust” in not giving parties the opportunity
to put their stand and fixed the next date of hearing on August
14.indianexpress
Delhi HC asks JNU not to take away hostel
facilities of five students
New Delhi : Delhi High Court on Tuesday
directed JNU to allow submission of thesis and hostel facility for five
students who were penalised in connection with a 2016 campus event in which
anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.JNU had also imposed varying fines
on these students. Justice Siddharth Mridul told the varsity to ensure the
students in question are allowed to submit their thesis, continue in their
hostels and their application for registration for the next academic year is
accepted.While issuing the direction to JNU, the court told the students that
“there should be no hubris that you have an order from the high court”.“It
should not turn into the aftermath of an English-France soccer match. You
cannot take the law into your hand,” the judge said.indianexpress
Islamic practice cited to justify bar on women
in Sabarimala
New Delhi: The Travancore Devaswom Board on
Tuesday cited the Islamic practice of barring women from entering mosques to
justify the prohibition on women in the age group of 10 to 50 years from
entering the famed Sabarimala temple in Kerala. Calling it a “bonafide belief”,
senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the 5-judge Constitution bench headed
by CJI Dipaak Misra that women were not allowed to enter mosques and cited
other places of worship where women were barred from entering during their
menstruating period.Singhvi, appearing for the Devaswom Board, described the
Sabarimala temple as a denominational temple whose practices could not be
called into question.Asserting that the practice of barring women from entering
the temple was not discriminatory, Singhvi said: “The maximum number of
devotees are women.”“Maximum number of devotees at Sabarimala temple are women.
It is not something that the male chauvinistic society has imposed on women,”
said Singhvi.Apparently unimpressed by the argument, Justice D.Y. Chadrachuud,
referring to the predominantly male chauvinistic patriarchal society, said that
right from the birth, woman were made to go through social conditioning on how
to behave, what to say, what to do.Can a public temple practice prohibition,
asked CJI Misra. Once again making a comparison with th Muslim Shia practice of
self-flagellation during Muharram mourning procession, Singhvi said: “My belief
may be fickle, irrational. There is a practice of self-flagellation by the
Shias. Many will call it barbaric, others will say it is religious.”The
Constitution bench is hearing an Oct.13, 2017 reference by a 3-judge bench
which had framed four questions to be addressed by it.IANS
Islamic culture promoted in govt schools
during SP regime: BJP
Lucknow:Alleging that Islamic culture was
promoted in Govt schools during Samajwadi Party regime,UP BJP spokesperson
Shalabh Mani Tripathi said Govt has taken the issue seriously and CM Yogi Adityanath has instructed to take
stringent actions against culprits.Tripathi said that education department
officials were instructed to conduct investigations in their districts if
Islamic culture is being followed in Govt schools. In same reference it was
instructed that Deoria education department officials should take actions
against persons who tried to impose Islamic culture in Govt primary schools. Tripathi
said that under vote appeasement policy SP Govt enforced such orders which were
against the state.UNI
India in talks with Bangladesh on Rohingyas
refugees’ deportation
New Delhi:India is in talks with Bangladesh
for deportation of Rohingyas refugees illegally staying in India, Home Minister
Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha.Singh’s deputy Kiran Rijiju
also said that as many as 52 illegal Bangladeshis will be deported on July 30
from Assam. “There has been discussion with Bangladesh on this issue,” Singh
said during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha.He also said that External Affairs
Ministry, if the need arises, will talk to both Bangladesh and Myanmar so that
Rohingyas refugees are deported.Home Minister further said the Centre has sent
an advisory to state govts to identify illegal immigrants and take their
biometric and ensure that they don’t have any such document to claim Indian
citizenship in the future.PTI
Rohingyas will not be allowed to reside in
India: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Rijiju
Gauri Lankesh murder case: Seized diary shows
two hitlists, Lankesh was Number 2 on one
Bengaluru: Name of Gauri Lankesh was No. 2 on
one of 2 lists with a total of 34 names, who were marked in 2016 for murder in
a diary recovered from a key suspect linked to a radical Hindutva group, SIT of
Karnataka Police has found. Lankesh was shot dead outside her house a year
later, on Sept.5, 2017. All the other persons based in Karnataka named in the
diary, including theatre legend Girish Karnad whose name was No. 1 on the
Lankesh list, have been provided state security. A majority of names from the
two lists are from Karnataka and Maharashtra, sources told the Indian Express,
adding that security agencies in other states have been alerted.The diary was
among documents found in the possession of Amol Kale, 37, a resident of Pune
and ex convenor of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS). It shows that the name of
Lankesh and 33 others from all over India were drawn up allegedly by the
suspect in August 2016.Kale is suspected to be a key figure in a covert unit
linked to the Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliate, the HJS. He was arrested from
the Davangere region of Karnataka on May 21 and has been identified by the SIT
probing the Lankesh murder as the head of operations of the group that killed
her.The probe has also found that the 55-year-old journalist activist, like the
others on the list, was chosen as a target for the strong stance she took
against radical Hindutva in her speeches and articles over the years.In
documents validating the seizures made following the arrest of Kale and filed
in a court in Bengaluru, the SIT has stated that a sheet with eight names in
English — including Nidumamidi Swamiji, a seer opposed to superstition, at No.
8 — were found in the diary in Kale’s possession.indianexpress
Hardik Patel sentenced to 2 years in jail in
Visnagar rioting case, gets bail
Ahmedabad:Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti leader
Hardik Patel was on Wednesday sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined Rs
50,000 by a Visnagar court for vandalism during the 2015 Patidar protests.Patel
and two others were found guilty of resorting to arson and creating a ruckus at
the office of BJP legislator Rushikesh Patel in Visnagar. Fellow Patidar leader
Lalji Patel was also awarded a similar sentence.All the convicts were later
granted bail.The Patidar leader was, however, acquitted of conspiracy
charges.“Hardik Patel, Lalji Patel and AK Patel have been convicted under IPC
section 147,148, 149. They have been awarded 2 years sentence and Rs 50,000
penalty to each’’, said public prosecutor Chandrasinh Rajput.Patel, one of the
most prominent faces of the Patidar reservation movement, had spearheaded the
2015 Gujarat protests.
Congress is 'Open to Backing Mamata or
Mayawati as PM in 2019'
New Delhi: Days after announcing that party
president Rahul Gandhi will be its PM ial candidate in the upcoming 2019 Lok
Sabha election, Congress sources told journalists on Tuesday that they will
support any candidate who isn’t backed by the Sangh parivar or BJP.They were
responding to a journalist’s question about whether the party will back Mamata
Banerjee or Mayawati as PM next year.The
sources attacked BJP and RSS attitude to women and said that the Congress will
soon have more women in decision-making roles.thewire
WORLD
Pakistan general Elections marred by violence
as Quetta blast kills 31: Vote count begins: Pak paper
Karachi: Counting has started across Pakistan
after a daylong polling in the landmark parliamentary elections, marred by a
deadly terrorist attack in Quetta, where 31 people were martyred in a suicide
attack. Preliminary and unofficial results are expected to be out in an hour.
Barring the suicide attack in Quetta, the polling process concluded peacefully
in rest of the country amid heightened security. More than 350,000 troops were
deployed to maintain law and order on the polling day. Around 105.95 million
eligible voters were expected to exercise their right of franchise in the
country’s eleventh general election. More two dozen parties were in the race
but a close contest is expected between Imran Khan’s PTI and Shebaz Sharif-led
PML-N in most constituencies. PPP is also expected to retain its seats in
Sindh, where it is facing a stiff challenge from a grand alliance of opposition
parties. In Karachi, MQP-Pakistan, PTI, MMA, PPP and PSP were in tight race.In
Khyber Pakhtunkhaw, pre-poll surveys showed that PTI was expected to return to
power but some reports suggest that Imran Khan’s party was facing tough contest
from Muttahida Majlis-e-Ammal, an alliance of religious parties.Various
political parties, including PML-N, PPP and AML, demanded an hour-long
extension in the polling time which closed at 6pm. But their request was turned
down by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which maintained that it had
already extended the polling duration by an hour.According to reports, queues
outside the polling stations surged gradually with the passage of time where
enthusiastic voters including senior citizens, male and female stood firmly to
fulfill their national obligation by casting vote in favour of their
candidates.The nation is electing 270 members of the National Assembly and a
total of 570 members of four provincial assemblies for the next five-year term
(2018-2023). Over 12,500 candidates are vying for national and provincial
assembly seats.the news
Pakistan General elections Updates: Aljazeera
Pakistan election: Dozens killed as voters go
to polls:bbc
Trump says didn't take calls before Jerusalem
decision
President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that he
did not pick up the phone when he was called by world leaders seeking to sway
him against unilaterally declaring Jerusalem to be Israel's capital.Trump said
he was "inundated" by calls from foreign leaders "imploring me,
even demanding" that he change course."I was getting calls from kings
and presidents and dictators. I was getting a call from everyone," Trump
told supporters at Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Kansas City,
Missouri."And when I knew what it was about, I'd say, 'Tell them I'll call
them next week.' Then I called them and I said, 'Oh, I didn't know you felt
that way. Well, it's too late.'"Trump's December recognition of Jerusalem
as Israel's capital was a move widely seen as undercutting longstanding arrangements
underpinning Palestinian-Israeli peace process.Anadolu
Israel authorities move stone from Al-Aqsa’s
Buraq Wall
Jerusalem:Israeli construction crews on
Wednesday moved a large block of stone that fell from the Al-Buraq Wall earlier
this week to a nearby area in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, according to the
Israeli Antiquities Authority.Known to Jews as the “Western Wall”, the Al-Buraq
Wall is the western portion of East Jerusalem’s iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque complex,
which for Muslims represents the world’s third holiest site.In a statement, the
Antiquities Authority said it would look into whether the stone -- which
reportedly fell from the wall earlier this week, raising concerns for the
wall’s structural integrity -- “can be returned to its original place”.Using a
large crane, the authority has since transferred the fallen block of stone to a
nearby area close to the wall.In its statement, the authority offered no reason
or speculation as to why the stone may have fallen. Jerusalem’s Jordan-run Religious
Endowments Authority, meanwhile, has said it is investigating the
incident.Anadolu
UN refugee agency to sack dozens of Gaza
employees
Gaza:UN refugee agency UNRWA will not renew
the contracts of around 113 employees in the Gaza Strip, a spokesman said on
Wednesday. “UNRWA will not renew the temporary contracts for 113 Gaza-based
employees in the agency’s emergency program,” Sami Mshasha told Anadolu Agency.
He said the contracts of those employees are already set to end by the end of
this month. “UNRWA will not sack them. Rather,
it will not renew their contracts,” the spokesman said. Last Monday, UNRWA
employees staged an all-day sit-in inside UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City and
outside the office of UNRWA Director of Operations Matthias Shamali. According
to the UNRWA's Staff Union, the Agency has closed its mental health program,
which was providing direct services to Palestinian refugees and employing about
430 staff. Anadolu
Fearful of Bin Salman, wealthy Saudis look to
invest abroad
Wealthy Saudis are uneasy about investing
their millions in the Kingdom due to the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin
Salman.The purge ordered by the de facto ruler last year and the jailing of
political opponents has frightened the very sector which 32-year-old needs to
woe in his ambitious plan to wean Saudi of oil.According to bankers contacted
by the Financial Times, private businesses have resorted to sitting on their
cash, while some are looking for ways to shift funds offshore, instead of
investing in the country. Some wealthy Saudis are said to fear their financial
affairs, especially attempts to transfer money, are being monitored to prevent
them moving assets overseas, the bankers say.The lack of appetite for investing
in the Kingdom, said FT, risks undermining Bin Salman’s efforts to overhaul the
oil-dependent economy and create 1.2 million private sector jobs for Saudis by
2020.middleeastmonitor
Saudis, UAE Paid Extras to Protest Qatar in
Attempt to Spoil Emir’s UK Visit: media
reports
London:Saudi Arabia and UAE have been accused
of paying extras through a talent agency to protest the London visit of the
emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in an attempt to depict the Gulf
country’s ruler as a figure loathed by the British public.The emir is hoping to
promote ties with friendly countries amid a bruising yearlong blockade by
neighboring Arab states Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.According to
emails sent to prospective members of the “rent-a-mob” by a company called
Extra People, participants would be paid $25 to protest from 11:00 am to 12:30
pm outside the gates of Downing Street during a meeting between the Arab ruler
and U.K. PM Theresa May.On Monday,
Twitter users began to circulate the email on Twitter, where Extra People
said:"This is NOT a film or TV production. The company are looking for a
large group of people to fill space outside Downing Street during the visit of
the president of Quatar (sic). This is an ANTI-Quatar even[t] – You will not
have to do or say anything, they just want to fill space. You will be finished
at 12:30.”New media site Gizmodo UK, which first reported the story on Monday,
quipped:"That’s right – if you want to turn up and look like a supporter
of a cause you probably know nothing about, you could probably walk away with a
twenty English pounds. Maybe if you’re lucky, it’ll get you enough visibility
to get that gig as a dead body in Holby City.”By Monday evening, the
advertisements were the subject of mocking media reports speculating the
involvement of Doha’s neighbors, causing Extra People to halt further booking,
stating that “on reflection and discussion” it would no longer “be involved in
such a project.”The company told Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera that it had been
contacted by a public relations agency called Neptune PR Ltd, which asked for
500 people to stand outside Downing Street.Extra People company director Tom
Walker said:"As soon as we as a company became aware that it was a
political demonstration, we immediately withdrew wanting no further part in
this…We have never or will never supply artistes for any event that could be
deemed racist or xenophobic and regret that we have even been caught up in
this.”Media outlets in Riyadh and the UAE have devoted significant coverage to
the protests, veering far from the top-line angle prevailing in the British
press about paid demonstrators and instead choosing to depict the event as a
grassroots “barrage of protests” against “terrorism” and the “controversial
circumstances” surrounding the visit.Speaking to The Guardian, a Qatari
diplomat said:"The blockading countries have a long history of using paid
protesters to try and discredit those who do not agree with their views…Despite
their latest attempts to spread lies about Qatar, the visit of HH [His
Highness] Emir has further strengthened the historic and strategic partnership
between Qatar and UK” According to Abu Dhabi-based English-language newspaper
The National, vans decorated with the slogan “Qatar is a terrorist state” also
circled London in the days leading up to the visit. Such mobile van displays
can easily be purchased by phone or by email from promotional agencies or
outdoor advertising companies. Other advertisements around London have
addressed Qatar’s poor treatment of migrant workers, its maintenance of an
absolute monarchy, and violently discriminatory laws against LGBTQ people.On
Tuesday, Riyadh-based paper Arab News published a column from Majid Rafizadeh –
an Iranian-American supporter of the Iran-derived, Western-backed cult
Mujahedin-e Khalq – who urged PM May to
demand that Doha “must stop buttressing Iran’s position and discontinue their
casual attitude towards activities that support and sustain terrorism. If they
refuse, then the emir should not be invited back again.”Social media was also
transformed into a field of battle between the Gulf Arabs, as thousands of
tweets originating in Saudi Arabia flooded Twitter. The alleged bots, or fake
accounts, posted similar tweets carrying the hashtag “#OpposeQatarVisit,”
according to Qatari-owned, U.K.-based media outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.Elliott Gabriel,
mintpressnews
IS makes comeback in Iraq with switch to
guerrilla tactics
Iraq:Months after Iraq declared victory over
Islamic State, its fighters are making a comeback with a scatter-gun campaign
of kidnap and killing.Children hold pictures of their fathers, who were killed
by Islamic State militants at Kirkuk road, in Kerbala, Iraq July 5, 2018. With
its dream of a Caliphate in the Middle East now dead, IS has switched to
hit-and-run attacks aimed at undermining the Govt in Baghdad, according to
military, intelligence and Govt officials interviewed by Reuters.Iraq has now
seen an increase in kidnappings and killings, mainly in the provinces of
Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahuddin, since it held an election in May, indicating
the Govt will come under renewed pressure from a group that once occupied a
third of the country during a three-year reign of terror.REUTERS
Dozens killed in IS attacks in southwest
Syria: state media
A series of suicide bombings and attacks in
southwest Syria have killed dozens of people, with state media blaming ISIL for
the violence. head of Syria's health authority on Wednesday put the number of
fatalities from the blasts at 50 after initially claiming that 38 had been
killed in the attacks while the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,
which relies on a network of sources on the ground, put the death toll to 56.A
suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a busy vegetable market in the city
of Sweida, some 120km south from the capital Damascus, early on Wednesday, as
ISIL fighters mounted attacks on several villages to northeast, state news
agency SANA said. Bomber drove through the market on a motorcycle and blew
himself up, TV station said.Fighters from ISIL reportedly attacked 3 villages
northeast of Sweida city, killing and wounding a number of people, SANA added.aljazeera
2 districts in southeastern Afghanistan fall
to Taliban
Kabul:Taliban fighters have overrun two districts
in the southeastern province of Paktika, on the border with Pakistan, officials
said on Tuesday as heavy fighting continued across Afghanistan. Local officials
said Taliban fighters began attacking security checkpoints and the centres of
Omna and Gayan districts in Paktika on Sunday, forcing Afghan security forces
in the area to pull out leaving large quantities of weapons and
equipment.“After almost two days of heavy fighting, Taliban captured both
district centres,” provincial council member Fazel Rahman Katawazi, said,
adding that three members of the Afghan security forces were killed and a
number of others injured.Taliban have taken a series of district centres so far
this year, many of which have been subsequently retaken by Afghan security
forces, which control areas with around two thirds of country’s
population.Reuters
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
India descending into mob rule: International
media :NR Mohanty
History reveals that popularity of
authoritarian leaders is a transitory phenomenon:Rajmohan Gandhi
‘Muslim Rulers In Goa And ?’ book released
Concerns over 'surveillance state': Can
excessive data monitoring lead to discrimination?Padmakumar M.M. & Om
Prakash L.T., IANS
Who really influenced Rajiv Gandhi to act against
Shah Bano judgment?RASHEED KIDWAI
You are person who can put an end to this
madness: Army Veteran Zamiruddin Shah's
letter to Modi on mob lynching
When I was asked just like that: ‘Are you a
Muslim?’Shantanu Datta
NRC and Citizenship Bill Have Fuelled Old,
Divisive Anxieties in Assam:Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty
Alwar lynching is the result of manufactured
Hindu fury that I saw 3 years ago:Rama Lakshmi
Successive govts crippled Prasar Bharati, now
Modi govt wants to kill it, say officials:Amrita Nayak Dutta
Lynchings Establish Pattern of Impunity with
Support from Senior BJP Leaders In Each Case
Ask the guy who is lynched whether India is
liberal or illiberal: Gauri Lankesh's ex-husband and author-journalist Chidanand Rajghatta
Special Marriage Act provisions that mandates
public display of marriage notices and soliciting objections from public must
go: Jiby J Kattakayam
What Does Quran Say About Nikah Halala? Will
Banning it Help?thequint
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