NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
22 Sept. 2018: 11 Muhram 1440:
Vol: 11, No:08
INDIA
Rafale: Govt denied role but ex-French
President Hollande says, ‘Indian Govt proposed Reliance, had no choice’
New Delhi:Francois Hollande, who was President
of France when the deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft was announced and signed
with India, has said Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence was chosen as the offset
partner by Dassault because the Indian govt had “proposed” its name.“We didn’t
have a say in that. It was the Indian govt that proposed this service group
(Reliance),and Dassault who negotiated with Ambani.We didn’t have a choice, we
took the interlocutor who was given to us,” Hollande was quoted by French news
website Mediapart.fr on the offset contract.Hollande was responding to Indian
Express news report referred by Mediapart that Ambani’s Reliance entertainment had
co-produced a French film Tout La-Haut with his partner Julie Gayet when India
and France were negotiating the Rafale deal,“That’s why, on the other hand,
this group (Reliance) did not have to give me any thanks for anything.I
couldn’t even imagine that there was any connection to a film by Julie Gayet.Hollande’s
remarks contradict the Indian govt’s claim that deal between Dassault and
Reliance was a commercial pact between 2 private parties and the govt had
nothing to do with it. The deal for 36 Rafale aircraft in a govt-to-govt
agreement was announced by PM Modi on April 10, 2015 during his visit to Paris,
which led to the cancellation of 126 aircraft deal being negotiated by the previous
govt. The deal was eventually signed on Sept.23, 2016 in Delhi between then
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart.indianexpress
Hollande stands by his statement on Rafale
deal
Not involved in choosing Indian partners in
Rafale deal: French govt
‘Partnership
with Reliance own choice’: Full statement by Dassault Aviation after ex-French
president’s disclosure
PM Modi should resign, demands opposition
after Hollande Drops ‘Rafale bomb’: Opposition
New Delhi:The opposition has launched a
renewed attack on the Modi Govt after
French media reported former French President Francois Hollande as claiming
that the Modi Govt had favoured a
private Indian firm for the offset deal and France had “no choice”. The
Opposition leaders demanded Modi to resign.Congress President Rahul Gandhi said
the Rafale deal was doctored “behind closed doors” by PM Modi. “PM personally negotiated and changed the Rafale
deal behind closed doors. Thanks to François Hollande, we now know he
personally delivered a deal worth billions of dollars to a bankrupt,” Gandhi
said in a tweet.caravandaily
Sitharaman expected to visit France for
meeting with her counterpart this week, but calls it off
When former French President Francois Hollande
shocked the Govt with his comment that
the Indian Govt had proposed Anil
Ambani’s Reliance Defence as the India partner in 36-fighter jet deal, and that
France had not been given a choice, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was in
Cairo in talks to deepen the India-Egypt defence ties. Sitharaman was expected
to visit France for a meeting with her counterpart there this week, but has
called it off. Meanwhile, opposition parties saw the disclosure on a French
website as “Swedish Radio” moment of BJP, in reference to the exposure of
Bofors case.indianexpress
TALAQ ORDINANCE
Parliament will soon give nod for triple talaq
bill: Modi
Odisha:Notwithstanding the criticism of Muslim
Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Ordinance 2018 by opposition parties, PM
Narendra Modi in Talcher today announced
that NDA Govt would soon get the Triple Talaq bill approved by Parliament.“3
days ago, the centre took a decision whose need was felt since years. The
decision was on Triple Talaq. Nobody was ready to make mention about it and not
even talk about the problem fearing losing of votes," Modi said while
addressing public rally.“When our Govt passed the triple talaq bill in Lok
Sabha, attempts were made to stall it in Rajya Sabha. But now we are committed
to save our Muslim sisters and daughters from the ill practice. We have made
the practice illegal by bringing in a new ordinance,”he said, “It will be our
constant endeavour to get the nod of Parliament on it,” said he. It is to be
mentioned that while BJP had hailed the decision of bringing an ordinance as a
step towards empowering women, Congress had slammed Govt saying it was
politicising the issue. Other opposition parties including Left parties, SP and
BSP had not approved Modi Govt’s decision to bring an ordinance on the
controversial practice.the hindu
Triple talaq ordinance politically motivated,
unacceptable: Muslim bodies
New Delhi: A number of Muslim organisations
has slammed the triple talaq ordinance, calling it politically motivated and
"unacceptable". Jamat-e-Islami Hind President Maulana Syed Jalaluddin
Umari in a statement said that if the Govt is sincere about the welfare of Muslim women,
it should hold discussion with ‘ulema' (Islamic scholars) and experts of
Islamic jurisprudence over the entire talaq-e-biddat (triple talaq)
issue."The ordinance is against the Constitution of India that gives every
citizen liberty to practise one's religion and personal laws.The ordinance
contravenes the Shariah laws,"said Maulana Umari.Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind
General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani said the ordinance was not going to
favour the divorced women in any way and would instead harm their cause for
justice.Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday called the promulgation
of Ordinance as "constitutional urgency." Madani responded by saying
that 201 incidents of talaq in two years or 100 cases per annum in 16-crore
Muslim community "does not warrant such a hasty ordinance"."It
is a clear instance of dictatorship. The Govt did not even feel the need to consult the
community," he said. All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM)
President Navaid Hamid said the move was nothing but a "diversionary
tactic" by the Modi Govt to deflect attention from its own failures and
burning issues such as rising fuel prices and corruption."We should not
even react to such provocations. I reckon the Modi Govt's sole aim with this
ordinance is to incite Muslims so that BJP can give it a communal colour and
deflect attention from real issues," Hamid said."If Govt is so sincere about the welfare of Muslim
women, it should tell us what it is doing for the Muslim widows whose husbands
have been killed in lynching cases over the last 3 years,"he added.IANS
Triple talaq ordinance politically motivated,
unacceptable, say Muslim bodies:business standard
Ordinance on triple talaq against Constitution
says Jamaat-e-Islami Hind : Indian Awaaz
Triple talaq: AIMPLB will either move SC or
work with Opposition to thwart passage of ordinance in RS
Lucknow: All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) has expressed "displeasure" over the ordinance to ban the
practice of instant triple talaq, saying it will soon formulate its strategy to
protest it.The board will soon decide whether to move the Supreme Court against
the ordinance or coordinate with the Opposition to block the bill in the Rajya
Sabha when it is brought there to ratify the ordinance, AIMPLB general
secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani told PTI."The board was expecting such an
ordinance, but it will be in force for six months only," said Rehmani,
referring to the maximum life of an ordinance.He said though Govt has made some
improvements in the ordinance compared to the provisions in the original bill
on triple talaq, it is "still erroneous constitutionally"."Board's
lawyers might approach the Supreme Court against it," said
Rehmani."The second option is that when a bill to replace the ordinance
comes in the Rajya Sabha, the board will approach the Opposition with its
arguments to prevent its passage. The board will soon decide in its meeting on
which way to go," he said.Claiming that the Modi Govt is confusing Muslims
on the instant triple talaq issue, Rehmani said, "It's an attempt to
malign the image of the community. It's the policy of Govt to lead a campaign against Shariat laws with
some Muslim women on their side.""Govt wants that such women rise in
number so that it can openly claim that they are working for betterment of the
Muslims," said Rehmani, suggesting that this law would shut all avenues of
reconciliation for the Muslim women after triple talaq." Govt is trying to
take political mileage of this by ignoring Shariat provisions on triple
talaq."Claiming that Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's data on
triple talaq was "false", Rehmani said,"There is no listing of
triple talaq cases." Darul Uloom Deoband, too, expressed its concern over
the ordinance. "Indian Constitution gives religions freedom. The issue of
talaq and nikah are religious and no Govt should interfere in it. It's against the soul
of the Constitution," said Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani of the Islamic
institution.PTI
On triple talaq, W.Bengal minister says Quran
will prevail, not law or Constitution
Kolkata:A day after Centre passed an ordinance
criminalising instant triple talaq, state minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury has
said the Quran Sharif was supreme and would prevail over any constitutional
provision or law that contradicts it.A number of Muslim organisations in the
state are planning to protest the ordinance, with many minority leaders saying
they would not tolerate any interference in religious affairs.“For us, our holy
scripture, the Quran Sharif, is supreme and if any constitutional provision or
any law contradicts the Quran, then our scripture will prevail and not the law
or Constitution…BJP is playing the religion card and is playing with
Constitution. The ordinance will have no effect on Muslims. No one will adhere
to it, but will follow the religion and the holy book,” said Chowdhury, who is
also the state president of the Jamiat-e-Islami Hind. He had earlier called the
SC verdict on instant triple talaq “unconstitutional”.“Whatever tricks BJP may
play, they will not be able to influence Hindus or Muslims. In 2019, they are
on their way out. The ordinance is just a way of winning Hindu votes, which
they will not succeed. Hindus and Muslims will throw them out of power,” the
state minister added.Chowdhury said the BJP-led Centre should be concerned with
rising violence against women.“Every day, women and girls are being raped.
Every day, women are being burnt and brutalised. What are they (BJP Govt at the Centre) doing? They are doing nothing
about it. But for cheap vote bank politics, (they are) hurting the sentiments
of Muslims,” he said.indianexpress
Triple talaq ordinance should be challenged:
Owaisi
Hyderabad: Days after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi
called for the Triple Talaq ordinance to be challenged in court, he laid down 2
grounds on which the ordinance might be struck down. “The ordinance itself
maybe struck down as unconstitutional on the grounds of ‘harm theory’ and
arbitrary and excessive punishment,” tweeted Owaisi.newindianexpress
Repeal Ordinance on Triple Talaq Immediately:
Women body AIDWA
New Delhi:Slamming Modi Govt for pushing forth
its communal agenda while ignoring
objections by various quarters on the Bill on Triple Talaq, All India
Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has demanded immediate repeal of the
ordinace."It is a matter of concern that without any demonstrable urgency
or expediency(as mandated under Article 123 of the Constitution), a
controversial Ordinance has been issued by the Union Govt at this juncture,"AIDWA said, adding that
this was "particularly objectionable since Triple Talaq is no longer a
valid form of divorce as per the judgement of the Supreme Court."Since the
apex court's pronouncement, Triple Talaq is already void and has no effect on
the marital status of the parties in the eyes of the law, the statement
said.AIDWA also came down heavily on Govt was passing the ordinance while completely
ignoring the objections from many quarters to the criminalisation of a civil
offence.newsclick
Triple talaq ordinance conspiracy of BJP-RSS:
Soz
https://greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/triple-talaq-ordinance-conspiracy-of-bjp-rss-soz/297186.html
Srinagar:Congress leader and former Member of
Parliament Saifuddin Soz termed Triple talaq ordinance as “conspiracy of BJP
and RSS against Muslims.”In a statement, Soz said the ordinance rejecting
Triple talaq “in one utterance showed Muslim Personal Law Board in extremely
poor light”.“I would like to emphasize that the RSS-BJP motivation for making a
law on Triple divorce could not have been just for their concern and sympathy
for the welfare of Muslim women. Aren’t there problems for Hindu women? What
about those problems? It is nakedly a conspiracy of RSS-BJP sangathan against
the Muslims and other minorities in India,”Soz said. greaterkashmir
OTHER
Judge who acquitted RSS Pracharak in Mecca blasts
case wants to join ‘patriotic’ BJP
Hyderabad:Hours after acquitting former RSS
pracharak Swami Aseemanand and four other right-wing activists at the special
anti-terror court in Hyderabad on 16th April 2018 in the 2007 Mecca Masjid
blast case, judge K Ravinder Reddy had resigned. 5 months later, he has now
expressed keenness to join ‘patriotic’ BJP, the political wing of RSS.Banners
welcoming retired Judge Reddy into the saffron party were put up at its
Telangana HQRS.Media reports say he was supposed to join the party on Thursday
but he didn’t so.“Former Union Minister and MP Bandaru Dattatreya felicitated
me and invited me to join the party. I also expressed my interest to join as I
believe it is a party which has national interest. It is the only national
level patriotic party and does not have any family-rule,” TOI quoted Reddy as
saying.Reddy also said he had met BJP president Amit Shah when he was in the
city recently.On 8th May 2007, powerful bomb blasts had rocked the historic
Mecca Masjid in the heart of Hyderabad, killing nine and wounding over 50
others. When Muslims came out protesting, the local police had opened fire on
them killing 6 more.The local police rounded up over hundred local Muslim
youths for the blasts but one by one all of them were acquitted by the court
for lack of evidence. The case was handed over to CBI.The federal probe agency
found involvement of some Hindutva members and consequently RSS pracharak Swami
Aseemanand and some other saffron activists were arrested. Swami even confessed
his involvement before a magistrate. However, after BJP came to power in the
centre in May 2014, the prosecution began changing its previous stand, leading
to the acquittal of Swami and five others in the case on 16th April 2018.
Commenting on the news, Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted:“Yes Retired Judge saheb, we
knew where you were heading & certainly you will be rewarded by Supreme
Leader & Assemanand & Co will campaign for you, I hope you lose your
deposit.”caravandaily
Mecca Masjid blast case judge, who had quit
hours after delivering verdict, keen to join
BJP
Assam Detention Centres: SC Notice Over
Violation Of Fundamental, Human Rights Of Detainees
New Delhi;The Supreme Court of India has
issued a notice to the central and Assam Govt s over eminent rights activist
Harsh Mander’s writ petition seeking “redress for violations of fundamental
rights and internationally recognised human rights” of detainees held presently
in six detention centres/ prisons in Assam.The detainees are those who have
been declared as foreigners by one of the 100 Foreigners Tribunals in Assam or
after serving out their sentence for illegally entering India, detained pending
deportation.The petition is primarily based on the findings of the deplorable
conditions in Assam detention centres, prepared as a report for the NHRC by
Mander, as Minorities Monitor at NHRC.The notice was issued on Thursday by a
bench comprising Justice MB Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, which directed the
petition to be tagged along with another Intervention Application raising
similar concerns over detention centres. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for
petitioner Harsh Mander.The petition focuses on “the appalling conditions in
detention of such persons, that deprive them of their Constitutional right to
life, guaranteed to all persons living in India.” “These persons were not
served any notices by the Foreigners Tribunal and subsequent to ex-parte orders
passed by the tribunals, have been arrested and detained in one of the 6
jails/detention centres,” says the petitioner.According to LiveLaw.in, petition
is primarily based on the findings of “deplorable conditions” in such centres,
as recorded in the report by Mander for NHRC. The report also highlights
various rights violations of detainees, including their right to health,
education, family unity, work and recreation and access to legal
services.Mander has filed the writ petition in public interest under Article 32
of Constitution of India for the enforcement of fundamental rights under
Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.caravandaily
No SC verdict on Babri masjid before 2019 polls: lawyers
Lucknow: Ram temple issue, presently in the
Supreme Court, could linger further and there is no chance of any verdict
before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, claims the lawyers involved in the case. The
current three-judge Bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra had been hearing the
Ayodhya title dispute. Justice Misra is to retire on Oct.2 and those legally
associated with the case say there is absolutely no possibility of any verdict
coming in the case before that.In fact, the Bench has not entirely started with
the actual hearing in the title case.Jafarayeb Jilani, the convener of Babri
Masjid Action committee and lawyer for the Muslim side in the Ram Janam Bhoomi-Babri
Masjid dispute case, told UNI that the bench concerned has so far heard and
reserved its order only on an earlier ruling of the SC in 1994, which said,
'Mosque is not the essential requirement In Islam. Order on this was reserved
on July 20 and is expected to be pronounced before Justice Mishra
retires.”Jilani said, “If the bench thinks the 1994 ruling is required to be
looked into, the issue will be recommended to be heard by a five-judge bench or
above it. This, because the 1994 ruling of 'Mosque not being an essential
requirement in Islam' was given by a five-judge bench.He further explained that
if a new bench is to be constituted, the matter will be subsequently heard by
it." And if it's the other way around, even then a new bench—most likely
comprising of the new CJI—will hear it post Justice Mishra's retirement.
Justice Ranjan Gogoi is set to take over as the new CJI.”Jilani feels that this
1994 observation doesn't makes any significant impact on the ongoing title suit
case. However, since it's related to Ayodhya dispute, the judgement on the
ruling will certainly create a flutter.Senior lawyer Hari Shankar Jain of the
Hindu Mahasabha is more vocal in his observation. He says, “I don't see any
solution coming from the Supreme Court even in the next two years. Forget about
anything before the 2019 general elections.” UNI
Blaming Pakistan’s ‘evil agenda’, India calls
off talks; ‘Unfortunate’ says Pak
New Delhi;Blaming Pakistan for the killing of
security personnel in J&K and
accusing it of glorifying terrorism, India on Friday called off talks between
the two foreign ministers. It said Islamabad’s “evil agenda” stood
exposed.External Affairs Ministers Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart
Shah Mehmood Qureshi were set to meet on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly in New York next week marking the first thaw in bilateral ties that
have steadily deteriorated.Indian Govt said in a strongly-worded statement that since
announcement of the talks on Thursday, two “deeply disturbing” developments had
taken place. The development comes 24 hours after the External Affairs Ministry
announced that India had accepted Pakistan’s request for a meeting between
Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi.India said on Friday that it agreed for the New York
meeting in response to the spirit reflected in the letters from Pakistan’s new PM
Imran Khan as well as Qureshi.“The
letter had spoken of, inter alia, bringing a positive change and mutual desire
for peace as also readiness to discuss terrorism.”Calling the development
“unfortunate”, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: “We had
already told India that if they take one step towards us, we will take two.
However, it seems that they faltered after taking just one step.”IANS
Imran Khan on cancellation of talks: ‘India’s
response arrogant, negative… small men occupying big offices’
In a sharp reaction to the cancellation of
talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, Imran Khan on
Saturday termed India’s move as “arrogant” and “negative” to his call for a
resumption of dialogue between the two countries. Pakistan PM also tweeted that “all my life I have come
across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the
larger picture.”Meanwhile, Pakistan Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said, “Our
Govt and Army are so close that if the
Army did not want us to talk, our PM would not have taken the initiative to write
to your PM saying let’s talk…Pakistan has been serious and open-hearted about
holding talks with India from the day Imran Khan came to power, our seriousness
is now before the whole world, what India has done is also before the
world.”indianexpress
Aligarh ‘encounter’ killings: Our sons were
picked up by police four days ago, say families
Aligarh;Hours after the Police shot dead two
alleged criminals – Naushad, 17, and Mustakeem, 22 – in probably country’s
first ‘encounter’ on the cameras of ‘invited’ media here on Thursday, the
families of victims addressed a press conference and made strong charges
against the UP police.They told the
press that their sons were picked up by the police from homes on Sunday, full 4
days before the ‘encounter’. They charged the police of killing the 2 in cold
blood.After the shootout, Aligarh City SP Atul Kumar Srivastava had said:“Mustakeem
and Naushad stole a motorbike and two mobile phones Wednesday in Kwarsi police
station area. Police were looking for them. Around6 am on Thursday, they were
heading towards Harduaganj when they were intercepted. The 2 started firing,
triggering crossfire. They rode off to an abandoned building near Machhwa canal
not far from Harduaganj and the exchange of fire continued. The gunfire lasted
one-and-half hours. They were injured and taken to the district hospital where
they died.”According to media reports, some local journalists received a call
from police around 6:45am on Thursday. A cop on the phone asked them to reach
Machua village under Harduaganj police station if they were interested in
“watching and filming a real encounter.” On their arrival, the journalists saw
a team of policemen, some of them armed with bulletproof jackets but a few
others clad in their regular uniforms or even T-shirts, initially corner and
then gun down 2 men. Journalists were asked to stay at least 100 metres away
from the encounter site. None of them were protected by bullet-proof vest or
helmet. Families said Mustakeem was 22 and Naushad 17.Police had said
Mustakeem’s age was 25 and Naushad 22.Rafikan, Mustakeem’s grandmother, was
quoted by Indian Express as saying:“They (Police) came in around 2.30 pm Sunday
and picked up both, along with Mustakeem’s brother Salman, who was arrested
Tuesday, and my son Naseem, who is mentally ill.”Caravan News
Police Officer Who Busted Sohrabuddin
Encounter Case Says State Trying to Silence Him
Mumbai: 13 years ago, Vasant Laljibhai
Solanki, a quiet and diligent police inspector with the Gujarat state police,
was handed charge of the investigation into the encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kauser Bi and
associate Tulsi Prajapati. After a detailed investigation – the kind rarely
seen in police departments anywhere in India when a fake encounter is alleged
– he fearlessly concluded that the
encounters were fake and named the senior police officers who were responsible
for the extra-judicial killings.Apart from nailing several police officers for
their involvement in the killings, Solanki’s efforts opened a can of worms that
eventually saw the indictment of Amit Shah, now BJP president, for his alleged
involvement in the conspiracy.As the murder case, which was subsequently taken
over by CBI, started collapsing after May 2014 in the face of CBI’s own lack of
interest and witnesses turning hostile, Solanki has stood his ground. This
despite the acute threats and pressure that he claims he faced both from the
police department and the ruling BJP.In an exclusive interview to The Wire as
he awaits his turn to depose before the special CBI court in Mumbai that is
conducting the criminal trial in the case, Solanki says the state has tried
every trick in the book to ensure he stays away from the court.The most recent
attempt is the sudden withdrawal of security – originally provided to him nine
years ago on the Supreme Court’s direction – by the state government.thewire
Modi was elected to build Ram temple, but he
‘became lawyer of Muslims’: Togadia
Badaun:Accusing PM Narendra Modi of going back on his promises on
the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and the withdrawal of Article 370,
Pravin Togadia said “The country elected Modi for Ram temple, Article 370 and
rashtravaad. But he started going to a mosque instead of a temple, advocated
for the release of stone-pelters instead of working for the security of jawans
and forgot Ram temple.” Togadia told this on Friday while talking to reporters
in Badaun.Togadia is quoted to have said, “He was sent as an advocate of Ram
temple but Modi ji became the lawyer of wives of Muslims.” He was referring to
the ordinance brought by the central Govt on Wednesday to ban the practice of instant
triple talaq.siasat
51,000 Brahmins up in arms about SC/ST act,
put BJP in spot in MP
Ujjain: Upper caste anger against the
amendment to SC/ST Protection Act has put the ruling BJP in a tight spot. On
Friday, 51,000 Brahmins gave the war cry in Ujjain: “ Jab Jab Brahman Bola Hai,
Raj Sinhasan Dola hai (whenever a Brahmin speaks up, the throne is rocked).”BJP
can ill afford to ignore this warning. Not when Brahmins from all over the
country hold a special gathering in one of the holiest cities of India,
brandish firearms and say: “Brahmins have taken up arms when atrocities against
them have soared.” While some women held up doublebarrel guns and air guns, a
few men carried the Parashu (battle axe) said to be Lord Parashuram’s weapon. The
upper-caste members gathered at Dussehra Maidan under the banner of Akhil
Bhartiya Brahmin Mahasangh and denounced BJP government in Madhya Pradesh for
pushing for reservation in promotions.They want the Centre and state to
implement Supreme Court’s order on investigation before arrest under SC/ST
Protection Act and demand scrapping of caste-based quotas.Reservation should be
only on economic criteria, they argued.The protesters announced that they have
an eye on the coming elections. Brahmin leader Mahamandleshwar Atulanand
Saraswati alleged that both BJP and Congress have imposed the ‘black law’ on
upper castes. “We don’t want BJP. We don’t want Congress,” he said, as the
gathering roared. Brahmin leader Kamal Kishore Nagar joined in: “Be careful. In
two months, they (Congress and BJP) will come to beg.” The protesters burnt an
effigy of CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and raised slogans against Ujjain BJP MP
Chintaman Malviya and Ujjain South MLA Mohan Yadav. TOI
Bheem Army chief’s Muslim outreach triggers
speculation
Meerut:Bheem Army chief Chandrashekhar Raavan
is believed to be working to develop a Dalit-Muslim equation in the region to
ensure the defeat of BJP in the 2019 parliamentary election. His recent meeting
with some Muslim leaders is seen to be a step in the direction of building up
his base among Muslims. Shortly after his release from jail after 15 months on
14 September morning, Chandrashekhar got a warm welcome not only from his
supporters, primarily Dalits, but also many political and social personalities
who came to meet him at his home in Chutmalpur town of Saharanpur district.
They included some Muslim leaders as well.Leaders from Jawaharlal Nehru
University, Umar Khalid and Nadeem, came to meet Chandrasekhar. This was
followed by a meeting with Arshad Madni, president of Jamiat Ulema E
Hind.Chandrashekhar had gone to Deoband to meet Madni where a closed door
half-hour meeting took place between the duo. He also spent some time with
Khalid. The Muslim leaders, however, said no political inferences should be
drawn from these meetings as these were just courtesy calls. But political
observers are speculating on this new found friendship between the rising dalit
icon of Saharanpur and Muslim leaders.Chandrashekhar also met the influential
Congress leader and former MP Imraan Masood shortly after his release. He
thanked Masood for extending his support to him when he was in jail. Masood had
supported the demand for Chandrashekher’s release when he was in jail Ismail
Ahmed, PFI leader, was also among those who had come to meet Chandrashekhar. It
is believed that the Bheem Army chief wants to build up a dalit-Muslim equation
before the 2019 Lok Sabha election and reap its advantage as the BSP had done
in the past.thestatesman
UP SC/ST panel chair appointed without procedure,
reveals RTI query
Lucknow: Former UP DGP Brij Lal, who joined the BJP after his
retirement, was appointed the State SC/ST Commission chief arbitrarily and
without due procedure, an RTI response has revealed. RT) was filed by
Lucknow-based activist Nutan Thakur. The Social Welfare Department responded to
her query saying the 1977 batch IPS officer, who retired in 2014, was appointed
directly by CM Yogi Adityanath, after summoning his file from the department.
As per the RTI information, Principal Secretary Social Welfare Department Manoj
Singh was directed to present position of appointments in the State Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission. Singh presented the file on April 17.
In this file, the CM directly appointed
Lal as the chairman on the same day, without any departmental recommendation or
process adopted in this regard.IANS
No skull caps and long beards, Haryana village
tells its Muslims
Gurugram;The residents of Titoli village in
Haryana’s Rohtak district have adopted an oral resolution at a meeting asking
the Muslim population to keep Hindu names and to not offer namaz in the open or
display visible identity markers such as skull caps and long beards, among
others. Half-a-dozen police personnel from the Titoli police post were present
at the time of the meeting on Tuesday.A mob had attacked the house of a Muslim
family in the village on August 22 accusing them of killing a calf. Two persons
were arrested in this connection under the Indian Penal Code and The Punjab
Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.SDM, Rohtak, Rakesh Kumar told The Hindu
over phone that the matter came to his knowledge on Wednesday evening and a
probe would be conducted into it. “It is unconstitutional. I will speak to the
village sarpanch in this connection,” said Kumar.Rohtak Tehsil Nambardars’
Association head Suresh Nambardar, who was present at the meeting, said it was
held on Tuesday evening and members of all castes and religious communities
from the village were present. He said apart from the strictures, it was also
decided that the Waqf Board land measuring over an acre in the middle of the
village would be taken over by the panchayat and a plot given to the Muslims
outside the village for burial.Suresh said Hindus and Muslims had been living
in harmony in the village for several decades, but some new settlers from UP have disturbed the peace of the village.It was
also decided in the meeting that Yameen, who faces cow slaughter charges and
whose house was attacked in August, would not be allowed to enter the village.
Rajbir, a local Muslim leader, said the community accepted the decisions to
maintain harmony. “Anyway, we have been keeping Hindu names since the Partition
and do not wear skull caps or keep beards. Since there is no mosque in the
village, we travel around 8-10 km to Rohtak city to offer namaz on Fridays and
other occasions,” said Rajbir.He said he also donated ₹11,000 to the village
gaushala on behalf of his community at the meeting.thehindu
Muharram procession: Curbs in Bihar town after
one killed in firing
Patna : Vaishali district administration has
imposed prohibitory orders in some areas of Hajipur town to prevent any law and
order situation after one person was shot dead and two were injured in firing
during a Muharram procession in the town Friday.While police blamed the
incident on a fight among Muslim groups over leading the Tazia procession, some
Muslims linked the incident to public anger after the arrest of a Hindu Putra
Sangathan leader for an objectionable social media post regarding Muharram
procession routes.Shahnawaz Qureshi (38), a plumber, was shot dead while Qaisar
and Anjar are receiving treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital, police
said. While the assailants are yet to be arrested, police have arrested four
people for pelting stones at police and damaging public property.The incident
took place around 3 am when several Tazia processions from different routes
converged at M Chowk in Hajipur, which has a population of nearly 2 lakh, about
25,000 of which are Muslims. As each Tazia group wanted to lead from M Chowk,
there was a clash between two groups, leading to firing.indianexpress
Day after Islampur clash in Bengal, another
man dies, official suspend
Kolkata :Another youth succumbed to bullet
injuries after a clash between protesting students and police at a school in
North Bengal, taking the toll to two. The clash occurred on Thursday after
students of Daribhit High School near Islampur in North Dinajpur district began
protesting against newly appointed teachers visiting the school, sources said.
Rajesh Sarkar, a former student of the school, died of bullet injuries. On
Friday, Tapas Burman (19), a student of Islampur college and another former
student of the high school, died in hospital.The police have denied using live
ammunition, saying they used only rubber bullets and tear gas shells.Education
Minister Partha Chatterjee said that the district school inspector had been
suspended. “We have sought a report from the district administration and
police. The home secretary is looking into the matter. The district school
inspector is suspended. He did not inform the education department about the
appointments,” he said.“Those who are doing politics of violence should
introspect. Any death is tragic. RSS is fanning trouble,” Chatterjee
added.According to sources, the trouble began on September 16, when newly
appointed Urdu and Sanskrit teachers tried to enter the school. Students and
locals tried to stop them, demanding teachers in science and literature
subjects.indianexpress
Case against 3 authors of book on Gujarat
riots
Guwahati:A case has been registered against
the three authors of a Class 12 reference book for political science in Assam
which mentions that then Gujarat CM was
“silent” during the 2002 riots in Gujarat.The passage from the book, under the
heading “Godhra Incident and Anti-Muslim Riot in Gujarat”, alleges that “Modi-led
state Govt was a silent spectator” during the riots. The authors are retired
college teachers. “The book is a reference book or guide book for Class 12
students of political science. It is published by a Guwahati-based publisher.
The case was registered by two persons from Golaghat on Sept.16,” said a
Golaghat district police officer.The case will be transferred to Guwahati since
the publisher, Assam Book Depot, is based there, the officer
added.indianexpress
In Terms of Educational Mobility, India's
Muslims Worse off Than African-Americans
New Delhi: A new study focusing on
intergenerational mobility – changes in social status between different
generations within the same family – claims India’s Muslims to be the least
upwardly mobile group, Indian Express reported.Upward mobility has been
measured using children’s education or education rank as a proxy for
opportunity, so the upward mobility measures are entirely based on educational
outcomes rather than economic ones.“Our most novel and striking finding is that
upward mobility has fallen substantially among Muslims in the last twenty
years,” the paper, released this month, claims adding: “Higher caste groups
have experienced constant and high upward mobility over time, a result that
contradicts a popular notion that it is increasingly difficult for upper-caste Hindus
to get ahead.”Intergenerational mobility captures changes in status across
generations and is a useful measure for describing changes in access to
opportunity in the long run. Titled ‘Intergenerational Mobility in India‘, the
study by Sam Asher (World Bank), Paul Novosad (Dartmouth College) and Charlie
Rafkin (MIT) concludes that while intergenerational mobility for the population
as a whole has remained constant since economic liberalisation, there have been
substantial cross-group changes.Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have done
better on the mobility index while upper-castes and OBCs have remained where
they were.However, “rising mobility” among SCs “is almost exactly offset by
declining intergenerational mobility among Muslims,” observed the report
refuting the perception that marginalised groups have been catching up on
average.The authors have relied on two sources of data for the study – the
India Human Development Survey and the Socio-Economic and Caste Census. For its key finding, the study samples
children (born between 1950 and 1989) of parents who were in the bottom half of
the education distribution, and assesses their prospects of moving up the
distribution.The report, based on 5,600 rural sub-districts and 2,300 cities
and towns, further concludes that the southern part of the country is overall
more inclusive – as is urban India – and that education boosts prospects: “On
average, children are most successful at exiting the bottom of the distribution
in places that are southern, urban, or have higher average education levels.”In
one northern state, however, Muslim-majority J&K,
Muslim community has considerably higher mobility than in the rest of India.On
the educational front, the paper concludes that for the last 15 years, access
to high school and college for Muslims from poor families has stagnated.The
paper highlights the need for studying economic outcomes of Muslims in the
country, especially from poor families.“Despite a population share comparable
to Scheduled Castes [14% for Muslims vs 16.6% for SCs and 14% for STs], this
group is overlooked by most of the economic literature on marginalized groups
in India.”Based on the findings, the study goes on to state that over the last
few decades, nearly all upward mobility gains have accrued to SCs and STs,
constitutionally-protected groups, those that have been provided with
reservations in politics and education as well as the marginalised sections
that have gained from development policies.None of these gains, however, “have
come at the expense of the upper caste population, in spite of significant
political mobilization against affirmative action by higher caste groups in
recent years.”The wire
Poverty reduction rate fastest among STs,
Muslims in India: UN data
India Is Third Worst Terror Affected Country
In The World, Only Iraq & Afghanistan Are Ahead
For second year in a row, India is the third
largest victim of terror attacks across the world after Iraq and Afghanistan
while CPI- Maoists, which carried out 53% of the total attacks in India, is the
fourth deadliest terror group after Islamic State, Taliban and Al-Shabaab,
according to the data released by US Department of state on Thursday.Till 2015,
Pakistan was the third most affected country in the world.The national
consortium for the study of terrorism and responses to terrorism, contracted by
the US department of state, has claimed that J&K witnessed a 24% increase in terror attacks in
2017 and an 89% increase in the number of people killed in those attacks. Out
of a total 860 terror attacks across India in 2017, 25% were reported from
J&K alone.indiatimes
Assam:6 die of electrocution, 8 injured as
high tension wire falls into pond
Rupohi: 6 persons, including a 10-year- old
boy, were electrocuted to death while eight others were seriously injured when
a high tension 11000-volt wire fell into a pond here in Assam's Nagaon district
on Friday, police said.The tragedy occurred when people were fishing at Uttar
Khatooal village, under Rupohi revenue circle, the police said.Villagers
noticed the high-voltage power distribution wire hanging lose over the pond
belonging to one Syeb Ali around 5 am and informed the Assam Power Distribution
Company Limited (APDCL), police said. Electricity department personnel had
assured them that the wire was not a live one and so some people went into the
pond for fishing, the villagers claimed.But it was activated around 8 am without
informing the locals which lead to the electrocution, they further
claimed.Police said the dead were identified as Rafiqul Islam, Jabar Ali,
Habibur Rahman, Mainul Islam, Inamul Islam and Ashiful Islam (10).PTI
Gujarat: Traffic police give road safety
sermon at Sidi Saiyyed Mosque
Ahmedabad: City traffic police has begun using
religious platforms to spread awareness of traffic rules. On Friday, on the day
of Muharram, traffic cops visited the historic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque and took
part in Friday prayers. After the prayers, the police addressed youths and
spoke on the need to wear helmets while driving two-wheelers.Senior traffic
department cops said the Friday prayer is an effective platform to create awareness
among youths to wear helmet. “Our officers went to the mosque and took part in
the prayers and then addressed people who had gathered to offer namaz,” said a
senior official.Inspector K D Nakum of traffic department said not wearing a
helmet results in 90% fatalities in two-wheeler accidents. “We have just
witnessed a case where a woman two-wheeler driver had dashed against an
electric pole on riverfront and suffered serious head injuries resulting in her
death,” Nakum said. TOI
WORLD
Iran's Revolutionary Guard targeted in Ahvaz
military parade, 24 killed
At least 24 people have been killed and 53
wounded after unknown gunmen opened fire at a military parade in the
southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, state television reported. Those killed in
Saturday's attack included members of the Revolutionary Guard and "women
and children" who had come to watch the parade, the Iranian state-run IRNA
news agency said. Ali Hosein
Hoseinzadeh, deputy governor in Khuzestan province, said that two attackers
were killed and another two were arrested."Several gunmen began shooting
from behind the stand during the parade. There are several killed and
injured," a correspondent told state TV.No group immediately claimed
responsibility for the assault which saw gunfire spray into a crowd of marching
Guardsmen, bystanders and Govt officials
watching from a nearby riser.On Twitter, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif
pointed the finger at a "foreign regime" without identifying which.He
wrote: "Terrorists recruited, trained, armed & paid by a foreign
regime have attacked Ahvaz. Children and journos among casualties. Iran holds
regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable for such attacks.
Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian
lives."Mostafa Koshcheshm, a Tehran-based political commentator and
journalist, told Al Jazeera that Revolutionary Guard officials were blaming the
Ahwazi separatist movement, which has been "nurtured, supported, and
trained by Saudi Arabia"."It's been operating for the past several
years, they are looking to cut off and separate Iran's energy rich province of
Khuzestan from Iran, which is exactly what Saddam Hussein wanted to do,"
said Koshcheshm. "They call themselves Arab nationalists but we know they
have very intimate ties to the Mujahedin-e-Khalq," he said referring to an
Iranian exiled dissident group, which is accused of killing thousands of
Iranian civilians and officials. aljazeera
Iran: Gunmen kill 24, including 12
Revolutionary Guards, in attack on military parade, says report
Pakistan urges Beijing to ease restrictions on
Chinese Uighur Muslims: Report
In a rare move, Pakistan has urged China to
ease restrictions on Uighur Muslims amid reports of up to a million of the
minority community members being detained in the country's far-west Xinjiang
region, according to a media report.The issue of the restrictions on the
Uighurs figured in a meeting, held this week, between Pakistan's Federal
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri and
Chinese Ambassador Yao Xing, Dawn newspaper reported.Breaking the past
tradition of keeping silent on the issues related to Chinese Muslims, Qadri
spoke about those Muslims facing numerous restrictions in China's Xinjiang
province and demanded to ease the restrictions, the report said.Around one
million minority Uighurs Muslims have reportedly been sent into detention and
indoctrination centres in Xinjing region during a surveillance and security
campaign run by the Chinese Govt .Qadri told the Chinese envoy that "the
placement of restrictions increases the chances of an extremist viewpoint
growing in reaction."The 2 also discussed talks between religious scholars
belonging to Xinjiang and Pakistan.Chinese envoy said that there were 20
million Muslims living in China who enjoyed complete freedom to practice their
faith. "Chinese Govt is the bearer of Sufi and moderate thought and
resolves to sort the differences between various religious groups," said
the ambassador.Chinese envoy also provided assurances to facilitate the visit
of a Pakistani religious delegation to the Xinjiang province."Exchange of
viewpoints between religious scholars of both countries is vital for better
interfaith relations," Yao said."Pakistan is an important
representative of the Muslim world and we want to further strengthen Pak-China
relations on an Islamic level," he said, adding that they will take the
Muslim community living in China into confidence for achieving the same.He
expressed China's interest in working with Pakistan to develop an educational
curriculum for the Muslim community.He also invited Qadri for a visit to China
which the Minister accepted. Meanwhile, according to a report in Nation
newspaper, a UN panel has recently put an estimate that China has detained as
many as one million Uighurs in internment camps and re-education programmes.PTI
Maldives remove 'anti-Islamic idols' in luxury
resort raid
Male, Maldives - Guests on a five-star
honeymoon resort in the Maldives caught a rare glimpse of the decades-long
political and religious tensions rocking this island nation when policemen -
armed with axes, concrete saws and ropes - stormed the Fairmont Maldives to
destroy model human figures that had been deemed un-Islamic.The unprecedented
raid on Friday came as President Abdulla Yameen railed against what he said was
a plot by the "Western-backed opposition" to undermine Islam in the
Maldives ahead of a highly charged election on Sunday.Standing in a tropical
storm on the tarmac in a half-completed airport in northern Maldives, Yameen lambasted
his opponents for promoting "Western standards" that "are
intolerable to our society and values"."I bring you development and
prosperity," he declared as the rain and wind whipped coconut palms in the
distance.aljazeera
Russia,Turkey agree on borders of
demilitarised zone in Idlib
Russia and Turkey agreed on borders of the
demilitarised zone around Syria's Idlib, part of a deal aimed to prevent a
military assault on the last rebel enclave, Russia's top diplomat said.Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov made the announcement on Friday as his Turkish
counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said he and Lavrov would meet Iranian Foreign
Minister Javad Zarif in New York City next week to further discuss the
situation in Syria."Just yesterday or the day before, the militaries of
Russia and Turkey agreed the concrete frontiers of the demilitarised
zone," Lavrov told reporters during a visit to Sarajevo.aljazeera
Saudi accused of impeding UN-backed war crimes
probe in Yemen: aljazeera
Saudi Arabia has been accused of attempting to
shut down a UN-backed war crimes investigation in Yemen where thousands of
civilians have died in world's worst humanitarian crisis.HRW said Saudi was
making a "blatant attempt to avoid scrutiny" of its conduct in Yemen,
where a Saudi and UAE-led coalition intervened in 2015 to support President
Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's Govt against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Allegations follow
two rival resolutions on Yemen at the ongoing session of the United Nations
Human Rights Council in Geneva.A resolution led by a group of European
countries and Canada calls for a one-year extension of the inquiry that last
month reported evidence of possible war crimes by all sides in Yemen, including
Saudi-led coalition.
Palestinian Authority to halt security
cooperation if Israel agrees a truce with Hamas
Palestinian Authority will sever ties with
Israel and stop security cooperation if it signs a truce with Hamas, Egyptian
and Palestinian sources revealed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Friday. PA would also
abandon all of its financial obligations in the Gaza Strip, at the top of which
are the salaries of public servants in the territory.According to informed
sources, the Egyptian intelligence agency has suggested that the truce talks
between Israel and Hamas continue in tandem with reconciliation discussions.
Cairo has apparently pledged to put pressure on the Palestinian factions to
accept what is best for Fatah and the PA.The latest discussions ended with the
truce talks put on hold until further notice, while reconciliation discussions
are being intensified, with more pressure put on Hamas to accept Fatah’s
recommendations for Egyptian-brokered reconciliation proposal.Fatah and the PA
insist on full control over Gaza’s border crossings and all tax sources, as
well as control of the security services and the weapons of the Palestinian
resistance factions.Latest Fatah delegation to Cairo is said to have passed
Abbas’s message to Egyptians that they should completely freeze truce talks in
order to put pressure on Hamas and oblige it to hand over Gaza Strip. Meanwhile,
Hamas is expected to receive an Egyptian delegation in Gaza today.It insisted
that it has heard nothing new from Egypt regarding truce and reconciliation
talks.MEMO
Israel-Russia military cooperation continues:Israeli
sources
A senior military delegation from Israel
wrapped up a visit to Moscow on Friday by clarifying that cooperation with
Russia is continuing despite the allegations that Israeli missiles downed a
Russian aircraft recently, local media have reported. Israel was not the reason
why Syrian missiles had shot down the aircraft, the delegation explained.According
to Haaretz, group of officers “presented maps, documents and a presentation
showing a step-by-step breakdown of the incident.” It also reported a senior
military source who said that the Russians were told that, “Syria fired over 20
missiles at the aircraft ‘in an unprofessional manner’ during the incident.” The
officers noted that the Israeli fighter planes had already landed at their home
base before the incident took place.MEMO
Death toll from clashes in Libya's Tripoli climbs
to 96
Fighting between rival groups in Libya's
capital has killed at least 96 people since August 26, with civilians among the
casualties, authorities have said.Libya's Tripoli-based Health Ministry, in a
statement on Friday, said 11 people, including five civilians, were killed on
Thursday night as battles raged between militias aligned to the UN-backed Govt and from two nearby towns. A resident told DPA
news agency that some families were trapped in their homes due to heavy
exchange of fire while some refused to leave due to fears of
looting.Tripoli-based militias loyal to the internationally recognised Govt say the fighting is aimed at expelling
"criminals and outsiders" from the cities of Tarhouna and Misrata,
Abdelwahed said. aljazeera
Tanzania ferry disaster: Death toll nears 200
A survivor has been found inside the capsized
Tanzanian ferry on the third day of rescue operations as the death toll of the
disaster nears 200.An engineer was found near the engine of the vessel, Mwanza
regional commissioner John Mongella told reporters on Saturday, two day after MV
Nyerere sank on Thursday near Ukerewe island on the Tanzanian side of Lake
Victoria.The man had shut himself into the engine room, the Tanzanian
Broadcasting Corporation reported. Rescue brings the amount of survivors of the
disaster to 41. While the cause of the accident was not immediately clear,
overloading is frequently to blame for such incidents. aljazeera
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Why the triple talaq Ordinance is neither
perfect nor necessary: Faizan Mustafa
Triple Talaq ordinance: another failure of
govt to build consensus: Advocate Anas Tanwir Siddiqi,Sanobar Fatma
Triple Talaq Ordinance Is Pointless Without
Inputs from Muslims:Ali Khan Mahmudabad
All the Hindus and Muslims in this Haryana
village are in on a terrible secret:the print
Has the RSS ground shifted?Karan Thapar
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mohan-bhagwat-rss-event-hindutva-congress-5367217/
Mohan Bhagwat’s RSS conclave was nothing but a
damage control exercise :Jaiveer Shergill
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:39 PM)
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