NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
08 OCT. 2018: 26 Muhram 1440:
Vol: 11, No:20
INDIA
Delhi HC allows CBI to file closure report in missing JNU student Najeeb
Ahmed case
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday allowed CBI, which was probing
into the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, to submit a closure report
at a trial court here.The agency had, on last hearing, told the High Court that
it wanted to file closure report stating it has not been able to trace Ahmed,
who has been missing since Oct. 15, 2016.While allowing CBI's plea, a Bench of
Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Vinod Goel said Ahmed's mother can raise her
grievances before the trial court where report is filed.The High Court also
rejected Ahmed's mother Fatima Nafees’ plea seeking a further probe by another
special investigation team comprising officials not belonging to the probe
agency. JNU student had gone missing a day after a scuffle with some students
allegedly affiliated to the ABVP. The HC had transferred the case to CBI after
Delhi police remained clueless about his whereabouts seven months after he went
missing.CBI had submitted that it has probed all the angles and that its
investigation in the case was complete.Opposing the submission, Ahmed’s mother
had said that the CBI has not probed the matter ‘in a fair manner’.Ahmed’s
mother counsel had contended that it was a “political case” and that “CBI has
succumbed to the pressure of its masters”.On the contention of Nafees' counsel
that the CBI has not conducted custodial interrogation of any suspect, the CBI
counsel said it was the discretion of the agency whether to arrest a
person.thehindu
Missing Najeeb case: “blatant political interference” in probe,
alleges JNUSU
New Delhi:After Delhi High Court disposed off habeas corpus petition
filed by missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed’s mother and allowed CBI to file a
closure report in the case, JNU Students Union has alleged that due to “blatant
political interference at the highest levels” neither the Delhi Police nor CBI
could investigate the case properly.“With greatest regret, we inform you that
Fatima Nafees’ habeas corpus petition regarding her son Najeeb has been
disposed off by the Delhi HC. Our plea that the case be transferred to a SIT
has been declined,” said JNUSU in a statement on Monday.However, it announced
that Najeeb’s mother will challenge the High Court order in the Supreme Court
and the students body will support her.“This setback will not deter us from our
struggle for justice for Najeeb. Fatima will challenge this order in the
Supreme Court and we will rally in her support,” it said.JNUSU alleged
political interference in the Najeeb case saying that the probe agencies did
not investigate the scuffle between Najeeb and ABVP people despite repeated
appeals. Najeeb disappeared day after the scuffle.“ Investigation in this case
has shown the blatant political interference at the highest levels and the
extent to which institutions such as the Delhi Police and CBI has been severely
compromised under Modi Govt,”reads JNUSU’s statement. caravandaily
SC moved for National Register of Citizens in Tripura
New Delhi:A Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi tagged the petition filed by
Tripura People's Front and some other persons to initiate a similar exercise in
Tripura as is done in Assam in terms of Rules 3 and 4 of The Citizenship
(Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003
before the Special Bench hearing the Assam NRC case.CJI Gogoi also heads the
Special Bench monitoring the progress in the Assam NRC. Tripura petition
submitted that an updation of the NRC is necessary in the back-drop of the
“huge illegal immigration” into the north-eastern State.It submitted that there
is a need “to detect and identify the illegal immigrants/non-citizens of India
and deport them so that the socio-economic, socio-political and socio-cultural
equilibrium is restored.”It argued that the petition has been filed in a
“representative capacity” of a majority of the indigenous people living in
Tripura for enforcement of their fundamental rights."The indigenous
people/ original inhabitants of Tripura are called as 'Boroks (Twiprasa)'. It
is a known position that Tripura and Assam have faced the major brunt of
illegal immigration from Bangladesh.thehindu
Dabholkar murder case: ‘Suspect secretly made firearms in Belagavi’
Maharashtra youth Sharad Kalaskar (25), arrested by CBI in connection
with the 2013 shooting of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, secretly made guns at
a fabrication unit in Karnataka’s Belagavi, where he was employed between 2015
and 2017, sources involved with the investigation into journalist Gauri
Lankesh’s murder in 2017 have said.Kalaskar was arrested by SIT in connection
with the Lankesh case on Sept.20. Last week, sources said, he led the officials
to Belagavi and showed them a fabrication unit where he secretly made gun parts
at night on a lathe machine without the knowledge of his employers.SIT has now
issued notices to Kalaskar’s employers to provide details of how they came to
employ Kalaskar and whether they were aware of him making gun components at
their facility at night. After he was taken to Belagavi last week, Kalaskar
also indicated locations in a forest region on the Maharashtra border where he
and others tested the guns, sources said. Sources added that Kalaskar was able
to indicate a location where Parashuram Waghmare, 26, the alleged shooter of
Lankesh, practiced with 7.65mm countrymade pistols ahead of the journalist’s
murder. Investigation by SIT has revealed that Kalaskar, who was allegedly
involved in Dabholkar’s murder as a 19-year-old, got the job at the fabrication
unit at the instance of Bharat Kurne, 38, a vegetable farmer from Belagavi. Kurne,
associated with Hindutva group Shri Shiv Pratishtan Hindustan, was arrested by
the SIT on August 9 for allegedly playing a central role in Lankesh’s murder.A
farm Kurne owned in Chikkale on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border was the
location where Kalaskar tested guns that he made at the fabrication unit, the
sources said. indianexpress
A faith healing centre in UP turns focal point for communal tensions
Jaunpur :A lone policeman stands guard at Jeevan Jyoti Satsang Prathna
Kendra in Bulandih village in Jaunpur, eastern Uttar Pradesh. Christian prayer
centre is deserted and the mood in the village is tense.Till a few weeks ago,
especially on Tuesdays and Sundays, the sprawling compound of the Kendra
bustled with visitors and devotees who came from nearby villages as well as
from Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Mau and Varanasi districts of Purvanchal to listen to sermons
and receive what they believed was ‘divine healing.’At the centre of it all was
Pastor Durga Prasad Yadav, who ran the prayer centre on his family property,
and claimed to cure all manner of illnesses, including cancer, epilepsy and TB,
through prayers and touch.However, following a complaint last month from
Sarvesh Singh, secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha Yuva, police
booked Yadav and over 270 others, including many of his associate pastors. They
were charged with luring poor people to Christianity and spreading
misinformation about Hindu religion, among other things. While the Allahabad
High Court on Wednesday issued an injunction on Yadav’s arrest, prayers at Kendra
stand prohibited.Yadav’s nephew, Brijesh Yadav, dismissed allegations of
conversion. He said people came on their own and attended its sessions because
they had “developed faith.” “It had nothing to do with conversion. We only
preached teachings of Jesus,” he insisted. Photographs of Jesus Christ and the Holy
Cross are visible on the Yadav property. Brijesh said though the family
believes in the 10 Commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ, the members have
not formally converted to Christianity. “We are still Hindus. We still
celebrate all Hindu festivals and the Dussehra organised by my uncle was
well-attended. So there is no question of converting people,” he reiterated.The
charges against Yadav and others include administering drugs and other banned
substances to people under the garb of medicine, cheating, defiling a place of
worship, criminal conspiracy, inducing people to believe they will attract
divine displeasure and causing hurt by poison.As per the complaint by Singh
mentioned in the FIR, the pastor used to give prohibited medicine and drugs to
the visitors and try to convert them under its influence, and indulged in false
declarations and dangerous treatment methods.Singh, who is leading the campaign
against the prayer centre, said Yadav was instigating people, mostly OBCs and
Dalits, against Hinduism.Kailash Yadav, Yadav’s cousin, rejected the charge.
“Magical oil and magical water are coined by RSS and its affiliates. What
happened is that people came to the sessions with their own oil and water,
which would be blessed during the prayers. They would take back home the same
as they believed in its healing powers,” said Kailash. thehindu
Delhi Minorities Commission sends notice to NDMC for ordering recital
of ‘Gayatri Mantra’ in schools
New Delhi:Delhi Minorities Commission has issued a notice to the North
Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) over a circular issued by it for recital of
‘Gayatri Mantra’ in schools run by its education department.The education
department of NDMC has been asked to explain “why a circular has been issued to
its schools to make students recite Gayatri Mantra in morning assemblies. Chairman
of Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) Zafarul Islam Khan said the notice was
recently issued to the education department of North Delhi Municipal
Corporation (NDMC).“Is this not against our secular polity and will this not
cause division in the ranks of students and teachers as many belong to minority
communities who may not like to recite mantras of religious nature,” the notice
asks.NDMC authorities have defended the move, saying recital of ‘Gayatri
Mantra’ at schools run by the civic body was not mandatory. The civic body runs
765 primary schools where around 2.2 lakh students are enrolled. Chairman of
Education committee of BJP-ruled municipal corporation, Ritu Goel said she had
no information about the notice issued by the minorities panel on ‘Gayatri
Mantra’ but added its recital was not mandatory.“We have already clarified it’s
not mandatory in our schools,” she said.dailypioneer
Kerala Muslims economically better and literate, population growth
rate higher: Report
Increasing population and limited participation in higher education
are mainly blamed for backwardness of Muslims, but a new report questions this
argument, saying the community's population in Kerala rose by 15 lakh between
2001-2011 despite being economically better and literate.Though the economic
status and the literacy level of Muslims in Kerala are better, still the rate
of their population growth is higher that national average, says the report by
Centre for Policy Analysis, an independent and non-profit policy research body.
The centre, evaluating India's minority policy and Muslim community's social
and economic status, said the Muslim population in Kerala rose to 3.34 crore in
2011 from 3.18 crore in 2001.Giving a break-up of the increase in population in
the state during the period, the report said the Muslim population grew by
10.10 lakh, Hindu population by 3.62 lakh and Christians by 84,000. It said the
economic status of Muslims in Kerala is sound and their literacy rate too is
better than the national average.Hindus constitute 54.9 per cent of the total
population in Kerala, Muslims 26.6 per cent and Christians 18.4 per cent, it
said. However in 2015, Hindus contributed 42.87 per cent to child births,
Muslims 41.5 per cent and Christians 15.42 per cent. On the contribution of Muslim women in
education and workforce, the report suggests the government seriously look into
this important issue related to the minorities in the country.According to the
report, several programmes are run by the government for minorities but the
schemes are not yielding the desired results because of their
"improper" execution.PTI
Pak spy Nishant held at BrahMos missile unit in Nagpur in joint
operation by UP, Maharashtra ATS
UP and Maharashtra ATS arrested a suspected ISI agent from a research
wing of BrahMos missile centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on Monday. The suspect
has been identified as Nishant Agrawal. As per reports, Nishant is an employee
of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and he had access
to sensitive information on the medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile.
The DRDO facility in Nagpur is used to make propellant for the missiles.Nishant
was picked up from Nagpur home for leaking sensitive information to Pakistan
and the investigative agencies are trying to ascertain the details that he
might have shared with the ISI.The arrest has come in the backdrop of UP ATS
arresting a BSF jawan, Achutanand Misra, from Noida after he shared vital
information about the paramilitary force with Pakistan ISI agents.Misra was
honey-trapped into sharing information about unit operational details, police
academy and training centre by a woman who claimed to be a defence reporter. Currently,
India is developing an enhanced range version of the BrahMos with Russia and it
has sent ripples in Pakistan and China. Keeping in view the successful flight-test
of the precision strike BrahMos weapon, Pakistan has purchased a high-tech
missile tracking system from China.NewsX
BJP MP accuses Cong Min of minority appeasement for funds to abattoir,'it
was run by Bajrang Dal,' he said
New Delhi: BJP MP from Karnataka's Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Shobha
Karandlaje alleged that funds of Rs 15 crore intended for Mangaluru smart city
are being diverted to an abattoir by Karnataka Urban Development & Housing
Minister UT Khader who is from Congress. Karandlaje alleged that the abattoir,
to which the funds are diverted is also known for slaughtering stolen cattle -
thereby "maligning the interests" of the majority Hindu community.
She attacked the Congress minister for resorting to "minority
appeasement". "Rs15 crore which is supposed to be utilized for
Mangaluru smartcity are being diverted to a slaughterhouse which is notorious
for stolen cattle slaughtering by Congress Minister UT Khader. Minority
appeasement by maligning the sentiments of Hindus is a dangerous threat to
democracy," Karandlaje said in a statement on Twitter. While Khader told Times
Now that his job in Mangaluru Smart City Ltd (SPV) is only to make suggestions
and the final decisions rest with a 15-member board of the SPV. "Mangaluru
City Ltd makes a clarian call to Mangaluru’s responsible, right thinking and
smart citizenry to post their valuable suggestions and recommendations to make
Mangaluru a truly Smart Global City.Your valuable suggestions would help
Mangaluru to formulate a Smart City Vision, Goal sand Strategy to achieve
objectives," states the Mangaluru City Corporation says about the purpose
of SPV on its website. An SPV or a subsidiary company created for a special
specific purpose - in this case for Mangaluru Smart City project.The decisions
are taken by the board of SPV which consists of MD & Chairman (Mohammed
Nazeer), Manguluru mayor (Bhaskar Moily), 4 corporators, 7 IAS officers, along
with the leader of the opposition in the council (BJP's Premananda Shetty).
"MD and a board of secretaries they have the final decision.The
slaughterhouse is an official one which was auctioned to and ran by the Bajrang
Dal for one full year when BJP was in corporation", he added. Times Now
Ram Temple: Togadia slams Modi, Bhagwat; says RSS only concerned with
interests of Muslim community
New Delhi :Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief
Mohan Bhagwat, former VHP leader Pravin Togadia on Sunday accused them of not
fulfilling the promise of constructing Ram Mandir on the disputed land in
Ayodhya.Togadia also slammed Bhagwat for stating that "Hindu Rashtra does
not mean there is no place for Muslims," at RSS's 3-day lecture series in
September this year."Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean there's no place for
Muslims. The day it is said so, it won't be Hindutva anymore. Hindutva talks
about Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," Bhagwat had said. "I want to ask if
there is no Hindutva without gau hatyaare (cow killers), love jihadis, stone
pelters and Pakistani flag wavers in Kashmir,” Togadia said addressing a press
conference in Nagpur on Sunday."We had joined RSS 52 years ago considering
it to be a Hindu organisation. But now we feel it is only concerned with the
interests of Muslim community," Togadia added.indiatvnews
Kashmiri student who went missing from Dehradun joins Hizbul
Mujahideen, say police
Dehradun:A Kashmiri student who was studying engineering at a college
in Dehradun has joined a militant outfit two weeks after he went missing,
police said on Sunday. “He has joined the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit,” said
Kulgam superintendent of police Harmeet Singh. Shoaib Ahmed Lone, 21, was a BTech
(IT) student at Dehradun’s Alpine Institute of Management and Technology
(AIMT). He left Dehradun on Sept.20 saying he had a flight for Srinagar from
Chandigarh, but never reached home.His family members came to know about his
joining the militant outfit from photographs on social media. Locals said that
Lone was raised by his mother after his father, a militant, was killed in the
early nineties. The SP also confirmed the fact.HT
Changing face of Kashmir militancy: From school dropouts to Ph.Ds, MBA
graduates
Srinagar/New Delhi: In January
this year, Manan Wani of Kupwara, a Ph.D scholar studying in AMU, gave up
studies and joined Hizbul Mujahideen. Manan reportedly gave a statement that he
felt there was “dignity in fighting Indian forces.”Later in May, Mohammad Rafi
Bhat of Ganderbal district, an Assistant Professor at the University of
Kashmir, joined the Hizb. But a day later he was gunned down in an encounter.In
Sept., a photograph of MBA graduate Haroon Abbas Wani of Doda, holding an AK-47
rifle and sporting an ammunition pouch, went viral on social media. Haroon, who
worked in a pharmaceutical company, announced he had joined the Hizb. Haroon,
Bhat and Manan are not among the rare cases of educated youth giving up a
bright future and picking up the gun. Rather, more such youth are taking up the
gun than those less educated.An analysis by The Sunday Standard of data of the
Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Institute of Conflict management in New Delhi
shows that this trend began after the killing of 21-year-old Hizb commander
Burhan Wani in July 2016.According to data, for 5 years between 2011 and 2015,
only 14 youth who were graduates or more had joined the militant ranks. But
there has been sharp spike since then.In 2016 alone, 37 graduates joined
militancy and in 2017 the figure jumped to 49. Official figures for this year
are not yet available but many educated youth have turned militants so far.newindianexpress
PM Modi didn't even shed crocodile tears for Muslims: Majeed Memon
New Delhi: Responding to Union Minister Smriti Irani's remarks on
Congress president Rahul Gandhi's participation in Narmada Puja in MP,NCP
leader and MP Majeed Memon said Irani is "sailing in the same boat"
as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who did not shed even "crocodile
tears" for Muslims before his Indore visit to observe Ashura, the annual
commemoration of Imam Hussain's martyrdom. On Friday, Irani, in an interview
with ANI, took a jibe at Gandhi for performing aarti and participating in the
Narmada Puja in Morena during his visit to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. "For
Gandhi to say that he is afraid of Hindu terror, for Gandhi and his party to
give an affidavit in a court of law saying that Ram did not ever exist,today
for him to do 'aartis' and 'Ram Naam japna' in itself is a victory of BJP. From
half-baked truths and lies, Rahul Gandhi today has to go for his political
salvation into temples.This exercise by him is an attempt to hoodwink people
into believing he can be acceptable amongst a majority community that he
treated with disdain over years," she said.However, Menon told ANI:
"This type of a criticism by Smriti Irani doesn't suit her. She is also
sailing in the same boat. What is the conduct of her leader in whose name these
people are just trying to attract votes? Your leader, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is also following the same line."ANI
International legally binding UN convention on child sexual abuse,
pornography needed: Satyarthi
New York: Nobel laureate and children's rights activist Kailash
Satyarthi has sought an international legally binding UN convention on child
sexual abuse, terming it a "moral epidemic" while noting that the
online child pornography has become a whopping $ 8 billion industry. Satyarthi,
who was in New York recently to attend the high-level session of the 73rd UN
General Assembly, said there was no control over online child
pornography."We are pushing for an international legally binding UN
convention on child sexual abuse and pornography. Some countries have laws here
and there but there is no control over online child pornography. A legally
binding convention is lacking," Satyarthi told PTI here.Child sexual abuse
is a "moral epidemic" growing across the world, he said, adding that
online child pornography has become a $ 8 billion industry.He said the demand
for a legally binding global convention against online child sexual abuse was
made by the group Laureates and Leaders for Children, a platform inspired and
founded by Satyarthi that brings together Nobel laureates, global leaders, and
youth from around the world to inspire, collaborate and act to protect the most
vulnerable children.PTI
Only believers could have moved against Sabarimala ban, argues review
plea in SC
New Delhi:The Supreme Court could not have interfered in an age-old
practice of prohibiting women aged between 10 and 50 years to Sabarimala temple
on the basis of a petition filed by those who do not claim to be believers in
the deity of the temple, a review petition filed on Monday said.The devotees of
the temple did not accuse the practices followed as discriminatory to their
gender. The practices followed are based on the essential characteristics of
the deity, who is an eternal celibate. How could the Supreme Court entertain a
writ petition filed by Indian Young Lawyers Association under Article 32 of the
Constitution in a religious matter?Article 32 petitions can be filed in the
Supreme Court on religious matters only by co-devotees. What fundamental rights
of the lawyers’ association was violated? The association does not even claim
to be “believers” of the Sabarimala deity.thehindu
After Minor's Rape, 342 Arrested as Migrants Flee Violent Backlash in
Gujarat
New Delhi: The police have so far arrested 342 people from various
parts of Gujarat for allegedly attacking non-Gujaratis, especially those
hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, following the rape of a
14-month-old girl in Sabarkantha district on Sept. 28. Migrants are being
targeted and beaten with sticks and stone, and hate messages are being
circulated on social media after a migrant from Bihar was arrested for
allegedly raping the minor. The child who was raped was discharged from
hospital in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Her condition is stable and she is out of
danger, a senior official of the hospital said.“6 districts have mainly been affected
(by violence), with Mehsana and Sabarkantha being the worst hit. In these
districts, 42 cases have been lodged and so far we have arrested 342 accused.
More arrests will be made as names of the accused come up during
investigation,” DGP Shivanand Jha told reporters.“Security of areas inhabited
by non-Gujaratis and the factories where they work has been increased. Police
have also increased patrolling in these areas,” he said.When the media asked
him about why so many people are flocking to railway and bus stations to get
out days before they would be due to head home for the festival season, Jha
said, “If people are leaving for home for a festival, it should not be seen
otherwise. I have told my officers to visit residential areas, and if required,
visit bus stands and railway stations and if people are found leaving due to
fear, (then to) persuade them to come back.”“I’ve lived here for so many years
and never faced any problems. After the minor girl was raped in Sabarkantha,threats
were issued to us migrant labourers across the state. No one came and
threatened me, but when I saw my friends and neighbours fleeing in droves, so I
too decided to leave. Yes, my Diwali bonus and salary will get cut, but what
can one do. I will return as soon as things cool down,” Mohamad Shakeel, who
works in Ford Factory at Sanand near Ahmedabad, told The Quint.According to the
report by the Quint, Satendra Singh, who is a resident of Bihar, said, “They
gave us our salary and asked us to leave. We were threatened by the mob as
well. I have only lived in Gujarat for a year but now I will not return.”the
wire
Rape backlash: 342 arrested for attacks on non-Gujaratis, security
beefed up
Bihar: Girls thrashed for resisting molestors, SC raps state for
rising crime against women
Bihar police has arrested nine boys, including a minor, for beating up
more than 30 girls in a government school in Supaul district after they
resisted sexual advances. The police said they are in the process of
identifying more people who were involved in the attack.“We are collecting
documents to identify others involved in this case. We don't want any innocent
person to get caught in this,” said ASP, Trivenniganj, reported ANI.The Supreme
Court, on Monday, expressed concern over the incident. “All these newspaper
reports are not good. Skeleton of girls found... 34 girls beaten up because
they wanted to protect themselves from molestation. How could you treat
children like this? These kinds of problems are arising day in and day out,”
said the Supreme Court.The incident happened when a group of youths forcibly
entered the Kasturba Awasiya Balika Vidyalay on Saturday evening with the
intention of molesting the girls. In the ensuing fracas, 34 girls were injured
and have been admitted to a hospital.
Bihar mob beats up girls in school over harassment complaint
7% Voting In 7 Hours In Kashmir As Key Parties Shun Civic Polls after
13 years
Srinagar: As Jammu and Kashmir
is voting in the first of the four-phased municipal elections after a hiatus of
13 years, voters in Jammu are queuing up at polling stations, but staying away
in Kashmir. Brisk voting was observed in almost all the wards in Jammu region
with Rajouri registering the highest votes, but only seven per cent voters
turned up in Kashmir till 2 pm. Amid shutdown called by separatists in the
Valley, streets were deserted and voting remained abysmal in Srinagar,
Bandipora, Baramulla and other areas. Two key parties in the state -- the National
Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's PDP -- have abstained from the elections over
the centre's stand on Article 35-A, making it a contest between the BJP and the
Congress. Terrorists had killed two National Conference workers on Friday and
threatened against participating in the polls. The situation has remained
peaceful so far, police said. Mobile internet services have been suspended in
south Kashmir for the voting. In other parts of the Kashmir Valley, the
internet speed has been reduced, said officials.In the first phase, voting is
on in 422 of the state's 1,145 municipal wards. As many as 2,990 candidates are
in the fray for the elections, which will end on October 16. Separatists have
appealed to people to boycott the elections.Voting is underway at 820 polling
stations across the state -- 670 in Jammu and 150 in Kashmir. In Kashmir, 138
polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive.Around 240 candidates
have already been elected unopposed and a majority of them are from Kashmir.
The BJP said that it has got control over 7 municipal committees in the Valley
as 75 of its nominees have been elected unopposed.ndtv
Congress, BJP Surprised At Lok Sabha By-Polls In Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Election Commission's decision to hold by-elections to
three Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka on November 3 has surprised political
parties who question the logic, with general elections due early next
year.Those elected in the by-poll will have just about five months in office
till the election, when the seats will vote again, pointed out both the
Congress and the BJP. By-polls to the Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya
parliamentary seats and Ramanagara and Jamkhandi will take place on Nov.3 and
the results will be out three days later.The by-polls were required to fill
vacancies left by BJP's BS Yeddyurappa (Shivamogga) and B Sriramalu (Ballari),
and CS Puttaraju of JD(S) (Mandya). They resigned as Members of Parliament on
their election to the assembly in May last.On Saturday, the Election Commission
tacked on the by-polls to its announcement of election dates for four
states.By-polls to the Jamkhandi assembly seat was needed after Congress
lawmaker Siddu Nyamagouda's death, while Ramanagara fell vacant as chief
minister HD Kumaraswamy gave up seat and retained Channapatna, the other seat
he won in Karnataka polls.ndtv
Rajasthan: Govt staffers end strike, ‘won’t support BJP in polls’
Jaipur: Over 1 lakh Rajasthan government employees, on strike for the
past fortnight, ended their protests on Saturday, hours after the schedule for
the state assembly elections was announced and the model code of conduct came
into force. Rajasthan will go to polls on Dec.7.Most of demands of the
government employees who went to strike were centred around the implementation
of 7th pay commission, the recruitment of staff, retirement benefits for former
employees, and an increased pay grade.As per the code of conduct, in the run-up
to polls, the government can’t announce any new initiatives, grants or
financial decisions. “The government purposefully delayed the talks with us to
waste time so that the model code of conduct comes into force. We have decided
that state government employees won’t support BJP in the state polls,” said
Rameshchand Sharma, state general secretary, Rajasthan State Ministerial
Employees’ Union.indianexpress
After Abp news, C fore survey also predicts congress victory in Rajasthan
Jaipur;2 surveys in the last 2 days have predicted a massive victory
for Congress party in Rajasthan dethroning Vasundhara Raje government of BJP. ABP
News-C Voter carried a big survey from 1-30 Sept. and published its results on
6th Oct.– the day Election Commission announced dates for Assembly poll in
Rajasthan and four other states.As per the survey results, Congress will oust
BJP from power in Rajasthan as it will win 142 seats in the 200-member
Assembly, restricting the BJP around 50.Now another survey done by C Fore on
Monday predicted Congress will win 124-138 seats in the state. caravandaily
Shun parties like AIMIM, UDF: Barelvi leaders urge Muslims
Nagpur: Clerics and other religious leaders of the Barelvi sect of
Muslims met in Nagpur, to launch a drive asking community members to abstain
from voting for parties like Assadudin Owaisi-led AIMIM, UDF of Kerala, apart
from candidates of the Deobandi sect, if they are fielded by any other party.
This could indirectly impact the Congress, among major political parties, which
the clerics present in the meet said has been only favouring the Deobandis so
far. The meeting was held under the aegis of Indian Muslim Association-Noori
(IMAN), a city-based organization, and was attended by clerics and Sajjada
Nashins (hereditary caretakers) of around 12 dargahs from across the country.After
the daylong national convention, a resolution was passed to discourage voting
for parties like AMIM, UDF, SDPI, PFI, and Peace Party. The meet also singled
out some sects, candidates from which should not be voted for.These include —
Deobandi, Salafi, Maudidi, Kadiyani, Kharzi, and Rafiz, collectively addressed
as Wahhabis. Other Muslim community leaders, however, said IMAN and other
related leaders are known to be close to the BJP. “Such calls have been made
earlier also, and it is taken as an attempt to divide the Muslim votes by other
parties,” said a source in political circles. TOI
Left-Dalit divide the cause for ABVP victory in University of
Hyderabad?
Hyderabad: After 8 long years, ABVP has managed to sweep the
University of Hyderabad students union elections. This sudden turn in fortunes
is sure to boost the ambitions of students body that is looking to capture more
colleges and universities. Though ABVP managed to win Delhi University, it
faced defeat in the hands of United Left in jnu. In University of Allahabad, it
was defeated by an alliance of Congress and Samajwadi party-backed student
organisations. Now, ahead of State elections, it has managed to capture UoH.UoH
has been a bastion of CPI(Marxist) backed SFI and since 1993, Ambedkar Students
Association saw a surge in the campus. The last time ABVP was in power was in
2009-2010.Meanwhile, one reason that seems to have ensured ABVP victory is the
ideological difference between SFI and ASA over two less known Muslim student
organizations - Muslim Students Front, Students Islamic organization - as well
as the National Students Union of India.ASA decided to ally with NSUI, MSF, SIO
and some other Tribal and Bahujan organizations. However, SFI did not want to
be part of alliance with MSF, SIO and NSUI and decided to contest separately,
thus splitting the anti-ABVP votes.Speaking on the loss, SFI member, Sanjay
Jonnalgadda said, “We thought that if UDA gets its normal vote share, ABVP will
also get less number of votes and SFI will win with a thin margin. However, UDA
could not garner enough votes.”ASA-HCU unit President, Samson Gidla, said, “We
stand with the oppressed and hence allied with MSF and SIO. SFI was not ready
to join the alliance. It seems that members of some of our allies who could not
be accommodated in SU posts also voted against us, as ASA got its usual number
of votes.”newindianexpress
WORLD
Saudi journalist believed to be dead from 'preplanned murder' reportedly
feared for life
Jamal Khashoggi, the missing Saudi journalist and critic whom Turkish
officials say was killed in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, feared for his
life as early as August.The 59-year-old journalist, who contributed to The
Washington Post, had been "convinced" in August that the Saudi
Arabian leadership was out to kill him, The New Yorker's Robin Wright wrote on
Sunday.Wright wrote: "'Of course, they'd like to see me out of the
picture,' he said. He'd said it to me before, but by then he had been in exile,
in Washington, for more than a year, so I thought he was exaggerating the
dangers. Maybe not."Khashoggi lived in self-imposed exile in the US for
the past year and vanished last Tuesday while visiting the Saudi consulate in
Istanbul. He had been trying to obtain a document to verify his divorce so that
he could remarry, the BBC reported.His fiancée, a Turkish woman named Hatice, said
she waited for Khashoggi outside the consulate from 1:00 p.m. local time until
after midnight, and did not see him leave, the BBC said. She also returned when
the consulate reopened the next day.Turkish investigators believe a 15-member
team "came from Saudi Arabia," and that "it was a preplanned
murder," Washington Post reported, citing an unnamed person who has
knowledge of the investigation.Turan Kislakci, a friend of Khashoggi and the
head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association, told the Associated Press that
Khashoggi was made to "faint," and was dismembered. This allegation
was based on conversations with Turkish officials he did not name, APsaid.Yasin
Aktay, an advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and friend of
Khashoggi, also told Reuters: "My sense is that he has been killed... in
the consulate."Mohammed bin Salman, the 33-year-old crown prince of Saudi
Arabia known as "MBS," has denied knowledge of Khashoggi's
disappearance and even said he would let Turkish investigators search the Istanbul
consulate.businessinsider
Erdogan on Journalist Khashoggi vanishing: Upsetting this happens in
Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is hopeful about
the fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi amid reports that the
critic may have been killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Erdogan
told reporters that authorities were looking into all video surveillance
footage of the mission's entrances and monitoring all inbound and outbound
flights since the writer disappeared on Tuesday."I am following the
[issue] and we will inform the world whatever the outcome [of the official probe]",Erdogan
said."God willing, we will not be faced with a situation we do not want. I
still am hopeful," adding that "it is very, very upsetting for us
that it happened in our country".aljazeera
Ex-Saudi prosecutor announces opposition to regime
Saudi lawyer, former prosecutor and legal adviser, Mohammed Al-Meshal
Al-Qahtani, announced his opposition to “the Saudi regime and its policies”.In
a video on YouTube, Al-Qahtani explained that his opposition was a result of
the Saudi regime’s “repressive policies, violations to the rights of the Saudi
citizens, and the aggravation of poverty and unemployment across the
country.”Al-Qahtani, who currently lives in the British capital London,
stressed his support for “all those who oppose the Saudi regime,” which he
described as “based on absolute tyranny and corruption”.The Saudi politician
condemned “the kingdom’s arrest, torture and killing of intellectuals and
clerks in prisons.”MEMO
Saudi Crown Prince's image seen at risk over missing journalist
Dubai: The disappearance of a prominent critic of Saudi Arabia's
rulers after entering the kingdom's Istanbul consulate risks severely
tarnishing the reformist image of its de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, experts say.Riyadh has denied allegations made by Turkish officials
that Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the kingdom's mission
by a team sent specially to Istanbul.Analysts said that while the claim of a
state-sponsored killing of the Washington Post contributor was unconfirmed, it
would seriously damage the prince's credentials as a reformer if true."It
would be a major blow to the image that Saudi Arabia's advocates have so
carefully tried to cultivate in the west, particularly in Washington,"
Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute in the United
States, told AFP.Britain said on Sunday it was "working urgently" to
verify the "extremely serious" allegations surrounding Khashoggi, who
has been critical of some of Prince Mohammed's policies and of Riyadh's
intervention in the Yemen war.Washington and Paris, meanwhile, said they were
closely following the situation.AFP
Profile Jamal Khashoggi: Saudi writer missing in Turkey
Assad says Russia-Turkey Idlib deal 'temporary measure'
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday said that a Russia-Turkey
deal for the last major rebel bastion of Idlib was a "temporary
measure," state news agency SANA reported."The agreement is a
temporary measure through which the state has realised many achievements on the
ground starting with stemming the bloodshed," SANA reported the president
as saying at a meeting of the central committee of his Baath Party."This
province and other Syrian territory still under terrorist control will return
to the Syrian state," SANA quoted Assad as saying, employing his usual
term for both rebels and militants. The deal reached on 17 September between
government ally Moscow and rebel backer Ankara aims to avert a massive
government assault on Idlib province and adjacent areas, by creating a 15-to
-20km buffer zone ringing the country's last major rebel stronghold.middleeasteye
Report: Netanyahu warns ministers to prepare for Gaza offensive
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned ministers that Israel is
“preparing for the possibility of a military campaign in the Gaza Strip should
the humanitarian conditions in the territory cause border clashes to spiral out
of control”, according to the Times of Israel, citing a report by Hadashot
news.Netanyahu reportedly spoke of the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s attempt to
“choke” Gaza during the cabinet meeting, and said: “If the reality of civil
distress in Gaza is diminished, that is desirable, but that is not certain to
happen, and so we are preparing militarily — that is not an empty
statement”.After Qatar agreed to boost aid for the occupied enclave, PA
President Mahmoud Abbas was said on Saturday to be planning on cutting the flow
of funds to the Gaza Strip.Senior Israeli defence officials told Hadashot news
“that Abbas was particularly frustrated with UN Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Nikolay Mladenov, who facilitated the transfer despite the PA
president’s staunch objections”.middleeastmonitor
Abbas rejects Sisi’s request to cancel punitive measures imposed on
Gaza
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected a
request from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to cancel the punitive
measures he has imposed on the Gaza Strip, Israeli TV claimed .Israeli
state-owned TV Kan published excerpts from the phone call made between the two
presidents, pointing out that the request was made on the basis that the
punishments pose threats to the Egyptian national security.“More punitive
measures against Gaza would undermine Egypt’s national security,” Al-Sisi told
Abbas during the call.Abbas replied: “What is posing a threat to the Egyptian
national security is not my punishment, but the creation of a state for the
Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza led by Hamas.”middleeastmonitor
Interpol Chief Resigns Amidst Investigation in China
New Delhi: Interpol, on Sunday, said that Meng Hongwei, who is being
investigated in China for suspected breach of law, has resigned from the
organisation as Chief. South Korean national Kim Jong Yang would become its
acting president till a new president is appointed at the November meeting of
the organisation. A statement released on the Interpol website stated that,
“General Secretariat in Lyon, France received the resignation of Mr Meng
Hongwei as President of INTERPOL with immediate effect.”The resignation came a
few hours after the Chinese officials confirmed the investigation into Meng
Hongwei, who had reportedly gone missing.Meng, 64, who is also the vice
minister of public security, is being investigated by China’s National
Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of laws, state-run Xinhua news
agency reported quoting an official statement. It is not clear if the former
Interpol chief was detained.thewire
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Rohingya Refugees in India Struggle With Hatred, Fear as First Batch
is Expelled
Madrassas a place of prayer and peace for Rohingya kids:AFP
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/madrassas-a-place-of-prayer-and-peace-for-rohingya-kids/articleshow/66107409.cms
Triple Talaq Ordinance, 2018: A classic case of Haste Makes Waste:
Ejaz Maqbool,Akriti Chaubey
For Mahatma Gandhi, communal harmony was more important than even
swaraj:Mahmood A. Madani
Jawaharlal Nehru University – We are Dying, Mr. Vice-Chancellor:Avijit
Pathak
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind urges Govt, not to 'cave in' to VHP's Ram temple
demand:deccanherald
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:09 PM)
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