NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
14 OCT. 2018: 04 Safar 1440:
Vol: 11, No:31
INDIA
Why Was Article 355 Not Invoked During Gujarat
Riots: Ex-Vice President Ansari raise questions
New Delhi: Referring to 2002 Gujarat riots,
former vice president Hamid Ansari has asked why Article 355 of the
Constitution was not invoked by the then union Govt even when its defence minister was on the
spot.Mr Ansari made the remarks during the launch of a book -- 'The Sarkari
Mussalman' by Lt General (Retired) Zameer Uddin Shah, who had led the Army
Division that quelled the Gujarat riots in the state.The former vice president
also said there were "no military solutions to insurgency" as
normalcy can be restored only by winning the hearts and minds of people."'The
initial reaction of the civil administration was tardy; curfew had been ordered
but not enforced; no attempt were made to convene peace committees and attitude
of police was partisan',"Ansari quoted some of the observations from
General Shah's book on the riots.But, the former vice president observed, that
the book was silent "about the role of the political
leadership"."If the civil and police administration fails to respond
to a massive failure of law and order, where does the responsibility rest in a
democratic and parliamentary system," he asked."Why was Article 355
of the Constitution that makes it a duty of the Union to protect a state
against internal disturbance not invoked even when the centre had the benefit
of Raksha Mantri on the spot?" he asked.Article 355 pertains to 'duty of
the Union to protect states against external aggression and internal
disturbance'.The reportage of Gujarat happenings in the national and
international media was extensive and even the NHRC took note of it, he said."In
an interview to a Malayalam weekly in 2005,ex president KR Narayanan had
revealed his remonstrations with the Govt
and observed, and I quote (Narayanan) -- 'Military was sent but not
given the power to shoot. And, there was a conspiracy involving the central and
the state Govt behind the Gujarat
riots'," he said. ndtv
Hamid Ansari questions administartion failure
during Gujarat riots
Gujarat riots: SIT report a blatant lie,
reiterates Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah
New Delhi:Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah(retd)
reiterated on Saturday that the Army was delayed transport for over a day
despite a request made to the then CM
Narendra Modi during 2002 Gujarat riots. He was speaking at the launch
of Sarkari Mussalman', unveiled by ex Vice President Hamid Ansari.Shah said he
has written 'Gospel truth', adding that the sequence of events has been
recorded in the "war diaries" of the Army."When the time comes,
these diaries will be provided. What I have reported is the Gospel truth,"
he said.The memoir is published by Konark Publishers and was unveiled at India
International Centre (IIC) by former Vice President Hamid Ansari. The book has courted
much controversy over its portions relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Shah,
who led the Army in quelling the riots, has said in his memoir that after about
3,000 troops landed at Ahmedabad airfield by 7 am on March 1, they had to wait
for over a day to receive transport and other logistical support from the state
Govt in order to fan out to the cities
and towns which were engulfed in violence.This delay, according to him,
happened despite a request by the Lt. General to then CM Narendra Modi at 2am
on March 1 in Ahmedabad, in the presence of Union Defence Minister George
Fernandes.The SC-appointed SIT report, that had cleared Modi's name, had
concluded that there was no delay "in requisition and deployment of the
Army", based on testimony of Ashok Narayan, Additional Chief Secretary
(Home)."I was not aware of SIT report until a few days ago when this was
pointed out to me. Let me say again, it is a blatant lie. I have told the
truth. I don't think there's a better qualified person than me to talk about
it," he said. General S. Padmanabhan, the then Chief of Army Staff,
speaking to IANS earlier, had backed the assertions of Shah.IANS
'Not communal, media blew small part of
Sarkari Mussalman out of proportion': Zameer Uddin Shah
Gujarat riots were also the plan of Modi:
Gohil
New Delhi:Amidst ongoing attacks on north
Indian citizens in Gujrat Congress has made a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi saying that if he wanted he
could have saved hundreds of lives in Gujarat.On the contrary, action was taken
against the officers who saved the lives of people.Addressing a press
conference here in ICC, secretary of Bihar Congress and leader of Gujarat
Shaktisinh Gohil said that he has
evidences which show that Gujrat’s Rupani Govt and BJP are responsible for
attacks on north Indian people.He claimed that he has videos how hate is spread
against north Indian people by BJP members. Gohil said, in post-Godhra riots
the officers who were doing good work were removed.He said Rahul Sharma was DSP
of Bhavnagar. He had saved 382 children by risking himself otherwise they would
be burned. He himself went there and stopped a crowd of 10000, saved children.
That was his sin.Today he had to resign and work as a lawyer.siasat
Minister MJ Akbar Won't Quit Over #MeToo,
Warns Of Legal Action
New Delhi:
Union Minister MJ Akbar today dodged calls for his resignation and said
allegations of sexual harassment against him were "false, fabricated and
deeply distressing". Linking the allegations to elections ahead, MJ Akbar
also threatened legal action against his accusers. Sources say the Govt has "nothing to do with the
accusations" against him and his stepping down may "set a bad
precedent". Akbar, 67, was on an official tour in Nigeria when nearly a
dozen women came out with detailed accounts of his alleged sexual misconduct as
part of a thread on social media that has snowballed into a #MeToo movement in
India."Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is
there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations
have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill...This is deeply
distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action," Akbar said.The
accusations started pouring in after journalist Priya Ramani tweeted on Oct.8
that Mr Akbar was the man she had referred to in an incident she shared in a magazine
article a year ago, when the Harvey Weinstein scandal in US triggered the
#MeToo movement.Besides Ms Ramani, the women who spoke out against MJ Akbar
include Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna
Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout, Kadambari M Wade, Majlie de
Puy Kamp and Ruth David.ndtv
#MeToo campaign: MJ Akbar returns to India,
says statement soon on sexual harassment allegations
PM Modi’s silence on charges against MJ Akbar
unacceptable: Congress
New Delhi:Congress Sunday stepped up its
attack on PM Narendra Modi over the
allegations of sexual harassment against Union Minister MJ Akbar, saying his
silence was “conspicuous and unacceptable”. As the #MeToo movement gathered
pace over the last fortnight, Union minister of state for external affairs was
accused by several former colleagues of sexual harassment when he served as an
editor at various media outlets. senior party leader Anand Sharma questioned
Modi’s silence on the issue and said as the head of the Govt he should speak on the issue. “It is for the
PM to speak on this issue, let the
country judge its PM by his actions. So far his silence is conspicuous. This question
is not only the moral authority of Govt , but his own also, and the dignity of
the office he holds,” Sharma said.PTI
UP: 2 beaten to death by mob in Amethi
Two persons were beaten to death by mob in UP’s
Amethi, after they allegedly shot at a 12-year-old boy during a religious
function at a temple in Saraiya village of the town, police said on Sunday.The
incident took place during a puja at the temple, where Dilip Yadav (28) and
Rahul Singh (30),who were allegedly in an inebriated state, shot at Sumit.The
boy was injured and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital, SHO,
Musafirkhana, Vishwanath Yadav, said. Following the incident, Dilip and Singh
were thrashed to death by a mob,he said.Both were residents of neighbouring
Gajanpur Duariya village.Commenting on the incident, police said Dilip and
Singh were rushed to a community health centre in Musafirkhana but succumbed to
their injuries during treatment.An FIR against 4 persons , based on a complaint
from the brother of one of the deceased, SHO said.An FIR was lodged against six
persons following a complaint from the villagers, he added.indiatvnews
NDA, Congress trade charges on Gaya youth’s
‘killing’ in Gujarat
PATNA: The alleged lynching of a youth from
Gaya at Surat in Gujarat on Friday triggered a war of words between ruling NDA
and opposition Congress in Bihar on Saturday. While BJP and JD(U) accused
Congress for the attacks on north Indians in Gujarat, the grand old party
demanded President’s rule in the state. As per reports, Amarjeet Singh from
Kodia village under the Konch police station area in Gaya district was attacked
by a mob when he was on way back from the mill on Friday evening. However,
Gujarat police claimed he died in a road accident. Singh used to work in a mill
in Pandeshwara area of Surat. The attacks on people from Bihar and UP started
following the rape of a 14-month-old girl allegedly by a migrant worker from
Bihar in Sabarkantha district of northeast Gujarat on Sept.28. Congress terms
it the failure of Gujarat govt in handling the situation. “Killing of a Gaya
youth has proved complete failure of law and order. Gujarat is the home state
of PM Narendra Modi and the CM is also his nominee. Still they are unable to
control the situation and only accusing one person (Thakor) for the situation.
I demand President’s rule in Gujarat,” Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha
said. TOI
After 2 students accused of sedition,
Kashmiris threaten to leave AMU if charges not dropped
Lucknow :A day after two Kashmiri students
from AMU were booked for sedition, students from the state have threatened to
leave the campus on Oct.17 if the charges against them aren’t dropped, a
university official said on Saturday. The threat was conveyed through a letter,
signed by “students of J&K ”, was delivered to the Proctor Mohsin Khan. “I
have spoken to the Proctor who confirmed receiving a letter,”AMU public
relation in-charge M Shafey Kidwai said. When Sunday Express asked Kidwai if
the letter could be considered authentic, written by Kashmiri students, he
responded that he “believed it was”. He said there were 950 students from the
state.Earlier, Waseem Ayub Malik and Abdul Haseeb Mir were suspended after they
allegedly attempted to offer funeral prayers in the campus after security
forces killed militant Kupwara resident Mannan Bashir Wani in North Kashmir last
week. Wani was a PhD student from AMU until he was expelled after a photograph
of him appeared on social media with a message claiming he had joined the
militant group Hizbul Mujahideen. Aligarh police has slapped sedition charges
against Malik, Mir and several unnamed students.“The students at the
university, in panic, were discussing the situation emerging in the valley at
the Kennedy Hall Lawn and were peacefully talking among each other,”the letter
read. “No prayers or any relevant activity was observed, and directions of the
AMU proctor were duly followed. Meanwhile some non-Kashmiri people armed with
lathis attacking the students. However, Kashmiri students dispersed immediately
and no protest or law and order violation took place.”They added that the
Kashmiri students fraternity at AMU strongly condemned the “fabricated
allegations and systematic vilification campaign” them.“In case the suspension
and showcause notices (against students) are not revoked immediately, and
sedition and relevant charges are not withdrawn then we, students from the
state of J&K at AMU will be forced
to leave the campus en-masse on Sir Syed Day (Oct.17) for reasons of safety and
security,” read letter.Kidwai said university cannot dictate the police
investigation. indianexpress
Muslim groups see bid to impose uniform civil
code
Kozhikode: The co-ordination committee of
various Muslim organizations has said that the Supreme Court order on women's
entry to Sabarimala and the ordinance making triple talaq illegal are
"unjust intrusion into the religious life of the believers". At a
meeting held here on Saturday, the committee expressed concern over the
attempts "to impose a uniform civil code". The meeting asked the
Parliament and assemblies to intervene to protect the moral values preserved
through ages. The verdicts legalising
homosexuality and extramarital relationship are affronts on the moral values.
The meeting also decided to take up legal fight against the court verdicts. Expressing
concerns over the recent Supreme Court judgments of decriminalising
homosexuality and nullifying extramarital affair as a criminal offence, the
forum demanded the law to protect the 'eternal values.'"Our culture is
based on family values which serve protection and good upbringing of
individuals. The court verdict decriminalising homosexuality will come against
such long-cherished values," said the committee. Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali
Shihab Thangal, P K Kunhalikutty, MP, K P A Majeed, M P Abdusamad Samadani, M C
Mayin Haji (IUML), K T Hamza Musaliar, P Moideen Faizy (Samastha Kerala
Jam-Iyyathul Ulema), T P Abdulla Koya Madani, Hussein Madavoor, P P Unneenkutty
Moulavi (KNM), Sheikh Muhammad Karakkunnu, T Muhammad Velam (Jamaat-e-Islami),
T K Ashraf, Hussein T Kavanoor (Wisdom Islamic Organisation), Fazal Gafoor and
Zakkeer Hussein (MES) attended the meeting. TOI/DC
Muslim forum seeks law to protect ‘eternal’
values
SC Orders Safety of Muslim Woman Being Forced
to Marry Maternal Uncle in J&K
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the
chief of the J&K police to ensure the safety of a young woman, who is
allegedly being forced to marry her 40-year-old maternal uncle. Muslim woman is
26 years old and has alleged that her maternal uncles have been molesting her
for a long time. She has further said that the family is now forcing her to
marry one of them, who is already married and has children. A bench headed by CJI
Ranjan Gogoi issued notices to J&K police and her family members, seeking
their replies in two weeks. " DGP J&K, is directed to ensure the
safety of the woman, on whose behalf the present petition has been filed,"
ordered the court.The woman, who has completed her Master's degree in
Biotechnology, approached the SC through a friend, Seema Bhoria. Bhoria, in her
petition filed through advocate Satya Mitra, has asked for the woman's release
from a shelter home in Srinagar where she was lodged after she complained to
the police. According to the petition, her family and maternal uncles have
“close contacts” in the police and local administration, and thus, she feared
for her life.news18
Muslims protest across India demanding justice
New Delhi:Few months ahead of Lok Sabha polls,
thousands of Muslims across the country came together on Saturday to kick start
a big campaign— #EqualCitizens – “Vote Hamara Baat Humari” to catch the
attention of all the opposition parties and India citizens to highlight the
plight of Muslims across the nation. The campaign aims to highlight the growing
numbers of fake encounter in the name of law and order, lynching cases in the
name of cow protection, missing names from voters list, illegal arrests, and
systemic discrimination and injustice that Muslims are facing in their own
country.October 13 was marked as the “Day of Resistance” in several villages,
towns and major cities across India to demand Equal Citizenship for Muslims in
India.Speaking Caravan Daily about the need for the campaign,founder of
Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP)and the brain behind this campaign,
Aamir Edresy, said, “Through this campaign we are asserting that Indian Muslims
constitute around 20 % of the total Indian population and we can’t be isolated.
This is unconstitutional. Our demand is to protect our rights as an equal
citizen of India. Apart from the increasing number of lynching and fake
encounters cases, there is a systematic discrimination against Muslim in
delivering justice.”On a joint call, the protest was observed in several cities
including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Lucknow, Pune, Kolkata,
Hyderabad, Gaya, Dhanbad, Chittor, Aligarh and Bulandshaher. Muslim
professionals associated to various field ranging right from academics to
journalism to activism have appealed to the political establishment to give
space to the issues being faced by the community.While protesting in New Delhi,
the protesters were seen carrying placards with slogans like, “I Am A Muslim
and I Matter”, “Muslim Lives Matter”, “We Demand Equal Rights for All Citizens”
and “Injustice Anywhere Is An Threat To Everywhere”. Caravan Daily also spoke
several individual Muslims and professionals participating in the protest, to
know their views and opinions regarding this movement.CaravanDaily
Muslims protest to demand equal citizenship
Muslims seek equal rights, protest
discrimination
Mothers March Oct 15: I will have to kill
myself for justice, but I will not, I will fight, says Fatima Nafees
New Delhi: Oct.15. 2 years since her son
disappeared Fatima Nafees does not know what to do. “I will have to kill myself
for them to do anything, but perhaps not even then,” she says in one breath.
And adding in the next, “I am not going to do it, I am going to fight until they
bring my boy back to me.”Speaking to The Citizen, she said that she cannot even
sit on fast for her missing son Najeeb, as she suffers from acute diabetes and
hypertension. In the two years she has moved the courts, walked the streets,
addressed public meetings, joined demonstrations, met political leaders but to
no avail. No one cares, except the students who are my family, she says.In
these two years have any of the Opposition parties, let alone the ruling
dispensation, stayed with you? “I do not know any political party, I am not
with any political party. All I know are those who are with my son, who care
for him, who are standing with us. Those who say they support us should walk
with us as well, and be seen with us, “ she says.Fatima Nafees for whom Delhi
has become a second abode, will be here again tomorrow for a march being
organised by students and well wishers from Mandi House to Parliament in his
memory and for justice. She will be joined by other Mothers --Radhika Vemula
whose son committed suicide at Hyderabad Central University and Saira Khan
whose young son Junaid was killed by a mob on a train from Delhi. “I know only
that those who we see tomorrow are those who are with us,” she said.thecitizen
Budhana clashes: 9 more rioters arrested
Muzaffarnagar: 3 days after the arrest of a
scrap dealer triggered a clash between policemen and local residents in
Muzaffarnagar’s Budhana, injuring three cops, police have arrested 9 more
accused in the case and sent them to jail. SHO of Budhana police station, Prabhakar
Kenthura, said, “Raids are being conducted to nab the rest of the accused. As
of now, we have arrested nine more accused and sent them to jail.” The scrap
dealer, Suleman Ahmed, who is the main accused, is already lodged in jail along
with four others.As many as 29 people were named in an FIR for attacking
policemen. Eighty unknown persons were also booked. According to police, Ahmed
and his friends were accused of eve teasing school girls from a nearby village.
On Thursday, police raided Ahmed’s shop and arrested him. Soon after, some
locals tried to forcefully free him from police custody. The situation
snowballed into a riot as a large number of people gathered at the spot and
started pelting stones at police personnel. As many as five rioters, including
Ahmed, were arrested that day and a heavy police force was deployed at the
spot. TOI
Maharashtra: State Govt to help operators in
promoting Islamic tours
Mumbai: State Govt may collaborate with tour
operators, hoteliers and other service providers to boost Islamic travel.
Inaugurating first Islamic Travel Mart in Mumbai on Saturday, minister for
education, minority department and wakf Vinod Tawde said the state would
support the efforts of every agency engaged in boosting not just Haj and Umrah
to Saudi Arabia but religious tours to other destinations too.“We will
collaborate and ensure that this sector’s potentials are tapped,” Tawde said,
endorsing the views of Haj Committee of India CEO Dr M A Khan who said that the
B2B mechanism being promoted through the 2-day (Oct.13-14) exhibition would
substantially reduce the cost of travel and would benefit pilgrims.“India has
the third largest Muslim population in the world and it sends 1, 75000 Haj
pilgrims and over 600,000 Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia annually.Islamic and
Halal tourism sector is untapped, “said Islamic Travel Mart’s MD and chief
managing officer Ghazanfar Ibrahim. Over 25 PTOs, several agents from across
the country are participating in the exhibition. Tour operator Al Khalid Tours
and Travel’s Yusuf Ahmed Kherada said the proposed plan to allow Umrah pilgrim
to see more than two cities (Mecca and Medina) on Umrah visas would boost the
industry and revenue of the Saudi Govt . TOI
Throat slit and left to die: Victim of state
torture in Kashmir tells his story via pen and paper
Srinagar: Feroz Hajam, 25, is lying on bed
number 32 inside Srinagar’s famed SMHS Hospital. Unlike other patients in the
ward, however,Feroz is not suffering from medical ailments. He is a victim of
torture, whose throat was slit by security forces. Feroz is unable to speak and
reaches for a notebook when asked about the reason behind him being in the
hospital. “I was picked by the Indian armed forces from Khanabal and was driven
to the Joint Interrogation Center (JIC) where STF of J&K Police tortured me
and slit my throat,”Feroz writes on a notebook which helps him communicate with
people.Feroz is stuck to the hospital bed with his stitched throat and stares
with haggard eyes at each passerby. While doctors fear he might not regain his
voice, Feroz lives in hope and writes:“Don’t insist with my family members to
talk about the incident; once I am able to talk, I will give you all the
details.”He fears that his family may face the wrath of the Indian armed forces
if they talk about the horrifying experience he faced and directs his siblings
not to talk to the media personals and writes,“They will kill you,”he writes.TCN
Rafale a textbook case of offences under
corruption Act: Prashant Bhushan
Mumbai:Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan has
alleged that changes made to the Rafale deal for the supply of 36 Rafale
fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault to benefit Anil Ambani was “a
textbook case of offences under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption
Act…”Bhushan and former Union minister Arun Shourie had on Thursday met CBI
Director Alok Verma and handed over a complaint with regard to the Rafale deal.
Addressing the media at the Mumbai Press Club on Saturday afternoon, Bhushan
said he hoped CBI would register an FIR in matter or at least begin a
Preliminary Enquiry (PE).Addressing the media, Bhushan said he had several
questions for the Govt regarding the
Rafale deal.“The first question is that the Govt of the day should answer why the aircraft
order was reduced from 126 fighter jets to 36 fighter jets. When the Govt keeps talking about Make in India why was the
contract then taken away from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)? How come the
price of the fighter jets went up from Rs 670 crore per aircraft to
approximately Rs 1,660 crore? How was Anil Ambani awarded the contract when he
had no experience in defence?”He further alleged that Union Defence Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman had given ‘absurd explanations’, including reducing the
number of aircraft due to lack of parking space and that HAL did not have
capability to manufacture the aircraft.indianexpress
Pakistan warns of ’10 surgical strikes’
against India
Pakistan has warned of “10 surgical strikes”
against India in response to a single such attack, in the latest war of words
between the two estranged nuclear-armed neighbours.Major General Asif Ghafoor,
spokesperson of military’s Inter Services Public Relations, stated this while
talking to the media in London, where he is accompanying Pakistan Army Chief
Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit.“If India dares to launch a surgical strike
inside Pakistan, it will face 10 surgical strikes in response,”Ghafoor was
quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. He also said “those who think of any
misadventure against us should have no doubt in their minds on Pakistan’s
capabilities”. Military spokesman said Pakistan Army was the custodian of USD
50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor and that mega project will strengthen the
economy of the country.PTI
India, China launch joint programme to train
Afghan diplomats
In a move that could upset Pakistan, India and
China have launched their first joint programme for Afghanistan to train its
diplomats. An understanding to launch a joint programme in Afghanistan was
reached during an informal summit between PM
Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held in April at China’s
Wuhan city. As per the understanding, officials of both sides had been asked to
identify the project. Training the Afghanistan’s diplomats has been agreed as
the first joint project agreed by both the countries.“First joint programme by
India and China for Afghanistan begins,” according to a tweet put out by the
Indian Embassy in Beijing on Saturday. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan (Vinay
Kumar) “hosted 10 Afghan Diplomats who will be travelling to India for the 1st
India-China joint training programme for Afghan diplomats under the aegis of
the Trilateral Cooperation between India, China and Afghanistan,” the tweet
said.PTI
Gita, Upanishads kept Suhaib Ilyasi ‘strong, positive’
in jail
New Delhi :He made sure he didn’t miss out on
his daily namaz while in jail but also faithfully read Bhagavad Gita and the
Upanishads for solace and strength, says former TV anchor Suhaib Ilyasi who was
acquitted on charges of murdering his wife this month.Going from the heights of
fame as a pioneer of crime shows in the country with “India’s Most Wanted” to
finding himself as the accused in one of Delhi’s most high-profile murder
cases, it has been a rough 18-year ride, said Ilyasi.A reading of the Hindu
scriptures helped see him through the darkest days behind bars in Tihar Jail,
added 52-year-old, who describes himself as a “devout Muslim”.He was sentenced
to life imprisonment for stabbing his wife to Anu death in 2000 and was
acquitted by Delhi HC on Oct.5, which ruled that it was a case of suicide.
Ilyasi’s wife Anju was rushed to a hospital on Jan 11,2000 with stab wounds she
received at her East Delhi residence. She was declared dead on arrival at the
hospital. Her mother and sister filed a case against him.PTI
One of the fundamental things about Hinduism
is that there are no fundamentals: Tharoor
Chandigarh :Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor left
the audience in splits as he said he was one of the worst practitioners of
yoga. “I’m utterly hopeless at yoga. I would look even worse than Narendra Modi
if I try and practise it,” he said during his session on ‘Tharoorisms on
Hinduism’ on Day 2 of KSLF 2018 at Kasauli Club. Tharoor said his ‘Tharoorisms’
could work as the perfect marketing strategy and said he enjoyed using the
English language to “grab attention”.So, a couple of days ago, he cooked up a
word to promote his next book on the “paradoxical PM”.Hence, giving birth to now-viral
“floccinaucinihilipilification” that essentially meant “the act of estimating
someone or something as worthless”.He turned into “spiritual guru” of sorts
talking about his 2018 book ‘Why I Am A Hindu’ and largely discussed Hinduism
as a contrast to Hindutva, a “political ideology with a political agenda”.indianexpress
WORLD
Afghan Taliban officials: 'US agrees to
discuss troops pullout'
Doha, Qatar - US has agreed to discuss the
withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in a direct meeting with Taliban
representatives in Qatar, officials from the armed group said.In a preliminary
meeting in Doha on Friday, Taliban representatives and US envoy Zalmay
Khalilzad discussed the Taliban's conditions to end the 17-year war in
Afghanistan, two top Taliban officials, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity, told Al Jazeera."6 US delegates arrived in Doha to have a
meeting with our (Taliban) leaders [and] agreed to discuss all issues,
including the pullout of foreign troops," one of the officials said."But,
it was a preliminary meeting and all issues were discussed in general, not in
detail," he added, saying more talks were expected to take place in the
near future.Last year, US President Donald Trump increased the number of US
forces in the country as part of a new strategy against the Taliban.There are
now about 14,000 US soldiers in the country. Taliban has previously said the
presence of foreign troops was the biggest obstacle to peace in Afghanistan.In
addition to the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban's
conditions include the lifting of sanctions on its leaders, the release of
their fighters imprisoned in Afghanistan, and the establishment of an official
political office.At the request of the US, a Taliban office was established in
Doha in 2013 to facilitate peace talks but it was shut shortly after opening
when it came under pressure over a flag hung outside the office, the same flag
that was flown during the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Then Afghan President
Hamid Karzai subsequently halted peace efforts, saying the office was
presenting itself as an unofficial embassy for a Govt-in-exile. The flag has
since been taken down and the office has been empty with no official
announcements about a possible reopening.Talks with the Taliban have since been
taking place elsewhere in Doha.US officials in Kabul and Zalmay Khalilzad were
not immediately available to comment on Saturday's gathering in the Qatari
capital.It was the second time that US officials met the group in Qatar. The
first meeting took place in July, and included US Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State Alice Wells.Abdul Salam Zaeef, a former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan
who is now based in Doha and in contact with the Taliban representatives,
confirmed the US decision to discuss a pullout from Afghanistan. He was not
present at the meeting, but said the withdrawal of foreign troops "now
only requires a timeline for implementation"."As per my information,
the US has reached an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw troops from
Afghanistan but the US officials have not yet agreed on a date," he
said."US is not winning in Afghanistan. They are aware of that, which
means they have to agree on the Taliban's conditions for ending the war in the
country."Some analysts, however, fear the withdrawal of foreign troops
will not end the long-running conflict in Afghanistan.In recent months, there
has been a surge in violence across the country, with heavy clashes between the
Taliban and Afghan security forces from the provinces of Badakhshan, Baghlan
and Faryab in the north to the province of Farah in the west.Faizullah Zaland,
a political analyst based in Kabul, said long-term international support and a
power-sharing agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan Govt is necessary to end the war."US has
tried all its methods, policies and strategies to limit the Afghan war, but
instead the war has grown even more.Taliban has got more land and more control
in the country," he said.US strategy in 2017 of increasing troops in Afghanistan
by raising the number of soldiers from 8,400 to about 14,000,has also
"failed", he said.Taliban holds 59 districts, while the remaining 119
- about 29.2% - are contested, meaning they are controlled by neither Afghan
Govt nor the armed group.aljazeera
Afghan Taliban confirms talks with US peace
envoy
Saudi-led airstrike kills 17 in contested
Yemeni port city
An airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition
targeting Yemen's Shia rebels known as Houthis killed at least 17 people in the
port-city of Hudeida on Saturday, Yemeni rebel officials said.The strike, which
hit in the Jebel Ras area, also wounded 20 people, a spokesman for the
rebel-run Health Ministry, Youssef al Hadari, said.Hudeida, with its key port
installations that bring in UN and other humanitarian aid, has become the
centre of Yemen's conflict, with ground troops allied to the coalition
struggling to drive out the rebels who control it.Tribal leaders said the
strike hit traffic, including a bus that was completely destroyed, killing all
inside, adding that women and children were among the dead. The tribal leaders
spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for their safety. Death toll is
expected to rise as many of the wounded were in critical condition.TRT World
Shells fired from Syria buffer zone, soldiers
killed: SOHR
Rebel fighters have fired mortar shells from a
planned buffer zone in northwestern Syria, despite an apparent heavy arms
pullout days earlier, according to a monitoring group.The UK-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said rebels in the demilitarised zone
around the northwestern region of Idlib fired several "mortar shells at an
army position in nearby Hama province, killing two soldiers" late on
Saturday. Also on Saturday, rebels shelled Aleppo province from other parts of
the demilitarised area, with no casualties recorded, according to
SOHR."This is the first clear violation of the deal since the heavy
weapons were withdrawn.This area is supposed to be clear of heavy weapons,
including mortar shells," SOHR head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP on
Sunday.In a statement on Twitter on Sunday, the group said that Govt forces had returned fire in a lengthy
"exchange of violations" of a deal to rid the enclave of heavy
weapons.Idlib is the last remaining rebel-held area in war-torn Syria.Russia,
an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Asaad, struck a deal with Turkey in
September to set up a demilitarised zone to prevent a potentially devastating
regime assault on Idlib.The deal required the horseshoe-shaped area to be free
of heavy arms by October 10, with "radical fighters" leaving by
Monday. National Liberation Front (NLF),an umbrella organisation of
Turkey-backed rebels, confirmed to Al Jazeera on Wednesday that they had
complied with the first part of the deal.aljazeera
Jamal case:Saudi vows retaliation over
possible sanctions
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered Saudi
Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on Oct.2 to obtain a document certifying he
divorced his ex-wife. He has not been seen since.Turkish sources have told
media outlets they believe the Saudi writer and critic was killed inside the
consulate in what they describe as "premeditated murder". Saudi
officials have countered that claim, insisting Khashoggi left the building
before vanishing. Saudi dismissed threats of sanctions over the disappearance
of Khashoggi and vowed the oil-rich kingdom would retaliate against such
action."The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats or attempts
to undermine it whether through threats to impose economic sanctions or the use
of political pressure," an official source said, quoted by state news
agency SPA. "The kingdom also affirms that it will respond to any action
with a bigger one," the source said. Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancee,
has called for accountability if reports of his murder are true.In an op-ed
written for New York Times, Cengiz said if allegations are proven true, the
Khashoggi loss impacts "every person with a conscience and moral
compass."If we have already lost Jamal, then condemnation is not enough.
The people who took him from us, irrespective of their political positions,
must be held accountable and punished to the full extent of the law," she
wrote.Cengiz, who was invited to the White House by Trump, said she would
"consider accepting" such an invitation if the US president helped
reveal the truth of what happened to Khashoggi. US Treasury Secretary, Steve
Mnuchin, and the UK's International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, may not attend
the "Davos in the Desert", a major investment conference in Riyadh,
over concerns that Saudi Arabia is responsible for Khashoggi's death.aljazeera
US and UK considering boycotting Saudi
conference over Khashoggi crisis: Report
UK and US are considering boycotting a
Saudi-backed conference set to take place later this month in Riyadh as a
result of the disappearence and alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi,
BBC has reported.DIplomatic sources told UK broadcaster on Sunday that both US
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox
might not attend Future Investment Initiative (FII), following reports of
Khashoggi's murder after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 Oct.Asked
about Fox's attendance at the event, often referred to as "Davos in Desert,"a
spokesman for UK's international trade department told BBC that the minister's
"diary was not yet finalised".Turkish authorities claim they have
evidence that journalist, a critic of the policies of Saudi's Crown Prince
Mohammed Bin Salman, was murdered. Sources close to the Turkish investigation
have told Middle East Eye that Khashoggi was dragged from the consul general's
office inside the consulate before he was brutally murdered by two men who then
cut up his body.middleeasteye
Trump says US would be ‘punishing’ itself if
it halts Saudi arms sales
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the
US would be “punishing” itself by halting military sales to Saudi Arabia even
if it is proven that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the
country’s consulate in Istanbul.Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Riyadh and a
US resident, disappeared on October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate.
Turkey’s Govt believes he was deliberately
killed inside the building and his body removed.Trump has forged closer ties
with Saudi Arabia and is under international and domestic pressure to help
determine what happened to Khashoggi and punish Saudi Arabia if investigations
show its Govt had him killed.MEMO
Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim wins parliamentary
by-election
Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim has won a
parliamentary seat in a by-election, setting the stage for his eventual
takeover from PM Mahathir Mohamad.The
Election Commission said on Saturday that Anwar received 71 % of the total
votes cast, defeating six other candidates.He got 31,016 votes, while his
closest rival secured only 7,456."I'm, of course, extremely pleased and
humbled by the results,"Anwar said after the victory, which marks the
charismatic politician's political comeback from prison to
parliament."This to my mind is an important milestone, a vote of
confidence for the Govt and the reform
agenda, and the PM personally," he
said. Anwar is expected to be sworn in as a legislator on Monday.71-year-old is
the designated successor to former foe-turned ally Mahathir, after they set
aside a bitter political feud and joined hands to win a stunning victory in
May's general elections.Lee Tian Hock, a 60-year-old voter, told the AFP news
agency he was "voting for the next premier"."We need an influential
leader to bring long-overdue progress to Port Dickson.""This morning,
I prayed to Allah for a big win for Anwar," retired truck driver Mat Taib,
a member of the country's ethnic Malay majority, told AFP."I want him to
be our eighth PM ."Aljazeera
Indonesia: Landslide kills school children in Sumatra
Flash floods and landslides have killed at
least 27 people, mostly children, on Indonesia's Sumatra island, officials
say.An Islamic school in Muara Saladi village saw the highest death toll after
mud from the flood and debris from landslides struck Mandailing Natal district
in North Sumatra province on Friday afternoon, local police chief Irsan
Sinuhaji said on Saturday. Rescuers and villagers on Friday managed to save
several teachers and only 17 out of 29 school children who were swept away, said
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, National Disaster Mitigation Agency's spokesman.He said
rescuers retrieved the bodies of 11 children from mud and rubble hours after
the incident and one more on Saturday.aljazeera
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Who’s Protecting Terror Cult Sanatan
Sanstha?Nikhil Wagle
Saudi Arabia's role in Jamal Khashoggi's
disappearance:Omair Anas
China is trying to erase the Uighurs and their
culture:Rukiye Turdush
Rafale JV Offsets Worth Rs 300 Billion
Mentioned in Reliance Group's 2016-17 Report:Ajai Shukla
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:01 PM)
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