NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
21 OCT. 2018: 11 Safar 1440:
Vol: 11, No:37
INDIA
CBI books its spl Director & Centre's top
appointee Asthana for bribing, a setback to Modi Govt image; RAW official under
scanner too
New Delhi: In an unprecedented development,
the consequences of which may singe Modi Govt , CBI has booked its own special
director and number-2 in the organisation, Rakesh Asthana, in a bribery case.
Asthana, who is named as the prime accused in an FIR that was filed on Oct.15,
is alleged to have received kickbacks, amounting to Rs2 crore, from a
businessman, Moin Qureshi, to settle a money laundering case against him. FIR
also mentions Samant Kumar Goel,a special director at India’s premier external
intelligence body, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as aiding the illegal deal
between Asthana and Qureshi. However, the CBI has not named the 1984 batch IPS
officer from the Punjab cadre as an accused in the case as yet. His role is
currently being probed.Asthana, it is alleged, received bribes through a
middleman named Manoj Prasad, who was arrested by CBI’s anti-corruption unit on
Oct.16, a day after FIR was filed. CBI officials told The Indian Express that
the Dubai-based Prasad admitted, in a statement to the magisterial court, to
have paid bribes to Asthana on behalf of Qureshi. He has also reportedly named
Goel as the one facilitating the process.CBI is said to have submitted
“telephone intercepts, WhatsApp messages, money trail and a statement”– all
allegedly pointing towards Asthana’s culpability – to the magistrate.The
bribery case goes back to Feb.2014 when Income Tax department raided the office
of Qureshi, a meat exporter.His BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) messages showed that
he was directly in touch with former CBI director APSingh. Consequently, Singh
was forced to resign from his post-retirement sinecure as a member of UPSC. In
Feb.2017, CBI registered the case and handed it over to a SIT led by Asthana.
Subsequently, in Aug.2017, Moin Qureshi, a meat exporter, was arrested by the
Enforcement Directorate under various provisions of the Prevention of Money
Laundering Act. He was accused of laundering money for a number of public
servants. Asthana’s own role came into question when a Hyderabad-based
businessman Sana Satish, who was being probed in the Qureshi corruption case by
CBI SIT headed by Asthana himself, gave a statement before a magistrate on
Oct.4 that CBI special director was trying to suppress the case against Qureshi
in exchange for money.Indian Express reported that Satish named Asthana, Manoj
Prasad and his relative, Somesh Srivastava in his statement and “gave details
of how he had paid Rs 3 crore over a period of 10 months from Dec.2017 to stay
away from CBI case”. Satish, according to the paper report, also claimed that
“he was harassed by CBI officers to pay more”. Following his arrest, Prasad, in
his statement, has reportedly said that he was paying bribes to Asthana on behalf
of Qureshi. He also is said to have alleged that Goel, currently RAW’s number
two and in-charge of the spy agency’s West Asia’s desk, met Qureshi quite often
in Dubai and helped him get in touch with Asthana. The allegations against
Asthana come on the heels of massive infighting within CBI, between the
agency’s director, Alok Verma, and his number two. Asthana has accused CBI
director of interfering in a corruption case against RJD chief Lalu Prasad
Yadav which he is investigating.On the other hand, Verma alleges that Asthana’s
charges are “frivolous” and that he is using those as cover to divert attention
from the serious accusations against him. Asthana is currently being probed in 6
cases including accepting bribes from the controversial Sterling Bitoech group
and jailed journalist-cum-fixer Upendra Rai. Asthana’s appointment on Oct.22,2017
had happened in controversial circumstances. The selection committee comprising
the CVC K.V. Chowdary – whose own role was questioned in the investigations
related to Sahara-Birla diaries – two vigilance commissioners and the
secretaries to the home ministry and the department of personnel and training
(DoPT) appointed him unanimously.However, it was then reported that Verma had
objected to Asthana’s elevation in the organisation. While CBI director is not
a member of the selection committee, Delhi Special Police Establishment Act,
under which CBI operates, says that the director has to be compulsorily
consulted before appointing any person above the rank of superintendent of
police.However, the Supreme Court had then thought that it should not interfere
in the Govt functioning, giving Asthana
the benefit of doubt.thewire
Clash within CBI intensifies with case against
its number 2 officer
CBI names its No. 2 Asthana as accused No. 1
in bribery case; lens on RAW official
Disclose corruption complaints against serving
ministers: CIC to PMO
New Delhi: Central Information Commission has
directed PM 's Office (PMO) to disclose complaints of corruption received
against Union ministers between 2014 and 2017 and action taken on them.Chief
information commissioner Radha Krishna Mathur, while deciding a plea of Indian
Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, also directed the PMO to share
information about the quantum and value of black money brought back from abroad
during the tenure of Narendra Modi dispensation, along with records of efforts
made in this direction. The order asked PMO to disclose information related to
deposits made by the Govt in bank
accounts of Indian citizens from the black money brought from abroad.PMO had
termed the questions asked by Chaturvedi, in his RTI application related to
black money, as not covered in the definition of 'information' which can be
accessed under the Right to Information Act, but the commissioner rejected the
contention."Respondent (PMO) has wrongly stated in his reply against point
nos 4 (black money brought from abroad) and 5 (deposits made in bank accounts
of Indian citizens from the black money recovered from abroad) of RTI
application that 'request made by the appellant is not covered under the
definition of 'information' as per Section 2(f) of RTI Act'," Mathur said
while ordering their disclosure.In his RTI application, Chaturvedi had also
sought information on various schemes of the BJP Govt such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Swachh
Bharat' and 'Smart City Project' which were transferred to the ministry
concerned by PMO. Not getting satisfactory response from PMO, Chaturvedi filed
an appeal before the Central Information Commission, the highest appellate body
on RTI matters.During hearing, Chaturvedi told commission that he had sought
specific information regarding certified copy of complaints submitted to PM against corruption of serving union ministers
which should be provided to him."Commission further observed that the
respondent (PMO) has not given correct and specific reply/information to the
appellant on point numbers 1(b) (corruption complaints against ministers), 4,
5, 12 & 13 (related to corruption in AIIMS) of RTI plea," Mathur noted.The
commission also directed PMO to disclose action taken on a letter of Chaturvedi
alleging corruption against officials of AIIMS and purported role of a union
health minister in it.PTI
Amritsar Dussehra Tragedy: Madrasa Students
Donate Blood for Injured, Mosque Holds Prayers
Amritsar:In a commendable show of humanity,
students from Madrasas here have been asked to donate blood for scores of Hindu
brothers and sisters who were wounded in the Dussehra tragedy here on Friday
when a train mowed down over 60 people. Meanwhile, the Shahi Jama Masjid in
Ludhiana also held a prayer for the recovery of the injured.“All Madrasas in
Amritsar have asked their students to donate blood for the people injured in
the Dussehra tragedy here and not to let blood supply shortage.They are not
merchants of hate who are crying for two days that if there were namazis on the
track the incident would not have happened,” tweeted journalist Samir Abbas,
popular TV face of News18 Urdu channel.Meanwhile, the Shahi Jama Masjid in Ludhiana
held a mass prayer for the recovery of the injured persons.“All are sad at the
train tragedy that occurred during Dussehra in Amritsar. At this time of
sorrow, we are with the families of those killed or injured,”said Maulana
Habibur Rahman Usmani, Shahi Imam of Punjab, in a media statement on Saturday. His
mosque sent a copy of the statement and photos of the prayers to Caravan
Daily.He also demanded action against the organizers of the event and
administrative officers. Reports say that among those killed was Dalbir Singh,
who minutes before had played the role of Ravana at the same event. He died
while trying to save others as the train rammed into them.caravandaily
No right to use Muslim name: Religious body to
activist Rehana Fathima over Sabarimala temple row
Kochi: Activist Rehana Fathima, who had made
an attempt to enter the Sabarimala temple, has been expelled from the Muslim
community for "hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees",
the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council said.Initiating action against Ms Fathima,
Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council president A Poonkunju said in a press statement
on Saturday that she had been expelled from the community. He said the Council
has also directed the Ernakulam Central Muslim Jama'ath to expel her and her
family from the membership of Mahallu."Her act hurt lakhs of Hindu
devotees," the statement said. Pookunju said Ms Fathima, who had
participated in the "Kiss of Love" agitation "has no right to
use a Muslim name".The activist's house was allegedly vandalised by
unidentified people while she was away trying to climb the holy hills on
Friday. She made a failed attempt to reach the temple with heavy police
protection.The attackers reached Ms Fathima house in Panambilly Nagar here
while she was attempting to reach Sabarimala.PTI
Sabarimala protests:Was sure to reach shrine,
sought police help as return was unsure:Rehana
Kashmir’s polls: “9 votes were cast, i got 8
votes, I won!”: the citizen
Srinagar: BJP has managed to open its account
in an election battle in Kashmir by winning 100 seats in urban local bodies
even as the elections are being described as a ‘farce’ due to dismal, 4% turnout
in the Valley. Amid an unprecedented security cover, of 624 seats in 40
municipal bodies across 10 districts of the Valley, officials said polling was
held only in 208 seats while 416 seats did not require voting because only one
candidate was in fray or there was no candidate at all.“185 wards will remain
vacant as no nomination forms were received from there and hence there was no
contest,” Shaleen Kabra, J&K’s chief electoral officer, said.While the
independents scored maximum victories with 178 wards in Kashmir, Congress came
second with 157 wards. In Srinagar Municipal Corporation,49 independent
candidates backed by Sajad Lone-led Peoples Conference (PC) and ex minister in
PDP-BJP coalition Govt , sealed their victories.Junaid Mattu, who resigned from
the National Conference to contest as an ‘independent’ candidate, was claimed
by Sajad, his former boss on Twitter.“Congratulations to PC Mayoral Candidate
@junaid_mattu and the victorious candidates from PC for heralding a new change
in Srinagar and thanks to Irfan Ansari and all my senior colleagues for his
successful campaign management during the ULB elections,” Sajad tweeted.BJP was
contesting on 72 wards in Srinagar but won only four wards while the Congress
won 15 wards out of 46 from which the party had fielded its candidates. The
election results have given the party a reason to celebrate the victory in not
only Kashmir but Jammu too where it was facing infighting and desertions.Defying
all the commentary, the party, going by the election results, has strengthened
its grip in Hindu-majority Jammu region where it emerged as the single largest
party with 212 wards followed by independents with 185 and Congress’s 110
seats.“Maiden century for BJP in Kashmir Valley. Out of 439 Urban Body seats,
BJP has won 100.It will be in control of at least six municipal bodies. Hearty
congratulations to BJP winners for holding India’s flag high when others
simplay surrendered to anti-national forces n ran away (sic),” Ram Madhav,
BJP’s general secretary and point-man on Kashmir tweeted.In some cases, the
election results were hilarious and entertaining. One candidate, perhaps for
the first time in the history of electoral democracy, knew he won the election
even before the results were declared, “I already knew that nine votes were
polled in my ward of which I got eight, so nothing surprising,” Bashir Mir, who
won from Bagh-e-Mehtab, said. thecitizen
Victory after winning just a single vote in
farcical J&K civic poll
J&K governor favours fresh assembly polls
in state
Srinagar: J&K governor Satya Pal Malik has favoured holding
of early election to the Assembly, saying he does not think a popular Govt can be formed out of the present house after
the collapse of the BJP-PDP coalition dispensation in June.The state has been
under governor's rule since PDP president Mehbooba Mufti resigned as CM in June following the withdrawal of support by
the BJP to her Govt. There have been speculations about behind-the-scene
efforts to put together a new Govt . No party enjoys a majority in the
87-member Assembly, in which the PDP has 28 MLAs, the BJP 25 and the National
Conference 15.Putting such speculations to rest, Malik told PTI in an interview
here that he would not be part of any shenanigans.Asked if a popular Govt can be formed out of the present Assembly, the
governor replied, "I don't think so. At least, I will not be part of any
'dhandli' (shenanigans). I have not been given any such indication either by
the PM or by any other central leader."To a question on holding of fresh
elections to the Assembly whose tenure ends in December 2020, Malik said that
he wished that the elections were held at the earliest."The decision will
be taken by the Centre and the Election Commission. My job is to discharge dual
responsibility (of Governor and administrator) which I will continue to do... I
wish that elections are held at the earliest," he said. PTI
JK:3 militants, 6 civilians killed in
encounter in Kulgam
Srinagar:3 militants were killed and 2
soldiers injured in an encounter in south Kashmir's Kulgam on Sunday. 6
civilians were also killed in a blast at the encounter site after the operation
was called off.A police spokesman said the 3 militants were hiding in Larnoo
village of Kulgam and the area was cordoned off in a pre-dawn operation. The
search party and the hiding militants established contact early in the morning,
triggering an encounter, said the police."3 militants were killed and
their identity is being ascertained," said the police. Initial reports
suggest two slain militants were from Pakistan and one is local.Two soldiers
were also injured in the initial exchange of fire.The injured were evacuated to
Army hospital in Srinagar.Meanwhile, 6 civilians, one identified as Ubaid Laway
from Laroo, died in an explosion at the encounter site. Laway died immediately,
while the others sustained grievous injuries in the blast. Locals said the
explosion took place after the security forces and the Army called off the
operation and withdrew from the site.thehindu
3 soldiers killed during encounter with
Pakistani intruders near Line of Control in J-K
Jammu: 3 soldiers lost their lives in a bloody
gunfight with a group of heavily-armed intruders from Pakistan near the Line of
Control in J&K’s Rajouri district on Sunday. A fourth soldier, seriously
injured in the encounter, has been evacuated to the army command hospital,
Udhampur.The intruders, believed to be part of Pakistan’s Border Action Team,
had reportedly ambushed the army’s patrol party. Two of the intruders were shot
by the soldiers.Defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said the incident
took place at about 1.45 pm.“Indian Army in Sunderbani Sector on the Line of
Control had a fierce encounter with heavily armed Pakistani intruders very
close to the Line of Control. The patrol killed two intruders and recovered
warlike stores including two AK-47 rifles,” he said.Lt Col. Anand said other
Indian posts had also acted and effectively cordoned the area. “The search and
destroy operation is in progress,” he said.HT
Lawyer-activist at the centre of Kathua row
accused of rape, again
Jammu:Bakerwal activist Talib Hussain, who was
recently released on bail after spending two months in jail on charges of rape
by a close relative of his estranged wife, has been accused of rape by another
woman.The Firstpost published an anonymous account Saturday by a woman who
alleged she was raped by “a man leading the protests against the Kathua sexual
assault”.Account did not name Hussain. Subsequently, in a public statement,
senior Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising announced that she intended to
stop appearing on behalf of Talib Hussain, a decision she had taken in “view of
full support of the #MeToo movement”.Jaising wrote: “Although the survivor has
not named the person who raped her, the obvious reference is to Talib Hussain.”
She quoted the “Cab-Rank rule”, and said that “it states that ordinarily no
advocate will withdraw from engagements once accepted without sufficient cause.
In my opinion the allegations made in the FirstPost article are sufficient
cause for me to take the decision to withdraw from this case.”Former JNUSU
vice-president Shehla Rashid, who tweeted about the incident naming Hussain,
told The Sunday Express: “I don’t know the survivor but the charges made
against Talib Hussain in her account are very serious and these warrant action.
The police should take suo motu cognizance of the charges. The survivor should
know that all of JNU stands with her and she would get all necessary support if
she reached out to anyone.”Hussain could not be contacted despite repeated
attempts.Hussain shot into prominence after the rape-murder of a Bakerwal girl
child led to religious polarisation in the Jammu area, and he spearheaded an
agitation seeking justice for the victim. Hussain was attacked at Udhampur, and
the Supreme Court ordered the police to protect him.In her statement, Jaising
wrote:“My social commitment to the #MeToo movement overrides my professional
engagement, and therefore I have taken a conscious decision to stop
representing Talib Hussain in any court.”indianexpress
Tripura king’s son to move petition in SC
seeking NRC
New Delhi :Pradyot Debbarman, son of the last
king of Tripura Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya, will move a writ petition in the
Supreme Court on Monday demanding NRC in the state, days after the apex court
issued a notice to the Centre on a similar plea. Oct. 8 notice was issued on a
plea by a forum called Tripura People’s Front (TPF).Debbarman, working
president of the Tripura Congress, said there cannot be “different rules for
different states” in India when it comes to citizenship.The demand for a separate
state will be negated if NRC is implemented, he said. “Implement NRC and the
demand for a separate state will dilute, people demanding Tipraland are doing
so because they feel they have lost all rights within the state of Tripura,” he
said over telephone. Debbarman was recently appointed the All India Congress
secretary for Sikkim, Senior Supreme Court advocate and former Union minister
Salman Khurshid will represent Debbarman.indianexpress
Red Fort facelift comes under scrutiny as
global body red flags ‘violations’
New Delhi :The current facelift being carried
out at Red Fort by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has raised concerns
from the global monument conservation body, the International Council on
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which has said that a part of the work is being
done in violation of international norms. The body has urged ASI to “review the
interventions” being carried out at Red Fort.A massive renovation exercise is
currently on at the monument, which also includes, as per officials, a new red
sandstone pathway being built over the existing quartzite stone pathway near
the Chhatta Bazar and Naubat Khana buildings. Conservationists say this is
being done in violation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
(CCMP) of the Red Fort.On Sunday, PM Narendra Modi will visit the monument to
inaugurate the Azad Hind Museum — dedicated to Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian
National Army — and hoist the Tricolour to commemorate the 75th anniversary of
the establishment of Azad Hind Govt . ASI is also planning three other museums
in the complex as part of the makeover. Gurmeet Rai, vice-president, ICOMOS,
said, “We urge Govt to review these interventions as they are in violation of
the originality of the monument. Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so
best practices in site management plan need to be adopted.”In May, a debate had
ensued after Red Fort was “adopted” by Dalmia Group. Less than a month later,
ASI earmarked Rs 50 crore for restoration of the monument, including building
toilets, providing drinking water, signages, landscaping and horticulture, and
illumination of the facade — all that the Dalmia Group, which is to spend Rs 25
crore in five years, had pitched in its vision document to the Ministry of
Tourism under the ‘Adopt A Heritage’ scheme. However, Rakesh Lal, Additional
Director General, ASI, told The Indian Express, “Dalmia Group is not doing
anything inside the complex. Whatever work is being done, it’s being done by
ASI.” Lal added that he is not aware of the “exact nature of renovation being
carried out inside the complex”. The ASI says it has involved NBCC and CPWD
(Central Public Works Department) for the current round of the facelift.In
2003, a PIL was filed in Supreme Court against “the manner in which the Red
Fort was being restored by ASI”. Following this, the SC had asked CPWD to stop
renovation work, and CCMP was put in place instead. Experts fear the current
round of renovations is a rerun of that event.indianexpress
10 vehicles torched in Jharkhand clashes
Ranchi: 10 vehicles were torched and more than
11 people were injured in clashes that broke out between two communities during
the idol immersion procession of Goddess Durga in Jharkhand’s Palamau district,
police said on Saturday.“Prohibitory (Section 144) orders have been imposed.
Additional forces have been deployed. Compensation will be given to those who
suffered losses in the clashes,” said Palamau SP Indrajeet Mahta in a press
conference.According to the police, tension still prevailed at the Chando and
Bakoria villages of Palamau district. 10 people have been arrested.TCN
NIA arrests main accused in Nagrota attack:TOI
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nia-arrests-main-accused-in-2016-nagrota-terror-attack-from-igi-airport/articleshow/66299460.cms
New Delhi: NIA has arrested a key absconding
accused in 2016 Nagrota attack case, Abdul Hamid Khandey, at the Indira Gandhi
International Airport here while he was trying to escape to Saudi Arabia via
Sri Lanka.A resident of Achhan village in Pulwama district of J&K, Khanday
was detained by the immigration authorities on the basis of a lookout circular
that NIA had issued against him. According to NIA sources, Khandey had carried
out a recce of Army camp to facilitate Jaish-e-Mohammad’s plan to unleash a
fidayeen strike there.The other three arrested accused are Sayeed
Munir-ul-Hassan Qadri, Tariq Ahmed Dar and Mohd Ashiq Baba. Khandey was working
as an accountant for Tariq Ahmed Dar, a timber merchant from Shopian. TOI
NIA’s ‘Most Wanted’ list has 258 names but it
badly wants this man
New Delhi :Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed,
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi are some of
the high-profile names that figure in NIA’s ‘most wanted’ list. While these
Pakistan-based terrorists don’t carry a bounty on their head, NIA has put the
maximum reward on a Maoist leader from Telangana. On Saturday, the agency,
requesting leads from the public, shared on Twitter a link to the list of ‘most
wanted fugitives’. NIA also assured that
the identity of those offering tips will be protected. The list includes a
total of 258 fugitives out of which around 15 are women. Most of them have an
Interpol notice issued against them and are wanted for carrying out “terror
activities”, “training militants” or “planting explosive devices” in the
country. Few of them named in the list are Maoists who are wanted for
“conspiring to wage war against Govt of India,” and “carrying arms and
ammunition and a huge cache of money.” A total of 98 absconders have an RCN
issued against them and a red dot beside their picture denotes the same.57
names on the list also carry a bounty on their head. Indian express
Difficult for Cong to come to power on its
own: Khurshid
Kolkata :Senior Congress leader Salman
Khurshid feels it is difficult for the party to come to power on its own in the
present situation, but opposition alliance must not be formed at the “cost of
containing Congress”. The allies should also be ready to make sacrifices and
adjustments for defeating BJP in the 2019 general elections, he told PTI here
in an interview.“All our leaders have made it very clear that an alliance (is
needed) to change the country’s Govt . BJP must go.Whatever it takes to
sacrifice, adjust and negotiate to make the alliance a reality, Congress is
willing to do. But it is only fair that it should be the same attitude of other
(opposition) parties. The alliance must not be for containing Congress, the
alliance must be for removing BJP and we are willing for anything,” Khurshid
said. When asked whether it is possible for Congress to come to power on its
own, the former external affairs minister said,“it is obviously difficult
today”. “If that is the objective (majority on its own) then we will have to
work over a period of 5 years. Because you cannot work towards an alliance for
three years and then suddenly say we will fight to win (on our own). You have
to fight for 5 years. Today we are committed to the alliance and we will do our
very best to ensure that the alliance succeeds,” he said.indianexpress
Rebels in Goa BJP call for disbanding state
unit
Unhappy with the induction of 2 Congress MLAs
- Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte in BJP without proper consultation,
founders of the Goa unit of the BJP have called for dissolution of the state
unit.As per reliable sources, senior BJP leader and former CM Laxmikant Parsekar, former speaker Rajendra
Arlekar and former minister Dayanand Manderkar have criticised state
leadership, demanding a full-time president and re-constitution of the
nine-member core committee.It is important to note here that all three senior
BJP leaders are part of the core committee, but they were not taken into
confidence before the induction of the Congress defectors, told an observer to National
Herald. According to the observer, Parsekar and Arlekar have demanded Vinay
Tendulkar’s resignation from the post of the president also, citing “one
person, one post” formula.However, their demand could not yield any result as
Vinay Tendulkar is still holding the
post of Goa BJP president, besides being a member of the Rajya Sabha from
Goa.Demanding a new president in place of Vinay Tendulkar, BJP rebels also
targeted Vijay Puranik, who is state general secretary (organisation).According
to the reports, the BJP rebels have blamed state leadership for “betraying
local BJP workers.” Analysts believe that the rebellion by three three most
senior leaders in Goa BJP is a sign of ongoing power struggle between two
factions – one led by CM Manohar Parrikar and the other led by the old
guards.“It shows that the internal feud has reached its climax now,” said observer.
According to an insider, although Parrikar’s control over the party remains
unshaken, the old guards feel that it is the right time bring about a
change.nationalheraldindia
BJP should confess its inability to build Ram
temple, says Uddhav Thackeray
Pune :Needling his saffron ally, the ruling
BJP on the Ram temple issue yet again, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on
Sunday dared BJP to come clean and confess before the public that building Ram
Mandir at Ayodhya was not possible for them.“Since 1989, the party has been
giving slogans for erecting a Ram temple at Ayodhya. Shiv Sena supremo Bal
Thackeray had helped BJP by evoking enthusiasm for the temple in Maharashtra.
Yet, after all these years, why is the project still in limbo?” Thackeray said,
addressing a rally of Shiv Sainiks in the temple town of Shirdi in Ahmednagar
district, 200 km from Pune.The Sena chief’s visit comes on the heels of PM
Modi’s Shirdi tour last week. Rally marks Thackeray’s start of campaigning for
2019 Lok Sabha polls. “Why keep deceiving people on the Ram Mandir issue? Like
all false assurance of Modi Govt, it ought to finally acknowledge that the Ram
temple construction assurance, too, was false,” remarked Sena chief, speaking
with an eye to steal the hardliner Hindu votes from the BJP.thehindu
Urdu poet Hashim Firozabadi attacked with acid
after confronting men for harassing school girl, 3 held
New Delhi :Firozabad police Sunday arrested
three people who had allegedly beaten and thrown acid on noted Urdu poet
42-year-old Hashim Firozabadi in Rasoolpur area of Firozabad district on
Friday.While his condition is stable, Hashim suffered 15% burn injuries on the right side of his face
and chest. “Arrested persons are Sunny Khan and his two brothers Musaif and Saif,
residents of Nala locality.Police is looking for other accused,”said ASP,
Firozabad, Rajesh Kumar Singh. He added that medical examination of Hashim is
being done by a panel of three doctors.It is alleged that the incident occurred
when Firozabadi opposed the men, who used to tease girls passing through Nala
locality. Hashim came to know about harassment when few local residents visited
him. “A man came to me yesterday and said he won’t send his daughters to school
as they are regularly molested by some miscreants who also make obscene phone
calls to them. He was scared to go to the police and asked me to talk to
miscreants. It’s a result of my attempt,”Hashim was quoted as saying by ANI. However,
the assailants escaped from the spot when local residents gathered on hearing
the noise. Later, police was informed which rushed Hashim to the hospital.
indianexpress
Odisha: 9-yr-old boy's head severed by his
brother to appease goddess Durga
Odisha Police has claimed to solve the case of
a nine-year-old boy whose severed head was recovered from a riverbed in
Bolangir district.The victim, according to police, was murdered by his brother
and uncle in order to "appease Durga for the fulfilment of their
wishes"."We started the probe suspecting it to be a case of human
sacrifice. During the interrogation, one of 2 accused confessed to the
crime," Titlagarh SDPO Saroj Mohapatra told reporters.The incident took
place on Oct.13 at Sundhimunda village which comes under the jurisdiction of
Sindehekela police station in Bolangir district. Superstition and black magic
are not new to this part of the country. A similar incident was reported from
the region during Durga Puja celebrations last year (2017).In many instances,
local tantriks (holy men) are responsible for inciting people to engage in such
heinous acts. In many parts of rural Odisha, blind superstition and deep
prejudice are still rampant. indiatoday
Dalit man beaten to death in Rajasthan, 2
arrested: police
Jaipur :A 22-year-old Dalit man was allegedly
beaten to death by members of another caste in Rajasthan’s Churu district on
Thursday, officials said. Police said that while they were investigating
reports that the motive behind the attack on Asaram Meghwal (22) was a rumoured
love affair between the victim and a girl from another caste, preliminary probe
suggests that the cause of the assault was trespass. Meghwal and the accused
are residents of the same village, Satra, in Churu district. Two of them have
been arrested while one is absconding. “I received a call from an unknown
number on Thursday afternoon. The caller said that my brother was brutally
beaten and dumped on a road. When I rushed to the spot, I found him grievously
injured. He was lying on the road near a house where people from Jangid caste
live,” said Hanuman Prasad, Meghwal’s elder brother. Prasad said occupants of
the house also threatened him. “I saw residents of the house standing near the
gate. When I asked them about my brother, they said that they have beaten him
and threatened to assault me as well,” he said.Meghwal’s family members had on
Friday staged a protest, seeking Rs 25 lakh as compensation and Govt job for his kin. They have consent for
post-mortem only after officials of the district administration
intervened.indianexpress
Buy US-made F-16s to avoid sanctions,
Washington tells New Delhi after S-400 deal
ow can India avert the US sanctions following
the mega million S-400 Triumf deal? Ahead of the deadline, there are reports
that Washington has offered a solution to New Delhi.According to an Indian
Express report, the US has told India to buy the F-16 fighter jets to avoid the
sanctions.However, the report also added that this offer was made earlier in
October and not during meeting between Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and
her US counterpart James Mattis in Singapore recently. It should be noted that
the waiver report comes days after US President Donald Trump had cryptically
said that ‘India will soon find out’ about his decision of the sanctions.
dnaindia
Prayagraj divides Allahabad
Lucknow:Soon after UP Cabinet on Monday proposed to change the name
of Allahabad to Prayagraj, Akshat Lal Srivastava changed his last name on
Facebook. As a mark of protest, the civil service aspirant added “Ilahabadi” to
his name, a reference to the faithful of Allahabad. “My message to [CM] Yogi
Adityanath is that, ‘You can change the city’s name, but not mine. You cannot
kill Allahabad, it is alive through my name’,” said Srivastava. Over the past
week, Srivastava has started an online petition and a door-to-door signature
campaign to gather support for the continuation of the name Allahabad.“This is
the city of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb representing the diverse culture of
Hindu-Muslim unity. Making it Prayagraj would appease just one community and
fundamentalist groups, and it would damage universal fabric of Allahabad,”read
the petition, addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind. Swami Narendra Giri, the
head of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, body of 13 top Hindu sects in the
country, however, welcomed the move, rejecting Allahabad as a “name of
slavery.”The decision to rename Allahabad has met with mixed response in the
city, with some welcoming it and others calling it an assault on the social
fabric of the Sangam city.Zafar Bakht, who runs a prominent career coaching
centre near the famous Company Bagh, was depressed by the name change and
believed it to be a part of BJP’s agenda to transform India into a “Hindu
Rashtra.”Meanwhile, KK Roy, an Allahabad High Court lawyer, said he was
drafting a PIL to challenge the Govt decision. Roy said his plea would be based on
a 1975 Govt notification according to which the “names of places of historical
importance should not be changed” and on the documented historicity of the
location. “Prayag and Illahabad are separate entities. Prayag was a pilgrimage
site, Allahabad was a city. It reeks of communal agenda to say that Akbar changed
Prayag to Allahabad,” said Roy.thehindu
WORLD
Jamal Khashoggi Was Choked To Death, Says
Saudi Official's Latest Account
Riyadh:As Saudi Arabia faced intensifying
international scepticism over its story about the death of journalist Jamal
Khashoggi, a senior Govt official laid
out a new version of the death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul that in
key respects contradicts previous explanations. The latest account, provided by
a Saudi official who requested anonymity, includes details on how the team of
15 Saudi nationals sent to confront Khashoggi on Oct.2 had threatened him with
being drugged and kidnapped and then killed him in a chokehold when he
resisted. A member of the team then dressed in Khashoggi's clothes to make it
appear as if he had left the consulate.After denying any involvement in the
disappearance of Khashoggi, 59, for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning
said he had died in a fistfight at the consulate. An hour later, another Saudi official
attributed the death to a chokehold, which the senior official
reiterated.Turkish officials suspect the body of Khashoggi, a Washington Post
columnist and critic of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was cut up
but the Saudi official said it was rolled up in a rug and given to a
"local cooperator" for disposal.Asked about allegations that
Khashoggi had been tortured and beheaded, he said preliminary results of the
investigation did not suggest that. Saudi official presented what he said were
internal Saudi intelligence documents which appeared to describe an initiative
to bring dissidents home to Saudi Arabia, including the specific one involving
Khashoggi. He also showed testimony from those involved in what he described as
the 15-man team's cover-up, and the initial results of an internal probe. He
did not provide proof to substantiate the findings of the probe and the other
evidence.This narrative is the latest Saudi account that has changed multiple
times. Authorities initially dismissed reports that Khashoggi had gone missing
inside the consulate as false and said he had left the building soon after
entering. When the media reported a few days later that he had been killed
there, they called the accusations "baseless."Asked by Reuters why Govt's
version of Khashoggi's death kept changing, official said the Govt initial account was based on "false
information reported internally at the time."US President Donald Trump
said he is not satisfied with Saudi Arabia's handling of Khashoggi's death and
said questions remain unanswered. Germany and France on Saturday called Saudi
Arabia's explanation of how Khashoggi died incomplete.Reuters
Amid scepticism, Saudi official provides
another version of Khashoggi death
Saudi explanation of Khashoggi death not
credible:UK
London:Britain on Sunday said Saudi Arabia's
account of the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its Istanbul
consulate was not credible and the culprits must be “held to account”.“I don't
think it's credible,” Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told BBC, adding there was
a “serious question mark over the account that has been given”.“We support the
Turkish investigation into it, and the British Govt wants to see people held to
account for that death.”AFP
Saudi official gives new version of Khashoggi
killing: Report
Khashoggi killing: All eyes on Turkey as calls
for answers mount
After more than two weeks of denials, Saudi
Arabia admitted that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate
in the Turkish city of Istanbul.In a statement read out on state media - in the
middle of the night, on a weekend - the Saudi attorney general's office claimed
the 59-year-old died in a "brawl".18 men were in custody over the
killing, the kingdom said, as it also announced the sacking of two top aides of
MBS as well as three other intelligence officials.However, the admission, which
came amid increasing pressure on Riyadh, has done little to ease international
demands for accountability. After Turkey said it would not allow a
"cover-up", Germany called Saudi account "inadequate" while
the UN stressed the need for "a thorough and transparent
investigation".Rights groups, meanwhile, urged the UN to get involved in
the probe, saying they were worried about a "Saudi whitewash" of the
circumstances around Khashoggi's killing.aljazeera
Trump decides to terminate decades-old N- arms
treaty with Russia
New Delhi :US President Donald Trump has
announced to terminate the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
with Russia, a decision that may lead to an arms race across Europe similar to
that of the 1980s when the agreement was initially signed. “Russia has violated
the agreement. They’ve been violating it for many years,” Trump told CNN.The
treaty, signed on Dec.8, 1987, by ex US President Ronald Reagan and USSR
General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, required both countries to eliminate
ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between approximately
300 and 3,400 miles. It did not cover sea-launched missiles. Offering
protection to the United States’ European allies, the treaty was a watershed
agreement between two nations at the centre of an arms race during the Cold
War.Trump also wondered why his predecessor Barack Obama did not negotiate or
pull out of the treaty earlier. “And I don’t know why President Obama didn’t
negotiate or pull out. And we’re not going to let them violate a nuclear
agreement and go out and do weapons and we’re not allowed to, we’re the ones
that have stayed in the agreement and we’ve honoured the agreement. But Russia
has not, unfortunately, honoured the agreement. So we’re going to terminate the
agreement. We’re gonna pull out,” he said.indianexpress
Maldives SC upholds president's vote defeat
Colombo:Maldives' top court on Sunday ended
weeks of uncertainty by rejecting President Abdulla Yameen's controversial bid
to annul last month's election results, upholding his landslide defeat to an
opposition candidate. 5-judge Supreme Court bench unanimously ruled that Yameen
had failed to prove his claim that the election was rigged and a fresh poll was
necessary in the Indian Ocean archipelago.Under international pressure, Yameen
initially conceded defeat after Ibrahim Mohamed Solih emerged the winner in the
September 23 poll.But the strongman ruler then filed an appeal this month,
throwing the island nation into turmoil and attracting warnings from the United
States and regional superpower India to respect the outcome. AFP
Israel delays Palestinian village Khan
al-Ahmar demolition order
Israel has announced it was putting on hold
the demolition of a Palestinian Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank for a
"short, fixed period of time". In a statement made by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday following a
meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, he said Khan al-Ahmar will
soon be "evacuated"."This is the decision of the court, this is
our policy and it will be implemented," Netanyahu told reporters."I
don't intend to postpone it until further notice contrary to what has been
reported, but [make it happen] within a short, fixed period of time. The
duration we will give to evacuate it in consent will be decided by the
cabinet."Khan al-Ahmar, located northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, has
been under threat of demolition for the past few months.Netanyahu's remarks
came a day after sources in the PM 's office told Israeli daily Haaretz that
the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar will be delayed until further notice.aljazeera
DRC rebels kill 13, abduct a dozen children in
Ebola epicentre
Congolese rebels have killed 13 civilians and
abducted a dozen children in an attack at the centre of the latest deadly Ebola
outbreak, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's military said.Allied
Democratic Forces rebels attacked Congolese army positions and several
neighbourhoods of Beni in the DRC on Saturday and into Sunday, a senior army
official told AP.The rebels have killed hundreds of civilians in recent years
and are just one of several rebel groups active in the DRC's far
northeast.aljazeera
Afghanstan extends voting after polling
stations fail to open
Afghanistan's electoral commission said it was
extending voting in the country's parliamentary election to Sunday after
several polling stations failed to open.The extension was due to lack of voter
materials at some polling stations or problems with the electronic voter
system, Independent Election Commission (IEC) said on Saturday.Polling stations
across country opened at 7am and are set
to close at 4pm."The polling centres that opened later than 7am will
remain open until 8pm. The polling sites that remained closed until 1pm, will
be opened tomorrow and people can cast their vote tomorrow. No one's vote will
be wasted," Abdul Badi Sayad, the electoral commission chief, told a press
conference in Kabul.Meanwhile, several polling stations across the country were
targeted by explosions.In Kabul's PD15 district, an IED explosion killed one
police officer and injured a civilian and a policeman, a spokesman for the
city's police chief said.In Kunar province, two women were killed as they were
heading to a polling station in Manogi district, said Aziz Ulrahman Sapay, a
health official.2 other people were also killed in Kunduz province, a security
source said.Al Jazeera
Deadly suicide bomber strikes polling station
in Afghan capital
A suicide bomber blew himself up in the Afghan
capital on Saturday, killing at least 15 people as voting concluded in
parliamentary elections that were overshadowed by the threat of attacks and
serious organisational problems.Voting should have been concluded by the time
the attacker struck in an area to the north of Kabul, but polling stations were
kept open longer than normal to cope with large numbers of people who had been
unable to vote.10 civilians and 5 police officers were killed when the bomber
tried to enter a polling station and more than 25 were wounded, a senior
security official said.The attack appeared to have been the most serious of a
day marked by a series of smaller-scale incidents that caused dozens of
casualties across the country.There was no immediate claim of
responsibility.aljazeera
Afghanistan: Roadside bomb blast kills 11 in
Nangarhar
At least 11 people, including 6 children and a
woman, were killed in a roadside IED blast in Afghanistan, a provincial
official said. The roadside bomb struck a vehicle on Sunday in the Nangarhar's
Mamand area of Achin district that was carrying civilians, Attahullah Khogyani,
spokesperson for the provincial governor, said.No one immediately claimed the
attack.
Coalition airstrikes kill 22 civilians in
eastern Syria
At least 22 civilians have been killed in
US-led coalition airstrikes in eastern Syria’s Deir Ez-Zor province, according
to local sources on Saturday, reports Anadolu Agency.The sources said a
coalition airstrike targeted a mosque in the town of al-Susah in eastern Deir
Ez-Zor during the weekly Friday prayer, killing 16 people.6 more civilians were
killed in another strike that hit a local religious institute in Hajin city in
the same province, the sources added.Hajin has been the scene of constant
clashes between YPG/PKK and IS.Since Wednesday, 65 civilians have been killed
in Deir Ez-Zor province in airstrikes carried out by the US-led international
coalition. On Thursday,30 civilians, including two children, were killed in a
coalition airstrike on Ammar ben Yasir mosque in Al-Susah. 13 more people were
killed in the same town on Wednesday.MEMO
55 dead after market row in northern Nigeria:
presidency
55 people were killed this week in clashes
between young Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeriafollowing a dispute in
a market, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday.Sources told AFP fighting
broke out between Hausa Muslim and Adara Christian youths in the town of
Kasuwan Magani's market following a dispute among wheelbarrow porters.2 people
were said to have been killed in the market fracas on Thursday. The violence
was temporarily halted by police but Adara youth later mobilised and attacked
Hausa residents, burning homes, the sources added."Most of the killings
were done in the second attack which took the Hausa community off guard,"
said Muhammadu Bala, a Kasuwar Magani resident who lost his home.In a statement
the presidency said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest
communal violence in Kasuwan Magani in Kaduna State which claimed 55 lives.”AFP
Woman asked to shun hijab at workplace or
resign in Pak
A woman worker of a software firm in Pakistan
was told to either stop wearing hijab at workplace or resign, in perhaps the
first incident of its kind in the Muslim-majority country.The incident caused
an uproar on social media, leading to the resignation of CEO Jawwad Kadir of
the Creative Choas company. She was told that she could keep her job only if
she took off her hijab by her line manager who said that wearing hijab would
spoil the company’s image as an “all-embracing” workplace.The woman said that
she was offered alternative jobs in two Islamic banks if she left. Kadir
initially tried to downplay the incident by issuing an apology. “Yesterday, a
senior member of our staff asked a colleague to resign on unprofessional and
unethical grounds. She was told that her obligations may come in the way of her
performance,”Kadir said.“Not only is this action disgraceful but shows
extremely poor moral judgement by her hiring manager.I take full responsibility
for this failure and am deeply ashamed that a colleague was put through
distress and trauma,” he said.PTI
17 killed in Taiwan rail accident: authorities
More than 70 people had also been injured in
the accident in northeastern Yilan county.At least 17 people have died after a
train derailed and flipped over in Taiwan Sunday, authorities said. Taiwan
Railways Administration confirmed the toll and said more than 70 people had
also been injured in the accident in northeastern Yilan county.At least 5
carriages had flipped over and were lying on their side, according to AFP
reporter.AFP
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
J&K polls: Our system is imperfect, we
need to challenge it, says Junaid Azim Mattu:Naveed Iqbal
Election Commission ignores complaint about PR
excessesChandrakant Naidu :Chandrakant Naidu
Islamic, Indian Medieval Artefacts To Be
Auctioned At Christie's London:IANS
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:15 PM)
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