NEWS
DIGEST, MID-DAY
30 OCT. 2018: 20 Safar 1440: Vol:
11, No:45
INDIA
CBI may bury evidence against Asthana,
R&AW official shielded accused: officer Bassi
CBI DSP Ajay Kumar Bassi, who was
investigating the allegations of bribery and corruption against CBI special
director Rakesh Asthana, has claimed that the agency is trying to bury evidence
available against Asthana and other senior officers.Bassi moved a petition in
the Supreme Court today challenging his transfer order by CBI interim chief M
Nageshwar Rao. Bassi, in his plea, also alleged that R&AW special secretary
Samanta Goel was involved in shielding "middleman" Manoj Prasad, a
Dubai-based businessman.He also claimed that Samanta Goel was in touch with
both Asthana and Prasad's family members after the businessman was arrested on
Oct.16.He claimed that calls recorded through phone surveillance and WhatsApp
communication accessed after seizing Prasad's phone revealed links between the
Prasad brothers - Manoj and Somesh, Asthana, Sunil Mittal - father-in-law of
Manoj Prasad - and Samanta Goel."Transcripts are available with the CBI
but there is a strong chance that they may not place the same on record,"
Bassi claimed in his petition before the SC.Bassi was recently removed from
investigation in the bribery case against Asthana. He was transferred to Port
Blair and the investigation into the case against Asthana was handed over to
CBI SP Satish Dagar.He claimed that Dagar "has been instructed to
ensure" a clean chit to Asthana and to implicate "honest
officers" by claiming that CBI special director was being "falsely
implicated". Bassi sought a SC order for a stay on his transfer.He also
sought a SC-monitored SIT to probe FIR against Asthana and others. He also
demanded that all transcripts and other evidence against Asthana should be
placed before the SC in sealed cover."Manner of transfer indicates
malafide intent and shows vindictiveness because the fact that the name of Asthana
and Sai Manohar were cropping up," Bassi said in his petition.Bassi gave
details of the records, including a chart showing "shift" in CBI
probe after money was demanded and paid. He claimed that there is a "link
between the summons issued to the complainant (Sathish Sana) and illegal
gratification obtained by the above named public servants (Asthana and Devender
Kumar, and relief provided to Sathish Babu Sana)." "There is a
suspicion that the same may be tampered with or destroyed. It is unfortunate to
note that the present Investigating Officer has concentrated his efforts not on
the allegations of FIR, but has started roving and fishing enquiry in the
investigation made by the Applicant," says the DCP.The SC is yet to set a
date for the hearing in this case but lawyer Sunil Fernandes, appearing for
Bassi, requested the bench to hear the plea on Friday. indiatoday
BI row: Officer Bassi challenges transfer in
SC, claims ‘incriminating evidence’ against Asthana
SC orders police protection to Satish Sana,
complainant in bribery case against Asthana
The Supreme Court today directed Hyderabad
Police to provide adequate security to businessman Satish Sana, complainant in
the alleged bribery case against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. A bench
of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices UU Lalit and KM Joseph refused to stay CBI
summons against Sana and also rejected his plea for recording of his statement
in presence of retired ex SC judge AK Patnaik.Sana, on whose complaint an FIR
was registered against the CBI Special Director, had moved the apex court on
Monday seeking police protection and a stay on the notice issued by the agency
summoning him for interrogation.PTI
CBI Row: Dy SP, Middleman Remanded To 14-Day
Judicial Custody In Asthana Bribery Case
Malegaon blast : Lt Col Purohit, Pragya
Thakur, 5 others charged with terror conspiracy, murder
New Delhi :A special NIA court Tuesday charged
all 7 accused, including Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur,
Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi
and Sudhakar Chaturvedi, were charged with terror conspiracy, murder and other
related offences.The court rejected a plea by Lt Col Purohit to defer the
framing of charges.All the accused face trial under the UAPA given that the
special NIA court earlier this month rejected their pleas on the applicability
of the anti-terror law against them. The case will be heard next on Nov.2. All
7 are accused of executing a blast in Malegaon on Sept.29, 2008. A bomb that
was allegedly planted on a motorcycle exploded, killing 6 and injuring
101.Bombay High Court on Monday had also refused to stay the framing of charges
by the trial court against Purohit and other accused persons. However, a bench
of Justices SS Shinde and AS Gadkari agreed to hear a petition filed by Purohit
challenging his prosecution under UAPA next month.indianexpress
SC Dismisses Fresh Plea To Declare Mosque As
An Integral Part Of Namaz Of Muslim Community
The Supreme Court on Monday also dismissed a
new writ petition that sought a declaration that mosque is an integral part of
Namaz of a Muslim Community. The bench comprising of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice
Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph observed that the said prayers had
been considered in recent order in Ayodhya case and that reference to a larger
Bench was refused in that matter.Issue a writ of mandamus in the nature of
directing that the mosque is an integral part of Namaz of a Muslim Community by
considering observatory part of the judgment and order passed in Dr. M. Ismail
Faruqui and ors. Vs. Union of India and Ors. (1994) 6 SCC 360;A reference be
made before the Larger Bench for consideration in Dr. M. Ismail Faruqui and
ors. vs. Union of India and Ors. (1994) 6 SCC 360. The bench then dismissed the
plea holding the same as not maintainable.livelaw.in
After SC pushback on Ayodhya, calls grow for
bypass with ordinance for Ram Temple
New Delhi: The demand that the Govt pass an Ordinance to clear the decks for
building a Ram Temple at Ayodhya gained momentum on Monday after the Supreme
Court hit pause on the hearing of the Ayodhya title suit. Within hours of the
court pushing back the hearing to January, UP BJP leaders like Sanjeev Baliyan
and Vinay Katiyar and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor
of BJP, pushed for an Ordinance as a contingency plan to fast-forward the
temple.Soli Sorabjee, a former top law officer of the Govt , however, pointed
out that under the Article 123 of the constitution, an ordinance can be brought
only in cases of necessity, not expediency. "Ordinance will be legally
vulnerable. Once the ordinance is brought in, it can be immediately challenged
in Supreme Court and Govt will face legal trouble," he said.RSS, which
admitted to hoping for a positive judgment from the top court and the work at
the temple site to be underway before 2019, has called for an "early
decision"."With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of
unity and harmony will be created. With this in view, the Supreme Court should
make an early decision and if there are any difficulties, the Govt should make a law to remove all hurdles in
the way of giving land for temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site," Arun
Kumar, chief spokesperson of RSS said.BJP leader Sanjeev Baliyan, who is among
the 4 BJP leaders named in the Muzaffarnagar riots case, said he was
"surprised" at the "priorities" of the top court. "I
am of the view that the Ram temple should be constructed. Govt should explore
all possibilities," he said.BJP's central leaders have not commented on
the matter. Congress said the temple issue is routinely brought up every five
years before the elections. Asaddudin Owaisi has dared Govt to bring an
ordinance. "If they have the courage, they should bring an Ordinance on
Ram Temple construction. They are trying to scare us about bringing an
Ordinance, why don't they bring it,"he said.ndtv
Owaisi dares Centre to bring Ram Mandir
ordinance
We will wait for SC verdict, say litigants in
Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri mosque case
Litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri mosque
title suit said on Monday they would wait for the Supreme Court verdict in the
case, after the apex court said the schedule of hearing will be decided in the
first week of January next year.There were, however, differing views on the
demand by VHP and other Hindu outfits that the Govt bring in a law to build Ram temple, with Iqbal
Ansari of Sunni Waqf Board terming it as a "political gimmick" ahead
of the elections.Mahant Dinendra Das, representative of Nirmohi Akhara which is
one of the main parties from the Hindu side, said that "the court will
follow its procedure and we should wait for the verdict".He claimed that
bringing a law to build Ram temple "will not be a good decision of the Govt
because title of the land belongs to
Nirmohi Akhara"."We will get back our land through court verdict
only," he said. Another litigant from the Hindu side 'Ram Lalla Virajman
', represented by Triloki Nath Pandey, said there was little anyone could do
after the court put off the matter to Jan."We will wait for the court's
verdict as we have been waiting for more than hundred years," he
said.Pandey, however, supported the demand for a law to construct the Ram
Temple in Ayodhya. Iqbal Ansari said,
"We will wait for the court verdict as we have have full faith in the
Supreme Court.""The proposal for making a law for Ram temple is a
political gimmick as when the elections approach, a political party always
raises the issue," he said. "When the matter is before the court, let
the court decide. Interference of Govt in matters that are before the court
will not be good for the country, especially in Ayodhya issue," he said.
outlookindia
Ram temple issue likely to dominate agenda of
3-day RSS review meeting
Mumbai:With the Supreme Court adjourning the
hearing on the Ayodhya till Jan., the issue is most likely to dominate the
midterm review meeting of RSS. All-India Executive Committee meeting of RSS
will be held at Uttan in Bhayander between Oct.31 and Nov.2.Meeting will be
presided over by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and will be attended by the
organisation’s top brass.They will review the progress of the initiatives taken
by the organisation to strengthen its network and also chalk out their future
plans. However, it is unlikely to pass any resolution in the meeting.RSS will
also brainstorm on various other issues apart from Ram temple, including the
performance of the Narendra Modi-led Govt at the Centre as well as the 2019
polls, sources said.HT
Ram Mandir will be constructed even if SC
decides against it: Sadhvi Prachi
Meerut: VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi has said that
Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya irrespective of what the Supreme Court
decides in the case. Sadhvi said, “Ram Mandir will be constructed even if the
Supreme Court decides against it. The temple will be made exactly the way it
was earlier before the demolition.” TOI
Congress, radicals are to blame for dragging
Ram Temple case: Waseem Rizvi,
Lucknow: UP Shia Central Waqf Board head
Waseem Rizvi, has blamed Congress and radical Muslim leaders for the Ayodhya
land dispute being, what the board believed, entangled in legalities. "Due
to some radical Muslims and politics of Congress party, the issue of
construction of Ram Temple is stuck in courts,” Shia body chief, Rizvi, said.
ANI
Why no consultation before talaq ordinance? Samastha
Kerala Sunni Students Federation
Kozhikode: Even while the entire state is hotly
debating the Supreme Court verdict on women entry to Sabarimala, Sunni leader
has come up with a different angle to controversy.Samastha Kerala Sunni
Students Federation (SKSSF) state general secretary Sathar Panthaloor asked the
BJP leadership as to why the central Govt brought an ordinance on triple talaq
without consulting any Muslim scholar or organization. The SC had declared the
triple talaq unconstitutional and wanted Parliament to bring in legislation. Accordingly,
the Centre brought an ordinance in September that made the practice of instant
triple talaq a crime saying that there is “overpowering urgency and a
compelling necessity to bring the ordinance.”“BJP leadership now says that the
order on Sabarimala is against the belief of majority, but Centre didn’t
consult any Muslim body before passing a law that touches the Sharia, which is
very important for Muslims. No effort was made to know what the majority in the
Muslim community think of criminalising triple talaq,” Panthaloor said.All
India Muslim Personal Law Board has come out against the ordinance describing
it as “infringement of the Sharia law”.Samstha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulema, body
of Sunni scholars, organized a protest meeting in Kozhikode and had collected
10 lakh signatures against the ordinance.In the memorandum to be submitted to
President, Samastha said “fundamental rights of the Muslims in India are being
trampled by criminalising triple talaq in the ordinance”. TOI
Union minister Alphons’ shocker! ‘Muslim and
Christian ladies tried to enter Sabarimala'
Union
Tourism Minister KJ Alphons on Monday stoked a controversy when he said that a
Muslim lady and a Christian lady wanted to enter the Sabarimala temple with an
intention to disturb the law and order. Opposition has slammed the statement,
calling it an attempt by Alphons to communalise the issue.Alphons said what
could be the intention of a Muslim lady and a Christian lady, who were going to
Sabarimala. He further alleged that they were not going because of their love
for Lord Ayappa but to create a law and order situation.“What is (are) the
kind(s) of people who are trying to climb Sabarimala? I have gone to Sabarimala
twice. 2 people who were trying to climb Sabarimala:One was a lady belonging to
some other religion, say Muslim lady and 2nd was a Christian lady.
Now, tell me, were they going to Sabarimala because they love Ayappa? What was
their intention? I think the entire intention of these people was to create a
law and order problem.”Times Now
Muzaffarpur home abuse case: SC shifts Thakur
to Punjab jail; asks why Manju Verma still free
The Supreme Court today ordered the transfer
of Muzaffarpur shelter case main accused Brajesh Thakur to a high-security jail
in Punjab’s Patiala district. Questioning the Bihar Gov, the court asked why
former minister Manju Verma was still not arrested. Verma’s husband
Chandrashekhar Verma allegedly has close ties with Thakur.“Just because she
happens to be cabinet minister doesn’t make her above the law. The whole thing
is highly suspicious. Why has she not been arrested? It’s too much. Nobody is
bothered about the law,” the court said. It has also asked CBI to submit by
tomorrow the list of officers who investigated the case until now. Around 50
cartridges were seized from Verma’s residence when CBI conducted a raid in
connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal. She had stepped down
as the Social Welfare minister after her name surfaced in the case. She had
also filed an anticipatory bail plea, but it was rejected by the Patna High
Court.indianexpress
Sedition case: Cops seek AMU explanation on
revoked suspension of two students
Lucknow :Police have sought an explanation
from AMU over why the suspension of 2 students was revoked. The 2 were booked
in a sedition case for allegedly attempting to hold funeral prayers on campus
after the death of scholar-turned-militant Mannan Wani on Oct.11.They have
asked for a report on the university’s internal inquiry conducted by a 3-member
committee against Waseem Ayoub Malik and Abdul Haseeb Mir— both were reinstated
on Oct. 16.“We want to see what evidence and facts are mentioned in the inquiry
report that led to cancellation of suspension,” said investigating officer and
Civil Lines police SHO Vinod Kumar. Abdul and Waseem are pursuing a PhD in
history and biochemistry, respectively.“We have requested AMU to provide
footage from CCTV installed near the spot where students had assembled… The
video… has been sent to the forensic science laboratory in Agra,” said
Kumar.Kashmiri students have been regularly approaching AMU authorities,
demanding that FIR be quashed.AMU registrar Abdul Hamid said,“We are providing
all possible help for police investigation…We explained to them (students) that
police are conducting the investigation and we cannot do anything.”indianexpress
Meerut restaurant case: Police move court, say
remove dacoity charge against BJP councillor
Meerut :Meerut police have moved an
application in court to remove the dacoity charge from the FIR registered
against BJP councillor Manish Chaudhary — currently in jail since he repeatedly
slapped a sub-inspector at his restaurant on Oct.20 — on the plea that “no
conclusive evidence has been found against him to implicate him under IPC
section 354”.Moreover, action may soon be taken against the sub-inspector and
woman lawyer who had allegedly arrived inebriated at Chaudhary’s restaurant and
misbehaved with staff, after which the councillor had slapped the policeman. Chaudhary
had been arrested after the incident while the sub-inspector, Sukhpal Panwar,
was transferred.At a Sunday press conference, Health Minister Sidharth Nath
Singh said, “A case will be registered on the basis of the complaint on behalf
of the councillor against the police officer and woman in the restaurant issue.
Meerut police will also closely look all the videos of the incident that have
surfaced so far.”indianexpress
DU Proposes Course in Islam and International
Relations, Critics Ask Why Not in Hinduism
New Delhi: For the first time in its history,
the Political Science department of Delhi University has proposed “Islam and
International Relations” to be taught at the post graduate level. Awaiting a
nod from Academic Council (AC), the paper intends to introduce “students to
multi-layered and multi-faceted theoretical, conceptual and philosophical
issues that act as roadmap when we attempt at understanding the linkages
between the history, culture and theology of Islam and structuration processes
that are involved in the functioning of international relations”. At a recent
meeting of the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs of Delhi University, a
point was raised by an academic who questioned why other religions should be
left out. “Why just Islam and International Relations? Why can’t we study other
religions as well in the arena of International Relations,” asked Dr Geeta
Bhatt, an academic and a member of the AC who was present at the Standing
Committee meeting.Professor Sanjeev Kumar HM, who designed the course, said:
“There was no opposition, but one suggestion was made on including other
religions as well. We were asked why only Islam? Why can’t we design a course
on Hinduism and International Relations or Buddhism and International Relations
or Christianity and International Relations?” He is hopeful that the course
will get a nod in the AC. The Standing Committee has okayed the idea, but they
think there should be designing of courses on other religions as well.Kumar
believes that this argument of including other religions was made “to water
down the idea of having a course in Islam”. He said, “Other religions can be
taught under a different design – maybe a course on comparative religions in
post secular International Relations, but that is going to be a different
trajectory”. He further said: “We cannot have full course on other religions
and International Relations because the space you need in terms of ideas is not
same with others.” Kumar said the scholarship in Islam and IR is booming and
the reasons are plenty. news18
Hindutva ideologue Malhotra appointed JNU
honorary visiting professor
Hindutva ideologue and author Rajiv Malhotra
has been appointed an honorary visiting professor at JNU’s Centre for Media
Studies. Malhotra tweeted on Monday to say that he would deliver his first
lecture as visiting professor on Nov.2 on the subject of “Sanskrit
Non-Translatables”. Other recent appointments at the premier institution
include Subhash Kak, an Indian American computer scientist, who has been named
among the adjunct faculty at the institution’s School of Engineering and as an
honorary visiting professor at the Centre for Media Studies. Rajya Sabha MP
Swapan Dasgupta is also among the honorary visiting fellows of the
centre.scroll.in
India Listed Yet Again Among World's Worst for
Unsolved Journalist Murders
New Delhi: Even as the international
diplomatic fracas that has erupted over the murder of Washington Post
journalist Jamal Khashoggi continues to dominate headlines around the world,
Committee to Protect Journalists released its Global Impunity Index on Monday
titled “Getting Away with Murder:CPJ’s 2018 Global Impunity Index spotlights
countries where journalists are slain and their killers go free”.In its
eleventh report, which ranks states with “worst records of prosecuting the
killers of journalists”, CPJ states that “a lack of justice in the murders of
journalists creates an entrenched climate of censorship”.“In the past decade,
at least 324 journalists have been silenced through murder worldwide and in 85%
of these cases no perpetrators have been convicted. It is an emboldening
message to those who seek to censor and control the media through
violence,”report reads. Impunity Index is released annually to mark the
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Nov.2.CPJ
calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each
country’s population. For the index released this year,CPJ examined journalist
murders that occurred between Sept.1,2008,and Aug.31, 2018.At the top of the list
for the fourth year in a row is Somalia with its dismal record of convicting
perpetrators and 25 unsolved cases, followed by Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and
the Philippines. The report clarifies that all 14 of the countries have
appeared on the index at one point or other since CPJ began to compile list in
2008.thewire
India tops in child deaths due to pollution in
2016: WHO report
As per the recent report by WHO, India
witnessed the most number of air pollution-induced deaths of children below the
age of 5. The following data is from the year 2016. Following study took data
from around 194 countries dealing with toxic air problems where India topped
the list as it witnessed the deaths of at least 1 lakh children who were below
the age of 5. The deaths occurred because of health complications faced by the
children due to high indoor and outdoor air pollution.The following revelations
were made in a report titled Air Pollution and Child Health. Report was made
public on Oct.20 in Geneva. India, which topped the list, was being tailed by
Nigeria, Pakistan, DR Congo and Ethiopia. According to report, Nigeria
witnessed the death of around 98,000 children while Pakistan stood third with
38,252 deaths of minors. On the other hand, the report stated that the ratio of
deaths to the population during a particular period were much higher in the
above-mentioned countries in comparison to India.As per the WHO report, India
witnessed the most number of deaths of a premature baby due to toxic air
pollution under 5 years of time. According to the report, almost 98% of the
children below the age of 5 in India were exposed to PM2.5 levels. NewsX
Rahul: J&K is on fire because of Modi’s
mistakes
Ujjain :Congress president Rahul Gandhi on
Monday said PM Narendra Modi had made
“mistakes” on J&K , as a result of which the state is “on fire”.Addressing
a public meeting here in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi also alleged that ‘One-Rank,
One-Pension’ (OROP) scheme has not been implemented so far and the PM was telling “lies” on the issue. Referring to J&K
, he said the state is “on fire” right now, apparently referring to the latest
killings in the state by terrorists.Modi Govt “opened the doors of J&K for terrorists.
No politician was martyred in J&K but armymen are laying their lives there
because of Modi’s mistakes,” Gandhi said.“PM talks about surgical strike, army,
navy but doesn’t talk about army men. He makes claims. At least, tell us what
you did about those who carried out the surgical strike,” he said.PTI
DD news cameraman, 2 cops killed in Naxal attack in
Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada
New Delhi:2 policemen and a cameraperson from
national broadcaster Doordarshan were killed today in a Maoist attack in
poll-bound Chhattisgarh. 2 security officers were also injured in the attack
that took place in Dantewada district’s Aranpur village. The police were
patrolling in the area when the attack took place.DD team was in Dantewada for
election coverage and was moving in vehicles. 2 other DD News staffers,
including a journalist from Delhi, are reported to be safe. “Today our
patrolling party was ambushed by Naxals in Aranpur. Whether the attack is
related to the polls will be ascertained only after a probe.Those killed were
identified as SI Rudra Pratap, Assistant Constable Mangalu and DD News
cameraman Achyutanand from Delhi,” DIG(anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj said.
Reinforcements were rushed to the spot,he said.IE
BJP contemplating to field more Muslim
candidates in West Bengal
Kolkata :BJP in Bengal is contemplating to
field “considerable” number of Muslim candidates in the Lok Sabha elections
next year with an intent to make inroads into CM Mamata Banerjee’s solid
support base among minorities, and corner a sizeable share of this numerically
crucial vote bank.The saffron party’s aim to make a shift in its political
strategy in West Bengal appears to be a result of their harvesting a good
number of seats in the local body election early this year by fielding Muslim
candidates.BJP had fielded over 850 candidates from the minority community in
the poll to the three-tier panchayats, with nearly half of them winning the
elections.In the last Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had fielded only two minority
candidates in the state, which has a total of 42 seats.State BJP president
Dilip Ghosh told PTI, the party will aim to field “considerable” number of
Muslim candidates, given the fact that the state has nearly 30 % Muslim population.PTI
Madras HC: No need to review minority
institutions’ status
Madurai: Madurai bench of Madras High Court
has observed that if an educational institution is once granted minority status
by the Govt, there is no need to review them periodically like a driving
license. Court cited earlier orders and set aside a Govt order (GO) passed by
the education department granting minority status to a school in Tirunelveli
for 5 years. The management of Hindu Middle School in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli
district-a Christian minority institution approached the bench following GO
passed in Nov. last year.According to the school management, a civil court had
passed a judgment recognizing the minority status of the institution in 1983. Meanwhile,
school authorities had approached Govt seeking recognition of the minority
status and in response the education department passed the GO granting minority
status until 2022.TOI
Warangal: BJP, VHP, Bajrang Dal leaders held
Warangal:The bandh call given by BJP, VHP,
Bajrang Dal and others was partial here on Monday. It may be noted here that
several organisations including Brahmin Seva Samithi called for a bandh and
peace rally protesting the attack against Shiva Sai temple priest D
Satyanarayana by Syed Sadiq Hussain of Warangal. However, the Warangal police, who organised a
meeting with religious heads on Sunday, were able to appease the Brahmin Seva
Samithi from enforcing bandh on Monday. In spite of this, the activists of BJP,
VHP and Bajrang Dal tried to enforce bandh. However, the police arrested and
shifted the protestors to Hanamkonda, Subedari, KUC, Matwada, Intezargunj and
Mills colony police stations.Meanwhile, the priest Satyanarayana, who is
undergoing treatment at the MGM hospital, is said to be recovering. Several
leaders from the BJP and leaders from Students Islamic Organisation (SIO)
visited him at the hospital.HANS INDIA
Supreme Court allows all southern states to
burst crackers for 2 hours on Diwali morning
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today allowed all
southern India states to burst crackers for two hours on Diwali morning.The top
court added that if the states want they can scatter the timings but must not
breach the 2-hour window.The order came on a petition by the Tamil Nadu Govt requesting the court to let the state burst
crackers for two hours each in the evening and morning.“If we are not
permitting South Indian staying in Delhi to burst crackers in the morning then
the same should also apply to North Indians living down south,” the top court
said. Earlier this month, the court allowed low-emission firecrackers between 8
pm and 10 pm this Diwali while ruling out a blanket ban on fireworks.HT
After Sanjiv Bhatt Is Denied Bail Again, Wife
Claims Harassment by State Agencies
Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat police officer
Sanjiv Bhatt’s wife has alleged that state agencies are “colluding to harass”
her and her husband after he was denied bail in a 22-year-old narcotics case
yet again. Bhatt is now due to be produced in a Palanpur Court on October 30
for a routine check required every 15 days when an accused is remanded to
judicial custody.Speaking to The Wire, Shweta Bhatt claimed that she was not
even allowed to see her husband for the first two weeks. “I don’t understand
why they [state CID] needed police custody; we are not running anywhere. They
could have spoken to us at any point they needed, but all these years they
haven’t done anything and the case has not moved forward.”Bhatt was arrested by
state CID in a narcotics planting case that has been pending since 1996, when
he was the Banaskantha Superintendent of Police. I.B. Vyas, who was a police
inspector with the local crime branch at the time and who led the investigation
in 1996, was also arrested on the same day. The arrests come five months after
Gujarat high court directed the agency to conclude its probe within 3
months.“We were not even informed that the high court had passed such an
order,” Shweta Bhatt said about the order, adding that her husband had been
granted leave in the matter.thewire
Assam Police Arrests Teacher Abu Taleb for
'Insulting' Modi in Facebook Post
New Delhi: In yet another case of an arrest
for sharing a meme, cartoon or message allegedly insulting PM Narendra Modi, an Assam teacher was taken into
custody on Monday for his comments on Facebook. According to Northeast Now, Abu
Taleb, who teaches Hindi at Lakhipur High School in the state’s Goalpara
district, invited trouble when he wrote on the social media platform:“Voting
for Narendra Modi’s BJP candidate and garlanding a dog is the same thing”. Assam
Police arrested Taleb after an FIR was filed based on two complaints by the president
of the BJP’s Lakhipur unit and the Inspector of Schools of Goalpara district,
Nripen Da, according to Scroll.in.thewire
WORLD
EC scraps Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
registration as party, bars it ahead of Dec polls
Dhaka: With parliamentary elections looming
this December, Bangladesh's largest Islamist party has been effectively barred
from competing, the country's electoral authority announced late Monday
Bangladesh’s Election Commission cancelled the registration of Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party, in a new notice. “The
commission secretariat issued a notification on Sunday after it recently got
the full order of the High Court” -- the lower division of the Supreme Court --
Helal Uddin Ahmed, the commission’s secretary, confirmed to Anadolu Agency. The
notice was issued on Sunday but only announced on MondayIn 2013, the High Court
declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration with the Election Commission illegal,
but a detailed decision spelling out the order only just arrived at the
commission. Jamaat has yet to respond to the move.But Mujibur Rahman, the
party’s vice chair, claimed the election commission's decision was
prejudiced.“Instead of providing a favorable atmosphere for the upcoming
national elections in December, the election commission is working for the
Awami League [ruling party] to make the party’s candidates victorious,” he
charged.Anadolu
Ex-PM Zia’s jail term doubled to 10 yrs by court
Bangladesh court today doubled a jail term for
imprisoned Opposition leader Khaleda Zia from 5 to 10 years following a
prosecution appeal.The decision came the day after Zia, 73, was ordered jailed
for 7 years in a separate case, piling pressure on the Opposition ahead of a
national election.The increased term was ordered over embezzlement charges for
which Zia, arch-rival of PM Sheikh
Hasina, was sentenced in Feb.BNP, main Opposition movement that Zia still leads
from behind bars, has vowed nationwide marches later Tuesday to protest the
verdict.The latest court ruling deals a crushing blow to BNP and its embattled
leader, who despite being jailed had clung to a faint hope of running against
Hasina in election slated for Dec.AFP
Top Palestinian body PLO calls for suspension
of Israel recognition: aljazeera
A top Palestinian body authorised Palestine
Liberation Organization (PLO) to suspend recognition of Israel and stop
security coordination with Tel Aviv.Palestinian Central Council (PCC)-a body of
PLO - said the suspensions should be in place until Israel recognises the
Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,
Palestine's official Wafa news agency reported.Following a 2-day meeting in
Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, the council said the PLO and Palestinian
Authority will also end security coordination and suspend economic agreements
as set out under 1994 Paris Economic Protocol. It also decided to revoke the
validity of the Oslo Accords.The council said the decision was made "in
light of Israel's continued denial of the signed agreements".The decision
must be approved by Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO Executive Council.Abbas again
vowed to block any peace plan led by US President Donald Trump. Abbas compared
the expected Trump peace plan to 1917 Balfour Declaration, which saw the
British Govt commit to the creation of a
state for Jews in historical Palestine."If Balfour Declaration is passed,
this deal will not pass," he said.
Another Israeli minister visits UAE, calling
for 'peace and stability'
Israel's communications minister called for
"peace and security" on Tuesday during a visit to UAE, as his country
launches an unprecedented diplomatic push into Gulf states."Peace and
security in every state...with economic and scientific progress is what
guarantees a future for the coming generations," Ayoub Kara said at a
telecommunications conference in Dubai.Kara's statement, at the International
Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference, comes after visits of
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu to Oman
and Culture Minister Miri Regev to Abu Dhabi in the past week.Neither Oman nor UAE
has diplomatic ties with Israel.Normalising ties with Israel remains the most
controversial policy debate in the Arab world, which largely boycotts the
Jewish state over its occupation of Palestinian land and denying Palestinian
refugees the right of return.Regev, known for controversial comments about
Arabs and Muslims, on Sunday toured the famed Sheikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi,
wearing a red full-length abaya and white headscarf and speaking to the camera
in Hebrew."This is the first time that an Israeli minister is here on a
visit," Regev said, surrounded by a group of people in traditional Emirati
dress.Regev is a member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and ex
spokeswoman of Israeli army.Israel's national anthem was also played at a judo
tournament in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after one of its athletes won gold.middleeasteye
BDS:15 Arab, Muslim countries cooperate with
Israel
20% of Arab
and Islamic countries possess diplomatic relations with Israel, the anti-Israel
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) global campaign reported.“9 Arab
countries possess full diplomatic ties with the Israeli occupation, while six
others who are experiencing lower-scale relations with Israel,” BDS said in its
recent reports entitled “The reality of normalisation in Arab and Islamic
world.”BDS warned the Arab states of what it described as a “dangerous reality”
resulting from “Arab countries’ unprecedented normalisation with Israel.” Palestinian-led
campaign called on all Arab and Islamic countries “to renounce normalisation
with the occupation [Israel] as well as pressuring them to recognise the rights
of the Palestinian people.”Anti-Israel organisation pointed out that it has
been following what it described as “formal and informal normalisation” across Arabic
region, accusing some complicit countries of “committing an unforgivable
crime.”BDS is a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality.MEMO
Israelis vote in local polls, amid Palestinian
boycott
Israeli voters went to polling stations today
in the municipal election, amid a boycott by Palestinian residents. Over 6.6
million Israelis are eligible to cast their ballot in the vote. Anadolu
Palestine demands ICC investigate occupation’s
killing of 3 children
Palestine Liberation Organisation has called International
Criminal Court to investigate the killing of three children from the Gaza Strip
by a missile that an unmanned drone targeted at the security fence on Sunday
evening.Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the crime of the
killing of 13-year-old boys Khaled Bassam, Mahmoud Said, Abdel Hamid Abu Zaher,
and Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Sitri.MEMO
Khashoggi case: Erdogan says no point in
protecting culprits in Khashoggi murder
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on
Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor to find out who ordered the murder of Jamal
Khashoggi, and not spare "certain people" in his investigation. "Who
sent these 15 people? As Saudi public prosecutor, you have to ask that
question, so you can reveal it," Erdogan said, referring to the 15-man
team suspected of being behind the hit."Now we have to solve this case. No
need to prevaricate, it makes no sense to try to protect certain people,"
he told reporters in Ankara.Erdogan said the Turkish prosecutor had told his
Saudi counterpart that 18 suspects in the case could be tried in Turkey. Saudi
officials also needed to reveal the identity of a local cooperator said to have
been involved in Khashoggi's disappearance, he said.Saudi's chief prosecutor on
Tuesday visited the consulate in Istanbul where he was murdered,according to AFP
journalist at the scene.aljazeera
Turkey: Saudi Attorney General admits ‘Khashoggi’s
murder was premeditated’
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mouloud Jawish Oglu
said Monday that the Saudi Prosecutor, Saud bin Abdullah bin Mubarak has
admitted during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul that the
murder of Jamal Khashoggi was planned in “advance”.“The exchange of information
between the Saudi Attorney-General and his Turkish counterpart in Khashoggi
case will be helpful,” he told reporters during a press conference with his
Georgian and Azeri counterparts, expressing hope that “Saudi will complete the
investigation into Khashoggi’s death as soon as possible”.“Saudi Attorney
General’s visit is very important and came at the request of Riyadh.
Cooperation between Saudi Attorney General and his Turkish counterpart should
continue in the Khashoggi’s case without wasting time” he
added.middleeastmonitor
Saudis know where Khashoggi's body is and must
release it: His fiancee
Saudi Arabia knows where Jamal Khashoggi’s
body is and should release it immediately, his fiancee said on Monday at an
event commemorating the murdered journalist.“It is a human and Islamic demand,”
Hatice Cengiz told a crowd of friends, activists, politicians and journalists
that had gathered in London’s Westminster. Cengiz, dressed in black and visibly
distressed, said she was “disappointed in the actions of the leadership of many
countries, particularly in US”.“President Trump should help reveal the truth
and ensure justice be served. He should not pave the way for a cover-up of my
fiance’s murder,” she said.“Let’s not let money taint our conscience and
compromise our values.”middleeasteye
US pushing Saudi to end GCC crisis, Yemen war
US is ratcheting up pressure on Saudi Arabia
to restore relations with Qatar, Bloomberg has reported, as the kingdom comes
under increasing international scrutiny for its role in the killing of Jamal
Khashoggi. Washington's thrust is aimed at resolving the more than year-long
political and economic isolation imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and 3 other
Arab states, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing three unnamed sources said to
be familiar with US efforts.Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE severed
political and economic ties with Qatar in June 2017, imposing a land, sea and
air embargo on the small Gulf state, which is home to a major US airbase. Quartet
accused Qatar of "supporting terrorism", a charge it vehemently
denies, and issued a list of 13 demands it said Doha would have to meet to end
the crisis.Last week,Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman praised Qatar's
economy in a rare conciliatory remark about it.aljazeera
‘Release of Taliban leaders unlikely to aid
Afghan peace process’: Anadolu
Pakistan released two key Afghan Taliban
leaders last week reportedly at Washington’s request in an apparent attempt to
revive a stalled peace process. Development follows a meeting earlier this
month between US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Pakistani
and Taliban officials in Doha. The release of Mullah Abdul Ghani, commonly
known as Mullah Baradar,and little-known commander Abdul Samad Sani is seen as
a major development by the three key stakeholders -- US, Pakistan and
Afghanistan. But analysts do not view the development as a major breakthrough
towards ending the war.Washington had previously voiced concern that the
commanders would rejoin the Taliban ranks."Mullah Baradar and Mullah
Sani's release is a mere confidence-building measure--not less not more,"Rahimullah
Yusufzai, Pak-based expert on Afghan affairs, said. Afghan analysts believe
that Baradar could have proven valuable for peace efforts had he been released
years back when he had significant clout with the "rebels". Ex-Afghan
intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil dubbed his release a move by Islamabad to
evade growing US pressure. Taliban welcomed the release of Barada. Spokesman Zabihullah
Mujahed noted there has been ‘no deals or references/contacts used’ for his
release.
Trump plans to end birthright citizenship:
Axios
US Govt
is planning to end birthright citizenship for babies of non-immigrants
and undocumented immigrants born on US soil, President Donald Trump said.In an
interview with "Axios on HBO", Trump said he is working with legal
counsel to put an end to the practice, which has existed since 1968 and
stipulates that citizenship is automatically granted to any person born within
US territory. "We're the only country in the world where a person comes
in, has a baby and the baby is essentially a citizen of the US for 85 years
with all of those benefits," Trump told Axios.aljazeera
FLASH VIEWS &
NEWS
"RSS Head Mohan Bhagwat Has Committed
Contempt of Court":Interview with Rajeev Dhavan
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Cannot Appear
in the Babri Masjid Case:Rajeev Dhavan
‘Gujarat model’ splits CBI:Power struggle
after entry of trio close to the PM :Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
In the Babri Case, ‘Heavens Have Already
Fallen’ and the Title Suit Can Wait:The Wire Analysis
3-judge SC bench that's hearing Babri case:
CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Kaul, Justice Joseph
Times Now’s Navika Kumar accused of inciting
Hindus on SC’s Ayodhya order-Lubna Usman
Ayodhya Case Deferment Hits Hindutva Hard
Chief Justice who called Modi ‘model and hero’
among 4 recommended for elevation to SC
Ayodhya Act 1993: When Congress passed law for
construction of Ram mandir, BJP opposed it
A bureaucrat’s report on Assam’s NRC takes a
more hardline stand on migration than political parties:Ipsita Chakravarty
Opinion Did Israel's PM Netanyahu Secretly
Visit Islamabad? How One Tweet Sparked Hysteria and a Political Crisis in Pakn:
Khuldune Shahid, haaretz
Why can’t Shehla Rashid celebrate Sinead
O’Connor’s embrace of Islam?Gurmehar Kaur
Gaza's drinking water spurs blue baby
syndrome, serious illnesses
Defence firms see only hundreds of new US jobs
from Saudi deal
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:25 PM)
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