NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
27 Nov. 2018:18 Rabiul-I 1440:
Vol: 11, No:65
INDIA
J&K governor Malik caught on camera
claiming Lone would have been CM if he'd listened to Centre
Governor of J&K Satya Pal Malik has purportedly said he would
have made People's Conference chairman Sajad Lone the CM of the state had he
listened to instructions from the Centre. A video has surfaced in the media in
which Malik can purportedly be heard making the remarks, another in his list of
controversial comments after the controversy over a supposedly non-functional
fax machine last week.On 21 Nov., PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti
had sent an official communique to the Raj Bhawan via fax, staking claim to
form Govt in J&K in alliance with Congress
and National Conference. She later tweeted saying that her fax was not going
through to the governor's office in Jammu, and thus she was making their
decision public as a last resort to reach out to Malik. Soon after Mehbooba's
claim, Lone also claimed he had tried to send his letter to the governor
staking claim to form the Govt— with the support of BJP MLAs — via fax, but
after receiving no response, he said he sent a copy of the letter to Malik's
personal assistant on WhatsApp and shared a screenshot of the same. Not long
after Mehbooba and Lone's claims, Malilk announced his decision to dissolve the
J&K Assembly. Next day, in a
bemusing turn of events, Malik had claimed he had not received either letter as
it was a holiday at the Raj Bhawan on account of Eid, and there was no one to
man the fax machine.Malik reportedly made the statement about making Lone the CM
at a public gathering on 24 Nov.in Gwalior. Responding to a query on the turn
of events, Malik said he believed he had done the "right thing" as he
did not want to go down in history as a "dishonest man".firstpost
Had I listened to centre...: J&K Governor's startling claim
Pak to invite Modi for SAARC summit in
Islamabad: Report
Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said PM Narendra Modi would be invited to Islamabad
for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, Dawn
reported. The previous summit in 2016 was cancelled after India backed out
following the terrorist attack on an Army camp in Uri where 19 soldiers died.The
last summit of the leaders of the eight SAARC countries was convened in Kathmandu
in late 2014. Recalling PM Imran Khan’s
remarks that if India took one step forward, Pakistan would take two, Foreign
Office Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal pitched for dialogue with New Delhi to
solve all contentious issues.“We fought a war with India, relations cannot be
fixed quickly,” Faisal said. So far, India’s refusal to engage Pakistan unless
Islamabad addressed its concerns on cross-border terrorism has remained a
sticky issue for holding the 19th SAARC summit.SAARC Summits are usually held
biennially hosted by a member state in alphabetical order. Member state hosting
the summit assumes the Chair of the Association. Besides India, Bangladesh,
Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the 2016 Islamabad meet.
The Maldives and Sri Lanka are the seventh and eighth members of the
initiative.indianexpress
Sidhu reaches Pakistan, says Kartarpur
corridor will ‘erase enmity between two nations’
In sharp contrast to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh’s polemic on Pakistan
regarding cross-border terrorism during the foundation stone laying ceremony of
Kartarpur corridor, his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday said it would
help promote peace between the two countries. Sidhu, who reached Pakistan to
take part in the groundbreaking ceremony, called Kartarpur a “corridor of
infinite possibilities”.Sidhu thanked Pakistan PM Imran Khan for making the
corridor possible, saying it was a happy moment for the Sikh community. “This
will erase enmity between the two nations. The seed Imran Khan had sown three
months ago has become a plant,” he told the media at Wagah.indianexpress
Omar Abdullah asks centre to clear air around ex
Norwegian PM’s Kashmir visit
Kjell Mangne Bondevik assured the separatist
leaders “they would use their good offices to ensure that a sustained and
result-oriented dialogue between India and Pakistan begins so that an amicable
solution to the Kashmir issue is found,” the statement claimed.National
Conference leader Omar Abdullah Monday asked the Centre to clear the air around
former Norwegian PM Kjell MangneBondevik’s
visit to Kashmir during which he met separatist leaders.“What are the Norwegians
up to in Kashmir? Would either (External Affairs Minister) @SushmaSwaraj ji or
(National Security Advisor Ajit) Doval ji care to put the visit of the former
Norwegian PM to both sides of the divided state in the correct context or do we
have to rely on rumours & conjecture?” Omar said in a tweet. Bondevik had
last Friday met senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq here.In a statement, the separatists said Geelani and Mirwaiz told
the former PM that since his country
“has a history of playing a positive role in conflict resolutions”, the
Norwegian Govt should make serious efforts to resolve the vexed Kashmir dispute
to mitigate the sufferings of the people and ensure a lasting peace in South
Asia.PTI
3 Kashmiri students released after being
briefly detained in Pathankot
Jammu : 3 suspects, who were detained at
Pathankot railway station in a joint operation by police teams of Punjab and
Jammu Kashmir Sunday night, were let off on Monday as they found nothing
incriminating. Kathua SSP Shridhar Patil said that one of them was a student
studying at Ajmer. The other two, studying in Kashmir, were accompanying him to
Ajmer, he added.Kathua police had received intelligence inputs about suspects
travelling in Ajmer-bound Pooja Express. But the train had already left by the
time police reached the railway station. As the next stop was Chakki Bank in
Pathankot district of Punjab the Kathua police team alerted Punjab Police who
stopped the train there and detained the three suspects. However, as nothing
incriminating was found from the detained Kashmiri youths, Punjab Police handed
over their custody to Kathua police at Lakhanpur on Monday morning. Patil said
that after Kathua police finished questioning the youths, they were handed over
to their parents.indianexpress
Pro-Khalistan posters plastered, Referendum
2020 planned day before Kartarpur corridor inauguration in Pak
Pro-Khalistan posters plastered, Referendums
2020 planned day before Kartarpur corridor inauguration in Pakistan:
ISI-Khalistani plot reared its ugly head in Kartarpur after Punjab minister
Navjot Singh Sidhu termed Kartarpur corridor as a corridor of infinite
possibilities of peace. Pro-Khalistan posters have been put out and a meeting
of separatists ‘Referendum 2020’ planned in Kartarpur at a time when Navjot
Singh Sidhu and Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri
leave for Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor
on Nov. 28. According to reports, posters of slain Khalistan terrorist Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwale was also spotted there.On the one hand, Pakistan welcomes
India’s decision to send its two Union ministers to attend the groundbreaking
ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor and terms it a “positive response”, but on other
hand funding pro-Khalistan groups against India. However, the Indian Govt is
aware of the ISI-Khalistani plot and monitoring the situation closely. BJP
Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, who launched a Referendum 2020
#FreeBaluchistanSindh T-Shirt, has sent a T-Shirt to Pakistan PM Imran Khan as
a mark of protest against Pakistan’s interference in India’s internal affairs. Meanwhile,
US-based separatist group Sikhs for Justice has requested Pak Govt to grant 100,000
visas to Sikh pilgrims who want to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.NewsX
58%of female homicides are dowry deaths:UN report
A United Nations study revealed that dowry
deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female homicides in
India despite legislation prohibiting it, it also stated the home is the most
dangerous place for women around the world.Around 87,000 women were killed
around the world last year and some 50,000—or 58% - were killed at the hands of
intimate partners or family members. This amounts to some six women being
killed every hour by people they know, according to new research published by UNO
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In India, the female homicide rate in 2016 was 2.8%,
higher than the rate in Kenya (2.6), Tanzania (2.5), Azerbaijan (1.8), Jordan
(0.8) and Tajikistan (0.4). Further, in India 33.5 % of women and girls aged 15-49
who experienced physical violence (irrespective of perpetrator) at least once
in their lifetime and 18.9% in the past 12 months, according to data from
1995-2013. Dowry-related deaths in India continue to be a matter of concern.
The study noted that available data on dowry-related killings from NCRB
indicate that female dowry deaths account for 40 to 50% of all female homicides
recorded annually in India, representing a stable trend over the period 1999 to
2016."Despite legislation adopted by the Indian Govt in 1961, prohibiting
the payment of dowry, the practice continues throughout the country and dowry
deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female
homicides," it said.PTI
RBI Guv Urjit Patel appears before
parliamentary panel to discuss demonetisation, economy
RBI Governor Urjit Patel today appeared before
a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.31-member parliamentary panel
comprises members such as former PM Manmohan Singh and the committee was headed by
senior Congress leader and ex-Union Minister M Veerappa Moily. However Patel
was earlier scheduled to appear before the panel on Nov.12, to brief on issues
like demonetisation and NPA situation in public sector banks, among others, sources
confirmed.Source said issues related to demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000
notes, reforms in RBI, stressed assets in the banking system, and state of the
economy, were listed as agenda. Patel appeared before the panel days after the bank's
face-off with the finance ministry over issues ranging from appropriate size of
reserves to be maintained by RBI to easing of lending norms for small and
medium enterprises. Patel told the panel that “the economy would do better as
crude prices down.”Questions on RBI autonomy, reserves were asked but he didn't
answer the questions.nationalheraldindia
'Muslim' in AMU name: UGC panel to study
varsity's action taken report
Agra: UGC has formed a 4-member committee to
study the action taken report, submitted by the four central universities,
including AMU,in connection with the observations made by the commission’s
audit report on the academic and financial irregularities allegedly committed
by varsities. Meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Dec, will suggest
further course of action to be taken by commission.Chairperson of committee
Sushma Yadav, who is also VC of BPS Mahila Vishvidyalaya, Haryana, said they
are going through the action taken reports submitted by these universities. UGC
had ordered an audit of 10 central universities last year at the behest of HRD
ministry to probe complaints of financial, administrative and academic
irregularities. On April 25, 2017, 5 committees were formed by UGC to conduct
the audit.In its AMU report, the audit had recommended that the word ‘Muslim’
should be dropped from its name to reflect its secular character. The committee
suggested that the institution should either be called ‘Aligarh University’ or
be named after its founder, Sir Syed. It cited the same reason to recommend
that Banaras Hindu University’s name be amended by dropping the word ‘Hindu’.In
its formal response to UGC in June this year, AMU had hit back at the
suggestion and said dropping the word ‘Muslim’ would deprive the university of
its unique historic character. Dubbing the panel’s suggestion as outrageous,
the then registrar of the university, Javaid Akhtar, said the panel had gone
beyond its brief and incorrectly drawn a conclusion that by dropping 'Muslim'
from its name would instill secular values.TOI
Bhima Koregaon Case: Police Gets More Time to
File Supplementary Chargesheet
Pune: A court here granted 90-day extension to
Pune police for filing a supplementary charge sheet against rights activists
Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferriera, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao in the Elgar
Parishad-Maoist links case. 4, and another activist Gautam Navlakha, accused of
having Maoist links, were arrested on August 28 following multi-state raids by
the Pune Police.However, on the directions of the Supreme Court, all 5 were put
under house arrest in their respective cities.Later, as the period of house
arrest got over and the SC refused to grant further relief to the accused,
police arrested all of them except Gautam Navlakha. 4 activists are now under
judicial custody. A charge sheet has already been filed in the case against
activists Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Rona Wilson and Sudhir
Dhawale and 5 “underground” Maoist leaders. District and Sessions Judge Kishor
D. Vadane Monday allowed the plea of the Pune police seeking 90-day extension
in filing the supplementary charge-sheet.
2 Muslim-dominated villages excluded from
Roorkee civic body, residents irked
Roorkee:The residents of 2 Muslim-dominated
villages — Padli Gujjar and Rampur—have expressed unhappiness over the
exclusion of their villages from the proposed area of Roorkee Municipal
Corporation (RMC). The residents of 2 hamlets TOI spoke to alleged that their
villages have been deliberately excluded by the present BJP Govt since majority
of the population there belongs to the Muslim community. While civic body
elections in the state commenced last week, RMC is yet to go to polls.Villagers
added that Govt included three adjoining villages in municipal corporation
limits but ignored 2 Muslim areas. They are now planning to move Uttarakhand
high court against govt’s proposal, which was issued on Saturday. Furkan Ahmed,
Congress MLA from Piran Kaliyar, said, “During Saturday’s cabinet meeting, the
BJP Govt approved a proposal to exclude Padli Gujjar and Rampur villages from
the jurisdiction of the Roorkee civic body. Their decision is based on their
vested interests.All other adjoining villages have been included in the
proposal but 2 villages have been excluded on the basis of religion.” Echoing
similar sentiments, a resident of Rampur village said that the area has always
been deprived of development.“We are neither part of a panchayat or a municipal
corporation. We always have to knock on several doors to get simplest of works
done.For example, we don’t even have a designated place to collect birth or
death certificates,” said Mohammad Hashim. TOI
Under Modi's Crop Insurance Scheme, Companies
Owe Farmers a Whopping Rs 2,800 Crore
New Delhi:In Jan.2016, when Modi led Govt announced
the new crop insurance scheme – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – it
had said that one of the key improvements over previous schemes would be that
claims would be settled on time. However, RTI data received and reviewed by The
Wire has revealed that farmers’ claims worth Rs 2,829 crore remain unpaid for
the two seasons that PMFBY has been implemented.RTI response of the ministry of
agriculture and farmers’ welfare is dated Oct.10.“A majority of claims for rabi
2017-18 are yet to be estimated/ approved by company,” the ministry noted in
its response. Thus, for the 2017-18 season, a majority of the data pertains to
Kharif 2017 and the data reflects only 1% of claims paid for the rabi 2017-18
season. For 2016-17 season, claims of Rs 546 crore remain pending. Claims need
to be settled within 2 months of harvest, according to PMFBY guidelines.
Harvest for 2016-17 season would have ended in May 2017, at the very latest.For
the 2017-18 season, claims worth Rs 2,282 crore remain pending. Data essentially
pertains to Kharif 2017-18, as pointed out by ministry. The harvest for which
would have ended in Dec.2017, at the very latest. Thus, on the date the RTI was
responded to, Rs 2,282 crore remained unpaid over 9 months after the harvest
period ended, while PMFBY guidelines require that claims be settled within two
months of harvest.For the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, the estimated claims of
farmers amounted to Rs 34,441 crore. Insurance companies have paid Rs 31,612
crore, and Rs 2,829 crore remains unpaid.thewire
Peace-Loving Hindus, Tolerant Muslims Made
“Show” in Ayodhya Flop: Muslim Organizations
New Delhi:Muslim organizations have expressed
relief over peaceful conclusion of “Dharma Sabha” of VHP in Ayodhya on Sunday.They
also appreciated peace-loving Hindus and
Muslims for making the “show” of VHP and Shiv Sena “flop”. The saffron groups
had claimed to gather more than 2 lakh people in the “Dharma Sabha” to make a
vow for Ram Temple on the disputed site. But only a few thousands could go
there. All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) termed it a “flop show” and
gave credit for this to peace-loving Hindus and Muslims.“Peace-loving Hindus
and tolerant Muslims made the “show” in Ayodhya flop,” tweeted AIMPLB. “They
reassured their confidence in the SC and the law and order. We need to focus on
development while the court hears the case,” said Maulana Wali Rahmani, General
Secretary of AIMPLB. President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin
Umari expressed “satisfaction at the peaceful conclusion of the gathering”
assembled by various organizations in Ayodhya.“We are relieved at the peaceful
conclusion of the gathering called by various organizations in Ayodhya.
Initially there was apprehension that the large gathering may turn unruly and
violent and may result in an unpleasant situation. However, those fears proved
unfounded and credit must go to the people of this country for not giving into
exploitation of their religious sentiments by certain forces who wish to misuse
religion for their political benefit,” said Maulana Umari in a statement on
Monday. “We hope that the people of this country continue on this path of peace
and harmony and do not give any response to calls for violence and breaking the
law over matters related to faith and creed. The response to calls by Shiv Sena
leader Uddhav Thackeray for doing ‘dharna’ till the Ram temple is constructed
has been extremely lackadaisical”, he said.Jamaat has also opposed any attempt
to acquire the Babri Masjid land for construction of temple.Maulana Umari said:
“We also oppose attempts to acquire the Babri Masjid land through enactment of
an ordinance as the matter is pending before the judiciary and such a move will
set a very unhealthy precedent which will be extremely damaging to the
democratic polity of our nation. The supremacy of law must be respected by all
stakeholders and peace with communal harmony must be preserved and protected at
all costs”.Caravan News
Jamaat relieved at peaceful end to Ayodhya
gathering
Will bring Private Member Bill for Ram temple
construction, says BJP leader Manoj Tiwari
New Delhi: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has said that
he would bring a Private Member Bill in Parliament for the construction of the
Ram temple in Ayodhya. Tiwari made the statement after a delegation of over 25
VHP leaders led by Bachan Singh met him at his residence here and gave him a
memorandum for the temple construction."I just received a memorandum from
the VHP delegation. And I want to assure them that I will raise the issue in
Parliament and in my party," Tiwari told the media here. Asked if he would
bring a Private Member Bill, he replied, "If required I will be the first
person to bring a Private Member Bill in Parliament for the construction of the
Ram temple."IANS
SC Calls Nitish Govt Inhuman, Asks if Children
Raped in Bihar Shelter Homes Lesser Citizens
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has come down
heavily on the Nitish Kumar Govt in Bihar, questioning its attitude towards
recent revelations of rampant sexual abuse in state-run shelter homes.“The
state's attitude is extremely unfortunate and tragic to say the least. This is
inhuman and shameless... A child is sodomised and the state does nothing. You
don’t even care to register FIRs properly. There are 17 shelter homes where
allegations of sexual abuse were cited in TISS report. Why should each case not
be investigated? Are these children lesser citizens of the country?”court
asked."We were told that matter will be looked with great seriousness,
this is seriousness? This file, it’s tragic,”court added. It questioned the
registration of FIRs only under POCSO and not under relevant sections of the
IPC. "If we find that there were offences under section 377 IPC and POCSO
Act and you did not register FIR, we will pass an order against the govt,"
the SC said. News18
Sunil Arora appointed as chief election
commissioner, formal notification soon: Sources
New Delhi: Sunil Arora is learnt to have been appointed as the next
chief election commissioner, highly-placed sources in the Law Ministry said
Monday.Though a formal notification announcing his appointment is yet to be
issued, his name has been cleared by the Centre and sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan,
the sources said."Yes. His name has been cleared. He is the next CEC. A
notification will follow," a senior functionary said. He will take over on
Dec. 2. Election Commission will hold the 2019 general election under
him.Besides the Lok Sabha polls, Assembly elections in J&K , Odisha,
Maharashtra, Haryana, AP, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are scheduled to be held
next year.A CEC of the Election Commission can have a tenure of 6 years or hold
office till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The convention is to
appoint the senior-most election commissioner as chief election commissioner.A
former bureaucrat, Arora was appointed as election commissioner on August 31,
2017. He succeds Om Prakash Rawat who retired on Saturday. PTI
Ministers meet Swaraj: Ambassador recalled,
new Maldives President to visit on Dec. 17
New Delhi:Weeks before newly-elected President
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first overseas visit to India on Dec.17, Maldives
Monday recalled its ambassador to New Delhi. Maldives envoy Ahmed Mohamed, who
was appointed by ex-President Abdullah Yameen and is considered to be close to
him, gave up his position Monday. The move comes days after the new Govt led by
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took charge.The decision regarding Solih’s visit to India
was taken at a meeting between External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and
visiting Maldives Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid Monday. Shahid was
accompanied by Finance minister Ibrahim Ameer, Economic Development minister
Fayyaz Ismail, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and Foreign
secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed. After the meeting, Shahid described ties with
India as “time-tested” and “traditional”, and said that he assured the Indian Govt
that the new Maldives Govt values and cherishes its relationship with
India.indianexpress
Row at Taj over puja, efforts to control
crowds blocked
Agra :The controversy regarding three women
caught on video offering prayers at the Taj Mahal, coming in the wake of a
dispute over offering namaz on the monument premises, could complicate efforts
of authorities to enforce measures announced by the Ministry of Culture earlier
to tackle surging crowds.A few months ago, a group of VHP men vandalised the
new steel gates installed at the West Gate to control crowds, saying they
blocked the entrance to an old Siddheshwar Mahadev temple. Vasant Swarnkar,
Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Agra Circle, said, they had offered the VHP
an optional route for the temple, but it rejected it as it was
“narrower”.“Without blocking the temple path, which falls between the frisking
area for the Taj and the entry gate, the new system can’t be operationalised as
frisking will be contaminated owing to free access to the temple,” Swarnkar
said. Adding that they needed to find a way out soon, he said, “The winter rush
is likely to become unmanageable in the coming days.”The Ministry of Culture
had announced measures to control crowds following a minor stampede at one of
the entry gates in December last year, leaving five people injured. Among the
measures proposed by the ASI were limiting the duration of a visit to three
hours and capping the number of entries to 40,000 a day. The measures depend on
the authorities operationalising turnstile gates at both Taj entrances so that
tickets can be barcoded and automated. While the project has now been put in
place at a cost of more than Rs 3 crore, it stands stalled due to right-wing
groups, including the VHP. Sources said ASI has sought Culture Minister Mahesh
Sharma’s intervention in the matter. Questioning the “slow” action, Syed
Ibrahim Hussain Zaidi, president of the Masjid Taj Mahal Intezamia Committee,
said “the entire exercise by the ASI is just a hogwash”. “The names of the
three women are out in a section of the local media, and their faces are also
clearly visible in the video. Still, the complaint has been against unnamed
people. It’s just a ploy to cool down tempers.”Zaidi claimed they had been
holding namaz three times a day at the Taj mosque despite the ASI officially
stopping it since Nov. 3, and that “they will not give up the 400-year-old
tradition, in any case”. Swarnkar insisted namaz “is not being held on any day
except Friday” since Nov. 3. With no CCTV cameras near the mosque, both sides
continue to stick to their claim.indianexpress
Prosecute govt officials for not acting on air
pollution complaints: SC to CPCB
New Delhi :Talking tough on pollution in
Delhi, the Supreme Court Monday asked the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) to prosecute Govt officials for not acting on around 250 complaints
received by it from citizens.The court said this on a day when monitoring
stations in the national capital recorded air quality in the “very poor”
category.A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said officials who
have failed to act on the complaints were required to be prosecuted.“Why don’t
you prosecute these officials? You should prosecute them. Let these people
realise what they have done,” the bench told Additional Solicitor General A N S
Nadkarni, who was appearing for the CPCB.TI
Don’t lay your liberties at the feet of even a
great man: CJI
New Delhi:Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi, judges of Supreme Court and
judges from several neighbouring countries attended a dinner hosted by Chief
Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi on the occasion of ‘Constitution Day’ on
Monday. Before the dinner, Justice Gogoi delivered a speech in which he
underscored the supremacy of the Constitution. He even warned that to preserve
democracy and the country’s institutions, the constitutional liberties must be
safeguarded.“We must observe the caution which (British political economist)
John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in maintenance of
democracy, namely not to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man.
Or to trust him with power which enables him to subvert their institutions,”
the Chief Justice said at an event held to mark ‘Constitution Day’ at the
premises of the SC Monday evening. caravandaily
Won’t Allow ‘Modi-cracy to Replace Democracy;Lawyers
on Constitution Day
New Delhi:Criticizing PM Narendra Modi-led BJP Govt at the center for
‘attacks’ on human rights, judiciary, constitutional and democratic
institutions, hundreds of lawyers took out a protest march here on the occasion
of ‘Constitution Day’ on Monday and vowed that they will not allow “Indian
democracy to be changed into Modi-cracy”.Raising the slogan — “Modicracy Nahi
Chalegi (Modicracy will not be allowed) and carrying placards with messages
like “Save Constitution”, “Stop Interference in Independence of Judiciary”,
“Stop Attacking Constitutional Institutions”, “Ensure Rule of Law”, “Stop
Attacks on Women’s rights”, “Ensure Fraternity and Integrity of People” and
“Stop Mob Lynching” written on them, lawyers under the banner of ‘Lawyers For
Democracy’ marched from near the Supreme Court to the Parliament House.Speaking
to Caravan Daily, several senior and young lawyers alleged that the Modi Govt has
been selectively destroying every constitutional institution in its last four
and half years of rule.caravandaily
Kerala activist Rehana Fathima arrested for
hurting religious sentiments amid Sabarimala stir
Kerala activist Rehana Fathima was arrested on
Tuesday for allegedly posting a message on social media that hurt religious
sentiments, police said.Fathima was booked by Pathanamthitta police under
Section 295 A of IPC after a Sabarimala devotee complained against her post. “Absconding
for more than three weeks, she was arrested from Ernakulam.She will be produced
in a court in Pathanamthitta in the evening,” a senior police officer said.Fathima
put a provocative post on social media angering many believers after her
attempt to trek to the hill temple dedicated to Ayyappa last month failed. An
employee of the state-run BSNL, she had moved Kerala high court anticipating an
arrest but it refused to entertain her plea.HT
4 militants, soldier killed in Kulgam, Pulwama
gunfights
Srinagar:4 militants were killed and one
soldier lost his life in an ongoing exchange of fire in south Kashmir's Pulwama
and Kulgam. 2 CRPF jawans were injured in a grenade explosion near an encounter
site.Preliminary reports suggest three militants were encircled by the Army's
1RR, CRPF and Special Operation Group in Kulgam's Redwani during an operation
launched on Monday night."Three militants have been killed. However, the
bodies are yet to be retrieved. The operation is on," said a police
official.In the Pulwama operation, a militant was killed in Reshipora area of
Tral today morning.thehindu
Will hear Gulbarg appeals when Gabbar returns:
Guj HC
Ahmedabad: Gujarat high court has postponed
the hearing on appeals in the controversial 2002 Gulbarg Society massacre case
after one of the convicts did not return to jail after he was released
temporarily. On July 27, the high court granted bail for 15 days to Jayesh
Jinger alias Gabbar for treatment of cyst in kidney. His case was that he had
received treatment from the Civil Hospital, but his condition did not improve.
He wanted to avail private treatment.Jinger has been behind bars for 15 years
and four months. He was arrested nearly a year after the violent mob killed 69
people including ex-Congress MP Ehsan Jafri on Feb.28, 2002. Jinger was one of 3
accused who never got bail during 14-year-long pendency of the trial in this
case. In June 2016, he was convicted to life imprisonment along with 10 others
after the trial. Besides, SIT court awarded jail terms to 14 others also.While
releasing Jinger on temporary bail, the bench of Justice Anant Dave and Justice
Biren Vaishan took into consideration 15-year-long incarceration of Jinger. His
bail period was later extended and he was expected to surrender to jail
authorities by Sept. 9. But he did not return. Last week, a bench of Justice KM
Thaker and Justice VB Mayani was to hear appeals filed by convicts against
their conviction and punishment, and appeals filed by the state Govt and riots
survivors demanding conviction of those acquitted by the trial court. But
special prosecutor RC Kodekar informed the HC that Jinger has not surrendered
himself yet. Sabarmati Central Jail authorities also registered a complaint at
the police station concerned,over Jinger’s disappearance.He requested the court
not to hear the appeals till Jinger surrenders or is arrested. TOI
Haren Pandya murder: SC to hear plea against
12 Muslim youth on Tuesday
Mumbai: Supreme Court will hear the appeal
filed by CBI, challenging the High Court judgment in which 12 Muslims were
acquitted in Haren Pandya murder case, on Tuesday. This was informed by Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind which is providing legal help to the accused. The organisation has
engaged the services of senior advocates like Raju Ramachandran, Amrendra
Sharan, Neta Rama Krishnan, Irshad Ahmed, and M Prabhakar. According to
sources, the petition filed by CBI will be heard by a 2 member bench of Justice
Arun Mishra and Justice Vineeth Sharan. Haren Pandya was killed on March 26,
2003, after which CBI had arrested 12 Muslim youth on the basis of suspicion
and booked a case against them. The lower court held them guilty after which
Jamiat filed a petition in High Court. All 12 accused were acquitted by the
High Court. It also issued their release orders. However, CBI filed a petition
in Supreme Court challenging the HC judgement.siasat
KCR Slams Shah for Opposing Quota to Muslims,
Says Will Fight for Reservation
TRS chief and caretaker CM K Chandrasekhar Rao
Monday slammed BJP chief Amit Shah for his opposition to TRS government's
proposal to increase reservation for Muslims in the state.Rao, who was speaking
at an election rally at Dichpally, said he will continue his efforts to get
quotas increased for Scheduled Tribes and Muslims. BJP chief Amit Shah Sunday
attacked TRS government's proposal to give 12% quota to Muslims, saying his
party would never allow it as religion-based reservation is unconstitutional. Taking
exception to Shah's comments, Rao said TRS would not like pleading with theCentre,
and BJP would not be in power after the next Lok Sabha
elections."Yesterday, their president also came... He spoke wide and
straight and left. They say they will not give. He spoke that we will not let
Muslims get reservation... Amit Shah...You will not be in power. It is not you
giving (something) and we taking it," he said.PTI
In Telangana, Congress May Woo Minorities With
Free Power for Churches and Mosques, Urdu as Official Language
Hyderabad: Congress has promised to provide
free electricity to churches and mosques, monthly payments to imams and pastors
and several other sops to minority communities in Telangana in a draft manifesto
as it goes all out in a battle for their votes with K Chandrashekar Rao. The
draft of the manifesto, which has been accessed by News18, has promised several
schemes tailored for minorities, especially Muslims, which account for nearly
12.5% of Telangana’s population and act as the deciding factor in at least 42
out of its 119 assembly constituencies. The party promised, that if voted to
power, it would make Urdu the “second official language” of the state and
ensure that all Govt orders are issued in the language. The draft manifesto
states that a Congress Govt would establish 3 finance corporations for Muslims,
Christians, and Linguistic & Other Minorities. News18
Congress has 2.8% lead over BJP in MP:Party
Data Expert
New Delhi: A top Congress data analyst has
claimed the party has a slim 2.8% edge over the incumbent BJP in Madhya
Pradesh, ahead of the assembly elections to be held on Wednesday. Most opinion
polls have suggested a lead, albeit a very narrow one, for the BJP in Madhya
Pradesh. An average of the polls conducted in the last one month, suggest the
BJP is projected to get 116 seats, over 102 seats to the Congress. However,
Shashank Shukla, the national coordinator for the Congress data analytics team
supervising the party's campaign in Madhya Pradesh told NDTV that the party has
edged past the BJP."CSDS (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies)
data, which is about three weeks old, right now suggests that the contest (in
Madhya Pradesh) has become close. Now if you go back a bit, BJP actually,
across polls, had about 4-5 % lead.
About three weeks back it became 1 % (as per the CSDS polls). As per our
surveys now, we have a 2.8 % lead as I
speak. This is as of yesterday (Sunday)," Shukla said.ndtv
Mosque Caretaker Who Wanted To Meet Kejriwal
Caught With Bullets
New Delhi:A 39-year-old man who had gone to
meet Arvind Kejriwal as part of a delegation of clerics on Monday was arrested
after live bullets were found on him. This is the second security incident
involving the Delhi CM after a chilli
powder attack on him last week. Mohammad Imran was among a dozen clerics who
had gone to Arvind Kejriwal's home for a public hearing or janta durbar, with a
request to increase the salary paid by the Waqf Board. A bullet was found in
his wallet by a security guard who was frisking him.Imran, a caretaker at a
mosque called Masjid Bawli Wali, has been arrested under the stringent Arms
Act. He told the police that he had found the bullets in the donation box of a
mosque a few months ago, kept them in his wallet and forgot about them. He
claimed he had planned to throw the bullets in the river Yamuna but decided to
keep them in his wallet.Last Thursday, a man was arrested after he flung chilli
powder at Kejriwal right outside his office - an incident that raised questions
about the CM 's security and provoked allegations from the ruling AAP that
their chief was being targeted.The attacker, Anil Sharma, claimed that he had
tried to meet the CM one-and-a-half-years ago but after he could
not meet him, he broke the glass panes in the reception area of Delhi
Secretariat. ndtv
WORLD
Saudi Crown Prince requested to meet Erdogan: Turkey
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has
requested to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the upcoming 2-day
G20 summit in Argentina, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
said."Yes, he has asked Erdogan on the phone, whether they could meet in
Buenos Aires. Erdogan's answer was 'Let's see'," Cavusoglu told German
daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview."At the moment there is no
reason not to meet with the crown prince," Cavusoglu said, adding that the
request was made during a phone call.Erdogan and Prince Mohammed, commonly
known by his initials MBS, will attend G20 meeting in the Argentinian capital,
Buenos Aires, on Nov.30-Dec 1.The relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey
have been strained by the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul
last month. After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh finally
admitted that Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered in a
"rogue operation".Riyadh has repeatedly said Prince Mohammed had no
knowledge of the killing, which Turkey says was carried out at the kingdom's
consulate by a 15-member hit squad with links to MBS's security team.Erdogan
has said the killing was ordered by the highest level of Saudi leadership but
ruled out that it had come from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,
putting the spotlight instead on the 33-year-old crown prince.United States
President Donald Trump said last week Washington would remain a "steadfast
partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Prince Mohammed may have
known about the plan to murder Khashoggi.Asked if he knew for sure who in
Riyadh gave the order to kill Khashoggi, Cavusoglu said that the team would not
have acted on its own, but could not say anything else without proof.Cavusoglu
said Riyadh had offered to send identikit photos of local helpers who assisted
in the cover-up. "Why identikit pictures? The Saudis know the names,"
he said.aljazeera
Argentina opens war crimes inquiry on Saudi
crown prince ahead of G-20 summit
Argentina has opened an inquiry on whether to
press criminal charges against Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
for his role in leading the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, HRW said.The
inquiry was opened after HRW and an Argentine federal prosecutor lodged a
complaint against the kingdom for violating international war crimes laws,
according to a NYT report. Investigation comes ahead of the crown prince’s
visit to Argentina for the upcoming G-20 summit later this week, but officials
in the South American country have said bin Salman’s arrest is “extremely
unlikely,” NYT report said. “Mohammed bin Salman should know that he may face a
criminal probe if he ventures to Argentina,” HRW executive director Kenneth
Roth. Argentina’s laws promote the idea of universal jurisdiction, where severe
human rights violations are subject to prosecution regardless of sovereign
boundaries.The country changed its legal code towards universal jurisdiction in
the first half of the 2000s to address the tens of thousands of Argentinians
who disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s during the days of military rule, when
the Govt rounded up families, including children, to prisons and camps. middleeasteye
HRW asks Argentina to probe Saudi Crown Prince
over Yemen, Khashoggi
Tunisians, Egyptians reject Saudi crown
prince's ‘whitewashing’ tour
Tunisian and Egyptian activists and
journalists have decried the Saudi crown prince's planned tour of their
countries, dismissing the trip as an attempt to whitewash his image in the wake
of Jamal Khashoggi's murder.Mohammed bin Salman is set to touch down in Egypt
on Monday before moving on to Tunisia the next day. Both countries have recent
revolutionary history, overthrowing longtime autocrats Hosni Mubarak and Zine
Abedine Ben Ali in 2011.Now sections of their populations are taking aim at the
33-year-old heir to the Saudi throne, who has seen his popularity plummet
following the murder of journalist Khashoggi by a death squad sent from Riyadh.
Protests are expected in Tunisian capital.In Tunis on Monday, Khashoggi's
Tunisian counterparts showed their distaste at his assassination by unveiling a
giant poster down the side of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists'
HQ.middleeasteye
Czech’s right-wing president calls on Israel
to abandon ‘2-state solution’
Czech President Milos Zeman has asked his
Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to see plans for a one-state solution after
admitting that he no longer believes in a two-state solution to the
Israel-Palestine conflict.Zeman, who arrived in Israel yesterday for an
official state visit to open “Czech House” cultural centre in Jerusalem, told
Rivlin he was looking forward to ideas for a “one-state with two nations” while
asserting that he did not envision the Gaza Strip as part of an independent
Palestinian state, Israel’s i24 news reported.“I do not see how an independent
state can be created in Gaza because Hamas promotes a state of terror,” Zeman
said. Rivlin feted the pro-Israeli far-right president describing him as as
“one of Jerusalem’s closest friends” and thanked him for his pledge to relocate
the Czech embassy to the city.“Your support for Jerusalem is a special gift for
us on our 70th anniversary. We are so thankful for your support for relocating
the Embassy of the Czech Republic to Jerusalem. Your recent statements are a
clear sign of your support for this, and we hope that it will become reality in
the near future,” Rivlin said.Zeman’s right wing and hard-line anti-Muslim,
anti-immigration and anti-EU policy won him the presidency at the beginning of
the year. He has been known to stoke controversy and community tension through
his conspiracy fuelled message. He subscribes to the widely held conspiracy
theory held by the far-right and many pro-Israeli groups which claims that the
streams of refugees from Syria and Iraq constitute a conspiracy of the Muslim
Brotherhood and “Islamisation of Europe”.middleeastmonitor
Sudan denies claims Netanyahu to visit
Khartoum
Senior leader of Sudan’s ruling National
Congress Party Abdel Sakhi Abbas yesterday denied claims that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit Khartoum,
Shehab News Agency reported.“It is impossible that Netanyahu visits Sudan,”
Abbas said. “There is nothing to deal with such an official visit,” he added,
stressing that the news reported by the Israeli broadcast corporation KAN “is
completely false”.He stressed that the position of his country “is clear that
there is no relations or ties with Israel.”Abbas stressed this is mainly
related to the Palestinian cause. “Israel occupies an Arab and Muslim state,
desecrates the religious sites and prevents performing the religious rituals,”
he said.middleeastmonitor
Fatah delegation leaves Egypt after
reconciliation talks
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181127-fatah-delegation-leaves-egypt-after-reconciliation-talks/
A Fatah delegation, which arrived in Cairo on
Sunday to discuss the reconciliation with Hamas, returned to the West Bank
after meeting the Egyptian officials in charge of the Palestinian issue, the
Anadolu Agency reported yesterday. “The delegation met the Egyptian officials
and discussed with them the views of Hamas and it is returning to Ramallah,”
Fatah spokesman in Gaza Atef Abu Saif said.Abu Saif did not reveal the essence
of the discussions, but said that the Palestinian Authority Govt led by the
Fatah official Rami Hamdallah “must lead the Gaza Strip and the West Bank until
elections are held”. middleeastmonitor
Dozens arrested in Jerusalem in Israeli
crackdown on Palestinian Authority
Israel's military police on Monday arrested
dozens of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem, in a crackdown against
members of the Fatah movement and the Palestinian Authority's security forces.
Israeli forces arrested 32 Palestinians, after breaking into their homes, and
seized cash, documents, photos, Palestinian police-issued credentials, uniforms
and ammunition.The detainees will be investigated by a unit in the Jerusalem
District Police on charges of serving in the PA's security forces.Ziad
Hammouri, director of Jerusalem's centre for social and economic rights, told
Middle East Eye that the arrest campaign was part of Israel's attempts to fully
control East Jerusalem, which international law regards as an occupied
territory.middleeasteye
Egypt: New human rights body to combat
criticism against state
Egypt has created a human rights watchdog to
protect the state from allegations of rights abuses and defend it on the
international stage.The creation of High Permanent Commission for Human Rights
comes at a time when Egypt has been under scrutiny over its poor human rights
record.The new body reflects an attitude of the state under President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi that has perceived criticism over human rights as intended to
undermine the Govt as it tries to rebuild the economy and carry out the
so-called fight against "terror". Officials have already started a
campaign against "false rumours" and "fake news" and have
arrested some of those who speak out.The Govt has also sought to redefine and
broaden human rights, declaring new "rights" to combat
"terrorism" and protect the state. Critics see it as an attempt at
legitimising alleged abuses by security forces.aljazeera
Turkey's ruling party renews alliance with
far-right MHP for local elections
The parliamentary alliance of the ruling AKP
and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) looks set to continue in
Turkey's local elections on 31 March, despite suggestions that the two had
split.Following a meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan last week, MHP leader
Devlet Bahceli on Saturday announced that the People's Alliance, originally
formed for the 24 June parliamentary elections, would continue and that the
nationalists would support AKP mayoral candidates in the cities of Ankara,
Istanbul and Izmir. Bahceli warned that the opposition parties - specifically
the secular-nationalist CHP, pro-Kurdish HDP and the centre-right Iyi Party -
would be setting out to undermine the new presidential system in Turkey, and
that the 31 March elections would be used to question the validity of the
system. middleeasteye
Myanmar seizes boat with 93 Rohingya fleeing
to Malaysia
Authorities in Myanmar seized a boat carrying
93 Rohingya fleeing displacement camps in western Rakhine state in hopes to
reach Malaysia, an official said on Tuesday.The vessel was the third bound for
Malaysia stopped in Myanmar's waters since monsoon rains began to subside last
month, bringing calmer weather and raising fears of a new wave of hazardous
voyages after a 2015 crackdown on people smugglers.Moe Zaw Latt, director of
the Govt office in Dawei, a coastal town in southern Myanmar, said fishermen
reported a "suspicious" boat to authorities.The navy stopped the boat
on Sunday and detained the 93 people, who said they had come from the Thae
Chaung camp in the Rakhine state's capital of Sittwe."They said they ran
away from the camp. They said they intended to go to Malaysia," said Moe
Zaw Latt, adding authorities were preparing to send them back to Sittwe on
Tuesday. Photographs in media showed police standing by as passengers - many of
them women in headscarves and children - huddled on the deck.The boat resembled
vessels the Rohingya typically use to escape the apartheid-like conditions in
Rakhine state, where their movements and access to services are severely
curtailed.aljazeera
Academics condemn China over Xinjiang camps,
urge sanctions
Countries must impose sanctions on China over
the mass detention of ethnic Uighurs in its western Xinjiang region, hundreds
of scholars said, warning that a failure to act would signal acceptance of
"psychological torture of innocent civilians".At a briefing in Washington,
DC, on Monday, representatives of a group of 278 scholars in various
disciplines from dozens of countries called on China to end its detention
policies, and for sanctions directed at key Chinese leaders and security
companies linked to abuses."This situation must be addressed to prevent
setting negative future precedents regarding the acceptability of any state's
complete repression of a segment of its population, especially on the basis of
ethnicity or religion," the group said in a statement. Countries should
expedite asylum requests from Xinjiang's Muslim minorities, as well as
"spearhead a movement for UN action aimed at investigating this mass
internment system and closing the camps", it said. aljazeera
Soros foundation to close in Turkey after
being bashed by Erdogan
US billionaire George Soros's Open Society
Foundation said it has decided to cease operations in Turkey, days after
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the philanthropist of trying to divide
nations. The organisation said on Wednesday that it was no longer possible to
work in Turkey after it became the target of "baseless claims" in the
media and a renewed investigation by Turkish authorities into mass protests
against Erdogan's Govt five years ago.It said the Turkish interior ministry was
renewing attempts to prove that the Soros foundation was behind the 2013 anti-Govt
Gezi Park protests, one of the biggest political challenges to Erdogan's
15-year rule.The foundation denied any link to the protests.Erdogan denounced
Soros last week while speaking of the detention of 13 activists and academics
accused of supporting attempts by jailed businessman and rights advocate Osman
Kavala to revive the Gezi protests.One of the 13 people detained on Nov. 16 was
Hakin Altinay, who helped establish the Open Society Foundation in Turkey.
Others were staff members of Kavala's Anadolu Kultur centre, which campaigns
for human rights and cultural diversity.aljazeera
Kabul to seek support for Afghan-led peace
plan in Geneva talks
Geneva:Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani is
heading to Switzerland to hold high-level talks with international diplomats
during a key summit focused on the development and the economy of a country
wracked by years of war that have claimed thousands of lives.Starting on
Tuesday, the two-day summit in Geneva is billed as a platform for the Afghan Govt
to renew its commitment to reform and discuss aid contributions in its bid to
achieve stability and security.The United Nations, which is co-hosting the
summit at the city's Palais des Nations with the Afghan government, says the
conference "will also be crucial in measuring results against the $15.2
billion committed by the international community for Afghanistan in
2016".Afghan delegation is expected to present its growth strategy, ranging
from maintaining security and building infrastructure to fighting corruption
and female empowerment.They also plan to emphasise the continued need for
constructive contribution from the international community.aljazeera
Afghan militia commander freed after 'several
killed' in protests
An Afghan commander arrested over allegations
of human rights abuses has been released following two days of violent protests
in which several demonstrators were allegedly killed and dozens of policemen
wounded.Alipur's release, as President Ashraf Ghani flew to Geneva to attend a
United Nations conference on Afghanistan, was confirmed by Vice President
Sarwar Danish's office on Monday, according to a report by Reuters news agency.Alipur,
an anti-Taliban commander from the mainly Shia Hazara minority, was detained in
the capital Kabul weeks after an earlier attempt to arrest him in the western
province of Ghor ended in a shoot-out that killed 12 people. aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS &
NEWS
#ImplantFiles: Exploring India’s thriving
medical device bazaar
Muslims in India Today in Much Worse Condition
than 1857 or 1947: AG Noorani
3 Myths About Centre's ‘Self-Financing’ Model
of Urban Redevelopment:Manju Menon, Meenakshi Nath
As Rumours Fly and Violence Rises, Rohingya
Refugees Dream of Safety in Jammu:Umar Sofi
How Did the Telangana and Rajasthan
Legislative Assemblies Perform?The Wire
Sohrabuddin Encounter Case & Amit Shah:
All the Perfumes of Arabia …Vivan Eyben
Everything but Halal: How Bangalore Muslims
fell prey to ‘high’ returns in the name of Islam
Violence against children up by 11%: As 2019
polls approach, are we listening to them?
Aparajita Sharma
Why has PM Modi stopped mentioning his
flagship schemes during campaigning? UMAKANT LAKHERA
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