NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
06 Dec. 2018:27 Rabiul-I 1440:
Vol: 11, No:71
INDIA
SC pulls up Govt, CVC, asks why an 'overnight'
decision to divest CBI director Verma
New Delhi:CJI Ranjan Gogoi on Thursday asked
senior advocate Fali Nariman whether the Supreme Court, if necessary, can
appoint a CBI Director. Nariman, who appears for exiled CBI Director Alok
Verma, thought for a moment before replying that the court could indeed do so
in exercise of its "inherent powers" as the final interpreter of the
Constitution.CJI Gogoi then quizzed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), about its tearing hurry to divest Verma
"overnight" on Oct.23."The situation which prompted the CVC to
take action against Alok Verma did not start overnight on Oct.23 (day Verma was
divested as CBI Director)... you (CVC) had tolerated him for two months... So
what was it that required you to take a decision 'overnight' on Oct. 23?"
CJI asked Mehta. CJI was referring to the complaint of misconduct filed by CBI
Special Director R.K. Asthana with Cabinet Secretary on August 24 in the
background of a bitter feud between the two top CBI officers.
"Extraordinary situations do need extraordinary remedies. CVC's superintendence
(over CBI) encompasses "surprise, extraordinary situations"... Two
senior most CBI officers (Verma and Asthana) had turned against each other.
Instead of probing cases, they were raiding each other, registering FIRs
against each other.They may tamper evidence.This was a surprise
situation!" Mehta responded to CJI's query. But the court persisted in its
line of enquiry, asking why neither CVC nor the Govt chose to take prior approval from the
high-powered committee led by the PM
before divesting Verma before the end of his two-year tenure. Govt and
the CVC have vehemently argued that there was no need to consult the PM
panel."The essence of every good Govt administration is to do what is
acceptable. Now, if there are two options available before the Govt – one acceptable and the other more
acceptable – what stopped you from taking the more acceptable option?" CJI
asked the Govt and CVC side. The court indicated the Govt and CVC were yet to come out with a reason
for not consulting the PM panel."Alok Verma had two years' tenure and was
recommended by this committee. So if you wanted to divest him of something, why
did you not consult the committee?" CJI asked. The SC reserved the
separate petitions filed by Verma and NGO challenging his divestment as CBI
Director for orders after a day-long hearing. The Hindu
SC Pulls up Govt, Asks Why it Did Not Consult
Selection Committee Before Exiling CBI Director
CBI row: Supreme Court questions Centre’s move, asks
what prompted govt to take overnight decision
Babri demolition Anniversary:Hundreds march in
Delhi
New Delhi: On the 26th anniversary of Babri
Masjid demolition, hundreds of people took out a peaceful protest demonstration
here today. The march started from Mandi House area and proceeded towards the
Parliament House but it culminated into a public gathering at the Parliament
Street.Speakers demanded action against those responsible for the conspiracy
and demolition of the mosque and subsequent communal riots.Today’s protest
demonstration was jointly organized by dozens of organizations including Lok
Raj Sangathan, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Welfare Party of India, Socialist Party of
India, CPI-ML, Sikh Forum, Citizens for Democracy, United Against Hate, Students
Islamic Organisation of India and others.Those who addressed the gathering
included Lok Raj Sangathan president S Raghavan, Intezar Naeem, Assistant
Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, SQR Ilyas, president, Welfare Party of India,
Mehdi Hasan Qasmi from United Against Hate, Prakash Rao, KK Singh and
others.India Tomorrow
Babri demolition: Left parties hold nationwide
protests against Centre
New Delhi/Ranchi: Left parties across the
country are observing December 06 as ‘Black Day’, as it marks the 26th
anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. 6 politically left
inclined parties including the CPIM, CPI, RSP, ALFB, CPI(ML)and SUCI(C) had
called on all its units to protest against the ‘willful demolition of Babri
Masjid’. Leaders protesting in Delhi asked people to vote out BJP-RSS duo,
calling the ill-fated act of Dec 06, 1992, an attack on the constitution.ANI
Babri demolition: We are Defenders of
Constitution, say Chandrashekhar, Richa Singh and Jignesh
To mark anniversary of the demolition of Babri
Masjid, The Citizen interviewed 3 young political activists – Chandrashekhar
Azad Ravan, Richa Singh, and Jignesh Mevani– to discover where they stand on
the destruction of the ASI protected historical monument in 1992.The three are
united in deferring to the Supreme Court judgment on the Ayodhya title
dispute.They say they are working to protect Constitutional values, as against
what they see as RSS/ BJP’s engineering of social divisions, purely for
electoral gain.All 3 point to the coalescing of a grand alliance of opposition
parties against the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Thecitizen
Committee for rebuilding Babri Masjid says
will accept SC decision
New Delhi:A committee for rebuilding the Babri
Masjid in Ayodhya held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and said it
will accept the decision of the Supreme Court on the dispute.Mohammad Younus
Siddiqui, president of All India Babri Masjid Rebuilding Committee, alleged
that Muslims are being pitted against Hindus but, he added, in reality they want
peace and communal harmony. Siddiqui
said they have submitted a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind on the
issue. "We find a binding and time-bound decision, and whatever the
decision of the SC, will be accepted by all sections of the Muslim community,"
Siddiqui said. PTI
UP: Right-wing outfits hold mass gathering in
Ayodhya despite section 144 being in force
New Delhi: Despite the imposition of Section
144 in Ayodhya, Hindu Mahasabha organised a mass gathering to perform rituals
and prayers for kar sewaks at the Saryu ghat.While this was happening, police
remained mute spectators to the goings-on. Right-wing outfit violated the prohibitory
order which was imposed in Ayodhya in view of Babri demolition anniversary and
its members performed the entire rituals in the presence of police which took
no action against the violators.While VHP and Bajrang Dal are celebrating the
day as 'Shaurya Diwas' (day of bravery) and 'Vijay Diwas' (day of victory), the
Muslim community is observing the day as 'Yaum E Gham' (day of sorrow) and
'Yaum E Syah' (black day).Times Now
Ram temple vote bank for BJP; should let
judiciary do its job on Ayodhya dispute: AAP
All political parties should respect the
judiciary and let it do its job over Ayodhya dispute, AAP said on Thursday, as
it called the Ram temple a vote bank politics of the saffron party. All
political parties should welcome whatever verdict the Supreme Court gives on
the dragging row, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said."Whatever be the verdict, it
should be welcomed by the Congress, BJP, AAP, Sunni Waqf Board and also the Ram
Lalla party. AAP will respect the verdict and so should others," he
said.Sanjay Singh attacked BJP for using the temple issue as a vote bank and
said, "Ram Temple is vote bank politics for BJP. They don't care about
Lord Rama. For past 25 years, they are shouting about building a temple, but
are not announcing the dates as to when they will build a temple."India TV
News
Struggle to rebuild Babri Masjid to continue:
AMU students’ union
Agra: On the eve of 26th anniversary of Babri
Masjid demolition, AMU Students Union(AMUSU) has announced that the struggle
for the reconstruction of Babri Masjid will continue and the appeal in the
Supreme Court will be fought rigorously. In a written statement, President of
the Students’ Union, M Salman Imtiaz said, “Muslims have a strong case based on
documentary evidence and admission of prominent Hindus, we have strong hope of
success in the appeals pending before the Supreme Court.”He added that Muslim
community must continue to exercise calm as it had been doing so far.Govt must
ensure peace and harmony in the country and maintain strong vigil at Hindutva
forces, who is organising events to disrupt peace in India, he said.TOI
Palghar arms haul case: ATS probe reveals
bigger terror conspiracy by right-wing outfits
Mumbai:Palghar arms haul case saw a fresh
development after the Maharashtra ATS told a Special NIA court in Mumbai that
investigations have revealed a bigger conspiracy involving many right-wing
groups.The sleuths said the haul which was done in August has revealed a terror
plot that targeted various cities in the country.ATS had earlier arrested two
people from Nalasopara in Palghar and the third from Pune, roughly 250 kms from
Palghar. As the probe went on, the cops found that the racket expanded to
several Hindutva organisations and out of the 12 more named, nine have been
arrested so far while 3 are still at large."During the course of our
probe, it was revealed that the members of the terrorist outfit are also
members of organisations such as 'Sanatan Sanstha', 'Hindu Janjagruti' and
other similar smaller organisations," ATS said in a detailed charge sheet
filed before Special NIA Court in Mumbai, according to IANS.The probes also led
to 23 live country-made explosives,15 pistols, 1 country-made weapon, 3 pistols
without barrels,6 pistol magazines, 41 rounds of ammunition of assorted bores,
26 detonators and raw material to make arms and explosives, report said.ATS
officers revealed that those arrested had set out to establish a 'Hindu Rashtra',
according to the book published by banned right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha,
called 'Kshatra Dharma Sadhana'.Times Now
Nalasopara arms haul case: ATS charges
Hindutva groups with terror plot
Palghar arms haul case: ATS underlines role of
Sanatan Sanstha in terror plot
If you execute me,I will become a shaheed:Zakir
Naik
If you put me in jail I will spread the
message of Allah. If you exile me, I will contemplate on the magnificence of
Allah's creation. If you execute me I will become a shahid."With these
words, the preacher Zakir Naik appeared to put on a defiant front against
Indian authorities. He claimed that he was being targetted for spreading
peace.The discourse was uploaded on social media on Wednesday.During his
discourse on the issue of terrorism, Naik spoke about how he handles hate
against him."I like the Constitution of my country India which gives the
right to every citizen to preach, practice propagate the religion. I did not
break a single law of the country but because I was spreading peace, I was
giving solution to humanity, all the people who don't like peace to prevail
don't like me," said Naik.He said that all the more his detractors try to
"break him down", the more resolute he becomes.Naik claimed that his
channel Peace TV had 200 million viewers out of which hundreds were non-Muslims
who were accepting Islam."This does not go down well with the enemies of
Islam whether it is a western country or the country where I was born, India. They
don't like it," said Naik.He said that this was the reason why he was
being persecuted.indiatoday
SHO’s murder: Key accused cites cow to reopen
old wounds
Bulandshahar :A long-standing dispute over a
mosque, simmering tension over the use of loudspeakers and the rise of Bajrang
Dal since Yogi Adityanath took charge as UP CM
form the backdrop of the mob violence in which an Inspector was killed
in Bulandshahr 2 days ago. The manager of the Nayabans village mosque, Mohd
Sarfuddin, was among four arrested Wednesday after they were named in a
complaint of cow slaughter filed by Yogeshraj Singh, the main accused in the
killing of SHO Subodh Kumar Singh. Yogeshraj is on the run after police
arrested four others Tuesday over the killing of the SHO.According to police
officers, Yogeshraj had first led protests against the use of loudspeakers in
the mosque and complained to police during Ramzan of 2016. Yogeshraj complained
that loudspeakers should not be used because the mosque was a madrassa, the
records show.“As the tension escalated, police asked the mosque authorities to
take down the loudspeakers. To maintain fairness, loudspeakers from the village
temple were also removed,”said police officer. According to residents, a case
related to an earlier mosque in the area, which was demolished in 1977, is
pending in Allahabad High Court. Remains of the demolished mosque are still
visible about 10 steps away from the mosque that is being used for prayer now. “Hindus
and Muslims have not clashed in the village since 1977. But tension has begun
brewing in the last couple of years with Bajrang Dal increasing its activities
here,” said Mohd Hussain, brother of Sarfuddin, arrested accused in the cow
slaughter case.“Those whom we have identified based on Yogeshraj’s complaint are
associated with the mosque. Sajid owns a plot adjacent to the mosque that is
often used for community functions. It appears that Yogeshraj used the
discovery of cow carcasses to fix them,” said officer. Records show that
Yogeshraj’s complaint on the alleged cow slaughter in Mahav village nearby
contradicts the version of local residents– and a video posted Wednesday on
social media by Yogeshraj himself from an undisclosed location. Yogeshraj had
claimed in his complaint that he witnessed Sarfuddin and others slaughter the
cows in Mahav village. But residents told police that they found the carcasses
when they went to the fields in the morning.In video,Yogeshraj claimed that he
reached Mahav“after receiving information about cow carcasses”. The widening
rift in the village, with about 200 Muslim households, is evident on the faces
of its Hindu residents.“They keep constantly pushing for the mosque. When the
matter is pending before the court, they should keep quiet,” said Vijender
Singh, a resident. indianexpress
UP DGP
sees possible link between Bulandshahr violence and Babri Masjid demolition
anniversary
UP
police sees a “conspiracy” behind the Bulandshahr mob violence and is
investigating why cow carcasses were found on December 3, three days ahead of
the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque, says the state’s police
chief. It was not merely a law and order issue, said DGP O P Singh, two days
after Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and 20-year-old Sumit Kumar, were killed in
the mob violence that broke out after carcasses were found strewn in a jungle.
With lakhs of people collected for a ‘Tabligi Ijtema’ (congregation of Muslims)
40 km from Mahaw village where the skeletal remains were found, police also
succeeded in containing what could have been a communal riot, he said.“We are
not only seeing it as a law and order issue. It was a conspiracy and we are
probing why the particular day – Dec 3 – and place on which the cows were
slaughtered and their remains spread in the field were selected,” Singh said.The
situation could have been worse if local police not responded timely as lakhs
of people were present at the venue of ‘Tabligi Ijtema’, which was about 40 km
from the spot,”he said. Though the congregation ended on Dec.2, over 6 lakh
people were present on De.3 when the violence broke out, he said.PTI
Bulandshahr: cops goof up on 2 minors’ arrest,
let them off
Bulandshahr violence: BJP MP backs accused,
says he’s doing noble work, wait for investigation
New Delhi :Hours after a video surfaced on
social media purportedly showing prime accused Yogeshraj Singh claiming his
innocence in the murder of a Bulandshahr police office. Local BJP MP said Yogeshraj was doing “noble
and eye-opening work”.As for involvement in the murder of SHO Subodh Kumar
Singh, in which the absconding Yogeshraj is accused number 1, MP Bhola Ram,
said, “We can only make a decisive call when all facts of the incident are out.”He
said, “Expressing your support for stricter cow slaughter laws is not a crime.
He was doing noble and eye-opening work. He brought to my attention that such
an incident has occurred. Rest is a matter of investigation.”VHP joint general
secretary Surendra Jain and Bajrang Dal’s Meerut division chief Balraj Dungar
also backed Yogeshraj.indianexpress
‘I am Yogesh Raj’: Support for Bulandhshahr
violence key accused on social media
Bulandshahr violence: On the run, Bajrang Dal
man changes look in viral video pleading innocence
Under Yogi Raj, UP govt denies permission for
Inspector Subodh Singh condolence meet
The in-charge of a police station in UP called
up journalists to come to the Police Station on Wednesday at 10 am as one of
their colleagues has been killed by a mob. The journalists were requested to
attend the condolence meeting for their martyred colleague. However, when the
press and a few other concerned citizens reached the police station,police
officer informed them that the condolence meeting had been cancelled after the
higher authorities denied permission. They were told that a day’s salary of all
the members of the department was being deducted, which, according to the
officer was, sufficient. The in- charge did not want to discuss more.In the
last couple of years some of the murders of the policemen including CO Zia ul
Haq in Pratabgarh in the year 2013, SP Mukul Dwivedi in 2016 and PC Ankit Tomar
who was killed in encounter of some gangsters in Shamili in the same year, have
been very disturbing. All of them were honoured as martyrs and steps to ensure
justice were also initiated. And after the death of Ankit Tomar, many police
officials started a campaign for justice and a lot of officers also changed
their profile picture to that of Tomar on the social media. Retired inspector
Laakhan stated explicitly that the inspector Subodh was undoubtedly a hero and
deserves full state honours. Earlier, martyred inspector Subodh’s son Abhishek
had questioned the Bulandhahar police for not draping his father’s body in the
tricolor. However later the department rectified their mistake and gave the
honour to inspector Subodh.nationalheraldindia
'Take His Gun, Maro, Maro': Video Shows Mob
Shouting as Bulandshahr Cop Lay Motionless
‘BJP trying to divide society’, says UP MP
Savitribai Phule, quits party
New Delhi:Savitribai Phule, BJP MP from
UP resigned from the party today, saying
‘BJP was trying to divide society,’ reports ANI.This comes two days after she
took on the UP CM Yogi Adityanath over his comment on Hanuman’s
caste. Yogi Adityanath had said at a poll rally in Malakheda of Alwar district,
that ‘’Bajrang Bali was a forest dweller, deprived and a Dalit, who worked to
connect all Indian communities together, from north to south and east to
west.”.Phule had reacted by saying if Hanuman was a ‘Dalit’ as claimed by UP CM
Yogi Adityanath, then Dalits should be appointed as pujaris in the all the
Hanuman temples across the country. “Hanuman always stood by Lord Ram but then
why did Ram award him a tail and blackened his face?”HT
Consumer Confidence in Indian Economy
Continues to Dip: RBI Survey
New Delhi: A RBI survey has shown that
consumer confidence in the Indian economy has continued to dip, both since June
2014 and more recently as well.The ‘current situation index’ (CSI) – a measure
of how consumers currently feel about the general economic situation – dropped
slightly to 93.9 in the latest survey round (Nov.2018) from 94.8 in
Sept.2018.In Nov. 2014, months after the Modi govt came to power, the CSI was
at 111 while in Nov.2016 it was 109.“The current situation index declined
further in Nov. 2018 in a phase that commenced in Nov.2016, on the back of
growing pessimism on the general economic situation and the employment scenario
as also some cutback in spending,” survey findings note.A separate ‘future
expectations index” (FEI) – which gauges how consumers feel the situation might
change in the year ahead – also moderated due to “lower optimism on the
employment scenario and household spending”. thewire
23 lakh not included in Assam’s NRC are Hindu
Bengalis: Mamata’s sharp attack against BJP
Purba Medinipur: Mamata Banerjee, CM of West Bengal and chief of the ruling
Trinamool Congress party, launched a scathing attack on BJP, accusing it of
being anti-Muslim as well as anti-Hindu. Mamata alleged the BJP has driven away
both Muslims and Hindus from the country at different points of time."It
has driven away Bengalis from Assam and Biharis from Gujarat. It drives away
Muslims at times and Hindus at times from the country...” she said.The CM pointed out that in Assam, “names of 40 lakh
people were removed from the voters list. Out of them, 23 lakhs are Hindu
Bengalis. People who are lying in the name of Hindu should know and keep this
in mind.”BJP is "killing the minorities, driving away Hindus and torturing
Christians", she alleged. "Why do you (BJP) not show respect to
teachers and women? Why do you kill people? Why do you create differences,
leading to violence and vandalism in the country?" she further asked.timesnownews
Radhika Vemula inaugurates ‘United Against
Hate’ programme in Kerala
The caste murders committed by the high caste
to protect their caste honour have been commercialised, said Radhika Vemula,
mother of Rohith Vemula who committed suicide in the Hyderabad Central
University following caste discrimination by authorities in January 2016.She
was inaugurating the protest gathering against the politics of hatred organized
by the ‘United Against Hate’ in Ernakulam last month.Radhika reminded all of
the killing of Dalit Christian youth Pranay in Telangana, following his
love-marriage with Amritha who hailed from a high caste. She said that
Amritha’s father spent Rs 1 crore to get Pranay killed, and caste murders have
now been commercialised. “It is saddening that we are organising a meeting to
talk about hatred. Dalits, Muslims and Christians are the victims of this hatred.
Do we need organisations that kill?Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi were not Dalits.
Nor are Prof Nageswar Rao and Varavara Rao. But they are also in danger.Sangh
Parivar will soon declare this country as a Hindu nation. They set the
Constitution on fire.They don’t acknowledge court orders. See what is happening
in Sabarimala? Even though the Supreme Court has allowed women entry, BJP-RSS
goons are following and attacking women. They say women are polluted. So what
would happen if women decide not to give birth?” she asked.
Bombay High Court grants pre-arrest relief to
Muslim man booked for giving triple talaq
Mumbai: In a first, the Bombay High Court has
granted pre-arrest bail to a Muslim man, accused of giving instant divorce –
triple talaq, to his wife. He is probably the first man in Maharashtra to face
prosecution under the newly passed triple talaq Ordinance. A single-judge bench
of Justice Prakash Naik granted anticipatory bail to Intekhab Munshi, a
resident of Vasai. He petitioned the bench after his wife lodged a criminal
case against him for attempting to give her divorce through the now banned
triple talaq.Munshi was booked in accordance to FIR lodged by his wife on Oct.23,
accusing him of divorcing her by pronouncing triple talaq. She claimed her
husband had not divorced her as per ‘talaq-e-ahsan’ and instead pronounced the
banned ‘talaq-e-biddat’ (triple talaq), which is banned under the new
Ordinance. The Ordinance which criminalises triple talaq was passed in
September this year. Having considered the submissions,Justice Naik said, “At
this preliminary stage, it will not be appropriate to go into the aspect of
whether it was talaq-e-ahsan or talaq-e-biddat. freepressjournal
Modi govt’s Talaq Bill among 3 key
legislations to face floor test in Winter Session of Parliament
PM
Narendra Modi will try to push through some key bills in the upcoming
winter session of Parliament, as he needs to get legislative approval for these
laws brought in as ordinances.There are several important bills pending in
Parliament that Modi Govt could not pass
due to lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha. Some of them have been issued as
ordinances, invoking the limited legislative powers vested in President of
India. At present, there are three ordinances in operation, and the Govt will
have to get the relevant bills passed in Parliament within six weeks from the
date of first sitting of winter session, failing which they will expire. Parliament
Winter Session 2018: 3 important legislations, including Triple Talaq Bill,
promulgated as Ordinances will test Modi Govt's resolve and floor-management
skills.financialexpress
Telangana polls: ‘Forget about Muslim women,
first get your wife back’, Akbaruddin Owaisi tells PM -
Hyderabad: 2 days ahead of Telangana polls,
AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Wednesday made a crude personal attack on PM Narendra
Modi. While addressing a gathering, Owaisi was heard as saying: “Forget about
Muslim women and ghar wapsi, Modi, first get your wife back”.Amid loud cheer,
Owaisi further said that Majlis will ensure that PM Modi’s wife gets what is
rightfully hers. 2 days ago, the younger brother of AIMIM chief Asaduddin
Owaisi had taken a jibe at the PM, calling him a 'chaiwala'.At a public
gathering, the Chandrayangutta MLA had on Sunday night said: "The reason
that has forced the PM to bow down is
AIMIM party, Hyderabad and Muslims, who believe in their dignity and honour.
So, don’t tease us, chaiwale.”He had also said: "Today you are competing
with us, what did you (Modi) do during demonetisation? You were only talking
about this chai, that chai, hard tea (kadak chai), soft tea (naram chai),
kettle and tea powder." Timesnownews
Chhattisgarh Congress moves HC over EVM
strongroom ‘security breach’
New Delhi :Chhattisgarh Congress Thursday
moved the state High Court seeking directions to Election Commission of India
(ECI) to look into officials of the administration allegedly entering
strongrooms in Dhamtari where EVMs are stored. The petition also claims that
CCTV cameras at a strongroom in Durg were switched off for a few hours.Citing
examples of reported violations of Model Code of Conduct in Madhya Pradesh as
well, the petition filed by Chhattisgarh general secretary Girish Dewangan has
demanded that 50 % of VVPATs be tallied,
used and unused EVMs be segregated in strongrooms, counting of votes be held
round-wise, and that there should be uninterrupted power to strongrooms for
CCTVs and LED screens to function without interruption.The petition will be
heard on Dec.10, a day before counting of votes.indianexpress
Chhattisgarh: BSF sub-inspector found using
laptop outside EVM strongroom
Modi must explain why blacklisted Augusta
Westland was allowed to bid for Navy deal:Congress
Accusing PM
Narendra Modi of being the "protector, benefactor and
promoter" of AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmeccanica,Congress has
demanded a CBI probe into Modi's role in "exonerating" the Italian
defence and aerospace major which was blacklisted by UPA.Congress alleged that
the Modi Govt was indulging in a cover-up
to "hide its sinister role in helping and promoting the AgustaWestland and
its parent company Finmeccanica which were blacklisted by UPA.A day after
British national Christian Michel James, a middleman wanted in ₹3,600-crore
AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, was extradited to India, the Congress
attacked Modi and BJP of "using him to launch a smear campaign"
against opposition leaders.Giving the timeline, Congress said a contract for
purchase of 12 helicopters was allotted in February 2010 to Agusta Westland
(parent company being Finmecanica) for ₹3,546 crore. But, later after media
reports, the then Congress-led UPA Govt cancelled Augusta Westland contract in
Feb.2013 and handed over the investigation to the CBI on February 12,
2013.nationalheraldindia
Hindu outfit members take out rally in JNU,
administration claims no procession only puja
Hindu outfit members out rally in JNU: A group
of Hindu outfit members in cars and motorbikes along with a truck reportedly
entered the JNU on Wednesday to carry out a rally in the campus by carrying
saffron flag and raising communal slogans. Media reports said the rally was
part of the RSS-affiliated outfits pitching support for the construction of Ram
temple in Ayodhya. Video clips of the procession were shared on the Internet
which reportedly showed as many as 50 members chanting ‘mandir wahin
banega’.Students and teachers of the varsity raised an alarm and asked why the
Hindu outfit members were allowed to enter the campus premises without prior
checks, they also said all the students of the varsity are always stopped at
the main gate and asked to show their identity cards to the guards. They also
slammed the administration saying the latter often penalises and takes punitive
measures against students, teachers for conducting peaceful demonstrations, but
in this case, they have shown “spinelessness”.NewsX
Sohrabuddin Case Final Hearing Ends; CBI Says
Hostile Witnesses Hampered Probe
https://thewire.in/law/sohrabuddin-case-final-hearing-ends-cbi-says-hostile-witnesses-hampered-probe
New Delhi: During the final hearing of the
Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter case, the CBI
told a court in Mumbai on Wednesday that hostile witnesses hampered the probe. Final
arguments in the matter began on Monday and ended after lawyers of all 22
accused made their submissions before special CBI judge S.J. Sharma.Most of accused
are policemen from Gujarat and Rajasthan.According to CBI, Shaikh, a suspected
gangster with terror links, and his wife Kausar Bi were killed in alleged fake
encounters in 2005 by the Gujarat police.His aide Prajapati, who had witnessed
the twin killings, was shot dead in another staged encounter in 2006 by police
personnel from Gujarat and Rajasthan, the central agency has said in its charge
sheet.The case was initially probed by Gujarat CID before being transferred to
the CBI in 2010 by the Supreme Court.PTI
Waqf board 'corruption': Kerala HC dismisses
board's Plea
Kerala high court has dismissed state waqf
board’s plea of an alleged corruption by its ex CEO,chairman, and members. Justice
P Ubaid dismissed petition filed by waqf board’s present CEO in charge U Abdul
Jaleel.Through petition, waqf board had challenged vigilance court’s order
declining permission to join in the proceedings before the court on the
complaint alleging corruption filed by TM Abdul Salam of Thrikkakkara. Waqf
board’s ex CEO BM Jamal, previous chairman Saidalikutty, and members Sainudheen
and Mayin Haji were named in the petition alleging corruption.After conducting
a preliminary enquiry as directed by vigilance court, Ernakulam unit of
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) had filed a report stating that allegations
regarding corruption (technically called ‘criminal misconduct’) are baseless
and that there is no scope for prosecution under provisions of Prevention of
Corruption Act. However, the inspector who conducted the enquiry had
recommended for disciplinary action against ex CEO. While the report was being
considered by the vigilance court, waqf board had sought permission to
participate in the proceedings. If it is not heard, the court’s findings may
affect the functioning of the board, the waqf board had contended. The court
had rejected the plea by stating that a third party cannot intervene at this
stage. TOI
One in 8 deaths in India due to air pollution,
life expectancy down by 1.7 years: Report
One in every eight deaths in India is
attributable to air pollution which now contributes to more disease burden than
smoking. First comprehensive estimates of deaths, disease burden, and life
expectancy reduction associated with air pollution in each state of India by
the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative has been published in The
Lancet Planetary Health.The estimates show that India with 18% of the global
population has a disproportionately high 26% of the global premature deaths and
disease burden due to air pollution.Over half of the 12.4 lakh deaths in India
attributable to air pollution in 2017 were in persons younger than 70 years.
The average life expectancy in India would have been 1.7 years higher if the
air pollution level were less than the minimal level causing health
loss.indianexpress
Khalistanis in Pakistan target Indian pilgrims
for ‘Referendum 2020’ propaganda:HT
New Delhi:Pro-Khalistan elements in Pakistan
have stepped up propaganda targeting visiting Indian pilgrims and backing the
so-called “Referendum 2020” at religious sites such as Nankana Sahib, which
attract thousands of Sikhs from around the world.When Indian pilgrims arrived
on Nov.23 at Gurdwara Janamsthan in Nankana Sahib – built on the site where
Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak was born – they found the grounds of the shrine
and buildings festooned with banners and posters on “Referendum 2020” and an
“independent” Punjab.The banners featured provocative slogans such as
“Referendum 2020 will end India’s occupation of Punjab” and “Referendum 2020 is
resistance against Indian occupation of Punjab”. Khalistan flags and life-size
images of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the terrorist killed during the 1984
military operation against extremists holed up in the Golden Temple, were
placed on several buildings.The non-binding referendum on creating a separate
nation of Khalistan is being spearheaded by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), which has
announced plans for opening an office in Lahore, SFJ’s legal adviser Gurpatwant
Singh Pannu has said.A statement issued by the external affairs ministry on Nov.23
expressed “grave concern” at attempts to “incite communal disharmony and
intolerance and promote secessionist tendencies” during the visit of Indian
pilgrims.“Pakistani security establishment keeps very close tabs on all such
groups and there is no way SFJ could have gone ahead with these activities
without the blessings of Pakistani intelligence agencies,” said an Indian
official who didn’t want to be identified.SFJ launched its campaign in London
on Aug.12. The group plans to hold several events in Pakistan in 2019,
coinciding with 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Group plans to hold a
convention in Nov.2019 either at Kartarpur or at Nankana Sahib. Convention is
expected to coincide with opening of a corridor linking Dera Baba Nanak in
India to Kartarpur Gurdwara that will allow Indian pilgrims to go to the shrine
without visas.HT
Upper-caste share is down, more marginal
groups enter campuses
New Delhi :While the proportion of upper-caste
students in higher education institutions is still considerably higher than
their share in the population, for the first time ever their “erstwhile
near-monopoly” is being eroded with their percentage share falling to below 50 %
over the last few years, according to a
study.All other groups, women, OBC, SC, and ST, have increased their share
though they still remain largely under-represented relative to their share in
the population.The enrolment share of upper caste Hindus (estimated to be about
20 % of the country’s population), has
come down from 51% to 40.6% between 2010-11 and 2015-16.The study titled
‘Exclusion in Indian Higher Education Today’ by Delhi University professors
Satish Deshpande and Apoorvanand states that “the entry of hitherto absent or
severely under-represented groups” was facilitated by 93rd Amendment to the
Constitution (2006) which extended OBC reservations to elite “institutions of
national importance” and Central universities.“Although it took some years to
take effect, by the second decade of the 2000s, its impact was being felt,” the
report said.Of all marginalised groups, the report identifies, Persons with
Disability (PwDs) and Muslim as the two groups still seriously
under-represented in higher education. In the same five-year period, PwDs (who
form 2.2% of the population) has seen their share merely increasing from 0.19
to 0.21 % in higher education while Muslims, who constitute 14 % of the
country’s population, has seen their share in higher education increase from
3.8 % to just 4.7 percent.indianexpress
WORLD
US senators introduce resolution blaming MBS
for Khashoggi murder
6 top US senators from across party lines have
introduced a scathing resolution to hold the Saudi crown prince accountable for
the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi more than 2 months ago.The proposal,
which was introduced on Wednesday, says the Senate "has a high level of
confidence" that Mohammed bin Salman "was complicit in the
murder".If approved by the Senate, it would officially condemn Prince
Mohammed, also known as MBS, for the killing of Khashoggi in the kingdom's
consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul in Oct. "This resolution -
without equivocation - definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi
Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball
to the region jeopardising our national security interests on multiple
fronts," Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator and close ally of President
Donald Trump, said in a statement.Saudi has said the crown prince had no prior
knowledge of the murder. After offering numerous contradictory explanations,
Riyadh later admitted that Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate and
his body dismembered after negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi
failed.aljazeera
Amid Khashoggi furore, Saudi envoy Khalid bin
Salman returns to US
Khalid bin Salman, the younger brother of
Saudi Arabia's crown prince, has returned to the United States, where he
intends to continue in his role as Gulf kingdom's ambassador in Washington, NBC
News reported on Wednesday.Khalid flew back to Saudi shortly after the murder
of Jamal Khashoggi. Citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter, NBC
said Khalid arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, on
Wednesday, just hours before the funeral of former US President George HW Bush.
Khalid did not attend the funeral, despite earlier saying he intended to go, NBC
reported. A Saudi official said he was unable to attend the funeral because of
a plane delay.Saudi embassy in Washington confirmed that Khalid had returned to
US, AFP reported later, citing the embassy's spokeswoman, Fatimah Baeshen. A US
official told NBC that Khalid is not expected to be expelled from the country
and would continue as ambassador. "His status as such remains
unchanged," the official said.middleeasteye
UN warns half Yemen’s people could soon be on
brink of famine
UN aid chief sounded the alarm at the Security
Council on Tuesday that half the population of war-torn Yemen – some 14 million
people – could soon be on the brink of famine and completely relying on
humanitarian aid for survival, Reuters reports.“There is now a clear and
present danger of an imminent and great big famine engulfing Yemen: much bigger
than anything any professional in this field has seen during their working
lives,” UN aid chief Mark Lowcock said.He described the scale of what was being
faced in Yemen as “shocking” given that only two famines had been declared in
the world in the past 20 years – Somalia in 2011 and a localised famine in
South Sudan last year.A proxy war is playing out in Yemen between Iran and
Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015,
backing Govt forces fighting the Iran-allied Houthi group. Iran has denied
supplying weapons to the Houthis.MEMO
25 civilians killed in US-led coalition
strikes in Syria
At least 25 civilians were killed and dozens
injured today in a US-led coalition strike on the Daesh-controlled Hejjin
district located in Syria’s eastern Deir Ez-Zor province.Local sources told
Anadolu that coalition shelling targeted city’s residential neighbourhoods,
displacing most of its population, killing 25 civilians and wounding dozens.The
coalition’s attacks on Deir Ez-Zor come amid failed attempts to advance terrorist
Kurdish PYD/PKK in city.PYD/PKK was recently reported to have detained dozens
of whom have fled Daesh-controlled areas in Deir Ez-Zor’s eastern suburbs. Sources
that Kurdish group were “extorting the detainees to get money from them.”MEMO
Iran: Suicide attack hits police post in
Chabahar
At least 3 people have been killed following a
suicide car bombing attack near a police post in Iran's southern port city of Chabahar,
Press TV reported, quoting security and local officials. Rahmdel Bamari,
governor of Sistan and Balochestan province said that an "explosive-laden
vehicle" targeted the police post today. "Attacker set off the bomb
as soon as he stopped outside Chabahar's police headquarters," Bamari
said. Reports say at least 19 people were also hurtaljazeera
US pressures Arab states to support its
anti-Hamas resolution at UN
America has been putting pressure on a number
of Arab states in order to get them vote today in favour of a draft resolution
it has introduced at the UN which condemns the Palestinian resistance. According
to Haaretz, US Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason
Greenblatt sent letters to diplomats from nine Arab countries asking them to
support US draft. Haaretz reported that Greenblatt sent the letter sent to
diplomats from Morocco, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt and Qatar.In the letter he wrote that the
Palestinian Authority’s opposition to the US proposal is “hypocrisy as it
considers Hamas an enemy and imposes sanctions on it in Gaza,” while at the
same time it defends its “terrorism”, Arab48 reported. PA and Fatah have
criticised US draft resolution, considering it “absolute” American support for
the Israeli occupation against the Palestinians.MEMO
Egyptian court hands Brotherhood leaders life
sentences
Cairo:An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and his deputy Khairat al-Shater to
life in prison, judicial sources said, in a retrial over violence during the
overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013.The sentence is one among
several trials and retrials against Badie, Shater and other leaders of the
party that ruled Egypt before the military ousted Mursi following mass protests
against his rule.Badie and Shater were sentenced to life in 2015 over violence
between Brotherhood supporters and opponents near the group’s HQRS.4 others
were also handed life sentences on Wednesday. The court acquitted Saad
al-Katatny, parliament speaker under Mursi, along with an ex minister, 2
prominent Brotherhood figures and 2 others.The defendants can appeal the ruling
for the last time before the Court of Cassation, Egypt’s highest civilian
court. Public prosecution may also appeal the acquittals or the life sentences
that two defendants received instead of death sentences. The defendants faced
charges of inciting violence against the demonstrators in front of the
Brotherhood HQRS, aggravated battery and the possession of firearms. Authorities
had referred 18 defendants to trial in the case. 5 remain at large and one died
before receiving a sentence.Reuters
Ex-Egyptian justice minister reportedly
arrested
Egypt’s security forces have arrested the
former justice minister, Ahmed Suleiman, local former judges told Reuters. Suleiman
was reported to have been arrested at his home in Egypt’s Minya governorate on
Tuesday and was later transferred him to the country’s capital city of Cairo.He
is due to appear before the country’s Supreme State Security Prosecution. The
state authorities did not provide details about the reasons behind the
arrest.Suleiman had served under the first freely-elected president, Morsi, who
was ousted in a military coup in 2013 after serving only a year in power.MEMO
Supporters of jailed Egyptian couple urge US
Congress to 'act now'
Ola al-Qaradawi is losing hope as she remains
in solitary confinement in Egypt without formal charges against her, or the
prospect of freedom or a fair trial.Qaradawi, who is the daughter of
Qatar-based Youssef al-Qaradawi, was arrested along with her husband Hosam
Khalaf in June 2017."There isn't enough pressure; we're never, ever
getting out of here," she recently told her lawyer during a brief court
appearance, according to her daughter Aayah Hosam.Hosam, who lives in the
northwestern US state of Washington, has started an email campaign to urge
members of Congress to intervene for the release of her mother and father, who
are US permanent residents. Couple faces accusations of support for the Muslim
Brotherhood, which has been blacklisted in Egypt since a 2013 military coup
that toppled the country's democratically-elected president, Morsi.But with no
evidence or formal charges presented against them, leading rights
organisations, including UN Human Rights Council, have called for the release
of Qaradawi and Khalaf.The couple's supporters in US have been lobbying
lawmakers and the administration of US President Donald Trump to demand freedom
for Qaradawi and Khalaf."The situation is dire and we need you to act now.
Please take any steps that you can to free Ola and Hosam and reunite them with
their children. Please raise concern with the Egyptian Ambassador to DC and
request for their immediate release and improved conditions," a draft
email addressed to various members of Congress, including senators on the
Committee of Foreign Relations reads.middleeasteye
FLASH: VIEWS &
NEWS
Babri Masjid demolition went against
constitutional morality: D. Raja
Lynching of an officer underlines UP's
dysfunctional justice system: Abhinav Kumar
A big conspiracy? Contradictions in
cow-slaughter claims raise questions about Bulandshahr violence:Abhishek Dey
RSS's Ordinance Push Upsets the Nexus That
Helped Plant an Idol in Babri Masjid: Krishna Jha
Kalyan Singh was livid and crestfallen when
Babri Masjid was razed:Anil Swarup
Ram Mandir: Why Muslims Feel Even An Adverse
Ayodhya Verdict May Be Better Than A Compromise:Rasheed Kidwai
Bulandshahr: Violence Over Alleged Cow
Slaughter A Pre-Planned Conspiracy, Say Local Leaders
BJP Faces the Heat as Ally Questions Its Role
in Bulandshahr Violence: thewire
Untold Story of How the Rama Idol Surfaced
Inside Babri Masjid: Krishna Jha and Dhirendra K. Jha
Bulandshahr: Hindutva leaders and police each
point fingers at the other:Mihir Srivastava
NCM vice-chairman protests SC judge’s
‘minority tag’ comment
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