NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
10 Jan. 2019: 03 Jamadiul-I 1440:
Vol: 11, No:98
INDIA
Babri Masjid hearing deferred till Jan 29 as Justice
Lalit recuses self after Muslim petitioners object
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today deferred
the hearing in the Ayodhya title dispute case to Jan. 29 after Justice UU
Lalit, who was part of a Constitution bench to hear the case, recused himself
on Thursday. Justice Lalit appeared for former Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh in 1994, senior advocate Rajeev
Dhavan — who was appearing for the Muslim petitioners — told the bench headed by
Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi soon after the court assembled. Though Dhavan said
he was not seeking Justice Lalit's recusal, the judge opted out of the hearing
in the matter. The bench, also comprising Justices SA Bobde, NV Ramana and DY
Chandrachud, noted the submissions made by Dhavan.Dhavan also drew the
attention of the bench to the fact that the matter was earlier fixed for
hearing before a 3-judge bench but CJI took a decision to list it before a 5-judge
Constitution Bench. He further submitted that there was need for a judicial
order to set up a 5-judge Constitution bench.CJI, however, quoted Supreme Court
rules mandating that any bench should comprise two judges and there was nothing
wrong in constituting a five-judge Constitution bench. CJI said in view of the
facts and circumstances of the matter and the voluminous records pertaining to
it, this was a fit case for constituting a 5-judge bench.In its order, the
bench said the SC registry will physically examine the records stored in 50
sealed trunks in the room, which has also been kept sealed. The SC said the
records pertaining to the matter are voluminous and some of the documents are
in Sanskrit, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Persian and Gurmukhi that need to be
translated. If required, the apex court registry can take the service of
official translators, the bench said.Reacting to the delay, litigant Iqbal
Ansari told CNN-News 18 that they would obey the order of the court. "The
court was going to hear the case but due to the recusal by the judge, the court
gave the next date. The court is independent, there is no religion in court.
Lots of people hoped that the hearing would begin today but the court will not
come under pressure. No ordinance will come and no law will be made."BJP
leader Subramanian Swamy said the bench was looking into the title question and
the hearing had "nothing to do with Ram Temple hearing". "It's a
commitment that we will build Ram temple. A new generation has asked us to
build it now and we will do it," he said.As many as 14 appeals have been
filed in the SC against Allahabad High Court judgement,news18
Reason behind Justice Lalit's exit from case
Ayodhya title suit appeals: Justice Lalit
recuses himself, Bench to fix time of hearings on Jan. 29
Early Resolution Of Ayodhya Will Benefit
Country: Minorities Panel Chief Rizvi
New Delhi: National Commission for Minorities
chairperson Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi said today that no hinderance should be
created in the hearing of the Babri Masjid land title dispute in the Supreme
Court, saying the earliest resolution of it will benefit both Hindus and
Muslims.Rizvi also thanked PM Modi Govt for the 10-% reservation in employment and education to the
economically weaker sections, claiming it will be more beneficial for the
minorities most of whom are financially poor, he said."No one should
create any hurdle in the hearing of the case. The country as well as Hindus and
Muslims will be benefitted with the earliest resolution of the dispute,"
Rizvi told reporters.PTI
Ayodhya land dispute HIGHLIGHTS: Supreme Court
adjourns hearing, VHP objects
Objection of AIMPLB about absence of Muslim
Judge on bench is disturbing: VHP
new delhi:VHP has said that what has happened
in the Supreme Court on Jan. is exactly that the organisation has been raising doubt
about all this while.VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said, "After the bench
was announced Iqbal Ansari - Muslim party in the case asked the very first
question that why there is no Muslim judge in the bench. It will be demanded
that some Muslim judge must be in it. Similar argument in a bit refined manner
was presented by Congress-sponsored lawyers including Rajeev Dhavan indirectly
that UU Lalit contested case of Kalyan Singh and court succumbed to their
pressure." So for VHP it is an attempt to replace him with a Muslim judge
in the Constitution bench.OneIndia
10% quota bill for general category challenged
in SC
New Delhi:A plea was filed in the Supreme
Court on Thursday challenging Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 that
gives 10 % reservation in jobs and
education for the economical weaker sections (EWS) of the general category, PTI
reported. The petition—by NGO Youth for Equality and Kaushal Kant Mishra—sought
the quashing of the bill saying that the economic criteria cannot be the sole
basis for reservation.It stated that the bill violates the basic feature of the
Constitution as the reservation on economic grounds cannot be limited to the
general categories and the 50% ceiling limit cannot be breached. The latest
development came a day after Parliament approved the Bill and, thereby,
effecting a change in the Constitution to add a new chapter to laws on
reservation nearly three decades after Mandal Commission recommendations came
into force. Late Wednesday night, and a day after the Bill sailed through Lok
Sabha, Rajya Sabha too gave its stamp of approval at the end of a marathon
nine-hour debate that saw Opposition tearing into the Govt. Questioning the
timing, Opposition members had said “electoral compulsions” had forced the Govt
to push the legislation in “haste”. Govt hit back with Law Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad saying “sixes are hit in the slog overs” of a cricket match and
“more sixes will come”. Rajya Sabha voted 165-7 in favour of the Bill — meeting
the requirement of a majority of not less than 2-thirds of the members present
and voting for effecting a constitutional amendment. Indianexpress
If India provides concrete evidence against
Zakir Naik, we won't compromise: Anwar Ibrahim
Even as India continues to seek extradition of
Zakir Naik who is being probed in India for alleged charges of spreading terror
and money laundering, the former deputy PM of Malaysia said that the new Govt in Kuala
Lumpur was prepared to "scrutinise" and cooperate with New Delhi on
the case.Anwar Ibrahim, who is in New Delhi for the Raisina Dialogue, spoke to
India Today.He said, "I believe we are prepared to scrutinise and study
every aspect of the case. Our position against terrorism and terrorist cells is
very clear. We strongly support every counter terrorism effort. Having said
that, we will have to abide by known international decorum and ensure that once
you have a compelling case, you will have to adduce some evidence. We cannot
agree based on what is alleged." After the victory of his coalition party,
Pakatan Harapan, and his own win in the by-election after being released from
prison, Anwar Ibrahim is all set to take over from the current Malaysian PM ,
Mahathir Mohamad, in 2 years.Speaking on cooperation over the issue of Naik, he
elaborated that there was yet to be a real contact between India and Malaysia
on the matter while also explaining that any pictures of Naik with him or other
leadership are "old" except for one instance of a photo with PM Mahathir after he took office. "The
arrangements and contracts were with the previous govt.Since we came to power,
there has been an understanding that Naik should be more subdued or controlled.
This seems to be the practice. We have to observe this because India has
officially notified us. Out of respect, we need to take cognizance of
that," he said. He added, "I was made to understand some documents
were produced, but our concern is that we need to really be convinced that
there is a legitimate premise for a case against any individual before we act.
This is a normal arrangement with any country. There is certainly a willingness
to look at the case. We are willing to look at the case if substantive
arguments are placed before us."Once he takes office, he said, he would
"renew the commitments of PM Mahathir." Ibrahim has been engaging
with a host of scholars and political leaders. He met Congress chief Rahul
Gandhi on Wednesday and will be meeting PM Narendra Modi on Thursday."I met Rahul
Gandhi and discussed numerous issues. Was quite impressed. I look forward to
meeting the PM who has always been kind
to me. There are some personal messages from PM Mahathir for the Indian PM on how to take relations forward", he
said. india today
Anwar Ibrahim in India on 5-day visit: ‘India
must make itself heard on issues like Rohingya crisis’
Activists, Academics Urge President to Act on
'Sectarian' Citizenship Bill, NRC
New Delhi: A group of 135 academics and
activists have written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to “ensure
justice” to those who have been excluded from the final draft of National
Register of Citizens. The signatories have also opposed Citizenship Amendment
Bill, which was recently passed by parliament, saying that it “discriminates on
the ground of religion and violates the constitutional principle of
equality”.thewire
Citizenship Bill excluding Muslim immigrants
taking India further into abyss of bigotry: Indian Americans
Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an
advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos,
has called the bill passed by the lower house of India’s Parliament, granting
citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from neighboring countries
unconstitutional and reflective of Modi administration’s deep animus towards
Muslims and other minorities. In addition the IAMC has called on US Senate to
conduct a hearing on the sustained attacks against religious freedom of
minorities in India.“The fact that India’s right-wing Hindu nationalist
administration has come this far in advancing its agenda of turning Indian
Muslims into second-class citizens while legislating preferential treatment of
Hindus should generate international concern over the future of India as a
secular, democratic polity,” said Ahsan
Khan, President of IAMC. twocircles
Citizenship Bill: Sahitya Akademi Awardee, 2
Others Charged with Sedition Amid Protests in Assam
Guwahati: Sedition charges have been brought
against Sahitya Akademi awardee Assamese litterateur Dr Hiren Gohain, senior
journalist Manjit Mahanta and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil
Gogoi in Assam today, police said, as protests continue in the state against
the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.Police suo motu registered a case at the
Latasil police station here, Guwahati Police said.PTI
P Chidambaram's "Salute" To IAS
Topper Who Resigned Over Kashmir Killings
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P
Chidambaram today launched a scathing attack on the BJP govt over IAS officer
Shah Faesal's resignation. Today, Chidambaram in a series of tweets said the
world will take note of Faesal's "cry of anguish and defiance". Calling
his resignation an "indictment of the BJP Govt", the former home and
finance minister said Shah Faesal's "every word of statement was
true." Chidambaram also tweeted about another police officer who
"said the same thing" as Shah Faesal and attacked the BJP
"rulers" for not giving any reassurance.ndtv
‘Depends on what people of Kashmir want’: Shah
Faesal on political future after quitting IAS
Kashmiri IAS officer Shah Faesal, who quit IAS
to protest against “unabated killings” in J&K, sought ideas on Thursday,
especially from youths, to decide his future course in politics.In a statement
posted on Facebook, Faesal said: “I have an idea how I can do it but I want
ideas from the people before taking a final decision.“It has been a storm of
abuse and adulation. Hundreds and thousands of people reacted to my resignation
in hundreds and thousands of ways. I totally expected this.“As of now I have quit
the service. What I am going to do hereafter also depends on what people of
Kashmir want me to do. More so the youth.“I have an idea how I can do it. I am
sure you have ideas too and you want me to factor those ideas in before I take
a final decision.“If you are ready to come out of Facebook/Twitter and show up
in Srinagar tomorrow (Friday), we could think this through together.“My choice
of politics will be decided by real people, not fb likes and comments.HT
Sedition Charges On Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar
Khalid Soon: Delhi Police Chief
Delhi
Police will soon file a charge sheet in the sedition case against ex JNU
students' union head Kanhaiya Kumar and other activists, including Umar Khalid
and Anirban Bhattacharya, Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik said. Kanhaiya,
Umar and Anirban were arrested in 2016 in a sedition case for allegedly
organising an event in JNU campus on Afzal Guru. The arrests had triggered a
huge controversy with the opposition slamming the police for "working at
the behest of the ruling BJP"."The case is in stage of finalisation.
The investigation was complex as the team also had to visit other states to
take statements. The charge sheet will be filed soon," he said.PTI
PM-led select panel begins meeting to decide
CBI chief Alok Verma’s fate
New Delhi:The selection committee’s meeting on
CBI chief Alok Verma comprising PM Narendra Modi, CJI and leader of largest
opposition party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has begun in New Delhi.This is
the second meeting of the Selection Committee in the case after the Supreme
Court directed it to meet within a week to discuss Verma’s case.The panel’s
meeting on Wednesday remained inconclusive with Kharge asking for some
documents including the enquiry report by the CVC into the matter.“I have asked
for certain documents from Govt concerning the matter including the CVC’s
enquiry reports,” Kharge said.HT
Reinstated CBI Chief Revokes Rao's Transfer
Orders
New Delhi: Hours after resuming office,
reinstated CBI Director Alok Verma proceeded to revoke most of the transfer
orders issued by the then acting Director in-charge, M. Nageshwar Rao with
immediate effect. Selection committee panel comprising PM Narendra Modi, Justice A.K. Sikri and the
leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge met on Wednesday
evening to discuss the case of reinstated CBI Director Verma, but meeting was
inconclusive.thewire
Out on bail, CBI DSP moves court against
Verma’s orders to reinstate officers
New Delhi: CBI’s DSP Devender Kumar, who is
out on bail in connection with bribery allegations involving the agency’s
Special Director Rakesh Asthana, moved the Delhi High Court against Director
Alok Verma’s decision to reinstate several officers considered close to him. Kumar,
who was arrested in Oct.last year, petitioned the High Court to also direct CBI
not to allow Verma to deal with the bribery FIR against him and Asthana.Kumar’s
petition is likely to be listed for hearing on Friday before Justice Najmi
Waziri, who has already reserved verdict on various petitions of Special
Director Rakesh Asthana, Kumar and middleman Manoj Prasad seeking to quash the
bribery FIR against them.indianexpress
2002 Gujarat Riots: Judge P.B. Desai Ignored
Evidence, says Activist Harsh Mander
New Delhi:Special SIT court judge P.B. Desai
"ignored evidence" that former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was
killed in a mob attack in Ahmedabad's Gulberg Housing Society during 2002
riots, did all that was possible within his power to protect Muslims from the
"rage of the mob" and instead echoed the position of then CM Narendra Modi that his killing was only a
"reaction" to his "action" of shooting at the mob, says
human rights activist Harsh Mander. He says that "the learned judge",
who retired in Dec.2017,overlooked statements by surviving witnesses that Jafri
made repeated desperate calls to senior police officers and other persons in
authority, "including allegedly CM Modi", pleading that security forces be
sent to "disperse the crowd" and rescue those "against whom the mob
had laid a powerful siege".Mander, who quit IAS in Gujarat in the wake of
the riots, makes these observations in his just released book, "Partitions
of the Heart: Unmaking the Idea of India", published by Penguin.Activist,
who works with survivors of mass violence and hunger as well as homeless
persons and street children, goes on to quote the late journalist Kuldip Nayar
to establish that Jafri had desperately telephoned him, "begging him to
contact someone in authority to send in the police or the Army to rescue
them". Mander says Nayar rang up Union Home Ministry to convey to it the
seriousness of the situation. Home Ministry said it was in touch with the state
Govt and was "watching" the situation. Jafri called again, pleading
with Nayar to do something as the mob was threatening to lynch him. In the
chapter titled "Whatever happened in Gulberg Society?",Mander
contends that Jafri did everything within his power to protect "those who
believed that his influence would shield them from the rage of the mob".
Mander says Jafri begged the mob to "take his life instead" and in a
show of valour went out "to plead and negotiate" with the angry
crowd. IANS
Gujarat encounter case: Cop opposed giving
report to petitioners, said ‘they are strangers to situation in state’
Ahmedabad:Objecting to the sharing of Justice
H S Bedi’s report on 17 police encounters in Gujarat with the petitioners, a
Gujarat Police officer had told the Supreme Court that “strangers can’t be
permitted to analyse the evidence gathered during a criminal investigation by
supplying them with the reports”. SC on Wednesday, however, directed the
Gujarat Govt to hand over the report’s copy to the petitioners. DSP J M
Bharwad, who was investigated by SC-appointed-STF in one of 17 encounters, in
an affidavit to the court said that if the petitioners were given the copies of
the report, “it would result into a position where strangers would be debating
about the possibility of guilt or otherwise of police officers, including the
present”.Bharwad was probed by STF officers for his alleged role in the death
of one Kasim Jafer Hussain whose family had accused that he was killed in
police custody. Hussain’s alleged custodial death is among the 17 cases probed
by STF that was monitored by retired justice Bedi.Bharwad, who is currently Deputy
SP, Jetpur, has claimed that he moved the court as “there is a likelihood of
the applicant (Bharwad) and many other honest police officers being affected by
the orders which may be passed in the present petitions that are absolutely
motivated and nothing but abuse of process of law”.indianexpress
MP home minister rules out re-probe into SIMI jailbreak
incident, charts new roadmap
Bhopal: Newly appointed Home Minister Bala
Bachchan charts the road map to a safer Madhya Pradesh. Speaking on the
inaugural day of MP assembly in Bhopal, Bachchan assures a makeover for the
existing dismal law and order situation in the state. The Minister accepted
that the police is not as harsh as it should be with criminals. Reviewing law
and order in the state with senior police officials, he asked for stringent
measures while dealing with criminals.A fear of law must be established among
them, he added. In addition, Bachchan has also directed police officials to be
supportive and empathetic towards the general public. "I reminded them of
their constitutional duties of serving the public and ensuring law and
order,"said he.News18
NIA to Probe Conspiracy by Kerala Youths to
Join Anti-Assad Terror Groups in Syria
New Delhi: NIA has registered a case to probe
an alleged conspiracy by some youths in Kerala to join Salafist terror
organisations Jund al-Aqsa and Jabhat al-Nusrah in their attempt to overthrow
the Bashar al-Assad Govt in Syria.The agency has registered a case under IPC
sections related to criminal conspiracy and waging war against an Asiatic power
at peace with the Indian Govt.NIA has also booked the youths under the
stringent UAPA, the agency said. NIA said it had received credible information
that from 2013 onwards, certain youths, originally from Kerala and Karnataka
but based in Qatar, had hatched a criminal conspiracy to wage war against
Syria, an Asiatic power at peace with Govt of India.PTI
Bulandshahr violence: Accused BJP youth wing
member arrested from Hapur
New Delhi:Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha member
Shikhar Agarwal, one of the accused in the killing of Inspector Subodh Kumar
Singh in Bulandshahr, was arrested today.He was held from the adjoining Hapur
district by the Bulandshahr police, a senior police official said.“Shikhar
Agarwal was arrested this morning. We are interrogating him and will produce
him in the local court later today,” ASP Atul Kumar Srivastava was quoted as
saying by PTI.Subodh Kumar Singh, the station house officer of Siyana, and
local youth, Sumit Kumar, were killed on Dec.3 in mob violence near Siyana
village in Bulandshahr during protests against alleged cow slaughter.So far,
over 35 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, including
Army jawan Jeetender Malik, Prashant Nat who allegedly shot the inspector dead
and Kalua who had attacked him with an axe, the police said.indianexpress
Group that killed Gauri Lankesh also watched
Mangaluru rationalist Narendra Nayak
Bengaluru:Members of a Hindu extremist group
involved in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017 also watched
activities of rationalist Narendra Nayak in Mangaluru in 2016 after identifying
him as a target, according to the details of investigation placed in court by a
Karnataka SIT.One of the persons arrested in the case, Rajesh Bangera, 50,
allegedly the arms trainer of the group, has provided details of a 2-day
surveillance by him on the movements of Nayak, the president of Federation of
Indian Rationalist Associations.SIT has enclosed details of ‘panchnamas’
conducted at various locations in Mangaluru where Bangera and a Mangaluru
youth, who was recruited and trained to carry out an attack, allegedly
conducted surveillance on rationalist for 2 days. As per the panchnama, Nayak’s
home was pointed out to Bangera by an associate living in Mangaluru. SIT probe
has also found that Bangera trained four youths identified as Mohan, Yathin,
Yathish and Kumud in the usage of guns prior to carrying out the surveillance.
One of these youths was taken along by Bangera for surveillance, SIT’s probe
details indicate.
Won't allow gay sex in Army:Chief General
New Delhi: Gay sex will not be allowed in the
Indian Army, its chief General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday when asked to
comment on the Supreme Court decriminalizing homosexuality."We will not
allow this to happen in the Army," said General Rawat, addressing his
annual press conference. He said the Indian army has its own laws on homosexuality."We
are not above the country's law but when you join the Indian Army, some of the
rights and privileges you enjoy are not what we have. Some things are different
for us," he said.When asked about the Supreme Court ruling on adultery, he
said the Army is "very conservative"."We can't allow it to
perpetrate into the Army," he said.ndtv
Can’t be left out of the bandwagon: Army chief
Rawat on talks with Taliban
New Delhi :A day after Bipin Rawat said there
should be negotiations with the Taliban, but without conditions, the Army chief
Thursday said India ‘can’t be left out of the bandwagon’ if a number of other
countries are talking to them as it has ‘interests in Afghanistan’.Speaking at
an annual press briefing, he, however, clarified that the ‘Taliban analogy’
cannot be applied in Jammu and Kashmir where the Govt has rejected
unconditional talks with the stakeholders, including separatists and militants,
adding that talks in the Valley ‘will be on our terms’.On talks with Hurriyat,
Rawat said, “Our position is very clear that shun the gun and stop taking
support from the western neighbour. Talks can happen only if they shun
violence.” Army chief had yesterday also pitched for talks with Taliban, saying
there should be “negotiations” but “without conditions”.indianexpress
If ready for talks with Taliban, why not
Kashmiri separatists? ask Omar and Mehbooba
Srinagar:Ex CMs Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba
Mufti wondered why the Centre was not initiating a dialogue with the
separatists in J&K if Army chief General Bipin Rawat could bat for holding
talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan.“We bat for talks with taliban, autonomy
for Tibet & Tamil areas of Sri Lanka yet we are unwilling to look at
engagement or political initiatives in J&K. Why is our policy all about “do
as we say, don’t do as we do”? Engagement for Taliban, Operation All-Out for
Kashmir,” Abdullah tweeted.HT
Nope, says Prakash Javadekar to reports on
proposal to make Hindi mandatory in schools
Union minister Prakash Javadekar has rejected
reports that a committee tasked with framing a new education policy for the
country has recommended making Hindi language compulsory until Class
8."Committee on New Education Policy in its draft report has not recommended
making any language compulsory," Javadekar said in a tweet. "This
clarification is necessitated in the wake of mischievous and misleading report
in a section of the media."The committee in question is a nine-member
panel led by space scientist Dr K Kasturirangan. The committee was constituted
in 2017 in order to formulate a new policy on school and college-level
education in the country. According to reports this morning, the committee's
draft on New Education Policy (NEP) included a recommendation that studying Hindi
language must be made mandatory up to Class 8.Among the other reported
recommendations of the committee were suggestions that a uniform national-level
syllabus be developed for science and mathematics and that certain local languages
such as Awadhi, Bhojpuri and Maithili be made a mode of instruction up to Class
5 in regions where they are spoken.According to the reports, the NEP also
recommended that a Devanagari (in which Hindi is written) script be developed
for certain tribal dialects that are currently being written in Roman (in which
the English language is written).India Today
Academics write to ISCA:’Deeply shocked,disturbed’
Mumbai:37 distinguished science academics and
communicators signed a letter against the “unscientific claims” made at the
Indian Science Congress this year that was sent to the general president of the
Indian Science Congress Association.“We are deeply shocked and disturbed that
false claims, based on confusing episodes in mythology as science, have been
made in the 106th Indian Science Congress, that too in scientific presentations
made to the Children Science Congress. Such content in ISC undermines the long
scientific tradition of ISC which, in the past, has been led by outstanding
scientists such as Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray, Sir Ram Nath Chopra and Prof P
Parija. Such claims tarnish the image of Indian science globally, and also
undermine the credibility of genuine contributions of the great science
personalities of yore, that too, in front of young and impressionable minds.
Stories from our epics are poetic, enjoyable, rich in moral elements and in
imagination but are not scientifically constructed or validated,” reads the
letter.Noted academics who have signed the letter include astrophysicist Jayant
V Narlikar, molecular biologist at IISC Bengaluru Dipankar Chatterji,
scientists at Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education Aniket Sule, MC Arunan
and G Nagarjuna, faculty member at IIT Bombay Abhijit Majumder, science
educator Arvind Gupta, faculty member at JNU Dhruv Raina, and faculty member at
Centre of Excellence on Basic Sciences SG Dani.indianexpress
Triple talaq bill stuck in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: A Bill to criminalise Muslim
instant divorce practice of "triple talaq" remained stuck in Rajya
Sabha in face of a combined opposition insisting that it be scrutinised by a
select committee of the House.The Bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha on Dec.27
last year, had come up for discussion just once in the subsequent 7 sittings of
the House but couldn't pass through the opposition muster. Rajya Sabha did not
discuss the bill before being adjourned sine die after the winter session was
extended by a day.TOI
‘Telangana supports EBC quota Bill, but what
about Muslims & STs?’
TRS has expressed support for the bill
envisaging 10% reservation for EBCs of
privileged castes, but suggested that pending bills seeking 12% and 10% quota for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes
respectively be considered first. Participating in the debate on the Centre’s
Bill in Lok Sabha, TRS floor leader AP Jithender Reddy said, “We support your
bill, but the Central Govt should support bills adopted by Telangana Assembly
in 2017 to provide 12% reservation to Muslims and 10 % reservation to STs. I support your bill and
urge you to support our bills.”new india nexpress
Not paid for 3 years, 650 teachers of
govt-aided madrassas in UP’s Bijnor
Bijnor: As many as 650 contractual teachers of
Govt-aided madrasas in Bijnor are on the brink of penury. They have not been
paid for the last 3 years. Repeated requests to the Govt departments have
fallen on the deaf ears, they claim.In Bijnor, there are 250 such madrasas, but
none of the teachers employed there have been paid the dues. On Tuesday, a
large number of them staged a protest at the district minority welfare office
here seeking their dues. These teachers get a monthly stipends ranging from Rs
8,000 to Rs 15,000.The teachers have been hired under central and state
sponsored scheme SPQEM (Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsa).On
Tuesday, madarssa teachers met district minority welfare officer Praveen Mishra
and demanded their dues.A madarsa teacher, Mohammad Salim, said,“We were
appointed in 2009. Teachers get a monthly stipend ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs
15,000. The teachers with graduate degrees are entitled to be paid Rs 8,000 per
month while those who have completed their PG are paid Rs 15,000.But,
unfortunately, we have not got our salary since 2015 and have submitted several
memorandums to the concerned authorities.” “However, in such a situation, we
continue to teach the students. The central Govt is not paying heed to our
plight,” Salim alleged. TOI
Illegal construction damaging Hyderabad’s
oldest mosque
Illegal construction work taking place along
the boundary of the 5-century old Jama Masjid in Golconda — oldest mosque in
the city — has damaged a portion of its original structure. The mosque established
in 1518 by Sultan Quli Qutb Shah and located in front of the Golconda Fort’s
entrance is now enveloped by eateries and shops.The construction work
encroaches on the mosque’s land, including the small bylane just beyond Bala
Hisar Gate that leads to the ancient structure. A large portion of the outer
fringe of the mosque had been levelled and foundation pillars erected, when
Express visited the spot on Wednesday. Those in-charge of construction work
objected to photos being taken. S Arif, who introduced himself as a traffic
policeman and one of the members of the mosque’s committee, urged that the
photos taken by Express be deleted and claimed to have taken up `30-lakh
“conservation work” inside the mosque. The mosque comes under the protection of
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the listing Golconda Fort and Ruins.new
indian express
HC rejects bail plea of Muslim youth murderer
Mumbai:In the latest setback to Hindu
extremists, Mumbai High Court rejected bail plea of a Hindu extremist who was
accused in the brutal killing of a Muslim man who was the resident of Nampur
village near Malegaon. Intervening into the case on behalf of victim’s brother,
Jamiat Ulama strongly opposed the plea. During the hearing, advocate Mateen
Shaikh who was engaged by Jamiat told Justice Nitin Sambre that the plaintiff
with the help of two accused had killed Waris Shaikh resident of Nampur village
on Jan. 24, 2018, resulting in tension in the area. Advocate Mateen Shaikh told
the court if the accused is released on bail, the situation in the area may
become volatile. Besides, he will try to wipe off the evidence. Charges have
already been framed in the lower court.siasat
GST exemption limit doubled to give relief to
small businesses
Providing some relief to small businesses
under GST regime, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised the annual turnover for
availing composition scheme to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 1 crore effective April 1,
2019. This move is aimed at wooing a key voting group ahead of Lok Sabha
elections due later this year.After GST Council Meeting, Jaitley said, “Those
who come under the composition scheme will pay tax quarterly, but the return
will be filed only once a year. GST exemption limit has been doubled to Rs 40
lakh annual turnover and Rs 20 lakh for northeastern states.” indianexpress
Treasurer Jamiat Maulana Haseeb passes away
Deoband: Treasurer of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind,
Maulana Haseeb passed away after suffering from heart attack. He was 83.
Religious scholars, political and social personalities thronged at his
residence at Shah Bukhari locality here to have his last glimpse.Maulana was
the student of Shaikhul Islam Maulana Husain Ahmed Madani. His son and acting
manager of Muslim Fund Deoband, Sohail Siddiqui said Maulana Haseeb died after
a short illness.Maulana was laid to rest at Qasmi graveyard in presence of
thousands of mourners.siasat
WORLD
US to pull forces from Syria, continue fight
against ISIL:US Secretary Pompeo
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US
will withdraw its troops from Syria while continuing the battle against ISIL.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry
in Cairo on Thursday, Pompeo said that Washington remained a steadfast partner
in the Middle East. "President
Trump's decision to withdraw our troops has been made. We will do that,"
the top diplomat said.Pompeo is in Egypt as part of a Middle East tour aimed at
reassuring Arab partners after President Donald Trump announced his plans to
withdraw US forces from Syria.He met Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in
Ittihadeya Palace on Thursday to discuss security and economic cooperation. He
is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the American University in Cairo on
Washington's broader Middle East objectives.Pompeo arrived in Egypt after stops
in Jordan and Iraq where he sought to reassure leaders that withdrawing from
Syria does not mean the US is abandoning the fight against the ISIL armed group
or easing pressure on Iran.From Egypt, Pompeo will travel to the Gulf Arab
states - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait - to press the
case.aljazeera
Pompeo in Egypt amid concerns over Trump's
Middle East policy
5-point
'non-paper' for Syria delivered by Bolton to Turkey
Turkey says will launch Syria attack if US
delays troop pullout
Turkey will go ahead with an offensive against
Syrian Kurdish fighters in Syria if the US delays the withdrawal of its troops
from the war-torn country, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has
said."If the [withdrawal] is put off with ridiculous excuses like Turks
are massacring Kurds, which do not reflect the reality, we will implement this
decision," he told NTV. Cavusoglu said a military operation against US-allied
Kurdish YPG, which it has pledged to carry out in northeastern Syria, is not
dependent on the pullout of US troops."We are determined on the field and
at the table ... We will decide on its timing and we will not receive
permission from anyone." Turkey has long condemned the US for its military
relationship with the Kurdish fighters.aljazeera
Egyptian activist Douma jailed for 15 years at
retrial
An Egyptian activist who was a leader of the
uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak has been sentenced to 15 years in prison
for rioting at a retrial.Ahmed Douma was also fined $335,000 over his alleged
role in a Cairo protest in Dec.2011, in which a science academy was set ablaze.
He had appealed against the 25-year sentence he was handed in 2015.Douma has
been imprisoned since 2013, when he was convicted of violating a law that
banned unauthorised protests. The law was introduced after the military
overthrew President Mubarak's democratically-elected successor, Morsi, and
launched a crackdown on dissent. More than 1,000 protesters were killed in
clashes with security forces. Since then, at least 60,000 people are reported
to have been arrested or charged, hundreds have been handed preliminary death
sentences, and hundreds more have gone missing in apparent forced
disappearances. BBC
Taliban kills dozens of Afghan forces as peace
efforts continue
A series of Taliban attacks in western and
northern Afghanistan has killed 21 members of the country's security forces,
Afghan officials say.Jamshed Shahabi, spokesperson for the governor in western
Badghis province, said the fighters overran outposts there, killing six
policemen on Wednesday.Council member Shamsul Haq Baeakzai in northern Baghlan
province said seven members of the local police force were killed there on the
same day. In northern Takhar province, council member Ruhollah Raufi said eight
policemen were shot. Taliban also attacked security checkpoints in Kunduz
province, killing soldiers and police. Attacks wounded dozens of other members
of the security forces. Taliban has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Meanwhile,
Pakistani and Afghan officials are meeting in Islamabad to discuss Taliban
peace negotiations.US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation,
Zalmay Khalilzad, has also been trying to restart a peace process with Taliban.
He is on his fourth trip to the region since being appointed in September. He
will visit India, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Several senior Taliban
leaders are in Doha, Qatar. There
were reports on Wednesday that talks in Doha between the Taliban and US were
cancelled over "agenda differences". However, US Ambassador to Afghanistan,
John Bass, tweeted:"Reports of US-Taliban talks Wednesday inaccurate.Taliban
should talk to fellow Afghans as much as they talk to media."Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on a visit to India that Iran has
had intelligence contacts with the Taliban because it needed to secure border
areas controlled by the Taliban on the Afghan side."I think it would be
impossible to have a future Afghanistan without any role for the Taliban,"
Zarif, who is in New Delhi for talks with Indian leaders said. "But we
also believe that Taliban should not have a dominant role in Afghanistan."aljazeera
Abbas put pressure on Egypt to close Rafah Crossing
Mahmoud Abbas put pressure on Egypt to close
the Rafah Border Crossing, a former Egyptian diplomat has revealed. According
to Safad, ex-Ambassador Abdullah Al-Ash’al said that the Palestinian Authority
and Fatah President withdrew the PA’s own security officers from the border
post in order to “embarrass” Cairo.The PA announced on Sunday that it would
withdraw its officers as from Monday. Hamas sources claim that the Egyptian
authorities requested the movement to replace the PA officers with its own
staff.Egypt then announced that it had closed the crossing for Palestinians
wanting to leave the Gaza Strip. It will remain open for those Palestinians
wishing to return to the besieged territory.MEMO
Diplomats from India, 11 other countries visit
China’s Xinjiang province
China took diplomats from 12 countries with
large Muslim populations, including India and Pakistan, to its volatile
Xinjiang province where tens of thousands of members of the minority Uyghur
Muslims have been interned in education camps. UN’s Geneva-based Committee on
the Elimination of Racial Discrimination last year said that it was alarmed by
“numerous reports of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities” being detained
in Xinjiang region and called for their immediate release. Estimates about them
“range from tens of thousands to upwards of a million,” it had said. China
defended the camps, saying they are re-education camps aimed at de-radicalising
sections of the Uygur population from extremism and separatism. US and several
other countries besides UN officials have expressed concern over the camps.Regional
Govt invited diplomatic envoys as well as representatives of diplomatic envoys
from Russia,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Thailand, and Kuwait, state-run Xinhua
reported.The diplomatic envoys visited local markets, farmers, educational
institutes, mosques, factories, as well as vocational education and training
centres. Throughout the trip, they interacted with local vendors, students, and
workers in Xinjiang and learned about region’s progress in maintaining social
stability, improving people’s livelihood and developing local economy, it said.
Diplomats also visited Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, the largest mosque in
Xinjiang. Besides diplomats, the Chinese foreign ministry also took a small
group of journalists to the far western region.PTI
No Indian Content on Pakistani TV Channels, It
Damages Our Culture: Chief Justice Saqib Nisar
Pakistan's Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said that
the country's Supreme Court would not allow Indian content to be shown on
Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture".Nisar's remarks
came as a three-member apex court bench heard an appeal filed by the Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) against the High Court's decision
to ban the broadcast of Indian content on TV channels in the country, Dawn paper
reported. Pemra's counsel Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri told the Supreme Court that
foreign content was banned on court orders before a High Court issued a stay.
IANS
Rohingya Hindu refugees in Bangladesh want to
return to Myanmar: US daily
Rohingya Hindus who sought refuge in
Bangladesh want to return to Myanmar but were not being allowed by Bangladesh
officials, according to Los Angeles Times.In a report from Kutupalong Refugee
Camp in Bangladesh, the paper said on Wednesday that 105 Hindu families were
ready to leave when a deal was made by the UN last May for refugees to return
home to Rakhine state in Myanmar.But they are stranded in Bangladesh because
their return home was canceled when the UN decided it was not safe for refugees
to go back to Myanmar, Hindu refugees were quoted as telling the newspaper.400
Hindu refugees in Bangladesh are segregated and housed in a separate facility
called Hindu Camp, which is under round-the-clock security.IANS
Houthi drone targets Yemeni officers, kills soldiers
Sanaa:A Houthi drone attack has killed at
least 5 Yemeni soldiers and wounded several senior officers from the Yemeni
army, including the country's chief of staff, a Govt official and Houthi spokesperson
said. Thursday's attack on a military parade at the al-Anad military base
wounded at least 20 military personnel, the official said, including Mohammad
Saleh Tamah, the head of Yemen's Intelligence Service, Mohammad Jawas, a senior
military commander and Ahmed al-Turki, the governor of Lahij province.Abdul
Guddoos al-Shahari, a spokesperson for the Houthis, told Al Jazeera that the
Yemeni army's chief of staff, Abdullah Al-Nakhee, was also wounded in the
attack.aljazeera
Govt to amend law to bring Banfladesh Jamaat
to trial: Bangla minister
The Govt will amend the International Crimes
Tribunal Act to bring Jamaat-e-Islami to trial as a political party, said Law
Minister Anisul Huq.The law minister in his second term of office spoke to the
journalists following a reception organised by the Legislative and Parliament
Division on Wednesday.Jamaat is yet to face trial as a party for its role
against the independence of Bangladesh during the Liberation War due to the
complications the in existing law, although some of its leaders had been tried
and hanged.Awami League Govt had moved to amend ICT Act during its last tenure
but it never happened.bdnews24
flash: views & NEWS
Triple talaq: India must continue with its
tradition of legal pluralism: Faizan Mustafa
Why Indian history has forgotten Fatima Sheikh
but remembers Savitribai Phule:Dilip Mandal
Citizenship Bill: Hindu Biharis Were Once
Assam's 'Saviours', Now its Hindu Bangladeshis: Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty
Ayodhya Dispute: No Muslim in SC's 5-judge
Constitution bench: Haji Mehboob
In Ayodhya case, over 30,000 pages, Awadhi and
Persian scripts, videos
Haren Pandya Case Should be Reinvestigated
Says Policeman Who First Probed Killing:Siddharth Varadarajan
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:12 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment