NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
28 Feb. 2019: 22 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11,
No:140
INDIA
IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan to be released
tomorrow as ‘peace gesture’: Pak PM Imran Khan
New Delhi:Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today
said his government has decided to release Indian Air Force(IAF) Wing Commander
Abhinandan Varthaman tomorrow (March 1). “As a peace gesture, we have decided
to release the Indian pilot in our custody,” Khan told a joint session of
parliament in Islamabad called to discuss India-Pakistan situation.Khan’s
announcement comes soon after media reports quoted Pakistan Foreign Minister
Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that the country is considering freeing IAF
pilot if it leads to a de-escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Khan has also offered to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had said he has “reasonably attractive news
from Pakistan and India”. “They have been going at it and we have been involved
trying to have them stop. We have some reasonably decent news. I think
hopefully that it’s going to come to an end,” Trump had said. Pakistan had on
Wednesday claimed it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space
and arrested a pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan amid the faceoff
between the two countries. Ministry of External Affairs later confirmed that a
MiG 21 was lost and the pilot “missing in action”.“Wing Commander Abhinandan is
being treated as per norms of military ethics,” Major General Asif Ghafoor,
spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces had said. Soon, videos started
emerging on social media from Pakistan featuring Abhinandan — one showed him
being assaulted by a mob, others showed him being interrogated.indianexpress
‘Preemptive strikes will help BJP win over 22
seats in Karnataka’: State BJP chief Yeddyurappa
Ex- Chief Minister and Karnataka BJP chief BS
Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said BJP would benefit from the preemptive strikes
carried out in Pakistan and will help the party secure more than 22 seats in
the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Yeddyurappa was referring to the preemptive
airstrikes carried out by India on Wednesday in Pakistan's Balakot. "For
the first time in 40 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bravery has resulted
in Pakistan learning a lesson. When 42 of our soldiers were martyred, PM Modi
had said he would extract revenge for the deaths of each soldier. With the
preemptive strike, he has kept his promise," Yeddyurappa told the media in
Chitradurga. In an apparent attempt to politicise the issue of the airstrike,
Yeddyurappa further said that a large number of people are waiting to elect BJP
nominees and re-elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. He also said that
that people across the country were already rejoicing over Modi's move. "I
heard this morning (Wednesday) that our forces have shot down a Pakistani
aircraft. If you see, people are rejoicing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move
and they are celebrating. The impact of this strike will help BJP win more than
22 seats in the state," Yeddyurappa said. Reacting to Yeddyurappa's
statement, Karnataka Padesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao
accused him of politicising the issue. Congress Legislative chief Siddaramaiah
called Yeddyurappa's statement disgusting and accused him of trying to make
political gains by hiding behind the bodies of martyred soldiers. The News
Minute
‘Air strikes will help BJP win over 22 Lok
Sabha seats in Karnataka’, claims Yeddyurappa
‘Desperate to win polls, war in no one’s
interest,’ says Imran Khan’s party on Yeddyurappa’s remarks
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party of Prime
Minister Imran Khan, on Thursday cited remarks by BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa to
say that those “desperate to win an election” should be isolated. Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf retweeted one such tweet by journalist Barkha Dutt, and added
its comment: “We hope you understand that you were manipulated into war
mongering. Isolate [people] who [are] desperate to win an election. War is in
no nation’s interest & its soldiers & civilians who are the collateral
damage. Don’t let one man use it for political mileage.”Dutt replied that the
party should focus on its own country, but Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said: “When
your domestic politicking is taking the region to a brink of war, and Pakistan
being dragged in, it becomes our business.”In another tweet, the Pakistani
political party claimed it took two days “to reveal the political game behind
sending two nuclear armed nations into an escalated tension situation”. “Air
Force excursions, war mongering, soldiers in captivity and the lives of so many
people in danger all equate to 22 seats in the eyes of representatives on
India’s ruling party. Is war an election option?” it asked in a tweet.On
Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had said that a desperate bid to win an
election by one man “is gripping an entire nation in war hysteria”. War is in
no one’s interest except Narendra Modi, the party had alleged.scroll.in
‘Modi desperate for re-election’: Opposition
rebukes PM for campaigning amid tension with Pakistan
Opposition today criticised Narendra Modi for
holding campaign rallies at a time when the country was hoping for the safe
return of Indian Air Force pilot who is currently in the custody of Pakistan’s
armed forces.Modi addressed his party workers through a video conference on
Thursday. The event, dubbed the “world’s largest” by BJP, is part of the
saffron party’s political campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections this
year.Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said Modi was only “desperate for
re-election”. “Pradhan Sevak hell-bent on creating a Video Conf. [conference]
record,” he wrote on Twitter.“It is shameful that while India awaits the return
of Wing Commander Abhinandan, our Prime Time PM cannot stop campaigning even
for a few minutes,” the Congress tweeted. “We stand with our soldiers and will
continue to question Modi Govt on their apathy.”scroll.in
Sushma Swaraj to leave for UAE today to attend
OIC meet as Pakistan threatens to boycott meeting
New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs Sushma
Swaraj will leave for UAE on Thursday to take part in the inaugural session of
the foreign ministers' conclave of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in
Abu Dhabi. Swaraj has been invited by UAE as guest of honour at the Islamic
meet to be held on March 1 and 2. The invitation was opposed by Pakistan who
threatened to boycott meet over the Indian minister's participation.UAE visit
of Sushma Swaraj will come at a time when tensions between Indian and Pakistan
are on an all-time high as one Indian Air Force pilot remains in the custody of
Pakistan. On Wednesday, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had
threatened OIC that he won't attend the meet after the latter extended an
invitation to Sushma Swaraj to be the guest of honour. Speaking on Geo News
show, Mehmood Qureshi said, "I have spoken to UAE foreign minister and
have expressed my reservations over her invitation. I have made myself clear
that India has shown aggression." "Under the current circumstances,
it will not be possible for me to attend OIC meeting where Sushma Swaraj is
present," Qureshi had said.India Today
Pak foreign minister Qureshi threatens to
boycott OIC meeting over Swaraj's participation
India-Pak standoff: China says sovereignty,
territorial integrity should be respected
Beijing:In a first since India launched
airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balakot region this week, China on Thursday was firm
in its view that “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity” of all countries
“must be respected.” “China believes that the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of all countries must be respected. We oppose any practices that
violate UN Charter and the norms of international law,”Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Lu Kang said. Lu’s comments in the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s
briefing here in Beijing, came after a telephonic conversation held late
Wednesday between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, after which MFA stressed that China did not wish
to see actions that violate norms of international relations. “Pakistani
Foreign Minister briefed state councillor Wang on the latest developments and
Pakistan’s stance. State councillor Wang expressed concerns and said that China
will still play a constructive role, he also said that he is concerned about
the tensions between the two countries and reiterated that the two sides should
exercise restraint and avoid escalation. He stressed that the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of all countries must be respected. He also talked about
China’s efforts in promoting peace and facilitating talks,” Lu
said.indianexpress
US, UK, France ask UNSC to blacklist Masood
Azhar: Reports
US, UK and France on Wednesday moved a fresh
proposal at UNSC to blacklist Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Reuters
reported. 3 permanent members of the UNSC have asked the 15-nation Security
Council sanctions committee to subject Azhar to an arms embargo, global travel
ban and freeze of his assets. The committee members have until March 13 to
raise objections, according to the proposal which was seen by Reuters.China,
also a permanent member of the Security Council, is likely to oppose the
proposal.scroll.in
Samjhauta Express Suspended Indefinitely By
Pakistan; India Not Aware
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/samjhauta-express-suspended-indefinitely-by-pakistan-reports-2000517
Authorities in Islamabad have indefinitely
suspended the Samjhauta Express, a decades-old train service between India and
Pakistan. A statement by Pakistan's foreign office said that the train service
with India has been suspended "till further notice". The move by
Islamabad comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan."The
operation of Samjhauta Express has been suspended today in view of the
prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India," Pakistan's foreign office
spokesperson said in a statement."Samjhauta Express will resume its
operations as soon as the security situation improves between India and
Pakistan," Pakistan's foreign office said, without giving any specific
date for resuming the train service.ndtv
Flights across Asia affected after closure of
Pak air space
Bangkok: A temporary closure of air space over
Pakistan snarled air traffic Thursday, especially between Asia and Europe,
though some airlines adjusted by rerouting their flights.In Bangkok, an
important and busy hub for transcontinental flights, thousands of travellers
were stranded. The closure of the main route for many flights to the Middle
East and Europe was likely to be costly for airlines having to carry extra fuel
and take longer journeys than usual.Bangkok airport officials said over 4,000
travellers were affected. Those needing help were getting access to accommodations
and alternative travel arrangements, they said, though some of those stranded
complained they were getting no help at all.AP
ED cracks down on terror funding, to seize properties
of Hafiz Saeed, Zakir Naik business
New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) is
poised to seize about 14 properties in Jammu and Kashmir belonging to Hafiz
Saeed in an attempt to clamp down on terror funding, Economic Times reported
citing people familiar with the development.The financial daily mentioned that
ED, which has started proceedings to attach the assets, has identified the
“proceeds of crime” invested by Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali,
who is alleged to be terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s financier. In August last
year, Watali, 70, was arrested by NIA over terror funding.“14 properties
identified include bungalows, palatial houses. All these properties will be
attached,” a senior officer told ET on condition of anonymity. Also, ED has
identified properties worth Rs 50.73 crore in Mumbai and Pune belonging to
Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. These assets were allegedly acquired from the
proceeds of crime, the agency sources told the publication.Besides, the ED has
identified 13 properties belonging to other militant organisations. Attachments
in 6 cases have already been executed by the agency, the report said. “The
endeavour is to close the tap of terror funding by attaching all the properties
which have been acquired from the proceeds of crime,” one of the persons cited
above told the daily.ET/ timesnownews
SC puts on hold order to evict 11.8 lakh
tribals, seeks details of procedure from states
The Supreme Court today put on hold its Feb.13
order directing states to complete eviction of forest dwellers whose claims in
respect of forest land had been rejected. The bench, comprising Justices Arun
Mishra and Naveen Sinha, sought reply from 21 states on the procedure followed
while rejecting these claims.Centre and the Gujarat government had moved the SC
Wednesday seeking a remodification of its earlier order, which would affect at
least 11.8 lakh tribals and traditional forest dwellers. The court will take up
the matter next on July 10.On Feb.13, the SC had directed states to complete
eviction of “forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes” (FDSTs) and “other traditional
forest dwellers” (OTFDs) whose claims for forest land had been rejected under
the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The court’s ruling came on a clutch of petitions on
the issue that were filed since 2006.Days after the order, Congress president
Rahul Gandhi had asked chief ministers of states governed by the party to file
review petitions in the Supreme Court against the order or “any other action
you may deem fit”.indianexpress
India’s nutrition programme excludes poorest
households: Study
India’s flagship programme to tackle
undernutrition — Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) — may have been
inadvertently excluding women with low education and the poorest households
from accessing its benefits, according to a study published Thursday. Expansion
and utilisation of one of India’s largest government-run community-based
nutrition programmes increased significantly between 2006 and 2016, especially
among historically disadvantaged castes and tribes. However, according to
researchers from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), women
with low education and the poorest households are relatively more excluded from
accessing program benefits.Among states too, while overall utilisation has
improved, high malnutrition states are relatively lagging. Study found both
historically disadvantaged castes and pregnant women with low education levels
were less likely to receive ICDS services than other groups. ICDS provides
food, pre-school education, and primary healthcare to children under six and pregnant
and lactating women. ICDS continues to be India’s flagship program to tackle
undernutrition, and key actions under India’s new nutrition mission, POSHAN
Abhiyaan, are anchored in the programme. The expanded participation between
2006 and 2016 demonstrates progress, but the researchers cautioned not all
groups have benefited equally. “Even though overall utilisation has improved
and reached many marginalized groups such as historically disadvantaged castes
and tribes, the poor are still left behind, with lower utilisation and lower
expansion throughout the continuum of care,” said Kalyani Raghunathan, IFPRI
Research Fellow. “These gaps are especially pronounced in the largest states of
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which also carry the highest burden of undernutrition,”
said Raghunathan. “While both states have shown improvements in 2016, they
still fall behind national averages, suggesting that overall poor performance
in high poverty states could lead to major exclusions,” he said. “Even in
better performing states exclusion of poor could be due to challenges of
reaching remote areas, despite attempts to close district-wise equity gaps or
local challenges of exclusion within villages due to caste- or location-based
exclusion,” said Raghunathan.PTI
Nearly 50% of India currently facing drought:
IIT Gandhinagar scientists
Gandhinagar:Nearly 50% of the country is
currently facing drought with at least 16% falling in the “exceptional” or
“extreme” category, according to IIT Gandhinagar scientists managing India’s
real time drought prediction system.This ongoing drought will pose a lot of
challenges in water availability this summer, Vimal Mishra, associate professor
at the IIT in Gandhinagar, told PTI. The real-time monitoring system run by his
team, which includes Ph.D. student Amardeep Tiwari, collects weather and
precipitation data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which is
then used to simulate soil moisture and other factors that contribute to
drought.Results of the simulations,prepared by the Water and Climate Lab at IIT
Gandhinagar, are available on the website of the IMD.PTI
2 Muslims thrashed again by RSS mob in Jammu,
police promise action
Samba: Even though the Indian govt is trying
to push the narrative that there were no attacks on Kashmiris after Pulwama
attacks, reality is much different. On Feb.25, tribals from Gujjar minority
community were thrashed by a group of right-wing activists in Samba district in
Jammu. According to reports, 2 local tribals: Mushtaq Ahmad Chowdary and
Mohammad Ashraf Chowdary were on the way to their destination when an RSS mob
caught hold of them in Vijaypur area of Samba and forced them to chant
“nationalist slogans”.A video of the two being thrashed and being forced to
chant slogans in favour of “Bharat Mata” and against Pakistan went viral on
social media with netizens demanding authorities to take strict action against
the culprits.Anger is brewing among the local Muslim community of the area
against the hooliganism of the right-wing activists with locals calling for a
peaceful protest against the harassment after Friday prayers this week. Nazakat
Khatana, a Gujjar activist from the region said the duo were waiting to board a
bus to reach their destination when the incident happened. He said RSS workers
were celebrating the airstrikes by Indian Air forces against Pakistan when they
caught hold of the duo and thrashed them. “We raised the issue with the
concerned Police station; you can’t force anyone to chat Bharat Mata ki Jai.
Although we have been assured that strict action will be taken against the
culprits but we have decided to hold a peaceful protest march after Friday
prayers this week”, Khatana says.He said ever since Pulwama attack Muslims in
the area are being provoked deliberately by Hindu-right wing parties.TCN
Ayodhya issue must be resolved through talk,
mosque can be shifted: Maulana Salam Nadvi
Former All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) member Maulana Salman Nadvi has reiterated his proposal of shifting
the mosque from the disputed land and resolving the issue through
talks.Reacting to Supreme Court exploring mediation in Ayodhya title suit,
Nadvi said, "I have learned that Supreme Court wants both parties to sit
together and find a solution on the Ram Janmbhoomi issue. I believe all sides
should come together and resolve this issue."He added, "I had
personally proposed that a mosque should be shifted and constructed somewhere
else. I had also said that adequate land must be provided for not only the
mosque but also for an educational institute, which can propagate the message
of peace."Outlining his message of peace and harmony, he further added,
"I am of the opinion that the mosque must be shifted from that
environment. I believe that God, Lord, Allah are all one and if a religious
place is being constructed, we should not fight on it." Speaking about
others' reaction to his proposal, he said, "Sunni Waqf Board was with me
but Muslim personal law board was against it. Now they have also agreed that
there must be talk. This should be accepted by all because it is good for the
country."ANI
Delhi: After encroaching Lodhi graveyard, CRPF
takes over Lal Masjid; stops prayer
New Delhi: After occupying the Lodhi
graveyard, CRPF occupied the masjid as well on Tuesday evening. CRPF alleged
that the masjid does not belong to Waqf Board and the court has ordered it to
occupy the place. CRPF denied offering of Maghrib and Isha prayers. It covered
the masjid from all sides. Locals fear that the masjid may be demolished.On
receipt of information, Waqf Board Chairman Amanatullah Khan reached Lal
Masjid. He staged a dharna in protest and said that he will not leave the place
until the masjid is not vacated. Despite stay order by the High Court, last
year on Feb.26 itself the force had run a bulldozer and razed toilets, shrines
and other structures.Earlier in on July 21, 2017, also CRPF had run the
bulldozer on the land.It must be noted that the High Court had stayed the case
in 1998. Again the stay order was taken from the High court. Since the stay
order of the court no demolition activity was undertaken but last year all of a
sudden the officials of CRPF and other agencies were deployed around the masjid
and the structures located around masjid were demolished.The masjid and
graveyard are nearly 200 years old. The graveyard has graves of freedom
fighters too.siasat
'Muslim women gaining more from Darul Qaza,
come with 95 per cent complaints'
Lucknow: Members of the All India Muslim
Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) Darul Qazas said that it is a misconception that
women's issues do not get adequate representation at the arbitration centres
and claimed that, in fact, 95% of the issues and complaints brought to them
come from women. Presenting the Darul Qaza report at the conference at Aishbagh
Eidgah, organiser of AIMPLB's Darul Qaza committee, Qazi Tabrez Alam Qasmi
said, "Most cases relating to family issues, come to the Nagpara centre in
Mumbai where around 300 cases a year are heard. On an average, each of the 68 Darul
Qazas in the country gets 60-70 cases in a year and it takes about four to five
months for a case to be resolved." "19 Darul Qazas in Uttar Pradesh
get over 50 family cases per year relating to women wanting separation from
husbands, property rights, 'mehr' and dowry issues, custody of child,
maintenance after divorce and even initiation of divorce," he
said."Against popular beliefs, while women can approach Darul Qaza on 10
issues, men have only three points. Around 95% of the applications that we get,
and are solved, come from women. This has also taken the load off the
already-burdened judicial system," Qasmi added. TOI
Plea in Bombay high court alleges violations in
Haj panel appointment
Nagpur: A petitioner has moved Nagpur bench of
Bombay high court alleging violations in appointment of new members on State
Haj Committee. He prayed for cancelling Feb.14 government notification
regarding their appointments. A division
bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Vinay Joshi on Tuesday, issued
notices to centre and state govts, along with Haj Committee asking them to
reply within 2 weeks. Petitioner Maulana Habib Rizvi Mohammed Hussain, a law
expert, informed that the state level Haj Committee comprises 3 members from
Muslim MPs and MLAs, 3 from councillors, 3 from Muslim theology and legal
expertise, and among NGOs, totalling to 16, as per the Haj Committee Act-2002.
The tenure of all members is 3 years. He contended that the government’s
notification does not include MPs and MLAs while the Muslim community has 2
MPs, 10 MLAs and 4 legislative council members. TOI
Kerala police book 7 others for aiding
rape-accused Imam evade arrest
Thiruvananthapuram: Police in Kerala have
registered a case against 7 people for allegedly aiding the escape of a
40-year-old Imam who was booked for raping a minor girl from Vithura earlier
this year. Reports also suggest that the 7 accused even assisted the Imam in
concealing evidence related to the rape of the minor girl.A case was registered
in this regard against Imam Shafeeq earlier this month, DSP Asokan told The
News Minute. Asokan added that another case under 228 A of IPC was later registered
against the Imam for revealing the name of the minor rape survivor in a video
he made and circulated on WhatsApp to assert his innocence.The matter had come
to light only after the President of the Tholicode Muslim Mosque, Badusha
registered a complaint against Imam Shafeeq accusing him of taking a
15-year-old girl to a deserted forest in his Innova car and raping her. Imam
Shafeeq himself is a former chief of the Tholicode Muslim Mosque.timesnownews
Muslim man climbs water tank in UP, raises
pro-Modi slogans
Meerut:A Muslim man on Wednesday climbed onto
a water tank in Meerut and raised slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi saying the nation needed a leader like him, officials said.The incident
happened in the Civil Lines area in the afternoon when the bearded man, identified
as Zia-ul-Haq by the police, climbed onto the high water tank with two bottles
full of petrol.He threatened to set himself ablaze if anyone came near him and
used force to bring him down. Haq had a hand-held loudspeaker with him and
started shouting: Desh Ka Neta Kaisa ho, Narendra Modi Jaisa Ho.He also shouted
slogans in favour of the air strikes and said that only a leader like Modi
could have done this. He slammed people who eat beef and said that cow
slaughter should stop in the state and the country.Senior district and police
officials have since rushed to the site and are trying to pacify the man and
get him to climb down. He in turn sprayed petrol on the stairs leading to the
tank top and set it on fire. The police is also trying to ascertain from his
family if he is suffering from some mental health issues.IANS
No income tax refunds without bank account-PAN
linking
New Delhi: Income Tax Department will
"only" issue refunds via the e-mode into bank accounts of taxpayers
beginning next month and they should link PAN with their accounts, taxman said
in its latest public communication.The department said refunds will be sent to
bank accounts as it will issue "only e-refunds from March 1,
2019."Link your PAN with your bank account to get your refund directly,
swiftly and securely, the department said in a public advisory issued
Wednesday. It added the bank account could be either savings, current, cash or
overdraft.Till now, the department used to issue refunds to taxpayers either in
their bank accounts or through account payee cheques, in a case-to-case basis depending
on category of taxpayers.PTI
India and Hindus are synonymous: RSS leader
New Delhi :RSS All India Prachar Pramukh Arun
Kumar on Wednesday said that India (Bharat) and Hindus are synonymous and if
Hindus will decrease in any part of the country, India may face a situation of
crisis there.Speaking after releasing a book – “The saffron surge”— Kumar said,
“India and Hindu are synonymous. Hindu is there where India is. If India will
not exist, Hindu will also not exist.”Kumar added, “Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Afghanistan, did not remain India (Bharat) then Hindus too did not exist there.
And if Hindu exists then India too. India may face a situation of crisis in any
part of it where Hindus will decrease.” Kumar made the remark while elaborating
the concept of RSS being a ‘Hindu organisation’.indianexpress
Hindutva and exclusion connected: Amartya Sen
New Delhi:Expressing grave concern at the
exclusionary thought guiding the ruling establishment, Nobel Laureate Amartya
Sen said that “there is a connection between Hindutva psychology and
exclusion.”He was speaking at the launch of a book — whose title is borrowed
from his own phrase ‘A Quantum Leap in the Wrong Direction?’ — which aims to
evaluate the promises and policies of the current BJP-led government.Professor
Sen argued that the social inequality inherent in Hindutva translates into an
acceptance of economic inequality also. “This idea of progress being progress
for some, but not for others — there’s an element of religiosity in it. This
basic belief that some people’s progress is like everyone’s progress is
something that can be rooted way back in our thinking,” he said.“There is a
kind of tolerance of inequality and tolerance of judging progress by what is
happening to the most successful,” he added, pointing out that the richest 10%
of the country are faring better than ever.The book argues that the government
has failed to fulfil its poll slogan of “sabka saath, sabka vikas”, and has
also suppressed the data which shows this failure.thehindu
Asaduddin Vs Azharuddin? Ex-Cricketer May
Fight 2019 Polls From Hyderabad
Hyderabad: If things go as planned by the
Telangana unit of the Congress, it could well be former cricketer Mohammad
Azharuddin versus AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi for Hyderabad Lok Sabha
seat.The former India captain is the top pick of the Telangana Pradesh Congress
Committee (TPCC) for the constituency. It has shortlisted candidates for all 17
Lok Sabha segments in Telangana, party sources said.56-year-old
cricketer-turned-politician, who hails from the city, was appointed one of the
working presidents of TPCC before the Dec.7, 2018 assembly elections in the
state.There were earlier reports that he was keen to contest from Secunderabad,
now held by senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, in
the Lok Sabha election due by May.But it now looks unlikely that he would get
the party nod to fight from there. However, it's not immediately clear if Azharuddin
is willing to throw his hat in the ring in Hyderabad constituency, an AIMIM
stronghold, represented by Owaisi for three terms now.PTI
Photo voter slip can’t be only document for
voting, could be misused: EC
Election Commission of India (ECI) today
announced that photo voter slips will no longer be accepted as ‘stand-alone
identification document’ for voting at polling stations.EC has justified its
decision on the ground that photo voter slip design does not have any security
features and can be misused.ECI has listed 11 documents for identification
including driving licence, service identity cards issued by government bodies,
bank passbook with photo, PAN card, Smart card issued by RGI under NPR, MNREGA
job card, health insurance smartcard, pension papers, official I-card issued to
MPs/MLAs, and Aadhaar card.indianexpress
India’s GDP growth slows to 5-quarter low of
6.6 per cent in Q3
New Delhi :India’s economic growth slows to a 5-quarter
low of 6.6 per cent in October-December this fiscal, from 7 per cent a year
ago, as per government data released Thursday.
The growth estimate has been lowered to 7 per cent in 2018-19 from 7.2
per cent released earlier, said Central Statistics Office.indianexpress
'Proud to Address You as Dr. Hadiya Asokan':
Husband Shafin Jahan Announces in Facebook Post
Kozhikode: Hadiya, a medical student from
Kerala, whose conversion to Islam and subsequent marriage had been mired in a
huge controversy, graduated with a degree in homoeopathic medicine and surgery
earlier this week.Hadiya’s husband Shafin Jahan announced the news in a
Facebook post on Tuesday “Alhamdulillah! Finally you reached an important
destination out of all odds. Very proud to address you a Doctor. Dr.Hadiya
Asokan,” Jahan posted along with a picture of Hadiya sporting a doctor’s coat
and stethoscope.news18
WORLD
Israel security forces should face justice for
war crimes in Gaza killings: UN
UN investigators said today Israeli security
forces may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in killing 189
Palestinians and wounding more than 6,100 at weekly protests in Gaza last
year.The independent panel said it had confidential information about those it
believes to be responsible for the killings, including snipers and commanders. “Israeli
security forces killed and maimed Palestinian demonstrators who did not pose an
imminent threat of death or serious injury to others when they were shot, nor
were they directly participating in hostilities,” it said in its
report.Protests have been held at the frontier between Israel and the Gaza
Strip since last year, calling for the easing of an Israeli blockade of the
territory and recognition of the right of Palestinian refugees there to return
to homes in Israel.In Jerusalem, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry had
no immediate comment, saying the report was still being studied.Israel has said
its forces opened fire to protect the frontier from incursions and attacks by
armed militants.The latest report, covering the period from March 30-Dec.31
2018, to UN Human Rights Council was based on hundreds of interviews with
victims and witnesses, as well as medical records, video and drone footage, and
photographs.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet should
share the findings with the International Criminal Court (ICC), it said. The
Hague-based court opened a preliminary investigation into allegations of
Israeli human rights abuses on Palestinian territory in 2015.REUTERS
UN: Possible Israel crimes against humanity in
Gaza
Israel frees Palestinian woman lawmaker held
for 20 months
Ramallah: Family of a Palestinian lawmaker
says Israeli authorities have released Khalida Jarrar after 20 months of
holding her in detention without raising charges.The lawmaker’s husband,
Ghassan Jarrar, says she was freed on Thursday.The 56-year-old Khalida Jarrar
was held under “administrative detention,” an Israeli policy that permits
holding people for months at a time without charges.In 2015, she served 15
months after being convicted of incitement to violence and “promoting terror
activities.”A senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine, she was arrested again in July 2017 and held since then. She was
initially scheduled to be released last October, but her detention was then
extended another four months.AP
Israeli fighter jets conduct airstrike in Gaza
Strip
Gaza :Israeli fighter jets conducted an airstrike
in the southern Gaza Strip early Thursday, according to eyewitnesses. The
airstrike reportedly hit a target belonging to the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades,
the military wing of Hamas, west of Khan Yunis.There were no casualties, the
sources added.The Palestinian Health Ministry has not released a statement so
far.Anadolu
Jared Kushner meets Saudi's MBS for first time
since Khashoggi murder
Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner met
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Tuesday for the first
time since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The talks in Saudi capital Riyadh,
part of Kushner’s tour of the Middle East, focused on ways of “increasing
cooperation” between the US and Saudi as well as efforts to resolve
Israeli-Palestinian conflict,a White House statement said. "Building on
previous conversations, they discussed increasing cooperation between US and
Saudi, and Trump administration’s efforts to facilitate peace between Israelis
and Palestinians," the statement said."Additionally, they discussed
ways to improve the condition of the entire region through economic
investment," it said.This was first face-to-face meeting between Kushner,
who is also US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and MBS since the murder of
Khashoggi. Kushner arrived in Ankara after stops in Bahrain and UAE to discuss
his Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative. Aljazeera
UK MP suspended over anti-Semitic comments
A British opposition MP has been suspended
after he said the Labour Party was “too apologetic” over anti-Semitism.Speaking
last week Labour MP Chris Williamson, who has used his status as an MP to grant
a Muslim Brotherhood-linked group a platform in parliament, was caught on video
making provocative statements. “We have backed off far too much, we have given
too much ground, we have been too apologetic," he said.Deputy Labour
leader Tom Watson called for Williamson to be suspended after the “deliberately
inflammatory" comments, while another MP from the party said his comments
were a “provocation too far”.Williamson later apologised for his comments
saying he was “sorry for how I chose to express myself on this issue within our
party”. Watson described the apology as “long-winded” and “heavily caveated”.On
Tuesday is also emerged Williamson had booked a room in parliament to show a
film dealing with anti-Semitism alongside former Labour member Jackie Walker,
who was suspended from the party in 2016 amid anti-Semitic accusations. Watson
said it was “unacceptable” Williamson had yet to cancel the event. The latter
will be investigated over his comments.The National
Trump’s talks with Kim collapsed after North
Korea demanded end to sanctions
President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, North
Korea’s leader, abruptly ended their second summit meeting Thursday when
negotiations collapsed after the two sides failed to agree on even the first
steps toward nuclear disarmament, a peace declaration or reducing sanctions on
the North.“It was about the sanctions,” Trump said at an afternoon news
conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, referring to Kim’s demand that the US lift harsh
economic sanctions imposed on North Korea with the approval of the UN.
“Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, but we couldn’t
do that.”The premature end to the negotiations means the diplomacy between US
and North Korea that has gone on for most of a year remains stalled, even as
experts say North Korea continues to produce fissile material to make nuclear
warheads.Trump said that Kim had agreed to take an important step toward
dismantling a central part of his nuclear program — the Yongbyon enrichment
facility — but that Kim said he would do so only if all sanctions were
lifted.President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un have cut short
their second summit without reaching an agreement. Trump said "it wasn't a
good thing to be signing anything" and "sometimes you have to
walk". The president and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the North
would have to dismantle other weapons systems before all sanctions were lifted.
They added that the two sides would continue negotiations in other settings and
stressed that there were nuclear sites the Americans were aware of that were
unknown to the public. New York Times
China denies speculation of military presence
in Afghanistan
Beijing:China’s defense ministry is defending
military cooperation with Tajikistan following a report of a sizeable Chinese
troop presence at a base in the Central Asian state.Ministry spokesman Ren
Guoqiang told reporters at a monthly briefing on Thursday that cooperation
between the two was “in line with” international law and related resolutions
passed by the United Nations Security Council. China had apparently sought to
keep its Tajikistan base manned by members of the paramilitary People’s Armed
Police a secret. However, the Washington Post in February reported on the
sizeable Chinese military complex first-hand, although it remains unclear what
the troops’ mission is and Mr. Ren provided no details.The area borders China’s
restive Xinjiang region.AP
Iran power struggle continues as Zarif keeps
top diplomatic post: aljazeera
The recent political crisis in Iran, triggered
by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's attempt to resign, reflects a long-time
rivalry between hardliners and moderate factions that is poisoning Iran’s
politics, according to Iran experts.Despite President Hassan Rouhani's
rejection of Zarif’s resignation, observers believe that the foreign minister's
unexpected move was the result of an intensifying internal power struggle in
Iran that is far from over."Zarif's resignation has exposed the political
faultline between competing political factions in the country," said
Luciano Zaccara, professor of Gulf Politics at Qatar University Gulf Studies
Center. Confrontation is between moderate forces within the govt, including Zarif,
and hardliners who dominate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps,a military force
directly under control of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Zarif has been
the top Iranian official working to improve relations between the Islamic
Republic and Western countries.But hardliners took a fierce stance against the
government’s effort to salvage 2015 nuclear deal signed with the West to curb
Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions reliefs.
Daesh leader in Iraq is under ‘US protection’,
claims Iraqi Lawmaker
Baghdad:Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a leader of the
Daesh group, is still alive in Iraq’s western Anbar province, where he enjoys
“US protection”, an Iraqi lawmaker has alleged.In a Thursday statement, Hassan
Salem, an MP linked to the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group (a component of Iraq’s
largely Shia Hashd al-Shaabi fighting force), said that al-Baghdadi -- despite
several earlier reports of his death -- was “travelling freely through the
region under US protection”.According to Salem, the U.S. is helping the Daesh
leader because it knows Iraq’s parliament will soon demand a complete U.S.
troop withdrawal from the country.Pro-Iran groups in Iraq’s parliament are
expected to approve a resolution in March calling for the departure of all US
troops from Iraq.Anadolu Agency
Philippine president offers citizenship to
Rohingya
DHAKA;Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
offered Filipino citizenship to Rohingya refugees and reiterated his
willingness to accept them into the country, a local news portal reported. “I
am willing to accept Rohingyas,” GMA News, an online portal, quoted Duterte as
saying while he was addressing a convention in capital Manila. Last April,
Duterte also called the military crackdown on Rohingya community in Myanmar’s
Rakhine State as “genocide” prompting strong criticism from Myanmar, it added,
forcing him to issue an apology.Anadolu
'Syria regime attacks on Idlib risk political
solution'
ANKARA:Attacks on Syria’s Idlib by Bashar
al-Assad regime and its supporters are threatening a political solution in the
country, according to a delegation of Syrian military opposition.“Despite some
six months have passed since the Sochi agreement that foresaw cease-fire in
Idlib, the Bashar al-Assad regime continues to violate the cease-fire agreement
in Idlib de-escalation zone with the support of its allies Russia and Iran,”
said a statement by the delegation, which represents the Syrian military
opposition in the Astana-format international meetings.Terming the silence of
international community on regime attacks on civilians as “shameful”, it added:
“The regime attacks on Idlib are threatening the political solution and the
Astana process.”Anadolu
Flash: views &
NEWS
Balakot Strike May Help Increase Support For
Modi Ahead Of Elections, Says Pollsters
For Jihadists, Balakot Has a Historical,
Wounded Symbolism:David Devadas, the wire
This Rae Bareli Man Used Balakot As A Jihadi
Launch Pad 200 Years Ago, Here's His Story: KC Archana, TOI
Truth is first victim in India-Pakistan
conflict:Pankaj Mishra, Bloomberg
SC Issues Notice On Plea Against Regularising
Entry Of Non-Muslim Migrants From Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan
‘Mediation’ in Ayodhya title suit: Routine
idea that has got new SC push: Seema Chishti
At raid site, no casualties and a mysterious
school: Asad Hashim , aljazeera
Russia, US preparing Taliban list for
sanctions lift: Russian spl envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:13 PM)
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