NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
12 Feb. 2019: 06 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11,
No:126
INDIA
CAG report: Finance Ministry violated own
instructions on secret service expenditure
Finance Ministry violated its own instructions
in 2 cases about prior approval of CAG before concurring with re-appropriation
orders for increasing funds under "Secret Service Expenditure", an
audit report tabled in Lok Sabha said today.The report of the Comptroller and
Auditor General for 2017-18 said Finance Ministry had stated earlier that any
re-appropriation of funds, which increases the provision ‘41-Secret Service
Expenditure' by 25% or more of original provision in the grant, should be done
only with the prior approval of CAG."The audit observed two instances
where Ministry of Finance violated its own orders regarding prior approval of
CAG before re-appropriation," the report said.It said total original
provision as a whole under ‘41-Secret Service Expenditure' pertaining to police
under Home Ministry for 2017-18 was ₹163.65 crore.The report said that Home
Ministry issued a re-appropriation order of ₹150 crore in January last year to
increase the provision under the above object head with the approval of Finance
Ministry.Citing another instance, the report said the original provision
pertaining to 'cabinet' under Home Ministry was only ₹5 crore. It said the Home
Ministry issued a re-appropriation order on February 7 last year of ₹1.25 crore
to increase the provision under object head ‘41-Secret Service Expenditure'
with approval of Finance Ministry.In its reply to CAG, ministry said that it is
the responsibility of the department concerned to get the approval of CAG
before re-appropriation."The reply is not acceptable, as it is the
responsibility of Ministry of Ministry of Finance to ensure that the increase
in secret service expenditure over the Budget provision concurs with the prior
approval of the CAG," said the report.IANS
Times Now accesses the inside details of the CAG Rafale report
https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/times-now-accesses-the-inside-details-of-the-cag-rafale-report/23350
Times Now accesses the inside details of the CAG Rafale report
https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/times-now-accesses-the-inside-details-of-the-cag-rafale-report/23350
CAG Submits Rafale Report to Govt But Price of
Jets Remains Masked:Sources
Anil Ambani Visited French Defence Officials
Just Before Rafale Deal: Leaked Email
New Delhi: A leaked email put out by Congress today
suggest that businessman Anil Ambani visited then French defence minister
Jean-Yves Les Drian’s office in Paris in late March 2015, a fortnight before PM
Narendra Modi announced the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.According
to the contents of the email, this meeting was with Le Drian’s special advisor
Jean Claude Mallet, his industry advisor Christophe Salomon and another
technical advisor, Geoffrey Bouquot.While The Wire could not independently
verify the authenticity of this email — questionnaires sent out to the parties
involved last weekend did not elicit any response — the developments appear to
have also been independently verified by Indian Express on Tuesday.The email
itself appears to be a back-and-forth between officials at European defence
company Airbus which references a conversation with Le Drian’s office.Ambani’s
meeting with the French defence minister’s office is described as being
“confidential and planned as you can imagine with very short notice”. Email also
notes that Ambani wished to work with Airbus Helicopters on both commercial
helicopters and defence in general.Another point the Congress Party has taken
up as a point of attack against the Modi government is that Ambani reportedly
mentioned a MoU that was “in preparation and the intention to sign during the
PM visit”. Or in other words, Ambani was in the know before it happened.thewire
2 weeks before Rafale announcement, Ambani met
French Defence officials
PM should be booked under Official Secrets
Act: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi:Congress president Rahul Gandhi has
said PM Narendra Modi should be booked under the Official Secrets Act for
allegedly divulging confidential defence information relating to Rafale fighter
aircraft deal to industrialist Anil Ambani.Citing an e-mail, Gandhi said Ambani
was already in talks with the French govt and had told them about signing of MoU
days before the Rafale deal was signed."This is breach of Official Secrets
Act. PM who was aware of the deal told Anil Ambani. PM is acting as Anil
Ambani's middleman... This nothing less than treason,"he said..thehindu
Modi has committed treason, revealed defence
secret to private entity: Rahul
Minority status to AMU: SC refers to 7-judge
bench
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today referred to 7-judge
bench the issue of determining the correctness of minority status granted to
AMU.A 3-judge bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi referred the matter to the
larger bench for defining the parameters for grant of minority status to
educational institutions.The then UPA-led centre government had filed an appeal
against the 2006 verdict of the Allahabad High Court holding that the varsity
was not a minority institution. The varsity administration had also filed a
separate plea against the high court verdict on the issue.BJP government at the
Centre had in 2016 told the SC that it will withdraw the appeal filed by the
erstwhile UPA govt.It said a five-judge Constitution bench in 1968 in Aziz
Basha case had held that AMU was a “central university” and not a minority
institution.After the 1968 verdict, AMU (Amendment) Act, 1981 came into
force.PTI
SC reserves verdict on plea seeking fresh
probe into murder of ex-Gujarat Home Minister Pandya
The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict
on a plea seeking fresh probe into the murder of ex Gujarat Home Minister Haren
Pandya in the then Narendra Modi govt. Pandya was shot dead on March 26, 2003,
by 2 unidentified assailants while he was in his car outside Ahmedabad’s Law
Garden.A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra reserved the order after senior
advocate Shanti Bhushan, appearing for NGO CPIL, and Solicitor General Tushar
Mehta concluded their arguments. Bhushan said that several new facts have
emerged recently which required fresh investigation into the case.In the plea, NGO
has stated that “some startling information that has recently come to light and
has been extensively reported by the media regarding Pandya’s murder,
information which was never investigated into by the investigating agency,
CBI”.The petitioners in the murder case had earlier alleged that Azam Khan, a
witness in the encounter of gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh, had told a Mumbai
court during a trial that:“Sheikh had told him that Pandya was murdered as a
part of a contract killing…” involving a senior IPS officer. According to Khan,
probing officer had refused to record the statement back in 2010.indianexpress
‘Sit in corner till court rises’: Ex- interim
CBI director Rao guilty of contempt of court
New Delhi:Former CBI interim director M
Nageswara Rao was found guilty of contempt of court and fined Rs 1 lakh by the
Supreme Court today for shunting out a CBI officer who was in charge of the
Muzaffarpur shelter abuse probe despite a freeze on transfers. Additional Legal
Advisor S Bhasuran was also held guilty for the same offence and imposed Rs 1
lakh fine. The 2 were sentenced till the rising of the court.“Go to one corner
of court and sit down till court rises,” a bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi
ordered.Coming down heavily on Rao for his “brazen” attitude, the court said, “Rao
was aware of SC’s directions that CBI officer cannot be transferred without its
consent. If this is not contempt of court then what is?”Rao who had personally
appeared in the court today tendered an “unconditional” apology in the court.
The bench also comprising of Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said, “Rao
has put himself at mercy of the court and has had an unblemished career as a
police officer. Even if we accept his apology, his career record will remain
blemished, as he has acted in contempt by his own admission.”indianexpress
Govt sought legal opinion on changes to
sedition law, told necessary, go by Supreme Court
New Delhi:A legal opinion sought by Centre on
a Law Commission report on British era sedition law (Section 124-A of IPC) has
stated that “Section 124A sedition as interpreted by the Supreme Court is
necessary”. In short, it is unlikely that IPC section on sedition is diluted or
scrapped. In Sept.2016, the Supreme Court had reiterated that a larger bench
had already provided necessary safeguards that should be followed by all
authorities, and “every magistrate is bound by what we said in the Kedar Nath
(case)”.It was referring to the order in Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar,
1962, in which a Constitution Bench had ruled in favour of the Constitutional
validity of Section 124A, but had added a vital caveat: that a person could be
prosecuted for sedition only if his acts caused “incitement to violence or
intention or tendency to create public disorder or cause disturbance of public
peace”.indian express
J&K govt seeks adjournment of hearing on
Art 35A
J&K govt has sought adjournment of hearing
on the contentious Article 35A case, which was expected to be taken up by the
Supreme Court this week. M Shoeb Alam, the standing counsel of the J&K govt
in the Supreme Court, filed a note before top court’s secretary general,
requesting postponement of the hearing. The matter was listed for Feb.12.In the
letter, Alam submitted that the state “will be seeking adjournment in the
matter because there is presently no elected government in Jammu and Kashmir
and the State is under President’s Rule”.“The present matter involves a
sensitive issue regarding a challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution of
India. A short reply has been filed by the State of J&K in the lead matter
and notices have not been issued in the other petitions. It will therefore be
requested that the matter may kindly be heard when an elected government is in
place,” the letter reads. Article 35A, incorporated in the Constitution by a
1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the citizens
of J&K and denies property rights to a woman who marries a person from
outside the state. The provision also applies to children of such women
marrying non-state subjects.HT
‘Division on Communal Lines’, ‘Use of
Musharraf Formula’: Storm Over Divisional Status For Ladakh
Jammu: Soon after the governor of J&K,
Satya Pal Malik, approved Ladakh as a separate division, a new political storm
has started brewing in the state with some people looking it as a
discriminatory decision “purely for electoral gains”. While some see it as a
larger plan to make Ladakh a “union territory”, others are looking at it as a
division of the state on “communal” lines.Though all the political parties in
the valley welcomed the decision, many of them sought a similar status for
Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal areas of the state.However, there is also a
division among the people of Ladakh.With about 87,000sqkm area, Ladakh has 2
districts—Kargil and Leh — and is one of the most sparsely populated areas in
the state. This “cold-desert” has a population of about 284,000 people
according to the 2011 survey — 39% Buddhists, 46% Muslims and 12% Hindus.
Kargil is 204km northeast of J&K’s summer capital, Srinagar, and has a
predominantly Muslim population. About 230 km east is the Leh, largest town in
the area where most people practice Buddhism.The initial rift is between Kargil
and Leh as the latter has been designated as the headquarters of the newly
created division.Politicians from Kargil threatened a mass agitation if the
administration did not review its decision of setting up all the offices in
Leh. news18
Ladakh division: J&K guv’s administration
asks people opposing headquarters at Leh to be patient
J&K administration today asked all those
opposing setting up of divisional headquarters of Ladakh at Leh to be patient,
saying that “everyone’s interest will be taken care of as that is the objective
of the govt”.“Governor and the govt have taken note of the sentiments of the
people of Kargil, following the decision to create a new administrative/revenue
division of Ladakh,” an official spokesperson said. The creation of the
division has been a long-standing need of the people of Ladakh which has two
districts- Kargil and Leh. indianexpress
PDP leader wants back remains of Afzal Guru, Bhat
Srinagar:A leader of former chief minister
Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP on Monday wrote to PM Narendra Modi seeking the remains of
separatist JKLF founder, Maqbool Bhat, and 2001 Parliament attack convict,
Afzal Guru.Bhat was hanged at Delhi’s Tihar jail on Feb.11, 1984, for the
murder of a policeman and his body was buried on the prison premises. Guru,
too, was buried at Tihar after his hanging at the prison on Feb. 9, 2013. “I
can with utmost responsibility say that should the Government of India decide
to act upon this request [for returning the remains], the animosity of
Kashmiris and their sense of alienation can be brought down by several
notches,’’ said PDP leader and Rajya Sabha member, Fayaz Mir, in a letter to
Modi as a shutdown was observed in Kashmir on Bhat’s 35th death anniversary. In
his letter, Mir cited the demands for clemency for former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi’s killers. “I do not think it is appalling or disrespectful to seek the
return of mortal remains of 2 Kashmiri men to their families.’’HT
Pulwama encounter: Soldier, militant wanted in
Srinagar hospital firing killed in Ratnipora
New Delhi :A militant and a soldier were
killed Tuesday in an encounter with security forces in Ratnipora area of South
Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Police said the militant, Hilal Ahmad Rather,
affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen, was involved in the killing of 2 policemen
at Srinagar’s SMSH Hospital in Feb.last year.The deceased Army man has been
identified as Baljeet Singh. Another soldier was also injured in the encounter.
The encounter broke out in the early hours of Tuesday after a cordon and search
operation was launched in the area, following specific information about the
presence of militants there. indianexpress
Tension in Jammu, passengers-students clash
Jammu :Stranded in Jammu after landslides
blocked the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway for the sixth day
running, a group of Kashmir-bound passengers clashed with some local students
on Monday.With tempers running high, a few people allegedly raised pro-Pakistan
slogans, leading to further tension.Nearly 4,000 stranded passengers, including
women and children, are stranded in Jammu for 6 days; they have been put up at General
Bus Stand.Following complaints of cash crunch and health problems due to unsanitary
conditions, the local admn shifted them to Mufti House, a hostel run by Auqaf
Islamia, on Sunday. Trouble began on Monday when someone threw a stone at a
vehicle passing by the hostel, and occupants of the vehicle alleged that the
stranded passengers were behind the act.Amid tension, some passengers, already
irked over administration’s failure to airlift them to Srinagar, allegedly
raised pro-Pak slogans, officials said. Indianexpress
South crown prince to visit India next week;
trade, energy security top on agenda
New Delhi:Defence, trade and energy security
are expected to be high on the agenda when Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and
Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman holds talks with Prime Minister Narendra
Modi during his two-day visit to India next week.Accompanied by a high-level
delegation comprising ministers, senior officials and leading Saudi
businessmen, Prince Salman will arrive India on Feb.19 on his maiden trip to
the country, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement here.During
the visit, Crown Prince will hold talks with PM Modi on wide range of issues of
mutual interest. He will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice
President Venkaiah Naidu.PTI
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Kalyan unit organises
mosque visit for city’s non-Muslims
Mumbai:Around 125 non-Muslim men visited 167-year-old
Jama Masjid at Doodh Naka in Kalyan on Sunday. It is one of the oldest and
largest mosques in the city.The visit was organised by Kalyan chapter of
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), an Islamic reformist organisation, as part of its
‘Masjid Parichay’ initiative. The initiative aims to familiarise people with
the place of worship.Most visitors had never visited a mosque.They explored the
building, including the sanctorum where an imam leads prayers, water pool for
performing pre-prayer ablution (wudu) and the library containing Quran and
other religious texts.The visitors were guided by local Muslims. And when the
sun set, they watched the muezzin recite adhaan (call to prayers) followed by a
namaz performed by a large gathering of locals and believers.“A large
population of our country is ignorant about mosques and how they function.
Several non-Muslims are curious to learn more about these places of worship.
Masjid Parichay provides such curious minds with an immersive learning
experience,” said Mishal Choudhary, Kalyan president of the JIH.Wajid Ali Khan,
an Islamic scholar from Aurangabad, explained to the visitors the importance of
wudu, namaz and masjid.“Islam is not merely a religion, but a way of life.
Hence, a mosque is more than just a place of worship. Its objective is to be a
centre to resolve pressing problems facing society. It’s a shelter for the
entire humanity and is open to all,” said Khan.Rajendra Ranawade, one of the
visitors, said it was a great experience. “I have always respected mosques. But
today I saw how the prayers are offered in a disciplined manner and how people
from all sections of the society come together,” he added.Yashraj Dixit, 15,
who visited the mosque with his father Abhinav, said, he learnt a lot about a
different religion. hindustantimes
Parliament Budget Session: Lok Sabha passes
Finance Bill, Citizenship Bill pending in RS
New Delhi: Both Houses have been adjourned for
the day. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned following an uproar by Samajwadi Party
members after party chief Akhilesh Yadav was allegedly stopped at Lucknow airport
while on his way to Allahabad.While the Citizenship Bill was not tabled today
in Rajya Sabha as scheduled, Lok Sabha concluded its session passing the
Finance Bill, 2019 and discussing issues including tourism in India, GST. Union
Home Minister Rajnath Singh was likely to table the controversial Citizenship
(Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha Tuesday. The Citizenship Bill was passed in Lok
Sabha in January. Assam and other north-eastern states have been witnessing
protests over the Bill that seeks to provide citizenship to religious minority
groups from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.indianexpress
This is a Criminal Act, Says Karnataka Speaker
After Audio Clip Claims BJP ‘Booked’ Him for Rs 50 Crore
Bengaluru: An audio tape of Karnataka BJP
chief BS Yeddyurappa’s conversation with the son of a JD(S) MLA to allegedly
persuade his father to switch sides has kicked up a huge political controversy
in the state. Even as the opposition BJP says a SIT won't have the power to
summon MLAs, Speaker Ramesh Kumar says he takes a strong view of the fact that
his name has been dragged into controversy.In audio, Yeddyurappa purportedly
tells JD(S) MLA Naganagouda’s son Sharana Gouda that Speaker is on “BJP side”
and has been “booked” for Rs50 crore. Kumar says he doesn’t take kindly to such
aspersions being cast on him, adding that the controversy merits criminal probe.News18
Not enough in Budget for minorities: Owaisi
Hyderabad: MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has protested
against the passing of the Interim Budget in Lok Sabha, citing that the
allocation for Minorities, Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs in it was
not enough. Speaking in Lok Sabha on Monday, Hyderabad MP said that despite
several government bodies documenting the backwardness of Muslims in various
parameters such as education, health and employment, the budget, presented by
Minister Piyush Goyal, saw a decrease in allocation for post-matric scholarship
for minorities. He also questioned the usage of the `500-crore Haj Subsidy,
which was abolished recently. “I myself had demanded its abolishment. But, what
happened to the money?” he asked. new indian express
Owaisi: ‘If the contest becomes between Modi
and Rahul, it’s not good. It gives RSS, Modi huge advantage’
Modi is BJP’s PM face in 2019, who is yours:
Amit Shah to ‘Mahagathbandhan’
New Delhi :Putting to bed speculations, BJP
president Amit Shah Tuesday announced that Narendra Modi will be face of the
party in the upcoming General Elections. Claiming that there was “rock-solid”
support for the Prime Minister, he added that the party will consolidate its
position in West Bengal and Odisha, while in UP, its number will not go down
“by a single seat under any circumstance”.Shah said the Opposition’s grand
alliance, made up of only state-level leaders, will not affect the BJP’s
prospects. “BJP workers call me expressing concern over Mahagathbandhan. They
ask me ‘kya hoga’. I tell them to remove the fear of the Mahagathbandhan from
their hearts,” Shah said while addressing workers in Ahmedabad after launching
‘Mera Parivar, BJP Parivar’ campaign.indianexpress
Want court verdict on Ram temple in 24 hrs: Adityanath
in UP Assembly
Lucknow :Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath
hassaid that Ramjanmabhoomi is a matter related to people’s faith and
respecting it, the court should give its decision on the matter within 24
hours. Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Adityanath said that as far as the
distribution of land is concerned, Allahabad High Court has already stated that
the place of Ram Lala Virajman is Ramjanmabhoomi.“Those who are raising
questions on a temple at Ramjanmabhoomi, I want to tell them that we have done
our job and we are still doing so. Faith should be respected in Ayodhya. I
thinkthere should be a decision on this within 24 hours and not an hour more
than that,” he said.indianexpress
When a Mob Lynches a Person for the Food He
Eats, Constitution is Lynched: Justice Chandrachud
Mumbai:In the most powerful attack on the
trend of mob lynching over someone’s choice of food, Justice D. Y. Chandrachud
of Supreme Court has said that lynching of a man or woman over what he or she
eats is actually the lynching of the Constitution of India.“When a mob lynches
a person for the food that she or he eats it is the constitution which is
lynched. When we deny to human beings the power of lover for reasons of
religion or caste it is the constitution which is made to weep,” said Justice
Chandrachud while speaking at Justice Desai Memorial Lecture at the Bombay HC.He
highlighted the diversities of the country in the background of which the
Constitution was framed.IndiaTomorrow
Constitution Lynched When Person Lynched for
Food He Had: Justice Chandrachud
Hapur lynching: SC issues notice to UP Police
seeking direction for SIT probe
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to UP
Police on a plea filed by the son of Qasim, the victim in the Hapur lynching
case, seeking direction for an SIT probe under an officer from another
state.The apex court also tagged the matter with earlier pending pleas.In
September last year, the top court said that the investigation in the matter
will be conducted under the supervision of Meerut's IG.The apex court also said
that the IG Meerut will adhere and follow the court's judgment while conducting
the investigation in the case.In June last year, 38-year-old Qasim, a cattle
trader, was lynched to death and 65-year-old Shamsuddin was severely injured in
Hapur after a group of people attacked
them on suspicion of being involved in cow slaughter.ANI
‘Citizenship
Amendment Bill painfully unpopular’: Bhupen Hazarika’s son slams Bill, puts
Govt on notice on Bharat Ratna
Guwahati :2 days after PM Narendra Modi paid tributes
to Bhupen Hazarika and took a swipe at previous governments for delaying the
Bharat Ratna conferred posthumously on the celebrated singer this Republic Day,
Hazarika’s son Tej, protesting “painfully unpopular” Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill, put the govt on notice Monday, saying the Bill was “actually undermining”
his father’s “documented position” and “would in reality be in direct
opposition to what Bhupenda believed in his heart of hearts”.“Bharat Ratnas and
longest bridges, while necessary, will not promote the peace and prosperity of
the citizens of India. Only just popular laws and foresight on the part of
leadership will.Numerous media journalists are now asking me whether or not I
will accept the Bharat Ratna for my father. I go on record here to answer that
A), I have not received any invitation so far there is nothing to reject, and
B), how the Center moves on this matter far outweighs in importance the
awarding and receiving of such national recognition — a display of short-lived cheap
thrills,” Tej Hazarika, who is based in the US, said.indianexpress
Protests intensify against citizenship bill in
northeast; parties rush to Delhi to stall amendment
Guwahati:Protests against the citizenship bill
continued in the northeast states even as regional political parties rushed to
New Delhi to make a last ditch effort to stall the proposed amendment, which is
likely to be tabled in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.In Manipur, mobile internet
services have been suspended and curfew imposed in the twin districts of Imphal
(East) and Imphal (West), according to police officials manning the control
rooms. Manipur People against Citizenship Amendment Bill announced Feb.12 as D
Day while People Alliance Manipur announced a 36-hour shutdown starting Monday.
In Mizoram, civil society groups said they will intensify the protests and
observe Feb.12 as black day. Normal life in Manipur and Nagaland was disrupted
as outfits had announced a complete shutdown on Monday in protest against the bill.In
a meeting on Jan.29, 10 regional outfits including allies of BJP,NPP,in
Meghalaya,MNF in Mizoram, NDPP in Nagaland,AGP among others had passed a
resolution opposing the bill. The grouping had support from the JDU and Shiv
Sena.
Pakistan has Mecca, Medina for Sikhs: Imran
Khan on Expanding Tourism Potential for Minorities
Dubai: Pakistan has the Mecca and Medina for
the Sikhs and the country is opening up those sites for the minority community,
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said.Prime Minister Khan in November last year
laid the foundation stone for the corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in
Pakistan's Kartarpur - final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak
Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate
visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims.Khan was in UAE on a day-long trip
to take part in 7th edition of the World Government Summit on the invitation of
Vice President and PM of UAE Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum."We
have the Mecca and Medina of the Sikhs... and we are just opening up those
sites for Sikhs," Khan said.PTI
Release Teltumbde against Rs 1 lakh bail bond
if arrested: Bombay HC to Pune Police
Pune:After Pune Police refused to make a statement
over not arresting professor and activist Anand Teltumbde before Feb.22,Bombay
High Court has directed Pune Police to release him against a bail bond of Rs 1
lakh in event of his arrest. Teltumbde has been charged under UAPA and is accused
of being part of the Elgaar Parishad, held in Pune on Dec.31, 2017, and having
links with the banned CPI-Maoist. HC will hear the arguments on the
anticipatory bail application filed by Teltumbde on Feb. 22.On Monday, senior
counsel Mihir Desai, representing Teltumbde, told the HC that Police were
supposed to serve them an affidavit on Saturday, but since they received it
only on Monday, they sought time to go through the affidavit. Desai said they
were willing to argue on Thursday provided the protection from arrest was
extended till then.indianexpress
Principal, VP quit after Gujarat college says
no Jignesh Mevani event
Ahmedabad:A DAY after the management of HK
Arts College in Ahmedabad declined permission to use the college auditorium for
an annual function where Vadgam independent MLA Jignesh Mevani was invited as
chief guest, in-charge principal of the college, Hemantkumar Shah resigned on
“moral grounds”.Shah tendered his resignation to the Brahmchari Wadi trust,
which runs the college. He said there has been no response from the trust.
Hours later, the college’s in-charge vice-principal, Mohanbhai Parmar resigned
too, citing similar reasons. While Shah, currently head of Economics dept at HK
Arts College, has worked for over 15 years, Parmar has been with the college
for the last decade. Both were in-charge of their respective posts for the last
4 months. Shah said: “I am a lover of an individual’s freedom and not acted as
a principal of the college. I received a letter from the trustees at 4 pm
Sunday) cancelling permission for today’s event. The only reason given to me
for declining permission to use the auditorium was that it is due to the
current political situation. But I want to ask, what is that
situation?”indianexpress
PMK cadre murder case: Hindu outfits call for
total shutdown today
Kumbakonam: BJP and a few Hindu outfits have
decided to go ahead with their plan for a full shutdown on Tuesday, to condemn
the murder of V Ramalingam, a PMK functionary from Thirubuvanam near Kumbakonam
who was allegedly murdered by a group belonging to the Muslim community after
he questioned them for attempting to convert dalit people into Islam.The
decision comes after peace talks convened by police officials with the
district-level functionaries of BJP and Hindu outfits failed.The meeting was
headed by Kumbakonam revenue divisional officer, Veerasamy in which ASP
Balachandran, DSP Sengamalakannan and Ramachandran and Kumbakonam and
Thiruvidaimaruthur tahsildar Janakiraman and Rajeswari also participated.
District BJP president Raja and representatives of Hindu Makkal Katchi,
Sivasena, VHP and Hindu Munnani took part.The representatives of BJP and Hindu
outfits alleged that were not satisfied with police action, despite the arrest
of 9 members and walked out of the meeting, police sources said. Elaborate
security has been made in Thirubuvanam and surrounding areas to avert any
untoward incident.TOI
Triple talaq bill unlikely to get RS nod
New Delhi: Modi govt is keen to get
parliamentary approval for the triple talaq bill but there is no certainty that
it will clear Rajya Sabha hurdle in the remaining two days of the budget
session and the measure may again be implemented through an
ordinance.Opposition parties and several leaders from the Muslim community are
sticking to their stand against the bill, contending there is no need for it as
the instant triple talaq has been banned by the Supreme Court.Most leaders IANS
spoke to also opposed the criminalisation of triple talaq and the provision of
3-year jail to the husband. Kamal Farooqui, a member of the All India Muslim
Personal Law Board, termed the bill "a political gimmick" that was
not needed when the practice of triple talaq itself has been struck down by the
Supreme Court.IANS
Telangana: Talaq decreases but khula on rise
Hyderabad: Number of divorces (talaq) given by
Muslim men is decreasing in the state, while the number of khula (separation
initiated by women) is increasing, according to statistics with the TS Wakf
Board.Data with the Qazzath section of the Wakf Board showed that it had issued
882 divorce certificates in 2016, 579 in 2017 and 385 last year. The number of
khula certificates issued increased from 640 in 2016 to 688 in 2017 though it
fell to 597 last year. The number of marriage certificates stood at 36,055 in
2016, 36,774 in 2017 and 39,769 in 2018. Khateeb Shahi Masjid Moulana Ahsan bin
Mohammed Alhamoomi said this data showed that the separation ratio in Muslim
families was negligible.He said in the Sharia, men and women had the right to seek
separation by following certain conditions. The main reason for the rise in
khula cases was that girls were better educated.“Education is not an obstacle
to conjugal life. These women are seeking separation because they feel they can
live without depending on others after separation from the husband,” he said.deccan
chronicle
17 Killed In Fire At Hotel In Delhi's Karol
Bagh, Man Seen Jumping Off Terrace
New Delhi: 17 people, many of them sleeping
guests, were killed in a fire at a hotel in central Delhi's congested Karol
Bagh area early Tuesday morning. Some of the victims were charred to death and
others suffocated in the poisonous fumes. A woman and a child were killed when
they jumped off the fifth floor to escape the blaze, reports said.Videos
recorded by witnesses showed thick smoke and flames crowning the terrace of
6-storey Hotel Arpit Palace after the fire broke out at around 4am.A person was
seen dangling from the terrace and then jumping off. Police said he died.Fire
could have started because of a short-circuit, reports said. Guests at the
hotel that is popular with budget and business travellers, were unable to use
corridors to escape because of wooden panelling,according to a fire
officer.Hotel didn't have proper fire escapes. ndtv
Al Qaeda Attempting to Exploit Rising
Hindu-Muslim Tensions, claims think tank:
news 18
New Delhi: A report put together by a leading
think tank on global security issues has stated that the Al Qaeda is attempting
to exploit the rising tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India. In its
report titled - ‘Al Qaeda In India Subcontinent:Nucleus Of Jihad In South
Asia’, Soufan Centre, which was founded by ex FBI agent Ali Soufan, said that
the growing communal divide and increased incidences of violent attacks on
Muslims in India has created an atmosphere of fear and exacerbated tensions
between 2 religious communities.
Hindutva Leader Dhananjay Desai Violates Bail
Conditions Soon After Release
Mumbai: While ordering the release of Hindu
Rashtra Sena (HRS) leader Dhananjay Desai on Jan17, Bombay high court set
stringent bail conditions. Desai, the prime accused in the four-and
half-year-old murder case of IT engineer Mohsin Shaikh, was strictly prohibited
from making any public appearances and running any outfits, particularly the
HRS, till the end of the trial.Justice Sadhana Jadhav while granting Desai
bail, observed: “Applicant shall not in any manner whatsoever involve in any
public/political activities related to or organised at the behest of Hindu
Rashtra Sena or even otherwise.”However, the order was violated within moments
of his release from Yerwada jail on February 9.Pune roads leading to his
residence from Yerwada Central Jail to Paud village were blocked for nearly an
hour as his supporters gathered in large numbers of cars and bikes, chanting
“Jai Shri Ram” throughout.thewire
Hyderabad: In a first, women's only clinic
opens doors to pregnant women in Old City slums
Charminar: In a first, an exclusive women’s
clinic for pregnant women was opened in a mosque at Achi Reddy Nagar in Old
City. A primary healthcare centre being run in the mosque now includes a clinic
solely for pregnant women and is aimed at benefitting women in Old City.The
healthcare centre is a joint initiative of Majid Ishaq and Helping Hand
Foundation (HHF), a city-based NGO and is funded by SEED, USA, one of the
leading US-based charity bodies, said Mujtaba Hasan Askari, HHF president.As
part of the initiative, HHF has enrolled over 200 pregnant women from over 10
anganwadi centres spread across slums of Achi Reddy Nagar, N S Kunta, Chasma, Teegal
Kunta, Sanjay Reddy Nagar, and Vatapally at the clinic. TOI
WORLD
Israel expels 50 Bedouin families for military
drill
Jerusalem:Israeli army has ordered 50
Palestinian Bedouin families to leave their homes in Jordan Valley ahead of a
new military drill, for the second such move in one week, according to a local
Palestinian official. "50 families
have received orders from the Israeli military to evacuate their homes and
lands by Wednesday," Motaz Bsharat, who is responsible for monitoring
Israeli settlement building in the Jordan Valley, said. He said an Israeli
military force broke into Bedouin communities in the area this morning and
"handed over the orders to the families to leave their homes". Almost 300 Palestinians, including 140
children, currently live in these areas. Last week,Israeli military expelled
dozens of Bedouin families in the Jordan Valley for a week-long exercise.
Anadolu
US politician Ilhan Omar apologises over
Israel tweet
Muslim-American congresswoman Ilhan Omar
"unequivocally" apologised on Monday for a tweet criticising a
pro-Israel lobbyist group, after the post prompted reams of criticism from
Republicans and many Democrats."Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful
for Jewish allies and colleagues educating me on the painful history of
anti-Semitic tropes," Omar, one of the first Muslim women elected to
Congress, said in a statement posted on Twitter. "We have to always be
willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to
hear me when others attack me for my identity," she continued. "This
is why I unequivocally apologise," Omar said, adding that she
"reaffirm[s]" the "problematic role of lobbyists in our
politics, whether it be AIPAC, or fossil fuel industry".Omar's statement
came after a wave of criticism from Republicans and many Democrats, in which
they called on her to apologise for using "anti-Semitic tropes".
aljazeera
US-led
coalition strikes kill 50 in Syria's Deir ez-Zor
deir ez-zor:At least 50 civilians, mostly
children and women, were killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Syria's
eastern Deir ez-Zor province over the past 24 hours, according to local sources
today. Attack targeted the Daesh-held
Bagoz town in the province, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to
security concerns.The U.S.-led international coalition has yet to comment on
the report. Last year, YPG/PKK terrorist
group-- with US assistance -- captured parts of Deir ez-Zor’s eastern, western
and northern outskirts west of the Euphrates.
Anadolu
Syria says Israeli drone fired 4 missiles in
Quneitra
An Israeli drone has fired four missiles near
a demolished hospital and an army observation post in Syria's southern Quneitra
province near the border with Israel, but there had been only material damage,
the Syrian army has said.An army source was quoted by state news agency SANA as
saying that the "Israeli enemy" on Monday also hit several sites
along border villages close to a 1974 demilitarized zone on the Golan frontier,
which with Russian support, the Syrian army regained control from rebels last
year.middleeasteye
Acting Pentagon chief reaches Iraq to discuss
US troops presence
Patrick Shanahan, acting US defence secretary,
has arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit for talks on the continued US
troops presence in Iraq."We are in Iraq at the invitation of the govt and
our interests are to build Iraqi security capability,"Shanahan told
reporters travelling with him on his first trip to Iraq."I want to hear
first-hand from them about concerns, the political dynamics that they are
facing and then based on that we will obviously factor that into our
planning."The acting Pentagon chief is due to meet Prime Minister Adel
Abdul Mahdi and will also discuss the withdrawal of US troops from Syria with
US commanders.aljazeera
Iraqi Christians fear returning home, wary of
Shia militia
Bartella: Only a fraction of Christian
residents has returned to the northern Iraqi town of Bartella, 2 years since it
was liberated from Islamic State militants. Many fear intimidation by the
town's population of Shabak, a Shiite Muslim ethnic group that dominates the
militias now running Bartella. The tensions are a sign of the sectarian splits
around northern Iraq in the wake of the defeat of the IS group. The large cross
in Bartella's main square is one of few overt signs this town was historically
Christian. Nearby, a massive billboard shows Shiite Muslim martyrs alongside a
photo of Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. AP
Taliban demand release of captive leader
Taliban has named one of their captive leaders
in Afghanistan as member of a peace negotiation team for the second round of
talks with the US. With this move, the Taliban are pushing for the release of
Anas Haqqani, a top leader of their offshoot Haqqani Network.Mullah Baradar,
who is leading the Taliban's political office in Qatar, named a total of 14 men
led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai to hold talks with US envoy Zalmay
Khalilzad later this month in the capital Doha.“Anas Haqqani has been appointed
to the negotiation committee, but he has not been released [Afghan govt] so
far,” Zabihullah Mujahed,Taliban spokesman, said in a tweet.US envoy is on a
tour to coordinate efforts for peace in Afghanistan with partners in Europe,
the Middle East and South Asia.In a series of tweets following a meeting in
Brussels with EU and NATO partners, Khalilzad said "jumpstarting" the
intra-Afghan dialogue is an immediate priority.“Our shared purpose is to reach
a peace agreement (not a withdrawal pact) that is worthy of sacrifices made
over decades of war,”he said.Anadolu
5 Trucks With Saudi Crown Prince's Personal
Amenities Reach Pakistan Ahead of Visit
Personal amenities of Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman have reached Islamabad, ahead of his two-day trip to
Pakistan during which investment deals worth billions of dollars are expected
to be signed between the two-decades-old allies, according to a media report on
Monday.The powerful heir to the oil-rich kingdom is expected to arrive in
Pakistan this week, but the exact date of his arrival has not been disclosed
due to security reasons. The crown prince's belongings, including his exercise
equipment and furniture, reached Islamabad in five trucks, the Dawn News
reported quoting Saudi Embassy sources.His security team and Saudi media
representatives also arrived in the capital ahead of his visit.This will be the
first visit of Mohammed as the crown prince. He had earlier visited Pakistan as
defence minister at the start of Yemen conflict.PTI
Pak Jamaat asks Imran govt to make IMF deal
public
Lahore: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan ameer Sirajul
Haq has demanded the government make public its agreements with IMF so far and
asked why the PTI government who took votes on the slogan of transparency was
keeping the masses in the dark regarding IMF’s new conditions.Siraj was talking
to the media at Mansoora on Monday with reference to the recent govt talks and
agreements with IMF. He said the govt had raised prices of electricity, gas and
POL before approaching IMF, expressing fears that prices of these items would
be raised further after IMF fresh loan since it would cause a flood of price
hike. As a result of deal, the value of the rupee would go down further and
dollar rate would go up, he said.thenews
Iranian leader meets Pak Jamaat chief at
Mansoora
Lahore: Visiting chairman of Iranian
educational institutions, Ayatullah Ali Raza Arafi, called on Jamaat-e-Islami
Pak ameer Sirajul Haq at Mansoora here
on Monday and discussed with him the situation prevailing in the Muslim world
with particular reference to Pak-Iran relations, and avenues of cooperation in
education sector. The newly-appointed Iranian Consul General in Lahore,
Muhammad Raza Nazari, and principal of Jamia Al-Muntazir, Allama Niaz Naqvi,were
also accompanying the visiting dignitary.Speaking on the occasion, Senator
Sirajul Haq said Muslim unity and unanimity of Muslim Ummah on all major issues
was the only way to counter enemy conspiracies against the security and
survival of the Ummah. He said that the enemy wanted to destroy the Muslims by
dividing them through different biases and prejudices. However, he said,Holy
Quran repeatedly warned the believers that internal difference would weaken Muslims
and finally annihilate them. thenews
Families of political prisoners in Egypt
barred from visiting relatives: middleeasteye
Families of many political prisoners in Egypt
have complained that they have recently been barred from visiting their
detained relatives despite obtaining permits from the interior ministry.At
least 13 families were barred from visits, according to numerous reports by activists,
including the family of ex presidential candidate Abdelmonem Abolfotouh and
those of prominent politicians Massoum Marzouk and Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, as
well as the son of former president Mohamed Morsi. The restrictions on visiting
prisoners violate Egypt’s own prison law that grant prisoners the right to two
visits per month.
Bangladesh seeks safe zone for Rohingya
refugees
Dhaka:Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul
Momen has called on Russia, China and India to help the country tackle the
Rohingya refugee crisis.Momen talked about a government proposal to establish a
safe-zone in Rakhine State in Myanmar from where the refugees fled state
persecution in late 2017.“If a safe zone is created under the vigilance of
China, Russia and India along with ASEAN states, Rohingya people will be
encouraged to return to their own land,"he said, adding that guaranteeing
them citizenship upon their return is a pre-condition.Anadolu
flash:
views & NEWS
Rafale deal: CAG Rajiv Mehrishi’s BJP
connection & ‘conflict of interests’:Ashutosh Sharma
Hindustan Paper Corporation employees approach
NHRC against Modi govt, salaries unpaid for over 2 years
In Thanjavur, murder of man who argued with
Muslim preachers creates a cloud of communal tension:S Senthalir
In partial victory for Amol Palekar, Ministry
of Culture issues clarification on dissolved committees:Saurav Datta
'A victory!': Jubilation as freed footballer
returns to Australia
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