NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
18 Feb. 2019: 12 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11,
No:131
INDIA: PULWAMA AFTERMATH
Pulwama encounter LIVE: Major among 4 soldiers
killed, 2 militants gunned down, a civilian also dies
4 soldiers, including a Major, and 2 militants
were killed after an encounter broke out in Pinglena area of South Kashmir’s
Pulwama district on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The encounter
is underway. A cordon and search operation was launched jointly by J&K
Police and security forces after receiving credible inputs about the presence
of militants. The militants from inside the target house fired indiscriminately
at the security forces as the search operation was going on.In the initial
exchange of fire, four Army soldiers and one civilian sustained critical
gunshot injuries who were later rushed to Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.
4 of the soldiers and the civilian, however, succumbed to injuries. 4 Army men
have been identified as Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Hawaldar Sheo Ram,
Sepoy Hari Singh and Sepoy Ajay Kumar. Attack from the militants was retaliated
by security forces leading to an encounter in which 2 militants were killed and
their bodies have been retrieved from the encounter site. According to the
police, the identity of the slain militants is being ascertained. A Brigadier is the latest to be injured in
the encounter that is presently going on in the Pinglena area of South
Kashmir’s Pulwama district. DIG South Kashmir Amit Kumar has also been injured
in the gunfight after being hit by a bullet in the leg.indian express
Mamata Questions Timing of Pulwama Attack, says
BJP, RSS stirring riots ahead of polls
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Monday
questioned the timing of the Pulwama attack, asking whether the Govt wanted to go to war when Lok Sabha polls were
round the corner.She also accused BJP and RSS of fomenting communal tension in
the wake of the terror assault that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF men."The Govt
knew of the matter. Intelligence inputs
were there. Then why so many people had to die? why no action was
taken?"Banerjee said she desisted from speaking against Modi Govt after
the incident but was compelled to talk about it now as "some people are
trying to teach us what patriotism is".She alleged while Govt did nothing
after the Pathankot terror assault, it was trying to "create a war-like hysteria"
ahead of the elections."I have a doubt.How they (Pakistan) have got this
encouragement when the elections are round the corner?I dont know....why after
Parliament is over. I am in doubt.... why have not we taken any action against
Pakistan in the last 5 years," she said. "When elections are knocking
on the door you are trying to stage a war... a shadow war. Amit Shah and
Narendra Modi are delivering political speeches. Even after such a big mishap
you do not resign taking responsibility and are instead delivering political
speeches," she told at a press conference. She also wanted to know why a
large convoy of CRPF personnel was allowed to move on the highway despite Govt
having intelligence inputs about a possible terror strike. Questioning the
timing of the attack, she asked, “Does this mean that US Intelligence, who had
warned of a communal riot and a terror attack before 2019 elections, they were
right?”She accused RSS-VHP-BJP combine of vitiating the atmosphere in the
country "by spreading the message of hatred". "They are trying
to trigger communal riots by taking out late night processions with national
flags. They are trying to exploit the tragedy for political dividend. It is a
planted game of RSS, VHP and the BJP. We will resist attempts to take political
advantage of the situation," she said. Banerjee sought a high-level
inquiry into the Pulwama attack and punishment to those responsible for
it."When so many people died there must be an investigation to prove who
is responsible for it. Tell me what initiatives have been taken," she
said.thequint
How did Pakistan get the courage to carry out
Pulwama attack before polls, asks Mamata
Stop blaming Pak, China for terror attacks,
give proof on Masood Azhar: Chinese media
Beijing:India should focus on redrawing its
anti-terrorism policy rather than blaming Pakistan without evidence for the
Pulwama attack and holding China responsible for blocking efforts to list JeM
chief, Masood Azhar, as a terrorist at UN also without proof, Chinese state
media has said.India has failed to provide “solid evidence” against Azhar and
China has rightly practised caution against listing him as a terrorist, the
state media comment piece said.It advised “quiet diplomacy” on India’s part to
“better address” the Azhar issue.The comment piece published in the
nationalistic tabloid Global Times — affiliated to the Communist Party of
China’s (CPC) mouthpiece, People’s Daily — dismissed New Delhi’s
assertions.“Without solid evidence, India has long accused Pakistan of
sponsoring terrorist attacks by JeM and other militant groups and China of
providing uncritical support for Pakistan,” article said.It asked a rhetorical
question: “Instead of simply blaming other countries, especially Pakistan and
China, shouldn’t the Indian Govt make
more self-introspection on its anti-terrorism policy and dwell more on how to
better administer the India-controlled part of Kashmir?”“As for the issue of
listing Azhar, Beijing has reiterated its stand several times that New Delhi
should provide solid facts and proofs for banning Azhar.”The article added that
China has reason to cautiously handle the issue. “Observers worry that
blacklisting Azhar could be used by India to increase its military pressure on
Pakistan, thus risking exacerbating tensions between the 2 countries.”It also
dismissed the argument that by blocking India’s bid to proscribe Azhar, China
was supporting terrorism.“Citing China’s refusal to support the bid to have
Azhar blacklisted by the UN, India in recent years has aggressively blamed
China for allying with Pakistan in shielding terrorists. It disregards the fact
that as a victim of terrorism itself, China has pledged to support the
international community’s anti-terrorism efforts and stands ready to work with
India and all other countries to fight terrorism,” the article said.“Should New
Delhi resort to quiet diplomacy instead of extensively directing aggressive
rhetoric to pressure Beijing, the Azhar issue could have been better addressed.”Blaming
Pakistan and China could also disrupt the anti-terrorism efforts under the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which admitted New Delhi and Islamabad
in 2017, the Global Times said.HT
Pakistan calls envoy to Islamabad for
‘consultations’ amid tensions with India over Pulwama attack
New Delhi:Pakistan has called back its High
Commissioner from India for “consultations” amid heightened bilateral tensions
after the Pulwama terror attack.“We have called back our High Commissioner in
India for consultations. He left New Delhi this morning ,” Pakistan Foreign
Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said on Twitter. Pakistan High Commissioner
to India Sohail Mahmood was on Friday summoned in New Delhi by Foreign
Secretary Vijay Gokhale who lodged strong protest over the killing of 40 CRPF
soldiers in Pulwama. Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria was also
called to New Delhi for consultations in the wake of the attack.New Delhi says
Pakistan had a hand in the attack, which Islamabad denies.PTI
Kulbhushan Jadhav case at ICJ live: India seeks
annulment of Jadhav’s conviction
International Court of Justice commences oral
hearing on Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, 48, on Monday at The Hague. India
is likely to ask the top UN court to direct Pakistan to revoke the death
sentence awarded to Jadhav for on the allegations of espionage.Coming soon
after a terror incident in South Kashmir’s Pulwama, the hearing on Jadhav case could stoke fresh
tension between the two countries.India submits that military courts of
Pakistan can’t command the confidence of this court and shouldn’t be sanctify
by a direction to them to review and re-consider the case. India seeks
annulment of Jadhav’s conviction, and directions that he be released
forthwith.Proceedings adjourned in the International Court of Justice for
tomorrow.HT
LoC ‘Peace bus’, trade between India and
Pakistan suspended over Pulwama attack
Jammu:The weekly “peace bus” service and
border trade between India and PoK have been suspended following the Pulwama
attack.“Due to the prevailing law and order situation, weekly LoC bus service
and trade have been put on hold,” Poonch deputy commissioner Rahul Yadav
said.It has been learnt that the instructions to suspend trade and travel
between J&K and PoK has come from the Union home ministry.HT
200
Kashmiri students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand take refuge around Chandigarh
After facing public fury, following Pulwama
attack, over 200 Kashmiri students from Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand have
taken refuge in Chandigarh, Mohali and surrounding areas.Over 80 such students
including girls from Dehradun and Mullana in Haryana have arrived in Mohali
alone after vacating their rented accommodations and hostel rooms of their
respective colleges. Some have even left for their native places in J&K. Sources
disclosed that the students are associated with J&K Students Organisation
(JKSO) and have been staying in different locations in outskirts of Chandigarh
including Mohali.The administration has made adequate arrangements for their
stay and security.Inquiries revealed that over 7000 Kashmiri students studying
in various educational institutions across Punjab and Haryana who are either
hostlers or staying in rented accommodations. Because of winter vacation, a
majority of these students had gone back homes and were not back yet due to
heavy the snowfall. Those who are here have been advised to remain inside their
college or hostel premises by the authorities concerned taking preventive
measure for their security and safety.nationalherald
‘Not feeling safe, we want to go back home’: Kashmiri
students in Ambala
Kashmiris complain of evictions after deadly
attack on Indian forces, authorities promise safety
Jammu:Army veterans, cop among attacked
Jamm: Muhammad Aslam Khan, 81, is a
wheelchair-bound former military man living in Gujjar Nagar in Jammu city. He
served for five years in the military and for 20 years in the police. He says
he could never have imagined what has happened to his home.“We used to hear
about this kind of thing in Gujarat or other areas,” he said. “That police
stood with rioters to get Muslims killed, but we never believed it. Police
could not do it. It is only when we saw it with our own eyes that we realised
what was happening.”On Feb.15, in a supposed reaction to the attack in Pulwama,
young men rioted in his neighbourhood, pelted stones at his house, set his
neighbours’ vehicles on fire and damaged his son’s newly-bought auto rickshaw.“Police
stood idly by – SHO, SSP, DSP everyone was there,” Aslam Khan said. “The
rioters threw stones and broke our windows. The police force threw shells and
tear gas. If military hadn’t arrived, I don’t know what they would have done at
night.”thewire
PDP MP Fayaz Ahmad Mir heckled in Jammu
Jammu:PDP’s Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Ahmad Mir
was heckled by a mob at Jamia Masjid in Talab Khatikan area of Jammu, which
continued to reel under curfew for 3rd day on Sunday.With Jammu on
the edge and mobile Internet services suspended after Friday’s violence during
a bandh called in protest the Pulwama attack, nearly 3,000 stranded passengers
from Kashmir, Ladakh, as also Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley areas of Jammu
region have been staying at Jamia Masjid for the past three days.Mir had gone
to Jamia Masjid to meet them. However, as he entered, they objected to his
presence there. They asked him where he was when they were caught in the
violence.As PDP leader tried to address the people, he was heckled. The accompanying
policemen with the help of some locals moved him out of the area.Pointing out
that the passengers were rescued by local people and brought to Jamia Masjid,
Sheikh Zahoor Ahmad, head of Masjid Committee, said that except for DIG
Jammu-Samba-Kathua range Vivek Gupta, who came to their rescue during the
violence, they had decided not to talk to anyone else in administration or
politicians. indian express
In Dehradun, 2 colleges say won’t admit
Kashmiris
Dehradun :As fear hung in the air over
Kashmiri students being targeted in Dehradun following the Pulwama terror
attack on Thursday, at least two institutes in the city have stated that they
will not admit any student from Kashmir in the new academic session. The fear
and open threats also prompted several Kashmiri students to temporarily leave
the city.In an “undertaking” to the students’ union of the Dehradun-based DAV
PG College — which, along with members of the ABVP, VHP, and Bajrang Dal, had
led the protests outside colleges on Friday —
Dr Aslam Siddiqui, principal of Baba Farid Institute of Technology,
wrote, “Students’ Union president, we assure you that if any Kashmiri student
is found engaged in any anti-national activity, then the student will be
expelled from the institute.”indianexpress
Not a rational decision to withdraw security
of separatist leaders:PDP
Srinagar: It is not a rational decision to
withdraw security of separatist leaders in the wake of Pulwama attack, said PDP
leader Suhail Bukhari on Sunday.“There is a consultative committee which
comprises senior officers from security agencies. They do threat perception
assessment and decide who is to be given what type of protection,” Bukhari said.
“If at this moment such a decision is taken, we believe that it would be more
of a knee jerk reaction...No doubt that there is a lot of anger, but how
rational this decision would be, we have our doubts on that...This decision at
this point of time is not really a rational one,” he said. ANI
FIR against AIUDF MLA for comment on Pulwama
Guwahati:Benudhar Nath, an advocate of the
Gauhati High Court, has filed an FIR against AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam over his
comment on the Pulwama attack.“In his comment, MLA of Dhing constituency has
questioned as to why there was a bomb blast in Kashmir, ahead of every general
election. Apart from being derogatory in nature, such comments might demoralise
our army and paramilitary forces. Also, such comments may adversely affect the
peace and social harmony in the country. It might also create an environment of
communal hatred,” Nath said in his FIR. Assam tribune
India detains 23 men with suspected links to
Jaish
Srinagar;Indian forces have detained 23 men
suspected of links to Jaish-e-Mohammad.Representatives of NIA questioned the
suspects about the bombing on Sunday, two security officials said.“They are
trying to reach out to the top commanders of Jaish, including its Kashmir
Chief,” one of the sources said. officials said Mohammed Umair, commander of Jaish
in Kashmir who is believed to have plotted the Pulwama attack, is suspected to
be hiding in the region where the attacks took place. Officials say Umair had
“radicalized and motivated” the Kashmiri school dropout who rammed a car laden
with explosives into the convoy. Indian officials say Umair is a nephew of the
chief of Jaish, Masood Azhar. Reuters
Actor Kamal Haasan says hold plebiscite in
Kashmir, later claims quoted out of context
Tamil actor and MNM head Kamal Haasan stoked
controversy Sunday when he called for a Kashmir plebiscite and holding of talks
with all stakeholders in J&K. “Hold plebiscite and make everyone talk, why
the Govt didn’t do that? What are they scared of? We had already torn this
single nation and split it into two parts, why don’t we ask them again? But
they won’t do,” Hasan said at an event in Chennai.Calling for a ceasefire of
hostilities between India and Pakistan at LoC, the actor added: “Why should
soldiers die?Is our watchman dying? If both Govt s behave well, no soldier will
die. The line of control will be under control.”MNM has, however, issued a
statement claiming Haasan’s words were twisted by an English channel.“We firmly
believe that entire Kashmir is an integral part of India and we stand firmly
with our armed forces, para-military and central police forces who defend it
selflessly,” the party said in a statement.“The references made in the English channel
report were mentioned by our party president in the context of a magazine
article published three decades ago about an option that was available at one
point in time of history. This is no longer relevant and is in no way an
indication of his position or party’s position today,” the statement further
read.indianexpress
UP: Man beaten up, held for raising pro-Pak
slogans during march against Pulwama attack
Gorakhpur:A 26-year-old man was beaten black
and blue by the locals before being arrested for allegedly shouting pro-Pakslogans
during a march against the Pulwama attack in neighbouring Basti district,
police said Sunday.The man was identified as Mohammad Khalid. As per reports,
the incident took place last Saturday during a march, taken out by girl
students and teachers of Begam Khair Inter College, against the attack when
Khalid insisted the marching girl to shout a slogan denouncing India and
hailing Pakistan. When the girl did not pay heed to him, Khalid started shouted
the slogan, infuriating the locals who beat him until police rushed to his
rescue and took him into the custody.indian express
Sack ‘Pakistani Bahu’ Sania Mirza as Telangana
brand ambassador, demands BJP MLA
Hyderabad:The lone BJP MLA in Telangana
assembly T Raja Singh on Monday demanded the removal of tennis star Sania Mirza
as the brand ambassador of Telangana because she is a “bahu of Pakistan.” Known
for his controversial and inflammatory comments, Singh said in a video message
to Telangana CM that it was time India cut off all its links with Pakistan in
every form.HT
OTHERS
SC to consider plea for urgent hearing of PIL
against Art 370 granting special status to J&K
The Supreme Court today said that it would
look into the plea seeking urgent hearing of a PIL challenging the
constitutional validity of Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants
special status to J&K and limits Parliament's power to make laws for the
state.A bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi took note of the submission of lawyer
and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay that his plea was of "extreme national
importance" and needed to be listed for urgent hearing.The plea also seeks
a declaration from the SC that the separate Constitution of J&K was
"arbitrary" and "unconstitutional" on various grounds,
including that it was against the "supremacy of the Constitution of India
and contrary to dictum of 'One Nation, One Constitution, One National Anthem
and One National Flag'".nationalheraldindia
No proof, will drop sedition charge against
AMU students:police
Lucknow:After examining around 40 videos,
Aligarh police decided to drop sedition charge against 14 AMU students,
including the current and ex office-bearers of AMU Students’ Union (AMUSU), as
they could not find evidence of the accused raising anti-national slogans on
the campus on Feb.12.The police, however, will probe other charges against the
students, including promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion,
caste, etc. AMU students have been staging protest on the campus, pressing for
various demands, including withdrawing of sedition charge against some
students. “We have so far not found any proof of sedition while analysing
around 40 video footages of incident. Some of the video footages were obtained
from media houses. Hence, we decided to drop sedition charge from the case. A
police team is verifying other charges mentioned in FIR,” said Ashutosh
Dwivedi, ASP, city. No complaint has been filed against BJYM leaders. AMU has suspended its eight students citing
indiscipline and misconduct. The varsity administration formed a 3-member
committee headed by deputy proctor, Professor Rashid Umar, to probe into the
incident over which two more FIRs have been filed.Students of AMU have been
staging protests on the campus since Feb.13 demanding FIR on 3 complaints they
filed accusing BJYM leaders and workers of attacking them, while police have
been demanding evidence. The students claim police lodged two separate FIRs
against them on complaints of BJYM and BJP leaders on charges, including
sedition, without any evidence. AMU Students’ Union vice-president, Hamza
Sufiyan, who is leading the protest and a named accused in an FIR, said, “DM
and SSP of Aligarh came to the campus and asked us to end the protest. When we
demanded an FIR on our complaint, SSP asked us to provide evidence of attack on
them.” Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhari said,“We have lodged an FIR on the complaint
of AMU admin. We will not keep lodging FIRs.”indianexpress
Contempt Petition 'Clear Attempt to
Intimidate, Silence' Prashant Bhushan: Activists
New Delhi: Expressing “deep anguish” over the
filing of a contempt petition against Prashant Bhushan in the Supreme Court,
over 100 activists, academics and former civil servants have in a joint
statement called it “a clear attempt to intimidate and silence one of the
leading advocates in the country.”On Feb. 6, the SC issued a contempt notice to
the activist and lawyer for his tweets allegedly criticising the court over the
appointment of M. Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director.The plea against
Bhushan was filed by the attorney general and Centre. The statement notes that
Bhushan was through his tweets only demanding greater transparency in the
process of appointment of CBI chief.Incidentally, a petition raising similar
doubts over Rao’s appointment was filed in the SC in end-Jan. The plea
challenged the Govt’s decision on the grounds that it was “illegal as he was
unilaterally appointed by the Govt, bypassing the selection committee.”thewire
BJP leader arrested with two for staging his
daughter's abduction with TMC MLA
Kolkata: A BJP leader in Birbhum in West
Bengal was arrested alongwith two youth by the police for allegedly staging the
abduction of his daughter with the help of Trinamul Congress MLA of Labhpur
Monirul Islam hours after she was rescued by the police from Malda early on
Sunday. Suprobhat Batabyal, the main accused, is the father of Prothoma
Batabyal who was allegedly kidnapped 4 days ago in Labhpur.In a dramatic twist TMC
district head Anubrata Mondal directly accused party MLA Monirul Islam, known
for his rivalry with Mondal, of his role in the abduction. He declared that Mr
Islam helped Mr Batabyal, who has switched to the BJP from the Trinamul, in
kidnapping his daughter. Before joining the Trinamul, Batabyal was a CPI(M)
district committee member.He was detained by the police on Saturday night for
questionning. BJP leader was cross-examined with Mr Islam by the cops also.
Apart from Mr Batabyal the two other arrested are Raju Sardar and Dipankar
Mondal. Both are from Naxalbari in Darjeeling. They were caught during
Prothoma's rescue by the police as they had her captive at a place.Asian Age
Kirti Azad: BJP backstabbed me, PM Modi is
running a govt of Julmebazi and corruption
Cricketer turned politician and a bete noire
of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi politics, Kirti Azad, after meeting
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, joined Congress on Monday. Azad termed his
joining Congress as a Ghar wapsi. But in the the same breath he said, "BJP
has backstabbed him for raising issues related to corruption."Son of ex
Bihar CM and famous Congressman Bhagwat Jha Azad, Kirti won Bhagalpur Lok Sabha
seat on BJP’s symbol however he was suspended from the party in 2015 for
anti-party activities. Azad attributed his suspension to the "moral
corruption that has engulfed" the BJP under the patronage of Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley, who according to Azad knows “more about PM Modi and BJP
president Amit Shah” than any of the media.“He (Arun Jaitley) may have some
information about Modi and Shah. That is why they obliged him by suspending me.
Despite the fact that I tried my best, they (Modi and Shah) were very reluctant
to give me a hearing,” said Azad.“Instead, they branded me a rebel. Agar sach
bolna bagawat hai to mai baghi hu,” he added.nationalheraldindia
Saradha scam: Calcutta HC grants interim
relief from arrest to Nalini Chidambaram for six weeks
New Delhi :Calcutta High Court on Monday
granted interim protection from arrest for 6 weeks to Nalini Chidambaram, wife
of ex-Union minister P Chidambaram, in connection with a probe into the Saradha
chit fund scam case.A division bench headed by Justice Joymalya Bagchi,
however, kept Nalini’s application for anticipatory bail on hold and directed
her to cooperate with the investigation.The court also asked CBI and Nalini to
file affidavits in support of their respective stands in the case. indian
express
RBI to transfer Rs 28,000 cr interim surplus
to govt
RBI in its board meeting today decided to
transfer Rs 28,000 crore as interim dividend to the govt for the period of July
to Dec.2018.Interim surplus has been decided after a limited audit review and
after applying Economic Capital Framework.This is 2nd successive year that RBI will transfer interim
surplus to govt.moneycontrol
Manmohan paints a grim picture for Indian
economy; jobless growth turning into job-loss growth
Pointing to domestic challenges like agrarian
crisis, declining employment opportunities and prevalence of divisive forces, ex
PM Manmohan Singh painted a grim picture of the Indian economy and said the
jobless growth was fast turning into the "job-loss growth". Singh
blamed the "slipshod" implementation of GST for damaging the vibrant
small and unorganised sector. "Domestic challenges of our economy are
daunting in their complexity and devastating in their impact on society. Grave agrarian
crisis, the declining employment opportunities, the pervasive environmental
degradation and above all the divisive forces at work are obvious," he
said."Knee-jerk reactions and off cuff announcements of grandiose schemes
and unproductive projects have failed to lift the economy to its
potential," he said.IANS
Gujarat to amend law to allow trusts running
gaushalas to own more land
Gandhinagar:BJP Govt in Gujarat is all set to exempt certain trusts
running gaushalas or cattle sheds from certain provisions of the agri land
ceiling law that restrict them from owning a large quantum of agricultural
land. A Bill to amend the existing Agriculture Land Ceiling (ALC) Act in order
to bring in the exemptions are set to be tabled in the state Assembly in the
upcoming budget session, beginning Monday.Under the provisions of the ALC Act,a
person or body cannot own agriculture land more than the limit stipulated by
the law.indianexpress
Centre is providing 100 pc financial support
to utilise Waqf properties: Union Minister Naqvi
New Delhi:Central Govt led by PM Narendra Modi is giving 100% financial assistance to use Waqf properties
for the empowerment of minorities, said Union Minister for Minority Affairs
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi here.Naqvi, who was chairing the meeting of newly
constituted Central Waqf Council, said:“For the first time since the
Independence, Centre is providing 100% financial help to utilise Waqf
properties across India for educational empowerment and job-oriented skill
development of the needy sections of the society.” “Centre has provided basic
amenities to ensure educational empowerment and job-oriented skill development
of Minorities, especially girls, in those backward areas of the country which
were deprived of these facilities since the Independence,” he said.“While only
90 districts of the country had been identified for minority communities’
development during the earlier Central Govt,Modi led Govt has expanded
development programmes for minorities in 308 districts,”he said. “Campaign to
utilise Waqf properties across the country for socio-economic-educational
empowerment and job-oriented skill development has been successful. There are
around 5.77 lakh registered waqf properties across the country,” he said.He
said the report of a five-member committee, constituted to review Waqf
properties lease rule, headed by Justice (Retd)Zakiullah Khan,has been
submitted.ANI
Telangana Waqf Board scam: Officer took lakhs
of rupees to issue NOC:TOI
Hyderabad: Abids Road police investigating a
Wakf Board scam on Sunday said that the arrested law officer of Telangana State
Wakf Board(TSWB),Sultan Mohiuddin, had allegedly taken lakhs of rupees to
facilitate the issuance of an NOC to declare an endowed land as private land.A
team of cops raided the residence of Mohiuddin and carried out searches at his
residence in Langer Houz after securing his custody.In the latest development,
the police has decided to change the order of the other accused persons in the
case as the arrested law officer has allegedly emerged as the prime accused in
the case. It may be recalled that on Jan.30, one of the accused, Mohammed
Imtiaz, surrendered before the Metropolitan Court in Nampally, after which the
Abids police took him into two days custody, where he spilled the beans during
interrogation. He said that while obtaining NOC for an endowed land in
Manikonda, Mohiuddin had allegedly provided him logistics support.
WORLD
Israel to withhold millions of dollars in
Palestinian funds
Israel says it will withhold $138m in tax
transfers to the Palestinian Authority(PA) over payments given to Palestinians involved in attacks against
Israelis.Govt's security cabinet said on Sunday it was implementing a law
passed last year allowing Israel to withhold funds equivalent to those PA pays
in stipends to Palestinians jailed in Israel, their families, and released
prisoners. The money comes from taxes
Israel collects on behalf of the PA.Israel transfers the tax funds to PA on a
regular basis as outlined by a 1994 economic agreement. Israel says the PA's
payments to the families of those jailed for attacks encourage violence - a
claim the Palestinians reject.PA sees them as a kind of welfare system for
families who have lost a breadwinner.The system is referred to by Israel as
"pay for slay".The freeze comes as the Palestinians face major budget
cuts made last year after the United States slashed funding for UN's
Palestinian refugee programme, UNRWA, and for development programmes in the
Palestinian territories.
AL slams Israeli 'piracy' of Palestinian funds
Cairo:Arab League has decried as
"piracy" an Israeli decision to freeze millions of dollars in tax fees
to the Palestinian Authority."This decision is a continuation of the
Israeli piracy and theft of the Palestinian people's funds and resources,"
the Cairo-based league said.It said the freeze was a "clear violation and
flagrant breach of international commitments", going on to call on the UN
agencies to "face this new Israeli aggression".Anadolu
Israeli police shut Jerusalem's Aqsa Mosque
Israeli police today reopened East Jerusalem's
flashpoint Al Aqsa Mosque compound after a short closure, according to the
mosque director. "Israeli police reopened all gates to Al Aqsa Mosque,"
Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, director of Al-Aqsa mosque, said. Israeli police
spokesman, for his part, confirmed reopening the holy site after arresting 5
people. Earlier Monday, Israeli police closed all gates to the mosque. Anadolu
Agency
Pak Will be Very Important in Future, Says
Crown Prince MBS as Saudi Pumps $20 Billion Investments
Islamabad: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has
signed a slew of investment agreements worth USD 20 billion which will provide
a welcome relief to the teetering economy of the cash-strapped South Asian
country.At a ceremony in PM House, Pakistan and Saudi officials signed MoUs for
bilateral cooperation in a number of areas a process overseen by Pakistan
premier Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who arrived here
late evening on a two-day visit."Today we signed MoUs. The amount of that
kind of investment is $20 billion. It is big for phase one and definitely it
(Saudi investment in Pakistan) will grow every month, every year in bigger
numbers and it will be beneficial for both the countries," the crown
prince said. "Pakistan is going to be a very, very important country in
the future and we want to be sure we are part of that," he added. 7 pacts,
including MoUs in power, petrochemical and mining sectors, were inked as Prince
Salman launched his diplomatic trip to Asia in Islamabad.After Pakistan, the
crown prince will travel to India, where he will meet PM Narendra Modi and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan.He is expected to finish the trip with a visit to China on Thursday and
Friday.MBS said Saudi "cannot say no to Pakistan, whatever you (Pakistan)
want we will do." PTI
Pak confers highest civilian award
Nishan-e-Pakistan on Saudi Crown Prince
Pakistan has conferred its highest civilian
award Nishan-e-Pakistan on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for his
“outstanding support” in reinvigorating the ties between the two countries. The
award was presented by Pakistan President Arif Alvi at a special ceremony held
at the President House in Islamabad. Pakistan PM Imran Khan, members of prince Salman’s
delegation, diplomats, senior officers and Cabinet ministers attended the
ceremony.PTI
MBS gets Pak highest honour after $20bn deals
US-Taliban talks in Pak postponed to Feb 25; Location
changed to Doha
Islamabad:Talks between US and Afghan Taliban
slated for today have been postponed, according to the insurgent group which
alleged that some members of its negotiating team could not travel to Pakistan
for the meeting due to sanctions imposed by America and the UN. Taliban
spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid announced last week that talks with US will take
place in Pakistan's capital, while they will also meet PM Imran
Khan."Islamic Emirate had arranged for their representatives to
participate but unfortunately,most members of the negotiations team were unable
to travel due to US and UN blacklist and the meeting was postponed," the
Taliban said.Security officials said that some of the members of the Taliban
were still under sanctions but it was not the sole reason for the delay.They
said Afghanistan was not comfortable with these talks and the delay in arrival
of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman visit was another reason.Now the next
round of talks between rebel and US will be held on Feb.25 in Doha as panned earlier.Last
month the 2 sides held detailed talks and there were indications that they have
come closer to end over 17 years of conflict. Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry
reacted strongly to the announcement of a meeting in Islamabad, saying it was
in violation of a UNSC resolution.Previously, Afghanistan launched a similar
complaint against Russia for allowing Taliban to travel to Moscow for a
conference.PTI
Saudi leads efforts to change Arab Peace
Initiative with Israel
Saudi Arabia is seeking to modify the Arab
Peace Initiative in order to better align it with the Kingdom’s current warming
of relations with Israel.Citing senior sources close to Palestinian Authority
(PA), Al Khaleej Online reported yesterday that the Kingdom is seeking to make
“basic changes” to the initiative, noting that these efforts are being led by Saudi
King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS).During a 2002
meeting, Arab League approved the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative to be the
basis for any relationship with Israel. It stipulates the creation of a
Palestinian state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, adopting
a just solution for refugees and Israel’s withdrawal from the Syrian Golan
Heights and occupied Lebanese territories, in return for Arab recognition of
Israel. According to the PA sources, Arab countries did not commit to the terms
of the deal, pointing to Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt’s overt normalisation
with Israel and covert normalisation of many other countries.MEMO
Yemen: Thousands demonstrate against Israel
normalisation
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190218-yemen-thousands-demonstrate-against-israel-normalisation/
Thousands of Yemenis have participated in
rallies across the country, including the capital Sana’a, to reject
normalisation with Israel and attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.The
participants rejected what they called “suspicious meetings” and steps towards
normalisation by Foreign Minister Khalid Yamani at the Warsaw Conference which
took place in the Polish capital last week. They also stressed that the steps
do not represent the Yemeni peoples’ view, who are known longstanding support
of the Palestinian people.The head of the Houthi Supreme Revolutionary
Committee, said the alliance with Israel is despicable, describing the Warsaw
Conference as “an American-Israeli” meeting and not an Arab or Islamic
meeting.middleeastmonitor
Kuwait reiterates rejection of Israel
normalisation
Kuwait has reiterated its rejection of Arab
countries’ normalisation with Israel, slamming those ministers who met with
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at last week’s Warsaw Conference Speaker of
Kuwait’s Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim affirmed Kuwait’s “principled and firm
position” against normalisation with Israel, stressing it was one of few Arab
countries that had not acquiesced to building ties with Israel.Al-Ghanim said
he “wish[ed] there wasn’t a picture of any Arab or Kuwaiti official with any
official of [Israel],” responding to allegations that the presence of a Kuwaiti
official in a group photo of conference attendees signalled a change in his
country’s stance towards Israel.middleeastmonitor
Netanyahu secretly met Morocco foreign
minister
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu secretly met
Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser
Bourita, on the side-lines of UN General Assembly meeting last Sept.The
revelation was made by Israel’s Channel 13, which quoted an anonymous senior
Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu and Bourita discussed normalisation
of diplomatic relations between the two countries and what the source described
as “the mutual struggle to face the Iranian threat”.Israeli channel confirmed
that Netanyahu tried to push Morocco to invite him to visit the North African
country, an effort which failed and Morocco has since vehemently denied. Netanyahu’s
office did not refute the news, according to Channel 13, but refused to
comment, stating: “We do not comment on having contacts with countries with
which we do not have formal relations.”middleeastmonitor
Yemen's warring sides agree to pullback from
Hodeidah: UN
Yemen's warring sides have agreed on the first
phase of a pullback of forces from the key city of Hodeidah, in a deal the UN
has described as "important progress". Hodeidah, which is located on
Yemen's western coast and provides access to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait - the
fourth busiest waterway in the world - has been in Houthi hands since 2014,
when the armed group staged a takeover of large swaths of Yemen.The move
prompted the military intervention of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and allies the
following year on behalf of the embattled Govt , triggering what UN calls the
world's worst humanitarian crisis. Following two days of talks in Hodeidah, the
Govt and Houthis finalised a deal on the
first phase of the pullback and also agreed in principle on the second phase, a
UN statement said on Sunday.aljazeera
Iran ready to improve ties with Gulf rivals:Prez
Iran is ready to work with all of its
neighbours to secure peace in the Middle East in the face of US and Israeli
aggression, President Hassan Rouhani said. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been
fighting proxy wars for years, backing opposing sides in conflicts in Syria and
Yemen. However, pressure is building on Tehran after Donald Trump pulled US out
of a 2015 nuke deal between Iran and 6 world powers and reimposed sanctions, targeting
Iran's vital oil sector. Saudi welcomed the move."Iran is ready to work
with regional states to preserve security in the Middle East," Rouhani
said.aljazeera
Maldives ex-Prez held for money laundering
trial
A court in the Maldives has ordered the
country's former President Abdulla Yameen be held in state custody until the
end of a trial on money laundering charges, according to local media.At a
remand hearing on Monday, prosecutors alleged the former president, who lost an
election in September, tried to bribe a witness in the prosecution's case to
change their testimony, according to the news websites Mihaaru and Avas.
59-year-old was charged with money laundering last week over claims he received
$1m, stolen from state coffers in the country's biggest-ever corruption
scandal. Police say a private company that laundered more than $79m in tourism
revenues deposited the money to Yameen's private account at the Maldives
Islamic Bank.aljazeera
Saudi prisoners begin hunger strike
A number of Saudi prisoners have begun a
hunger strike protesting against their ill treatment by Saudi authorities.The
hunger strikers are calling for the release of all peaceful and democratic
activists, as well as all prisoners who have been arbitrarily imprisoned over
freedom of expression, the New Khalij reported.In a statement leaked from
prison, prisoner Abdullah Al-Hamid announced starting his hunger strike in
protest against ill treatment by the Saudi authorities. He also said he is
calling for his release, as well as the release of all activists and preachers
detained in the country.MEMO
Visegrad summit in Israel axed over Poland
anti-semitism row
A summit in Israel between the leaders of
Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia has been cancelled after Israel's
newly appointed foreign minister said "anti-semitism was innate among the
Poles".Israel and Czech Republic said today that though the summit was
cancelled, they will hold bilateral meetings this week alongside Hungary and
Slovakia."There will be no full V4 meeting," Emmanuel Nahshon,
spokesperson for Israel's foreign ministry, said according to Reuters, using a
term for the central European Visegrad bloc. "3 PM's [sic] are arriving
and will hold meetings with [Israel's] PM."Citing Czech PM Andrej Babis,
news agency CTK said Tuesday's summit may be rescheduled for the second half of
this year.Earlier today,Poland's PM Mateusz Morawiecki announced he had
cancelled his country's participation in summit following remarks by Israel's
interim foreign minister, Israel Katz.middleeasteye
7 MPs resign from UK Labour Party
London:A group of 7 MPs have resigned from
Britain’s Labour Party and will now sit in parliament as independent
lawmakers.The decision to leave the opposition party was announced Monday at a
press conference held by resigning MPs Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris
Leslie,Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey.Berger said Labour
Party had become “institutionally anti-Semitic”, adding that she was
"embarrassed and ashamed" to remain in the party. Leslie, for his
part, said the party had been hijacked by “machine politics of the hard
left”.Anadolu
Hearing on Bangladesh Jamaat’s appeal against
scrapping registration soon: AG
Dhaka: Attorney general Mahbubey Alam has said
initiatives will be taken soon to start hearing the appeal of Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami against the High Court verdict that scrapped its registration
as a political party.‘PM recently rightly said as the appeal is pending with
the Appellate Division, executive order is not being able to be passed in this
regard. We will try to hold hearing of the matter soon,’ the chief state
counsel said at a briefing held at his office.The trial of war criminals will
continue, the attorney general said, adding ‘It does not matter whether they
seek apology or not.’ newagebd
flash: views & NEWS
More imp than MoUs with Saudi is Delhi’s
solidarity with Prince Salman’s reform agenda: C. Raja Mohan
How the Congress Is Normalising Soft-Hindutva
in Madhya Pradesh:Rakesh Dixit
7th Pay Commission: Major developments Central
Govt employees must have missed, details
inside
Did BJP’s Prachi just confirm that Modi
orchestrated Godhra train burning for political gains?JantaKaReporter
Before and after: Satellite images reveal
Egypt's Sinai bulldozed and barren after war
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