NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
14 March 2019: 06 Rajab 1440:Vol: 11, No:151
INDIA
On Rafale papers secrecy claims, SC cites post-RTI
"revolution"; reserves order
New Delhi:The concept of confidentiality in
documents has undergone a change since the Right To Information Act was put in
place, the Supreme Court indicated today during the hearing of petitions that
sought review of the judgment in the Rafale case. Seeking that the petitions be
dismissed, the Centre has argued that the petitioners have illegally got access
to classified documents and made them public. "File notings have lost the
sanctity they had...RTI brought about a revolution, a complete change.In cases
of corruption and human rights violations, even sensitive organisations have to
disclose information under RTI,"said the bench led by CJI Ranjan
Gogoi."According to you, these documents affect national security and
court should not interfere... we have to consider it under the RTI act,"said
CJI. Petitioner Prashant Bhushan, he said, could file a reply if he wants.The
court has reserved its judgment on whether there has been any breach of
confidentiality. Targeting The Hindu paper over its investigative stories on
the purchase of the jets, Centre yesterday said the petitioners have violated Official
Secrets Act and endangered national security. None of the documents given to court
violates national security, argued lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who is one of the
petitioners in the case. "When public knew the documents as it had been
published, how can the Centre say the court must not look into the
documents," Bhushan said. Citing the US verdict on Pentagon papers leak,
he said once documents are published, the government can no longer claim
privilege. Regarding the govt's argument that the documents have been accessed
through illegal means, he said, "If a document is relevant in deciding a
fact, it is irrelevant how it was obtained".NDTV
SC reserves order on Centre claiming privilege
over ‘leaked’ Rafale files
China places hold on listing Azhar as
designated terrorist
Washington: China has placed a technical hold
on the listing request for JeM leader Masood Azhar at UNSC 1267 Committee. No
reason for a hold — which lasts for 3 months and then can be extended for
another 6 — need be given, and China gave none, diplomatic sources at UN said.
“ISIL Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee (1267 Sanctions Committee) was not able to
come to a decision on the proposal for listing Masood Azhar under UN Sanctions
regime, on account of a member placing the proposal on hold,”a Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) statement said, adding “We are disappointed by this
outcome”.“We will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that
terrorist leaders involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to
justice,” MEA said. “We are disappointed by this outcome,” an MEA statement
read. The listing request, which was co-sponsored by US, UK and France on
Feb.27, came in response to the Pulwama attack. the hindu
UNSC may seek other possible action if China
continues blocking Azhar listing as terrorist: diplomat
Outraged by China blocking for the fourth time
a UNSC move to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist, Council members have
warned that they “may be forced to pursue other actions” if Beijing continued
with this policy.There is an “undeniable” case for listing Azhar as a global
terrorist, according to a UNSC diplomat, who spoke on condition of
anonymity.The diplomat also warned of other possible action at the UNSC should
China continue to block Azhar’s designation.thehindu
Azhar’s designation should be based on
trilateral consensus: China
Beijing: Hours after blocking a UN ban on
Masood Azhar, China has made it plain that it would consider shifting its
position on designating the head of JeM as an international terrorist only
after reaching a consensus to do so among Beijing,New Delhi and Islamabad. In
response to a question, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang signaled
that Beijing was ready to back a triangular formula that would also involve
Pakistan on designating Azhar as a global terrorist in the UNSC’s 1267
committee.“I said earlier that only a solution that is acceptable to all sides
could be fundamentally providing a chance of lasting solution to the issue,” Lu
said.The spokesperson added that there would be no lag in its diplomatic
activism to get all the three countries on board.“China is ready to communicate
and coordinate with all sides including India to properly handle this issue,”
he observed.thehindu
Samjhauta Express blast case: Hearing
postponed to March 18
Panchkula:The hearing on the Samjhauta Express
blast case of 2007 in the special NIA court here was on Thursday has been
postponed for March 18.Advocate Mukesh Garg, one of the counsel for the accused
Swami Aseemanand, told reporters “Hearing was scheduled for today, however, the
district bar association of Panchkula had suspended work on some local issue.
In wake of this, the court adjourned the matter and the fixed the next date of
hearing on March 18.”Trial in the case has concluded and the court was expected
to deliver a verdict on March 11. However, Rahila Wakeel, a Pakistani national
and daughter of one of the victims of the blast had on March 11, filed a
petition through advocate Momin Malik, to get her statement recorded as witness
in the 12-year-old case.Former RSS member Aseemanand is the prime accused in
the case.thehindu
Pakistan woman urges NIA not to oppose plea in
Samjhauta case
Kartarpur corridor talks: India asks Pakistan
for visa-free access for 5,000 pilgrims per day
New Delhi:During the discussion over the
Kartarpur Sikh corridor, India today asked Pakistan to give visa-free access to
at least 5000 pilgrims per day. A joint statement issued after the talks said
both sides held detailed and constructive discussions on various aspects and
provisions of the project and agreed to work towards expeditiously
operationalising Kartapur Sahib Corridor (KSC).“Our side pressed on the need
for arranging the visit of at least 5000 pilgrims per day, to begin with, in
phase 1 of the project. This should include not only Indian nationals but
people of Indian origin as well,” MHA official SCL Das said.Keeping in mind the
special days including Gurupurab and Baisakhi when corridor would receive a
massive footfall, Das added.indianexpress
Ayodhya Mediators Ban Reporting of Proceedings
in Print and Other Media
New Delhi:The Supreme Court appointed
mediation committee for the resolution of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land
dispute in an order dated March 13, directed that there should “not be any
reporting of the mediation proceedings in print or other media”.The order,
signed by committee chairman F.M.I. Kalifulla, is in line with the what the
Supreme Court had said while ruling in favour of mediation. The court had
said:“We are also of the view that mediation proceedings should be conducted
with utmost confidentiality so as to ensure its success which can only be
safeguarded by directing that the mediation proceedings and those views
expressed therein by any of the parties included and learned mediators shall be
kept confidential and not be revealed to any other person.”The committee
reportedly heard everyone who attended the proceedings after notices had been
issued to all parties to different civil appeals pending before the SC
regarding the issue.thewire
Ayodhya dispute: 50 Litigants and counsels
appear before SC-appointed mediation panel
Didn’t let BJP crack down on J&K
Jamaat-e-Islami, Hurriyat: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar :Former J&K chief minister and
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has said BJP wanted to ban J&K Jamaat-e-Islami
and crack down on Hurriyat leaders when her party was in a coalition with BJP
in the state, but she didn’t let them do it.“BJP wanted to crack down on
Jamaat-e-Islami, a crackdown on moulvis. I didn’t let them do it. BJP wanted to
carry out NIA raids on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others.
But I didn’t let them do it,” Mehbooba said while addressing a workers’
convention in north Kashmir’s Bandipora. She also said that Kashmir is used
whenever elections take place in the country. “In the 2014 polls, during
Congress govt, Afzal Guru was hanged to show the country what they have done.
Today…BJP has started raids, banned JeI, summoned Mirwaiz.”indian express
Religious leaders withdraw shutdown call after
Mirwaiz request
Srinagar:A day after all religious leaders in
the Valley rallied behind Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and called for
a shutdown to protest against NIA's summons to him in a case of alleged terror
funding, the shutdown call was withdrawn on Wednesday on the request of
Mirwaiz.Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference also convened an emergency meeting in
Srinagar to discuss the issue. Hurriyat has said that a “hostile environment is
being wilfully generated to cause harassment”.On Wednesday, Mutahida Ulema
Council — an amalgam of religious leaders— withdrew the shutdown call after a
request from Mirwaiz. indian express
National Conference leader MI Wani shot at by
unknown gunmen, injured
New Delhi:National Conference leader Mohammad
Ismail Wani was reportedly shot at by unknown gunmen earlier today in
Anantnag.Wani, the block president of the Bijbehara block in South Kashmir, is
reported to have suffered some seriously.Reacting to news of the incident,
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “My @JKNC_ colleague Mohd
Ismail Wani, block President Bijbehara block in South Kashmir of has been shot
& injured. He has been referred to Srinagar. Praying for his recovery.”HT
Shah Faesal set to launch party on March 17,
Shehla Rashid may join
Srinagar :Former bureaucrat Shah Faesal is set
to launch his own political party on Sunday. Amid speculation that he would be
joining the National Conference, Faesal has been travelling through different
districts in the Valley, meeting and bringing “like-minded individuals” into
the fold. Among them is ex JNU Students’ Union vice-president Shehla
Rashid.Rashid, who is pursuing a PhD at JNU, is the first of many names
expected to join Faesal’s political venture. Faesal will launch his party from
Srinagar. Indian express
Data on Jobs Created Under Mudra Won't Be
Released Before Elections: Report
New Delhi: Results of a survey on jobs created
under Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (Mudra) scheme, conducted by
the Labour Bureau, will not be released before the 2019 elections, the Indian
Express has reported.“Number of jobs created under the Mudra scheme will be
released after the polls as the expert committee found anomalies in the
methodology used by Bureau in arriving at the findings,” the newspaper quoted
sources as saying.The Mudra scheme, Modi’s govt flagship programme to encourage
self-employment, was launched in 2015.This is the third time the Modi
government has delayed – or entirely scrapped – the release of jobs data. The
government was reportedly planning to use the Labour Bureau’s Mudra survey
after it did away with the National Sample Survey Office’s report on
unemployment.The unreleased NSSO survey – leaked in the Business Standard –
said that unemployment reached a 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18. This was the
first jobs survey conducted after demonetisation. Expert members of the
National Statistical Commission – including the acting chairman – resigned in
protest after the government did not release the data despite their green
light.In addition to this, the Centre has also failed to release details of the
Labour Bureau’s sixth annual employment-unemployment survey, despite the Union
labour and employment minister approving the reports.Results reportedly
indicate that India’s unemployment rate hit a four-year high of 3.9% in
2016-17.The Labour Bureau’s Mudra survey too has hit a roadblock. According to
the Indian Express, experts committee asked bureau to “reconcile some errors”
at a meeting on Friday. The Labour Bureau asked for two months to do that –
which means the results will not be public before the upcoming
elections.thewire/ Indian Express
Even Mudra job survey data put in deep freeze:Indian
Express
Gorakhpur infants deaths: Allahabad HC orders
Yogi govt to complete Dr Kafeel case in 90 days
Allahabad High Court has ordered the Yogi
Adityanath government to complete its enquiry against suspended paediatrician
Dr Kafeel Khan of BRD Medical College within 3 months. The Yogi government had
made Khan the scapegoat in the deaths of many infants due to Japanese
Encephalitis in Gorakhpur even though he had to save lives by bringing private
oxygen cylinders in his car after the oxygen supply in the hospital had
exhausted. At least 70 infants had died within 54 hours in August 2017 due to
Japanese Encephalitis. Nine people were suspended, including three doctors Dr
Rajiv Mishra, Dr Satish Kumar and Dr Khan.“Let us see if they complete the
case. We still have the option of going to the Supreme Court. UP government has
lied in court that I was not cooperating with the enquiry. If that is the case,
then why are the other doctors still under suspension? We are going to file a
review petition against this response. The High Court had given me a clean chit
when they gave me bail after being in jail for 9 months. They said I was not
involved in the tendering of oxygen,” emphasised Khan.nationalheraldindia
21 Opposition Parties Move Top Court On Voting
Machines, Hearing Tomorrow
New Delhi: Less than a month before the
national elections, 21 opposition parties have approached the Supreme Court,
asking for Electronic Voting Machines would be tinker-proof. The court will
hear their petitions tomorrow.The petitioners want more safety norms and strict
standards for EVMs. They also want 50 per cent of VVPAT to be tallied with the
voting machines.The parties that went to court include the Congress,
Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, Sharad Pawar's NCP, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP, Left
parties, Samajwadi Party and Mayawati.Since the 2017 assembly elections in
which the BJP had a sweeping victory in Uttar Pradesh, the opposition contended
that the voting machines have been tinkered with. Mayawati has called for a
return to paper ballots.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Unveils People’s
Manifesto; Demands Security, Reservation for Muslims
New Delhi:Releasing people’s manifesto for the
present Lok Sabha elections, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, one of the largest Muslim
Organizations in India, demanded security for Muslims and deprived sections,
reservation for minorities especially Muslims, protection of religious and
cultural rights of minorities,police reforms, introduction of interest-free
banking and implementation of Sachar committee recommendations. The manifesto
was released by Jamaat chief Syed Jalaluddin Umari at Press Club of India in
New Delhi.“We will send our manifesto and approach to all political parties who
believe in democracy and secularism,” said Jamaat’s vice-president Nusrat Ali
while releasing the manifesto. “We not only want them to accept this manifesto
but also implement it,” said Mohammed Salim, General Secretary of Jamaat, while
interacting with media-persons.The manifesto highlighted many crucial issues
concerning the country and its people such as right to livelihood, affirmative
action for deprived sections, independence of state institutions i.e CBI and
RBI, employment, agriculture, education policy, security regulations and proper
use of wakf properties. Demanding reservation for minorities and Muslims in particular,
the manifesto said “Indian Muslims are a deprived lot, it is necessary to
provide reservation for them. Hence the Ranganath Misra Commission’s report
should be implemented. Reservation to all minorities should be provided in
education and jobs. Among such reserved positions; 2/3rd should be marked for Muslims”.Caravan News
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Releases 'People's
Manifesto': Inclusive Education, Employment, Reforms in Focus
Raj Babbar, Shinde in Congress’s 2nd
Lok Sabha list
Congress has released its second list of Lok
Sabha candidates, fielding its Uttar Pradesh unit chief Raj Babbar from
Moradabad and former Union Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde from Maharashtra's
Solapur and Sriprakash Jaiswal from Kanpur.The second list of 21 candidates,
five from Maharashtra and 16 from Uttar Pradesh, includes two MPs who joined it
after quitting the BJP- Nana Patole from Nagpur and Savitri Phule from Uttar
Pradesh's Bahraich.Patole, who had joined Congress in 2018, heads the All India
Kisan Congress. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is the sitting MP from
Nagpur and Patole will face him if he recontests from there.Former Samajwadi
Party MP Rakesh Sachan has been made Congress candidate from UP's Fatehpur.In
Maharashtra, the party has fielded late actor and former Union Minister Sunil
Dutt's daughter Priya Dutt from Mumbai North Central and Milind Deora from
Mumbai South.Nandev Dalluji Usendi is the party nominee from
Gadchiroli-Chimur.In Uttar Pradesh, party has fielded Sanjay Singh from
Sultanpur, Ratna Singh from Pratapgarh, Omwati Devi Jatav from Nagina, Zafar
Ali Naqvi from Kheri, Kaisar Jahan from Sitapur, Manjari Rahi from Misrikh,
Ramashankar Bhargava from Mohanlalganj, Parvez Khan from Sant Kabir Nagar, Kush
Saurabh from Bansgaon, Pankaj Mohan Sonkar from Lalganj, Lalitesh Pati Tripathi
from Mirzapur and Bhagwati Prasad Choudhary from Robertsganj.IANS
Priyanka meets Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar
who says will fight against PM Modi
New Delhi :A day after BSP chief Mayawati
ruled out a tie-up with the Congress in any state, Congress Uttar Pradesh east
general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday met Bhim Army chief
Chandrashekhar Azad at a Meerut hospital.Azad was admitted to Anand Hospital
Tuesday when he fell ill after being detained by the Saharanpur Police for
allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct in Deoband.While the meeting signalled
a possible Congress understanding with the Bhim Army, Priyanka said her meeting
with Azad had no political connotations. Bhim Army declared, soon after the
meeting, that it would contest the LS polls and that Azad would take on Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.Hours after the meeting, SP chief Akhilesh
Yadav met Mayawati at her Lucknow residence in what Akhilesh said was to
discuss Mahaparivartan.Following 2-hour meeting, SP spokesperson Rajendra
Chaudhary said they met to discuss upcoming Lok Sabha polls and was not
connected to Priyanka meeting Azad.Asked about the possibility of Azad
contesting from the Nagina seat in UP, she said, “There is nothing like this.
Nothing political. I like his enthusiasm. I like the fact that he is struggling
and raising the voice of his people,” she said. Priyanka was accompanied by
AICC general secretary in charge of UP West Jyotiraditya Scindia and state
party chief Raj Babbar.Asked about Priyanka’s visit, Azad said: “It wasn’t
political at all.” Azad said, “We haven’t forgotten the previous 4-and-a-half
years. The way Dalits have been tortured and killed on the basis of caste.
Muslims have been killed on the basis of cows. There were attempts to cause
riots in Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr.The way SC, ST (Atrocities) Act has been
weakened.”National President of Bhim Army, Vinay Ratan Singh said that
Priyanka’s visit came as a complete surprise.Along with taking on the Prime
Minister, he said Bhim Army will also “put up a candidate against (Textile
Minister) Smriti Irani in the constituency she chooses to contest from”. He
said they will support any Opposition candidate, who it believed could defeat
the BJP.indian express
Union Minister Hegde targets Rahul again: ‘Can
son of Muslim give proof he is Brahmin?’
Bengaluru: Union Minister of State for Skill
Development Ananth Kumar Hegde has again questioned Congress president Rahul
Gandhi’s claims of being a Hindu and a Brahmin by raising the issue of his
parentage.On March 9, Hegde said that Congress and Rahul were questioning the
recent strikes in Pakistan by BJP govt while the Congress chief’s claims of
being a Hindu were in question. Hegde is MP from Uttara Kannada.“They want
proof it seems (of the airstrikes in Pakistan). They want proof of what the
soldiers have done. Can this son of a Muslim give proof that he is a Brahmin as
he claims? His father is a Muslim and mother is a Christian, how did he become
a Brahmin? Can he provide any proof?” Hegde said.Hegde, a Brahmin,has
repeatedly questioned Rahul’s claims of being a Brahmin over the past few
months. indian express
Kejriwal’s desperate plea to Rahul , asks him
to ‘consider’ on alliance with AAP in Haryana
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has made
a desperate plea to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, asking him to consider
stitching an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana for this year’s Lok
Sabha polls.Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal wrote, “People of this country want to
defeat the duo of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. If JJP, AAP and Congress fight
together, the BJP will face defeat in all 10 seats of Haryana. Rahul Gandhi ji,
please consider this.”His tweet came amidst rising speculations on whether the two rival
parties will strike a deal in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls. Although the Delhi
unit of the Congress has repeatedly said that there was no possibility of
striking a deal with the AAP, latest reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi is
seeking feedback from his supporters on the matter.jantakareporter
Owaisi likely to contest from a western UP
seat
Bareilly: Will AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi
contest from UP? If the local unit of party has its way, he may contest from
one of the five seats of western UP, though his party is likely to contest from
20 seats in the state.Confirming this, national spokesperson of the party, Syed
Asim Waqar, said that the party was planning to contest on five seats --
Aligarh, Sambhal, Firozabad, Moradabad and Rampur -- in west UP and Owaisi
might contest from one of these, apart from his traditional Hyderabad, where he
won in 2014. He said the party chief would take a final decision on this in a
couple of days.Waqar said that both parties SP-BSP ask for Minority votes but
they have never given them their due share.“They did not even consider Muslim
parties for a grand alliance against the BJP,” he said adding that if Owaisi
decides to contests from UP, it will be good for the community as he is the
only leader who can consolidate Muslim votes and upset the calculations of SP-BSP
and Congress.TOI
2002 Naroda Patiya massacre case: SC asks
Gujarat govt to file affidavit convict's bail plea
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the
Gujarat government to file a detailed affidavit within two weeks in connection
with the bail application of Prakash Rathod, a convict in the 2002 Naroda
Patiya massacre case.A bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Ajay
Rastogi also issued notice to the state government on an application filed
another convict in the case for bail on medical grounds.During the hearing on
Tuesday, Aparna Bhatt, a senior counsel who was asked by Justice Khanwilkar to
appear and argue for victims/witnesses in the Naroda Patiya case, had opposed
the bail application of Rathod.ANI
Civil Society Condemns Harassment of Ram
Puniyani by Maharashtra Government
http://caravandaily.com/civil-society-condemns-harassment-of-ram-puniyani-by-maharashtra-government/
New Delhi — Civil society members have alleged
that BJP-led Maharashtra government is harassing prominent rights activist Ram
Puniyani who has been critical of the BJP and right-wing forces through
security agency. Reportedly, a team of CID has conducted an unauthorized raid
at his home and harassed his family.They accused that the government is trying
to muzzle the voice of dissenters and the opposition. Writing to Mumbai Police
Commissioner, they condemn the unauthorized raid conducted by the CID and
demanded to order a probe into this whole episode and to book the guilty. Human
rights activist Shabnam Hashimi, who issued the press statement on behalf of
civil society, asked for the endorsement of the statement.caravandaily
Mumbai school teacher acquitted in terror case
pens book on jail experience:ANI
Wahid Sheikh,a school teacher acquitted in
2006 Mumbai blasts case, has now turned author who has brought out a book that
documents his experience in prison.Sheikh arrested in connection with 2006
Mumbai blasts case was acquitted of all charges in 2015 when trial concluded.
After his acquittal,he resumed his teaching profession and also completed a law
degree. Today, he is again in news for his book "Begunah Qaidi,"
(Innocent Prisoner) which he wrote while he was in prison. Recently, a
Delhi-based publisher brought out the book in two languages--Hindi and Urdu.A
thousand copies of the book have already been sold as of now. Sheikh expects
that the book and his experiences will help other innocent people who are
jailed for no reason.
Pansare case: Irked over probe, HC says state
a ‘laughing stock’
Mumbai :Bombay High Court on Thursday said the
state has been reduced to a “laughing stock” by adopting elementary methods in
probing rationalist Govind Pansare’s killing.A bench of Justices SC
Dharamadhikari and BP Colabawalla summoned Maharashtra Home Department’s
additional chief secretary on March 28 to explain the cause of the slow
progress made in the case. “Let the state feel some pressure. It must face
consequences some day. For most often, the police gets away. No memos are issued,
no explanations sought,” the bench said.PTI
Rampur: Unani Hospital evacuated ‘illegally’
by Azam brought back to Madrassa-i-Aliya building
Rampur: In a major setback to Samajwadi Party
leader Azam Khan, Government Unani Hospital, which was allegedly evacuated by
him during the Samajwadi Party regime in 2016 from century-old Madrassa-I-Aliya
Oriental College, was on Wednesday shifted back to the building from its
existing location the district hospital amid tight security. Issuing the order
to shift the hospital back to the building, Rampur DM Anjaney Kumar Singh said,
“According to the lease paper, building was transferred to Jauhar Trust of Azam
Khan. But, the terms of lease do not mention shifting of Unani hospital from
the building. Only a portion of the building was given to the Trust, which did
not include the portion of the Unani hospital.” DM said, “In 2016, the building
of Unani hospital was illegally occupied at the behest of the former minister.
Following the legal course, I ordered the hospital authorities to take
possession of the building in the public interest. An FIR has also been
registered at the Ganj police station against those who had illegally occupied
the building, following a complaint lodged by the chief medical superintendent
of the hospital.”DM said in 2016, then government had transferred the building
to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust for 99 years on a lease, following which
Azam established a branch of his trust-owned Rampur Public School there and
evacuated the Unani hospital from the campus.Following the order of the state
govt, said DM, an SIT probe has been initiated into the matter.SP workers,
however, soon gathered near the premises and sat on a dharna, protesting
against DM order. TOI
Azim Premji makes most generous donation in
Indian history: gives 34% of his shares to charity - $7.5 billion
Azim Premji, billionaire chairman of Indian
conglomerate Wipro Ltd., will give a further 34 percent of shares in the
company worth $7.5 billion to support philanthropic activities, the most
generous donation in Indian history. The shares held by entities controlled by
Premji have been irrevocably renounced and earmarked to the Azim Premji
Foundation, the foundation said in a statement on Wednesday.“With this action,
the total value of the philanthropic endowment corpus contributed by Premji is
$21 billion, which includes 67% of economic ownership of Wipro.”His foundation
works directly in education and supports over 150 other non-profits serving
under-privileged and marginalized Indians through multi-year financial grants.
The foundation set up the Azim Premji University to develop professionals in
education and related human development domains, offer degree and education
programs, and conduct research.HT
WORLD
US drops 'Israeli-occupied' designation from
Golan Heights
US no longer refers to the Golan Heights as an
"Israeli-occupied" territory in its latest annual human rights
report, published on Wednesday, though the State Department insists the wording
change doesn't mean a policy change.The report now calls the area the
"Israeli-controlled Golan Heights".When asked about the change on
such a sensitive Middle East subject, a senior US official told reporters in
Washington: "There's no change in our outlook or our policy vis-a-vis
these territories and the need for a negotiated settlement
there.""This, by the way, is not a human rights issue, it's a legal
status issue," said Michael Kozak of the State Department's Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor."What we try to do is to report on the
human rights situation in those territories, and so you're just trying to find
the way of describing the place that you're reporting on," he said.
"And 'occupied territory' has a legal meaning to it; I think what they
tried to do is to shift more to just a geographic description."Another
semantic change that appeared in last year's report showed up again this year,
with a section titled "Israel, Golan Heights, West Bank and Gaza,"
instead of its previous "Israel and the Occupied Territories"
heading.Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President
Mahmoud Abbas, said that the US dropping the term “occupation” from the
Occupied Palestinian Territories and Syrian Golan Heights is "a
continuation of the hostile approach of the American administration toward our
Palestinian people and is contrary to all UN resolutions."He stressed,
"These American titles will not change the fact that the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967 and the occupied Arab Golan are territories under
Israeli occupation in accordance with UN resolutions and international
law," Abu Rudeinah said, as reported by Palestinian news agency
Maan.aljazeera
Scores of settlers storm J'lem's Al-Aqsa
Mosque complex
Jerusalem:Scores of Jewish settlers forced
their way into Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque
complex on Thursday, according to a Palestinian official. “About 150 Jewish
settlers -- backed by at least 30 policemen -- have forced their way into the mosque
compound since morning,” Firas al-Dibs, a spokesman for Jerusalem’s Religious
Endowments Authority (a Jordan-run agency tasked with overseeing the city's
Muslim and Christian sites), told Anadolu Agency. After entering the compound
through the Al-Mugharbah Gate, settlers proceeded to take a tour of the
compound, passing through the courtyards of both the Al-Qibali and Dome of the
Rock mosques, the official said. Anadolu Agency
Israel rounds up 15 Palestinians in occupied W.Bank
Ramallah:Israeli army detained at least 15
Palestinians in overnight raids carried out across the occupied West Bank,
according to a military statement issued Thursday. The individuals were
arrested for “suspected involvement in terrorist activities”, the army said,
adding that they had since been referred to relevant authorities for further
investigation. The Israeli army frequently carries out wide-ranging arrest
campaigns across the occupied West Bank on the pretext of searching for
“wanted” Palestinians. Anadolu
Top Brazilian officials oppose relocating
embassy to Jerusalem
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is set to
visit Israel at the end of the month, but senior officials remain opposed to
his promise of relocating the country’s embassy to Jerusalem, reported
Reuters.According to reports, the move is “opposed by military officers in his
cabinet”.An unnamed Brazilian government official told Reuters yesterday “that
no decision has been taken on the embassy move”.“Something will have to be said
about the embassy during the trip,” said the official, adding that a formal
announcement might not be made during the 31 March to 2 April visit.During his
visit to Brasilia for the presidential inauguration in January, Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Bolsonaro had told him the relocation of
Brazil’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was a matter of “when not if”.
Israel has highest rate of poverty of any OECD
country: new report
Israel “has highest rate of poverty of any
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country,
according to a National Insurance Institute report”, the Jerusalem Post
reported today.Poverty and “near poverty” rates are particularly acute amongst
Palestinian citizens of Israel who have faced systematic discrimination since
the state’s establishment in 1948.“Israel has the highest rate of poverty of
any OECD country, according to a National Insurance Institute report published
in December 2018”, the paper reported, “with the poverty line defined as half
of the median disposable income, weighted by household size”.A new study
published yesterday by Adva Centre “has revealed that the situation of those
living in ‘near poverty” – those whose income lies between the poverty line and
25 percent above it – is not much better,” said the Jerusalem Post.MEMO
Attacks in Syria’s Idlib leave 15 dead: White
Helmets
IDLIB:Regime shelling and Russian airstrikes
killed 15 civilians in Syria’s Idlib, the White Helmets civil-defense agency
said Thursday. Along with regime
artillery barrages, Russian SU-34 warplanes struck central Idlib and its rural
outskirts, leaving 15 dead, including eight children, the White Helmets
said.Regime attacks in Idlib’s de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression
are expressly prohibited, are believed to have killed at least 138 civilians
since Jan. 1. Anadolu Agency
US-backed forces pummel last Islamic State
stronghold in Syria
US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
militia has been bombarding Baghouz in an attempt to smash the last stand of Islamic
State (IS) group in eastern Syria. Arab-Kurdish fighters, backed by US
warplanes, have since Sunday launched an all-out assault on the enclave, but IS
militants have kept up their underground defences, unleashing suicide bombers
on the advancing forces.A spokesman for the SDF inside Baghouz, a collection of
hamlets and farms, on Thursday said these tactics were preventing a speedy
advance.'Those who stayed inside are mostly suicide bombers blowing themselves
up, which is impeding the advance'- Jiaker Amed, SDF spokesman."There is
progress but it is slow as the area is narrow," said Jiaker Amed, a
spokesman for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), who make up the
largest faction of the SDF.middleeasteye
US Senate passes bill to halt military support
to Saudi in Yemen
Washington:US Senate voted 54 to 46 to block
further involvement by US military in the war in Yemen, where bombings by Saudi
Arabia and UAE, conducted with US weapons, are blamed for causing mass civilian
deaths, starvation, and the spread of disease."We have the opportunity to
take a major step forward in ending the horrific war in Yemen and alleviating
that terrible, terrible suffering being experienced by the people in one of the
poorest countries in the world," Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont
independent, said."There is no secret as to why there is a cholera
epidemic. It's because the Saudis bombed the water treatment facilities so the
water isn't clean anymore," said Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut
Democrat.Aid groups estimate that as many as 60,000 civilians have been killed
in the war and as many as 85,000 children starved to death.Senate action sends
the resolution back to the House of Representatives, which is expected to
approve it a second time after having voted 248 to 177 on Feb.13 to approve the
measure. The resolution is being brought forward under War Powers Act of 1973,
a Vietnam War-era law that asserts Congress's authority over the deployment of
US military power.Trump White House has threatened to veto the joint House and
Senate resolution if it reaches the president's desk. aljazeera
Saudi official says kingdom pursuing justice
for Khashoggi murder
The head of the Saudi human rights commission
said on Thursday that the kingdom was bringing those accused over the murder of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi to justice and rejected an international investigation
into the case.Three dozen Western countries, including all 28 European Union
members, called on Saudi Arabia last week to cooperate with a United
Nations-led investigation into the murder of Khashoggi, a critic and Washington
Post columnist.He was killed by Saudi agents October 2 at the Saudi consulate
in Istanbul Bandar bin Mohammed al-Aiban told UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR)
that those on trial for the "heinous crime" and "unfortunate
accident" had attended three hearings so far with their lawyers present.
He gave no names or details.aljazeera
US urges Muslim nations to condemn China's
treatment of Uighurs, Muslim minorities in Xinjiang
Washington: US has voiced disappointment at the
failure of Muslim nations to jointly take a stand against China's treatment of
its Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province."We are, I
can say, disappointed about the lack of response from members of the OIC
(Organization of Islamic Cooperation), and the lack of outspoken concern,"
said US Ambassador Kelley Currie who heads the State Department's Office of
Global Criminal Justice.Currie was speaking to reporters ahead of a
US-sponsored event at UN headquarters in Geneva focused on allegations of
mass-internment of Uighurs in China's restive Xinjiang province.While she
applauded Turkey for its recent strong criticism of China's treatment of its
Muslim minorities, she said Washington had hoped the IOC would have
collectively condemned the situation in Xinjiang as it has done regarding
rights abuses against Muslims in Myanmar and Syria.AFP
Brexit vote: UK parliament rejects 'no-deal'
option
With just over two weeks to go until the
Brexit deadline, the British parliament has signalled that it is strongly
against leaving the European Union without a deal.After politicians rejected
British Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to quit the EU for a second time on
Tuesday, the government on Wednesday put forward a motion to rule out a
"no-deal" Brexit on March 29, the current deadline.MPs then backed an
amendment to that motion, which rules out a no-deal Brexit under any
circumstances. The motion as amended was passed by 321 votes to 278.Wednesday's
vote is not legally binding, however, and does not rule out a no-deal Brexit
altogether.A deal or another alternative needs Parliament's approval.MPs on
Wednesday also voted down an amendment which resurrected elements of the
"Malthouse compromise" for a "managed no-deal", supported
by prominent Brexiters. That amendment included a delay to May 22 for
preparations.PM confirmed that a vote on extending Article 50 will take place
as promised tomorrow. aljazeera
New Algerian prime minister to form
'technocratic government'
New Algerian Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui
said on Thursday that he will set up a technocratic interim government days
after longtime President Abdelaziz Bouteflika opted out of the presidential
race in the face of mass protests.Bedoui, who was appointed prime minister this
week after his predecessor Ahmed Ouyahia resigned in the wake of the protests,
said his new cabinet would be formed early next week and will include
representatives of the young Algerians who have been staging mass protests to
push for quick political changes.Bouteflika, the 82-year-old wheelchair-bound
leader, also decided to delay the long-awaited election scheduled to be held in
April, sparking countrywide protests.aljazeera
Muslim Brotherhood of Algeria: Bouteflika’s
measures circumvent the will of the people
Movement of Society for Peace, Hamas (Muslim
Brotherhood in Algeria) rejected recent the measures announced by Algerian
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and suggested that the government is seeking
to pre-empt of the movement’s efforts to
get the country out of its current political crisis. The Hamas movement had
presented a political initiative to postpone the elections and the
implementation of political and legal reforms which would establish guarantees
of free and democratic elections. In a statement, Tuesday, the Movement of
Society for Peace, said “the National Executive Office finds that the measures
announced by the President of the Republic do not live up to the aspirations of
the Algerian people, which took to the street in millions in different states
demanding a real change.”The statement added that “these measures are meant to
circumvent the will of the Algerians, prevent them from the historic opportunity
to move Algeria towards the embodiment of popular will and to get rid of
unilateralism.”It further confirmed that “the postponement measures announced
are not compatible with the initiative of the Movement of Society for Peace,
presented to the presidency and the opposition with due transparency and
clarity. Such actions constitute an emptying of the content of the Movement’s
initiative and a sense of abuse of its credibility, which cannot be accepted in
any way.”middleeastmonitor
Flash: views &
NEWS
With the RTI Law in Place, Rafale Deal Secrets
Can't Be Called 'Stolen':M. Sridhar Acharyulu
Did Pak army admit 200 killed in Balakot?
Indian media runs video without verification :/altnews
It hardly matters that Masood Azhar has
escaped once again:Nirupama Subramanian
A Muslim can choose not to participate in Holi
and still remain secular:Saba Rahman
Lok Sabha poll dates clash with Ramzan: Here’s
how many seats, states will vote during the month of fasting
Balakot and After, or How to Build a Strategic
Doctrine for Political Gain:Anand K. Sahay
Uttar Pradesh’s missing voters: Agricultural
labourers move due to low incomes; Muslims, SC/STs in search of jobs:Varun
Aggarwal
If India continues to politicise military, we
may not look very different from Pakistan:LT GEN H S PANAG
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq
(Released at: 8:06 PM)
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