NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
07 March 2019: 29 Jamadiul-II 1440:Vol:11, No:145
INDIA
Babri Masjid title suit: SC to rule on
mediation tomorrow
A 5-judge Constitution Bench, led by CJI
Ranjan Gogoi, on Friday will pronounce orders on the limited issue of whether
or not to send the Ayodhya dispute for mediation. Bench has pushed
"negotiated compromise" as a means to heal hearts and minds. It has
said the dispute was a festering wound which has touched the religious
sentiments of Hindu and Muslim communities for decades. Justice SA Bobde, on
the Bench, put matters in perspective by observing that the court was only
concerned about the present state of the Ramjanmabhoomi-BabriMasjid case and
not the past history of "Mughal invasion and conquests of Babur". Muslim
parties have agreed to give mediation a try, while there is a dissonance of opinions
among the Hindu appellants, who have said their faith that Lord Ram was born in
the disputed land was non-negotiable. They had even suggested that the court
should issue a public notice on whether or not to send the dispute for
mediation. "Faith that Lord Ram was born there is not negotiable. But we
are willing to crowd-fund a mosque somewhere else," advocate CS
Vaidyanathan, for Ram Lalla, the deity, had submitted. Solicitor General Tushar
Mehta for the UP govt had also submitted that the path of mediation was both
"imprudent and inadvisable." The court has asked the parties to
suggest names for mediators "in the event" the dispute is sent for
mediation. The court has also indicated that the mediation, if ordered, would be
conducted confidentially with no reporting on the process of the mediation,
considering the sensitivity of the issue. The Bench had indicated that the
mediation, if conducted, would have not just one but multiple mediators. The
court had earlier suggestion mediation for a period of eight weeks. This is the
time given to the Muslim parties to examine the accuracy and relevance of the
Uttar Pradesh government's official translation of thousands of pages of oral
depositions and exhibits in the Ayodhya title suit appeals which have been
pending since 2010. thehindu
Babri Title case: SC To Pronounce Orders
Tomorrow On Whether To Refer Case For Mediation
Rafale documents ‘stolen’ remark: How can this
govt defend country, ask Opposition parties
New Delhi:Opposition has slammed govt over
Attorney General’s submission in the Supreme Court claiming that the Rafale
documents published in The Hindu were “stolen” from the Ministry of Defence and
questioned the govt’s capability to defend the country.CPI (M) General
Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that AG had merely confirmed the series of news
stories questioning the Rafale deal. “Modi govt itself admits Rafale documents
“stolen” from the Ministry of Defence. How can country’s security be entrusted
with this govt? But thanks to them for confirming the documents. An FIR against
Modi is now inescapable,” he tweeted.CPI leader D. Raja told The Hindu that
instead of shooting the messenger the government should respond to the message.
“It is shameful that Attorney General is telling the apex court that the files
have been stolen. Is the chowkidaar not able to protect the file? Now they are
attacking The Hindu. When its suits them they claim that no one should question
the source. You are attacking the messenger what about the message. Why PM is
not able to respond to issues in public domain,” he said.Trinamool Congress MP
Dinesh Trivedi demanded a formal police probe into AG’s claim about “stolen
documents”. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said AG’s statement showed this “is
the weakest government that can’t keep the country safe”. “This tells you very
clearly why PM and his team were blocking possibility of JPC.You can’t cover
corruption under pretext of national security,” Jha said. “Request PM to submit
to due process of law.”There was no violation of the Official Secrets Act in
the publication of documents related to the Rafale deal, senior advocate and
constitutional expert Dushyant Dave said.He asserted that there was no
violation of Official Secrets Act as ministers, and PM, besides Air Force top
brass had repeatedly gone to the press with selective documents to justify
their stand. The Hindu
Editors Guild condemns AG’s remark that media
used ‘stolen’ Rafale documents
New Delh:Editors Guild of India today condemned
the govt’s proposition that documents published by the media related to India’s
Rafale fighter jet deal with France were
“stolen” from Defence Ministry.Guild said it was “perturbed” by the
government’s threats that criminal action would be initiated against
journalists or lawyers who used these documents.It said any attempt to use the
Official Secrets Act against the media would be “as reprehensible as asking the
journalists to disclose their sources”, and urged the government against
initiating action that might “undermine media’s freedom and independence”. In a
statement, the Editors Guild said: “Although the Attorney General later
clarified that the investigation and contemplated action would not be initiated
against journalists or lawyers who used these documents, Guild is perturbed
over such threats. These will intimidate the media in general and curb its
freedom to report and commend on Rafale deal in particular.“Any attempt to use
the Official Secrets Act against the media is a reprehensible as asking the
journalists to disclose their sources,”it added.indianexpress
Rahul alleges Modi responsible for delay in
Rafale jet delivery; govt says attempt to shift focus
Defending Rafale deal, Govt unveils new
weapon: Official Secrets Act: indianexpress
Rafale deal: ‘You may call it stolen
documents, but they speak for themselves,’ says N Ram
Union minister VK Singh asks 'why doesn't India
become Israel', targets govt critics, student leaders, media
In a sweeping Facebook post, Union minister V
K Singh has said people want India to emulate Israel in targeting terrorists
but it cannot happen because the opposition in that country, unlike India, does
not question and "insult" their army when it carries out tasks like
'Operation Munich'.In his post on the social media website, Singh also attacked
government critics, including opposition members, students leaders, activists
and media, and called for a "surgical strike" within India, claiming
if it does not happen, then the "robbers are ready to loot". Ex-Army
chief called student leaders accused of involvement in "anti-India"
protests as "jonk" (leeches) and took aim at the media for referring
to terrorists as "militants", claiming such things do not happen in
Israel.It is high time that the country followed Israel, he said.He wrote the
post amid a fierce slugfest between the government and opposition parties
following the Balakot air strikes with the latter seeking proof that a high
number of terrorists were killed, as claimed by ruling combine leaders
including BJP president Amit Shah."We want to be in Israel mode overnight.
No, it won't happen. If Modi is there, I have expectation and faith that
revenge will be taken. It will be fierce and 100 times more intense. But India
cannot be Israel and will not be Israel," he said in the post written in
Hindi. He counted multiple reasons why he thinks India cannot become Israel. Because
there is no JNU in Israel where youngsters can raise slogans in support of
breaking the country, he said, in an apparent reference to the alleged
anti-national protests in the university in Feb.2016. Because no courts are
opened for terrorists at 2 am in night and nor does journalists there
"cry" for human rights of terrorists, he went on."Because when
Israel carries out Operation Munich, the opposition there does not insult the
country or armed forces by seeking proof," Singh said, in an apparent
reference to the covert operation of Israel spy agency Mossad to eliminate
those involved in the terror attack on country's 1972 Munich Olympics
contingent in which several members were killed.Country is supreme in Israel,
not religion or caste, and no Jat, Gujjar or Maratha torch public property
there, he added."There are no leeches (in Israel) like Shehla Rashid and
Kanhaiya Kumar who study on taxpayers’ money and call the Army rapists,” he
alleged.Singh said time has come for india to be like Israel so that its
elected representatives know that the nation will be united for protecting its
integrity and sovereignty not only during war but all the time, irrespective of
any eventuality.PTI
‘Why can’t India become Israel?’ asks Union
minister VK Singh, attacks govt critics
Pak says it has taken control of 182 religious
schools in crackdown on militants
Pakistan intensified its crackdown today, with
the government announcing it had taken control of 182 religious schools and
detained over 100 people as part of its push against banned groups. The interior
ministry said it was part of a long-planned drive, not a response to Indian
anger over what New Delhi calls Islamabad’s failure to rein in militant groups
operating on Pakistani soil. Provincial govts have “taken in their control
management and administration of 182 madaris”, Pakistan’s interior ministry
said, referring to religious schools. “Law enforcement agencies have taken 121
people under preventive detention as of today,” the ministry added. Interior ministry
said other institutions from different groups had been taken over, including 34
schools or colleges, 163 dispenseries, 184 ambulances, 5 hospitals and 8
offices of banned outfits. Reuters
Pakistan is our ‘all-weather strategic
partner’: China
Beijing:Terming Pakistan as its “all-weather”
strategic partner, China today said that Pakistan appreciates China’s “unbiased
attitude” and hopes that Beijing and other members of the international
community play a “constructive role” in diffusing tensions between India and
Pakistan.China’s comments come ahead of UNSC’s March 13 deadline for any
country to raise objections against the proposal to list Jaish- leader Masood
Azhar as a ‘global terrorist’. The proposal is sponsored by France and
co-sponsored by US and UK. However, China maintained today that it believed a
country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” should be upheld. Speaking
about Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kong Xuanyou’s visit to Pakistan,foreign
ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said the “main mission” for the visit was to
exchange views on the situation between India and Pakistan.indian express
Arrest Mehbooba Mufti if she supports
Jamaat-e-Islami: BJP leader Kavinder Gupta
New Delhi: BJP leader and former deputy CM
Kavinder Gupta has said madrasas should be banned in Jammu and Kashmir and
former CM Mehbooba Mufti should be arrested if she supports Jamaat-e-Islami J&K(JeI).
BJP leader said, "Bangladesh, Afghanistan and other nations banned
madrasas because of illegal activities. Similarly, if efforts to spread
terrorism are made in Kashmir, they should be banned here too. If Mehbooba ji
supports Jamaat-e-Islami, then she too should be arrested." Mufti led a
protest on Wednesday demanding that the ban against Jamaat-e-Islami be revoked
and warned she would intensify her protest if the ban is not lifted. "Our
imams and moulvis are being arrested. 70- and 80-year-olds are being jailed.
Offices of JeI have been sealed. People having Ahli-Hadith ideology are also
being jailed. PDP is protesting against all this. We will not allow this muscle
power. "We will protest at district level and then in every (assembly)
segment. We want the ban to be revoked and these elderly people be released.
Also, people should be told what their crime is, what is the charge that they
face, what is the evidence on the basis of which they have been jailed,"she
said.India Today
Jamaat-e-Islami an Epitome of Peace, Linking
it to Terrorism is itself an Act of Terror: Mehbooba
Omar calls Kavinder Gupta an ‘ill-informed
bigot’
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah has hit out at BJP leader and former Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta over his
remarks, suggesting that Madrasas should be banned for promoting terror. Gupta
said “Madrasas are the places where militants are born.”Gupta also called for
the arrest of Mehbooba Mufti for supporting Jamaat-e-Islami. Responding to
Gupta’s remarks on Twitter, Omar termed him a “bigot” and “ill-informed”.He
wrote, “RSS shakhas produce ill-informed bigots like Gupta
here.”financialexpress
JKLF
chief Yasin Malik booked under PSA
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik has been booked
under the Public Safety Act (PSA) that can keep him in detention for up to two
years, JKLF sources said today. "Malik Sahab was informed today that he
has been booked under the harsh PSA and would be shifted to Kot Balwal Jail in
Jammu district," an informed source said. JKLF chief was taken into
preventive custody on Feb.22 and was lodged in Srinagar. Under PSA, a person in
Jammu and Kashmir can be kept in detention for a period of two years without
any judicial intervention.IANS
4 arrested for assault on 2 Kashmiris in
Lucknow
Lucknow: 4 persons have been arrested on the
charge of assaulting 2 youths from Kulgam in Kashmir, who were selling dry
fruits on the roadside, in Lucknow on Wednesday afternoon. A video of the
assault went viral on social media, prompting the police to register an FIR
late Wednesday evening. The victims belong to Kulgam in Kashmir.While one
Bajrang Sonkar was picked up late Wednesday night, 3 more - Himanshu Garg,
Anirudh Kumar and Amar Mishra, were arrested on Thursday. They all belong to
Vishwa Hindu Dal Trust run by one Ambuj Nigam. An FIR was been registered in
the Hassanganj police station. "From the investigation so far, possibility
emerges that the accused persons who are members of this Trust, executed the
incident as part of a common thinking," said SSP Lucknow. In the video
that went viral, the Kashmiris are seen being beaten up with sticks, slapped,
and subjected to verbal abuse and anti-Kashmiri remarks.the hindu
Grenade blast at Jammu’s General Bus Stand, 1
dead, 32 injured
Jammu:A person died and 32 people were injured
in a grenade blast inside Jammu’s General Bus Stand on Thursday afternoon.
IGP(Jammu) MK Sinha confirmed that a grenade was lobbed towards the bus stand
and said there were no specific alerts from intelligence agencies prior to the
attack.“Whenever there is a heightened state of alert we step up checking.
There is always a possibility of someone to slip through…appeal everyone to
remain calm. Police are working on all leads,” Sinha said.The deceased has been
identified as Shariq, son of Intzar of Kalyanpur, Haridwar. This is the third
grenade attack in the Jammu bus stand since May last year.The grenade, lobbed
by a suspected militant, fell near a ticket booking counter, sources
said.However, there were not many people present at an otherwise overcrowded
bus stand at the time of the blast.The injured included 11 residents of
Kashmir, 2 from Bihar and one each from Chattisgarh and Haryana, PTI quoted
officials as saying. ndian express
UN human rights chief warns India over
'divisive' policies, harassment of Muslims
Geneva: UN human rights chief Michelle
Bachelet warned India that its "divisive policies" could undermine
economic growth, saying that narrow political agendas were marginalising
vulnerable people in an already unequal society."We are receiving reports
that indicate increasing harassment and targeting of minorities – in particular
Muslims and people from historically disadvantaged and marginalised groups,
such as Dalits and Adivasis," Bachelet said in her annual report to the UN
Human Rights Council in Geneva.Reuters
Uma Bharti Warns of ‘Violent Backlash’ if
Muslims Don’t Drop Idea of Mosque in Ayodhya
Bhopal:On a day when the Supreme Court pushed
for amicable settlement of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, union
minister Uma Bharti claimed that Ayodhya could only have a temple and idea of
building a mosque could bolster “possibility of violent backlash”.Bharti, who
was in Bhopal to discuss initiation of Ken-Betwa river linking project with
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, denied comment on the SC’s proposal
of mediation in case. “But as a Rambhakt, all I can say is that as Vatican City
can’t have a mosque or Mecca Medina can’t have a temple, similarly the Ram
Janmabhoomi land can only have a temple, nothing else,” she said. She said
Muslims are entitled to have mosques wherever they live, and said they do and
they have mosques in Ayodhya and Faizabad, but the idea of a mosque around the
Ram Janmabhoomi land would only keep the dispute alive forever and bolster
“possibility of violent backlash”.News18
Digvijaya doubts patriotism of Muslims, he
must visit RSS shakhas to learn nationalism: Uma Bharti
Lok Sabha elections to be announced soon,
preparations almost over: Sources
New Delhi:Election Commission will soon
announce its schedule for the high-voltage Lok Sabha elections, which is likely
to be spread over 7-8 phases in April-May, sources said today.Sources said the
poll panel is in final stages of completing its logistical preparations to hold
elections for the 17th Lok Sabha and a detailed polling schedule could be announced
as early this weekend or by early next week.The term of the present Lok Sabha
ends on June 3. The announcement of dates for the elections would be followed
by a meeting of election observers next week for the first and second phase of
polling.A senior Election Commission functionary said the poll panel is now
prepared to announce the dates “any day” and it could happen over the weekend
or at most by Tuesday.Notification for the first phase could be issued by the
end of March for voting sometime in early April, sources suggested.PTT
Gujarat: 2002 Naroda Patiya riots convict Babu
Bajrangi gets bail from SC
New Delhi : Babubhai Patel alias Babu
Bajrangi, a Bajrang Dal leader, who is serving prison term after being
convicted in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case, was granted bail by the Supreme
Court Thursday on medical grounds.Bajrangi is lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail
since 2012 after he was convicted with 30 others, including former BJP minister
Maya Kodnani, for his role in the killing 97 Muslims on Feb.28, 2002 in the
Patiya incident, which was triggered by the Godhra train burning incident.In
April, 2018, Gujarat High Court commuted Bajrangi’s sentence of life
imprisonment until death to 21 years imprisonment without remission and
acquitted Maya Kodnani. indian express
BJP harassing muslims, says SP MLA after
demolition of Urdu gate by Yogi govt in Rampur
Lucknow:Samajwadi Party MLA Abdullah Azam Khan
today accused BJP of harassing Muslims so badly that they were left with only 2
options: give up Islam or join BJP.Irked at the demolition of ‘Urdu Gate’ in
Rampur by the Uttar Pradesh govt, MLA said: “Atrocities on Muslims have reached
an unbearable level,” reports IANS.Uttar Pradesh administration on Wednesday
demolished the ‘Urdu Gate’, built in Rampur district by SP leader and former UP
cabinet minister Azam Khan on the road leading to Azam Khan’s Jauhar Ali
University during the previous SP regime. According to Rampur DM, structure was
illegal as no permission was sought from Rampur Development Authority and PWD
before construction of the Urdu Gate. Officials contested that the gate leading
to Jauhar University was built in haste and violated rules. The gate was razed
to the ground in three hours using 6 bulldozers by the order of Yogi
government, prompting the sharp reaction. Abdullah son of the senior leader of
the party, Azam Khan who founded the Jauhar Ali University in Rampur, slammed
Rampur DM Aanjaney Kumar Singh for blindly following the BJP government’s
orders.“He (Yogi) will do all that is possible to harass Muslims in the
constituency,” Khan said.Caravan News
SP MLA Khan says BJP harassing Muslims;
leaving them with two options give up Islam or join BJP
Maharashtra: Cleared of terror charges after
25 yrs, 11 men look to rebuild a lifetime lost
5 words by Nashik Special TADA court Judge, SC
Khati that had 11 grown men standing in a dreary, unlit courtroom burst into
tears and hug each other in relief. This terse verdict on Feb.27 ended a legal
battle that 11 Muslim men, including a PhD holder, a 6-time municipal
councillor, three doctors and an engineer, from Bhusawal in Jalgaon district,
fought to free themselves of terror charges for 25 years.Branded terrorists by
the Bhusawal police, which alleged that with the help of Kashmiri militants,
they planned attacks in Maharashtra, all 11 were charged under the TADA. After
several delays in filing the chargesheet and initiating the trial, the case was
finally taken up in 2018 on Supreme Court orders.“It took less than two seconds
for the judge to read out our judgment but believe me, my life for the past 25
years flashed before my eyes in those two seconds. These 5 words by the judge
may finally restore some normalcy in our lives which has been turned upside
down because of the apathy of the state,” said Jamil Ahmad Khan, named the main
accused.It began in Bhusawal, one of Asia’s biggest railway junctions, around
440 km north of Mumbai in the turmoil that followed the 1992 Babri Masjid
demolition and the 1993 Mumbai blasts. The Bhusawal police claimed that it had
received a tip-off in May 1994 that Khan, a member of the SIMI, along with 8
associates had met and trained at a nearby forest to bomb government offices
and attack Hindus to avenge the Babri Masjid demolition.“The early 90s were a
difficult phase for the Muslim community in India. We were all socially
conscious individuals who were raising their voices against the injustices of
that time. I guess that is one reason why we were targeted. Imagine, I was
attending a protest march against TADA in Mumbai with the late BSP chief Kanshi
Ram and days later I was arrested under the Act,” said 47-year-old Maulana
Abdul Qadir Habibi. He completed his PhD on the socio-political influence of
Muslim clerics in Maharashtra, during the trial.And with the acquittal, all 11
are now trying to rebuild their lives. “It is a difficult task when you have
been accused of being a terrorist. Even if you read the way regional papers
have covered our acquittal you will get a sense that they feel we are guilty.
We are called suicide bombers. For God’s sake, I am a doctor, why will I even
think of taking someone’s life?” said Dr Yunus Falahi. indian express
Would like to do Hajj with family, says Dr
Ashfaq Meer, acquitted after 25 yrs in fake TADA case
Adivasis of Bastar demand justice for the
slaughter of their children by security forces
In Tadiballa village of Bhairamgarh Tehsil, Bijapur district of
Chattisgarh the police fired indiscriminately and killed 10 persons on 7th
Feb.This appeared in the news as an encounter in which 10 Naxalites were killed
by the security forces and the state government and the Home Minister hailed
this as a victory.But the people from many villages of Bastar gathered at
Bhairamgarh on Tuesday to protest these killings because they want to tell the
world the truth and expose the lies of the Government and demand justice. When
contacted one activist and also an Adivasi Lingaram Kodopi, who explained the
incident that took place on 7th Feb.He affirmed the facts mentioned in their
press release that no encounter took place that day instead the security forced
fired indiscriminately at the crowd who had gathered to participate in the
village sports. And as a result of the firings, even children died. The
security personnel did not stop there they tortured the dead bodies and even
raped 2 girls. One of the girls, who was 12 years was raped and her nose and
privates mutilated. Further, the security forces also burned the materials they
found at the site like vessels, clothes etc.TCN
SC asks AG to inform within 10 days date for
meeting of Lokpal selection committee
New Delhi :The Supreme Court today asked
Attorney General KK Venugopal to inform it within 10 days about a possible date
for meeting of the selection committee for appointment of Lokpal and its
members.A bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi was informed by Venugopal that the
search committee headed by ex SC judge Ranjana Prakash Desai has recommended
three panels of names to selection committee for appointment of chairperson,
judicial and non-judicial members.PTI
Case filed in Bihar court against Kanhaiya for
'anti-Modi' remarks
Kishanganj: A complaint was lodged at a court
here Wednesday against ex-JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar over his
alleged objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The petition
was registered at CJM's court by BJP minorities’ cell state vice president Titu
Badwal.In his complaint, Badwal alleged that Kumar had made the “incendiary”
comments at Anjuman Islamia Hall here on Monday.PTI
Maoist leader CP Jaleel killed in gunfight
with police in Kerala’s Wayanad
Kochi :Maoist leader CP Jaleel was killed in a
gunfight with Kerala Police’s Thunderbolt force Thursday near Upavan Resort at
Lakkidi in Wayanad district of the state.The Maoist gang had reportedly arrived
near Vythiri in Wayanad district to extort money and provisions from the owner
of the private resort. A Thunderbolt team, that had camped nearby after reports
of Maoist movement in the area, engaged them in a gunfight late Wednesday night
which is reported to have continued into the early hours of Thursday.indianexpress
2006 fake encounter: Govt agencies gave biased
reports to help free 11 cops, says Bombay HC
Mumbai :Bombay High Court has quashed and set
aside Maharashtra govt’s order suspending life imprisonment sentences awarded
to 11 police officers in the 2006 alleged fake encounter of gangster Ramnarayan
Prasad alias Lakhan Bhaiya on the ground that it is “perverse and unsustainable
in law”.On Dec. 2, 2015, deputy secretary of the state home department, based on
reports submitted by the commissioner of police, the additional director
general, the inspector general and National Human Rights Commission, had
suspended the sentences of the 11 officers.indian express
Abuses, Slaps and Shoes: 2 BJP Lawmakers Come
to Blows in UP
New Delhi: When words didn’t work – including
hurling the foulest of abuses at each other – two BJP legislators from Uttar
Pradesh resorted to hitting each other with fists and shoes over a disagreement
on the names printed on foundation stones for projects.The blows occurred on
Wednesday evening during a district planning committee meeting in UP’s Sant
Kabir Nagar, about 200 kms from Lucknow, in full public glare. Meeting was
being attended by senior administration, police officers as well as Ashutosh
Tandon, BJP minister-in-charge of the district, who even attempted to stop fight,
Indian Express reported.According to NDTV, the fight – videos of which has been
doing the rounds on social media and news channels – broke out after the local
BJP MP, Sharad Tripathi demanded to know why his name was not included on the
foundation stone for a road. When Tripathi questioned PWD engineers at the
meeting over the issue, Rakesh Baghel, an MLA from the district, interrupted
and said: “Ask me about this, I have put in the stones.”thewire
Kerala's warring Sunni groups now in tussle
over appointment of first south Indian as Grand Mufti https://www.news18.com/news/india/ek-faction-calls-appointment-of-ap%E2%80%8B-factions-musliyar-as-grand-mufti-a-farce-says-will-elect-a-new-one-2058557.html
The standoff between Kerala’s 2 warring Sunni
groups is primed to reach another boiling point as the EK faction of Samastha
Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama has come out in open terming the appointment of AP
faction chief Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar as the grand mufti of India a
farce.The EK faction alleges that the anointment of Musliyar to the key post
has not been done by the authorised body of Barelvi Muslims. He is the first
person from south India who was elected for the top position of Muslim
community.Musliyar, who has been the general secretary of the Samastha AP
faction, was selected as ‘Grand Mufti,’ a position which enables him to give
advice and opinion on Islamic jurisprudence and religious practices of the
Sunni sects in the country, at a conference held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi
on Feb.25. Soon after Kanthapuram's elevation as the mufti, the rival EK
faction started raising doubts over the appointment. Launching a scathing
attack on the newly appointed ‘grand mufti’, Sunni EK faction leader Dr
Bahauddeen Muhammed Nadwi said no 'authoritative' body of the Barelvi Muslims
has appointed Kanthapuram to the top post. “Grand Mufti position was started by
last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar, where since its beginning, the most
popular Muslim scholar in North India is usually appointed to the position. The
position fell vacant as 80-year-old Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan passed away in July
last year and his deputy has been looking after his responsibilities after
that,” says Nadwi who is the vice chancellor of Darul Huda Islamic University,
in Kerala’s Malappuram district.News18
TN Mosques Defy Stereotypes; Offer Food,
Education, Jobs and Slew of Other Services
Chennai:If you thought that a mosque is only
good for offering namaz or prayers, then it’s about time for you to change the
way you think. Masjid Sevai Kuzhu (Mosque Service Committee), a socio-religious
group in Tamil Nadu has been using mosques to do social service for almost half
a decade now.For the past five years, this group has been using mosques, in a
unique and practical way, to provide food, jobs, education, medical treatment
and 25 other services to those in need. Interestingly, their service is not
limited to any particular area, region and state. They claim that they can
provide solutions or help for any social issue, but only through mosques. For
instance, if a particular person approaches them for any aid, then they visit
the mosque located in the area, survey the area and conduct the program and
decide on the solution that needs to be provided.“We offer all type of social
services, but only through the mosque. We are following Sunnat-e-Rasul (practices
of Prophet Mohammed). Doing social service through mosque is the practice of
Prophet Mohammed. We initiated this practice on Jan.1 of 2013, in Erode, Tamil
Nadu. It was welcomed by all kind of people. As of now, we have initiated
social service programmes through this model in 700 mosques of Tamil Nadu,”
said A. Syed Ibrahim, National Organizer of Masjid Sevai Kuzhu, while talking
to Caravan Daily.Caravan Daily
WORLD
EU rebukes Saudi over human rights at UN forum
At least 36 countries including all 28 members
of the European Union have signed a statement criticising Saudi Arabia's human
rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday, diplomats
said."It is a success for Europe to be united on this," an envoy of
an EU country told Reuters.The statement will be the first rebuke of the
kingdom since the UN forum was set up in 2006. The text, read out by Harald
Aspelund, Iceland's ambassador to the Geneva talks, called on Saudi authorities
to release activists held in Saudi Arabia and to cooperate with a UN-led probe
into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "We call on Saudi Arabia to
take many full steps to ensure that all matters of the public including human
rights defenders and journalists can freely and fully exercise their rights to
freedom of expression, opinion, and association including online and without
fear of reprisals," Aspelund said.aljazeera
"Gone Full Gangster": US Senators
Call Out Saudi Crown Prince For Misdeeds
Washington: Retired Army General John Abizaid,
US President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia, defended
the U.S.-Saudi relationship on Wednesday as lawmakers accused the kingdom of a
litany of misdeeds and criticized its crown prince as going "full
gangster."Senators at Abizaid's confirmation hearing, Trump's fellow
Republicans as well as Democrats, condemned the kingdom's conduct in the civil
war in Yemen, heavy-handed diplomacy and rights abuses including torturing women's
rights activists and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Abizaid
called for accountability for the murder of Khashoggi, a US resident, and
support for human rights, but repeatedly stressed the importance of
Washington-Riyadh ties.Reuters
Tunisia to hold national elections in Oct, Nov
Tunisia will hold its parliamentary election
on Oct.6 and a presidential vote starting on Nov.10, the country's electoral
commission has said.This year's elections will be the third round of national
voting since Tunisia's 2011 revolution toppled longtime leader, Zine El Abidine
Ben Ali."Parliamentary elections will be on Oct.6 and the first
presidential round will be on Nov.10," said Nabil Bafoun, president of the
independent electoral committee ISIE, on Wednesday. The parliamentary race is
expected to be a close fight between the moderate Islamist Ennahdha party, the
more secular Tahya Tounes party of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, and the Nidaa
Tounes party led by Hafedh Caid Essebsi, the current president's son.aljazeera
Palestinian teenager killed by Israeli sniper
in Gaza
A 15-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by
Israeli soldiers on Wednesday during an evening protest near the Israeli fence
east of Gaza Strip.According to the Gaza ministry of health's spokesperson
Ashraf al-Qidra, the teenager was identified as Saif al-din Abu Zeid, who was
shot in the head by an Israeli sniper east of the besieged enclave.6 other
protesters were wounded by Israeli forces and were taken to Shifa Hospital for
treatment. Every night since Feb, young Palestinian men, known as "night
disturbance unit", have been gathering by the border with Israel as part
of the Marches of Return protests, which began in late March last
year.aljazeera
Israel cuts water supply to 2,600 Palestinians
in Jordan Valley
Israeli forces and the Israeli Civil
Administration cut the water supply to 2,600 of Palestinians living in
communities in Bardala village in the Jordan Valley, northern occupied West
Bank.Mutaz Bisharat, an official who monitors settlement activity in
Tubas/Jordan Valley, told Ma’an that Israeli forces cut off water supply for 60
per cent of residents of the Bardala village; amounting to 2,600 people.Israeli
forces also cut off water supplies for 1,800-2,000 dunams (445-494 acres) of
Palestinian agricultural lands that must be continuously irrigated. Bisharat
added that Israel claims that water sources in the area are illegal, adding
that this cannot be true because the water comes from wells in the village and
inside Palestinian lands.He pointed out that as Israeli forces cut off water
supplies for Palestinians, they construct wells for Israeli settlers.The Jordan
Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 per cent of its land
classified as “Area C” which falls under full Israeli military
control.middleeastmonitor
Hamas chief meets Palestine election
commission in Gaza
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/hamas-chief-meets-palestine-election-commission-in-gaza/1411842
Gaza:Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's
political bureau, met with members of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Electoral
Commission on Thursday.A delegation of commission members arrived in the
blockaded Gaza Strip on Wednesday to discuss proposals for holding Palestinian
legislative elections with Hamas officials.Neither side has yet issued a
statement regarding the outcome of Thursday’s meeting.But Atef Abu Saif, a
spokesman for the rival Fatah movement, was quoted as saying that legislative
polls represented “the easiest way out of [Hamas-Fatah] political
division”.Anadolu Agency
Israel's elections committee bans leftist
Arab-Israeli coalition from running
Israel’s election committee banned a leftist
Arab-Israeli coalition from running in parliamentary elections next month even
as it approved two members of a far-right party who have been labelled as
racist.The Central Election Committee on Wednesday prohibited both the
Balad-United Arab List and Ofer Cassif, a member of another Arab-Israeli party,
Hadash-Ta'al, from candidacy in decisions that rights groups said were
politically motivated.'Even though Cassif was barred from running, the
committee approved Hadash-Ta'al to run as a party, despite a petition brought
forth by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party.middleeasteye
Hundreds of ISIL fighters surrender in Syria's
Baghouz: SDF
US-backed Kurdish-led forces in northeastern
Syria captured 400 ISIL fighters who were trying to escape the armed group's
last enclave in eastern Syria.A senior commander for SDF also said on Wednesday
that hundreds more ISIL soldiers surrendered from the last shred of territory
they control in the village of Baghouz in Deir Az Zor province."There are
a large number of fighters who are inside and do not want to surrender,"
said SDF commander.Those surrendering were among more than 2,000 people who
left Baghouz on Wednesday in the latest evacuation, transported by trucks to a
patch of desert where they are questioned, searched and given food and water.
Scenes of surrender, humiliation, and anger highlighted the desperation of the
armed group as its last major bastion in Syria teeters on the edge of
collapse.Angry civilians evacuating from Baghouz chanted "Islamic State
will remain" - underscoring the defiance of ISIL fighters and their
supporters even as their defeat looms.A group of women seen at a reception area
in the desert - set up for screening purposes by SDF - were rowdy, aggressive
and defiant, praising ISIL and screaming angrily at journalists. "Islamic
State will stay, God is great, God is great, Islamic State will stay,"
they screamed. Capturing Baghouz would cap four years of international efforts
to roll back the armed group.American Colonel Sean Ryan, spokesman for the
US-led coalition backing the SDF, said the international force had
"learned not to put any timetables on the last battle".aljazeera
Egypt rights defenders face government-backed
‘phishing’ attacks
Scores of Egyptian human rights defenders have
been targeted by government-backed “phishing” attacks since the start of this
year, Amnesty International revealed.The London-based rights group announced
that its technical team had conducted an investigation into the attacks which
put the lives of human rights defenders and critics of Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s
government in “grave danger”.“Since Jan.2019 Amnesty Tech has analyzed dozens of
suspicious emails sent to Egyptian human rights defenders, journalists and
NGOs,” organisation said.It added: “The organisation found that the emails used
a technique known as OAuth Phishing to gain access to private accounts, and
that attacks spiked during key political moments such as the anniversary of
Egypt’s uprising on 25 Jan.”MEMO
‘BNP’s alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat is an
impediment to a total ban: Minister
BNP has been the main obstacle to banning
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from politics– a religion based political party,
according to Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud. “When the Awami League has
been working to ban Jamaat as well as it’s activities from the politics of
Bangladesh, BNP, a major political party, is actively pro-Jamaat.BNP’s support
and their alliance with Jamaat is an obstacles in the process of banning the
party from Bangladeshi politics,” he said.US Congressman Jim Banks, introduced a resolution "that urges BNP
and all political parties to unequivocally distance themselves from the Jamaat
and other organizations."In response to US Congressional resolution, the
information minister said BNP should cut all ties with the Jamaat
immediately.dhakatribune
Afghanistan: Explosions target political
gathering in Kabul
At least three people have died after multiple
explosions targeted a political gathering attended by Afghanistan's chief
executive and a former president in the capital Kabul, government officials
said."We have reports of explosions in the western part of Kabul. Investigations
have been launched," said Nasrat Rahimi, a spokesman at the interior
ministry.Another source at the interior ministry told the local media that the
source of the explosions came from someone firing mortar shells from a house in
Kabul's District 18.There was no immediate claim of responsibility.aljazeera
Russian S-400 missile purchase a done deal: Erdogan
Turkey will never turn back from a deal to buy
S-400 missile defence systems from Russia, President Tayyip Erdogan said,
adding that Ankara may subsequently look into buying S-500 systems. Erdogan
also said on Wednesday the US should not try to discipline Turkey through trade
measures, adding Ankara had its own penalties prepared.aljazeera
Mahathir backs Philippines' Muslim autonomous region
KUALA LUMPUR :Malaysia supports the newly-formed
autonomous region for Muslims in the southern Philippines, Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday.“We want southern Philippines to be stable,
peaceful, and we can then find opportunities here as much as we can help in
contributing towards development through maybe foreign direct investment,”
Mahathir told ABS-CBN News, during an official visit to the
Philippines.Highlighting the importance of economic development after the peace
process in the long-fought Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's
(BARMM), Mahathir said: “And that I think when the economy is doing well, the
tendency for violence is much reduced.”He also said the Philippines may look at
“models” in the world in helping Mindanao progress, according to ABS-CBN News.Considering
the potential of the region, Malaysia and the BARMM should increase economic
relations, Mahathir said.Anadolu
US, UK arms kill more than 200 Yemeni
civilians: Report
Washington:The Saudi- and United Arab
Emirates-led coalition has killed more than 200 people, including women and
children, using U.S. and British-made weapons in Yemen, said a report
Wednesday.The report, "Day of Judgment: The Role of the US and Europe in
Civilian Death, Destruction, and Trauma in Yemen" was prepared by the
U.S.-based University Network for Human Rights and the Yemeni human rights
group Mwatana.The 128-page investigation documented 27 "apparently
unlawful" attacks on civilians carried out by coalition between April 2015
and April 2018.Anadolu
Flash: views &
NEWS
New gen Israeli Arab Muslims don't want to
carry baggage of past: Abdus Salam Asim, UNI Urdu
Anti-Hindu Minister Fired in Pak But Modi
Won't Act on 12 Hate Speech Leaders: Ribhu
9 Point Proposal for Babri Masjid-dispute: Dr
Syed Zafar Mahmood
Major Android apps like Yelp and Indeed and
still sharing user data with Facebook
Major Android apps like Yelp and Indeed and
still sharing user data with Facebook:Shweta Ganjoo
indian express Explained: India’s Official
Secrets Act, its history and use
Don’t politicise fight against
terror:Sudheendra Kulkarni
New Delhi's Muscular Approach to Kashmir
Reflects Its Policy Paralysis:Shahid Lone
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:42 PM)
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