NEWS
DIGEST, Afternoon
04 April 2019: 27 Rajab 1440:Vol: 11, No:168
INDIA
Over 40% of India is reeling under drought, but
Centre may not even acknowledge it
About 42% of India’s land area is facing
drought, with 6% exceptionally dry – four times the spatial extent of drought
last year, according to data for the week ending March 26, from the Drought
Early Warning System, or DEWS, a real-time drought monitoring platform. AP,
Bihar, Gujarat,Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, parts of North East, Rajasthan,
Tamil Nadu and Telangana are the worst hit. These states are home to 500
million people, almost 40% of country’s population. While the central
government has not declared drought anywhere so far, the governments of Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan have declared
many of their districts as drought-hit.“Before monsoon, which is still far
away, the next two or three months are going to be difficult in many of these
regions,” Vimal Mishra, associate professor at the Indian Institute of
Technology, Gandhinagar, and the developer of DEWS, told IndiaSpend.A failed
monsoon is the primary reason for the current situation. The northeast monsoon
(Oct-Dec),also known as “post-monsoon rainfall” that provides 10%-20% of
India’s rainfall, was deficient by 44% in 2018 from the long-term normal of
127.2 mm, as per data from India Meteorological Department. This compounded the
rainfall deficit from the southwest monsoon (June-Sept) that provides 80% of
India’s rainfall and which fell short by 9.4% in 2018, close to the 10% deficit
range when the Met department declares a drought.India has experienced
widespread drought every year since 2015 except 2017, Mishra said. As El Nino –
unusual warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that makes Indian summers
warmer and reduces rainfall – looms over the 2019 southwest monsoon,
pre-monsoon showers (March-May) this year have been deficient as well. India
received 36% less rainfall than the long-term average between March 1 and March
28, as per Met department data. Southern
peninsular region recorded the lowest, a deficit of more than 60%.scroll.in/
SC reserves verdict on whether apex court,
CJI’s office are public authority under RTI
The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict
on three appeals filed by its own registry that challenged a Delhi High Court
order which stated that Supreme Court and the office of Chief Justice of India
constitute to be a public authority under the Right to Information Act.The
Delhi High Court had ruled that the CJI office and the apex court are liable to
disclose information as in case of other public authorities under the purview
of the Right to Information Act.A five-judge Constitution bench with Chief
Justice Ranjan Gogoi at the helm was hearing the appeals filed in 2010 by
Secretary General of the Supreme Court and the Central Public Information
officer of the SC against the Delhi High Court order holding that CJI’s office
comes under the ambit of RTI. Disclosures of confidential information like the
discussions amongst collegium in the appointment or promotion of judges under
the transparency law would be “deleterious to functioning” of the judiciary, the
apex court was informed by its registry on Wednesday.indianexpress
There Can't Be A Blanket Ban On Disclosures,
Should Be Decided On Case-to- Case Basis, Observes CJI
2 IAF officers killed, 2 others injured in
accident in Kashmir’s Pulwama
Srinagar:Two officers of the Indian Air Force
were killed and two others injured in a road accident in South Kashmir’s
Pulwama district.Officials said that among the dead was a squadron leader of IAF.Officials
said accident took place between 3 and 4 am on Thursday morning when the
Scorpio, in which air force personnel were travelling in, met with an accident
at the Malangpora village.“Very sorry to hear about loss of lives in this
accident. Condolences to the families of Sq Ldr Pandey & Corp Kumar, may
their souls rest in peace. Prayers for the injured, hope they make a complete
& speedy recovery,”tweeted Omar Abdullah.HT
Kashmir will turn into Palestine if Article
370 is abolished, says Mehbooba Mufti
New Delhi:Addressing an election rally on
Thursday, former CM J&K Mehbooba Mufti warned BJP chief Amit Shah of
becoming an occupational force in J&K if Article 370 is scrapped.She said,
"Amit Shah sir, Mehbooba Mufti is telling you that the day you scrap
Article 370, you will be an occupational force in Jammu & Kashmir. If
Article 370 is abolished, then India will be to Kashmir what Israel is to
Palestine."Earlier, Amit Shah had said that 2020 will be a deadline for
Article 370.On the same issue, Mehbooba had earlier said that the day Article
370 is scrapped, it would be the end of accession of J&K with India.India
Today
J&K ties with India will end if Art 370
scrapped: Mehbooba Mufti
In name of security, J&K bars public from
key road in Kashmir
Srinagar :In a decision that has been
described as “draconian” by mainstream parties in the Valley, the J&K
government has banned civilian traffic from dawn to dusk for two days every
week until May 31 on the 270-km national highway stretch from Udhampur in Jammu
to Baramulla in Kashmir to facilitate the movement of security convoys.The move
to enforce a virtual lockdown every Sunday and Wednesday comes almost a month
after Pulwama attack. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said the move “will cause a lot
of inconvenience to people”. “We have only one lifeline and that is this
highway. If you close it for civilian traffic for two days in a week you can
imagine what would be its consequences. We are living in a democracy, we are
not living in a military state. How can they do this?” she said.indianexpress
Sikhs in Kashmir threaten to boycott Lok Sabha
elections
Srinagar: Sikh community in Kashmir Valley has
threatened to not participate in upcoming parliamentary elections in protest
against government’s apathy towards them, despite being a minority.The
community leaders claim that the neither central nor the state government has
paid heed to their long pending demands of extension of Minority Community Act
to the state and introduction of Punjabi language in the schools and
colleges.“Our community is facing discrimination for no fault of others. We
have decided to not participate in the Lok Sabha elections as a mark of
protest.This our silent way of conveying that we are angry and have not been
treated well,” Chairman of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee, Jagmohan
Singh Raina told ET.Raina alleged that subsequent governments have always made
false promises and ditched the community. He informed that there is a population
of 3.2lakh Sikhs in the state, with around 80,000 in Kashmir.Sikh community has
strong presence in Tral of southern Kashmir, Amira Kadal and Batamaloo of
Srinagar and Baramullah of northern Kashmir. Raina claimed that some of the
community members who have joined political parties or may participate in the
campaigning are doing it at individual level and it is should not be seen as
the decision of us as a community.ET
India is one of the ‘highest taxing nations’
in the world: Trump
Washington:India is one of the world’s
“highest taxing nations”, US President Donald Trump has alleged as he again
criticised the country for imposing 100 % tariffs on American products,
including the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles.Such a high tariff is not
fair, Trump said Tuesday while addressing the National Republican Congressional
Committee Annual Spring Dinner here. Early this year, at a White House event to
announce his support for reciprocal tax, Trump had said he was satisfied with
the Indian decision to reduce the import tariff on high-end Harley-Davidson
motorcycles from 100 per cent to 50 per cent. “Even this is not enough, this is
okay,” he said at that time.Trump has repeatedly claimed that India is a
“tariff king” and imposes “tremendously high” tariffs on American products.PTI
PMLA court reserves order on bail plea filed
by Abdul Kadir Sathak
Mumbai:Special Prevention of Money Laundering
Act (PMLA) court on Wednesday reserved order on the bail application filed by
Dr Zakir Naik’s aide Abdul Kadir Najmuddin Sathak.ED has opposed his bail plea
saying he failed to come clean and is unable to answer many questions on
revenue generation from Peace TV on which Mr Naik’s speeches were broadcasted.
Advocate Hiten Venegaokar on behalf of ED contended before the special PMLA
court judge MS Azmi that there is no substance in Sathak’s claim that he took
the route of Nepal to enter India because he wanted to hire labours and take
them with him to UAE for his company.
Advocate Girish Kulkarni on behalf of Sathak on Wednesday claimed that
in his statement recorded by ED Sathak has already given entire money trail.He
pointed out from his statement in which Sathak has stated that crown prince of
UAE and his family members and others donated funds for Peace TV and hence
there is no connection of Naik with this money and hence it cannot be said that
the applicant helped Naik launder money or Naik’s money was involved in his
company. Judge would pass an order on this plea today.Asian Age
Ishrat Encounter: Court to hear objections to
dropping charges against DG Vanzara, NK Amin
Ahmedabad :A special CBI court on Wednesday
decided that it would hear arguments for objections raised against Vanzara and
Amin’s application.Shamima Kauser, mother of Ishrat Jahan who was killed in a
police encounter with three others in 2004, has objected to the application
filed by retired policemen DG Vanzara and NK Amin seeking that proceedings
against them in the case be dropped.A special CBI court on Wednesday decided
that it would hear the arguments for objections raised against Vanzara and
Amin’s application.The objection comes as Vanzara and Amin filed an application
on March 26, seeking that all proceedings against them be dropped in light of
Gujarat government order that declined sanction to CBI to prosecute the four
accused in Ishrat fake encounter case. indian express
Supreme Court to hear contempt plea against
Prashant Bhushan in July
New Delhi :The Supreme Court today said it
will hear in July a contempt plea against lawyer Prashant Bhushan for tweeting
that the government had perhaps submitted to the SC fabricated documents of the
high-powered selection panel on the appointment of interim CBI chief. The plea
was filed by Attorney General KK Venugopal against the lawyer-activist for his
Feb.1 tweets.PTI
In Varanasi, as Kashi Vishwanath corridor
rises, a Dalit colony goes under the rubble
Varanasi :A photograph of his locality is not
something Rachit Kanojia wants to click.Dalit basti between Manikarnika Ghat
and Lalita Ghat, where this photographer’s family lived for over six
generations and which he called home not very long ago, is now non-existent.
All that remains are heaps of rubble all around.Last year, on Sept.12, Kanojia
was summoned by the authorities of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust and asked to
give up his house to make way for the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project that
was announced earlier in March. The project is meant to provide direct access
to pilgrims between Kashi Vishwanath temple and the ghats on Ganga.Kanojia’s
home is among 230 houses that have been demolished so far. “We were told that
we would get compensation and a voice as well. We never acquired a voice and
are unhappy with the compensation. We have been dislocated from city and moved
to village,” says Kanojia, who now stays in Katesar around 10 kilometres away.
indian express
Scrap Talaq Bill, send for review: Muslim
women’s rights body in charter of demands ahead of LS polls
Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Muslim Mahila
Samvidhan Hak Parishad has demanded that Triple Talaq Bill in its present form
be scrapped and sent to the Law Commission for review.Releasing a charter of
demands, Parishad has urged all secular and democratic forces to come forward
and adopt their list of demands.“There is a need to strengthen laws by bringing
Muslim women under its purview, instead of making special laws for them,” Razia
Patel, one of the convenors of the Parishad, said. Parishad, which works for
issues related with Muslim women and seeks their resolution through
constitutional methods, in its manifesto said practices like polygamy, halala
and female circumcision should be brought under broader gender justice
law.Criticising the Talaq Bill in its present form, the manifesto stressed on
the need to scrap the Bill and sent for a review to the Law Commission.“We
appeal to all to assess these parties
based on their genuine support and intent to take these demands towards actions
and accordingly decide to vote for them,” Patel, an educationist,
said.Manifesto also highlights the need for installing quick courts to ensure
justice for Muslim women affected by communal riots at Gujarat, Muzaffarnagar
and other places.indianexpress
No 'Big' Riots in 5 Yrs? Contrary to Mukhtar
Naqvi's Belief, Figures Had Crossed 800-Mark Back in 2017
New Delhi: Union minority affairs minister and
a senior BJP leader had recently stated that there had been "no
major" communal riots in the country and that India was in no need of a
lynching law as most of the cases till now have been only criminal in nature. He
has also stated that such incidents must not be looked at from a communal
angle.News18 in this piece looks at some of the communal riots, attacks and
episodes that have taken place after the Modi-led BJP government came to
power.An IndiaSpend analysis of Home Ministry data in February 2018 revealed
that communal violence under the National Democratic Alliance government led by
the BJP increased 28% over 3 years to 2017 — 822 “incidents” were recorded that
year — but it was short of the decadal high of 943 in 2008.According to the
analysis, UP —most populous state in the country — reported most incidents
(1,488) over the last decade. Kasganj in western UP witnessed communal violence
on January 26, 2018, in which a 22-year-old Chandan Gupta was killed after
being hit by a bullet.news18
Telangana: Jamaat-e-Islami decides to back TRS
Chatta Bazar: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) which
had earlier backed TRS in the Assembly elections has announced that it would
continue supporting the same regional party even in the General Elections. With
the belief that TRS would join forces against the ruling NDA in the event of
formation of government at the Centre, the decision was taken after much
deliberations. The state president of the organisation, Hamid Mohammed Khan
said that with this decision they hope to keep at bay the fundamentalist
forces, which could form government at the centre for the second term.
Describing India as a secular country, he noted that TRS has been steadfast in
holding the ethos and hoped that it would continue to fight against any fundamentalist
outlook. He requested Muslim community to vote all the 16 candidates of TRS and
Asaduddin Owaisi of MIM contesting for the Hyderabad seat.Hans News
‘Vote
Wisely, Reject Those Who Lynch People,’ Urge More Than 150 Scientists,
Researchers
New Delhi:After writers and filmmakers’ appeal
to vote against hate and violence, now more than 150 scientists and researchers
have asked Indians to vote to ‘reject those who lynch and assault people’.“We
must reject those who lynch or assault people, those who discriminate against
people because of religion, caste, gender, language or region. Again, we must
reject those who encourage such practices,” they appealed to the voters who are
going to cast votes from 11 April.Over 189 scientists and researchers have
issued a statement ahead of the upcoming national elections, urging citizens to
vote wisely – “against inequality, intimidation, discrimination, and unreason”.
They said citizens must “reject those who lynch or assault people” and those
who “encourage such practices”.The statement was signed by 189 scientists,
researchers, and academics from various institutions, including the Indian
Institutes of Science Education and Research, Indian Statistical Institute,
Ashoka University and the Indian Institutes of Technology.Caravan News
Won’t allow NRC in West Bengal, Modi can’t
decide who will stay here: Mamata
New Delhi:West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on
Thursday continued her tirade against PM Narendra Modi, saying that she will
not allow anyone to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) in her state.
“Modi is no one to decide who will stay and who will leave,” she said.TMC
supremo has been critical of the Centre for bringing in Citizenship Amendment
Bill and has asserted that the move has caused discomfort among the people. She
has described NRC as an electoral gimmick. Mamata claimed that it was the
Bengal government which solved 6-decade-old enclave issue with Bangladesh in
2015, and not Modi govt. indianexpress
BJP's Bengal Unit Embarrassed as Modi's
Kolkata Rally Fails to Pull a Crowd
Kolkata: Plunging headlong into the election
campaign, West Bengal on Wednesday witnessed a verbal duel between PM Narendra
Modi and chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Within hours of Modi addressing a
meeting in Siliguri, Banerjee hit back at the prime minister at a meeting at
Dinhata in Cooch Behar. Trinamool Congress meeting, coming at the far end of
the day, meant that Banerjee had the last word in the day’s political joust. Wednesday’s
rallies were BJP’s first meetings in Bengal after the announcement of the poll
schedule. BJP pinned its hopes on Modi and his ability to draw large crowds.
Perhaps this was why the saffron party chose the historic Brigade Parade Ground
in Kolkata for the prime minister’s rally. BJP leader and candidate from
Bashirhat constituency Sayantan Basu told local reporters, “Brigade ground will
be full, at least 6-7 lakh people will be present for the rally.”thewire
Rahul files nomination from Wayanad, says
won’t utter anything against CPM in election campaign
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday,
filed his nomination from Wayanad, Kerala followed by roadshow in which he is
accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi. Wayanad is the second constituency
Rahul Gandhi is contesting apart from his home turf Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing media, Rahul said he won’t say anything against the CPM, despite the
party attacking him and speaking against him.newsx
Darul Uloom students say development their
agenda but fear division of Muslim votes
Deoband: As soon as the bells ring at Darul
Uloom Asia's largest madrassa students prepare to head towards mosque for
evening prayers. After stepping outside the institution, some of them stop at a
tea shop near the campus.An animated discussion is underway at the kiosk in
Saharanpur.The students are discussing the issues that dominate or are being
skipped by political parties in their campaign in the district ahead of the
general election on April 11.They have their own theories and understanding of
the complex election process. Jamal, 24, says he fears Muslim votes might get
divided in the election as two strong Muslim candidates are contesting from constituency.
Congress has fielded seasoned leader Imran Masood, while BSP has named Faizul
Rahman. BSP has formed a "mahagathbandhan" with SP and RLD in Uttar
Pradesh for election.BJP has pitted incumbent Raghav Lakhan Pal against the
opposition candidates."Faizul Rahman might have an advantage as he would
get the support of harijans along with Muslims," Jamal tells the students,
suggesting caste and religion will play a role in deciding the election.But his
suggestion is immediately countered. Amanatullah, another student at the
madrassa, says the agenda of development would be a major factor this time.
"It is high time that we decided the capability of candidates based on
their knowledge of issues plaguing city, rather than their caste or
religion," 26-year-old says. Saharanpur, named after Sufi Saint Shah Harun
Chisti, is home to about 17 lakh voters. Of which, 6 lakh are Muslims and 3
lakh SCs/STs.PTI
UP:Here, Hindu, Muslim kin of same clan locked
in poll battle for 30 yrs
Kairana: The west UP town of Kairana, just 4
km from the Haryana border, has been a bitter electoral battlefield for 2
families of the same clan but different faiths. This time, though, there is a
difference.A little more than 150 years ago, the Singhs and the Hasans were
united, until one of the ancestors branched out after converting to Islam.
Manoj Rana, an associate of SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidate Tabassum Hasan said,
“Both families belong to Kalashyan Khap of the Gujjar community, which is
spread across 84 villages. Till recently, while Hukum Singh was the leader of
the Hindu group, Munawwar Hasan headed the Muslim wing.”As a BJP MP, Hukum
Singh was the subject of national media scrutiny for alleging an exodus of Hindu
families from Kairana in the face of Muslim criminal gangs.Now both he and
Munawwar are dead and the longstanding political rivalry between the two
families has moved to the next generation. TOI
If Muslims have 'first right' on resources,
where will Jats and Gujjars go: Yogi
Baghpat:Questioning a statement years back by
then prime minister Manmohan Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Wednesday
said if Muslims have the first right over the country's resources what happens
to the Scheduled Castes, Jats and Gujjars. Adityanath recalled Singh's 2006
statement at a rally here in western Uttar Pradesh, a region where, some
estimates say, about 25 per cent of the voters are Gujjars and Jats.Singh had
made the remark while addressing a meeting of the National Development
Council.PTI
United on issues, divided by parties: West UP'S
Dalits, Muslims can split votes, but BJP may get none:news18
Ravi Das Chhatravas in Saharanpur city is
abuzz with political debates. This hostel houses graduates and post-graduates
from villages around Saharanpur who are preparing for civil services and other
entrance exams for government jobs. Most of them claim to have voted for BJP in
2014, but today feel cheated.Anuj Kumar, a resident of Rogla Hatholi village,
is son of a daily wage labourer. He completed his graduation a year ago and was
hopeful of getting a job which would pull his family out of poverty. This hope
had made him vote for BJP in 2014, but today his political preferences have
changed. “Last election, I voted for the saffron party, because Modiji promised
us jobs. He showed us Gujarat model and I thought we would get jobs if he comes
to power, but we got nothing,” Anuj says. Lack of jobs or unemployment is the
most common complaint. However, the other grievance these youth nurse is about
the Supreme Court order that weakened SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Rajkumar, a Dalit activist and manager at the local girls' college, is unsure
about Union govt’s stand on the law. This debate on unemployment and caste
atrocities is a thread running throughout conversations at Sahranpur hostel.However,
students also question the govt’s stance on reservation. UPSC aspirant Prabhat
Kumar says government is deliberately denying opportunities to Dalits. BJP had
swept 2014 Lok Sabha election, as well as 2017 Assembly poll. Vikas Vashisth,
associate professor of political science in Meerut College, says Hindus had
rallied behind BJP in the last 2 polls primarily because of the polarisation
after the Muzzafarnagar riots. However, caste violence against Dalits in the
last few years have fractured that consolidated support.Echoes of violence are
heard throughout Dalit bastis in Saharanpur, Meerut and Muzzafarnagar.
Shabbirpur's local says that alliance between Congress and BSP, SP and RLD
could have helped scenario. Shabbirpur is a primarily Jatav village. However,
in Meeruts’s Rajawan Bazaar Valmiki Basti, even non-Jatavs expressed their
unhappiness with BJP.Among handicraft makers in Saharanpur city, the majority
of the Muslims favour Congress.An alliance of Dalits and Muslims, who together
make about 40% of total voters in Western UP, is crucial to bring about a
political change here. news 18
Unauthorised Namo TV channel run by BJP:Tata
Sky
Patronised by PM Narendra Modi, who called
upon his supporters to watch his interaction live on Namo App or Namo TV, 24
hour TV channel continues to be on air without any permission from any
regulatory authority. NaMo TV is not among the 901 channels listed under the
head Private Permitted Satellite TV Channels on the website of I&B
Ministry. Although Election Commission has called for a report, the I & B
Ministry has informed the media that it was an ‘advertising channel’ and hence
did not require any permission. Unattributed submission indicates what the
Election Commission of India’s stand will be.Meanwhile, NDTV reported today
that one of the platforms, DTH service provider Tata Sky, has informed that
Namo TV was not a ‘normal channel’, that it was a special advertising channel
which was being offered to subscribers free as a launch offer.nationalheraldindia
BJP Fields Godhra Riots Accused Mitesh Patel
for Lok Sabha Seat from Gujarat
Anand: Ruling BJP has fielded Godhra riots
accused, Mitesh Patel, as a Lok Sabha candidate from Anand, central Gujarat. Mitesh
Patel, is treasurer of BJP’s Anand district unit, declared in his poll
affidavit that he was an accused in a case related to the 2002 post-Godhra
riots, according to reports.Patel, 54, was earlier chosen by BJP to fight
against former Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki from Anand Lok
Sabha constituency of central Gujarat.In his affidavit submitted to the
election authorities on Tuesday, Patel mentioned that an FIR was registered
against him at Vasad police station in Anand district in 2002 for engaging in
arson, rioting, stone-pelting, and theft, among other charges.Caravan News
Gujarat: 30 years, 0 Muslims in Lok Sabha
The last Muslim to make it to Lok Sabha from
Gujarat was Congress’s Ahmed Patel in 1984. In 1989, Patel lost Bharuch seat to
BJP’s Chandu Deshmukh by 1.15 lakh votes. Ever since, no Muslim has made it to
the Lok Sabha from Gujarat. Muslims make up 9.5% of the state’s population.In
1962, when newly-formed Gujarat voted in its first Lok Sabha elections, only
one Muslim candidate won, Johara Chavda, from Banaskantha.In 1977, the state
elected two Muslims, both from the Congress — Ahmed Patel from Bharuch and
Ehsan Jafri from Ahmedabad — the greatest representation Muslims have seen from
Gujarat ever.Bharuch Lok Sabha seat has the highest concentration of Muslim
voters in Gujarat. Currently, of the 15.64 lakh voters in Bharuch, 22.2% are
Muslims.TOI
SC agrees to hear plea challenging release of
Modi biopic
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed
to hear a plea challenging the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra
Modi as a violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC). A Bench led by Justice S.A.
Bobde listed the case for hearing on April 8.The petition, filed by advocate
and Congress spokesperson Aman Panwar and represented by senior advocate A.M.
Singhvi, said film PM Narendra Modi would act as an influence against a free
and fair election, which is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.thehindu
UAE confers prestigious Zayed Medal on Modi
UAE honoured PM Narendra Modi with the
prestigious Zayed Medal for giving a “big boost’ to bilateral strategic ties
between the two countries.UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
conferred the award, the highest decoration awarded to kings, presidents and
heads of states, on Modi.PTI
Chhattisgarh Maoist encounter: 4 BSF jawans
killed in Kanker district
New Delhi:At least 4 BSF jawans were killed
and two others were injured in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s
Kanker district on Thursday, police said.The encounter took place at around 12
noon. All those killed and injured are from 114 Battalion of BSF. Exchange of
fire has stopped but evacuation and search operations were underway, P Sundar
Raj, DIG, Anti Naxal Operations, said.Last week, at least 4 alleged Maoists
were killed in an encounter with a joint team of CRPF’s COBRA battalion, and
the Chhattisgarh police force in Sukma district.indianexpress
Justice Rafiq Appointed as Acting Chief Justice
of Rajasthan High Court
The President of India has today notified the
appointment of Justice Mohammad Rafiq as the Acting Chief Justice of Rajasthan
High Court, following the transfer of former Chief Justice Pradeem Nandrajog to
Bombay High Court.Justice Rafiq is the senior most judge of Rajasthan
HC.livelaw.in/
WORLD
Israel general: Israel was behind coup against
Egypt’s Morsi
Israel worked to overthrow Egypt’s first
democratically elected President, Mohamed Morsi, and to orchestrate a coup
against him in 2013, Israeli army Brigadier General, Aryeh Eldad, wrote in a
local paper.The writer said in an article in Maariv paper that “outbreak of
Jan.revolution coincided with Israeli security assessment that President-elect
Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood man, intended to cancel the peace agreement
with Israel and send more Egyptian military forces to the Sinai Peninsula.”“At
that stage, Israel was quick and willing to activate its diplomatic tools, and
perhaps even greater means, to bring Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to power in Egypt,
and convince the then US administration under President Barack Obama not to
oppose this move.”Eldad stressed that “contrary to all Israeli expectations,
Camp David deal, which was made 40 years ago, has lasted for many decades
despite the lack of real peace between us and Egyptians, and despite the
failure to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, because this conflict is
not just geopolitical. We are rather having a religious war with the
Palestinians and Arabs.”He stated that “the stir caused by Israel’s sale of
German submarines to Egypt in conjunction with commemoration of the 40th
anniversary of the Camp David deal is a new indication that we adhere to having
Egypt on our side. And today, 40 years after the Camp David agreement, we
reached the conclusion that Israel is fighting shoulder to shoulder.”Eldad
pointed out that “it is too early to talk about the usefulness of the peace
deal with Egypt, 40 years after the signing of the Camp David deal in 1979, and
contrary to the expectations that were issued when it was made, the deal was
able to withstand and continue, but opponents of the withdrawal from Sinai were
not wrong then, because we did not have a real peace with Egypt.”middleeastmonitor
Virgin Australia Cuts Deal with Brunei Airline
After it Introduces Death Penalty for homosexuality
Sydney: Australian arm of Richard Branson's
Virgin Airlines has cancelled a staff travel agreement with Brunei's national
carrier in response to the Asian nation's adoption of sharia law, including the
death penalty for gay sex, the airline said today.The agreement allowed Virgin
staff to book discounted tickets on Royal Brunei flights for leisure travel.
The company, Australia's second-biggest airline after Qantas, sent an email to
employees explaining the new Sharia code, which came into effect on Wednesday,
applies to Muslims, non-Muslims and foreigners "even when transiting on Brunei-registered
aircraft and vessels." Qantas, whose CEO Alan Joyce is one of Australia's
most high-profile openly gay business leaders, declined to comment on whether
it was reviewing its staff travel deal with Royal Brunei.The sharia penal code
in the country on tropical Borneo island -- ruled by all-powerful Sultan
Hassanal Bolkiah -- came into force yesterday following years of delays.AFP
Putin, Netanyahu, meet in Moscow ahead of
Israeli elections
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was
in Moscow on Thursday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, five
days before parliamentary elections are due to begin in Israel.The vote is
largely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu, who has campaigned on his foreign
policy prowess and relations with world leaders. The trip to Moscow, made at
Netanyahu's request, came a week after a visit to Washington where he met US
President Donald Trump at the White House.The Israeli prime minister, who is
facing a tough election challenge from a popular former military chief and
reeling from a series of corruption allegations, has repeatedly sought to focus
attention on his foreign policy record and his ties with Trump.Netanyahu also
hosted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Jerusalem earlier this
week.aljazeera
Hamas reveals Lebanon-Palestine dialogue on
refugee rights
Palestinian-Lebanese talks are expected to be
held to discuss the rights of Palestine refugees in Lebanon, a Hamas member revealed.Al-Ray
news site said the dialogue would be based on the document entitled: “A United
Lebanese Vision Towards Palestine Refugee Issues in Lebanon.” Ahmad Abdul-Hadi
said his movement “looks positively” at this document, stressing that the
dialogue must come out with a Lebanese-Palestinian vision to be raised to the
ministerial council ahead of making it resolutions and laws.“Granting
humanitarian and social rights to Palestinians and affording them a decent life
makes them stick to their rights and the right to return,” he
said.middleeastmonitor
Trump to reveal deal of the century on 71st
anniversary of Palestine Nakba
US President Donald Trump is likely to reveal
his peace plan, dubbed “deal of the century”, on 71st anniversary of Palestine
Nakba, Al-Khaleej Online reported. The site said that US administration had
told Arab and Gulf officials that the plan is to be revealed on 15 May, Nakba
Day, on which Israel celebrates its Independent Day.The website said that the
US administration had already completed the plan and secured the funds needed
to implement its economic policies.middleeastmonitor
Qatar denies Israel participation in
Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting
Qatar Shura Council Speaker, Ahmed bin
Abdullah Bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, affirmed that Israel will not participate in the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)’s 140th General Assembly meeting which will be
hosted by the State of Qatar from 6-10 April.Al-Mahmoud told reporters in Doha
that all the necessary arrangements have been completed to hold the
meeting.According to Al-Mahmoud more than 2,200 participants from more than 160
countries will participate in the upcoming meeting, noting that this is the
largest participation in such a meeting outside the union’s headquarters in
Geneva.MEMO
US lawmakers urge sanctions over China's
treatment of Muslim minority
Washington:A bipartisan group of US lawmakers
on Wednesday faulted Trump administration for failing so far to impose
sanctions over China’s alleged human rights abuses against its Muslim minority
and called for punitive measures against a senior Communist Party official and
Chinese companies.A letter to President Donald Trump’s top advisers signed by
more than 40 lawmakers said China’s actions in its western region of Xinjiang
“may constitute crimes against humanity” and urged tighter U.S. export controls
to ensure that US companies are not assisting the Chinese government’s
crackdown there, either directly or indirectly.Reuters
Renewed Syria shelling on Idlib kills children
ahead of Putin-Erdogan meeting
At least 17 people have been killed as a
result of heavy shelling on the northern Syrian provinces of Idlib, Aleppo and
Hama overnight, ahead of a meeting next week aimed at addressing the Syrian
regime’s campaign against the last opposition bastion.Some seven children are
believed to have been killed in bombing campaigns across the towns of Maraat
Al-Numaan, Morek, Saraqeb and the surrounding countryside, injuring at least
21. Some of the heaviest shelling has also hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun, the
site of a deadly chemical attack in 2017 which killed over 80 people. The town
has become a ghost city with most of its more than 70,000 residents fleeing,
said Yousef Al-Idlibi, a former occupant who moved to Idlib
city.middleeastmonitor
One in 5 deaths worldwide linked to poor diet:
Study
One in 5 deaths worldwide in 2017 were linked
to people eating poor diets high in sugar, salt and processed meat that
contributed to heart disease, cancer and diabetes, a global study has found.The
research, published in the Lancet medical journal, found that among 195
countries studied, the proportion of diet-related deaths was highest in
Uzbekistan and lowest in Israel.In a breakdown of diet-related deaths, the
Global Burden of Disease study found that of 11 million in 2017, almost 10
million were from cardiovascular diseases; around 913,000 from cancer; and
almost 339,000 from type 2 diabetes. Consumption of healthier foods such as
nuts and seeds, milk and whole grains was on average too low, and people
consumed too many sugary drinks and too much processed meat and salt.aljazeera
Flash: views & NEWS
Stoop to conquer:It is dispiriting, PM invokes
Hindu-Muslim, majority-minority, in election that was meant to talk up vikas:
indian express, Editorial
RSS Principles are in Violation of
Constitution, Detrimental to India: Hamid Ansari
From Thakur to OBC to SC: BJP’s Agra candidate
accused of forging caste certificate; EC turns a blind eye:Dhairya Maheshwari
Rafale Deal Book Sells 8,000 Copies Overnight
After Being Briefly Seized
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