NEWS
DIGEST, EVENING
02 May 2019:
26 Shaban 1440:Vol: 11, No:191
INDIA
Our objective was designation of Masood Azhar
as global terrorist: MEA on no Pulwama reference
New Delhi :Ministry of External Affairs today
maintained that Pulwama attack played a role in the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad
chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist under UN Security Council resolution
1267 sanctions committee. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “Our objective
was to ensure the designation of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist,” adding
that Pulwama attack, played a key role in Azhar’sdesignation.“The designation
is not based on the basis of a specific incident, but on the basis of evidence
which we have shared with members of UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, linking Azhar
to several acts of terrorism,” he said. Yesterday, Pakistan said it would
“immediately enforce the sanctions” imposed by UN on Azhar and that it agreed
to his listing after all “political references”, including attempts to link him
to Pulwama attack, were removed from the proposal.Reacting to reports that Pulwama
attack did not find mention in UN decision on Azhar’s listing, Kumar said
“elements (are) being introduced to divert attention from Pakistan on this
diplomatic setback that they have suffered. They can’t welcome the decision,
they can’t criticize the decision, the only option left for them is to pick up
some holes.”Indian express
Disappointed that Masood Azhar's designation
doesn't mention Pulwama, J&K: Congress
Congress has welcomed the designation of
Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN, but expressed disappointment that
the listing "does not mention Pulwama and Jammu and Kashmir" while
recounting his role in terror activities. The Congress said it expected the
Modi government to act with a "greater speed" in pursuing the case
with China as several precious lives in terror attacks like Pulwama could have
been avoided. The Modi government should now push for a declaration of bounty
on Azhar's head as was ensured by UPA in the case of Hafiz Saeed, Congress
said. PTI
What did you compromise with China?: Owaisi
asks govt over UN action against Masood Azhar
Asaduddin Owaisi has questioned the soundness
of the designation of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and disapproved the
Modi govt’s claim of terming UN action against Azhar as a “big success”.Owaisi
further attacked government, asking what it had compromised with China that it
uplifted the technical hold on the proposal to ban Azhar.“What did you (govt)
compromise with China? Hafiz Saeed was blacklisted in 2008, doesn’t he hold
public meetings? Didn’t his party contest elections? Surely Azhar has been
blacklisted but if you are claiming it as a big success, it’s not,” said
Owaisi.newsnation
Don't know if this is related to LS polls:
Kamal Nath on UN listing of Masood Azhar
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on
Wednesday expressed uncertainty on whether the designation of chief Masood
Azhar as a 'global terrorist' had anything to do with the ongoing Lok Sabha
elections in the country."It (listing Azhar) was long due, it is good that
it has been done. This should have happened a long time ago. I don't know if
this has something to do with the elections," he told reporters here.ANI
How will listing Masood Azhar help when Pak PM
is friends with Modi: Digvijaya
Bhopal: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh
asked how designating JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist would help
when Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan flaunts his friendship with Narendra
Modi. Congress' candidate from Bhopal, said, "How will listing (Azhar as a
global terrorist) help when Pakistan Prime Minister is flaunting his friendship
with Modi ji. I would say, Dawood Ibrahim, Masood Azhar, and Hafiz Saeed should
be immediately handed over to India."ANI
China wanted to delay terror designation of
Masood Azhar citing Lok Sabha elections but US prevailed
China wanted to delay terror designation of Masood
Azhar until after May 15 citing the Lok Sabha elections in India but was forced
to advance the date after the US refused to budge beyond April 30.ET has
reliably gathered that France, Russia and UK finally brokered an understanding
by which China got its way to the extent that the designation was done in May
but not on the date Beijing indicated.The deal was brokered about 3 weeks back
but Washington insisted on a written assurance before April 23. Separately, ET
has learnt, India told the US that it would prefer a negotiated settlement with
China than have Beijing veto the entire effort.US then said it would not wait
until beyond a week starting April 23. China indicated May 6 as a revised date.
US did not budge.And finally May 1 was settled as the date for China to lift
the hold. At US insistence, sources said, China sent in a written assurance
with the date last week. The starting point of this effort was UN statement
condemning Pulwama attack. This was the first time that UN had condemned a
terror attack in Kashmir and that too on security personnel.China resisted
this, delayed the statement by bringing in changes to the description of the
attack but eventually agreed. This formed the basis for India to work on the US
and France to submit a fresh bid to designate Azhar a global terrorist. US
decided to exercise this option, circulated a draft proposal and put April 23
as the deadline for China to change its mind. A vote would have forced China to
veto designation of Azhar in case it wanted to help Pakistan. However, that
would have meant a loss of face given that all other 14 members of UNSC were in
India’s favour. At this point, China agreed for negotiations, thus opening up
the possibility of a deal which it had hoped would happen after the elections
in India were concluded, said sources. economictimes
Modi gets election boost with UN sanction
against India's 'enemy No. 1':Reuters
Pak asked for Azhar ban to be put off till
elections, felt will benefit Modi: Sources
New Delhi:Much before Beijing lifted the
technical hold that led to global ban on Jaish chief, Pakistan and China had
reconciled to the distinct possibility that they might not be able to block
Masood Azhar’s global terror tag any longer but wanted the UN to designate the
Jaish boss as a global terrorist only after the Indian elections.Pakistan
didn’t want the terror listing to happen at a time India was in the middle of
national elections as it could benefit PM Narendra Modi who is in the middle of
a campaign for a second term, people familiar with developments said.HT
Victory for US diplomacy: Pompeo on Masood
Azhar
Washington: Masood Azhar being declared a
global terrorist is "a victory for American diplomacy", US Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo tweeted today. "Congrats to our team @USUN for their
work in negotiating JEM's Masood Azhar's #UN designation as a terrorist. This
long-awaited action is a victory for American diplomacy and the international
community against terrorism, and an important step towards peace in South Asia,"
the Secretary of State tweeted.ndtv
Azhar proscribed under Anti-Terrorism Act much
before his UN listing, claims Pak
Hours after UN designated Masood Azhar as a
global terrorist, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday claimed
that Azhar was listed under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act "much
before" the case of his listing was taken up before the UN. “You are aware
that the listing of Azhar had been under consideration in the Sanctions
Committee for several years, (since 2009). He has been proscribed under
Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act for some time, even before his case for listing
was taken up by the Sanctions Committee,” read a statement issued by Foreign Ministry.The
statement further argued that the earlier proposals to list JeM chief “failed
to generate the requisite consensus in the sanction committee” as the
information regarding terrorist activities of Azhar and his outfits did not
meet the technical rules and regulations. ANI
‘Many surgical strikes during UPA’s tenure’,
says Manmohan Singh
Indian armed forces received a free hand to
respond to external threats during the term of Congress-led UPA as well and
BJP’s attempt to gain electoral mileage from military operations are “shameful
and unacceptable,” says ex PM Manmohan Singh. “Multiple surgical strikes took
place during our tenure, too.For us,military operations were meant for
strategic deterrence and giving a befitting reply to anti-India forces than to
be used for vote garnering exercises,” Singh, said.HT
‘6 surgical strikes’ in UPA tenure: Cong backs
Manmohan Singh with dates
New Delhi:India conducted “6 surgical strikes”
across the border into Pakistan between 2008 and 2014.Congress leader Rajiv
Shukla made this revelation at a press conference in New Delhi.During the press
conference, Shukla went on to list the dates when the strikes were carried
out.The first strike, according to the dates Rajiv Shukla gave out, was
conducted on June 19, 2008, in Bhattal Sector in J&K’s Poonch.The second
was conducted from August 30-Sept.1, 2011, in the Sharda sector across the
Neelam River Valley in Kel, ANI quoted him as saying.He said that a third
surgical strike took place on Jan.6, 2013, at Sawan Patra Checkpost; another on
July 27 and July 28, 2013, at Nazapir Sector; a fifth one on August 6, 2013 at
Neelam Valley; and the sixth one on Jan.14, 2014.Shukla’s revelations come
close on the heels of former prime minister Manmohan Singh saying that multiple
surgical strikes had taken place during his tenure as PM.HT
Zakir Naik charged with money laundering by ED
New Delhi:Zakir Naik, whose speeches were
alleged to have inspired one the gunmen responsible for the Dhaka café attack
that cost 22 lives, has been charged with money laundering by Enforcement
Directorate, according to the agency’s filing in a Mumbai court. The ED, the agency
mandated to probe financial crimes, told the court that it had linked assets
worth Rs 193 crore as proceeds of crime. The agency has already attached Rs
50.46 crore assets, the agency said in its second charge-sheet against the
televangelist.HT
Ishrat Jahan ‘fake’ encounter case: CBI court
discharges police officers Vanzara, Amin as Gujarat refuses to sanction
prosecution
A special CBI court Thursday dropped charges
of murder, conspiracy and other criminal sections against retired IPS officers
DG Vanzara and NK Amin in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. The decision came
after CBI placed on record the letter of the Gujarat government refusing to
sanction their prosecution in the case. The court observed that in view of this
refusal, the court was not in position to frame charges against the
applicants.Vanzara and Amin had filed an application on March 26, seeking that
all proceedings against them be dropped in light of the Gujarat government
order, that had declined sanction under section 197 of Criminal Procedure
Code.The main argument put forth by Vanzara and Amin was that there was no
abduction of the deceased and that the encounter was a genuine one and part of
their official duty.The application was opposed by Vrinda Grover, lawyer of
Ishrat’s mother Shamima Kauser, who said that pleas were “untenable in law and
unsustainable on facts”, and that the state government was not the appropriate
authority to refuse sanction to prosecute the 2 officers.indianexpress
Muslims oppose burqa ban, call it an
individual's choice
After Shiv Sena triggered debate by calling
for a ban on the use of burqa, members of the Muslim community said that
wearing burqa was an individual choice and thus, should be respected.They,
however, added that burqa should not be regarded as a religious but a cultural
practice."In a secular and democratic country like India, one has no right
to tell women how to dress. Short, slawar or burqa — it's a personal choice.
One has no right to dictate another's personal choices. Beefing up security is
the need for the hour.Banning burqa is not the solution," said Zeenat
Shaukat Ali, a scholar. Echoing Zeenat's sentiments, Noorjehan Safia Niaz,
co-convenor of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan said, "Burqa is an
individual's choice. However, when it comes to security, one must reveal her
face for identification."Muslims said that the entire debate was a non-issue.
Speaking about it, Dr Asma Zehra, working committee member of All India Muslim
Personal Board said,"This is a non-issue. There are many important issues
that are faced by the community and nation. They need to be addressed."
Indian Constitution allows people to wear what they want. Such practices exist
in other communities too. Even Rajputs women cover their face," said
Maulana Mehbood Dariyabadi, vocal voice from community.DNA
Muslim women condemn Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena clarifies its 'ban on burqa' remark
Mumbai:Shiv Sena has issued a clarification
over demanding a 'ban on burqa' in India in its mouthpiece 'Saamna', stating it
may be the personal opinion of the editor."Every policy decision is
discussed in the leader's meeting or announced by Uddhav Thackeray," said
Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe. "Today's editorial has neither been
discussed in leaders' meeting nor announced by Uddhav and thus it may be the
personal opinion of editor on the current affairs in Sri Lanka but is not
endorsed by the party president or party," Shiv Sena issued a statement on
the editorial.ANI
Mehbooba Mufti: Shiv Sena demand for ban on
burqa will fan Islamophobia
Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has
said Shiv Sena’s demand for ban on burqa in public places was unwarranted and
will “fan the flames of Islamophobia”. “Shiv Sena’s call to ban burqa is
unwarranted & will fan the flames of Islamophobia. It also influences
people to look at Muslim women who follow the Islamic dress code with
suspicion. Sad that the diversity our country takes great pride in is under
attack,”she, said.indian express
BJP opposes burqa ban demand by Shiv Sena
New Delhi:An MP and spokesperson of BJP, GVL
Narsimha Roa, opposed demand to ban burqa in public places across the country
called by Shiv Sena, saying there's "no need for India to ban"
burqa.Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, an ally of NDA, also differed with the
Sena's demand saying not all burqa-clad women are terrorists."Not all
women who wear burqa are terrorists, if they are terrorists their burqa should
be removed. It's a tradition and they have right to wear it, there shouldn't be
a ban on burqa in India," Athawale said. Shia Waqf Board head Wasim Rizvi
also opposed the demand saying,"This is an irresponsible and
unconstitutional demand.It's up to the Muslim women whether they want to wear
Burqa or not."India Today
Ban burqa but outlaw ‘ghunghat’ too:Javed
Akhtar
New Delhi ;A day after an editorial in Shiv
Sena mouthpiece Saamana demanded to ban the burqa, lyricist Javed Akhtar said
the move should be accompanied with a similar action against the ‘ghunghat’
system prevalent among women in Rajasthan.“If you want to bring a law banning
burqa here (in India) and if it is someone’s view I have no objection. But
before the last phase of election in Rajasthan, this government should announce
a ban on the practice of ‘ghunghat’ (covering of the face by Hindu women) in
that state,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by PTI.
Kerala:Muslim Educational group bans women
from wearing veils on its campuses;Samastha slams
Kozhikode-based Muslim Educational Society has
issued a circular prohibiting female students from wearing veils in its
institutions across the country, he News Minute reported today. The group runs
35 colleges and 72 schools, and has around one lakh students on its rolls. The Society
President PA Fazal Ghafoor issued the circular on April 17, but media reports
emerged only on Thursday. The circular, while banning veils that cover faces,
adds: “Institution heads and officer-bearers of the local management of the
institutions should be vigilant.” The circular quotes a Kerala High Court order
from Dec.2018, which dismissed a plea filed by 2 female students of Christ
Nagar SSC in Thiruvananthapuram, seeking to wear headscarves and full-sleeve
shirts. The HC, upholding the school’s refusal to grant permission for such
clothing, said in its order that collective interest must supersede individual
interest.“According to the HC order, female students should not wear garments
that cover their face,”the circular said.“This should be implemented without
giving way to controversy.”Circular said it is necessary to discourage all
“undesirable practices on the campuses”,TOI reported. “Dresses that are
unacceptable to the mainstream society, whether modern or religious, cannot be
promoted,” it added. Ghafoor said that the circular had nothing to do with the
Sri Lankan gov’s decision to ban face veils. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul
Ulama’s president, Sayyid Muhammad Jifri Thangal, opposed the circular. “Muslim
Educational Society has no right to interfere in religious practices,”he said.
“Unlike Samastha, they’re not an organisation entitled to make those kinds of
statements.” Ghafoor had courted controversy in 2014 by claiming that veiling
was un-Islamic and a western import.scroll.in
Muslim man lynched after his bike hit cyclist in
Bihar
Supaul;A Muslim man Mohammed Sharif has been
lynched by a mob in Bihar’s Supaul district after the victim hit a cyclist at
Nunupatti of Sadar police station in the district.The incident made the
relatives of the deceased outraged and subsequently they blocked the Nunu patti
chowk demanding the arrest of the culprits. Sharif, a father 4 small girls,
hails from Supaul’s Itahari village.According media report, the incident happened
when Sharif was heading toward Supaul from his village. On the way at Nunu
Patti village, he hit a man riding on cycle. After hearing about the incident,
the locals surrounded Sharif and started beating him brutally. Later, the
police reached the spot and took the severely injured Sharif to nearest
hospital Sadar hospital but he was referred to another hospital. On the way, he
succumbed to the injuries. The deceased was a teacher at private seminary.caravandaily
SC directs EC to decide by May 6 complaints of
Congress alleging MCC violations by PM, Amit Shah
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today directed the
Election Commission to decide by 6th May, 9 complaints of Congress alleging
MCC violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. The
poll panel told a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi that it has already decided
on 2 out of 11 complaints which were filed by Congress against Modi and Shah
for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct.Senior advocate, Abhishek
Manu Singhvi, appearing for Congress MP Sushmita Dev, who has filed a petition
in the apex court on the issue, said that they have given 11 representations to
EC against the duo but it has taken decision on only two. "The remaining
representations of the petitioners shall be decided by Election Commission
before we hear the matter again on May 6,"said the bench also comprising
Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna. The poll panel has given clean chit to
PM Modi for 2 of his speeches -- one in Latur last month urging first time
voters to dedicate their votes in the name of Balakot air strike heroes and
soldiers killed in the Pulwama attack, and the other in Wardha on April 1,
slamming Rahul Gandhi where he had also indicated that the Kerala constituency
had more voters from the minority community. In her plea, Dev has alleged that
"inaction" by EC on complaints against top BJP leaders was "a
sign of invidious discrimination" as also "arbitrary, capricious and
impermissible" as it was destructive of the integrity of electoral
process. It has been alleged that BJP leaders have been violating MCC during
last four weeks and the EC has not taken any decisions on as many as 40
complaints of Congress party."Since March 10, that is the date on which
General polls, were notified, Modi and Amit Shah, specifically in sensitive
areas and states, have ex-facie violated the provisions of Representation of
People's Act and the Conduct of Election Rules and the process, thereof.
"It is in public domain that they have indulged in hate speeches,
repeatedly used the armed forces for political propaganda, despite a clear
prohibition on the same by the EC," Dev alleged. PTI
SC throws out plea seeking recusal of CJI from
Assam detention centres case
NewDelhi:CJI Ranjan Gogoi today refused
activist Harsh Mander’s request that he recuse himself from hearing a PIL
petition highlighting the “sub-human” living conditions of detenues in Assam's
detention centres. Mander said his petition, which was solely intended to
release those languishing in the detention centres for years, transformed
itself, through oral observations made by CJI during hearings, into a premise
for “more people being detained and deported” in Assam. “With great respect, My
Lord, PIL was filed on the basis of what I saw when I visited these detention
centres as the Special Commissioner for the National Human Rights Commission.
Your Lordship's oral observations have caused a great impact and led to more
people being detained... Arrests have started and there is an atmosphere of
fear,”Mander, who was permitted to speak “fearlessly and faithfully” by CJI,
said. Mander argued the recusal plea in person after discharging his lawyer,
Prashant Bhushan.The Bench, dismissing the plea, directed the registry to
strike out Mander as litigant to replace him with the Supreme Court Legal
Services Authority. It brought Bhushan
back into the case as an amicus curiae. CJI warned Mander not to “overstep.” In
its order, the Bench said the plea had “enormous potential to damage the
institution.” CJI said recusal meant the “destruction of the institution.”thehindu
CJI appears before panel probing sexual charge
In an unprecedented development, CJI Ranjan
Gogoi has appeared before Justice SA Bobde in-house inquiry committee examining
sexual harassment allegations levelled against the top judge by a former SC
employee. A letter of request was issued to CJI and he responded to it and met
the panel, a highly-placed source told The Hindu. High constitutional
office-holders like CJI are not issued summons as is the usual case. They are
sent a 'letter of request' to participate in the proceedings. The development
comes a day after the complainant declined to participate in the in-house proceedings.
“She declined to participate following which the committee conveyed to her that
the consequences of her decision would be that the committee would have to
continue the hearings ex parte. She agreed,”source said. the hindu
SC/ST Act: SC reserves order on pleas challenging
amendments,says laws should be uniform
The Supreme Court has reserved its order on a
batch of petitions challenging the amendments to the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, ANI reported. A bench of
Justices Arun Mishra and Uday Umesh Lalit has been hearing the petitions since
Feb.19.“Laws in the country should be uniform and cannot be for general
category or SC/ST category,” the bench observed.In its verdict on March 20,
2018, the SC had diluted the law’s provisions and had said public servants
cannot be arrested immediately after a complaint is filed against them under
the law. At least 11 people died and hundreds were detained during protests against
the SC order in April 2018. After this, Centre moved court to seek a review of
this order, and the Parliament passed an amendment bill in August to reverse
the verdict.scroll.i
"942 Bombings Since 2014, PM Needs To
Open His Ears": Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Hours after 16 security personnel were killed in blast
triggered by Maoists in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi
took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after he claimed that "since 2014
the sounds of blasts can't be heard in India.""PM says since 2014 the
sounds of blasts can't be heard in India. Phulwama, Pathankot, Uri, Gadchiroli
and 942 other major bombings since 2014. PM needs to open his ears and
listen," tweeted the Congress chief. Ndtv
Kejriwal Was "Shifting The
Goalposts", Rahul Gandhi Tells NDTV
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, accused by many
of failing to hold the opposition line together in Delhi and Bengal, today said
Arvind Kejriwal was "shifting the goalposts". Seven seats are stake
in Delhi and 42 in Bengal and numbers suggest that the opposition's best chance
of beating the BJP lies in joining forces. But while there were no talks in the
eastern state, the Congress's on-again, off-again negotiations with Mr
Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party -- prodded by key opposition leaders including
Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu -- had occupied headlines for weeks.In
mid-April, the Congress abandoned the attempt and named its candidates for the
Lok Sabha seats.NDTV
EC bans Pragya Thakur for campaigning for 3
days
New Delhi:Election Commission of India (ECI) ay
debarred BJP Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur from campaigning for three
days in the Lok Sabha polls.The ban which will be effective from 6 am tomorrow
(Thursday) comes in the wake of Thakur's remark that she is proud of Babri
Masjid's demolition. The remark was found violative of the Model Code of
Conduct (MCC) by the poll body. Malegaon blast accused Thakur on April 21 had
said that she is "proud" to accept that she was involved in the
demolition of Babri Masjid.ANI
Kashmir: ‘I set up a shop in sensitive area…
maybe this will motivate Pandits to return home’
Srinagar:Inside his newly-constructed shop in
old Srinagar, Roshan Lal Mawa (74) is distributing sweets to every visitor.
After a gap of 29 years, Roshan, a Kashmiri Pandit who left the Valley in the
90s, is back to his roots to restart his business.It is the first day of his
shop in Zaina Kadal, and for neighbouring shopkeepers, the mood is festive as
Roshan becomes the centre of attraction for the array of business
establishments around.“I was not expecting that I would get such a rousing
welcome from locals here. Returning here was my last wish. I am thankful to God
that my last wish is fulfilled now,” says Roshan, sitting in his shop in Zaina
Kadal market in Downtown.Local market committee members visited Roshan’s shop
and felicitated him and his son with a traditional turban. “It is a good thing
and everyone is happy here. Kashmiri Pandits are our brothers and there is no
difference between us and them,” says Mohammed Lateef, who runs a grocery store
located next to Roshan’s.indian express
Clerics’ ask Muslim couple to say ‘kalma’
again before daughter’s nikah:TOI
Shahjahanpur: Printing picture of Hindu Gods
on their daughter’s wedding invitation card proved costly for a couple in
Chillaua village under Allahganj police station of Shahjahanpur district. They
drew the ire of clerics. When a qazi refused to solemnize their daughter’s
nikah, a few other clerics advised the couple to apologize (tauba) and read
‘kalma’ (declaration of faith) again. In fact, the tailor and his wife were
made to read ‘kalma’ again for solemnising their own nikah first following
which their daughter’s nikah was completed on Tuesday. Ibadat Ali, 55, lives in
Chillaua since his childhood. And despite being the only Muslim family in the
village, Ali never faced any issues. 1,800-odd village population is either
Kshatriyas or Brahmins. Ali’s children - two daughters and two sons - had grown
up playing and studying with other villagers.Since Ali was closer to local
villagers than his own relatives, when Ali’s elder daughter’s marriage was
fixed with a youth from Allahaganj town, he printed his daughter’s wedding card
with the picture of Lord Ram and Sita. His family offered the first card to the
Kuladevi (religious deity) of Chillaua Devi temple.Qazi Mobeen Ahmad told TOI,
“I asked Ali and his wife to apologize (tauba) and read ‘kalma’ (declaration of
faith) again. Thereafter, their nikaah was solemnized. After following this
procedure, I could solemnize their daughter’s marriage.”TOI
Hindu girl who eloped says Muslim lover must
convert, turn vegetarian to marry
Surat :In a unique development, an adult Hindu
girl has submitted an application to Surat police in which she has said that
she would marry a Muslim youth with whom she had an affair only after he
converted to Hinduism and became a vegetarian.The girl, aged 18 years,
submitted the application to Katargam police a day after she and her lover were
detained by the police, acting on the missing complaint case filed by the girl’s
parents. On April 22, the couple had fled after the girl’s family reached
Nanpura marriage registry office where she was going to get married to the
Muslim youth.After detaining them on Monday, police released the couple, saying
that both were adults and free to take their own decisions. However, the girl
returned to her family, and a day later submitted an application to the police
in the presence of her parents and family members.indianexpress
Footprints spotted by Indian Army belong to a
wild bear, not Yeti: Nepal Army
Nepal Army has dismissed Indian Army’s claim
that it had discovered the footprints of the Yeti, a mythical beast of
folklore.Indian Army had on Monday said the “mysterious footprints” were found
by a mountaineering expedition team close to the Makalu base camp near the
Nepal-Tibet border on April 9 and that it measured 32 inches by 15 inches.But
local porters who went with the Indian Army and others dismissed the claims. “A
team of Indian Army had noticed footprints and our liaison team was together
with them,” Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Bigyan Dev Pandey told
the newspaper. “We tried to ascertain the fact, but locals and porters claimed
that it is the footprints of wild bear that frequently appears in that
area.”scroll.in
Hyderabad’s iconic Charminar damaged as
portion of minaret falls off
Charminar, 428-year-old historic monument that
stands as an iconic structure in Hyderabad, suffered considerable damage when a
large piece of lime stucco work on one of its 4 minarets fell off at around
midnight. According to the Charminar police, the piece of stucco work on the
minaret facing the Mecca Masjid on the south-west side gave way and fell off.
Luckily, there were no casualties or injuries reported.The local people
immediately rushed to the spot to have a look at the damaged portion. Police
cordoned off the area around the debris and immediately informed the officials
of ASI, which is the custodian of the monument.ASI superintending archaeologist
Milan Kumar Chauley could not be reached for comment as he was away in Delhi.
An official familiar with the development said the piece of the minaret was
quite big -- of two-metre length and 88 cm width. The damaged portion also
exposed a crack in the minaret, which might result in the collapse of more
portions. The authorities are putting up a mesh around the monument.HT
WORLD
HRW: China using mobile app for surveillance
of Uighurs
Chinese police are using a mobile app to store
data on 13 million ethnic minority Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang
province, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has revealed.The app, known as the
Integrated Joint Operations Platform, is being used to store information from
the height and weight of individuals to facial recognition scans.The report,
released on Thursday, added that Xinjiang authorities closely watch 36
categories of behaviour, including those who do not socialise with neighbours,
often avoid using the front door, don't use a smartphone, donate to mosques
"enthusiastically", and use an "abnormal" amount of
electricity. "The goal is apparently to identify patterns of, and predict,
the everyday life and resistance of its population, and, ultimately, to
engineer and control reality," HRW said in the report.The rights watchdog
worked with German security firm Cure53 to reverse engineer app in late 2018 to
provide "an unprecedented window into how mass surveillance actually works
in Xinjiang".Along with collecting personal information, the app prompts
officials to file reports about people, vehicles and events they find suspect,
and sends out "investigative missions" for police to follow
up.aljazeera
12,000 Jewish Israel settlers raid historic
West Bank cemetery
Some 12,000 Israeli Jewish settlers yesterday
raided several historic Muslim tombs belonging to scholars and prophets in the
village of Kafl Haris, east of the West Bank city of Salfit, Quds Press
reported.Local sources told the news site that a large number of Israeli
occupation forces also raided the city to secure the invasion of the
settlers.The settlers performed Talmudic rituals near the Islamic tombs.Israeli
settlers regularly raid Islamic sites to perform Talmudic rituals that provoke
Palestinians.Occupation forces ban Palestinians from accessing the sites during
the raids and often impose curfews in nearby areas.middleeastmonitor
NGO: ‘Demonstrable rise’ in Israel demolitions
across East Jerusalem
An Israeli human rights NGO has identified a
“demonstrable rise” in demolitions of Palestinian properties in occupied East
Jerusalem during 2019. According to Ir Amim, since the start of 2019 “there
have been 93 demolitions across East Jerusalem, 41 of which were residential
units”, revealing “a demonstrable rise in demolitions when compared to the same
period in 2018”. Fifty-five demolitions were carried out in April alone, Ir
Amim added.The group was responding to fresh demolitions by Israeli occupation
authorities in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Wadi Yasul, “destroying two
residential units and three animal stalls”.“One housing unit belonged to a
family of 6 with 4 children, while the second unit was home to a family of five
with three children. One homeowner was arrested during the incident and several
injured,” Ir Amim reported.MEMO
Hamas fires rockets after Israel carries out
attacks in Gaza
Hamas, the group that governs the Gaza Strip,
reportedly launched two rockets towards Israel on Thursday morning in response
to Israeli rocket fire.Earlier on Thursday, Israeli warplanes targeted several
Hamas positions in the northern part of the strip in response to the alleged launch
of incendiary balloons from the besieged enclave, the Israeli army said.There
had so far been no reports of injuries.aljazeera
Kabul meeting seeks ceasefire as US engages
Taliban in Doha
An Afghan grand council organised by President
Ashraf Ghani has called for an "unconditional ceasefire", as the
United States began the sixth round of peace talks with the Taliban in the
Qatari capital Doha.President Ghani convened the council of more than 3,200
participants, known as loya jirga, in the capital Kabul to hammer out a common
strategy. The Taliban was not invited to the four-day Kabul gathering that ends
on Friday.A number of prominent Afghans, including Ghani's partner in the unity
government, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai
are among a number of senior figures boycotting the gathering, accusing the
president of using it for political ends ahead of presidential elections
scheduled for Sept.28. Ghani refuted the allegations.Ghani has been excluded
from the crucial Doha talks at the insistence of the Taliban, which views the
West-backed government in Kabul as a puppet regime.aljazeera
Pak summons Afghan envoy over terror attack
along border
Pakistan Wednesday summoned Afghanistan's
envoy to lodge protest over terrorist attack along Pak-Afghan border in which
three Pakistan soldiers were killed and seven others injured.A group of 60-70
terrorists from across the border attacked the security forces fencing the
Pak-Afghan border in Alwara at North Waziristan district, an army statement
said.Three soldiers were killed in the attack while seven others were injured.
Several terrorists were killed in the retaliatory firing by the Pakistan Army,
it added.Foreign Office said that the Afghan Charge d' Affaires was called to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Additional Secretary (Afghanistan and
West Asia) and Pakistan's strong protest was lodged over a cross-border
terrorist attack in North Waziristan last night, launched by terrorist groups
coming from Afghanistan." PTI
US finds no evidence of India using Afghan
soil to foment terror in Pakistan: Wells
US does
not have the "evidence" suggesting that India is using the Afghan
soil to perpetrate terrorism in Pakistan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells said here.“I don’t
have the evidence what you’re referring to, but our policy is clear that no
country should support non-state actors,” Express Tribune quoted the visiting
US official as saying while interacting with a group of journalists at the US
Embassy. Wells was responding to a question about Pakistan’s longstanding
allegations against India for sponsoring terrorism from Afghanistan.
Russia, Syria increase attacks on
north-western Syria
Russian and Syrian forces stepped up their air
strikes and shelling on north-western Syria yesterday night, in the most
intense assault on the last opposition stronghold in recent months. The towns and areas which are being targeted are those
around northern Hama and southern Idlib, which both fall under the
demilitarised safe zone agreed upon by Russia and Turkey in September last
year, and which was setup with the intention of housing civilians and displaced
Syrians in order to shelter them from the ongoing conflict.The breaching of the
terms of this intended buffer zone by the Syrian and Russian militaries, “will
result in the destabilisation of the region”, State Department spokeswoman
Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. The attacks, which started on Tuesday, have
forced thousands of civilians to flee to other camps further north towards the
Turkish border and have caused severe damage to four medical
facilities.middleeastmonitor
African Union gives Sudan army 60 days to hand
over power
African Union (AU) gave Sudanese Transitional
Military Council another 60 days to hand over power to a civilian transitional
authority or face the country’s membership being suspended. On 15 April, AU
gave the council 15 days to cede power, however, TMC ignored the deadline.The
AU Peace and Security Council has reiterated in a statement “its conviction that
a military-led transition in the Sudan will be totally unacceptable and
contrary to the will and legitimate aspirations, to democratic institutions and
processes, as well as respect for human rights and freedoms of the Sudanese
people.”middleeastmonitor
Jordan’s King sacks intelligence director
Jordanian King Abdullah II has dismissed the
director of the country’s General Intelligence Department (GID), Adnan
Al-Jundi, local Al-Ghad reported.The newspaper did not provide details on the
reason behind the decision but said that Jordanian king had appointed General
Ahmed Husni as the GID’s new director. Husni – Circassian by origin – was the
director of Amman’s intelligence services.The local daily added that another
Royal Decree was issued to dismiss the kingdom’s Royal Court’s adviser, Anwar
Ali Falah Al-Ayasra, days after a number of senior advisers and senior
officials at the bureau resigned.On 24 April, state-owned Petra said that major
changes within the Royal Court had resulted in the dismissal of a number of
senior officials, including the king’s advisor, Faisal Jibril Al-Shoubaki.MEMO
Top Democrat threatens to hold Attorney
General Barr in contempt
A Democratic US congressional committee
chairman said on Thursday he may hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt
of Congress if he does not hand over a complete version of Special Counsel
Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential
election.Barr canceled his scheduled appearance on Thursday before the House of
Representatives Judiciary Committee after clashing with Democratic Chairman
Jerrold Nadler over the format of the hearing. Barr testified on Wednesday
before the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee, stoutly defending
Republican President Donald Trump in the wake of the release of the Mueller
report."We will have no choice but to move quickly to hold the attorney
general in contempt if he stalls or fails to negotiate in good faith,"
Nadler said at the outset of a brief meeting held in place of Barr's testimony.
Nadler painted the confrontation with Barr in stark terms.aljazeera
Venezuelans rally in rival protests as crisis
intensifies
Thousands of opposition and pro-government
supporters rallied in Venezuela on Wednesday, a day after opposition leader
Juan Guaido called for the military to oust President Nicolas Maduro. "If
the regime thought we had reached maximum pressure, they cannot even
imagine," Guaido told thousands of supporters in eastern Caracas. "We
have to remain in the streets."Maduro also called for his supporters to
take to the streets. On Twitter, he said that foreign interference was not the
way forward in Venezuela.aljazeera
Flash: views & NEWS
How BJP weaponised evictions as a tool against
Assam’s Bengali Muslim residents:AbdulKalamAzad
Analysis: In allowing Azhar’s listing, China’s
leadership may want to deepen bonds with India:Atul Aneja
Washington’s confrontation with Tehran over
oil is unlikely to force a regime change: Ramin Jahanbegloo
Freed as Harkat man after Kandahar, Masood
Azhar set up Jaish, became India’s nemesis-in-chief
By Express News Service
Fake Posts Claiming Muslims Thrashed Brahmin
Man Resurface:MRIDULA ARYA
Election Fix, Episode 5: What does BJP's
anti-Muslim campaign mean for Indian politics?
Sri Lanka 'face veil' ban designed to distract
people from govt's failures, reaffirms structural oppression of Muslim
women:Nisha Susan
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as
terrorists only strengthens autocrats:SAM HAMAD
US-Gulf-Israel alliance targets Muslim
Brotherhood:Yusuf Selman Inanç
Hundreds of Homes in Jaipur Slum Demolished to
Make Way for Modi's Rally:Shruti Jain
Ganga May Still Be Dirty, But the Modi Govt
Spent Crores Advertising Its Cleaning:Sanjoy Basu, Neeraj Kumar and Shashi
Shekhar
Cow Urine Must Leave Our Health Discourse and
Its Proponents, Our Politics
Muslims in civil services: success stories of minority
institutions -- Jamia Millia's residential coaching academy
Did Modi govt secretly transport 200 tonnes of
RBI’s gold to Switzerland in 2014?Dhairya Maheshwari
Millions missing from electoral roll in
India's elections:aljazeera
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:22 PM)
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