20 June 2019:
15 Shawal 1440:Vol: 11, No:226
INDIA
Parliament: Prez lays down roadmap for next 5 yrs;
Focus on Triple Talaq, NRC,One Nation, One Poll
President Ram Nath Kovind laid down the
roadmap for the next 5 years as he discussed issues such as Triple
Talaq, Nikah Halala, NRC,surgical strikes and One Nation, One Election in the
joint session of Parliament today. Addressing lawmakers of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Ram Nath
Kovind raises the contentious issues of the National
Register for Citizens. "Foreigners entering India illegally are a great
threat to internal security. My government has decided that the process of the
NRC will be implemented on a priority basis in areas facing the infiltration
problem."In his concluding remarks, President Kovind says that the need of
the day is to bring in a "one nation one election system" so that the
"country can grow faster". Highlighting women's empowerment as one of
the highest priorities of the govt Kovind said eradication of
social evils like 'Triple Talaq' and 'Nikah-Halala' is imperative for ensuring
equal rights for women in the country. Kovind urged all the members to
cooperate in these efforts to make the lives of women "better and
dignified". "To secure equal rights for every sister and daughter in
the country, eradication of social evils like 'Triple Talaq' and 'Nikah-Halala'
is imperative," Kovind said.The Parliament’s Budget Session, which began
on June 17, will continue till July 26. Economic Survey will be presented on
July 4 followed by the Budget for 2019-20 on July 5. news18
NRC will be implemented on priority basis in
areas affected by infiltration:president
Eradication of Triple Talaq and Halala
imperative for ensuring women equality: President Kovind
After Prez’s push, Centre introduces triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi:The govt today reintroduced the Muslim Women(Protection of
Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance -- popularly known as the Triple Talaq
Bill -- in the Rajya Sabha.It is part of 10 other ordinances introduced in the upper
house today - the beginning of 17th Lok Sabha.The other ordinances introduced
include Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment).To build consensus, govt had
called a meeting of political party leaders on June 19, to discuss the agenda
for the first session of 17th Lok Sabha.The opposition has not opposed the
bill, however, it has is opposed to penal provisions. The Bill proposes a
punishment of three years for a Muslim man practicing triple talaq and says the
accused can get bail only from the magistrate before the trial starts, provided
his wife concurs. Opposition parties led by the Congress have objected to a
jail term in the law and are also seeking state compensation for the deserted
wife and her children. The proposed law directs the husband to provide
maintenance for the wife and her children.HT
Modi to Khan: Trust key to boosting
India-Pakistan relations
PM
Narendra Modi has told his Pakistani counterpart that while India desires
normalised relations with its western neighbour, this would require "an
environment of trust, free of terror, violence and hostility". Modi wrote
a letter responding to a congratulatory message by Pakistani Prime Minister
Imran Khan, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement today."As per
the established diplomatic practice,PM and [Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar]
have responded to the congratulatory messages received from their counterparts
in Pakistan," Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for India's foreign ministry,
said."In their messages, they have highlighted that India seeks normal and
cooperative relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan."Aljazeera
India rejects Pak report claim that New Delhi
ready for talks with Islamabad
India has rejected a Pakistani
media report claiming New Delhi is ready for talks with Islamabad, saying Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made no such
reference in their response to congratulatory messages from their counterparts
in that country.A report in the Express Tribune claimed that Modi and
Jaishankar responded to Islamabad’s renewed call for dialogue by conveying New
Delhi’s desire to engage with all countries, including Pakistan, for the
prosperity of the region.Responding to the queries regarding the replies to
congratulatory messages by Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan and Foreign
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson
Raveesh Kumar said: “As per the established diplomatic practice, PM and EAM
have responded to the congratulatory messages received from their counterparts
in Pakistan.”In their messages, they have highlighted that India seeks normal
and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan, he said.PTI
Govt docs exploit loopholes in Ayushman Bharat
scheme, pocket public funds, reveals BJP MLA
Exploiting loopholes in the Union Govt's mega
health scheme - Ayushman Bharat, hundreds of doctors allegedly pocketed huge
amounts of public funds meant for the treatment of poor patients. Though the
scandal seems to have spread across various states, initial reports indicate
that several hospitals in Uttarakhand have been found involved in siphoning off
funds under the scheme.Under the scheme, doctors of government hospitals
referred patients to private hospitals for specialized treatment. However an
enquiry found that neither were the patients admitted nor was any operation or
treatment carried out. "It seems to be a big fraud. Poor patients were
victimised," alleged Harbhajan Singh Cheema, an MLA from Uttarakhand's
Kashipur district. Concerned about the ongoing scandal, the Uttarakhand High
Court has now directed the Trivendra Singh Rawat government to probe threadbare
the financial irregularities related to the health scheme which ensures
treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year for poor patients.The scam first broke out
in Kashipur district, located 90 km from Nainital. Local resident Munidev
Bishnoi complained that scores of poor patients were referred by government
hospitals for treatment in private hospitals but these patients turned out to
be 'ghosts' on verification. No documents were made available to confirm
treatment.Later, Bishnoi decided to unravel the scam and subsequently filed a
public interest litigation in the High Court.nationalheraldindia
Nearly 50% of All NPAs Due to Loans Taken by
Top 100 Borrowers:the wire
Nearly 50% – or Rs 4.5 lakh crore – of the
total value of India’s non-performing assets (NPAs) are due to loans taken out
by the top 100 borrowers, an RTI query filed by The Wire has revealed.RBI said
that as of December 31, 2018, loans taken by the top 100 borrowers created NPAs
worth Rs 4,46,158 crore. This means that on average, each of the top 100
borrowers is responsible for NPAs worth Rs 4,461 crore. RBI refused to provide
details on who these top 100 borrowers are.According to an answer given by the
then finance minister in the Rajya Sabha on February 5, 2019, the total value
of NPAs in scheduled commercial banks was Rs 10,09,286 crore as of Dec. 31,
2018. Of that, the value of NPAs in public sector banks was Rs 8,64,433
crore.This means that 44% of the total NPA value is owed by just the top 100
borrowers. And if only public sector banks are considered, then 52% of the
total NPA value is owed by these top 100 borrowers. As of March 2019, 9.3% of
the total given loan amount had been declared as NPA.On April 26, 2019, the
Supreme Court heard a contempt plea regarding the RBI’s refusal to divulge
details on defaulters. The court criticised RBI and directed the bank to reform
its transparency guidelines and provide these details to the public.The highest
court said that this was RBI’s last chance, and that if the bank still refused
to provide details, action would be taken against the central bank for contempt
of court.Yet, in response to the RTI filed by The Wire, the RBI refused to
provide details on the accounts of the top 100 borrowers. It did not provide
the names of the account holders, the amounts owed by them or the interest
rates at which they have borrowed money. RBI said that such information is not
available. RBI said that it collects information regarding debt under Section
27(2) of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act 1949 and under Section 28 of RBI Act,
1934. RBI’s response said: “As per Section 28 of the BR Act, RBI can only
disclose information collected under Section 27 (2) of the Act in such
consolidated manner as it deems fit.”The bank said that in terms of Section
45(E) of the RBI Act, RBI is prohibited from disclosing credit information
except under certain conditions as stated in the Act.In its recent judgement,
the SC had directed the RBI to furnish details of its annual inspection reports
and regarding its show-cause notices. But the RBI has violated the SC’s
directive and refused to provide this information.thewire
Rahul makes clear he'll go, says "there
has to be accountability"
New Delhi: Congress's Rahul Gandhi, who
decided to step down from the position of the party chief after the abysmal
performance in the Lok Sabha election,
made it clear today that he is sticking to his resolve and would not be
involved in the process of the selection of the new party chief.Underscoring
that there has to be "accountability in the system", he told NDTV,
"I am not going to get involved in that process, otherwise it will
complicate things and the party has to decide".A dynastic control combined
with a lack of accountability has been the critics' big grouse against the
Congress, which became loud after the party's rout in the national election.
For the second time in a row, the party got decimated, getting only 52 seats -
a marginal rise over its score of 44 in the 2014 election. What accentuated the
defeat was Gandhi's loss from Amethi, his family turf, to the BJP's Smriti
Irani.NDTV
Rahul maintains there was corruption in Rafale
deal
New Delhi:Congress president Rahul Gandhi today
maintained that there was ‘corruption’ in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal and
indicated his firmness on stepping down as party chief by declaring that that
the organisation would choose its next president.While walking out of the
Central Hall after President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of
Parliament, journalists asked him about his response to the mention of Rafale
aircraft in the Presidential address.“My stand has been the same that there has
been corruption in the Rafale jet deal,”Gandhi replied.President Kovind in his
address referred to the delivery of the first lot of Rafale by the end of this
year.thehindu
Ex-Gujarat Top Cop Sanjiv Bhatt Sentenced To
Life In Custodial Death Case
Jamnagar: Sacked Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who took on
Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Gujarat riots, was sentenced to life
imprisonment today in a 30-year-old case of custodial death. The sentence by
the Jamnagar court comes a week after the Supreme Court denied Mr Bhatt's
petition to examine additional witnesses.Sanjiv Bhatt is currently in custody
for an alleged drug planting case from 1996 after the top court declined to
interfere with a Gujarat High Court order refusing bail.The custodial death
case for which Bhatt has been sentenced dates back to 1989 when he was posted
as ASP in Jamnagar district. He had detained approximately 150 people during a
communal riot and one of those arrested, Prabhudas Vaishnani, died in hospital
after his release.Prabhudas Vaishnani's brother complained to the police naming
Sanjiv Bhatt and 6 other policemen, accusing them of torturing him while in
detention.Bhatt had several run-ins with BJP govt in the past over 2002
post-Godhra riots. IPS officer had alleged that Modi, then Chief Minister of
Gujarat, was complicit in the riots of 2002. His claims were rejected by the
SIT appointed by the Supreme Court to probe nine riots related cases.Last year,
he was arrested by CBI in connection with a 23-year-old case of allegedly
planting drugs.Part of his house --- which was allegedly illegal construction
-- was razed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation after the Supreme Court
dismissed his plea seeking a stay on the demolition.ndtv
Spl court warns Zakir Naik, orders to appear on July
31
A special PMLA court has ordered Zakir Naik to
physically appear before it on July 31. The court said that a non-bailable warrant
will be issued against Naik if he fails to appear before it.PMLA court was
hearing an application filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking a
non-bailable warrant against the controversial Islamic preacher, who is
believed to be in Malaysia.India said it has made a formal request to Malaysia
and will continue to pursue his extradition.ANI
J&K Jamaat ban case: Tribunal begins
hearing, govt seeks in-camera proceedings
Srinagar:J&K govt sought in-camera proceedings and
redaction of witnesses as a 3-day hearing against the ban on the
Jamaat-e-Islami (Jammu and Kashmir) began before Unlawful Activities Prevention
Tribunal in Srinagar on Wednesday.The court allowed both the applications by
the government.As the hearing began, the govt asked the Tribunal to order
in-camera hearing and redaction of witnesses (protection against the
identification of witnesses).As the Tribunal allowed both the appeals, two
senior officials of the state government who had submitted their affidavits
deposed for cross-examination. A third government official, who has filed an
affidavit, would be cross-examined on Thursday.The Tribunal has also issued a
notification saying that anybody among the public can come and depose before
them. An official said that the Tribunal has received one affidavit from an
individual who is ready to depose.The hearing at the Tribunal that is presided
over by Delhi High Court judge Justice Chander Shekhar would continue on
Thursday.indian express
Bihar’s Killer Heat Wave: Deaths Toll Rises to
142, Over a Thousand Hospitalised
Patna: Bihar has been caught in the grip of a
raging heatwave since June 15, which has left 142 persons dead in four days and
has led to the hospitalisation of 1,195 people, according to the state health
department. Local newspapers, however, are putting the death toll as high as
304.The state has dismissed that figure as unreliable. “I don’t know where they
get the figures from and can’t comment on this,” said Kaushal Kishor, addition
secretary of the Bihar health department.Using the powers vested under Section
144, the Bihar government has issued prohibitory orders to keep people from
stepping outside in searing heat, particularly between 11 am and 4 pm.The state
government has imposed a ban on any kind of construction work (government or
non-government) between 11 am and 5 pm. In addition, work under MNREGA plan is
also prohibited during this period. The orders also prohibits all public
gatherings during the afternoon. All schools, colleges and private tuition
institutes have been asked to remain closed till June 22.Section 144 was first
imposed in the district of Gaya. District magistrate Abhishek Singh said that
the orders have been imposed in order to ensure that people do not go out in
the heat and that it will remain in place until the next order. Retailers’
unions have also been urged to keep the shops closed in the afternoon except to
offer emergency services. A day later, Section 144 was imposed in the entire
state. Experts claim that this is probably the first time that such prohibitory
orders have been imposed in Bihar due to an extreme heatwave, and also the
first time that the heatwave has killed so many people.thewire
Attacks on doctors, model: Muslims urge Mamata
to act against culprits
New Delhi :A prominent group of Muslims in Kolkata has written to
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, seeking stringent action
against the culprits involved in the attack on doctors and harassment of model
Ushoshi Sengupta in order to overcome the “perception” that they are being
“shielded or appeased”.“We have been deeply concerned with 2 events that occurred recently…The attackers in both
instances were members of our community…We are grieved and embarrassed,” a
letter by a group of 46 Muslims to the Chief Minister read.“Bring the
assailants to book not just in these two instances but in every single instance
where Muslims are involved. They should not be allowed to get away because they
happen to be Muslims (as is the growing perception). This will send out a
message that members of one community are not being shielded or appeased (as
most people believe),” the letter added.The letter also urged the state
government to “engage or encourage engagements with Muslim youth and their
families across Kolkata in gender-sensitisation, civic consciousness and
law-compliance, etc.”Mudar Patherya, a communications expert who drafted the
letter to Banerjee, said the state government must shun vote-bank politics and
address the issue considering the betterment of the next generation. “The
moment they start doing that, I think things will start taking a positive turn
for us,” he said.Another signatory, nutritionist Neha Hafiz, said there is a
need to change the perception that the Muslims in the state was “getting more
privileges than others”. “This is a problem that we cannot deny. We need to
address it,” she added. indian express
West Bengal: Bhatpara on edge as fresh clashes leave two dead, three
injured; section 144 imposed
Kolkata; 2 persons were killed and 3 others injured in violence-hit
Bhatpara in West Bengal’s North 24 Paraganas district today after clashes broke
out between two unidentified groups. Section 144 has been imposed in the area
and senior police officials have rushed to the spot.Considering the law and
order situation in Bhatpara area, the West Bengal govnt formed a new police
station by separating Jagdal and Bhatpara which was scheduled to be inaugurated
by DGP Virendra Kumar in the morning. Hours before the inauguration of this
newly formed police station, massive violence broke out in the area. “2 people
have died, few have been injured. The situation is still tensed,” a senior
police official said.While the BJP alleged that 2 were killed in the police
firing, police officials denied the saffron party’s allegations saying they
only lobbed tear gas shells to control the situation.“2 persons have died in
police firing in Bhatpara which was disturbed since morning today. We will be
sending a team in the area,” party’s West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya
said.Meanwhile, TMC leaders alleged BJP supporters were firing when some got
injured.Accusing BJP of creating violence in the area, local TMC leader Madan
Mitra said, “The violence is being triggered by Arjun Singh and his people and
we have to take serious action to tackle the situation”. Mitra also compared
Bhatpara to once violence-hit areas like Jungle Mahal and Darjeeling.indian
express
AMU students raise objections over Yoga
celebrations in campus
AMU
students have raised objections on Yoga celebrations in the campus, as common
sitting arrangements have been made by the administration for men and women.
According to students, these celebrations are nothing but a waste of money, as
no one would become healthier by doing yoga for a day. Former president of
Students’ Union, Faizul Hassan, said that the administration should have made
separate arrangements for male and female, as Islam has strongly emphasized the
concept of decency and modesty in the interaction of the opposite sex. He
further said, “in Islam, we offer namaz five times a day and it’s like performing
yoga,” he added that any Muslim who offers namaz five times a day does not need
to do any yoga. Hassan said that these celebrations are meaningless and if the
authorities want to make any real difference, they should have yoga classes
round the year. AMU court member, Shafikurhman Khan from theology department
also opposed the Yoga day celebration in the university. He said, “We welcome
yoga if it it is part of the curriculum but not if it is forced under a
particular ideology”. He added that it’s unfortunate that Yoga instead of being
seen as a science had been given a given a communal colour. Former
vice-president of students’ union Hamza Sufyan said that the amount which is
being spent for Yoga celebrations should be spend on education as the varsity’s
budget has been going down every year. Spokesperson of the university, Shafey
Kidwai said, these are all baseless allegations. He said, if students can study
together then why can’t do Yoga together. On the issue of one day Yoga
celebration, Kidwai, said that a week-long celebrations are planned for
International Yoga Day. TOI
Malegaon blast case: NIA court rejects BJP MP
Pragya Thakur’s exemption plea
New Delhi :A special NIA court in Mumbai today rejected Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur’s plea seeking
exemption from appearing before it once a week in connection with the 2008
Malegaon terror blast case.Thakur, a key accused in the case, had moved the
plea citing ill-health, distance, security, attending Parliament on a
day-to-day basis and her life as a Sadhvi. However, the court has given her
exemption from attending the court for today.Thakur’s lawyers said her party
BJP has issued a whip from time to time for attending Parliament. To this, the
court said obeying the party and attending Parliament is necessary. However, no
papers were submitted regarding it.Last week, the court had granted her exemption
from appearing before it on Saturday following a plea by her advocates that
while she was willing to appear, they had advised her against it as the judge
was on leave.indian express
Setback for TDP in Rajya Sabha, 4 MPs set to join BJP
In a jolt to TDP, 4 of its Rajya Sabha MPs are all set to join BJP. TDP
MPs C M Ramesh Y Satyanarayana Chowdhary, TG Venkatesh and Garikapati Mohan Rao
today wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announcing their decision
to switch. The development comes at a time when TDP chief Nara Chandrababu
Naidu is on holiday in Europe with his family.“For the sake of development of
my Rayalaseema region I want to join BJP. BJP also wants to increase its
members in Rajya Sabha so I have agreed. It will take some time. Obviously, I
will quit TDP,” Venkatesh, who hails from Kurnool, said. Venkatesh said he was speaking for himself and did
not know the plans of his colleagues.While Ramesh is currently being probed by
Income-Tax, Chowdhary, who served as union minister till 2018, is under CBI and
ED scanner in connection with a bank fraud case.
indian express
One nation, one poll: Mayawati wants talks on
EVMs, Akhilesh says govt must fulfil promises first
Lucknow :BSP and SP on Wednesday opted out of the
all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for discussions on
‘one country, one election’ idea.While BSP supremo Mayawati said a discussion
on EVM is more important than the idea of ‘one country, one election’, SP chief
Akhilesh Yadav said the government should focus on fulfilling promises on which
it came to power. Mayawati said the idea of ‘one country, one election’ is
“anti-democratic” and against the Constitution. “If the meeting of presidents
of the political parties called by the central government today was convened to
find solution to the concerns about EVMs, then I would have definitely attended
it,” she said in a statement.BSP chief said that the people’s faith in EVMs had
dwindled to “worrisome level”. “Country’s democracy and Constitution are facing
real threats following the stubbornness of the ruling party for conducting
elections through EVMs instead of ballot paper,” she said. Mayawati also said
elections in any democratic country can never be a problem and they should not
be weighed from the point of view of expenditure and extravagance. “The ‘one
country, one election’ is an attempt to divert the attention from burning
national issues such as poverty, inflation, unemployment and increase in
violence, and is simply an illusion.”indianexpress
Hyderabad: Muslim
man attacked after he reveals his name
Hyderabad:Nawaz, was allegedly attacked by
unidentified assailants in Hyderabad after he reveals his ‘Muslim name.’ According to reports, the incident took place on
Tuesday at around 11:55 pm in Gowliguda Kaman area when the victim, a resident
of Kishanbagh was driving the Tata Ace and was on his way from Mangalhat when
he was attacked by three assailants. The accused in an “inebriated” state asked
his name and after Nawaz reveals his ‘Muslim name’ they brutally assaulted him
saying ‘He’s a Muslim’. The attackers also smashed the vehicle’s windshield
during the attack. A video of an injured Nawaz speaking about the
incident is doing rounds on social media.“The moment I revealed my Muslim
identity, they started hurling abuses at me,” Nawaz said adding “when I pushed
them away and tried to flee the scene, the accused chased me and continue the
assault while the locals prefer to remain mute spectators.”According to the
victim, no one came to his rescue when he was attacked.Fortunately, police
reached the crime scene on time and rushed the injured Nawaz to Osmania General
Hospital for treatment. If the police had not arrived on time, he would have
died on the spot, said Nawaz.An FIR was later lodged at the Mangalhat police
station.siasat
Beaten by co-workers in Pune, Dalit man dies
Pune : 3 persons from
Rajasthan have been booked on charges of murder and under sections of the
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, for
allegedly brutally thrashing a Dalit man, who eventually died of his
injuries.Police have identified the deceased as Ram Swaroop (21), who was from
Nagaur in Rajasthan.3 accused in the case are also from Nagaur and belong to an
upper caste, said police. According to the complaint, Ram Swaroop came to Pune
about two months ago to work with one of the accused, Pappu Ram, at a furniture
shop in the city’s Kharadi area. But Pappu Ram and his aides Jagdish and
Hazariram allegedly forced Swaroop to perform chores such as washing their
clothes, cleaning utensils and sweeping their residence.After a few days, when
Swaroop refused to do these chores any more, Pappu and the two other accused
locked him inside a room and thrashed him, said police.Swaroop was seriously
injured in the beating, which took place on May 5, but the accused allegedly
sent him back to Rajasthan by train the next day despite his injuries. On
reaching Rajasthan, Swaroop was treated at hospitals in Jaipur and Jodhpur, but
succumbed to his injuries about a month later, on June 4.indianexpress
Gujarat: Dalit dy sarpanch waited for
security, killed by suspected upper caste men
Rajkot:Manji Solanki, a Dalit deputy sarpanch of a
village in Gujarat, whose application for police security was pending for almost
2 weeks, was murdered, allegedly by a group of men from upper-caste Kshatriya
community on Wednesday.From Jalila village in Ranpur taluka of Botad district,
Manji was riding his motorcycle when it was knocked down by a car whose
occupants then beat him up with clubs and iron pipes, said Manji’s son Tushar
Solanki. He died en route to a hospital in Ahmedabad.RN Nakum, DSP of Botad division, which covers Ranpur, said
information shared by the victim’s family about the sequence of events appeared
plausible.“We have sent a team to Ahmedabad to collect information and then
register an offence. But the crime scene suggests that what the victim’s family
is saying looks prima facie true,” Nakum said. Botad SP Harshad Mehta said that Manji did make a
representation to his office on June 6.“He had approached us with a request to
give him personal security officers. As part of the due process, the police
station concerned was undertaking a threat assessment,” he said, adding that Dalit
family did not have any police protection as of Wednesday.This is the third
incident in less than a month in the Saurashtra region where a Dalit has been
murdered, allegedly by Kshatriyas.The victim’s family claimed Manji’s repeated
requests for police protection did not elicit a positive response. indianexpress
Hundreds of Dalits Embrace Buddhism in Mysuru
Mysuru:Hundreds of Dalits took out a rally
against attack on youth from the community and embraced Buddhism stating that
“there is no love, compassion and equality in Hinduism”. They took a pledge to
join Buddhism as Buddhist monks Gjana Sheela and Bodiraksha read out Panchshil
of Buddha, considered to be basic code of ethics to be a follower and
practitioner of Buddha. Progressive activists and Dalits turned up in large
numbers at Gundlupet town in Chamarajanagar district on Tuesday to condemn the
incident of a Dalit youth being thrashed, stripped and paraded naked.Hundreds
of protesters reached the town in a ‘padayatra’ from Sri Shaneshwaraswamy
Temple, about 3 km from the town where the incident occurred, to the venue of
the meeting near the old bus-stand.The crowd stood to exhibit unity and
repeated Panchashil to continue on the path of enlightenment. While Bodiraksha
prescribed 22 vows of Ambedkar to the gathering with a belief that it would
liberate the converts from superstitions and wasteful and meaningful rituals.Caravan
News
CVC seeks sanction to prosecute ex-NITI Aayog
CEO, ex MSME secretary, IAS in INX Media case
New Delhi: Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
has advised the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance to
issue a sanction to prosecute ex NITI Aayog CEO Sindhushree Khullar, former
secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Anup K
Pujari and current principal secretary in the Himachal govt, Prabodh Saxena, in
the alleged case of corruption involving INX Media.The CVC sent its request on
13 May. Khullar, Pujari — both retired IAS officers — and Saxena served in the
Department of Economic Affairs, which is the competent authority to grant or
refuse a sanction after examining whether the material placed before it by the
investigative agency prima facie indicates that an offence has been
committed.firstpost
Why Muslims in this UP village are burying the
dead in their homes
"You're sitting on my grandmother's
grave," Salim Shah told this correspondent. She has been buried, he said,
in his living room. A clutch of houses in Chah Pokhar in Achnera block of Agra
have turned into graveyards as families are forced to bury their departed in
their homes due to lack of a burial ground. As a result, the dead here are a
constant part of day-to-day life. TOI found women cooking next to where their
children were buried while the elderly rested on cots in a backyard full of
graves. In one of the houses, Rinki Begum told TOI that 5 bodies were buried in her backyard, including that of
her 10-month-old son who had died of an untreated fever. Another resident,
Guddi, said, "For poor people like us, there is no dignity in death. Due
to lack of space in houses, people have to sit and walk over graves. It is so
disrespectful." Most of the Muslim families here are poor and landless and
men scout for work as contract labourers. They said their demand for a
graveyard has been ignored for years.The apathy of the administration can be
gauged from the fact that a plot allotted for a graveyard some years ago falls
right in the middle of a pond. Repeated complaints have fallen on deaf ears and
residents are running out of space. The fresh graves are no more cemented to
ensure they occupy less space and stones of different sizes kept over them are
the only way to tell them apart. Protests have erupted in the past over the
issue. In 2017, after the death of resident Mangal Khan, his family refused to
bury his body until land for a graveyard was provided in the village. After
assurances by the authorities, they buried Khan near the pond. But the promises
came to nothing. "All we are asking for is some land for our ancestors.
There is a cremation ground for the Hindus in the periphery of the village, but
we are living with our dead," said Munim Khan, a factory worker. Desperate
residents even tried reaching out to nearby Sanan village and Achnera town that
have burial grounds. But they were not willing to part with precious space.TOI
Delhi's BJP MP seeks probe into mosques
‘mushrooming’ on government land
BJP MP from West Delhi constituency, Parvesh
Verma, wrote to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, seeking an inquiry into
“mushrooming of mosques on government land” in the national capital.In the
letter, Verma said that if the “menace” of construction of mosques on
government land was not addressed on priority, it will take an “ugly shape”
which would be difficult to manage later.“I would like to apprise you regarding
a peculiar type of trend seen in certain areas of my constituency, in
particular, but prevailing in whole Delhi,that of mushrooming of mosques on govt
land, roads, and secluded places. These mosques not only hamper the smooth flow
of traffic, but are a great cause of inconvenience to the public in general,”
Verma’s letter said.Seeking the formation of a committee to initiate an inquiry
into the matter, Verma said that he expected the matter to be taken up
seriously to stop the “menace”.“I would urge you to please constitute a
committee headed by DM of the concerned area which should conduct a survey
where these mosques have come up on government land,” the letter said.According
to Verma, at least 20 mosques have been built on government land at different
locations, including Raghubir Nagar and Uttam Nagar in West Delhi Lok Sabha
constituency.Syed Tariq Bukhari, general secretary of Muslim Majlis-e-Amal said
that the issue needed to be looked into appropriately because if any mosque was
built on government land allotted for the purpose as per the rules or purchased
by the management committee, it was the responsibility of the authorities, such
as Delhi Traffic Police, to manage traffic in the area.“As per Sharia law, a
mosque is not valid on encroached land,” said Bukhari.newindianexpress
My father slapped me for loving Muslim guy:
Sunaina accuses Rakesh, Hrithik of harassment
A day after Hrithik Roshan's sister Sunaina
tweeted in support of Kangana, the latter's sister and spokesperson Rangoli
Chandel alleged in a tweet that Sunaina was being "physically
assaulted" by the Roshan family because she was in love with a Muslim man.In
an Interview to Pinkvilla, Sunaina accepted her relationship and claimed that
nobody was okay with it, neither Hrithik nor her father Rakesh Roshan. She also
alleged that her father slapped her when she confronted him about her
relationship."Last year (I fell in love) and because I was in love with a
Muslim guy, my father slapped me and told me that the guy I loved was a
terrorist, which Ruhail isn’t," the portal quoted Sunaina as
saying."I didn’t want to talk about this but I want them to accept Ruhail right
now because they are making my life hell and I cannot tolerate it... They don’t
want me to meet him. I don’t know about marriage but right now I want to be
with Ruhail. Just because he is Muslim, they cannot accept him," she
added.Of late, Sunaina has been hinting that all is not well in her life. In an
earlier interview, Sunaina mentioned about her family issues and had said,
"Yes, there are certain issues, but please don't ask me to talk about this
more as it's about my family and I don't want them to be affected
further."She also spoke about reaching out to Kangana for the help in
order to get justice. While she didn't know what happened between her brother
and the actress, she said there couldn't be any smoke without fire.News18
18 dead, over 30 injured as bus falls in gorge
in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh
New Delhi:At least 18 people were killed and more than
30 injured when a private bus they were traveling in skidded off a mountainous
road and plunged 500-feet down the hill into a stream at Banjar in Kullu
district on Thursday.Kullu SP Shalini Agnihotri said that the bus was on its
way from Kullu to Gadaghusheni.The accident happened about two kilometers from
Banjar town at 4:40 pm.“Number of casualties is likely to rise as more bodies
have been spotted,” said Agnihotri adding that a rescue operation is underway.PTI
WORLD
'Historic' UK decision outlaws arms sales for
Saudi war on Yemen
London:Campaigners hailed an "historic"
ruling by the United Kingdom's court of appeal declaring British arms sales to
Saudi Arabia for use in its war against Yemen unlawful as a potential turning
point in the conflict.The decision in London on Thursday follows a challenge by
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) that accused the UK govt of licensing arms
sales despite a clear risk their use could breach international humanitarian
law. Although it will not halt the Saudi-led war in Yemen - in which an
estimated 100,000 people have died since 2016 - it adds enormous support to international
efforts to end the conflict."This ruling is huge," said Sam
Perlo-Freeman, a research coordinator at CAAT."We can see that arms sales
for use in Yemen are now being challenged internationally - in US and Europe -
but this from a court in one of Saudi's top two arms suppliers takes that to a
whole new level."It is historic in terms of the govt's approach to export
licences being found to be illegal and adds huge momentum to the campaign both
in this country and internationally for a halt to arms sales to Saudi and Saudi-led
coalition."Since the Saudi-led coalition began its military intervention
in Yemen in 2015, UK has licensed at least 4.6 billion pounds ($6bn) worth of
arms to Saudi forces. Weapons and military support from Britain to Saudi Arabia
- that now accounts for 43 percent of London's arms exports - is crucial to the
war effort.However, public disquiet has grown about Britain's role with a poll
commissioned by CAAT indicating only six percent of people in the country
support arms sales to Saudi Arabia.aljazeera
Iran's Revolutionary Guard shoots down US
drone
Iran has shot down a US drone, raising fears
that a major military confrontation could erupt between Tehran and Washington
in the Gulf.While Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said
the unmanned aircraft was brought down by a surface-to-air missile on Thursday
after flying into Iranian airspace, US officials said the drone was in the
international territory at the time. The different accounts could not be
reconciled immediately."US-made Global Hawk surveillance drone was brought
down" in the country's southern coastal province of Hormozgan, IRGC's
website said. "It was shot down when it entered Iran's airspace near the
Kouhmobarak district in the south." aljazeera
China hosts top Taliban leader in bid to
expand role in Afghanistan
China today confirmed that it had hosted
Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar — the group’s deputy chief on
political affairs — as part of its bid to expand its role in Afghanistan, which
is set for another major transition.In response to a question, foreign ministry
spokesperson Lu Kang said that Chinese officials exchanged views with Baradar
and his aides on “peace and reconciliation process as well as the fight against
terrorism”.The dialogue took place ahead of the seventh round of talks between
the Taliban and the US in Doha, Qatar.Analysts point out that “peace and
reconciliation” process would conclude once the Afghan government and the
Taliban agree on a power-sharing formula.China has stepped up its engagement
with Afghanistan, apprehending that the proposed US military withdrawal from
Afghanistan can result in a power vacuum, which can trigger an outflow of militants
belonging to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), destabilising the
neghbouring Xinjiang region. Lu stressed that China was focusing on
promoting an internal dialogue between the Taliban and the Afghan government
led by the President Ashraf Ghani.“We always support Afghan-led, Afghan-owned
extensive and inclusive peace and reconciliation as well as the internal
dialogue among the Afghanis,” Lu said. “So we have made our position clear with
Baradar. This is also an important part in our efforts to promote peace talks,”
he noted. “Both sides agree this exchange is mutually beneficial and we also
agree to seek communication and cooperation on the political settlement of the
Afghan issue. We will try to talk though various means and ways to play our due
role in realising our due role peace and reconciliation, stability and
development of Afghanistan.” Lu pointed out that both the opposition and the
Afghan govt appeared ready to resolve their differences. “I believe relevant
parties in Afghanistan who are committed to peace talks hope to resolve the
internal situation in Afghanistan and achieve sustainable peace and
reconciliation there so that we can work to insure that final peace and
reconciliation.”He acknowledged that China was trying to promote a dialogue
among Afghan groups. “Another important issue is about the joint fight against
terrorism,” he said. China’s active diplomacy on Afghanistan was also visible
at the United Nations headquarters in New York. State-run Xinhua news agency is
quoting Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, as
saying on Wednesday that the international community must help boost
Afghanistan's capacity for combating terrorism and maintaining
stability.thehindu
India cautions against hasty US peace deal
with Taliban
UN: As a new round of negotiations between the
US and the Taliban is to start in Qatar, India has cautioned against a hasty
deal with the group that is dictated by a Washington timeline rather than the
best interests of Afghanistan.Speaking at Security Council yesterday, India's
Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin also said that shutting down terrorist
safe havens in Pakistan must be a precondition for a peace agreement to go
forward.While welcoming the international efforts for ending the Afghanistan
civil war, he said: "We see that some may be driven by a sense of an
urgency with timelines which are, perhaps, not intrinsic to the needs of the
Afghan people."He also warned that terrorist organisations cannot be
allowed to negotiate from a position strength that is guaranteed to them by the
sanctuaries given to them by Pakistan.But Khalilzad clarified in a tweet that
the US sought "a comprehensive peace agreement, not a withdrawal
agreement". Speaking at the Security Council, Rodney Hunter, the political
coordinator at the US Mission, said: "US has made clear to Taliban that we
are prepared to reduce our forces; however, we have not agreed to numbers or a
timeline with the Taliban." IANS
Sri Lankan Finance Minister Protests
Anti-Muslim Remarks of Top Buddhist Monk
New Delhi: Three days after a top Buddhist
monk stated that he condones the stoning of Muslims, Sri Lankan finance
minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday strongly came out against the statement
and said that “true Buddhists” should unite against the “Talibanization” of the
religion.However, there has been no other vocal condemnation from other
politicians, including from the top leadership.In fact, president Maithripala
Sirisena on Tuesday took part in a religious ceremony to consecrate relics
presided over the top monk who had preached social boycott and physical
violence against Muslims. The sermon by chief prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter
of Buddhism Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana was made on June 15, but reported in
the media a few days later.As per media reports, the chief prelate called for a
boycott of all Muslim-owned businesses, claiming that they were working to
“sterilise” Sinhala population. thewire
Belgian Embassy in China faces criticism for
forcibly removing Muslim family
The last time Abdulhamid Tursun spoke to his
wife, she was huddled in a Beijing hotel room with their four children,
frightened after being evicted from the Belgian Embassy in the dead of night.
Suddenly, plainclothes police officers burst into the room, cutting off the
couple’s video call.Tursun says he has not heard from her since. His wife,
Wureyetiguli Abula, 43, had gone to the Belgian Embassy to seek visas so the
family — from the Uighur Muslim minority group — could be reunited with Tursun,
51, in Brussels, where he won asylum in 2017. But instead of finding
protection, Abula and her children, ages 5 to 17, were dragged away after
Chinese police were allowed to enter the embassy.Now the case is raising alarms
back in Belgium, where lawmakers are asking how it could have happened and
where Tursun’s family has been taken. It illustrates how, two years after China
began detaining Uighurs in a vast network of internment camps, the group has
limited protections — even from Western democracies — against persecution by
the Chinese government.Even Uighurs who make it to the West have not always
been safe.New York Times
Turkey to push for truth to emerge on Morsi's
death
Turkey will endeavour to shed light on the
suspicious death of Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsi during a court trial
on Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.“We [Turkey] will struggle to
enlighten the case [the death of Morsi] making best of the international law,”
Erdogan told a press briefing in Istanbul.Turkish president also urged for a UN
investigation into the unexpected demise of Egypt’s first
democratically-elected president in 2012.“I believe UN will address Morsi's
suspicious death as an agenda item and bring those responsible [for his death]
to account,” Erdogan said.“We will never let the tragedy of Morsi be forgotten,
just as we did with the murder of [Saudi journalist] Jamal Khashoggi,” Erdogan
added.Anadolu Agency
Moroccans protest treatment of Egypt's Morsi
Dozens of people in Morocco’s Fez province
protested Wednesday against Egyptian govt’s treatment of former President
Mohamed Morsi, who died this week during a court appearance to face espionage
charges.The protestors chanted in favor of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011
which ended the 30-year reign of former President Hosni Mubarak and paved the
way for Morsi’s presidency.One of the protesters, Yousef al-Aruzi, told Anadolu
Agency that Morsi died due to a lack of medical care over the past six years
and noted the attitude towards him in court prevented a fair trial.He said the
demonstration was held to condemn the cruel practice of military coups and to
help maintain the culture of democracy and human rights in Morocco.Some demonstrators
carried placards which said “End the military administration”, “Morsi is dead,
Sisi to answer” and “Lived as mujahedeen, died as martyr”.Anadolu
Pakistan’s parliament offers prayer for Morsi
Members of Pakistan’s lower house -- the
National Assembly -- on Wednesday offered a prayer for Egypt’s first
democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi, who died on Monday.The prayer
was led by Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, a parliamentarian of religious
Jamaat-e-Islami party, state-run Pakistan TV reported.Shehbaz
Sharif, the opposition leader in the assembly; and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,
chairman of opposition center-left Pakistan People’s Party, also took part in
the prayer.In a tweet, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said: “You will remember my
words. Do not kill the lions of your nation, lest you will encounter a similar
fate by the dogs of your enemies. President Morsi rest in peace.”On Tuesday,
lawmakers of the provincial assembly in southern Sindh also offered prayers for
Morsi on the call of Jamaat-e-Islami MP Syed Abdul Rasheed.Anadolu
Hamas: Palestine was always in mind,heart of
Morsi
Gaza:Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has said that
Palestine was always "in the mind and heart" of Mohamed Morsi. Morsi
died on Monday after falling unconscious inside his soundproof glass cage
during his trial on "espionage" charges. Activists and his family
have long maintained that he was not receiving treatment for a host of health
problems including diabetes. Haniyeh said: "Palestine was in Morsi's mind
and heart even before he became president."Haniyeh recalled that Morsi had
defended Gaza during Israel's attack in 2012 and closely followed the
developments.He wished God's mercy to Morsi and offered condolences to his
family and Egyptian people.Anadolu Agency
UK: Javid's bid for Downing Street comes to
end of road
Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid is the
latest Conservative figure to drop out of the race to be Britain's next prime
minister, receiving just 34 votes in the fourth secret ballot of the party's
313 MPs.Boris Johnson maintains his lead at the head of the field, having
received 157 votes, 96 ahead of his nearest rival, now Michael Gove, who
currently has the support of 61 Conservative MPs.Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt,
who has been second in the race since the first ballot, came third in the
latest round with 59 votes.Whoever wins the competition to become the leader of
the Conservatives, the party that is currently in power, becomes by default the
next prime minister of Britain as the country prepares to leave the European
Union, or Brexit.aljazeera
Rohingya group demands UN chief to resign:
report
Dhaka:A Rohingya advocacy group on Tuesday called on
UN chief and his senior aide to resign over the global body’s “systemic
failure” in addressing genocide against the Rohingya under their
leadership.Secretary General, his aides should be held accountable for failure
to address Myanmar's persecution of ethnic minority, says Rohingya group. Free
Rohingya Coalition(FRC) criticized UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and
former UN Resident Coordinator in Myanmar Renata Lok-Dessallien for failing to
safeguard thousands of Rohingya in Myanmar, reported Anadolu Agency.36-page
official report titled “A brief and independent inquiry into the involvement of
UN in Myanmar from 2010 to 2018” and prepared by
former Guatemalan Foreign Minister and UN diplomat Gert Rosenthal acknowledges
the UN’s "systemic failures".About the controversial role of
Lok-Dessallien while working in Myanmar, the statement said: “[She] reportedly
suppressed an internal report of the alarming failings of the UN in Myanmar in
taking the egregious rights violations amounting to crimes against humanity,
specifically against the persecuted Rohingya ethnic minority.”UNI
Qatar distributes funds to Gaza families
Qatar has distributed $100 grants to thousands
of families in Gaza as part of an understanding with Israel intended to restore
calm in the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Under the agreement, gas-rich Qatar
will make regular payments to impoverished families as part of an informal
truce agreed between Israel and Gaza's rulers, Hamas, in Nov.Qatari envoy
Mohammed al-Emadi said on Wednesday that 60,000 families would receive the
grants from post offices in the latest disbursement.
Flash: views & NEWS
Are Mohalla Clinics Making Aam Aadmi Healthy
in Delhi?Taniya Sah, Neha Bailwal,Rituparna Kaushik
Jehad literally means struggle, mere use of it
does not make one a terrorist:Maharashtra Court Judgment
Sandwiched between Xi, Putin, Imran in
Bishkek, Modi learnt an important political lesson:Jyoti Malhotra
Is Sanjiv Bhatt paying the price for
testifying against PM Modi in 2002 riots?Nachiketa Desai
Speaker Om Birla’s RSS membership, jail term
for involvement in Babri demolition deleted from LS website:Vishwadeepak
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