22 June 2019:
17 Shawal 1440:Vol: 11, No:227
INDIA
Attacks against minorities by Hindu groups
continue in India: US Report
Washington:Mob attacks by violent extremist
Hindu groups against the minority communities, particularly Muslims, continued
in India in 2018, amid rumours that victims had traded or killed cows for beef,
an official US report said Friday. The State Department in its annual 2018
International Religious Freedom Report alleged that some senior officials of ruling
BJP made inflammatory speeches against minority communities. "Mob attacks
by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, especially
Muslims, continued throughout the year amid rumours that victims had traded or
killed cows for beef," it said. According to some NGOs, authorities often
protected perpetrators from prosecution, it said.The report said that as of
November, there were 18 such attacks, and eight people killed during the
year.On June 22, two Uttar Pradesh police officers were charged with culpable
homicide after a Muslim cattle trader died of injuries sustained while being
questioned in police custody, the report said. Mandated by the Congress, the
State Department in its voluminous report gives its assessment of the status of
religious freedom in almost all the countries and territories of the
world.Releasing the report at Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department,
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the report was like a report card which
tracks countries to see how well they have respected this fundamental human
right.In the India section, State Dept said that there were reports by
nongovernmental organizations that the govt sometimes failed to act on mob
attacks on religious minorities, marginalised communities and critics of the
govt.The State Dept said that the central and state governments and members of
political parties took steps that affected Muslim practices and institutions. Govt
continued its challenge in the Supreme Court to the minority status of Muslim
educational institutions, which affords them independence in hiring and
curriculum decisions, it said. "Proposals to rename Indian cities with
Muslim provenance continued, most notably the renaming of Allahabad to
Prayagraj. Activists said these proposals were designed to erase Muslim
contributions to Indian history and had led to increased communal
tensions,"State Dept said.There were reports of religiously motivated
killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, vandalism and actions restricting
the right of individuals to practice their religious beliefs and proselytize,
the annual report said.Senior US officials underscored importance of respecting
religious freedom and promoting tolerance throughout the year with the ruling
and opposition parties, civil society and religious freedom activists, and
religious leaders belonging to various faith communities, the report said.PTI
US report on religious freedom shows clear
bias against Modi govt:BJP
BJP has dismissed an official report released by US
that said mob attacks by “violent extremist Hindu groups” against minority
communities, particularly Muslims, continued in India in 2018. The party said
the report shows a clear bias against Modi government.“The basic presumption in
this report that there is some grand design behind anti-minority violence is
simply false,” said BJP media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni. “On the
contrary, in most of such cases, these instances are carried out as a result of
local disputes and by [people with] criminal mindsets.”Baluni said Modi and
other leaders have always deplored violence against minorities and other weaker
sections of the society.
With China Still Opposed, India’s Membership
Application Remains in NSG's Freezer
New Delhi: 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group
that met in Kazakhstan has again not taken any decision on India’s pending
application to enter the exclusive club, with China continuing its opposition
to the group solely taking up New Delhi’s case.NSG’s plenary meeting took place
in the recently-renamed capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan on June 20 and
21.“Group noted the discussions on the issue of “Technical, Legal and Political
Aspects of the Participation of non-NPT States in NSG”,” said the
statement.This line, largely unchanged, has been inserted in statements since
2016, when India had first formally submitted its application for membership
before the plenary meeting in Seoul. A few days after India sent a letter dated
May 10, 2016 to the NSG chair, Pakistan also did same.This year’s statement
also had another familiar line. “Group noted that discussions were continuing
on the requests for participation that had been submitted”. This sentence has
also been a staple in public statements since the 2017 plenary at Bern, Switzerland.The
third reference to India in the statement is related to the waiver granted by NSG
in 2008, which allowed New Delhi to join the global nuclear market despite not
being a signatory to the NPT. This is also a regular part of discussions between
NSG members at their plenary meetings.The Wire
Amid US-Iran tensions, Indian airlines to
avoid Iranian airspace, says DGCA
New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions between
the United States and Iran, following the shooting down of an American drone
over the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian aviation regulatory body on Saturday said
its airlines would avoid the “affected part of the Iranian airspace” and
re-route their flights.“All Indian operators in consultation with DGCA have
decided to avoid the affected part of Iranian Airspace to ensure safe travel
for the passengers. They will re-route flights suitably,” the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Twitter.However, Air India CMD Ashwani
Lohani said the order won’t have any substantial effct on Air India flights.
“No substantial effect on Air India flights, details being worked out for
rerouting of incoming planes,” PTI quoted Lohani as saying.The DGCA order comes
a day after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency
directive, restricting US-registered aircraft from operating over the Persian
Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the overwater area of the Tehran airspace.indianexpress
Babri Masjid Action Committee not to accept
any solution to Ayodhya issue except SC verdict
Lucknow:While
the Hindu organisations like VHP, saints and seers are mounting renewed
pressure on the Centre to proceed in the direction of facilitating a grand Ram
temple in Ayodhya, the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) has made it clear
that it will not accept any decision or solution to the vexed issue except the
Supreme Court order.The BMAC condemned all those statements, wherein, the
central government has been exhorted to frame a law for temple construction in
Ayodhya. The committee claimed that as the case was pending with the Supreme
Court, so it won’t accept any other solution to dispute but the apex court
order.“Even if the central government tries to bring about an ordinance or
follows a legislative route to temple construction, BMAC would challenge it in
the court of law,” said a senior BMAC member.Notably, VHP, at the conclusion of
a dharam sansad in Haridwar on Wednesday,had not only demanded Central govt to
facilitate Ram temple in Ayodhya owing to huge majority it got in recently
concluded Lok Sabha elections, but also urged the Chief Justice of India to
expedite proceedings in the title suit pending before it for decades now. Moreover,
UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya had recently reiterated BJP govt’s commitment to the
Ram temple in Ayodhya.Getting concerned over such statements, especially, about
the Muslim sentiment involved in the issue, the BMAC had convened a meeting of
its office-bearers to hold elaborate discussions in Lucknow.After the meeting,
BMAC convenor, Zafayab Jilani rejected Keshav Maurya’s statement saying that it
smacked of government’s partisan attitude. He said Maurya’s statement showed
that the government was working for a particular community. “As per the
Constitution of India, the government of that day should not be seen working
for any specific community. The government happens to be secular and not
related to one specific religion. Temple construction is not the duty of any
government. It should impart equal treatment to all religions,” said Jilani.He
said when the Prime Minister had assured that nothing would be done in the
issue before the court order then the frivolous statements given by other
leaders hardly held water.The Central government would not be bringing any
ordinance over temple construction but if any such move was made, it would be
challenged in the Supreme Court, said Jilani.On the role and efforts of the
mediation panel set up by the apex court, Jilani said mediation should also be
tried within the judicial purview.“All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)
and BMAC have never opposed the efforts to find an amicable solution through
dialogue,” he added.
UP govt is acting like one of particular
community only: Babri Masjid Action Committee
RSS Indresh Kumar visits Darul Uloom at
Deoband
Deoband: Intensifying the campaign to reach
out to the minorities, senior functionary of RSS Indresh Kumar visited renowned
Islamic seminary Darul Uloom at Deoband in Saharanpur district on Thursday.
Kumar, who also heads the 'Muslim Rashtriya Manch’ (MRM), an RSS affiliate,
said he had gone to seminary with message of brotherhood and mutual love. RSS
leader described the visit as ‘courtesy visit'. The seminary said that its
doors were open for everyone. Kumar was in Deoband on Thursday for a MRM’s
function after which he went to Darul Uloom, where he was welcomed by Mohatmim
or the chancellor of the seminary Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani. During the visit,
Nomani apprised Kumar of the history of Ulema's role in freedom struggle.
"Our doors are always open for visitors. We welcomed Indreshji with an
open heart," he said.UNI
Triple Talaq Issue of Social Reform, Not
Legislation: Muslim Personal Law Board
New Delhi:Denouncing the insistence of the
BJP-led NDA government to criminalize the practice of instant Triple Talaq, the
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday said that it is not a
legal issue, rather a social issue.“It is disturbing that the present
government is rigid on implementing its proposed law on Triple Talaq in an
undemocratic way and after failure in the Rajya Sabha it is resorting to
ordinance, and now it has tabled the bill in the current Budget Session,” said
Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Secretary and Spokesperson of AIMPLB in a
press statement on Friday.Board’s statement has come hours after the Union
government tabled the bill in the Lok Sabha amid protest from the Opposition
parties.“Board thinks that it is not a legal issue, rather a social issue. The
energy and resources the government is using for this legislation for political
purposes and publicity. If it had used them for social reform and take support
of the religious section of the Muslim community for this purpose it would have
been more beneficial,” he said. Maulana also demanded the government to send
the bill to Select Committee so that the community related to the issue could
also put their views before the committee and the issue could be resolved with
mutual agreement and democratically. AIMPLB has also demanded the Opposition
parties not to allow the passage of the bill in its present form in Rajya
Sabha.India Tomorrow
Triple Talaq Bill is 'unconstitutional';
Owaisi
New Delhi: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has
claimed that the controversial Triple Talaq Bill is unconstitutional, saying it
would be a great injustice against Muslim women if the Bill became
law."Triple Talaq Bill is unconstitutional. It is a violation of Constitution's
Article 14 and 15. We already have the Domestic Violence Act 2005, CrPC Section
125, Muslim Women Marriage Act. If Triple Talaq Bill becomes a law it will be
even greater injustice against women," he told reporters outside the
Parliament.Voicing his opposal on the Bill, Owaisi said, "If a man gets
arrested how will he give allowance from jail? The govt says if a Muslim man
commits this crime the marriage will remain intact and he will be jailed for 3
ears if punished by the court. He will be jailed for three yrs but marriage
will be intact. What law is Modi forming?""I would like to ask him
(Modi) what kind of justice is this that if such law is implemented on a
non-Muslim man then he goes to jail for one year and a Muslim man goes to jail
for three years," he added.The controversial Triple Talaq Bill was
introduced on Friday in the Lok Sabha in the midst of stiff opposition from
Opposition parties which are against criminalising the offence.The Opposition
raised strong objections at the introduction itself. After a brief discussion,
the motion for tabling the bill was put to vote. 186 members voted for
introduction and 74 against.ANI
Owaisi should be happy that 'certain
protections' being made for Muslim women: Mehmood Pracha
Owaisi should be happy that government is
making certain protections for Muslim women through Triple Talaq bill, said
Mehmood Pracha, member of AIMPLB here on Friday.Pracha said the arguments given
by the opposition shows that they have not studied the bill
properly."Owaisi is saying that there is one-year punishment for men in
other communities but Muslim men will get three years. I do not think there for
men there is one-year punishment for divorce in any community. That punishment
is under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and that itself
is for violation of a protection order," he said.However, he also
criticised the bill. If anything, according to Pracha, Owaisi as a Muslim
leader should be very happy that certain protections are being made for Muslim
women and he should rather criticize the govt on the ground that the bill is
not strong enough."Firstly, the bill does not take care of women in
situations where Muslim men without uttering triple talaq throw out his wife.
Secondly, women do not get any financial protection in this bill and matters
like financial assistance should be decided by the magistrate within 5-7 days
else women will get harassed in court for years without getting a single rupee
in maintenance just like the provisions in section 125 in CrPC, and Domestic
Violence Act (2005)," he said.ANI
This is to keep me in news, move focus from
other issues:Zakir Naik on non-bailable warrant
Dr. Zakir Naik recently went on to release
another statement in response to the news of a non-bailable warrant against him
if he doesn't appear before the court. Naik said, "I don't understand the
need for another warrant against me when a similar warrant was issued in the
courts twice in 2017. There was no need for this, especially in the absence of
any evidence or proof of wrongdoing. This is merely to keep me in the news and
take away focus from important matters facing the country.""Let me
reiterate, I trust the Indian judiciary but not the prosecution system. The
recent history of India is replete with cases of Muslims arrested and put in
jail for 8, 10, 15, even 20 years before being declared innocent by the courts.
Knowing this record of Indian agencies, I don't want to take a chance of
ruining my life and my unfinished work." Let me make my previous offer
again. If the Supreme Court of India gives me in writing that I will not be
arrested and jailed until I am convicted, I will return to India, and I will
make myself available to the courts."mid-day
Oppn seeks Muslim quota in Maha; govt says no
provision for it
Mumbai:Opposition parties Friday demanded 5
per cent reservation for Muslims in education and government jobs in
Maharashtra, but BJP-led dispensation countered them, saying there is no
provision for religion- based quota in the Constitution.Congress and NCP MLCs
vociferously raised the demand in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Taking
part in a calling attention moved by Manisha Kayande (Shiv Sena), Congress and
NCP legislators said despite a large section of Muslims falling under the
economically weaker section, the state government has failed to offer any
reservation benefits to the community in education and jobs.However, Minister
for Higher and Technical Education Minister Vinod Tawde said the ruling BJP
cannot go against constitutional provisions regarding quota."Dr Babasaheb
Ambedkar had categorically mentioned at the time of drafting the Constitution
that reservation should not be provided on the basis of religion."BJP, as the
party in power, cannot set this provision aside and offer reservation to
Muslims." He said Congress-NCP combine was in power for many years in
Maharashtra (1999-2014), but did not offer reservation to Muslims.T awde said
the real reason behind the opposition's quota demand was political and
electoral."The real reason behind such aggression is that the Vanchit
Bahujan Aghadi had eaten into their votes (in the just held Lok Sabha polls).They
(Congress-NCP) are not talking about the measures we have taken up for the
betterment of the community," BJP minister said.The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi
(VBA), a social coalition of Dalits, OBCs and Muslims, dented the prospects of
Congress- NCP candidates in nearly a dozen Lok Sabha seats in the state.The
front has been formed by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar in alliance with Assaddudin
Owaisi.Tawde said sections in the Muslim community were already getting
benefits of the existing quota system.PTI
Bihar encephalitis toll reaches 139,
Opposition blames govt
Three more children with symptoms of acute
encephalitis syndrome died on Friday at a hospital in Muzaffarpur district.
With this, the toll in the encephalitis outbreak has now reached 139.All three
deaths have been reported from the government-run Sri Krishna Medical College
and Hospital, said the Muzaffarpur district administration authorities. The
hospital has accounted for 104 casualties by itself since June 1.
Human skeletons found near Bihar hospital with
most encephalitis deaths
Muzaffarpur:Skeletal remains have been
discovered lying in open, in a forest near the government-run Sri Krishna
Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) here, which is grappling with cases of AES.An
investigation team of SKMCH hospital accompanied by policemen visited the spot
on Saturday.Dr Vipin Kumar from the hospital said: “Skeletal remains have been
found here. Detailed information will be provided by the Principal.”One or two
of the dead bodies were found charred and many skeletons were found strewn on
the ground or stuffed into sacks in the forest area.HT
Assam: Additional NRC exclusion list to be
published on June 26
An additional list to the draft National
Register of Citizens in Assam will be published on June 26, the office of the
state coordinator for the exercise has said. It will contain only the names of
people who figured in the draft list published in July 2018 but were
subsequently found ineligible for inclusion due to various reasons, the state
coordinator’s office said on Thursday. People may have been excluded for being
doubtful voters, foreigners, or having a case pending at one of the 100
Foreigner Tribunals in the state.More than 40 lakh people were excluded from
the final draft of the register published on July 30, 2018. Those who did not
make the draft list were allowed to make one last claim for inclusion before
the publication of the final consolidated list at the end of next month.
Authorities also allowed objections to be filed against people included in the
final draft. People whose names will be excluded will be informed through
letters delivered at their residential addresses. “Such persons will have the
opportunity to file their claims at the designated NRC Seva Kendras before July
11, 2019,” the statement said. “Their claims will be disposed thereafter before
publication of final NRC on July 31, 2019.”scroll.in
Goons Force Muslim Youths to Shout 'Jai Shri
Ram' on Assam Street, Upload Video on Social Media
Barpeta: Complaints were filed against a
little-known right-wing organisation on Thursday for allegedly assaulting a
group of people from the minority community in Assam and forcing them to utter
slogans 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Pakistan Murdabad'. 2 FIRs were filed against the
right wing organisation and its founder by All Assam Minority Students' Union
(AAMSU) and the North-East Minorities Students' Union (NEMSU). According to the
police, the Tuesday night incident came to light after a video of the purported
attack and the forcible utterance of slogans went viral on social media. The
complaints stated that a group of men claiming to be members of right-wing
group stopped an autorickshaw in Barpeta town and beat up the youth travelling
in it. The victims, who were from a minority community, were then forced to
utter slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Pakistan
Murdabad'.Hurling abuses, the attackers themselves shot the video and uploaded
it on social media.Congress MP from Barpeta, Abdul Khaleque, said he has asked
the superintendent of police to take action in the incident.PTI
Delhi: Muslim cleric claims he was hit by car
for not chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'
New Delhi:A 40-year-old cleric has alleged
that a car hit him in northwest Delhi's Rohini on Thursday after he refused to
heed to the demand of its three occupants to chant 'Jai Shree Ram'. However,
the police said they are verifying the claims made by the cleric.In his
complaint to the police, Maulana Momin (40), who teaches at a local madrassa in
Rohini's Sector 20, said the incident occurred on Thursday evening when he was
taking a stroll near the mosque cum madrasa.As he walking back towards his
mosque at around 6.45 pm, Momin said, a car first brushed past him. The car had
'Jai Shree Ram' written on its windscreen."Three men in their mid-thirties
tried to shake hand with me. I was suspicious of their intentions, but
nevertheless shook hand with them," Momin said.The three asked about
Momin's well being to which he replied, "By the grace of Allah, I am good.
They objected to it and asked me to chant Jai Shree Ram." Momin refused to
chant Jai Shree Ram and said they were free to do so. "I started walking
back to my masjid, but I was hit by a vehicle. The impact was such that it
flung me in the air. As I fell on the ground, I lost consciousness," he
said. One of the passersby called police who later took him to the Sanjay
Gandhi Hospital in Sultanpuri. Momin suffered injuries on his head, face and
hands.Momin gave a formal complaint on Friday. A senior police officer said the
complainant has reported the alleged incident and police have registered a case
of accident under sections 337 (causing hurt by endangering life or personal
safety) and section 279 (rash driving).The police said they are scanning CCTV
cameras to find information about the three people.PTI
NIA files chargesheet against 10 for ‘forming
IS-inspired module’
New Delhi :NIA Friday filed a chargesheet
before a Delhi court against 10 people for forming an Islamic State-inspired
module in UP’s Amroha and Delhi, and said that the accused have “planned (a)
bigger terror attack in national capital region”.The agency claimed that the
accused had intended to carry out “fidayeen” attacks at several places in and
around Delhi, in which regard they have intimated the Ministry of Home
Affairs.NIA chargesheet was filed under various provisions of UAPA, Explosive
Substances Act, and under various sections of IPC, including criminal
conspiracy and for possessing arm or ammunition to wage war against the
Government of India against all the 10 accused.NIA, in its chargesheet, claimed
before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Jain that Mohammed Suhail, a mufti in a
seminary in Amroha and the alleged mastermind of the Islamic State module, was
“involved in radicalisation and brainwashing of other like-minded youth with a
view to commit terrorist acts and acts of waging war against the government of
India”.Taking the chargesheet on record, the special judge listed the matter
for further consideration by the judge concerned on July 4.indianexpress
Raise SC strength, retirement age of HC
judges, CJI Gogoi asks PM Modi
New Delhi: To tackle the huge backlog of over
43 lakh cases in the Supreme Court and high courts, CJI Ranjan Gogoi, in two
letters to PM Narendra Modi, has requested top priority for passage of 2
constitutional amendments - suitable increase in the strength of SC judges
which currently stands at 31 and raising the retirement age of HC judges from
62 to 65 years. A third letter from CJI to the PM sought revival of an old tradition
of tenure appointments of retired SC and HC judges, under Articles 128 and 224A
of the Constitution respectively, so they can be assigned cases pending for
years. The SC, which attained its full strength of 31 judges only recently
after more than a decade, had a pendency of 58,669 cases and the number was
rising due to a higher rate of filing of fresh cases, the CJI said. His letter
said there were 26 cases pending for 25 years, 100 cases for 20 years, 593
cases for 15 years and 4,977 cases for 10 years. He said inadequate judge
strength prevented the CJI from constituting the required number of 5-judge
constitution benches to adjudicate cases involving substantial questions of law
or interpretation of constitutional provisions."You would recall that way
back in 1988, about 3 decades ago, the judge strength of the SC was increased
from 18 to 26, and then again after 2 decades in 2009, it was increased to 31,
including the CJI, to expedite disposal of cases to keep pace with the rate of
institution," CJI Gogoi said. In 2007, the pendency was 41,078; now, it
stands at 58,669. "I request you to kindly consider, on top priority, to
augment the judge-strength in the SC appropriately so that it can function more
efficiently and effectively as it will go a long way to attain ultimate goal of
rendering timely justice to the litigant public," he said. The CJI also
informed the PM that in March 2007, the then CJI had told govt that if HC
judge-strengths were being enhanced triennially, it could definitely be done at
least once in a decade for the SC. "Despite this, no norms in this regard
have been laid down," he said. TOI
CJI writes to PM, seeks increase in number of
Supreme Court judges:PTI
Jamia to promote Yoga in the campus: Prof. Najma Akhtar, JMI Vice-Chancellor
New Delhi:In a bid to promote Yoga among
students, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) will provide Yoga training everyday to one
group each of boys and girls under the supervision of an Instructor, Vice
Chancellor, Prof. Najma Akhtar announced today at 5th International Day of Yoga
celebrations in the campus that was attended by a large number of students,
faculty members, staff and people from the neighbourhood.Over 500 participants
including volunteers of NCC, NSS performed Yoga in the sprawling lawns of MAK
Pataudi Sports Complex under the supervision of an instructor provided by the
Union Ministry of AYUSH.Speaking after an hour-long Yoga exercise, Prof. Akhtar
while congratulating the people on the occasion of Day of Yoga emphasized that
Yogasana should be practiced every day./thecoverage.net/
‘Vindictive persecution’: After Sanjiv Bhatt
gets life sentence, wife says justice denied
Hours after former IPC officer Sanjiv Bhatt
was sentenced to life imprisonment in a 30-year-old custodial death case, his
wife Shweta Bhatt said he had been punished for “doing his
duties...irrespective of political pressure”.In a Facebook post from her
husband’s account on Thursday, she claimed that the Gujarat government had
supported Bhatt in the case until 2011, when he accused then CM Narendra Modi
of encouraging communal riots in the state in 2002.“It is strange that how a
death which occurred after 18 days of being out of custody, without any
indications of internal or external trauma or injury, a death which was
examined and reported by the forensic medicine experts to have no indication of
torture or grievance, was declared to be a homicidal death,” Shweta Bhatt
wrote. Shweta said the sentencing was a “blatant example of vindictive
persecution”. “Justice has not only been denied, but an innocent man has been
persecuted for doing his duty with diligence,” she said, adding that they will
challenge the sessions court order.scroll.in
Shweta Sanjiv Bhatt promises to fight, asks if
the country will stand by an honest officer
Malegaon blasts: Pragya Thakur again given
one-day exemption from appearing in NIA court
A special National Investigation Agency court
in Mumbai inquiring into the 2008 Malegaon blasts case on Friday once again
exempted Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur from appearing before it, ANI reported.
BJP leader had cited the ongoing Parliament session to seek the exemption.This
came a day after the court rejected her plea seeking exemption from appearing
before it once a week in connection with the case. However, the court had
allowed her to skip proceedings for the day. Thakur had cited ill health,
distance, security, requirement of attending Parliament daily, and her life as
a religious leader as reasons for exemption.scroll.in
Cops stop Dalit activist Chandrashekhar from visiting Ghaziabad
dispute site, send him back
Police
stopped Chandrashekhar Azad, Dalit activist and chief of Bhim Army, from
visiting an area in Indirapuram where tension had flared up last week over an
anti-encroachment drive near a mosque that took a communal colour.A police
officer said Azad was detained and sent back because there was apprehension
that his visit could once again lead to a law-and-order problem. One of Azad’s
supporters was booked under the Arms Act for carrying a gun and taken into
custody, a police officer said. Azad, sources said, was headed for Makanpur
village to talk to locals there. But he was detained more than a kilometre
before Makanpur, at Kanawani near the exit ramp of the Hindon elevated road.
From there, he was taken to Indirapuram police station, a police officer said.
A police team then escorted Azad up to the Ghaziabad border. “This step was
taken as a conflict had already taken place in the village a few days ago.
Azad’s visit could have led to fresh tension, so we decided to take
precautionary measures to maintain law and order. He was detained and escorted
outside the district border along with his supporters,” police said. Some of
Azad’s supporters who allegedly misbehaved with the cops have been booked. No
one, though, has been named in the FIR, which has been registered against 25
unknown people . Kamal Wallia, general secretary of the Bhim Army, said Azad
was going to the village to promote peace.TOI
IMA: 5 more directors held
Bengaluru: In continuation with the probe into
the multi-crore I Monetory Advisory (IMA) investment scam, in which over 40,000
investors have been cheated, SIT has arrested five more directors of the
group.The arrests were made on Thursday and the total number of those arrested
in the case has reached 13, including 12 directors and one auditor. However,
the main accused, Mohammad Mansoor Khan, the MD of IMA group, is still at large
and is said to be in Dubai. SIT is interrogating all those arrested to acquire
information about Mansoor Khan, IMA and transactions carried out individually
by him and through his entities. 5 directors arrested on Thursday have been
identified as Shadab Ahmad (28), Israr Ahmad (32), Faisal Ahmad (30), Mohammad
Idrees (30) and Usman Tabrez (33).Earlier, seven directors of IMA group, Nasir
Hussain, Naveed Ahmed Nattamkar, Nizammuddin Azeemuddin, Wasim Arshad Khan,
Afsar Pasah and Dadapeer had surrendered before the Commercial Street police,
while the police had detained IMA's auditor Iqbal Khan for interrogation. SIT
sleuths conducted raids on the two jewellery showrooms of IMA in Shivajinagar
and Jayanagar and also at the house of Mansoor's third divorced wife
Tabassum.The school in which IMA had invested 12 crores and had received over
1000 admissions,will be taken over by the Wakf Board. After the scam broke out,
panic-stricken parents had withdrawn their children and many teachers had
resigned as well.Deccan Chronicle.
Over 12,000 farmers died of suicide in three
years in Maharashtra: Subhash Deshmukh
Mumbai :Despite spending over ₹19,000 crore on
farm loan waiver, a total of 12,021 farmers have died in the State due to
suicide between 2015 and 2018, the government said in Assembly on Friday.In a
written reply, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Subhash Deshmukh further
admitted that the first three months of this year saw 610 deaths of
farmers.Replying to the discussion on the Governor’s address, Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis had on Thursday told the House that over 50 lakh farmers
would benefit from the loan waiver scheme and ₹24,000 crore will be spent for
this. Of the total number, 43.32 lakh farmers have actually received benefits
worth ₹19,000 crore.thehindu
WB:Fresh clashes break out in trouble-hit
Bhatpara; many injured
Bhatpara:Several persons were injured as fresh
clashes were reported in trouble-torn Bhatpara area in North 24 Parganas
district of West Bengal Saturday as rival groups violated Section 144 imposed
there.Police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.The incident
happened moments after a 3-member BJP central delegation left the area after
their scheduled visit.As the delegation left, two groups, one led by the BJP
and other by TMC, engaged in pitched battle as both sides hurled countrymade
bombs and stones at each other.Several persons were injured in the incident.PTI
Indian-origin pioneer of Muslim charity in
South Africa dies
Shawkat
Ali Thokan, an Indian-origin man considered the pioneer of the Islamic movement
in South Africa, was buried here Thursday after he died following a lengthy
illness. He was 81. Born in Maharashtra, Thokan died on Wednesday and was laid
to rest at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg. He emigrated to South Africa with
his parents when he was 10.Thokan was first National Coordinator of the South
African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF), a faith-based, educational and
socio-welfare organisation that helps the Muslim community. The organisation in
almost 5 decades has assisted tens of thousands of students at all levels, as
well as funding scores of budding entrepreneurs to become self-sufficient
through training programmes. PTI
WORLD
Iran to 'confront any threat', as Trump warns
of 'obliteration'
Iran will respond firmly to any US threat
against it, a spokesman of the country's Foreign Ministry has said after
President Donald Trump warned it of "obliteration" if a full-scale
conflict would ensue. "We will not allow any violation against Iran's borders.
Iran will firmly confront any aggression or threat by America," spokesman
Abbas Mousavi told the semiofficial Tasnim news agency on Saturday. Tensions
between Tehran and Washington have spiked since Thursday when an Iranian
missile destroyed a US Global Hawk surveillance drone flying near the Iranian
coast.Tehran said the drone was shot down over its territory and Washington
said it occurred in international airspace."Regardless of any decision
they (US officials) make, we will not allow the Islamic Republic's territory to
be violated," Mousavi said.Under pressure to respond to the high-stakes
incident near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the US was prepared to
hit "3 different sites" on Thursday night but that he scrapped the
strikes "10 minutes" before they were to have been launched.aljazeera
Trump confirms calling off attacks against
Iran
US President Donald Trump confirmed in a
series of tweets that he called off retaliatory attacks on three Iranian
targets following the downing of the US drone, saying the attacks would not
have been a proportionate response."We were cocked & loaded to
retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150
people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I
stopped it," Trump said.His comments confirmed earlier reports by US media
outlets which said Washington had prepared to attack Iranian installations in
response to the downing of the US drone, only for Trump to order his military
to stand down at the last minute. aljazeera
Strikes on Iran Approved by Trump, Then Abruptly
Pulled Back:NYT
Saudi intelligence chief lobbies London for
strikes against Iran: UK source
A Saudi intelligence chief pleaded with
British authorities to carry out limited strikes against Iranian military
targets, just hours after Donald Trump aborted planned US attacks against the
Islamic Republic, a senior UK official told Middle East Eye.The intelligence
chief was accompanied by Saudi diplomat Adel al-Jubeir on his trip to London,
the source said.Still, the Saudi lobbying efforts fell on deaf ears, according
to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity
of the subject."Our people were sceptical," the source said, adding
that the Saudi official was told a plain "no" in response to the request.middleeasteye
Key suspect in murder of Khashoggi not put on
trial: UN
A key suspect in the murder case of Jamal
Khashoggi at the Kingdom's consulate in Istanbul has not been put on trial, a
recently released UN report said.Saud al-Qahtani, a former advisor to Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, allegedly communicated with hit-squad sent to
Istanbul to kill Khashoggi. Khashoggi, a contributor for The Washington Post,
was killed and dismembered by a group of Saudi operatives shortly after he
entered the country's consulate last Oct. Riyadh offered various, conflicting
narratives to explain Khashoggi's disappearance before acknowledging he was
murdered in the diplomatic building, seeking to blame his death on a botched
rendition operation by rogue agents.AA
US ambassador to Israel: Bahrain workshop will
create momentum
US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has
hailed the upcoming United States-led conference in Bahrain this month as an
important step towards achieving Washington's Middle East peace plan in the
region, despite Palestinians announcing they would boycott the
meeting."[The Bahrain workshop] is an attempt to jumpstart the Palestinian
economy. That's the purpose and that's the focus. To improve the quality of
life of Palestinians," Friedman said.The meeting, which will be held in
Bahrain's capital, Manama, on June 25-26, has drawn criticism from the
Palestinians who say US President Donald Trump's peace plan is likely to be
heavily weighed in favour of Israel and quash their aspirations for statehood
in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.aljazeera
Jordanians and Palestinians rally in Amman
against Trump's 'deal of the century'
Amman:Jawad Dweedar, a 37-year-old Palestinian
refugee, had a message he wanted Washington to hear, and it was scrawled across
the placard he was holding: "Down with the normalizing auction in
Bahrain".The Palestinian from Baqaa camp was one of hundreds of refugees
and Jordanians outside the US Embassy in Amman on Friday, railing against the
upcoming conference in Manama set to launch the first phase of Donald Trump's
so-called "deal of the century".Trump's deal, or peace plan, is
designed to settle the Israel-Palestine conflict once and for all, starting
with economic incentives for the Palestinians that are to be laid out in
Bahrain on Tuesday.Critics have lambasted the US president's initiative, saying
it is heavily biased in favour of the Israelis, and on Friday the plan's
opponents flocked to Amman to protest in response to a call by leftist and
nationalist parties.Dweedar's family became refugees during the 1948 war in
which Israel was created. He feels that there is a real danger he will not be
able to return to the lands from which his family was expelled in the conflict. middleeasteye
Mauritania's Muslim Brotherhood hopes for
fighting chance ahead of presidential elections
White pick-up trucks arrive to a fanfare of
cars blaring their horns outside the Nouakchott headquarters of presidential
hopeful Sidi Mohamed Ould Boubacar in Mauritania. Cavorting supporters wear
T-shirts bearing his image and use loudspeakers to amplify chants in his name. Others
are seated on chairs spread out across the wide pavement, watching a giant
projection of Boubacar giving a speech.Much of Mauritania’s capital is
dominated by images of establishment candidate Mohammad Ghazouani. Some of his
pictures hang from the tops of tall buildings and others are plastered at the
entrance of mock Bedouin tents that line Avenue Moktar Ould Daddah, a major
thoroughfare.Boubacar’s supporters fear that Ghazouani will follow in the
footsteps of his close political ally President Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz, who is
stepping down after two terms in office. Abdul Aziz’s crackdown on Muslim
Brotherhood and affiliated organisations in the country have left their
supporters both hopeful that the tide will turn in their favour - and fearful
of what may come next if the outgoing president’s allies stay in
power.middleeasteye
Morsi 'killed' by Egyptian govt, son says
A son of the late former Egyptian President
Mohamed Morsi has accused incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and a number
of other officials of "killing" his father.In a Twitter post on
Thursday, Morsi's son, Abdullah, named a number of officials whom he called
"partners" of el-Sisi "in killing the martyr president".He
particularly accused incumbent and former interior ministers Mahmoud Tawfiq and
Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, respectively.Egyptian authorities have yet to comment on
the claims by Morsi's son. Morsi's death was mourned by many people around the world,
including in Turkey, where mosques held special prayers on Tuesday, while
leaders in Malaysia and Qatar were among those offering tributes.aljazeera
In a Surprise Move, Sri Lankan President
Extends Emergency by Another Month
Colombo: A state of emergency was extended by
Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday, going back on his
pledge to relax the tough laws introduced after the Easter Sunday
attacks.President Sirisena said in a decree that he believed there was a
"public emergency" in the country, and he was invoking provisions of
the Public Security Act extending the state of emergency.The tough laws,
granting sweeping powers to police and security forces to arrest and detain
suspects, were due to expire on Saturday. Just over 100 people, including 10
women, are currently in custody in connection with April's Easter Sunday
attacks.The continuation of the emergency came as police announced criminal
investigations against several top officers, including the Inspector-General,
for negligence and lapses ahead of the bombings.AFP
Flash: views & NEWS
What I wrote was never meant as neutral
commentary': Arundhati Roy
Bangladesh too will to have to pay dearly for
the saffronisation of West Bengal:Partha S Ghosh
Sanjiv Bhatt Case: In 16 Years, Gujarat Saw
180 Custodial Deaths – and Zero Convictions
Why BJP links “justice” with Triple Talaq but
not with Sabarimala:Prem Anand Mishra
Arvind Subramanian’s method of estimating GDP
suggests that India is only a mild outlier: Surjit SBhalla
40 Days On, Centre Not Clearing Justice Akil
Kureshi’s Elevation: Will This Help Modi Win Minorities’ Trust?
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq
(Released at: 7:41 PM)
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