04 July 2019:
30 Shawal 1440:Vol: 11, No:237
INDIA
Economic Survey predicts 7% GDP growth in
FY20, says India needs 8% growth rate to become $5 tn economy by 2025
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled Economic
Survey 2019 in Rajya Sabha today ahead of the Union Budget 2019. The Economic
survey presents a roadmap on steps to be undertaken by the Modi Govt in order
to achieve the goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024. Chief Economic
Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian officially released the Economic Survey. The Survey
is an annual document issued by Ministry of Finance that reviews the economic
growth over the last year and in the current financial year. It consists of a
detailed account of the growth rate in different sectors and serves as a
guideline for understanding different sectoral trends based on data, statistics
and policy ideas. The Survey also consists of in-depth research on various
policy issues and ideas on the basis of statistical data. The survey also
highlights the roadmap and policy initiatives to be taken by the Govt to
further boost economic growth. The survey has predicted 7% GDP growth in FY20
on stable macroeconomic conditions. The general fiscal deficit is seen at 5.8%
in FY19 against 6.4% in FY18. To become a $5 trillion economy by 2025, India
needs to sustain a GDP growth rate of 8%. NewsX
Economic survey: Chidambaram says Modi govt
appears to be ‘pessimistic’ about economy
New Delhi: Hours after Nirmala Sitharaman
tabled the Economic Survey 2018-19 in Parliament, former finance minister P
Chidambaram and senior Congress leader today said there are no sector-wise
growth projections in the survey and that Govt itself appears to be pessimistic
about the economy.“It appears to me that the Govt, speaking through the
Economic Survey, is pessimistic about the economy,” Chidambaram said.Commenting
on the new Economic Survey, Chidambaram said, “I looked for the Outlook for
2019-20. It is in Volume-2, Chapter 01, but there is only a bland statement
that growth of the economy expected to be 7 % in 2019-20. There are no growth projections
sector wise.”“The Economic Survey 2018-19 is the first of the new govt and the
first under the new Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. The first sentence of
Volume-1, Chapter 01 is self-congratulatory (“During last 5 years, India’s
economy has performed well.”). I looked for Outlook for 2019-20. It is in
Volume-2, Chapter 01, but there is only a bland statement that “growth of the
economy expected to be 7% in 2019-20. There are no growth projections sector
wise,” he said. He said that the closest
in terms of describing the outlook for 2019-20 was found in Volume-2, Chapter
02, which flagged slowing growth, shortfall in revenue, finding resources
without compromising the fiscal deficit target, impact of oil prices on the
current account and recommendations of 15 Finance Commission on central govt
finances.“I am afraid, none of these is positive or encouraging,” he
added.indianexpress
Urjit Patel admits RBI was slow to take timely
measures
A failure on the part of banks, Govt and the
regulator till 2014 has got us into the current bad loan mess and the resultant
low capital buffers, Urjit Patel, former RBI Governor, has said, asking all to
resist the temptation of going back to the status quo.In his first comments
since resigning as RBI Governor on Dec.10 last year amid sharp differences with
Govt, Patel said banks indulged in over-lending, while the Govt did not “fully
play” its role, and also conceded that the regulator should have acted earlier.Speaking
at an event in Stanford University, Patel listed out areas of concern for the
country’s banking sector, including high NPAs especially at state-run lenders,
and current capital buffers being “overstated” and being insufficient to tackle
the huge stress.“How did we get here? Plenty of blame to go around! Prior to
2014,all stakeholders failed to play their role adequately. Banks, the
regulator and Govt,”he said.It can be noted that after 2014, which saw a change
of guard in Govt and also Patel’s predecessor Raghuram Rajan assuming charge,
RBI started an asset quality review, which led to the recognition of the huge
pile of hidden stress in the system and resolution through the introduction of
bankruptcy laws.These actions led to a sharp decline in banks’ ability to fund
the needs of the economy, where growth has been sagging. PTI
SC to hear plea seeking deportation of illegal
Bangladesh nationals, Rohingyas
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today agreed to
hear a PIL seeking identification and deportation of all illegal immigrants and
infiltrators including Bangladesh nationals and Rohingyas.A bench headed by CJI
Ranjan Gogoi took note of submission of lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay
that his plea, which was filed in 2017, be listed for an urgent hearing. "It
would be listed for hearing on July 9," bench said. Upadhyay, in his plea,
has also favoured Centre's stand to identify and deport to Myanmar around 40000
illegal Rohingyas staying here. The SC is also seized of a separate plea of 2
Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, and the plea said
that Rohingyas had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to
widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there. PTI
PMO to disclose corruption complaints against
Union Ministers after CIC order
Paving way for the disclosure of corruption
complaints received against Union Ministers, Central Information Commission (CIC)
has rejected objections raised by PMO on such disclosures. PMO will now have to
declare all the complaints received by it against all its ministers. Petitioner
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who is a 2002-batch officer of Indian Forest Service (IFS)
in Aug.2017 filed an RTI plea with PMO seeking details of corruption complaints
against Union ministers received from June 2014 till the date of filing
application.PMO, in its response in Oct2017 had said that this information was
generic and vague and cited an earlier order of CIC to deny this information. Disappointed
from PMO’s reply petitioner Sanjiv Chaturvedi approached CIC against Govt’s
claims which had in its order passed on Oct.16 observed that respondent (PMO)
has not given correct and specific reply /information to the applicant.In
response to CIC order then, PMO had then cited Section 7 (9) of RTI Act to deny
the information saying it receives a variety of complaints on different matters
against Union ministers and high-level functionaries of the Govt of India and
they may be scattered across different sections and units of the office and
hence disclosure would disproportionately divert the resources.NewsX
SC refuses to take up mob lynching matter on
urgent basis
The Supreme Court today refused to accord an
urgent hearing to a petition on mob lynching and said it will come up in due
course.The prayer for an urgent hearing was made before a bench headed by CJI
Ranjan Gogoi. The petition contended that the apex court judgement of July last
year on the issue of mob lynching had not been complied with.The court had then
said that "horrendous acts of mobocracy" cannot be allowed to overrun
the law of the land and issued a slew of guidelines to deal with mob lynching
and cow vigilantism.ANI
Muslim Auto Driver Tied Up, Thrashed for
Refusing to Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in UP
Kanpur:A Muslim auto-rickshaw driver in
Kanpur, was reportedly beaten up by 3 men on Wednesday for refusing to chant ‘Jai
Shri Ram’.As per a report in Amar Ujala, the incident took place in Babu Purwa
area of Kanpur. Three men allegedly tied up Atib, the victim, inside a Sulabh
toilet and assaulted him with bricks and stones.The family of the victim said
that he was driving his auto-rickshaw when the three attackers — Sumit, Rajesh
and Shiva — got inside his auto and asked to be dropped at another location.Upon
reaching destination, they started quarrelling with him, claiming they did not
have any money to pay the fare. During this, they asked him to chant ‘Jai Shri
Ram’ and when Atib refused, took him to the nearby Sulabh toilet and thrashed
him.People in the area protested against the attack following which the police
reached the spot and Atib was admitted to a hospital. His condition has been
reported as serious. Enraged locals are demanding that 3 accused be arrested
immediately.Caravan News
After violence in Agra, cops get cracking;
file 6 cases, arrest 14
Agra: Police in Agra arrested 14 people for
their alleged role in Monday evening violence, as parts of the city affected by
it limped back to normalcy. Scores of shops were damaged as groups of people
protesting against the lynching of Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand pelted stones and
also clashed with police. On the basis of the video evidences and complaints of
shopkeepers, 6 cases were registered in two police stations against 57
individuals and 2,000 unidentified men.Those who had made appeal to participate
in protest on social media have also been booked. Majority of the 57 men named
in FIRs are those associated with different Muslim organisations. These include
Sami Agai of Muslim Vikas Manch, Irfan Salim of Muslim Action Committee,
Jameeluddin Qureshi of Jamiatul Quresh, Chaudhary Farhan of Muslim Mahasabha
and Idris Ali of AIMIM. TOI
UP on alert over reports of protest by Muslims
Lucknow:UP police have been put on alert ahead
of Friday prayers following reports of protests over lynching of Tabrez Ansari
in Jharkhand, reports IANS.Muslims from across Uttar Pradesh are set to
organise a peaceful protest after Friday prayers against the state police also
that have booked over 1000 protestors in Meerut following demonstrations in
western UP earlier this week, according to reports.A huge rally was held on
Sunday in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh to protest against mob-lynching in India
and faced violence at the hands of the police in the form of lathi charge,
according to reports.While none of the Muslim clerics in Lucknow is willing to
comment on the nature of protest, they did not rule out a sit-in after the
Friday prayers.Meanwhile, a senior police officer said all police chiefs have
been told to ensure vigil on mosques in their area.Caravan News
Rahul Gandhi pleads not guilty in RSS
defamation case, says this is fight of ideology, it will continue
New Delhi:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today
pleaded “not guilty” before a Mumbai local court in connection with a
defamation case filed by an RSS worker against him for allegedly linking
journalist Gauri Lankesh’s killing with the organisation. He was granted bail
on a surety of Rs 15,000. Former Congress MP Eknath Gaikwad stood as surety for
Gandhi. The matter has been posted for further hearing on Sept.22. CPM general
secretary Sitaram Yechury who is also named in the case appeared before the
court today and pleaded not guilty.Talking to reporters outside the court,
Gandhi who quit as Congress chief said, “This is a fight of ideology. I am with
the poor and farmers. The fight (against BJP) will continue with 10 times more
vigour.”As Gandhi reached the court, around 150 Congress supporters held
placards outside the building andshouted slogans asking Gandhi to take back his
resignation as the party’s president. Congress workers also shouted similar
slogans outside Mumbai airport when Gandhi landed here this morning.In 2017,
RSS Swayam Sevak, Dhrutiman Joshi had filed a defamation case against Gandhi, Yechury
for ‘defaming RSS’ following murder of Lankesh in Bengaluru.indianexpress
Kharge to Shinde: Names doing rounds for Rahul
Gandhi’s successor
After Rahul Gandhi stepped down as Congress
chief, the party is abuzz with names of possible successors and alternative
solutions. Congress can put in place a CPM Politburo-like mechanism to run party
collectively, a suggestion says. Some leaders are also suggesting the
appointment of a veteran close to the Gandhi family as interim president or
even holding an election.While Congress said Rahul will continue to be
president until his resignation is accepted by CWC and a new chief is appointed
after due process, here are a few names that are in the running for the spot:
Mallikarjun Kharge, 9-time MLA and
2-term MP had served as Union Cabinet Minister, Dalit leader Sushil Kumar
Shinde, known to be a Gandhi loyalist, served as Home Minister in Manmohan Govt, Anand Sharma, who served as a Congress
spokesperson for years, is Deputy Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha since
2014, Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot and Mukul Balkrishna Wasnik,
another Dalit leader whose name is doing the rounds for the top spot in
Congress. indian express
Congress calls Aadhaar Bill 'political
plagiarism' in Lok Sabha; says it breaches Fundamental Rights
Congress vehemently opposed Aadhaar and Other
Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha today. Congress Floor Leader Adhir
Ranjan Chowdhury also criticised Govt for promulgating an Ordinance on the
same. “You borrowed Aadhaar from us,” Chowdhury said. Direct Benefit Transfer
programme was also borrowed, he added.“Your way is not befitting of a
democratic Govt. It is political plagiarism,” he alleged. “When we constituted Aadhar,
it did not breach anybody’s Fundamental Rights,” said Chowdhury. He said that
while the Constitution had a provision for Ordinances, “it gives directions on
when and why and how an Ordinance can be promulgated”. He said it can be
promulgated under extraordinary circumstances or emergencies that warrant its
promulgation.Manish Tewari said that UPA Govt had come out with 13 objectives
to be achieved by UIDAI. “The rationale of Aadhaar was to ascertain the
identity of those who were bereft of ration cards and such other basic
amenities,” he said.thehindu
Opposition criticises govt on Aadhaar
amendments
Opposition parties reject Centre's call for
'one nation, one election', demand return of ballot papers
New Delhi: Opposition parties have rejected
govt's call for "one nation, one election" and demanded that the
ballot papers must be brought back to restore the faith of people in country's
electoral system."EVMs have been a very huge problem. We must not conclude
or think if you are anti-EVM you are against technology. When the technology
does not guarantee perfection then you need to question the technology. We want
ballot papers," Derek O'Brien of TMC said initiating short-duration discussion
on electoral reforms in Rajya Sabha.He listed several issues in the present
electoral system, including interruptions of international companies during
polls, misuse of data, social media and EVMs."It's time we legislate on
electoral reforms," he said, suggesting to amend the Constitution or bring
legislation as to how the election commissioners are appointed."EC is part
of the problem," Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said quoting the poll panel's
advisory which was issued in March prior to the Lok Sabha election, curbing the
politicisation of Indian Army in the polls."He cited examples of several
European countries that have banned EVMs and said his party's opposition to
EVMs was "in principle".SP's Ram Gopal Yadav said EVMs may or may not
be rigged, but the people do not trust it."To restore the confidence of
the people,it is necessary that we should get back to the ballot paper,"
he said. CPI's D Raja urged the house to go for a collegium to appoint election
commissioners and opposed simultaneous polls as "unconstitutional". Satish
Chandra Misra of BSP, too, opposed conduct of elections through EVMs."Ballot
system should be brought back,"he said.ANI
Rape against children in India up by 5 times
in 20 yrs
New Delhi: The absolute number of reported
rapes against children has gone up by 5 times in the last 2 decades, according
to a report released by the alliance of child rights Joining Forces for
Children India.The report ‘Child Rights in India – An Unfinished Agenda’ states
that while India has made great strides on child mortality front, child sex
ratio and sexual violence against children remains a concern. Citing National
Bureau of Crime records, it states that the absolute number of reported rapes
against children has increased approximately five times between 1994 and
2016.The report while acknowledging that the reporting of crime against
children has increased maintains that “experts and communities believe that
incidents of violence, particularly on younger children, have also gone up”.The
report states that child sex ratio has declined from 927(Census 2001) to 919
(Census 2011), and continues to decline in many states of India. It reads,
“Decreasing sex ratio, and increase in incidents of rape among girls are the
two indicators that demonstrate the increased vulnerability of girls. In all
the states, girls reported that their mobility is severely compromised due to
safety and security reasons and this does not affect boys to the same
extent.”indian express
Centre opposes PIL seeking to make rape law
gender-neutral
New Delhi:Centre has opposed in the Delhi High
Court a PIL for making IPC sections pertaining to rape gender-neutral, saying
the perpetrators are mostly men and therefore, the legislation has been enacted
to check the rising number of sexual offences against women.Ministry of Home
Affairs, in its additional affidavit before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel
and Justice C Hari Shankar, said sections have been enacted after due
deliberation and widescale consultations. ministry was responding to a PIL by
Sanjjiiv K kumaar, who has said that “IPC 375 and IPC 376, in current form,
which is gender specific and not gender neutral, doesn’t secure males and thus
doesn’t stand the constitutional test and fails in Right to Privacy”.Kumaar, an
activist, had also pointed that as per the recent apex court ruling on Right to
Privacy, both male and female have equal protection of law under the
Constitution. The petition said no one can claim special privilege if the
perpetrator of the crime is a female and she is immune to criminal action.indianexpress
Karnataka: 4 students gangrape dalit girl,
share video, 5 held
Mangaluru: 5 students of a private college in Dakshina
Kannada district have been arrested on charges of raping a Dalit girl in March
this year.The incident came to light after a number of video clips of the
incident were shared on the social media and messaging applications, Mangaluru
Police said. All the 5 accused are 19 years of age and have been charged with
gangrape. 18-year-old girl knew one of the accused who went to the same college
where the victim is pursuing her studies. According to police reports, all 4
accused took the girl to a forested area in their car in the first week of
March this year. They drugged and raped her there and recorded the entire
incident. They also threatened the girl not to tell anybody about the incident
or they would be shared the video on social media. newsx
Attacks on Gujarat Dalits: Assailants on bail,
parole
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/attacks-on-gujarat-dalits-assailants-on-bail-parole-5813819/
Rajkot:Less than a week ago, Piyush Sarvaiya,
a 29-year-old Dalit from Una town, was assaulted by two men who were among 11
convicted by a special court last November for the murder of his brother in
2012. The two were out on parole and this was a revenge attack for the
punishment handed to them by the court.This was the fourth such case in less
than 2 months in Saurashtra where those accused of murder returned to attack
the family members of their victims or against whom they had a grouse.The
incidents preceding Una were reported from Rajkot, Surendranagar and Botad
districts and each time, the assailants were either out on bail or parole.
Piyush was kicked and slapped, but in the other three incidents, family members
were killed.The motive behind the 3 killings seem to be the waning dominance of
the upper castes in their own village or town. The string of copycat unrelated
murders began on May 22 when 19-year-old Rajesh Sondarva was clubbed to death,
allegedly by men from the Kshatriya community, two of who were arrested for
murdering his father Nanji Sondarva last year. An RTI activist from Manekvada
village in Rajkot, Nanji had filed pleas to expose alleged corruption by the
accused.indianexpress
Family Alleges Fake Encounter after UP Police
Killed 2 ‘Criminals’ in Barabanki
Lucknow:Family members of Zubair and Lomas,
who were killed in a police encounter on 30 June in Barabanki, have alleged
that the duo were slain in a staged encounter. They claimed that the deceased
were not criminals but facing minor charges.But according to the police, Zubair
and Lomas were dreaded criminals who were planning to rob a bank after stealing
a motorcycle from a police station. The Superintendent of Police, Ajay Sahni
claimed that they had cash rewards on their heads and three dozen cases filed
against their names. A police team was also reportedly deputed to nab them, as
they were freely roaming in the district.The duo had fired at inspector Sumit
Shrivastva and Constable Shamsul Hasan, injuring them in the process. Following
this, police retaliated. Both of them suffered heavy casualties in police
firing and were rushed to hospital where they were declared dead. However, the
family offered a completely different version. Calling the encounter fake,
Jubair’s wife Noor Jahan said that the police picked him up from Basura area
where he had gone to take money from somebody. When he did not come back, she
tried calling him repeatedly but couldn’t reach him. They even searched for him
profusely but without success. On Friday, police informed them about his death
and encounter.Zubair on the other hand, was a bangle-vendor, and had reportedly
beat up when he had pushed his father during a ration distribution. Due to
this, Zubair had gone to Jail.Caravan Daily
Delhi temple attack: Don’t know whether temple
was vandalised by Hindu or Muslims, says man involved in parking row
New Delhi:Amid reports of communal tension in
Hauz Qazi of Chandni Chowk after a fight over parking snowballed into the
vandalism of a temple, one of the men involved in the parking row said he was
not sure which community vandalised the temple.I don't know if those who
attacked the temple were Muslims. It's only hearsay that people who attacked
the temple were Muslims. I can’t even recognise them, Sanjeev Kumar told India
Today TV on Wednesday.On what triggered the argument, Sanjeev Kumar said on he
found a bike parked in front of his house on Sunday night following which he
asked the owner of the bike to park the vehicle somewhere else. This led to a
scuffle,he said.Reiterating that there was no intention to give the Hauz Qazi
incident a communal colour, Sanjeev said, I don't know if the man [bike owner]
was a Muslim or Hindu. Accusing the politicians of giving the incident a
communal tone, Sanjeev Kumar said, Politicians end up giving communal colour to
everything. Whether it is AAP, Congress or BJP, there is no
exception.indiatoday
Hauz Qazi: Muslim body to bear the expenses to
renovate vandalised temple
New Delhi: In an attempt to restore peace in
the city’s Hauz Qazi area, both the communities met and decided to put an end
to the tension which arose two days ago after a parking dispute snowballed into
a communal clash. Jamshed Siddiqui, who was heading Muslim community, said: “We
have spoken to each other on the issue and decided that Aman Committee would
bear the expenses to renovate the vandalised temple.” IANS
Custodial death of 2 Muslims in Bihar: SC rejects
plea for SIT probe, asks petitioner to move HC
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has rejected a
plea that had sought an SIT probe into custodial death of 2 Muslim youths, and
asked petitioner to move the Patna High Court. A bench headed by CJI Ranjan
Gogoi rejected the plea filed by ex IAS officer Sajjad Hasan on behalf of civil
rights group ‘Citizens Against Hate’.The police had picked Gufran Alam, 30, and
Taslim Ansari, 32, from their homes in East Champaran district on March 6 this
year in a case of alleged theft and murder case. Police took them to Sitamarhi
district and next day informed their families about their death. They had been
brutally tortured in the custody and even nails had been hammered into their
bodies.India Tomorrow
DJs playing only bhajan will be allowed in
Kanwar Yatra, no filmy songs, rules Yogi govt
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar
Pradesh has said that DJs will be allowed during Kanwar Yatra only if they play
bhajan and not filmy songs. A strict action will be taken against those who are
found violating this instruction.This decision was taken during chief minister
Adityanath’s meeting with the administration and Police department officials at
Lok Bhawan, Lucknow."DJs will not be banned during the 'Kavan Yatra' but
they should only play bhajans. No filmy song is allowed," an official
statement from CMO's office read.nationalheraldindia
On action against Hafiz Saeed, MEA says Pak
trying to hoodwink international community
NewDelhi:Pakistan is trying to hoodwink the
international community with its “cosmetic” steps against terror groups,
External Affairs Ministry said. MEA’s response came after Pakistan claimed that
it had “booked” Hafiz Saeed and 12 of his close associates for “terrorism
financing” in 23 cases, amidst growing global pressure on Islamabad to act against
militant groups launching deadly attacks in India.“Pakistan is trying to
hoodwink the international community on taking action against terror
groups.“Let us not get fooled by cosmetic steps against terror groups by
Pakistan,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters in New Delhi.PTI
Saeed, his aides to be arrested ‘very soon’:
Pak cop
Lahore : JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and 12 of his
close aides will be arrested “very soon”, police said on Thursday, a day after
Pakistani authorities booked them for committing multiple offences of terrorism
financing and money laundering.CTD has booked (13) leaders of JuD and other
proscribed organisations on the charges of terror financing. As FIRs have been
registered the suspects will be arrested shortly,”Punjab police spokesperson
Niyab Haider Naqvi told PTI. When asked as to why CTD has not yet arrested
Saeed and others despite their nomination in FIRs, Naqvi said: “In first, FIR
is registered against a suspect and then he is arrested. Saeed and others
nominated in FIRs will also be arrested subsequently.”A source in the Imran
Khan Govt told PTI that the Punjab police are waiting a go-ahead from the “top”
to lay hand on Saeed.PTI
India has asked Pak to protect Hindus, stop
targeting dissidents in Balochistan: MEA
Indian Govt has from time to time recommended
to Pakistan to take steps for preventing 'conversions and marriages of
minorities' including Hindu,Sikh and Christian women and stop targeting
political dissidents in Balochistan, Lok Sabha was informed."India has
recommended to Pakistan, inter alia, to end forced conversions and marriages of
minorities, including Hindu, Sikh and Christian women, and prosecute all cases;
to stop targeting political dissidents and legitimate criticism in Sindh,
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," Minister of State for External
Affairs V Muraleedharan said in Lok Sabha.UNI
‘Pak using Kartarpur to back Khalistani agenda’
Chandigarh: Indian intelligence agencies
apprehend that Pakistan is more concerned and interested in opening of the
Kartarpur Sahib corridor because it wants to exploit Sikh sentiments to support
the Khalistani agenda in India. The security agencies also apprehend that after
opening of the corridor, Sikh radicalization will be increased manifold in the
state of Punjab. These observations were made by top security agencies of the
country in meeting held few months ago to discuss issues related to management
of border in Punjab. Kartarpur corridor will be operational for the 550th birth
anniversary of Guru Nanak falling in Nov this year. More than 45% of work on
the Indian side has been completed on the corridor despite the detailed
apprehensions of the security agencies. India and Pakistan will meet at Wagah
on July 14 for a second round of meeting to finalise the modalities of the
corridor. 3 technical level meetings have been held in Dera Baba Nanak between
the two countries after first meeting on March 14. TOI
Talks on Kashmir can be held only at highest
level: Hurriyat
New Delhi:Even as Modi Govt has articulated
its intent to address the festering Kashmir issue — both houses of Parliament
have seen a substantive debate on this — the Hurriyat Conference has indicated
its willingness for a dialogue with the Centre but with the caveat that
meaningful talks can only be held at the highest political level.“It is better
to have a dialogue at the level of the home minister and prime minister, like
we did during (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee’s time,” Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq said.When asked why the separatists were not talking to Dineshwar
Sharma,interlocutor appointed by NDA Govt, Mirwaiz said his mandate was not
clear and that political talks would be more meaningful than a dialogue at the
bureaucratic level. Sharma is former director of IB.Vajpayee Govt had made
headlines for several rounds of talks with the Hurriyat Conference in 2004,
when it even granted leaders of the separatist group passports and signalled
that they could simultaneously hold talks with Pakistani establishment. “Vajpayee
realised that the Kashmir problem needs a peaceful, political engagement. Modi
has won a strong mandate and he should hold talks within the ambit of
humanity,” Mirwaiz said, referring to Vajpayee’s offer of looking at Jammu and
Kashmir through the prism of “Kashmiriyat, jhamooriyat and insaniyaat.”HT
India says Iran oil imports not stopped
New Delhi :Indicating that there is still some
confusion in India’s position on stopping oil imports from Iran in line with
sanctions by the US, the Govt said on Wednesday that it does not propose to
cancel trade, including oil imports, from Iran.Replying to a question on
whether the Govt would “withdraw or discontinue” trade with Iran, Minister of
State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said, “No.” thehindu
Israeli company slammed for putting Gandhi’s
image on its liquor bottles; brewery apologises
An Israeli company apologised after they were
criticised for using the image of Mahatma Gandhi on their liquor bottles. The
incident was brought to light when Rajya Sabha members expressed concern over a
picture of the Father of the Nation being used on liquor bottles of the Israeli
company. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asked External Affairs minister S Jaishankar
to look into the matter and take immediate appropriate action.The brewery
apologised to the ‘people and the Govt of India for hurting’ their sentiments.
Clarifying their position, the manufacturers said that their intention was to
“honour Mahatma Gandhi”, who was the only non-Israeli face on the limited
edition bottles along with 3 ex PMs– David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir and Menachem
Begin. Theodor Herzl, The father of Zionism, was the fifth prominent figure on
the limited edition bottles.indianexpress
Haj quota has increased by 63980 in last 5 yrs:
Naqvi
Haj quota has been increased by 63,980 in last
5 years, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.PTI
Provided scholarships to more than 3 crore
minority students during last five years: Naqvi
WORLD
UNSC fails to condemn airstrike in Libya
UN Security Council has failed to condemn a
recent airstrike in Libya because US would not support the statement's text,
according to multiple reports.The council met behind closed doors for two hours
to discuss the attack, which took place Tuesday, on a migrant detention center
in Tajoura suburb of the country's capital, Tripoli, which killed at least 44
people and injured 130 others.The emergency meeting was called by Peru, which
holds the council presidency in July. UK reportedly circulated a statement that
condemned the attack and called for a ceasefire and return to political
talks.But US diplomats did not approve the statement, saying they would need
word from Washington to be able to vote in favor of it, according to
reports.Libya’s Govt of National Accord (GNA) blamed the airstrike on commander
Khalifa Haftar's forces.UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was outraged
over the attack and called for an independent investigation.US State Department
condemned the attack but did not call for a ceasefire.Anadolu Agency
Libya migrant centre attack may amount to war
crime: UN envoy
Egypt court orders release of Qaradawi’s
daughter
An Egyptian court has ordered the release of
the daughter of Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the former head of International
Union of Muslim Scholars, under “precautionary measures” 2 years after her
arrest. “Precautionary measures” means that the defendant should surrender
himself to the police station at his residence on a periodical basis. Public
Prosecutor now has 24 hours to appeal the decision to release 56-year-old Ola
before she can leave detention, if an appeal is submitted she will continue to
be held.Ola’s family had called for her and her husband Hossam Khalaf, to be
released after they completed two years of pre-trial detention.Her daughter, Ayah,
said that her parents completed two years in pre-trial detention “without any
charge or evidence of their guilt”.“We have hope, Ayah added, that they will be
released at the next hearing in accordance with Egyptian law, in reference to
their 2 years of pre-trial detention.”In June 2017, Ola and Hosam, 58, were
arrested by the Egyptian authorities after they were accused of “belonging to
an illegal group, Muslim Brotherhood, and planning to carry out terror
operations targeting state security and institutions.”
Daughter
al-Qaradawi given supervised release after 2 years in Egyptian prison
Rights group: 3,185 extrajudicial killings in
Egypt since 2013
Arab Organisation for Human Rights (AOHR) said
as many as 3,185 civilians have been killed by Egyptian security forces outside
the frame of law since 3 July 2013.The group explained in a report that the
victims included 2,194 people who were killed during the Egyptian security
forces’ attacks on peaceful gatherings, most notably the dispersal of two
sit-ins in the Rabaa and Al-Nahda squares on 14 Aug.2013, and 766 people who
had died in detention centres, including 122 people who died as a result of
torture, 516 people who died as a result of medical negligence, 37 due to
overcrowding and poor conditions in detention and 91 people due to corruption
of the detention facilities’ administrations.“In the six years since July 3,
2013, in Egypt, the human rights situation has been continually declining in an
unprecedented manner. Security forces have practiced all forms of violations
under the climate of complete impunity,”UK-based body said in its report titled
“Six Years of Impunity”.middleeastmonitor
Rights group calls for international
investigation into Sisi regime
Pak PM To Meet Taliban Leaders Soon
Pakistan's PM Imran Khan will soon meet with
leaders of the Taliban in an attempt to push forward an otherwise sluggish
peace process in war-ravaged Afghanistan, his adviser on political affairs
said."Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet the Taliban leaders soon for the
peaceful resolution of the Afghan crisis and the Afghan Govt has also shown its
consent in this regard," Naeem ul Haq was quoted as saying by state-run
Radio Pakistan while addressing a conference in the capital, Islamabad.Haq said
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan late last month had helped
build confidence between the two neighbors.Anadolu Agency
Pakistan gets $6 billion lifeline from IMF
Executive Board of IMF has approved a
three-year, $6 billion bailout package for cash-strapped Pakistan, adviser to
Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh confirmed.Executive Board
has already released $1bn to Pakistan under the country’s 13th IMF programme.
Islamabad will receive $2bn annually under an extended fund facility (EFF),
reports said. With the loan package, Pakistan will be able to rein in mounting
debts and stave off a looming balance of payments crisis.Confirming the
approval of the loan, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said the financial support
aims to return sustainable growth to the country’s economy and improve the
standards of living. NewsX
Erdogan: US scrapping F-35 jet deal with
Turkey would be robbery
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said it
would be "robbery" for US to deny Turkey the F-35 fighter jets it has
bought, according to remarks published in Turkish media."If you have a
customer and that customer is making payments like clockwork, how can you not
give that customer their goods? The name of that would be robbery," said Erdogan,
as Turkey faces potential US sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400
missile system. He said that Turkey had so far paid $1.4bn for F-35s and that
four jets had been handed over, with Turkish pilots going to the US for
training.aljazeera
Turkey protests with UNO, Geneva over PKK deal
Geneva:Turkey has lodged protests with UN's
Geneva office for signing deal with PKK terror group and Switzerland for giving
entry to the terrorists, officials said today. The protest notes came after UN
Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba’s meeting
with PKK terrorist Ferhat Abdi Sahin -- who commands SDF, a label used by the
terrorist group PKK/YPG -- to sign an "action plan" at UNO in Geneva
without the knowledge of the members.In the protest notes, Turkey's permanent
mission to the UN office at Geneva documented that Sahin was sought by the
Interpol with a red notice.The permanent mission also got in touch with the
office of Geir O. Pedersen, the UN's special envoy for Syria, on whether they
had knowledge about the "action plan".Anadolu Agency
Israel Supreme Court throws out petition for
Palestinian child prisoners to call parents
Israel’s Supreme Court has refused to hear a
petition filed by a human rights organisation which requested that Palestinian
child prisoners be allowed to call their parents while in detention.Israeli
non-profit “HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual” filed the
petition to the Supreme Court, arguing against Israeli procedures which subject
those Palestinian minors classified as “security prisoners” to the same
restrictions as adult prisoners. This includes refusing them permission to call
their parents while in detention, which HaMoked argues can cause severe
psychological damage to the children.However, the Supreme Court on Monday
dismissed the petition, claiming the case should have first been brought to a
lower court on behalf of one or more specific prisoners.middleeastmonitor
Flash: views & NEWS
Economists could borrow from weatherman: Economy
growing at 7% but feels like it is 4!Malay Sengupta
Response of the media, liberals and civil
society to lynching leaves questions unanswered:Mohammad Sajjad
Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bhavani, Jai Aai Ahom, Jai
Bhim: No one slogan fits India:Sujata Anandan
How BJP is Changing the Contours of Kashmir
Conflict and Politics:Zafar Aafaq
Why the Bombay HC Judgment on Maratha
Reservation Is Inherently Flawed:Ajaz Ashraf
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq
(Released at: 7:00 PM)
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