18 AUG. 2019:
16 ZilHajj 1440:Vol: 11, No:268
INDIA
India plans big detention camps for migrants. Muslims
are afraid: New York Times
Over 4 million people in India, mostly Muslims,
are at risk of being declared foreign migrants as Govt pushes a hard-line Hindu
nationalist agenda that has challenged the country’s pluralist traditions and
aims to redefine what it means to be Indian.The hunt for migrants is unfolding
in Assam, a poor, hilly state near the borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Many of people whose citizenship is now being questioned were born in India and
have enjoyed all rights of citizens, such as voting in polls. State authorities
are rapidly expanding foreigner tribunals and planning to build huge new
detention camps. Hundreds of people have been arrested on suspicion of being a
foreign migrant — including a Muslim veteran of Indian Army. Local activists
and lawyers say the pain of being left off a preliminary list of citizens and
the prospect of being thrown into jail have driven dozens to suicide.But governing
party of PM Narendra Modi is not backing
down.Instead, it is vowing to bring this campaign to force people to prove they
are citizens to other parts of India, part of a far-reaching Hindu nationalist
program fueled by Modi’s sweeping re-poll victory in May and his stratospheric
popularity. Members of Muslim minority are growing more fearful by the day.
Assam’s anxiously watched documentation of citizenship —a drive that began
years ago and is scheduled to wrap up on Aug.31— coincides with another setback
for Muslims, this one transpiring more than a thousand miles away. Less than 2
weeks ago, Modi unilaterally wiped out statehood of India’s only
Muslim-majority state,J&K, removing its special autonomy and turning it
into a federal territory without any consultation with local leaders — many of
whom have since been arrested. Among Modi’s critics, events in Assam and
Kashmir are Exhibits A and B in their conviction that PM is using the early months of his 2nd
term to push most forceful and divisive Hindu nationalist agenda ever attempted
in India and to fundamentally reconfigure the concept of Indian identity to be
synonymous with being Hindu. Many Indians, on both sides of the political
divide,see Assam and Kashmir as harbingers of the direction Modi will take this
nation of 1.3 billion people in the coming years. The stated purpose of the
citizenship dragnet in Assam is to find undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh
— a predominantly Muslim country to its south. Amit Shah, India’s powerful home
minister, has repeatedly referred to those immigrants as “termites.’’All of 33
million residents of Assam have had to prove, with documentary evidence,that
they or their ancestors were Indian citizens before early 1971,when Bangladesh
was established. That is not easy. Many families are racing to get their hands
on a decades-old property deed or fraying birth certificate with an ancestor’s
name on it. Modi’s critics say he is playing a dangerous game and pulling apart
the diverse, delicate social fabric that has existed in India for
centuries.What is happening in Assam and Kashmir “is an assault on the very
imagination of India, of the freedom struggle, of the Constitution, of the idea
of a country in which everyone belongs equally,”said Harsh Mander, ex civil
servant turned human rights activist. Ashutosh Varshney, head of Brown
University’s South Asia program, said that India “in all probability and unless
checked is headed toward a Hindu nationalist, majoritarian state.” With the
political opposition in total disarray and all Govt agencies — especially bureaucracy
and security apparatus— firmly in Modi’s hands, Varshney said only hope for
India’s secular democracy is in the courts. But, he cautioned, “Judiciary might
well surrender.”Even a streak of alarming headlines in recent weeks, including
big job losses in the auto sector, deadly flooding across the country and a new
outbreak of violence by Hindu mobs against Muslims, hasn’t dented Modi’s
popularity. Outsiders may wonder how any political movement in India could
question Muslims’ contribution to society. India is a thoroughly multicultural
place, and Muslims have contributed for centuries, even ruling the country at
times. But since Modi took office in 2014, Govt bodies have rewritten history
books, lopping out sections on Muslim rulers, and changed official place names
to Hindu from Muslim. Hindu mobs have lynched dozens of Muslims; participants
are rarely punished. Assam state Govt sends suspected foreign migrants to
foreigner tribunals, a growing network of over 100 small courts where onus is
on the suspects to provide the proof that Govt is demanding.
Foreign investors pull out Rs 8,319 crore in
Aug amid persisting negative sentiment
New Delhi:Foreign investors pulled out Rs.8,319
crore on a net basis from capital markets in the first half of Aug,continuing
their selling spree in Indian market amid uncertainty over FPI tax and global
trade worries. According to depository data, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs)
sold equities worth ₹10,416.25 crore on a net basis during Aug.1-16
period.FPIs, however, invested a net ₹2,096.38 crore in debt securities during
the period.So far in Aug, FPIs have been net sellers for 9 out of 10 trading
sessions, indicating “extreme negative sentiment”, Himanshu Srivastava, senior
analyst manager research at Morningstar said.In July, FPIs had withdrawn a net
sum of ₹2,985.88 crore from the Indian capital markets (both equity and
debt).“Prevailing uncertainty over higher tax on FPI has negatively impacted
foreign investors.They have been exiting Indian equities ever since the higher
surcharge, or ‘super rich’, tax was introduced in the budget announced on July
5th,”Srivastava added.Besides, a mix of unconducive domestic and global factors
have also contributed towards this exodus of foreign funds from the Indian
equity markets in July as well as in Aug. While there has been a marked
slowdown in India’s economic activity, a sub-par monsoon and weak earning
season have made matters worse.IANS
J&K ISSUE
About 4,000 people arrested in Kashmir since
Aug 5: govt sources to AFP
Srinagar:Thousands of people have been detained
in Kashmir over fears of outbreaks of unrest after BJP Govtstripped of the
special status to the State 2 weeks ago, govt sources told AFP.A magistrate
speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said at least 4,000 people were
arrested and held under PSA, a controversial law that allows authorities to
imprison someone for up to 2 years without charge or trial.“Most of them were
flown out of Kashmir because prisons here have run out of capacity,” magistrate
said, adding that he had used a satellite phone allocated to him to collate the
figures from colleagues across the State amid a communications blackout imposed
by authorities. Authorities have repeatedly declined to provide a tally of how
many people have been taken into custody, apart from confirming more than 100
local politicians, activists and academics were detained in the first few days
after the state was stripped of its semi-autonomous status. They said the “few
preventive detentions” were made to avoid a "breach of the peace" in
a region that has fought an armed rebellion against Indian rule for three
decades. J&K Govt spokesman Rohit Kansal said previously there was “no
centralised figure” for the total number of people detained. But AFP spoke to
numerous Govtofficials in Srinagar, including police and security personnel,
who confirmed the sweeping arrests.A police official who asked to remain
anonymous told AFP “around 6,000 people were medically examined at a couple of
places in Srinagar after they were detained”.Another security official said
"thousands are jailed" but that the figure did not include other
residents whose detentions at police stations had not been recorded.AFP
India reimposes some curbs on movement, phones in
J&K:Reuters
Authorities reimposed restrictions on movement in
major parts of Kashmir’s biggest city, Srinagar, today after violent overnight
clashes between residents and police in which dozens were injured, 2 senior
officials and eyewitnesses said.They also reversed a decision to allow internet
and mobile phone use in parts of the Jammu region, according to one official,
amid concerns about the spread of rumors online.In the past 24 hours, there has
been a series of protests against New Delhi’s Aug. 5 revocation of J&K
state’s autonomy. This followed an easing in curbs on movement and phone use on
Saturday morning.The state govt has said that it has not imposed a curfew over
the past two weeks, but on Sunday people were being turned back at multiple
roadblocks set up in the city in the past few hours. Security forces at some
roadblocks have told residents there is a curfew.2 senior officials told
Reuters that at least 2 dozen people were admitted to hospitals with pellet
injuries after violent clashes broke out in the old city on Saturday night.One
of the official sources said that people pelted security forces with stones in
around two dozen places across Srinagar. reuters
Rajnath turns focus on PoK after Pak needles India
on Kashmir
New Delhi:Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has continued to signal the
country's tough stand to Pakistan, suggesting that should bilateral talks
happen, it would not be on J&K, but Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir - the
territory under Pakistan's control since it invaded the state in 1947."If
talks are held with Pakistan, it will now be on PoK," Singh said in
Haryana, where assembly elections are expected in Oct.He also reiterated the
govt's position that Islamabad's support to terror must stop before a dialogue
can be held.The minister's comment came days after he said that India reserves
the right to revoke its 'No First Use' pledge - the cornerstone of its nuclear
weapons policy for decades. It was seen as a reaction to Pakistan's move to
raise the govt's decision on J&K in various international forums. The
minister underscored the point today.ndtv
Imran Khan: World must seriously consider safety
of India’s nuclear arsenal under Modi govt
2 days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
hinted that India’s “no first use” for nuclear weapons might not be etched in
stone, Pakistan PM Imran Khan has expressed concern about the “safety and
security of India’s nuclear arsenal” under the control of the “fascist, racist
Hindu supremacist” Modi Govt and urged
the international community to take notice.“The world must also seriously
consider the safety and security of India’s nuclear arsenal in control of the
fascist, racist Hindu supremacist Modi govt. This is an issue that impacts not
just the region but the world,” Khan tweeted. PM’s remarks come a day after Pakistani
Army claimed that it was possible India could launch an attack to divert global
attention from Kashmir, which has once again become a fresh flashpoint between
the two nations since the revocation of J&K’s special status earlier this
month.For 2nd time in a week, Imran once again sought to bring the
attention of global community to unprecedented communication blackout in
Kashmir since Aug.5, saying the matter “should have sent alarm bells ringing
across the world with UN observers being sent there”.“India has been captured,
as Germany had been captured by Nazis, by a fascist, racist Hindu supremacist
ideology and leadership. This threatens nine million Kashmiris under siege for
over 2 weeks which should have sent alarm bells ringing across the world with
UN observers being sent there,” he said. Upping the ante against RSS, Khan
said,“One can simply Google to understand the link between the Nazi ideology
and ethnic cleansing and genocide ideology of RSS-BJP founding fathers.” “Already
4 million Indian Muslims face detention camps and cancellation of citizenship.
The world must take note as this genie is out of the bottle and the doctrine of
hate and genocide, with RSS goons on the rampage, will spread unless the
international community acts now to stop it,” he said.indianexpress
‘I see no future (for Omar, Sajad, Mufti)… Story
has ended for those thriving in vacuum, 8%turnouts’: Jitendra Singh
New Delhi :MoS, PMO, Jitendra Singh says curbs in
J&K are nothing new and should not be seen through prism of Art 370, says
questioning J&K Reorganisation Bill is questioning will of Parliament, and
says scene in Valley will change once ‘shroud of fear’ is lifted. Responding to
a question that the Home Minister has said that the politics of J&K has
been appropriated by 3 families. But these leaders will be let out from
preventive detention at some point.A lot of them are young politicians, such as
Sajad Lone, Omar Abdullah, Shah Faesal…Do you see a future for them in Kashmir
politics?, Singh replied, "No, no. Actually I don’t see any future for
them. They are also realising that their political innings has come to an end.
It is only some section of the media that wants to see some future, so that the
story can carry on. Story has ended. For these handful of politicians who have
survived, thrived and flourished in an atmosphere of vacuum, with 8, 10 per cent
voter turnout, which enabled them to make it to the Lok Sabha, to make it to
the state Assembly, to form state govts, generation after generation, for 3-4
generations, and thus perpetuate their dynasty rule… They tried to make the
whole country and the world believe that if we are not there, there will be no
one to take up the political responsibility. I say this with full confidence,
that the commonman, regardless of whether he is a Hindu or Muslim, on the
streets of Srinagar, is rejoicing in his heart of hearts… Just let the
atmosphere open up, and just let the enormous benefits that had eluded him
because of Article 370 (come in)… I think if you are objective observers, you
will realise that now we are not dealing with 3-4 names that you are saying — one
or 2 of them have never even contested polls."indianexpress
Former J&K interlocutor, ex military officers
go to SC against Kashmir Move
New Delhi :A group of petitioners which includes
Radha Kumar, who was a member of the panel of interlocutors on J&K
appointed by central Govt in 2010, has approached the Supreme Court to
challenge the amendments to Article 370 revoking the special status of J&K,
and Bill that reorganised the state into two Union Territories. The petition
says the amendments “strike at the heart of the principles on which the State
of J&K integrated into India… especially as they had no
affirmation/sanction from the people of J&K”, which “is a constitutional
imperative as far as the State of J&K is concerned”.The petition says the
amendments “strike at the heart of the principles on which the State of J&K
integrated into India… especially as they had no affirmation/ sanction from the
people of J&K”, which “is a constitutional imperative as far as State of
J&K is concerned”. Other petitioners are Hindal Haidar Tyabji, a former chief
secretary of J&K, Air Vice Marshal (retd) Kapil Kak, Major General (retd)
Ashok Kumar Mehta, Amitabha Pande,ex Secretary of Inter State Council, and ex
Union Home Secretary, Gopal Pillai.indianexpress
Kashmir move spells trouble for other states: BBC
PM Narendra Modi has always fashioned himself as
an advocate of federalism - someone who believes in giving the country's states
more independence.But last week's revocation of special status to J&K and the move to split it into 2 union
territories, is being seen by many as a major weakening of India's federal
structure. Sumantra Bose, a professor of international and comparative politics
at the London School of Economics, calls them "glorified municipalities of
Delhi".By revoking the special status of J&K, ostensibly to put it on
the same footing as the rest of India, Modi's govt, in the words of one
commentator, has "upset India's delicate federal balance". Many
believe the revocation of special status from Kashmir- without consulting local
people and political leaders and implemented when the state was under direct
rule - is another taint on India's federal record."The single biggest
significance of this move is that we are moving towards a unitary state, and
abrogation of democratic principles.This is weakening federalism in India.
People are so busy celebrating the move that they don't seem to get the big
picture,"Navnita Chadha Behera, ex visiting scholar at the Brookings
Institution and the author of Demystifying Kashmir, told me."What is more
worrying is this can happen to any other state. The federal Govtcan dissolve a
state government, ride roughshod over the consultative process, split the state
and downgrade its status. Also worrying is the near-complete collapse of
resistance to the move with most of the civil society, media and regional
parties remaining silent or protesting very feebly."Yamini Aiyar believes
"federalism, which the framers of India's constitution saw as necessary to
India's democracy, today has far fewer takers than it did in 1947. This is
dangerous for India's democracy".BBC
Modi Playing Dangerous Game:US Media
New York:US print and electronic media has given
prominent coverage to reports about Friday’ UN Security Council meeting on the
grave situation in Kashmir, amid continued criticism of India’s decision to
scrap the state’s special status.Top US newspapers continue to denounce Indian PM
Narendra Modi’s illegal action in
revoking Kashmir’s special autonomous status, with Saturday’s Washington Post
saying, “Modi has stoked Kashmir’s anger and stained India’s democracy.”The
newspapers also carried reports of the telephonic conversation between PM Imran
Khan and US President Donald Trump on the situation in Kashmir.caravandaily
India studying early Chinese proposals on
boundary issue
22nd round of India-China Special Representatives
dialogue on the boundary issue will take place in New Delhi in mid-Sept. NSA
Ajit Doval is evaluating the “early harvest” proposals sent by Beijing to build
trust between 2 sides ahead of meeting.Dates for the meeting between Doval and
Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi, the interlocutors, haven’t yet been
finalised, HT learns from Chinese and Indian diplomats.The foreign ministers
dialogue on Aug.11-13 in Beijing and Special Representative talks are precursors
to Oct.11-12 informal summit between PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi
Jinping in India for which Varanasi is being considered as the potential
venue.Senior Chinese diplomats said Beijing was very serious about getting the
longstanding boundary issues with both India and Bhutan out of the way, and
that Wang had sent “early harvest” proposals to India.Neither side is willing
to share the contents of the proposals. However, Beijing, as indicated by HT’s
conversations with Chinese diplomats, is showing no signs of changing any
positions with New Delhi, be it India’s membership of NSG or full political
support to its “all weather ally” Pakistan.HT
Magsaysay winner says he was put under house
arrest thrice, Lucknow DM denies charge
New Delhi :Refuting Ramon Magsaysay award
winning-social activist Sandeep Pandey’s claims of being put under house arrest
on three occasions in the past week, the Lucknow administration on Sunday said
he was neither put under house arrest nor detained,PTI reported. Last week,
Pandey alleged that he was briefly put under house arrest to prevent him from
taking part in a dharna in Lucknow against scrapping of J&K’s special
status.The activist claimed they were again prevented from going to Ayodhya for
a two-day programme on communal amity on Saturday.“In the past week, we have
been stopped thrice by the police and administration from freely expressing our
views. I was put under house arrest on three occasions (Aug.11, 16 and 17),”
PTI quoted Pandey as saying.Criticising the alleged “stalling” of their
programmes, Pandey said it seemed as if “there was a ban on the freedom of
expression”. Last Sunday, Pandey and several other activists, including
advocate Mohammad Shoaib,had planned a demonstration at Gandhi statue in
Hazratganj. DM Kaushal Sharma rubbished the claims.indianexpress
Crackdown on activists continues in UP
Activists allege censorship by Centre after Press
Club prevented them from sharing Kashmir footage
A group of activists who visited J&K earlier
this week after the state lost its special status on Saturday reiterated their
claim that Press Club of India (PCI) in New Delhi had barred them from showing
visuals they recorded in the region on Wednesday reportedly because they were
“under pressure”. Club’s managing committee had on Friday said that there were
certain logistical problems due to which they were unable to provide the
facilities required to show footage.The group includes activist and CPI (M-L)
member Kavita Krishnan, economist Jean Dreze, Maimoona Mollah of AIDWA and
Vimal Bhai of NAPM. They visited different parts of the state such as Srinagar,
Sopore, Bandipora, Anantnag, Pulwama and Pampore from Aug 9 to Aug 13.“We all
stand by the statement that permission to screen this short video report at PCI
on 14 August was denied, reportedly under pressure,” the statement by the
activists said. “Our quarrel is not and was not with PCI,but with Govt of India
that is seeking to censor such spaces. We need to unitedly resist such
censorship.”The group appealed for sustained solidarity initiatives with the
people of J&K and also with the ones who are facing harassment,
intimidation, censorship and house arrest for protesting against Centre’s
treatment of the people of the state.They said they object to the misleading
and hostile comments by PM Modi, Govt and
certain media outlets against the ones speaking on the “clampdown on democracy”
in the region.scroll
OTHERS
Pehlu lynching: Justice Chandrachud says cases
monitored by courts have shown ‘better outcome’
Justice DY Chandrachud on Saturday said cases in
which investigations were monitored by courts have shown a better outcome, PTI
reported. Chandrachud was speaking in connection with the Pehlu Khan lynching
case, in which all 6 accused were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence by
a court in Alwar earlier this week.“We see this repeatedly... This is one of
the great torments of being a judge to have to decide on the basis of evidence
as it stands,” the Supreme Court judge said at Literature Live Independence Day
lecture in Mumbai on “Imagining Freedom through Art”.“And then you find the
investigation by the police has been woefully inadequate either deliberately or
just as a matter of incompetence, that it is going to result in acquittal,” he
said. “Cases where courts have been approached at an appropriate stage and have
been able to monitor the investigation have perhaps shown better outcome,”
Chandrachud added.scroll
Freedom’s become an avenue to spew venom on those
who are different, says Justice Chandrachud
Faith in country’s judicial system is firm:Pehlu’s
son
Pehlu Khan’s eldest son Irshad Khan, 28, who
helplessly saw his father mercilessly beaten to death by a mob of cow
vigilantes in April 2017, still hasn’t lost hope. Despite many setbacks,
including the acquittal of all the accused by a local court in Alwar on Aug.14
this year, Irshad still retains immense faith in the judicial system of the
country. “If we lose the case yet again, not only us but the faith of common
man will be strongly shaken,” Irshad says.nationalheraldindia
Congress has lost its way, says Hooda as he backs
govt’s Kashmir move months ahead of polls
New Delhi: Amid speculation of senior Congress
leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda quitting the party to form his own outfit, former
Haryana CM on Sunday expressed his support towards Modi-led govt’s move on
Kashmir and said that he would not compromise with anyone when it came to
patriotism and self-respect.Hitting out further at his parent party, he said Congress
was no more the same it used to be and had lost its way. “When Govt does
something right, I support it. Many of my colleagues opposed the decision to
abrogate Article 370 (of the Constitution)… Our brothers are deployed as
soldiers in Kashmir and hence, I support it.“I was born in a patriotic family.
Those who oppose (abrogation of Article 370), I want to tell them ‘When it’s
about principles and traditions, we should fight for it. What’s alive, must
look alive,” he said.news18
BJP minister doubts vote count in Bareilly, SP
says return to paper ballot
A key minister in Modi Govthas filed a complaint
with the returning officer in his Bareilly Lok Sabha constituency, seeking a
probe into an alleged error in counting of votes during the recent Lok Sabha
polls.The complaint by Santosh Gangwar, an eight-time MP and now Labour and
Employment Minister, says that a particular booth in the Kali Bari locality did
not vote in his favour, despite being a traditional BJP pocket. His complaint
has now gone viral over social media in UP.Gangwar, who has won from Bareilly
in all elections since 1989 except in 2009, filed his complaint on Aug.14 with
DM Virendra Kumar Singh, the returning officer in general elections.In his
complaint letter, Minister said that in booth number 290 (Shishu Bal Sadan)
located in Kali Bari, BJP got only 5 votes while Congress 29 and SP
583.Claiming that there seems to be a "chook" (error) during
counting, he requested a probe into the matter.Gangwar's aide Ramesh Chand
Jain, who now looks after his constituency and had been Minister's additional
Private Secretary earlier, told IANS that a letter in this connection has been
written to the returning officer. "The booth has always been a BJP pocket,
but the numbers of votes in our favour present a different picture," said
Jain, who is perceived to be Gangwar's closest aide in Bareilly.On the other
hand BJP's principal opponent in UP, SP raked up the issue to raise questions
on the credibility of EVM. After an unexpected drubbing at the hands of BJP in
the recent Lok Sabha polls, SP and its allies had raised doubts over
EVMs."Gangwarji is a very honest and senior leader of the BJP. His complaint
should be taken seriously. SP requests Election Commission that all forthcoming
polls in UP should revert to ballot boxes as EVMs credibility is being
repeatedly questioned," said SP leader IP Singh.IANS
Kerala: Muslim outfits plan flood-relief projects
Kozhikode: Muslim organisations have come forward
with plans to help people who sustained heavy losses following floods and
landslides in various parts of the state. Jamaát-e-Islami Hind and Wisdom
Islamic Organisation have decided to spend around Rs 10 crore each for various
reconstruction and relief projects, including the construction of houses and
helping the victims to sustain themselves through various means. After visiting
the affected areas in Malabar, Jamaát-e-Islami Kerala amir MI Abdul Azeez
announced the project worth Rs 10 crore for various reconstruction works.“A
person has offered us 35 cents of land free of cost at Meppadi for the
construction of new houses. We think that around seven houses can be
constructed at the spot for victims,”said Sheikh Muhammad Karakkunnu, secretary
of Jamaát-e-Islami, Kerala. “The volunteers of Ideal Relief Wing are engaged in
relief works at Puthumala and Kavalappara, where landslides struck with great
intensity. We consider it as our religious duty to help the victims,
irrespective of religion or caste,” he said.Jamaát assistant amir P Mujeeb
Rehman said that last year, the organisation had envisaged a Rs25-crore project
for the flood victims. “The project will be over soon and the declaration of
the culmination will be announced on Sept.31. Our initial project for this
year’s victims will be the construction of houses at Meppadi and Kavalappara,”
he said.The state-level meeting of Wisdom Islamic Organisation held on Thursday
also resolved to implement a Rs10-crore project for flood relief. “We are
preparing a detailed plan as per the reports received from different districts
for the construction and repairing of houses, cleaning and repairing of wells,
supply of food and home appliances,” said K Sajjad, general secretary of Wisdom
Youth.TOI
BJP MP Hans Raj Hans wants JNU to be renamed MNU,
says ‘something should be after Modi’s name’
Delhi BJP MP Hans Raj Hans has suggested renaming
JNU after PM Narendra Modi. Speaking on govt’s decision on Kashmir, Punjabi
singer, during his visit to university, said,“JNU should be renamed to
MNU.”“Pray that everyone remains peaceful. We are paying for the mistakes of
our ancestors. I suggest we name it (JNU) MNU.There should be something under
Modi’s name too, he said.JNU, founded in 1969, was named after India’s first PM
Jawaharlal Nehru.indian express
Arm bands bring caste wars to school turf in T.
Nadu
On July 31 this year, a circular from Director of
School Education sent to senior educational officers across the State stated
that in some schools students were made to wear colour-coded wrist bands and
also sport forehead tilaks as “caste markers” and further instructed officials
to stop such practices immediately.A day after it was published in the media
last week, School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan told the media that he
was not aware of any such circular. Claiming that it had been issued without
his knowledge, Minister said it had originally come from Adi Dravidar and
Tribal Welfare Department and that he had instructed officials in his
Department “not to implement” it.But, ambiguity remains over the circular.
While a senior official in School Education Department said on Friday evening
that the Minister had been misquoted and that the circular still held good, the
Minister had a different stand. “Whatever existed before circular will
continue,” said Sengottaiyan. However, he maintained that AIADMK Govtwould take
action if there were complaints about such discriminatory practices. “There is
no such practice in 99% of the schools, but there may be a few incidents, which
we will look into.”The entire episode unfolded after IAS trainees at Lal
Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, following media
reports, debated topic and eventually handed over a representation to the govt.
But, what has caught everyone’s attention is the Minister’s oral order not to
implement the circular.thehindu
PM’s Bhutan visit: Slew of MoUs inked
New Delhi :On his first visit to Bhutan in his
second term, PM Narendra Modi met
Bhutan’s PM Lotay Tshering on Saturday,
and promised that India’s support for Bhutan’s five-year plans would continue
in the future, based on Thimphu’s priorities.After the talks, Modi said, “India
is fortunate to be one of the key partners of Bhutan. India’s support for
Bhutan’s five-year plans will continue in the future as based on your wishes
and priorities.” Modi, who is on his second visit to Bhutan, and the first
since his re-election in May this year, inaugurated the 740 MW Mangdechhu
hydroelectric power plant, and launched stamps to commemorate five decades of
India-Bhutan hydropower cooperation.“Hydropower is an important area of
cooperation between our two countries. Together, the two countries have
transformed the power of the rivers of Bhutan into not only electricity but
also mutual prosperity. Today we have achieved another historic milestone of this
journey with the inauguration of the Mangdechhu project,” Modi
said.indianexpress
Kalburgi targeted over speech at meet against
superstition, say police
Kannada scholar and writer MM Kalburgi was killed
on August 30, 2015, by a radical right-wing group over a speech he made in June
2014 in which he referenced an essay by Jnanpith award winner UR Ananthamurthy,
a SIT of Karnataka Police has stated.SIT, which filed a chargesheet in a
Dharwad court on Saturday against 6 persons linked to the right-wing Sanatan
Sanstha group for the killing of the scholar, said in a statement that Prof
Kalburgi, 77, was targetted by the group over a June 9, 2014, speech made in
Bengaluru at a conference to debate a law on banning superstitious practices in
Karnataka.“In his keynote speech, he (Kalburgi) had referenced a passage from a
book written by Dr UR Ananthamurthy and had made certain observations,” SIT
said.“On the basis of this speech, the accused persons identified Kalburgi as a
“durjan”(evil person) as preached in Kshatra Dharma Sadhana (a book published
by Sanatan Sanstha). They all jointly hatched a conspiracy to murder Kalburgi
in furtherance of the achievement of their goals and executed it,’’ SIT said in
an official statement placed in chargesheet filed.indianexpress
Indian scriptures mentioned gravity long before
Isaac Newton, claims HRD minister Pokhriyal
Union Minister for HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal has
claimed that Indian scriptures mentioned the concept of gravity long before
physicist Isaac Newton did, ThePrint reported. BJP leader made the remarks in
his address at Gyanotsav, an event organised by RSS-affiliate Shiksha Sanskriti
Utthan Nyas to discuss new education policy. He appealed to the directors of
the Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology to
undertake more research on ancient Indian science.“We need to prove that all
that we keep talking about like Charaka, Aryabhata, they all existed and that
our scriptures mentioned the concept of gravity much before Newton discovered
it,” HRD minister said.scroll
Bihar court convicts 8 in 2015 Ara civil court blast
case
Bihar: A court here in Bihar’s Bhojpur district
convicted eight persons in the 2015 Ara Civil Court bomb blast case on
Saturday.It acquitted three persons, including former MLA Sunil Pandey, in the
case for lack of evidence. Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ)
Tribhuwan Yadav convicted Lambu Sharma, Chand Miyan, Naeem Miyan, Akhilesh
Upadhyaya, Rinku Yadav, Pramod Singh, Shyam Vinay Sharma and Mohammed Wahid in
the case.The court fixed Aug20 for hearing of arguments on the issue of quantum
of sentence. Besides Pandey, other 2 persons acquitted in the case were Sanjay
Sonar and Vijay Sharma. The court also issued a warrant against Chand Miyan,
one of the eight convicts, who did not appear in the court on Saturday. It also
issued orders to attach Chand Miyan’s properties.In 2015, a woman, identified
as Nagina Devi, had come to the court premises as a suicide bomber with a
design to set notorious criminal Lambu Sharma free from custody.PTI
Himachal: 18 killed in rain-related incidents,
schools, colleges to be closed tomorrow
At least 18 people were killed and 9 others
injured as heavy rains lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh Sunday, prompting the
district administration to announce that all educational institutions in Shimla
and Kullu districts would remain closed on Monday.Govt officials told PTI that
eight people died in Shimla, two each in Kullu, Sirmaur, Solan and Chamba and
one each in Una and Lahaul-Spiti districts.Several roads were blocked following
multiple landslides and flash floods. Landslides hit a spot near RTO office in
Shimla, leaving three persons dead and one injured.indianexpress
Kolkata: Son of famous biryani chain owner
arrested for running over 2 Bangladeshis
Kolkata :Son of a popular restaurant chain owner
was arrested after his speeding Jaguar hit a Mercedes and crashed into 3 people
standing close to a police booth, killing two Bangladeshi nationals. The
incident took place on Saturday in Central Kolkata. While one person managed to
save himself the other could not escape. Police said the car allegedly belonged
to the son of the owner of a famous Biryani restaurant chain, Arsalan, in
Kolkata. The accused was initially absconding and later was arrested by police.
“Arsalan Parvez (22) has been arrested. The car which he was driving was
registered to the name of the restaurant chain Arsalan,” said an official.Car was
registered in the year 2017. Parvez after completing his education from the UK
came back to Kolkata about two years ago.indianexpress
WORLD
Israeli fire kills 3 Palestinians in besieged
Gaza Strip
At least three Palestinians have been killed by
Israeli fire in the north of Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health
officials and local media, hours after three rockets were allegedly fired from
the blockaded enclave.Maan news agency said today at least one other
Palestinian suffered "critical" injuries following the overnight
attack.Palestinian Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said that three
bodies had been brought to the Al-Andalusi hospital in the Gaza Strip on Sunday
morning, as well as one person with a serious injury.He identified 3 dead as:Mahmoud
Adel al-Walaidah, 24, Mohammed Farid Abu Namous, 27, and Mohammed Samir
al-Taramsi, 26.Medics said that Israeli forces only allowed Palestinian
ambulances to enter the area hours after the attacks.In a statement issued late
on Saturday, Israeli army said an attack helicopter and tank had fired at
"armed suspects" along the fence that separates Israel from the
besieged Gaza Strip.In an earlier incident on Saturday night, Israeli air raids
hit parts of the northern Gaza Strip, including an open field used to grow
crops, as well as a position belonging to a Gaza-based resistance movement,
according to local media reports. Israeli military said three rockets were
fired from Gaza towards Israel, two of which had been intercepted by its Iron
Dome aerial defence system. There was no immediate comment from any of the
major armed groups in Gaza, including Hamas, group that governs the strip. No
Israelis were hurt.aljazeera
63 dead as bomb rips through wedding in Kabul as US,
Taliban peace talks reach final stages:AFP
Kabul: More than 60 people were killed and scores
wounded in an explosion targeting a wedding in the Afghan capital, authorities
said Sunday, the deadliest attack in Kabul in recent months. The blast, which
took place late Saturday in the city's west, came as Washington and the Taliban
are in the final stages of a deal to reduce US military presence in
Afghanistan. Taliban denied any involvement in the attack. Interior ministry
spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said at least 63 people had been killed and 182
wounded. "Among the wounded are women and children," Rahimi
said.Afghan weddings are epic and vibrant affairs, with hundreds or often
thousands of guests celebrating for hours inside industrial-scale wedding halls
where the men are usually segregated from the women and children. Islamic State
group on Sunday claimed responsibility for the attack. Expectations are rising
for a deal in which the US would start withdrawing its approximately 14,000
soldiers from Afghanistan after a 2-decade war that has turned into a
stalemate. In return, Taliban would commit to various security guarantees,
including that the Islamist hardliners who long harboured Al-Qaeda would not
allow Afghan to once again become a jihadist safe haven.AFP
Leader's bro killing will not derail US talks:Taliban
https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-say-killing-of-leaders-brother-will-not-derail-us-talks-243714
Afghan Taliban officials said the killing of the
brother of their leader in a attack would not derail talks with US aimed at
securing the withdrawal of US troops.Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada was
not in the mosque near the Pakistani city of Quetta when a bomb went off but
his younger brother, Hafiz Ahmadullah, was leading Friday prayers and was among
4 people killed, several Taliban officials have said. There was no claim of
responsibility for the blast that came after both Taliban and US officials have
reported progress in talks on an deal centred on a US troop withdrawal from
Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban security guarantee."If someone
thinks martyring our leaders would stop us from our goal they're living in a
fool's paradise," a Taliban leader said by telephone."We are close to
our goals,” he said, referring to the talks with the US. He declined to be
identified. Both US negotiators and the Taliban have reported progress after 8
rounds of talks since late last year. Top US national security advisers briefed
Trump on Friday on the negotiations.Reuters
Air raids on Syria's Idlib kill family of 7, say
activists
Seven members of one family have been killed in
Syria's Idlib in an escalation of a Russian-backed offensive against the last
major rebel stronghold, according to a war monitor and activists. The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said a woman and her six children were killed
after an air raid hit their home in the village of Deir al-Sharqi in southern
Idlib on Saturday.The children were all under the age of 18 and included a
4-year-old, said the Britain-based war monitor. Their father survived because
he was not home at the time of the bombing, it added. Syria's Civil Defense, a
volunteer rescue group also known as the White Helmets, said Deir al-Sharqi was
hit with four air raids that resulted in the killing of the Hammoud family.By
early afternoon on Saturday, Civil Defense team said it had recorded 31 attacks
in the area, including 18 suspected Russian airstrikes.The deaths in Deir
al-Sharqi came a day after at least 13 people were killed in an air raid on a
displacement camp in the village of al-Haas.aljazeera
Gibraltar refuses US request to seize Iranian
tanker
Gibraltar has refused a request by US to seize an
Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a diplomatic standoff between Tehran and
Europe. British Royal Marines had seized the vessel in Gibraltar in July on
suspicion that it was carrying oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran, in violation
of European Union sanctions.That detention ended last week, but on Friday a US
court issued a warrant for the seizure of the tanker, on the grounds that it
had links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington
has designated a "terrorist" body. Gibraltar's government said on
Sunday it could not comply with the US request because of European law.
UK To Face Fuel, Food And Medicine Shortages In
No-Deal Brexit: Report
London: Britain will face shortages of fuel, food
and medicine if it leaves EU without a transition deal, jamming ports and
requiring a hard border in Ireland, official govt documents leaked to Sunday
Times show. Times said the forecasts compiled by the Cabinet Office set out the
most likely aftershocks of a no-deal Brexit rather than the worst case
scenarios.PM Boris Johnson's office said it did not comment on leaked
documents.The paper said up to 85% of lorries using the main channel crossings
"may not be ready" for French customs, meaning disruption at ports
would potentially last up to three months before the flow of traffic
improves.AFP
'New Sudan': Thousands celebrate as protesters,
army sign deal
Rapturous crowds filled streets of Sudan's
capital, Khartoum, after generals and protest leaders signed a landmark
power-sharing deal paving the way for civilian rule after months of deadly
protests. Thousands of cheering people gathered on Saturday around the
Friendship Hall next to Nile, where the documents that will govern country's
39-month transition were signed. Many had arrived on trains from Sudan's
provinces to take part in the celebrations, which lasted deep into the night,
with people of all ages spilling out of honking cars cruising up and down the
main road that runs along Nile and other parts of Khartoum.aljazeera
Flash:
NEWS,views,Articles
Sangh Sees NRC as a Device to Target Muslims All
Over India: Ajay Gudavarthy, JNU
Economy seems to be last of the concerns of govt
after Operation J&K: P Chidambaram
The radical reformist Savarkar and RSS chief M S
Golwalkar never really got along: Coomi Kapoor
India must be cautious, nuclear wars leave no
victor or vanquished:Barun Das Gupta/IPA
Modi’s ‘population control’ rhetoric and the
Sangh’s confusion:Sujata Anandan
Rajnath and No First Use: Tainting India's Image
as a Responsible Nuclear Power:Prakash Menon
In a First, Russia Talks of UN Resolutions on
Kashmir:Devirupa Mitra
Pehlu Khan Murder: Courts on Trial, Where is the
Substantive Justice?Teesta Setalvad
Kashmir: Will BBC Once Again Lift the Veil of
Secrecy? — Saeed Naqvi
‘If Hindutva is to sustain itself on a cow’s
legs, it’ll crash at the hint of a crisis’: VD Savarkar
How flawed Hindutva imagination of the Indian
Muslim is – 2 books show: Sarthak Ray
Govt must control narrative on J&K:Meghnad
Desai
Muslims In India have sought ban on cow slaughter
for decades. But politics didn’t allow it:Naghma Sahar, Rasheed Kidwai
What lies behind delays in Babri Masjid case?
Advocate Rajeev Dhavan
Acquittal
of accused in Pehlu case shocks Muslims, threatens to weaken their faith in
judiciary:Ajaz Ashraf
'RSS attacked Muslim village in Telangana'
alleges tweet, cops debunk claim
The other Ayodhya trial: Case against Advani,
Joshi, Uma Bharti is crawling: Apurva Vishwanath
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq,(Released at: 8:20 PM)
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