08 AUG. 2019:
06 ZilHajj 1440:Vol: 11, No:266
INDIA: J&K ISSUE
India’s
‘draconian’ blackout sets worrying precedent, warns UN
UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of expression
has said unprecedented communications blackout imposed on Kashmir could signal
a departure in the way democratic states clamp down on information in
contentious areas,David Kaye said:“There’s something about this shutdown that
is draconian in a way other shutdowns usually are not.”Kaye said that,
globally, communication blackouts tended to be focused on internet or mobile
phone coverage.He pointed to the suspension of internet access during the
school exam period in countries such as Iraq, Ethiopia and Uganda, which Govts said
were an effort to stop cheating.UN rapporteur for freedom of expression added:
“I can’t say this hasn’t happened before– but I can’t recall a situation were
there has been a total blackout of not only the two-way multi-point
communication systems that we are familiar with now–anything on internet,
WhatsApp, etc – but also the one-direction communications like TV. “That’s
pretty extensive and one of my concerns would be – in part because this is
happening in a democratic state– it could be seen as a new departure for many
states that are thinking about how to clamp down on the flow of information.”He
said it was hard to identify a set of circumstances where a country shutting
down access to the internet, especially for an extensive period of time, was
legal under international law.A spokesperson for UN office for human rights
added:“We are deeply concerned that latest restrictions in Kashmir will exacerbate
human rights situation in the region.” theguardian / AFP
Kashmir : UN 'deeply concerned' over restrictions
Contacts are being made at various levels with
India, Pakistan: UN SG spokesperson
UN and its leadership is in contact with India
and Pakistan at “various levels”,with Secretary General Antonio Guterres
reiterating his appeal to all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint
amidst tensions over Kashmir, UN chief’s spokesperson has said.The spokesperson
was responding to a question as to why Secretary General is reluctant to take
on the issue of India and Pakistan.“Look, there is no reluctance on the part of
the Secretary General. We are very well aware and following the situation with
a lot of concern. Contacts are being had at various levels, and we urge all of
the parties involved to exercise maximum restraint,” Spokesman for
Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric said at the daily press briefing here.When
asked again why wouldn’t Guterres engage with the leaders of India and
Pakistan,Dujarric said, “I understand. I’ll refer you to my last answer I just
gave you.In response to another question, Dujarric confirmed that the UN has
received a letter from Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who
wrote to world body on Kashmir issue.“It was received. It will be circulated as
a document of Security Council, as requested, and we’re obviously studying very
closely the content of letter.” Responding to questions on the situation in
Kashmir, Monica Grayley, spokeswoman for President of UN General Assembly(PGA)
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, said PGA is currently travelling and is following the
situation “as she can” on her trip. “She is looking forward to be briefed by
Secretary General when she returns to New York.PTI
India did not consult or inform on scrapping
J&K's special status:US official
There is an “urgent need” for dialogue among all
actors to reduce tensions and to avoid a potential military escalation in South
Asia, US said, hours after Pakistan expelled the Indian envoy and downgraded
its diplomatic ties. “There is urgent need for dialogue among all actors to
reduce tensions and to avoid the potential for military escalation,” a senior
Trump Administration official told PTI in response to a question on the
developments in South Asia. The official also said that the Indian Govt “did
not consult or inform the US Govt before moving to revoke J&K’s special
constitutional status.”“US would welcome improved relations between India and
Pakistan, and we will continue to support efforts that reduce tensions and
create an environment conducive for a direct dialogue between India and
Pakistan,” official said on condition of anonymity.“US calls for calm and
restraint on all sides, noting the history of violence and conflict in the
region,” the official added.PTI
‘J&K situation is serious’: UK PM Boris
Johnson
UK PM Boris Johnson has described the situation
in J&K as “serious”,while foreign secretary Dominic Raab spoke to external
affairs minister S Jaishankar and conveyed London’s concerns over the
developments.A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson discussed the situation
during a telephone conversation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan. “PM received a
call from PM Imran Khan of Pakistan to congratulate him on his new role. The
leaders discussed the serious situation in Kashmir and agreed on the importance
of maintaining dialogue. And they underlined their continued commitment to the
bilateral relationship between UK and Pakistan,” the spokesperson added.HT
UK
Expresses Concern, Reiterates Call for Calm
India
asks Pak to review downgrading of ties
Pakistan should review its decision to downgrade
ties with India and suspend trade, Ministry of External Affairs said today after Islamabad declared that
Indian envoy would be asked to return. Pakistani actions were aimed at
presenting an “alarmist picture to the world.”An MEA statement maintained that
the ending of special status to J&K was an internal affair of India and was
aimed at bringing developmental opportunities to the people there.Pakistan
exploited the lack of developmental opportunities to generate disaffections and
“to justify its cross-border terrorism.”“Govt of India regrets the steps
announced by Pakistan yesterday and would urge that country to review them so
that normal channels of communications are preserved,”it said.“Recent
developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of
India. The Constitution of India was, is and will always be a sovereign matter.
Seeking to interfere in that jurisdiction by invoking an alarmist vision of the
region will never succeed,” it said. thehindu
Pakistan to review downgrading of diplomatic ties
if India reconsiders Kashmir move: Foreign Minister
Pakistan today agreed to review the downgrading
of diplomatic ties with India only if New Delhi decided to reconsider its move
regarding Kashmir. Earlier today, New Delhi expressed regret over Pak move and
urged Islamabad to review its decision so that “normal channels for diplomatic
communications are preserved.” “Are they ready to review their decisions? If
they do, we can also review our decisions. Review will be on both sides. That
is what Simla (agreement) says, PTI quoted Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah
Mehmood Qureshi. Qureshi said that Pakistan is not looking at military action,
adding,“Don’t we reserve a right to respond in case of any aggression,” Reuters
reported. He also said Pakistan will legally examine Simla pact.indianexpress
Pak suspends Samjhauta train service, bans films
In a move that is likely to further inflame
tensions between India and Pakistan,Islamabad today announced it was suspending
the bi-weekly Samjhauta train service connecting Lahore and Delhi.Pakistan’s
minister for railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, said the service will remain
suspended indefinitely. Rasheed said the bogies of Samjhauta Express will now
be used for passengers travelling on the occasion of Eid.News reports from
Pakistan also said Indian films will not be allowed to screen in cinemas. Geo
English quoted Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Pakistan PM on
I&B, as saying:“No Indian movie to be screened in Pakistani cinemas.”Meanwhile,
Samjhauta Express was stopped by Pakistan at Wagah border, briefly leaving
passengers stranded. Pakistan authorities stopped the train from entering into
India citing security concerns to its crew. Around 110 passengers were
travelling from Lahore to Delhi, a spokesperson of Northern Railways said. PTI
Work on Kartarpur to continue as planned: Pak
Work on Kartarpur Corridor would continue as
planned, said Pakistan after it made the unilateral decision to downgrade diplomatic
ties with India in the wake of PM Modi-led Govt abrogating Article 370.The
announcement was made by the Pakistani Foreign Office today.ANI
‘No talks’, says Pak on Jadhav, rejects demand of
unimpeded consular access
Pakistan has turned down India’s demand for
“unimpeded consular access” to ex Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who
is on a death row, over the suspension of bilateral ties.Pakistani sources said
that talks on consular access for Jadhav “have ended as of now”.Pakistan had
earlier allowed access with conditions that its officials will be present
during the meeting, which will also be recorded.India had rejected Pakistan’s
offer for consular access to Jadhav in its current form and officials said that
New Delhi has asked Islamabad to provide “unimpeded” contact with the Indian
national on death row.In response to Islamabad’s conditional offer of consular
access that was conveyed last week, Indian Govt asked Pakistani side last
Thursday to provide “unimpeded consular access” to Jadhav “in an environment
free from the fear of intimidation and reprisal”.The access should also be “in
light of the orders of International Court of Justice (ICJ)”, official added.
HT
Chinese envoy to Pakistan calls Kashmir
‘internationally recognised disputed territory’
China's Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing has said
that J&K was an "internationally recognized disputed territory", and
criticised Indian Govt for unilaterally revoking its special status.Yao,
speaking to journalists, also stressed on need for compliance with
international laws and hoped that both Pakistan and India would "take a
suitable decision for the betterment of the Kashmiri people", Ary News
reported.Yao said that de-escalating tension between Islamabad and New Delhi
would be beneficial for the entire region.He said that being a permanent member
of UNSC, China had special responsibilities in connection with restoration of
peace and stability in the region.IANS
PM Modi to address nation today at 8 pm, expected
to talk about Article 370
New Delhi:PM Narendra Modi will address the
nation today at 8 pm during which he is expected to talk about govt’s decisions
on modifying Article 370.On Wednesday, as Union Cabinet proceeded to approve a
proposal to honour BJP’s oldest ideological commitment of stripping J&K of
its special status, PM Modi advised his ministerial colleagues that there is no
room for triumphalism and reminded them that it’s now that the heavy-lifting
begins, sources said.“It is a big day for the country. We should demonstrate
foresight and statesmanship to take everyone along on this,” said a source
about Modi’s message to the Cabinet on the morning of August 5 while approving
Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposal to strip J&K of its special status and
bifurcate state into 2 Union Territories. indian express
SC refuses urgent hearing of plea challenging
withdrawal of J&K’s special status
The Supreme Court today refused to urgently hear a
petition challenging the Presidential order on Article 370 of the Constitution,
PTI reported. The plea was filed on Tuesday by advocate ML Sharma, who claimed
that the Presidential order was illegal as it was passed without taking consent
from the J&K Assembly.The top court also did not hear urgently another
petition filed earlier on Thursday against the decision to impose stringent
restrictions in J&K after provisions of Article 370 were repealed. Justice
NV Ramana asked petitioner, Tehseen Poonawalla, to mention it before CJI Ranjan
Gogoi. During the hearing of his petition, Sharma said the matter was urgent as
Pakistan might take it to the United Nations and then “we will lose Kashmir
forever”, Bar and Bench reported. Ramana rejected his request, asking, “Can UN
stay Indian Constitution’s amendment?”The court told Sharma that his plea would
be heard in due course.In the other plea, Poonawalla sought withdrawal of
curfew, restrictions and other measures such as blocking of communication
services in Kashmir. He also requested a direction from the Supreme Court to
release political leaders of J&K, including former CMs Omar Abdullah and
Mehbooba Mufti. He sought the appointment of a judicial commission to look into
the ground realities of the region. Poonawalla clarified that he was in favour
of “wateringdown of Article 370” and the application of the Constitution.
scroll.in
Has muscular nationalism resolved any conflict in
world, asks Chidambaram
New Delhi:Senior Congress leader and former home
minister P Chidambaram on Thursday attacked the Govt over its actions on J&K,
asking if "muscular nationalism" has resolved any conflict in the
world. Chidambaram also cited ex civil servant Shah Faesal's comments on the
issue to hit out at Govt." He has called the Govt's actions on J&K as
'the biggest betrayal'," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.If Shah
Faesal thinks so, imagine what millions of ordinary people of J&K think, he
said."Has 'muscular nationalism' resolved any conflict anywhere in the
world?" Chidambaram asked.PTI
Is J&K underdeveloped as stated by Amit Shah?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has linked poor
healthcare, poverty, lack of doctors and slow economic growth in J&K to
amendment to Article 370. However, a look at how the State, now bifurcated into
Union Territories, compares with other States in key indicators suggests that
these concerns are exaggerated.J&K ranked third out of 22 States in terms
of life expectancy. The former State had an average life expectancy of 73.5
between 2012-16. Kerala had the highest life expectancy of 75.1, while UP had
the lowest (64.8). The national average was 68.7.3,060 persons were served by
one Govt doctor in J&K in 2018. Only 6 States have had lesser people served
by one doctor.The best State was Delhi (2,203 people per govt doctor) while the
worst State was Bihar (28,391 persons served by one govt doctor).J&K was
placed 21st for rural unemployment rate in 2011-12. Out of every 1,000 people,
25 were unemployed in rural areas of J&K. The best State was Gujarat (3 out
of every 1000 people were unemployed) while Nagaland was the worst (151 were
unemployed out of every 1000 people). The national average was 17.J&K stood
eighth in terms of poverty rate (10.35)%. Goa had the lowest poverty rate of
5.09%, while Chhattisgarh had the highest poverty rate of 39.93%. The national
average was 21.92%. The former State had an infant mortality rate (IMR) of 24
and was placed 10th in the country in 2016. Goa had the lowest IMR (8 infant
deaths per 1000) while Madhya Pradesh had the highest (47 infant deaths per
1000). The national average for IMR was 31.In 2016-17, J&K had per capita
net State GDP of ₹62,145. Goa was the top-ranked State (₹3,08,823) while Bihar
(₹25,950) was the lowest ranked State.In 2017, J&K’s Human Development
Index (HDI) was 0.68, higher than even States like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Kerala had the highest HDI (0.77) while Bihar had the least (0.57). HDI is a
composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income
indicators.thehindu
Security tightened in AMU ahead of tentative
debate on Kashmir issue
Following speculations of a debate being
organised in AMU on Kashmir issue, district administration beefed up security
around the campus to avoid any untoward incident.Sharing details of the
development, Civil Lines CO Anil Samanya said, "Through social media we
had received information that some AMU students were going to have a debate on
Kashmir issue and scrapping of Article 370.He also informed that one company of
RAF, civil police and PAC have been deployed to ensure there is no law and
order problem.ANI
Kashmir like a concentration camp:Adhir Ranjan
New Delhi:Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir
Ranjan Chowdhury, today compared the prevailing situation in J&K with that
of infamous concentration camps. Questioning Govt's approach on the issue,
Chowdhury said PM Narendra Modi was not living up to his theory of embracing
Kashmiris instead of controlling them with muscle power. "PM had announced
from Red Fort that we will take Kashmiris forward not with bullets but by
embracing them. But today, the situation in Kashmir is similar to that of a
concentration camp. There is no mobile or internet connection. Amarnath
pilgrimage was curtailed despite heavy security presence. What is happening
there?" he told ANI. ANI
Muslim activists hold protest over scrapping of
special status to J&K outside Indian Embassy in US
Washington: Muslim rights activists, including
members of Pakistani-American community, held demonstrations outside the Indian
Embassy in Washington to protest against the scrapping of special status to J&K.
Accusing India of human rights violations in Kashmir, protestors on Tuesday
sought the intervention of US President Donald Trump and UN to solve the vexed
issue.They raised slogans against India and PM Narendra Modi.People of Kashmir
“deserve independence, deserve their rights and deserve justice,”Nihad Awad,
national executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),
said outside Indian Embassy in Washington. “There is a humanitarian crisis
brewing in the Kashmir valley. The State Department should urge the Indian Govt
to immediately reinstate the protected status, lift the siege, and enter into
peaceful negotiations," said Awad. CAIR is one of the largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization in US.The protest was organized by
Chicago-based Sound Vision, which claims to be the pioneering Muslim-media organization
of North America. Members of other Muslim organizations, including the Islamic
Leadership Institute of America,Burma Task Force which is working among
Rohingya Muslims, and those representing Palestine groups, also participated in
demonstration. Separatist Kashmiri leader Ghulam Nabi Fai has announced to hold
a large protest rally against India in front of Indian Embassy and the White
House on Saturday. Muslim activists also held demonstration outside the Indian
Consulate in Chicago.PTI
Govt releases helpline numbers for residents
outside J&K, special trains announced
New Delhi: Govt today released 2 helpline numbers
for residents and students outside J&K to contact their families back home.
DM of Kashmir Shahid Choudhary tweeted out two numbers — 9419028242, 9419028251
— for residents living outside the state to contact their relatives back
home.DM said, “Families back home are also using these lines to reach
out.”Kashmir has been on lockdown since Sunday and all communication services
in the region were blocked on Tuesday, including cellular network, landline,
mobile internet, and broadband connectivity.Special trains and extra coaches
have also been announced for workers, including those returning home on
occasion of Eid, from Udhampur. For people’s assistance on the availability of
trains, a helpline number has been setup — 9797532910.indianexpress
Social media under surveillance: Action to be
taken for disseminating misleading information
New Delhi: Union home ministry has asked central
law enforcement agencies to monitor social media platforms and identify those
spreading rumours or hateful content online in the aftermath of Govt’s decision
to scrap J&K’s special status.Sources said the ministry was also keeping an
eye on social media content critical of the decision to split the state into 2
Union Territories.“Legal action will be taken against people who are found
spreading rumours, hateful content or disseminating misleading information on
social media against Kashmiris. Such rumour mongering impacts harmony and
public order,” an official said.The agencies, he said, have been asked to keep
a tab on people circulating false narrative on social media that might lead to
violence in the Valley.“Social media posts designed to create a false narrative
against the govt’s decisions are also being closely monitored,” official
said.The agencies, sources said, are monitoring Twitter, Facebook and other
social media platforms to identify people posting provocative messages against
the Govt as well as Kashmiris.“The agencies will be analysing and collecting
content from these social media platforms and compiling digital dossiers that
would track people’s networks and associations,” IB official said. telegraph
india
Danish Ali removed as floor leader of BSP in LS
for refusing to toe party line on J&K
New Delhi: BSP chief Mayawati dropped Amroha MP
Danish Ali as the party’s floor leader in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, a day after
his refusal to toe the party line on the abrogation of Article 370 in House.
Sources told TOI that after Ali, who differed with the party’s line on the
issue, decided not to speak, BSP’s view was presented by Girish Chandra, also
the party’s chief whip. BSP supported Govt’s move to void Article 370 on
grounds that BR Ambedkar had also opposed its inclusion in the Indian
Constitution when it was first drafted. Ali has been replaced with retired
bureaucract and Jaunpur MP Shyam Singh Yadav. Besides replacing Ali, which
followed a meeting of the party MPs in the capital, Mayawati also appointed
first-time MP Ritesh Pandey as deputy floor leader of BSP in Lok Sabha. TOI
Under arrest, Mehbooba Mufti sends message to PDP
MPs: quit Rajya Sabha
New Delhi :Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti was
moved from Hari Niwas guesthouse to Cheshma Shahi guesthouse, after she was
able to send out a message asking her 2 MPs to resign from Rajya Sabha. PDP
chief, along with National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, was arrested hours
after Govt scrapped the special status granted to J&K.PDP, which was in
alliance with the BJP till latter withdrew support in June 2018, has two
members in Rajya Sabha — Mir Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway. When Amit Shah had
tabled the Bill to bifurcate J&K into 2 Union Territories last Monday, MM
Fayaz had torn his kurta and then along with Nazir Ahmad Laway tore copies of
the Constitution, prompting the Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to order that
they be physically removed.indianexpress
OTHERS
Babri Masjid land case: SC asks how birth place
can be made party to land dispute
The Supreme Court today asked 'Ram Lalla
Virajman', one of the parties in the politically sensitive Ram
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute at Ayodhya, as to how the birth place of
the deity can be regarded as a "juristic person" having stakes in the
case. The SC, which was hearing the case
on the third day, said that so far as Hindu deities are concerned, they have
been treated as juristic person in law which can hold properties and institute
a litigation.A 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi,
however, asked senior advocate K Parasaran, appearing for 'Ram Lalla Virajman',
as to how 'Janamsthanam' (birth place) can file a suit in this matter as a
party. "Whether the birth place can be held to be a juristic person. So
far as idols of deities are concerned, they had been held to be a juristic person,"
said the bench, also comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok
Bhushan and S A Nazeer. Responding to the query, Parasaran told the bench,
"In Hindu religion, idols are not necessary for a place to be regarded as
a holy place of worship.... Rivers and Sun are also worshipped in Hinduism and
birth place in itself can be treated as a juristic person." The law suit
filed by the deity in the Ayodhya case has also made the birth place of Lord
Ram as one of the parties. The bench then referred to a judgement of the
Uttarakhand High Court in which holy river Ganga was held to be a juristic
entity entitled to pursue the litigation. "The HC has said that the rivers
are also juristic entities capable of being a party in the case," the
bench observed. The bench then asked Parasaran to proceed with his submissions
on other issues. Parasaran alleged that the deity 'Ram Lalla Virajaman' was not
made a party when the magistrate had attached the disputed site and when the
civil court granted injunction by appointing receiver in the case. At the
outset, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for a Muslim party, said that 2
separate law suits filed by 'Ram Lalla Virajman' and 'Nirmohi Akhara'
respectively are at "loggerheads" of each other and if one is allowed
then other goes automatically. He suggested that Muslim party can be asked to
advance submissions in either of the law suits as only can be allowed legally. PTI
Can Janmasthan be living entity subject to law?SC
Celebrate Independence Day with pomp and gaiety:
UP govt to madrasas
UP Board of Madrasa Education has issued an
advisory to all madrasas – Islamic academic institutions – in the state to
celebrate Independence Day with traditional fervour and also pay tributes to
martyrs and acquaint students with contribution of freedom fighters. There are
16,461 madrasas in UP.“You should direct all madrasas in your divisions and
districts to celebrate Independence Day with traditional pomp and gaiety,” said
a letter sent by the board’s registrar SN Pandey to all deputy directors of
minority department and district minority welfare officers yesterday.The letter
advised them to promote good quality programmes and also send their report to
the board. Besides flag hoisting and singing of the national anthem, letter
asked them to pay tributes to martyrs, highlight importance of I-D,
presentation of national song by madrasa students, giving information about
freedom struggle and its background and acquainting students with lives of freedom
fighters.Tree plantation by students, cultural programmes on national
integration and sport activities should also be held, it said. When asked about
move, Teachers’ Association Madaris Arabia President Diwan Sahan Zaman said
that there is nothing new in this.PTI
Urdu, Persian tough to understand, why use it in
FIR, asks Delhi HC
Delhi High Court today directed Delhi Police
Commissioner to explain why Urdu or Persian words are used in an FIR when the
same are not used by the complainant.Observing that FIR is not for comprehension
of the police, but for the accused and others involved, a bench of Chief
Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said simple language should be used
instead of “high sounding” and “bombastic” words. Referring to Urdu and Persian
words used in FIR, the bench sought an explanation from Police Commissioner on
“whether these words are of the complainant or the police”.“Why they (police)
use words which are not spoken by the complainant. In fact, FIR should be in
words of the complainant. Too much flowery language is not needed, the meaning
of which has to be discerned from a dictionary… FIR is for the public at large.
It should not be something for which one has to do a doctorate in Sanskrit,
Urdu or Persian,” the bench said.It said that the police should use simple
language, instead of high sounding words and also asked the Police Commissioner
to file an affidavit explaining the reason for the usage of such words by the
next date of hearing, Nov.25.Delhi Govt additional standing counsel Naushad
Ahmed Khan, appearing for the police, said the Urdu and Persian words used in
FIRs can be understood by making a little effort. indian express
Not worth our time: Supreme Court on revelation
of NRC data in Assam assembly
The Supreme Court today said it would not
interfere with revelation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) data in the
Assam state Assembly. “Our actions and decisions are discussed every moment. We
don’t think it’s worth our time…What we want is NRC out in scheduled time,” the
top court said.The court’s statement comes after the Assam Govt, earlier this
month, had revealed district-wise data regarding exclusion from draft NRC,
published last year to the state Assembly. The final NRC is scheduled to be published
on Aug. 31. This action of the state Govt had gone against the apex court’s
last year order, on August 16, when the bench had asked NRC state coordinator
Prateek Hajela “to file in Court, in a sealed cover, percentage of the
population in each district (district-wise) who have been left out of the final
draft NRC.”The state Govt had said in districts close to the Bangladesh border
— where the share of Muslims in the population is high —exclusion percentage
was lower, while in other districts it was comparatively higher.Govt used this
data to argue that NRC process was flawed and several BJP MLAs slammed the
court-mandated coordinator Prateek Hajela.indianexpress
Difficult Bakrid ahead for Mumbaikars: HC bans
slaughter of goats and sheep inside flats, houses
The High Court of Bombay has banned the slaughter
of sheep and goats in flats and homes during celebration of Eid-ul-Adha or
Bakrid.The division bench of HC comprising of Justice Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari
and Justice Gautam Patel restricted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
(BMC) from giving permissions for slaughter inside flats and houses.HC bench
further asked the corporation to give permission for slaughtering animals in
housing societies, but with a rider that approval should not be granted if the
housing society is located within one kilometre distance from a community space
for slaughtering, including a religious slaughtering space.According to TOI report,"In
our view, requirements of public safety, hygiene and sanitation makes it
impossible to accept any policy that permits slaughtering inside individual
flats. In a city that is as densely crowded and congested as Mumbai and where
typical residential apartments are small, we do not believe it is possible to
make effective arrangements for human, hygienic and safe methods of sacrificial
slaughter within a residential flat. Many of these flats are homes for the very
old or the very young (or both). We believe these concerns override all
others," said the judges.High Court has asked the corporation to
"strictly and stringently maintain all applicable safety, hygienic and
public safety norms and requirements and to move expeditiously against all
violations."The Court was hearing a plea filed by 2 outfits Jiv Maitri
Trust and Viniyog Parivar, challenging BMC's policy to grant temporary NOC for
the slaughter of sheep and goats during the festival.Earlier, the bench had
suggested that the entry points and toll nakas into Mumbai and suburbs like
Chembur, Kurla, Byculla and Sewri could be monitored.nationalheraldindia
Mumbai Municipality to highlight hygiene in
Bakrid
Unnao rape: Allegations of rape against expelled
BJP MLA Kuldeep Senghar true, CBI tells court
New Delhi:Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar,
accused of raping the Unnao woman at his residence in 2017 when she was a
minor, did commit the heinous crime, CBI told Tis Hazari courts.CBI told the
court that investigation has revealed that the allegations of accused Kuldeep
Singh Senghar raping the victim on June 4, 2017 and Shashi Singh being involved
in the conspiracy are true. It was following the findings that a chargesheet
was filed, CBI told court on Wednesday.In her statement, the victim, who was 17
at the time of the incident, told CBI that when she reached Sengar's house, no
guards were present. She said Shashi took her in from the back gate after which
Kuldeep Singh came to the lawn, dragged her and took her into a room where he
raped her.CBI said there is evidence that nails accused Kuldeep Singh Senghar
on the basis of investigation and statements of victim and her mother under
sections 161 and 164 of CrPC.indiatoday
EVM Hatao-Desh Bachao-Ballot Paper Lao: Activists
to Launch Nationwide Campaign on August 9
New Delhi:Civil society groups and prominent
activists on Wednesday urged the public to join the nation-wide ‘EVM Hatao-Desh
Bachao-Ballot Paper Lao’ (Abolish EVM-Save Nation-Bring in Ballot Paper)
campaign on Aug.9, marking the anniversary of Quit India Movement which Mahatma
Gandhi launched on same day.Calling the incumbent BJP Govt at Centre “EVM
Sarkar”, they said the electronic voting machines have posed grave threat to
democracy in India as is evident from the results of the recently concluded
national elections. Addressing the media here on the eve of the protest launch,
the activists highlighted EVM’s vulnerability to manipulations. They said the
machines compromise the free and fair election. In this connection, they said,
a national consultation was held in Delhi on July 14 before giving a call for
nationwide protests against EVMs.Why the BJP is shying away from paper ballot
election while 23 other political parties of India are demanding it, they asked.N
Sai Balaji, president JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU), said in the last Lok Sabha
elections, several shocking facts about the discrepancies in the EVMs have come
into the public domain.Caravan Daily
Kashmir to triple talaq: Lok Sabha passes most
bills since 1952 in its most productive session
New Delhi:The first session of 17th Lok Sabha has
set a new record as House managed to pass the maximum number of bills ever in a
single session. Speaker Om Birla tweeted and congratulated the members over
this feat. The house passed a total of 36 bills during the session. The Speaker
claimed that this was the highest since 1952. The house saw historic bills such
as Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, abrogating Article 370 and The Muslim
Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill to criminalise triple talaq pass
during the session.Out of the 39 bills tabled in the Lok Sabha during the first
session of the second Modi Govt, a record 36 bills were passed by the House.indiatoday
Flood situation worsens in west Maharashtra, 1.5
lakh evacuated
Pune :The flood situation in Kolhapur, Sangli and
Satara districts of western Maharashtra worsened on Wednesday, forcing
authorities to evacuate over 1.5 lakh people. Road connectivity in most parts
in region remained disrupted yesterday, affecting the movement of essential
services.16 people have reportedly lost their lives in Satara, Pune, Sangli,
Kolhapur and Solapur — 5 districts of Pune Division — in last 5 days.indianexpress
9 dead
after rescue boat capsizes in Sangli
9 people were killed after a rescue boat
overturned in flood-hit Sangli district. Pune divisional commissioner said the
mishap took place near Brahmanal village in Palus tehsil when private rescue
boat was carrying around 30 to 32 people.“9 bodies have been recovered so far.
Around 14 to 15 people, who fell from the boat after it overturned, swam to
safety,” official said.HT
‘Jai Shri Ram, cut money’ make it to question
papers in West Bengal:HT
‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan and ‘cut money’ that became
key issues in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year and have since rocked
Bengal politics found their way into a question paper of a school. Bengali
language paper of Akna Union High School in Hooghly district, 55km from
Kolkata, asked class 10 students to write how the Jai Shri Ram slogan was
generating adverse effects in society and how the return of ‘cut money’ was
benefiting people.The students, in the exam held on Aug.5, were asked to write
a ‘report for a newspaper’ on any one of the two – ‘harmful effects on the
society of chanting Jai Shri Ram’ or on the ‘bold step of Govt to stop
corruption by returning cut money.The ‘cut money’ is a reference to Mamata
Banerjee asking those who embezzled funds from Govt welfare schemes through
‘cut money’ (commission) to return it to original beneficiaries. BJP leaders,
through Lok Sabha election campaign, had often referred to ‘tolabazi tax’ to
refer to this commission.
WORLD
Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie still sleeps on
the floor in solitary confinement in Egypt prison
Doha Badie, daughter of the Supreme Guide of
Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie, said that her 76-year-old father sleeps on
the ground in his cell in an Egyptian prison, Anadolu Agency reported. On
Facebook, Doha noted that her father turned 76 and has spent 19 years in jail,
both since the coup and during the reign of President Anwar Sadat.“This year is
different,” Doha wrote, “I am unable to say happy birthday to you as I am
unable to see you even through a glass cage that blurs vision and distorts
sound.”She also noted that in the light of the ban on family visits, no news
sites had reported on her father and she did not know whether the money sent to
him in prison, to allow him to purchase his medication, had reached him. The
family had no details of the condition of his health.The only news which they
have been given, Doha said, is that her father “is locked up in solitary confinement
and sleeps on the ground in an empty cell.”“I hope that you are healthy and
that you are freed before the end of this year,” she wrote.No comment was
obtained from Egyptian authorities.MEMO
How Saudi has blocked Palestinians fleeing
Syria's war from Hajj:Middle East Eye
Stateless, displaced and driven from home by war,
tens of Palestinian refugees from Syria have been denied the chance to perform
Hajj by Saudi Arabia, Middle East Eye can reveal.Millions of Muslims are
currently flocking to the holy city of Mecca for the pilgrimage, which is a
cornerstone of Islamic faith and begins on Friday. However, around 70
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the majority of whom are over 70 years old,
were informed by authorities last week that they would not be given visas to
undertake the pilgrimage that every Muslim must do at least once in their
life.The rejected Palestinians are refugees twice over. They are the
descendants of Palestinians expelled from their homes during the creation of
Israel in 1948, and have now settled in Lebanon after fleeing the Syrian
conflict next door in 2012.Though they hold Syrian-issued travel documents,
they hold no country's citizenship.
US judge orders release of official documents on
Khashoggi’s murder
An American judge has
ordered federal agencies to disclose thousands of documents related to the
murder of Jamal Khashoggi.On their part, representatives of the Departments of
State and Defence told Judge Paul Engelmayer that producing 5,000 pages monthly
makes it impossible to respond, in a timely manner, to other requests made to
them under Freedom of Information Act. But Engelmayer insisted that they carry
out his order, saying that the Saudi journalist’s case was of “considerable
public importance”. Judge’s order came in response to requests by 2 organisations – Open Society Justice Initiative and Open
Society Foundations – for authorities to release the records of the Departments
of State and Defence under the Freedom of Information Act.The State Department
has said it estimates there are 288,000 pages that are potentially subject to
FOIA request. The Department of Defense has said it may have 22,637 relevant
pages.middleeastmonitor/AP
UK FM: Israel’s
settlements are contrary to international law and must be stopped
Israel must halt
settlement expansion in contravention of international law, British Foreign
Minister Dominic Raab said.The British Foreign minister attacked Israel’s
decision to build 2,304 new settlement-housing units on occupied West Bank
lands.“We urge Israel to halt its settlement expansion, which is contrary to
international law and promotes the effective annexation of the West Bank,” Raab
added in a statement.The statement noted that the Israeli cabinet a week ago approved 700 housing units for
Palestinians. However, the minister considered that “much more needs to be
done”.“UK continues to urge the Govt of Israel to develop improved mechanisms
that allow Palestinians to build within Area C,” the statement
continued.middleeastmonitor
HRW: Syria regime
restricts aid deliveries to punish opposition
HRW has revealed that the
Syrian regime is meddling in the delivery of aid in order to divert it to “fund
its atrocities, punish opponents, and benefit those loyal to Govt”.In a report
published on its website, HRW said that Syrian Justice and Accountability
Centre (SJAC), a Syrian human rights organisation, obtained documents that
revealed Syrian intelligence branches have long interfered with the aid
response in Syria.It said that the new documents confirmed findings from
earlier reports by HRW and Chatham House.MEMO
Syria rejects US-Turkey safe zones deal
Syrian Govt has called the agreement between
Turkey and US regarding a safe zone in northern Syria a "blatant
attack" on the country's sovereignty.On Wednesday, Turkey and US reached a
deal to establish a joint operations centre to coordinate and manage the
setting up of a safe zone in northern Syria.A joint statement by the Turkish
Ministry of Defence and the US embassy in Ankara said the 2 sides agreed to set
up the Turkey-based operations centre "as soon as possible" and that safe
zone "would become a "peace corridor", without providing further
details."Syria expresses categorical rejection of the agreement announced
by US and Turkish occupations on establishing the so-called [safe zone] which
constitutes a blatant aggression against sovereignty and territorial integrity
of the Syrian Arab Republic and a flagrant violation of the principles of the
international law and UN Charter," Syrian source at Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said. aljazeera
US removes travel restrictions on Pak diplomats
US President Donald Trump’s administration has
announced to remove travel restrictions placed on Pakistani diplomats based in
America over a year ago, a media report said today.US State Department confirmed the
development to The News International yesterday the travel controls were being
removed from the Pakistani diplomatic personnel assigned to the Pakistan’s
Embassy in Washington and their dependents.The Department said: “Govt of
Pakistan has reciprocated with a similar measure in relation to our diplomatic
personnel assigned to our Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan.“Both sides are
committed to a renewed effort to remove impediments on our respective
diplomatic missions in line with international norms.”The announcement comes after
PM Imran Khan visited US last month, where he had lengthy meetings with
President Trump and other high-level officials and discussed issues of mutual
concern.IANS
Maryam Nawaz: Pak's leader of opposition arrested
Pakistan opposition leader Maryam Nawaz has been
arrested by country's NAB, a spokesperson for her party said.PML-N
vice-president was detained today while she was visiting her father, Nawaz
Sharif, at a Lahore prison, local media reported.aljazeera
Flash:
NEWS,views,Articles
Indian economy is blaring warnings, but Modi Govt
remains in denial:Jayati Ghosh, qz.com
No Kashmiri politician will work with or
alongside BJP after this: Historian Andrew Whitehead
Article 370: Apprehensions That NE Will be Next
‘It’s our land that matters to them, not our
lives’: A Kashmiri student’s account of a horrific week:Tanveer Ahmad Khan
India’s annexation of Kashmir is straight out of
the Israeli playbook: Azad Essa
A Kashmiri Pandit On Why He Feels Sad For
Kashmiri Muslims:Pradeep Magazine
How the Budget session has cemented Amit Shah’s
position as No. 2 in Modi govt:D.K. SINGH
How Sheikh Abdullah’s note to Nehru saved Kashmir
from falling into the hands of Pakistan:Rajesh Ahuja
3 days before Ranbir Penal Code was replaced by IPC,
SC struck down its adultery clause
During the Quit India Movement, the Hindu
Mahasabha Played British Game:Sharik Laliwala
In Kashmir, Clampdown on Movement and
Communication Fuels Anxieties:Kaisar Andrabi
Abrogation of Articles 370, 35A sparked
passionate reaction across the border: Khaled Ahmed
Modi’s Kashmir move proves his fiercest critics
right:Adam Taylor
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq,(Released at: 8:00 PM)
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