13
OCT. 2019: 13 Safar 1441: Vol: 12, No: 35
INDIAN ECONOMY
World
Bank cuts India's growth forecast to 6%, warns of "severe" slowdown
World Bank today slashed
its growth forecast for India's current fiscal year to 6 %, down from 7.5 %,
warning that "severe" slowdown could further weaken the country's
stuttering financial sector.In its last forecast in April, the bank had said
that India's economic outlook was strong and expected growth of 7.5 % during
the current fiscal year that began in April.But the country is currently
growing at its slowest pace in six years, expanding by just 5% in April-June
quarter, hit by flagging consumer demand and a slackening in Govt
spending.India's industrial output also shrank at its fastest rate in more than
6 years in August, data released last week showed, indicating that a slew of Govt
measures had yet to underpin a recovery. In an effort to kick-start economy,
RBI has cut interest rates 5 times this year, and underlined challenge for
policymakers by downgrading its growth forecast to 6.1% from 6.9 % earlier this
month. World Bank's latest forecast also underlined concerns linked to slowing
growth and New Delhi's decision to cut the corporate tax rate, which will cost
about 1.5 trillion rupees in tax revenues."While the authorities have
shown steadfast commitment to fiscal prudence, the significant growth
deceleration as well as the corporate tax cuts undertaken to counter it come
with heightened risks of fiscal slippage," the bank's report said.Reuters
Bangladesh,
Nepal to grow faster than India: World Bank
Bangladesh and Nepal are
estimated to grow faster than India in 2019, according to the World Bank, which
said that overall growth in South Asia is projected to slow down this fiscal in
line with a global downward trend. Pakistan's growth rate is projected to
deteriorate further to a mere 2.4% this fiscal year, as monetary policy remains
tight, and the planned fiscal consolidation will compress domestic demand, it
said. Growth in South Asia is projected to fall to 5.9% in 2019, down 1.1
percentage points from April 2019 estimates, casting uncertainty about a
rebound in the short term, the World Bank said in its latest report.In
Bangladesh, real GDP growth is estimated at 8.1% in 2019, up from 7.9% in 2018,
the report said, adding that the country''s growth is projected at 7.2 % in
2020 and 7.3% in 2021. In Nepal, GDP growth is projected to average 6.5% over
this and next fiscal year, backed by strong services and construction activity
due to rising tourist arrivals and higher public spending.PTI
Union
Minister Prasad withdraws comments linking economy with box office collection
Facing flak after he
cited Rs 120 crore business done by three movies on a single day to rebut
suggestions of an economic slump in the country, Union minister Ravi Shankar
Prasad today withdrew his comments.Prasad’s comments in Mumbai on Saturday
coupled with his criticism of an NSSO report on high unemployment rate and
IMF’s report of a slowdown in India had attracted flak and the senior BJP
leader was also trolled online.In a statement issued on Sunday, Prasad claimed
that one part of his statement had been “completely twisted out of context”,
and said “being a sensitive person, I withdraw this comment”.“My comments made
yesterday in Mumbai about 3 films making Rs 120 crore in a single day- the
highest ever, was a factually correct statement. I had stated this as I was in
Mumbai- the film capital of India. We are very proud of our film industry which
provided employment to lakhs of people and contributes significantly by way of
taxes.tribuneindia
J&K ISSUE & SOUTH asia
Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind voices concerns after visiting J&K
New Delhi: A joint
delegation of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the civil society has raised
concerns over the prevailing situation in Kashmir and also the impact of
communication clampdown on Kashmiris.The team, which visited the Valley from
Oct.7 to 10 Oct, included S.R. Darapuri (retd. IG, UP Police), Malik Mohtashim
Khan (JIH Secretary), Shweta Verma (women & child rights activist) and
Mujtaba Farooq (Secretary General of the All India Muslim Majis Mushawarat).
The delegation visited Srinagar, Baramulla and Pulwama and met social
activists, lawyers, representatives of NGOs and religious
organisations."People are unable to contact loved ones even in
emergencies. They find it difficult to call hospitals for medical
emergencies," the JIH said in a statement. Patients undergoing dialysis were
facing problems due to non-availability of local transport, it said and pointed
to shortage of medicines. The team has also raised mental health issues due to
the blackout and its ripple effect. It also highlighted the issue of
large-scale detentions. "The Public Safety Act (PSA) and police detentions
are major concerns. No one has correct picture about the number of
detentions," it said.IANS
Kashmiris
fear their mobile phone calls might be tapped by agencies
After 69 days of
clampdown, the Govt on Saturday announced that mobile phone services would be
restored in Kashmir. The initial excitement after the news came was quickly
replaced by a worry. A general apprehension among the people is that if they
could speak freely on their phones. They fear that every call they make might
be monitored by the security agencies."It is such a respite. At least I
can speak to my children studying in Delhi”,said Ayesha Shah, a Srinagar
resident.But Shah quickly adds that telephone here has no longer remained a
private affair. On Saturday, Rohit Kansal, Govt spokesperson said that postpaid
mobile phone service would be resumed from Oct. 14 noon while the people had to
wait for some more time for resumption of internet.Merely a few days after the
unprecedented clamp down, Govt restored the mobile phones of some of its senior
level police and civil officials. A few officers confided in this reporter that
their numbers were blocked as soon as they shared information with their
friends living in Indian mainland about
the prevailing situation in Kashmir."My number was blocked soon after I
informed a Delhi based friend that things are not normal here. And it was
around third week of August" , said a senior govt official.For making a
phone call, he said, his office witnessed long queues of people during the
month of August."My staff would strictly warn them of saying anything about the current situation
in valley on phone", he said. nationalheraldindia
Kashmiris
practicing peaceful civil disobedience: New fact-finding report
New Delhi: A new report
released by a team of 4 academics, activists and journalists has chronicled the
ways in which Kashmiris have been dealing with the lockdown in the Valley
following govt’s decision to read down Article 370 on Aug5. For example, the
fact-finding report says that many shops and offices have been closed, but this
is not due to them succumbing to the calls of militants, separatist leaders or
political leaders. It is, in fact, an “act of resistance against the Indian
state”. The team found about three instances where people said they saw posters
possibly by militants, asking people to shut their shops. Instead, they say
that many more people claim that they were being forced by Indian security
personnel to keep their shops open. “These are people the Kashmiris are equally
scared of. It is at their behest that people are being arrested. So the
decision to defy them is significant and brazen. And yet, that is the choice
most Kashmiris have made. To go against the diktat to open shop. And remain in
this mode of civil disobedience for as long as they can,” says the report. They
say that people across the spectrum – from hardliners to separatists who either
want a union with Pakistan or want azadi, to those siding with India – have
experienced collective shock and trauma. All of this has turned many Kashmiris
into “silent protestors”.thewire
Kashmiris
are resisting Govt ‘through satyagraha: fact-finding report
Modi
challenges opposition to bring back Article 370, triple talaq
PM Narendra Modi Sunday
dared the Opposition to declare in their manifesto that they will bring back
Article 370 and triple talaq law.Addressing his first rally in poll-bound
Maharashtra, Modi accused opposition leaders of shedding crocodile tears on his
Govt’s decision to scrap the special status accorded to Jammu-Kashmir. He said,
“I challenge them, if they have guts, declare in their manifesto for state
election and future polls too, that they will bring back Article 370 and 35A,
which BJP, the Modi Govt scrapped…that they will change the August 5
decision.”“Stop shedding these crocodile tears,” he while addressing a BJP
rally in Jalgaon.Defending the Govt’s decision to remove J&K’s special
status, Modi assured that normalcy will return to the state in 4 months.“It
will not take more than four months to normalise the kind of situation that
prevailed there for 40 years,” he assured. PM said it was earlier “unthinkable”
that such a decision (of abrogating the Article) could be taken, and noted that
only separatism and terrorism spread in J&K over the years. The scope for development of
the poor, women, Dalits and the exploited sections was slim, he pointed
out.Members of Valmiki community in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were even
deprived of their human rights, he said. He also hit out at the opposition over
the issue of banning triple talaq, alleging they tried to see Muslim sisters
did not get justice.“But, I kept the promise made to Muslim mothers and
sisters,” he said, and also challenged the opposition “to bring back the
practice of triple talaq”.indianexpress
Rajnath's
"suggestion" to Imran Khan involves army going to Pak
Karnal:Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh today took a swipe at Pakistan's PM Imran Khan over not doing
enough to act against terrorists roaming freely on its soil. Rajnath, while
suggesting a solution to Pakistan that involves India's intervention, also
dropped in a word of advice to Pakistani PM, who today reached Iran following a
request from US and Saudi Arabia for him to try to defuse rising tensions in
the Gulf. "I would like to make a suggestion to Pakistan PM. If you are
serious enough to fight against terror, we are ready to assist you. If you want
our Army, then we will send them there for your help," Singh said at a
rally in Karnal in Haryana. At the rally in Haryana, Singh said Pakistani PM's
remarks about Kashmir carry no weight. Referring to Kashmir as a possible
flashpoint, Khan had given a volatile speech warning India and the world of the
runaway consequences of nuclear war at UN General Assembly last month. "I
was listening to Imran Khan's speech where he had said that till Kashmir gets
freedom, we will continue our fight over it. He also said that his country will
continue to raise Kashmir issue at international forums. Forget about Kashmir.
Don't even think about it. Raise the matter, nothing will happen. No one can
exert pressure on us," Singh said. "You divided India into 2 pieces
as part of 2-nation theory in 1947. But in 1971, your country was divided into
two pieces again. And if the situation persists, then no power can stop
Pakistan from being broken up further," Singh said.ndtv
Rajnath
says with Rafale, forces could have eliminated Pakistan terror camps from
within India
When
youth ask for jobs, govt tells them to watch Moon, speaks about Article 370:
Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi :Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi has accused PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit
Shah of distracting people from core issues including farmer distress and lack
of jobs. “The work of media, Modi and Shah is to distract people’s attention
from core issues. The media is silent on farmers’ distress, lack of jobs. The
media is mum on loan waiver to rich as it is owned by them,” Gandhi said while
addressing an election rally at Ausa in Maharashtra’s Latur. In an apparent reference to ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2
mission, Gandhi said that when youth demand jobs, Govt tells them to watch the
Moon. “When the youth ask for jobs, the Govt tells them to watch the Moon. Govt
speaks about Article 370 and Moon, but is silent on problems plaguing the
country,” he said.Gandhi also alleged that Rs 5.5 lakh crore debt of “15 rich
people” had been waived off by the Modi Govt, hinting at demonestisation and implementation
of GST which he said, was done to take money from pockets of poor and give it
to rich. indianexpress
OTHERS
Protracted
Ayodhya hearing in SC to enter final leg on Oct. 14
new delhi: The protracted
hearing in the politically sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute
at Ayodhya will enter into the crucial final leg on Monday when the Supreme
Court resumes proceedings on the 38th day after the week-long Dussehra break.Fixing
the schedule for the final leg of the lengthy arguments, it had said that the
Muslim side would complete the arguments on Oct. 14 and thereafter, two days
would be granted to the Hindu parties to sum up their rejoinders by Oct. 16. Oct.
17 would be the last day for wrapping up the hearing when the parties will have
to make the final arguments about the relief they are seeking, the court had
said. The bench had earlier fixed the deadline of Oct. 18 to conclude the
hearing.PTI
If
VHP is permitted to light ‘diyas’, let us offer ‘namaz’: Muslim litigant
Lucknow: Muslim litigant
in Ayodhya case Hazi Mehboob has opposed VHP’s demand to light ‘diyas’ on the
Ayodhya disputed complex on Diwali day.Mehboob has demanded permission to offer
namaz at the disputed site if VHP gets permission to celebrate Diwali on the
complex. After VHP’s decision to meet divisional commissioner Manoj Mishra, who
is also receiver (authorised person) of the disputed site, to seek permission
to celebrate Diwali at the disputed site, Muslims assembled at the residence of
Haji Mehboob in Ayodhya and held a meeting.Presiding over the meeting, Mehboob
said: “The Supreme Court has ordered status quo at the disputed site. No new
activity is allowed there.”If VHP gets permission to celebrate Diwali at the
disputed site, then Muslims must also get permission to offer namaz at the
site, he added.“The new controversy is unwarranted. All rituals are performed
at the Ram Janmabhoomi site every Diwali. This year also it should be the
same,” said Iqbal Ansari, another Muslim litigant in the case, while commenting
on VHP’s demand to celebrate Diwali at the disputed site. HT
VHP says
seers will light diyas at ram temple on Diwali, Ayodhya admin says no activity
beyond SC Mandate
Ayodhya: VHP has said
that seers will light 5,100 earthen lamps at the disputed Babri Masjid site on Diwali but the district
administration asserted no religious activity beyond the Supreme Court's
mandate on the issue will be allowed.VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma said the
seers of Ayodhya will go inside the Ram Mandir and light up diyas before deity.
PTI
Majoritarianism
taking India down ‘dark and uncertain path’, says ex RBI governor Rajan
Former RBI governor
Raghuram Rajan has attacked Modi Govt, saying its majoritarianism and
authoritarianism were taking the country down a “dark and uncertain path”. He
also accused it of weakening institutions. Highlighting that the ruling party
identified majoritarian issues like triple talaq and Kashmir, Rajan said: “I
don’t believe that majoritarians improve national security. They weaken it,
they want national integration on their terms. Majoritarian nationalism is
intrinsically divisive because it labels a bunch of citizens the ‘others’ and
sets impossible terms for these minorities to be considered true citizens. It
ends up alienating them and, as Lincoln said, a house divided by itself cannot
stand.”Rajan warned that while majoritarinsim may win elections, it is taking
India down a “dark and uncertain path”. “India is better off strengthening its
democracy and decentralising,” he said.According to Rajan, Modi was elected to
power a second time because allegations on the Rafael deal and closeness to
business houses did not stick and also because, at the time of the election,
the dialogue was changed from performance to national security. He said Govt
had “superb command over social media” which helped sell the govt’s performance
widely. “Even today you see WhatsApp messages saying that 5% growth is
wonderful without recognising that its come down,”said Rajan.Commenting on the
perception that Modi is respected globally, Rajan said, “People respect Indian
leaders not because of the force of their personality but because they
represent a 1.3-billion-strong market democracy growing fast.”TOI
Muslims
in India Happiest in the World Courtesy Hindu Culture:RSS Chief Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
has said that the happiest Muslims in the world are found in India, courtesy
Hindu culture. Addressing a gathering, Bhagwat said Hindu was not a religion,
language or name of country. “It’s the culture of all those who live in India,”
he said, adding that when any nation has deviated from the right path, “it has
come to us in search of truth”.“When Jews were wandering, India was the only
nation where they got shelter. Parsis practise their religion freely only in
India. The happiest Muslims are found in India. Why is it so? Because we are
Hindus,” he said.RSS chief added: “Many in India are ashamed of proclaiming
their Hindu identity. There are some who will say they are proud of being
Hindu. There are others who will say they are Hindu, but show their annoyance
at the continuous utterance of the word. There are some who are cautious about
their Hindu identity because their interest are affected.”Bhagwat said it was
necessary to organise the society and all sections must move together, an aim
the RSS was working towards. "We have no hatred towards anyone. We must
move together for building a better society that can bring changes and help
develop the country as a whole," he said.news18
People
link nationalism with Hitler… but India is different: Bhagwat
Bhagwat
cannot erase my history in India: Owaisi on
RSS chief's Hindu remark
AIMIM chief Asaduddin
Owaisi today hit out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remark that Muslims were
happy in India only because of Hindus.In a tweet, Owaisi said that Bhagwat
could not erase his history in India and pointed out that Muslim culture and
faith could not be subsumed by Hinduism."Bhagwat cannot erase my history
in India by renaming it Hindu’. It won’t work. He cannot insist that our
cultures, faiths, creeds & individual identities all be subsumed by
Hinduism," Owaisi said in the tweet.In another tweet, Owaisi slammed
Bhagwat for linking Indian Muslims to foreign Muslims and said that Hindu
Rashtra was not equal to Hindu Supremacy. "No matter how hard Bhagwat
tries to link us to foreign Muslims,it will not reduce my Indianness.Hindu
Rashtra=Hindu Supremacy. That is unacceptable to us. The measure of whether
we’re happy or not is the Constitution, not the magnanimity of majority," he
said.indiatoday
At
NHRC, Amit Shah says don’t apply western norms of rights here
Home Minister Amit Shah has
said that India’s human rights policy must focus on the rights of civilians
killed by militants or Maoists as much as it does on police atrocities and
custodial deaths.“There is no bigger violation of human rights than those
affected by militants in Kashmir or Naxals. We must look at these issues with
an Indian outlook,” Shah said, while speaking at 26th foundation day of
NHRC.Shah, who was the chief guest at the event, said that western standards of
human rights cannot be blindly applied to Indian issues. “Women not having
access to toilets and safe methods of cooking is a human rights issue.Modi Govt
has ensured upliftement of millions of individuals from these situations,” he
said, enumerating the Govt’s efforts at increasing the standard of living.Union
minister said that under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is moving towards
a scenario where there will be no human rights violations.NHRC chairperson and
former CJI HL Dattu said that the Govt
has supported the commission in fulfilling its mandate. Dattu added that the
NHRC has fulfilled its mandate by tackling pressing issues related to bonded
labour and custodial deaths.indianexpress
Modi-Xi
summit: Real heroes behind ‘clean and clear’ Mahabalipuram haven't been paid
for a month
Chennai: If Mamallapuram
is now looking clean and beautiful, it’s due to the efforts of sanitary
workers, who toiled day and night for the past one month for the summit to
become a success.However, thousands of these temporary workers hired by State
agencies to expedite the ‘beautification’ process, allege they have not been
paid for nearly a month. They also do not have any information about when they
will get their wages.G Savithri, working in the temple town, says she is concerned
that authorities will pay only Rs 100 per day, as under MNREGA scheme.“20 days
back, the panchayat said it wanted people for work. A bunch of villagers went
to work. We have not been paid yet,” says Savithri.Similarly, hours before Xi
landed in the city, workers were toiling to beautify OMR. Those involved in
door-to-door garbage collection were also roped in to clean up the stretches.
No extra wages have been promised for them.newindianexpress
'Muslim
women spit into water served to Hindus', says BJP MLA, gets notice
Dehradun: A video went
viral on Saturday purportedly showing BJP's Rudrapur MLA Rajkumar Thukral
spewing venom against Muslims in his constituency, prompting party to serve a
notice to MLA.In the video, MLA is seen addressing a gathering in his
constituency and saying he does not need the support of Muslims. Thukral said
he would never bow his head before a Muslim or in a mosque. MLA also said that
he would never visit a Muslim home for a roza-iftar as Muslim women spit into
the water served to Hindu visitors to desecrate their religion.In the video, Thukral
is seen describing Muslims being "disloyal" to the country. Distancing
himself from Thukral's remark, Pradesh BJP president Ajay Bhatt issued a
statement describing the MLA's views as personal with which BJP had nothing to
do.On Bhatt's directive, Pradesh BJP general secretary Anil Goyal issued a
notice to Thukral seeking an explanation from him for his conduct.PTI
WB,
AP, Jharkhand Hindus in danger from Muslim intruders, claims VHP
Nagpur: VHP has said that
Hindus living in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand are facing danger
from Muslim intruders from Bangladesh while CMs Mamta Banerjee and Jagan Mohan
Rreddy are allegedly committed to minority appeasement by taking an ‘anti-Hindu
stand’. VHP national general secretary Milind Parande said the right-wing
communal group would protect Hindus who are facing danger to their lives,
properties and faith. Parande said considering the ‘grim situation’ in the
backdrop of NRC implementation in Assam, political killings in West Bengal and
love jihad in Andhra, VHP would launch an awareness drive from Nov.Parande said
AP Govt was on a spree of extending ‘undue favours’ to Muslims in the state and
at the same time remaining mum on mass conversions. TOI
NRC
implementation across India will have lethal consequences: CPI ML
Ballia; If NRC is
implemented across India, it will have lethal consequences and the country's
atmosphere will become like that of Kashmir, CPI(ML) Liberation has said.The
Left party has also alleged that poor and Dalits are being targeted through
NRC.CPI(Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya
said, "If NRC is implemented across India, it will have lethal
consequences and the atmosphere of the country will become like that of
Kashmir."Terming BJP-led Centre "anti-public", he alleged that
it was following the footsteps of Adolf Hitler and aiming to implement NRC in
the country to serve its political interest."This is a ploy to divide the
country. Through the NRC, poor and Dalits are being targeted,"
Bhattacharya said.PTI
Muslim
groups: Tickets expose real face of BJP in Maharashtra assembly polls
Mumbai: The absence of a
Muslim candidate in the BJP list for the assembly polls has given ammunition to
a section of the community leadership to attack the party.In 2014, BJP had
nominated Pasha Patel from Ausa. Now that not even the Muslim face of the state
BJP, Haider Azam, has been nominated from Malad West, some are reiterating the allegation
that PM Narendra Modi's slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' is
hollow."BJP doesn't want Muslims in the assembly and Parliament. It is
against political empowerment of the community and denial of seat to a Muslim
is part of the same agenda," said FM Thakur, who heads Maharashtra Muslim
Sangh, an umbrella outfit of several Muslim NGOs.The sangh had supported the
BJP in 2014 but broken away from it a year ago.TOI
Murshidabad
triple murders: BJP, RSS continue to dub killings 'political', despite kin of
victims claiming they were apolitical
Murshidabad triple murder
was being dubbed a case of political violence, with the male victim being
dubbed another one of RSS workers who were targeted because of their political
affiliation. The claim is politically potent enough that it is roiling West
Bengal politics as BJP accused Trinamool Congress for the case. The pattern,
the accusation and the ensuing politics appear all too familiar, as in the run
up to Lok Sabha polls. However, this time around, the problem is that not just
the local police but also the family seems to be denying a political angle to the
case. On Tuesday, Bandhuprakash Pal, a 40-year-old school teacher, his wife
Beauty (30) and their son Angan (5) were found brutally murdered at their home
in Lebu Bagan area of Jiaganj.firstpost
5
Jamia Students Issued Notice for Protesting Israeli Participation at College
Event
New Delhi: 5 students of
Jamia Millia Islamia have been issued a showcause notice for allegedly
"disturbing the normal functioning" of the varsity, a week after they
demonstrated against an event on campus in which there was a participant from
Israel.The notice said the students had "indulged in acts" that have
"tarnished the image of Jamia and disturbed the normal functioning of the
university".The varsity administration said students broke the lock of the
proctor office gate and misbehaved with the guards and the proctorial team of
the varsity. AISA claimed the students were protesting peacefully against the
event. Two of the students issued notices belong to the Left-backed student
outfit.This event was carried out in collaboration with Israel as a country
partner, AISA said. "The alleged 'crime' these students committed was
participating in a protest demonstration on Oct.5 against the event
"Global Health Zenith: Confluence'19" organised by Faculty of
Architecture and Ekistics."This event was carried out in collaboration
with Israel as a country partner," AISA said."The event only had one
Israel delegate participating in it and there was no association with Israel.
He had come to read a paper," Waseem Ahmed Khan, proctor, said. PTI
UP
govt recommends CBI inquiry into irregular sale, purchase of waqf properties
UP Govt has recommended a
CBI inquiry into the irregular sale, purchase and transfer of waqf properties.
According to a Home Department release here, a letter in this regard requesting
a CBI inquiry has been sent to the concerned authorities. UP Govt has
recommended the CBI inquiry into the irregular sale, purchase and transfer of
waqf properties of UP Shia Central Waqf Board and UP Sunni Central Waqf
Board.Cases have been registered in Kotwali Allahabad and Kotwali Hazratganj
Lucknow in this regard.indiatoday
Gujarat
school exam shocker: ‘How did Mahatma Gandhi commit suicide?’
A question in a school
exam on how Mahatma Gandhi committed suicide has shocked the Gujarat education
authorities, prompting them to initiate an inquiry into it. Another question
about boot-legging in dry Gujarat has also irked the education officials.“(how
did Gandhiji commit suicide” was the question asked in Gujarati to Class 9
students during an internal assessment examination of schools run under the
banner of ‘Sufalam Shala Vikas Sankul’, an official said. Sufalam Shala Vikas
Sankul is an organisation of some self-financed schools and educational
institutions getting Govt grants in Gandhinagar. Besides, another question in
an exam paper of Class 12 students was about “writing a letter to district
police chief complaining about the rise in sale of liquor in your area and
nuisance created by bootleggers”.“A cluster of self-financed schools and those
getting grants included these two questions for internal assessment exams held
on Saturday. These questions are highly objectionable, and we have initiated an
inquiry. Action will be taken after the report comes in,” Gandhinagar’s
district education officer Bharat Vadher told PTI.PTI
1
lynched to death, 2 injured by mob in West Bengal
Midnapore:An unidentified
man was killed and two others were seriously injured in an assault by mobs in
separate incidents in two districts of West Bengal early on Sunday, police
said.The man, around 30-year-old, died in Salkia area of Howrah district after
he was beaten up by locals near a warehouse. He was tied up to a tree.“The
youth was suspected to be a thief. We are trying to identify the culprits from
footage caught on security cameras installed in the area. One person has been
detained for questioning,” Y Raghubanshi, Howrah city police’s DCP(north),
said. In another incident, two men were thrashed in English Bazar area of Malda
district on suspicion that they were thieves. Haiyul Sheikh, 22, and Salam
Sheikh, 20, were allegedly loitering near Pirojpur Women’s College when some
locals caught them. When they said that they were from Sujapur in district’s
Kaliachak area, which is notorious for organised crime, residents started
thrashing them. Officers from English Bazar police station rescued the men and
took them to Hospital. “Haiyul and I were going to meet a friend who lives near
the college. Local people assumed that we were thieves. Had police not arrived
the mob would have killed us,” Salam Sheikh said.HT
Jehanabad
wears deserted look after clash
Patna: Tension prevailed
at Jehanabad even though no fresh incident of clash was reported from any part
of the district on Saturday. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC
continued for the third consecutive day. Jehanabad SP Maneesh described the
situation as tense but under control. “No fresh incident of clash was reported
on Saturday. However, we are cautious and don’t want to leave anything to
chance,” SP said, adding 60 people have so far been arrested.TOI
Centre
trying to twist, hijack outcome of Naga peace talks: NSCN
Guwahati:Amid speculation
of an early solution to the protracted Naga political issue, Isak-Muivah
faction Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland (NSCN) has accused the central Govt
of trying to twist and backtrack on its commitments to nullify the ‘’framework
agreement’’ reached after 22 years of intensive negotiations.In a statement on
Saturday, two days after the latest round of talks between the Centre and
NSCN-IM leaders ended in New Delhi, largest Naga rebel outfit said it was
surprising to see that central Govt was trying to “hijack” the outcome of the
talks by using a section of people, who were neither mandated nor represented
the Naga people and Naga national issue. Outfit also expressed its displeasure
at the importance given to seven other rebel outfits, which joined the ongoing
peace talks at a much later stage.“After 22 years long intensive negotiations, Govt
of India has now started to twist and backtrack on their commitments and words
so that the hard earned framework agreement is nullified on any pretext,” said
the statement.HT
Welfare
Party, Lok Raj Sangathan to hold demonstration against 1984 sikh massacre on Nov.
1
New Delhi:Over a dozen
social and political organisations, including Welfare Party of India(WPI), Lok
Paksh and Lok Raj Sangathan, will be holding a day-long demonstration on Sansad
Marg, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Sikh carnage in Delhi on Nov.1.
WPI representative Siraj Talib said that it was not a riot but a “pre-planned
massacre” of Sikh connived by the state and police. Surprisingly, most of the
instigators and perpetrators of the anti-Sikh violence, he said, had gone
unpunished. Talib said that WPI and several other organisations had been
holding agitations on every anniversary of the Sikh massacre for the last
several years demanding punishment for the accused involved in anti-Sikh
pogrom. WPI and many other organisations held a peaceful programme in Abul
Fazal Enclave on Friday to create awareness among the people about the massacre
and motivate them to participate in the demonstrations on Nov.1. Birju Naik of
Lok Raj Sangathan said that “a massacre at such a large scale could not take
place without connivance of the state administration and police’’. He also said
that the riots at different places in the country following demolition of the
Babri Masjid and Muzaffarnagar violence in UP were basically state terrorism.
“This cannot be allowed in a democratic country”, he said.India Tomorrow
Terror
funding: Role of over 40 individuals under scanner in UP
Bareilly: Bareilly police
is now probing the role of more than 40 individuals who were suspected to be
involved in various cases of money laundering and caught by cops in Delhi in
the past. The individuals’ role came under the scanner following the arrests of
4 accused in Lakhimpur Kheri district on Thursday. 4 accused were allegedly
involved in terror funding and were acting as “carriers” in transferring money
from Nepal to Delhi via Bareilly. 4 accused - Ummed Ali, Sanjay Agarwal, Sameer
Salmani alias Sonu and Airaj Ali - were arrested by crime branch team.Police
told TOI , “We are now preparing a list of individuals from four villages who
are suspected to be involved in money laundering cases.”TOI
WORLD
Up
to 1000 US troops to withdraw from northern Syria; Erdogan says arms embargoes
won't stop operation
US Defense Secretary Mark
Esper said President Donald Trump had ordered the withdrawal of up to 1,000
troops from northern Syria. "I spoke with the president last night after
discussions with the rest of the national security team and he directed that we
begin a deliberate withdrawal of forces from northern Syria," Esper told
CBS's Face the Nation. "We find ourselves as we have American forces likely
caught between two opposing advancing armies and it's a very untenable
situation," he added. Esper told Fox News that the number of troops being
pulled back totaled "less than a thousand"."I can't give a
timeline because it changes hourly. We want to make sure that we do so in a
very safe, deliberate manner, that we deconflict things as we go with those
folks on the ground and immediate area." Heavy fighting continues as
Turkey presses ahead with its military operation against Kurdish fighters in northeast
Syria, now in its fifth day. Turkey's president said threats of sanctions and
arms embargoes by Western powers would not stop Turkey's military offensive
against Kurdish forces in Syria."After we launched our operation, we have
faced threats like economic sanctions and embargoes on weapons sales. Those who
think they can make Turkey turn back with these threats are gravely
mistaken,"Erdogan said in a televised speech. France and Germany said on
Saturday that they were suspending arms exports to Turkey over its offensive in
Syria against the Kurdish YPG. Erdogan told a news conference that Turkey's
military operation will extend 30 to 35km into Syrian territory. Meanwhile,
Turkey's assault has forced 130,000 people to flee their homes, UN said, adding
it was preparing for that figure to more than triple. "We have moved into
a planning scenario where up to 400,000 people could be displaced within and
across affected areas," Jens Laerke, a spokesman for UN humanitarian
agency OCHA said, adding that these people would be "in need of assistance
and protection".aljazeera
Syrian
Observatory: 100 people escape camp holding Islamic State relatives
Around 100 people – women
affiliated with Islamic State and their children – have escaped from a camp
guarded by Syrian Kurdish-led security forces in northern Syria, Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said, Reuters reported. Citing sources in the
camp at Ain Issa, Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said there was a state
of “anarchy” inside. middleeastmonitor
Bangladesh
forces kill more than a dozen Rohingya refugees
Security forces in
Bangladesh have killed more than a dozen Rohingya refugees in recent
weeks.Police say they were suspected of being involved in the murder of a
politician. But rights groups dispute that claim.aljazeera
Tunisia:
Voting under way in Prez runoff election
Tunis: Voting is under
way in Tunisia's runoff presidential contest which pits media magnate Nabil
Karoui against conservative lawyer Kais Saied.The two self-styled
"outsider" candidates delivered a shock to the Tunisian political
establishment when they came in the top two of 26 candidates during the first round
of election held on September 15.At at cafe near a polling station in the Tunis
suburb of Ariana, the seats were filled with men chatting and playing cards on
Sunday.Everyone here said they had already voted or were planning to vote.
Barista Mounir Ahazri didn't want to give away who he will choose after
finishing work. While they present themselves as anti-establishment figures,
the two candidates present vastly different alternatives for president. Karoui
has sought to win votes among Tunisia's poor, the business class and secular
voters. Saied is popular among social conservatives while his no-frills
campaign has appealed to young people. Saied meanwhile said that he would not
campaign on "ethical" grounds given that his opponent was in jail.
Even before this, Saied ran a minimalist campaign, which in itself appealed to
voters who see him as "clean". aljazeera
Imran
Khan arrives in Tehran to mitigate tensions between Iran and Saudi
Tehran: Pakistan PM Imran
Khan visited Iran today following a request from US and Saudi Arabia for him to
try to defuse rising tensions in the Gulf.Khan's office said his visit was part
of an initiative "to promote peace and security in the region", and
that he would hold talks with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and
President Hassan Rouhani.Khan landed in Tehran and was greeted at airport by
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif before going into a meeting with Rouhani.
Last week, a spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign office said Khan was also
expected to travel to Saudi Arabia, without providing further details.Khan said
last month that both US and Saudi had asked him to mediate with Iran to calm
tensions in the Gulf.Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said the day before
Khan's arrival that Tehran was ready to talk with Riyadh."Iran has
repeatedly announced that it is ready to negotiate with its neighbours
including Saudi to solve any misunderstandings with our without a
mediator," Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying by ISNA.news18 /AFP
Dozens
hurt in Israel occupation forces teargas attack in Ramallah
Dozens of Palestinian
young men suffered from their exposure to tear gas during violent clashes at
dawn Sunday with the Israeli occupation forces in Ramallah city, Palestine
Information Center reports.The clashes took place in Attira neighborhood of
Ramallah after the occupation forces broke into and ransacked the house of
prisoner Samer al-Arbeed.Similar clashes also happened at the main entrance to
Surda town, northeast of Ramallah, during an occupation forces campaign, with
no reported injuries.middleeastmonitor
Israel
closes Gaza, West Bank crossings
Israeli occupation
authorities on Sunday morning shut down Karam Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun
crossings, southeast and north of Gaza Strip, for Jewish holidays, Palestine
Information Center reported.The administration of Beit Hanoun crossing
announced that it would be closed today for Palestinians, except for
emergencies and VIPs, until 2:00 pm.A complete closure has been imposed on West
Bank since the early morning hours today and it is set to last until 21 Oct..middleeastmonitor
Egyptian
court sentences 6 defendants to death over terror charges
An Egyptian court
sentenced on Saturday 6 defendants to death and 8 others to life in prison over
terror charges. Giza Criminal Court referred the papers of the defendants to
the country's Grand Mufti, highest religious official, whose non-binding
opinion is required by Egyptian law, Egypt's official news agency MENA
reported. In the case publicly known as "attack on 3 Pyramids Hotel"
in greater Cairo, another 12 juveniles to 10 years in prison. Prosecution accused
26 defendants of leading an unlawful group, aiding it with weapons and funds
and attacking the hotel in 2016.In Jan.2016, a group of gunmen gathered in
front of the 3 Pyramids Hotel, which housed Arab-Israeli tourists. Xinhua
Gunmen
kill 15 people in attack on Burkina Faso mosque
Gunmen killed about 15
people and wounded others in an attack on a mosque in northern Burkina Faso
during prayers on Friday evening, a security source and a local official said.The
identity of the gunmen was not yet clear. 2 of the wounded are in critical
condition, sources said. Until 2015, landlocked Burkina Faso was largely spared
violence that hit Mali and then Niger, its neighbours to the north.Reuters
Typhoon
Hagibis kills many as it batters Japan, troops deployed
Japan has sent tens of
thousands of troops and rescue workers to save stranded residents and fight
floods caused by one of the worst typhoons to hit the country in recent
history. Typhoon Hagibis - which means "speed" in the Philippine
language, Tagalog - was the most powerful typhoon to hit Japan in six decades.
It paralysed the capital, Tokyo, and surrounding areas, causing rivers to
overflow and leaving almost half a million homes without power, public
broadcaster NHK reported on Sunday.Japan's Kyodo News agency said 33 people
died and 19 were missing.aljazeera
Flash:NEWS,views,Articles
Erdoğan has managed unthinkable:
uniting all the other Middle East rivals:Simon Tisdall, the guardian
Out
of my Mind: Hail Macaulay for our outdated laws:Meghnad Desai
Mr
Bhagwat, your belief that talk of lynchings is just an attempt to defame India
is wrong: Tavleen Singh
As
final countdown begins in Ramjanmabhoomi case, Ayodhya longs for closure:
Ankita Dwivedi Johri
Fascist
agenda of Hindu fanatics is unlike anything India experienced in modern
history:Humra Quraishi
Mahatma
Gandhi and Maulana Azad shared a warm camaraderie:Raziuddin Aquil
Salman
Khurshid is Right: Congress’ Problem is its Leadership:AIJAZ ZAKA SYED
After
2 Months Under Siege, Kashmir Battles Mental Health Catastrophe:Zafar Aafaq
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:40 PM)
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