28
OCT. 2019: 27 Safar 1441: Vol: 12, No: 47
INDIA: J&K ISSUE
Govt signals shift, allows European Parliament
members to visit Kashmir
New
Delhi: Nearly 3 months after its decision on Article 370, Union Govt has
decided to allow a delegation of European parliamentarians to travel to
Srinagar and see the situation in Kashmir. According to sources in Delhi and
Srinagar, a 28-member delegation comprising Members of European Parliament
(MEPs) from Italy, Britain, France, Germany, and Poland will visit Srinagar on
Tuesday. On Monday, they met PM Narendra Modi and attended a lunch hosted by
NSA Ajit Doval. They met a few mainstream Kashmiri leaders, including ex
Minister Muzaffar Beigh from PDP and winners of the Block Development Council
polls in J&K last week.“PM Modi expressed the hope that [MEPs] have a
fruitful visit to various parts of the country, including J&K,” said an
official statement. “Their visit to J&K should give the delegation a better
understanding of the cultural and religious diversity of the region of Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh; apart from giving them a clear view of the development and
governance priorities of the region,” it added. EU Embassy in Delhi clarified
that MEPs were in India in their “personal capacity” and not as part of an official
delegation. The sources said they had been invited by a local NGO called WESTT,
which is hosting them. The visit to J&K is being coordinated with NSA’s
office, said officials in Srinagar, as he has been the Govt’s point-person on
the move to dilute Article 370.The decision to allow MEPs visit J&K marks a
significant turnaround in the policy of the Centre, which has faced
considerable criticism in the EU and in the US over its Article 370 move. It
has thus far refused permission to any foreign journalist to cover the
situation in J&K post August 5, and turned down requests from diplomats
based in Delhi to visit as well. On Oct.3, it declined a request by visiting US
Congressman Chris Van Hollen to visit Srinagar and the issue was brought up by
the State Department during a special hearing of US Congress subcommittee on
Human Rights that looked into concerns over Kashmir. UN Special Rapporteurs at Human
Rights Council have also issued statements protesting the denial of
applications to visit. MEA declined to comment on whether other foreign
delegation visits were being planned as well.MEPs’ visit comes just a few days
before the Presidential ordinance on reorganisation of J&K goes into place
on Oct.31, and follows concerns expressed by EU on Article 370 decision. In a
speech, delivered on her behalf, EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said EU
had taken up its concerns about “situation on the ground, with its restrictions
on fundamental freedoms,” directly with External Affairs Minister S.
Jaishankar. who visited Brussels prior to the meeting. The hindu
Allowing EU MPs, not Indian leaders, to visit
J&K ‘insult to Parliament’: Congress
New
Delhi :Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has called European Union delegation’s
visit to J&K an “outright insult to India’s own Parliament and democracy”
and sought to know why Indian political leaders were prevented from visiting
the state after the abrogation of J&K’s special status.“When Indian
political leaders have been prevented from meeting the people of J&K, what
possessed the great chest-beating champion of nationalism to allow European
politicians to visit J&K. This is an outright insult to India’s own
Parliament and our democracy!” the Congress leader tweeted.CPI(M) General
Secretary Sitaram Yechury who was part of a delegation of Opposition leaders
who were denied permission to visit the valley, asked why Indian political leaders
were “repeatedly prevented from exiting Srinagar airport?”“I was allowed to
enter Srinagar only when the Supreme Court permitted over my habeous corpus
petition. Even today Indian MPs are not allowed while Modi welcomes MEPs!” he
said.indianexpress
Kashmir parties question visit of 'Far-Right' EU members
when Rahul Gandhi is denied permission
Srinagar:Centre’s
‘Mission Kashmir’ suffered a major setback after political parties questioned
the visit of “far-right” Parliamentarians of EU to Kashmir at a time when “even
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi” is stopped from visiting people in the valley.“It
is not official delegation. I called EU office in Delhi and I was told they are
on a private visit. We need to ask, who sponsored them and who facilitated
their visit? Why this visit when India says Kashmir is an integral part of the
country. They do not allow Rahul Gandhi to visit Kashmir. But they are
facilitated some random EU MPs. Some information has come that most of them are
pro right and anti-Islam”, said Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated ex
J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti. “I do not expect much from this delegation. If they
meet detained political prisoners, minors who have been detained and civil
society members then it will make sense. Otherwise if they are projecting
sanitized version of J&K then it does not matte”, said Iltija.NC said visit
will be meaningless if the delegation is not given access to 3 detained former CMs
-- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba -- and common people in the
valley.“It will be welcomed only when they are given access to the people,
civil society members and 3 CMs who are detained since August 5. On spot assessment
will be objective only if they are allowed to meet people, civil society
members and political leaders so that they can articulate their viewpoints. Unless
they are given free hand,this exercise cannot be meaningful”, said Justice(retd)
Hasnain Masoodi, NC MP from Anantnag. India
tomorrow
Modi greets Farooq Abdullah on his 82nd birthday
PM Narendra Modi has sent greetings to National Conference (NC)
president and Srinagar MP Farooq Abdullah on latter’s 82 birthday.The greetings
were conveyed in a letter handed over to Dr. Abdullah in Srinagar last week.Dr.
Abdullah’s birthday was on Oct. 21, and Modi, in his greetings, prayed for the
former CM’s long and healthy life, party sources said.thehindu
J&K: Grenade attack in Sopore, 20 injured
At
least 20 civilians were injured in a grenade attack near a bus stand in Sopore
district today, J&K Police said. Security forces have cordoned off the area
and a search is underway to nab the attackers. At least 6 persons sustained
serious injuries and were referred to a hospital in Srinagar, officials said.indianexpress
Sikh devotees’ procession leaves from Delhi for
Nankana Sahib: Pak High Commission
New
Delhi:A group of Sikh devotees from India, part of a religious procession, on
Monday started off their spiritual journey from Delhi to Nankana Sahib in
Pakistan, the birthplace of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, the High
Commission here said.‘Nagar Kirtan’ (procession) is led by Sardar Paramjit
Singh Sarna, ex president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee(DSGMC) and includes representatives from different
sections of the Sikh community in India, the Pakistan High Commission said in a
statement.On Monday morning, the procession was sent off by several
dignitaries, including Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, it said.PTI
Pak to launch university in honour of first Sikh
Guru
Pakistan's
PM Imran Khan has laid the foundation stone for a university named after Baba
Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, ahead of his 550th birth
anniversary next month.The university will be set up in Nankana Sahib district
of northeast Punjab province, the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, located 75
kilometres from Lahore.The development comes days after Pakistan and India
signed an agreement for the opening of a key border crossing for Sikh pilgrims
to attend the birth anniversary of their founder, despite heightened tensions
between the two rivals over Kashmir."Setting up of an educational
institution is the best way to pay homage to Baba Guru Nanak because education
is the key to nations' success," Khan said while addressing the
ceremony.aljazeera
Maha, Haryana POLITICS
BJP, Sena meet Maharashtra governor separately amid
power sharing tussle
:Maharashtra
CM Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena senior leader Diwakar Raote separately met
governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in Mumbai today morning. Leaders of both the
parties said they wanted to extend Diwali greetings to the governor, and denied
there would be any discussion on the formation of next state Govt. A Raj Bhavan
official said the meetings were "courtesy calls" by the two
leaders."This is a festival of lights and Raote will meet governor
Koshyari to extend Diwali greetings on behalf of the Sena. There will be no
political discussion," a senior leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party
said earlier.Besides, a close aide of Fadnavis also told PTI that CM will be
meeting the governor to wish him for Diwali."Any political discussion is
unlikely," he said. As the BJP's tally went down in the Assembly elections
held last week compared to its 2014 performance, ally Shiv Sena's chief Uddhav
Thackeray raised the pitch for "equal sharing" of power.PTI
Speak the truth on 50:50 formula agreed between
Amit Shah, Uddhav Thackeray: Sanjay Raut
Shiv
Sena today reiterated its demand for an equal share of power in Maharashtra,
and asked the BJP to “speak the truth on the 50:50 power-sharing formula”
agreed between Amit Shah and Uddhav Thackeray.The demand by Sena MP Sanjay Raut
came shortly after CM Devendra Fadnavis and senior Shiv Sena leader Diwakar
Raote met state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, amid the ongoing tussle between
the ruling alliance partners over forming the next Govt. Raut also told a channel
that there was “nothing political” in Raote’s meeting with the governor.Asked
what would happen if BJP were to renege on the power-sharing formula agreed
before this year’s Lok Sabha election, Raut said, “BJP evokes name of Ram. You
(BJP) are going to build the Ram temple. Ram was satyavachani (embodiment of
truth), so they should speak the truth on this (formula).”“You can tear a
paper, but you can’t delete this record (of power-sharing formula agreement
between BJP and Sena),” Raut said.PTI
Congress will slide no further, can now reverse
tide: Salman Khurshid after Assembly polls results
Maharashtra
and Haryana Assembly polls results are indications that Congress’ slide in the
country has stopped and it can now look forward to reversing the tide, senior
party leader Salman Khurshid said.The party doubled its 2014 tally in Haryana
and the Congress-NCP alliance improved its tally in Maharashtra in the
recently-concluded Assembly polls.Terming the results as “encouraging”, he told
PTI, “It (poll results) gives them (Congress workers) a second breath and I
think it’s a reminder to all of us in Congress that there is a lot of life in
us and what we need to do now is to get back on our feet and fight with faith
and conviction.”indianexpress/PTI
Mumbai: 3 candidates under EC scanner for
‘communal’ poll speeches
Mumbai
:During campaigning for the state elections in Mumbai, the Election Commission
(EC) prima facie has found at least 3 cases where candidates of political
parties appeared to be giving communally-charged speeches, including one by
Mumbai BJP president Mangal Prabhat Lodha. In another instance, EC found a man
putting up content online that could possibly cause a rift between two sects in
Mulund.Of these 4 cases, FIRs have been registered into three instances, while
the case of Lodha is still being processed by the EC. According to EC
officials, 3 of these cases took place in Mumbai suburbs that has 26 Assembly
segments. The first incident took place at Santacruz, where AIMIM candidate
Arif Shaikh allegedly made a hate speech during a rally at Daulat Nagar. The
local police lodged an FIR against Shaikh under. On Oct. 19, an FIR was
registered against BJP candidate Ramesh Singh Thakur for allegedly making a
communally-charged speech in Malwani constituency. Aslam Shaikh of the Congress
went on to win the seat.indianexpress
OTHERS
Indian banks should exploit untapped potential in
Islamic banking: Experts
Singapore:Indian
and foreign banks should exploit Islamic banking''s untapped potential to
ensure the financial inclusion of “unbanked” populations excluded by the
existing financial system, several experts have said. Islamic banking is a
finance system based on the principles of not charging interest, which is
prohibited under Islam.“Research shows that Islamic finance sector continues to
grow and evolve in size and complexity, with Islamic banking offered in more
than 60 countries worldwide. It is an excellent opportunity for Indian/foreign
banks to expand their footprint in India by venturing into this largely
untapped sector,” said Islamic banking expert Hazik Mohamed.He said Shariah
instruments like bonds (more accurately, sukuk) and funds that are looking at
Shariah-compliant investments will be able to meet the needs of Muslim
investors from within India and externally from other parts of the
world.Islamic finance, including its interest-free and equity-based banking
system, can complement the existing Indian banking and finance system, said
Hazik, who has spent the last decade researching financial systems to
understand the various types and causes of financial crises. He is currently
developing various solutions to reduce such events by implementing Shariah
principles through digital technology.“As an alternative financial system,
Islamic finance will provide Indian consumers (Muslim and non-Muslim alike) an
alternative system to meet their banking needs,” Hazik said. “Islamic banks''
greater resilience to crises and shocks compared to conventional banks are
based on empirical data from countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Turkey, UAE (GCC) where both types of banks exist,” he said. RBI has
decided to not pursue a proposal for introduction of Islamic banking in the
country. According to Abdur Raqeeb, general secretary of ICIF, an forum pushing
for Shariah banking in India, Islamic banking has the potential to contribute
towards greater financial inclusion besides providing support to small and
medium sized enterprises. If Islamic banking is introduced, he said, the
inadequate labour capital ratio for informal sector workers associated with
agriculture and manufacturing industries could be resolved through equity
finance, which might be a revolution in the Indian agriculture and unorganized
sector.“With improved labour capital ratio, our vulnerable workers associated
with agriculture and unorganized sector might be able to compete effectively
with the formal sector workers. Thus Islamic banking may financially empower
majority of Indian workers,” Raqeeb said. Asked about roadblocks behind not
starting Shariah-based banking in India, he said Islamic banking has
unfortunately been misunderstood in India as a religious charitable venture
restricted to the country’s Muslim community.PTI
Popular publication ‘Dawat’ relaunched in new weekly
avatar with App
New
Delhi:Former Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) chief, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, in
the presence of his successor, Syed Sadatullah Hussaini, and other top leaders
of the organisation, launched the popular Urdu newspaper ‘Dawat’ in a new weekly
avatar at a ceremony held here on Saturday evening. The new portal and mobile
app of the weekly were also launched on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion,
Maulana Umri emphasised that the history of Urdu journalism would be incomplete
without a mention of ‘Dawat’, which played an objective and constructive role
in shaping the minds of people. Nobody can point a finger towards ‘Dawat’ for
yellow or irresponsible journalism since its launch in the early 50s.Explaining
the rationale behind winding up the ‘Dawat’ in its old biweekly format and
launching it in a new weekly avatar, he said the decision was in tune with the
new realities. In the present time, biweekly has lost its importance and value.
The Dawat Trust took this decision last year as publishing a biweekly has
become an economic burden too on the trust.Maulana Umri said the most popular
column “Khabr-o-Nazr” (News & Views) and other important content of the
Sehroza Dawat have been retained from one of the oldest Urdu
papers.Congratulating the Dawat Trust for the launch of ’Dawat’ weekly, Dr
Zafarul Islam Khan, Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said there is
a crying need of a good daily in the Capital as existing Urdu papers do not
reflect the community’s concerns. Dr Khan, who is also a veteran journalist and
editor of Milli Gazette, further pointed out that most of the major Urdu
dailies serve the interests of the ruling party or other political parties and
carry very poor news content. He suggested many good things for the weekly ‘Dawat‘
for improving its content. Former chief editor of ’Dawat’ (biweekly), Abdul Haq
alias Parwaaz Rahmani, shed light on the journey of the much loved newspaper.
Arguably, the ’Dawat’ was and is the organ of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, but it
never ignored other milli (community) organisations’ activities and covered
them with open heart, said Rahmani, who served the publication for more than
four decades. On the 59-year-old popular column on current affairs,
“Khabr-o-Nazr”, he said it was started by its first editor Asghar Ali Abedi in
1955 at the time of its conversion into biweekly from weekly two years after
its inception. Rahmani, who inaugurated the ’Dawat’ news portal, said the new
format of the ‘Dawat’ would serve the needs of the readers spread not only in
India but also in many other parts of the world.Dr Fahimuddin Ahmed, the man
behind the new weekly Dawat venture, briefed the audience on the history of
Urdu journalism and ’Dawat’ itself. In his presidential address, Jamaat
president, Syed Sadatullah Hussaini, said the Jamaat publications have offered
remarkable service to the community. Objective and constructive journalism has
been the hallmark of the ‘Dawat’ and now it is coming in weekly format to serve
the nation and community, he added.Caravan Daily
Dawat Weekly, Its News Portal and Mobile App
Launched In Delhi
Renowned Urdu newspaper ‘Dawat’ launched in new
weekly format; its portal, mobile app also launched
Islam doesn't believe in concept of 2 children,
govt is not giving jobs anyway: AIUDF chief
Guwahati:
Responding to Assam Govt's decision of not giving Govt job to people having
more than two children, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal said that Islam doesn't
believe in the concept of having only two children. He said, "Islam
doesn't believe in the concept of having only 2 children.No one can stop the
people who're bound to come to this world." He further added, "There
are no restrictions among us. Govt is not giving us jobs anyway and we even
don't expect jobs.I would say my people to give birth to as many children as
they can and educate them. So they can develop job opportunities and provide
jobs to even Hindus."ANI
‘Is he tracing it to the Constitution?’Subramanian
Swamy reacts to Ajmal over questioning 2-child law
BJP
leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday lashed out at Assam MP and AIUDF chief
Badruddin Ajmal for his criticism of Assam Govt’s two-child criteria for
availing Govt jobs. Swamy said that a woman’s opinion also matters as she is
the one who gives birth.“Is he (Ajmal) agreeing his wife or wives are producing
seven-eight children each? Her opinion also matters. After all, a child is
borne by the woman for nine months, during which she goes through a lot of pain
and anxiety,”he said. Issuing a warning to Ajmal, he said, “He should take his
wife or wives’ permission…. until we bring uniform civil code… and then he will
have only one wife.” BJP MP also asked Ajmal to clarify what he means when he
says “we have the right” to produce as many kids as they want”.“When he says
“we have the right”, is he tracing it to the Constitution?” he asked. financialexpress
As Congress awaits Ayodhya verdict, 2 key leaders
say they want a temple
New
Delhi :Ahead of the upcoming Supreme Court verdict in the Babri Masjid title
suit case, two senior Congress leaders, former Union minister Jitin Prasada and
ex Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat, have said that they want to see a Ram temple
built in Ayodhya, but added the apex court verdict would be supreme and should
be accepted by all.The remarks by Rawat and Prasada, members of the Congress
Working Committee (CWC), come at a time when Congress has begun discussions to
craft its response to the verdict. On Friday, a high-level panel set up by
Congress president Sonia Gandhi met to deliberate on the party’s response to
sensitive political issues such as the upcoming Ayodhya verdict, NRC and
Citizenship Amendment Bill. While the party had been maintaining that the
Supreme Court verdict should be accepted by all, at least one top leader said
the party’s response will, in fact, be crafted on the basis of the verdict.
“The party’s response will depend on the manner in which the court frames its
verdict,” leader said.Ex-Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, another member of CWC, said the
Ayodhya issue is no doubt an emotional and sensitive one and “we have to take
into account all this also… about the sensitiveness, about emotional matters.
Any decision has to be taken after thorough discussion…that is my
view.”indianexpress
India’s common identity is citizenship, not
Hinduism, says Agnivesh on Bhagwat’s remarks
Social
activist Agnivesh has lashed out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for describing all
Indians as Hindus. He said citizenship, not Hinduism, is the “sole common
identity” of all Indians. Agnivesh was referring to Bhagwat’s speech on the
occasion of Vijayadashami earlier this month.“Pursuing the Hindutva agenda,
which flies in the face of the Constitution of India, he [Bhagwat] seeks to
erase cultural and religious diversities and unveils RSS hobbyhorse of
homogenization: one nation, one language, one culture,” Agnivesh said. He said PM
Narendra Modi had likened the Constitution to a national scripture, but now
kept silent in the face of the “anti-Constitutional posturing” of Bhagwat. The
social activist also said that Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s
definition of who is a Hindu is “an insult to Hinduism”.scroll
Muslims in Bengal raise funds for temple demolished
for road; a maulvi inaugurates it:HT
Midnapore:The
maulvi of local mosque in West Bengal’s Birbhum district inaugurated a temple
dedicated to Kali, on a night when the state was observing Kali Puja.The show
of communal amity took place in Basapara of Nanoor area, about 160 km away from
state capital Kolkata, that often grabs headlines for political fights.“I have
inaugurated mosques and madrasas. But this is the first time I have inaugurated
a Hindu temple. It’s a different feeling altogether,” Mandal said.Members of
the Muslim community in Basapura even raised money to rebuild the Kali temple
that was demolished two years ago for widening a village road. They also
purchased the land for relocating the temple. After the temple was demolished,
locals took up the plan to rebuild it at a new location. Muslims joined the
drive to raise funds and, in fact, ended up collecting Rs 7 lakh of the total
Rs 10 lakh that was spent to rebuild the temple at a new site.HT
‘Ghar-wapsi’: VHP says ‘reconverted’ 25,000
Muslims, Christians in 2018
A
senior VHP leader claimed here on Saturday that the right-wing organisation
“reconverted” 25,000 Muslims and Christians to Hinduism in 2018. VHP secretary general
Milind Parande said drives for reconversion, which Hindutva outfit calls
“ghar-wapsi” or coming back to the “parent faith”, were being held regularly
across the country.“25,000 Muslims and Christians were reconverted in 2018,” he
said, adding that figures for 2019 were yet to be compiled. Addressing a press
conference here, Parande said conversion was a “national problem”, “an attack
on the country” and a “conspiracy to divide its people”. He said, “VHP wants a
bill which will make it difficult to convert people to other religions.”Asked
about the Ram Temple issue, Parande said VHP was expecting a “positive verdict”
from the apex Court as all the “archaeological facts” supported the case for
existence of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Parande also said an amendment was needed
to the Citizenship Bill to “secure Hindus in the country”.PTI
Crackers banned near mosques, hospitals in Guwahati
Guwahati:
This Diwali, bursting of firecrackers near a mosque, hospital or public roads
may land one in jail in the city. The city police have issued an order to that
effect, strictly advising everyone to abstain from any kind of violation of the
order or to face legal action, including arrest.The order issued by the city
police's (East Police District) deputy commissioner of police Ranjan Bhuyan
became effective from Friday and will stay in force till the midnight of Oct.
29. It stated, "Bursting of crackers and fireworks on public roads,
marketplaces, inside and near hospitals, mosques and other places of public
congregation under the East Police district are prohibited. Any person
contravening this order shall be liable to be punished in accordance with the
provisions of section 188 of the Indian Penal Code."TOI
Delhi: SC's Limit on Crackers Defied, Air Quality
Falls to 'Severe' After Diwali
New
Delhi: A layer of haze enveloped the national capital a day after Diwali as the
city’s air quality on Monday plummeted to the “severe” category for the first
time this season with a large number of revellers brazenly flouting the Supreme
Court-enforced two-hour limit for bursting crackers.Delhi’s apprehensions came
true despite the top court’s order that only green firecrackers, which reportedly
cause 30% less pollution, can be manufactured and sold, and the Arvind Kejriwal
Govt organising a mega laser show in an effort to dissuade people from bursting
crackers.According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor,
SAFAR, levels of PM2.5 tiny particulate matter of diameter 2.5 or less than 2.5
microns that can enter deep into the lungs reached as high as 735 at Delhi
University. Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 463 at 11:30 am,
according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research
(SAFAR).PTI
Against 'strategic interests' to share details on NGT
expert members appointment under RTI
New
Delhi: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently
refused to make public documents regarding the cabinet’s appointment of two
experts to National Green Tribunal (NGT). The ministry said that disclosing
such information would affect the “strategic interests” of the state.On
September 2, 2019, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order
stating that the appointment committee of the cabinet has appointed two
existing officials of the environment ministry as expert members in NGT for a
period of “three years or until the next order”. However, National Green
Tribunal Act, 2010 clearly states that the chairman, judicial members and
expert members of the NGT will be appointed for five years and once appointed,
they cannot be re-appointed.Environmental activists allege that by reducing the
tenure of expert members of NGT, Centre is trying to curb its freedom.The Wire
filed an RTI application seeking several documents including those related to
the appointment process, the names of candidates who applied for the post and
their specialisations, and the minutes of meetings of the search committee or
the appointment committee formed to shortlist candidates. However, the ministry
has refused to supply information on all points.thewire
3 Andhra Labourers Allegedly Commit Suicide;
"No Work," Said One In Video
At least 3 persons, all of whom were believed
to be dependent on the construction sector for their livelihood, have killed
themselves in separate incidents in the Tenali, Guntur and Mangalagiri regions
of Andhra Pradesh this month. Their deaths have been linked by many to the
slump in activity in the sector caused by a change in the state's policy on
sand - which is required in large quantities to help strengthen buildings and
used to make both cement and concrete.One of the victims, Venkatesh, who lived
in Guntur district, recorded a selfie before hanging himself. In the video,
recorded over three weeks ago but which only became public now, he said he was
killing himself because he was unemployed and had no other means of earning a
living. According to his wife, Raashi, Venkatesh had been unemployed for the
past four months."Our livelihood means was only construction business. My
husband did not know any other work. We also have a one-year-old son who is not
feeling well and needs medical care," she said.NDTV
Naga National Political Groups ask state MLAs to
clarify their position on Centre-NSCN(IM) talks
Naga
National Political Groups that have been holding talks with the Centre since
2017 on Monday said state legislators must clarify their position on the
dialogue between the insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland
(Isaak-Muivah) and Govt, PTI reported.The talks hit a roadblock earlier this
month after Centre rejected NSCN(IM)‘s demand for a separate flag and
constitution. The Govt has set an Oct. 31 deadline for a final settlement to
the Naga dispute.“Unresolved matters should be decided through political and
democratic process,” the forum said in a statement. “The position and status of
elected representatives of Nagaland cannot remain lukewarm. They cannot choose
to hide behind the boulders blocking the way.”scroll.in
Chidambaram discharged after being admitted to
AIIMS due to abdominal pain
Former
Union minister P Chidambaram, who was admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi following
complains of abdominal pain, was discharged later today. The Congress leader is
presently in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate in INX Media money
laundering case. PTI quoted sources saying that Chidambaram complained of
illness and pain and was taken to the RML Hospital in the morning. He was
shifted to AIIMS in the evening.While those close to Chidambaram said “his
condition is not good”, ED sources claimed “there was nothing serious”, PTI
reported.indianexpress
WORLD
Iraq declares curfew amid ongoing mass anti-Govt
protests
Authorities
in Iraq have declared a curfew in the capital, Baghdad, where mass anti-Govt
demonstrations continue for a fourth day.The renewed protests came weeks after
an earlier wave of rallies broke out as a result of widespread anger at
high-level corruption, mass unemployment and poor public services. More than
200 people have been killed in this month's demonstrations in Baghdad and
several southern cities.As protests continued today, state media quoted the
Baghdad Operations Commander as saying that the curfew from midnight to 6am
local time will be valid "until further notice". Earlier in the day,
at least 2 anti-Govt protesters were reported killed and over 100 people were
wounded in clashes with security forces in Baghdad as thousands of students
joined in the demonstrations in defiance of a Govt order and tear gas from
security forces.aljazeera
Russian Defence Ministry cast doubt on Trump’s
assertion of killing Al-Baghdadi: Kremlin says his death a boost for Trump if
true
Moscow:
Kremlin said on Monday that US President Donald Trump will have made a major
contribution to the fight against international terrorism if a US assertion
that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead is true.Trump on Sunday
announced that Baghdadi had killed himself during a daring overnight raid by
elite US special operations forces in Syria and thanked Russia, among others,
for its support.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say on Monday if US
had informed Russia about the operation in advance or provide other details.“If
this information (about Baghdadi’s death) is confirmed we can talk about a
serious contribution by the president of US to the fight against international
terrorism,” said Peskov.Russia’s Ministry of Defence cast doubt on Trump’s
assertion on Sunday however, saying in a statement it did not have any reliable
information about US operation and citing 4 reasons why US version of events
looked suspicious.“The growing number of direct participants in the operation
and countries who allegedly took part in this ‘operation’, each with totally
contradictory details, gives rise to justified questions and doubts about
whether it took place and in particular how successful it was,” defence
ministry said.Unlike Kremlin, the ministry also played down Baghdadi’s
importance, saying that if his death was confirmed it would have “no
operational significance” on the situation in Syria or on the actions of
remaining militants in Idlib region.Reuters
Russia raises doubt over al-Baghdadi's "umpteenth
death"
Let us see if Baghdadi is really dead: Former
Pakistan minister Rehman Malik
Aformer
Pakistani minister has cast doubt on American assertions that Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, was killed in a raid led by US
forces this weekend. Rehman Malik, a Pakistani senator and the former interior
minister of the country, said he is yet to seen any "confirmation"
from the IS on Baghdadi's death. "I am happy if he is dead... Let us see
if he is killed in reality or not," Malik said in a tweet.India Today
ISIL spokesman killed in north Syria raid: SDF
Spokesman
of ISIL, was killed on Sunday in northern Syria, a top Kurdish official said,
hours after the group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was announced dead.The
official with Kurdish-led SDF - who asked not to be named because he is not
authorised to speak on the issue - said ISIL spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir
was killed after SDF chief Mazloum Abdi said he was "targeted" in a
fresh raid."Al-Muhajir, right-hand of Baghdadi and spokesman for IS, was
targeted in the village of Ain al-Baydah near Jarablus, in a coordinated operation
between SDF intelligence and US army," Abdi said on Twitter.An AFP
correspondent in Ain al-Baydah, which is controlled by Turkey-backed Syrian
rebels, said two vehicles, a small pick-up truck and a larger truck carrying a
small metal container, were hit in air strikes. He saw 2 corpses lying outside first
vehicle while a third charred body was in the metal container. He could not
identify who was behind the strikes or if they were carried out by warplanes or
a drone.Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the death
of al-Muhajir, saying he was among five ISIL members who were killed in a
US-led operation backed by SDF. Later, in a post on Twitter, SDF spokesman
Mustefa Bali said: "We believe ISIS spox. Al-Muhajir was in Jarablus to
facilitate Baghdadi's entry to Euphrates Shield area," referring to a zone
in northern Syria controlled by Turkey's Syria proxies."The two US-led
operations have effectively disabled top ISIS leadership who were hiding"
in northwest Syria. "More still remain hiding in the same area," Bali
said. aljazeera
Over 350,000
Afghans displaced in 2019: UN report
The
continuous conflict in Afghanistan has displaced more than 350,000 people
throughout the war-torn country since Jan. 1, according to data by UN Office
for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).Overall, 354,664 people were
displaced in 31 of the total of 34 provinces, OCHA reported. About 310,000
people were forced from their homes in the same period last year. Most people
who fled were in the northeast region with more than 160,000 people displaced,
followed by the east with 68,000, the north with 60,000, and west with 29,900. Fighting
surged this year during ongoing talks between US and the Taliban about a
political solution for the conflict.According to analysts, both sides tried to
gain leverage during negotiations through military gains. The talks were called
off by US President Donald Trump in early September after an American soldier
was killed in a Taliban attack.However, there are signs the talks might resume.
US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in the Afghan capital on Saturday and
met Afghan officials, including Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.The visit
was Khalilzad's first to Afghanistan since the talks with Taliban were
cancelled.aljazeera
EU agrees to delay Brexit until Jan.31 next year
European
Council agreed to grant Britain a new Brexit delay to Jan.31 next year. On
Monday, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Twitter " EU 27 has
agreed that it will accept UK's request for a Brexit flextension (...)The
decision is expected to be formalized through a written procedure".Tusk's
announcement came as European Union diplomats met in Brussels to sign off on
the new delay to Britain's departure from the bloc, which had been due in just
three days on Oct. 31.According to a copy of the agreement seen by AFP, if PM
Boris Johnson convinces UK parliament to approve an amicable divorce accord
before next year, Brexit could be on Nov.30 or Dec.31.But in the meantime
London must nominate a senior official to serve on the next European Commission
and must agree that the withdrawal agreement it struck last month will not now
be renegotiated, according to EU text. aljazeera
US envoy helps open major Israel settlement’s new medical school
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman participated in the official
opening ceremony for an Israeli settlement’s new medical school, deep in the
occupied West Bank.As reported by Times of Israel, Friedman used the occasion
to praise the expansion of Ariel University, named after the illegal West Bank
colony in which it is based.“A new medical school has opened in Samaria”,
Friedman declared, using the common Israeli terminology for the northern West
Bank. “It’s worth saying that again: A new medical school has opened in
Samaria! How many people ever thought those words would be spoken?”“The lives
of people everywhere, in this region, whether you are Jewish, Muslim, Christian
— they have now been improved and will continue to be improved in so many
profound ways,” he added.“The United States Embassy enjoys warm relations with
Ariel University, and we are inspired by its contributions to Israeli society
and to the scientific world,” said the ambassador.MEMO
Malaysia to open embassy to Palestine
Malaysian
PM Mahathir Mohammad has announced that his country is to open an accredited
embassy to Palestine. “We know that Israel will not allow Malaysia to open an
embassy in the Occupied Territory. As such, we will open the embassy in
Jordan,”he announced. Mahathir revealed that the embassy would be accredited to
Palestine, and it would more freely facilitate the extension of aid to
Palestinians.Addressing 18th summit of NAM in Azerbaijan, Mahathir criticised
the silence of the international community for “doing nothing” against Israeli
actions.Leaders and representatives of at least 120 member countries of NAM are
meeting in Baku.“I would also like to bring to this occasion the fate that
awaits our poor Palestinian brothers. Palestine remains occupied by a brutal
regime. This regime continues to expand illegal settlements on land that
rightfully belongs to the Palestinians,” he stated.middleeastmonitor/AA
Rights groups accuse Tanzania's Magufuli over rising repression
International rights groups have accused the Govt of Tanzanian President
John Magufuli of increasingly repressing political dissent.Since Magufuli’s
election in 2015, Tanzania has implemented laws that stifle independent
journalism and severely restrict the activities of NGOs and opposition parties,
Amnesty International and Human Rights
Watch (HRW) said in two separate reports released on Monday.Civil society
activism and public discussions on human rights-related issues have also been
suppressed, while the authorities’ “regressive” policies have restricted the
playing field for those seeking to challenge the ruling party, they added. "With
elections around the corner, people don't feel that they can comment honestly,”
said Jehanne Henry, HRW’s East Africa director, referring to Tanzania’s polls
scheduled for next year.aljazeera
Lebanese protesters set up barricades, block main roads
Demonstrators in Lebanon have set up barricades and parked cars across
key roads in the capital Beirut and elsewhere in the country as part of the
ongoing anti-Govt protests aimed at forcing the resignation of all political
leaders. Defying pleas from the country's top politicians, protesters today
sought to keep Lebanon on lockdown by cutting off access to some of the main
thoroughfares, including the main north-south highway.A poster urging motorists
to block roads with their cars began making the rounds on social media on
Sunday. Demonstrators accuse the country's political class of mismanagement,
wasting public funds and rampant corruption.aljazeera
Egypt’s Sisi extends state of emergency for another 3 months
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191028-sisi-extends-state-of-emergency-for-another-three-months/
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has extended the state of
emergency nationwide for the ninth time in a row due to the security conditions
in the country. It will last at least for another three months.Although the
decision to extend the state of emergency every three months is something that
Egyptians have been used to since 2017, the latest extension came at a time
when Egypt-Ethiopia relations are strained by the Great Renaissance Dam crisis.
There is a threat from both sides of a military solution.The state of emergency
was originally declared across Egypt after attacks on 9 April 2017 which
targeted two Coptic churches in Tanta, north of the capital Cairo, and
Alexandria, on the north coast. Forty-five people were killed.middleeastmonitor
IMF says unemployment, sluggish economic growth fuel unrest in Arab
states
Unemployment and sluggish economic growth are fuelling social tension
and popular protests in several Arab countries, the International Monetary Fund
said Monday. The unrest is in turn contributing to slower growth in the Middle
East and North Africa (MENA) region, alongside global trade tensions, oil price
volatility and a disorderly Brexit process, IMF said in a report on the
regional economic outlook. Earlier this month it lowered the 2019 forecast for
the region — taking in the Arab nations and Iran — to a meagre 0.1 % from 1.1 %
last year.IMF slashed its outlook for the region’s three largest economies —
Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The risks around the forecast
of earlier this month “are skewed to the downside and are highly dependent on
global factors,” IMF said in its report on Monday. “The level of growth that
countries in the region are having is below what is needed to address
unemployment,” said Jihad Azour, the IMF’s director for the Middle East and
Central Asia.AFP
China expands footprint in region with new air links with Nepal, Myanmar
China is expanding its air links with South and Southeast Asia, focusing
on Nepal and Myanmar, to help enlarge its regional footprint.On Sunday,
Himalaya Airlines — a China-Nepal joint venture — landed its maiden flight from
Kathmandu to Beijing’s brand new Daxing international airport. China’s state-run
Xinhua news agency has reported that the “flight marks the first-ever
capital-to-capital direct connectivity between Nepal and China…” The arrival of the
flight follows the recent visit to Nepal by China’s President Xi Jinping, which
focused on the expansion of connectivity between the two Himalayan neighbours. thehindu
Flash:
NEWS, views, Articles
We need to ask why India lags behind its neighbours
in combating hunger, malnutrition:Harsh Mander
Breathing space for secularists: Maharashtra
election results bust some myths about how people now vote: Jyoti Punwani
No Country Needs a Burqa Ban:Shreya Parikh
Maharashtra Polls: Why Prakash Ambedkar’s Social
Experiment Didn't Work:Sukanya Shantha
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