Evening NEWS DIGEST
13 May 2017: 16 Shaban 1438: Vol: 8, No:190
INDIA
India reiterates support to ‘Palestinian cause’ on eve of Mahmoud Abbas’s visit
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-reiterates-support-to-palestinian-cause-on-eve-of-mahmoud-abbass-visit-4654303/
New Delhi:On the eve of the visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to New Delhi, India on Saturday reiterated its “political support” to the Palestinian cause and said it continued to assist developmental projects there.The external affairs ministry said the visit, during which Abbas will hold extensive talks with PM Narendra Modi, will provide an opportunity for reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations, the Middle East peace process, and regional and international issues. Several MoUs on cooperation in various areas are also expected to be signed during the visit, the ministry added.A delegation-level discussion between President Abbas and PM Modi will be held on May 16.“India and Palestine enjoy historically close and friendly ties. Apart from the political support to the Palestinian cause, India continues to support developmental projects in Palestine by extending technical and financial assistance,” the ministry added. Statement assumes significance given that there have been commentaries on the increasing proximity between the Modi govt and Israel which may have a bearing on New Delhi’s relations with Palestine. In July, Modi will travel to Israel, the first Indian PM to do so. During his visit to India, Abbas will visit C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) in Noida on May 15 to forge cooperation between Palestine-India Techno Park being built by India in Palestine and Indian IT industry.PTI
Abbas visit: India reiterates support to Palestinian cause
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/58660270.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Mahmoud Abbas coming tomorrow on 4-day India visit
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/palestine-president-mahmoud-abbas-coming-on-four-day-india-visit/story-7mC8yGyHcaU0US62VbJrHM.html
Israeli consulate celebrates 25 yrs of being BFFs with India
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2017/may/13/israeli-consulate-celebrates-25-years-of-being-bffs-with-india-1604187.html
Bengaluru: As the independent state of Israel turned 69 on May 11, about 150 people gathered to celebrate independence day as well as the silver jubilee of Israel’s diplomatic relation with India.Held at Shangri-La Hotel, the perfumed lobby was abuzz with gleeful chatters and Israeli music playing in the backdrop.Yael Hashavit, Israel’s Consul General to South India greets people at the door as they arrive after having a thorough rounds of strict security checks. Hashavit poses for pictures with the guests near Israel and India’s flag by the door. She reminisces about how the independence day is celebrated a night before the actual day in Israel with open barbecues and parties by the beach.“In summer we enjoy going to beaches and relish Israeli cuisine. We will be having a few dishes here tonight. I am excited,” she tells City Express. India is Israel’s bestfriend, says Ziv. “No other country can give three embassies such as India has given Israel,” he says. “The proof of it lies in Israel establishing its third embassy in Bengaluru four years ago,” he adds. Ziv has been here in the city ever since the embassy’s inception.The chief guest of the party was DK Shivkumar, minister for energy who talked about the ties between Karnataka and Israel. “We are bound by shared interests, values and determination to safeguard welfare and security and most importantly by culture and people-to-people contacts,” he says.“I hope we continue to develop good relationship as we discover new avenues of co-opertaion and fulfill aspirations,” he concludes. newindianexpress
Indian Naval Ships reach Israel Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-naval-ships-visit-israel-ahead-of-pm-modis-visit-1692470
New Delhi: Indian Naval Ships Trishul, Mumbai and Aditya, which were involved in an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, reached Haifa in Israel on Thursday and will engage with Israeli Navy in a series of activities.The ships, that are on overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and the West Coast of Africa, reach Israel ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the West Asian country in July. Task Group is headed by Rear Admiral RB Pandit, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, aboard the guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai.Indian naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the main maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia.IANS
Jamiat-led-Muslim delegation meeting PM Modi: Official and delegation's different version of statement
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/a-tale-of-two-statements-on-pm-narendra-modi-meeting-with-muslim-delegation-4653513/
New Delhi : A Muslim delegation led by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind that met PM Narendra Modi on May 9 spoke to him at length about the “gulf” between the Govt and the Muslim community, the atmosphere of fear stemming from cow vigilantism and love jihad, and the need to accelerate welfare schemes for minorities. But these did not find mention in the press release put out by the Press Information Bureau of the Govt though the Jamiat statement did touch upon some of these. Zahir Kazi, president of the Anjuman-i-Islam, Mumbai and one of 25 in the delegation, said: “Many people spoke on the issue in different tones. But the purport of it all is that the community feels it is being targeted. Extremist elements are taking the law into their own hands, something nobody should be allowed to do. Cow vigilantes, love jihad, all this is creating an atmosphere of fear, we told the PM .”Another member of the delegation,Akhtarul Wasey, VC of Maulana Azad University in Jodhpur, said: “We told PM that the statements that the CM of UP and he himself had given about not allowing people take the law into their hands were not percolating to the ground level. Law enforcing agencies were not doing due diligence on this.” PM, it is learnt, told the delegation that regardless of the background he comes from, he is the PM of 125 crore people of the country, and regardless of caste or creed, he is committed to their welfare. “It is my responsibility, he told us, that nobody feels discriminated against. It was the statement of a statesman,” Kazi said.But the official release put out by the PIB after the meeting made no such mention. This is what it said:“Praising the PM ’s vision, members of delegation expressed hope that the nationwide trust that he has among the people, will ensure prosperity and well-being of all segments of society. They said that the Muslim community is keen to be an equal partner in the making of New India.Noting that terrorism is a major challenge, they expressed a common resolve to combat it with all their might. They added that it is Muslim community’s responsibility that under no circumstances should anyone compromise the nation’s security or well-being. They said that the Muslim community would never allow any conspiracy against India to succeed.Expressing concern at the situation in Kashmir valley, members of the delegation said that only PM Modi can resolve the issue.They appreciated the PM ’s stand on the issue of Triple Talaq.”While the official release stated that “the delegation also appreciated the implementation of minority welfare schemes under the Union Govt”, delegation members said they emphasised the need to step up these schemes.The memorandum that the delegation submitted dealt at length with the issue. “Supremacy of Rule of Law is must for the security, integrity and development of our country. No one is above the law. It must be administered with total impartiality and equality. Your recent reprimand to private groups taking law in their hands and launching murderous attacks for salvaging cows has sent the correct message but much has to be done by law enforcing agencies and the state administration. The recent incidents of manslaughter on the pretext of cow slaughter have sent shock waves of terror and fear through Muslim, Dalit and the weakest sections of the society. We are afraid that fear and despondence if unchecked could prove highly counterproductive.” The delegation also flagged the issue that 3 years after it came to power,NDA govt had been unable to bridge the communication gap between Muslims and itself. They asked the PM to fashion a mechanism that would ensure that issues of the Muslim community reach him without the elaborate and time-consuming effort of a high-level delegation from the community meeting him. PM assured them that some such mechanism would be evolved and there was need to keep talking to ensure they understood each other better, said one member of the delegation.On the issue of triple talaq though, there was convergence in the 2 statements. Members of the delegation said that they were appreciative of the PM ’s stance that the issue should not be politicised and a solution would have to come from within the community. “He said it is the responsibility of the community to look for a solution and we agreed,” a member said.indian express
Muslim leaders Meet PM Modi to express fear, official press release doesn't quite reflect what they said
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/05/13/muslim-leaders-meet-pm-modi-to-express-fear-official-press-rele_a_22084514/
Muslim Personal Law
SC should not take legislature’s role in triple talaq case: Khurshid
http://www.freepressjournal.in/india/supreme-court-should-not-take-legislatures-role-in-triple-talaq-case-khurshid/1067221
New Delhi: Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who is the amicus curiae in the ongoing triple talaq hearings, has urged the Supreme Court not to usurp the legislature’s role in deciding the issue of triple talaq.In a 35-page written submissions serving as an intervener to the Constitution Bench, Khurshid said the court should refrain from legislating afresh in the guise of commenting upon the Constitutional validity of (Muslim) personal law.He also said the court should refrain from commenting on issues like uniform civil code that falls within the ambit of the legislature.Stating that it shall be always be open to the court to judge the validity of any reforms in the civil or codified personal law brought by the legislature, Khurshid said,“It (court) should not seek to frame legislative or executive policies in the guise of judicial pronouncements.” He also asserted that no reliable data is forthcoming to show that talaq or triple talaq among the Muslims exceeds divorce than from other communities.Citing latest judicial rulings as recently as in 2008, he dismissed the anxiety expressed about triple talaq as misplaced and cited enough judicial and legislative material to stress on the issue. Khurshid referred to the institutional arrangement or rather a built-in element already available to deal with the problem of talaq, pointing out that even the unilateral talaq sought by the husband must be for reasonable a cause and proceeded by attempts from mediators of either side of the couple, who should report to the Qazi.Moreover, Qazi has to ensure that mehar is paid and provision made for iddat period and for children are met before the talaq becomes effective. freepressjournal
Women Commission chief miffed over absence of woman judge in SC bench hearing triple talaq case
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/national-commission-for-women-chief-miffed-over-absence-of-woman-judge-in-sc-bench-hearing-triple-talaq-case-4653350/
New Delhi: National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam on Friday questioned the absence of a woman in the Supreme Court bench hearing the triple talaq issue.“Watching the hoo-haa over the bench hearing the triple talaq matter and considering the different religions of the judges, it struck me that the issue is not about religion but about women’s rights and human rights as it involves children as well. There should have been a lady judge on the bench,” she told PTI.PTI
Muslim men can't practice polygamy or verbal divorce in Goa because of common civil code, says Governor
http://www.ndtv.com/cities/muslim-men-cant-practice-polygamy-or-triple-talaq-in-goa-because-of-common-civil-code-says-governor-1692949
Panaji: A study conducted by Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on the impact of the state's Common Civil Code has revealed that neither oral divorce nor polygamy are allowed to Muslims under it, an official statement said on Friday.A statement also quoted Ms Sinha as stressing the need to create a single identity for women as Indian women, and that a common civil code strengthens this singular identity. "Under this code, Muslim men can neither practice polygamy nor the verbal divorce is recognised in this State because no such provision exists in the Code and secondly the Muslim Personal Law Application Act 1937 has not extended to the State of Goa," she said, as per the statement.IANS
Verbal divorce not recognised in Goa common civil code: Governor on triple talaq
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-verbal-divorce-not-recognised-in-goa-common-civil-code-sinha-2436540
Ban on triple talaq to boost BJP image:party’s strategists
http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/120517/ban-on-triple-talaq-to-boost-bjp-image.html
New Delhi: If triple talaq is banned, it would be a major victory for the BJP, which has been energetically campaigning against it. The party’s strategists feel that the move has already made BJP closer to the Muslim women and consolidated the support of it’s core constituency — Hindutva vote across the vote bank. Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asserted that triple talaq “was not a religious issue but related to social ills” and that the debate on the issue would have a “positive bearing on the (Muslim) community and the country.” Naqvi also said that the Modi Govt , which will be completing three years later this month, has zero tolerance for communal incident and its policies are aimed at providing “empowerment (to minorities) without appeasement.” He also listed various achievements of his ministry in last three years and also announced that the Govt would launch ‘Tehreek-E-Taalim’ on the birth anniversary of APJ Abdul Kalam on Oct 15. However, AIMMM President Navaid Hamid claimed that the issue is religious as the practise is a part of Islam and the petitions against it are politically motivated. While asserting that triple talaq is part of Muslim personal law,AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani also said that its misuse is a sin.Asian Age
OTHERS
No role in Ummer Fayaz’s killing:Hizbul Mujahideen chief
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-role-in-ummer-fayazs-killing-says-hizbul-mujahideen-chief-4653437/
Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin on Friday denied J&K Police’s statement blaming 3 members of his outfit for Lt Ummer Fayaz’s killing. “Our militants are not involved in the murder of Lt Ummer Fayaz. Such a killing is condemnable,” he said in a statement to a local news agency.He blamed “Indian agencies” for murdering the officer “from a pro-freedom family’’. He added that militants were being blamed for the murder to shield the “real face of the Indian agencies’’. Salahuddin claimed that India was trying to create groups like ISIS to defame militants. “There is no role of al-Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban in Kashmir’s freedom struggle.” indianexpress
Hizbul distances itself from Musa's audio statement threatening to behead Hurriyat leaders
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hizbul-distances-itself-from-musa-s-statement-threatening-to-behead-hurriyat-leaders/story-pjDLyUixCGqYgujWt8KOnM.html
Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen has distanced itself from the statement of its commander Zakir Musa, who had threatened to kill Hurriyat leaders for calling Kashmir’s separatist movement political and not religious.Calling Hurriyat leaders “hypocrites, infidels, followers of evil”, the militant had warned to chop off their heads “if they create hurdles in the path of making Kashmir an Islamic State”. He added that the heads will be hanged in Lal Chowk in Srinagar.In an emailed statement to Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), Hizb spokesman Saleem Hashmi said that the “militant organisation does not subscribe to the statement”. “Such a statement is unacceptable to us.It reflects the personal opinion of Zakir Musa. Post Burhan Wani’s martyrdom, the nation and the leadership are united at every front and taking ahead the struggle for freedom and Islam to its end,” Hashmi said in the statement.Terming Musa’s remarks in an audio slideshow that surfaced in Kashmir’s social media as his “personal opinion”, Hashmi cautioned that any statement or step which will create confusion “can prove a death knell for our struggle”.“At this juncture, any such statement or step will strengthen the occupying and imperialistic forces. Hizbul Mujahidin, the guardian of lakhs of sacrifices and freedom, is assessing the statement and won’t hesitate to take steps for the betterment of the freedom movement. We appeal the pro-freedom youth not give much attention and discourage such statements coming out in the media,” spokesman said.HT
Musa quits after Hizb warning, says cannot sacrifice life for secular state
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/story/249237.html
Srinagar:Hours after Hizb-ul-Mujahideen statement calling his threat to Hurriyat leaders as “unacceptable”, Zakir Musa dissociated himself from the outfit, saying that he can’t “sacrifice his life for the establishment of a secular state”.Musa released an audio clip in which he said that he stands by his earlier message."After my last audio message, lot of confusion is being spread in Kashmir. I stand by my speech and by my message. It doesn’t bother me what others say, but I stand by my speech. But see I have had not said anything against a particular person or Geelani sahab but I have said only against that individual who is against Islam and talks about freedom for secular state.. greater kashmir
Hizbul commander Zakir Musa quits after outfit condemns his 'beheading' threat to separatists
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hizbul-commander-zakir-musa-quits-after-outfit-condemns-his-beheading-threat-to-separatists/articleshow/58659675.cms
Kashmir issue: BJP leader says no talks, asks: Was Vajpayee successful?
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-leader-says-no-talks-asks-was-vajpayee-successful-4653426/?google_editors_picks=true
Jammu: Pointing out that the situation in Kashmir Valley is not congenial for holding a dialogue at present, the J&K unit of the BJP on Friday asked those invoking Atal Behari Vajpayee for initiating peace talks with separatists and Pakistan whether the ex-PM was “successful in his venture’’.“…Was he successful in his venture? Neither the separatists nor Pakistan stopped their agenda for creating disturbances in Kashmir (despite Vajpayee’s efforts to initiate a dialogue),” state BJP spokesperson Virender Gupta said. Instead, Gupta said, “they tried to inflict more injuries to India”. Those who support a dialogue with separatists should “also recall Pakistan’s attack in Kargil, and terrorists’ attack on Indian Parliament and in Mumbai” subsequently.Vajpayee was the PM during Kargil war and 2001 Parliament attack. Indianexpress
NIA unlikely to challenge Aseemanand’s acquittal in Ajmer blast case
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-unlikely-to-challenge-aseemanand-s-acquittal-in-ajmer-blast-case/story-pj1E6YivJ7uzAMXIk1f0II.html
New Delhi: NIA is unlikely to appeal against a court verdict acquitting former RSS activist Swami Aseemanand and six others in the Ajmer blast case, with Govt sources stating that experts have failed to find any “legal infirmity” in the ruling.If the NIA accepts the verdict, it would be the fourth instance of the probe agency deciding against challenging court orders that let alleged perpetrators of so-called Hindutva terror attacks off the hook.“I cannot confirm or deny anything,” NIA chief Sharad Kumar told HT, when reached for his comments.HT
ATS gives clean chit to 2 Muslim youths in IS case
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/ats-gives-clean-chit-to-2-youths-in-is-case/articleshow/58652953.cms
MUMBAI: Maharashtra ATS has given a clean chit to Aaves Shaikh, a Madhya Pradesh resident, and Arshad Faisal from Saharanpur in UP, who were questioned for their alleged links to the terror outfit Islamic State (IS).The state ATS summoned the two youths after their names emerged during investigations in the case of Parvez Tambe who has allegedly left India to join the IS.Shaikh, who is from Khargone in MP, and Faisal were brought to Mumbai for questioning. While Shaikh as completed his BTech and M Tech from Pune's MIT, Faisal, an engineer by profession, is a school teacher.TOI
Citing right to trade, HC tells UP govt to consider giving licences to slaughterhouses
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/citing-right-to-trade-allahabad-hc-tells-up-to-consider-giving-licences-to-abattoirs-4653505/
Lucknow: Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the UP Govt to look into the applications seeking licences or registration of slaughterhouses, meat shops and other related establishments, stating that bringing such activities “to a grinding halt” interferes “with the right of trade and business”.A division bench of Justices Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Sanjay Harkauli passed the order while hearing a bunch of 27 petitions challenging the state Govt ’s March 22 order to shut down unregistered or unlicensed slaughterhouses and meat shops.“We are of the considered opinion that before taking any further precipitate action, the state ought to have called upon the state-level committee, as directed by the Supreme Court, to undertake this exercise to consider all the aspects, more particularly the practical aspects, not only with regard to urban areas but also with regard to rural areas where such a crisis can be clearly visualised in the absence of any infrastructure being available for the effective implementation of the Acts and Rules,” said the court.“We, therefore, hereby direct the state Govt to undertake this exercise through the said state-level committee and make it known to the public at large, through effective notifications and publications for everyone involved in such food trade or business, to undertake such measures that may be required for either registration or licensing, and, at the same time, ensure that such activities, particularly where there are no facilities available, are not brought to a grinding halt, thereby interfering not only with the right of trade and business but also resulting in an impediment in supply of animal food stuff either in the urban or rural areas,” said the court.“This is necessary to prevent any chaotic situation, but at the same time the state Govt can take appropriate steps in accordance with law for preventing any unlawful activity. These plans could have been ensured had the state Govt itself undertaken this exercise of looking to its past performance and its obligations to be discharged in future. To this extent, we find that the cause and apprehension expressed by the petitioners of resulting in violation of rights therefore deserves to be noticed by the state Govt itself,” it said. On issuing of licences to slaughterhouses, meat shops and other such businesses, the court said the state Govt is under an obligation to assess and make provisions to encourage private entrepreneurship. The court also said all petitioners and others who want to apply for registration or licences could do so, and it shall be obligatory on the part of the respective authorities to assess and pass orders, informing the applicants about the same. The local bodies shall be obliged to consider and grant no-objection certificates as and where required, the court said. The court directed the state Govt to file an affidavit regarding the exercise undertaken by the state-level committee on the next date of hearing fixed for July 17.
Meat sellers up in arms over crackdown on abattoirs
http://www.dnaindia.com/delhi/report-meat-sellers-up-in-arms-over-crackdown-on-illegal-abattoirs-2436804
Noida, Ghaziabad: Meat sellers in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar met with the district administrations over the lack of legal slaughterhouses in both districts. Speaking to DNA shopkeepers said that after the crackdown of the state Govt , slaughterhouses in Ghazipur have also stopped giving meat to shopkeepers of UP-NCR.It is estimated that nearly 1,000 shops in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad have been affected by crackdown of UP Govt on illegal slaughterhouses. As a result, most of the local shops have remained shut. "To add to our woes, Ghazipur slaughter house has also refused to give us meat. Post the ban, meat demand in Delhi has gone up as everybody from UP-NCR are running to Delhi," said Daud who used to supply animals in UP-NCR. Shopowners too have raised their issues but they say it is all in vain.
UP: 6 Aligarh men thrashed for skinning buffalo, case against them, not mob
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/6-aligarh-men-thrashed-for-skinning-buffalo-case-against-them-not-mob-1692800
Lucknow: 6 men were thrashed by a mob in Aligarh in UP before being arrested for "animal cruelty" after they were caught skinning a buffalo.Footage showed the attackers punching and kicking a man while he was being taken away by police.In recent months, there have been a spate of assaults and murders by cow vigilantes. The police said the mob raided a privately-owned dairy farm in Aligarh, just an 4-hour drive from the national capital of Delhi, where they found five men skinning a buffalo, whose slaughter is legal at permitted abattoirs.The dairy owner, Kalu Baghel, said the buffalo was sick and had stopped yielding milk, so he sold it to a cattle trader identified as Imran who said that in order for the transaction to go through, he must be permitted to slaughter the animal within the premises of the dairy farm. Imran and 5 other men, all Hindus, were in the process of slaughtering the buffalo when the mob arrived.Local police chief Rajesh Kumar Pandey said an investigation would determine how the buffalo died, and the skinners would be held for questioning. "They have been arrested on charges of animal cruelty, and further charges will depend on the outcome of the autopsy report," he said.None of the attackers - have been arrested as police had not received a formal complaint from the victims, he added.The men arrested are Dalits, a caste that is often tasked with skinning dead cows, a major source of hides for the booming leatherwork industry.NDTV
Gaurakshaks at it again: 5 men thrashed in Aligarh for slaughtering buffalo, arrested
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aligarh-gaurakshak-thrash-buffalo-slaughter/1/952494.html
An injured cow, a death, murder charge split a village in MP
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/an-injured-cow-a-death-murder-charge-split-a-village-in-madhya-pradesh-4653499/?google_editors_picks=true
Ghatwai: It started with a cow being found injured, but the communal tension in Silawan village of Ashoknagar district, about 225 km from Bhopal, escalated rapidly when its owner was found dead over a week later. The cow was found with an injured leg on April 27. The cow’s owner, Ghanashyam Lodhi, and other Hindu villagers alleged that Akhtar Khan, another resident, had shot at the animal. Khan was arrested on April 28. He was later released on bail.The local veterinarian said the injury was caused by a blunt object, not gunshot. The district admin set up a 3-member panel of experts, who agreed with the local veterinarian. But Ghanashyam’s relatives and other villagers continued to blame Khan. They alleged that Khan was shooting at some dogs which had attacked hens. He killed 2 dogs, but also hit the cow, they claimed, adding that they had at least one eyewitness.Amid the charges and counter-charges, the police decided to take the cow to Bhopal for an X-ray to determine the nature of the injury. So, on May 5, cow was taken to Bhopal, accompanied by Ghanashyam, his nephew Sunil, a policeman and a veterinarian.“X-ray report on the very first day ruled out gunshot wounds,” said Dr P S Patel, deputy director of the state veterinary hospital in Bhopal. Then, early on May 8, Ghanashyam, who was in his mid-thirties, was found dead inside the hospital. He had allegedly hanged himself.At first, Sunil, 26, alleged that some of Khan’s relatives had met Ghanashyam in Bhopal and threatened him. Based on his complaint, the police booked Khan and 5 others — Samad Khan, Saleem Khan, Bhura Khan, Abdul Hasan (all Khan’s relatives) and Abrar — on charges of abetment to suicide.But hours later, when he returned to his village with Ghanashyam’s body, Sunil alleged that the 6 accused had entered the hospital at night, one had held a gun to his head, while the others had taken Ghanashyam away. “Why would we go and kill someone in a govt hospital that has CCTV cameras. Our call records will prove that we were not in Bhopal that day,’’ said Abdul Hasan, headmaster of Singhada primary and secondary school and one of the 6 accused. indianexpress
Biryani outlets in Haryana closed after reports confirm beef use: Deccan Herald
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/611250/biryani-outlets-haryana-closed-reports.html
Chandigarh: Eateries serving biryani in Muslim-dominated Mewat region of Haryana have shut shop fearing a backlash and a likely crackdown by the police after reports corroborated presence of beef in the samples. Beef is a prohibited commodity in Haryana. laboratory report this week suggested the presence of beef in seven food samples that the police had collected from outlets last year. Fear looms large in the area with many self-styled vigilante groups taking matters into their hands in an attempt to prove their right-wing credentials. DGP BS Sandhu said the fears are unfounded and no person, including the police, will be allowed to take law into their hands. He said legal opinion has been sought in the matter since beef is a prohibited commodity under the law in Haryana.
BJP calls hartal in Kerala village to shut down beef stalls, CPI (M) holds parallel beef fest
http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bjp-calls-hartal-kerala-village-shut-down-beef-stalls-cpi-m-holds-parallel-beef-fest-61944
In the first open protest by BJP against beef sale in Kerala, a village of Kollam district took centrestage on Friday.The local BJP unit called a hartal demanding shutdown of beef stalls at Nedumpana grama panchayat area.Countering the BJP protest, CPI (M) and its youth wing DYFI distributed beef curry across the panchayat and held a beef fest. A large number of people participated in it.BJP has been protesting against beef stalls in Nallila market area for the last several months. The hartal was the latest in the series. thenewsminute
Delhi HC police for not questioning 9 students suspected to be behind Najeeb’s disappearance
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/high-court-raps-police-over-najeeb-probe/story-1JbVdq1iqYbsPFi8SCWNgL.html
The Delhi High Court on Friday pulled up Delhi Police over the manner in which the probe into the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad, missing since Oct.last year, has been conducted. It said it gives “an impression that investigation was not being done properly”.A bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Deepa Sharma said the conduct of the police showed it was trying to sensationalise the matter or looking for a way out. “Why was the status report filed by the Delhi police in a sealed cover? Why police commissioner, SIT, or Investigating Officer thought it was so crucial, damaging (in the report),” the bench said.“It (status report) does not show that he (Ahmad) was accessing any fundamentalist website,” the bench noted when senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Ahmad’s mother, contended that a paper had quoted a police source in a news report that claimed that before his disappearance Ahmad had been looking for information on Islamic State.“We have to keep in mind the possibility that the police is trying to sensationalise or trying to find an escape route,” the bench said, adding the police should have carried out an internal inquiry as to who was the officer who had leaked or planted that information.The court pulled up the police for not questioning the 9 students suspected to be behind Najeeb’s disappearance on day one itself and not taking them into custody.“What is the point of sending 400 men across the country to find Ahmad, when you have not probed any of the suspects,” the bench said.Noting that the WhatsApp messages of the suspected students have not yet been examined, the bench said if the messages of the period when Najeeb went missing have been deleted, “then that in itself is incriminating”. Najeeb’s mother, sat on one of the benches in the courtroom and wept the entire duration of the proceeding. The court has posted the case for further hearing on Monday. hindustantimes
Violence in Sambhal: Attacked, their homes destroyed, 9 Muslim families leave UP village
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/violence-in-sambhal-attacked-their-homes-destroyed-9-muslim-families-leave-up-village-4653447/
Lucknow: Attacked by people from the majority community on at least 2 occasions in the last three days over alleged elopement of a Hindu woman and a Muslim man, at least 9 Muslim families have left their village in Sambhal district of western UP. They fled to undisclosed destinations, the village head said. The people who left are relatives of the man who eloped with the Hindu woman and were allegedly attacked and beaten up by residents of their village, Nandrauli. The assailants, allegedly from the majority community, torched the property and household belongings of these families, the police said.On Friday, village pradhan Pramod Kumar said, “9 Muslim families left the village Thursday morning. They feared further attack. After learning about it, senior senior police officers, including Meerut Range DIG Onkar Singh, reached the village Thursday and held a meeting with seniors in the village.” Sambhal’s Superintendent of Police Ravi Shankar Chhabi said, “We have learnt that four or five families have left the village and gone to relatives’ homes.” 2 FIRs have been lodged at Gunnaur police station in the area and 7 accused have been arrested so far. Senior police officials are camping in the village and trying to pacify the groups. Nandrauli has 80 % Hindu population.SHO of Gunnaur, Raj Pal Singh, said that on May 9, a local businessman named Ram Niwas lodged an FIR against his neighbour, Babloo, 22, and his friend Musharraf for allegedly abducting his daughter — Arti, 20 — from his house the night before. Babloo, a Muslim man, runs a dairy in the village. Musharraf was arrested on Thursday but the police could not get any information from him about the duo on the run. According to SHO Singh, on the afternoon of May 9 a mob attacked 5 houses of people from the minority community, including that of Babloo. They threw stones and broke all furniture lying outside, he said. An FIR was lodged against 25 unidentified rioters.While a police team was deployed after the attack, people from the Muslim community alleged that a group of armed men again targeted 15 houses the following night in presence of the police officials. “Men barged in and vandalised the homes. They later set the belongings on fire. They also beat up the occupants,” alleged Ahmed Ali, a neighbour of Babloo.Ali spoke with The Indian Express over tphone — he had left the village with his family “fearing further attack”, and refused to divulge his location.Indian Express
UP: Muslim exodus after attacks
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170513/jsp/nation/story_151399.jsp
Angry over elopement, Yadavs vandalise Muslim households in UP’s Sambhal
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/angry-over-elopement-yadavs-vandalise-muslim-households-in-up-s-sambhal/story-dQyrdZzhUjt6EPz8txqT6M.html
Muslim families 'migrate from Pokhria after village boycott'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jamshedpur/muslim-families-migrate-from-pokhria-after-village-boycott/articleshow/58656013.cms
Jamshedpur: Many Muslim families living at Pokharia village in Bodam block, nearly 35km from the district headquarters, are migrating to safer places. The families have said that that some influential people from the village are a threat to them and have been preventing them from living a normal life.The reported exodus of families comes weeks after a molestation case was reported in the village. On April 12, a woman in her mid-twenties accused the 65-year-old Asgar Ali of molesting her while she was returning from work. Furious villagers stormed into the house of the accused and set it on fire. The police arrested the accused and forwarded him to jail. The police also named four villagers in the FIR for torching the house. All the four are on the run.The migrating families alleged that the people accused of burning the house are influential and have manipulated others to force them to leave the village by way of social and economic boycott. They alleged that the particular section of villagers was building pressure on them to withdraw the FIR.Of the 400 families in Pokharia, Muslims constitute 13.The families said that they cant even buy essential food articles from the village shops. "The villagers have been threatened of consequences if they are caught entertaining Muslims in Pokharia," claimed senior JMM leader Babar Khan, who took up the security issue of the minority families with the district police on April 18 .TOI
Over 30 people taken into custody as curfew remains in Rajasthan’s Banswara district
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/30-people-taken-into-custody-as-curfew-remains-in-rajasthan-s-banswara-district/story-u67frBGp6O4UyfmvnLzeJK.html
Jaipur: More than 30 people have been arrested in curfew-bound Kotwali police station area of Rajasthan’s Banswara district where communal violence broke out on Thursday.“We have taken three dozen people of both the sides into custody on Friday following tension in the city. Several incidents of arson were reported in the region since Thursday night,” Banswara superintendent of police Kaluram Rawat said.The situation is under control but the curfew has not been relaxed, he said.According to sources, the groups have been at loggerheads over a disputed religious site in Kalika Mata area.The groups had clashed with each other when ‘Shab-e- Baraat’ procession was passing by the locality around 11pm on Thursday.According to police, members of both the sides again pelted stones, and torched houses and vehicles yesterday.“A meeting with senior members of both the communities was held last night. They assured their support to restore peace and communal harmony and spoke to their people. The situation is under control now although heavy deployment of police personnel is there,” Rawat said.PTI
Rajasthan: Curfew in Banswara after communal tension
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-curfew-in-banswara-after-communal-tension-4653458/
Deletion of Eid-e-Milad from UP holiday list by Yogi govt challenged in HC
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/deletion-of-eid-e-milad-from-up-holiday-list-by-yogi-govt-challenged-in-hc/story-xKySChUxZ0ghg0w5212kDL.html
Allahabad: Allahabad high court has directed the UP Govt to produce a copy of its notification whereby Eid-e-Milad or Barawafat was cancelled from the list of state holidays.A division bench of Chief Justice DB Bhosle and Justice Yashwant Varma passed the order on a petition filed by Bashir Beg of Bareilly district who challenged the April 25 notification by which the Yogi Adityanath Govt had slashed about 15 state holidays, including Eid-e-Milad.The petitioner has, however, made it clear in the plea that he was concerned only with Barawafat and not with other holidays deleted from the list.PTI
Hyderabad: Hindu man sermon request at Mecca Masjid raises eyebrows
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hindu-mans-sermon-wish-raises-eyebrows/articleshow/58654120.cms
Charminar: Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) has sought to know whether TRS has given a go-ahead to one AS Rao to speak at Mecca Masjid on a Friday during the holy month of Ramzan. Rao, who, in his letter to the Minorities Welfare Dept (MWD), claimed to be a senior TRS leader, recently applied for permission to speak at Mecca Masjid.MBT leader Amjedullah Khan said that he was suspicious of the move. " Third Friday of Ramzan is traditionally allotted to MBT where we primarily speak about Muslims and religious issues. I wonder why he has asked for the third Friday slot ," he said, adding that the TRS leadership should 'come clean' on the issue. Religious leaders said that they found the request 'strange'. One such leader, Maulana Mohammed Husamuddin Sani, said that while there is no stopping someone from speaking about the Prophet in a reverential manner, the time and place chosen by Rao should be looked into." Some non-Muslims have written beautiful books about Prophet Mohammed. If this gentleman wanted to speak about the Prophet, he could have done so at any venue. However, this request of speaking at the Mecca Masjid on a Friday during the holy month is strange," he said. TRS leaders did not wish to comment on the issue. TOI
Hindu seeks permission to deliver sermon at Makkah Masjid during Ramadan
https://www.siasat.com/news/hindu-seeks-permission-deliver-sermon-makkah-masjid-ramadan-1183044/
Paper trail to be used for all future elections, says chief election commissioner Zaidi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/paper-trail-to-be-used-for-all-future-elections-says-chief-election-commissioner-nasim-zaidi/articleshow/58651923.cms
New Delhi: In the midst of a raging debate on the reliability of EVMs, a majority of political parties that attended the Election Commission's all-party meeting on Friday supported the use of electronic machines though they called for paper trails and more safeguards.The parties demanded EVMs with voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPAT) and more scrutiny of election and post-election processes.Just a handful of parties, like BSP, the first to slam EVMs after the UP assembly poll results, RJD, Trinamool Congress and Tamil Nadu-based PMK demanded a return to the ballot paper system.AAP, which had held a "demonstration" in the Delhi assembly to show the alleged tampering of EVMs earlier this week, called for a "hackathon" with machines used in the recent assembly polls in 5 states. However, it backed the use of VVPATs. TOI
Govt may revive 'Akbar-Noorjahan’ sea link for Haj :HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-may-revive-the-akbar-noorjahan-sea-link-for-haj-pilgrimage/story-jNAnH98voqLgMrJa0s5A8O.html
New Delhi: Govt plans to open the sea route to Haj, a move aimed at reducing travel cost after the Supreme Court passed an order in 2012 to phase out Govt subsidy for air travel for the pilgrimage by 2022.Akbar and Noorjahan were the last ships that sailed until 1994 to ferry pilgrims to Jeddah. In 1994, 4,680 pilgrims used the sea route for Haj. The service was discontinued from 1995 as the two dilapidated ships were phased out. There was also an increased demand for air travel. From 31,000 pilgrims in 1995 who took flights, the number increased to over 1 lakh in 2016.“We will roll out a new Haj policy in 2018,” minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.“The sea route will be an option.” Naqvi has spoken to shipping minister Nitin Gadkari to provide ships for Haj and the latter has agreed to the proposal.The new ships will take maximum 3 days to cover the distance between India and Jeddah, as compared to the 15-20 days it took in the 1990s.
‘UnIslamic’: Clerics issue fatwa against Muslim participation in Narmada Yatra
http://www.hindustantimes.com/bhopal/unislamic-clerics-issue-fatwa-against-muslim-participation-in-narmada-yatra/story-8t9l1Uw44OY7JZ5nJNP13M.html
Bhopal: 2 days ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Amarkantak as part of the 5-month-long Narmada Seva Yatra’s concluding function, Islamic clerics in Madhya Pradesh have issued a fatwa forbidding Muslims from participating in the event.The religious ruling – pronounced by Jabalpur-based mufti-e-azam Maulana Mehmud Ahmed Qadri and Mufti Naeem Akhtar Qadri – termed shouting slogans such as ‘Narmada-maiya ki jai’, participating in the kalash (pot) ritual, and showering flowers on saffron flags as “unIslamic”. It went on to state that members of the community who have already played a part in the event stand excommunicated from Islam unless they go for ‘tauba’ (repentance) at the earliest and reaffirm their faith.The fatwa also stressed that Muslims guilty of committing the afore-mentioned religious offences should not “touch their wives” until they repent. Those failing to go for ‘tauba’ at the earliest would face social boycott, and their bodies won’t be allowed into the community graveyard.Nearly a dozen Muslim leaders had accorded a grand welcome to the Narmada Seva Yatra when it reached Jabalpur on April 16. Several members of the community showered flowers on saffron flags and carried the kalash on their heads, even as others provided refreshments to Hindu devotees.The fatwa was issued in response to a query by Jabalpur resident MM Khan regarding Islamic jurisprudence on the participation of Muslims in such a yatra. It said that three Muslim leaders have already repented for their “najaayiz and haraam (illegal and forbidden)” acts, and promised to refrain from repeating them in the future.Masood Ahmed Khan, secretary of the state coordination committee for Indian Muslims, told HT that while Islam had nothing against river conservation, it forbade idolatry and bowing down before anybody but the Almighty Allah. “It is unIslamic to shout slogans like ‘Narmada-maiya ki jai’ or keep a kalash on one’s head,” he said. hindustantimes
India turns on Rohingya refugees seeking their deportation as Kashmir boils: Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/india-refugees-rohingya-idINKBN1881W2
Jammu: It was around 3 a.m. when Abdul Kader was awoken by his children's screams as flames spread through their corrugated iron and wood shack and dense smoke filled the air.The 37-year-old burkha seller and his family escaped last month's blaze unhurt, as did the six other Muslim Rohingya refugee families living there, but it has left the community in India's northern city of Jammu fearful and on edge."The police said it was an electrical short circuit, but we think it wasn't an accident," said Kader, sitting on the floor of a madrasa in a slum in Jammu's Narwal area."They don't like us here and want us to leave. We were driven from Burma, then Bangladesh and now they want us to leave India. The situation is bad for us wherever we go."For almost a decade, India has been a safe haven for thousands of Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Around 14,000 Rohingya live here, with half residing in the Himalayan state of J&K.But rising tensions with bordering Pakistan and a spike in separatist violence in neighbouring Kashmir, coupled with nationalist anti-Islamic sentiment globally, are threatening the Rohingya once again as demands grow for their eviction.Right-wing political parties, including PM Narendra Modi's party, blame them for crime in Jammu, straining public resources, and claim they pose a threat to security. Reuters
Gujarat Board: Daughter of a Muslim autorickshaw driver scores 99.72 in 12th but uncertain about her future
http://indianexpress.com/article/education/gujarat-board-gseb-daughter-of-an-autorickshaw-driver-scores-99-72-but-uncertain-about-her-future-4652438/
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Board has on May 11 released the results of science stream of class 12. The family of Farhana, daughter of a auto rickshaw driver, Farooqbhai who scored 99.72 percentile in medical stream was elated with her result but at the same time owing to the financial constraints, skeptical about her future.Farhana’s mother Shamim Bavani with tears in her eyes said,“Koi khushi nahi hai hume (we are not happy)” she said. The family was unhappy as Gujarati and English medium papers of NEET were different and the Gujarati medium question paper was more difficult. They said that the combined result would be unfair to Farhana and other thousands of students like her.They were all disheartened and said that the girl had never considered any other career option. Her mother also said “We have just one wish, Govt must separate the Gujarati and English medium results. Maybe then our daughter’s work and dedication will yield results”.indianexpress
WORLD
Israeli forces kill Palestinian, injure dozens in WB
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170512-israeli-forces-kill-23-year-old-palestinian-injure-dozens-during-clashes-in-wb/
A Palestinian youth was shot dead Friday after clashes erupted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. “Saba Abu Ubeid, 23, was killed after being struck in the heart by a bullet fired by an Israeli sniper during clashes that occurred in Nabi Saleh village north of Ramallah,” the ministry said in a statement.According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 20 Palestinian demonstrators were injured by live ammunition and rubber bullets. middleeastmonitor
4 Muslim women punched in face in Islamophobic attacks in Australia
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/4-muslim-women-punched-in-face-in-islamophobic-attacks-in-australia/story-HoGl9G9aWqjk7MrOA5cSqJ.html
Melbourne: In bias-motivated crimes, 4 Muslim women in Australia were allegedly punched in the face by a 39-year-old journalism student from Paraguay.One of four Muslim women targeted in four successive and unprovoked Islamophobic attacks yesterday said she was randomly punched in the face as she walked through the city wearing her headphones.Maria Claudia Gimenez Wilson, a 39-year-old journalism student from Paraguay, is charged with assaulting 4 women, aged 18-23, as they walked along busy roads near University of Technology Sydney in Ultimo, Sydney.All 4 women were wearing hijab, and were allegedly punched in the face.PTI
UN: Over 630,000 people displaced in Mosul
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170513-un-over-630000-people-displaced-in-mosul/
More than 630,000 people have been displaced in and around Mosul since the beginning of military operations there last October, UN said Friday, citing Iraqi authorities.“This includes more than 434,000 displaced from western Mosul since mid-February,” Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson for UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), told reporters at the UN’s Geneva HQRS. In Oct 2016, the Iraqi army — backed by US-led coalition airstrikes and local allies on the ground — began a wide-ranging operation to retake Mosul, Daesh’s last bastion in northern Iraq. middleeastmonitor
Assad regime regains control of Syria airport from Daesh
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170513-assad-regime-regains-control-of-syria-airport-from-daesh/
Syrian Assad regime’s army has taken full control of a small airbase in the eastern Aleppo countryside that was under Daesh militant control, aided by heavy aerial bombing by Russian and Syrian air forces, pro-state media and an army source said earlier today.The Al-Jarrah airport is located in the ultra-hardline militants’ remaining enclave in eastern Aleppo countryside, a region where they have mostly lost control to competing forces ranging from the Syrian Assad regime’s army and allied Shia jihadists, US-backed Kurdish-led forces to Turkey-backed FSA opposition forces. middleeastmonitor
Shia gunmen kill Saudi child, Pak man in Qatif
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170513-shia-terrorist-elements-kill-saudi-child-pakistani-man-in-qatif/
Shia gunmen killed a Saudi child and a Pakistani man during a terror attack on workers at a building project in restive eastern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the interior ministry said yesterday. The gunmen tried to stop redevelopment work in the old quarter of the town of Awamiya, where authorities say Shia jihadist militants are hiding, said an interior ministry spokesman quoted by state news agency SPA.They fired at security personnel and passersby, killing a two-year-old Saudi child and a Pakistani national and wounding ten others including 6 Saudis, he said.The attack took place in Qatif, an oil-producing province home to a large Shia population that has witnessed protests and armed violence by Shia who claim that they are being discriminated against in the Sunni-majority Kingdom. Saudi Arabia vehemently denies these claims.
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Kashmir could turn out to be PM Modi’s biggest failure, Mehbooba Mufti’s belief appears unreal:IANS
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/kashmir-could-turn-out-to-be-pm-narendra-modis-biggest-failure-mehbooba-muftis-belief-appears-unreal/666744/
Memory project: Why young Kashmiris are risking life and limb to record gunfights and rights abuses:scroll.in
https://scroll.in/article/836961/memory-project-why-young-men-in-kashmir-risk-life-and-limb-to-record-gunfights-human-rights-abuses
Customized baby: Did RSS transcript Nazi theory?
http://www.siasat.com/news/customized-baby-rss-transcript-nazi-theory-1183374/
India is fast becoming a one-party state: Apoorvanand
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/05/india-fast-party-state-170510111634317.html
Times Now and hashtags, a case study of blatant media bias: Sam Jawed -
https://www.altnews.in/times-now-hashtags-case-study-blatant-media-bias/
By letting Cow vigilantes harass minorities openly, they keep majoritarian feelings satisfied: Christophe Jaffrelot
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/over-to-the-vigilante-gau-rakshak-cultural-policing-beef-ban-4653305/
Muslim board’s campaign to build awareness on triple talaq runs out of steam:HT report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/muslim-board-s-campaign-to-build-awareness-on-triple-talaq-runs-out-of-steam/story-63emep95Mt9CRF4yF8qgCP.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:48 PM)
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