NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
08 June 2019: 04 sHAWAL 1440:Vol: 11, No:217
INDIA
Ex-soldier Sanaullah declared "foreigner" in Assam released from detention centre
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mohammad-sanaullah-former-soldier-declared-foreigner-in-assam-released-from-detention-centre-2050100
Guwahati: Mohammad Sanaullah, the retired Indian Army soldier who was declared an illegal immigrant by a tribunal and sent to a detention centre in Assam last month, was released today on bail.Gauhati High Court, which ordered his release yesterday, had also issued notices to the centre and the state govt.Notices were also issued to the Election Commission, National Register of Citizens (NRC) authorities and the investigation officer of Assam Border Police Chandramal Das. Sanaullah - who served the army for 30 years and then joined the Assam Border Police - was arrested and locked up at a detention centre on May 29. 53-year-old has been accused of being a foreigner who has been living illegally in the country.Earlier this week, three men who allegedly signed the case report on Subedar Sanaullah had claimed that no investigation has been done in the case. They filed a police complaint, accusing Chandramal Das of fabricating the investigation report.At the time of the alleged investigation- in May 2008 and Aug2009- Sanaullah was in Manipur, conducting counter-insurgency operations, his service record shows. Even Chandramal Das has accepted that Subedar Sanaullah was not in Assam during that period. The officer has said that Mohammad Sanaullah was not the man he investigated. But the man whom he investigated was also called Sanaullah, which is why a mix-up of reports at the administrative level may have occurred, he said.Shahnaz Akhtar, ex-soldier's daughter, thanked the media for highlighting the story. "We will continue our fight.We thank NDTV for your effort and also other media as well. It's because of the media that the truth came out," she said.The case has raised the locals' concerns and doubts about the methods of the Foreigners' Tribunal, which is tasked with verification of identity to weed out illegal migrants. Assam having a porous border with Bangladesh, infiltration from across the border is a permanent concern.But locals say such slipshod methods -- coupled with the government's overdrive to find foreigners -- are leading to unending harassment of genuine Indians.The locals also worry that this same mechanism might be adopted in case of those left out of the final version by NRC.ndtv
Imran Khan writes to Modi again, seeks talks on Kashmir, other matters: Reports
https://scroll.in/latest/926318/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-writes-to-narendra-modi-again-seeks-talks-on-kashmir-other-matters-reports
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has written to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi seeking dialogue, Express Tribune reported on Friday, quoting diplomatic sources. In the letter, Khan congratulated Modi once again for his victory in the Lok Sabha elections, and sought talks to resolve Kashmir and other outstanding matters.“PM Imran wrote that peace and prosperity in the region could only be achieved through peace and stability and it was necessary to work together for this purpose,” The Express Tribune reported. The Pakistan prime minister told Modi that “mutual respect” was essential for regional development, and that poverty could be overcome only through dialogue.The letter arrived through diplomatic channels about two days ago, Indian Express reported, quoting officials in India. Khan also said Pakistan follows a policy of peaceful neighbourhood. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also wrote to his new Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, congratulating him on his appointment.Qureshi told Jaishankar that Islamabad wanted talks with New Delhi on “all important matters” and was committed to peace in South Asia.However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had clarified on Thursday that Modi and Khan do not plan to hold a bilateral meeting at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.scroll.in
Onus on Islamabad for India-Pak peace:White House
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/onus-for-indo-pak-peace-on-pakistan-white-house-5771187/
Washington :Amidst new peace overtures from the Imran Khan government after the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has made it clear to Pakistan that the onus for sustained peace in South Asia was on it by putting the terror groups out of business.“What the United States is really looking for in Pakistan are arrests and prosecutions and not allowing these groups to operate and move around freely, acquire weapons, cross into India, carry out attacks,” a senior White House official told PTI this week.PTI
Modi in Maldives Live: PM addresses People’s Majlis, stresses on ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/narendra-modi-award-maldives-sri-lanka-live-updates-5771006/
PM Narendra Modi on Saturday was conferred with the Maldives’ highest honour “Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen” during his first bilateral visit to the island nation in the second term. The Prime Minister held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and signed six agreements to strengthen bilateral ties in a number of key areas including defence and maritime. Upon his arrival this evening, Modi was greeted at Male airport by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and also received a ceremonial welcome by President Solih at Republic Square.Modi, along with President Solih, will jointly inaugurate two key projects –Coastal Surveillance Radar System and the Composite Training Centre of the Maldives National Defence Forces – with an eye on China’s pro-active moves in Indian Ocean region. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had described the two as “important projects”, valued at about Rs 180 crore, which will be remotely inaugurated by the two leaders. Besides this, Modi will travel to Sri Lanka later in the day where he will review the progress on a key trilateral MoU which India, Japan and Sri Lanka have signed – the development of the East Container Terminal in Colombo, located just about 3 km away from the China-supported “port city”, which is being built on reclaimed land.Before the visits, PM Modi had said: “I am confident that my visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka will further strengthen our close and cordial ties with our maritime neighbours, in line with our ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’.”indianexpress
India, Maldives ink 6 pacts as PM Narendra Modi, Prez Solih hold talks
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-maldives-ink-6-pacts-as-pm-modi-prez-solih-hold-talks/story-3Mjcn2OeF9Y4akZENJxhjP.html
US experts heap praises on EAM S Jaishankar, call him one of world’s best diplomats
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/us-experts-heap-praises-on-eam-s-jaishankar-call-him-one-of-the-worlds-best-diplomats-5770711/
Washington :Some of the former top US diplomats and foreign policy experts have hailed the appointment of S Jaishankar as the new External Affairs Minister and have exuded confidence that US-India strategic ties will be further enhanced under his watch.Jaishankar, 64, known for his skillful diplomacy, tough negotiating tactics and strategic vision, has served as the Indian ambassador to the US from 2013-2015.“I am thrilled to see Jaishankar take on the role of Minister of External Affairs. He is a seasoned and skilled diplomat, and his depth of experience as a global strategist has made him a key figure in the development of India’s foreign policy,” Nisha Desai Biswal, who served as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia in the previous Obama Administration, told PTI.Biswal, who is now president of US India Business Council, was Obama administration’s point person for South and Central Asia when Jaishankar arrived Washington DC in Dec.2013, amidst the bilateral crisis following the arrest of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York. In the next few days, Biswal and Jaishankar worked together to resolve the crisis.PTI
Ground Zero: Minorities in north India bear the brunt of post-election hate crimes
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-thread-of-fear-and-hate/article27690303.ece?homepage=true
Street thugs have taken advantage of the post-election triumphalism to stage attacks on minorities in parts of north India. It is the last Friday of Ramzan and lying on a blue rexine bed that is standard in private nursing homes, with an intravenous tube (IV) and a catheter attached to him, Mohammad Qasim,29, has anguished look of a man who is weary of carrying the burden of his name. As his cousins rush out of the nursing home to offer Alvida Juma (jumu’atul vida) namaz, tears course down Qasim’s cheeks. He says, “I cannot even get up to offer my prayers, and this is more painful than the bullet lodged inside me.”3 days after the spectacular verdict of the 2019 general election that gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi a second term, Mohammad Qasim was shot at for being a Muslim in Kumbhi village. It falls under the jurisdiction of Cheria-Bariyarpur police station in Begusarai district, Bihar.Injured Mohd. Qasim is being treated at a private nursing home in Begusarai town on Monday.Looking back, it would appear that the atmosphere had already been vitiated by politicians in the run-up to the general election. Hindutva poster boy and Union Minister Giriraj Singh won Begusarai Lok Sabha seat by defeating CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar; RJD candidate Tanvir Hussain came a distant third. Campaigning for the polls, Singh repeatedly hit the headlines with controversial statements. “My ancestors died and were cremated… but you need a yard of land even after you die. If you say you cannot chant Vande Mataram, this nation will never forget you,” he had said in the course of an election rally. He had also demanded the Election Commission impose a ban on the use of green flags. This was not the first time Singh had courted controversy in his attempts to create a wedge between religious communities.The past five years of Modi government have seen a spate of lynchings across north India. For a few weeks in the run-up to Eid-ul-Fitr every year, Mohammad Murtaza would hire a couple of tailors on daily wages to handle the increased load of work in his shop, in the Jacubpura area of Gurugram. Shops such as these are common in this area. This year Murtaza called his distant cousin, Mohammad Barkat Alam, 25, from Bihar’s Begusarai district to learn the tricks of the trade. Looking back at the incident of May 25, Murtaza is deeply perturbed by the turn of events over the past few days. Says Murtaza, referring to Alam, “It has not even been a month and he has already invited so much trouble for himself and all of us. The police and the media have all got involved. I had called him to teach tailoring for a better living, but will now send him back after Eid. That too will not be easy as he is now involved in a legal tangle.”New to the city,Alam was returning to the shop from the local Jama Masjid, about 100 m away, on May 25 around 10 p.m. through a narrow alley when a few young men on a motorcycle and on foot allegedly accosted him and told him to remove his skull cap. They told him that he was not allowed to wear the skull cap in this area. When Alam protested, one of them slapped him and hit him on the head, displacing the cap. An altercation broke out. Though there is no evidence to confirm or deny it, Alam claimed that his tormentor asked him to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Shree Ram”, and threatened to feed him pork if he didn’t obey his command.On his part, Murtaza says his family back in Begusarai have been staunch supporters of the BJP and had been voting for the party.the hindu
NGOs warned of penal action if they don’t inform Home Ministry of changes in office-bearers
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/home-ministry-warns-ngos/article27690049.ece
New Delhi:Home Ministry has warned NGOs, who have changed their office-bearers and key functionaries without informing the Ministry, with penal action, if they fail to do so within a month. All NGOs and associations registered under FCRA, 2010, which makes them eligible to receive foreign funds and donations, have to submit online application for addition, deletion and change of details about office-bearers and key functionaries within one month.As per norms, all associations, granted a certificate of registration under Section 11 and 12 of FCRA, 2010 have reported details of their office-bearers and key functionaries while applying for registration.“It is noticed that some associations/persons, having been registered under the Act, have changed their office-bearers/key functionaries without approval from the MHA and without updating this data on a real time basis through the online application meant for change of these details...all such associations are hereby called upon to submit online changes failing which penal action shall be initiated under the appropriate provisions of the FCRA Act, 2010 and Rules, 2011,” the order issued by MHA on Friday said.thehindu
Draft National Education Policy moots all-India entrance tests for UG courses in public colleges
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/draft-national-education-policy-moots-all-india-entrance-tests-for-ug-courses-in-public-colleges/article27690140.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:Admission to undergraduate courses in all government-funded universities and colleges will soon be through all-India entrance tests, if the draft National Education Policy is approved. Private institutes will also be strongly encouraged to make use of the common admission tests, which will be available from 2020. Both aptitude and subject knowledge-based tests will be offered.The system seems to have some similarities to the SAT, a standardised aptitude test widely used for admissions to colleges and universities in the United States. SAT, however, is used as a criterion alongside school grades.In India, the common entrance test has largely been the domain of aspirants to professional or post-graduate courses, but that is already changing. The new National Testing Agency (NTA) has already conducted premier professional entrance tests — JEE, NEET, and CMAT — this year. Later this month, the NTA will also conduct admission tests for applicants to more than 170 Delhi University (DU) courses, including 12 undergraduate programmes. These DU students could well be the pioneers of a new era in undergraduate admission if the draft Policy is implemented.thehindu
Hindi words on name boards of central govt offices blackened in Tamil Nadu
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hindi-words-on-name-boards-of-central-govt-offices-blackened-in-tamil-nadu-5771139/
Tiruchirappalli :Hindi text on the name boards of central government offices here including the BSNL and Airport, was blackened, police said Saturday. The matter came to light this morning, they said adding the text in English was left untouched.Read | Amid din over 3-language proposal, Tamil Nadu tops voluntary Hindi learning in southern statesThe incident comes in the backdrop of the raging controversy over 3-language formula initially proposed by Centre, which the opposition parties in the state termed as an attempt of “imposing” Hindi.Principal opposition party DMK and others had stoutly opposed the move and insisted that only two-language formula should continue. The cantonment and airport police have been informed about the incident.indian express
AP: Jaganmohan Reddy takes charge as chief minister, 25 Cabinet ministers sworn-in
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/jagan-mohan-reddy-assumes-charge-as-andhra-pradesh-cm/article27694743.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/25-new-ministers-inducted-into-jagans-cabinet/article27696282.ece?homepage=true
In what YSR Congress called a “socially-inclusive Cabinet,” 25 new ministers were Saturday inducted into the Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s Council of Ministers in Andhra Pradesh.In line with his electoral promise, Mr. Jagan gave Cabinet berths to seven legislators from the backward classes, five from the Scheduled Castes, one each from the Scheduled Tribes and Muslims, and four each from the Kapu and Reddy communities.The Kamma community, which dominated the previous Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet, got just one berth now.The Kshatriya and the Vysya communities also got one berth each.State Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a glittering public function adjacent to the Secretariat at Velagapudi in capital Amaravati.The 26-member Cabinet, including the Chief Minister, has three women members; two from the Scheduled Castes and one from the Scheduled Tribes.Mr. Jagan brought back senior leaders Botsa Satyanarayana, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Pinipe Viswaroop, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy and Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, who worked as ministers in his late father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s Cabinet in the erstwhile united AP.In fact, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy and Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from their Cabinet posts in the then Congress government and joined the YSRC floated by Mr. Jagan and have been sailing with him for the past eight years.PTI/the hindu
Vigilance raids J&K Bank, hours after chairman was replaced
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/vigilance-sleuths-raid-jk-bank-headquarters-after-chairman-parvez-ahmads-removal/article27696359.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:A team of the J&K Vigilance Commission on Saturday raided the headquarters of the J&K Bank in Srinagar, hours after an official communique announced the removal of Parvez Ahmad as the bank chairman.A bank employee told The Hindu that the entry and exit points of the bank headquarters in Srinagar were sealed by the security forces in the afternoon. "Employees were barred from leaving the premises," said the employee. The vigilance team accessed the Human Resource department and the main office of the former chairman for investigation.There has been no official communique from the vigilance department on the reasons behind the raids.The move came just hours after Vishal Sharma, additional secretary of State Finance Department, issued an order announcing “cessation of Ahmad on Board of Directors (BoD) of J&K Bank. Ahmad cease to be director on BoD and no longer be chairman cum managing director of board,” reads the order.thehindu
2 ex-SPOs among 4 JeM men killed in Pulwama encounter
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-ex-spos-among-4-jem-men-killed-in-pulwama-encounter-5770399/
Srinagar :2 Special Police Officers (SPOs) who joined militant ranks were among four Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) men killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday.Shabir Ahmad Dar and Mohammad Salman Khan, residents of Pulwama and Shopian districts respectively, were killed less than 24 hours after they abandoned their posts. J&K police said after deserting, the SPOs had become the members of JeM and were killed in an encounter.A police spokesperson said that a cordon and search operation was launched by joint forces at Panjran village in Litter area of Pulwama on Thursday evening following the presence of militants in the area.“During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” the spokesperson said.The gunbattle, which continued for more than 12 hours, led to the death of four militants.“In the ensuing encounter, two listed terrorists and two SPOs who had recently deserted (the force) and become members of JeM were killed,” the police spokesperson said.The slain militants have been identified as Ashiq Hussain Ganaie of Panjran in Pulwama, and Imran Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Arihal, Pulwama.indianexpress
J&K: Al-Qaeda affiliate claims to have appointed successor of Zakir Musa:TOI
https://scroll.in/latest/926244/j-k-al-qaeda-affiliate-names-successor-of-zakir-musa-who-was-killed-in-an-encounter-last-month
Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, the Kashmir cell of Al-Qaeda, has claimed to have appointed a new chief to succeed Zakir Musa, who was killed in an encounter with security forces two weeks ago, TOI reported.30-year-old Hameed Lelhari is a native of Pulwama in J&K and a member of Jamait-Ahl-e-Hadith.In a video released on Wednesday, a spokesperson of the Al-Qaeda affiliate claimed that Lelhari had replaced Musa and Ghazi Ibrahim Khalid was appointed his deputy commander. The video was released by the affiliate’s media wing Al Hurr.Lelhari earlier served as Musa’s deputy after they split from the Hizbul Mujahideen and swore allegiance to Al-Qaeda in July 2017. Unidentified police officials confirmed to TOI that he had taken over the affiliate but said he is “hardly a top terrorist”. They confirmed the veracity of the video, but were not aware about his deputy’s identity and background.Another unidentified senior government official told The Economic Times that the militant group might have links with Pakistan.scroll.in
Malegaon blast case trial: Pragya appears, complains of chair, dust and an infection
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malegaon-blast-case-trial-pragya-thakur-complains-infection-5770383/
Mumbai :Appearing in court for the first time since the trial in 2008 Malegaon blast case began in Dec, accused and BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur had one answer for 2 questions she was asked: “I do not know”.Thakur chose to stand through most of the proceedings, complained about the seating arrangement and the cleanliness of the court, and wondered why she was called at all.Special Judge V S Padalkar invoked his powers under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to record an accused’s statement, and asked Thakur, “Do you know how many witnesses have been examined by the prosecution?” Standing outside the witness box, Thakur said she would have to ask her lawyer. “Mujhe nahi maloom (I do not know),” she said.The judge then said that after examination of witnesses, including those injured in the blast and medical experts, it could be concluded that a blast had taken place at Bhiku Chowk on September 29, 2008. He asked her what she had to say about that. “Mujhe jaankari nahi hai (I have no information),” Thakur said.indianexpress
Centre amends 60-year-old rule to give Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Sinha 3-month extension
https://scroll.in/latest/926349/centre-amends-60-year-old-rule-to-give-cabinet-secretary-pradeep-kumar-sinha-three-month-extension
Centre on Friday gave a three-month extension to Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in a press statement. As per existing rules, a cabinet secretary’s total term with extensions could not go beyond four years. In a notification issued on Friday, the Centre amended the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement-Benefits) Rules, 1958. “Central Government may, if it considers necessary in public interest to do so, give an extension in service for a further period, not exceeding three months, beyond the period of four years to the Cabinet Secretary,” the amendment states.scroll.in
Civil Society condemns the criminal intimidation made to scholar Ram Puniyani
http://twocircles.net/2019jun07/431668.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Civil society organisations and activists from all over India have expressed shock and dismay that Dr. Ram Puniyani has received threatening calls by unidentified callers yesterday, 6th June, who used abusive and filthy language towards Dr. Puniyani and warned him to leave in 15 days or face the consequences.A few months back, three unknown persons posing as officials enquiring about passport application visited Dr. Puniyani and made some personal enquiries, this despite the fact that Dr. Puniyani had not applied for any passport. Condemning the actions of these cowardly callers, civil society members have, in their press release, stated that these repeated threats post a great danger to the life of Dr. Puniyani who has been a strong secular voice and crusader for communal harmony. This is nothing but an attempt to silence his voice and curb his emphatic efforts towards spreading the message of peace and harmony. Already we have witnessed grave attacks on and assassinations of rationalists and secular thinkers, including Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, Prof. Govind Pansare, Prof. Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh, amongst others. Several writers, journalists, RTI activists, artists, lawyers etc. have been under attack by right wing forces. In light of these recent attacks, it is important that the police authorities and state administration takes serious note of and prompt action in this case, and take all measures to ensure safety of Dr. Puniyani and his family.twocircles
Hindutva groups using poor, unemployed youths in MP to spread hatred:say civil society teams
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/06/07/hindutva-groups-using-poor-and-unemployed-youths-in-mp-to-spread-hatred.html
Civil society organisations in Madhya Pradesh blamed poverty and unemployment among youth for the upsurge in incidents of mob fury in the name of cow protection and communal violence in the state. The “increasing grip” of Hindutva politics that use such poor and unemployed youths and failure of the state machinery to curb the trend are also to be blamed, they said on Friday. Representatives of organisations, who conducted fact finding in two separate incidents of mob fury and communal clash in Seoni and Dewas districts respectively, said it was unfortunate that even the Congress government had not been able to plug the incidents. They demanded firm steps by the government to curb the menace of violence and hatred in MP.At a press conference held in Bhopal, they accused ‘Hindutva groups’ functioning by the names of Bajrang Dal, Shri Ram Sena and Karni Sena of being those responsible for spurring of such incidents and using the impoverished, poorly educated and unemployed youth to further their cause of hatred. The organisations demanded that “the young citizens who are presently trapped in Hindutva politics” be identified and rehabilitated to live humane lives and contribute constructively to the country. Representatives of organisations like MP Mahila Manch, National Alliance of People’s Movement, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch among others, conducted fact finding of the incident in Seoni where three persons were brutally beaten up for allegedly transporting beef. They also looked at the incident of a clash between dalits and Muslims in Dewas district that left a dalit youth dead. The team members said that one of the victims, Tausif Khan, was returning home from his aunt’s place when he was caught in the situation and beaten up brutally since he was found to be a Muslim.theweek
Former The Wire Journalist Arrested for 'Objectionable' Post Against Adityanath
https://thewire.in/media/prashant-kanojia-uttar-pradesh-police-adityanath
New Delhi: Former journalist at The Wire Hindi, Prashant Kanojia, was arrested by the UP police from his home in Delhi on Saturday afternoon. The arrest is apparently over social media posts he wrote about UP chief minister Adityanath.His wife, who was present when the police came to pick him up, says that the police officials informed them that they were from Hazratganj police station and were taking Kanojia to Lucknow by road. Another person who called up Kanojia while he was being picked up also said that he was being taken to Lucknow by the UP police.His phone has not been reachable since.It is unclear why or how the UP police have made this arrest, given that Kanojia is a resident of Delhi.Kanojia had recently posted on Twitter and Facebook a video of a woman speaking to various TV channels about wanting to marry Adityanath. She claimed in the video that she had been conversing with the chief minister for a long time over video chat, and that now she wanted to know if he was willing to spend his life with her.thewire
BJP MLA Raja Singh shares video message after rumours claim his sister converted to Islam
https://www.siasat.com/news/raja-singh-shares-video-message-after-rumours-claim-his-sister-converted-islam-1504361/
Hyderabad:Raja Singh, BJP MLA representing Goshamahal Assembly seat shared a video message after ‘fake news’ claimed that his sister converted to Islam.In the video message, he dismissed the rumours and said that none of his family members had changed his/her religion. He also said that in future too, no one from his family will convert.He further claimed that in the coming days, “Ghar Wapsi” will take place in full swing. According to the report published in India Today, a photo collage of Singh and woman was circulated on social claiming that his sister has converted to Islam.After performing a reverse search, it was found that the woman in the photo is a resident of Kerala who had converted to Islam in 2017.It may be mentioned that after a few months, the woman had re-converted to Hinduism.siasat
Aligarh toddler's murder sends shockwaves across nation, misinformation spreads like wildfire on social media
https://www.firstpost.com/india/aligarh-toddlers-murder-sends-shockwaves-across-nation-misinformation-spreads-like-wildfire-on-social-media-6772241.html
The brutal murder of a 2-and-a-half year old in Aligarh to recover a debt of merely Rs 10,000 has sent shockwaves across the country. Outraged netizens have demand justice for the victim, while many others used the medium to send thoughts and prayers to the family. Following intense media scrutiny, the police have taken two main accused into custody on the basis of statements made by the victim's family.However, what is worrisome is the hate mongering and misinformation being spread around a brutal crime where the victim's family happens to be Hindu and the accused are Muslim. Some have been quick to compare the barbaric crime with the brutal rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Kathua. Thursday, when the news broke, the girl's name was trending on Twitter. Many on Twitter claimed the toddler was raped before being murdered. It was also claimed that the victim’s arm was amputated, her eyes gouged out and acid poured on her body. However, the post mortem has not confirmed these claims.The report mentioned that the soft tissue around eyes has been lost, but that the damage was caused by an individual before death or is due to animal attack or natural decomposition is unclear. Police also said that no trace of acid has been found on the body, as was being claimed by some.The report is also inconclusive on rape because the body had putrefied by the time it was recovered by the police. The report stated that the girl's arm had been amputated, but whether that happened before death or after is unclear. Her mutilated body was dragged by stray dogs out of a dumping ground.By Friday morning, the term Kathua too had started drawing a huge search volume even though there was no development in that case and some on Twitter attacking celebrities and Left-leaning intellectuals.SSPAkash Kulhari said the girl went missing from Tappal township on 31 May and police found her mutilated body in a garbage dump near her house on 2 June.Police have arrested two persons — Zahid and Aslam — on the basis of a complaint by the victim's father.firstpost.com
Cops step in, prevent escalation of tension over prayers in Bareilly
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/cops-step-in-prevent-escalation-of-tension-over-prayers-in-bareilly/articleshow/69696566.cms
Bareilly: Prompt steps taken by police ensured that there was no escalation in tension over rumours during Friday prayers at Chowki Crossing mosque in Bareilly city. ASP (city) Abhinandan Singh and circle officer Kuldeep Kumar rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The traffic on Chowki Crossing, which is one of the busiest in the city, was affected for over an hour. Abhinandan Singh told TOI, “After receiving information, we immediately went to the spot with extra security personnel and spoke to the mosque’s management committee. We assured them that the police had never prevented anyone from offering of namaz. We had only asked them to offer namaz without blocking the traffic. This issue has now been resolved and the situation is peaceful.” Earlier, tension prevailed in Bareilly city after rumours over purported reports that police have stopped people from offering their prayers at the Chowki Crossing mosque on Friday. Soon, over a hundred people gathered at the site and even visited the local police station. Some people started spreading rumours that the police had ordered not to offer prayers at the mosque. Nafees Khan, national general secretary, Ittehad-e-Millat Council, told TOI, “We are following this tradition for over 50 years here and no one stopped us. All the shopkeepers in this area offer prayers here every Friday. The area inside the mosque is not enough to accommodate everyone. So, a few of us had to offer prayers on the road. Since we are not starting anything new, there shouldn’t be any problem.”TOI
Bilkis Bano case: IPS officer sacked a day before retirement
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bilkis-bano-gangrape-case-2002-gujarat-riots-ips-officer-sacked-before-retirement-5769798/
Ahmedabad :Gujarat cadre IPS officer R S Bhagora, an accused in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case, was dismissed from service by the Union Home Ministry on May 30, a day before his retirement, a senior state government official said Friday.The 60-year-old officer, who was to retire on May 31, was serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) with the Ahmedabad police when his dismissal order came, said M R Soni, Deputy Secretary (Inquiry), Gujarat Home Department.“The state Home Department had received a communication from the Union Home Ministry ordering dismissal of Bhagora from service on May 29.“We had served the order on May 30, which effectively means he was sacked a day before his retirement,” said Soni.PTI
Muslims no more a part of India, says Meerut cleric:TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/muslims-no-more-a-part-of-india-says-meerut-cleric/articleshow/69685072.cms
Meerut: Muslims are no more a part of this country, they are like tenants here. However, if Muslims are loved like the people of other religion, we are ready to even support BJP," cleric Qari Shaafiq-ur-Rehman said in his Eid address at the Shahi Idgah in Meerut. Qari refers to a person who recites the Quran at a mosque. Referring to the recent political slugfest on Mahatma Gandhi and his assassin Nathuram Godse, Rehman added: "The country does not belong to Gandhi anymore. It instead belongs to the killer of Gandhi - Godse." Meerut shehr qazi Zainus Sajidin said, "It's sad that Mahatma Gandhi is being put in a bad light and Godse is being made a hero by the likes of Pragya Thakur. It is dangerous that people like her were given ticket and have now become a Parliamentarian." Both Rehman and Sajidin addressed the masses from Shahi Idgah as a part of Eid tradition, in which the minority community is given a message from their religious heads."We live in a democratic country where people chosen by the masses form the government. Whether they are communal or secular, it is our responsibility to save the Constitution and the democratic structure of the country," said Sajidin. TOI
Jama Masjid has banned Tik-Tok
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/shahi-imam-says-tik-tok-ban-to-stay-in-jama-masjid-won-t-allow-song-and-dance-on-mosque-premises/cid/1691956
New Delhi:Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, has said that the Tik-Tok app ban inside the mosque is here to stay as he will not suffer people breaking into a song and dance on the masjid premises.The Shahi Imam had imposed a ban on use of the Chinese social media app Tik-Tok — which allows a user to make a video of oneself with a song – inside the heritage mosque last month just before Ramzan started. The move was made after the appearance of a few videos on social media in which some visitors were seen doing handstands and dancing to songs.The Indian government had earlier called for Tik-Tok's removal from Google Play Store and the App Store and subsequently banned fresh downloads.After the Jama Masjid ban, Tik-Tok said it "condones" posting of content that "might offend or disrespect any person, place or religious beliefs. We have already removed the video in question as well as any other related videos.”“Whether it’s a mosque, or a temple, or a gurudwara, these places are for worship, not for singing and dancing. I had come across such videos made on this app where people were seen dancing inside the mosque courtyard and then I took the decision,” the imam said.The Jama Masjid authorities have put up boards proscribing the use of Tik-Tok on the premises. telegraphindia.com
‘People will beat us with shoes if we keep delaying the Ram Mandir,’ says Shiv Sena leader
https://scroll.in/video/926249/watch-people-will-beat-us-with-shoes-if-we-keep-delaying-the-ram-mandir-says-shiv-sena-leader
“If we don’t start constructing Ram Mandir, the country will lose faith in us... People will beat us with shoes if we continue postponing the matter,” said Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Raut, once again raising the issue of building a temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.Insisting that the construction begin at the earliest Raut said, “In 2014 it was our [election] promise to build the temple. We got the people’s mandate, but we did not make the temple. Again in 2019, when we asked for the people’s support, we brought up the matter of the Ram Mandir...Now the election is over, the government is back, so should we forget Ram Lalla and Ayodhya?”
Eid Milap: Hyderabad mosque opens doors for all communities
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/eid-milap-hyderabad-mosque-opens-doors-for-all-communities-119060800084_1.html
In an example of communal harmony, a mosque in Hyderabad opened its doors for members of all communities to visit and understand the principles of Islam.As part of its 'Visit My Mosque' program, the mosque opens its doors on one day in the year for members of all religious communities to visit the shrine and understand the various religious practices under Islam.This year, 'Eid Milap' was held on June 6, and on the occasion, locals were given a chance to visit Masjid-e-Quba.Mahita, a visitor, said, "This is my first visit to a mosque. We thought that normally they don't allow us into a mosque. But the mosque management has allowed and for the first time, we witnessed how prayers are held. We also got to know many things after coming here about Islam."Syed Mohsin Ali, the organiser of this event, said the main objective is to spread awareness on Islam as well as to bridge the existing gap between religious communities.ANI
UP: At least 19 people killed, 48 injured in dust storm
https://scroll.in/latest/926254/uttar-pradesh-at-least-19-people-killed-48-injured-in-dust-storm
At least 19 people died in many parts of up following a dust storm and lightning on Thursday, PTI reported. At least 48 people were injured in these incidents.“While six persons died in Mainpuri, three persons each died in Etah and Kasganj and one each in Moradabad, Badaun, Pilibhit, Mathura, Kannauj, Sambhal and Ghaziabad in incidents related to dust storm and lightning,” according to official data released by the Uttar Pradesh Relief commissioner on Friday. As many as 41 people were injured in Mainpuri, officials said. scroll
WORLD
Unsubstantiated claims that Muslim doctor sterilised women raise tensions in Sri Lanka
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/unsubstantiated-claims-muslim-doctor-sterilised-women-raise-tensions-in-sri-lanka-5769617/
Kurunegala :On May 23 Sri Lankan newspaper Divaina, known for its nationalist stance, published a front page article alleging a Muslim doctor had secretly sterilised 4,000 Sinhala Buddhist women after Cesarean deliveries. Doctor, who was not identified in the article, was also described as a member of National Thowheed Jamath, one of 2 local Islamist groups blamed for Easter bombings. Reuters has no independent evidence to support these claims.The article was produced roughly a week after Buddhist mobs in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka had destroyed Muslim homes, stores and mosques in rioting triggered by coordinated bombings in the capital Colombo and two other towns. Divaina’s editor-in-chief, Anura Solomons, told Reuters the paper’s story was based on police and hospital sources, whom he said he could not identify.Allegations on a Muslim doctor might be forcibly sterilizing Buddhists are particularly incendiary on an island where hardliners within the Buddhist majority have accused Muslims of seeking to use a higher birth rate to spread their influence.Two days later, a doctor, Segu Shihabdeen Mohamed Shafi, was arrested. Police said he was accused of acquiring properties with money of a suspicious origin.Police are also probing the sterilisation claims and have called on any potentially affected women to come forward.Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters Shafi was charged under a money laundering act, but declined to provide further information on the financial charges he faced or the sterilisation claims. Shafi’s lawyer, Faris Saly, said the probe was flawed because the authorities did not call for evidence of sterilisations until after Shafi’s arrest, adding that all allegations were unsubstantiated. Shafi is a prominent physician in the province’s Buddhist heartland of Kurunegala,a district with a high concentration of army personnel and the constituency of nationalist ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, now the leader of the opposition.“If these allegations are proven, it will show that they want to destroy the Sinhala race,” said Pradeep Kumar, a 38-year-old driver waiting in a crowded hospital hallway as his wife lodged a statement detailing how Shafi had delivered their daughter by C-section 11 years ago.He added the couple were concerned after hearing about the case as they had been trying unsuccessfully to have a second child for six years. Shafi’s family said he was being framed. “He is being targeted because of political problems and jealousy. I cannot exactly tell who it is, but there is a group,” said his wife Fathima Imara, a kidney doctor at the same hospital.In an interview,she described her husband as a devout Muslim and caring physician.Reuters
Israel has 'right' to annex W. Bank land: US envoy
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2019/06/envoy-israel-annex-west-bank-land-190608131911933.html
US ambassador has said Israel has the right to annex at least "some" of the occupied West Bank, in comments likely to deepen Palestinian opposition to a long-awaited US peace plan.The Palestinians have rejected the peace plan before it has even been unveiled, citing a string of moves by US President Donald Trump that they say show his administration is irredeemably biased. The Palestinians are likely to see the latest comments by US ambassador to Israel David Friedman as a new nail in the coffin of a peace process that is already on life support.In an interview published by New York Times on Saturday, Friedman said some degree of annexation of the West Bank would be legitimate.aljazeera
Sudan arrests opposition leaders after Ethiopia mediation effort
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/sudan-arrests-opposition-leaders-ethiopia-mediation-effort-190608090536495.html
Sudanese security forces have arrested two opposition leaders shortly after they met with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during reconciliation talks in Sudan's capital, Khartoum.Abiy, who has emerged as a key regional leader, met representatives of both sides on Friday in a bid to revive talks between Sudan's ruling generals and protest leaders after the military launched a brutal crackdown on protesters that killed dozens of people this week.Among the protest movement delegates he met were opposition politician Mohamed Esmat and a leader of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), Ismail Jalab. Esmat was arrested on Friday soon after his meeting with Abiy, while Jalab was arrested at his residence early on Saturday, their aides said."A group of armed men came in vehicles at 3am and took away Ismail Jalab ... without giving any reason," Jalab aide Rashid Anwar told AFP, adding that SPLM-N spokesperson Mubarak Ardol was also detained. "We don't know where they are being held," he added. Esmat and Jalab are both leading members of the Freedom and Change alliance, which brings together opposition parties and groups with the organisers of the mass protests that have gripped the East African country since December last year.The arrest of Jalab comes just days after the SPLM-N's deputy leader, Yasir Arman, was seized from his home in Khartoum. SPLM-N has led uprisings among non-Arab ethnic minorities in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states since 2011, which Sudan's military rulers had vowed to end peacefully after their overthrow of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir in April.aljazeera
Trump OKs advanced bomb parts to be built in Saudi: NYT
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/trump-oks-advanced-bomb-parts-built-saudi-nyt-190607175432580.html
When US President Donald Trump bypassed Congress last month to approve a multibillion-dollar arms deal to Saudi Arabia, he also allowed the kingdom to develop complex precision-bomb parts, according to New York Times.Trump's emergency declaration allows American arms firm Raytheon to share technology with Riyadh that could allow Saudi Arabia to develop its own laser-guided bombs, the newspaper reported on Friday. Among the components which the Saudis are now allowed to work on with the firm are the control systems and vital electronics for Raytheon's Paveway series of smart bombs. That technology was previously closely guarded by Washington. aljazeera
Trump to host Qatar emir at White House amid Gulf tensions
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/donald-trump-host-qatar-emir-white-house-gulf-tensions-190607194633054.html
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will meet US President Donald Trump next month, says the White House, as the Gulf state continues to endure the two-year economic blockade imposed by its US-backed Arab rivals.The emir will meet Trump in Washington on July 9 for talks on regional politics, security and counterterrorism cooperation, according to the announcement on Friday, which came amid a US effort to build pressure on Gulf power, Iran."The visit will build on the long-standing partnership between US and Qatar and further strengthen our already substantial economic and security ties," the White House said. aljazeera
Syrian attacks on civilians continue amid rebel counterattack
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/syrian-strikes-civilians-continue-rebel-counter-attack-190607100451226.html
Heavy fighting raged in northwestern Syria on Friday after rebels launched a counterattack to repel an offensive by gov forces in the war-torn region. Syria and ally Russia ramped up deadly air raids and artillery fire on the rebel-controlled northwest in late April against Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate whose fighters dominate the area.Thursday's push back by HTS troops and allied rebel groups against the village of Jibeen follow a series of Syrian government advances in recent weeks, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said on Friday. aljazeera
Syrian goalkeeper who became rebel icon dies in Hama battle
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/syrian-goalkeeper-rebel-icon-dies-hama-battle-190608122015321.html
A Syrian goalkeeper turned rebel fighter who starred in an award-winning documentary died on Saturday of wounds sustained fighting government forces in northwestern Syria, his faction and a war monitor said. Abdel-Basset al-Sarout, 27, was a goalkeeper from the central city of Homs, who became its most popular singer of protest songs after the Syrian uprising broke out in March 2011. Following a government crackdown on peaceful protests, he took up arms against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad's govt.Al-Sarout starred in the documentary Return to Homs by Syrian director Talal Derki, which tracked his evolution from protest leader to fighter, and won a top prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014.Jameel al-Saleh, commander of the rebel faction Jaish al-Izza, announced al-Sarout's death in a message on Twitter, describing him as a "martyr" who died "fighting for the sake of God".aljazeera
Pentagon Steps Up Dispute With Turkey Over Weapons Purchase From Moscow
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/07/us/politics/pentagon-turkey-f-35.html
Trump administration stepped up a dispute with Turkey on Friday, saying the Pentagon would end cooperation over its new fighter jet program because Turkey is refusing to back down on buying Russia’s most sophisticated antiaircraft system.In carefully choreographed steps, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan released a letter he sent Thursday to the Turkish minister of defense, Hulusi Akar, outlining the path the Pentagon is taking to stop Turkey from participating in the F-35 fighter program. The steps include halting the training of Turkish pilots on the advanced fighter jets starting July 31.US has already stopped delivery of F-35 parts to Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member that has built increasingly close ties in recent years to Moscow. Turkey has bought four F-35s, but the jets remain in the US.nytimes
After waiting for decades, Muslims in Athens finally get a mosque
https://in.reuters.com/article/greece-religion-mosque/after-waiting-for-decades-muslims-in-athens-finally-get-a-mosque-idINKCN1T81XF
Athens:Without minaret or dome, the beige, rectangular structure in a former industrial area has none of the ornate grace typical of Islamic places of worship. But for the Muslims of Athens, it is the result of a long-fought battle - and the city’s first formal mosque in more than 180 years.Greek authorities said on Friday that Athens would open its first official mosque probably by September when 850,000 euro construction project is completed.Although there are mosques in other parts of Greece, the capital has not had a formal mosque since it drove out occupying Ottomans in 1833, and the few that are left have been repurposed. Plans to build a mosque began in 1890 with an act of parliament, but all fell through, including one timed for the 2004 Olympics. “Soon the first prayers will be made by the imam.. We hope that can take place by September,” Education Minister Kostas Gavroglou told journalists.Reuters
Theresa May steps down amid chaos in British politics
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/theresa-steps-chaos-british-politics-190607153429915.html
Theresa May has formally stepped down as leader of Britain's governing Conservative Party, officially triggering a leadership contest that has effectively been running for several weeks.The prime minister announced last month she would step down on Friday, June 7, after her authority to govern collapsed following three failed attempts to win parliament's approval for a negotiated deal to leave the European Union.The final straw came when compromises offered to attract more support for the Brexit deal failed to sway opposition politicians and enraged members of her own party. aljazeera
Controversy after British Home Secretary Sajid Javid became only cabinet minister not invited to State banquet for Trump
http://www.jantakareporter.com/world/huge-controversy-after-british-home-secretary-sajid-javid-became-only-cabinet-minister-not-invited-to-state-banquet-for-donald-trump/251278/
A huge row has erupted in the British politics after Home Secretary and Prime Minister hopeful, Sajid Javid, was not invited for the State banquet held for US President Donald Trump at Buckingham Palace.Javid was the only senior cabinet ministers to not receive an invitation for the lavish banquet held by the Queen in honour of Trump. Among those cabinet members invited to attend the banquet were Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt Environment Secretary Michael Gove. Both Hunt and Gove have announced their candidatures to succeed May, who resigned on Friday.Despite being a key functionary of the Conservative party, Javid has been a known critic of Trump. In November, 2017, he had slammed Trump for sharing Islamophobic tweets from the far-right extremist group Britain First in 2017. He had tweeted, “So POTUS has endorsed the views of a vile, hate-filled racist organisation that hates me and people like me. He is wrong and I refuse to let it go and say nothing.”The powerful Muslim body, Muslim Council of Britain, has written to Theresa May asking if Sajid Javid was not invited to the state banquet with Donald Trump because he is of Muslim heritage.jantakareporter
Flash: views & NEWS
Former CEC Nasim Zaidi: EC must not just be neutral but must also be ‘seen’ as neutral
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/former-cec-nasim-zaidi-ec-must-not-just-be-neutral-but-must-also-be-seen-as-neutral
As cases of terror by Muslims continue, how community leaders react could make a world of difference:Hamid Foroughi, The Conversation & Harry Hutson, The Conversation
https://scroll.in/article/925804/as-cases-of-terror-by-muslims-continue-how-community-leaders-react-could-make-a-world-of-difference
Religious war supercedes insurgency in Kashmir:IANS Special story
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/religious-war-supercedes-insurgency-in-kashmir-ians-special-119060700611_1.html
How a Budding Social Alliance Helped Elect Maharashtra's First Muslim MP in 15 Yrs:Asaf Ali Lone
https://thewire.in/politics/imtiaz-jaleel-aurangabad-mp-social-alliance
Did Adivasis in Bihar Attack Muslims Fearing Land Encroachment?
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/did-adivasis-in-bihar-attack-muslims-fearing-land-encroachment
Elections are only a means to an end for the RSS’s millennial project: Aakash Joshi
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/election-hindu-ideology-rss-nationalism-5770227/
Parting Ways With BSP Is Good News for the Samajwadi Party:Rajan Pandey
https://thewire.in/politics/up-alliance-samajwadi-party-bsp
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:34 PM)
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