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Al Qaeda video claims Modi called for Muslims to be 'burnt alive'

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Photo: PTI

Photo: PTI

Al Qaeda’s latest video titled ‘From France to Bangladesh: The Dust Will Never Settle Down’ has made mention of Narendra Modi.

Seven minutes into the video, Al Qaeda’s chief Asim Umar says that there is a war going on against Muslims from Waziristan to Charlie Hebdo “through World Bank and IMF policies, drone attacks, satanic conspiracy of Kerry-Lugar bill, Charlie Hebdo’s writings, UN charter, official sermons by muftis and Narendra Modi’s speeches which call for muslims to be burnt alive- this is the same war.”

This nine-minute video, released by Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS ) and produced by their own As Sahab production house. The formation of the new affiliate AQIS was announced by the overall leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al Zawahiri last year.

According to the Guardian, the video, is a bid to counter the growing influence of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria and the rivalry between the two Islamic militant organisations has intensified.

The nine-minute video also takes responsibility for a series of attacks that killed Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy who was hacked to death on a Dhaka street in February and the death of three others – Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, Rajib Haider and AKM Shafiul Islam- saying that they “have recently assassinated several blasphemers of the Prophet and insulters of Islamic law.”

In addition to these incidents, AQIS has also claimed that its jihadists were responsible for killing  Muhammad Shakil Auj (who was the dean of Islamic Studies at the University of Karachi when he was shot in September 2014) and Aniqa Naz.

In the video Umar claims that the assassinations were all carried out by different branches of the Al Qaeda on instructions from “their leader Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri (may Allah protect him) ” and it is part of their commitment to fulfill the “oath of Sheikh Osama bin Laden (may Allah have mercy on him).”

“In France, Denmark, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries, enemies of the Prophet are slandering him with words which makes the hearts of the followers of Allah run cold,” Umar says in the video.

This video statement by Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent refers to another statement by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), that claimed responsibility for the killing of of the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists.

In the video Umar also pays tribute to a “Bangladeshi brother” named Sulaiman who “was martyred in a drone strike in Khurasan by the same powers that expressed solidarity with the blasphemers by participating in the march in Paris.”

AQIS has in the past attempted to use the missiles aboard a Pakistani frigate to attack American and Indian ships. The AQIS team that tried to commandeer the frigate was comprised of former and active Pakistani officers. They failed to launch the missiles, but reportedly killed Pakistani servicemen in the resulting shootout.

(Agencies)

​Karnataka government to form panel on sex workers

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prostitution-in-India

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will soon form a panel to look into problems faced by sex workers, Women and Child Welfare Minister Umashree said on Monday.

“The government, in a day or two, will form a panel to study the plight of sex workers across Karnataka,” she told reporters here.

However, she declined to make any concrete statement on legalising prostitution in the state in the backdrop of some religious leaders and politicians, including former law minister MC Nanaiah favoring wider discussion on the matter.

“The question of legalising prostitution will only arise after the panel submits its report,” she said.

Umashree said the issue is sensitive and there have been differences of opinion among several eminent personalities.

“The issue of legalising prostitution is sensitive. There have been differences among several eminent people on the issue,” she said.

The minister said the modalities for setting up of the panel is in progress and she would finalise the names proposed.

The committee will look into the challenges and sufferings of sex workers and submit a report to the government as soon as possible, Umashree said.

The panel will offer solutions in terms of rehabilitation and legal aid to sex workers, she said.

Nanaiah, who is also chairman of an expert committee, had suggested wider discussion on legalising prostitution to prevent crimes against women, including rape.

Noted writers and religious leaders, including Nisar Ahmed and Mathe Mahadevi had urged legalising prostitution as has been done in many countries.

(Agencies)

Asaduddin Owaisi: AIMIM will contest BBMP polls

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asaduddin-owaisi

Mysuru: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that his party would field candidates in the upcoming elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The Hyderabad-based party had performed well in the elections to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation held recently.

Owaisi, who is on a private visit to the city, hit out at the Congress and the state government for imposing a ban on his entry to Bengaluru city.

The emergence of AIMIM in Maharashtra has started to haunt the Congress, Owaisi said and added that the party (Congress) had not learnt a lesson from the poll debacle in Maharashtra.

In an interaction with media persons, he said that Muslims and dalits face common issues like poverty, high rate of school dropouts, less graduates and social discrimination.

Owaisi said that there was no law and order problem after he addressed a meeting near Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district.

Owaisi said that he has appealed in the High Court against the ban order.

“I can speak in the Indian Parliament, but not on the streets of Bengaluru… they are afraid of me,” the MP added.

“If they (Congress) have done so much (for dailts and Muslims), why is that in 2009 and 2014 elections not even a single Muslim was elected to the Parliament from Karnataka…How many Muslim MLAs are there in the Assembly…?” he asked.

He charged that successive state governments have failed to develop areas with a large Muslim population in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region of the state like Kalaburagi, Bidar and other places.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: Six-year-old girl raped by high school boys

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rape-case

Bengaluru: A 6-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two high school boys at Bannerghatta near here, police said today.

The incident took place yesterday when she was playing with her brother and the boys, they said.

The boys took the girl to an isolated place nearby and raped her. Her brother who arrived at the scene searching for her soon rushed home and informed his grandparents about the incident, police said.

The girl was immediately taken to a doctor for medical examination by the police who visited her soon after getting to know about the incident.

“A case has been registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and various sections of IPC,” Bangalore (Rural) Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Bhanot, told PTI.

“Both accused are minors. One of them was arrested yesterday, while search is on for the other who is absconding,” he said.

(PTI)

Modi’s helpless wife moves State Information Commission with fresh RTI

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Jashodaben

Ahmedabad: Jashodaben, wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, filed a fresh RTI application at the State Information Commission in Gandhinagar Saturday, challenging the Mehsana RTI appellate authority’s February 6 order, which denied her information she had sought under RTI in November, 2104, on her security and privileges as PM’s spouse.

In the February order, Mehsana District Police Superintendent J R Mothalia had denied Jashodaben the information, arguing that it came under LIB department and as per a 2005 circular of Gujarat Government’s home department, the LIB was exempted from providing the information.

Distressed by the stonewalling of attempts made by her to seek information under RTI twice, Jashodaben may go to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, said her nephew, Sandip Modi, who is also her advocate.

Jashodaben has also objected to her being referred to by her maiden name, instead of her married one. In her application, she has reasserted her legally married name of Jashodaben Narendrabhai Modi, overturning the RTI reply, given to her by Mehsana Public Information Officer, which simply referred to her as “Shrimati Jashodaben, daughter of Chimanlal Modi”.

Jashodaben came to the Information Commissioner’s office with Sandip Modi Saturday to file the application. Sandip Modi told The Sunday Express, “We have filed an application, challenging the order given to us in February. How can they (authority) change the status of her name — Jashodaben Narendrabhai Modi?”

(Agencies)

Nepalese slam Indian media, #GoHomeIndianMedia trends

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GoHomeIndianMedia

Kathmandu: The Indian media is facing flak for its coverage of the earthquake disaster in Nepal with complaints in the social media that it was treating the tragedy as a “public relations exercise” on behalf of the Indian government.

As Nepal picks up pieces in the aftermath of last month’s devastating earthquake that killed over 7,000 people and injured more than 14,000, some have picked holes in the “relentless and aggressive” coverage by the Indian media.

By Sunday evening #GoHomeIndianMedia, which was created on Twitter for slamming the Indian media, was the top trending hashtag in Nepal with more than 60,000 tweets on the topic.

As grief-stricken people in Nepal took to social media in droves to complain what they called as Indian media’s “insensitive” reportage of the worst earthquake to hit the Himalayan nation in 80 years, the criticism ironically came on the occasion of the World Press Freedom day today.

At the same time, there have been critical responses to the negative reactions in the social media with comments like the Indian media coverage being “largely responsible” for how the rest of the world saw the Nepal tragedy and even driving global response.

While grateful for the aid and help in rescue efforts, some sections of the media were panned on the social media for pitching the tragedy as a “Public Relations exercise” for the Indian government.

“…Media humiliated poor Nepal in order to take credit & cheap publicity in the hour of crisis. Sad,” said one tweet.

In a blog published on CNN, Sunita Shakya of Nepali origin writes, “Your media and media personnel are acting like they are shooting some kind of family serials.”

She also goes on to describe a couple of instances where she says the reporter did not do enough to help the injured person in need.

“Thanks to tons of reporters who came to Nepal from those rescue planes of India, you took a seat where a victim could be transported to hospitals/ health camps. Thanks to you all reporters, you took a seat where a bag of food and supplies could be placed to send to those hardly hit places,” she added.

Kunda Dixit, a veteran journalist, was quoted has having said that some Nepalis, not all, feel India media is a bit patronising in their attitude and that is perhaps why such sentiments are being expressed. That is how a section of the Nepali media also feels, according to Dixit.

The Indian media was accused by the Twitterati of being insensitive to survivors, asking them irrelevant questions such as “How are you feeling?” and not rendering help to those needing immediate medical aid.

“If your media person can reach to the places where the relief supplies have not reached, at this time of crisis can’t they take a first-aid kit or some food supplies with them as well,?,” asked Shakya.

Some tweets said that Nepal is a sovereign country and not a “satellite state”.

Dear@narendramodi our Dharahara may have fallen not our sovereignty! Sinerely Nepalese #GoHomeIndianMedia, said one tweet while another sarcastically said, “Mr. @narendramodi please call your media back. They r just hurting us more.”

“The height of event management!!! Shame on media’s sycophancy,” read another tweet.

“#GoHomeIndianMedia is about Indian Media. It has nothing to do with Indian Government. Indian Government was the first to reach Nepal,” was another tweet.

Ajay Bhadra Khanal, a veteran journalist, was quoted as having said that the Indian media’s “aggressive presence” and the way they are highlighting only their government’s role in resuce and relief efforts has affected the perception among Nepalis of the Indian government.

Here are some of the tweets:

A tweet from a person followed by Indian Embassy Kathmandu shows how serious the matter is #GoHomeIndianMedia pic.twitter.com/2i5s2Zd2KF

— I Blocked Aajtak (@umeshd516) May 3, 2015

Stop your Media-quake!! We are already in pang by devastating Earthquake and your news are not helping the victims!! #GoHomeIndianMedia

— सूचना घिमिरे ツ (@artless77) May 3, 2015

Dear Indian media, we shall welcome you back once you learn the basics and ABCs of journalism. For now leave. #GoHomeIndianMedia

— prakriti khadka (@khadka_prakriti) May 3, 2015

#GoHomeIndianMedia @aajtak @abpnewstv @IndiaToday Mr. @narendramodi please call your media back. They r just hurting us more

— लुरे (Nishan Aryal) (@fantastic_fan) May 3, 2015

According to the Nepalese police, the death toll recorded in Nepal till date is 7,040 and nearly 14,123 people have been left injured.

(PTI)

One in four Indians admit to practicing untouchability: Survey

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caste

New Delhi: 65 years after untouchability was abolished, one in four Indians admit to practicing it in some form in their homes– a shocking fact revealed by a pan-India survey that was flagged at a seminar of Dalit intellectuals, writers and academicians here.

Indians belonging to virtually every religion and caste group, including Muslims, Christians, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, admit to practicing untouchability, shows the India Human Development Survey (IHDS- 2).

The survey was conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and University of Maryland, US and its full results are to be released later this year.

The issue was highlighted at a seminar “Rise of the Oppressed: Impact of Dalit Literary and Cultural interventions in Maharashtra and Beyond over the weekend.

Speakers including former member of Planning Commission Bhalchandra Munagekar Y S Alone, Professor of Art and Aesthetics, JNU, and Waman Kendre, Director of National School of Drama, Suhas Borkar of Working Group on Alternative Strategies, called for waging a war on “the mindset of social injustice”.

After Borker spoke about the findings of the survey, other speakers including Mungekar, who is a member of the Rajya Sabha, said that the revelations were quite shocking.

Munagekar recalled the pain and hardship he and his family had to undergo due to the stigma of being a Dalit. He, however, said that the writings of Babasheb Ambedkar and Jnanpith Award winner V S Khandekar had greatly influenced his way of thinking.

Alone said dismantling of hegemony of the upper castes began with the rise of the Ambedkar movement in the country.

Kendre dwelt upon the tradition of great Dalit writers and poets like Namdev Dhasal, Annabhau Sathe, Daya Pawar, Shantibai Kamble and Narayan Surve among others and how their revolutionary writings brought about a resurgence and gave a sense of self-confidence to the Dalits.

Smita Patil, Assistant Professor, School of Gender and Development Studies, IGNOU spoke about the contribution of Dalit women writers.

Speaking about the impact of Dalit literature beyond Maharasthra, Ram Chandra, Associate Professor of Language, Literature and Cultural Studies at JNU, called for rejection of the “exploitative and unjust” Hindu caste system.

The seminar was organised by Maharashtra Sanskritik Ani Rannaniti Adhyayan Samiti and Working Group on Alternative Strategies.

(PTI)

Rahul attacks government on real estate bill, calls it pro-builders

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Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Firing yet another salvo at Narendra Modi government, Rahul Gandhi today claimed it had diluted provisions of Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill making the legislation pro-builders from being pro-buyers.

After meeting several NCR flat buyers today, the Congress Vice President, who has been attacking the Centre over land bill issue and the plight of farmers, said that he had learnt that it is not just farmers and tribals but also the middle class people that are “suppressed” on matters related to land.

Assuring homebuyers that he would stand by them, Gandhi said that it was due to lack of transparency, the buyers were left in a quandary.

“They are told that you will get the flat on a particular day but for years they don’t get the flat. They are told the super duper area of the flat would be so much but what is delivered is different,” he said.

He said that someone was promised that the flat will have a good view, but a few months after the flat was delivered, another building came up and the view was blocked.

He said the government was trying to destroy the Bill which Congress led UPA had brought to regulate the real estate sector.

“Main dilution is that there was clear transparency. The carpet area that you sign is what would be given. They have diluted and from pro-buyer, made it pro-builder,” he said.

Attacking the government, he said, “What it is doing against farmers and tribals, it is also doing against the middle class”.

“I have assured them that the way I stand with farmers and tribals I stand with them also,” he told reporters.

(Agencies)

Voting in Karnataka could be made compulsory

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COMPULSORY-VOTING

Bengaluru: Karnataka is scheduled to make voting compulsory. According to reports, the government proposes to penalize citizens for not voting, and incentivize voting by providing rewards.

A senior official in the rural development and panchayat raj ministry said the state government has floated the idea of making voting mandatory in panchayat elections with a tentative fine of up to Rs 500 or two-day imprisonment for those who don’t vote.

It is also said that the government may ask applicants to show certificates of voting while issuing ration cards or driving licences. However, citizens who have genuine reasons for being unable to vote will be exempted. People who choose the NOTA option will get voting certificates.

All these proposals are, however, still in a nascent stage and may not apply for the upcoming gram panchayat elections in May. “We are still in the process of framing rules for the new legislation which will take some time. We have decided to seek suggestions from an expert committee in implementing the new rules,” rural development and panchayat raj minister H K Patil told a daily newspaper.

As of now, he said, the government is readying the voting certificates that will be issued to all voters who get their fingers inked in the gram panchayat elections.

(Agencies)

Only grabbing headlines: Arun Shourie attacks Modi government

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Asked if the Modi government had done enough to put India on growth path, Mr. Shourie said that it was “all hyperbole.”

arun-shourie

Arun Shourie, a Minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet, hit out at the Narendra Modi government on Friday, saying its economic policy was “directionless” while the social climate was causing “great anxiety” among the minorities.

Mr. Shourie said the one-year rule of Modi was “good in parts”, his transformation as Prime Minister was good in foreign policy, but the promised turnaround in the economy had not happened.

“The government seems to be more concerned with managing headlines than putting policies in place. The situation is like the many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle lying in a mess with no big picture in mind about how to put them together,” he told a private news channel. Mr. Shourie, who is not active in BJP these days, said despite promises, the fears of foreign investors on retrospective taxes and incentives for manufacturing have not materialised on the ground. “They (investors) require stability and predictability,” he said, adding that the concern expressed by banker Deepak Parekh on the situation on the ground should be seen as a “wake-up call“.

Asked if the Modi government had done enough to put India on growth path, Mr. Shourie said that it was “all hyperbole.”

“Such claims are meant to grab headlines but lack substance,” he said. “The government is talking big on economic matters, but nothing is happening on the ground. Delivery is missing,” he added.

In an apparent reference to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he said the government lacked a stable approach in dealing with investors and that “lawyerly arguments” would not convince them. He was also critical of handling of the tax issues which was keeping foreign investors away. “First it alienated them but now it has made them laugh. You come out as bullies.”

(PTI)

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