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Masarat Alam says did not wave Pakistani flag, but finds nothing wrong in others waving it

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masarat-alam

by Junaid Kathju, Rising Kashmir

Srinagar: Muslim League chairman and senior Hurriyat (G) leader Masarat Alam Thursday said he did not find anything wrong in people waving Pakistani flags during Syed Ali Geelani’s rally in Srinagar yesterday.

“Even though I didn’t personally wave any flags but if people did wave such flags, I don’t find anything wrong in it,” Alam told Rising Kashmir.

He said waving Pakistani flag in Kashmir has been the part of the “freedom movement” in Kashmir and it has been going on since 1947.

“By seeing the same sentiment, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised plebiscite to Kashmiri people which were never fulfilled. Yesterday was only the reminder of that promise,” the separatist leader said.

On FIR being lodged against him for alleged provocative activities and hoisting of Pakistani flag, Alam said many FIRs have been registered against him in past and there was nothing to worry about it.

“What is new in it? I have been booked many times in past also. One more FIR doesn’t make any difference to me,” he said.

About Tral chalo call , Alam said his party has not yet decided whether to join the rally but being a member of Hurriyat (G), he is ready to be part of any program.

Police Wednesday evening registered FIR against Geelani, Masarat, Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah and other separatist leaders for alleged provocative activities and hoisting Pakistani flag in Hyderpora.

FIR No 92/2015 under sections 13 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 120-B, 147,341,336,427 RPC was registered in Police Station Budgam against the trio.

On March 7, government released Alam from jail after four years of detention. Alam was arrested in Harwan area on the outskirts of Srinagar in October 2010 on charges of spearheading summer unrest in the Valley that year. Over 120 youth were killed in police and paramilitary forces firing in during the unrest.

SC extends Jayalalithaa's bail

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jayalalithaa

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday extended the bail of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and others till the Karnataka High Court disposed of their appeal against her conviction and sentencing in a disproportionate assets case by the special court.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu also extended till May 12 the time for the high court to pronounce its verdict on Jayalalithaa’s appeal, which was coming to an end on Friday.

The court extended the time after a senior counsel told the court that after the split verdict on the DMK leader’s plea on the appointment of G. Bhavani Singh as special public prosecutor, it has now to be decided by a three-judge bench of the apex court.

It was hoped that the three-judge bench, which is yet to take up the matter, may complete the hearing and decide the matter before May 12.

(IANS)

Christian priests raise concern over security

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The alter of the St Sebastian Church that was gutted in Delhi. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)

The alter of the St Sebastian Church that was gutted in Delhi. (Source: Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)

Mathura: Christian priests in Mathura on Friday raised security concern after an attack on the 95-year-old St. Mary’s Church in Agra on Thursday.

The priests fear that they, too, could be attacked by anti-social elements.

“The desperate elements could easily target any. Under the new government at the Centre, the attacks have become more frequent,” said Father Saji, a priest at a church in Jait village in Mathura district.

Father Saji said the district administration made no security arrangements even after the recent spate of churches being attacked.

Mathura district has around a dozen churches and educational institutions run by different denominations, but their security is lax.

In Agra, Christians marched with candles on Thursday evening to protest administrative indifference. Protests will continue till the culprits are nabbed, community leaders said.

Rajesh Modak, senior superintendent of Agra police, said investigations were on with four teams on the job and that the suspects would be arrested soon.

Father Moon Lazarus, parish priest, demanded arrest of the attackers who, he said, were “mentally diseased.”

A group has threatened to close down Christian missionary schools in Agra, if the culprits were not booked soon.

(IANS)

Protesters at Vancouver mark endnote for Modi's visit

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Vancouver_Protest-Modi

Vancouver: Slogan-shouting and placard-waving protesters greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday at Canada’s oldest gurdwara in Vancouver and a temple, the only sore points during a three-nation tour which resulted in ground-breaking agreements across several vital sectors.

The protests outside the Ross Street gurdwara and also the Laxminarayan temple in Surrey saw people from different communities raising issues ranging from secularism to the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The 500-odd protestors, some armed with bullhorns, claimed to represent various Indian religious groups, and held up placards relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots, which took place when Modi was the chief minister of the state.

Slogans like “Modi, Go Back” rent the air though the protest was peaceful amidst heavy police deployment and road blocks.

Some among the protesters were objecting to the presence of Canadian PM Stephen Harper for a new anti-terror law that gives sweeping powers to the police and security agencies.

Modi prayed at the gurdwara and also remembered the 1914 Komagata Maru incident when Canada did not let in hundreds of Sikhs, a community acknowledged as a major contributor to the country’s economy today.

“The Sikh community has worked hard and has earned the respect of the people of Canada. India is respected in Canada and this is due to your efforts. Wherever we are, let us do things that bring pride to our nation,” Modi said while addressing devotees at the Khalsa Diwan gurdwara.

Later, Modi and Harper were gifted Sikh ceremonial swords by the gurdwara committee.

“This is a very significant visit. Modi is the third Indian prime minister to come here, after Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949 and Indira Gandhi in 1973,” Khalsa Diwan society president Sohan Singh Deo said.

Modi’s trip to Canada is the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister in 42 years.

Later, the two leaders went to the Laxminarayan temple, where the number of the protestors grew as Surrey has a sizable South Asian population.

The protests evoked sharp response from supporters of Modi who chanted “Modi, Modi” while waving flags of India and Canada.

The Prime Minister also prayed at the temple, with the priest applying tika on his forehead.

“I bring greetings from 1.2 billion Indians to the 1.2 million Indians living in Canada. In India, the Supreme Court gave a superb definition for Hinduism: they said that it is not a religion but a way of life: how to live in synchrony with nature,” the Prime Minister said.

The official Twitter account of the Prime Minister’s Office said he also bowed in remembrance to the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, where hundreds of Sikh passengers were not allowed to alight on Canadian soil due to their Asian origin.

The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship, which was sailing from Hong Kong to Vancouver with 376 passengers from Punjab on board, a majority of whom were Sikhs. Only 24 were admitted to Canada, while the rest were forced to return to India.

Modi wrapped up his engagements in Canada with a state banquet hosted by the Canadian Prime Minister.

Talking business

Earlier, top executives at Canada’s largest banks, insurers and pension funds sounded bullish over investing in India after meeting Modi who held a roundtable with the heads of major Canadian financial institutions in Toronto.

Modi said he understood the need for consistency in regulation and that India has learnt from its past missteps.

The message resonated with Canadian business heads, some of whose firms have already lined up, or raised funds to invest in India.

“It’s great to see a leader who’s focused on reducing red tape, reducing roadblocks, and encouraging development,” said Dean Connor, chief executive of insurer Sun Life Financial Inc that has had a presence in India for over 15 years.

Connor, noting that Modi clearly expressed that his government would not pursue retrospective application of tax rules, which has been a problematic issue for investors in the past.

Scotiabank CEO Brian Porter felt India had “great growth potential” and have been “encouraged by the significant reforms Prime Minister Modi has achieved less than one year after taking office.”

(Agencies)

Indian companies back out of Facebook’s Internet.org to protect net neutrality

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Washington: As the debate on net neutrality in India heats up, several Indian firms are pulling out of Internet.org, a charity headed by Facebook to help spread internet access to parts of the world where many people lack connectivity.

After NDTV, Newshunt, and the Times Group pulled out some or all of their services from Internet.org due to concerns over net neutrality, travel website Cleartrip has become the latest firm to exit the deal, citing same concerns, reported The Verge.

The concept of net neutrality had been a hotly debated topic in the United States last month as the FCC adopted more stringent rules. The issue is now being widely debated in India too.

Mobile network operator Airtel, along with local startups, had been planning on creating a platform where startups would pay for data usage, making their services free for users. However, this would be similar to the sponsored data initiatives seen in the U.S., which the FCC recently categorized as an unacceptable form of “paid prioritization.” Internet.org worked the same way as it provided users free access to a selection of 39 “essential” services, including Facebook.

The discussion surrounding the topic has raised several questions like, why Internet.org is being publicised as a charity rather than a business venture and whether it will impinge on net neutrality in an attempt to spread internet access.

(IANS)

Janata Parivar merger will prove destructive for BJP: Nitish

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Photo: The Hindu

Photo: The Hindu

Patna: Lashing out at the BJP for its comments on Janata Parivar merger, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday said that the coming together of the six parties will prove to be “destructive” for the saffron party.

“The BJP does not know that the merger, of which they are making fun, will prove to be destructive for them. Infact their leaders are not poking fun, they are displaying fear present in their subconscious minds due to the merger,” Kumar said

Kumar was speaking to mediapersons at Patna airport this morning on his arrival from New Delhi after attending the merger of Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), Janata Dal (Secular), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP).

The merger of these six parties, which were originally part of the Janata Dal that swept the 1989 Lok Sabha polls, was declared at SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav’s residence in New Delhi.

The name, flag and symbol of the new party will be announced later.

“The BJP is saying that there is still some hindrance in merger. But the fact is that it is worried from its core due to it,” Kumar claimed.

The chief minister said all the parties collectively decided that Mulayam Singh Yadav will be the president of the new party.

“A committee consisting of the presidents of all the six parties has been formed. It will chalk out the schedule to finalise everything related to the new party. It will decide on the name, policy, programme, flag, symbol of the new party. The decisions will be taken collectively,” he added.

Responding to questions regarding time frame of declaring the name and symbol of the party, Kumar said Yadav will take initiative to call meetings, deliberate over the issues and take further action.

He allayed fears that the merger will have any negative effect on the functioning of the Bihar government.

“The government will keep working as usual. It will work determinedly on the agenda of development and good governance. It will keep serving the state,” he added.

(PTI)

Rahul Gandhi returns from sabbatical

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The return of Rahul Gandhi comes ahead of the party’s planned farmers’ rally on the contentious Land Bill issue which he is likely to address. Photo: Sandeep Saxena, The Hindu

The return of Rahul Gandhi comes ahead of the party’s planned farmers’ rally on the contentious Land Bill issue which he is likely to address. Photo: Sandeep Saxena, The Hindu

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Thursday returned from his 56-day “unexplained” sabbatical that had raised a lot of questions over his leadership of the party at a time when Congress has been battered in elections repeatedly.

The Congress vice president arrived here at 11.15 am on a Thai Airways plane from Bangkok. The plane, which was scheduled to land at 10.35 am, was delayed by 40 minutes, sources said.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka reached the 12, Tughlaq Road residence of Rahul.

A day before the Budget session began on February 23, party sources had said that Mr. Gandhi had gone on leave.

The party had then said that he “requested Congress president Sonia Gandhi for some time to reflect on recent events and future course of the party“.

Ever since the announcement of his temporary break from political life, there has been speculation that he was unhappy for not getting a free hand to run the party, a contention which the party has officially denied.

Rahul’s leave had come amid talk of an AICC session, where he was expected to be elevated as Congress president.

During his absence, several party leaders came out in the open pitching for Sonia Gandhi to continue as president and raised questions over his leadership.

Congress leaders had announced that Rahul would be back by April 19 as he would be addressing a farmers’ rally on land bill issue at the Ramlila maidan here on that day.

The rally is being held on the eve of the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament. Rahul had skipped the first phase which saw the Congress taking on the government over the land bill issue as he went on the sabbatical shortly before it commenced.

Congress has been performing badly at the hustings, starting with the Lok Sabha elections last year. It was followed by a string of electoral reverses in Assembly elections including in Delhi recently.

Sources also said that plans are underway to organise an interaction of Rahul Gandhi with a delegation of farmers on April 17 two days before he will address the Kisan-Khet Mazdoor rally of the party.

(PTI)

J & K government must investigate alleged extrajudicial execution of youth in Tral: Amnesty International India

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Kashmiri villagers carry the body of Khalid Muzaffar, a civilian during his funeral procession in Tral. Photo: AP

Kashmiri villagers carry the body of Khalid Muzaffar, a civilian during his funeral procession in Tral. Photo: AP

Srinagar: The Indian chapter of the international human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) Thursday Stressed upon the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure an independent criminal investigation into the killing of a 24-year-old student Khalid Muzaffar by army personnel on 13 April in Tral.

Khalid was killed by Indian army personnel in the Kamla forests in Pulwama district on the morning of 13 April. The Indian army in a press statement said that Khalid was an ‘over ground worker’ for the Hizbul Mujahideen, armed group, and was killed in a gun battle with army personnel.

“The Director-General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, told Amnesty International India that Khalid Muzafar Wani’s brother is a senior member of the Hizbul Mujahideen, and said that the police was investigating whether Khalid Muzafar Wani also had any links to armed groups,” an AI statement said.

Quoting Khalid’s father Muzaffar Wani Amnesty International India, the death of Khalid was a result of a ‘fake encounter’, or staged extrajudicial execution.

“The Jammu and Kashmir government must ensure a swift, thorough and impartial investigation to determine if Khalid Muzafar Wani was killed in an extrajudicial execution. They must also look into the family’s claims that he was targeted because of his brother’s suspected links with a banned armed group,” said Shemeer Babu, Programmes Director at Amnesty International India.

Anti-conversion law outside Centre’s jurisdiction, says law ministry

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sadananda gowda

New Delhi: BJP may have strongly endorsed Sangh Parivar’s demand for a national law against religious conversions, but the central government is not competent to enact such a law, says the law ministry citing a Supreme Court ruling.

According to the law ministry’s opinion forwarded recently to the home ministry, the SC had in a 1977 ruling made it clear that ‘anti-conversion law’ falls within the purview of ‘public order’, a ‘state’ subject as per the seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

“The Supreme Court ruling (in the case Rev Stainislaus Vs State of Madhya Pradesh & Others) had upheld the laws on conversion enacted by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa (now Odisha), observing that they fell within the purview of ‘public order’, or Entry I of List II of the Seventh Schedule…since this is the law of the land, the Centre has no jurisdiction to enact an anti-conversion law,” a home ministry official said, citing the law ministry’s opinion.

The apex court had, in the 1977 verdict, observed that “the impugned Acts… fall within the purview of Entry I of List II of the Seventh Schedule as they are meant to avoid disturbances to the public order by prohibiting conversion from one religion to another in a manner reprehensible to the conscience of the community”.

Many states have their own laws on conversions, including Odisha, MP, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan too have enacted laws banning illegal religious conversions. As for other states and Union Territories, forcible religious conversions have to be dealt with under Article 25 of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion.

The law ministry’s opinion against a central law on conversion comes less than a month after home minister Rajnath Singh’s called for a national debate on the need for such a law. “There are sometimes rumours and controversies about ‘ghar wapsi’ and conversions. Why should there by any conversion at all?” he had said on the sidelines of a conference of heads of state minority commissions in New Delhi last month.

“In other countries, it is the minorities which ask for anti-conversion law. Here, we are only saying that there should be an anti-conversion law. There should be debate over it. We must think on bringing anti-conversion law. I humbly request all of you to think over it,” Singh had said.

In the wake of a row over alleged forced conversions by some Sangh Parivar outfits, BJP members and some Union ministers had said that they were ready to bring an anti- conversion law even as they put the onus on the opposition parties for supporting such a move.

(Agencies)

Six Janata Parivar parties form new party, Mulayam to be chief

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Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, JDS chief HD Deve Gowda and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav share the dais at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, JDS chief HD Deve Gowda and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav share the dais at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Six parties of Janata Parivar on Wednesday decided to merge and form a new party with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh as its president.

The decision was announced here by Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav after a meeting of six parties that included Janata Dal-Secular, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian National Lok Dal and Samajwadi Janata Party.

(IANS)

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