Muslim Intellectuals From Maharashtra Condemn Violence In Bengaluru, Applaud Muslims Who Prevented Desecration of Temple
Pramod Chunchuwar | India Tomorrow   MUMBAI, AUGUST 19—Strongly condemning the violence in Bengaluru following a content defamatory to Islam in a Facebook post, a group of Muslim intellectuals in Maharashtra have demanded strong legal action against the perpetrators of the crime and their masterminds.     They also applauded the Muslim individuals and groups who formed a human chain around a temple in their locality to prevent any attempt at desecration.     However, they also said in a joint statement, that “any communally coloured action by state with vindictive motive will be counterproductive”.     They said that in a democracy, any group of aggrieved citizens have the right to protest, express their dissent through peaceful means. “But no individual, group or community can be allowed to take the law in their own hands. We, in particular, question the wisdom of Muslims who resorted to violence at a time when the...

Has 'Project Shah Faesal' of Government of India Failed In Kashmir?
Shah Faesal may rejoin his duties, would prefer staying away from the crowd but the questions will keep haunting him.  Was Faesal and his IAS one of the many GOI’s long-planned CBMs? Has Project Shah Faesal failed? Has the Robot been called back to the factory for reloading?   Peerzada Ummer | India Tomorrow   SRINAGAR, AUGUST 16—The snow accumulated for three months of harsh winter chill had subtly begun to melt. Spring had arrived in Kashmir and it was the time for rose bosoms to open, for birds to sing, turn every leaf into a nest, and every tree into an orchestra.      It was the spring of political surprises too. Newspapers in March 2019 remained ruthlessly occupied with speculations of Shah Feasal, a 2010 batch IAS topper quitting his otherwise prestigious job and entering politics. On March 17, finally, he appeared in front of a crowd donning a blazer over Shalwar Kameez- imitating the style of Pakistan’s Prime Minister...

Mysterious Appearance of Cow Carcasses in Azamgarh Pointer Towards "Right Wing Conspiracy", Say Local Residents
Masihuzzama Ansari | India Tomorrow   LUCKNOW, AUGUST 12—The sudden spotting of abandoned cow carcasses in Azamgarh during the past few days is a pointer towards a silent conspiracy of the right-wing forces, claim social and civil rights activists in the area including local residents. Rihai Manch, a state-based grass roots organisation working for national unity and social justice has demanded a high-level probe into the incident and termed it an “organised conspiracy” while BJP District President Dhruv Singh has demanded action in the case.   According to eyewitnesses, the carcasses were found strewn at different places in the city under mysterious circumstances buttressing fears that a nefarious design is underway to target the minorities. Singh has alleged that that the carcasses are of the cows which were meant to be slaughtered in the abattoirs but since the supply was disrupted, the dead cows were abandoned on the streets. The BJP claims the numb...

UP Police Arrest Four PFI Members For Posts About 'Bhumi Pujan' On Social Media
Arshad Afzaal Khan | India Tomorrow   LUCKNOW, AUGUST 7— Uttar Pradesh police have arrested four persons on allegations of spreading provocative messages with regard to ‘bhumi pujan’ of the Ram Temple on social media.   All of the them are said to be linked with Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).   While of the accused was arrested from Lucknow, the remaining three were arrested from Bahraich, a district town bordering Nepal.   The one arrested from Lucknow has been identified as Abul Majeed, media in-charge of PFI. He was arrested last evening from a rented house in Mahipatmau locality under Kakori Police Station in Lucknow city. The police said that Abdul Majeed was posting communally provocative messages on social media. According to police, Abdul Majeed is native of Ramnagar in Shahdara, East Delhi.   Police Inspector of Kakori Police Station Pramednra Singh told mediapersons that Abdul Maje...

Modi's 'Bhoomipujan' For Ram Mandir Puts Question Mark Over India's Secularism, Is India Headed To Become A Hindu Rashtra?
Pramod Chunchuwar | India Tomorrow   AYODHYA, AUGUST 5—Prime Minister Narendra Modi acting as a host for ‘bhoomipujan’ ceremony for Ram Temple here on Wednesday has put a question mark over India as a secular country.   Those who attended the ‘bhoomipujan’with Modi included UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, State governor Anandiben Patel and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.   The big question after ‘bhoomipujan’ by the PM is whether the country will now move towards becoming a Hindu Rashtra? Will this  lead India on the path of majoritarianism?   Though Modi, Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat tried to allay fears in the minds of minorities, particularly Muslims,  their words can hardly give confidence to non-Hindus as they are known for such lip-services.   Till now, generally the persons holding constitutional posts used to avoid hosting any religious programmes keeping in mid...

"Babri Masjid Was A Mosque, Is A Mosque, Will Always Remain A Mosque Even After Its Usurpation", Says All India Muslim Personal Law Board
Syed Khalique Ahmed | India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, AUGUST 5—When Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech after Bhoomi Pujan for the grand Ram Temple on the same site where Babri Masjid once stood, said that India was writing a new history, many twitter users said that Babri Masjid was always a Masjid and will always remain a mosque.   All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) that fought the Babri Masjid case in the Supreme Court but lost it, in a statement issued on August 4, said, “Babri Masjid was a mosque, is a mosque and will always remain a mosque. Its usurpation cannot change the reality”.   Reiterating its original stand, the board said, “When a mosque is established, it will continue to remain a mosque till the end of the world as per Islamic jurisprudence. Hence, Babri Masjid was a mosque in the past, it is a mosque even now and will, In Sha Allah, remain a mosque in future as well. Installation of idols in the mosque, worsh...

Prof. Apoorvanand Questioned For Five Hours, His Cellphone Seized
“It is disturbing to see a theory emerging which treats the supporters of the protesters as the source of violence”: Prof. Apoorvanand   India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, AUGUST 4—Delhi Police Special Cell conducting investigations with a view to finding out the link between the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Northeast Delhi violence questioned Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand for five hours on Monday and also seized his mobile phone.   In a statement issued on Tuesday, Prof. Apoorvanand said that he was interrogated for five hours. “I spent five hours there”, he said in the statement.   However, he did not give any detail about the questions asked from him or the information sought by the police. Prof. Apoorvanand could not be contacted as his mobile was confiscated by the police and his landline phone number went unattended.   “The Delhi Police also considered it necessary to seize my phone for the purpo...

Rajasthan Governor Setting 'Dangerous Precedent': Ahmed Patel
  NEW DELHI, JULY 29--Amid the faceoff between the Rajasthan Governor and the Ashok Gehlot government over convening the special Assembly session, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said it could set a "dangerous precedent."   Attacking Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra without naming him, the Congress treasurer said, "It is perhaps for the first time in our history that we are seeing a Governor reluctant to convene the Assembly despite aid and advice of the elected Chief Minister."   Patel cautioned that it may lead to a constitutional impasse and set a bad precedent in the democratic history of the country.   "If this dangerous precedent is allowed, what will happen if the Rashtrapati (President) refuses to summon Parliament despite the Union Cabinet recommending it?" said Patel in a statement.   Patel said if allowed it may create chaos and cautioned the Union government on the stand taken by the Rajasthan Governor. &nb...

Why Is PM Modi Attending Ayodhya 'Bhoomipujan' During COVID 19 Crisis: AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel
By Our special Correspondent   PUNE, JULY 27—All India Muslim Ittehadul Muslimin (AIMIM) MP from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to visit Ayodhya for temple ‘bhoomipoojan’ in August during the time when the country is facing unprecedented coronavirus crisis.   Jaleel referred to the PM while he was reacting to the Maharashtra government’s appeal to the Muslims to offer symbolic ‘Qurbani’ during Bakrid.  Imtiaz Jaleel is one of the most vociferous and educated Muslim parliamentarian from Maharashtra who has been raising issues of Muslim empowerment and social justice ever since he joined politics.   “We want opening of all religious places of worship for Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and all other communities in the state. The Maharashtra State Government has appealed for symbolic Qurbani, then why is PM Modi going to Ayodhya during coronacrisis? We are not agai...

Name of AIMPLB member Dr SQR Ilyas Finds Mention In Delhi Riots Chargesheet
Masihuzzama Ansari | India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, JULY 27—The name of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Dr Qasim Rasul Ilyas has been mentioned in a riot-related chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.   Regarding the development, Dr Ilyas has tweeted “All those law-abiding citizens and activists who had participated in the anti-CAA/NRC agitation or were associated with it are being systematically framed by the police to protect the real culprits who masterminded the Delhi riots. One of the chargesheets contains my name where it has been claimed that I had delivered an inflammatory speech in Chandbagh. I challenge the Delhi police to prove the charges against me,” he stated.   Talking to India Tomorrow, Dr Ilyas said, “Delhi police is saving the original instigators, and inflammatory speech givers. Besides being a member of AIMPLB, he is Welfare Party of India’s (WPI) national President.   ...

Delhi HC Rejects Two Petitions Of Police Against Faisal Farooq
India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, JULY 23—The Delhi High Court has rejected two petitions filed by the police against Rajdhani School proprietor, Faisal Farooq, one challenging the bail order issued by trial court and the other pertaining to alleged violation of the bail order by Faisal.     However, Farooq is still in Jail in another case.     Hearing the argument on a Delhi Police petition challenging bail order given by trial court to Faisal Farooq in Northeast Delhi riots, High Court Judge Justice Suresh Kumar Kait slammed police saying that it had taken system on ride. The court has rejected the petition and said that police was misusing the judicial system.     The police sought cancellation of bail order. The trial court issued bail order on June 20 to Faisal Farooq due to lack of evidence in police chargesheet against him. The police alleged that he had links with Popular Front of India, Pinjra Tod and Muslim clerics. There was no e...

Murder Conspiracy Hatched During Riots On phone Groups: Court
 India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, JULY 23—Taking cognizance of the chargesheet against the 11 men accused in the murder of a Muslim man during the riots in Northeast Delhi in February, a Delhi court judge, on Tuesday, termed the killing part of a “well-planned” conspiracy hatched on a WhatsApp group.   The Delhi Police also came in the firing line of the court for not invoking the appropriate sections relevant for targeting of the Muslims by the accused who, it said, were overcome by “bottomless stupidity of propaganda”, for their religion.   On June 4, the police filed chargesheet against the accused, Lokesh Kumar Solanki, Pankaj Sharma, Sumit Chaudhary, Ankit Chaudhary, Prince, Rishabh Chaudhary, Jatin Sharma, Vivek Panchal, Himanshu Thakur, Pawan Kumar and Lalit Kumar, in the case of murder of Aamir Khan. Aamir’s body was recovered from a drain in Gokulpuri.    All the 11 accused were charged with offences under...

Supreme Court Issues Notice to Prashant Bhushan on Remarks Against Judiciary
   New Delhi, July 22 - The Supreme Court Wednesday issued notice to advocate Prashant Bhushan on the alleged contemptuous remarks on Twitter. The top court also asked the Attorney General to assist it on the matter.   Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, representing Twitter Inc, California, the US, contended before the top court that he will advise his client to delete the offensive tweets.   A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, B. R. Gavai and Krishna Murari asked Bhushan and Twitter to file reply by August 5.   The bench questioned Twitter why it can't disable the tweets on its own even after a contempt has been initiated. The counsel for Twitter replied he understands the matter and he will convey court's intent to his client.   He further submitted before the bench to direct it to disable tweets by Bhushan, and insisted that Twitter cannot delete tweets without court direction.   The Supreme Court has initiated suo motu contempt pr...

"Delhi Riots Were BJP's Conspiracy": AAP Rajya Sabha Member Sanjay Singh
India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, JULY 20—AAP Rajya Sabha member  leader Sanjay Singh has alleged that BJP was involved in a “deep conspiracy” behind engineering the communal riots in Northeast Delhi in February this year in which as many as 53 persons were killed, mostly Muslims, hundreds of other injured and property worth hundreds of crores of rupees were destroyed.     The allegations were levelled at a press conference yesterday which he had called to share with media the tussle between the Delhi Government and L-G Anil Baijal.     Considered to be the most outspoken among AAP leaders, Singh alleged that a “deep conspiracy” was hatched  by BJP ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi.     “The riots were an outcome of a deep conspiracy by the BJP. The riots were engineered by the BJP. I am maintaining this from day one and reiterating today. I said this in Parliament as well that the BJP organize...

Activists, Retired Bureaucrats Write To President Kovind, Demand Judicial Probe Into Delhi Riots
Rasheeduddin Khaja | India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, JULY 19—Several former bureaucrats, retired IPS officials and social activists have written a letter to President Ramnath Kovind, seeking a judicial inquiry into the communal violence in Northeast Delhi that took place in February this year claiming 53 lives, mostly Muslims.     They have demanded the probe by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court or a high court under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.     They have written the letter after the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) on July 8 wrote an official letter to police investigators to take precaution while arresting Hindus in connection with the riots because arrest of some Hindus youths had caused a “degree of resentment among the Hindu community”. The Delhi Minorities Commission, in its report released on July 16, alleged police complicity into the riots and recommended a probe into it.     Statin...

Road To Revival of Economy Post Covid1-9
Hashmat Ali(Special to India Tomorrow) NEW DELHI, JULY 18--While the economy has been encountering a slowdown since 2017, the covid-19 broke out and ravaged the economy of the country. According to Goldman sachs and IMF’s world economic outlook, India’s GDP growth rate likely to be contracted by 5% in financial year 2020-21. This will lower tax revenues, and limit government’s ability to spend and support growth. The negative growth rate is primarily contributed by negative growth in gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), which broadly is the investment in the economy. The government final consumption expenditure (GFCE) has supported the growth momentum, however, the increase in consumption expenditure followed by cutbacks in capital expenditure, which are reflected in the negative growth in investment in real GDP data.   No wonder, despite strong pressure from corporate for large fiscal stimulus, the government has primarily banked on credit guarantees and...

Triple Talaq, Polygamy Don't Exist In Muslim Community: Says Delhi Minorities Commission Report
  Syed Ali Ahmed | India Tomorrow  NEW DELHI, JULY 18 – The Delhi Minorities Commission’s interview-based survey report, Socio-Economic and Educational Status of Muslim Women in North-East Delhi, released on Thursday confirmed that social problem of triple talaq and polygamy do not exist in the Muslim community.   The report was released by Minorities Commission chairman Dr Zafrul Islam Khan in presence of its members Kartar Singh Kochar and Ms Anastasia Gill at its headquarters.   The 86-page survey report is based on interview of 600 women in 15 areas of North East Delhi – Babarpur, Baqiabad, Gokalpur, Jafrabad, Janata Colony, Jiwanpur alias Johripur, Karawal Nagar, Khajoori Khas, Khanpur Dhani, Mandauli, Mirpur Turk, Mustafabad, Sadatpur Gujran, Seelampur and Ziauddinpur.   Explaining the socio-economic and educational status of Muslim women in Northeast Delhi, the report highlighted that survey team found no trace of triple ta...

MP Dalit Couple Consume Poison After Police Beating: Collector, SP Removed
  GUNA (Madhya Pradesh), JULY 16—The Madhya Pradesh government has removed Guna District Magistrate S. Vishwanathan and Superintendent of Police Tarun Nayak in the case of a Dalit couple consuming poison after being beaten up by the police personnel who allegedly tried to remove them from a piece of land.   A few days ago, the team which went to remove encroachment on a college land in Cantt police station area of Guna district beat up the Dalit farmer family, after which the farmer couple consumed insecticide. A video of the incident went viral on the social media. In the video, some police personnel could be seen beating a Dalit man and his family members.   Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken the matter very seriously and on Wednesday late night issued orders to remove District Magistrate S. Vishwanathan and Superintendent of Police Tarun Nayak.   Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has targeted the Shivraj government over the incident. Nath ...

Delhi Police Bias To The Fore: Restraint On Arrest of Hindus Reinforces A Practice In Vogue
  Rasheeduddin Khaja | India Tomorrow   NEW DELHI, JULY 15- While Delhi Police order for restraint on the arrest of Hindus in connection with northeast Delhi violence of April came in for wide criticism, Muslim leaders, discerning its dangerous implications, are especially livid over the move. Advocate Mehmood Pracha, a well known social activist and a prominent voice of the community, called it formalisation of an informal directive given to the lower brass of the Delhi Police.   In a candid reaction to the unlawful move, Pracha said the official order not only reinforces the illegal practice “to conduct one-sided police action against Muslims but also help Manuwadi (fascist) elements in orchestrating attacks on Muslims while simultaneously falsely implicate them in trumped up charges”.   He, however, asserted that he was not wee bit disheartened by the order. “We are working hard to bring all Manuwadis to book for their inhuman acts o...

Police Gives Clean Chit To BJP Leaders, Its Personnel In Riots
 Syed Ali Ahmed | India Tomorrow   New Delhi, July 15 – Delhi Police has given clean chit to BJP leaders including Kapil Mishra for their involvement in North-East Delhi riot held in February that claimed 53 lives, a large number of persons sustained injuries and properties worth thousands crores of rupees gutted in fire.   The riot continued for three days from January 24 to January 26 in North East Delhi    The Police in its affidavit submitted to the Delhi High Court on July 13 said that during investigation of the rioting cases it had not found any evidence that would have given any indication of BJP leaders’ involvement in the riots. The affidavit was submitted responding to a bunch of PILs that had sought FIR against politicians of BJP including Kapil Mishra, AAP and Congress party.   Kapil Mishra had given ultimatum to the police for getting the road cleared from anti CAA-protestors at Jafrabad Metro Station a day before the rio...