NCP leader Jayant Patil slams BJP for granting permissions to build Yakub Memon’s grave

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September 10, 2022

Image: ANi (*Nationalist Congress Party leader Jayant Patil*)

Amid the ongoing controversy around the “beautification” of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s grave in the Bada Qabrastan of Mumbai, Nationalist Congress Party leader Jayant Patil on Friday jibed at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that the permissions to build the grave were granted during BJP’s rule.

“It’s important to see during whose tenure permission was granted to build his grave. His grave was built when BJP was in power at the Centre and also in Maharashtra. They (BJP) are responsible for it,” said NCP State President Jayant Patil.

His remarks came after a matter of the beautification of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s grave in the Bada Qabrastan of Mumbai came to the fore on September 8.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said that 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon is an accused in the Bombay Blast and cannot be glorified after the row pertaining to the latter’s grave beautification emerged.

While talking to the media persons in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Memon said, “Yakub Memon is an accused in Bombay Blast, cannot be glorified. We won’t accept this or let it happen. I have informed BMC and Mumbai Police about it, the Home Ministry will take appropriate action.”

Earlier on Thursday, Shinde assured strict action concerning the “beautification” of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s grave in the Bada Qabrastan of Mumbai.

The Chief Minister had said that an investigation has been initiated after the order of an inquiry into the matter.

“An inquiry has been ordered. The investigation has also been started. Strict actions will be taken against the persons responsible,” Shinde had said.

Meanwhile, according to the sources in the DCM office, the Mumbai Police has been directed to do a proper inquiry into the matter and also submit a report.

After the lighting arrangements at Yakub Memon’s grave were removed from Bada Qabrastan, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Ram Kadam asked if this was former state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s patriotism to convert the grave of a terrorist into a Mazar.

“The grave of terrorist Yakub Memon who executed the 1993 Bombay bombings at Pakistan’s behest, was converted into a Mazar when Uddhav Thackeray was the CM. Is this his love for Mumbai, patriotism?,” said BJP MLA Ram Kadam seeking Thackeray’s apology in the matter.

He had also sought an apology from NCP’s Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Memon was the lone convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, who was sent to the gallows.

On March 12, 1993, Mumbai (then Bombay) was rocked by a series of bomb blasts which killed 257 persons, injured more than 700 persons and destroyed property worth approximately Rs 27 crore. The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the request of the state government.

A number of accused persons were convicted in the case including Mustafa Dossa and Abu Salem on June 16, 2017. Wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim allegedly planned the attacks.

Imran Khan believes fresh election only solution to end instability in Pakistan

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ANI

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September 10, 2022

imran khan 1 1 — Imran Khan believes fresh election only solution to end instability in Pakistan 3

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday said that fresh election is the only way to end the instability in the country, local media reported. While talking to a private news channel, Imran Khan said, “I believe in democracy and the only way to end instability in the country is fresh election.

The PTI Chief alleged that the current rulers wanted to hold the election after his disqualification. He also said that there is some nexus between them and the Election Commission of Pakistan,agencies reported. “ECP had tried to support the incumbent government in Punjab by-polls but the nationals are now fully aware of everything. The current rulers are afraid and now, PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) can do what it wants to do but it cannot defeat me.”

Talking about the economic situation of the country, the PTI Chief said that people have seen the poor performance of the “incumbent government” as they cannot bring the country out of the crisis. “IMF (International Monetary Fund) has also rejected to show confidence in the weak government,” he added.

Taiwan gains global support amid Chinese aggression

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ANI

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September 10, 2022

Taiwan china — Taiwan gains global support amid Chinese aggression 5

Taiwan has been gaining global support after China increased its military activities around the Island nation since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last month.

With the close partnership between Russia and China, the world fears the serious repercussions Taiwan will have to face if China goes ahead with military action against it. This has led many countries to support Pelosi’s visit, Policy Research Group said.

Several countries are expressing their support to Taiwan as they loathe the idea of another military action in the aftermath of the Ukraine invasion. ASEAN countries have expressed concern over the simmering tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Policy Research Group reported that during a meeting of 27 nations, of which China was a part, the ASEAN countries warned that the conflict could lead to unpredictable consequences and appealed to Beijing for maximum restraint.

As per the report, the “unexpected” response by ASEAN led China’s foreign minister to walk out of the meeting. Even South Korea which stays away from directly blaming Chinar raised objections to any attempts to change the status quo by force.

Also, many countries, including eastern Europe, are looking to limit their ties with China. Estonia and Latvia left the China-led cooperation forum in the wake of military threats by China to Taiwan and the growing friendship of Beijing and Moscow.

“Latvia has decided to cease its participation in the cooperation framework of Central and Eastern European Countries and China,” Latvia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as per Policy Research Group.

Nepal flood: 2 dead, 11 missing in Darchula

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ANI

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September 10, 2022

drowing — Nepal flood: 2 dead, 11 missing in Darchula 7

At least two people were killed and 11 are missing in the flood and landslide in the Bangabagad area of Darchula district of Nepal that borders India. The incessant rainfall since Friday which resulted in flooding of the Lasku and Mahakali River swept away houses and two bridges early on Saturday.

“There are reports of two deaths and 11 people unaccounted for in the landslide and flooding incident early on Saturday morning. Some people have been pulled out from the landmass, immediately after the landslide,” Jagat Magar, Police Inspector at the District Police Office, Darchula told agencies over the phone. As per the official, the deaths are reported from the Naugad Village Council of the district where a woman and a girl were buried in the landside at around 1 AM (NST) on Saturday

Over a dozen houses have been swept by the flood in Khalanga, the district headquarter. A few vehicles were also swept away in the flood, which caused permanent damage to a suspension and a concrete bridge. “Search and rescue operation is currently underway,” Inspector Magar informed.

”Party of brother and sister” BJP chief Nadda took jibe at Congress

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ANI

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September 9, 2022

In an apparent attack on Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, BJP chief J P Nadda on Friday called the Congress the party of a “brother and sister” and emphasised that his own party was against dynastic culture.

Speaking at a meeting here, Nadda said, “Congress is a party of brother and sister. These days, Chief Minister Bhagel is going to ‘Bharat Jodo’ rallies, they need to first align their own party. Our fight is against family politics.”

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed traditional politics. People like Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel are against development and only want to fill the treasures of Congress. Our tribal brothers were killed here and CM Baghel was with Rahul Gandhi in Kerala,” he added.

Nadda arrived in Raipur on Friday morning. He was welcomed by BJP leaders and workers at the airport. Further, he held a roadshow with party leaders and workers.

Meanwhile, CM Bhupesh Baghel took a jibe saying Nadda was visiting Chhattisgarh to study the development model of the Congress government in the state.

“BJP comes here to learn our state model. Our schemes have been adopted by the Centre. BJP does not fight alone, it uses Central agencies like Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department and Central Bureau of Investigation,” Baghel told media persons.

Nadda’s visit also comes at a time when political activity across the country is increasing.

The Congress on Friday continued its ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, led by party MP Rahul Gandhi in Nagercoil city of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu.

The third day of Yatra began from Scott Christian College in Nagercoil to Azhagiyamandapam Junction in Tamil Nadu.

A 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will be undertaken by Rahul Gandhi which will be completed in 150 days and cover as many as 12 states.

After reaching Kerala on September 11, the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, reaching Karnataka on September 30. It will be in Karnataka for 21 days before moving north.

CBI arrested Depot Manager of FCI in Andhra Pradesh for accepting bribe

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ANI

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September 9, 2022

bribe representativee — Representative Image

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested a Depot Manager of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Andhra Pradesh for accepting a bribe.

The accused has been identified as Peda Babu Rao. He was posted as Depot Manager in Food Corporation of India’s Depot in Bhimavaram of Andhra Pradesh.

CBI said that a case was registered on complaint against Depot Manager, FCI, Bhimavaram on the allegations that the Depot Manager, FCI demanded a bribe of Rs.25000 from 35 coolies every month for not marking the adverse entries in respect of payment of wages.

CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs.15000 from the Complainant, as part of the payment.

Searches were conducted at the residential and office premises of the accused which led to the recovery of incriminating documents.

The arrested accused was produced before the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Visakhapatnam and remanded to Judicial Custody up to September 22.

Bangalore university campus students are protesting against construction of temple in campus area

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ANI

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September 9, 2022

The students at Bangalore University are on a protest against the construction of the temple within the university campus area. Protesters alleged that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is unauthorisedly constructing the temple by encroaching the university land and it would affect the academic environment at the university.

Speaking to Agencies, the student said, “the authorities were constructing the temple illegally and we do not need the temple in our campus”. On the other hand, after the intervention, the university administration stopped the work and assured the students that it would consult them before deciding on the matter.

Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Priyank Kharge said, “Bangalore University is unitedly saying that they need better infrastructure, a state art library for the university and they don’t want any religious activities to happen in the university. In spite of that, the govt has taken unilateral decisions without due consultation and processes followed by the board”.

Students are very clear and saying that please do not divide us into religious lines and we are here to study, added Kharge. In the last 3 years, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) government has not done anything.

“In the last 3 years, the BJP govt has not done anything. CM Basavaraj Bommai is admitting that he is completely failed in tackling the issues of Bengaluru. CM stills blame the Congress for what is happening in Bengaluru”, Priyank Kharge added.

Supreme Court seeks entire record of proceedings from Gujarat govt in Bilkis Bano Case

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ANI

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September 9, 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Gujarat government to file the entire record of the proceedings in the Bilkis Bano case, including the remission order given to the 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and BV Nagarathna granted two weeks to the Gujarat government to produce all relevant records in the case.

The bench also issued notice to the Gujarat government and convicts on a plea filed by TMC MP Mahua Moitra against the release of the convicts.

Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to the Gujarat government on the plea filed by Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, and social activist and professor Roop Rekha Verma. It asked the petitioner to impede convicts in the petition. The plea has sought setting aside of order granting remission to 11 convicts and directing their immediate re-arrest.

“It is submitted that it would appear that the constitution of members of the competent authority of the Gujarat government also bore allegiance to a political party and sitting MLAs. As such, it would appear that the competent authority was not an authority that was entirely independent, and one that could independently apply its mind to the facts at hand,” the plea stated.

The plea filed by the three women said they had challenged the order of competent authority of the government of Gujarat by way of which 11 persons who were accused in a set of heinous offences committed in Gujarat were allowed to walk free on August 15, 2022, pursuant to remission being extended to them.

“The 11 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment for commission of the offences of, among other things, gang-rape and murder of multiple people during the large-scale communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 on January 18, 2008, passed by the Sessions Court in Greater Mumbai and the conviction was upheld by way of Judgment dated May 4, 2017, passed by High Court of Mumbai,” the petition stated.

SC posts pleas challenging Places of Worship Act 1991 before 3-judge bench

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ANI

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September 9, 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday posted for hearing, before a three-judge bench, the pleas challenging the Constitutional validity of certain sections of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India UU Lalit also asked the Centre to file its response to the pleas within two weeks. It noted that the Central government has not yet filed any response to the pleas in which the notice was issued last year.

It also allowed applicants to intervene in the main pleas challenging the Places of Worship Act and can file written submissions for not more than five pages.

It also issued notice to the Centre on some pleas and intervention applications filed on the matter.

Posting the matter for hearing on October 11, it said that in the meantime all parties are directed to complete pleadings.

Earlier, the apex court had granted liberty to petitioners, challenging the Act, to file an intervention application in already pending pleas on the same issue.

The plea challenged the Places of Worship Act saying that the Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to restore their ‘places of worship and pilgrimages’ destroyed by the invaders.

The daughter of Kashi Royal Family, Maharaja Kumari Krishna Priya; BJP leader Subramanian Swamy; Chintamani Malviya, former Member of Parliament; Anil Kabotra, a retired army officer; advocate Chandra Shekhar; Rudra Vikram Singh, resident of Varanasi; Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, a religious leader; Devkinandan Thakur, resident of Mathura and a religious guru among others have filed the pleas in the apex court against the 1991 Act.

The apex court had issued notices to the Centre on the plea of advocate Ashwini Upadhyay and one other plea challenging the Act.

Yakub Memon cannot be glorified, says Maha CM Shinde over grave beautification of 93 bomb blast accused

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ANI

-

September 9, 2022

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said that 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon is an accused in the Bombay Blast and cannot be glorified after the row pertaining to the latter’s grave beautification emerged.

While talking to the media persons in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Shinde said, “Yakub Memon is an accused in Bombay Blast, cannot be glorified. We won’t accept this or let it happen. I have informed BMC & Mumbai Police about it, the Home Ministry will take appropriate action.”

Earlier on Thursday, Shinde assured strict action concerning the “beautification” of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s grave in the Bada Qabrastan of Mumbai.

The Chief Minister had said that an investigation has been initiated after the order of an inquiry into the matter.

“An inquiry has been ordered. The investigation has also been started. Strict actions will be taken against the persons responsible,” Shinde had said.

Meanwhile, according to the sources in the DCM office, the Mumbai Police has been directed to do a proper inquiry into the matter and also submit a report.

After the lighting arrangements at Yakub Memon’s grave were removed from Bada Qabrastan, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Ram Kadam asked if this was former state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s patriotism to convert the grave of a terrorist into a Mazar.

“The grave of terrorist Yakub Memon who executed the 1993 Bombay bombings at Pakistan’s behest, was converted into a Mazar when Uddhav Thackeray was the CM. Is this his love for Mumbai, patriotism?” said BJP MLA Ram Kadam seeking Thackeray’s apology in the matter.

He had also sought an apology from NCP’s Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Memon was the lone convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, who was sent to the gallows.

On March 12, 1993, Mumbai (then Bombay) was rocked by a series of bomb blasts which killed 257 persons, injured more than 700 persons and destroyed property worth approximately Rs 27 crore.

The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the request of the state government.

A number of accused persons were convicted in the case including Mustafa Dossa and Abu Salem on June 16, 2017. Wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim allegedly planned the attacks.