Innocent Indian women have suffered for long due to the persistent terrorist acts perpetrated by “proxies of Pakistan”, India has said as it strongly rejecting references by Islamabad to conditions of women in Kashmir.
Counsellor Mayank Joshi in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN here “completely” rejected the “baseless allegations” made by Pakistan about women in Jammu and Kashmir, saying “in fact” it is the innocent Indian women who have for “long suffered due to the persistent terrorist acts perpetrated by proxies of Pakistan.”
Joshi exercised India’s Right of Reply after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Special Envoy on Kashmir Shezra Mansab Ali Khan referred to the conditions of women in Kashmir during an October 11 session on Advancement of Women in the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which focuses on social and humanitarian issues.
Khan said armed conflict and illegal occupation accentuates the plight of women.
Citing the situation in Kashmir, she said “thousands of women have fallen victims to brutal oppression and occupation.
Countless others have suffered rape and sexual abuse, the worst and most traumatic form of violence.”
Joshi said it is “ironical” that a country that has “institutionalised the oppression” of women in its society including through “medieval draconian laws is making claims about the rights of women in a pluralistic democracy such as India.”
He said Pakistan will be well served to “seriously examine” what ails its women and hampers their advancement.
Pakistan has been constantly raising the Kashmir issue at various platforms in the UN, including in the General Assembly and its various committees that deal with diverse issues such as disarmament and decolonisation.
Joshi asserted that India will not respond to the “lies and deceit” Pakistan has been resorting to at the world body to pursue a diplomacy of “hate”.
“We are aware of Pakistan s cynical attempts to pursue diplomacy of hate through lies and deceit. We do not intend to further respond to such misguided and futile efforts,” he said.
A Pakistani official however again took the floor to exercise the Right of Reply to Joshi s remarks, saying no amount of “obfuscation” could hide the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.
He said Jammu and Kashmir was an “internationally recognised” dispute and Pakistan rejected “any insinuations to equate the legitimate struggles of the Kashmiri people with acts of terrorism.PTI
The All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board and various other outfits today opposed the Law Commission’s questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code and announced their boycott of the move, accusing the government of waging a “war” against the community.
Addressing a press conference here, they contended that Uniform Civil Code (UCC), if implemented, will paint all people in “one colour” which will threaten the country’s pluralism and diversity.
Trashing government’s stand on the issue of triple talaq, the outfits instead claimed the community has reported lesser number of divorce cases vis- -vis other communities, especially the Hindu community which, they said, has reported higher divorce ratio according to Census 2011.
AIMPLB general secretary Wali Rehmani, Jamiat-Ulema -e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and representatives of other bodies said all the Muslim sects and its women were “one” on these issues.
They said the outfits will launch a campaign to create awareness amongst Muslims from today, beginning with a gathering in Lucknow.
The Board said that there are “flaws” in the personal laws governing Muslims and they are being addressed from time-to-time.
They said the country is facing problems on various fronts including the LoC and issues like killings elsewhere.
“This is all destructive. The government should try to fix this and ensure peace than seeking views on issues like UCC,” Madani said.
Contrary to the Commission’s claim that the step is an “endeavour” to address discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise the various cultural practices, Rehmani said when implemented the UCC will bring to an end country’s pluralism and paint all in “one colour” and end diversity and pluralism.
“People of different cultures stay in this country. If the UCC is implemented, attempts will be made to paint all in one colour, which is not in the interest of the country.
“Also, we don’t want the practice of triple talaq to be abolished. There are more divorces in other communities.
Rather the highest rate, which is double that of Muslims, is among Hindus,” he claimed. .
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday reclaimed the number one spot in Test rankings for bowlers following a career-best match haul of 13 for 140 in the third Test against New Zealand in Indore.
Ashwin, who was named man of the series after he finished with 27 wickets in a 3-0 sweep by India, now has 220 wickets, the most by any bowler after 39 Tests.
Ranked third before the final Test in Indore, Ashwin, who also holds the top position in rankings for all-rounders, has leapfrogged pace bowlers James Anderson and Dale Steyn to attain a career-best rating of 900 points.
Ashwin, who finished the 2015 year-end rankings as the number-one bowler and was also at the top briefly in July this year, has joined a select band to have touched a rating of 900 points since 2000, the others being Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock.
In the rankings for Test batsmen, India’s middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane has attained a career-best sixth rank with scores of 188 and 23 not out.
Rahane, whose previous best was eighth in August this year, has gained five slots after starting the match at 11th position.
Prolific scorer in the New Zealand series, Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli also moved up the rankings.
Pujara’s knocks of 41 and 101 not out have helped him move up one place to 14th while Kohli’s scores of 211 and 17 at Indore helped him move up four places to 16th position.
For New Zealand, opener Martin Guptill has moved up 10 places to 58th with knocks of 72 and 29 while Jimmy Neesham has moved up 12 slots to 70th position.
In the all-rounders’ list, India’s Ravindra Jadeja has reached a career-best joint-third rank.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team does not have a chance to reclaim the number-one ranking from India even with a 3-0 win against the West Indies.PTI.
The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition praying for video recording of proceedings in all courts of the country on the ground that it was a fundamental right of a citizen to know the judicial procedures and happenings during hearing of cases.
The petition, filed by Navneet Khosla, was dismissed by Chief Justice Dr Manjula Chellur and Justice M S Sonak on the ground that the Bombay High Court earlier rejected similar plea in two other writ petitions.
The court was of the view that video recording of judicial proceedings cannot be a regarded as a fundamental right of a citizen, but can be allowed only if it is necessary in a particular case or in a given situation.
Referring to earlier judgements of the Bombay High Court that have set precedents, the bench said that the observations therein are quite clear. On the basis of the same, it cannot be said that the petitioner has made out any case for grant of any of the reliefs prayed for by him in the petition.
“For the aforesaid reasons, we dismiss this petition. On this occasion however, there shall be no order for payment of costs,” said the bench in its order on October 6.
The earlier high court judgements had listed a series of circumstances where such video recording in a court could be considered. This could be when the court wanted to talk to a witness through the medium of video conference in case if he or she is abroad and cannot travel to India, or in case of a witness who has a speech impediment or when the court wants to talk to a child in custodial matters.
Mathews Nedumpara, the counsel for petitioner, argued that Right to Information was a well recognised and integral part of the right to life within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution.
Also, Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution, which deal with right to equality and right to freedom of expression respectively, are to be read together and so video-recording of court proceedings and telecast thereof, if it is necessary in public interest, is a fundamental right, Nedumpara argued.
As earlier judgements had not supported live telecasts and compulsory video recordings of a judicial proceedings, the high court dismissed Khosla’s petition on the same ground.
Actor Vir Das is all praise for the action sequences in Ajay Devgn’s upcoming film “Shivaay”.
“I think he (Ajay) has been able to pull off the story very well. I think nobody is able to pull off action the way Ajay has done in ‘Shivaay’. It will be a visual treat for everyone,” Vir told PTI.
Vir was surprised when Ajay offered him a role in “Shivaay”.
“He (Ajay) called me and said come to office. His team of writers narrated the film and I liked it,” he said.
The” Delhi Belly” actor reveals he is playing a Pakistani hacker in the film.
“It’s not a negative role. I am playing a Pakistani hacker. I am under contract, I can’t reveal much details about the film,” he said.
Directed by Ajay, the film also starring Sayyeshaa Saigal and Erika Kaar releases on October 28.
Amid bitter politics of oneupmanship over the surgical strikes, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said all Indians including those who have raised doubts can share credit for the operation as it was done by the armed forces and not by any political party.
At the same time, he said that a large share of credit does go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government for decision-making and planning.
“I don’t mind sharing the credit, including on surgical strike, with every countryman because it is done by our armed forces and not by any political party. So all Indians, including, those doubting it also, can share the credit,” he said at a function here.
He said sharing of credit will settle the nerves of many.
The Minister said he understands the sentiments of the people and they are satisfied now.
Several political leaders and parties have questioned the surgical strike and have sought proof. The Congress, while officially supporting the government over the strike, has also said that similar operations were undertaken during its tenure also.PTI
Amid frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and terror attacks in Kashmir, IAF chief Arup Raha today asserted that the armed forces are prepared to give a befitting reply to sub-conventional threats and any other challenge facing the country.
The Air Chief Marshal said that the armed forces “are there to deliver and they are doing the job” as he refused to comment on the political slugfest over the cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror camps.
His remarks came on a day when the Indian Air Force celebrated its 84th Foundation Day with a spectacular air display at Air Force Station Hindon in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district, 30 kms from here.
For the first time, India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft performed stunts at the air show, amid loud cheers from the audience.
In his customary address at the celebrations, Raha said, “World is in a flux today. Terrorists attacks in Uri and Pathankot show the troubled times we live today.”
In his message on official Facebook page of the IAF Indian Air Force, Power to Punish launched today, the Air Force chief said the force is operating some of the most modern weapons and equipments and the air warriors exercise ceaseless vigil of skies.
“We continue to train to take up any threat and are fully prepared to undertake any challenge in most befitting manner,” Raha said.
Asked later about increasing threat from Pakistan, he said the armed forces are well prepared to take on any sub- conventional threats.
Sub-conventional threats refers to proxy war that Pakistan indulges in against India through the use of terrorists.
Raha said that terrorists can always get better but the armed forces can neutralise them.
“With each incident, the forces are getting smarter and learning new lessons.” he said.
Replying to a query on the political war of words over the surgical strike, Raha said “the armed forces are there to deliver and they are doing the job
At least four persons were killed over 16 others injured today when two bombs targeted a train in Pakistan’s restive Balocistan province.
The blasts hit the Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express.
Police said that the bombs were planted on the track and exploded within a span of 20 minutes.
“Four persons were killed and 16 others injured in the attack,” said a police official.
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawaz Sanaullah Zehri condemned the attack and ordered the provincial police chief to arrest the culprits.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Baloch separatist, who want autonomy, often target the official property in the province.
Jaffar Express was also targeted in January in Mithri area of Balochistan’s Sibi district and bombing damaged its two carriage
Amid rising tension in Indo-Pak ties, Union Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the security situation with Home Ministers and senior officials of four states that border Pakistan.
Singh chaired the meeting attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Brij Raj Sharma, an official said.
Senior BSF officials were present at the meeting here which reviewed security arrangements on the border in the wake of tension between India and Pakistan after surgical strike by army on terror camps across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Minister will also tour border areas of Rajasthan and visit outposts to assess the situation along the Indo-Pak border.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made, Barmer Collector Matadeen Sharma said.PTI
To promote his upcoming project “Shivaay” Bollywood actor-director Ajay Devgn is planning to launch a comic book series inspired by the film.
The comic book is an adventure of a mountaineer named Shivaay who uses his wit, skill and expertise to overcome odds.
It (book) will be launched by Ajay and the cast of “Shivaay” on October 23 in Mumbai, a press release said.
The book is being scripted and designed by TBS Planet, a comics studio from Bangalore.Movie Get Out (2017)
“‘Shivaay’ the comic is totally different from the film but it has the flavour of adventure and the characteristics of the mountaineer.
“Usually the comic inspires the film, here our film has inspired a comic book series. We are happy to partner with Rajeev from TBS Planet to bring the spirit of Shivaay to comic book readers,” Ajay told PTI.
According to the press release, the story is based on a mission that Shivaay undertakes on the request of India Meteorological Department(IMD).PTI