Mumbai: A day after he was shunted out of the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner, senior IPS officer Rakesh Maria on Wednesday said he was not contemplating quitting.

I am not thinking of resigning. Reports saying so are not true,” Maria told PTI this morning.

There was speculation after Maria’s sudden promotion that he might resign from the post as he was apparently unhappy with the action.

Maria, who was heading the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case and had interrogated the accused, was shunted out of he post and promoted as Director General of Police Home Guards.

He was replaced by Ahmed Javed, a DG-rank official, who took over as Mumbai Police Commissioner in the upgraded post.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had cleared both the appointments before he left for Japan on Monday night.

However, after the sudden action that created quite a flutter, the Maharashtra government climbed down in the evening and said he would continue to “supervise” the probe.

The decision came under attack from opposition Congress and NCP.

Mumbai Congress had yesterday said the transfer was prompted by “undue pressure” from bosses in New Delhi and corporate houses.

As various theories floated over the reasons for Maria’s transfer, State Home Department had said the changes were made taking into account the law and order factor ahead of the Ganapati festival, dismissing suggestions that that it has some links with the ongoing investigation in the Sheena murder case.
PTI

A very common, oft-repeated mantra among pundits and “experts” is that Muslims haven’t roundly condemned the extremism committed in Islam’s name. So many times, we hear people saying, “Where are the Muslim voices in condemnation?” “Why aren’t Muslims speaking up against extremists like ISIS?”

Well, the fact is, Muslims have been speaking out against ISIS and other extremist groups. The problem is, some times, people either don’t know or choose not to know this fact. Enter in this excellent post by Media Matters For America, which documents the round condemnation of ISIS by Muslim groups all across the world:

The Organization Of Islamic Cooperation: The Islamic State Has “Nothing To Do With Islam,” Has Committed Crimes “That Cannot Be Tolerated.” As the Vatican’s internal news source reported, the Secretary General for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 1.4 billion Muslims in 57 countries around the world, condemned the Islamic State’s persecution of of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq, saying the “forced deportation under the threat of execution” is a “crime that cannot be tolerated.” According to the Vatican:

The Secretary General also distanced Islam from the actions of the militant group known as ISIS, saying they ‘have nothing to do with Islam and its principles that call for justice, kindness, fairness, freedom of faith and coexistence.’ [Vatican Radio, 7/25/14]

Al-Azhar: Islamic State Is Corrupt And “A Danger To Islam.” Lebanese paper The Daily Star reported that Al-Azhar’s Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam, Egypt’s highest religious authority, denounced the Islamic State as a threat to Islam and said that the group both violates Sharia law and humanitarian law: “[They] give an opportunity for those who seek to harm us, to destroy us and interfere in our affairs with the [pretext of a] call to fight terrorism.” [The Daily Star, 8/13/14]

Arab League: “Strongly Denounced” The “Crimes Against Humanity” Carried Out By The Islamic State. On August 11, Nabil al-Arabi, the Arab League Chief, denounced acts committed by the Islamic State in Iraq as “crimes against humanity,” demanding that they be brought to justice. According to Al Arabiya News, he said in a statement that he “strongly denounced the crimes, killings, dispossession carried out by the terrorist (ISIS) against civilians and minorities in Iraq that have affected Christians in Mosul and Yazidis.” [Al Arabiya News, 8/11/14]

Turkey’s Top Cleric: Islamic State’s Threats Are “Hugely Damaging,” “Truly Awful.” Turkey’s highest ranking cleric, Mehmet Gormez, decried the Islamic State’s declaration of a “caliphate” and argued that the statements were damaging to the Muslim community, according to Reuters:

“Such declarations have no legitimacy whatsoever,” Mehmet Gormez, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, the highest religious authority in Turkey, which, although a majority Muslim country, has been a secular state since the 1920s.

“Since the caliphate was abolished … there have been movements that think they can pull together the Muslim world by re-establishing a caliphate, but they have nothing to do with reality, whether from a political or legal perspective.”

Gormez said death threats against non-Muslims made by the group, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), were hugely damaging.

“The statement made against Christians is truly awful. Islamic scholars need to focus on this (because) an inability to peacefully sustain other faiths and cultures heralds the collapse of a civilization,” he told Reuters in an interview. [Reuters, 7/22/14]

CAIR Repeatedly Condemned The Islamic State As “Un-Islamic And Morally Repugnant.” In a July 7 statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called the terrorist group “un-Islamic and morally repugnant,” noted that the Islamic State’s “human rights abuses on the ground are well-documented,” and called on other Muslim community leaders to speak out against the violence. CAIR reiterated the condemnation of the Islamic State as “both un-Islamic and morally repugnant” on August 11, and on August 21, CAIR once again condemned the group, calling the killing of American journalist James Foley “gruesome and barbaric”:

We strongly condemn this gruesome and barbaric killing as a violation of Islamic beliefs and of universally-accepted international norms mandating the protection of prisoners and journalists during conflicts.

The Geneva Conventions, the Quran – Islam’s revealed text – and the traditions (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad all require that prisoners not be harmed in any way. There can be no excuse or justification for such criminal and bloodthirsty actions.

We also call on those holding Steven Sotloff and other prisoners to immediately release them unharmed so they may return to their loved ones. [Council on American-Islamic Relations, 7/7/14; Council on American-Islamic Relations, 8/11/14; Council on American-Islamic Relations, 8/20/14]

The Muslim Council Of Great Britain: “Violence Has No Place In Religion.” The Muslim Council of Great Britain condemned the Islamic State’s actions and expressed that they do not represent Sunni Muslims, according to The Independent. Shuja Shafi, a member of the council also said: “Violence has no place in religion, violence has no religion. It is prohibited for people to present themselves for destruction.” [The Independent, 7/11/14]

The Islamic Society of North America: The Islamic State’s Actions “Are To Be Denounced And Are In No Way Representative Of What Islam Actually Teaches. The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) released a statement denouncing the Islamic State “for its attacks on Iraq’s religious minorities and the destruction of their places of worship.” ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid said, “ISIS actions against religious minorities in Iraq violate the Quranic teaching, ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion’ (Surat al-Baqara 2:256),” adding, “Their actions are to be denounced and are in no way representative of what Islam actually teaches.” [The Islamic Society of North America, 8/9/14]

100 Sunni And Shiite U.K. Imams: The Islamic State Is An “Illegitimate, Vicious Group.” As the Huffington Post reported, 100 Sunni and Shiite Imams from the U.K. came together to produce a video denouncing the Islamic State, releasing a statement that they wanted to “come together to emphasise the importance of unity in the UK and to decree ISIS as an illegitimate, vicious group who do not represent Islam in any way.” (Please see below)

Saudi Arabia’s Highest Religious Authority: Terrorists Like The Islamic State Is The “Number One Enemy Of Islam.” On August 19, Al Jazeera reported that Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti, Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, the country’s top religious authority, said that terrorism is anti-Islamic and said that groups like the Islamic State which practice violence are the “number one enemy of Islam”:

Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, destroying human civilisation, are not in any way part of Islam, but are enemy number one of Islam, and Muslims are their first victims. [Al Jazeera, 8/19/14]

Muslim Public Affairs Council: Condemned The Islamic State And Called For “Stand Against Extremism.” On August 20, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) released a statement condemning “the barbaric execution of American Journalist James Foley by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).” MPAC urged “all people of conscience to take a stand against extremism” and offered condolences to Foley’s family. MPAC also noted the importance of countering ISIS and other extremist groups by working “to empower the mainstream and relegate extremists to the irrelevance they deserve.”

Two women a Mother and her daughter who were working as maids in the Saudi diplomat’s apartment in Caitriona Towers, Ambience Lagoon were raped on several occasions and reports of a gang rape is also found. Araid was conducted on Maonday after the police received a letter from the Nepal Embassy about their condition.

The women were reportedly lured to Delhi about four months ago by a woman trafficker who promised them a well-paid job in Saudi Arabia. Sources in the police said the two were sold to an agent in Delhi for Rs 1 lakh each, and then to the diplomat.

“They were first taken to Saudi Arabia. The assault began after they returned… and were kept in captivity at his house,” said Bal Krishan, president of Maiti Nepal India, an NGO that carried out the rescue operation with the help of the Gurgaon Police.

The Saudi diplomat is still untraceable. The Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Alsati in New Delhi denies the allegation. He stated the investigation is going by the India Police therefore nothing can be said as of now..

Source claim that Ministry of Foreign Affairs will pressure for the arrest of the said diplomat as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. As Nepal enjoys special relations with India it is to be seen how MEA reciprocates with the Nepali Embassy.

The Nepali Embassy on behalf of these women demanded proper compensation for their mental and physical trauma..

The ordeal was of these women were leaked by another maid who had gone to the diplomat’s house for work fled after seeing the condition of these two women. It is then that this woman reported the case to the police.

Many women from Nepal before and after the quake move out to seek employment due to the poor economic condition of Nepal. Many such cases of rape by Middle East employers but have gone un-registered due to fear by the victims.

Creating a unique history of valour and dedication to duty, one of the Special Forces Commandos of the Indian Army, Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, killed ten terrorists in a short span of 11 days before making supreme sacrifice in continued fight against terror in Kashmir Valley on Thursday.

Lance Naik Goswami was killed at Hafruda forests in Kupwara district in fierce fire fight with terrorists, but not before the elimination of four of them. “A true soldier, he breathed his last in action,’’ said a defence ministry spokesperson Colonel S D Goswami at the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur. Hailing from Indira Nagar village in Haldwani tehsil of Nainital, he is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old daughter.

Part of numerous successful counter terrorist operations in the state, Lance Naik Goswami had been actively involved in three such operations in which ten terrorists were killed and one captured alive in the last 11 days.

Giving details, the spokesperson said that in the first operation, three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists hailing from Pakistan were killed in Khurmur, Handwara on August 23.

He again volunteered for a second back-to-back operation in which three more Lashkar terrorists were killed and another Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubed Ullah captured alive during the two day-long fierce fire fight in Rafiabad after a fierce fire fight on August 26-27. The apprehension of Sajjad Ahmad alias Abu Ubed Ullah, a resident of Muzzafargarh, proved to be a shot in the arm to establish Pakistan’s complicity in abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the defence ministry spokesperson said.

Lance Naik Goswami, once again, volunteered to be part of an ongoing operation launched in the dense Hafruda forest near Kupwara, Kashmir. This proved to be his last operation but not before elimination of four terrorists in a heavy gun battle, the spokesperson pointed out.

He had volunteers to join Indian Army’s elite para commandos unit in 2002 and “went on to gain the reputation of being one of the toughest soldiers of his unit, no small feat in an outfit that boasts of being one among the best in the world’’, the spokesperson said. His mortal remains were flown by an IAF aircraft to Bareilly, from where they will be taken by an Army helicopter to Pant Nagar and onward to his native place where he will be cremated with full military honours, he added.

Welcoming the government’s decision to implement OROP, agitating ex-servicemen today announced withdrawal of their hunger strike but decided to continue their protest till all the “sticky” issues are resolved.

The ex-servicemen said revision of pension after a gap of five years as announced by the government is not at all acceptable to them, besides appointment of a one-man judicial commission to examine various aspects of one rank-one pension (OROP).

Addressing a press conference here, Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the association leading the agitation, said the protest will continue till four specific points raised by the ex-servicemen are not accepted by the government.

We urge all those who are on hunger strike to withdraw it as the PM has clarified on the issue of premature retirement. But our protest will continue till the government accepts four points raised by us,” he said. He said ex-servicemen may resume hunger strike again if the government fails to resolve the pending issues.

“We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling the promise of one rank-one pension. We thank the defence minister but there are four issues to be resolved including the period of equalisation of pension,” Singh said.

The veterans, who have been pressing for one rank-one pension (OROP) for four decades, yesterday won a partial victory with the government announcing that it would implement it, but the veterans rejected the decision and decided to continue their agitation.

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By: PTI | New Delhi | Updated: September 6, 2015 4:32 pm
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Major General Satbir Singh shouts slogans along with other ex-servicemen as they react after the announcement of the implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme by the government, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. (PTI Photo)

Welcoming the government’s decision to implement OROP, agitating ex-servicemen today announced withdrawal of their hunger strike but decided to continue their protest till all the “sticky” issues are resolved.

The ex-servicemen said revision of pension after a gap of five years as announced by the government is not at all acceptable to them, besides appointment of a one-man judicial commission to examine various aspects of one rank-one pension (OROP).

Addressing a press conference here, Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the association leading the agitation, said the protest will continue till four specific points raised by the ex-servicemen are not accepted by the government.

Read – Armymen who retire prematurely to get OROP benifits: PM Modi

“We urge all those who are on hunger strike to withdraw it as the PM has clarified on the issue of premature retirement. But our protest will continue till the government accepts four points raised by us,” he said.

Watch video – Explained: One Rank One Pension

He said ex-servicemen may resume hunger strike again if the government fails to resolve the pending issues.

Read: ‘BJP had eye on Bihar polls while announcing OROP’

“We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling the promise of one rank-one pension. We thank the defence minister but there are four issues to be resolved including the period of equalisation of pension,” Singh said.

The veterans, who have been pressing for one rank-one pension (OROP) for four decades, yesterday won a partial victory with the government announcing that it would implement it, but the veterans rejected the decision and decided to continue their agitation.

Read – Defence chiefs want DACP-like scheme for military officers

The issue of whether the scheme would cover ex-servicemen who have taken premature retirement had emerged as a major sticking point.

They met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday and later said his clarification in this regard was “satisfying”.

Ahmedabad, Sep 4 (PTI) A magistrate today submitted a report of inquiry into the custodial death of Swetang Patel, a 32-year-old man picked up by the police during the agitation of the Patel community for reservation, to the Gujarat High Court.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate M F Khatri submitted the report to Justice J B Pardiwala who forwarded it to the investigating officer.

As per the section 176 of Criminal Procedure Code, a judicial inquiry of custodial death is mandatory.

Swetang was allegedly killed in the police custody on August 26 after violence erupted in the city as a reaction to the detention of the leader of the agitation, Hardik Patel.

The High Court ordered CID probe in response to the petition filed by his mother Prabhaben Patel.

She had alleged that police took away her son on August 25 and beat him up at Bapunagar police station here which caused his death.

The second autopsy ordered by the HC showed that he died due to a severe head injury. Observing that prima facie it was a case of homicide (klling), the HC ordered a CID probe.

Ankara, Sep 5 (PTI) International Monetary Fund Chief Christine Lagarde has said that India is among the few bright spots in the global economy.

Her remarks came at the meeting of G20 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors yesterday where they discussed Chinese economic slowdown and monetary policy uncertainties looming large on global markets.

She told the gathering that between advanced and emerging economies, there are problems in most of the places in advanced world, while in emerging economies, there are problems in China although not that big as stock markets are making it to be, officials present at the meeting said.

Among emerging economies, if there is any growth, that is in India. India is among the few bright spots in the global economy, the officials said quoting Lagarde, who is the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the officials, Reserve Bank of India’s head Raghuram Rajan at the same meeting said that they are surrounded by economic gloom probably hinting at concerns over slowdown in China.

Policymakers from South Korea, Australia, China and the US were among those who were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, China yesterday assured other G20 member countries that its economy would not collapse and would continue to grow albeit at a slower pace, officials said.

On Thursday, India deprecated the recent devaluation of major currencies followed by currency depreciation in a large number of emerging markets which raises the risk of competitive devaluations.

Currency devaluations at a time when the global demand is sluggish is a major threat to stability in the global economy, India had said.

Mumbai, Sep 5 (PTI) Celebrities including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal mourned the demise of Aadesh Shrivastava, calling his death a great loss to music lovers.

The singer-composer, who was battling a relapsed cancer, passed away in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital here in the wee hours today. He was 51. Aadesh had been undergoing cancer treatment at a hospital for over 40 days.

Leading the Bollywood tributes was Bachchan, who collaborated with Aadesh in films like “Baghban” and “Baabul”, besides a Hanuman Chalisa album.

“Aadesh Shrivastava passed away.. I lived my music with him.. I live without him now.. and perhaps my music too,” Bachchan posted on his blog.

Mangeshkar wrote, “I am deeply saddened to hear about the demise of composer Aadesh Shrivastava. May his soul rest in peace.”

In a series of twitter posts, Nigam remembered his closest friend and frequent collaborator, as someone who was always full of life.

“He was one of my closest friends and we have done some remarkable work together. Beyond all that, we would hit it like a house on fire.

“He was so full of life, I have yet to see another man who has his traits. My heart wrenches in grief for having lost a friend, a brother,” the singer tweeted.

Kher and Ghoshal took to twitter to express their condolences.

“RIP Aadesh Ji. Heartbreaking news. You went away too soon,” Ghosal posted, while Kher said, “How helpless we all are in Supreme’s world, prayers RIP #aadeshshrivastava and family to bear this irreparable loss.”

Veteran actor Anupam Kher called Aadesh a wonderful person, writing, “I am so saddened to know about the demise of Music Director Aadesh Shrivastav. He was a wonderful person.

Always smiling and always helpful. RIP.”

Actress Sushmita Sen thanked the late composer for his amazing music.

“A warrior who always hit the right note!! Thank you for gracing our lives and filling it with warmth and amazing music!! God speed #AadeshShrivastava,” she posted.

Sad.. Very Sad News- RIP Aadesh Shrivastava – will always remember you for your music, big smile & a warm hug,” actor Riteish Deshmukh posted.

“This Janmastami Is not Happy for Bollywood, because R.I.P. #AadeshShrivastav,” singer Arijit Singh tweeted.

“Ambarsariya” hitmaker Sona Mohapatra added, “Musician, composer Aadesh Shrivastava lost his battle with cancer some hours ago. Sad, depressing news. Strength to his friends and family.”

Music composer-singer Vishal Dadlani said, “Saddened to hear of the untimely demise of Aadesh Shrivastava. Condolences to his family, and may they find the strength to bear this loss.

Bikaner (Raj), Sep 5 (PTI) Amid the controversy over ‘Santhara’, an 82-year-old woman, who publicly resumed the Jain religious ritual of voluntary fast unto death after the Supreme Court stayed ban on it by the Rajasthan High Court, passed away here today.

Badni Devi, who was on fast for over one month, breathed her last at 8 AM.

She quit food and was living only on little amount of water. She died in a way she had wished, family member Surendra Daga said.

“We pray for her soul. She died peacefully and it was the blessings of the God and we are happy at it,” he said.

Badni Devi, a resident of Gangashahar area, took the resolution of ‘Santhara’ on July 17 though the ritual was socially undertaken on July 25, Jain Mahasabha secretary of Bikaner Jain Lunkaran Chajed had said.

The octogenarian woman is survived by three sons, one daughter and grand children.

Earlier on August 10, when the Rajasthan High Court had held ‘Santhara’ as illegal making it punishable under section 306 and 309 of IPC related to abatement of suicide, she continued her fast albeit secretly and family members called it ‘tapasya’.

On August 31 the Supreme Court stayed the Rajasthan High Court decision declaring the religious ritual a penal offence.

Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, Badni Devi publicly resumed her ‘Santhara’.

Under the religious practice, the follower takes the vow to give up food and water as a way of embracing death.

Mumbai, Sep 5 (PTI) Superstar Salman Khan has shot for a promo of the upcoming celebrity reality show “Bigg Boss”, which will see him return as the host of the series for the sixth time.

The 49-year-old “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” star took to Twitter to share with his fans a photo of himself from the promo shoot.

“Bigg boss season 9 is mine. #biggboss9 promo shoot.

@rajcheerfull @ColorsTV,” he captioned the picture.

Salman, who had been hosting the show from past five seasons, quit after the last installment was extended into a limited series called “Bigg Boss Halla Bol”. Filmmaker Farah Khan filled in for the extended version.

But the actor is back for the new season that will once again revolve around a group of celebrities holed up in a house for three months with multiple cameras watching their every move.