Daily News (In Short)-11-September-2015

#* Sena on meat ban: Muslims have Pak to go to, where will Jains go?

The Shiv Sena has strongly criticised the Jain community for insisting on a ban on meat during Paryushan Parva, warning it not to take on the “sons of the soil” with such demands.

An editorial published in the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna on Thursday said: “Jains must not follow the path of Muslims and become fanatics. At least Muslims have Pakistan to go to. Where will the Jains go?”

Warning Jains not to take on the “sons of the soil” with such demands, the editorial said the community would “bite the dust” if it persisted with such measures.

Paryushan Parva is an eight-day period during which members of the Jain community observe fast and pray, and authorities in Maharashtra imposed a four-day ban on meat.

Sections of the Jain community have been pushing for a ban on slaughter of animals during Paryushan Parva, citing their religion’s emphasis on non-violence.

But the Saamna editorial described the Jain community’s emphasis on non-violence hypocritical, reminding it of the 1992-93 riots.

“The Sena protected Jains and their businesses from mobs. Hordes of Jains queued up outside Matoshree, wanting to thank Balasaheb for this. Why didn’t they remember this doctrine of non-violence then?” the editorial stated.

The editorial asked, “If a terrorist like (Lashkar-e-Taiba member Ajmal) Kasab was to enter Mumbai during this period, would a Jain protect him from being killed and instead offer up his own life?”

Kasab was the lone terrorist to be captured alive during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was later convicted and hanged.

The editorial went on to say that violence is not restricted to the killing of animals. “A large number of the city’s builders are Jains and have no qualms accepting black money from flat buyers. Accepting black money is a sin and also a form of violence. Do they stop accepting black money during Paryushan?” it questioned.

#* 25 percent Army personnel ‘unwilling’ to take pay cut for PM Narendra Modi relief fund 

Nearly 25 per cent of personnel posted under the Army’s Western Command does not want to forego a day’s salary for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for flood victims in Jammu and Kashmir. The figure was calculated after a consolidated report on willingness on the part of the personnel to take a salary cut was received from all formations under Western Command. This is stated in a letter from Major General-in charge-Administration of Western Command Headquarters to the General Officer Commanding of Delhi Area on July 23 this year. On Army Day this year, January 15, the Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, had presented a cheque of Rs 100 crore to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an “At Home” function. The cheque, he said, was the Army’s contribution towards the rebuilding efforts in J&K following the devastating floods of September 2014. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/25-pc-army-personnel-unwilling-to-take-pay-cut-for-pm-relief-fund/#sthash.8uidQAQc.dpuf

#* Encounter in north Kashmir kills 2 militants, 2 jawans

Two militants and two army men were killed in an operation in North Kashmir’s Rajwar area. Officials said that the army launched an operation in Rajwar forest late last night on an information that four militants are hiding in the area. Two militants and two army jawans were killed in the initial gun battle. Fresh reinforcements have been sent to the encounter site.

#* Bihar polls: Lalu, Nitish seek to play down Mulayam outbursts

atna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday sought to play down Mulayam Singh Yadav's outbursts and decided not to make any "derogatory remarks" on it following the Samajwadi Party chief's attacks after his party exited the secular alliance.
"I have directed my partymen and also that of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (JD-U) not to make any derogatory remarks on any statement of SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav," Lalu Prasad said."Mulayam Singh jee is not only a tall leader but also my 'samdhi'. We share 'beti-roti' (daughter and bread) relationship with each other," Prasad, whose daughter is married to Yadav's grand nephew, said.
"Being his 'samdhi', if he (Mulayam Singh) gets more angry we will give him a yellow dhoti (worn during time to marriage)," he said in a lighter vein.
Asked to comment on SP chief's barbs at Kumar questioning his secular credentials after remaining with BJP for 12 years, Prasad said "I have already said we will not react to SP chief's remarks." Kumar too spoke cautiously on Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"JD(U) President Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad made sincere efforts to keep SP in Janata Parivar but the efforts did not bear fruits ... Every party is independent to take a decision and Samajwadi Party took a decision (not to be part of grand secular alliance)," he said.
After days of high drama, SP had last week formally bid adieu to JD(U) and RJD, its two prominent associates in the Janata Parivar accusing Kumar in particular for "tilt" towards Congress.
With the bonhomie over, the SP President, who was recently announced head of Janata Party by Prasad and Kumar, went ballistic against the Bihar chief minister on Tuesday.

#* Indian railway stations to get Japanese touch

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who is in Japan to strengthen cooperation in rail sector, held a series of high-level meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso among other ministers and senior officials and has highlighted that the Indian public transporter would be the next major destination for infrastructure investment worth USD 140 billion, it said. Participation of Japanese railways and Japanese companies in various areas of Indian Railways with the aim of modernisation and technology upgradation was also emphasised in the discussions.

While agreeing for cooperation on modernisation and upgradation, Japan has agreed to assist the public transporter in achieving its zero-accident mission. Railways research wing - Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), will sign an MoU with Railway Technical Research Institute of Japan to carry out research work on acquiring modern technology for the public transporter, as per the finalisation of the action plan.

Mr Prabhu also held meetings with heads of leading financial institutions and highlighted the investment prospects in railways in the coming years. Railways has chalked out a plan to investment USD 140 billion in infrastructure upgradation in the next five years, the release said. Japan will also provide its expertise and technology in solving problems of sanitation including the development of waterless, odourless toilets in trains and at stations, it added.

Besides, the country has also agreed to assist Indian Railways in development of a legal and regulatory framework on high speed railway here, the official statement said. Mr Prabhu is on a two-nation visit to Japan and Korea since September 7.

#* Widespread job restrictions on Indian women: World Bank report

WASHINGTON: Women in India face widespread restrictions for jobs and there are no laws to protect them against sexual harassment in public places, according to a new World Bank report on South Asia’s largest economy.

In a report released yesterday, the World Bank said that in India job restrictions remain widespread, with women not allowed to work in mining or in jobs that require lifting weights above a certain threshold or working with glass.

The law also prohibits women from jobs “involving danger to life, health or morals”.

In addition, there are no laws to protect women against sexual harassment in public places, protections which exist in 18 other economies around the world, the bank said in the report ‘Women, Business and the Law 2016′.

At the same time, the bank said that in the last two years, India undertook one reform in the areas covered by the report.

By introducing a law mandating at least one female member on the board of publicly-listed companies, India became the only developing country and one of only nine in the world to mandate female inclusion on corporate boards, it said.

“I would say, on the question of where some of the job restrictions are coming from in India, actually, one of the main sources that we see is legacy legislation. And by that, I mean something like the Factories Act, which actually came from the British,” said Sarah Iqbal, the report’s lead author.

“You see the same act in India, you see it in Pakistan, you see it in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and it basically restricts the type of work that women can do. And what’s even more interesting is Jamaica has almost the same act, the Factories Act, which they just reformed in the last two years, and they removed the restrictions on women’s work in certain jobs and factories,” she said.

In India, while they’re debating it at the state level in certain states, it still exists, the World Bank official said.

“But one thing that India has done in the past few years which we found very heartening is India is the first developing economy that has a quota for women on corporate boards for publicly-listed companies,” Iqbal said.

“The quota in India is at least one woman has to be a member of the corporate board. Every other economy that we see is actually a developed economy. So, India is the first developing economy to do this,” she said.

#* England’s 2016 tour to Bangladesh will be broadcast live by Sky Sports

The pay-TV broadcaster, which recently announced an agreement to show next month’s tour against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, has secured the rights for two Tests and three one-day internationals, meaning they will have all of England’s matches for the next two years.

The broadcaster is to show more than 50 Tests and 360 scheduled days of England cricket live over the next five years. Their coverage will include a winter tour to South Africa, the ICC World Twenty20 in India, and two home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The Bangladesh tour, in October to November next year, is immediately followed by a five-Test series in India, and England host the West Indies and South Africa in 2017, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy.

In August, though, it was announced that live coverage of the next Ashes will be on BT Sport after the broadcaster unveiled a five-year deal with Cricket Australia to show its international matches in the UK from 2016.

The centrepiece of the deal, believed to be worth around £80m, will be the next Ashes series in 2017-18 when Australia will look to regain the urn they lost to England this summer.

#* Mumbai High Court says meat ban not an apt formula for a modern city 

A four-day ban on meat in deference of the Jain festival of Paryushan was not an apt formula for a city like Mumbai, the Bombay High Court said Thursday. Questioning the ban on slaughter of animals and sale of meat in Mumbai for four days, the court said, “How can you stop sale? Will the police and the municipal officers enter houses and say meat can’t be eaten?” Thursday was the first of the four days of the ban in the eight-day Paryushan period as decided by the BMC and the state government. 
“You cannot have this formula for a modern city like Mumbai,” the court observed. It was hearing a petition challenging the ban filed by the Bombay Mutton Dealers’ Association. The petition has said that the ban favoured a small percentage of the population and was against the secular fabric of the Constitution. Justices Anoop Mohta and S S Sayed said, “The sentiment of banning sale of meat appears to be because of visualisation… There can be adjustments and restrictions.” The HC asked the state government and the BMC to inform whether there was a ban on sale as well as closure of abattoir in the previous years too. The court will hear the matter again Friday. The association had claimed that in the previous years, the ban was limited to slaughtering of animals for two days during the Paryushan period. The petitioners’ lawyer Zubin Kamdin said the ban on sale was being additionally imposed for the first time this year. “There is a Hitler-like regime and the police is doing the rounds and asking shops to shut down,” alleged Kamdin. The court also sought clarification on whether chicken could be sold as poultry was not slaughtered in the Deonar abattoir. “What is the particular sentiment towards mutton, considering the sale of fish and eggs was allowed,” the HC also sought to know. Advocate General Anil Singh replied circulars had been issued every year since 2004 on the ban of mutton and the court then asked the government and the BMC whether mutton procured from sources other than the civic-run abattoir was also banned. “There is a total ban on abattoir and sale. Hotels cannot purchase meat on such days. The ban is for a few days and makes no difference. It is not a violation of fundamental rights,” Singh said. The four-day ban follows a demand made by the Ahimsa Sangh Vishwamaitri Trust. The BMC said it had issued a circular, directing the Deonar abattoir to remain closed on September 10, 13, 17 and 18. Two of these days were selected based on a 1964 BMC resolution and two on account of the state’s 2004 resolution. “The ban on September 10 and 17 is applicable throughout Maharashtra,” said Narendra Walavalkar, senior counsel appearing for BMC. He said the ban for the other two days, September 13 and 18, was on account of the BMC’s resolution and applied only to Mumbai. The court then questioned whether the BMC had the permission of the government to impose a two-day ban. “Is it according to law?” asked the court. The petitioners have sought interim relief against the ban, but the court said it would give time to the government authorities to file a reply.

#* Border talks begin on positive note

New DELHI - Pakistan and India yesterday decided to devise new strategies along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to put an end to incidents of ceasefire violations as they began their three-day DG-level border dialogue here.

In what can be seen as an encouraging development in bilateral talks between the two neighbours, the Pakistan Rangers-BSF meeting has been extended for a day to “discuss and finalise” these new protocols and strategies.

“The most significant takeaway of the talks has been that the two sides agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility on this border is the most important issue and this needs to be implemented on the ground,” a top government source said.

According to the set agenda, the talks were to be wrapped up today as tomorrow the Rangers are scheduled to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his South Block office and later meet staff and officials in the Pakistan High Commission.

On their last day in Delhi on September 12, a joint record of discussions was to be signed between the two sides after which the visitors were to leave for Islamabad.

“Yes, the talks have been extended for a day and a special session will be held tomorrow to decide on protocols that will be put in place to put an end to ceasefire violations and make the Pak-India border tranquil,” the source said.

Border Security Force (BSF) chief DK Pathak, during a public function of central investigative agency NIA in the evening here, told PTI that the Indian side was “happy” after the deliberations on the first day.

“I wouldn’t say anything beyond that.
The talks went on in a very cordial manner and we are happy about it,” Pathak said.

Sources said the Indian side suggested that rather than debating and contesting about the past incidents, the two sides should work on a “future” strategy to make this border peaceful and safe for the troops and civilians alike.

Pakistan agreed to this point and after some more positive talks it was mutually decided that the session should be extended by a day, they said.

The Pakistan Rangers, led by DG (Punjab) Major General Umar Farooq Burki, asked the BSF to initiate the joint patrolling along some mutually identified areas which was agreed by India, they said.

The sources further said the Rangers “did not bring on table” the issue of activation of the UNMOGIP (UN Military Observer Group in Indian and Pakistan).

These much-awaited talks are happening amid escalating tensions and continuing cases of ceasefire violations along the LoC and after over one and a half years.

The BSF also put forth its agenda points of stopping infiltration from across the border, smuggling of narcotics and construction of unauthorised defence structures by the other side on the frontier, the sources said, which was taken note by Pakistan.

The Pakistan Rangers told the BSF that firing from their side had claimed the lives of their troops and civilians and this should be stopped.

Earlier, Rangers DG Maj Gen Burki was accorded a guard of honour at the border guarding forces’ headquarters here and later welcomed by Pathak and other senior officers prior to the formal commencement of the deliberations taking place after December 2013 when BSF went to Lahore.
The Pakistani delegation, which had reached Delhi last evening via Amritsar, includes officials of Sindh Rangers, the country’s interior ministry, Survey of Pakistan, anti- narcotics force and immigration department, among others.

This is the first high-level interaction between the two countries after the National Security Adviser (NSA)-level talks scheduled in Delhi on August 23-24 were cancelled due to differences over the agenda.

The issue of “no response” by the other side when BSF raises the ‘white flag’ that is used to indicate suspension of firing to allow a meeting of on-ground commanders of the two sides was also taken up and it was decided to have more channels of communication between field commanders, the sources said.

“The confidence building measures would be finalised tomorrow and jointly signed by their two DGs on September 12,” one of the sources said.
When Pakistan Rangers raised the issue of air space violation, the BSF said it was not their domain as they do not have any air assets.
“Much of the talking was done by the Indian side and the Pakistani side was very receptive,” the source said.

#* US Senate Democrats block effort by Republicans to kill Iran nuclear deal

US president Barack Obama has achieved perhaps the greatest foreign policy victory of his six years in office, with a Republican-backed effort to kill the Iran nuclear agreement being narrowly blocked in the US Senate.

Forty Democrats and two independents voted to block a resolution disapproving of the pact in the 100-member chamber, one more than the minimum needed to keep it from advancing.

"This vote is a victory for diplomacy, for American national security, and for the safety and security of the world," Mr Obama said in a statement after a vote he termed "an historic step forward".

But Senate Republicans insisted the fight was not over.

Majority leader Mitch McConnell immediately took steps to clear the way for the chamber to consider the matter again, hoping some Democrats would vote differently next time.

"We'll revisit the issue next week and see if maybe any folks want to change their minds," he said in a speech angrily denouncing the vote.

Iran nuclear deal at a glance
The main points in the nuclear deal sealed by Iran and six world powers aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Under a law Mr Obama signed in May, Congress has until September 17 to pass a resolution disapproving of the international agreement.

If such a resolution were to pass, and survive Mr Obama's promised veto, it would bar the president from waiving many US sanctions on Tehran, a key component of the nuclear deal.

But there was no sign any votes would change, and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid bluntly responded: "This matter is over with."

Senator Reid urged Senator McConnell to move on to other legislation, including bills providing long-term highway and transportation funding and urgent legislation to fund the government in the fiscal year beginning October 1 and avoid a government shutdown.

"This is a situation where he's [McConnell] lost the vote and it's a situation where he is just not in touch with reality as it exists," Senator Reid said.

The defeat came despite an intense $US40 million lobbying campaign against the agreement, largely by conservative pro-Israel groups.

Although the nuclear deal was reached after two years of negotiations with Iran by the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, the government of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vociferously opposed the agreement.

Mr Netanyahu said the deal demanded too little from Iran in exchange for sanctions relief and would strengthen a country he sees as a threat to Israel's existence.

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