NEW DELHI: Centre Seeks Clerics’ Help to Counter IS Propaganda
Days after the arrest of 14 ISIS sympathisers in countrywide raids, the Home Ministry on Tuesday brought prominentMuslim leaders on board to prevent the global terror outfit’s penetration and convince potential radicals of the fallacy of their views on Islam and the “caliphate”. Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with NSA Ajit Doval discussed with the clerics the recent surge in IS indoctrination activities and their traction among some Muslim youths.
France: No Ban on Sikh Turbans Outside Schools
The French embassy here on Tuesday said there was no ban on wearing turbans in public space while reacting to a charge by a Sikh organisation that the community had been fighting for their rights in France. “Outside the premises of public schools, wearing the Sikh turban is very much allowed in public space, contrary to the allegations of certain radical organisations. Only the burkha is banned in public places, for obvious security reasons. “Furthermore, neither Sikhs wearing turbans in the streets nor Sikh shrines were ever subject to any hostility in France,” the embassy said.
CBI Files Charges on Rajan in Fake Passport Case
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan in a case of alleged procurement of a passport on the basis of fake documents from the Indian mission in Zimbabwe. The agency has also chargesheeted three former officials of the Bengaluru Passport Office accusing them of criminal conspiracy and forgery for issuinga fake passport to Rajan, which he used to escape to Australia from Zimbabwe.
Audit Over, IAF Wants to Double Strength of Garuds
The Indian Air Force wants to double the present strength of its elite Garud Commandos for the security of its 54 IAF bases across the country. This is one of the recommendations of the security audit of the Indian Air Force which was carried out after the last month’s Pathankot terror attack. Electric fencing and the deployment of sensors were also proposed. The Garud was formed in 2003. The strength of Garud Commandoes is 1,080. “We want at least 10 additional squadrons (nearly 1,000) of Garud commandos to man over 950 flying and non-flying bases,” said an officer.
UGC Seeks Info on Equal Opportunity Centres
In the wake of the controversy surrounding dalit student Rahith Vemula’s suicide, the University Grant Commission (UGC) has asked all the universities to provide information on the activities undertaken to address the grievances of the marginalised sections of society. “The UGC feels education is a source of social and economic equality and all the citizens of this country should have equal access to quality education,” an UGC communication to the Vice-Chancellors said, highlighting the equal-opportunity centres. It also asked the universities to strengthen the centres.
AJL Land Deal Probe Report by February 14
A one-man committee headed by then Additional Chief Secretary Gautam Chatterjee is likely to submit its inquiry report on alleged irregularities in the transfer of land to Associated Journal Limited (AJL) by February 14. The State government had asked him to conclude the inquiry even after his retirement on January 31. “I will submit the report to by February 14,” Chatterjee said. According to a source, Chatterjee has found that AJL, with which Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul are associated, had used more space for construction than it was allotted.