A rare look inside China’s detention camps to ‘Brainwash’ Muslims

Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China’s new indoctrination camps had to disavow their Islamic beliefs, criticize themselves and their loved ones and give thanks to the ruling Communist Party. When Bekali, a Kazakh Muslim, refused to follow orders each day, he was forced to stand at a wall for five hours at a time. A week later, he was sent to solitary confinement, where he was deprived of food for 24 hours. After 20 days in the heavily guarded camp, he…

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Congress, RJD cite Karnataka decision, to stake claim to govts in Goa, Bihar

The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Thursday said they will ask governors in Goa and Bihar to invite their parties to form governments in the state, speaking afer the BJP came to power in Karnataka despite not having majority in the assembly. The Congress said it had the “strength” to form a government in Goa and pointed at Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala who invited BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa to take over as chief minister after his party got the most seats in elections but fell short…

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Rs 4 a litre hike in petrol, diesel prices in offing

A Rs 4 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices is in the offing if state-owned fuel retailers are to return to pre-Karnataka poll hiatus margin levels, brokerage firms said. No sooner had Karnataka polled to elect a new state government, state-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) on Monday ended a 19-day hiatus in revising petrol and diesel prices and reverted to the practices of changing rates on a daily basis. Since then petrol price has risen by 69…

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Medical Benefits of Ramadhan

Fasting During Ramzan Improves the health and stamina, so enjoy your fasting. But Mus­lims don’t fast because of health benefits but because it has been ordained to them in the Quran. The medical benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting in general has been used for medical reasons including weight manage­ment, for rest of the digestive tract, and for lowering lipids. There are many adverse effects of the total fasting as well as so called crash di­ets. Islamic fasting is different from such diet plans because in…

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While BJP celebrates hollow victory, India will mourn defeat of democracy: Rahul Gandhi

Soon after Bharatiya Janata Party’s B.S. Yeddyurappa Thursday was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Karnataka for third time, Indian National Congress (I) President Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the ruling party saying while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn the defeat of democracy. Rahul wrote on twitter: “The BJP’s irrational insistence that it will form a Govt. in Karnataka, even though it clearly doesn’t have the numbers, is to make a mockery of our Constitution. This morning, while the BJP celebrates its hollow victory, India will mourn…

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Urge your wards to leave path of violence: DGP to families of rebals

A day after Delhi announced the ceasefire in the State, Jammu Kashmir Police Chief DGP Shesh Paul Vaid Thursday urged the families of local militants to shun the path of violence. Vaid wrote on twitter: “Taking advantage of fresh initiative of GOI during Ramadan, families of local militants should urge their sons to leave path of violence & join them to live peacefully . Wish them good luck (sic).” On Wednesday afternoon, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government has asked the government forces not to launch the anti-militancy…

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Yeddyurappa sworn in as Karnataka CM, Cong-JD(S) stage dharna outside Karnataka assembly

BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa took oath as the chief minister of Karnataka at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Thursday morning, hours after the Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking a stay on the ceremony. Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath in the presence of senior state BJP leaders and Union ministers, even as Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress leaders protested outside. Heavy police security was put in place to ensure that no untoward incident occurs on the occasion. Yeddyurappa (75) takes over as the chief minister after two…

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Centre declares Ramadan ceasefire, LeT rejects, Hurriyat tight-lipped, Mainstream welcomes

The forces will not launch any operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadan but they reserve the right to retaliate if attacked, the Home Ministry said today. The announcement came two days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Officials said the move is not a concession to the extremists but an effort to create an environment free of terror and violence during the holy month and there will be no lowering of guard. Today’s decision has been taken to…

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Ravinder Raina state BJP head invokes Islamic teachings for Kashmiri’s

“I hope and pray that the holy fasting month of Ramazan brings peace for the entire state…. We believe in ‘Hubbul Wattani’ (love for country), which was preached by Prophet Muhammad… We believe in this poem (of Allama Iqbal) that we recite in schools…. It teaches us to love and help the poor and the weak.”— Ravinder Raina, BJP president, J&K Usually known for his outspoken attitude and being a “hardcore RSS worker”, Ravinder Raina, newly nominated BJP state president, on Wednesday invoked Islamic teachings and quoted poetry of Allama…

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Narendra Modi to lay foundation stone of Zojila tunnel on May 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Asia’s longest bi-directional Zojila tunnel, connecting Kashmir’s Sonamarg with the Gumri area in Kargil district, on May 19 during his visit to Ladakh. The 14.15-km tunnel project, to be executed by M/S IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd, holds strategic and socio-economic importance for Ladakh. First, the project will help India keep a check on the growing influence of China and Pakistan in Ladakh. The tunnel will not only meet the strategic requirements of the nation, but will also reduce the travel…

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