Inclusion of Balochistan in India-Pak Sharm-al-Sheikh agreement strengthens India’s negotiating position, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Inclusion of Balochistan in India-Pak Sharm-al-Sheikh agreement strengthens India’s negotiating position

The tirade against the ex-foreign secretary is uncalled for

By Arundhati Ghose

The ‘controversy’, unfortunately, degenerated into personal attacks, on occasion amounting to charges of treasonous or extraordinarily stupid behaviour, simple-mindedness or sheer incompetence on the part of those in charge of our foreign policy—from the PM to external affairs minister S.M. Krishna to foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon, who retired last month. While one has little knowledge of the capabilities of the new foreign minister, one can hardly classify the other two ‘accused’ as either ‘treasonous’ or ‘stupid’. Manmohan and Menon have proved themselves persons of outstanding intelligence and determination, and as possessed of an unerring sense of the shifting nuances of international relations, which has stood the country in good stead in parlous times—especially in our troubled neighbourhood.

The prime minister is a political being and has a forum to defend himself. Menon, on the other hand, was bound by the discipline of his office, and even when egregious interpretations were made of the most innocuous of statements, clarifications could only be given in private. What is it that has raised the hackles of those opposed not only to the statement, but also to the government? Umbrage has been taken to his reported statement that “while the drafting (of the joint statement) could be criticised, the substance could not”. Is that an admission of bad drafting?

http://newageislam.com/inclusion-of-balochistan-in-india-pak-sharm-al-sheikh-agreement-strengthens-india%E2%80%99s-negotiating-position/current-affairs/d/1746

The evil of triple divorce – an unmitigated monstrosity, Islamic Sharia Laws, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Sharia Laws

The evil of triple divorce – an unmitigated monstrosity

What was assailed by the Honourable Judge was not the infallibility or sanctity of Quran, Hadith or Sunna but a reprehensible practice which not being even remotely authenticated by any of the three, is being attached religious significance. Already under severe attack from and not adhered to by most of the segments of Islamic society , the concept of triple divorce ( Talaqe Bidat) does not fall amongst those pious Islamic institutions which, if criticised , may make the critic guilty of some blasphemous act. However, whether or not the judiciary is within its powers to call a spade a spade while dealing with an issue of religious denomination or whether or not the circumstances of the case did justify the disquisition on whole of Shariat law are not of much relevance for us at present.

A sense of restlessness, no doubt is visible in the Muslim community over the inertia displayed by mullas even under these strained circumstances in either unequivocally endorsing or disputing ‘Talaqe Bidat’ as the triple divorce is commonly known in Islamic parlance.Now when this monster, embellished as a bride is being taken to the Supreme Court, we must try to disclose its real Quranic identity and ascertain its legitimacy.

http://newageislam.com/the-evil-of-triple-divorce-%E2%80%93-an-unmitigated-monstrosity-/islamic-sharia-laws/d/1391