27 NOV.
2019: 29 Rabiul Awwal 1441: Vol: 12, No: 68
INDIA: MAHARASHTRA POLITICS
Sonia, Mamata, Kejriwal, Stalin among invitees for Uddhav's swearing-in
tomorrow at 6.40 pm
Mumbai: Congress president Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and DMK president MK
Stalin have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav
Thackeray as Maharashtra Chief Minister.Speaking about the invitations given to
various political leaders, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said that the party
has invited Sonia Gandhi for the oath-ceremony.Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar
said that the invitation for the event has been sent to all Congress chief
ministers, Mr Stalin, CM Mamata Banerjee and CM Arvind Kejriwal.Thackeray will
take oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday at Shivaji Park at
6.40 pm.On Tuesday, Thackeray was unanimously elected as the leader of the
three-party alliance.NDTV
Maharashtra politics: Sena, NCP likely to get 15 Ministers each,
Congress 13 + Speaker
Following days of extraordinary political developments, Protem Speaker
Kalidas Kolambkar began administering the oath of office to the 288
newly-elected members at a special session of the Maharashtra Legislative
Assembly on Wednesday. Shiv Sena and NCP are likely to get 15 Ministerial
berths each in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, sources have
said.e Congress is likely to get 13 berths plus the Speaker’s post.Sena will
hold CM’s post for full five years, sources added. Sources said the Sena is
likely to get 15 berths in the ministry, including the CM’s post. Sharad
Pawar-led NCP is likely to have 15 ministers including a Deputy Chief Minister,
while Congress may get 13 berths and the Speaker’s post, they said.Maharashtra
can have a maximum of 43 Ministers.Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Agadhi,
which has 3 MLAs, has pledged support to the Maharashtra Vikas Agadhi.With
three members of BVA, the MVA will have the support of 169 MLAs in 288-member
Maharashtra Assembly.In the results tally, BVA with three MLAs is in fifth
position after BJP (105), Shiv Sena (56), NCP (54) and Congress (44).thehindu
With Ajit Pawar pushed to fences, Supriya Sule takes NCP centre stage
New Delhi: The optics in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha have set NCP's
internal dynamics straight with Supriya Sule receiving the newly elected MLAs
before the start of the first session on Wednesday, and she welcoming and
hugging estranged cousin Ajit 'Dada' Pawar.With Ajit Dada Pawar being pushed to
the fence, Supriya Sule is at the centre stage of NCP now.She was part of all
the meetings and the negotiations that her father Sharad Pawar did towards the
formation of the government. She was also instrumental in pursuing Ajit Pawar
back to the party fold.After the Saturday coup, Sule immediately changed her
WhatsApp status -- 'party and family splits'. It now is clear that the saga of
the Pawar family will rotate around Supriya Sule.IANS
‘Sad that President was woken up at 4 am’: Chidambaram on Fadnavis
swearing-in
New Delhi :Taking a dig at BJP over the way Devendra Fadnavis was
sworn-in as Maharashtra chief minister, former finance minister and Congress
veteran P Chidambaram Wednesday said “the Governor, the Prime Minister and
President are all responsible for the midnight affair”.While stepping out of a
Delhi court, which extended his judicial custody in connection with the INX
Media money laundering case lodged by the ED till Dec.11,Chidambaram said,
“Governor, PM and President were all responsible for that midnight affair. It
is sad that the President is involved, deeply sad that he is woken up at 4 am
in the morning.”Before hearing, Chidambaram tweeted that the incident was an
“assault” on the office of the President to wake him at 4 am to get the order
revoking President’s rule in Maharashtra signed.“It was an assault on the
office of Rasthrapathi to wake him up at 4am to sign an order revoking
President’s Rule. Why could it not have waited until 9 am in the morning?” he
tweeted today before his hearing regarding INX media case.The former finance
minister, who is lodged in Tihar jail in cases of corruption and money
laundering pertaining to INX Media case, called the swearing-in of Devendra
Fadnavis as the “most egregious violation of the Constitution”.indianexpress
J&K & SOUTH ASIA
‘If Israeli people can do it…we can also’: Indian diplomat stirs row
over J&K remarks
New Delhi :A top Indian diplomat courted controversy Wednesday after he
mentioned the Israeli ‘model’ and said Kashmiri Pandits could return to the
Valley soon because “if the Israeli people can do it, we can also do it”,
reported PTI. Video of India’s Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty,
speaking at a private event in the city, surfaced online and sparked a
controversy when he spoke about the abrogation of Article 370 in relation to
the ‘Israel settlement model’.“I believe the security conditions in Jammu and
Kashmir will improve. It will allow refugees to go back and in your lifetime,
you will be able to go back…you will be able to go back to your home and you
will find security. Because we already have a model in the world,” Chakravorty
was quoted as saying by PTI in an apparent reference to Palestine.Israel has
built nearly 140 settlements since its occupation of the West Bank and East
Jerusalem in 1967, which are considered illegal under international law. US
had, however, recently said it no longer believes that the settlements are
illegal.Urging people to follow the Israeli settlement model, the diplomat
questioned why Indians are not doing it. “I don’t know why we don’t follow it.
It has happened in the Middle East, you have to look, if the Israeli people can
do it. We also can do it,” he said.Reacting to the diplomat’s video, Pakistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan attacked Indian government’s RSS ideology for its
“fascist mindset”.“Shows the fascist mindset of the Indian govt’s RSS ideology
that has continued the siege of India-occupied Jammu-Kashmir for over 100 days,
subjecting Kashmiris to the worst violation of their human rights while the powerful
countries remain silent because of their trading interests,” Khan wrote on
Twitter.Reacting to Khan’s tweet, Chakravorty’s said that his comments on Jammu
and Kashmir in a reference to Israel were being taken out of context. “I have
seen some social media comments on my recent remarks. My remarks are being
taken out of context,” he tweeted today.Chakravorty also said during his
meeting with Kashmiri Pandits that people have been talking about the Kashmiri
culture. Answering one of the comments on the Israeli and Jewish issue, he
said, “they kept their culture alive for 2000 years outside the land and they
went back. I think we all have to keep the Kashmiri culture alive.Kashmiri
culture is the Indian culture, it is the Hindu culture.” He also asserted,
“none of us can imagine an India without Kashmir.”indianexpress
Indian Diplomat Wants ‘Israel Model’ in Kashmir, Sets Off Controversy
Anger over India's diplomat calling for 'Israel model' in
Kashmir:aljazeera
Not just PoK, Pakistan was also part of Bharat:Gujarat CM Rupani
Ahmedabad: CM Vijay Rupani has hailed the abrogation of Article 370 as
indicative of the Constitution’s evolution with changing times and suggested
that “not only PoK, but Pakistan was also a part of Bharat”. He was addressing
a gathering at the Gujarat High Court on Constitution Day.“The Constitution is
evolving with changing times…The Constitution and its Preamble says India that
is Bharat. that is not Bharat given to us by the British (on Independence) but ‘Akhand
Bharat’ prior to their invasion. This means what we know as PoK, is also part
of Bharat. Pakistan is also Bharat… Democracy will prosper only if the
Constitution is protected…”indianexpress
Attempts being made to reactivate Balakot terror camp: Govt
New Delhi;The government on Wednesday said inputs indicate that attempts
are being made to reactivate camps at Balakot in Pakistan which was bombed by
the Indian Air Force fighters.Union minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy
said in Rajya Sabha that the central government is committed to taking all
necessary steps to protect the borders of the country and maintain its
integrity and sovereignty.“Inputs indicate that attempts are being made by
Pakistan-based terror outfits to reactivate its camp at Balakot and restart
their religious and Jihadi indoctrination courses against India,” he said
replying a written question.PTI
Supreme Court reserves verdict on pleas challenging curbs in
Jammu-Kashmir
New Delhi :The Supreme Court reserved on Wednesday its verdict on a
batch of pleas including that of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad challenging
the restriction imposed in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir following
abrogation of provisions of Article 370.A bench of Justice N V Ramana, Justice
R Subhash Reddy and Justice B R Gavai reserved the verdict. Appearing for Azad,
senior advocate Kapil Sibal said they understand that there are national
security issues in Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire seven million population
cannot be “locked down”.Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Kashmir Times
Editor Anuradha Bhasin, termed the curbs “unconstitutional” and said the
restrictions have to pass the test of proportionality.On Tuesday, the Jammu and
Kashmir administration justified imposition of curbs on Internet services in
the erstwhile state after abrogation of the special status given under Article
370, saying separatists, terrorists and Pakistan’s Army made attempts on social
media to instigate people for ‘jihad’. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta,
appearing for J&K administration, had said that it was not only fighting
enemies within but also with those from across the border.PTI
Over 5,000 preventive arrests in J-K since August 5, 609 still in
custody: Govt
New Delhi :Over 5,000 preventive arrests have been made in Jammu and
Kashmir since August 5 when the Centre announced abrogation of Article 370
provisions, and 609 of them are still in custody, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy
said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Nobody has died in police firing since August
5, but 197 people have been injured in law and order incidents, he said.“With a
view to prevent commission of offences involving breach of peace, maintenance
of the public order and activities prejudicial to the security of the state,
5,161 preventive arrests, including stone pelters, miscreants, over ground
workers, separatists and political workers, were made since August 5, 2019, in
Kashmir Valley,” Union minister of state for home said.“Out of these, 609
people are presently under detention and out of which approximately 218 are
stone pelters,” he said in reply a written question.Among those who continue to
be under detention include three former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir —
Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. Reddy said adequate security
personnel are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for augmenting the security of
counter insurgency grid, strengthening the internal security and maintaining
law and order.PTI
No increase in expenditure on UT of J-K after abrogation of Article 370
New Delhi : Centre on Wednesday said there has been no increase in
expenditure on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ever since the
abrogation of Article 370.Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy told
the Rajya Sabha that the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and
Kashmir into the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the UT of Ladakh was done as per
the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. There has been no additional
financial implication as such for UT of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, replying to
a written question.PTI
1,025 cases of incursion into Ladakh region by China in 3 years:Defence
Ministry
Despite the strong denials from Central government, the defence ministry
has stated that there have been more than 1,000 cases of incursions and
transgressions into the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir in the past 3 years.
In response to questions posed by BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab and Shiv Sena MP
Rahul Ramesh Shewale on transgressions by China in border areas, ministry said
that in 2016, there were 273 cases of incursions and transgressions across LAC,
in 2017, 426 and in 2018, 326. Unlike previously, Shripad Naik, the minister of
state in the Ministry of Defence has not categorically denied transgressions
this year. He has stated that the information was being collected about the
transgressions in 2019 and refused to share any other information. MPs had
asked whether the Government has taken note of the incursions and
transgressions by Chinese soldiers into the border areas of the country
including Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, the cases and whether the matter
of such incursions and transgressions has been discussed with the Chinese
President. Naik, in his response, decided to educate the MPs about some
specifics about the LAC first. He explained that “There is no commonly
delineated LAC in the border areas between India and China and there are areas
along LAC where both sides have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides
undertaking to patrol up to their respective perception of the LAC,
transgressions do occur. Government is taking measures to ensure that defence
forces are in a state of readiness to meet operational and security
challenges.”
BABRI MASJID CASE
Muslim Board to File Review Petition in SC on Ayodhya Verdict in Dec
new delhi:All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a body for the
protection of Muslim personal law in India, has made up its mind to file the
review petition challenging the Ayodhya verdict in the Supreme Court. The board
will file the review petition in the first week of Dec. The petitioners have to
file the review within 30 day limit ending on Dec 9. The members of the board
arrived at decision after multiple delibrations in meetings involving arguments
and disagreements. The disagreements emanated from the view that there is not
much chance for reversal of the decision as the Court has invoked special
powers under article 142 to pass the verdict. However, AIMPLB have decided to
use all the legal options available to get relief.The outcome of the review
petition depends on whether the petition is accepted by the apex court. “If our
review petition is accepted then we are sure we will be able to convince the
honorable judges with our arguments,” SQR Ilyas, member of AIMPLB said. “There
are many apparent errors in the judgement that we will point out in the court,”
he said.caravandaily
Yogi govt prohibiting Muslims from filing affidavit in Babri Masjid
Case: Zafaryab Jilani
Lucknow:Muslims in Ayodhya and Faizabad are not being allowed to file
affidavits in the Babri Masjid case and that the government officials are
working in a partial manner, Zafaryab Jilani, senior lawyer and executive
member of AIMPLB, has alleged.Jilani alleged that officers in the Yogi
Adityanath government have become partial and are not allowing Muslims to file
affidavit in the Babri Masjid case.“It is quite possible that we may have to
submit a request to the Supreme Court in this regard soon. He (Dhawan) has
rightly alleged that the state government has pressurised the Sunni Waqf Board.
However, the Waqf board will not accept it,” Jilani said, reports News18.
Speaking to media about allegations made by fellow lawyer Rajeev Dhawan, Jilani
reportedly said, “allegations made by Dhawan are absolutely correct. Till now I
was not putting any allegations on the Centre as I did not have proper
information. But I am sure his (Dhawan’s) information is correct. There is an
attempt to pressurise us at every step. Officials are creating problems in
Ayodhya and Faizabad. The insiders involved in the case have told me how no one
is allowed to speak to them (litigants).”“It is quite possible that we may have
to submit a request to the Supreme Court in this regard soon. He (Dhawan) has
rightly alleged that the state government has pressurised the Sunni Waqf Board.
However, the Waqf board will not accept it,” News18 quotes Jilani.caravandaily
UP Sunni Board Acted Under Pressure; Most Members Corrupt: Dissenting
Member
Cracks appear among Hindu saints over Ram Temple Trust, Ayodhya
Cracks seem to have appeared among the Hindu saints of Ayodhya over
heading proposed Ram Temple Trust that would oversee construction of Temple as
almost all the top Hindu organisations have started asking for their ‘pound of
flesh’ in the proposed Trust.A section of them opines that RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwat should head the Trust because RSS is “true representative of the Hindu
ideology” while others say that the Head of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas should be the
chairman of the Trust.Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das Maharaj says that RSS
chief should be made the chairman of the proposed ‘Ram Temple Trust’. The
Mahant who heads the Tapaswiji Ki Chhavni in Ayodhya said that the RSS chief is
the best person to head the Trust because many organisations like Ram
Janmabhoomi Nyas were trying to grab attention and power after the Supreme
Court judgement on the Ayodhya issue on November 9. The mahant alleged that the
VHP leaders involved in the Ram temple movement have siphoned off several
crores of rupees and thus they should not be given authority to construct the
Ram temple. “On the name of construction of Temple, these leaders will mint
several thousand crores again. For better transparency the Trust should be
headed by people who have a trust value among the Hindus,” he said.“VHP leaders
do not deserve a place in this committee as they have lost the trust of the
people. In this scenario, we are left with the only option of having RSS chief
as leader of the proposed trust,” he said.After the Ayodhya verdict, Mahant
Paramhans Ramchandra Das Maharaj has been at loggerheads with other saints like
Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Ramvilas Vedanti . On November 15, the supporters
of Nritya Gopal Das had attacked Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das, forcing him
to leave Ayodhya.nationalheraldindia
NRC -
CAB
Foreigners’ Tribunals created havoc in Assam for last 15 yrs: Amnesty
International
Guwahat:Amnesty International India said on Wednesday that the Supreme
Court and the Gauhati High Court had enabled the Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) to
create a statelessness crisis in Assam.The global rights body made this
observation in a briefing, ‘Designed to Exclude’, as it called for a review of
the existing legislative regime governing the determination of nationality in
India.Amnesty’s India head Aakar Patel alleged that the FTs that determined the
paramount right to citizenship in Assam were often dismissive, used derogatory
language, controlled their own procedures and applied them in arbitrary
ways.Assam currently has 300 FTs, with 200 of these set up after Central
government approved the State’s proposal to set up 1,000 new tribunals
primarily to try those excluded from NRC that was published on August 31.
“Holding governments accountable for the human rights abuses they commit has
always been difficult,” Mr. Patel said. People appearing before the FTs were
not afforded the fair trial protections and human rights guarantees that flowed
from Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, applicable to both citizens and
foreigners. This lack of protection had been endorsed by the Gauhati High Court
through its judgements in various cases, the rights body said.“This includes
reversal of the burden of proof on the person stands to be deprived of his/her
nationality, depriving doubtful voters [D-voters] and declared foreigners of
the right to a fair investigation, protection from multiple references, and a
bar on the extension of deprivation of nationality from one family member to
another family member,” it said.Amnesty cited the case of a Muslim woman who
was declared a foreigner because she could not remember the constituency where
her grandfather cast his vote in 1966, and that of Muslim man who earned the foreigner
tag because his grandfather’s name was spelt differently in two
documents.Amnesty said that along with FTs, the High Court – which most of the
aggrieved approached in the absence of an appellate tribunal – had failed to
consider the vulnerabilities of the people who were demanded to prove their
nationality. The stringent burden of proof on the person suspected of doubtful
nationality was absolutely divorced from the reality of documentation in India,
it stated. Patel alleged that FTs have created havoc in Assam for the last
decade and a half. He said they have not been held accountable by the courts
and the Central and State governments. Thousands of such FTs could be set up
across the country with Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying there would be a
nation-wide NRC, he added.thehindu
Govt in Rajya Sabha: 1,000 foreigners in 6 detention centres in Assam
New Delhi :Nearly 1,000 foreigners are lodged in six detention centres
in Assam, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.Union Minister of State (MoS)
for Home Nityanand Rai said from 2016 to Oct13, 2019, as many as 28 detenues
have died either in the detention centres or in hospitals where they were
referred.“As informed by the government of Assam, as on Nov 22, 988 foreigners were lodged in six detention
centres in Assam,” he said, replying to a written question.Rai said as per the
information made available by the state government, the detention centres are
equipped with all basic facilities, including medical care.“Basic facilities
like food, clothing, daily newspapers, television facilities in every ward,
sports facilities, performance of cultural programs, library, yoga, meditation
facilities etc., are provided to the detenues in the detention centres,” he
said.The minister said indoor hospital facilities with medical staff are
available in every detention centre and health checkups of detenues are regularly
done.PTI
Ground Report: Taken From Bengaluru to Kolkata, 59 ‘Bangladeshis’ Wait
to Be ‘Pushed Back’
Kolkata: As many as 59 migrant labourers, identified as undocumented
Bangladeshis and picked up from Bengaluru, were detained for 26 days in
Karnataka, thereafter put in a train to Howrah by the state police, and handed
over to the West Bengal police. Karnataka government, in coordination with the
Union home ministry and BSF, reportedly wants them pushed across the border to
Bangladesh. They have even accused the Bengal government of not
cooperating.Though there have been reports in Dhaka-based aper Daily Star about
groups of people claiming to be Bangladeshi citizens, who have said that they
were picked up by Karnataka police and pushed from across the Indian border by BSF,
it is not yet clear whether Bengal police have already handed this group of
detainees over to BSF, and if they were the same set of people. This
correspondent had a chance meeting with the migrant labourers when they arrived
at the Howrah Station by Sri Sathya Sai Prashanthi Nilayam Express on Nov. 23.
That these men, women and children were in a precarious position was clear from
what they had to say.thewire
Protests against CAB continue in Assam
Guwahati :Amid reports that Citizenship (Amendment) Bill might come up
during ongoing session of Parliament, protests against the contentious
legislation continued in Assam with prominent youth organisation Asom
Jatiyabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) taking out a huge protest rally here
on Wednesday opposing CAB. Holding banners and placards, the agitators marched
from Guwahati Club point of the city demanding CAB be scrapped as it is
“unconstitutional” and goes against the “existence of the indigenous people of
Assam and other North East states”.AJYCP has been protesting against the bill
since early this year along with influential All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)
and social organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Parishad (KMSS), asserting that
the legislation will not be accepted at any cost by the people of the state.Anti-CAB
movement has intensified since Nov 11 when AJYCP, AASU, RTI activist Akhil
Gogoi-led KMSS and the Indigenous Forum, Assam, led by pro-talk ULFA leaders
Anup Chetia, Mrinal Hazarika and human rights activists Lachit Bordoloi have
been separately protesting across Assam.PTI
Jharkhand elections: In manifesto, BJP promises to implement NRC and rid
the state of Bangladeshis
BJP today promised to bring NRC to Jharkhand to rid the state of
Bangladeshi “infiltrators” if it is re-elected in the upcoming Assembly
elections. The party made the promise in its manifesto, which was released by
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Ranchi.The elections will be held in five
phases starting from Nov.30, and results will be announced on December 23. NRC
exercise has taken place in Assam till now, but caused a lot of chaos. BJP has
promised to conduct NRC in the rest India as well to remove undocumented
Bangladeshi immigrants.In its manifesto, ruling party also promised jobs or
self-employment for one member of every family below the poverty line. The BJP
also said it would provide financial assistance to highschool students from
backward and poor families, and loans up to Rs 5 lakh for Adivasi women running
self-help groups.scroll
Hyderabad: Jamaat-e-Islami to oppose NRC, CAB
Hyderabad: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has announced that it will oppose
carrying out of NRC exercise all over India as well as the proposed Citizenship
Amendment Bill (CAB).Addressing media, Moulana Hamid Mohammed Khan, President
Jamaat Telangana and Odisha, maintained that their opposition to NRC and CAB is
owing to these two being against spirit of our Constitution. He said while
preparing NRC, the government is putting the burden of proof on shoulders of
the citizens while, worldwide, it is the responsibility of the government to
prove a person as intruder or illegally staying in the country. The exercise
will be difficult as 135 crore citizens will have to prove that they are the
legitimate citizens of India. Just in Assam, the process started in 1985
following the Assam Accord during the regime of Rajiv Gandhi. But it went into
cold storage before Supreme Court intervened into the matter and carried out
the process under its supervision. Finally, about 20 lakh people have failed to
prove that they are Indian inhabitants. “What will be the fate of these
people,” he asked.deccanchronicle
INDIAN
ECONOMY
Air India to be closed if privatisation bid fails:Civil Aviation
Minister Puri
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said in Rajya Sabha
that national carrier Air India will have to close down if it is not
privatised.He, however, said that a favourable deal would be ensured for all
the employees."I will go to that extent and say that," the Minister
said replying to a question in Upper House. Taking a small pause Puri said that
the airline would be closed down if not privatised.The government is readying
the bid document for selling off its entire stake in the national carrier and
has set March 31 as deadline for completing the disinvestment process. In
earlier attempt, the Modi government had in May, 2018 invited expression of
interest (EoI) to sell 76 per cent of its stake but not a single private party
showed interest in the first stage of bidding.The top aviation ministry
officials and Air India Chief Ashwani Lohani are currently meeting the potential
investors before launching the bid process. Puri had last week said that Group
of Ministers (GoM) on Air India had earlier met and taken some decisions.IANS
Sitharaman claims there is no recession; economists disagree
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on Wednesday said Indian economy may
have slowed down but there is no threat of a “recession”.Replying to a
discussion on the economic situation in the country in Rajya Sabha, she said:
"Economic growth may have slowed but there is no recession, there can be
no recession.”Finance Minister’s claim came despite a number of economists and
experts asserting that the country’s economy was passing through a recession
and no recovery is in sight as of now.On Nov.18, she had claimed that the country
is on track to reach the $5 trillion GDP target by 2025. She added that
although the economy has slowed down, it is still projected to grow at the
fastest pace among G-20 nations this year.However, nothing could be further
than truth. The problem with the Indian economy is no more about a slowdown in
growth. There is de-growth. The Indian economy is in recession.“You see, a 5
per cent growth in Quarter 1 of the current fiscal area is still reasonably
healthy if you compare to other significant countries. But even that will have
to be accompanied by figures which show rises in investment, consumption and
output. However, these figures are all negative. Unemployment is at a record
high.Capacity utilisation is falling. Business confidence is down as evidenced
by investment figures. My calculations tell me that GDP actually came down by a
percentage point at least,” says Arun Kumar, retired Professor at Centre for
CESP at JNU and a leading authority on Black Money.nationalheraldindia
Muslims at Lowest Ebb in Salaried Jobs in India: India Exclusion Report
New Delhi:“Muslims are engaged in a relatively higher percentage in
self-employment (44.6 per cent) and are the lowest-represented in
salaried-class employment.” This was revealed in the fifth edition of India
Exclusion Report (IXR 2018-19) released here on Tuesday by noted civil servant
and activist Harsh Mander and others.The report provides insights into the
widespread forms of exclusion, discrimination, injustice and exploitation of
the disadvantaged groups including Muslims in India. It sought to raise public
opinion around the issue of exclusion and the questionable role of the state
apparatus in alleged discriminatory practices.After launch of the report, Harsh
Mander said the release of the report coincides with the Constitution Day – the
bedrock on which India’s democracy functions, and one which supposedly
guarantees justice to one and all. Giving the theoretical and political
framework of the report, he said the findings about Muslims and others are in
fact a sad commentary on the actions and inactions of the state from the stand
point of the values enshrined in the Constitution.Mander quoted Noam Chomsky,
who said the idea of social protection was simply the idea that ‘we should take
care of each other’, and explained how the same has become the ‘single most
subversive idea’ in our times. “Today, in the season of fake news,
indifference, and rising hate targeting sections of the minorities, the India
Exclusion Report is a collective exercise in finding the truth and telling the
truth, he said and quoted George Orwell as saying, “In times of universal
deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”caravandaily
OTHERS
Modi Govt's Draft Press Registration Bill May Restrict Digital Media's
Freedom
New Delhi: Dropping the ball on serious concerns like paid news which
were the subject of earlier draft amendments to archaic Press and Registration
of Books (PRB) Act, 1867, the Modi government is now proposing a souped-up
version of the colonial-era law that could bring news websites under the
purview of official regulations for the first time. Section 18 of the
provisions of draft Registration of Press and Periodical (RPP) Bill, 2019 –
released by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday – stipulates: “The
publishers of news on Digital Media shall register themselves with Registrar of
Newspapers of India in such manner and giving such particulars as may be
prescribed.”Until now, no news or current affairs website in India – and there
are tens of thousands of them since even blogs and social media pages which
carry news or opinion would be considered publishers of news on digital media –
has had to “register” with the government or follow any rules or regulations
other than what are normally applicable for any form of speech or
expression.thewire
BJP’s Pragya calls Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Godse a patriot in Lok Sabha; Opposition slams
comments
BJP member Pragya Thakur referred to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram
Godse as a "deshbhakt" during a debate in Lok Sabha, triggering a
protest by opposition members.When DMK member A Raja cited a statement of Godse
on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi during a discussion on the Special Protection
Group (Amendment) Bill, Thakur interrupted and said, "You cannot give
example of a deshbhakt."Raja said that Godse himself admitted that he had
nursed a grudge against Gandhi for 32 years before finally deciding to
assassinate him.Godse, Raja said, killed Gandhi because he believed in a
particular ideology (meaning Hindutva).While the Opposition members protested
the interruption by Thakur, BJP members persuaded her to sit down.Thakur is an
accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in which 10 persons were killed and
more than 80 were injured.This is not for the first time that Pragya Singh
Thakur has called Nathuram Godse a deshbhakt.During the Lok Sabha election
campaign in May this year, she had reiterated the same thing and did not
apologise for the same.“Godse was a patriot and will remain so. People calling
him a terrorist should introspect. They will be given a befitting reply in
these elections),"she had said.Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson
G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said, “The party (BJP) completely disagrees with the
statement and we strongly condemn it. The party will ask Pragya why she made
such a statement. She should tender a public apology.”nationalheraldindia
JNU Protests: Students form human chain to protest fee hike
Taking their voices to mainstream, the agitating students of JNU formed
a human chain in one of national capital's most visited place for shoppers-
Connaught Place.JNU students were accompanied by the students from different
universities including students from Jamia Millia Islamia, AIIMS and IIT
Delhi."All of us are here to make sure our brothers and sisters in JNU are
not alone in their fight to get their democratic right of education,"
Iqbal said who is a PhD student from Jamia.Speaking during the protest, the
president of JNUSU, Aishe Ghosh claimed that the protest was aimed to bring
down alleged fee hike in most of the public-funded education institute and also
revamp JNU's image.IANS
Constitution Day: Umar, Kanhaiya Exhort People to Stand Up for the
Constitution
New Delhi: JNU ex-students Umar Khalid and Kanhaiya Kumar have exhorted
the people to stand up for the Constitution, as “efforts are being made by the
BJP to change the salient features of the Indian Constitution. The two, along
with prominent journalist Aarefa Khanum Sherwani and Gorakhpur doctor Kafil
Khan, were addressing an event in Jamia Nagar here, styled as Celebration of
the Constitution. The event marked the 70th anniversary of introduction of the
Indian Constitution.Kanhaiya Kumar, addressing the gathering, called for unity
among secular parties to safeguard the Constitution. Umar Khalid, associated
with the United Against Hate, launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Remembering late Maharashtra ATS chief Hemanth
Karkar, who was martyred in 26/11 Taj hotel terror attack, Khalid questioned
the inclusion of Malegaon terror accused Sadhvi Pragya in the defence ministry
panel by Modi government. He criticised Pragya for claiming that Karkare died
due to a curse that befell on him. “The most unconstitutional thing this
government wants to do is to bring in the controversial Citizenship Amendment
Bill which has a provision to grant citizenship to refugees belonging to all
communities except Muslims. This is the height of discrimination,” Khalid
said.Caravan Daily
WORLD
Pak Army chief Bajwa''s extension hangs in balance; SC adjourns hearing
until tomorrow
Pakistan Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa on Wednesday rapped the attorney
general for turning the army chief into a "shuttlecock" and asked the
Imran Khan government to step back and assess what it was doing, as he heard a
plea against extending the tenure of Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.Prime
Minister Imran Khan through an official notification of August 19 granted a 3-year
extension to General Bajwa, citing "regional security environment".
Bajwa''s original tenure is set to expire on Thursday at midnight and he can
continue as the army chief if the Supreme Court decides the case in his favour
before that."There is still time. The government should step back and
assess what it is doing," said Chief Justice Khosa, who is heading a
three-member apex court bench comprising Justices Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and
Syed Mansoor Ali Shah."They should not do something like this with a
high-ranking officer," he said, referring to the extension of the army
chief''s tenure."You have turned the army chief into a shuttlecock,"
he told Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan, who presented arguments on behalf
of the government.Chief Justice Khosa said that new summary sent by the prime
minister to the president was a request for reappointment of the army chief.
But the president issued a notification for extension in his tenure."The
government should clarify whether it wants to give an extension to army chief
or wants to reappoint him," he said. "They never bothered to check
what is written and what they are sending." Khan attributed the gaffe to
"clerical errors" by the law ministry, adding that the army chief is
due to retire at midnight Thursday."Why do you make such errors?"
asked the chief justice. "You should have the degrees of those people
examined who are responsible for drafting these documents."The proceedings
were adjourned until Thursday.Prime Minister Khan held an emergency Cabinet
meeting to deal with the precarious situation, with Gen Bajwa himself attending
the deliberations.The case was expected to have widespread ramification for the
country and its powerful army.Farogh Naseem, who resigned from his post as law
minister on Tuesday to pursue the case, represented Gen Bajwa in the court.PTI
Iran official say over 7,000 people arrested in anti-government
protests, hundreds of buildings torched
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/11/27/more-than-7-000-arrested-in-iran-protests-official
Iran is beginning to acknowledge the scale of recent protests that swept
across the Islamic Republic, with one lawmaker quoted as saying authorities
arrested more than 7,000 people.The comment by Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, who
sits on parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, came as
Iran's interior minister claimed that demonstrators wanted to take over state
television.Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli offered no evidence for his claim during an
interview aired late on Tuesday night on Iranian state TV. Protests weren't
reported around state TV's HQRS in northern Tehran.The minister also said
approximately seven hundred banks and 140 government buildings had been set on
fire during recent protests in which he claimed 200,000 took part, Reuters
reported quoting IRNA. Iran has yet to offer any definitive statistics for the
unrest, which began November 15 when officials sharply raised government-set
gasoline prices.Amnesty International says it believes violence in the protests
and a security force crackdown killed at least 143 people.alaraby.co.uk
WeWork founder: Me, MBS and Kushner 'would save the world'
Israeli-born founder of failing co-working empire WeWork is alleged to
have told his company that three people were going to save the world: Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jared Kushner, and himself, according to a
searing exposé on the billionaire published in Vanity Fair. Adam Neumann, the
former director of the WeWork start-up - whom the article portrays as an
"egomaniacal" millennial tycoon - is alleged to have had a fixation
with the Saudi crown prince even after he was exposed as directly responsible
for the torture, murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Neumann and bin Salman are thought to have had a close relationship, with the
co-working tycoon allegedly telling his colleagues he was "saving the
women of Saudi Arabia" by working with the crown prince to introduce
coding courses for women.Moreover, Neumann is alleged to have told George W.
Bush's former national security adviser Stephen Hadley, that if he had been
MbS' mentor, he could have helped him navigate the fallout from Khashoggi's
gruesome assassination in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.The article also
sheds light on Neumann's dealings with US presidential advisor and Trump's
son-in-law Jared Kushner, whom he is said to have helped draw up his peace plan
for the Middle East, dubbed the "deal of the century".Neumann used
his contacts to produce a hi-spec video for Kushner to present at the Bahrain
summit in June, showing his vision of an economically transformed West Bank and
Gaza.alaraby.co.uk
Lebanese businessman Samir Khatib says 'ready to form a govt' following
Hariri withdrawal
Lebanon’s Samir Khatib said he was prepared to form a new government,
just hours after caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced he was
withdrawing his candidacy for the role of prime minister.Khatib, a prominent
contractor said he had been inspired to take on the role after speaking to
several people, according to local MTV station."I was approached by
different sides since I am close to everyone," Khatib said. "I am
ready to form a government and take over the premiership in order to serve the
country during these exceptional times,” he added.However, Hariri's office
published a statement in response distancing itself from names circulating for
the PM role, noting it would be announced following further
consultations.Hariri had earlier called on President Michel Aoun to urgently
hold consultations in parliament to name a new PM, The Daily Star reported, as
the official announced his withdrawal.The outgoing prime minister tendered his
government's resignation on 29 Oct, in response to pressure from street.alaraby.
Amnesty: Egypt using 'sinister' secretive agency to crush dissent
Egypt's government is using a secretive security agency responsible for
investigating national security threats to detain peaceful protesters,
journalists and critics on false charges without trial, Amnesty International
has said in a new report. 60-page publication released today detailed how
Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) operates as a "sinister
tool of repression", becoming increasingly central to President Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi's sweeping crackdown on dissent."In Egypt today, the
Supreme State Security Prosecution has stretched the definition of 'terrorism'
to encompass peaceful protests, social media posts and legitimate political
activities," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa
director.aljazeera
Ex-Erdogan ally wants to form new party before end of year
Former Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan has said he is planning
to form a "mainstream" political party by the end of the year to
challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development (AK)
Party. 52-year-old made the comments on
Tuesday to broadcaster HaberTurk, in his first live interview since leaving AK
Party in July, citing "deep differences"."The calendar [for the
launch] is the end of the year," he said, adding that the still-unnamed
party would appeal to a wide cross-section of the population. "It will be
a mainstream political movement," he said.aljazeera
views, Articles, FEATURES
Even after late-night coups, the sun rises — as it has in
Maharashtra:Randeep Singh Surjewala
Maharashtra: Questions about the midnight Fadnavis govt that need urgent
answers:Mala Jay
Over 3.5 Crore Cases Pending Across Courts in India, Little Change in
Numbers Since 2014
Birth of Maha Vikas Aghadi: Pawar stepped in later; Prithviraj, Dalwai,
Raut first raised pitch
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