*11 DEC. 2019: 13 Rabius Sani 1441:
Vol: 12, No: 80*
*INDIA- CAB NRC*
Contentious Citizenship Bill that excludes Muslims passed by Rajya Sabha
125-105 votes,to be law soon
Rajya Sabha today passed the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill,
2019, amid stiff resistance by the Opposition parties.The Bill was passed by a
margin of just 20 votes with 125 members voting in favour of the bill and 105
against it.Earlier, a proposal moved by the Opposition to refer the Bill to a
select committee of the House for a proper scrutiny was rejected by almost the
similar margin.In the course of the passage of the Bill, all the amendments
moved by Opposition members were defeated.Besides BJP, its allies such as JD-U
and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the legislation was supported by AIADMK, BJD, TDP
and YSR-Congress.The major Opposition parties which voted against the Bill
included Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Left parties, DMK, NCP,BSP,
RJD and APP. Shiv Sena abstained from voting and walked out of the House.
Shiv Sena boycotts Citizenship Bill vote in RS
Mumbai: Shiv Sena abstained from the vote on Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill in Rajya Sabha, 2 days after voting in favour of the bill in the Lok Sabha
citing "national interest". Behind the U-turn from one house to the
other is the Sena's new Maharashtra ally Congress, which had made clear its
displeasure at the party's support to the bill in Lok Sabha.The walkout by 3
Shiv Sena members brought the half-way mark down, making it easier for the
government, which does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha and needs every
vote possible to pass legislation.Shiv Sena had repeatedly said it could vote
differently in the Rajya Sabha if Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on the
bill was not satisfactory."I have been hearing since yesterday that those
who do not support this Bill are anti-national and those who support it are
nationalists. We don't need any certificate on our nationalism or
Hindutva," the Sena's Sanjay Raut said during the debate in the Rajya
Sabha.
‘Muslims in India needn’t worry’: Amit Shah on Citizenship Bill as
debate begins in RS
New Delhi : Amid objections against the Citizenship Bill, Union Home
Minister Amit Shah said it is “a ray of hope for lakhs of persecuted
people”.Expressing his concern, Shah in his opening address said it is
“unfortunate” that the minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have
not been given a chance to live as equals in their country.“There has been an
almost 20 per cent decline each in the population of religious minorities in
both Pakistan and present-day Bangladesh. Either they were killed or they fled
to India for shelter,” he said.He, however, asserted that the Muslims in India
need not be worried over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill while adding that
misinformation has been spread that this bill is anti-Muslim.“I want to ask the
people how is this bill related to Indian Muslims? They are Indian citizens and
will always remain, no discrimination against them,” Shah said.The Home
Minister added that no Muslim in India needs to worry as the Narendra Modi
government is working according to the Constitution that the minorities get
full protection.thestatesman
Sonia calls it a 'dark day', Modi hails ‘landmark day’
New Delhi :As the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Rajya
Sabha, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi termed it the “victory of narrow-minded and
bigoted forces over India’s pluralism”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
meanwhile, said the passage of the Bill marks a landmark day for “our nation’s
ethos of compassion and brotherhood”. Congress
president said: “Today marks a dark day in the constitutional history of
India.”“The Bill fundamentally challenges the idea of India that our
forefathers fought for and, in its place, creates a disturbed, distorted and
divided India where religion will become a determinant of nationhood,” she
added. PM Modi, on the other hand, said the Bill shall “alleviate the suffering of many who faced
persecution for years”.Calling the Bill an affront to “eternal principles of
equality and religious non-discrimination enshrined in our Constitution”,
Gandhi said it was ironic that the Bill “has been pushed through at a time when
the whole world is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.…this
flawed legislation is antithetical to the spirit of the freedom movement and
violative of the soul of our nation.”“In this moment of anguish, I would like
to reiterate the Congress Party’s determination to be relentless in our
struggle against BJP’s dangerously divisive and polarizing agenda,”she added.indianexpress
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind to challenge CAB in SC
New Delhi: Asserting that the
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is against the basic structure of Constitution,
the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said it will challenge the legislation in the Supreme
Court. Terming the passing of the Bill in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha a
"tragedy", Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani said
the bill is against the basic structure of the Indian Constitution and the
Jamiat will challenge it in Supreme Court. Madani said that the Jamiat will
challenge it in the court because the legislature has not done its job
honestly. "Now the judiciary can
make a better decision on it. Advocates have been consulted in this regard and
a petition is being drafted," he said in a statement. PTI
Jamiat to observe a nationwide day of protest against cab on Dec 13
Mumbai:At a press conference called by Trinamool Congress Minister and
President of the Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Siddiquillah Chowdhury
stated his displeasure against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and informed about
the organization's move to take out a massive protest rally in Kolkata against
CAB and NRC on Dec13."We will protest against CAB. 13th of Dec will be the
protest day throughout the country. We will try our best to make it successful
by peaceful ways only. We respect law and order and we will abide by it. This
will be done in masjids, whether before or after Friday prayer that has to be
decided. It will be done in madrasas and clubs throughout districts as
well", said Siddiquillah Chowdhury, the man who has been heading the
Bengal unit for the past 38 years.republicworld
Trains cancelled, army deployed,internet suspended as Northeast boils
over Citizenship Bill
Even as contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, that has been called
‘divisive’ and ‘unconstitutional’ by members of civil society and the
intelligentsia, was passed by Rajya Sabha, its ripples have sent the people on
the streets in the northeastern flank of the country. Assam turned into a
battleground on Wednesday with massive and violent protests across the state
against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, but the government pushed contentious
legislation through Parliament overruling a vociferous Opposition that alleged
it was against the idea of India as a secular nation. As thousands of people
including students hit the streets in Assam, police fired rubber bullets and
tear gas shells and baton-charged the protesters leaving many of them injured,
while curfew was imposed in Guwahati and a clampdown on internet services was
announced across several districts of the state.In view of the massive protests
against the much controversial Bill in Assam, the Northeast Frontier Railway on
Wednesday cancelled many trains and rescheduled a few that originate from the
state. As per news agency PTI, at least 14 trains have either been cancelled,
short terminated or diverted anticipating "disruptions in train
movement," NF Railway Chief PRO said.Out of these, 8 trains have been
"completely" cancelled, while the rest have been short terminated, PRO
said. Protests erupted across the state since early morning against the Bill.
By early afternoon on Wednesday, reports announcing deployment of army in parts
of Tripura surfaced on news channels. As of now, Tripura and Assam have already
come under prohibitory orders as army personnel have taken to major spots in
order to quell protests. Sources attributed by NDTV have confirmed that at
least 2 columns have been dispatched to the Kanchanpur and Manu areas of the
state, while a third has been sent to Bongaingon in Assam. Notably, one column consists of at least 70
soldiers. The deployment of the army came amid several incidents of violence
that have surfaced across the northeastern states. Meanwhile,PTI reported that
a 2-month-old ailing child died on way to a hospital when the ambulance
carrying the baby got stuck in a road blockade, while about 40 people were
injured in clashes in 3 places of Tripura during an 11- hour bandh to protest
against the contentious bill. BJP govt in Tripura has suspended Internet
service for 48 hours to prevent mischief mongers from spreading rumours in state
that witnessed skirmishes between tribals and non-tribals and at least one
incident of arson. indiatimes
1,000 detained as anti-Citizenship Amendment Bill protests intensify in
Assam
Protests: Troops shifted from Kashmir to Northeast,
With the situation in Jammu and Kashmir improving, the Central
government is withdrawing paramilitary troops from the valley. But there is a
new hotbed of unrest at present. As protests over the Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill, which is being debated in Parliament heat up in the Northeast, 5,000
paramilitary personnel are being sent to the region. Ten companies of CRPF have
been moved from Jammu and Kashmir to Assam. According to sources, as many as 20
CRPF companies may be sent to Assam from Jammu and Kashmir. A special train has
also been started to help security personnel reach Assam
conveniently.freepressjournal
BJP Assam MPs flag fear & confusion in state, say Modi govt pushed
citizenship bill too fast
On a day Rajya Sabha debated the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill brought in
by the Modi government, and as Assam erupted in violent protests, BJP MPs from
the state have raised redflags.MPs from Assam said the bill was creating
“confusion” in the state and emphasised that concerns of the ethnic Assamese
must be addressed.“Assamese-speaking people feel they will be outnumbered
within their own state and Bengali-speaking illegal Hindus will destroy their
culture,” said Gauhati MP Queen Oja.“We have to address their concerns.”Tezpur
MP Pallab Lochan Das said that, before introducing the bill, the government
should have initiated a “large campaign to dispel the misconception that it
will jeopardise the identity of Assamese people”. “Now, there is confusion…
What happens if a large number of illegal Bengali Hindus get citizenship?” he
added.theprint
Who is afraid of Amit Shah? Not Indian Muslims, says Kapil Sibal
Launching a bitter attack on Narendra Modi government and Home Minister
Amit Shah over the “divisive” and “unconstitutional” Citizenship Amendment
Bill, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said that neither Indian
Muslims nor anyone else is afraid of the Home Minister or his government.“You
(Amit Shah) said a very objectionable thing in the beginning while introducing
the bill that there is no need for India’s Muslims to be afraid of this bill. I
must tell you (Amit Shah) that Indian Muslims are not afraid of you. Neither am
I afraid of you, nor the Muslims nor anybody else,” Sibal said during a debate
on Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha.nationalheraldindia
‘Dump it in Bay of Bengal’ — Congress, opposition say court will strike
down citizenship bill
New Delhi: Congress Wednesday countered BJP-led NDA government’s
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, saying the proposed
legislation will be “struck down in court”.“We, as elected representatives, are
abdicating our responsibility,” said Congress Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram.“We
are pushing the responsibility to the lap of unelected judges and lawyers who
will now decide on its constitutional validity. This is a slap in the face of
the Parliament. This law will be struck down in court,” he added. “We oppose this bill not because of political
but constitutional reasons,” said senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, who
opened the debate for the Opposition. “The bill has been revised but the
changes are yet to be scrutinised.” From “thwarting the soul of the
Constitution”, “leading to the death of India”, “promoting a fascist Hindu
rashtra”, “lack of authentic figures behind the legislation”, “being drawn from
Nazi playbook” to being only worth “throwing into Bay of Bengal”, the
Opposition parties took the BJP-led government head on over the proposed
legislation.
Opposition Leaders Rip through Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha
Huge protest against CAB grips AMU: FIR against students for defying Sec
144
An FIR has been registered against 20 students of AMU in connection with
their protest against Citizenship Amendment Bill, and security has been beefed
up in the campus, a senior official said on Wednesday.Rapid Action Force has
been deployed at the entry points to University campus, where an uneasy calm
prevailed. Police on Tuesday night filed a report against 20 student leaders
and 500 other unnamed persons for defying prohibitory orders under Section 144
and holding a protest near Faiz Gate in campus.About 25,000 students of the
University have started their hunger strike against the Bill, Maktoobmedia.com
reported.Civil Lines' Station House Officer Amit Kumar said, "Section 144
has been clamped all over the city and the students had violated this provision
by marching up to the University Circle and trying to disturb the peace due to
which FIRs have been registered under relevant sections against 20 student
leaders." AMU Proctor Prof Afifullah Khan said that on Tuesday evening,
students took out a protest march from the University Library up to University
Circle.Khan, however, said the march was peaceful. AMU student leaders said
that their protests are "totally peaceful" and it is their
"democratic right" to raise a voice against the Bill which is not
just against the letter and spirit of the Constitution but is designed to
polarise Indian people on communal lines and divide the country.Secretary of
AMU Teachers Association, Prof Najmul Islam said, "We may not be
participating in the ongoing protest on the campus but we are sparing no
efforts to persuade all political parties including the ruling party to have a
relook at this bill as we foresee a very dangerous fall out of these events not
just in the country but in our neighbourhood also".Islam said they are
inviting senior political leaders of all national parties for a discussion on ramifications
of the bill.Meanwhile, no untoward incident has been reported from the campus
on Wednesday, according to an official spokesman of the University.The
spokesman said that annual examinations were held as per schedule. Earlier on
Tuesday, the protesting students had demanded that the university should
postpone annual examinations in view of the protest.PTI
FIR against AMU students for protesting against Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill
Guj activists oppose CAB, say it is aimed at pushing Hindutva
Ahmedabad:Some activists from
Gujarat have criticised the passage of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill, saying the proposed law will sharpen a communal divide while its real
objective is to take forward the agenda of Hindutva. "While the
Citizenship Amendment Bill's stated purpose is to offer refuge to persecuted
minorities from neighbouring countries, it only applies to a small, very
specific group of minorities and countries. It conveniently omits Ahmadis from
Pakistan, Rohingyas from Myanmar, and Tamils from Sri Lanka," stated a
letter signed by Dev Desai and 230 other activists cum citizens of NGO ANHAD.
"This bill is not about protecting refugees, but is instead intended
simply to advance the agenda of Hindutva. In turn, law will inflame passions,
and sharpen communal divisions all over the country, particularly in Bengal,
Assam, and other states of North East," it said.Activists Sheba George,
Admiral Ramdas, Cedric Prakash, Shabnam Hasmi of ANHAD, Nirjari Sinha of Jan
Sangarsh Manch and Hemantkumar Shah are other signatories to the letter.
"Not only will this law contradict the founding values of the Indian
republic, but it will also change the character of this nation forever.PTI
On Citizenship Bill, Prashant Kishor Sharpens Attack On Boss Nitish
Kumar
7Patna: Election strategist Prashant Kishor appears to be virtually
daring his boss, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, to pink slip him. Mr Kishor, whose bond
with CM has left him endowed with cabinet minister status in Bihar, today
amplified his criticism of Janata Dal United's decision to support the
controversial Citizenship Amendment bill that was cleared at midnight by the
Lok Sabha. Kishor said on Twitter that Kumar is betraying the trust of Bihar's
voters by agreeing to vote for the bill in the Rajya Sabha, where it will be
put to vote today.ndtv
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns CAB
New Delhi:Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, JIH has condemned the passing of the
Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Lok Sabha.While condemning the passage
of the Bill Jamaat chief Syed Sadatullah Hussaini said itis an outcome of a
‘communal mindset’ it is both ‘biased and discriminatory’.As the bill envisages
granting citizenship to all foreign immigrants coming from Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, and Pakistan except Muslims, it is violative of the cherished
“diversity” found in our country and the core values of our Constitution. Differentiating
the persecuted aspirants of citizenship based on religion is not only against
the basic structure of the constitution but also against humanity and
fundamental human values. “This bill is already causing international
repercussions that are bound to increase over time. By ignoring the plight of Muslim
minorities in countries like Sri Lanka and Burma, the CAB fails the test of its
own logic and shows our country bowing before the forces of bigotry and
Islamophobia. We appeal to all justice-loving citizens of our country to reject
the CAB”, he said theindianawaaz
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill
in Lok Sabha
Protests against CAB in New Delhi
Several organizations have held protests at Jantar Mantar against the
Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Terming it communal and in sharp contravention to
the fundamental rights guaranteed in Article 14, they questioned why minorities
from only 3 countries have been given space in the current bill, not other
neighboring countries.“The govt has a clear agenda to implement fascist
ideology and render Muslim community to second class citizens. They are taking
steps to create a Hindu Rashtra through constitutional means bypassing all
democratic values,” said advocate Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice-president of SDPI.Hundreds
of SDPI workers gathered at Jantar Mantar, raising slogans against the bill and
also burnt copies of the bill.thestatesman
‘In golden letters on Jinnah’s grave’: TMC’s Derek O’Brien jibes at PM
Modi over CAB
New Delhi :Trinamool Congress on Wednesday attacked the Narendra
Modi-led government at Centre over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment)
Bill, saying that “India is moving from democracy to dictatorship”. Speaking
during a debate on CAB, which was introduced in Rajya Sabha by Union Home
Minister Amit Shah, TMC’s Derek O’Brien took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
remarks on the bill.“I read that PM said this will be written in golden
letters. I will tell you where it will be written; it will be written on the
grave of the father of the nation, but which father of the nation? In Karachi,
on Jinnah’s grave,” he said.thestatesman
CAB: Opposition speaking same language as Pakistan, says PM Modi
No comment on CAB but govts must pursue non-discriminatory laws: UN
chief's spokesperson
UN chief Antonio Guterres will
not comment on India's Citizenship (Amendment) Bill while the domestic
legislative process is still underway, his spokesperson has said, stressing the
need to ensure that all governments pursue non-discriminatory laws."As far
as I'm aware, this is legislation that is continuing to go through the legislative
process. So, we wouldn't have any comment while the domestic legislative
process is being carried out," Guterres' Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said
on Tuesday at the daily press briefing here.Haq was responding to a question on
whether the UN Secretary General has any comment on the passage in the Lok
Sabha of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which the reporter said
discriminates against Muslims."At the same time, you're aware of what our
concerns are about making sure that all governments pursue non-discriminatory
laws," Haq said.PTI
Why Lankan Tamils, Muslims left out of CAB, ask Kamal Hassan
Taking a swipe at Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, actor turned politician
and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan questioned why Sri Lankan Tamils
and Muslims were left out of the “genuinely benevolent” legislation. Haasan
took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, “Why are Tamils who are
subjected to a methodic genocide and Muslims facing discrimination, be excluded
from the bill? If it’s a genuinely benevolent bill and not a vote garnering
exercise, then why won’t this CAB stop to pick up stranded Tamils and troubled
Muslims of Sri Lanka?”siasat
'Why are there protests in northeast if country is happy with CAB?':
Ghulam Nabi Azad's counter in rs
CAB serves the communal policies of Sangh Parivar, attack on secularism:
Kerala CM Vijayan
BJP brought CAB to keep communal pot boiling:legal luminaries
Mumbai: The Citizenship Amendment
Bill (CAB) has kicked up a controversy as it promises citizenship only to
religious minorities other than Muslims. According to senior advocate Aspi
Chinoy of the Bombay High Court, the CAB is nothing but 'illegitimate'
legislation.“This bill undermines the very basis of a secular republic like
India. No doubt citizenship is a key part of a republic but if one says that
now citizenship would be given on the basis of religion, would not be correct
and legal,” said Chinoy, who is an expert in constitutional law. “I believe
that this bill has been introduced only to steer political controversy and to
keep the communal pot boiling,” Chinoy said. Similar was the opinion of Justice
(retd.) P B Savant of the Supreme Court.He said CAB shows the 'anti-Muslim'
attitude of the BJP govt.Human rights activist Lara Jesani said CAB shows the
'communal' character of BJP government. She said that the bill is blatantly
discriminative.freepressjournal
Govt snatching rights of Anglo-Indians but sheds false tears for
minorities in neighbourhood: Congress
New Delhi: Accusing the government of snatching the rights of India's
"smallest minority community", Anglo-Indians, Congress alleged that
the government was shedding "crocodile tears" over the minority
communities facing discrimination in neighbouring countries.Lok Sabha passed a
Constitution amendment bill on Tuesday to extend reservation to SCs and STs in
the Lower House of Parliament and state assemblies by another 10 years, but did
not extend the facility to the Anglo-Indian community."While the
government shed crocodile tears over the plight of the minorities in the
neighbouring countries during the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, they
denied the rights of India's smallest minority - Anglo-Indians - next
day," Congress leader and MP Manish Tewari said here.PTI
Karnataka: Wakf Board and mosques prepare community for NRC, Census 2021
Bengaluru:From Aadhaar cards to death certificates, Muslim families in
Karnataka are compiling a slew of government documents they plan to keep ready
ahead of NRC. There’s a sense of urgency as the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill,
makes its way through Parliament this week. Many families have approached
notaries for affidavits with their family trees to prove kinship. Meanwhile,
community leaders, mosques, their jama’ats and several not-for-profits working
with Muslims have begun educating people about various documents they need to
have in order. Karnataka Wakf Board issued a circular asking mosques to ensure
that members of the community organise all required documents before 2021
census begins.Responding to the circular, administrators of various mosques in
the state, many of which had already begun organising people, are sharing
checklists of necessary documents, including residence proof from or before
1951, land and tenant records, passport, LIC policies and educational
certificates, among others, with the community.The community is circulating
what it calls a “pre-NRC assessment form” to all Muslims, and mosque administrators
claim this helps in preparing a family tree and establish proof of residence
and nativity.AB Ibrahim, administrator, Karnataka Wakf Board, in a letter said:
“It is proposed to have a register in every masjid containing the details along
with documents such as birth certificates, voter ID, Aadhaar, ration and PAN
cards, etc. The register shall have all the details, and masjids in cities can
also make and store soft copies.”Syed Shafiulla Saheb, president,
Masjid-e-Sahaba in Electronics City, while stating there was no clarity yet on
what the census questionnaire may seek, said one of the challenges is that many
community members are below the poverty line, most of whom are daily wage
labourers with neither information nor resources to organise the required
documents.TOI
*OTHERS*
SC's new constitution bench to hear in-chamber review petitions against Ayodhya
verdict tomorrow
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Thursday petitions seeking a
review of its verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute case. However, these
petitions, numbering 18 in all and to be heard by a five-member bench, to be
headed by CJI SA Bobde, will be decided in-chamber and not in open court, as is
normal procedure. The petitioners include the All India Muslims Personal Law
Board and Nirmohi Akhara. As many as 40 civil rights activists have also filed
review petitions, even though they were not parties to the original case.The
petitioners have stressed they do not look to disturb the peace but add that
any peace must be conducive to justice. Muslim petitioners have said, with respect
to this case, they have always maintained peace but have been victims of
violence and unfair treatment. Their review is part of quest for justice, they
said.One of the petitions says the top court's verdict in the case:
"Condones serious illegalities of destruction, criminal trespass, and
violation of rule of law including damaging the Mosque and eventually
destroying it".The hearing on the review petitions will be taken up in the
judges' chamber at 1.40 pm on Thursday. The Judges are yet to decide whether to
hear review pleas in open court. ndtv/ NEWS 18
Nirmohi Akhara files Ayodhya review plea, wants clarity on role in Ram
temple construction
New Delhi: Nirmohi Akhara, one of the main petitioners from the Hindu
side in the Ayodhya title dispute case, filed a review plea in the Supreme
Court Wednesday, seeking clarity on its role in the construction of the Ram
temple. The Akhara made it clear that it “welcomes” the court’s 9 November
verdict that allowed a Ram temple to built on the disputed site in Ayodhya, but
said it wanted to challenge certain findings.In its review petition, the Akhara
has now sought clarity on the nature of its role and representation in the
trust, “to avoid any future disputes”.The petition also makes it clear that the
Akhara does not challenge the allotment of an alternate site to Muslims for the
construction of a mosque, stating that this was “also a welcome direction to
maintain balance and a congenial atmosphere and harmony between the two
communities”.theprint
2002 Gujarat riots: Nanavati Commission gives clean chit to Narendra
Modi, ministers; points fingers at 3
cops
New Delhi:Nanavati Commission gave a clean chit to then Gujarat chief
minister Narendra Modi and his ministers in the 2002 communal riots, in which
over 1000 people were killed.“There is no evidence to show that these attacks
were either inspired or instigated or abated by any minister of the state,” the
commission said in its report, which runs into over 1,500 pages and is compiled
in nine volumes.The commission’s final report was tabled in the Gujarat
Assembly today, five years after it was submitted to then state chief minister
Anandiben Patel. The Commission blamed the police for failing to control the mobs
in some places either due to inadequate numbers, or because they were not
properly armed. On some riots in Ahmedabad city, the commission observed, “The
police had not shown their competence and eagerness which was
necessary.”Evidence and testimonies given by three former IPS officers RB
Sreekumar,Rahul Sharma, and Sanjiv Bhatt against the Gujarat government were
dismissed by the Commission. Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said
Wednesday that a departmental inquiry has been recommended against them.Shortly
after the riots, then Gujarat chief
minister Narendra Modi appointed the commission. Initially, it was a one-member
commission headed by Justice (retired) KG Shah. However, due to opposition by
certain groups, it was made a two-member commission headed by Justice (retired)
GT Nanavati as its chairman.
JNU seeks Delhi High Court action against students and police for
‘violating’ court order
JNU has moved the Delhi High Court seeking contempt action against its
students and the police for allegedly violating a court order barring protests
within 100 metres of the university’s administrative block.JNU, in its plea,
has claimed that the students “grossly violated” the August 9, 2017, order of
the high court by holding a protest within 100 metres of the administrative
block and affecting its day-to-day working, which has been disrupted since
October 28.It has also claimed that the police also violated the order by
refusing and failing to take action to maintain law and order in the university
and remove the blockade around the administrative block.The petition, filed
through the central government’s standing counsel Monika Arora, has contended
that repeated efforts made by JNU officials to enter the administrative block
to perform their duties failed as the agitating students turned violent.PTI
Who can recreate J&K Constituent Assembly, Supreme Court asks Shah
Faesal
NEW DELHI:Who is the present day “competent authority” to bring the
extinct Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir back to life, Justice Surya
Kant, one of the five judges on the Supreme Court’s Article 370 Bench, asked
J&K leader Shah Faesal on Wednesday.If the recommendation for abrogation of
the special status to J&K has to necessarily emanate from the Constituent
Assembly, who has the power to reconstitute it now, the judge repeatedly asked
from the Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana.Constituent Assembly ceased to exist
in January 1957 with the coming into being of the J&K Constitution. Before
its dissolution, it did not take a decision in favour of abrogation of Article
370 - the constitutional provision which is the fountainhead of the special
status and privileges granted to J&K in accordance with the Instrument of
Accession.So, Article 370 had survived all these years until it was blunted by
a President’s notification on August 5, abrogating the special status and
subsequently reorganising the State into two Union Territories. In fact, the
proviso to Article 370 (3) required that a recommendation for any change in the
special status and privileges should originally come from the Constituent
Assembly. The President could not have issued the August 5 notification, which
made irreversible changes in the character of the State.“The J&K
Constituent Assembly does not exist now... So it could not make any
recommendation,” senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, for Mr. Faesal,
submitted.“If there is no constituent assembly, then what? Who should be the
competent authority to form the J&K Constituent Assembly [to decide on
special status to J&K]? Please enlighten us on who is the competent
authority to make laws,” Justice Kant asked. “So what are you suggesting?
Should there have been a referendum or a concurrence or a
consultation?”.thehindu
Jharkhand HC grants bail to six people arrested in Tabrez Ansari
lynching case
Jharkhand High Court has granted bail to 6 people arrested in connection
with lynching of Tabrez Ansari in June.Justice R Mukhopadhyay granted bail to
the six after their advocate A K Sahani informed the court that neither their
names were mentioned in FIR registered in connection with death of Ansari nor
the main accused Papu Mandal had implicated them during interrogation by the
police.The advocate told the court that the 6 -- Bhimsen Mandal, Chamu Nayak,
Mahesh Mahali, Satyanarayan Nayak, Madan Nayak and Vikram Mandal -- had been in
jail since June 25.Ansari was thrashed by a mob on June 17 at Dhatkidih village
in Seraikela-Kharsawan district when he and 2 of his associates allegedly tried
to enter a house with an intention to commit theft, a senior police officer had
said then.PTI
Because of Aadhaar, over one million children in India were denied
admission to schools
More than 75% of school-age children in 5 states were required to
provide their Aadhaar – a 12-digit, biometric-based, unique identity number –
for school enrolment in violation of a landmark Supreme Court order, as per the
State of Aadhaar Report 2019 published on Nov.25. Nationwide, providing Aadhaar
during enrolment was made mandatory for about 73% of children, the report said,
“Even after the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, many families still need to provide
Aadhaar for children’s school enrolment.”Unique Identification Authority of
India, which is tasked with the Aadhaar programme, had stated in Dec.2018 that
“asking for Aadhaar cards for admissions is not as per the provisions of law”
and asked schools to ensure that children are not denied admission for lack of
Aadhaar.The apex court, in its judgement in September 2018, had prohibited
private organisations and service providers such as schools, banks, insurance
firms and telecom companies from demanding Aadhaar data to grant school and
college admissions, open bank accounts and give mobile connections, even as it
upheld the linking of Aadhaar to permanent account numbers and to
beneficiaries’ bank accounts to receive benefits under welfare schemes. Critics
of digital ID programme have consistently raised concerns about denial of
service as well as highlighted how personal information and biometrics can be
used as surveillance tools.An estimated 1.2 billion people, or more than 90% of
the country’s population, had the 12-digit number, according to the report.
About 103 million people, or 8% of the population, did not. Of this, 75
million, or 73%, were children; one-third of them, or 25 million, were under 5
years of age.scroll/ IndiaSpend Team
Parliament: Send Personal Data Protection Bill to joint select
committee, says Centre
Modi government today proposed sending the Personal Data Protection Bill
to a joint select committee of both the Houses of Parliament amid Opposition’s
claim that citizens’ right of privacy was being compromised, PTI reported.Union
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the proposed committee might bring out a
report before the Budget session, which is expected to begin in the last week
of January.Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who heads Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Information and Technology, protested against the move and said
the draft law should be referred to his panel. But Prasad pointed out that the
standing committee has other bills to scrutinise while the joint panel would
have the sole agenda of looking into the draft data protection law.scroll
India’s growth forecast downgraded from 6.5% to 5.1% by Asian
Development Bank
Asian Development Bank on Wednesday downgraded its projection for
India’s economic growth in the ongoing financial year from 6.5% to 5.1%. It
said consumption was impacted due to slow job growth and that the rural sector
was in distress due to aggravated poor harvest, PTI reported.“India’s growth is
now seen at a slower 5.1% in fiscal year 2019 as the foundering of a major
non-banking financial company in 2018 led to a rise in risk aversion in the
financial sector and a credit crunch,” the statement read. “Growth should pick
up to 6.5% in fiscal year 2020 with supportive policies.”
AP cabinet approves draft law mandating disposal of sexual violence
cases in 21 days, death to rapists
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet today approved a draft legislation that mandates
disposal of cases of atrocities against women within 21 days and handing out
the death penalty.The legislation, an amendment to the AP Criminal Law, will be
called "AP Disha Act", in memory of the veterinary doctor raped and
murdered in neighbouring Telangana recently.Another draft legislation has also
been approved, which will pave the way for establishment of special courts to
try cases of atrocities against women and children. The two Bills are expected
to be tabled in the ongoing winter session of the state Legislature, government
sources said. Under the proposed AP Disha Act, death penalty has been
prescribed for rape.Where cognizable evidence is established in such cases, amended
law prescribes completion of investigation in 7 days and court trial in
subsequent 14 days so as to award punishment within 21 days. The existing law
permits trial in such cases in four months.PTI
*WORLD*
Aung San Suu Kyi defends Myanmar against genocide allegations
Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has defended Myanmar's
military against genocide allegations made at International Court of Justice
(ICJ) amid accusations of mass killings, rape and expulsion of the Rohingya
Muslim minority.The Gambia, a small West African country, filed the case at the
ICJ in The Hague, United Nations' highest court, alleging it violated the 1948
Genocide Convention."Gambia has placed an incomplete and misleading
picture of the factual situation in Rakhine state," Suu Kyi said at the
UN's top court on Wednesday. "Surely under the circumstances, genocidal
intent cannot be the only hypothesis."Can there be genocidal intent on the
part of the state that actively investigates, prosecutes and punishes soldiers
and officers, who are accused of wrongdoing? Although the focus here is on
members of the military, I can assure you that appropriate action will be taken
on civilian offenders, in line with due process."She repeatedly termed a
bloody crackdown in 2017 as an "internal conflict", saying Myanmar's
military was responding to attacks by Rohingya "militants" and armed
local groups, such as ARSA.Once a human rights icon who fought against the
powerful military for democracy, Suu Kyi has shocked critics and galvanised
supporters at home by travelling to The Hague to head her country's delegation.
ICJ judges are hearing the first phase of the case until Thursday: The Gambia's
request for "provisional measures" - the equivalent of a restraining
order - against Myanmar to protect Rohingya population until the case is heard
in full.aljazeera
UK braces for critical election called to break Brexit deadlock; polls
suggest slim majority for Conservatives
Britons are set to vote for the third time in four years in a snap poll
called to end the political deadlock over Brexit.Voters will flock to polling
booths on Thursday from 7am (7:00GMT), braving cold, wet and possibly snowy
weather in some regions, to participate in an election that has been dubbed the
most important for a generation. The ballot marks the end of a breakneck
six-week campaign during which Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn,
his main challenger, have battled for support despite both being widely
criticised over their leadership credentials.Johnson, 55, has promised a
right-wing Conservative government would "get Brexit done" and take
the UK out of the EU by the end of January 2020 with his withdrawal agreement,
and warned of more "dither and delay" in the event of a Labour
victory.Leader of the left-wing Labour Party, Corbyn, 70, has said he would
broker a softer divorce deal than Johnson's and put a revised withdrawal
agreement to a referendum, alongside the option to remain, within six months.
The veteran socialist MP has also promised to reshape UK's economy, with
proposals such as income tax hikes for top earners and a nationalisation
programme. Meanwehile, Kingdom's political leaders are crisscrossing the
country on the final day of general election campaigning, as a key poll showed
the outcome could be hanging in the balance.Conservative Prime Minister Boris
Johnson and Labour main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn were set for
whistlestop tours on Wednesday of key battleground seats in a frantic last push
for votes.aljazeera
Israel must end deadlock by midnight or hold third vote in a year
After months of political turmoil, Israel and its embattled Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday looked to be heading for a third
election in a 12-month period unless they can resolve a stalemate before
midnight.Chances for a last-minute resolution looked dim after days of
mudslinging between Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz, both of whom have
repeatedly failed to build a governing majority in the parliament, known as the
Knesset.The drama looks set to pit Netanyahu - Israel's longest-serving prime
minister now governing in the caretaker role - into another political battle at
a time when, weakened by corruption charges, he must fend off internal
challengers in his Likud party.aljazeera
US halts military training for Saudi students after shooting
Training of all Saudi Arabian military personnel in the United States
was stopped until further notice after a Saudi airman shot and killed three
people last week at a base in Florida.The Pentagon's decision will have
far-reaching effects on visiting Saudi personnel, including grounding more than
300 Saudi Arabian military aviation students as part of a "safety
stand-down".The Pentagon later on Tuesday said the move would also affect
infantry personnel and all other Saudi military training, other than classroom
lessons. Such coursework, which includes English-language classes, will
continue.aljazeera
UN says unable to verify Iranian weapons used in Saudi oil attack
United Nations is "unable to
independently corroborate" that missiles and drones used in the attacks on
Saudi oil facilities in September "are of Iranian origin,"
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday.The
United States, European powers and Saudi Arabia have blamed the September 14
attack on Iran. Yemen's Houthi rebels had claimed responsibility for the
attacks, and Iran, which the group is closely aligned to, denied any
involvement.Guterres said the UN examined the debris of weapons used in attacks
on a Saudi oil facility in Afif in May, on the Abha international airport in
June and August and on the Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Khurais and Abqaiq in
September.aljazeera
Turkey to host rally for Egyptian prisoners
A large number of Egyptians and Turkish civil society groups will attend
a torchlight march in Istanbul to draw attention to unlawful detentions by the
Egyptian regime.The march will start near the landmark Fatih Mosque and end at
Sarachane Park.On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the Solidarity Group for
Egyptian Prisoners urged people to voice concern over the human rights
violations in Egypt, Jerusalem, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, East Turkistan and
Myanmar."We condemn oppressors all over the world, regardless of their
religion, language or race and stand for the freedom of innocent people who are
facing oppression," the group said in a statement.The group said thousands
of innocent people were killed by the Egyptian regime which overthrew the
country's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi -- who was
ousted in a 2013 military coup and died this June in the middle of a trial.The
number of people, detained in Egypt's prisons, mainly members of Muslim
Brotherhood and other political opponents, was estimated to be over 65,000, it
added.There are 154 women languishing in prisons across the country, it
said.Many people, especially young men, were sentenced to death by the regime,
with about 60 of these executions carried out without families being
informed.The prisoners, it said, were trying to raise awareness on their "unbearable
conditions" by going on hunger strikes from time to time."Prisoners
are not allowed to meet with relatives and lawyers, while those who are sick
are deprived of receiving medical treatment."Anadolu Agency
UK: Indian-origin doctor convicted of sexual offences against 23 women
An Indian-origin doctor was on Tuesday found guilty of sexually
assaulting 23 women by a court in UK. Manish Shah, a general practitioner, was
convicted of 25 counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration.The Old
Bailey Court in London heard how Shah used the case of Hollywood actor Angelina
Jolie having a preventative mastectomy, before asking a patient if she would
like him to examine her breasts, PTI reported.
Bangladesh's war crime tribunal pronounces death sentence for Abdus
Sattar:
Bangladesh's International Crimes
Tribunal-1 on Wednesday sentenced accused Abdus Sattar to death on charge of
committing crimes against humanity during the War of Independence in 1971.The
three-judge ICT-1 chairman Justice Md Shahinur Islam delivered the verdict in a
full court hearing attended by Justice Amir Hossain and Justice Md Abu Ahmed
Jamadar.The court asked the prison authorities to produce Abdus Sattar alias
Tipu alias Tipu Sultan, 66, of Raninagar in Boalia of Rajshahi city, before the
court by 9:00am.Sattar, also a retired assistant professor of Gopalpur Degree
College in Lalpur of Natore, was indicted on August 8, 2018 on two counts of
crimes against humanity and his trial ended on October 17. newagebd
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
If Parliament passes CAB, India’s constitutional structure will lose its
soul:Harsh Mander
India shall be remade through demographic change, street by
street:SHIVAM VIJ
With 2 bills Shah cements himself as Modi heir: J.P. Yadav
CAB protests a battle for India – either we are a secular state or we aren’t
India at all:YOGENDRA YADAV
Govt agencies get wide powers to call for personal data in privacy Bill
Liaquat-Nehru Pact: Why Amit Shah May Not Be Right in Mentioning Deal to
Justify Citizenship Bill
Where Do Muslims, Urdu, Owaisi and Tribes Figure in Jharkhand
Polls?Mohammad Sajjad, Zeeshan Ahmad
Stuck in a Time Warp, Madrasas Need Modernisation and to Guard Against
Being Branded 'Terror Cradles':Rasheed Kidwai
*Compiled
and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 10:02 PM).*
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment