*24 DEC. 2019: 26 Rabius Sani 1441:
Vol: 12, No: 91
*india:anti-citizenship
act stir*
Population list NPR to be held between April-Sept.2020, no document or
biometrics needed: Modi Govt approves Rs 8,500 crore for exercise
New Delhi: Union Cabinet today approved a proposal to update National
Population Register (NPR), which is linked to the Census. The exercise will
cost Rs 8,500 crore, the government said. The Census Commission has said the
objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every
"usual resident" of the country. The database will have demographic
details.A "usual resident", for NPR, is a person who has lived in an
area for at least 6 months or more, or a person who intends to live in an area
for the next 6 months or more. It is mandatory for every "usual resident"
of India to register in NPR."Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to
update NPR. No one needs to give any proof. Everyone who lives in India will be
included," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters today. NPR,
since it is linked to the Census, is seen as the first step towards a
nationwide exercise to implement NRC. Though an NPR doesn't necessarily mean
it's guaranteed there will be an NRC, it clears the path for a nationwide
citizens' list. This is seen as one of the reasons why some states like West
Bengal and Kerala, which are opposed to NRC, have stopped work on NPR. NPR
exercise will be held between April and Sept.2020 in all states and Union
Territories except Assam, where NRC exercise to identify illegal migrants has
already been conducted. The data for NPR was first collected in 2010 during the
second term of UPA government, along with the house-listing phase of Census
2011. NPR data was first updated in 2015 with door-to-door surveys;
digitisation of the updated data is complete now, officials said. Today, the
government cleared the decks for the next round of updating NPR, along with the
house-listing phase of Census 2021 in 2020. West Bengal and Kerala have stopped
NPR exercise, over a week after the controversial bill to amend the Citizenship
Act was passed by both houses of parliament. NDTV
NPR is a population register, not citizen register, reiterates
Javadekar, says every person living in India will be included in NPR
NPR: All you need to know about NPR that could pave way for pan-India
NRC
UP: police admit youth died in firing by them, cop acted in self-defence
after DGP's denial
Bijnor: The district police here said a youth died when they fired in
self defence last week, contradicting an earlier claim by Uttar Pradesh DGP
that no one died in police firing during the protests against the Citizenship
Amendment Act.SP (Rural) Vishwajeet Srivastava today said a 22-year-old man was
killed when a policeman opened fire while facing a violent mob in Nahtaur
area."After Friday prayers, a violent mob attacked a police station and
snatched the pistol of sub-inspector Ashish Tomar,” he said. A constable was
fired at when he tried to get it back"When the constable opened fire in
self-defence, it hit ''upadravi'' (troublemaker) Suleiman and he died," SP
added.Suleiman''s family said he had been preparing for the civil services entrance
exam and had nothing to do with the protests.Another man, Anis, died in firing
from the mob in the district, SP said. 32 FIRs were registered and 215 people
arrested in the district, where the situation is now normal, Bijnor SP Sanjiv
Tyagi said.This is for the first time
that the state police have accepted that they have opened fire during the
violent protests in the state. At least 17 people have been reported killed.DGP
OP Singh has said no one was killed in police firing and blamed the deaths
mostly on “cross-firing”.Earlier, a video surfaced showing a police
sub-inspector purportedly loading his pistol, amid the sound of gunfire. The
video appeared to be from Yateemkhana area in Kanpur. Another video,
purportedly related to the violence earlier at AMU, shows students pushing at
the campus gate. The protesters are apparently trying to get out as the police
try to confine them to campus. PTI
Deaths caused by
arms of protesters: UP DGP
UP Police Arrests State Head of PFI, 16 Others for Violence During
Lucknow Protests
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police has said they have arrested the state head
of Popular Front of India (PFI) and 16 other workers of the Islamist outfit in
connection with the violence in the state capital during the protests against
the amended Citizenship Act last week. Wasim, the state head of the outfit, was
arrested for allegedly masterminding the violence, the police said.In Shamli
district in western UP, 28 people, including 14 members of PFI, have been arrested
since Dec.19 for allegedly attempting to incite mass gatherings during anti-CAA
protests."Total 14 PFI members including Mohammad Shadab, a prominent
member of PFI, have been arrested. 2 PFI members are wanted. Another 14 people
were also arrested in the district," Shamli SP Vineet Jaiswal told PTI.On
Dec.19, the situation was tense in Shamli and its Kairana town and around 150
people were taken into preventive custody and released later in view of violent
protests unfolding in other parts of the state, he said."Wasim, Nadeem and
Ashfaq of PFI have been arrested by police. While Wasim is the state head,
Ashfaq is the treasurer and Nadeem is a member of PFI," SSP, Lucknow,
Kalanidhi Naithani told reporters here.Police have seized placards, flags,
pamphlets and papers, literature, newspaper cuttings and banners and posters of
NRC/CAA protest from them, SSP said.The official said 33 FIRs have been filed
in the state capital and 150 people arrested so far.PTI
Who will compensate damage to private property by cops during
Muzaffarnagar violence?: Ex MP Saiduzzaman
Calling the police action against protesters in Uttar Pradesh’s
Muzaffarnagar on 20 December a lapse on the government’s part, former Congress
MP S Saiduzzaman said that the cops harassed innocents under the guise of a
crackdown against rioters after protests against the amended Citizenship Act
took a violent turn.In a press note dated 23 Dec, Saiduzzaman said that police
barged into homes, destroyed personal property and sealed the shops of those
not involved in protests in the name of raids.Muzaffarnagar Police sealed over
50 commercial establishments in Meenakshi Chowk since 21 Dec. District
Administration has announced that some of these properties will be sold to
compensate the losses caused to public property during the protests.Taking a
swipe at the “seize and auction” route to compensate the damages caused to
public property, Saiduzzaman asked who will compensate those whose private
property was damaged by the police.While condemning police action following
protests, Saiduzzaman wrote that Hindus and Muslims all across the country are
standing united against the law. He also claimed that the police also rounded
up innocent bystanders or those who incidentally came out of mosques while some
extremist elements continued to protest violently.firstpost
Bijnor Ground Report: Muslim families flee as UP Police vandalise homes,
harass women after clashes over CAA
Bijnor:Amid police crackdown across Uttar Pradesh over Citizenship
Amendment Act protests, families in Bijnor's Nehtaur allege that vandalism by
the state police has forced them to flee their homes. Nehtaur is in Uttar Pradesh's
Bijnor district.Over 10 people have been arrested by the police, 60 have been
named as accused and over 3000 unknown persons have been mentioned in FIRs
after clashes erupted between police and protesters in Bijnor.The locals allege
that after clashes over the CAA, UP Police has been vandalising their homes,
harassing women and threatening their children to disclose the location of the
male members of their families.India Today TV visited two such homes. In one of
the houses, the washbasin, bathroom, bed, furniture, fridge, utensils and other
items were broken and strewn all over. When we asked a neighbour what had
happened, he said, "We are being targeted because we are Muslims. 8-10
policemen come to our homes asking about the men in our family. If we tell them
that we are not aware, they abuse us, harass the women and threaten the
children."The neighbour, on condition of anonymity, also said, "The
police have told us that FIRs have been filed against more than 3,000 unnamed
people in connection with the violence on Friday. If they come to know that I
have spoken, my family members will be picked, beaten up and framed by
them."5 other houses in the same area were locked and if neighbours are to
be believed, families have abandoned their homes over the fear that the police
will come back and harass them.Just a few meters away, in another house, TV
set, bathroom, utensils, furniture and other items were allegedly broken by the
police.At least 8 other families, who live in the same area, have also left
their homes over fear of police brutality. "The people are scared after
the recent conduct of the police -- the way the policemen have treated the
women, children and vandalised homes. The police has mentioned thousands
unknown in FIRs and families fear that if they speak against police they will
be named and arrested," said a local resident Hamid Salmani.indiatoday
Citizenship Act Protests: Police Book over 16000 in UP’s Kanpur
NEW DELHI – Amid a mass crackdown across the state to thwart anti-CAA
protests, the Uttar Pradesh police has booked as high as 16,500 individuals in
Kanpur district alone. They have been charged with disruption of public order
and unleashing of violence, the New Delhi-based online news portal, The Print,
has reported.Citing the information given by police officer Devendra Mishra, a
deputy superintendent at Kanpur Nagar, the report said 16 cases have been filed
across different police stations in the district over the last few
days.caravandaily
Rahul, Priyanka
stopped by police from entering Meerut to meet kin of deceased protesters
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rahul-priyanka-stopped-by-police-from-entering-meerut-to-meet-kin-of-deceased-protesters/article30387557.ece?homepage=trueCongress
leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Dec.24 were stopped by police
from entering Meerut on their way to meet the families of those who died during
protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, party sources said.The two had
requested that they, along with another Congress leader, be allowed to meet the
families, but were denied entry, sources said.Sources said that at least five
protesters died in Meerut alone.PTI
Cong CMs condemn UP govt for stopping Rahul-Priyanka
Centre should allay Muslims'' apprehensions on CAA-NRC: Mayawati
Lucknow:BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday said the Centre should allay
concerns of Muslims over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed
countrywide NRC."...it will be better if the Centre allays all
apprehensions of Muslims on CAA/NRC to their satisfaction," she said in a
tweet in Hindi.In another tweet, she said, "At the same time, the Muslim
community should remain alert that they are not politically exploited on the
pretext of (protest against) this issue."PTI
West Bengal Governor prevented from presiding over Jadavpur University
convocation over CAA,NRC
KOLKATA:West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar was on Tuesday forced to
leave Jadavpur University campus without presiding over the convocation of the
State-run university. Dhankar, who arrived at university, was prevented from
reaching the venue by members of the staff association of the university. The
staff association union is backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress.Holding
black flags and posters against Dhankar, the protesters remained defiant even
as university officials urged them to make way for the Governor, who is also Chancellor
of the University. Representatives of the employees union said that the
Governor, who is supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) had no
business inside the university campus and he should return to Raj Bhavan. After
waiting for almost 90 minutes, the Governor left for Raj Bhavan.The convocation
started in absence of the Chancellor. While the students wore badges against
CAA, NRC they did not block the Governor’s convoy. Some students said that they
would not have accepted degrees had the Governor presided over the
function.thehindu
'Had no plan to protest till they sent me out': Pondy Uni gold medallist
Rabeeha
27-year-old Rabeeha Ahdurehim, a student of the Puducherry University,
was seated in the row G3 in the college auditorium, waiting in anticipation for
her convocation ceremony to begin on Monday afternoon. The mass communication
student was among those who would be receiving a gold medal for excellence in
academic performance and she was looking forward to being addressed by
President Ram Nath Kovind who was invited to be the Chief Guest.But around
12.30pm, a female police officer came up to Rabeeha and claimed she wanted to
have a word with her."She led me out of the auditorium, asked me to wait
there and then went back in, locking the door behind her," Rabeeha tells
TNM. "I didn't understand what was happening. As I was waiting, I heard the
President come into the auditorium and the convocation begin. I asked the
police officials around me why I was made to wait, but no explanation was
offered," she says.Meanwhile, inside the hall, the President was
addressing students and giving medals to a select few."So many thoughts
were running in my mind. The entire episode was so insulting," says
Rabeeha. "I kept wondering why I was singled out. If it was because of my
protests against the government while inside the campus, then others too should
have been called out from the hall. There were people seated next to me, who
took part in the protests as well. I can't tell whether it was because of my
hijab or religion because the police never explicitly gave me a reason at
all," she adds.thenewsminute
Muslim Student Refuses Medal in PU to Protest against CAA, Thrown Out of
Convocation
Told to exit India for protesting against CAA: German student at IIT
Madras
Chennai:A German student in Master’s course in Department of Physics at
IIT Madras, part of a one-year exchange programme, has said that he was asked
to leave the country “immediately” days after he attended protests against the
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed NRC in the campus.Speaking
from the Chennai airport shortly before his scheduled flight home Monday night,
Jakob Lindenthal said he received “oral directions” to leave India from
Foreigners Regional Registration Office in (FRRO) in Chennai around
noon.Lindenthal was in Bangalore for the past few days participating in a
“sports tournament” when, he says, he received the first email from FRRO.
During a protest in Chennai against the CAA and NRC, he had carried a poster
that said: “1933 to 1945; We Have Been There” (a reference to Nazi regime in
Germany).“After I reached Chennai this morning, my course coordinator advised
me to meet immigration officials immediately. When I reached there, they cited
some administrative issues related to my residential permit in India. After I
resolved their queries and it was clear that there were no issues regarding my
residential permit, they started asking me about my politics and hobbies. It
was an extensive casual conversation. They asked about CAA and my participation
in anti-CAA protests.We discussed the demonstration culture. There were 3
officers including one who asked me all questions. All of them were unnamed.
Towards the end of the conversation, they said I may have to leave the country
immediately for violating my student visa rules. When I asked for a written
letter, they returned my passport and said that I may leave. They said I will
get the written letter but I did not receive one. Soon, I rushed back to IIT
campus, booked my ticket, packed everything and left for the airport,” he
said.“I received a call from an official in the Dean’s office. She suggested
that I may leave tomorrow. Since it is going to be Christmas eve tomorrow, I
chose to leave immediately,” said Lindenthal, adding that he was yet to inform
his parents.“I do love IIT-M campus, I love India but I am concerned about
illiberal extremes in the country…In Germany, nobody is ever evicted for
participating in a legal demonstration,” Lindenthal said.indianexpress
Students stage protest against CAA, NRC in Osmania University
HYDERABAD :A large gathering of students from different parts of the
State under the aegis of several student organisations protested against the
Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens on the campus
of Osmania University here on Monday.Slogans raised by the students against the
two laws rent the air in front of the iconic Arts College building. The
students demanded repeal of the two laws during the protest that continued well
beyond the sunset, in spite of cold weather. Students from every stream --
including engineering, medicine, sciences, law and humanities turned up in
large numbers for the “Maha Garjana’’ organised by CAA-NRC Protest Committee of
Student Unions. Speakers at the protest alleged that the CAA is aimed at giving
citizenship selectively to illegal immigrants on the basis of religion.People
cutting across party lines and social sections demanded that the Centre repeal
the CAA stating that it is anti-constitutional and illegal.The meeting saw the
presence of “hijabi sheroes” of Jamia Millia Islamia participating as
guests.Speaking at the protest, State president of Student Islamic Organisation
(SIO) Talha Faiyazuddin termed the amended legislation a slap on the secular
and democratic ethos of the Constitution. He observed that the CAA was not just
anti-Muslim but anti-constitutional too.thehindu
Assam: 426 Muslim Families Evicted Allegedly for Not Voting for BJP
GUWAHATI:As many as 426 Muslim families with a total of 1800 members
among them have been evicted from their houses in Chotia assembly constituency
of district Bishwanath of Assam on Dec.6. Their houses have been demolished by
the administration.All these families having their names in NRC, a proof of
being genuine Indian citizens in Assam, now no roof over their heads in this
chilly winter, nor food. They also don’t have warm clothes to protect
themselves from cold weather.A team of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) led by its
secretary Mohammed Ahmed visited the affected persons to study the ground
situation. They found that the affected Muslim families who are victims of
local MLA Padma Hazarika get food once a day only. According to evicted
families, they were targeted by MLA because they are not his voters.No social,
pollical or human rights group has visited them so far, or extended any kind of
monetary or any other help. JIH is the first organisation to reach up to them
and inquire about their problems and extend help to them.The media also failed
to give any coverage to them because of internet shutdown in Guwahati and other
parts of the state owing to anti-CAA agitation all over the state.JIH
volunteers consoled the affected people and told them not to lose hope in
Allah.Currently, they are living in camps with meagre facilities.According to
JIH team, they require food, clothes, rehabilitation at safe places and legal
assistance immediately.India Tomorrow
Why not include Muslims in CAA, asks West Bengal BJP leader Chandra
Kumar Bose
West Bengal BJP vice-president Chandra Kumar Bose asked on December 23
as to why Muslims were not included in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Mr.
Bose, who is a grand-nephew of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, stated in a tweet,
“If #CAA2019 is not related to any religion why are we stating - Hindu, Sikh,
Boudha, Christians, Parsis & Jains only! Why not include #Muslims as well?
Let’s be transparent.”He further said, “If Muslims are not being persecuted in
their home country they would not come, so there’s no harm in including them.
However, this is not entirely true — what about Baluch who live in Pakistan
& Afghanistan? What about Ahwadiyya in Pakistan?”The Hindu
Detention centre near Bengaluru only for immigrants accused of crimes:
Karnataka Home Min
Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that the
structure constructed in Nelamangala, which is allegedly meant to house illegal
immigrants is not a detention centre.Addressing the media on Tuesday regarding
the police firing in Mangaluru, Home Minister Bommai said that the center was
initially a hostel maintained by the Social Welfare Department and later
converted into a facility to lodge "Nigerian nationals and
immigrants" accused of crimes in the city."The facility was
constructed by the Social Welfare Department. There are so many cases of
Nigerian men and women attacking police. If a case is registered against them,
they will have to remain here. The facility is to house such people so that
they can be deported to their countries. It is not meant to house any person
with issues about citizenship. It is not a detention centre," Basavaraj
Bommai said.thenewsminute
Stalin, Vaiko, Thiruma, 8,000 others booked for DMK's anti-CAA rally in
Chennai
A day after a massive rally was held in Chennai by the DMK and its
allies condemning the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), DMK
chief MK Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, Congress
leader P Chidambaram and 8,000 others have been booked by the city police for
defying police orders, denying permission for the protest. Tens of thousands
showed up for the rally in Chennai’s Egmore on Monday.
Declare no NRC in Congress-ruled states, Prashant Kishor tells Rahul
Gandhi
While thanking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for joining the citizens’
movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC, JD(U)
vice-president and election strategist Prashant Kishor called upon the Gandhi
scion to “impress upon the Congress President to officially announce that there
will be No NRC in the Congress-ruled states.”Taking to Twitter, Kishor further
said, “Rather than trying to inform me what Congress CMs have said please share
OFFICIAL statement of the Congress President announcing that there will no NRC
in Congress-ruled states. I am sorry voting against CAB didn’t stop it, states
saying NO to NRC will. So don’t get confused.”indianexpress
*OTHERS*
India now in the midst of major economic slowdown, urgent actions
needed: IMF
At a time when India's economy is suffering from an acute slowdown, the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the current downturn can only be
reversed through "urgent" policy actions.IMF in its annual review
said declining consumption and investment accompanied by falling tax revenue
have arrested India's GDP growth, which was one of the fastest in the world
just a year ago.IMF Asia and Pacific Department's Ranil Salgado told AFP that
India is now in the midst of a significant slowdown and only quick policy
actions can reverse the slowdown."Addressing the current downturn and
returning India to a high growth path requires urgent policy actions,"
Salgado said.The government, however, has limited space to boost spending for
supporting growth given the current debt situation and interest payments,
warned IMF.IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath said last week that India's
slowdown had "surprised to the downside" and it is planning to
significantly downgrade growth estimates for the Indian economy in the World
Economic Outlook report, which it will release next month.The international
fund earlier slashed its India 2019 growth forecast by nearly a full point to
6.1 per cent; the outlook for 2020 was also lowered to 7 per cent.Salgado also
said that RBI has space to cut policy rates further, especially if the period
of slowdown extends further.But the RBI has already cut rates five times this
year and brought it to a nine-year low. The central bank did not cut rates in
its December review, citing a potential increase in inflation.While it came as
a surprise to many economists, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the move was
in line with its primary goal of inflation targeting. He, however, said RBI
will continue to maintain an accommodative stance, allowing the central bank to
cut rates in future.indiatoday
Economic slowdown: Centre staring at Rs 63,200 cr shortfall in GST
compensation cess collection, says report
Centre is now staring at a huge shortfall of over Rs 60,000 crore in GST
compensation cess collection due to slowdown in revenues, according to news
reports.As per a presentation made to GST Council, the compensation requirement
for states is expected to be about Rs 1.6 lakh crore for the ongoing fiscal, at
a growth rate of 5 percent, said a report in Economic Times. However,
compensation cess collections are expected to be about Rs 96,800 crore, leading
to a huge shortfall of Rs 63,200 crore, the report said.Meanwhile, rating
agency ICRA has estimated a shortfall of Rs 2.2 lakh crore for all states.GST
revenue collection crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore-mark after a gap of three months
in November with the revenue growing by 6 percent to Rs 1.03 lakh crore in the
month. GST collection was Rs 95,380 crore in October while it was Rs 97,637
crore November 2018. Of gross Rs 1,03,492 crore in November, CGST is Rs 19,592
crore, SGST is Rs 27,144 crore, IGST is Rs 49,028 crore (including Rs 20,948
crore collected on imports) and Cess is Rs 7,727 crore (including Rs 869 crore
collected on imports), an official statement said.firstpost
Gujarat: No Police Convictions in 180 Custodial Deaths Between 2001 and
2016
New Delhi: Between 2001 and 2016, as many as 180 persons died in Gujarat
in police custody. However, no police personnel have been convicted for these
custodial deaths.According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Gujarat
stands third in the list of states where custodial deaths have been reported
between 2001 and 2016. While Maharashtra recorded 362 deaths during the period,
it was followed by AP with 242 deaths.A total of 1,557 custodial deaths were
recorded across the country during this period. Of the 704 cases registered
against police personnel for these deaths nationwide, AP topped the list of
cases against cops at 188. As many as 43 cases have been registered against
policemen in Maharashtra for custodial deaths.Of the 294 nation-wide cases
where charge sheets have been filed against policemen, there were only 28
charge sheets so far in Maharashtra, and 13 in AP.However, in Uttar Pradesh, 75
charge sheets have been filed against cops in such cases. NCRB data shows that
UP recorded 128 custodial deaths during the period and 122 cases have already
been filed against policemen. Of these, 75 cops have been charge-sheeted. UP
also tops the list of conviction rates with 17 convictions in the state out of
26 that took place across the country.However, in Gujarat, against 180 cases of
custodial deaths, only 26 cases were filed against cops. In the last 16 years,
only ten charge sheets have been filed against policemen for their alleged
involvement in these cases. No one has been convicted yet.Meanwhile, this past
November, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani conferred medals on 168 cops of
the state for ‘distinguished and meritorious service’. Among the awardees was
PP Pandey, former state DGP and an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter
case.thewire
Dalits in Mettupalayam, who are part of Tamil Puligal outfit, plan to
convert to Islam
COIMBATORE:Hundreds of Dalits in Mettupalayam, who are part of the Tamil
Puligal outfit, have claimed that they will convert to Islam on Jan.5, the
organisation’s State spokesperson M. Muthukumar said.The decision to convert
was taken at a meeting the outfit held in Mettupalayam on Sunday and the reason
cited was the alleged injustice meted out to the Dalit residents of Nadur,
where on Dec.2, 17 people were killed in a wall collapse incident. The release
on bail of the person whose compound wall fell on the houses of 3 Dalit
families, and the continued imprisonment of their leader Nagai Thiruvalluvan
were the reasons for the decision to convert, he claimed.“Dalits’ demand to
invoke provisions of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the
house owner and the police’s failure to do so; and, the assault and arrest on
Thiruvalluvan for standing up and speaking for Dalits are the reasons for the
conversion.”The problem is not with the law or the way the Coimbatore Rural
Police registered the cases; it has to do with the fact that the affected
people are Dalits and they being denied their rights and self respect. This
will change if they exit Hinduism to embrace Islam, he said.“It is our Muslim
brethren and former Tamil Puligal members who have converted to Islam who have
stood with Dalits of Nadur right from the day of the tragedy. They are showing
solidarity with us and the religion [Islam] preaching equality is what has
drawn us towards them.”He further said that by embracing Islam, the Dalits do
not mind giving up their reservation of protection under the Act. “When the
very Act has failed to protect us, Dalits, in Nadur incident what is the
guarantee that it will in the future. Likewise, reservation is fast losing
significance as the government is on a privatisation mode.”thehindu
Kashmir PSA detainee Ghulam Mohammed Bhat dies in UP jail: 'They told me
you have to just bring him back home,' says 32-year-old son
32-year-old Mohammed Haneef Ahmad was sitting outside his one-storey
house in Kulangam Handwara in North Kashmir with other mourners lamenting his
father 65-year-old Ghulam Mohammed Bhat's death. Bhat was a former member of
Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested on 17 July and booked under the
draconian PSA. Bhat died in Naini jail in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.Haneef says
some plain clothed officers from Chogul police post in Handwara came to his
house on 20 Dec at around 6 pm to inform him that his father was sick in Naini
jail and that PSA charges against him had been quashed. The family had
challenged the case and it came up for hearing on Friday.Haneef said he hadn't
seen his father since his arrest in July since he was shifted to UP jail on 22
Aug. When the plain-clothed officials showed up at his home, Haneef told them
it was difficult for the family to arrange for tickets in such short notice to
travel all the way to Prayagraj. The officers left, but they came back on
Saturday with tickets to Lucknow. "You have to just bring him back
home," they told Haneef.Bhat died 16,000 kilometres away from his home in Naini Central Prison. Bhat,
who was frail when jailed, was among 20 Kashmiri prisoners brought to Naini
prison from Anantnag. They had been detained under the stringent PSA
immediately after Centre scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The
septuagenarian was already quite ill during the time of his detention and had
been suffering from ailments like gastroenteritis, pancreatitis and liver
issues, the police said. Bhat was transferred to Naini prison because the
government thought that if he were in Anantnag he would disrupt peace.
Interestingly, the superintendent of Naini prison HB Singh said that Bhat was
paralysed when he was brought to Prayagraj. "He was paralysed at that time
and could barely move on his own.""He (Bhat) was very healthy and
wouldn't even take as many medicines," told 54-year-old Zareefa Begum,
Bhat's wife. The family is not convinced about the reasons cited for Bhat's
death. One of Haneef's relatives, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
described the current situation and said, "Court bhi inki, judge bhi
inka," mocking the process in which things were done.Bhat was a former
member of Jamaat-e-Islami. Police arrested hundreds of Jamaat-e-Islami members
after Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement and alleged that the group
was "in close touch with militant outfits"."He was always very
religious and was associated with Jamaat since he has young. That's why he was
framed in these cases," one of the family members who didn't wish to be
named said.firstpost
6 JNU students suspended for participation in hostel fee hike protests;
administration engaging in 'mass intimidation stunts’, claims students’ union
New Delhi: JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) on Monday alleged 6 students have
been academically suspended for their participation in the protest over hostel
fee hike. JNU administration is formulating a strategy of mass intimidation by
sending proctorial inquiries to students en masse and even academically
suspending them as well as evicting them from hostels and declaring them out of
bounds, JNUSU alleged.However, no immediate reaction was available from the
university.The statement has also been endorsed by other student bodies like
BAPSA, NSUI.PTI
Cabinet Committee Approves Setting Up Dept of Military Affairs Headed by
Chief of Defence Staff
New Delhi;Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Tuesday approved the
creation of a chief of defence staff (CDS) who will be the single-point
military adviser to the government as suggested by Kargil Review Committee in
1999, official sources said.I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar said a
Department of Military Affairs headed by CDS will be created under the defence
ministry. CDS will be a four-star general and his salary will be equivalent to
that of service chiefs, he added.The CCS also approved the report of a
high-level committee, headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, which
finalised responsibilities and the enabling framework for the CDS, they said.In
a landmark military reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 had announced
that India will have a CDS as head of the tri-services. Days after his
announcement, an Implementation Committee headed by Doval was appointed to
finalise an enabling framework and determine the exact responsibilities for the
CDS.news18
India-Pakistan Enmity Main Reason Why SAARC is Not Prospering:
Bangladesh FM
Dhaka: Enmity between India and Pakistan is one of the main reasons why
SAARC is not prospering, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen has said,
while expressing optimism about other regional initiatives such as the BIMSTEC
and BBIN.His remarks comes following India and Pakistan blaming each other over
the lack of cooperation and coordination among the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states earlier this month.PTI
Jharkhand: Hemant Soren clinches victory in Barhait, Dumka; Raghubar Das
loses Jamshedpur East seat by over 15,000 votes
New Delhi:Raghubar Das, who filed his resignation as the Jharkhand chief
minister on Monday, lost his Jamshedpur East seat to Independent candidate by
over 15,000 seats. Sounding hopeful, Das earlier said that his party would
accept people’s mandate. “I am hopeful that result will be in our favour. I am
waiting for the final results. BJP will accept the people’s mandate,” he told
ANI.As the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance comfortably pegged itself above the
majority mark by leading in 47 seats in the 81-member assembly, Chief
Ministerial candidate Hemant Soren said that time has finally come to fulfill
people’s wishes. “I want to thank people of Jharkhand for the mandate in favour
of JMM. It is a joyous day for the people of the state and finally, the time
has come to fulfil all your demands,” Soren said in his address to the
media.JMM has won 30 seats, Congress emerged in 16 seats and RJD won one seat
whereas BJP which could clinch only 25 seats. The magic number to form the
assembly is 41.indianexpress
Ajit Pawar to be deputy chief minister in Uddhav government, Ashok
Chavan also to get Cabinet post
New Delhi :Former chief minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan, NCP’s
Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena’s Sunil Prabhu are among the two dozen people who are
likely to be inducted into the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, headed by
Uddhav Thackeray. The expansion of the ministry is scheduled for 1 pm on
December 30. Ajit Pawar will be the deputy chief minister. The post, allocated
to the NCP, had been kept vacant by party president Sharad Pawar.The names of
the other future ministers from the NCP quota are: Dilip Walse Patil, Aditi
Tatkare, Rajendra Shingne, Rajesh Tope and Manik Kokate.indianexpress
Ex-Maruti Top Executive Jagdish Khattar Charged For Alleged Bank Fraud
Former Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki Jagdish Khattar has been
booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a Rs 110 crore alleged
bank loan fraud case involving his new company Carnation Auto India Pvt Ltd.In
its FIR filed recently, the CBI has named Mr Khattar and his company Carnation
Auto India Limited for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 110 crore to Punjab
National Bank, CBI officials said.Mr Khattar has denied any wrong doing and
said a detailed audit found nothing amiss.ndtv
With Karnataka Wakf Board in Limbo, Property Encroachment Troubles Kick
In
New Delhi: Karnataka government is yet to fully reconstitute the state
board of wakfs even though the tenure of the previous one expired over three
years ago.Set up under the Wakf Act, 1995, the board looks after the Muslim
religious properties in the state, such as the idgahs, the mosques, dargahs,
burial grounds, etc.The term of the previous board ended in 2016. After over
three years elapsed, elections were finally held under the H.D. Kumaraswamy
government this past February to fill in the elected posts. But the state
government didn’t nominate five members to the 11-member board.According to a
news report in Deccan Herald, it had virtually left the board “not fully
functional” leading to encroachments of its properties. “While the board at
present has a chief executive officer (CEO) taking care of day-to-day
administration, board needs an 11-member team along with a chairman to be fully
functional,” the report said.
*WORLD*
Trump impeachment: With fresh evidence in hand, Chuck Schumer demands
more emails and documents
Senator Chuck Schumer said on Monday that newly-released emails showing
that military aid to Ukraine was suspended 90 minutes after President Donald
Trump demanded "a favour" from Ukraine's president were
"explosive". They strengthened, he said, Democratic demands for far
more internal administration documents before Trump's impeachment trial.The
emails, made public over the weekend, included one from a White House budget
office aide, Michael Duffey, telling Pentagon officials to keep quiet
"given the sensitive nature of the request".The timing of the email —
just an hour-and-a-half after Trump raised investigations of his Democratic
rivals with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine — added an element to Democrats'
contentions that they say become clearer with every new release of evidence:
Trump abused the power of his office to solicit Ukraine to help him win
reelection in 2020."What happened over the weekend has only bolstered the
case that documents should be produced and witnesses testify," Schumer,
the Senate Democratic leader, said at a news conference, referring to the
emails released to the Center for Public Integrity.The New York Times
At least seven Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack
Taliban have attacked an army checkpoint in northern Afghanistan,
killing at least seven Afghan soldiers, according to the defence ministry and
the armed group.The ministry said the fighters attacked a joint military base
on Tuesday morning in the Dawlat Abad district of Balkh province near the
border with Uzbekistan.The base was shared between the army and the National
Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's intelligence agency.Zabihullah Mujahid,
Taliban spokesman, said 20 soldiers had been killed in the attack, including a
commander."Six soldiers were wounded and four arrested. The base was
captured," Mujahid wrote on Twitter.The attack comes one day after the
Taliban claimed responsibility for the death of a US soldier in Kunduz
province, which is also in the north.aljazeera
Prominent Palestinian writer among dozens arrested by Israel
Israeli forces detained a prominent Palestinian writer during a raid on
his home in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to residents.Soldiers
raided Ahmad Qatamesh's house in the city of al-Bireh and took him into
custody, the residents said.The reason for his arrest remains unclear. Israeli
army has for years accused Qatamesh of being a member of the left-wing Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) group.The 69-year-old is no
stranger to Israeli arrests. His first was in the 1970s when he was jailed for
four years.aljazeera
'Antithesis of justice': Khashoggi verdict roundly condemned
United Nations extrajudicial executions investigator Agnes Callamard,
Turkey and international rights groups have roundly condemned a Saudi court
verdict over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying it failed to
deliver justice.But despite global condemnation, a US State Department official
hailed the verdict as "an important step" in holding the perpetrators
accountable.Five people were sentenced to death on Monday over the brutal
killing of the writer by a team of Saudi agents inside the kingdom's consulate
in Istanbul last October, but two top aides to powerful Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman (MBS) - the de facto Saudi leader - were exonerated.The Saudi
prosecutor's office said a total of 31 people were investigated in connection
with the killing, and that 11 people were charged. Three were handed jail terms
totalling 24 years and the rest were acquitted. None of the defendants' names
was immediately released."The investigation showed that the killing was
not premeditated ... The decision was taken at the spur of the moment,"
Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor Shalaan al-Shalaan said, a position
contradicting the findings of a United Nations-led investigation.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
India needs to remove growing negative perceptions of its domestic
policies in the Muslim world:C. Raja Mohan
CAA protests : Modi approves Rs 8,500 crore for NPR, exercise to be held
between April-Sept.2020
Fact Check: Anti-CAA protests in Hyderabad passed off as police
crackdown post NRC in Assam
Jharkhand: Modi, Shah and Adityanath's Aggressive Campaigning Did Not
Help BJP:Mahtab Alam
BJP loses another state, but continues to make its opponents become more
like BJP to fight it;Suhas Palshikar
Minority shareholders must be protected but not at the cost of the
majority:Janmejaya Sinha
Delhi needs to remove growing negative perceptions of its domestic
policies in the Muslim world:C. Raja Mohan
Apex court has not acted with urgency to protect citizens from executive
excesses:Dushyant Dave
'Pakistan Chale Jao Na': A First-Person Account of the Horror at
Jamia:Samreen
Section 144 Is Not a Cover for Unchecked Police Action:Sarim Naved
Compiled
and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:55 PM).*
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