*30 DEC. 2019: 3 Jamadi-1, 1441:
Vol: 12, No: 95
anti-citizenship act
stir
Muslim festivals fail to find mention in Modi govt’s calendar for NPR
officials
In what is being seen as another example of anti-Muslim biases of the
Modi government, it has come to fore that government’s calendar prepared for
NPR officials, does not include Muslim festivals.While page number five – 32
under the annexure – enlists Hindu and Christian festivals in the months they
fall in, it does not mention any Muslim festival, which, many feel, was done
deliberately. For the convenience of the enumerators, a list of important
festivals and corresponding Gregorian months in which they fall is also
mentioned in the manual, said the government after facing criticism on Twitter
and other social media platforms.PTI quoted an MHA official, saying, “The list
of Indian festivals was included in it as per the standard of Census 2011 and
NPR 2010. This was also pre-tested for Census 2021 and NPR 2020 and no adverse
feedback on this annex was ever received”.“The purpose of this page is to help
the enumerators to approximate the month of birth of the respondent,” the
unnamed official was quoted as saying by PTI.According to the manual, when a
respondent knows only the year of birth, the enumerators have to follow the
stepwise approach. If the respondent tells only the year of birth but is not
sure about the month of birth, the enumerator has to ask whether the birth was
before the rainy season or not.nationalheraldindia
*Govt's Calendar for NPR Officials Excludes Muslim Festivals, MHA Cites
Census 2011 as Example*
Bangladesh wants ‘written’ assurance from India that it won’t send
immigrants after CAA
New Delhi: Bangladesh has sought a written assurance from Narendra Modi
government that it won’t send immigrants across the border after the enactment
of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), multiple sources told ThePrint.The move
came even as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina continues to face
criticism for being “soft” on New Delhi over the issue of NRC, the sources
said.Bangladesh government had made a similar demand when Hasina was on a
private visit to India in October months after the NRC exercise was carried out
in Assam, diplomatic sources told ThePrint.At the time, India had given a
verbal assurance to Bangladesh that those rendered “foreigners” under the NRC
in Assam will not be sent to Bangladesh. However, it had refused to give a
written assurance, stating that the exercise was carried out as per directions
of the Supreme Court, said sources.However, after passage of CAA in Parliament
this month, fresh concerns have cropped up within the political leadership in
Bangladesh that India may now “push” Muslim immigrants deemed illegal under the
Act across the border, the sources said.Now Indian government does not have
compulsions of the court, so a written assurance will not be difficult, added
the sources. However, they added, India does not seem to have given any kind of
assurance to Dhaka yet that such a sovereign guarantee will be given.theprint
Citizenship law protests could spook investors looking to do business in
India
Protests against a new citizenship law in India risk making investors
wary of doing business in Asia’s third-largest economy.At least 25 people have
been killed in nationwide demonstrations against the new rules enacted into law
earlier this month.“Foreign investors will increasingly begin counting the
opportunity costs of a government expending its hard-earned political capital
on firefighting protesters rather than pursuing much-needed structural reforms
desperately needed to steer India out of its current economic slowdown,” said
Pratyush Rao, associate director at security consulting firm Control Risks.The
protests have continued for over two weeks now, disrupting life and businesses
in some parts of India.Certain states have resorted to suspending internet
services, making it difficult to book cabs through ride-hailing apps such as
Uber and Ola and process digital payments. India’s iconic Taj Mahal saw a 36%
drop in footfalls in Dec, TOI reported, attributing the decline to protests and
other social tensions. Disruptions to normal life threaten a nascent recovery
in the economy, which is expanding at the weakest pace in more than six years.Bloomberg/theprint
*India's global friends concerned over CAA, crackdown on protests, say no
briefing on law*
New Delhi:More than a fortnight after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act
came into force and triggered nationwide protests, there is growing unease
within the capital’s foreign diplomatic community over BJP-led NDA government’s
moves. The diplomats have publicly maintained that CAA is an “internal issue”.
However, when spoke to ambassadors and diplomats from at least 16 countries,
across all continents, over the last few days on the new law and the protests,
they expressed “concern” at situation. “Indian government briefed us on Kashmir
and even Ayodhya verdict although it maintained that they were domestic issues.
But they did not bother to brief us on CAA, which has an international
dimension to it — after all, it talks of three of India’s neighbouring
countries,” an envoy from a G-20 country said. Diplomats, who include
representatives from G-20 and P-5 groupings, and neighbouring countries, spoke
on the condition of anonymity because the matter is “sensitive” and any
attribution “may impact” bilateral ties.In such a situation, most of these
diplomats have concluded that the protests were not limited to the Muslim
community. They are now trying to get a sense of whether the government is
“bothered” by international criticism against the law. Many foreign diplomats
feel that PM Narendra Modi may be responsive to international criticism, but
they are not sure about Home Minister Amit Shah. “International press is being
read by our headquarters, and they have been asking us about how much political
and diplomatic risk can the Modi government take,” one of the diplomats said. Diplomats
across continents say the unflattering images and articles about protests and
govt crackdown in the foreign press have made it harder for India’s “friends”,
as many in their countries are questioning govt’s commitment to “shared
values”. “Govt is making it tougher for its friends to defend it… at this rate,
it is losing friends in places where it had bipartisan support earlier,”
another diplomat said.“With each passing day, the gov’s position is getting
weakened, as these images are not going away. And the action against the
protesters and the latest reports of torture and intimidation are giving more
credence to the view that govt is intolerant of criticism and dissent,” an envoy
from a European country said.indianexpress
*Academics in US pass a resolution against hate*
Around 85 academicians in the United states of America passed a
resolution expressing their concern over the discriminatory Citizenship Act and
NRC that is supposed to take place all over India. They have also condemned the
brutality of the police on students of AMU and Jamia Milia Islamia.The
resolution passed by the academicians who are spread out in various
universities such as Houston, Texas, Chicago, Washington DC, Michigan, New York and Harvard among other
places.twocircles
*Indian-Americans
stage more anti-CAA protests*
*PM Modi to blame for Muslim world debating India’s actions in Kashmir,
CAA-NPR-NRC: Owaisi*
Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has targeted Narendra Modi
government over the reported decision by Saudi Arabia to call a summit on Jammu
and Kashmir as part of the meeting of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC). Owaisi tweeted, “Modi has internationalised the Indian Muslim issue, but
seems to have miscalculated his economic friendship with MbZ/S (sic). Now the
Muslim world is debating India’s actions on Kashmir and CAA-NPR-NRC, and this
includes an already angry Iran.”He also took a dig at Union Minister Law
Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who recently in an interview said that ‘some’ data
collected for NPR ‘may or may not be used for NRC’. Owaisi in another tweet
said, “Is Law Minister so misinformed about the legal process itself? NPR isn’t
required for development schemes. @rsprasad please tell us, do you know what
you are talking about?” Meanwhile, Owaisi addressed an anti-CAA/NRC rally in
Bihar’s Kishanganj where he accused PM Modi of misleading citizens over CAA,
NPR and NRC. Newindianexpress
Hindu priests protest Against CAA, NRC in Kolkata
Kolkata: Hindu priests on Monday assembled in the heart of the city to
register their protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and NRC.Nearly
hundred priests under the banner of 'Paschim Banga Sanatan Brahmin Trust'
gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Mayo Road raising anti-CAA and
anti-NRC demanding that peace should prevail in the state which had witnessed
incidents of violence during protests against the contentious Citizenship Act.
General secretary of the trust Sridhar Mishra said, "It is a matter of
great concern that efforts are underway to divide the country on the basis of
religion. The CAA and NRC are aimed at excluding people of a particular
community. It is very unfortunate."If one community is targeted like this,
it might also be inflicted on us some day." Trinamool Congress MLA Rajib
Banerjee said that the priests have descended on the streets to protest against
the CAA and the NRC."The Centre cannot take such drastic steps targeting a
particular community based on religion. "It is extremely divisive in
nature and will alienate people of the country where greats like Rabindranath
Tagore and Swami Vivekanada had preached about inclusive nature of Indian
society," he said.PTI
Railway to recover Rs 80 crore lost in property damages from CAA
protesters
Railway property worth Rs 80 crore was damaged during protests across
the country against the amended citizenship law and the recovery will be made
from those found involved in arson and violence, Railway Board Chairman Vinod
Kumar Yadav said today. Days after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed
by Parliament, protests broke out in several parts of the country with violent
clashes between the agitators and police leading to several people being
detained and arrested. Angry protesters burnt buses, laid siege on tracks and
even burnt train coaches."There has been damage of railway property worth
Rs 80 crore during anti-CAA protests. "Damage will be recovered from those
found involved in arson and violence," Yadav said.PTI
*CAA protests: Centre will not tolerate universities becoming political
hubs:HRD minister*
Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has said the Centre will
not tolerate educational institutions turning into hubs of political activities
“at any cost” as protests against the amendments to the Citizenship Act
continued on campuses across India, PTI reported. “Anyone is free to engage in
political activities, but colleges and universities should be kept out of it,
as many students come to study from far-off places,” he told reporters in
Kolkata. “Modi government is not going to tolerate this at any cost.”scroll
*Rangolis against CAA, NRC come up outside several homes across Tamil
Nadu a day after 5 were held*
Rangolis against the amended Citizenship Act and the proposed NRC
exercise were drawn in front of several houses across Tamil Nadu on Monday.
Some even came up outside homes of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, party chief MK
Stalin and Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi in Chennai.This came a day after the police
detained five women for drawing rangolis with slogans against the amended
citizenship law and NRC in Besant Nagar. Cases were registered against them and
they were released later. The police action led to several people across Tamil
Nadu drawing similar rangolis as a form of protest.Similar rangolis were drawn
outside the homes of many people across the state.The slogan “We don’t want
CAA, NRC” on two rangoli designs was painted outside Kanimozhi’s house in CIT
Colony on Sunday night because of rain.scroll
*Delhi: Former constable threatens to shoot anti-CAA protestors, held after
video goes viral*
A former police constable was arrested for allegedly threatening to
shoot anti-citizenship law protestors, PTI reported. Rakesh Tyagi was released
on bail later.Tyagi, 43, was arrested on Dec.26 from his residence in Uttam
Nagar area after a video clip posted by him on social media went viral. In the
16-minute clip posted on Dec.22, Tyagi posed as a sub-inspector and threatened
to “shoot the protestors” if they pelted stones at policemen. In the video, he
claimed that the Ministry of Home Affairs had given directions to police
officials and they will abide by it and save the Constitution. “If they throw a
brick at me, I will take it and use it to make Ram Mandir,” he is heard saying
in the clip. Tyagi also mentions Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, and says
he will question protestors about the amended Act. Tyagi deleted the video from
his Facebook account later.scroll
*Pune :35,000 raise voice against CAA & NRC at MahaRally*
Pune: Around 35,000 people took part in a peaceful rally in the city on
Sunday in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC.The
march, “MahaRally: Pune Against CAA”, started from Golibar Maidan around
11.30am, holding placards and raising slogans such as “Save constitution, save
the country”. The protesters, mostly from Dalit and Muslim communities, marched
towards Council Hall under heavy police security arrangements. JCP Ravindra
Shisve said, “No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city
during the protest march. At least 35,000 people participated in the
march.”Over 20 Muslim group leaders came together to lead the rally as the
protesters, including a sizeable number of women, reached the Council Hall
Chowk. A core committee, Kul-Jamaat-Tanzeem, was formed to organize the rally
and it comprised leaders from various Muslim groups and NGOs. A representation
of the protesters, including retired Bombay HC judge B G Kolse Patil, activists
Rahul Dambale, Munnwar Qureshi, Iqbal Ansari and Maulana Zahid Shaikh and Umar
Khalid, submitted a letter of protest to district collector.TOI
*PM, Shah spooked by protests; lying about NRC: Umar Khalid*
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pm-shah-spooked-by-protests-lying-about-nrc-khalid-789822.html
Pune: Activist and former student leader Umar Khalid said here on Sunday
that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were
"lying" about the NRC now as they were scared by nation-wide
protests. Khalid was speaking after taking part in a protest march against the
CAA and NRC here."After seeing the protests across the country, Modi and
Amit Shah are lying about NRC, as they are afraid of people's reactions,"
he said. Modi had said recently that there had been no discussion about
nation-wide implementation of NRC.Khalid further said that the amended
Citizenship Act should be resisted as freedom fighters who sacrificed their
lives had not contemplated a country where religion is the basis of
citizenship.PTI
*Alliance formed against CAA in Hyderabad*
Hyderabad: With an aim to fight Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC,
around 50 organisations have come together on a platform and formed ‘Alliance
against CAA and NRC’, here. Organisations representing minorities, Dalit, women
and youth held a meeting convened by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), in the city on
Sunday.Justice Chandra Kumar, Retired High Court Judge, was elected as the
convener while Human Rights Activist Jeevan Kumar, Jamaat-e-Islami office
bearer Sadiq Ahmed and Murtala Vemula were elected as co-conveners. Interacting
with the media, Sadiq Ahmed said the group would launch a sustained campaign
against the ‘black law” across the country. “We will take it from the grass
root level to the national capital. We are shortly going to start a campaign
against the bill in all districts and mandals of Telangana,” he said.Hamed Mohd
Khan, president, Jamaat -e-Islami Telangana said the CAA and NRC were against
the interest of the citizens of the country. “All citizens except a few groups
that support BJP party or its ideology, are opposing it. The government should
consider it,” he said.telanganatoday
*Samastha Kerala to Muslim women: Don’t cross limits during protest*
Malappuram: In a directive to the Muslim women and girls who are on the
street against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul
Ulama, the largest Muslim body of scholars in Kerala, has urged the women
protesters “not to cross the limits” during protests.A joint statement of
scholars which was issued on Saturday night said participation of Muslim women
in public protests and ‘crossing limits’ which may lead to arrests is against
Islam. The organization also urged Muslim women to step back from such protests
and demanded the organizations concerned not to deviate from their declared
policies regarding this.The statement, which hails the anti-CAA and anti-NRC
protests across the nation, said Muslim people can adopt Islamic ways of
protests during their strikes.TOI
*'Only Nitish Kumar Can Tell': Prashant Kishor Again Questions JDU's
Support to CAA, Slams Congress Top Brass*
Janata Dal (United) vice president and political strategist Prashant
Kishor on Monday said only Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could explain the
circumstances under which his party supported the contentious Citizen
(Amendment) Bill in Parliament.In yet another attack at his party over voting
for the new law, Kishor said: “I want to make it very clear that JD(U)'s stance
on NRC and CAA is of opposition. Check parliamentary standing committee's
record, first dissent note is of JD(U). Under what circumstances JD(U) supported
the bill in both houses only Nitish Kumar ji can tell.”
From CAA to NRC, BJP cornered by allies and voices of concern within
*Congress MP asks President to sack Army Chief Bipin Rawat over CAA
protest remarks*
Congress MP from Thrissur TN Prathapan has shot off a letter to
President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to sack Army Chief General Bipin Rawat
for wading into the political sphere by criticising people leading protests
against the amended Citizenship law. Incidentally, General Bipin Rawat will
retire on December 31 and will be replaced by Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund
Naravane as the next Army chief.Asserting that General Rawat had violated the
code of conduct for defence personnel, Prathapan said stringent disciplinary
actions should be initiated against the Army chief.indianexpress
*We stand like mountains: Women show courage to lead anti-CAA protest in
Delhi's bitter cold*
New Delhi:Mattresses remain hung out on the iron grille of a road
divider through the day, next to tarpaulin sheds, before being laid out on the
street for the night. A tricolour forms the backdrop of a makeshift dais,
metres away from a police team maintaining vigil.In the dark, a strikingly
large red banner says "Stop Police Brutality".As the air gets more
frigid towards the evening, the number of people on Kalindi Kunj Road in south
Delhi thins out, leaving behind a large group of women on a 1,000-sq metre
stretch who show extraordinary courage and remain unyielding in the face of
merciless cold. Preparing for the night, the women from Shaheen Bagh roll out
foam sheets.A team of around 100 volunteers including students have been
providing snacks and tea to the women at regular intervals.PTI
*Protesters Stage 'Jamiawala Bagh' Play to Highlight Police Action on
Students During Anti-CAA Stir*
New Delhi: A play titled 'Jamiawala Bagh' was staged outside the Jamia
Millia Islamia which has been at the forefront of the protest against the new
citizenship law.Protesters associated with Jamia Hamdard Alumni staged the play
which portrayed and condemned the police action on the students of Jamia Millia
Islamia on the campus premises on December 15, said a statement from the Jamia
students.In solidarity with Mohammad Minhajuddin (the injured student who lost
one of his eyes), the protesters were requested to bandage one eye to register
their dissent and express support.The Jamia Coordination Committee, which
comprises members from various political outfits active on campus, has been
helming the protests outside Gate number 7 of the varsity.news18
*Mangaluru Police Identifies 'Unknown Accused' as Muslims*
Like Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, Mangaluru police also seem to be identifying protestors “by their
clothes”. In a brazen display of communal mindset, Mangaluru police, in at
least 6 of 24 FIR that were registered post December 19 protest, have accused
“unknown Muslim youths” of unlawful assembly, assault, damage to public
property and sedition among other charges. While FIR claims that over 2,000
protestors are “unknown”, the police have assumed them to be Muslim.According
to P.S. Harsha, commissioner of Mangaluru city police, 24 persons have been
arrested (as of December 29) in connection with rioting and violence cases. 2
persons killed in police firing have also been named in FIR.The Wire has
closely studied 15 of 24 FIRs that it has managed to access from different
police stations across Mangaluru city. Barring a few FIRs, police have only
mentioned unknown persons as accused. Thewire
CAA dangerous, divisive; will not implement in Punjab: CM Amarinder
Ludhiana: Amid continued protests against the Citizenship (Amendment)
Act and NRC, today, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh lashed out at BJP and
termed the CAA to be "divisive and dangerous" while reiterating his
stand that he would not allow its implementation in the state. He asserted that
he would continue to battle against the legislation."My government will
not allow implementation of the CAA in Punjab and the Congress will fight
against it tooth and nail," said Chief Minister.Singh, while addressing
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders and workers during a protest
march in Ludhiana, alleged that BJP is trying to alter the Constitution’s
Preamble and urged the people to unite against their "divisive and
dangerous attempts" to damage the country’s secular nature. Singh also
said that even UN had citied CAA to be discriminatory. The protest witnessed
participation of senior Congress leaders. timesnownews
‘I will not stop till CAA is withdrawn,’ says Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday continued her
protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and said she would not stop till
the withdrawal of the legislation. On Friday, chief minister had said the
amended citizenship law would not be implemented in the state as long as she
was alive.“BJP is planning to take away the citizenship of legal citizens,” she
said before a five-km protest march in Purulia district. “I appeal to everybody
to join hands against the BJP and isolate them everywhere.”scroll
CAA Protests: Old video from Pakistan shared as cow slaughtered on
Indian flag in Hyderabad
A video is circulating on WhatsApp showing a group of men slaughtering a
cow on the Indian national flag. Several individuals have sent verification
requests of the video on Alt News app specifically asking whether the incident
took place in Hyderabad in the view of protests against the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA).Alt News reserve searched one of the frames of the video
and found the same clip uploaded on YouTube on March 2, 2019. The background
music in the video is a song dedicated to Pakistan. There are several other
clues which further suggest that the video is from Pakistan.
CAA is more dangerous than atom bomb: TRS leader Rajaram Yadav
Hyderabad: BJP government wants to divide the country on religious
lines. Claimed TRS leader D Rajaram Yadav. He deplored police action against
peaceful protestors of Jamia Millia who were protesting against CAA and NRC.
Yadav said that majority of the states of the country especially Assam and
north eastern states are against CAA. Not only the Indian universities like
Jamia Millia, AMU, Delhi University and several other universities but even
foreign universities like Oxford and Cambridge are also against the contentious
law.siasat
Shashi Tharoor faces ire for opposing 'Islamist extremism' during CAA
protests
After a social media user posted a video, encouraging people to say 'Ia
ilaha illallah' during the ongoing protests against Citizenship Amendment Act,
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter to rebuke "Islamist extremism"."Our
fight against Hindutva extremism should give no comfort to Islamist extremism
either. We who’re raising our voice in the #CAA_NRCProtests are fighting to
defend an #InclusiveIndia," he wrote. Incidentally, 'la ilaha illallah' is
an Islamic creed, the Shahada, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It
translates to mean 'There is no god but God'."We will not allow pluralism
and diversity to be supplanted by any kind of religious fundamentalism,"
Tharoor said. Later, after a social media user responded to Tharoor's tweet and
asking the Congress MP to "spare us this soft bigotry", Tharoor
responded again."People in this country say 'jai bajrang bali' even before
lifting a heavy rock and no one calls it communal," the user wrote.
However, Tharoor reiterated his earlier sentiments, adding that the protest was
not about "one faith vs another" but about "saving the soul of
India".Not everyone seems to agree with Tharoor. freepressjournal
Modi tweets Vasudev's 'lucid explanation' of CAA; spiritual leader calls
NRC 'normal procedure', slams violent protests
Amid nationwide ongoing protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act
(CAA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took to Twitter to post an
explainer video by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, which details
various aspects of legislation. In the video, Jaggi Vasudev has described the
passage of CAA as "too little compassion coming too late."In the
video, Jaggi Vasudev states that any foreigner, belonging from any religion can
take citizenship through normal procedures. Taking note of the recent violent
protests, the spiritual leader said he was surprised to see students behave in
such a manner and said they were behaving like "illiterate people by
indulging in violence".He also pointed out that Centre failed to explain
and communicate the facts of the law to the citizens, which led to 'other
people' misleading masses and labelling the act as 'anti-Muslim'. He further
added that NRC is a normal procedure that should be carried out in all nations.
According to Vasudev, registering citizens in a 'necessity' in any
country.firstpost
‘How will the homeless prove their citizenship?’ Activists question NPR-NRC
process
If one takes a look at the instruction manual given to field workers for
updating National Population Register (NPR) 2020, it becomes evident that there
is no scope in the data collection drive to record details of the homeless and
the destitute across India. The only way through which they would be able to
capture their details for NPR according to the manual is if they are found at
any 'institutional households'. The move raises questions as to how the Centre
plans to ensure that those Indians living in the streets with little or no
documentation to even claim state subsidies are recorded in NPR.George, a
resident of Hyderabad who runs non-profit Good Samaritans on average rescues
about 3 to 4 homeless and destitute senior citizens from the streets every
week, has only question, “When the homeless don’t have any documents, how will
they prove they are Indians?”NPR 2020 manual has no answer to this and neither
does the office of Directorate of Census Operations Telangana who were
unresponsive for a comment. Both NPR and NRC are to be carried out by the
officials under the office of RGI and Census Commissioner. George claims that
there are an estimated 7 to 8 lakh people who are homeless in Telangana alone.None
of the destitute whom George rescues has any documents on them at the time they
are brought to shelters. An Assam based non-profit for homeless and destitute said
that the state government has not taken any action on the homeless or destitute
whose name didn’t appear in the final NRC list. They have been left in limbo
with little or no clarity on what needs to be done next. Ansar Tanwir is a
Supreme Court lawyer who providing legal assistance to those impacted by NRC in
Assam points out that everyone who had to undergo NRC will face troubles that
are unique in some way or the other. thenewsminute
RSS in damage-control mode as it fails to make Ayodhya-like prior
connect on CAA
Unlike Ayodhya, where early preparations and reach out to people helped
immensely in maintaining peace, BJP realises that no such measures during CAA
has led to escalate the protests across the country. A meeting of top RSS and
BJP leaders of UP took place in Meerut on Saturday to chalk out a damage control
plan spread over a month till January 26.Just before the Ayodhya verdict, a
massive reach out to people from all communities especially Muslims were taken
from the BJP top leadership and it was ensured that the people don’t get
agitated over the verdict. But the
situation is entirely different right now when the parliament has passed CAA. With
no pre-consultation meeting with minority groups, some leaders in the party
feel, led to lot of confusion among the people and resulted in wide protests
across the country. Some BJP leaders feel that they hadn’t expected such
violent protests over CAA. “With parties like Congress, Trinamool, SP, BSP,
Left and others opposing the bill, we had expected some protests after the bill
would be passed. But we hadn’t expected violence protests at a scale happening
today” BJP MP from Meerut, Rajendra Agrawal told ET. “I don’t think Congress
and other parties are involved in these violent protest. But since they opposed
the bill in the parliament, they are having to support these agitations.”
Agrawal was chairman of joint parliamentary committee on CAB in 2016.Though a
little delayed but BJP and RSS is going into an overdrive to reach out to the
people especially in states like UP, which has reported maximum violence and deaths
during anti CAA protests. economictimes
Congress to observe ‘hunger strike’ on New Year in protest against CAA
Congress' Delhi unit said it will observe a 12-hour "hunger strike"
on New Year in protest against the CAA, economic slowdown and unemployment.The
"hunger strike" will be observed at Connaught Place starting at 6 pm
on Tuesday.PTI
*CAA-NRC protests: UP
CRACKDOWN*
Congress seeks independent panel probe into cases against ‘peaceful
protesters’ in UP
Lucknow :Congress on Monday demanded a probe by an independent
commission under a retired High Court judge into the cases filed against
“peaceful protesters” during the violence over protests against the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act in Uttar Pradesh.The party also demanded that bail be granted
to all those “who have been wrongly charged and were not engaged in any
unlawful or illegal act.”Led by State president Ajay Kumar Lallu, a Congress
delegation of senior leaders submitted a memorandum of demands to Governor
Anandiben Patel. It was signed by Lallu and party general secretary Priyanka
Gandhi Vadra.Congress urged that the notices for confiscation and sealing of
property, and other similar ‘punitive actions’ be suspended till due process
could be established and an appropriate enquiry by competent authorities was
completed.“Further, that any punitive action taken thereafter be legally
endorsed by a concerned judicial authority to be appointed by the Hon'ble
Supreme Court of India,” the memorandum said.As per the title of the
memorandum, it demands a “a full judicial enquiry into the unlawful conduct of
UP Police.”Congress sought the issuance of immediate orders for “exercising
restraint” by the Home Department and DGP to “ensure the cessation of such
violent, unlawful and criminal acts by the U.P Government and Police.”Students
participating in peaceful protests should also be assured that they would not
face academic or legal repercussions and their fundamental right to free
expression as enshrined in the Constitution would be protected and upheld by
law and State, the memorandum said.thehindu
CAA protests: No place for violence, revenge and resentment in India,
says Priyanka Gandhi
Yogi Adityanath should follow the peacful Hindu dharma symbolised by the
saffron robes he wears, Priyanka Gandhi said today as she tore into Uttar
Pradesh CM's controversial vow of "revenge" against violent anti-CAA
protesters.Yogi Adityanath said on December 19 that his government would avenge
the destruction of public assets by seizing and auctioning personal
property."In my opinion, this is perhaps the first time in history that a
chief minister has given a statement like this -- that revenge will be taken
against the public," Priyanka Gandhi said at press conference today in
Lucknow. She said the saffron in Yogi Adityanath's clothes didn't belong to
him, but to India's religious and spiritual tradition. She said the colour was
a symbol of a Hindu dharma that had no place for revenge, violence or enmity --
and asked Adityanath to follow it.Priyanka Gandhi has written to Uttar Pradesh
Governor to ask for a judicial enquiry into the state police's "unlawful
conduct" during protests against the CAA and the NRC. Priyanka claimed in
her letter to the Governor that the UP Police's "excesses" and
"brutality" were responsible for as many as 23 deaths.indiatoday
Priyanka Gandhi stands with those who indulged in violence: UP Deputy Chief
Minister
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma countered Congress
general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on her remarks against Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath on Monday and accused her of denigrating Hinduism.Addressing a
press conference barely two hours since Congress general secretary made certain
remarks against Adityanath, Sharma said, “Priyanka Gandhi stands with
those who indulged in (anti-CAA) violence.”PTI
UP cop’s ‘go to Pakistan’ remark: Naqvi says peace should be priority,
not provocation
At any level peace should be the priority and not provocation, Minority
Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday, amid a row over a Uttar
Pradesh police official’s purported “go to Pakistan” remark for people who were
protesting against the amended Citizenship Act.A video showed a top police
officer in Meerut saying the protestors can “go to Pakistan”, drawing sharp
criticism from various quarters.If the video is true, then appropriate action
should be taken, Naqvi told PTI.“At any level, peace should be the priority and
not provocation,” the Union Minister said.On Saturday also Mr. Naqvi had said
action should be taken against the police official, if the video was found to
be true. Naqvi said that Muslims are living in India not by compulsion, but by
commitment.PTI
*BJP’s lie exposed; No, anti-CAA protesters did not chant ‘Pakistan
zindabad’ in Lucknow rally*
On December 28, BJP social media head Amit Malviya tweeted a video and
claimed that it shows anti-CAA protesters in Lucknow raising ‘Pakistan
zindabad’ slogans. Malviya wrote, “Since this is a season of pulling out old
videos, here is one from Lucknow where anti-CAA protestors can be seen raising
‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans… Damn! Someone needs to have a samvaad with them
and ask them to carry tricolour and Bapu’s picture for the cameras next
time.”It is noteworthy that the video has surfaced on social media after a clip
of Meerut SP Akhilesh Narayan Singh asking anti-CAA protesters to “go to
Pakistan” went viral. SP Singh defended his position with the claim, “Some boys
raised Pakistan zindabad slogans after seeing us.” If one carefully listens to
the audio, the protesters are not chanting ‘Pakistan zindabad’ but ‘Kashif saab
zindabad’. nationalheraldindia
*Uttar Pradesh Police takes U-turn, no FIR against cops*
In an unexplained U-turn, Uttar Pradesh Police have now denied that any
FIR has been lodged against six policemen by the family of a protester,
Suleiman, who died in firing during the violent protests on December 20 against
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).Suleiman's family had filed a complaint against
six policemen alleging that he was shot by police bullets during anti-CAA
protest in Uttar Pradesh.According to the complaint, Suleiman's family alleged
that he was returning home from Friday prayers on December 20 when he was
accosted by SHO Rajesh Solanki, Bijnor in-charge Aashish Tomar as well as some
constables. The family claims that the policemen dragged Suleiman to a lane
where a constable, identified as Mohit, shot Suleiman at the behest of other
police officers. The police in Bijnor on Sunday had stated that Suleiman's
family's complaint had been added into the original FIR filed after his death
on December 20 in which unknown persons were blamed for his death.SP (rural)
Vishvajeet Srivastava had then said: "Police have registered a case
against station house officer and five other cops for allegedly killing Suleiman
and probe is on." However, SP Vishvajeet Srivastava has now backtracked on
his statement."Because of legal and technical issue, a separate FIR cannot
be registered in this regard. The initial FIR was filed based on the complaint
of Mohit Kumar, a constable who sustained bullet injury during protest. The
role of Suleiman was mentioned in that FIR. So, there is no need for a separate
FIR. SIT is probing the matter now," he said. Reacting to the statement
made by SP, maternal uncle of the deceased, Afzal Ahmed Usmani, said:
"Suleiman was killed by the 6 policemen. Police officials had assured us
that we will be given a copy of FIR on Sunday. When we approached police for
the FIR copy, it was not given to us.".IANS
*Meerut police add sedition charge to FIR in Dec 20 clashes*
New Delhi :Following a video of a
senior police officer in Meerut telling locals to “Go to Pakistan”, police has
added the section of sedition in the FIR filed in connection with the violent
clashes that took place on December 20.According to police, no arrests have
been made and identity of the persons who allegedly raised pro-Pak slogans is
being ascertained. “With respect to the violence by the protesters in Meerut on
December 20, several FIRs for alleged rioting have already been filed. It has
come to our notice that pro-Pak slogans were also raised in Lisari Gate.
Keeping that in mind, the section 124 (sedition) of the IPC has been added in
the existing FIR. The section has been added against unknown persons. The next
step is to identify the alleged accused and take action accordingly,” Meerut
SSP Ajay Sahni said.According to police sources, video evidence of alleged
anti-national slogans has been submitted which are being
investigated.indianexpress
*In Kanpur, Muslims allege cops raised 'har har Mahadev' slogans,
threatened women with rape in crackdown on anti-CAA protesters*
Kanpur administration may be busy in restoring normalcy in the city
after violent protests on 20th Dec, but regular course of life was altered
forever, for Subhan (name changed) and his family. Subhan, a teacher in a
prominent school of the city, shivers as he narrates his ordeal to this
reporter.It is worth noting here that the Kanpur Police has booked over 21,000
people in 15 FIRs lodged at various police stations across the city. "We
had nothing to do with protests and everyone in our family was at home. One of
my uncles was at his shop. After they'd destroyed vehicles, I saw policemen
marching towards our lane and shouting har har Mahadev slogans Sensing danger I left my balcony and locked
the small wooden door of our house. After a few minutes of silence, the police
began banging our door and kept saying come outside you sons of Jinnah, we
won't spare you and rape your sisters,"said Subhan. firstpost
*In Sambhal, 57-year-old doctor, man behind 2 schools get damage notices*
Sambhal :A 57-year-old Ayurveda doctor who runs a clinic, a 56-year-old
social activist who runs a school for Dalit and Muslim children, a 47-year-old
political activist who runs a puncture shop, a 51-year-old businessman who also
runs 2 educational institutions. They are among 59 persons issued notices by UP
government for payment of Rs 15.35 lakh in total to compensate for damage to
property caused during anti-CAA protests in Sambhal. All of them say they will
challenge the order in court. And all of them speak in one voice on the
government’s notices: They are being sent to muzzle civil society and the
protests.Topping the list is Mushir Khan, who runs a cold storage facility and
two schools, is a well known social activist, and heads the Sambhal Sangharsh
Samiti.“I am shocked. We have held so many protests against the policies of
various govts. Never has such an action been taken,” says Khan.indianexpress
*Statewide black day on Jan 3 against CAA, 'attrocities' of UP police on
'peaceful' protesters: Shahi Imam Punjab*
Ludhiana: Shahi Imam Punjab Maulana Habib Ur Rehman Saani has said that
the Muslims will observe state wide black day on January 3 as a mark of protest
against CAA and police "atrocities" on Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. He said
after meeting of Imams (priests) of
mosques, muftis, members of Muslim organizations, intellectuals, social and
political leaders of the community from the state at Shahi Mosque in Field Gunj
in Ludhiana. Head Priest said that it was unanimously decided in the meeting
that January 3 will be observed as Black day against the divisive politics of
the BJP-led Central government and against the "atrocities" of Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka police on peaceful protesters. He added that on
that day Muslims will say prayers by tying Black cloth and will hold protests
by carrying black flags before handing over memorandum to district
Administration for President of India. Shahi Imam said that the protests
against the "black law" will continue throughout the country as the
Constitution of India is secular. Head priest claimed that in the BJP ruled UP,
the way UP police "resorted" to brutality even General Dyer would
have been ashamed of that. TOI
*On the ground in Uttar Pradesh, protest divide along religion, not
politics:indian express report*
Bareilly :Invoking the Constitution and waving Tricolour to widen the
base of CAA-NRC protests don’t seem to be working in large parts of Uttar
Pradesh. In a state deeply divided on caste lines, support for the protests is
split more on the lines of religion than politics.The state’s main Opposition
parties — SP, BSP and Congress — in UP have unequivocally opposed the move. But
across the constituencies of Baghpat, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Sambhal and
Rampur, many Hindus who voted for Opposition parties during Lok Sabha polls
support the government’s citizenship move.Their response to the police
crackdown in the state — 19 deaths and over 1,100 arrests — is muted, and
hardly anyone is willing to declare that citizenship move should be rolled
back.All of them say fears over the new law are misplaced, an assert that no
Muslim from their neighbourhood, village or taluka will be evicted. They also
endorse communal amity and blame politics for the protests.“What is the problem
if Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh come here? Bangladeshi Muslims should go
back to their place,” says Devendra Malik, a truck driver in his late 40s,
while reading a local newspaper at the Budhana bypass in Muzaffarnagar.Malik,
who hails from the Jat community, says he voted for RLD chief Ajit Singh, who
was part of a coalition with SP and BSP during Lok Sabha polls. He also
criticises Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for supporting the
protesters .Malik’s views find an echo in a group of Jat villagers at Baghpat’s
Kurri village, which is adjacent to Chhaprauli village, home of the late Charan
Singh. “No Hindu is opposing it, only Muslims are,” says Ravinder Kumar, a Jat
in Kurri waiting to unload his sugarcane stock, as other community members nod
in support.This group is clear that while they remain RLD voters, and are angry
with BJP government over pending cane dues, they are not on the same page with
those agitating against the CAA-NRC. “I don’t think NRC is wrong. The
government move is good. Those from outside should go.There is so much
unemployment here already. If these outsiders go, it will benefit us,” says
Vinod Kumar, an elder from the Jatav community who trades in bamboo material at
Narauli in Sambhal district.Members of other Hindu segments sitting with him
endorse this view, even as a lone elderly Muslim chips in that they have
“always been at peace with each other and there is no discord between Hindus
and Muslims on this issue”. Members of other backward communities, such as
Kashyaps and Sainis, who were BSP supporters before 2014, are in agreement with
the common view. Most of them claim to have voted for the BJP this year.
*BJP leader thrashed while explaining CAA, NRC in UP’s Amroha*
A BJP leader, who was trying to explain the benefits of the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC in Amroha district was beaten up by locals.BJP
leader had to flee from the spot.According to reports, Murtaza Agha Qazmi, the
district general secretary of the party's minority wing, was allegedly heckled
and then thrashed at Lakada Mohalla in Amroha on Friday.BJP's minority wing has
been trying to hold programmes for informing the people that "CAA and NRC
will not take away the rights and citizenship of Muslims living in India, and
they should refrain from protesting against the Act." Amroha SP, Vipin
Tada, said that a case has been registered and the accused has been
arrested.IANS
*OTHERS*
Under Detention Since Scrapping of Article 370, Five Kashmiri Political
Leaders Released after 148 Days
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday released five
political leaders who have been under detention since the abrogation of Article
370 provisions and bifurcation of the state by the Centre on August 5.The five
leaders, belonging to the National Conference and the PDP, had been under
preventive detention for the past four months. The leaders included Ishfaq
Jabbar and Ghulam Nabi Bhat (NC) and Bashir Mir Zahoor Mir and Yasir Reshi
(PDP), they said.Reshi is considered as a rebel PDP leader who had openly
revolted against then chief minister and PDP patron Mehbooba Mufti.On November
25, two political leaders — Dilawar Mir of PDP and Ghulam Hassan Mir of the
Democratic Party Nationalist — were released by the new Union Territory
administration after 110 days of detention. They are ex MLAs, both residents of
Baramulla district.On the same day, Ashraf Mir and Hakeen Yaseen, who were MLAs
in the last state assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, were
shifted to their residences but remain under detention.Both Mir and Yaseen were
among the 34 political leaders who were lodged at the MLA hostel after being
shifted from Centaur hotel in Srinagar. 3 former chief ministers — Farooq
Abdulalh, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are also under detention.news18
In a first, Jammu and Kashmir govt to hire from across India
Srinagar: In its first recruitment notice since the nullification of
Articles 370 and 35A, J&K high court has invited applications for 33
non-gazetted posts from candidates across the country. This is the first time
in the Valley that eligibility for any government job isn't limited to
"permanent residents" of Kashmir and Ladakh.The advertised posts
include that of stenographers, typists and drivers, with no bar on any
candidate applying separately for more than one vacancy. Selection in reserved
categories will be on the basis of the J&K Reservation Rules, 2005, which
states that "available vacancies will be in favour of permanent
residents".Of the 33 advertised posts, as many as 17 are in the “OM (open
merit)” category, which means anyone from outside J&K can be selected for
those.TOI
*CBI Raids Ex-Officers In J&K For Allegedly Issuing 2 Lakh Arms
Licence*
New Delhi: In the first massive operation by CBI since Jammu and Kashmir
was divided into two union territories, several bureaucrats were raided today
across 13 locations in Srinagar, Jammu, Gurgaon, Noida in the arms license
case.CBI is investigating alleged irregularities in the grant of over two lakh
arms licenses in different districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Today, homes of ex deputy
commissioners and DMs of Kupwara, Baramulla, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Shopian,
Rajouri, Doda, Pulwama were searched.Searches were carried out at homes of
Itrat Husain Rafiqi- retired IAS from Bandipora - who is now living in
Srinagar. Former District Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Khan's Srinagar was also
raided, said sources."It was alleged that the former public servants in
this conspiracy of issuance of licences to non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir
in violation of rules, allegedly received gratification," said CBI
spokesperson Nitin Wakankar.ndtv
Pakistan to host OIC meet on Kashmir, CAA
Pakistan will hold a ministerial meeting of the 57-member Organisation
for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jammu and Kashmir in April 2020, said official
media in Islamabad. The development, according to diplomats, is linked to a
broader Saudi-Pakistan deal.The announcement came days after recently-appointed
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud visited Islamabad.“I told the
Saudi Foreign Minister that the OIC must make a strong statement on India’s
Citizenship Amendment Act as well as on the situation in [Jammu and Kashmir],”
Qureshi said on Sunday.According to Radio Pakistan, officials had discussed
holding the meeting of ministers of OIC grouping of Muslim majority countries,
led by Saudi Arabia, to focus on the “human rights situation in occupied Jammu
and Kashmir and enactment of an anti-Muslim law in India”. The report added
that the ministerial meeting “is expected to be held in Islamabad in April
2020.”Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the development until
the meeting was officially announced by OIC. If confirmed, the move would be a
setback to govt’s efforts to increase its engagement with the Islamic grouping,
including attending OIC conference earlier this year.“Arab world largely ignored
the issue of Kashmir until Pakistan was forced to reach out to Turkey, Iran and
Malaysia. It is only because of the new Muslim bloc’s formation that the older
bloc— OIC — realised their mistake," said Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, Chairman
of Pakistan's Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights. Diplomats say the
decision of the Saudi leadership to send its foreign minister on his first
visit abroad to Pakistan, as well as to agree to an OIC statement on the
Citizenship (Amendment) Act last week stems from Riyadh’s concerns over losing
control of key Islamic nations to a parallel formation, headed by Malaysia and
Turkey, more than a desire to turn away from India.thehindu
MEA recalls Indian ambassador to Austria who rented apartment for Rs 15
lakh a month
Ministry of External Affairs has recalled Renu Pall, the Indian
ambassador to Austria over misuse of government finances and monetary
irregularities. She rented for herself an apartment at the cost of 15 lakh
rupees per month, according to IANS.Pall is an Indian Foreign Service officer
from 1988 batch and she was about to finish her tenure in Austria in the coming
month. An investigation was launched against her by the Central Vigilance
Commission (CVC). MEA conducted the probe in line with directions from MEA.As
per the investigation report, Pall "incurred huge expenditure to the tune
of crores of rupees on the government residence without the permission of the
ministry".timesnownews
Complaint against Mohan Bhagwat over ‘all Indians are Hindus’ remark
Senior Telangana Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao Monday filed a
complaint against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remark that any true “son of
mother India” is a Hindu.Alleging that Bhagwat insulted the sentiments of the
people by saying that all 130 crore Indians are “Hindus”, the former Rajya
Sabha MP feared the statement could “lead to communal tension among the public
and could also become a law and order problem in Hyderabad.” Rao has sought to
register a case against Bhagwat for his “anti-national” and “anti-secular”
remarks.ACP, LB Nagar, K. Pruthvidhar Rao said that complainant has taken
objection to Bhagwat’s remarks and questioned how people from other faiths be
called ‘Hindus’. “We have received a complaint. We will take legal opinion
before any further step,” said the ACP.“Statement of Bhagwat not only hurts
sentiments and beliefs of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis etc, but is also
against the spirit and tenor of the constitution of India,”Rao said in his
complaint.indianexpress
Zero MDR on RuPay, UPI to kill digital payments industry, says Payments
Council of India
Slamming Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement that digital
transactions made using RuPay credit cards or UPI QR codes will not face
Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) from January 1, the Payments Council of India
(PCI) on Monday said move would kill the industry and make the business model
unviable.The Department of Revenue will soon notify RuPay and UPI as the
prescribed mode of payment for digital transactions without any MDR --
percentage of the digital transaction that a merchant pays to banks and this
cost is often passed on to the customer."Payment service providers play a
vital role in growing digital payments. The prohibition on charge of MDR on
RuPay and UPI would kill the industry and make the business model unviable.
It's like nationalization of the payments industry," said Vishwas Patel,
Chairman, PCI and Director Infibeam Avenues."There would be a significant
negative impact on the payment ecosystem – innovation, job losses and a
slowdown in the expansion of the digital payments in India," he said in a
statement.IANS
Struggling to Find Buyer, Air India Might be Forced to Shut Down in Six
Months
Mumbai: Struggling Air India might be forced to shut down by June next
year unless it finds a buyer as "piecemeal" arrangements cannot be
sustained for long, according to a senior airline official.Amid continuing
uncertainty over fate of the national carrier, the official said there is also
need for funds to restart operations of 12 grounded narrow-body planes.The
airline has a debt burden of around Rs 60,000 crore and the government is still
working on the modalities for the disinvestment. Sounding alarm bells, the
official said Air India might well go Jet Airways way if a prospective buyer
does not come on board by June next year.PTI
*Maharashtra cabinet expansion: 25 Cabinet ministers,10 MoS take oath;
Ajit Pawar returns as Deputy CM*
Almost a month after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath as
Maharashtra Chief Minister, his cabinet was expanded on Monday, which included,
among others, his son Aaditya Thackeray.26 Cabinet ministers and 10 ministers
of state (MoS) were sworn in, in addition to the six who had taken oath along
with Uddhav on November 28.While NCP’s Ajit Pawar is deputy CM, the portfolios
of the others who took oath today have not been announced.With this, NCP leads
in number of ministerial berths — 12 Cabinet ministers and four MoS. The Shiv
Sena has 10 Cabinet ministers and four MoS, while the Congress has 10 Cabinet
ministers and two MoS.
*Villagers in Tamil Nadu deny reports of conversion to Islam:Indian
Express report*
Chennai :Days after a Tamil outfit claimed 3,000 Dalits would embrace Islam
in Mettupalayam to protest the deaths of 17 individuals of the community in a
wall collapse, residents of the village have denied the claim.Relatives and
neighbours of those who died after the compound wall collapsed in Nadur village
said no Muslim groups had approached them, and that they were devotees of Hindu
deities, especially Ram.Tamil Puligal Katchi, local outfit that had made the
announcement, changed its stance on Sunday, and said that the Dalits who had
decided to embrace Islam belong to Tirupur, Coimbatore and other places.The
outfit had earlier said that the mass conversion would be a protest against the
indifference of the state government that had failed to act against a 20-foot
high “caste wall” built illegally by a “caste Hindu”. The wall had collapsed on
a row of Dalit houses in Nadur near Mettupalayam town on Dec.2. Tamil Nadu has
a history of en masse protest conversions — in Meenakshipuram in 1981, a large
number of Scheduled Caste individuals had embraced Islam.M Ilavenil of Tamil Puligal
Katchi said on Sunday: “This is a mass protest, at least 3,000 Dalits from the
area will convert to Islam. Government did not act against the caste wall.
Conversion is the solution against this discrimination.”However, when told that
several residents of the Mettupalayam village had said that they would not
convert, he said: “Yes yes, we do not have access to the village now due to
police. They may be embracing Islam later. On January 5, at least 300 Dalits
will embrace Islam at Mettupalayam.”Asked who these (3,000 or 300) Dalits who
would convert next week were, Ilavenil said: “They are people from Tirupur,
Coimbatore, and nearby areas.” They had taken the decision to convert after the
wall collapse, he said.
*Amend Articles 29 and 30, give minority benefits to all: VHP*
Mangalore:VHP demanded amendment in Article 29 and 30 of the
Constitution of India which are meant for the protection of the interests of
minorities.According to a statement released issued here, VHP said the benefits
under these two Articles should be given not only to the minorities but other
sections also.VHP believes that this will help in eliminating discrimination. UNI
*Pejawar seer had read Quran as thoroughly as he did Geeta:Seer's Muslim
driver*
Mangaluru: Pejawar Seer Vishwesha Teertha’s driver was a Muslim. The
driver's name is Mohammed Arif. Even his brothers were also drivers for the
seer.While Mohammed Akhir chauffeured the seer for 3 years, another brother of
Arif, Mohammed Manoor did it for 7 years. Arif has been seer's driver for two
years. Though there were rumblings within and outside when he appointed a
Muslim as his driver, the seer did not budge nor give an ear to the criticisms.
He had asked Arif: Is it difficult to work as a driver for me? When Arif
replied in the negative, the seer said : Don't bother about others, do your
work. Arif says though others referred to him as a communal seer, he never felt
so in seer's actions or words. The seer had also advised him to do Namaz
regularly and he did not have any objection for him performing his prayers.
Arif had a free run inside the Mutt. According to Arif, the seer had read Quran
as thoroughly as he did Geeta.TOI
*Mumbai: Armed with triple talaq law, Muslim women still in search of
justice*
At 24, Shabnam Shaikh has decided never to marry again. With a
one-and-half-year-old son, no job, and a long-drawn legal battle ahead, she
knows she cannot afford “to make another mistake by trusting a man”. “Also I
can’t keep making rounds of the police station,” she says as she cuddles her
infant in her lap. Last year, her husband uttered talaq thrice over the phone;
months later, he came to meet her and repeated, “Talaq talaq talaq”. This year,
soon after the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, was
enacted, she visited 2 police stations in Mumbai to register a complaint, but
was turned away without registering a FIR. During her entire pregnancy, she
claims she was subjected to domestic violence. Finally, she returned to her
parents’ house, a tiny room in Govandi’s Shivaji Nagar slum to deliver her son
Ibrahim in 2018.Over the next few months she made rounds of Shivaji Nagar
police. “They referred me to Nagpada police, and Nagpada police would suggest I
approach the women’s commission,” Shabnam says.Jannat Patel (32) was 7 months
pregnant when her husband called her up and said ‘talaq’ thrice over a nasty
fight. Patel went to Mumbra police station where officials refused to register
an FIR. Social activists said the
procedure remains on paper. While implementation of the Act is an issue,
several activists also question the intent of the law. “The law somehow also
makes domestic disputes a criminal offence. It does not look at protecting
Muslim women, but targets Muslim men. If there was uniformity, the law would
have been acceptable. With present government, the intentions don’t seem
right,” said Sabah Khan, from NGO Parcham.indianexpress
*After Triple Talaq law — ‘The harassment has not stopped but has just
changed’*
*4 more Navy personnel arrested by Andhra police for ‘spying’ for
Pakistan links*
Hyderabad: Counter Intelligence Cell of Andhra Pradesh has arrested four
more Indian Navy sailors—three from Mumbai Naval Base and one from Karwar Naval
Base—for allegedly passing on sensitive information to a Pakistani handler. On
December 20, Andhra Intelligence Department busted an espionage racket in the
Indian Navy and had arrested seven sailors. They are accused of passing on
sensitive information like locations of naval ships and submarines to a
Pakistani handler. Sources said that on December 29, four more sailors who had
also passed on information were arrested and brought to Vijayawada and produced
before a local court.These eleven sailors fell into a honey trap in September
2018 and allegedly received money through hawala for passing on sensitive
information. A hawala operator from Mumbai was also arrested. The Counter
Intelligence operation to bust the espionage racket was code-named Dolphin’s
Nose after the hill in Visakhapatnam where the Navy has its residential
quarters.
*Exposed to online threats, Navy bans use of social media after 7
personnel arrested for espionage*
Beefing up surveillance, Indian Navy has issued orders to ban the use of
social media by its personnel to curb cyber snooping, after an espionage racket
with alleged links to Pakistan operating through Facebook, was busted on
December 20.Apart from banning the use of social media websites and Apps such
as the Facebook, Instagram and even WhatsApp, the Navy order bans the use of
smartphones within the area of all bases, and on ships and dockyards.news18
*MP honey trap case: Chargesheet says 2 TV journalists middlemen between
accused, victims*
Bhopal: 2 TV journalists based in Bhopal were involved in facilitating
deals between the accused in the honey trap case in Madhya Pradesh and their
victims, according to a chargesheet filed in a Bhopal court on Saturday. In
Sept., Indore Police arrested six persons after Indore Municipal Corporation
(IMC) superintending engineer Harbhajan Singh alleged that he was being
blackmailed for Rs 3 crore with video clips that showed him in a compromising
position.Of the six accused, two women and a driver were held from Indore and
the three other women were arrested in Bhopal, where all the accused lived. All
of them are still in judicial custody.A chargesheet filed in an Indore court on
December 16 was in connection with FIR filed by Singh. The chargesheet in the
Bhopal court relates to a complaint of human trafficking filed by the father of
the youngest accused.This chargesheet says Veerendra Sharma of Sahara News and
Gaurav Sharma, who has worked with various media organisations, not only
facilitated deals but also took their share. The alleged exchange of money, in
one case Rs 1 crore in cash, took place at the flats owned by the two
journalists. indianexpress
*Army chief General Rawat named India's first Chief of Defence Staff*
New Delhi:Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat has been named as
India's first Chief of Defence Staff. General Rawat was named the Chief of
Defence Staff just a day before he was to retire from service after completeing
a full 3-year term as the Chief of Army Staff. General Rawat is the first
officer to hold the post of the Chief of Defence Staff, which was set up just
days ago. The CDS will function as a single-point adivsor to the government on
matters related to the military and will focus on better synergy between the
Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.General Bipin Rawat was the
front-runner for the post.indiatoday
*CDS: Govt notifies retirement age at 65*
In Race for Chill Marathon, Delhi Records Coldest December Day in 119
Yrs; Rajasthan, Punjab Catch Up with 0 Degrees
New Delhi: Delhi is to experience its coldest day in December in 119
years on Monday with the day temperature recording 9.4 degrees Celsius, the
India Meteorological Department said.The temperature recorded by the Safdurjung
laboratory at 2:30 pm was 9.4 degrees Celsius."Delhi likely to record most
coldest day today in last 119 year for Dec Month as day temp till 1430 IST of
today has been unusually (cold) following a coldest trend with Safdarjung at
1430 IST has 09.4 deg C," IMD tweeted.Severe cold conditions continued to
prevail in Rajasthan with Sikar district of the state recording the minimum temperature
at minus 0.5 degree Celsius, the meteorological department said.Meanwhile,
Haryana and Punjab also remained under the grip of severe cold wave with
temperatures hovering well below normal limits.Faridkot in Punjab was the
coldest place in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 0.7 degrees
Celsius, six notches below normal limits.PTI
Govt Order Shut Down of Schools in Noida Due to Cold Weather Conditions
*WORLD*
Iran slams 'terrorist' raids by US on Shia militia in Iraq, Syria
Iran has said US showed its "support for terrorism" by
carrying out air attacks on the Shia armed group Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and
Syria.Pentagon said on Sunday that it had targeted Iran-linked militia group in
western Iraq and eastern Syria in response to the killing of a US civilian contractor
two days earlier.Iraqi security and militia sources said at least 25 fighters
had been killed and 55 others wounded in the air attacks in Iraq which the US
described as "defensive strikes".At least four Kataib Hezbollah
commanders were among the dead, the sources said, adding that one of the raids
had hit the Iran-backed group's headquarters near the western al-Qaim district
on the border with Syria."These attacks have once again proved America's
false claims in fighting Daesh... as US has targeted the positions of forces
that over the years have inflicted heavy blows to Daesh terrorists,"
Iran's spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.The spokesman said the presence of foreign
forces in the region was the cause of insecurity and tensions. "America must
put an end to its occupying presence," said Mousavi.Meanwhile, Iraq also
condemned the US attack against Kataib Hezbollah armed group's positions as a
"violation of Iraqi sovereignty".aljazeera
Israeli authorities approve 2,000 new settlement units in Jerusalem,
West B
Israeli Civil Administration is set this week to approve the
construction of 2,000 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem and the West
Bank, Haaretz revealed on Sunday.Civil Administration is Israeli occupation
body operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The 2,000 new
settlement units will be built in isolated settlements. The approval, according
to Haaretz, came in line with the recent remarks made by the Israeli prime
minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as he announced that he would “soon approve 3,000
new settlement units.”Netanyahu also added that he would soon announce the
annexing of the Jordan Valley and would obtain US backing for the annexation of
the West Bank settlements.In a recent report, UN revealed that Israel built or
approved the construction of 10,000 new settlement units in the occupied
territories in 2019, much more than the number during the two previous years,
which reached 6,800.middleeastmonitor
Hamas denies long-term ceasefire deal with Israel
Palestinian Movement Hamas, denied on Sunday media reports claiming that
it is discussing a long-term ceasefire agreement with Israel, whether in the
West Bank or in Gaza Strip. “Talk was only about confirming previous
understandings related to ending the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and
nothing more,” Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanoua told Anadolu. Al-Qanoua
made his comments in response to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 claiming that NSA
Meir Ben-Shabbat would brief the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday on the details of
the proposed long-term ceasefire deal with the movement. Hamas spokesman denied
the report, describing it as “baseless”.middleeastmonitor
Palestinian minor prisoners in Israel jails tortured, humiliated, NGO
reveals
Palestinian Prisoners’ Commission(PPC) has documented witnesses of
Palestinian minor prisoners inside Israeli jails stating that they had been
tortured and humiliated when they were arrested and during their
investigations, Safa Press Agency reported.Minor prisoner, Abdul-Min’em
Al-Natsha, 17, revealed that Israeli undercover forces kidnapped him from the
streets of Shu’fat Refugee Camp along with Usama Taha, 16. Both boys disclosed
that they were taken to an investigation centre and spent four hours being
investigated. They were handcuffed, insulted and beaten.MEMO
Netanyahu’s son wants British diplomats ‘kicked out’ of Israel
The son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes that British
diplomats will soon be “kicked out” of Israel following a tweet by consulate
staff in Jerusalem in which the Palestinian territories were referred to as
“occupied”. Yair Netanyahu, who is known for his controversial outbursts on
social media, made the comments late on Friday after the British Consulate
announced that Prince Charles will be making his first visit to the area in
January. Prince Charles will visit the Occupied Palestinian Territories next
month. The Prince of Wales will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the
West Bank, where the heir to the throne will “undertake
engagements”.middleeastmonitor
Libyan Foreign Ministry: ‘We do not understand UN Security Council’s
failure to address Haftar’s crimes’
Libyan government said that they do not understand the UN Security
Council’s clear failure to face Khalifa Haftar’s crimes against civilians and
his destruction of public facilities in the country.This came in a message
delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National
Accord (GNA), Mohamed Taha Siala, to the UN Security Council, according to the
media centre of Operation Volcano of Anger.Siala added in his message that
Haftar forces have committed “crimes against humanity” by bombing civilians in
Zawia (west) and Tajoura (east of Tripoli) two days ago.In another message he
conveyed to the ICC prosecutor, Siala said: “Haftar’s forces are taking on a
new and serious challenge added to the previous war crimes, by bombing the
Institute of Applied Engineering near the Zawia refinery.”middleeastmonitor
Sudan sentences 27 to death for torturing, killing protester
A Sudanese court on Monday sentenced at least 27 intelligence agents to
death for killing a teacher in detention during protests against Omar
al-Bashir, Sudan's longtime former leader, earlier this year.The defendants
were found guilty of torturing to death Ahmed al-Kheir at an intelligence
services facility and sentenced to be hanged, judge Sadok Albdelrahman said.The
teacher was beaten and tortured to death after he was arrested in late January
by intelligence operatives in Sudan's eastern province of Kassala, the judge
said.Another four officers were sentenced to three years in prison and 7 were
acquitted in the landmark ruling that paves the way for democratic transition
in the North African nation.aljazeera
Chinese scientist who edited genes of babies jailed for 3 years
Beijing: A Chinese scientist who set off an ethical debate with claims
that he had made the world's first genetically edited babies was sentenced
Monday to three years in prison because of his research, state media said.He
Jiankui, who was convicted of practicing medicine without a license, was also
fined 3 million yuan ($430,000) by a court in the southern city of Shenzhen,
China's official Xinhua reported. Two other researchers involved in the project
received lesser sentences and fines. The verdict said the three defendants had
not obtained qualification as doctors, pursued fame and profits, deliberately
violated Chinese regulations on scientific research and crossed an ethical line
in both scientific research and medicine, according to Xinhua. It also said
they had fabricated ethical review documents.AP
*Deputy leader of Muslim Brotherhood declares support for Egyptian
Accord*
Ibrahim Munir, the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, announced
his approval and support, on a personal level, for the Egyptian Accord document
presented by the artist and contractor Mohamed Ali on Friday, which he said he
had developed with various opposition forces.“The formula that the document
came up with is suitable for all national parties, and it represents the
initial vision around which we hope all the Egyptian national parties revolve,
regardless of their sects,” Munir told Arabi21. He went on, “the terms of the
document are acceptable and largely reflect demands and goals of the national
powers.”Munir predicted: “there will be a wide response from the various
Egyptian national parties. Most of which participated in one way or another in
the formulation of that document that will have a subsequent document and that
will represent an important and distinctive point in the desired national
alignment path.”middleeastmonitor
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
A dangerous new low in state-sponsored hate:Harsh Mander
OPINION - New India law aims to disenfranchise Muslims:Iftikhar Gilani
Uttar Pradesh human rights defenders – one Muslim, the other Dalit –
arrested for protesting CAA:Radhika Bordia
A law that offers citizenship only to non-Muslims sidesteps the real
issues for political mileage:Madhav Godbole
‘Gujarat model’ runs into backlash:Sajeda Momin
Uddhav’s Shiv Sena has had a change of heart. It now waits for Muslims
to come around:SHIKHA TRIVEDY
Ongoing protests speak of a pent-up frustration at dwindling
opportunities, a bleaker future:Harish Damodaran
The new citizenship law goes against Gandhi’s idea of civic
nationalism:Ramin Jahanbegloo
2019 began with seeming unassailability of a majoritarian political
order, ends with a reminder of limits of hubris:Pamela Philipose
“Let the Government call our children ‘rowdies’; let newspapers call
them rioters, but our children have given their lives for the nation”: Ground
report from Meerut:Aasmohammad kaif |Twocircles.net
From NSO, NCRB to NPR and NCR, Modi Government Has a Love-Hate
Relationship With Data:Jahnavi Sen
CAA rules must be stringent, offering citizenship only to real and not
imagined refugees:SHIVAM VIJ
UP Shia Seminary Ransacked by Police; Elderly Cleric, Children Beaten Up
Black and Blue; Stripped:Mohammed Anas | Caravan Daily
Shaheen Bagh’s anti CAA protests: Fear of reading constitution while
sitting in detention camps: Pratishtha Singh
Fact-finding report reveals police brutality at Aurangabad and Phulwari
Sharif
We knew Adityanath was hostile to Muslims. But did we expect his regime
to be so savage?Supriya Sharma
Education and Student Life in the Valley Since the Shutdown of
Kashmir:NAMIT KUMAR
Rehearsed in Kashmir, played out in rest of India;Bharat Bhushan
CAA Protests: Is Police Biased Against Minorities? Here’s the Data
Amended UAPA against Protestors: You Prove Your Innocence, Prove You’re
a Citizen, Prove You Belong
Compiled
and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:46 PM).*
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