13 Jan 2020: 17
Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 106
*anti-citizenship act stir*
UP govt started CAA process, identified over 32,000 refugees in 21
districts: UP Minister
Lucknow:The state government has started the process to identify
refugees for the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, said UP
minister Shrikant Sharma here on Monday. "The notification for CAA (by
Centre) has been issued and all district magistrates in UP have been asked to
collect data," Sharma told PTI.In the first list, over 32,000 refugees
have been identified in 21 districts of the state and the exercise is going on
in the entire state as per information I have from the state Home Department,
Sharma added.When asked about the countries they belong to, Sharma
said,"They are from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh." Districts
from where the first list has arrived included Sahranpur, Gorakhpur, Aligarh,
Rampur, Pratapgarh, Pilibhit, Lucknow, Varnaasi, Bahraich, Lakhimpur, Rampur,
Meerut, Agra.Sources said Pilibhit has the maximum number of refugees. However,
exact number is yet to be disclosed by the state government."The exercise
is going on and as the data comes, we will update figures," Sharma said.An
NGO, Nagrik Adhikar Manch, has also prepared a 116-page report, "Uttar
Pradesh Mein Aaye Pakistan, Afghanistan Evam Bangladesh ke Sharnarthiyon ki
Aapbeeti (Unke Utpeedan ki Kahani)" and sent it to the state and
Centre."We have got the report of Nagrik Adhikar Manc a senior Home
Department official said, who refused to elaborate.PTI
As UP Becomes 1st State to Begin CAA, 40,000 Refugees Identified;
Maximum in Pilibhit
UP produces list of Pilibhit refugees from 1971, claims to be first
state to implement CAA!
Withdraw CAA, stop NRC, NPR: 20 Opposition parties pass resolution
New Delhi :At a Congress-led meeting on Monday in the Parliament
complex, 20 opposition parties passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of
the contentious CAA and immediate stoppage of the nationwide NPR exercise.
Calling the NPR a basis for the proposed NRC, the resolution stated, “CAA, NPR,
and NRC is a package that is unconstitutional, which specifically targets the
poor, the downtrodden, SC/STs and the linguistic and religious minorities.”“All
the chief ministers, who have announced that they will not implement NRC in
their State, must consider suspending NPR enumeration as this is a prelude to
NRC,” it added.At the meeting, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said
Narendra Modi and Amit Shah-led govnt stood exposed for its inability to govern
and provide security to people in the wake of widespread protests against CAA
and the violence on campuses.“The nation watched in horror at BJP-orchestrated
assault on JNU coming so soon after what happened in Jamia, BHU, Allahabad
University and AMU and other institutions of higher learning. Modi-Shah govt
stands exposed for its inability to govern and provide security to people,”
Gandhi said.Gandhi said the government has let loose reign of oppression and is
spreading hatred in order to divide people along sectarian lines. “There’s
unprecedented turmoil. The constitution is being undermined and instruments of
governance being misused,” she said.Accusing the Prime Minister and Home
Minister of misleading the nation on CAA and NRC, Gandhi said,“They have
contradicted their own statements of only weeks ago, and continue with their
provocative statements while remaining insensitive to the state suppression and
violence that is increasingly becoming commonplace.” The meeting, which was
convened by Gandhi, was attended by leaders of opposition parties like NCP
supremo Sharad Pawar, LJD chief Sharad Yadav, Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and
D Raja, besides Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Ahmed Patel.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was also present. BSP, AAP, TMC, and DMK
however, stayed away. While BSP chief Mayawati said the meeting would
“demoralise” her party workers, AAP and Sena said they had not received an
invitation.Sena, who is an ally of the Grand Old Party in Maharashtra, said
that they did not recieve any invitation to the meeting.Speaking on similar
lines, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the party had no information about
the meeting.indianexpress
Opposition appeals to non-BJP CMs to suspend enumeration of NPR
New NPR comprehensive biometric database of all, records to include
mother tongue of residents
The enumerator for NPR 2020, is likely to ask residents about their
mother tongue while updating the database from April 2020, along with the
house-listing exercise for Census, according to a senior government official
who asked not to be named.This is for the first time that language information
may be sought under NPR, though this information was previously collected under
the Census exercise.NPR, which is a comprehensive biometric database of all
“usual residents” in India, as opposed to the Census, which is a database of
households, has generated controversy with Opposition parties contending that the
exercise is linked to NRIC, which is aimed at identifying illegal immigrants.
The government, which has in the past described NPR as the first step towards a
nationwide NRC, now maintains that there is no link between the two, and that
an all-India NRC is not immediately on the anvil. NPR was created in 2010 and
updated in 2015. On both occasions, officials said, data on mother tongue was
not collected under the exercise. In addition to mother tongue, NPR 2020 will
also seek information on the place and date of birth of residents’ parents,
apart from nationality. Though the section on mother tongue is not in NPR 2020
form, the NPR manual prepared to train enumerators has a separate section
called,“Code for Mother Tongue”. Reetika Khera, associate professor at
IIM-Ahmedabad, said there were several unanswered questions over NPR. “Unlike
census data, which cannot be shared [it is protected by Census Act], NPR data
enjoys no protection. The govt collecting or maintaining a database with names
can be a harmless exercise, but in the Indian context, even the name can give
away one’s religion and/or caste. In addition, there is duplication between
Census and NPR. Finally, contrary to government claims of NPR data being used
for better targeting of developmental schemes, NPR data in the past was not
used for schemes such as MNREGA,” Khera said.HT
'NPR wasteful exercise as govt not planning to make NRC': plea in SC challenges
NPR notification
As the Supreme Court is set to consider the challenge against the
Citizenship Amendment Act next week, a petition has been filed in the top court
challenging the notification for NPR.The petition filed by a NGO named
'Minority Front' states that NPR is the first step for NRC. Since the Prime
Minister has already announced a decision in his speech made on December 22 to
not to go ahead with NRC, the preparation of NPR is "nothing but a waste
of time, energy and valuable resources of the Nation", states the
petition.The petition further says:"It is submitted that as per media
reports a sum of Rs 3,941.35 crore has been approved to be utilized for the
exercise of preparing NPR which sum will be wasted as the preparation of
National Population Register is not an isolated exercise and is intrinsically
linked to the subsequent preparation of the NRC. It is relevant to note that in
the present economic scenario, where there has been a sharp slowdown in
economic growth, the entire sum sanctioned for preparation of NPR will go down
the drain as the Government is not planning to prepare a nationwide
NRC".It is pointed out in petition that the same rules govern NPR &
NRC - Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity
Cards) Rules, 2003. As per Rule 4(3) and 4(4) data collected for NPR is used to
mark 'doubtful citizens' and to prepare NRC.Therefore, the petitioners argue
that it is clear that "the preparation of the Population Register is not
only the first step but a precondition to the preparation of the NRC".
Central Bank of India to collect NPR details in KYC forms
Hyderabad: In a stunning development, Central Bank of India is asking
its customer to submit details of their NPR for its KYC form. The bank has
warned the clients that failing to comply with the directive will lead to
freezing of their accounts.The bank’s notice in this regards has been published
in Eenadu Telugu paper on January 11. Eenadu is the largest circulated paper in
regional language. The notice states that “the customer should submit all the
details including NPR on or before January 31, or accounts of the customer will
be frozen. They cannot make any transaction from the bank.”siasat
Telangana Police come to Muslim households asking for citizenship
documents
Telangana police have cordoned off certain Muslim areas close to
Charminar in Hyderabad and have begun the operations to go to every house and
demand to see documents including Aadhaar cards and vehicle registration
documents.They were asking details about children, their schools and whether
they owned the houses they were staying in or they had rented, media reports
said.At LB Nagar, on Jan 9, police cordoned off area to conduct searches and
they seized eatables such as chilli, turmeric and several spices. Those selling
these items were also taken into custody. According to a Firstpost report,
Hyderabad City Police annual report states that such cordon and search operations
have been listed as one of reasons for the "decrease in crime
rate".Of 192 cordon and search operations conducted within Hyderabad
Police Commissionerate limits, the annual report states that six cases were
filed, and 2,464 'unauthorised' vehicles were seized.However, it was not known
whether these were stolen vehicles or simply those that did not have proper
papers.These searches usually take place in low and middle income group
localities.This time as soon as it happened in Shakkar Gunj, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan,
MLA from Charminar seat and a member of AIMIM, rushed to the locality.He
expressed solidarity with the residents and condemned the police for its
actions. There was an altercation between MLA and police and after that the
team of over-70 members of Hyderabad Police withdrew from the area, said
Firstpost report.Several citizens, especially the women, are worried as most of
the time the police come during hours when the men are out for work. The report
states that there were women police officers, but it was an intimidating
affair.nationalheraldindia
Police cordon and search ops targeting Muslim localities in Hyderabad
see normalisation of military tactic in India's most liveable city
2 municipalities in Bengal issue NPR orders – then hurriedly cancel them
after outcry
2 municipal corporations in West Bengal last week withdrew notices they
had issued to gather manpower for NPR. The notices had been issued in spite of
the fact that the West Bengal government has suspended work on NPR.Both orders
were hurriedly cancelled within a day following a backlash and two junior
bureaucrats were suspended. On January 7, Kamarhati Municipal Corporation in
North 24 Parganas issued a letter to all the government schools with the
subject, “First reminder for submission of details of enumerators and
supervisors for Census 2021 and NPR 2020”.A similar letter was issued by the
Titagarh Municipal Corporation, also in North 24 Parganas on January 8.scroll
CAA won’t be implemented, hints Shiv Sena
After West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, Maharashtra may be latest
state to shun implementation of contentious CAA, hinted senior Shiv Sena leader
Sanjay Raut today.When asked whether there was a rift in Maha Vikas
Aghadi, regarding CAA, Raut said all
parties were on the same page on the Citizenship law. “There is no rift and all
parties are on the same page on all issues, including CAA,” Raut said. indianexpress
On CAA, NPR, Nitish's remarks signal significant change; says open to
debate CAA in assembly
Patna: Nitish Kumar today said he was open to a debate on the CAA in
Bihar assembly, signaling, for the first time, his reservations on the
controversial law that his party JDU supported in parliament. On NRC, Nitish
Kumar said that there was "no question" of or need for implementing
it in Bihar.While Nitish had ruled out NRC in his state earlier, this is the
first time he emphasized it in the state assembly, making it official.Chief
Minister broke his month-long silence on CAA protests after RJD's Tejashwi
Yadav attacked the religion-based citizenship law in the special one-day
session of the Bihar assembly called to ratify a quota measure."There
should be a debate on CAA. If people want, then there will be a discussion in
this house," Chief Minister told the house."As for NRC, there is no
question of the NRC. This was in the context of Assam and no need for it. Even
Prime Minister had clarified on this," he said.He went on to clarify on
NPR, which has also been opposed by many non-BJP states that feel it is a
precursor to the NRC. NPR requires people to declare the "date and place
of birth of both parents" for the first time; such data was not collected
for the NPR in 2010.After NPR was notified in Bihar, Kumar was accused by his
critics of accepting NRC to appease his ally BJP."I will ask for the
details on the modified questions on which everyone is raising
objections," Kumar said on NPR.NDTV
Lankan leader Wigneswaran calls on Rajinikanth; says SL Tamils in India
should get dual citizenship
Chennai :Former Sri Lanka Northern Province chief minister CV
Wigneswaran Sunday met actor Rajinikanth at his Poes Garden residence in
Chennai. According to reports, the two discussed the political situation in the
island nation, along with various issues related to Sri Lankan Tamils.
Wigneswaran, who is in Chennai to participate in various events on the
sidelines of the Pongal festival, also invited the actor to visit Sri Lanka
soon. This invite from the former chief minister comes after a controversy broke
out in early 2017 about Rajinikanth’s visit to Lanka. Through Lyca Productions,
which bankrolled his hit movie 2 Point O, Rajinikanth had planned to travel to
the island nation to participate in events that included the distribution of
homes to war-torn Tamils in northern Jaffna. However, political parties and
other pro-Tamil organisations protested due to the alleged connection between
Lyca and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Rajinikanth canceled
his visit.On Sunday, Wigneswaran spoke of the need for dual citizenship to Sri
Lankan Tamils who have been living in India for a long time.Joining Tamil Nadu
Opposition leaders protesting against the CAA for leaving out Sri Lankan Tamil
refugees, Wigneswaran said dual citizenship should be granted to refugees
living in India for more than three decades.indianexpress
China fears CAA could have repercussions in Xinjiang
New Delhi :The adoption of the CAA, which excludes citizenship for
Muslim migrants who had illegally entered India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Bangladesh, is fuelling anxiety in China.A Chinese official who did not wish to
be named said that Beijing apprehends that the law, if it alienates Muslims in
India, could have repercussions in Xinjiang—a vast strategically important
border region, which has faced separatist violence.“We fear that if possible
Muslim alienation triggered by India’s new Act spreads, it could channel into
international terrorism and eventually bolter separatism in Xinjiang,” the
official said.Besides, China views Xinjiang as central to the “one-China”
policy, which also rejects efforts that encourage “separatism” in Taiwan,
Tibet, Hong Kong and islands in the South China Sea.In response to the CAA, a
section of the Chinese state media has asserted that the new law mirrors
India’s evolving geostrategic posture, in its South Asian neighbourhood, Indian
Ocean and beyond, fuelled by what is called, the rise “Hindu nationalism”.An
article in the state-run tabloid Global Times noted that “broadly speaking” CAA
“reflects the conflict between liberalism and nationalism. In India, world's
largest democracy, PM Narendra Modi has embarked on a path of nationalism. He
tries to achieve a unified national recognition via the idea of having one
country, one nation, one religion and one language and eradicate
diversification and fragmentation in India's society and culture”.It added that
the “rise of Hindu nationalism has broader implications for international
politics…Hindu nationalism will not be satisfied to be only dominant force
within India. It will push the country to pursue higher international status -
from permanent membership in UNSC to dominance in the Indian Ocean and South
Asia and eventually a major world power - to satisfy the need for victory and
reputation”.The daily further noted that the CAA will have a major “spillover
effect” on Hindu minorities in the region.the hindu
Worried about global image, BJP busy mobilising Indians abroad to hold
pro-CAA protests
New Delhi: Concerned by the global ramifications of the new CAA, BJP is
mobilising the support of Indian diaspora in several countries, urging them to
organise outreach programmes including “Pro-CAA protests”. According to a
senior BJP leader, party has managed to organise around 14-15 such protests
across the world, including at New York,Atlanta, Chicago, Montreal, London,
Stockholm, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, among others. A number of protests are
likely to be organised in Washington, Germany and other European countries in
the next few days. “Domestically, we have been able to manage the protests
after the law was passed. It is definitely going to benefit us politically in
the country,” the senior BJP leader said.“But it has proved to be a difficult
task and a challenge internationally. In a number of these countries, Muslim
population constitutes a big number and hence they can’t afford to ignore them
and are criticising the law.” theprint
May move court seeking FIR against Delhi Police over brutality on
campus: Jamia V-C after students gherao office
Hours after hundreds of Jamia Millia Islamia students gheraoed Vice-Chancellor Najma
Akhtar's office, the vice-chancellor said the university might be moving the
court for the registration of an FIR over police "brutality" on
campus on December 15.In a statement, V-C Najma Akhtar maintained that the
university has followed all the possible steps for the registration of an FIR
against the cops over the December 15 incident.Jamia V-C's statement came after
the students of Jamia students barged into the office premises after breaking
the lock on the main gate and raised slogans against the V-C, demanding the
registration of an FIR against the Delhi Police in connection with last month's
violence on the campus.Najma Akhtar also tried to pacify the students and said
attempts were being made to file an FIR but it has not been registered
yet."A decision has also been taken that the administration will also
explore the possibility of moving court for the registration of FIR in 15th
December police brutality in university library case at the earliest," an
official statement said."The university has already followed all possible
steps for the registration of FIR. It has given its complaint to SHO Jamia
Nagar and its copy to CP Delhi and DCP South East. University has also written
letters to Joint CP Southern Range and DCP Crime for the registration of FIR
earlier,"statement read.Among other demands, the students also demanded
the university to reschedule examinations and ensure the security of
students.On the demand of the protesting students, V-C Najma Akhtar in
consultation with the Deans, HoDs and other officials announced that the
"ongoing semester exams stand cancelled till further notice". The new
schedule of the exams will be declared later.The NHRC has begun the inquiry
into the police action against the students. The university has handed over all
the evidence to the NHRC.indiatoday
Police entered campus without permission, will initiate process of filing
FIR: Jamia V-C
CAA protests: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad seeks bail from Delhi
High Court
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad today filed a bail application in the Delhi High
Court. Azad has been in jail since December 21 in connection with protests
against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Old Delhi’s Daryaganj area.In his
petition, Azad said there was no evidence that he instigated the crowd to march
from Jama Masjid to Delhi Gate, and turn violent. The court said it would hear
the plea on Tuesday.scroll
Bhim Army chief taken to AIIMS for follow-up treatment
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, arrested in connection with
violence during anti-CAA protest in Old Delhi’s Daryaganj, was taken to AIIMS
today for “follow-up consultation and treatment”.Azad is suffering from
polycythemia, a condition in which the body makes too many red blood cells. PTI
BJP, RSS reach out to UP's Muslim clergy, professionals & academics
over CAA
BJP and RSS are holding a series of meetings with UP’s Muslim clergy,
professionals and academics on CAA, in Kanpur, Meerut, Jaunpur, Lucknow and
four other places in Uttar Pradesh.The scale of the outreach exercise is much
smaller than the one carried out before and after the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya
Verdict. The purpose is to firefight the ongoing protests and "dispel the
opposition-propelled myths", a BJP member said.BJP’s national minority
morcha chief Abdul Rasheed Ansari said all state units have been asked to get
in touch with their respective district units and send teams to areas that
witnessed massive protests against CAA.The focus of the campaign is UP, but
there are meetings planned in other States too, he said.Senior RSS leaders said
during their internal discussions on CAA, it was felt that a large-scale
outreach was not needed. The party leaders however managed to reach out to a
few leaders in the last few days, over CAA, which include, apart from Delhi
Jama Masjid chief Imam Bukhari, others such as Khalid Rasheed Firangimahal,
Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Maulana Agha Roohi and Maulana Yasoob Abbas
and others. AIMPLB member Kamal Farooqui, among those invited by the government
during its outreach initiative before the Ayodhya verdict, said the government
and BJP has run out of reassurances and “finds itself trapped in the face of the
protests across the country."economictimes
CAA is more dangerous than Biblical beast’s number: Ex Mizoram CM
Thanhawla
Congress president and former Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla on
Monday said that the contentious CAA is harmful for Mizoram as it would have
severe impact on the religion and traditions of the indigenous people.Lal
Thanhawla said the CAA is more dangerous than Biblical beast’s number (666) as
it concern not only with politics but also religion.He said this while
addressing a function in Aizawl after inaugurating Congress bhavan.nenow.in
Assam farmers to sell paddy for carrying out legal battle against CAA
A large number of farmers of Sasoni area in upper Assam’s Dibrugarh
district have come forward to offer financial help to All Assam Students’ Union
(AASU) for carrying out legal battle against the CAA in the Supreme Court.To
raise the funds the villagers have planned to sell paddy and each household in
85 revenue villages under Sasoni Mauza has pledged to provide 4kg paddy for the
purpose.“We have been protesting against CAA on the streets. When we heard that
AASU and several indigenous groups have lodged petitions in the Supreme Court
against CAA, we decided to help them financially to fight the legal battle by
selling paddy. We have decided that each family will provide 1 dun (4kg)
paddy,” Rakesh Borah he said.North East Now
In Assam, appeals to burn CAA copies at Bhogali Bihu festival
Guwahati:Assam’s mid-Jan festival of feasting is expected to be a fiery
political statement against CAA. Various organisations and individuals have
appealed to festive revellers to burn copies of CAA at Bhogali Bihu bonfires
out of bhelaghar, a temporary hay-and-bamboo structure that is turned to ashes
as the month of Pausa ends and Magha begins.Bhogali or Magh Bihu, marking the
end of the harvesting season, is to Assam what Pongal is to Tamil Nadu and
Lohri to Punjab.thehindu
Collective resistance: Jamia became new Jantar Mantar
There are many faces of resistance outside Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI): a
makeshift library along the road, a small cell symbolising detention centres,
an art corner where students make posters against the Citizenship Amendment
Act, and a stage that hosts different artistes, writers and politicians every
day.Most recently, it was Man Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy. Earlier,
actors Zeeshan Ayyub and Swara Bhasker, activist Harsh Mander, lyricist Hussain
Haidry and academic Zoya Hasan have taken to the same stage to express
solidarity with students.“Jamia is the new Jantar Mantar,” said a girl who was
sitting on a hunger strike outside Gate No. 3 of the university.TOI
With desks and books, sisters protest at Jamia
New Delhi: 6-year-old Hita cannot pronounce word ‘religion’. She
struggles and lisps her way through her explanation for why people gather
outside Jamia everyday: “CAA and NRC are very dangerous. They can be bad in the
future. The country may be divided on the basis of religion”.She and her
sister, Ahra (11), are at Jamia Millia Islamia every day in a unique protest.
They sit on the pavement outside the varsity with a little desk and study while
their father, Imran ul Hafiz, an engineer from Batla House, stands besides
them. Sisters are students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Andrews Ganj. Ahra’s exams
will begin on the18th. On Friday, she sat on the pavement with her science
notebook, preparing for her first paper. She said the chanting and sloganeering
do not distract her from studies. “I only get disturbed when people start
talking to me,” she said, giggling.The girls sit with their desk every
afternoon, and stay till after 6 pm. Friday was 27th day of their pavement
study sessions.indianexpress
Biggest crowd at Shaheen Bagh since protest began 4 weeks ago
New Delhi:Roads and lanes leading to Shaheen Bagh were jam-packed on
Sunday as thousands of people joined ongoing protest against the amended
citizenship law and NRC in what was one of the largest gatherings at the spot
ever since the agitation began four weeks ago.While hundreds have been
gathering at Shaheen Bagh everyday, protesters attributed the increase in
numbers on Sunday to the weekend and the pleasant weather. “Everyday, I come
here for two or three hours. But since it was a Sunday today, I am here since
morning and so is my friend and his family,” said Tufail Ashraf, a resident of
Batla House and medical transcripter. Unlike other days, both the carriageways
of road 13A were full of protesters armed with posters and flags against CAA.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who visited Jamia Millia Islamia and Shaheen
Bagh on Sunday, tweeted that he was stuck in severe traffic on 3-km stretch
from the varsity and Shaheen Bagh.“So thick were the crowds and so blocked the
traffic that we had to walk the last fifteen minutes to reach the site (Jamia).
But the audience’s enthusiasm made it all worthwhile,” he wrote on Twitter.
From a replica of India Gate with names of those who died during anti-CAA
protests, to a model detention centre to raise awareness, to graffiti and
posters, the protesters have used unique methods to express their dissent.An
interfaith prayer meeting to counter “divisive forces trying to polarise the
country” was also held at the protest site.Participants said there have been
attempts to describe the Shaheen Bagh protest as a ‘Muslim initiative’. HT
Quran, Kirtan & Bible as thousands gather at Shaheen Bagh protest,
Tharoor drops by to lend support
First-time protesters, mothers, grandmothers stage weeks-long sit-in
against CAA: washington post
New Delhi:As the temperature in India’s capital plunged on a recent
evening, Rehana Khatun bundled her 29-day-old daughter in a fuzzy quilt and
went out for her new nightly activity: participating in a sit-in against the
govt. Khatun, 28, is a mother of 3 who rarely leaves her neighborhood in
southeast Delhi. Now she is one of a few hundred Muslim women — including
grandmothers and children — who have occupied this stretch of road for a month,
undeterred by rain, cold or threats, as a sign of opposition to a new law that
excludes Muslim migrants from a fast-track to citizenship.She sits cross-legged
as she settles in for another night of speeches under bright blue and yellow
tarps held up by narrow poles. “Our fight is for our Constitution, our country,
our survival,” she said.The protest in the capital’s Shaheen Bagh has become an
enduring symbol of the demonstrations that have swept India over the new law.
Women begin sit-in at Prayagraj park like Shaheen Bagh: If Delhi women
can sit in cold, why can’t we?
Lucknow :Emulating the ongoing protest at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, a group
of women began a sit-in against the CAA and proposed NRC at Prayagraj’s Mansoor
Ali Park on Sunday. “We are against this unconstitutional (citizenship) law and
NRC. We, mostly the women, are sitting here as Indians. There are people from
all age groups and religions here. We will make this sit-in like the one at
Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh. If women of Delhi can sit outside in the cold, why can’t
we? We will sit here for 24 hours and continue our protest in the coming days.
It will not stop,” said 26-year-old Sara Ahmed, who works at a private firm and
is one of the organisers of the protest.“I feel it is women who suffer the most
and, therefore, we will lead from the front in the fight for the rights of
people,” she added.19-year-old Laiba Shamim, who is preparing for NEET, said
people of all age groups are part of the protest. “Anyone who visits this
protest can see that people ranging from 5 to 70 years old are here. Most are
women and children. We are against CAA-NRC and are going to make our voices
heard,” Shamim said. indianexpress
Shaheen Bagh-like protests to oppose CAA now come up in Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar
CAA-NRC stir: Shaheen Bagh inspired midnight flash protests takes place
in Hyderabad
Inspired by the ongoing protests
at Shaheen Bagh, tensions prevailed after almost 60 people were detained in
Tolichowki and cases were registered against them by Hyderabad police, for
holding a flash protest against the CAA and all India NRC on Sunday.Sources
said that the men who were detained were supposed to be released. However, when
it came to light that a police constable was injured in a scuffle between the
protesters and police, the persons detained were booked and served notices
under Section 41a of IPC. newindianexpress
Ulemas gave sense of direction to fight social injustice: Kerala SIO
Prez Salih
Ponnani: Muslim ulemas were not confined to spiritual spheres alone but
they gave sense of direction to fights against social injustice, said Salih
Kottappalli, state president of Students Islamic Organisation (SIO).Speaking at
Dignity Caravan organized by SIO and Solidarity Youth Movement against the CAA
here on Sunday, he said scholars like Shaikh Zainuddin Makhdoom and Veliyankode
Umar Quasi were the main sources of inspiration for anti-imperialist agitations
in Kerala and it is time to recall the legendary figures. Salih said Ponnani
was the centre of knowledge that provided intellectual and ideological base for
the fight against the Portuguese and the British.“You will not find another
community which is deeply rooted in history and tradition and the Sangh Parivar
is asking the community to prove their citizenship,” Salih said. In his
inaugural speech Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala Amir’s M I Abdul Aziz challenged the
Sangh Parivar to name at least one their leader who took participated in the
freedom struggle. He hailed the struggle waged by different sessions of the
society sinking their differences.Solidarity Youth Movement state president
Nahas Mala, Muthukoya Makhdoom Thangal, C V Jameela, Shihab Pookkotoor, Salim
Mambad and others spoke.TOI
MP: 80 briefly detained for trying to wave black flags at Amit Shah in
Jabalpur
Madhya Pradesh Police on Sunday detained 80 people for trying to wave
black flags at Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Jabalpur city, PTI reported.80
activists, mostly belonging to Congress-affiliated NSUI, were released after
legal formalities, ASP Sanjeev Kumar said. They were taken into custody from
ten different areas of the city.Shah addressed a rally in Jabalpur on Sunday in
support of the amended Citizenship Act. scroll
Modi should select 5 critics, hold televised Q&A session to clear
doubts about CAA: Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
confront the critics of the CAA. In a series of tweets, former Union minister
claimed that the only way to clear the public’s doubts on the amended law was
to televise a discussion between the prime minister and his critics.“[The]
prime minister talks from high platforms to silent audiences and does not take
questions,” he said. “We talk through the media and are willing to take
questions from media persons. PM is not talking to his critics. The critics do
not have an opportunity to talk to the prime minister.”scroll
CAA and NRC: 48 members of BJP’s minority cell quit in Bhopal, say people
have to take a stand
As many as 48 members of BJP’s minority cell in Bhopal have quit the
party over the Citizenship Amendment Act and proposed nationwide NRC, The Hindu
reported. The members who have quit include Bhopal district minority cell vice
president Adil Khan and media chief Javed Baig.“Have you ever seen a government
passing a law in Parliament, and then going from door to door support for it?” asked Khan. “This shows the
party is aware it has committed a wrong. The Act and NRC is a lethal
combination?” 48 members handed in a joint resignation letter on Saturday to
BJP’s state minority cell chief. scroll
Police move to invoke Goonda Act against 6 AMU students
Aligarh police have started the process of invoking UP Control Of
Goondas Act, against six students of AMU for their involvement in the December
15 protest held on the campus against alleged police excesses at Delhi’s Jamia
Millia Islamia.Last week, the police sent its report to the Aligarh district
magistrate along with the criminal history of four of the six students — Nadeem
Ansari, Hamza Sufyan, Huzaifa Amir and Amir Minto. Indianexpress
Modi's 'Political' Comments on CAA at Belur Math Upset Ramakrishna
Mission Members
Members of Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, expressed
displeasure at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making “political statements”
at Belur Math, mission’s headquarters – an accusation that was echoed by
opposition parties.At Belur Math in Howrah district of West Bengal, Modi
addressed people on the occasion of National Youth Day – hosted by the mission
to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda – and reiterated his
government’s refusal to back down on the CAA. According to reports, he accused
those opposing the amended law of “playing political games” and “fuelling
misconceptions among the youth”.thewire
In Kolkata, protests against CAA, PM Modi continue overnight
CMs opposing NRC should put NPR process on hold:CPM
A day after the Congress Working Committee asked the Central government
to immediately stop the process of updating NPR, CPI (M) on Sunday asked chief
ministers who have opposed NRC to put on hold the NPR process in their states.
The CPM politburo also asked the Centre to withdraw the new citizenship law.CPI
(M) politburo, which met here over the weekend, discussed the political and
economic situation and continuing protests against the CAA.The party accused
the Centre of having unleashed brutal repression against peaceful protests and
demanded the withdrawal of all “false cases” against people and release of all
those arrested.indianexpress
Yatra led by Yashwant Sinha reaches Surat: ‘CAA ploy to divert attention
from economic slowdown’
Surat :A nationwide tour to protest against CAA and NRC — Gandhi Shanti
Yatra — led by former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, reached Surat on Sunday.
3,000-km yatra, began from Mumbai.The campaign has been organised under the
banner of Sinha’s organisation Rashtra Manch. Having already covered
Maharashtra and part of Gujarat, the yatra will now traverse through Rajasthan,
UP and Haryana and finally culminate at Rajghat in New Delhi on Jan 30.indianexpress
'New Citizens Won't Be Allowed to Reside in State': Anti-CAA Protests
Rage in Tripura
Agartala: Former Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president and royal
scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Deb Burman, who has recently floated an
apolitical organisation, TIPRA, said, illegal immigrants, who would be
legitimised after implementation of CAA would not be allowed to stay in the
state. Founder of Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) said this
while addressing a large gathering at Khumulwng, the headquarters of Tripura
Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), 20 km from here.PTI
‘Our govts in UP, Assam shot them
like dogs’: Dilip Ghosh warns anti-CAA protesters against vandalism
In statement that could trigger a fresh controversy, West Bengal BJP
chief Dilip Ghosh has threatened to shoot and kill those involved in damaging
public property “like in Uttar Pradesh and Assam” during protests against the
CAA. Ghosh lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “not opening fire
and ordering lathicharge” on those vandalizing railway property and public
transport in December last year.Ghosh then referred to the police firing in
Assam and Uttar Pradesh and said, “In Assam and Uttar Pradesh, our government
has shot these protesters like dogs. They were arrested and cases were also
filed against them.”indianexpress
Will bury alive those raising anti-Modi slogans, says UP Minister
Raghuraj Singh
Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Singh has courted a major controversy
when he said that people who raise slogans against Prime Minster Narendra Modi
and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath "would be buried
alive". The minister said this on Sunday while addressing a rally in
Aligarh to muster support for the CAA."If you raise slogans against Prime
Minister Narendra Modi or Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, I will bury you
alive," he threatened.He was apparently referring to protests held by
students of AMU against the CAA during
which they allegedly raised slogans against the Prime Minister and the chief
minister.IANS
Anti-CAA protest hits business across country
The massive protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act across the
nation has started to affect several sectors, from restaurants to
automobiles.In a regulatory filing, Titan Company Ltd has stated that sales
across all divisions in December’s second half were “impacted to some extent
due to forced store closures due to the protests in the North East and in many
other parts of the country,” reported Indian Express. Titan controls nearly
half the country’s ₹8,000 crore watch market.December has witnessed less
footfalls ta showrooms across several location due to protests and its
continues to be subdued as well, said top executives of 2 major car
manufacturing companies told Express. nationalheraldindia
*JNU VIOLENCE*
“We don’t feel secure, atmosphere not conducive for academic
activities,” says JNUTA to HRD Ministry
JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) on Monday told HRD Ministry that
they “do not feel secure” on the campus and the atmosphere there was not
conducive for academic activities. In a meeting with officials from HRD
Ministry, a five-member JNUTA delegation reiterated it’s demand for the removal
of Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar.“We do not feel secure on campus,
atmosphere not conducive for academic activities. Students who left campus
after violence scared to return, how can we resume teaching,” JNUTA President D
K Lobiyal told the ministry officials.Classes were supposed to begin in JNU on
Monday but could not start due to the boycott by teachers and students. The
teachers’ association has given a call for ‘non-cooperation’ in academic
matters over a range of issues, including that of fee hike and the January 5
violence when a masked mob attacked students and teachers.PTI
Plea to retrieve JNU footage: HC notice to WhatsApp, Google, Apple,
Delhi Police
Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to WhatsApp Inc, Google Inc and
Apple Inc and the Delhi Police in connection with a petition filed by 3 JNU
professors seeking to preserve and retrieve all CCTV footage in connection with
the January 5 violence on campus. The next date of hearing is Tuesday, January
14.The Delhi Police told the court it had already approached the JNU
administration to hand over the footage. 3 professors, Ameet Parameswaran, Atul
Sood and Shukla Vinayak Sawant, had moved court on January 10. In their
petition, they sought direction to the companies to hand over all evidence to
the court or investigating agencies.Apart from the footage, the petitioners
also sought relevant data of WhatsApp groups ‘Unity Against Left’ and ‘Friends
of RSS’, including messages, pictures, videos and phone numbers of the
members.More than a week since the violence, the Delhi Police has failed to
make a single arrest.indianexpress
'Deteriorating Situation' in JNU Prompts Science Profs to Seek Refuge in
IIT
Bangalore: In a major vote of no-confidence in the leadership of JNU
vice chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar, a number of top faculty members in the
sciences have sent feelers to IIT across the road in Delhi and other top
institutions seeking a quick cross-over.On December 19, IIT Delhi director V.
Ramgopal Rao emailed his colleagues in different departments encouraging them
to recruit the faculty members leaving JNU, especially if their work has been
noteworthy.thewire
Parliamentary panel questions Delhi police chief over use of force
against protesting students
A parliamentary panel on Monday questioned Delhi Police officials over
the use of force against protesting students and suggested that it should have
dealt with the students in a mature manner, sources said.The panel also
questioned the Delhi police about the frequent imposition of restrictions in
the national capital which it said causes trouble for the common man.Top
officials of Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik appeared
on Monday before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs chaired
by senior Congress leader Anand Sharma to discuss rising crimes in Delhi and
NCR.Without mentioning recent incidents of violence at JNU and Jamia, members
of the panel questioned the way in which police dealt with students who were
protesting and the frequent imposition of Section 144 in the national capital
which causes trouble for the common man.PTI
94 arrested in Delhi for violence during CAA protests in last 1
month:officials
94 people have been arrested in various parts of the national capital
for indulging in violence during protests against CAA in the last one month,
officials said.Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik also met Union Home
Secretary Ajay Bhalla and is believed to have briefed him about the prevailing
situation in the city, which continues to witness protests against the
contentious legislation.So far, 94 people have been arrested by police for
indulging in violence in different parts of Delhi in the last one month during
protests against the CAA, a government official said. PTI
JNU violence LIVE: BJP orchestrated assault on JNU, says Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi:Sonia Gandhi has said,"the nation has watched in horror
at the BJP-orchestrated assault on JNU coming so soon after what happened in
Jamia, BHU, Allahabad University and AMU and other institutions of higher
learning in other parts of the country. Modi-Shah Government stands totally
exposed for its inability to govern and to provide security to the
people." Meanwhile, a week after the JNU violence, the Delhi Police has
asked nine suspects to join the probe on Monday. As Delhi Police continues to
face numerous questions over the JNU violence, it has identified over 50 people
from a WhatsApp group and various videos, photos that went viral on social
media.JNU Tapes released in India Today's sting operation has unmasked three
people -- Akshat Awasthi, Rohit Shah and Komal Sharma, who are affiliated to ABVP
and were involved in the violence. As the case unfolded, the police have sent a
notice to 49 people, including 3 featured in JNU tapes, to join the
investigation.Moreover, Congress fact-finding team has rendered JNU
Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar as "mastermind" behind the January 5
violence and sought his immediate dismissal and criminal investigation against
him.indiatoday
JNU Vice-Chancellor 'Mastermind' of January 5 Attack, Says Congress
Fact-Finding Report
Economist Amit Bhaduri Resigns as JNU Emeritus Prof to Protest VC's Actions
New Delhi: Well-known economist Amit Bhaduri has resigned as professor
emeritus at JNU to protest against vice-chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar’s
administration at the varsity.In a sharply worded resignation letter, Bhaduri
has said that he has had a longstanding association with JNU, beginning in
1973. But now, he says, the administration is throttling the free and vibrant
debate that the university is known for.“It pains me, but I feel it would be
immoral on my part without registering my protest to remain a silent observer
in this larger, sinister scheme of throttling dissent which is unfolding now at
the University,” he has said.thewire
*OTHERS*
SC not to review Sabarimala case, to examine ‘larger issues’ but not to
go into legality of polygamy, halala
New Delhi:A 9-judge Bench led by CJI Sharad A. Bobde on Monday said its
objective was not to review the Sabarimala women entry case but examine “larger
issues” of law like the prohibition of women from entering mosques and temples
to genital mutilation among Dawoodi Bohras and the banning of Parsi women who
married inter-faith from entering the fire temple.Instead, the Bench would
examine the legality and essentiality of religious beliefs which prohibit women
from entering into mosques and temples; which allow genital mutilation by
Dawoodi Bohras; and which ban Parsi women who married inter-faith to enter the
fire temple.The Bench, however, clarified that it would not go into legality of
issues such as the practice of polygamy and ‘nikah-halala’ in Islam.CJI Bobde
explained that the basis of the Bench's judicial enquiry would be seven
questions referred to a larger Bench by a 5-judge Bench on Nov 14. Today,
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the referred questions were too broad and
needed fine-tuning.CJI asked lawyers involved in the case to hold a conference
on January 17 to reframe/add issues to be examined by 9-judge Bench. The court
posted the case for hearing after 3 weeks. When lawyers sought to remind the
court that the case challenging CAA was scheduled for January 22 and hearing
before 9-judge Bench ought to be heard without a break, CJI said cases were
being heard “chronologically”.CJI explained that the nine-judge Bench was only
examining propositions of law raised about religious practices believed to be
essential to various religions. Bench would not go into the individual facts of
the various petitions that make the body of the case before it.“We will decide
questions of law on women's entry to mosques/temples, genital mutilation by
Dawoodi Bohras, entry of Parsi women who marry outside their community into
fire temple. We will not decide individual facts of each case,” CJI addressed
the lawyers.But senior lawyers like Indira Jaising and Rajeev Dhavan said the SC
cannot decide on the essentiality of
religious practices.thehindu
CJI says Council of Counsels will discuss issues of Muslim women,
Sabarimala on Jan 17
Rohingya deportation case: UN Spl rapporteur seeks to aid SC
New Delhi: A UN-appointed expert has filed an application in the Supreme
Court’s ongoing hearing challenging the deportation of Rohingyas from India, to
seek permission to assist on the issue of states’ obligations under
international law.The SC is currently hearing a petition filed in 2017 against
the Indian government’s plan to deport all Rohingya Muslims, estimated to be
around 40,000, back to Myanmar. On January 10, Special Rapporteur on
contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance E. Tendayi Achiume filed an application seeking to intervene in the
ongoing case, which is being heard 3-judge bench headed by CJI S.A. Bobde. Special
Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by UNHRC with specific thematic
mandates. thewire
Following Kashmir issue closely, says France after Macron-Modi phone
call
New Delhi :France on Monday said the government was closely following
the situation in Kashmir after the issue was discussed during a telephonic
conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel
Macron 3 days ago.A statement issued by Elysée Palace said the two leaders
discussed the situation in the region of Kashmir in the “spirit of trust and
frankness” that characterises bilateral ties.“In the spirit of trust and
frankness that characterises their relations, French President and Indian Prime
Minister discussed the situation in the region of Kashmir, which France
continues to follow closely,” the statement released by French embassy said. Indianexpress
Parliament attack, Afzal Guru shadow back to haunt J&K Police
officer
New Delhi: When J&K Police arrested DSP Davinder Singh, a decorated
counter-insurgency officer who is currently posted with security and
anti-hijacking unit of J&K Police at Srinagar airport, along with two “most
wanted” militants in a car in South Kashmir on Saturday, it brought back
questions about his alleged role in the 2001 Parliament attack case and other
big cases in Jammu and Kashmir.In 2004, in a letter to his lawyer Sushil Kumar,
Afzal Guru, then lodged in Tihar Jail for his involvement in the Parliament attack,
had said that “DSP Davinder Singh”, then posted with J&K Police’s Special
Operations Group at Humhama, had asked him to “take Mohammad”, a Pakistani
national identified as one of those who carried out the Parliament attack, “to
Delhi, rent a flat for his stay and purchase a car for him”.Afzal had also
named another police officer, Shanty Singh, who, along with Davinder Singh,
reportedly tortured him at Humhama STF camp. He had also mentioned “Altaf
Hussain, who is brother-in-law of SSP Ashaq Hussain (Bukhari) of Budgam”, who
first “brokered” his release with Davinder Singh, and later took him to DySP.
Afzal was convicted and hanged on Feb.9, 2013. Davinder Singh’s alleged role in
the Parliament attack case was not probed. Asked about this on Sunday, IGP
(Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said: “There is nothing as such in our records nor do I
know anything about it… We will question him on this.”A senior J&K Police
officer said “his (Davinder Singh’s) deeds are finally catching up with him.
This time, I don’t think anybody can save him”.“There will be many questions
asked. Where was he taking these two wanted militants? They were leaving the
Valley, as they were nabbed on the way to Jammu. What plan did they have,’’
said the officer. “Almost every operation where he (Davinder Singh) or his
associates were involved has become suspect”.Officer said Singh was posted
across Kashmir on counter-insurgency duty. “He was DySP DR in Pulwama too,’’
the officer said. indianexpress
J&K DSP ‘ferried wanted Hizbul militant to Jammu last year too,
hosted him at home’
'We don't want Jesus statue': RSS, VHP protest against proposed statue
in Karnataka
Pro-Hindu groups conducted a massive rally at Kanakapura in Ramanagara
district of Karnataka today in protest against the plan by local MLA DK
Shivakumar to erect a tall statue of Jesus Christ. The call for the protest was
issued by the Hindu Jagrana Vedike. Senior RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat
addressed the crowd of protesters belonging to RSS, VHP, Hindu Jagrana
Vedike(HJV) and other pro-Hindu organisations. "There is a big
responsibility on Hindus. We don't want a statue of Jesus Christ. But instead
we can erect a statue of Pejawar Swami or Basaveshwara Swami or Balagangadhara
Swami, or someone else who has worked for this nation. Hindus have only one
nation - India," Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat said while speaking at the
protest march. thenewsminute
They talk about sheltering Christians but won't allow Jesus statue in
Karnataka: Javed Akhtar slams BJP
Lyricist Javed Akhtar hit out at those opposing the construction of a
statue of Jesus Christ in Karnataka. Taking aim at BJP-led central government,
Akhtar said, "They boast they will give citizenship to all the religiously
persecuted Christians from the neighbor countries at the same time they claim
that they will not allow a statue of Jesus Christ in Banglore
[sic]."Akhtar was referring to CAA that provides for expedited citizenship
to members of six religious communities from three neighbouring countries.
India Today
Communal clash in Telangana’s Bhainsa: 11 injured, bikes set ablaze,
houses damaged, net suspended
B Bojanna and his family, who are residents of Koravagalli, went to
sleep around 10 pm on Sunday. Earlier that evening, they heard some altercation
between a few men, but went to sleep later. “Around 10 pm, we heard some stones
falling on our house. We were scared and did not come out. However, in the
morning, I saw that my bike was damaged,” Bojanna, who works with a private
firm, told TNM.What Bojanna and other residents in the area heard was a clash
between two communities allegedly over a petty issue. As many as 11 people,
including three police officials, were injured during the clash at Bhainsa town
in Nirmal district of Telangana on Sunday. Muslims and Hindu groups had
resorted to stone-pelting during the clash. Though the police said the violence
broke out over sound from bikes, the exact reason for the melee between two
groups remains unknown at this time. According to the police, on Sunday night,
a group of people were removing the silencers of their bikes and were making
noise. Another group of people raised an objection to this and started
questioning them. This allegedly led to an argument, and eventually, took a
violent turn. Internet service in Bhainsa area has been temporarily
suspended.thenewsminute
UP govt to withdraw 4 more cases related to Muzaffarnagar riots
Muzaffarnagar : Uttar Pradesh government has decided to appeal in court
for withdrawing four more cases related to Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013, taking
the total number of such cases that it intends to withdraw to 80, an official
said on Sunday.The final decision on the state government's requests to
withdraw the pending cases of 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots will be taken by the
court, said district's government counsel Dushyant Tyagi.According to UP
special law secretary Arun Rai, state government on Saturday directed Muzaffarnagar
district authorities to file an appeal in the court for withdrawing four more
cases related to the riots.Earlier, the state government had decided to
withdraw 76 such cases.The Yogi Adityanath government is yet to decide on
withdrawing the cases against BJP MLA Sangeet Som, Union minister Sanjeev Kumar
Balyan, state cabinet minister Suresh Rana and other leaders of the BJP.PTI
Bengaluru Police arrest Khalistani terror accused Jarnail Singh Sidhu
Police in Bengaluru on Sunday arrested a Khalistani terror accused
Jarnail Singh Sidhu who has allegedly advocated for Khalistan, an independent
state for Sikh people in India. Arrest was made within Sampigehalli Police
Station limits in north-eastern Bengaluru. According to Central Crime Branch
police, he was residing in Bengaluru for the last six months and is also
allegedly in touch with Pakistan’s ISI. Police said he was living in a paying
guest accommodation and was working in a private firm. Police remain
tightlipped over the arrest and refused to share further information about
other possible suspects.thenewsminute
Bengaluru police book 14 people from gang linked to banned terror outfit
in Tamil Nadu
A joint investigation conducted by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Police,
along with the state intelligence, revealed a plot allegedly being hatched in
Bengaluru by members of a banned Al-Ummah to ‘foment communal disharmony.’ The
sleuths of the Central Crime Branch have alleged that the members of the outfit
were in Bengaluru and were planning to "target people from other
communities." They were also allegedly expecting a large cache of arms,
the sleuths said. CCB filed a complaint with Sudduguntepalya police near BTM
Layout in Bengaluru against a man identified as Mehaboob Pasha, who is
allegedly the kingpin of the group. Following the input, the police filed a
case against Pasha and 13 of his associates under the UAPA.thenewsminute
Doctor Prashant Upadhyay, who treated the father of Unnao rape victim,
dies in suspicious circumstances
Doctor Prashant Upadhyay, who treated the father of the Unnao rape
victim, died in suspicious circumstances. The doctor was in Emergency when the
victim's father was brought to the district hospital after the assault.It was
him who asked the police to take the victim's father to jail. Doctor Prashant was
suspended when a CBI probe began in the case .Doctor Prashant was restored
after a long time. Dr. Prashant was presently posted in
Fatehpur.nationalheraldindia
Private property is a human right: Supreme Court
NEW DELHI:A citizen’s right to own private property is a human right.
The state cannot take possession of it without following due procedure and
authority of law, the Supreme Court has held in a judgment.The state cannot
trespass into the private property of a citizen and then claim ownership of the
land in the name of ‘adverse possession’, the court said. Grabbing private land
and then claiming it as its own makes the state an encroacher.In a welfare
state, right to property is a human right, a Bench of Justices Indu Malhotra
and Ajay Rastogi declared in their January 8 verdict.thehindu
Chhatrapati Shivaji’s descendants should clarify if they like Modi being
compared to him: Sanjay Raut
Mumbai :Amid the row over a book comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi
with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday said
the warrior king’s descendants should clarify if they like the PM being likened
to him. Talking to reporters here, Raut said BJP should declare that it has no
link with the book comparing Modi with Chhatrapati Shivaji.The book, titled
“Aaj ke Shivaji: Narendra Modi”, has been written by BJP leader Jay Bhagwan
Goyal. Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, which are part of the Uddhav Thackeray-led
Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, have criticised the book.“Chhatrapati
Shivaji’s descendants should clarify if they like Modi being compared to him.
Chhatrapati Shivaji’s descendants should quit BJP over the book,” Raut said
targeting BJP’s MP Sambhaji Raje, who is a descendant of the warrior king.
Sambhaji Raje on Sunday demanded that BJP chief Amit Shah immediately ban the
book, which was published in the BJP’s Delhi office.PTI
Retail inflation spikes to 7.35% in Dec, highest in over 5 yrs
New Delhi :India’s retail inflation rate climbed to a 65-month high
after it rose 7.35 per cent in the month of December 2019, data released by Ministry
of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) showed. The inflation
based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.54 per cent in the month of
November and 2.11 per cent in December 2018. The latest CPI data exceeded RBI’s
upper margin of 6 per cent. The government has mandated the central bank to
keep inflation within the range of 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on
either side.Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) or the inflation in the food
basket rose to 14.12 per cent in the month of December against 10.01 per cent
in November. In December 2018, CFPI saw a negative growth of (-)2.65 per cent, MoSPI
data showed.indianexpress
India is creating fewer jobs for world’s biggest workforce
India will create at least 1.6 million fewer formal jobs across
government and low-paying sectors, State Bank of India estimates, a segment
that typically absorbs some of the millions of youth entering the world’s
biggest workforce each year.There’s also evidence that people who migrate
within the country for employment are sending less money home to some of the
poorest states, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economic adviser for the nation’s
biggest bank, wrote in a report on Monday. The data indicate that India’s
consumption and tax collections could stay weak for longer, he said.Poor job
creation risks worsening the highest unemployment rate in 45 years and build
pressure on Modi’s government, which is already battling the weakest economic
growth in more than a decade and student-led street protests. Asia’s
third-largest economy is officially forecast to expand 5% this financial year,
stronger than SBI’s prediction of 4.6%. Bloomberg
From cars to watches, protests hit India Inc: ‘Decline in customers
visiting showrooms’
New Delhi :The impact of nationwide protests against the CAA is
beginning to show up on corporate numbers — from automobiles to restaurants and
even watches.Titan Company Ltd, India’s largest watchmaker that controls nearly
half the country’s Rs 8,000 crore watch market, disclosed in a regulatory
filing that sales “in all divisions” in the second half of December were
“impacted to some extent due to forced store closures due to the protests in
the North East and in many other parts of the country”.Top executives with at
least two major car manufacturing companies told The Indian Express that
December witnessed lower footfalls at showrooms across multiple locations due
to the protests, and that January 2020 continues to be subdued as
well.Alongside, auto companies have reported truncated shipments and supply
disruptions that have impacted inventory levels at dealerships at impacted
locations, although stocking numbers were not available.indianexpress
Milk prices could increase by Rs 8-10 in summer due to fall in
production, fodder shortage
New Delhi: A shortage of fodder and a resultant decline in milk
production and procurement has meant that prices of the essential item could
increase by Rs 8-10 in the summer.Citing this dairy shortage, multiple milk
federations and Indian Ice-Cream Manufacturers’ Association (IICMA) have
written to Modi government to import milk and milk products, in order to create
a buffer stock of about 65,000 tonnes of skimmed milk powder and keep the
prices in check. India’s annual consumption is about one lakh tonnes, so they
said this should be the minimum buffer stock. This, in turn, could make India a
net importer after almost a decade — in 2011-12, value of dairy imports stood
at Rs 22.5 crore. An official from Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and
Fisheries said milk cooperatives as well as private dairies have reported 10-15
per cent lower procurement over the “flush” season of October to March, when
milk production goes up 50 per cent. “So, the situation will be even more grim
in the lean period of April-Sept,” official said.This shortage in milk supply
could also result in an increase in price of dairy products like skimmed milk
powder well beyond Rs 400 per kg. Skimmed milk powder prices have already hit
Rs 300-350 per kg compared to Rs 150-200 per kg last year.the print
Una case: Victim asks president to deport them to country where they
will not face discrimination
One of 7 victims of the 2016 Una Dalit flogging incident has requested
President Ram Nath Kovind to deport him and his brothers to a country where
they will not face discrimination, TOI reported. Vashram Sarvaiya alleged that
they have not been treated like citizens of India.On July 11, 2016, more than
40 men from the upper caste Darbar community had assaulted seven members of the
Sarvaiya family for skinning a dead cow in Gir Somnath district’s Una town.
Sarvaiyas were leather tanners and skinning dead cattle was part of their
traditional occupation. But assailants accused them of cow slaughter. During
the attack, 4 of Sarvaiya brothers were stripped, tied to the back of a car and
beaten with sticks and iron rods, while some of the attackers filmed the
assault.scroll
Chennai journalist who displayed anti-government book at fair held;
press club calls it vendetta
Chennai Police arrested a journalist on Sunday morning for allegedly
intimidating and attacking book fair organisers after he was asked to vacate
his stall, reported New Indian Express. V Anbazhagan has been remanded to
judicial custody till January 24. Anbazhagan was asked to stop displaying his
book on the government’s alleged corrupt activities at the ongoing Chennai book
fair. In his book “Corruption Book of Chennai Corporation”, Anbazhagan had put
together RTI replies to highlight the alleged misappropriation of funds by the
ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.The police have
booked Anbazhagan under non-bailable charges.The Chennai Press Council has
condemned the arrest and demanded his release.scroll
Ahead of Delhi polls, former Congress MLA, other leaders join AAP
With Delhi Assembly elections looming closer, Congress leader and former
MLA Ram Singh Netaji, along with four others, joined the Aam Aadmi Party Monday
in presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.Vinay Kumar Mishra, who is the
son of senior Congress leader Mahabal Mishra and has contested from the Palam
Assembly seat in the past, joined the AAP.Other leaders to join were councillor
and social worker Jai Bhagwan Upkar ji from Rohini ward of Bawana Assembly,
Naveen Dipu Chaudhary, a social activist in the Gandhinagar area who has been
associated with the Congress for long, and Rajkumari Dhillon, who was a member
of Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congress.indianexpress
Delhi polls: Okhla Muslim ghetto lacks basic amenities
New Delhi:Okhla is a constituency
which has a Muslim majority and has elected MLAs from various political parties
including Janata Dal, Congress, RJD and AAP.A part of the constituency falls in
the posh New Friends Colony area which is in stark contrast to the other areas
of the constituency like Zakir Nagar.The constituency lacks basic amenities
especially potable water and better roads and sewerage system. During the last
5 years AAP government has provided potable water line to parts of the
constituency but it lacks water supply from the Delhi Jal Board. Resident said
that water pipes have been installed but supply is not smooth yet but CCTV
cameras have been installed and the power bills have reduced. The areas of Haji
Colony, Jasola village and Shaheen Bagh are facing acute water problem.IANS
*WORLD*
Iran denies 'cover-up' amid public anger over plane crash
Iran's government - grappling with public anger following the shooting
down of a commercial passenger jet - has denied a "cover-up" after it
took days for officials to admit that the plane was mistakenly shot down during
a confrontation with US."In these sorrowful days, many criticisms were
directed at relevant officials and authorities ... some officials were even
accused of lying and a cover-up but, in all honesty, that was not the
case," government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in remarks aired on state TV
on Monday.Rabiei insisted Iran's civilian officials only learned on Friday that
an Iranian missile had downed the plane.Public anger, rumbling for days as
officials repeatedly denied the plane had been hit by an Iranian missile,
erupted into protests on Saturday when the armed forces admitted causing the
plane crash "unintentionally".Videos posted on social media showed hundreds
of people taking to the streets of Tehran to mourn the plane crash victims and
demand accountability, turning their ire towards senior officials, including
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Demonstrations also broke out on Sunday
while Reuters reported on Monday that protesters took to the streets for a
third day on Monday.Videos on social media, posted late on Sunday, recorded
gunshots in the vicinity of protests in Tehran's Azadi Square. Today, Tehran
police denied officers had opened fire at demonstrators.aljazeera
'Grieving nations' to discuss legal action against Iran, says Ukraine FM ; UK summons Iranian ambassador
over envoy's arrest
5 nations whose citizens died when Ukrainian airliner was shot down will
meet in London on Thursday to discuss possible legal action, Ukraine's foreign
minister told Reuters.Speaking at the sidelines of an official visit to
Singapore, Vadym Prystaiko said the countries would also discuss compensation
and the investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, Britain has summoned the
Iranian ambassador to country to convey its strong objections to the brief
arrest of London's envoy to Tehran on Saturday, a spokesman for PM Boris
Johnson said.
Emir of Qatar and Rouhani: Dialogue and de-escalation are only solutions
to crises
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani agreed on Sunday that the only solution to the region’s crises
lies in de-escalation and dialogue.Sheikh Tamim said during a joint press
conference with the Iranian President in the capital, Tehran, that the visit
comes at a very delicate time in the region, stressing that they agreed on
de-escalation and dialogue as the only way for resolving crises.In the past few
months, the region has witnessed a series of events that reached their climax
at the end of last year and the beginning of the new year, most notably
Washington’s assassination of the commander of Quds Force of IRGC, Maj. Gen.
Qasem Soleimani, and Tehran’s counterattack with bombing two military bases in
Iraq that include US soldiers.middleeastmonitor
Soleimani assassination: US' conflicting messages on attack evidence
US President Donald Trump says he ordered the killing of top Iranian
commander Qassem Soleimani because he received word that Iran was about to
attack four US embassies.But Defense Secretary Mark Esper contradicted the
president, saying he had not seen any specific intelligence that such attacks
were imminent.Republicans and Democrats have voiced concerns about the basis
for the Soleimani attack and the US House of Representatives has approved a war
powers resolution aimed at limiting future military action against Iran by the
Trump administration.aljazeera
Rockets hit Iraq military base near Baghdad amid US-Iran tensions
At least 4 Iraqi soldiers have been wounded when several rockets slammed
into an Iraqi airbase north of Baghdad which has housed troops from US,
according to officials.In a statement carried by Iraq's official INA, Iraqi
military media centre said on Sunday the al-Balad airbase, located some 80km
away from the capital, was hit by eight Katyusha rockets.Some projectiles fell
on a restaurant inside the airbase, while others hit the runway and the gate,
according to Iraqi officials.So far there has been no claim of responsibility
for the attack, which caused no US casualties.US-led coalition said there were
no US soldiers present at the base during the attack, which has hosted US
trainers, advisers and a company that provides maintenance services for F-16
aircraft.aljazeera
Iraqi journalists fear for lives after Basra reporters killed
Basra: Dozens of journalists in Iraq's southern city of Basra have
launched a campaign to highlight the dangers they face following the murder of
two reporters amid continuing anti-government protests.Ahmad Abdelsamad, a
39-year-old correspondent for local television station Dijla, and his cameraman
Safaa Ghali, 37, were killed near a police station late on Friday in Basra. A
group of armed men in a 4x4 vehicle approached their car and opened fire,
according to witnesses. Shihab Ahmed, a Basra-based journalist, told Al Jazeera
there was a growing sense of fear among journalists in the city and across Iraq,
where at least five journalists have been killed since protests began in
Oct.aljazeera
Heads of Libya's warring sides in Russia for talks
Leaders of Libya's 2 warring sides have arrived in Moscow for talks, a
day after a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey came into force.The
development on Monday came amid suggestions that Fayez al-Sarraj, the chief of
the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), and his
rival, renegade commander Khalifa Haftar, may sign the ceasefire agreement in
Russian capital.Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry,
said the "inter-Libyan contacts" would be held "under the
auspices of the foreign and defence ministers of Russia and
Turkey".aljazeera
Lahore High Court annuls Musharraf’s death sentence
Lahore High Court today annulled the death sentence handed to former
military ruler Pervez Musharraf, ruling that the special court which had found
him guilty of treason last year was unconstitutional, a government prosecutor
told AFP.The original ruling had marked the first time a former leader of the
armed forces had faced such a sentence for treason in Pakistan, where the
military maintains strong influence and senior officers are often considered
immune from prosecution.It caused a wave of controversy, with Musharraf —
exiled in Dubai — slamming it as a “vendetta” and the military expressing its
disappointment.The High Court ruled it “illegal” on Monday. AFP
Top Pakistan general & Bajwa’s successor ‘forced to resign after
weeks in house arrest’:report
New Delhi: The second-most senior Pakistan Army officer, General Sarfraz
Sattar, has allegedly been forced to resign after being kept under house arrest
with his family for weeks. The claim was made by Pakistan journalist Gul Bukhari
on Twitter.The senior most general in Pakistan army after Qamar Javed Bajwa,
Sarfaraz Sattar, has been forced to resign today after weeks in house arrest
together with his entire family. He was next in line for the position of COAS.
His son couldn’t take his medical exam as a result.General Sattar was next in
line to be General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s successor as army chief until his
extension scuppered the former’s prospects.Sources in the Indian security
establishment told ThePrint that there was no independent confirmation of his
forced resignation.As director general of the strategic plans division, Sattar
headed the operations of Pakistan’s nuclear command until November, when the
charge was given to Lt Gen. Nadeem Zaki Manj. At the time, Pakistani media had
reported that Sattar had retired.theprint
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
That unresolved story: Social content of Muslim women in anti-CAA, NRC
protests:N P Ashley , St. Stephen’s College
Police is operating at the behest of its political masters: Mehmood
Pracha, Chandrashekhar Azad’s lawyer, caravanmagazine
The one taboo word that Amit Shah and Narendra Modi supporters hate
today:ZAINAB SIKANDER
BJP IT cell warriors scratching their heads on how to counter CAA/NRC
protests:Ashlin Mathew
Watch: Gaya, Prayagraj, Nagpur and other towns join metro cities in
CAA-NRC protests
Attacks on 2 Delhi universities reveal Modi’s targets: Muslims and their
allies:Mukul Kesavan, theguardian
Alt News Fact Check Shows JNU Student in India Today Sting Had Distinct
Links With ABVP:Jignesh Patel and Mohammed Zubair
Shaheen Bagh Take a (Collective) Bow!:AMRIT DHILLON
View: Why the protests remind us of Gandhi’s Khilafat movement:Gyan
Prakash
‘How to Prove I’m Indian?’ Muslim Driver Breaks Down Over NRC Fear
Soleimani's Killing: It Is Building Up To A Terrible Crescendo In West
Asia:SAEED NAQVI
Long-Term Analysis Highlights India's Serious Employment
Problem:Deepankar Basu
From Sendhwa to Shaheen Bagh, Lessons About the Indian Voter:Archi
Rastogi
We Are Seeing, for the First Time, a Sustained Countrywide Movement Led
by Women:Sangbida Lahiri
From Protesting the CAA to Embracing the Dalit-Bahujan Position on
Citizenship:Divya Dwivedi and Shaj Mohan
There's deliberate ambiguity regarding citizenship laws & policies,
their implementation:Prashant Bhushan
Ferment that we witness in Indian universities bears striking
resemblance to events of 1968:P Chidambaram
Slogans like ‘La Ilaha IlAllah’ narrow the scope of anti-CAA
protests:Hayaat Fatemah, AMU , indian express
Modi-Shah’s BJP govt has failed India’s youth and is now stuck fighting
them:SHEKHAR GUPTA
A Sense of Humour:Viral on social media, Nazma aapi has been registering
her protest one video at a time
India's Ties With Saudi Hangs in Balance Over CAA-NRC, Investment
Opportunities:Vaishali Basu Sharma
A Muslim affair: Anti-CAA protests are against Islamophobia, can't be
turned into BJP vs Opposition slugfest:Sharjeel Usmani
India’s about to hand people data Americans can only dream of:Bloomberg
No regrets, say over 95% women about having an abortion:US Study
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 6:20 PM).
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