13 Feb. 2020:
18 Jamadi-2, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 131
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Attacks on field enumerators over NPR fears put Census in deep trouble:
Statistics panel chief
Recent attacks on field enumerators in some parts of the country have put
upcoming Census procedure in “deep trouble” and may risk contaminating data
collected in household surveys, ex Chief Statistician of India Pronab Sen has
said.In recent days, some health researchers and government survey officials
have been attacked by those who mistook them for people collecting data for the
controversial National Population Register. As first reported by Scroll.in, NPR
is the first step to creating an all-Indian NRC, which would identify
undocumented migrants residing in India. government has denied any link between
NPR and NRC, but since sCensus website itself made a connection, population
register exercise has also been a target of anti-NRC protestors. Field
investigators of National Sample Survey were attacked in the past, but by now citizens
had got comfortable with them as they got familiar with the process, Sen told
Indian Express in an interview. What is new this time is that the house-listing
operations, a key step in the Census, will be conducted along with population
register exercise, said Sen, who heads the standing committee on economic
statistics.The population register will be a list of “usual residents” – those
who have stayed at a place for six months or intend to stay there for the next
six months. The exercise to update the register will be carried out across the
country along with the house-listing phase of the decennial Census of 2021 from
April 1 to Sept.30, 2020. “The house-listing operation is a key step in our
critical analysis because that’s the basis on which the entire country is
divided into enumeration blocks and then, Census enumerators are given specific
enumerator blocks,” he said. “So, the enumeration blocks are at the heart of
Census operation. If you have problems in getting that done and if you get resistance
to that, the Census is in deep trouble.”He added: “So, you may well have a
situation where you are unable to do the Census properly and if the Census is
not done properly, then for the next 10 years, no household survey would be
reliable because all household surveys rely on Census as the frame. If this
runs into problems, and there’s a danger that it might, then for the next 11
years, you are in trouble.”The phenomenon of such attacks may have an effect
not just on the Census but other surveys too, Sen said. “There’s a second
problem,” he said. “Whatever you do, you are going to have people who will be
suspicious. They may answer the expenditure part of it accurately, but the
front part, which is household characteristics, they may resist that. All household
details begins with asking household members, names, ages, educational details,
so all that is in the first sheet. And what may end up happening is that the
data might get contaminated pretty badly…it’s a huge problem. We may still be
able to get enterprise surveys done but we are in deep trouble for household
surveys.”scroll/ Indian Express
Red flags by data panel chief Sen: Mistrust, attacks may contaminate
economic data for next 10 yrs
‘Tampering’ complaint against former Assam NRC Coordinator Prateek
Hajela
A complaint has been lodged against Prateek Hajela, former Coordinator
of NRC in Assam, for allegedly tampering with the records associated with
updating the citizenship exercise whose complete list was published in Aug.2019.Almost
simultaneously on Wednesday, office of NRC Coordinator lodged an FIR against
Ajupi Baruah, a former associate of
Hajela, for resigning without surrendering the password to NRC data
records system.In its complaint to CID office in Guwahati, Assam Public Works
(APW) asked DIG of Police to register a case against Hajela for “tempering
(sic) the valuable public records, i.e., NRC final list of Assam”. It also
sought an inquiry into ex coordinator’s involvement in “cybercrime in the whole
process of NRC”. APW is the NGO whose petition in the Supreme Court in 2009 led
to the NRC updating exercise.thehindu
Assam NRC data went offline due to non-payment of dues: Wipro
Want to discuss CAA? Come meet me: Amit Shah
New Delhi:Union Home Minister Amit Shah today invited anyone who wanted
to discuss the CAA to come and meet him personally. Amit Shah said that he will
allot a special time for this within 3 days."Anyone who wants to discuss
issues related to CAA with me can seek time from my office, will allot time
within three days," Home Minister said at an event in Delhi.The home
minister said his assessment on Delhi elections went wrong but asserted that
the result of the polls was not a mandate on CAA and NRC.India Today
Watch: Shaheen Bagh is not democratic protest: Home Minister Amit Shah
Anti-CAA protests in Bengaluru curtailed illegally on Dec 18: Karnataka
High Court
Karnataka High Court on Thursday said the imposition of prohibitory
orders in Bengaluru on December 18 ahead of protests against CAA was illegal
and “cannot stand the scrutiny of law”, Bar and Bench reported.BJP-led
government had banned gatherings in the city and other parts of the state till
December 21 midnight. At the time, state Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said
the orders imposed under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were “a
precautionary measure” since the government did not want any violence. The
orders prohibit the assembly of five or more people.A bench headed by Chief
Justice Abhay S Oka asked state government counsel Prabhuling Navadgi how the
permission to cancel protests was issued overnight. “Can a sweeping order under
Section 144 cancel an already granted permission?” the judge asked. “Can state
go under the assumption that every protest will disturb the peace?” The court
said while it was not concerned about protests, the government’s
decision-making process curtailed the fundamental rights, Live Law reported.
“It is indeed a preventive measure,” the court added. “The preventive measure
has effect of curtailing fundamental rights of citizens.”scroll
Imposition of Section 144 in Bengaluru on December 18 Was Illegal:
Karnataka HC
Bidar school ‘sedition’ arrests: Yediyurappa in Modi-Shah trap, says
Siddaramaiah
Bangalore:Nearly a fortnight after a school headmistress and a single
parent of a Class 5 student were arrested on sedition charges in Bidar,
Congress leader Siddarmaiah Thursday said Karnataka Chief Minister Yediyurappa
“seems to have lost his common sense” and called for a review of “antiquated
laws”.In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah, also a qualified advocate, said,
“Police have taken the action on the behest of @CMofKarnataka @BSYBJP.
Yediyurappa has fallen for the trap of @AmitShah & @narendramodi. He seems
to have lost his common sense. Archaic IPC & other antiquated laws which
was framed a century ago have also to be reviewed.”Further criticising CM
Yediyurappa for the police action, he added, “Mothers of this state will not
pardon B S Yediyurappa for separating the mother and her
daughter.”indianexpress
Police probe against anti-CAA protesters in Bihar's Aurangabad riddled
with loopholes; no independent witnesses; FIR, police diary make contrasting
claims
On 21 December 2019, the town of Aurangabad in Bihar observed a protest
at Ramesh Chowk against the amended citizenship law. RJD and its allies had
called for a bandh to rally against tCAA and NRC. But towards the end, the
peaceful protest turned violent. Following the unrest, the Bihar police began
raiding localities, which were predominantly Muslim, around the protest site to
identify these "miscreants". They have arrested 46 people so
far.However, the police investigation is laden with loopholes. For starters,
the main accused behind the unrest has been arrested twice from two different
places according to FIR filed by the Aurangabad police. The first page of FIR
claims when the bandh ended at around 12.15 pm, a mob of 200, led by local
councilor Sikandar Hayat, emerged at the scene. "The mob started beating
up shopkeepers near a book store, asking them to shut shop," FIR notes.
"When police tried to intervene, the mob chanted slogans against them and
started throwing bricks and stones. A brick landed on a policeman's head, and
he got seriously injured. Hayat was egging the protesters on."firstpost
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind hopes AAP govt will pass resolution against CAA
New Delhi: Hailing the Delhi Assembly election results, Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind (JIH) on Wednesday said it is hopeful that the newly elected AAP
government will pass a resolution against the contentious CAA.JIH president
Syed Sadatullah Hussaini said: "The election results indicate that the
people of India have rejected the CAA and NRC. The government must withdraw it
immediately and unconditionally. We hope Delhi CM will ensure the passing of a
resolution against the CAA and stop the process of NPR."Hussaini said:
"Politics of hate and polarisation has been defeated in a big way. The
whole of India is thankful to the voters of Delhi for teaching a big lesson to
the politicians who peddled hate and bigotry. The voters of Delhi have proved
that "India can change"."JIH also hit out at the Election
Commission for being unable to check violations and effectively implement the
Model Code of Conduct. The JIH said that all possible methods to polarise the
electorate on communal lines were used by the politicians."This has been possibly
the worst election in the history of independent India in terms of the practice
of hate speeches, inflammatory slogans and open practice of communalism and
polarisation," said Hussaini. "We hope that the people of India will
learn a lesson from the Delhi elections and defeat those whose politics revolve
around division, who promote hatred against the minorities and raise violent
slogans," he said.IANS
JIH hopes AAP govt will pass resolution against CAA
‘Politics of hate and polarization defeated in Delhi:Jamaat-e-Islami
There must be huge mass movement if Muslims being sent to detention
camps: Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram today said there should be a "huge
mass movement" if any Muslim is sent to detention camps in case the
Supreme Court upholds the validity of CAA.Speaking at JNU campus here,
Chidambaram said that CAA was an outcome of "NRC fiasco" in Assam
which left 19 lakh people out of NRC.CAA was brought to accommodate 12 lakh
Hindus out of 19 lakh people who could not be included in final NRC in Assam,
he claimed. Replying to a question by a student asking for best course of
action if CAA is upheld by the apex court, Chidambaram said, "When they
touch the excluded...they will only be Muslims, try to identify and throw them
out, declare them Stateless. There must be a huge mass movement resisting any
Muslim being thrown out or kept in detention camps."PTI
Nagaland: 22 BJP leaders join Naga People’s Front in protest against
Citizenship Act
Naga People’s Front President Shurhozelie Liezietsu welcomed BJP leaders
at a function held in Dimapur, according to a press statement by the party.
More leaders from the saffron party are expected to join the party in coming
days, it added.Liezietsu said the leaders made the right decision at the right
time, adding that his party represents the unique identity of the Naga people.
“Many regional political parties came into being and when they are defeated,
party vanished,” he said. Law and legal affairs convenor Toshi Longkumer, and
former state president of BJP’s minority cell Mukibur Rahman, were among those
who switched sides. Rahman said the introduction of the amended citizenship law
will sooner or later affect the people of Northeastern states particularly. He
said the Naga People’s Front is working hard to protect the identity of the
people.scroll
UP police detained 41 children during CAA protests, some were tortured,
says citizens’ report
The death of a 4-month-old baby on January 30 after his parents took him
to protests against CAA in New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area triggered outrage, and
even attracted attention of the Supreme Court. However, the plight of 41
children who were detained by Uttar Pradesh Police early in December has
largely been ignored, even as some allege they were tortured in custody.As
protests erupted in 24 districts in Uttar Pradesh shortly after India’s
citizenship law was amended on Dec.12, police responded with brutality. The
police did not even show any restraint when acting against children, according
to a study by 3 civil society organisations. This was particularly acute in the
districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor, both districts with a population that is
more than 40% Muslim and with a high concentration of minority institutions
where children from across the country were studying. Organisations – Citizens
Against Hate, Quill Foundation and Haq: Centre for Child Rights – conducted
fact-finding investigations in the districts of Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar and
Firozabad between Jan.10 and Jan 24. Their report included material from media
accounts that were then verified by the researchers. The authors of this
article are associated with Quill.On Dec 20, researchers found, Muzaffarnagar
police entered the compound of Saadat madrasa and hostel and dragged out close
to 50 students, the principal, a cook and two staff members. The police accused
the students of participating in a protest against CAA. Of these 50 students,
14 were minors. Of 14, FIRs were filed against four students. scroll
Anti-CAA stir: Muzaffarnagar court tells 53 to pay Rs 23 lakh in damages
Holding them responsible for what it said was "widespread damage to
public property" during anti-CAA stir in Muzaffarnagar on December 20, an
ADM court on Wednesday sought recovery of Rs 23.41 lakh from 53 protesters. According
to administration, all the culprits were identified from CCTV camera
footage.“In all, 57 people have been served with the notice after they were
spotted damaging properties on CCTV. They have been asked to submit their
replies,” a senior government official said, adding that 4 of them turned out
to be innocent later. The replies of 53 people were not found to be
satisfactory, he added.ADM (First) Amit Singh said, “We will paste recovery
notices on their homes now. The recovery will start soon.”The “rioters” have
been asked to appear in person before the ADM court to record their statements
within 7 days.When contacted, Mannawar Hussain, a lawyer representing the
accused, said, “My clients are innocent and most of them are very poor. We will
go to high court against this order.” One of the accused, Raju, who is a manual
labourer and lives in a rented house with family, said, “I was seen in the CCTV
footage returning from a mosque after Friday prayers. I have nothing to do with
the violence. But I got a notice from the administration. I also appeared
before the ADM court and explained my plight. But to no avail. I am a poor
person and cannot afford to pay the cost. I request authorities concerned to
reinvestigate the matter.”TOI
Man, who made bomb hoax call near city’s ‘Shaheen Bagh’, held
Ludhiana police arrested a man who allegedly made a hoax call about a
bomb at Saleem Tabri area, where Shaheen Bagh-like protest was organised on
Wednesday. The accused was identified as Amit Mahatov of Begusarai in Bihar and
now lived near Mohalla Maskeen Nagar at Jalandhar bypass.Police officials said
at 5 pm, a police party present on Jalandhar bypass got a message from the
control room informing it about someone planting a bomb at Aalo Mandi in the
grain market. They added that after going to the spot, police didn’t find any
such activity. A bomb disposal squad and anti-sabotage teams too searched area
for around three hours, but found nothing.TOI
"Delhi Law And Order Under Centre": AAP's Raghav Chadha On
Shaheen Bagh
New Delhi: AAP today stuck to its winning formula of steering clear of any
discussion on the anti-CAA protests at
Shaheen Bagh. Party spokesperson Raghav Chadha dissociated the Delhi government
from the issue on two counts -- that "law and order is under the
Centre" and that the contentious citizenship law is also something that
concerns the Centre."We are a small political party in Delhi concerned
with issues of basic amenities, healthcare, education, pollution... we have
nothing to do with it (CAA and Shaheen Bagh)," he told NDTV. Chadha today said BJP has "tried every
trick in the book for the last one month to communalise the elections". But
his party's stand on CAA has been clear -- "this legislation is the
Centre's work, we have nothing to do with this at all", he said.The
control over the Delhi Police has been one of the major points of friction
between AAP and the Centre. NDTV
Delhi court allows police to take Sharjeel Imam''s voice sample
A Delhi court has allowed police to take voice sample of activist
Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, for comparing it with that in a
video clip in which he is purportedly making a hate speech and targeting the
government.Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushotam Pathak passed the order on
an application by Delhi Police and directed that the accused, currently in
judicial custody, be produced at CFSL on Feb.13.The judge said "in view of
the facts and circumstances of the case" and the judgment of the Supreme
Court cited by investigating officer for taking voice sample, he was allowing
the plea for taking voice sample of the accused.PTI
Maharashtra : Aurangabad’s ‘Shaheen Bagh’ stages jail bharo, 50 detained
Aurangabad: Around 50 protesters were taken into preventive detention by
police when they staged a ‘jail bharo’ demonstration against CAA, NRC and NPR
at Aurangabad’s ‘Shaheen Bagh’ on Wednesday. Citizens from different
communities, including women and children, have been on a sit-in agitation in
front of the divisional commissionerate for the past 36 days.The protesters
intensified their agitation on Wednesday and tried to march towards the
divisional commissionerate while deliberately avoiding to take police
permission, leading to their detention. Begumpura police personnel soon rounded
up 50 protesters, bundled them into two vans and took them to the police
station from the spot.
NRC rumours: RAF in Howrah after parents attack madrassa
Howrah: A RAF contingent was deployed at a madrassa on Howrah's Andul
Road on Tuesday after trouble broke out when hundreds of guardians started
pelting bricks and stones during a protest against distribution of forms among
their kids. The students, parents alleged, were asked to fill the forms specifying
all family details. The guardians' agitation followed rumours that an exercise
was on to collect details for NRC.Guardians also lodged an FIR against
madrasa's teacher-in-charge Buddhadeb Das while authorities of Panchpara High
Madrassa filed an FIR against an NGO, whose members have been distributing the
forms for the last five days. Sankrail police station's inspector-in-charge
Madhusudan Mukherjee said both FIRs are being probed. Tension remained till
Tuesday evening with guardians accusing Das of leading the exercise. They
wanted cops to either arrest him or hand him over to them.Howrah City Police
later deployed RAF.TOI
Rename CAA to Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act,
suggests Indian-American Khanderao Kand
A prominent Indian-American has suggested renaming the CAA as the
Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, saying it would establish
a right perception difficult to challenge. The remarks of Khanderao Kand,
director of non-profit organisation Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora
Studies (FIIDS), came in the wake of widespread protests held across India
against CAA. CAA should have been named as Neighbour Persecuted Religious
Minority Refugee Act, Kand said during a panel discussion on the amended
citizenship law and abrogation of article 370 in a Virginia suburb of
Washington DC.PTI
At Mansa’s anti-CAA protest, AAP future in Punjab dominates discourse
Ludhiana :A day after AAP won a landslide victory in Delhi polls, an
indefinite anti-CAA dharna that began in Mansa saw participants bringing up the
‘Kejriwal model’ as the ‘third alternative’ in Punjab. The morcha is being
supported by CPI and other like minded organisations. Principal Budh Ram, AAP
MLA from Mansa’s Budhalada constituency, spoke at length about how AAP won
polls in Delhi and how the movement can be replicated in Punjab as well. MLA
Bud Ram later told The Indian Express, “I even told the gathering that AAP won
polls in Delhi on the basis of work done by the party on health and education
front. They were provided subsidised power. When such facilities are available
in foreign countries, why our residents should lag behind. I am sure political
parties have understood now that the one who will work for the masses, will win
for sure.”In his speech, MLA said, “We have been against the CAA right from the
beginning. Our state leaders will also join this dharna to give impetus to it
and every day our workers will join the dharna in large numbers. This is our
fight against the Act which is creating a divide and rule policy in the
country…..Kejriwal Model is the centre of discussion all over the country now.
The same model can be run here as well. “indianexpress
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Geelani’s death rumours disrupt normal life in Kashmir
The rumors about hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s death
since Wednesday evening disrupted normal life in Kashmir on Thursday with
authorities suspending 2G mobile internet services for few hours.On Wednesday
evening Geelani led Hurriyat Conference released an “'urgent” statement from
Muzaffarabad (PoK) saying that all Imams (religious preachers) and people
should gather at Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah, Srinagar, for the funeral in case
Geelani breaths his last.In a 3-page statement circulated on social media,
Hurriyat announced that Geelani has recently expressed his wish to be buried at
Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah. The Hurriyat, which has its offices in Muzaffarabad
and Islamabad, also appealed to the people of the Valley to be respectful to
the leader and join the funeral (in case he is no more).It gave credence to
reports about failing health of 90-old-year Hurriyat hawk. On Thursday morning
2G mobile internet services were suspended in Kashmir to prevent the spread of
rumours about Geelani’s death.Adequate security forces were deployed at
vulnerable places in Kashmir to maintain law and order and prevent miscreants
from fomenting any trouble. In several areas of Srinagar city, shops remained
closed on Thursday while the movement of traffic on roads was also lesser
compared to the previous days.However, Geelani’s son Naseem said that his
father was stable. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan termed the
reports about death of Geelani as baseless and directed concerned officers to
verify who spread rumors about his death.The ailing separatist leader's health
condition has deteriorated since past six months and he has been admitted at
super-specialty SKIMS hospital in Srinagar. DC
Only Allah knows what’s happening in Kashmir, says former RAW chief A.S.
Dulat
There are few Indians who understand Kashmir as well as Amarjit Singh
Dulat, former chief of RAW, India’s external intelligence wing. But even he
throws up his hands and exclaims, “Nobody knows what is happening in Kashmir
and neither does anyone know what New Delhi is thinking.”There is not one clear
narrative coming out of Kashmir, he says. While the Government claims normalcy,
others maintain that Kashmiris are resigned to their lot. Some also believe
that Kashmiris are being smart by not going out on the streets and getting
killed, especially when there is one soldier for every 30 civilians.But many
Kashmiris do feel they have been let down by the people of India, he
adds.nationalheraldindia
Ahead of Trump’s India visit, US senators seek review of human rights in
J-K
Ahead of President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to India, 4 influential
US Senators, who described themselves as “longtime friends of India”, have
sought an assessment of the human rights situation in Kashmir and religious
freedom in the country, saying hundreds of Kashmiris remain in “preventive
detention”.The bipartisan group of Senators, in their letter to Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo dated Feb.12, said that India has now imposed the
longest-ever internet shutdown by a democracy, disrupting access to medical
care, business and education for seven million people.US lawmakers, describing
themselves as “longtime friends of India”, wrote in the letter that “more than
six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government unilaterally revoked
the autonomy of J&K, government continues to block most internet in the
region”.“Hundreds of Kashmiris remain in ‘preventive detention’, including key
political figures,” they said.Signatories to the letter are Chris Van Hollen,
Todd Young, Richard J Durbin and Lindsey O Graham.“In addition, the Indian
government has taken other troubling steps that threaten the rights of certain
religious minorities and the secular character of the state. This includes the
passage of the controversial CAA which is being challenged in India’s Supreme
Court,”Senators wrote.In the letter, Senators requested Pompeo for a State
Department assessment of a number of issues in India including the number of
individuals detained by the government for political purposes and their
treatment; current restrictions on communications in J&K; current
accessibility of Jammu and Kashmir; and restrictions on religious freedoms in
Jammu and Kashmir.PTI
"Severe Consequences": US Senators On Kashmir Before Trump's
India Visit
Foreign envoys briefed by Army about security situation in J&K
Srinagar:Army officials today briefed the delegation of foreign envoys
visiting J&K about the security situation here. 25-member delegation
arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit as part of a union
government-facilitated trip to help the envoys have a first-hand assessment of
the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a region which faced months of harsh
restrictions after its special status was stripped of in August.PTI
J&K: 8-phase panchayat bypolls to begin on March 5
Jammu :Panchyat bypolls for vacant seats will be held in Jammu and
Kashmir in eight phases starting March 5, Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra
Kumar announced on Thursday. This will be the first major poll exercise in
J&K since the scraping of the special status in August last year.Kumar
announced that panchayat bypolls in 274 blocks of the Union Territory of Jammu
and Kashmir will be held for elections of 1,011 Sarpanches and 11,639
panches.Announcing that Model Code of Conduct comes into force with immediate
effect, he said the elections will be held in eight phases. The first phase of
polling will take place on March 5, followed by the second phase on March 7,
third on March 9, fourth on March 12, fifth on March 14, sixth on March 16,
seventh on March 18 and eighth on March 20.indianexpress
World Punjabi Conference dedicated to Guru Nanak: Pak prunes number of
Indian delegates
Ludhiana :A group of 39 Punjabi writers, academicians, educationists
etc. from India will be leaving for Lahore via the Wagah border on Thursday to
participate in 30th International Conference on Punjabi Literature &
Culture, being organised by the World Punjabi Congress.This year, the
conference is dedicated to 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Scholars and
litterateurs from India, Pakistan and other countries will be presenting their
research papers and other literary works on Guru Nanak during the
conference.However, at the last minute, the Pakistan High Commission pruned the
list of Indian delegates and visas have been granted to 39 participants only
even though Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior had granted approval for visas of
100 Indian participants.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
SC push to clean politics: Parties must disclose criminal cases of
candidates on sites, inform EC
New Delhi :In an attempt to decriminalise politics, the Supreme Court today
directed political parties to upload on their websites details of pending
criminal cases against candidates contesting elections.A bench headed by
Justice F Nariman from the parties over the selection of such candidates and
said the information must be uploaded on social media platforms like Facebook
and Twitter and in one local vernacular and one national newspaper.The SC said
the parties must submit a report of compliance to the Election Commission
within 74 hours of selecting such candidates, failing which the poll panel must
inform the SC.The court’s direction came after it noted an alarming increase in
criminalisation of politics in the last four general elections.indianexpress
SC lists 6 important steps for political parties who give tickets to
candidates with criminal cases
‘6 hours of community service’: Gujarat riot convicts clean temples in
Indore following bail from SC
Indore: 6 out of 15 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in a riot
case in Gujarat following 2002 carnage are busy sweeping the floors of an
Indore temple these days.The reason? The Supreme Court of India granted them
bail on one condition – stay outside Gujarat and do 6 hours of community service
every week in Indore and Jabalpur in MP. “As per the terms and conditions of
the Supreme Court order, the convicts have begun their community service. At
present, they are sweeping kitchens of a local temple and other parts of its
premises,”said Indore District Legal Assistance Officer Subhash Chaudhary. Convicts
are also joining the 'aarti' sessions at the temple every morning. They have to
also visit the nearest police station on the first of every month and submit
their attendance.15 convicts were sentenced to life for a massacre in Gujarat’s
Ode town, which falls in Anand district. As many as 23 people were burnt alive
in riots.timesnownews
Jaishankar cites VP Menon's biography to claim Nehru didn't want Patel
in Cabinet; Jairam, Tharoor rebut charge
New Delhi: Was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Jawaharlal Nehru's initial
cabinet list in 1947?That was the hotly debated question today with External
Affairs Minister S Jaishankar citing a new book to claim that Nehru did not
want Patel in his cabinet and historian Ramachandra Guha joining Congress
leaders to discount the argument and hit out at the minister. Twitter duel,
with both sides deploying sarcasm and historical references, began on Wednesday
night when Jaishankar put out a post on releasing an "absorbing
biography" of VP Menon — a senior civil servant who worked closely with
Patel — by Narayani Basu. He noted that the book had done "much awaited
justice to a truly historical figure"."Learnt from the book that
Nehru did not want Patel in the Cabinet in 1947 and omitted him from the
initial Cabinet list. Clearly, a subject for much debate. Noted that the author
stood her ground on this revelation," he said.Jaishankar's tweet evoked a
sharp response from Guha, who said "this a myth that has been
comprehensively demolished by Professor Srinath Raghavan". "Besides,
promoting fake news about, and false rivalries between, the builders of modern
India is not the job of the Foreign Minister. He should leave this to BJP's IT
Cell," Guha said in his strongly-worded tweet. Jaishankar hit back saying
some foreign ministers do read books and it may be a good habit for some
professors too.PTI
Blast on Lucknow court premises: Police say no one heard explosion,
rivalry behind incident; bar association's joint secretary claims he was target
At least 3 lawyers were injured when a crude bomb exploded outside the
chamber of one of them in a Lucknow court compound today. JCP, Lucknow, said
that prima facie, it appeared to be a matter of rivalry between two parties and
that the investigation is on.The commissioner added that people nearby did not
hear a blast or bomb exploding and that the plaintiff Sanjiv Kumar Lodhi has
not been hurt in any way.Lodhi, the Lucknow Bar Association joint secretary,
claimed he was the target of the attack because he had been complaining about a
few judicial officers. He said about 10 people hurled crude bombs outside his
chamber in which he and two other lawyers were injured. "One bomb exploded
but two still lay unexploded," he said, questioning the security on the
premises.Bomb disposal and dog squads have reached the site of the blast.Last
month, lawyers struck work in protest against the recent attacks on them in the
state. Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh had asked bar associations to abstain from
work to put pressure on the government to pass legislation to protect
lawyers.firstpost
₹81.67 crore worth electoral bonds sold before Delhi polls, response to
RTI query shows
In the run-up to Delhi Assembly Elections, 139 electoral bonds worth
₹81.67 crore were sold by various branches of SBI, according to the response to
an RTI query filed by Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd.)In the 13th phase of bond
sales, between January 13 to 22, the largest number (43) were sold by the
Kolkata branch, though the majority (89) were encashed at the New Delhi branch,
said RTI response from the SBI.Of the bonds issued, 78 were the denomination of
₹1 crore while 34 bonds worth ₹10 lakh each were issued. The remaining 27 bonds
were worth ₹1 lakh each. No bonds were issued in the lower denominations of
₹1,000 and ₹10,000. All bonds sold were redeemed.The electoral bonds scheme has
been criticised by the Opposition parties as well as the civil society groups
for a lack of transparency in political funding, as the donor remains
anonymous. So far, ₹6,210 crore have been donated through this method since the
scheme began.thehindu
BJP may have suffered in Delhi polls due to hate statements by party
leaders, says Amit Shah
In his first comment on provocative statements by leaders of BJP, Home
Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said it was possible that such statements could
have contributed to the party’s defeat in national capital Delhi. “They should
not have given such statements,” Shah said at the Times Now Summit to questions
on hate statements such as the “goli maro” slogan and comparing the Delhi
election to a India vs Pak match.Shah said the BJP had distanced itself from
these remarks and should not be construed as the party’s position. “There are
all kinds of people in the fray,” he said. Union minister of state Anurag
Thakur, BJP’s West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and BJP’s Model Town candidate Kapil
Mishra were banned from campaigning by the election commission for these
inflammatory slogans and statements.While referring to protesters at Shaheen
Bagh, Thakur had led party supporters to chant the “goli maro” slogan and Verma
had said that the protesters will “rape and kill your daughters and sisters”.
Mishra, who called the election as a contest between “India and Pakistan” had
also called the anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh a “mini-Pakistan”.HT
Statements Like "Goli Maaro" Shouldn't Have Been Made: Amit
Shah On Delhi Loss
Disquiet in BJP after party’s crushing defeat in Delhi poll, but all
back nationalism plank:HT
UP: Cops thrash AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan’s relatives for celebrating his
victory in Delhi elections
AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan’s relatives were allegedly severely beaten up
by cops in his native village Agwanpur of Parikshitgarh police station in
district Meerut when they were celebrating Khan’s victory in the recently concluded
Delhi assembly election, reported The Statesman.Amanatullah , who is sitting
MLA of AAP, defeated Braham Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party by a huge margin of
71, 827 votes from Okhla constituency.Soon after the results were announced,
Khan’s relatives in his paternal village Agwanpur started celebrating. The
police reached the location and lathi-charged relatives and villagers to
disperse them, according to the report in The Statesman. The police argued that
section 144 was imposed in the area. So, they were not allowed to gather and
celebrate.The police allegedly misbehaved with young girls. They allegedly
pulled a young girl’s hair and forced her to walk on the streets. They asked
her to help them identify the MLA’s relatives who had fled after a scuffle with
police over the celebration.nationalheraldindia
‘Professionals’ evading IT, says PM & claims only 2,200 declared
income above ₹1 Crore
In the Supreme Court of India alone, joked PM Narendra Modi at a Times
Now event on Wednesday, there would be more than 2,200 people earning more than
one Crore Rupees per annum. But, he claimed, that is the number of
‘professionals’ in the country who have declared an income above one
Crore.People were quick to question the figure, pointing out that in Assessment
Year 2018-19, as many as 97,689 people had declared annual income of one Crore
Rupees and above. BJP IT Cell chief jumped into the fray and pointed out that
Pm Modi was only talking about self-employed ‘professionals’ like doctors,
lawyers, chartered accountants and actors others.He, however, conceded that
misunderstanding may have been caused by BJP’s official twitter handle, which
had failed to mention ‘professionals’ and gave the impression that the PM
mentioned the figure as general tax payers.The explanation, however, has done
little to clear the air. Not only is it not clear how and from where PM arrived
at this figure of 2,200 ‘professionals’ but he also mentioned two other equally
problematic figures.· PM in his address said that only 1.5 Crore Indians ( 15
million) paid Income Tax and that· Only three lakh of them declared an annual
income of ₹50 lakh or above.In fact official records suggest that 5.52 Crore
Indians filed IT Returns for Assessment Year 2018-19; but while 2.9 Crore of
them paid Income Tax, the rest ( 2.62 Crore) didn’t. There are also others who
pay tax deducted at source but do not file IT Returns.nationalheraldindia
Javed Akhtar: Of course Modi is a fascist. Fascists don't have horns on
their heads
New Delhi:Lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar called Prime Minister
Narendra Modi a 'fascist' in an interview to Al Jazeera today. Akhtar was
speaking to the news channel along with his film industry colleague, director
Mahesh Bhatt. Akhtar went on to add that fascist is a 'thinking'.To the
question if Akhtar thought Modi was fascist, he replied, "Of course, he
is. I mean, fascists don't have horns on their heads. Fascist is a thinking.
And thinking that 'we are better than others and whatever problems we have, it
is because of these people'... the moment you hate people in wholesale, you're
a fascist."Director Mahesh Bhatt was asked the next question, if India was
Islamophobic, given that Muslims all over the world were calling India that.
"Well, I think Islamophobia, the winds of Islamophobia blew through the
world after 9/11 and I think the phobia here is manufactured, because I don't
think the average Indian is so frightened of a Muslim."India Today
'No Objection Over NIA Probing Bhima Koregaon Case,' Maha Govt Now Says
Maharashtra government has said
it has no objection to NIA taking over probe into Bhima Koregaon case.The
Centre last month transferred the probe in the case from Pune Police to the
NIA, a decision which was then criticised by the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government
in Maharashtra.However, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sanjay Kumar said today
that “the state Home department has no objection to the case being entrusted to
the NIA”.Last week, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray criticised the Centre’s
decision, saying the Union government has all rights to step into the probe,
but it should have taken the state government into confidence before handing
over the investigation to NIA.PTI
2012 Delhi gangrape: Hearing on execution dates adjourned till February
17 by sessions court
An additional sessions court in Delhi today adjourned till Feb.17 the
hearing of a plea for new death warrants for the four convicts in the 2012
Delhi gangrape and murder case, Live Law reported. The death warrants were first
issued for Jan.22, and then postponed to Feb.1 because of the mercy pleas filed
by two of them. The execution has now been put on hold indefinitely.The court
said convict Pawan Gupta should be provided adequate time to seek legal
remedies after he was left without a counsel on Wednesday. Additional Sessions
Judge Dharmender Rana noted that execution of death warrants was an extremely
sensitive matter and it cannot be “resolved on probabilities”. Rana observed
that disposing of plea would lead to more legal complications. Earlier today,
the SC reserved its verdict on convict Vinay Sharma’s petition against the
rejection of his mercy plea by President Ram Nath Kovind. The judgement will be
pronounced on Friday.scroll
No ‘Padayatra’ without permission in Uttar Pradesh, draconian conditions
for bail
12 ‘Padayatris’ had undertaken a walk to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at
Rajghat in New Delhi, starting from Gorakhpur. They wanted to spread the
message of goodwill and communal harmony and talk to people on the way.They
covered some 200 kms between Feb.4 and February 11, when they were arrested by
Ghazipur Police for the crime of walking without permission.And when their bail
application was moved the next day, the SDM court-ordered stringent conditions
and demanded that each of them submit bonds amounting to ₹2.5 lakh each besides
producing two sureties of equal amount from two gazetted
officers.nationalheraldindia
Sangrur: Dalits accuse village landlords of forcibly stopping water
supply, SC commission steps in
Ludhiana :Punjab SC Commission has sought a report from Sangrur police
and district authorities over complaints of water supply to Dalit residents of
Tolewala village being stopped for four months allegedly by local landlords.
Sangrur DC and SSP have been given 24 hours to file a reply.Tolewala has about
40 houses belonging to the Dalit community. They have alleged that tubewell
room of water works department was locked due to which water supply to their
houses was cut off. Beant Singh, village sarpanch and a Dalit, said: “Landlords
in the village have submersible pumps in their houses but Dalits depend upon
water works supply only. However, for the past four months, tubewell room was
locked due to which water works supply was not being provided to the entire
village. As we are completely dependent on water works supply, our community
suffered the most….It was done at the behest of landlords of the village with
whom our community is having difference of opinion over auction of panchayati
land reserved for Dalits.” Tubewell room was unlocked on Tuesday night after
the SC commission intervened.indianexpress
In Assam, decision to close Madrassas and Sanskrit tols flayed by Cong,
Jamiat
Guwahati:BJP-led Assam govt''s decision to shut down the state-run
Madrassas and Sanskrit tols (centres of learning) has invited critical remarks
from the opposition Congress and various organisations, Islamic as well as
those linked with the Sanskrit, while the saffron party backed the move. Assam
State Jamiat Ulema, has threatened to take legal action in order to stop the
administration from implementing its plan. State''s Education Minister Himanta
Biswa Sarma had said on Wednesday that the state-run Madrassas and Sanskrit
tols would be closed down within the next three to four months. He had said
they would be converted to high and higher secondary schools teaching regular
courses "because it is not the job of government to provide funds to
institutions to impart religious teachings, Arabic or other such
languages". "As the state government is a secular entity, it cannot
fund organisations involved in religious teaching. Private Madrassas and
Sanskrit tols can continue to run, but we will soon bring a new legislation to
ensure they function in accordance with a regulatory framework," Sarma
said. Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi termed the decision as
"unwise". He emphasised that the administration should have instead
taken steps to modernise these institutions. Gogoi, who had studied at a
Madrassa in Jorhat along with many boys from Hindu families, said, "government
should not ignore the Madrassas and link them them with religion.Instead of
killing the institution, government should instead strengthen them, modernise
them, introduce general subjects and promote technology there". Meanwhile,
both Anfar and Badruddin Ajmal groups of Assam State Jamiat Ulema opposed the
move. Maulana Fazlul Karim, state secretary of the Jamiat led by AIUDF chief
and MP Badruddin Ajmal, said "its not true that the Madrassas only impart
religious education as they teach Islamic studies and the subject Arabic as a
foreign language which helps many of its students become doctors and engineers
and get employment in MiddleEast countries".Stating Madrassas give
importance to general education syllabus teaching other regular subjects such
as maths, science, Assamese, English, social studies, etc., Maulana Karim said
children from the Hindu community also studies in many of these institutions
across the state, while a large number of others similarly were enrolled in the
neighbouring West Bengal."If the state government closes down its
Madrassas, then Jamiat may take recourse to legal provisions to halt the
move", Maulana Karim warned.Echoing similar views, Anfar Jamiat group''s
state secretary, Maulana Kalimuddin said higher Madrassa schools were
functioning with govt funds from before the Independence and continue to do so.PTI
'No Such Proposal Yet': Officials On Assam Govt's Move To Shut
Madrassas, Sanskrit Schools
"Teaching Arabic & religious texts is not Govt's job” – Assam
to shut down aided Madrassas, Sanskrit tols
TN lawyer challenges deletion of sentence about RSS’ anti-Muslim stance
in textbook
An advocate, S Doraisamy, has moved the Madras High Court, challenging
the deletion of the sentence "Hindu Mahasabha and RSS took a pronounced
anti-Muslim stance" in the 10th standard social science textbook."The
statements/versions appearing in the said text books is part of history and it
cannot be re-written based upon some sentiments," S Doraisamy said. He
submitted that the school education department had issued a circular for
'hiding' the sentence in both the Tamil and English versions of textbook and
requested the Court to quash the circular. Admitting plea moved as a PIL, a
division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha directed
department to file a counter affidavit by March 19 on how the syllabus is
prescribed and appraised and the procedure to be adopted for deletion of
certain portions in textbooks.thenewsminute
Accused in mining and forest cases, Ballari baron Anand Singh made
Karnataka Forest Minister
Bengaluru: Accused OF illegal mining and forest crimes in 15 cases
pending against him since 2012, Anand Singh, a 4-time MLA from the iron ore-rich
Ballari district of Karnataka with business interests in mining and
transportation, has been appointed the new minister for forest, environment and
ecology in 6-month-old BJP government in the state led by BS Yediyurappa.Singh
(53) was made minister of food and civil supplies on Monday, but was given the
forest, ecology and environment ministry a day later, after he demanded a
change in portfolio, despite the charges of illegal mining and violation of
forest laws pending against him from BJP’s previous tenure
(2008-13).indianexpress
Bengaluru Police evict protesting blind students
Bengaluru:Blind students holding a peaceful protest for laptops promised
under a government scheme were evicted by the police on Tuesday. The students,
part of the state youth wing of National Federation of the Blind (NFB), had
launched an indefinite protest at the office of the director of the Department
for Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens at VV Tower in central
Bengaluru. Police, however, moved them to the Ashoknagar hockey ground in no
time. The scheme for the distribution of free laptops to all class 10 and
college-going visually challenged students was launched in 2014-15.
deccanherald
Wasn’t driving the Bentley, claims Mohammed Nalapad: Cops arrest
bodyguard
Congress MLA NA Haris’ son Mohammed Nalapad on Wednesday appeared before
the Sadashivnagar Traffic Police in Bengaluru for questioning in connection
with accident involving a Bentley Continental GT. The Bengaluru Police on
Tuesday said that Nalapad was driving the black Bentley along the Mekhri Circle
underpass on Sunday afternoon and rammed into a bike and autorickshaw, injuring
two people.“I was not the one driving the Bentley. I was in a Lamborghini ahead
of the Bentley. Balu (Balakrishna, Nalapad’s bodyguard) was the one who drove
the car. Some channels are saying that he does not know how to drive a Bentley
and that is not true. He has been my driver for so long. I helped the people
who were injured and took them to the hospital and paid the hospital bills.
This is a conspiracy against me,” a teary-eyed Nalapad told the media after
police questioning.Nalapad questioned the media as to why he was being
portrayed as a “goonda”. This isn’t the first time that he has been accused of
breaking the law. The MLA’s son was in the spotlight in 2018 after a case of
attempted murder was registered against him at the Cubbon Park Police
Station..thenewsminute
14 Killed, 31 Injured as Bus Rams into Stationary Truck on Agra-Lucknow
Expressway
14 passengers were killed and
around 31 people grievously injured as a private bus rammed into a stationary
truck in Firozabad on Agra-Lucknow Expressway on Wednesday night. The driver of
the truck was declared spot dead.The injured have been taken to Saifai PGI for
treatment and kept under observation in ICU.news18
*WORLD*
Palestinians hail UN list of firms linked to Israeli settlements
Palestinian leaders have hailed UN Human Rights Office report, which
lists firms linked to illegal Israeli settlements, saying it is a critical step
towards boycotting Israeli businesses operating in the occupied West Bank. UN
body said it identified 112 business entities - 94 based in Israel and 18 in
six other countries - which it has reasonable grounds to conclude have ties with
Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.It
identified companies listed in US, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Thailand
and the United Kingdom. Among these was the US-based home-sharing company,
Airbnb.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said the
findings had been subject to an "extensive and meticulous review
process" and the report "reflects serious consideration that has been
given to this unprecedented and highly complex mandate".Her office said
the report "does not provide a legal characterisation of the activities in
question, or of business enterprises' involvement in them".Palestinian
leader Mustafa Barghouti said the report provides critical information that
shows these companies are willfully operating their businesses in violation of
international laws.Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, adopted in 1949
to protect civilian populations in war-torn countries, says occupying powers
shall not transfer their population to occupied territories.Barghouti told Al
Jazeera that the report will reinvigorate the international movement Boycott,
Divestment and Sanction or BDS and its allies who seek to boycott companies and
businesses who are deemed violating international law by operating in occupied
Palestinian territories.Palestinian leader called on international institutions
to stop investing in companies working in Israeli settlements in the occupied
West Bank.Earlier, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki called the
publication of the list "a victory for international law".Israeli
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he ordered an "exceptional and harsh
measures" against the UN body in the wake of the much-delayed
report.Palestinian leader and head of Civil Affairs Authority Hussein al-Shaikh
said in a tweet that US and Israel are "challenging the international
consensus" and are using intimidation tools" against UN human rights
agency.aljazeera
UN lists firms linked to illegal Israeli settlements in West Bank
Guterres reiterates UN commitment to 2-state solution
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated the organisation’s
commitment to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international
resolutions and two-state solution, QNA reported.During a UNSC about Middle East
held following the announcement of US’ “peace plan”, he reiterated respect for
bilateral agreements between Israel and Palestinians.He also stressed on the
importance of having two states living side-by-side in safety and peacefully
with clearly defined borders based on the 1967 lines.middleeastmonitor
Israel names judges for Netanyahu’s corruption trials
Israel’s Ministry of Justice yesterday named three judges who will form
the court panel of the Jerusalem District Court which will hear the corruption
trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, local media reported. According
to Times of Israel, Jerusalem District Court said that Rivka Friedman-Feldman
will head of the panel and Moshe Bar-am and Oded Shaham will be members. Friedman-Feldman
was a member of the panel which sent former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to
prison over bribery charges. Olmert was sentenced to a total of 27 months in
jail over three corruption charges, but served only 16 months.middleeastmonitor
Netanyahu: ‘Strongest Likud branch is in Saudi Arabia’
Outgoing Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the strongest branch of
the Likud party is in Saudi Arabia, referring to pro-normalization Mohammad
Saud, who has been previously referred to as the representative of the party’s
leader in Saudi kingdom.This came during an interview with Netanyahu, Tuesday,
on Hebrew Channel 20.Saud praised Netanyahu’s statement and posted it on his
Twitter, celebrating what he called “your wonderful (in reference to Netanyahu)
efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.”“You know, Your Excellency, how
much I love and appreciate you and my dear country (Israel), and I hope that
peace will be achieved soon between our countries. My deepest gratitude and
appreciation,” he added, speaking to Netanyahu.middleeastmonitor
Syrian killed in rare clash between US troops, government forces
A Syrian civilian was killed and another wounded in a rare clash between
US troops and a group of government supporters who tried to block a US convoy
driving through a village in northeastern Syria, state media reported. Syrian
state-run media on Wednesday said the killed man was among residents of a
village east of the town of Qamishli who had gathered at an army checkpoint,
pelting the US convoy with stones and taking down a US flag from one of the
vehicles.At that point, US troops fired with live ammunition and smoke bombs at
the residents, the report said.A US military spokesman said coalition forces
conducting a patrol near Qamishli encountered the checkpoint occupied by
pro-Syrian government forces.aljazeera
HRW: Human rights advocates in Egypt are not safe
Human rights advocates are not safe in Egypt, HRW said earlier this
week, noting that they are regularly detained and tortured.In a statement, HRW
said that there has been a “serious escalation” against human rights activists
and groups. On 7 February, Egyptian authorities detained Patrick George Zaki, a
researcher with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), HRW said,
pointing out he was held incommunicado for roughly 24 hours and subjected to
torture, including with electric shocks.The rights group also reported its
source saying Zaki was held in two unofficial National Security Agency
detention sites, in Cairo and Al-Mansoura, where interrogators questioned him
extensively about his activism and the EIPR. middleeastmonitor
Sajid Javid resigns as chancellor amid reports of clash with PM
UK Treasury chief Sajid Javid has resigned in a shock development on the
day Prime Minister Boris Johnson is shaking up his right-wing Conservative
government. Chancellor Javid had been widely expected to keep his job in the
cabinet shake-up. His resignation on Thursday follows reports he had clashed
with Johnson's powerful adviser, Dominic Cummings.Javid had been due to deliver
his annual budget next month.His resignation comes against the backdrop of
Brexit, as the government faces challenges of negotiating a new relationship
with the 27-nation European Union by the end of this year.Johnson will replace
Javid with Rishi Sunak, the government confirmed.First elected to parliament in
2015, Sunak previously served as chief secretary to the treasury, the second in
command to the chancellor, overseeing public spending.aljazeera
Haftar forces ban UN flights to embattled capital Tripoli
Eastern Libyan forces have said they would not allow the UN to use the
only functioning airport in the capital Tripoli, hours after the UN Security
Council passed a resolution demanding the warring parties commit to a
"lasting ceasefire".The self-styled Libya National Army (LNA) led by
renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar has been trying to capture the
capital city from the internationally recognised government since April.UN earlier
warned flight restrictions were hampering humanitarian and mediation efforts in
the oil-producing country embroiled in a conflict between loose alliances from
western and eastern Libya since 2014.aljazeera
China officials fired as coronavirus deaths surge past 1,300
Health officials in China's hard-hit central province of Hubei reported
on Thursday that 242 more people died from the coronavirus COVID-19 as of
Wednesday - the highest in a single day and more than twice the previous record
high - pushing the death toll across the country to 1,355.The province's health
commission also reported a huge jump in new cases, saying a further 14,840
people had been confirmed with the infection over the 24-hour period to
midnight on Wednesday.As this developed, the official Xinhua news agency
reported on Thursday that the head of Communist party in the province of Hubei
has been relieved of his post - the latest in a line of local officials
fired.Hubei is at the centre of the outbreak, which is thought to have
originated in a now-closed seafood market in the capital of Wuhan late last
year.
Exiled Uighurs fear spread of coronavirus in China camps
Members of China's Uighur minority living in exile are sounding the
alarm over the risk of the coronavirus spreading in camps inside the country,
where NGOs say hundreds of thousands of people have been rounded up by
Beijing.So far, official figures released by Chinese state media give no major
cause for concern over the COVID-19 outbreak in the northeast region of
Xinjiang, which is home to the Uighurs, a Muslim minority who speak a Turkic
language.It is far from the epicentre of the outbreak and just 55 cases have
been reported in the region so far. The first patients to fully recover in the
region have already left hospital, according to official media.aljazeera
Indian Businesses Feel Ripple Effect Of Trade Slowdown Due To
Coronavirus
The outbreak of coronavirus in China - where more than 1,000 people have
been killed by the lethal disease and over 40,000 have got infected - has hit
trade in the region, becoming a cause of concern for Indian businessmen.Dozens
of cities in China - one of India's biggest trading partners - are under a
lockdown amid the outbreak of coronavirus, declared a global health emergency
by WHO. Indian businessmen, who have manufacturing units in the east Asian
country, are worried as uncertainty prevails over the return of normalcy.Dipanker
Dutta, owner of manufacturing unit of cinema seats and recliners in Foshan city
of Guandong province of China, is one such businessmen; his factory has been
temporarily shut till the situation improves.The manufacturing unit was to
expected to open on Wednesday after the Chinese New Year holiday, however, now
it is not expected to open before the first week of March.ndtv
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Protests at Shaheen Bagh points to a politically vigilant, committed
citizenry:Seema Chishti
Misreading history: Partition did not validate the two-nation
theory:Rajmohan Gandhi
End the protest at Shaheen Bagh | HT Editorial
Mr Kejriwal, Delhi is done and dusted, shouldn’t you visit Shaheen Bagh
now?Saba Rahman
Why did Egypt issue a fatwa forbidding Arabs to watch Turkish TV
series?Taha Kılınç
Justice Katju: Detention of Omar Abdullah Is a Gross Violation of Rights
Uncertainty in Valley as rumours swirl around health status of ailing
Hurriyat hawk:Gulzar Bhat
Why Andhra's Jaya Prakash Narayana Failed Where Delhi's Kejriwal
Succeeded:Gali Nagaraja
Why Kejriwal Shouldn't Be Criticised for Not Running an Ideological
Campaign:Monobina Gupta
Make No Mistake, a Population Control Policy Will Target the
Marginalised:Alaka M. Basu
Delhi Poll Debacle is Almost Personal for Amit Shah And it Shows:ARATI R
JERATH
In Jamia students' anti-CAA protests are echoes of the university's
challenge to British occupation of India:Ismat Ara
Dear Liberals, Don’t Score on Shaheen Bagh by Dissing Kejriwal:PRAGYA
TIWARI
With Separatist Leader Geelani Ailing, Hurriyat – and Government –
Prepare for the End
Saudi ranks 3rd in spread of 5G networks
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 9:22 PM).
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