18 Feb. 2020:
23 Jamadi-2, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 135
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Jamia violence: Media misreport wallet as ‘stone’ in student’s hand
India Today ran ‘exclusive’ footage on Sunday, on the events of Dec.15,
in Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). This was after a CCTV video of police charging
students with lathis inside a reading room went massively viral. The footage
was handed over to the channel by SIT of Delhi police. It was played as
‘authentic’ clip and used to claim that students entered the reading room with
stones in their hands.A plethora of other news organisations carried the clip
and claimed that the students had stones clasped in their hands. Among the
English outlets were TOI, Mirror Now, Republic Bharat, Times Now, The Quint and
DNA. Some of the Hindi channels were Zee News, Aaj Tak, India TV, NDTV India,
News Nation. Right-wing websites OpIndia and Swarajya carried similar
reports.The channel claimed that the student was carrying a stone each in both
his hands. For the purpose of this fact-check, Alt News used a higher
resolution video received from sources. The video is of the same footage played
by India Today. Alt News slowed down the video and watched it frame-by-frame.
We found that the student was holding a wallet in one of his hands, and a flat
object (possibly a phone) in the other.Here is the sequence of events – the
student enters the room with a wallet in his right hand and a linear object
(possibly a phone) in his left hand. At about 10 seconds, he goes out of the
frame and comes back at 17 seconds when his right hand is empty. The brown
colour wallet is now visible in his left hand.The wallet is visible in multiple
frames, however, is most clear at 1:22-minute mark when the student stretches
out his arm.Another clear shot of the wallet can be seen at 2:27 If one notices
carefully, the two brown flaps of the wallet are distinctly noticeable and the
gap in between is darker – a shade of black.The student holds a flat object in
his other hand which could possibly be a mobile phone. It isn’t as distinctly
noticeable as the wallet and users are advised to watch the complete video in
loops to self-analyse. We will attempt to provide a clean screenshot however
there are a few pointers worth mentioning – a stone would typically be
irregularly shaped. The object held in his hand is symmetrical and flat.The
video shows the linear symmetry of the object held in his left hand.Media
outlets therefore jumped to the police’s defence without a basic internal
analysis. nationalheraldindia
Another video of Jamia students with folded hands in front of policemen
surfaces
Jamia violence: Delhi police names Sharjeel Imam as ''instigator'' in
charge sheet; sent in judicial custody till March 3
Delhi police has named Sharjeel Imam as an "instigator" in its
charge sheet filed against 17 people in a case related to violence during
protests against the amended citizenship law at New Friends Colony near Jamia
Millia Islamia. The accused, none of whom are students from Jamia, have been
charged with rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and other offences
under IPC. The chargesheet was filed before CMM Gurmohina Kaur, who sent Imam
to judicial custody till March 3 after he was produced in the court on expiry
of his custodial interrogation today.Imam was arrested in the case, after an
accused in December 15 violence had alleged that he was provoked by Imam''s
speeches made during a protest, court sources said.While citing statement of
one of the protesters, Mohd Furkan, the police said in the charge sheet that
"atmosphere was highly surcharged due to CAA protest and violent incidents
of rioting in Jamia."On that day, one Sharjeel Imam, student of JNU also
gave provocative speeches against CAA and due to same he (Furkan) and his associates
were also frenzied and involved in protest."In view of the above
disclosure, the role of Imam will be further probed during the supplementary
charge sheet, the police said.Furkan, 26, has also been arrested in the case on
the basis of CCTV footage, along with other accused. So far 17 people have been
arrested in the case, out of which nine are from New Friends Colony while 8 are
from Jamia area, agency said, adding that all of them are locals and no student
has been chargesheeted.It said the police has attached CCTV footage, call
detail records and statements of over 100 witnesses as evidence in the charge
sheet.PTI
Month after Jamia admin filed police complaint, no FIR
New Delhi :A month after students gheraoed Jamia V-C office, the
university had filed a police complaint against “brutal action” of “unruly
policemen” who beat students and damaged university property. Police, however,
are yet to register an FIR in the matter.A Delhi court had also directed Delhi
Police to file an action taken report (ATR) by March 16 on a plea filed by
university, stating whether any action has been taken on the complaint by the
varsity administration to lodge an FIR.Police have registered 2 FIRs — one at
New Friends Colony and another at Jamia Nagar — against protesters for damaging
public property and rioting. Indianexpress
Jamia violence videos: Delhi Police team visits university campus
A Delhi Police Crime Branch team visited the Jamia Millia Islamia campus
on Tuesday as a series of videos of the December 15 violence inside the
university emerged over the past few days. 4 videos have surfaced online of the
incident, the latest being on Monday. The team led by DCP(Crime) Rajesh Deo
visited the varsity''s library that was badly damaged during the alleged police
action inside the campus last year, according to officials.This is for the
first time that a police team is visiting the campus for investigation after
the violence, they said.Members of the team analysed and videographed the
extent of damage to the library. They also visited the proctor''s office, the
officials said.The case is being probed by the Crime Branch.PTI
Police stormed a university in India; Muslim students say the violence
was an act of revenge
Aligarh:Inside Room 46 of Morison Court dormitory, the university
students huddled in the dark, too afraid to speak. Police in riot gear pounded
on the door. The next sound was glass shattering, then came the thunk and hiss
of tear gas. Something exploded once, then twice, with a deafening noise. The
smoke grew suffocating. Shahid Hussein, a graduate student in history at AMU,
opened the door. The first blow hit him on the left shoulder. The police kept
hitting him as they dragged him toward a tree outside, he said. There, 2
officers held his arms behind his back around the trunk, while others beat his
legs with a wooden stick.“It was not simply stopping protests,” said Hussein,
24. “They were taking revenge.”“I don’t remember in my time — in British or
free India — the police ever having entered the way they are entering now on
campuses,” said Irfan Habib, 88, a distinguished historian who has spent most
of his life teaching at AMU. The message is that “civil liberty is not yours,”
Habib said, and that police “will decide who can protest and who can’t.”The
Post spoke to more than a dozen witnesses, as well as doctors, university
officials and lawyers, and reviewed police documents, photos, videos and
footage from closed-circuit cameras of the incident.A senior police official in
Aligarh said that inquiries are underway into allegations of excessive use of
force but that the response by law enforcement was appropriate. Students broke
part of the university’s main gate and threw stones at police, he
said.Aligarh’s students “will determine the place of Muslims in India’s
national life,” one of its leaders, Zakir Hussain, once told alumni. What’s
more, he continued, “the way India conducts itself toward Aligarh will
determine largely . . . the form which our national life will acquire.”Almost
immediately, three witnesses said, police began firing tear gas canisters. Some
students responded by hurling pieces of brick in the direction of the police.
Within half an hour, hundreds of officers, including members of a statewide
riot control unit, had arrived.A police report later accused several injured
students of crimes, including intent to murder. It blamed their injuries on
“stone pelting by their fellows.”The crackdowns at AMU and Jamia galvanized
protests across the nation. washingtonpost
Crackdown in Jamia Library: More Footage Released, Shows Police Breaking
CCTV Camera
Change of site may weaken protest, say anti-CAA Shaheen Bagh protestors
After the Supreme Court-appointed 3 interlocutors to try and persuade
protesters at Shaheen Bagh to shift the protest site, the demonstrators said
that moving to another area might weaken the agitation.“The main reason for
blocking the road was to pressure the Govt but now if we go to an irrelevant
place, I am not sure whether we could insist on our demands with same thrust or
not,” said Nadeem Khan, one of the protesters. He said that the apex court
should have asked the Govt to approach the protesters and address their demands
instead of telling the protesters to vacate the road. Asif Mujtaba, a student
of IIT Delhi, said that the road blockade happened to pressure the Govt in a
peaceful manner by the sit-in protest. However, Mujtaba hinted that there were
high chances that the protesters at Shaheen Bagh would obey the top court’s
orders and move the protest site.However, he said that a solution to the
problem could be that the protesters would leave one side of the road for
traffic while camping on the other side to continue their
demonstration.newindianexpress
Centre keen to talk to Shaheen Bagh protesters: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Biharsharif: Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said Centre
was “inclined” to talk to those protesting against CAA at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi
to remove their “confusions,” but maintained at the same time that if they
(protesters) have “other objectives”, action would be taken against them.“The
Centre is eager to talk to them and remove all their misgivings about CAA, but
the problem is you can awake a sleeping person, not the one who is pretending
to sleep,” Prasad told reporters here.“People have right to dissent, but they
can’t be allowed to conspire to disintegrate the nation. Terrorists and
separatists who are operating from behind to fuel the protests to weaken the
nation will be defeated,” he added. “No person will be allowed to break
Hindustan,” the minister said.TOI
Amit Shah bluffing over invite to debate on CAA? Shaheen bagh, Kannan
and Yogendra Yadav waiting for response
A day after former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan launched a scathing
attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for not responding to his request for
an appointment to debate on the newly amended Citizenship Act statement, now
Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav has asked for time from Shah to discuss
CAA, NRC and NPR. Earlier, Kannan had tweeted saying that even after 3 days, no
response has been received from the Home Ministry, “3 days. No response.
Shouldn't have given any value to Amit Shah's words. Had to call the bluff
though. One can't say anything on TV and get away with it when holding a
responsible position. Don't worry. I am not pursuing it further. But please
take this as a lesson in democracy,” tweeted the former IAS
officer.nationalheraldindia
Shaheen Bagh protesters: We will not relent till CAA, NRC and NPR are
gone
You can hear the slogans long before you reach the actual protest site
in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, the place that has become a symbol of the resistance
against the controversial CAA and NRC.The mood at the protest site has to be
seen to be felt. Though the sit-in protests have persisted 24/7 for over two
months now, their intensity is as high as ever, showing no signs of petering
out. The passionate and committed voices shouting slogans add to the charged atmosphere
at the site.The foot over-bridge near the protest site has been turned into a
huge display board with massive posters of national leaders like Mahatma
Gandhi, Dr Ambedkar and Maulana Azad. An LED panel beams the words ‘Reject NRC,
NPR, CAA’; posters display slogans like ‘azadi’, while banners hang down from
the over-bridge.Installations have been put up, graffiti has been drawn and
several people carry posters with different slogans in their hands. An open
library named after education pioneers from Maharashtra Savitri Bai Phule and
Fatima Sheikh has been set up near the foot over-bridge and has a number of Hindi,
English and Urdu books with youngsters poring over them.Suddenly in one of the
corners, a group of about a dozen youngsters start raising the slogans of
‘azadi’ and soon the crowd swells around them, taking the chanting to a
crescendo. A little girl, with her father holding a national flag, passes by
shouting ‘aazadi’ to the tune of the chant.Inside the main protest arena,
another little girl keeps moving around with the national flag, shyly smiling.
She says her name is Hadeeja and she is a class 2 student. Over 50 women squat
quietly, some of them with kids, and smile while making eye contact.“Our demand
is simple—revoke CAA and do away with NRC and NPR. We are not letting up at
anything less. It does not matter how long it takes, let it take years, we are
ready to sit it out till the CAA, NRC and NPR goes,”says Gul Bano, a
protester.theweek
At Shaheen Bagh, protesters say open to mediation but won’t vacate site
of sit-in
Shaheen Bagh’s women have transformed who speaks for India’s Muslims:
NYU Anthropologist Siddiqi
Delhi, UP Police use facial recognition tech at anti-CAA protests,
others may soon catch up: Reuters
When artist Rachita Taneja heads out to protest in New Delhi, she covers
her face with a pollution mask, a hoodie or a scarf to reduce the risk of being
identified by police facial recognition software.Police in Delhi and UP - both
hotbeds of dissent - have used the technology during protests that have raged
since mid-Dec against CAA that critics say marginalises Muslims.Activists are
worried about insufficient regulation around the new technology, amid what they
say is a crackdown on dissent by the Modi Govt."I do not know what they
are going to do with my data," said Taneja, 28, who created a popular
online cartoon about cheap ways for protesters to hide their faces. "We
need to protect ourselves, given how this Govt cracks down."Critics also
accuse authorities of secrecy - highlighting, for instance, that the software's
use during Delhi protests was first revealed by Indian Express.Law enforcement
across India could soon be using facial recognition technology. Modi's Govt is
seeking bids to create a nationwide database,NAFRS to help match images
captured from CCTV cameras with existing databases, including those of passport
and police authorities. Reuters
Will fight sedition charges against anti-CAA protesters: JNUSU
New Delhi: JNUSU has protested against sedition charges on the varsity's
scholar Sharjeel Imam, doctor Kaleef Khan, Assamese activist Akhil Gogoi among
others at Jantar Mantar here.JNUSU had given a call for a march from Mandi
House till Jantar Mantar, however, police had imposed section 144 in the area.
JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh said that a pattern can be observed not just inside
the universities but outside it as well, where an environment is created where
the Govt is trying to suppress the voice of the people."We have said it
earlier that they should release all political prisoners. And we are going to
fight for this. Muslims voices are being targeted and they are cornered, but
the whole society has stood against this black law and we will keep
fighting," she said.Students raised slogans demanding the release of Imam,
Gogoi, and Khan among other protesters who have been detained. Meanwhile, AISA
president Kaushik said that Imam was targetted.millenniumpost
Kafeel Khan to file reply to UP State Advisory Board in NSA case today
Gorakhpur paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan, who was booked under NSA by
Aligarh police, will submit his reply to UP State Advisory Board through
Mathura Jail authorities today.Confirming this, Khan’s lawyer, Irfan Ghazi,
said though the response, as per the magistrate’s directions, has to be sent
through the jail superintendent, Dr Khan wants to physically represent his case
to the advisory board. Ghazi said that Aligarh police and district authorities
have alleged that on Dec.12th Khan’s speech to AMU students had sparked
protests in the campus, which is incorrect. He said in the same context, there
were protests by women in Shahjamal area from Jan.29 and the same continued
till date. He said all the grounds made by the administration in support of
booking Khan under NSA are baseless.The lawyer said that in his reply Dr Khan
has stated that he had given a speech on December 12 whereas the protests in
the campus had started from Dec.9. Even the violence in campus had occurred on
Dec 15 when Khan was not there and it was in reaction to Jamia Millia Islamia
incident. He said that UP Govt had been indulging a witch-hunt against Khan, in
retaliation for his raising voice against the negligence by Govt in the death
of 63 children at BRD Medical college hospital in Gorakhpur. TOI
CAA protests: 22 people killed, 322 still in jail for violence in Decr, UP
tells HC
UP Govt has told Allahabad High Court that 883 people were arrested for
violence during anti-CAA protests in the state on Dec. 20 and 21, HT reported.
Of these, 322 people are still in prison, the Govt said.“Out of those arrested,
561 are now out on bail and 322 are still in jail,” UP Govt counsel Manish Goel
told the court. He asserted that proper medical aid was provided to the
injured, and that 45 police personnel and Govt officials were injured in the
violence. The Govt counsel said 22 protestors were killed and 83 injured. The
state govt provided the figures to a High Court bench of Chief Justice Govind
Mathur and Justice Siddhartha Varma. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions
against police action during the protests. The HC on Monday said that it will
hear the matter next on March 18.scroll
Anti-CAA protests: 10 complaints against police personnel, UP govt tells
Hight Court
CAA protests: Chargesheet filed against 15 in Sambhal
Sambhal police on Monday filed a chargesheet against 15 people for
alleged arson, damage to public property and attack on police during a protest
against CAA and NRC held at Chaudhary Sarai Crossing in the district on Dec.19.
This is the first chargesheet filed in connection with anti-CAA protests that
broke out in the state since Dec.15. Of 15 arrested people, a few of them were
recently granted bail.Several people, including 3 cops, were injured in the
alleged violence. Police are still probing role of local SP MP Shafiq-ur-Rahman
Barq and party’s ex district head Feroz Khan. They have been named in FIR
lodged on Dec.19. A total of 327 FIRs have been lodged across the state in
connection with anti-CAA protests and violence in Dec. Among total FIRs, 12
were lodged in Sambhal.indianexpress
Panel slams UP cop action on women at Bilariyaganj's anti-CAA protest
Lucknow:A panel set up by some social workers and lawyers in UP to look
into alleged police atrocities on protesters against CAA triad has slammed the
law enforcers for their “barbaric” crackdown on women and children in
Bilariyaganj, Azamgarh, on Feb. 5.The panel — UP Coordination Committee — also
rubbished police claims that the women had pelted them with stones.“The violent
action of the police on peacefully and non-violently protesting women and
children was a cowardly move. Firing rubber bullets, tear gas, barbaric
baton-charge was not only murder of democracy but also an attack on India’s
civilisation and culture,” Sandeep Pandey, a member of the committee, said,
reading from a report the panel released in Lucknow on Monday. Pandey, a
Magsaysay award winner, had visited Bilariyaganj last week with half-a-dozen
other panel members.“The police are spreading false claims that the women had
thrown stones at them,” the social worker added. “It cannot be believed that
the women who were on peaceful dharna along with their children started hurling
stones at the police at 3am.”Among the panel members who visited Bilariyaganj was
Ramesh Kumar, a lawyer High Court had recently appointed amicus curiae to
assist it in a case related to incidents of violence on December 19 and 20 when
protests against CAA, NRC and NPR had broken out across the state.Kumar said he
would submit the Bilariyaganj panel’s findings too, besides other reports, when
the HC again hears the case related to December violence.Sandeep Pandey
recalled what eyewitnesses had told the fact-finding team. “The arrested people
include Maulana Tahir Madni, who was roped in by the Azamgarh administration to
convince the women to suspend their protest. The police arrested Madni at 1am
when the women refused to listen to him. The police turned violent against the
women and children thereafter,” Pandey said. The social worker also alleged
that the police booked two youths, Nurul Hoda and Mirza Shane Alam, who were
not part of any protest and didn’t even visit the dharna site.telegraphindia
No one should fear CAA, won’t block NPR in Maharashtra: CM Uddhav
Thackeray
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray today assured the people that there is
nothing to worry about Citizenship (Amendment) Act, saying CAA and NRC are two
different issues.On NPR, Thackeray said he will personally check the columns in
the NPR and that there shouldn't be any problem with the exercise, Indian
Express has reported. Thackeray, however, said he will not allow NRC to be
implemented in the state."CAA and NRC are different and NPR is different.
No one has to worry if CAA gets implemented. NRC is not there and will not be
implemented in the state," CM said. Uddhav said: "If NRC is
implemented then it will affect not only Hindus or Muslims but also adivasis.
Centre has not discussed NRC as of now. NPR is a census, and I don't find that
anyone will be affected as it happens every ten years."The alliance
partners -- Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP -- having been talking in different
voices on the NPR.indiatoday
Nobody should fear CAA, will personally go through NPR forms: Uddhav
Thackeray
"We'll Convince Sena": Sharad Pawar On Gap Over CAA, NPR
Shiv Sena's support for the contentious law CAA and NPR was confirmed
today as a key point of difference in Maharashtra's ruling coalition as CM
Uddhav Thackeray said CAA is no threat and he would not stop implementation of
NPR in the state. But NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who had a crucial role in
bringing together the ideologically disparate Sena and Congress, played it
down, saying they will discuss the matter with Thackeray's party and bring it
on the same page."We have opposed it (CAA, NRC and NPR) earlier too. We
even opposed it in the Rajya Sabha," Pawar said. But he pointed out that
the 3 parties have agreed on a Common Minimum Programme, and for now, focussing
on it to steer Maharashtra is more important.ndtv
CM may have own view on CAA, NCP is against it: Sharad Pawar
As Tripura prepares for NPR exercise, Opposition says people will reject
it
As Tripura prepares to carry out NPR exercise, Opposition parties CPI
(M) and Congress have expressed confidence that people will reject the exercise
and not provide any data. BJP has, however, claimed those opposing NPR are
playing “dirty politics” and said the people will fully participate in the
process.CPI (M) state leader and ex Deputy Speaker Pabitra Kar said his party
has been carrying out a door-to-door campaign, appealing people to reject CAA,
NPR and NRC.“We started a door-to-door campaign against NRC, NPR and CAA and we
are getting good response from people, who also include many BJP supporters.We
shall continue our protest”, Kar said.While State Congress vice president Tapas
Dey said Govt is trying to implement NPR against wishes of public.indianexpress
No plan to implement NPR in MP: Kamal Nath
MP CM Kamal Nath has asserted that the Govt has no plan “at present” to
undertake the proposed NPR update exercise in the state.Nath’s clarification
came in the wake of Congress MLA Arif Masood threatening to protest against the
party-led govt’s “decision” to update NPR.indianexpress
154 citizens write to Kovind supporting CAA, NPR, NRC
New Delhi :As many as 154 prominent citizens, including former judges,
bureaucrats, armed forces officers and academicians, on Monday said a “false
and motivated” campaign is being launched against CAA, NPR and NRC with a
sinister design to harm the nation and sought action against trouble-makers.In
a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, citizens urged Govt to look into the
ongoing protests with all seriousness and safeguard the democratic institutions
of the country, and take stern action against those people behind them.The
citizens, including 11 ex judges of different high courts, 24 retired IAS
officers, 11 ex Indian Foreign Service officers, 16 retired IPS and 18 ex
Lieutenant Generals, said “fear” is being spread across the length and breadth
of India which appears to be “motivated and with a sinister design” to harm the
nation.PTI
Bidar school sedition case: No other community named, only law opposed,
said court
While granting bail in the sedition case filed over a school play in
Bidar town of Karnataka, the Bidar district and sessions court observed that
the play — staged by children aged nine to 12 years — did not refer to any
community other than Muslims, and was enacted to oppose the enforcement of a
law.Najibunnisa (46), mother of a Class V student, and Fareeda Begum (50), the
headmistress of Shaheen Primary School, were released after 15 days of
incarceration over a play staged by children to oppose CAA on January 21.
Ordering their conditional release on Feb.14, Bidar District Judge Managoli
Premavathi observed: “The drama shows that children have condemned enforcement
of laws. There is no other community named in the drama and all they have
stated is that Muslims will have to leave the country’’.In its bail order, the
court observed that 2 women had not been named in the original FIR registered in
the case.“Words uttered by the children during the drama make out that they
protested against enforcement of laws,’’court said. During the bail hearing,
advocates who appeared for the two women argued that “every citizen of the
country has got the right to oppose a law intended to be brought into force and
this cannot be treated as sedition’’. Further, since “there is no reference of
any other community, there is no question of causing disharmony between
communities’’, they had said.indianexpress
Madras HC bars Muslim outfits from holding Assembly siege for anti-CAA
resolution
Madras High Court today restrained a body of Muslim outfits from going
ahead with its proposed agitation to lay siege to Tamil Nadu Assembly pressing
their demand for a House resolution against CAA, NRC and NPR. A bench of
justices M Sathyanaraya and R Hemalatha granted the interim injunction till
March 11, restraining the Federation of Tamil Nadu Islamic and Political
Organisations and its allied associations from holding the agitation, proposed
for Wednesday.Passing the interim order on a PIL which sought to forebear the
police from granting permission to the agitation, the bench posted the matter
to March 12 for further hearing. The court made it clear that it was not
expressing any opinion on CAA, or NRC or NPR.The siege protest has been called
to bring pressure on AIADMK Govt to adopt a resolution in the assembly opposing
the CAA as had been done by several non-BJP ruled states.An attempt by
opposition DMK to move an anti-CAA resolution in the assembly during the
session has failed with Speaker P Dhanapal disallowing a notice for it, saying
the matter was sub-judice.Earlier, state Additional Advocate General S R Rajagopoal
told the court that any application seeking police permission for the protest
should be made five days prior, but in this case, the federation had moved the
police only on Monday for the agitation proposed on Wednesday.PTI
Muslim couple gets married at anti-CAA protest venue in Chennai
Chennai's Old Washermanpet, where protesters are currently holding
anti-CAA, NRC, NRC agitations, on Monday witnessed something unusual when a
Muslim couple Sumayya and Shahin Shah, got married at a protest venue. The
newlyweds have been actively taking part in anti-CAA protests and decided to
tie the knot at the venue, with elders agreeing to it.The protesters have been
agitating against CAA, NPR and NRC for the past few days. It was an unusual
scene where an agitating couple was getting married with all the rituals.www
Various bodies support Muslims protesting in Haryana''s Nuh
Nuh:Several organisations on Monday said they have extended support to
protesters sitting on a dharna for the past 19 days in minority-dominant Nuh
district of Haryana against the controversial CAA and NPR.The protest has been
organised by Mewat Vikas Sabha and Mewat RTI Manch at Badkali Chowk under
Ferozpur Jhirka police station against CAA/NRC. Extending the support of Akal
India Peace Mission (AIPM) to the protesters, its national convener Daya Singh
alleged that Modi Govt''s wrong policies had put the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood
in danger.Tammana Pankaj, president of United Against Hate organisation, said
that the Centre has not come out with even a single policy in public interest
in the last 6 years.Jagbir Fulia, district convener of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar
Mission, said that central govt''s action with regard to CAA and NPR is an
attack on the Constitution.-IANS
Mumbai Police denies permission to Chandrashekhar Azad to hold anti-CAA
rally
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad was today denied permission by the
Mumbai Police to hold a long rally against CAA, NRC, and many others issues at
Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Feb.21.Last month, Azad had filed a petition against
CAA in the Supreme Court calling the said law "arbitrary, irrational,
devoid of intelligible differentia." Bhim Army chief on several occasions
has been spotted in anti-CAA and anti-NRC agitation organised in different
parts of the country. On Sunday, Chandrashekhar led 'Aarakshan Bachao' march
from Mandi House to Parliament against Supreme Court's February 7 judgement
which stated that states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments
and that quota in promotion is not a fundamental right.ANI
Assam NRC Rejection Certificates to be Issued After 1 Month: Official
New Delhi: While anti-CAA-NRC-NPR protests continue across the country,
NRC authorities in Assam—the only state where the register of citizens has been
updated—have said that procedure of issuing rejection certificates to the 19
lakh people, whose names were excluded from the final NRC, Assam, will begin
after one month. The reasons for rejecting the applications of the people left
out of NRC would be mentioned in detail in the rejection slips.“Some work like
scanning of documents remains to be done. We hope to complete the remaining
work within one month, after which we will start issuing the rejection
certificates,” NRC Assam state coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma was quoted as
saying by The Telegraph. Following the issuing of these rejection certificates,
the 19 lakh people who were left out of the NRC published in August last year
would be required to present themselves in the foreigners’ tribunals (FTs) for
proving their claims. There will be a 120-day period given from the date of
issue of the rejection certificate to file their claims. The date from which
the filing of appeals would be counted will be same for everyone, official
sources had earlier said.For this purpose, 200 new FTs have been set up by the
state Govt, in addition to the existing 100 FTs, as per reports.The
Telegraph/Newsclick
Central Panel Suggests Inner Line Permit, Quota To Placate Assam CAA
Protesters
"Rohingya, Ahmadiyya?" Brinda Karat Slams Govt Over CAA
Raipur: CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has asked why the Rohingya and
Ahmadiyya Muslims, facing persecution in Myanmar and Pakistan, are not covered
under the new citizenship law if the Centre is so much concerned about people
facing atrocities in neighbouring countries. Terming CAA as "divisive and
discriminatory", she said it is India's tragedy that instead of external
forces, the central Govt itself is engaged in "weakening the Constitution
and dividing the country".PTI
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
In J&K, police invoke stringent UAPA in FIR against social media use
Srinagar :Police in J&K have invoked the stringent UAPA to register
a case against people using social media through proxy servers by getting past
Internet firewalls.FIR was filed a day after a video of the ailing Hurriyat
leader Syed Ali Geelani was uploaded on social media by different users.“Taking
serious note of misuse of social media, Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone,
Srinagar has registered a Case FIR against various social media users who
defied Govt orders and misused social media platforms,” police said in a
statement.“FIR has been registered while taking cognizance of social media
posts by miscreants by use of different VPNs, which are propagating rumours
with regard to the current security scenario of Kashmir valley, propagating
secessionist ideology and glorifying terror acts/terrorists,” it
said.indianexpress
J&K police FIR against users who accessed social media through VPN
Govt slaps UAPA on those 'misusing' social media in Kashmir, Owaisi says
new records of cruelty
New Delhi:After J&K Police registered a case against various people
for defying Govt orders on use of social media, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi
has slammed the move. In a tweet, Owaisi hit out at Union Home Minister Amit
Shah and said, "Kashmir mein sab kuch normal hai, haina?""Every
day there is a new proof of how little Amit Shah understood Kashmir (or
apparently, how VPN technology works). So, now they try to set new world
records of cruelty, incompetence and humiliation," he added.indiatoday
Will build Pandit townships, rebuild temples in Kashmir: Amit Shah
Jammu: 10 special townships and renovation and rebuilding of temples
destroyed and desecrated by terrorists were among promises made by Union Home
Minister Amit Shah to a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits on Tuesday.The
delegation, which included prominent Kashmiri Pandits like Utpal Kaul, Col Taj
Tikoo, Dr Surinder Kaul, Sanjay Ganjoo and Parekisht Kaul, met Amit Shah to
express gratitude to the Govt for abrogating Article 370 and 35A. During their
meeting, Kashmiri Pandits appealed to the Home Minister to address the issues
of displaced Pandits on a priority basis. Pandits urged Amit Shah to take
concrete steps for honourable and dignified return of the community to the
Kashmir Valley.indiatoday
'Will salute Amit Shah if he dares to roams freely in Kashmir': Iltija
Mufti says Valley angry with Centre
Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, said
that PM Narendra Modi is either being misled or he is "intentionally
misleading the country" on Kashmir. Speaking at a press conference held in
Delhi, Iltija was quoted as saying by The Hindu, "I respect PM Modi. But I
don't know if he is being misled or he is misleading the country
intentionally."She said that though people of Kashmir are angry with local
political leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar
Abdullah, "they are more angry with the central Govt". "Let Amit
Shah go there and see by himself...I will do a salaam to Amit Shah if he roams
around freely in Kashmir," Iltija said.In her address to the media, Iltija
also questioned the filing of an FIR against 200 Kashmiris for using social
media. She was quoted by India Today as saying, "I will go to Kashmir and
use VPN. Let them slap an FIR against me."
Govt moves on delimitation of J&K Assembly seats, CEC names
commissioner
New Delhi:In an indication that Union Territory of J&K may see
Assembly elections in due course, the Govt has set the ball rolling for
delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the erstwhile state.Based on a
request from Ministry of Legislative Affairs (MLA), Chief Election Commissioner
Sunil Arora has nominated Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra as his
representative in the proposed delimitation commission for J&K, EC said on
Monday.The commission, sources said, is likely to be officially announced soon
after being fully constituted and will begin work thereafter.indianexpress
J&K Rural Bypolls: Mainstream parties question rationale behind
holding polls on party lines
Jammu :Mainstream political parties in J&K have argued against the
election authority’s decision to hold panchayat bye-elections in J&K on
party basis.Leaders of Congress, NC and PDP have questioned the rationale
behind holding bypolls for over 12,000 vacant seats on party lines when
two-thirds of panchayat seats in J&K were filled through election on
non-party lines in 2018. Leaders of NC and PDP have also said that with their
top leaders still in detention, they are in no position to contest the
polls.State Congress chief GA Mir said holding elections to two-third of the
seats on non-party basis and one-third on party basis does not match. Union
Territory administration on Monday refused permission to Mir to travel to
Kashmir from Jammu for meeting party workers ahead of the bypolls that start on
March 5. “On Sunday evening, I informed UT Police’s security wing about my tour
programme for Anantnag and Srinagar to discuss with party colleagues about the
panchayat bypolls. Two hours later, I was conveyed that I cannot proceed to the
Valley,’’ Mir said.indianexpress
Pakistan stays on terror funding 'Grey List', escapes new sanctions:
sources
Pakistan managed to stay on anti-terror finance watchdog FATF's
"Grey List", avoiding the black list by citing action taken against
terror orgnisations, sources said today. Islamabad, sources said, was trying to
escape any listing altogether, against New Delhi's efforts to push it to the
black list. The final decision will be taken on Friday after week-long plenary
session. Blacklisting by Paris-based Financial Action Task Force could have
been a blow for Pakistan's economic reforms programme. A place in the black
list - where Iran currently is -- incurs severe economic sanctions, IMF had
said in an internal report. It would have led to a free on investments and
other capital inflows, including funding by IMF.This time it avoided the black
list with the support of Turkey and Malaysia, whose leaders had announced their plan to support
Islamabad. Support of three nations is needed to avoid the black list.But if
Pakistan is not removed from the grey list by April, it may automatically slide
into the black list.39-member FATF met in Paris today amid a week-long plenary
to discuss the risk rating for Pakistan and Iran.ndtv
Imran Khan hosts Antonio Guterres, tells UN chief to honour Kashmir's
right to 'self-determination'
Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Monday urged UN to fulfil its commitments with
the people of Kashmir and help them achieve right of self-determination as he
met chief of the global body Antonio Guterres in Islamabad.During his meeting
with UN Secretary-General, Khan highlighted the "dire human rights and
humanitarian situation" in J&K following India's 5 August decision to end the special status of the
region."PM underscored that the Kashmiri people continued to look to UN to
honour its commitments for the realisation of their right to self-determination,
as enshrined in numerous UN Security Council resolutions," PMO sai.PTI
UK Labour MP’s visa revoked for her ‘anti-India’ activities: govt
official
New Delhi: Visa of UK parliamentarian Debbie Abrahams was revoked as she
was indulging in activities that went against India's national interest, a Govt
official said on Tuesday. The Labour MP and leader of UK Parliament’s All Party
Parliamentary Group for Kashmir was deported to Dubai on Monday as she was
found not in possession of a valid visa at the time of her travel to India and
she was accordingly requested to return, the official said. Ms. Abrahams has
claimed she was “treated like a criminal” at the New Delhi airport before being
sent back.On Tuesday, she shared a copy of her e-business visa on Twitter. The
visa, granted on October 7, 2019 was valid for a year to attend “business
meetings.”However, the Govt official said that Ms. Abrahams' e-Business Visa
was revoked on Feb.14, on account of her indulging in activities that went against
India's national interest, and this was intimated to her the same dayMs.
Abraham had convened meetings on the human rights situation in J&K as well
as on the India-Pakistan conflict.thehindu
British MP Debbie Abrahams’ deportation necessary, she is a ‘Pakistan
proxy’: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi
:Opinions within Congress appear to be divided over the deportation of
British MP Debbie Abrahams from Delhi airpor. After party MP Shashi Tharoor
criticised the decision asking if the Govt was “scared of critics”, senior leader
Abhishek Manu Singhvi has backed the move saying it was necessary as Abrahams
is a “Pakistan proxy”.“The deportation of Debbie Abrahams by India was indeed
necessary, as she is not just an MP, but a Pak proxy known for her clasp with
Pak govt and ISI. Every attempt that tries to attack India’s sovereignty must
be thwarted,” Singhvi tweeted.indianexpress
'Because of my Kashmir views?': British MP Debbie Abrahams asks
British lawmaker Debbie Abrahams' e-Business visa was revoked as she was
involved in anti-India activities and the cancellation was conveyed to her on
14 February, Govt sources told PTI.Abrahams hit back at the Govt, questioning
the Centre if the decision was taken due to her criticism of the Centre's
policy on J&K, in a series of tweets on Twitter.She attached photos of the
e-visa online, claiming that she had a valid visa.She also clarified that she
was 'pro-human rights and social justice'. "I will always speak up for
people who are not afforded these rights including Kashmiris on both sides of
the Line of Control," she said.firstpost
Haven't represented India: Kabaddi coach Harpreet Singh on playing
'unauthorised' World Cup in Pakistan
Amritsar: The coach of the "unofficial" kabbadi team that
returned from Pakistan on Monday after losing to the home team in the
"unauthorised" World Cup tournament without the "consent"
of the Indian Govt said the team went there without violating any laws."If
we defied the laws, Indian authorities might question us on our arrival. Nobody
asked us about any illegal act we did or on our visit," coach Harpreet
Singh Baba told the media. Pakistan defeated India won 43-41 in the final of
the World Cup on Sunday in Lahore's Punjab Stadium. He said the players had nothing
to do with the Punjab Kabaddi Association. The team reached India via the
Attari-Wagah joint check post, some 30 km from here. It reached Lahore on
February 9 to participate in the tournament hosted by Pakistan.IANS
Punjab: Gangster Budha drug probe throws up Pak link, hawala
transactions
Chandigarh : Punjab Police on Sunday said that two men — Jagdeep Singh
alias Jagga (aka Billa) and Gurvinder Singh alias Pehalwan, arrested three days
ago as part of drug trail exposed by dreaded gangster Sukhpreet Singh aka Budha
— are part of a powerful nexus involving “big fish” in Pakistan. Budha was
deported from Armenia and arrested when he landed at Delhi airport in Nov.
indianexpress
India deployed P-8I naval jets to keep eye on Chinese troops during
Doklam face-off
Indian Navy’s Poseidon 8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft was deployed
to carry out surveillance on movement of Chinese troops during 73-day-long
standoff between India and China in mountainous Doklam. Chief of Defence Staff
Gen Bipin Rawat confirmed the use of naval aircraft while talking about the
need for bringing in tri-services synergy in dealing with national security
challenges.“P-8I aircraft of Indian Navy was deployed in Doklam (during the
face-off),” Gen Rawat told a group of journalists.Troops of India and China
were locked in a standoff in Doklam from June 16, 2017, after the Indian side
stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by Chinese Army. PTI
*OTHERS*
Can Ram temple be built on Muslim graves: 9 Ayodhya residents to Trust
New Delhi : 9 Muslim residents of Ayodhya have written to the newly
appointed Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, appealing to them to not
construct the new Ram temple on the graveyard of Muslims in the immediate
vicinity of the surrounding area of the 1,480 sq m of the site where Babri
Masjid once stood. Their letter asserts that the use of the total 67 acres of Govt
acquired land for the temple is a “complete ouster” of the claim of Muslims and
is contrary to what the law has laid down. “4-5 acres around the demolished
mosque” is what is being claimed as having been handed over arbitrarily, “as
expected” by the Centre, the letter states. “The graves may not be visible
today considering the fact that the entire area has been differently treated
with since 1949, when forcibly an idol of Lord Ram was placed inside the Mosque
and when in 1992 the Mosque was demolished.”Also, “5 acres” which the Supreme
Court in its November 2019 order had said would be allotted to Muslims at a
“suitable prominent place in Ayodhya” has been allotted, but far away from
where the Babri Masjid once stood, the letter states. 4-page letter asks the 10
trustees “with best knowledge and experience in the field of Hindu/Sanatan
religion and practice” to consider whether “the temple of Lord Ram can have
foundation on the grave of Muslims”. It says: “In 1994, the Supreme Court had
upheld the acquisition of larger land admeasuring 67 acres which included the
graveyard land and thus the entire land became vested with the Central Govt.
The object of the Acquisition Act of 1993 was to maintain public order and
promote communal harmony.” It also says that the acquisition was “not to
exclude Muslims from the said land”. The object sought to be achieved through
the Act was also to construct a ‘Mosque’.” The letter terms the use of all of
the land as contrary to the “discretionary power conferred to them by the
Supreme Court of India” and “uncalled for.”The letter cites the stand of Shri
Ramlalla Virajman in the original suit number 5 and “recorded facts” where it
says 75 Muslims killed in the riots of 1855 were buried there, “in an existing
graveyard around the Mosque” as well as the Allahabad High Court judgment where
Justice DV Sharma cites that the “disputed structure was surrounded by a
graveyard on 3 sides”.
SC lawyer writes to Ram Temple trust asking for 5 acres of land around
demolished Babri Masjid to build a graveyard
We are following SC order, says Ayodhya DM after Muslims raise graveyard
issue
Lucknow: The district administration in UP’s Ayodhya town on Tuesday
said that the Supreme Court is aware of all facts related with 67 acre land of
Ram Janmabhoomi.“The Supreme Court is aware of all facts related with the Ram
Janmabhoomi land. I am no one to comment on the issue,” said Anuj Jha, DM,
Ayodhya.“It was after the Supreme Court’s order that the 67 acre land was
transferred to the Centre. We are only following Supreme Court’s order,” added
Jha.15-member Trust – Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra - is scheduled to hold
its first meeting in New Delhi on February 19 at the residence of Supreme Court
lawyer K Parasaran, who is a member of Board of Trustees of the new Trust.
Ayodhya DM denies graveyard claim by Muslim lawyer
Sunni Waqf Board’s crucial meeting on Feb.24
Lucknow:Sunni Central Waqf Board has called a crucial meeting on
February 24 in which a decision is likely to be taken on accepting alternative
land for a mosque in Ayodhya.All the 8 members of the board have been invited
to take part in the meeting. UP Govt has allotted a 5-acre plot for the mosque
at Dhannipur village in Sohawal tehsil of Ayodhya district, nearly 25
kilometres away from Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex.Sources said the Sunni
Central Waqf Board would not only decide whether to accept the land but also
about the usage of the land if it decides to take possession. There are several
proposals like building a hospital or school at the site.dailypioneer
UP budget: Yogi govt gives infrastructure boost for Ayodhya, lays
emphasis on metro networks, airports
New Delhi :Tabling its fourth budget for the upcoming financial year
2020-21, Yogi Adityanath-led BJP Govt in UP gave infrastructure boost to
develop Ayodhya as a tourist attraction besides laying emphasis on developing
metro networks, airports, and expressways in the state.Finance Minister Suresh
Kumar Khanna, who presented a budget of Rs 5,12,860.72 crore for FY 2020-21, Rs
33,159 crore more than the previous year’s budget, also fixed a target to build
four lakh houses for weaker sections by March 2021.While the budget earmarked
Rs 500 crore for Ayodhya Airport, an estimated Rs 92.5 crore has been allocated
for airports under Regional Connectivity Scheme. Among other major allocations
for Ayodhya, where the construction of a Ram temple is expected to begin in a
couple of months, was Rs 85 crore and another Rs 10 crore for renovation of
Tulsi Smarak Bhawan there.indianexpress
Modi Govt not to release survey showing first decline in consumer
spending in over 40 years
National Statistical Commission will not be making a survey on consumer
spending public, which shows a decline for the first time in over 40 year in
the year 2017-18, reported Business Standard.This development comes two months
after NSC chief, Bimal Kumar Roy said the survey would be released.On being
asked why NSC decided not to publish survey, Roy said, “I did try. I made a
proposal [in an NSC meeting on January 15] to release the survey but I didn’t
find support. I did put in the proposal as chairperson but it didn’t get
through. I cannot say anything more now.”According to a report in Business
Standard, Chief Statistician Pravin Srivastava objected to the release of the
survey. The minutes of the meeting did not record the views of the person who
dissented. “This raises eyebrows on the manner in which the discussions were
conducted within the NSC,” an official was quoted as saying.nationalheraldindia
No headway in India-US trade talks
New Delhi:With no significant movement on India-US trade negotiations
yet, officials are considering taking even a modest trade deal off table when
US President Donald Trump visits India on Feb.24-25, sources privy to talks
said. As The Hindu had reported on Friday, US Trade Representative Robert
Lightizer was due to visit New Delhi last week, but put off the visit when it
appeared there was not enough progress in talks, that appear to have run into
trouble over market access for agricultural products including dairy,
liberalising e-commerce, and investment norms for retail, as well as India’s
push for a full reinstatement of its GSP (Generalised System of Preferences)
status that US revoked last June.Lightizer and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
have not spoken since last Thursday, it is learnt, and after another
unsuccessful attempt to reschedule
Lightizer’s visit over the weekend, officials are beginning to feel that
time may be running out to wrap up negotiations in time for Trump
visit.thehindu
Ahead of Donald Trump visit, 45 families in Gujarat slum served eviction
notices
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday served eviction notices
to 45 families living in a slum near the newly built Motera stadium that is
being readied to host US President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi on
Feb.24.The families consisting of around 200 slum-dwellers who are registered
construction workers claimed they have been asked to move out of a plot they
have been inhabiting for two decades due to the upcoming “Namaste Trump” event.
However, AMC officials said the notices had no connection with the event.The
move comes just days after the AMC began building a wall allegedly to cover the
Saraniyavas or Dev Saran slum on a route that US President would probably take
while visiting the city.indianexpress
Menstruating women cooking for husbands will be reborn as dogs: Hindu
religious leader
New Delhi :Days after 66 girl students in Bhuj town of Kutch in Gujarat
were allegedly made to strip to check if they were menstruating, a video
showing a religious leader castigating menstruating women who cook food for
their husbands went viral.In the video, Swami Krushnaswarup of Swaminarayan
Temple in Bhuj can be seen giving a sermon where he says that “menstruating
women who cook food for their husbands will take birth as dogs in their next
life while men consuming food prepared by women having periods will reborn as
bullocks.”The preacher is associated with the temple which runs Shree Sahjanand
Girls Institute (SSGI) in Bhuj where students were allegedly made to strip to
check if they were menstruating. The principal of the school Rita Raninga (38),
institute coordinator Anita Chauhan (49), girls’ hostel supervisor Ramila
Hirani (29) and peon Naina Gorasia (40) were arrested on Monday after the
police filed an FIR against them for the February 11 incident at the institute
that caused public outrage.“….It is certain that men will be born as bullocks
in their next life if they consume food cooked by menstruating women. I don’t
care if you do not like my views, but this is all written in our shastras
(scriptures). If a menstruating woman cooks food for her husband, she will be
definitely born as a female dog in her next life,” he said while delivering a
sermon in Gujarati.indianexpress
Won’t transfer Bhima Koregaon case to Centre, matter different from
Elgaar Parishad: Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray today said his Govt will not transfer
Bhima Koregaon case to the Centre, even though it had approved the transfer of
Elgaar Parishad case to NIA.“Elgaar Parishad and Bhima Koregaon are 2 different
issues. The issue of Dalits is related to Bhima Koregaon. I have not handed
over its investigation to Centre and will not give it. I want to make it clear
that there will be no injustice to Dalits,” CM said. indianexpress
Salary increases this year in India will be the smallest in a decade,
says survey
New Delhi: Pay increases across India’s organized sector will probably
grow at the slowest pace since 2009 this year, according to a survey from Aon
Plc.Companies will increase average pay by 9.1% in 2020, down from 9.3% in 2019
and 9.5% the previous year, Aon said in a report published Tuesday. The small
increase reflects a deep slowdown in Asia’s third-largest economy, where
growing pessimism about job prospects have led many to cut down on consumption
— the main driver to growth.India still leads the Asia-Pacific region in pay
rises, but that is mainly due to higher inflation and a “war for key talent and
niche skills,” Aon said.theprint
Beef dropped from menu for Kerala Police trainees, force calls it
‘unnecessary controversy’
Bengaluru: Beef is back in controversy in Kerala following its deletion
from the menu for fresh recruits who began training at the state police academy
last week. Beef is a staple food item widely consumed in Kerala, but it is
contentious in some other parts of the country because cows are held sacred in
Hinduism, the faith practised by the vast majority of Indians.Kerala is among
select states where cow slaughter is legal. But it’s not just beef. The new
menu for the five training centres under Thrissur-based Kerala Police Academy —
accessed by ThePrint — doesn’t include any red meat and only lists chicken,
fish and eggs among its non-vegetarian offerings.theprint
Assam: Bodo peace accord signatories seek inclusion in Bodoland
Territorial Council before elections
Signatories of Bodo peace agreement have called for inclusion of all
stakeholders in the Bodo Territorial Council administration to ensure long
lasting peace in the region, PTI reported. On January 27, nine Bodo groups
signed an agreement with the Centre and the Assam Govt in New Delhi.Since 1987,
Bodo groups have fought, often violently, for a separate state called Bodoland
to be carved out of Assam as a designated homeland for the community. The pact
is the third such settlement with the Bodo groups. scroll
Bhagwat: Unlike Gandhi, no one to atone now if movement goes awry
New Delhi :Against the backdrop of protests against CAA and NRC, RSS
chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said that unlike Mahatma Gandhi, there was no one
today who would atone if a movement went wrong. He said Gandhi’s ideas and
methods were formulated according to the circumstances of his time and taking
them literally would not be advisable.He was speaking at the launch of a book
on Gandhi by Jagmohan Rajput at Gandhi Smriti. The event, which began with
Bhagwat bowing at the spot where Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse, was
attended by Minister of State, External Affairs, VK Singh and BJP MP Satyapal
Singh, among others.“He (Gandhi) launched many experiments. If some went wrong,
he did not conclude that the truth he had in his heart was not the truth. He
said may be my way was wrong. If some of his movements went out of hand, he
even atoned for his mistakes. If today a movement goes awry, disturbs law and
order, is there anyone who would be ready for atonement?… ,” he
said.indianexpress
RSS holds closed door meeting with 70 columnists
New Delhi :RSS is holding a daylong meeting with 70 columnists from
across India on Tuesday in an effort to clear misconceptions about the
organisation, sources said. RSS chief Bhagwat, who last year met
representatives of international media organisations posted in India, is
expected to deliver a keynote address that will be followed by a free-flowing
conversation, they said.The 70 columnists attending Tuesday’s meeting write in
different languages.PTI
Sikh woman cremated by Muslim neighbours in Punjab after family refuses
to turn up
Ludhiana :A Sikh woman was cremated by her Muslim neighbours in Punjab’s
Malerkotla town on Monday after her family members refused to take possession
of the body. The woman, identified as Dilpreet Kaur, used to work as a domestic
help. She died after falling ill while on a pilgrimage last month.“We used to
call her Rani Aunty. She was living alone in a one-room rented accommodation.
We had no idea about her family background until the time she died. Her brother
and mother live in Canada, while her in-laws’ family lives in Jhunda village of
Sangrur district. Both are from well off families,” said Mohammad Aslam, the
councillor of ward number 9 under whose area Tubewell basti falls.Aslam said
Kaur’s son and daughter refused to attend the cremation when they were informed
about her death.indianexpress
FIR Against Lucknow Hospital After Mix-up Leads to Muslim Women's
Cremation as per Hindu Rituals
Lucknow: An FIR has been filed against a private hospital in Lucknow
after the dead bodies of two elderly women belonging to Hindu and Muslim faiths
were exchanged when they were handed over to their families.The complaint
against Sahara Hospital was filed by the son of one of the deceased women,
Ishrat Mirza, after the mix-up led to her last rites being performed as per
Hindu rituals.Saeed Mirza, an American national, stated in his complaint that
the body of his mother was willingly handed over to others, and alleged that
this could be a case of an organ donation racket as there was something wrong
with the bodies.A case has been filed at the Vibhuti Khand police station under
Section 297 of IPC, which deals with “trespassing on burial places”. SHO, Rajeev
Dwivedi said, “The information about this case was received some days ago and
the matter was being probed. An FIR has been filed in this regard after we
received a written complaint.”news18
Tamil Nadu Govt firm on phased prohibition:Minister
Minister P. Thangamani, who handles portfolio for Prohibition, on
Tuesday informed Legislative Assembly that the Govt was committed to its policy
of introducing liquor prohibition in a phased manner in Tamil Nadu.The Minister
made the statement in response to DMK MLA T. Mano Thangaraj (Padmanabhapuram),
who raised issue of prohibition. Thangamani said unlike DMK, AIADMK Govt
believed in introducing phased prohibition. To Thangaraj’s contention that the
State Govt was increasingly dependent on revenue generated from liquor
sales,Thangamani said under AIADMK regime the business hours for TASMAC run
liquor outlets have come down by two hours and 1,000 liquor shops were shut
down on the orders of CM.thehindu
'Ease of Doing Haj' dream of Indian Muslims fulfilled: Union Minister
Naqvi
Mumbai:With the 100 per cent implementation of digital/online Haj
process in India, the Indian Muslims' dream of 'Ease of Doing Haj' has been
fulfilled, said Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi here on
Monday. In tune with the reforms taken by the Govt of PM Narendra Modi not only
has the entire Haj pilgrimage process become digital and transparent but also
more affordable, he said at a programme of 'training the trainers' for Haj 2020
at the Haj House."Making the Haj process digital/online has removed
middlemen that the pilgrimage has become more affordable in comparison to last
several decades. Even after removal of the Haj subsidy, no additional financial
burden has been put on the pilgrims," Naqvi said.IANS
Tired Of Being Sexually Abused By Principal, Dalit School Girl From
Gujarat Attempts Suicide
A 16-year-old Dalit student in Surendranagar, Gujarat who had accused
the headmaster of her school of sexually abusing her several times has
attempted suicide. The girl tried to kill herself on Wednesday, the same day
Batuk Bhatti, the headmaster, who is also a trustee of Kamal Vidyamandir
School, in Chotila was arrested on charges of sexually abusing the minor girl.
According to her complaint, Bhatti had raped her twice and molested her several
times over the period of a year, which resulted in severe physical and mental
trauma. "The minor girl's parents informed the police that a trustee of
the residential school in Chotila had sexually assaulted and raped their
daughter, following which the accused was arrested," superintendent of
police Mahendra Bagadia said. indiatimes
'How Can You Be Both Gandhi And Godse?': Prashant Kishor's Posers For
Nitish
Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who was expelled from JDU, today said
that he has had good relations with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, but added that one
cannot be both Gandhi and Godse at the same time. Kishor said that he had
differences with JD(U) chief on the issue of alliance with NDA and unclear
stance on CAA, NRC and NPR. Kishor said Kumar needs to spell out whether he is
with the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi or those who support Nathu Ram Godse."I
want to ask Nitish Ji, how can you be both Godse and Gandhi at the same
time?" Kishor asked.Kishor said Bihar needs a leader who is bold and does
not rely on others to take a decision."I have immense respect for him
(Nitish). I will not question his decision," Kishor said on his expulsion
from JD(U).Outlook India
Kerala Student Alan Shuhaib, Arrested Under UAPA, Allowed To Take Law
Exams This Week
Kerala student Alan Shuhaib, who was arrested under UAPA, has been
allowed by Kannur University to write his second-semester law exams, reports
said. Kerala High Court had asked the university to reply on how to complete
the procedure after the court said Shuhaib had the right to take his exams,
Mathrubhumi reported.Alan Shuhaib’s petition in court said the university had
banned him from writing his third-semester exams. He then asked the court for
permission to write the second-semester exam due on Tuesday.For the latest news
and more, follow HuffPost India on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our
newsletter. Shuhaib was arrested along with Thaha Fasal in November last year
for alleged links to Maoists. huffingtonpost
*WORLD*
Coronavirus: 542 people including 6 Indians infected on Diamond Princess
cruise ship; toll crosses 1,800 in China
With 98 more deaths being reported, the total death toll due to the
coronavirus outbreak rose to 1868 in China, PTI reported. The total number of
confirmed cases was reported to stand at 72,346 with over 1.41 lakh people who
have been in direct contact with confirmed patients being kept under medical
observation.The central Chinese province of Hubei is being termed as the
epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak for a reason. This worst-hit area
reported 1,807 new cases, taking the total of cases to 59,989 in the
province.The virus that is being called COVID-19 in China, has prompted WHO
experts from countries like the United States of America to join China-WHO Joint
Mission that is working on war footing to control the damage and spread of the
novel coronavirus.Diamond Princess, the quarantined cruise ship off Japanese
coast, reported 99 new cases taking the number of patients onboard to 454. The
ship has been quarantined since last month after a passenger who deboarded in
Hong Kong was reportedly earmarked as the carrier of COVID-19 coronavirus. The
US evacuated 340 of its nationals on the ship from Japan in two jets, AFP
reported. Those onboard are expected to be quarantined for 14-days on US soil,
the report added.financialexpress
Coronavirus: Toll rises to 1,868 in China; Indian couple in Wuhan asks
Centre to evacuate them
Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE: Wuhan Hospital Director Dies of Infection;
China Offers Tariff Exemptions on US Medical Equipment
Coronavirus epidemic: Paracetamol prices up by 40% in India
The world’s second-most populous nation is facing the ripple effects of
shutdowns in China with production of medicines to mobile phones being hit as
supply chain disruptions prolong.Prices of paracetamol, the most commonly used
analgesic, have jumped by 40% in India, while the cost of azithromycin, an
antibiotic used for treating a variety of bacterial infections, has risen by
70%, said Pankaj R. Patel, chairman of Zydus Cadila. The pharma industry could
face shortages in finished drug formulations starting April if supplies aren’t
restored by the first week of next month, he said. Patel sees a substantial increase
in prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients–the basic substance used to make
drugs–in the short- to medium-term.India, one of the largest suppliers of
generic drugs to the world and home to about 12% of all manufacturing sites
catering to the US market, relies on China for as much as 80% of API
requirement. Pharma isn’t the only sector hit by China’s production
pause.Bloomberg
India’s poultry sales decline after coronavirus rumours linked to
chickens
India’s poultry industry has lost 13 billion rupees ($182 million) in
three weeks after speculation on social media that chickens are a cause of the
spread of coronavirus, denting demand for chicken and nearly halving prices,
say industry officials.Millions of small poultry farmers have been hit by a sudden
drop in sales. Soybean and corn producers are also being affected with prices
of both the commodities used in animal feed have falling up to 8% in the last
three weeks.Reuters
China 'war on terror' uproots Uighur families, leaked data shows
For decades, a Uighur imam was a bedrock of his farming community in
China's far west. On Fridays, he preached Islam as a religion of peace. On
Sundays, he treated the sick with free herbal medicine. In the winter, he
bought coal for the poor.But as a Chinese Govt mass detention campaign engulfed
Memtimin Emer's native Xinjiang region three years ago, the elderly imam was
swept up and locked away, along with all three of his sons living in China.Now,
a newly revealed database exposes in extraordinary detail the main reasons for
the detentions of Emer, his 3 sons, and hundreds of others in Karakax County:
their religion and their family ties. The database obtained by The Associated
Press news agency profiles the internment of 311 individuals with relatives
abroad and contains information on over 2,000 of their relatives, neighbours
and friends.Each entry includes detainee's name, address, national identity
number, detention date and location, along with a detailed dossier on their
family, religious and neighbourhood background, reason for detention and a
decision on whether or not to release them.aljazeera
Not Just Political Extremism, Those Going to Mosques Were Also Detained:
Leaked Data on China's Uighurs
Assad pledges to continue onslaught that has displaced 900,000
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has pledged to continue the onslaught
on the country's northwest, the war-torn country's last major rebel stronghold,
saying the war was not yet over but a "complete victory" was in
sight.The fierce Russian-backed Govt offensive has displaced 900,000 people
since the start of December, according to the United Nations, which warned on
Monday that the "horrifying" crisis was forcing those fleeing to
sleep outside in freezing temperatures and had resulted in babies dying of cold
as camps are full.But in a rare address carried on state television on Monday,
al-Assad congratulated his forces for recent gains that led to them consolidating
control over Aleppo province and pledging to press ahead with a military
campaign in Idlib province.aljazeera
'Breaking point': Babies freezing to death amid Idlib push
Lebanon crisis: Iran's Parliament speaker visits Beirut
The speaker of Iran's Parliament Ali Larijani has become the first
foreign official to visit Lebanon since a new Govt was formed.New PM Hassan
Diab, who is backed by Tehran's allies, is trying to implement economic
reforms.Larijani said Iran stood ready to help Lebanon's struggling economy.But
as Beirut seeks to secure funds from the international community, Larijani's
offer is unlikely to go down well with the United States - which is trying to
counter Tehran's influence in the Middle East.aljazeera
Turkey punished those involved in deporting Egyptian, says minister
Turkey would never forcibly deport any refugee whose life could be in
danger in his or her home country, Turkish interior minister said.Speaking to
Al-Jazeera, Süleyman Soylu pointed out that there were “more than 4 million
Arabs currently living in Turkey.”Referring to Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated
Egyptian, Mohamed Abdelhafiz Ahmed Hussein, who was deported in January back to
Cairo, Soylu noted that his country had “prosecuted and convicted those who
were involved in the act.” He added that Hussein’s wife was “on the way of
being granted Turkish citizenship.”28-year-old Hussein was among
28 people sentenced in absentia to death in July 2017 for killing Egypt’s
public prosecutor in an attack that was carried earlier in the year. He was
sent back to Egypt last month from Istanbul’s main Ataturk airport on arrival
from Somalia for not having a visa.middleeastmonitor
Pak Jamaat denied its chief wrote letter urging members to forgo
contraceptives to increase party's voting base
An image of a letter has been shared hundreds of times in multiple
Facebook posts which claim it shows a note written by the head of
Jamaat-e-Islami, a leading Islamic political party in Pakistan. The letter,
written in Urdu, urges the party’s members to marry four women and to forgo
contraceptives in order to increase party following. The claim is false; party officials said the letter is fake and
denied it was written by their leader. It shows a letter purportedly written by
Siraj ul Haq, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), to his followers on February
2.The claim is false. Shamsuddin Amjad, social media director for
Jamaat-e-Islami, said in a statement to AFP by WhatsApp on Feb.11, that the
letter was “fabricated” and “false.”“A fabricated letter attributed to Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami
Senator Sirajul Haq has been shared from a page named Baba Kodda which was
later published by several popular websites in the form of news. This false
letter and fake posts were published on different social media platforms which
is absolutely wrong and against his dignity,” Amjad said.“Some miscreant
elements have carried out his personal and political character assassination by
publishing such fabricated post against the Ameer of the largest religious
party of Pakistan which has hurt the feelings of party workers and people who
love him countrywide.”JI also tweeted about the fake letter here. AFP
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Assault on students in Jamia library is indefensible — if police aren’t
held accountable, courts should step in:indian express Editorial
Land revenue receipts, PAN no proof of citizenship: Gauhati HC
Rise of CCTV in Digital India isn't making us more secure; policing and
surveillance reforms are need of the hour:Srinivas Kodali
AAP: Soft Hindutva or a Bulwark Without Illusions?Nissim Mannathukkaren
UK MP visa row: Modi govt intolerant or must engage with global critics
on CAA, Kashmir?:THEPRINT
SC should have upheld law against Shaheen Bagh protesters:writes
Markandey Katju
Beyond Shaheen Bagh: When SC preferred balance over
adjudication:Prabhash K Dutta
'Narcissist', 'A Hint of Megalomania': What Observers Have Said About
Narendra Modi
Anti-CAA Protests: ‘Yogi Govt Using Police as a Tool For Brutal
Repression’
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 5:33 PM).
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