NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
22 Feb. 2020:
27 Jamadi-2, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 138
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Delhi: Arterial road Road near Shaheen Bagh reopened, Noida link blocked
by cops
New Delhi: A road in South East Delhi's Shaheen Bagh that had been
blocked for 70 days amid protests against the controversial CAA was reopened on
Saturday. However, with roadblocks set up by the police in Noida and Delhi,
there will not be any relief for commuters travelling between the two
cities.The closure of the roads in the area, exacerbated by barricades put up
by traffic police in Delhi and Noida, had been a major point of contention
against the protest and has been the subject of a Supreme Court-authorised
mediation. The road opened by protesters today is called Road No. 9. While protest,
led by women, has been accused by the ruling BJP of inconveniencing residents
travelling between Delhi and Noida, the police have admitted that most of the
roadblocks obstructing alternative routes in the area have been set up by them
to "protect" the protesters.The interlocutors inspected the roads on
Friday and observed that the roads were barricaded by the police for "no
apparent reason" and emphasised that the action of blocking the roads
"defeats the very purpose of confidence-building on the part of the
police", PTI reported.A Delhi police official told the interlocutors that
the parallel road as well as certain other roads were kept barricaded to
"give protection" to the protest site.While saying that they have no
objection to the roads blocked by the police from being opened, the protesters
in Shaheen Bagh have requested that the SC pass an order ensuring their
security at the protest that has seen multiple incidents of gunfire following
provocative speeches by leaders of the ruling BJP.ndtv
Arterial road blocked near Shaheen Bagh by anti-CAA protesters opens
briefly, shut again by another group of demonstrators
Shaheen Bagh: Road reopened by a section of protestors, closed again by
another, claim police
Shaheen Bagh protesters open road from Jamia to Noida, Faridabad
Shaheen Bagh protesters put up demands before interlocutor
New Delh:After the Supreme Court-appointed interlocutor Sadhna
Ramachandran made a surprise visit to Shaheen Bagh today morning, the
protesters put forth a series of demands before her.Addressing the protesters,
Ramachandran said, ''If the road isn''t cleared, then even we would not be able
to help you. We are not saying that Shaheen Bagh should be dismantled.''The
protesters asked her if there was any direction from the SC about their
security. They also told her that cases against Jamia and Shaheen Bagh
protesters should be withdrawn. The protesters demanded that the proposed
National Population Register should not be implemented and action should be
taken against ministers for their controversial remarks. The families of those
who died or injured during agitation should be given compensation and the govt
should promise security for protesters. Ramachandran, while leaving the protest
site, said we would speak to Sanjay Hegde, the second interlocutor appointed by
the top court, about her meeting with the protesters. ''The agitation has been
continuing for more than two months, putting at discomfort many people who live
near the protest site,'' she said.Meanwhile, senior advocate and Hegde said he
would not be going to Shaheen Bagh on Saturday as he was not in town.IANS
Shaheen Bagh kayam rahe, only here to talk about roads: Ramachandran on
Day 4 of mediation
Non-protest side of Shaheen Bagh road could be opened: Mediators
Supreme Court-appointed mediators Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran
issued a statement on the evening of Friday,regarding the third day of their
discussions with the protesters at Shaheen Bagh about moving the protests to an
alternative site where no public place would be blocked.“Today was the third
day of our interaction with the protesters at Shaheen Bagh,” they said,
observing that “Because we were at closer proximity with the protesters we
could get a good sense of their anxiety, their pain, their fears particularly with
regard to their security.”The takeaway from discussions is that the protesters
have indicated a willingness for non-protest side of the road – the road from
Noida to Delhi, which the protesters have not occupied at any point of time –
to be opened by the Delhi Police as a first step towards a resolution.Although
it was the Delhi Police and not the protesters who had blocked the non-protest
side of the road, the protesters had come to feel that keeping this blocked
might be better for their security – especially after the firing that took
place there on the eve of the Delhi elections. Over the course of the
discussions, however, the mediators found: “In principle the protesters were
not fundamentally against opening of the non-protest side of the road if their
security could be guaranteed in writing by the Delhi Police under suitable
orders of the Supreme Court.”thequint
Shaheen Bagh Dharna a Global Conspiracy by Muslim Countries Against
India: BJP leader
Ballia: BJP's outspoken Bairia MLA Surendra Singh has described the
ongoing Anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi as a global conspiracy by
Muslim countries to "divide the country".The Shaheen Bagh protest
against CAA and proposed NRC is a conspiracy sponsored by Muslim countries at
the global level, Singh told reporters here."This dharna is being staged
to divide the country," he added.Prone to making controversial statements,
he also attacked AIMIM chief Asaddudin Owaisi and described him as an
"enemy of the country"."If his DNA test is conducted, it will be
proved that like Jinnah, he wants to make India a Muslim country," said
Singh.news18
Blocking road an anti-Islamic act, open road, accept CAA: RSS’ Indresh
to Shaheen Bagh protestors
New Delhi :Commenting on the Supreme Court's attempt to negotiate with
protestors of Shaheen Bagh to get the road running parallel to it opened for
commuters, RSS leader Indresh Kumar today termed the road blocking as "an
anti-Islamic act"."To cause inconvenience to people by blocking their
way is anti-Islamic and anti-Rasool. This is a sin and a crime. People should
refrain from it. Blocking road is akin to say that Islam is violent and is a
perpetrator of violence. That Islam is extremist and a way to perpetrate
torture," said Kumar. Kumar said all he wants to say to the Shaheen Bagh
protestors is that they too should agree to the implementation of CAA.ANI
Shut Since Dec, Businesses Around Shaheen Bagh Protest Site Face
Losses:News18
New Delhi: Commercial showrooms and retail outlets in Delhi's Shaheen
Bagh have faced losses approximating to Rs 150 crore ever since the a sit-in
protest against CAA and NRC began there in December last year.Market
association members of the area claim that close to 250 of these outlets have
been shut for the last two and a half months now and approximately 3,000
workers have been affected in the area, with most losing their jobs.A senior
member of the market association who did not want to be identified, in a
conversation with News18 said, “We would like to meet the interlocutors, but in
person. The entire market has faced a loss of about Rs 150 crore. We support
the anti-CAA protest but this is affecting all the shop owners and their
workers.”News18
Disrupting normal life is a form of terrorism: Kerala Governor Arif Khan
New Delhi: In an apparent reference to the Shaheen Bagh protesters,
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Friday said forcing opinion on others by
disrupting normal life is a form of terrorism. "Aggression does not come
in the form of violence only. It comes in many forms. If you will not listen to
me, I will disrupt normal life," he said at "Bharatiya Chhatra
Sansad" here."Dissent is the essence of democracy. There is no
problem with that but five people sit outside Vigyan Bhawan and say we shall
not move from here unless this parliament of students adopts a resolution which
we would like them to adopt-- that is another form of terrorism," Khan
said.Since Parliament passed CAA in December last year, a number of protests
have taken place across the country, including the one at Shaheen Bagh in the
national capital, against the contentious law and a proposed nationwide NRC.PTI
White House on CAA, NRC: Trump will raise issue of religious freedom
with Modi
New Delhi :Expressing concerns over the rights of minorities, the White
House has said that US President Donald Trump will raise the issue of religious
freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2-day visit to India next
week.“President Trump will talk about our shared tradition of democracy and
religious freedom both in his public remarks and then certainly in private. He
will raise these issues, particularly the religious freedom issue, which is
extremely important to this administration,” a senior official told reporters
in a conference call.When asked about the contentious CAA and NRC, which have
sparked widespread protests, official said, “We are concerned with some of the
issues that you have raised.”“I think President will talk about these issues in
his meetings with PM Modi and note that the world is looking to India to
continue to uphold its democratic traditions, respect for religious
minorities,” official added.Senior official also referred to a poll victory
speech by PM Modi where he spoke about the inclusion of minorities.“PM Modi, in
his first speech after winning election last year, talked about how he would
prioritise being inclusive of India’s religious minorities. And, certainly, the
world looks to India to maintain religious liberty and equal treatment for all
under the rule of law,” the official said.Noting that US has great respect for
India’s democratic traditions and institutions, the official said, “We do have
this shared commitment to upholding our universal values, the rule of law. We
have great respect for India’s democratic traditions and institutions, and we
will continue to encourage India to uphold those traditions.”“Of course, it’s
in the Indian constitution— religious freedom, respect for religious
minorities, and equal treatment of all religions. So this is something that is
important to the president and I’m sure it will come up,” he added.The official
also pointed out that India has a strong democratic foundation and is rich in
religious, linguistic, and cultural diversity. Trump India visit: Two sides
likely to sign MoU on cooperation over homeland security“In fact, it’s the
birthplace of four major world religions,” the official noted.indianexpress
Trump expected to talk CAA, NRC and Kashmir in India: US Officials
AMU students begin hunger strike as agitation over 'police brutality' on
campus during anti-CAA stir completes 10 weeks
Aligarh: Members of AMU students' coordination committee has begun a
3-day hunger strike, seeking action against police personnel for alleged
brutality during an anti-CAA stir on the campus last December and withdrawal of
cases against protesters.Announcing that their 10-week-long peaceful agitation
has entered a new phase, twelve students started 72-hour hunger strike on
Friday night.The panel said if their demands were not met, a group of students
would launch an indefinite hunger strike at Bab-e-Syed gate of AMU. They have
sent a notice of their proposed strike to the authorities concerned at the
university as well as the district authorities.The spokesman of the committee,
Faizul Hasan, told media persons that their main demand was that an FIR be
registered against the members of the police force who "indulged in
violence and vandalism" at the university on 15 December. Meanwhile, at
the Eidgah grounds in the old city, the woman protesters, who have been on an
indefinite dharna against CAA since the past 3 weeks, staged a stir at the
Kotwali police station.PTI
NRC will cost India Rs 65,000 crore; so better focus on economic
development: Owaisi
New Delhi: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Saturday claimed that if NRC
is rolled out across the country, it will lead to 8 crore people being left out
of the final list. MP said the contentious CAA, NPR and NRC are interlinked.
“CAA, NRC and NRP are interlinked. CAA is a prelude to NPR and NRC which are
bound to follow. NRC will cost the country Rs 65,000 crore and leave eight
crore people out of it,” he said. “There is no need for NPR, NRC. There is a
need for economic development.”The anti-CAA protests at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh
also figured in the discussion.Owasi alleged that the CAA is discriminatory law
and it has been internationalised and those opposing it are fighting to uphold
the Constitution.“Shaheen Bagh is an organic protest and those opposing the CAA
are fighting to save the Constitution,” he said.orissapost
Hyderabad police again foil Shaheen Bagh-style protest
Police here on Friday foiled another attempt to organise a Shaheen
Bagh-style protest against the CAA, NPR and NRC as it dispersed a group of
protestors gathered here on Friday.About 600 people, half of them women, had to
end their protest at Hari Dargah ground in Barkas on the city”s outskirts as
police used the management committee to make them vacate the place.The
protestors began the sit-in after Friday prayers. Several burqa-clad women from
Barkas and surrounding neighbourhoods joined them. They were carrying placards
demanding the Centre to revoke CAA and drop the plans to carry out NPR and
NRC.During the last one month, the police foiled attempts by various groups to
organise a permanent protest on the lines of Shaheen Bagh. On few occasions,
police detained the protestors. Meanwhile, daily silent protests at few places
entered the fifth day on Friday. Holding national flags and placards in their
hands, people are silently standing by the road side for couple of hours to
lodge their protest. Only local residents are participating in such protests at
Paramount Colony, Seven Tombs Road, and Rajendranagar.IANS
Hyderabad University imposes RS 5000 fine on students for organising
Shaheen Bagh-like protest
In a bizarre decision, University of Hyderabad has imposed Rs 5000 fine
on three students for organising a "Shaheen Bagh Night" in the
campus.A Shaheen Bagh-style protest was organised in the campus from January 31
to February 2. The university has now imposed a fine on Faseeh Ahmed EK, Sahana
Pradeep and AS Adish for organising the protest against the CAA, NRC and NPR. The
order, issued on Feb.18, has asked all 3 students to submit the penalty to the
Gurubaksh Singh Students Assistance Fund in Finance and Accounts within 10 days
of notice.Before this, a registrar’s order also sternly warned and cautioned
the students and asked them to "focus on their studies in future".indiatoday
Shaheen Bagh-type stir will not be allowed in Hyderabad:Top cop
Amid continuing anti-CAA protests
in parts of the country, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said no
Shaheen Bagh type stir would be allowed in the city. The top cop requested
political parties and others to apply for permission as per proper procedure
for holding protests.PTI
Assam: NRC data back online
Guwahati : 10 days after NRC data was reported to be inaccessible on the
official website, the data is back online, confirmed Hitesh Dev Sarma, NRC
state coordinator.The status of 3.3 crore applicants to Assam NRC — published
on August 31, 2019 — was inaccessible due to non-renewal of IT Services
Contract with Wipro, the company which looks after the online NRC data. To
check (inclusion or exclusion) status, users have to key in their Application
Receipt Number on the official website — when they did, it redirected to an
invalid page till Friday. Sarma confirmed that the data has been back online
since Friday midnight.indianexpress
Assam: AASU launches 30-hour hunger strike against CAA in Dhemaji
Assam: AASU launches 30-hour hunger strike against CAA in Dhemaji
Members of the students' body holding play cards and banners chanted slogans
against the ruling BJP government.The members of AASU on Saturday began a
30-hour hunger strike against CAA at court field in Dhemaji district. Members
of the students’ body holding play cards and banners chanted slogans against
the ruling BJP government. 30- hour hunger strike started from 8 am on Saturday
and will end at 3 pm on Sunday.Speaking at the gathering, Budin Baruah, retired
principal of Dhemaji College said, “We will not allow the CAA to implement in
Assam because the act is anti-constitutional and anti-people. We will continue
our peaceful protest against anti-Assamese act.”nenow.in
Waris Pathan withdraws 15 crore
Muslims remarks
Mumbai:Following a nationwide furore over his "communal
hate-speech", AIMIM ex-legislator of Maharashtra Waris Pathan withdrew his
controversial remarks here on Saturday."I had no intentions to hurt the
sentiments of any community...My remarks were not ''anti-Hindu'', I hereby
withdraw my statement," Pathan told mediapersons here.He added that
attempts were being made to portray him as "anti-national" , but he
clarified that his remarks were not intended to create any kind of discord among
people or communities.A huge political storm erupted after Pathan addressed an
anti-CAA protest in Kalburgi (Gulbarga) in Karnataka on February 15 and said
that "15-crore (Muslims) will prove stronger than 100-crore majority
(Hindus)."BJP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have demanded stringent
action against the AIMIM ex-MLA, while activist lawyer Syed Ejaz Abbas
''Naqvi'' wrote to Mumbai Police urging them to lodge an FIR against
Pathan."They say we have kept our women in the forefront. I want to tell
these people -- only the lionesses have come out and you are in a cold sweat.
You can understand what would happen if all of us come together."We are
just 15 crore but can be a bigger force than the 100-crore majority
population," Pathan said. He added that the minority community could well
snatch "your azaadi".As the issue snowballed, AIMIM chief Asaduddin
Owaisi on Friday "gagged" Pathan and has told him not to speak with
the media and reportedly sought an explanation from him.On Friday, Pathan
issued a statement contending he was "totally quoted out of context"
by the media on his Kalburgi meeting, where even Owaisi and other senior
leaders were present.-IANS
AIMIM imposes gag order on Waris Pathan
FIR against AIMIM leader Waris Pathan over ’15 crore Muslims’ remark
Waris Pathan — Late entrant to politics, he rose to fame through TV
theatrics
Remember what happened in Gujarat, says BJP MLC Girish Vyas over
Pathan’s ‘15 crore’ remark
Reacting on AIMIM leader Waris Pathan over his '15 crore Muslims can be
heavy on 100 crore' remark, Maharashtra BJP legislator Girish Vyas has said he
should remember what happened in Gujarat.Vyas, who is an MLC and a BJP
spokesperson, also urged the Muslim community to boycott people like Pathan and
"teach them a lesson"."The youths and patriots of this country
and each worker of BJP are ready to give a befitting reply to Waris Pathan in
the same language he has used," Vyas said.PTI
Giriraj Singh’s latest: India paying price for not sending Muslims to
Pakistan
New Delhi :In yet another controversial statement, Union Minister
Giriraj Singh Friday said that the country is paying the price for failure to
send Muslims to Pakistan and bring Hindus to India after Islamic Republic came
into being at the time of Independence.“When our forefathers were fighting for
Independence from British rule, Jinnah was pushing for the creation of an
Islamic state,” BJP leader said in Purnea district of Bihar which has a
sizeable Muslim population.Highlighting the need for legislation like CAA,
Singh further said, “our forefathers, however, committed a mistake. Had they
ensured that all our Muslim brothers were sent to Pakistan and Hindus brought
here, the need for such a move (CAA) would not have arisen. This did not happen
and we have paid a heavy price for it.”BJP leader’s comment came in the
backdrop of nationwide protests against CAA. Indianexpress
Chandrashekhar Azad dares Bhagwat to contest polls, test actual support
for RSS' 'Manuvadi' agenda
Nagpur: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Saturday asked RSS
sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat to contest direct elections to test the actual
public support for the "Manuvadi" agenda of the Sangh.Addressing a
meeting of Bhim Army workers at the Reshimbaug Ground here, located close to
RSS headquarters, Azad demanded ban on the Sangh to end
"Manuvad"."I want to give a suggestion to RSS chief...Take out
the veil of lies and come to the field. It is democracy.. contest direct
elections with your agenda, and people will tell you if 'Manusmriti' or
Constitution will run the country," Azad said.He said CAA, NRC and NPR are
the "agendas" of RSS. In Dalit narrative, "Manuvad" is
based on "discriminatory" 'Manusmriti'— an ancient legal text of
Hinduism.On Friday, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court allowed the Bhim
Army to hold a meeting of its workers at Reshimbaug ground with certain
conditions, after local police denied permission fearing law and order
issue.Referring to Nagpur Police's contention, Azad said two ideologies will
always clash. "While we believe in Constitution, they believe in'
Manusmriti'.This country runs only on Constitution and not on any other
ideology.This 'Manuvad' will end in the country only if a ban is imposed on RSS,"
said Azad.PTI
Woman who chanted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ had links with Naxals: Yediyurappa
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has alleged that woman charged
with sedition for raising ‘pro-Pakistan’ slogans during a rally in Bengaluru
has had links with Naxals.Amulya Leona, a student of a south Bengaluru college,
was charged with sedition for chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ during a protest
rally against CAA. She has been sent in 14-day judicial custody by a magistrate
court.Amulya, in her address, appeared to be explaining to the audience the
difference between chanting “Pakistan Zindabad and Hindustan zindabad”. The
organisers of the event under the banner of “Save Constitution” had invited her
to address the gathering. Asaduddin Owaisi was also present on the stage when the
incident occurred. However, he rushed to snatch the microphone from her and was
joined by others who tried to stop her. Later, police stepped in and removed
her from stage.indianexpress
Will ‘Sri Sri Ravishankar’ be charged with sedition for saying ‘Pak
Zindabad’, ask people on Twitter
The day after a young college student, Amulya Leona was arrested in
Bengaluru for allegedly raising ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan, Twitterati on
Friday wondered if godman Sri Sri Ravishankar can also be booked on the charge
of sedition for saying, “ Jai Hind and Pakistan Zindabad should go hand in
hand”.The godman can be heard saying, "Pakistan and India and all
countries, we should all remember that we are all human, we are all a part of
this planet, we are sons of Ishwar, and we should come together with love...
Pakistan, Hindustan should move forward with friendship. Jai Hind aur Pakistan
Zindabad saath saath chalein (Long live India and long live Pakistan should go
hand in hand)," The viral video is from the World Cultural Festival held
in Delhi in 2016.nationalheraldindia
Right-wing group activist announces Rs 10 Lakh bounty to kill Amulya for
Pro-Pakistan slogan
Bengaluru: An activist of right-wing group Sri Ram Sena has announced a
bounty of Rs 10 lakh for killing Amulya Leona who shouted pro-Pakistan slogans
at an anti-CAA event here.In video, Sanjeev Maradi is heard asking the
government not to release the woman or else he will kill her."The state
and the central govt should not release her under any circumstances. If she is
released, we will kill her in an encounter," he is heard saying at a
protest rally organised by the outfit in Ballari against Leona."We, on
behalf of Sri Ram Sena, will give a bounty of Rs 10 lakh to the person who
kills her,"he added.PTI
Haven't done anything anti-national: Amulya on pro-Pak sloganeering
during Bengaluru anti-CAA rally
Bengaluru: 19-year-old BA Journalism student Amulya Leona, who was
arrested for shouting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ during an anti-CAA event at Freedom
Park on Thursday evening, has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody by a
local court. However, the feisty teenager from Chikkamagalur has blamed her
predicament on organisers of protest — Hindu Muslim Sikh Isaai Federation — for
not allowing her to complete what she wanted to say on stage as they grappled
with her for the microphone as soon as she hailed Pakistan."Maybe she had
intended to say what she had recently posted on her Facebook page where she has
said ‘Zindabad’ to all the countries, including India and Pakistan. But it went
awry. She was not answering any of our questions, but kept saying she had not
done anything wrong," a senior police official said."It was the
organisers’ mistake to snatch the mike from me before I completed what I had to
say. Because of them, I have been arrested today. If they had given me a chance
to complete what I had to say, nothing like this would have happened. Now,
there is no point in telling you what I intended to speak there. But I can say
that there was nothing anti-national in what I did. You can initiate action
against me and my advocate will fight the case," a source, citing Leona,
said.newindianexpress
Pro-CAA protest: Another woman held in Karnataka, for holding a “Kashmir
Mukti, Dalit Mukti, Muslim Mukti” placard
Bengaluru:A day after pro-Pakistan slogans were raised by an agitator at
an anti-CAA event here, a young woman was arrested on Friday for holding a
“Kashmir Mukti (liberation), Dalit Mukti, Muslim Mukti” placard at a counter
protest in the city, police said. A case has been registered for offences under
the Indian Penal Code including creating enmity between different groups of
people against the woman, identified as Arudra, they said. “We have registered
the case suo moto for creating enmity between different groups of people,”
DCP Chetan Singh Rathore said, adding she
was being questioned. Later, woman was produced before a court, who remanded
her to 14 days judicial custody till March 5. Holding the placard with slogans,
Arudra was spotted sitting among the participants of the protest organised by
Hindu Jagaran Vedike against Amulya Leona who had shouted “Pakistan Zindabad”
on Thursday. The protesters also hailed the CAA. She was escorted out of the
place as protesters asked her to leave and crowd started gathering, city police
chief Bhaskar Rao said. “She has now been taken into custody for her own safety
along with the placard... we will find out her background, where she has come
from and who are behind her among other things,” Rao told reporters, adding she
did not raise any slogan.tribuneindia
Sedition Case Against Bidar's Shaheen School Management for Anti-CAA
Play Challenged in SC
New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging
the sedition case registered against a Karnataka school management for
allegedly allowing students to stage an anti-CAA, anti-NRC drama that
'portrayed PM Narendra Modi in poor light'. The petition seeks quashing of the
FIR against the principal and other staff of the Shaheen School at Bidar who
have been booked under sections 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (promoting enmity
between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code.In the petition filed on
Thursday, social activist Yogita Bhayana has also sought an apex court
direction for a proper mechanism to deal with alleged government misuse of the
sedition law.PTI
Mangaluru violence probe: Police officials to be summoned for hearing
Mangaluru:Police officials including the Mangaluru city Commissioner of
Police PS Harsha would be summoned to appear before the panel conducting a
magisterial probe into December 19, firing on anti-CAA protesters in the city
which left two people dead.Notices would be served on 176 police officers and
staff to appear for hearing, Udupi deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha, conducting
the magisterial probe into the incident said here on Thursday. He told
reporters that officials, including the city police commissioner Harsha, would
be summoned to depose on the violence which led to police firing that killed
two people.Mangaluru (North) Assistant Commissioner K U Belliappa, who is the
nodal officer for the police department, has given a list of 176 policemen who
are ready to adduce evidence in the hearing.The police officers would be
summoned in phases.The next hearing is on Feb. 25.Former city Mayor K Ashraf,
who is under treatment in hospital, has also provided a written statement.The
remaining members of the public can provide evidence during next hearings, he
said.PTI
Thousands turn up at Panaji's Azad Maidan, vow not to provide
information for NPR, Census 2021
Panaji: The several thousands who showed up at Azad Maidan in Panaji on
Friday to protest against CAA, NPR and NRC pledged not to furnish “any
information whatsoever for the purposes of NPR or even for the purpose of
Census 2021” till all three are withdrawn.The grounds couldn’t contain the
massive crowd that climbed up trees and spilled on to streets and in front of
the police headquarters, making it the largest anti CAA-NPR-NRC protest the
state has witnessed till date. Speakers included students from JNU and lawyers
from Assam and Delhi, who spoke about police brutality on college campuses and
termed the CAA, NPR and NRC as tools to persecute minorities.Despite the Church
supporting the protest and sending out letters to all parish priests and
chaplains to mobilise people for the rally, no Church representative featured
among speakers. Goa Alliance Against CAA, NRC and NPR, which organised the
rally, stressed on the large number of OCI card holders in the state who have
surrendered their Indian citizenship for Portuguese citizenship and noted apprehension
over “arbitrary grounds for cancellation of OCI registration”. Activist and
advocate Albertina Almeida said there was no assurance that OCI cards wouldn’t
be cancelled.Activist Arturo D’Souza urged participants to teach those MLAs who
defected to the BJP and who have supported CAA, a lesson in the next
election.Dalit activist Dadu Mandrekar, who was one of speakers, said central
govt was trying to destroy the Constitution and expressed uncertainty about the
rights of GAKUVED (Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar) community, many of whom
don’t have proper documentation. Julio Aguiar appealed to deputy chief minister
Chandrakant Kavalekar, tribal minister Govind Gaude and tourism minister
Manohar Ajgaonkar on issue, while activist Rama Kanconkar said it was a shame
that tribal leaders were assuring tribals in Goa that they would not be affected
by CAA, NPR and NRC.“Lakhs of people surveyed in Assam have been sent to
detention centres,”advocate of Guwahati high court, AS Tapader, said. Jamia
Milia student Ayesha Renna spoke about police brutality on campus.TOI
Maharashtra village passes resolution against CAA, NRC
Aurangabad:Patrud village in Beed district has passed a resolution
against CAA and NRC. gram panchayat of Patrud in Majalgaon tehsil passed the
resolution at its meeting held on Feb. 2.“There is confusion in the society
over the CAA and NRC. All the people residing here are Indians, but don’t have
any documents to prove their nationality. Hence CAA and NRC should not be
implemented in village,” the resolution says.A resident of Patrud, Eknath Maske,
said, “The population of the village is around 18,000. The villagers were
against the new citizenship law and NRC. Hence we decided not to implement
these things in the village and passed a resolution.”Gram sevak Sudhakar
Gaikwad said, “The govt’s move on CAA and NRC affected the social fabric of the
village.PTI
Maharashtra will go ahead with CAA, NPR, says Uddhav Thackeray after
meeting PM Modi
Disregarding protests from within Maharashtra coalition, CM and Shiv
Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray stuck to his guns that CAA as well as NPR will be
implemented in the state, sharpening friction with coalition partners NCP and
Congress.“I had a good discussion with the Prime Minister over issues concerning
Maharashtra. I also discussed the CAA, NPR and NRC with him. No one needs to
fear CAA. The NPR is not going to throw anyone out of the country,” Thackeray
told the media on Friday. CM’s public assertion is significant as they came
after his meeting with PM Narendra Modi and before he made a courtesy call on
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Congress general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, who
is in-charge of Maharashtra affairs, had earlier taken exception to Thackeray’s
statement about implementation of CAA and NPR in Maharashtra, saying such calls
could not be taken unilaterally.Thackeray said there was a detailed discussion
on CAA, NPR and NRC. Modi has previously said that his government had taken no
decision yet on the implementation of a nationwide NRC, as distinguished from
the one in Assam.TOI
No need to fear CAA, says Uddhav Thackeray after meeting PM Modi
After Uddhav backs CAA, NPR, Congress says Maharashtra CM in need of a
'briefing'
Congress leader and former Union Minister Manish Tewari today said that
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on CAA, to
understand how NPR is the basis of NRC and "religion" cannot be basis
of citizenship. In a tweet, Tewari said, "CM Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray
requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules - 2003 to understand how NPR
is the basis of NRC. Once you do NPR, you cannot stop NRC. On CAA, he needs to
be reacquainted with the design of Indian Constitution that religion cannot be
the basis of Citizenship," he said.IANS
Congress will convince Uddhav to pass resolution against CAA: MLA
Zeeshan Siddique
Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique said here on Saturday that Congress
will convince Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to pass a resolution
against implementation of CAA in Maharashtra legislature session that starts
from Feb. 24.“It is our responsibility to convince him and we are confident of
doing it,” he told reporters here.thehindu
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Kartarpur has potential…you send somebody in morning, by evening he is
trained terrorist:Punjab DGP
Chandigarh :Raising questions over Pakistan’s intent in agreeing to
throw open the Kartarpur Corridor, Punjab Police chief, Dinkar Gupta, Friday
said visa-free passage cleared for Sikh pilgrims was “a huge security challenge
from terrorism point of view”. Claiming that there were reasons why the
Corridor was not opened all these years, DGP Police said that some elements
based in the neighbouring country were “trying to woo the pilgrims and making
overtures to them”.“Kartarpur offers a potential that you send somebody in the
morning as an ordinary chap and by evening he comes back as trained terrorist
actually. You are there for six hours, you can be taken to a firing range, you
can be taught to make an IED,” Gupta said.“It is a huge concern…that is why it
was not opened for all these years. I was in IB for 8 years…I used to handle it
over there. The feeling was that it (Corridor) will be a huge security
challenge. But after that as the community wanted it, the disapora wanted it,
it was decided why cannot this dream be realised. So all those security
concerns were put on the backburner. And we also gave our go ahead,” DGP
said.indianexpress
SAD leader condemns Punjab DGP’s statement on Kartarpur
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa Saturday
condemned Director General of Police, Punjab, Dinkar Gupta‘s statement on
Kartarpur and urged Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to initiate a probe against
him. Sirsa said, “I strongly condemn the statement made by Punjab DGP on the
Kartarpur Corridor. The mentality of Congress party has always been like this.
Sikhs are loyal and patriotic. If someone goes to Mansarovar, they don’t return
as terrorist.indianexpress
Kamal Nath targets Centre: Share details of surgical strikes
Bhopal :Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Friday continued to
target the central government over the surgical strike, seeking evidence and
saying that people would feel proud when they get details about the number of
terrorists killed or the number of buildings demolished.“There is nothing, no
photos. (It’s only) in the media. The hullabaloo is only in the media,” he said
in Chhindwara when asked to clarify his comments in which he appeared to
question the surgical strikes in Uri.When asked whether he meant to say that
the surgical strike was fake, Nath said, “No, our Army and Air Force do not
indulge in any fake work. We are proud of both the forces… But share
information with the country.”indianexpress
At Srinagar’s Sharika Devi temple: ‘Pandits were driven out, but those
who stayed, survived thanks to Muslims’
Srinagar :Overlooking Srinagar is Hari Parbat, a hill home to a fort, a
temple, a gurdwara and a dargah. The temple here is dedicated to Jagdamba
Sharika Bhagwati, considered the presiding deity of Srinagar. Rolled-up
concertina wires lie on the long flight of stairs leading up to the temple. A
CRPF jawan proffers a register, where one must note down their name and phone
number before entering the temple. Inside, on the afternoon of February 16,
around 10-15 people are busy with kirtan. It is a few days before Shivratri,
and the temple is gearing up for the festival.“Had you come here this time of
the year in 1980s, you wouldn’t have space for one sesame seed on the ground,
so crowded would the courtyard have been. Had you come in the early 90s, you
wouldn’t have found anyone,” says Virendra Koul, a retired government
employee.“See, a minority is always a minority. I lived in Uttar Pradesh and
NCR for years. Muslims are a minority there, don’t they feel insecure? We
Pandits will always feel that here. Also, the horrors of the 90s can’t be
forgotten,” says Kumar.A CRPF jawan passes by, listening intently, but not
interrupting the conversation.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
Trump's India Visit Won't Result In Even Limited Trade Deal: US
Officials
Trump administration officials have acknowledged that US President
Donald Trump's visit to India next week will not result in even a limited trade
deal, saying they still have major concerns over India's trade barriers.Hopes
that the world's two largest democracies could negotiate a "confidence
building" deal in time for President Trump's arrival on Monday on a
two-day visit have faded in recent days as differences over agriculture,
medical devices, digital trade and proposed new tariffs fester, according to
business groups.US concerns that led last year to suspension of India's tariff
free access for some $5.6 billion in exports under 1970s-era Generalized System
of Preferences still remain, a senior Trump administration official told
reporters on a conference call."We do want to make sure that we get this
balance right. We want to address a lot of concerns and we're not quite there
yet," official said, adding that President Trump will likely discuss these
concerns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Trade talks will continue, but new
Indian tariff proposals aimed at strengthening the country's "Make in
India" domestic manufacturing push have made them more difficult, the
official said. Apart from growing protectionism, Trump visit comes against the
backdrop of India's multibillion-dollar purchase of a Russian missile shield
system, which added friction to its ties with Washington.The government in its
Feb.1 budget proposal announced new import tariffs on medical devices, walnuts,
toys, electronics and other products in a move aimed at reducing imports from
China but affecting many US firms. The new tariffs surprised US negotiators,
especially as they were working with Indian counterparts to reduce the impact of
India's price controls on US medical devices such as cardiac stents and knee
implants."We will be discussing those concerns and what we see an increase
in barriers not a decrease. This will certainly come up among the
leaders," US official said. The official did not completely rule out any
trade related announcements during the trip, but said this was "really
wholly dependent on what the Indians are prepared to do."Reuters
Family to accompany Trump; Commerce, Energy Secretaries, NSA part of his
team
The first stand-alone visit by a US President, a high-powered White
House delegation that includes three of President Donald Trump’s family
members, the first time that First Lady Melania Trump and daughter Ivanka are
travelling together on an official visit, and a fifth meeting since May right
in middle of an election campaign that comes after 4 earlier meetings between
Trump and PM Narendra Modi — a headline trade deal may be off the table but
officials in New Delhi underline how these firsts underline the deepening of
the India-US strategic partnership.Beyond the pomp and the spectacle at the
Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad, some substantive outcomes are also expected:
a centre for counter-terrorism is likely to be announced as the MoU on Homeland
security will focus on aviation and immigration security. Sources said that an
Industrial Security Annex summit is scheduled for April-May while an energy
dialogue to diversify India’s energy requirement is a key thrust area to be
discussed around the visit.
CM Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia not invited to Melania Trump’s school visit
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish
Sisodia will not accompany First Lady Melania Trump to government schools
during her brief visit to the national capital next week, it has been learnt.
“The chief minister and deputy chief minister have been dropped from the list
of people who will be present at the school when Melania Trump visits,” sources
said.On Tuesday, Melania is expected to attend a class on the happiness
curriculum, one of the flagship programmes of the Delhi government in the
education sector that aims to help children relieve stress, meditate and
discuss things that are troubling them.“Delhi govt is keen on showing Melania
Trump a few other programmes they have started, such as the entrepreneurship
curriculum, but her visit is expected to last just an hour or so. She and her
team have expressed a desire to witness a happiness class as it happens, so
that is definitely on the cards,” a source had earlier said.indianexpress
AAP MLA Shoaib Iqbal Appointed Pro-tem Speaker of Delhi Assembly
New Delhi: AAP MLA Shoaib Iqbal has been appointed as the pro-tem
Speaker of the Delhi Assembly by Lt Governor Anil Baijal.Iqbal, who has been
elected for the sixth time from Matia Mahal constituency, will oversee the
oath-taking of newly elected members on February 24 when the first session of
the Assembly begins. The order appointing Iqbal was issued on Thursday evening.
As Iqbal, who is one of the senior-most legislators, has been appointed as the
pro-tem speaker, he is unlikely to become the speaker of the Delhi Legislative
Assembly. Sources said Ram Niwas Goel, who was the speaker in the previous
Delhi Assembly, is likely to retain the post. A 3-day session of the Delhi
Assembly will begin from February 24 during which the Speaker will be chosen.
The lieutenant governor is likely to address the House during the 3-day
session. Last week, Seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly was constituted after
the Aam Aadmi Party won 62 seats in 70-member House. BJP won eight seats, while
the Congress drew a blank.PTI
All CMs will be invited for temple construction, will take no funds from
govt: Mahant Nritya Gopal Das
Gwalior: President of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Mahant
Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj, on Friday said that Governors and Chief Ministers of
all states will be invited to Ayodhya to participate in the construction of a
grand Ram temple."We have already invited PM Narendra Modiji, we have Yogi Adityanathji as
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. All other Governors and Chief Ministers, who have
an interest in religion, will be invited to participate in the construction of
a grand temple. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister will also be invited,"
Maharaj told reporters on Friday after reaching Gwalior.President of the Ram
temple trust further said that no grants from the government will be taken for
the construction of the temple.ANI
Set to lose land for Ram statue plan in Ayodhya, villagers ask why their
farms
Ayodhya :Nearly a month after the Ayodhya district administration put
out a public notice saying close to 86 hectares would be acquired to build a
Lord Ram statue and museum around 6 km from the Ram Janmabhoomi site in the
town, villagers remain reluctant to part with their agricultural land.Uttar
Pradesh government is planning a 251-metre high statue of Ram (making it the
tallest in the world), along with a digital museum, on land situated along the
Lucknow-Gorakhpur national highway. While the authorities have said 125
families would be affected, and 66 pucca houses apart from hutments demolished,
the villagers of Majha Barhata gram sabha put the number at more than 300
families and around a hundred pucca houses.The January 25 notice by the
district administration mentioned 86 hectares and 259 landowners in the
Yadav-dominated gram sabha, giving them 15 days to register objections.
Officials said they had received close to 200 complaints, and the process to
address them had started.Around 40 per cent of the land being acquired for the
statue and museum belongs to little-known Maharishi Ramayan Vidyapeeth Trust,
with headquarters in Delhi and branches reportedly across 27 countries, and the
authorities have its clearance to acquire it. The remaining land comprises
small plots owned by farmers.indianexpress
Ayodhya: Sunni Waqf Board to meet Monday, may decide on five acre-plot
Lucknow : Sunni Central Waqf Board will hold a meeting on Monday to take
a call on whether the Board will accept the five acres allocated at Dhannipur
village near Ayodhya by Uttar Pradesh government as per the Supreme Court’s
order. The Board, which was one of the main litigants in Ayodhya title suit,
comprises 8 members from different fields.Board CEO Mohammad Shuaib said the
meeting was scheduled on February 24. “The issue of the five acres of land in
Dhannipur will be discussed that day and we will see what the majority of the
board members say,” said Shuaib.Sources in the Board said all issues regarding
the five acres of land would be decided during the meeting on
Monday.indianexpress
RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch warns against ‘non-veg’ milk ahead
of US President Trump visit
Barely 72 hours before US President Donald Trump lands in India, RSS's
economic arm has warned Modi govt against promising of any trade deal that
allows the US to eat into India's over Rs 10,000 billion dairy business. Before
you jump to conclusions that the opposition is to protect the domestic dairy
interest alone, think again. Swadeshi Jagran Manch has brought in a religious
angle to it.Its Co-Convenor Ashwani Mahajan said: "Milk is a vegetarian
diet in India. Demand of US administration is that India should remove the
condition that only the milk of vegetarian cows be imported from US. Since, in
US, cows are fed with blood and meat, and import of milk from such cows is prohibited
in India."IANS
PIL seeks ban on slaughter of ‘old bulls, buffaloes’
New Delhi :A PIL was filed on Friday in Delhi High Court seeking to
impose a “total prohibition” on slaughter of old bulls and buffaloes on the
grounds that the “cattle breeds are never useless”.PIL, filed by Madhya Pradesh
resident Brishbhan Verma — who claims to be a social worker — submitted that
the “prohibition on slaughter of cows must be extended to bulls and buffaloes
only because such cattle, even after becoming useless as animals, assist in
agriculture work or breeding”.The petition claimed that these animals “continue
to provide dung and urine that can either be used by farmers as manure and
fertilizer, or can be sold by the owners…”The plea states that an
interpretation of Article 48 of the Constitution, which states that the
prohibition on killing/slaughtering of any animal and their progeny, excludes
the male counterpart and “violates Fundamental Rights of the petitioner under
Article 21 of Constitution…”indianexpress
Non-veg off plate: Venue of Harappan dinners shifted from National
Museum
New Delhi :Harappan dinners that were scheduled to be hosted at National
Museum as part of ‘Historical Gastronomica’ exhibition have been moved off
premises, according to a statement by the co-organiser, One Station Million Stories
(OSMS), on Friday.“With the support from National Museum, we shall continue
Historical Gastronomica at National Museum, serving only veg tasters till 25
Feb, 2020. We had to cancel all dinners at National Museum. After receiving
multiple requests from patrons who booked their Harappan diners with us, we
have decided to move only the dinners (set to take place on Feb.21, 22 and 23,
2020) out of National Museum to Lavaash by Saby (Feb. 24, 25),” said OSMS
statement.The dinners were priced at Rs 4,000 (non-vegetarian) and Rs 3,250
(vegetarian) per head. OSMS is offering full refunds for those who do not wish
to attend.As reported earlier, the week-long exhibition-cum-event on culinary
history which planned to offer “the Indus dining experience” through an “ethno-archaeological
kitchen of the Harappan culture” ran into trouble when, the day before it
opened, OSMS was asked by the museum not to serve non-vegetarian food. The
additional director general of the museum, Subrata Nath, said at the time,
“This museum has so many idols of gods and goddesses, and a relic of Lord
Buddha. International dignitaries visit this museum. We have to consider these
sensitivities here.”indianexpress
Harappan meat-eaters, Lutyens’ vegetarians
‘Denied’ visit to Mangta village, Chandrashekhar Azad meets injured
Dalits in Kanpur hospital
Kanpur: 4 days after opposition
parties raised the issue of alleged atrocities against Dalits in Mangta village
of Kanpur Dehat in the state Assembly, which were later denied by CM Yogi
Adityanath, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad visited Dalits admitted to a
hospital of Kanpur on Friday and assured them of “all possible help”. Dalits
had alleged that they suffered injuries after being beaten up on Feb.13.Chandrashekar
told them, “Caste is a big thing and when it comes to Dalits, the
administration becomes ineffective.” Bhim Army leaders claimed that they wanted
to visit Mangta Village in Kanpur Dehat too but were denied permission by
administration.Chandrashekhar was accompanied by the divisional president of
Bhim Army, Sikandar Boudh, who alleged that the administration did not allow
Dalits to raise their voice after they were beaten up. Mehmood Paracha, legal
adviser to Bhim Army, who also accompanied Chandrashekar to the hospital in
Kanpur, said, “Despite all the claims by the administration, Dalit victims and
their families are still scared. They told us that they are still being
threatened.”He added, “We have written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary
informing him that the provisions of SC/ST Act have not been followed as these
Dalits have not been provided security despite their complaint that they are
being threatened. Moreover, they are not being given proper care at the
hospital also. We have also demanded action against the guilty officers,”
adding that it is to raise voice against all such atrocities that the Bhim Army
has given a call for “bandh” on February 23.indianexpress
Bharat Bandh tomorrow: Bhim Army’s Chandrashekhar Azad to lead protest
against SC quota order
New Delhi :Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad has called for a Bharat
Bandh on Sunday, February 23, against the Supreme Court’s ruling on the
reservation in appointments and promotions in public posts.Opposition parties
in Bihar, led by RJD, have lent their support to the bandh. In a statement on
Friday, RJD said it supports the bandh’s purpose which is to protect
reservation and the Constitution. Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samta
Party (RLSP), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awami Morcha, and Pappu Yadav’s Jan
Adhikar Party are also supporting the bandh call.Several student outfits,
including Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samitti (CYSS), and activists have also lent
their support to the bandh.indianexpress
Manmohan: ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogan being misused to construct
militant idea of India that excludes millions
New Delhi :Former prime minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan
Singh Saturday said nationalism and the Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogan were “being
misused to construct a militant and purely emotional idea of India that
excludes millions of residents and citizens.” He also said there were constant
efforts to picture Jawaharlal Nehru in a “false light”, but history had the
capacity to “put everything in perspective”.Speaking at the launch of a book
titled ‘Who is Bharat Mata’ authored by Professor K E Radhakrishna, Singh said,
“Unfortunately, a section of people who either do not have the patience to read
history or would like to be deliberately guided by their prejudices, try their
best to picture Nehru in a false light. But I am sure, history has a capacity
to reject fake and false insinuations and put everything in proper
perspective.”While commenting on the protests against CAA in Parliament last
month, PM Modi had made references to Nehru’s policies on minorities in
Pakistan following Partition. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, meanwhile, blamed
Nehru for the existence of PoK.Calling the release of the book as “timely and
appropriate”, Singh at Delhi’s India Habitat Centre said it made a refreshing
breakthrough in an atmosphere when “emotions are deliberately provoked and the
gullible are misled by false propaganda and misuse of communication
technology”.indianexpress
Nationalism and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' Being Misused to Build a Militant
Idea of India: Manmohan Singh
Rajasthan: ‘They wanted to spread fear among Dalits by making us an example’
Nagaur :On Friday, 7 men in their underwear lined up at Panchodi police
station in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district as Inspector General, Human Rights,
Bipin Kumar Pandey called them up for questioning one by one.On Feb.16, the
men, all of whom work at a motorbike service centre, allegedly stripped a
23-year Dalit youth after accusing him of trying to steal money, inserted a
screwdriver in his anus and recorded the act on at least two phones. “They
should have respected the law and handed over the two to police,” Pandey said,
“Now they are repentant.” The men face an FIR under several IPC sections,
including attempt to commit culpable homicide and charges under SC/ST
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act.About 12 km from the police station, at Bhojas
Gram Panchayat, Bisha Ram (24) sits in a newly built, small room. Next to him
is his cousin Panna Ram, 18, who was also assaulted. Behind them are their
mothers, Gita and Dapu, respectively.“Don’t know why they had so much anger for
us,” says Bisha, who seems a little dazed due to the incident and the steady
stream of politicians and officials visiting him. “Maybe they just wanted to
spread fear among Dalits by making us an example.”According to Panchaudi SHO
Rajpal Singh, 6 out of the 7 arrested are Rajputs and one is a
Muslim.indianexpress
Madrassa Shut Down: Govt’s Decision Draws Flak from Minority Community
Guwahati: Assam government’s decision to close down Madrassas has not
gone down well with the members of the Muslim community. They feel that it has
hurt the sentiments of their community. Recently, state education minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the government will shut down all
government-run Madrassas as well as Sanskrit Tols within the next 4-5 months.
He had added that the Madrassas will be modernised and will be converted into
high schools. Several people from the minority community feel that BJP-led
government is deliberately taking such decisions to make Muslims feel like
second class citizens in their home state.“We are indigenous Assamese Muslims
and have always lived together with people from other communities with a sense
of equality and brotherhood. However,with the government bringing in such new
policies, it seems like they are discriminating against the Muslims,” said
Imran Rasul, a senior citizen of Guwahati.guwahatiplus
MP govt scraps its sterilisation circular, BJP recalls days of Emergency
Bhopal :A day after Indian Express reported on a circular issued by MP
government that male health workers would lose their salaries and face
retirement if they failed to get at least one man for sterilisation, state
withdrew directive while describing it as “a mistake”. The state government
removed Chhavi Bharadwaj, the state’s National Health Mission (NHM) director
who issued the circular, and attached her to the Secretariat as officer on
special duty till further orders. 2008-batch IAS officer is currently attending
a mid-career training course. Friday’s move came after Opposition BJP slammed
the circular and asked if it was “part-2 of Congress’s Emergency’’ in a
reference to the aggressive family planning programme conducted by central
government of that time.State Public Relations and Law Minister PC Sharma
blamed the circular on “a mistake by officials’’ and said it has been revoked
with immediate effect on orders from CM Kamal Nath.CM’s media coordinator
Narendra Saluja said no target had been fixed and that MP’s National Health
Mission officials periodically carry out campaigns to motivate men for
sterilisation. Saluja said no punitive action will be taken against any health
worker. BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma added a communal twist to the issue. “If your
concerns about population are genuine, such measures should apply to everyone
irrespective of caste or religion.You should appeal to even Muslims to restrict
their families. It should not happen that Hindus remain at two and Muslims
multiply from 5 to 25,’’ he said.indianexpress
‘No proof against MLA’ — UP Police gives clean chit to BJP leader, 4
sons in gang-rape case
Lucknow: UP Police today gave a clean chit to BJP MLA Ravindra Nath
Tripathi and four of his sons who were booked in a case of gang-rape earlier
this week. Bhadohi MLA’s nephew Sandeep Tiwari, who was the main accused in the
case, has been arrested. One of MLA sons, Nitesh, was charged under section 504
(intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal
Code.An FIR was lodged Wednesday against Sandeep, the MLA and his five sons —
Sachin, Chandrabhushan, Deepak, Prakash and Nitesh — for allegedly raping a
35-year-old woman.theprint
Rule of law most fundamental feature of modern constitutions of world:
CJI
New Delhi :The rule of law is probably the “most fundamental feature” of
modern constitutions and its success depends on how judiciaries across the
world respond to emerging challenges, CJI S A Bobde said on Saturday. CJI, while speaking at International Judges’
Conference on the subject of ‘Judiciary and the Changing World’ at the Supreme
Court here, also stressed on the need for citizens to perform their legal
duties.“Probably the most fundamental feature of most modern constitutions is
the idea of the rule of law,” he said, adding, “Undoubtedly, the success of the
rule of law in our countries depends on how the judiciaries respond to such
challenges and how they emerge.”PTI
BJD, Cong fume as AIIMS-Bhubaneswar mandates use of Hindi in official
work
Bhubaneswar :An order from the senior administration of
AIIMS-Bhubaneswar mandating use of Hindi language in official communication
drew sharp responses on Friday from BJD and Congress leaders.A copy of the
letter, shared by the staff, lists eight specific orders, such as they “should
sign in Hindi, write name and subject on all files in Hindi, write name and sub
headings of the registers in Hindi and also make entries in Hindi, write at
least 30% noting and drafting in Hindi, at least 55% correspondence in Hindi,
fill all up all bilingual office forms in Hindi, reply to all letters received
in Hindi”.The order also specifies that in administrative meetings, employees
“may” have discussions in Hindi and “prepare minutes in Hindi as far as
possible”. The order’s signatory, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar DD(Administration) PK Ray,
said order is only for administrative work.indianexpress
76 Muslim, 25 Hindu couples marry at Belagavi madrassa
Belagavi: Sending a strong message of communal amity, a madrassa in
Belagavi district hosted a mass marriage on its premises on Friday in which 76
Muslim and 25 Hindu couples were married.Madarsa Al Arabia Anwarul Ulooma, an
Islamic religious institute in Bailhongal, 50km from Belagavi district
headquarters and 480km from Bengaluru, played host to the event that was
organised by Jamia Faizan-ul-Quran and Issa Foundation, which has conducted
mass marriages on a bigger scale in Gujarat.The mass marriage comes a month
after the 100-year-old Cheravally Jamaat Masjid in Kerala’s Kayamkulam in
Alappuzha hosted a Hindu wedding, complete with a vegetarian feast for 4,000
people. A Hindu priest led the rituals, and the couple sought blessings of
chief imam Riyasudeen Faizy of the mosque.At Bailhongal, moulvis and pontiffs
led the marriage proceedings and asked the couples to read passages from Quran
and Bhagvad Gita. timesofindia
Muslim students in UP’s RSS schools rise 30% in 3 years: TOI
Allahabad: The number of Muslim students in the schools run by Vidya
Bharati, the educational wing of RSS, has witnessed an increase of
approximately 30% in the past three years. About 12,000 Muslim and Christian students
are studying in these schools in the state. Moreover, Vidya Bharati has
recruited Muslims as teachers also.Muslim students also recite ‘shlokas’ and
‘bhojan mantras’ and are doing well in studies as well as sports.Mohd Afsar and
Mohd Sahban, students of Jwala Devi Saraswati Vidya Mandir Inter College,
Prayagraj, won gold in hammer throw at recent ‘Khelo India Youth Games’ in
Guwahati.Chintamani Singh, additional secretary, Vidya Bharati, said, “As many
as 12,000 Muslim and Christian students are studying in our schools in UP.
Around 9,037 Muslim and 10 Christian students are pursuing studies in 1,194
schools in east UP. The remaining are in west UP.”“The urge for good and
quality education has been the prime reason for the rise in number of Muslim students
in our schools.
PM Modi a versatile genius who thinks globally, acts locally: Supreme
Court judge Arun Mishra
New Delhi :Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra on Saturday was all
praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and termed him as an “internationally
acclaimed visionary” and a “versatile genius, who thinks globally and acts
locally”.Complimenting PM and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for doing
away with 1,500 obsolete laws, Justice Mishra said India is a responsible and
most friendly member of the international community under the “stewardship” of
Modi.PTI
Nirbhaya Case:Delhi court rejects convict Sharma's plea claiming he
suffers from mental illness
A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed a plea by one of the four death row
convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case claiming he has mental
illness and needs treatment. Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana rejected
the plea by Vinay Kumar Sharma. The plea had claimed that Sharma had sustained
grievous head injury and fracture in his right arm, and was suffering from
"insanity", "mental illness" and
"schizophrenia".Tihar jail authorities had termed his claims as a
"bundle of distorted facts" and told the court that CCTV footage
established that the convict had inflicted "superficial" injuries on
himself and was not suffering from any psychological disorder.news18
GSI denies discovery of 3000-tonne gold deposits in UP’s Sonbhadra
New Delhi :A day after it was reported that around 3,000 tonnes of gold
deposits, almost 5 times India’s current reserve of the yellow metal, were
discovered in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district, Geological Survey of India on
Saturday denied finding such a vast amount of the resource.In a statement
released, the GSI said, “As per news report, published in various media that
availability of 3350 tonnes of gold in Son Pahadi & Hardi field, Sonbhadra
district, it is stated in the news that State Directorate of Geology & Mining,
(DGM) Uttar Pradesh has shared this information”.indianexpress
*WORLD*
US, Taliban to seal Afghan peace deal on Feb.29, India wary of fallout: Indian Express
New Delhi :In a dramatic development with strategic, political and
security repercussions for India, US and the Taliban said Friday that they will
seal a political settlement on Feb.29 at the end of a weeklong period of
“violence reduction” starting midnight in Afghanistan.The deal could become one
of the major talking points during bilateral meeting between Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Feb.24-25.US Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo said that agreement, which will reduce US presence in the region,
will be signed upon the successful implementation of an understanding with
Taliban on a “significant” and nationwide reduction in violence.Reuters quoted
a Taliban spokesperson as saying that “both parties agreed to sign the
finalised accord in the presence of international observers”. Both sides would
also make arrangements for release of prisoners, the Taliban said. Afghan,
international and Taliban forces will observe the reduced violence period.There
has been no official word from New Delhi yet, but the deal is of some concern
to Indian establishment. More so, because the return of Taliban in Afghanistan
carries harsh memories from 1990s, especially of the IC-814 hijack crisis that
ended with the release of Masood Azhar. Over the last two years, New Delhi had
kept a close watch on meetings between US and Taliban negotiators. It has been
briefed by US interlocutors, especially US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad who
has travelled to India several times and recently met External Affairs Minister
S Jaishankar recently at Munich Security Conference. Apart from US, India has
engaged in regular talks with other active players, like Russia, Iran, Saudi
Arabia, China and political forces in Afghanistan, on this issue. While many
Western observers believe the agreement could represent a chance for peace in
the region, New Delhi has been cautious on the issue as it gives strength to
Pakistan, which has been a long-time benefactor of Taliban.Though New Delhi has
softened its position over the years on engaging with Taliban, India has always
maintained that it has three “red lines”, which it spelt out last year when US,
Russia and China were conducting negotiations with the Taliban.With the deal
announced Friday, India will closely track the fate of Ashraf Ghani govt, which
just got re-elected. indianexpress
US-Taliban truce begins, raising hopes of peace deal
Afghan presidential polls again mired in a controversy
Ashraf Ghani has been officially declared the winner of Afghanistan’s
presidential elections, nearly 5 months after the poll took place on Sept.28 of
last year.The final result was announced by the Afghan Independent Election
Commission Chairperson Hawa Alam Nuristani on Tuesday.Ghani secured 50.64% of
total eligible votes, according to Nuristani. Abdullah Abdullah, the Chief
Executive of Afghanistan, came second with 39.51% of the votes.The results were
delayed because of widespread allegations of fraud, which meant that hundreds
of thousands of votes had to undergo recounts and an auditing process.Just
hours after the announcement, Ghani’s leading challenger, Abdullah Abdullah — who
accuses Afghanistan’s election commission of favoring the incumbent — also
declared himself the winner and said that he would form a government of his
own.Abdullah and several other candidates have disputed roughly 300,000 votes
from a low turnout of about 1.8 million.nationalheraldindia
Sri Lankan parliamentary committee proposes immediate burqa ban
A Sri Lankan parliamentary committee on national security has proposed
an immediate ban on the burqa and suspending the registration of political
parties on ethnic and religious basis, following the Easter Sunday terror
attack that killed over 250 people.The proposals featured in a special report
presented in Parliament on Thursday to resolve 14 controversial issues
following the Easter attack last year. The report was tabled by MP Malith
Jayatilaka, Chairman Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security,Daily
Mirror reported.A number of countries have already banned the burqa.The report
suggested that the police should have the power to ask anyone wearing a face
covering in a public place to take off such clothing in order to establish the
identity of the person.If such a request is not complied with, police should
have the power to arrest the individual without a warrant, the report said.It
also recommended the country’s Election Commission to enact a legislation to
suspend the registration of political parties on ethnic and religious basis.PTI
China deliberately delaying clearance for flight to evacuate Indians:
Official sources
New Delhi:China is delaying grant of clearance to India's proposal to
send an Indian Air Force flight to carry relief material for people affected by
coronavirus in the neighbouring country and bring back Indians from its city of
Wuhan, official sources said Saturday.India was to send a C-17 military
transport aircraft to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, on
February 20 but the plane could not take off as permission was not granted for
the flight."China is deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the
evacuation flight," a high-level source said. The aircraft was to carry a
large consignment of medical supplies to China and bring back more Indians from
Wuhan.Sources said the Chinese side continued to maintain that there was no
delay in granting permission for the flight to go, but "inexplicably"
the clearance has not been given.PTI
International fears grow with virus deaths in Italy, South Korea
Fears have mounted over the rise of new cases and fatalities outside
China from the new coronavirus outbreak, as the WHO warned of a shrinking
window to stem the spread of the deadly disease.The warning came as the first
deaths from the new COVID-19 strain were reported in the Middle East and
Europe. COVID-19, as the new coronavirus is known, first emerged in December in
central China but has now spread to over 25 countries and caused more than a
dozen deaths outside the country. The death toll reached five in Iran, and a
number of cases were reported across the Middle East, including the first
infections in Israel and Lebanon. On Friday, a 78-year old Italian man died
after testing positive for the virus and a second death was reported on
Saturday.A second person died in South Korea, authorities reported on Saturday,
as the number of cases in the country spiked to 433.Italy has locked down 10
towns and asked more than 50,000 people to stay home - echoing China's lockdown
of entire cities in Hubei province at the centre of the outbreak. The second
victim, a woman, died in the northern region of Lombardy, a spokesman for the
Italian Civil Protection agency said on Saturday.The first confirmed cases of
the deadly virus were confirmed in Israel and Lebanon on Friday.Iran saw 10 new
cases on Saturday, taking the number to 28 infections and five deaths.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
In Valley, a reality check: My trip to Srinagar laid bare a false
narrative of normalcy:Mani Shankar Aiyar
Donald Trump's India visit: US peace deal with Afghan Taliban hands
Islamabad leverage, leaves New Delhi vulnerable on Kashmir:Praveen Swami
German journalist questions India’s data privacy law: Aadhaar best
invention since sliced bread?:Norbert Häring
Charged by the Police in Five States, But Who, Indeed, Is Sharjeel
Imam?Preeti Gulati, JNU researcher,
thewire
In Ulta Pradesh, Adityanath Govt is Throwing Law to Winds:Markandey
Katju
Treatment of Rohingya refugees by Modi government display a
discriminatory attitude towards Muslims:Prashant Bhushan , Cheryl D’souza
My dear Shaheen Bagh: No reason for you to fear CAA, or, if it comes,
NRC: Firoz Bakht Ahmed,
My trip to Srinagar laid bare a false narrative of normalcy:Mani Shankar
Aiyar
Maulana Azad cautioned against ‘nationalism’ in 1947. CAA shows we
didn’t learn a thing:S IRFAN HABIB
'Why Us?': Disabled Students at Jamia, JNU and AMU Struggle to Cope with
Aftereffects of Brutality:Shameer Rishad
COVID-19: No cause for panic in India but are we really prepared to cope
with an epidemic ?
Nadella comes to India fresh after CAA row — but he’s always championed
immigrant rights:KAIRVY GREWAL
India’s Muslims Are Terrified of Being Deported:PUJA CHANGOIWALA
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/21/india-muslims-deported-terrified-citizenship-amendment-act-caa/
Conflicting judgments, absence of guidelines, litany of documents:
India's citizenship conundrum is a mess infinitude:
Simantik Dowerah
Huddle 2020, Day 1: CAA is creating two pathways of citizenship based on
religion, says Yamini Aiyar
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 8:55 PM).
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