NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
26 Feb. 2020:
01 Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 142
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
Delhi violence:Death toll rises to 27, at least 200 injured
27 people have been killed and at least 200 injured in communal violence
in northeast Delhi for the last few days.
There was fresh violence this morning with reports of arson and
stone-throwing. A battery shop was set on fire in Bhajanpura area. The shop was
vandalised and burnt batteries were strewn on the road, according to PTI. Reports
have emerged of fresh violence in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura area this
evening, hours after NSA Ajit Doval visited the violence-affected part of the
national capital."Public can call on 22829334 and 22829335 for any help or
information. I would like to appeal to the public to not pay heed to rumours.
Situation is under control today," said MS Randhawa, Delhi Police PRO.Cabinet
Committee on Security - the final decision-making body on matters related to
the country's security - will meet today to discuss the violence in the
capital. Smoke was seen rising from buildings and streets were strewn with
rocks and broken glasses after three days of violence between pro- and
anti-citizenship law protesters. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who oversees
law and order in Delhi, held his third meeting within 24 hours over violence in
the northeastern part of the national capital. NDTV
Photos:Masjid set on fire in Mustafabad during riots
Faroqiya Masjid in Brijpuri Puliya near Mustafabad in North East Delhi
was allegedly set on fire on Tuesday evening at 4 pm by a Hindutva mob,
according to bystanders. The school beside it, Arun Modern Higher Secondary
School was also set on fire.Locals informed The Wire that there were children
inside the mosque and school at the time, and the mob had locked the doors and
were not letting anyone out. A rescue was arranged by locals in the area
through a back door, but a child had locked himself in a bathroom after being
injured by the mob. As there was ongoing gunfire at the site until late in the
night, locals could not extract the child until past 10 pm.A reporter from The
Wire spoke to the child while he was inside and witnessed him being carried
out.thewire
Photos: School burnt in Delhi’s Mustafabad, protest sites vandalised
By afternoon today, a quiet had settled on the Mustafabad locality of
North East Delhi but signs of the previous evening’s damage were still evident.
Scroll.in reporters visited the violence-hit area. Some of worst violence took
place on Mustafabad main road, which cuts through Brijpuri area, at entrance to
Mustafabad proper. A protest site that was destroyed at Brijpuri, on Mustafabad
main road, in Delhi. A school was set on fire by miscreants in Brijpuri on
Tuesday evening, staff told Scroll.in. Here are some pictures from the school. Schools
in North East Delhi have been told to remain closed on Wednesday.Down the road
from the school, a mosque was torched around 8 pm on Tuesday, residents said.
The mob allegedly shot at the people who were praying inside the mosque.The
imam of the mosque was injured and has now been hospitalised.A madrassa next to
the mosque was burnt this morning, residents alleged.Meanwhile, a temple in
Mustafabad remained untouched by the mob. Haji Yunus, AAP MLA from Mustafabad
constituency, claimed that about 10 to 11 people have lost their lives in the
area.scroll
Mosque set on fire during Delhi's worst violence in decades: aljazeera
Times Now claims video of mosque being vandalised is fake but video
turns out to be genuine
No mosque damaged in Delhi's Ashok Vihar:Police
Verification: Video of mosque vandalised, set on fire is from Ashok
Nagar in Delhi
‘You want azadi?’: Chant that haunts this Muezzin who woke up in
hospital torn away from his family
New Delhi: Jalaluddin, a muezzin from the riot-hit locality of Yamuna
Vihar in northeast Delhi, has blood clots all over his face, bruises on his
body and stitches on his mouth, making it difficult for him to even speak. But
he does manage to utter three words — “woh kahan hain (where are they)”. The
‘woh’ are his wife and five children. On Wednesday morning, he woke up in the
hospital with two more men lying injured on the beds flanking his, but no one
of his own to listen to his pain and attend to his needs. Every riot injured
patient in LNJP Hospital has a family member or a friend to attend to them, but
Jalaluddin is alone. He weeps in pain, sleeps in pain.He lost consciousness and
woke up in hospital on Wednesday morning, asking his wife and kids.But he
remembers one thing the rioters said while attacking him – “so you want azadi?”
news18
UN chief closely following situation in Delhi: spokesperson
UN chief Antonio Guterres is closely following the situation in New
Delhi and stresses that demonstrators should be allowed to protest peacefully
and security forces should show restraint, his spokesperson said."I think
it''s very important that demonstrators be allowed to demonstrate peacefully
and that security forces show restraint. This is the SG''s constant
position," Secretary General Guterres'' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
said at the daily press briefing on Tuesday.When asked if the UN is monitoring
the situation, Dujarric said "Yes, we’re obviously following it
closely." PTI
‘Deadly surge of religious intolerance horrifying’: US lawmakers voice
concern on Delhi violence
Several lawmakers in US raised concerns over violence that has erupted
in northeastern parts of New Delhi. “It is important to strengthen
relationships with democratic partners like India,” Elizabeth Warren, the
Democratic Party’s contender for US presidential elections later this year.
“But we must be able to speak truthfully about our values, including religious
freedom and freedom of expression– and violence against peaceful protestors is
never acceptable.” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal expressed shock over the
violence, and described it as a “deadly surge of religious intolerance.
“Democracies should not tolerate division and discrimination, or promote laws
that undermine religious freedom,” she tweeted.“World is watching.” Last year,
Jayapal had introduced a Congressional resolution asking India to end the restrictions
on communications in Jammu and Kashmir, and reserve religious freedom for all
residents.“This week, Trump visited India but the real story should be communal
violence targeting Muslims in Delhi right now,”tweeted Democratic Congresswoman
Rashida Tlaib. “We cannot be silent as this tide of anti-Muslim violence
continues across India.”Tagging a report on Trump evading a question on the
violence in New Delhi, US lawmaker Alan Lowenthal said it was a “tragic failure
of moral leadership”, and said that people must “speak out in the face of
threats to human rights in India”.
'World Is Watching': US Lawmakers Take Note Of Delhi Violence
USCIRF urges Modi govt to protect religious minorities
US Commission on International
Religious Freedom, or USCIRF said the reports of “deadly mob violence targeting
Muslims in New Delhi” was alarming. “...[USCIRF] urges the Modi government to
rein in mobs and protect religious minorities and others who have been
targeted,” the commission tweeted.scroll
US panel to hold hearing on citizenship laws next week; India, Myanmar
under scanner
CAA violence: HC anguished over police failure to lodge FIRs over hate
speeches by 3 BJP leaders
Delhi High Court today expressed "anguish" over Delhi
Police''s failure to register FIRs against alleged hate speeches by 3 BJP
leaders in connection with the CAA-related violence and asked the Police
Commissioner to take a "conscious decision" on it by Thursday.The
court asked Special Commissioner of Police, who was present in the hearing, to
forthwith convey its "anguish" to commissioner and observed that city
has seen enough violence and it should not witness another 1984 anti-Sikh
riots-like incident.A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Talwant Singh said
when the police can register 11 FIRs in incidents including arson, looting,
stone pelting, why it did not show alacrity when it came doing so in connection
with the alleged hate speeches by 3 BJP leaders -- Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma
and Kapil Mishra."Why are you not showing alacrity when it comes to
registration of FIR in these cases?... We want peace to prevail. We do not want
the city to witness another 1984 riots. This city has seen enough violence and
anguish. Let it not repeat 1984," the bench said.The court noted in its
order that Special Commissioner Praveer Ranjan has assured he will sit with the
police commissioner today itself and view all video clips and take a conscious
decision on the issue of lodging of FIRs and convey it to the court on
Thursday. It made it clear that it was not confining the proceedings to the
video clips of these three BJP leaders and the court will look into other clips
as well.The bench also issued notice to the petitioners -- human rights
activist Harsh Mander and activist Farah Naqvi -- on an application moved by
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to implead the Centre in the matter.The court
was hearing a plea by Mander and Naqvi seeking lodging of FIRs and arrests of
those involved in the ongoing communal violence in parts of northeast Delhi.The
hearing, in a jam-packed courtroom, witnessed heated arguments between Mehta
and Delhi government standing counsel Rahul Mehra, on who would represent the
police commissioner.Mehra and Mehta also differed on the issue of registration
of FIRs in relation to the hate speeches.Earlier in the day, the court, which
observed that the situation outside was very unpleasant, asked Mehta to advise police
commissioner on issue of lodging of FIRs against the leaders. Senior advocate
Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, said it was shocking that the
senior law officer was suggesting to wait at this stage to lodge an FIR.The
video clips of speeches made by Thakur, Verma Mishra and BJP MLA Abhay Verma
were played in the courtroom.While watching Mishra''s video, the bench asked
the name of the police officer seen standing next to BJP leader and was
informed by Gonsalves that it was DCP (north-east) Ved Prakash Surya.PTI
Delhi violence: ‘We cannot allow another 1984 riots,’ says HC, rebukes
police for inaction
HC Directs Police to File FIR against Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur and
Others for Hate Speeches
'Appalled' by Delhi Police's State of Affairs, HC Plays Clip of Kapil
Mishra's Speech
Delhi violence: SC pulls up police, says lives would have been saved had
they acted on time
The Supreme Court today castigated Delhi Police over the clashes around
CAA and said lives would have been saved had the police acted on time to stop
people from making inflammatory remark. A bench of Justices SK Kaul and KM
Joseph said the Delhi High Court is hearing a matter pertaining to the violence
and that petitioners are free to pursue legal remedies. During the hearing,
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told judges that their remarks may “demoralise
police” during such tense situations. In response, Justice Joseph said: “I will
say”.“Lack of professionalism of police is the main problem here,” Joseph
added. “If you had not allowed people to get away after inflammatory remarks,
all this would not have happened. If you act the way law requires to act, you
will see the difference.”The court said police do not have to wait for orders
when someone makes inflammatory statements.Mehta pointed that one of the police
constable also died in the clashes.The court said it has nothing against Delhi
Police but the remarks are being made to ensure that law and order is
maintained. “This will happen if you allow people to get away,” Joseph said.
“Unless you do not get the police to act, there will be no difference. Look at
how police acts in UK.Do they require somebody’s nod? If somebody makes an
inflammatory remark, police swings into action immediately.”Justice Kaul said
what happened in Delhi during last few days is “unfortunate”. Mehta then urged
Kaul not to use the term “unfortunate” as it may “legitimise” whatever had
happened.“Who can deny that whatever has happened is not unfortunate?” he
asked.“Yes, many unfortunate things have happened. It should not have
happened.”One of lawyers, advocate Mehmood Pracha, told the court that “houses
are being burnt” even as the hearing is underway.scroll/ the hindu
‘Inshallah, there will be complete peace here’: NSA Ajit Doval tours
violence-hit northeast Delhi
In an effort to diffuse the simmering tensions in parts of northeast
Delhi marred by violent clashes, NSA Ajit Doval today reached out to locals and
assured them the situation is under control.“Situation is totally under
control. People are satisfied. I have confidence in law enforcement agencies.
Police are doing its work,” Doval said after visiting the areas.While
interacting with locals, a student wearing a burqa walked up to him and said
“we are not feeling safe and comfortable.”Doval assured her saying: “I give you
my word, you do not have to worry, it is the responsibility of the police, it
is the responsibility of the government.” He also said he was there on the
instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit
Shah.Earlier this morning, Doval held a meeting at the office of the Deputy
Commissioner of Police (northeast) along with the top brass of the Delhi
Police.indianexpress
NSA takes charge of northeastDelhi,briefs AmitShah
No untoward incident reported today; 106 arrested, 18 FIRs registered in
Delhi clashes: police
Delhi Police today said it has arrested 106 people and registered 18
FIRs in connection with clashes that broke out in several areas of NorthEast
Delhi over past few days.MS Randhawa, Delhi Police PRO, said, Miscreants are
being identified. We have CCTV footage and strong evidence.No untoward incident
took place today. Randhawa went on to say that no untoward incident occurred today
as PCR calls are being monitored carefully. He went on to say that senior
officers have been conducting flag marches in affected areas throughout day to
keep maintain law and order.IndiaToday
After 4 days of violence in Delhi, PM Modi appeals for peace
After four days of violence in North East Delhi over the CAA which claimed over 20 lives, PM Narendra Modi
tweeted appealing for peace and harmony.“Peace and harmony are central to our
ethos. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and
brotherhood at all times. It is important that there is calm and normalcy is
restored at the earliest,” PM Modi tweeted.
Delhi violence : Kejriwal visits affected areas to take stock of
situation
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia
interacted with the local residents in the sensitive areas in North East Delhi
after violent clashes in the area led to severe property damage. indiatoday
Delhi Riots: After Late Night HC Direction to Police, Injured Muslims
Get Safe Passage
In an unprecedented midnight hearing at the judge’s residence, Justice S
Muralidhar and Justice A J Bhambhani ordered immediate evacuation of the
injured from Mustabafad’s Al Hind Hospital. A forum, consisting doctors from
various government and private hospitals, had moved Delhi High Court late
Tuesday night seeking police protection for ambulances heading towards medical
facilities with people injured in violence at North East Delhi’s Mustafabad
area.The bench also said that the injured be moved to GTB or other nearby
hospitals, which had facilities to treat them.The court was hearing a plea by
Concern Citizen For Peace, comprising doctors and filmmaker Rahul Roy, who sought
directions to the Delhi government and police to ensure their safety and
protection during a visit to the riot-affected areas, including Al Hind
Hospital. Indianexpress/ thewire
Identities of 12 people killed in Delhi riots confirmed
New Delhi: Two autorickshaw drivers, a Delhi police cop, a man who works
with the Intelligence Bureau and a civil engineer are among over 25 people who
have been killed in the violence in North East Delhi since Sunday. The Wire has
identified 12 persons among the deceased. Apart from those killed, over 2
hundred have sustained serious injuries due to gunshots, sharp-edged weapons,
stone-pelting and even falls sustained from buildings during the
violence.Mubarak Hussain, a 28-year-old resident of Babarpur. He was shot in
the chest at Vijay Park. A native of Darbhanga in Bihar, he worked as a
labourer in Delhi.Shahid Khan Alvi, 22 years. An autorickshaw driver, he was
shot in the stomach near Bhajanpura dargah.Mudassir Khan, also autorickshaw
driver and a resident of Kardampuri, he was also shot dead. Nazeem Khan, a
35-year-old scrap dealer, was also shot dead.Mohammad Furquan, a 32-year-old
was shot dead when he stepped out to buy food in Bhajanpura area of
Jaffrabad.Mahtab, 21 years, and a resident of Brijpuri was burnt to death.Ratan
Lal, 42 years, a Delhi police head constable was fatally shot in
Gokulpuri.Rahul Solanki, resident of Babu Nagar near Shiv Vihar and a civil
engineer by profession, stepped out to buy milk when he was shot in the neck,
killing him. Ankit Sharma, a 26-year-old security assistant with the
Intelligence Bureau was a resident of Khajuri Khas. His body was found in the
Chandbagh drain and he is believed to have been beaten to death.Vinod Kumar, 45
years, was also beaten to death in Brahmpuri when he was returning home.Vir
Bhan Singh, 48 years, was going to have food when shot dead.
Businessman, father of 2 among over 20 killed in Delhi violence,
families wait for bodies
Right under Delhi Police nose, men with rods, sticks assault, set homes
ablaze, check ID cards, smash CCTVs: Indian express
New Delhi :In embattled neighbourhood after neighbourhood in northeast
Delhi, which has been in the grip of violence for 3 days, one story played
through Tuesday from morning to midnight — groups of young men armed with
sticks and rods looking for a fight, setting shops and homes owned by Muslims
on fire. All right under the nose of the police who either stood as silent
spectators, looked the other way or were plain missing when they were most
needed. Right through the day and into the evening, Indian Express reporters
witnessed several specific examples where mob ruled the street as police stood
right next to them:Between 7 am and 12 noon, across lanes and bylanes of
Maujpur, Babarpur, Kabirnagar, West Jyoti Nagar, Gokulpuri, Indian Express
witnessed young men bracing themselves for what they described as “action”.
Collecting metal rods, breaking chunks of brick into smaller pieces. These
preparations were in full view of small groups of police personnel.At 11.15 am
on Chajjupur-Kabir Nagar road, six policemen stood by and watched as hundreds
of men holding rods and sticks, many with faces hidden behind motorcycle
helmets, raised chants of Jai Shri Ram.Identification cards was checked by men
in masks and Muslims were persona non grata.By afternoon, there was a pattern:
properties owned by Muslims were targeted for arson and police arrived after
the stores were set ablaze. First to be set afire was a hair-cutting salon in
West Jyoti Nagar around 4.54 pm as a crowd cheered.indianexpress
Scenes From Muslim Gullies:Hindu mobs terrorise Vijay Park’s residents:Caravan
magazine
Since 23 February, armed Hindu mobs have targeted Muslim neighbourhoods
in northeast Delhi, including Babarpur, Maujpur and Vijay Park—all areas ruled
by the BJP. At Vijay Park, some residents said they saw police chanting “Jai
Shri Ram” and charging at Muslim neighbourhoods along with Hindu mobs. Other
Muslim residents of Jaffrabad, many of whom sustained multiple injuries, said
they were beaten up in front of policemen who refused to help.According to the
Muslim residents of Jaffrabad and Vijay Park, the CAA supporters began
attacking Muslim houses in the localities barely minutes after Mishra left. The
situation in these areas continues to be volatile.caravanmagazine
Ground Report: Delhi Riots Show BJP Using Mobs To End Women's Protests
New Delhi:It was poised to emerge as the second Shaheen Bagh-like venue
in Delhi but following repeated insistence from police officials to clear the
road for regular traffic and despite vehement disagreements between some
protestors and their male supporters about moving elsewhere, protesting women
of Jafrabad vacated their demonstration from the spot late on Tuesday night. As
reports of violence continued to emerge close to midnight on the night of Feb
25 in other parts of north-east Delhi, the women sitting on one side of a road
underneath Jafrabad metro station ended their sit-in. Jafrabad metro station is
a short walk from other riot-affected localities such Maujpur and Gokulpuri.
The withdrawal of the women’s sit-in protest from Jafrabad was a significant
development amidst the seemingly endless and rapidly escalating violence across
north-east Delhi on Tuesday. Jafrabad was one of the two protest sites cited by
BJP’s leader Kapil Mishra on Sunday, when he gave a public “ultimatum” to the
Delhi Police officials. As the protest was finally lifted on Tuesday night,
HuffPost India’s interviews at the spot suggest the women’s withdrawal was not
voluntary. Some women vehemently disagreed with their male supporters about
withdrawing. The sequence of events in Jafrabad also illustrated the difference
in Delhi Police’s response towards women protestors in Shaheen Bagh and
Jafrabad.The withdrawal of the women’s protest further shows how ruling BJP-led
govt appears to be leaving it to violent mobs to end peaceful demonstrations
against CAA.huffingtonpost
Delhi violence: Hindus, Muslims of Yamuna Vihar unite against communal
wave
As northeast Delhi was engulfed by communal clashes on Tuesday over the
amended citizenship law, Hindu-Muslim residents of Yamuna Vihar chose to defeat
those forces who sought to divide them. The residents of Yamuna Vihar say they
have never seen such a communal frenzy in past 34 years."Hindus and
Muslims have been living peacefully in the area since a long time. Such madness
is new to the area. This is the reason why we have decided to defeat the
communal forces together,"Mohammed Sajid, a resident, said.He said the
residents drew away outsiders who had come to market area of Yamuna Vihar and
tried to create disturbance in the region.Locals are taking turns to guard region
against outsiders."Residents armed with sticks and lathis are guarding the
region against outsiders. We are trying hard to prevent such elements from
slipping inside the colony and creating ruckus," Rahul, another resident
of Yamuna Vihar, said. Raisuddin Rehan said only unity can defeat the divisive
elements.PTI
At Epicentre Of Delhi Riots, How A Mohalla Of Hindus And Muslims Kept
Peace
Muslim protesters save Hindu families as emergency services fail to
respond
New Delhi: Amid the chaotic communal riots that are tearing through
North East Delhi for the last 3 days, a small group of around five to 6 Muslim
residents of Vijay Park has taken it upon itself to ferry innocent Hindus and
Muslims from the riot-hit areas to safety.These people, who had been protesting
against CAA till Sunday afternoon, have now rescued at least 100 Hindus who had
nothing to do with either pro-CAA or anti-CAA mobs and countless others since
last night. 67-year-old Mohammad, stationed at the entrance towards Yamuna
Vihar and Vjay Park, told Millennium Post that they had no differences with any
people of any religion."We are not even fighting. All we are doing is
trying our best to defend ourselves with all the might we have and in the
meantime, if we can save people from the violence - then there is no reason we
should not do this, irrespective of their religion."Millennium Post
Body Of IB Officer Ankit Sharma Killed In Delhi Clashes Found In Drain
New Delhi: The body of an officer of the Intelligence Bureau was
recovered today from a drain in Jaffrabad, one of the areas worst hit by the violence
that has swept northeast Delhi. Ankit Sharma, who worked as a Security
Assistant with IB, was returning home on Tuesday evening when he was allegedly
attacked by a mob at the Chand Bagh bridge and beaten to death; his body was
later thrown into a drain, according to officials.After the body was recovered
today, Ankit's father, Ravinder Sharma, who also works with IB, has accused
supporters of an AAP leader of attacking Ankit and killing him. Ankit was shot
after he was beaten, Ravinder Sharma told police. The body has been sent for
autopsy. The high court also called Ankit Sharma's death as
"unfortunate". Ndtv
Delhi violence: Kejriwal announces Rs 1 cr compensation for kin of slain
cop Ratan Lal
CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for kin of
slain Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal, who died on the line of duty in
North East Delhi's Bhajanpura. "I want to assure the family of Delhi
Police Head Constable Rattan Lal ji that we will take care of them. We will
give a compensation of Rs 1 Crore and a job to a member of his family." Indiatoday
₹2 lakh compensation for families of those killed in Delhi violence:
Official
A compensation of ₹2 lakh will be paid to the next of kin of the people
who have died in the communal violence in northeast Delhi, senior officials
said.“A compensation of ₹2 lakh will be paid to the next of kin of the people
who have died in the communal violence. Persons who have been seriously injured
will be given a relief amount of ₹50,000,” said a senior official. thehindu
An 85-year-old woman was burnt to death in her home in Delhi’s Gamri
extension
At around noon on February 25, when Mohammed Saeed Salmani was out
buying milk for his family, he received a call from his younger son. An armed
mob of around 100 people had entered their lane in Gamri extension, around 1.5
km from Khajuri Khas in Delhi, and were setting shops and houses on fire. Their
4-storey house, too, had been torched, and his family had sought refuge on the
roof.When Salmani ran towards his lane, people from neighbouring lanes
restrained him. “They told me it was too dangerous, I could be killed, and I should
just wait because what’s happened has already happened,” said Salmani, a
48-year-old owner of a readymade garments business. “I was stuck for hours,
thinking that my family was dead the whole time.”While most of his family
survived the arson, Salmani’s mother, 85-year-old Akbari, died in the fire on
the third floor of their house. The building itself was burnt, including the
family’s tailoring workshops on the first two floors. Salmani claims that the
mobs also looted him of Rs 8 lakh and all the family jewellery stored in the
building. “I have nothing left, I am zero,” he said. Scroll.in.
NHRC Chief:Delhi violence an 'aberration', not communal
Bengaluru: NHRC chairman HL Dattu today said the violence in Capital
could not be termed communal and was instead an “aberration”.Dattu said:
"See, this is an aberration… you can't call it a movement where people
hate each other… some small aberrations will be there in a democratic country,
there will be dissent.” The former CJI also said matters could be resolved
through dialogue.“There will be pro- there will be those anti-, but for that
violence is not the answer. People should sit together and peacefully sort out
their problems. Now if the commission comes to know that there are any
violation of human rights, either by police or by state, then we will take
precautionary measure and also seek appropriate enquiry,” he added.With the
unrest failing to ebb, the chairman was of the opinion that an application to
the apex court on expediting the CAA issue could be made so as to take up the
issue earlier.“The SC can take it up and see what is being done by way of
legislation by parliamentarians, whether it's correct or whether it's
unconstitutional and I believe it will give a landmark judgment on that.”News18
Muslim Leaders Rush to Meet Delhi Police Chief, Hundreds Throng to Chief
Minister's Residence
New Delhi:As reports coming from the violence-hit northeast Delhi
unveiled horrific details Tuesday evening, Muslim leaders wrote to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to order deployment of Indian Army in the area.Around
Tuesday midnight, a delegation of Muslim leaders also rushed to Delhi Police HQ
to meet Police Commissioner seeking deployment of armed police personnel in the
area.The delegation had Syed Sadatullah Husaini, National President,
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Mohammad Salim Engineer, Vice President of Jamaat, Navaid
Hamid, President, All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, and social activist and
United Against Hate leader Nadeem Khan. For more than an hour, they had to wait
for the Police Commissioner. Later it was learnt that he was visiting northeast
Delhi and so will not come office. The delegation went to his residence to meet
him.Meanwhile, unsatisfied with the response of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to the
large-scale violence in the area for the past three days, hundreds of people
Tuesday past midnight thronged to his residence to hold a protest demonstration.India
Tomorrow
Delhi Violence: JNU, Jamia Students Protest Near Kejriwal's Home, Water
Cannons Used
Delhi Police today dispersed the crowd gathered outside Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal's residence, who assembled there late last night and were
demanding action against perpetrators of the violence in Delhi. The crowd
mainly consisted of students from JNU, members of Alumni Association of Jamia
Millia Islamia (AAJMI) and Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC). They had
surrounded Kejriwal's residence.The protesters gathered at around midnight.
Police personnel were seen removing them at around 3:30 am.The students were
demanding to meet him and submit a charter of demands over violence in the
capital. Water cannons were used by the Delhi Police to disperse the crowd. The
students later alleged that they were detained by the police and taken to
nearby Civil Lines police station. Appealing to Kejriwal to take action against
the violence in affected areas in North-East Delhi, protesters who called themselves
concerned citizens, asked CM to personally visit affected areas with local MLAs
and organise peace marches to de-escalate tensions.ndtv
Delhi Violence: Kejriwal Govt In Damage Control Mode After Public
Backlash
Soon after being re-elected as CM of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal is battling
public anger over his government’s sparse efforts to control the riots in
Northeast Delhi and delayed response to the prevailing violence. After two days
of inaction, AAP seems to have gone into damage control mode. A report in The
Telegraph says that AAP’s assessment that playing down the violence would lead
to a retreat by rioters has misfired. A section of the party leadership has now
demanded a more visible approach to counter rioters, the report said, but added
that AAP’s “strategists” have asked them to hold back. On Wednesday, a day
after Kejriwal said he had held a “positive” meeting with Amit Shah, the party
launched an attack on Home Minister. Addressing a press conference on
Wednesday, AAP leader Sanjay Singh asked why Shah has not appealed for peace
till now. “Does Amit Shah have no responsibility?” he asked. He also asked why
the army had not been called in yet. “If Amit Shah and his police are not able
to control the riots, why is Amit Shah not calling the army? Army should
immediately be sent to Delhi,” Singh said.AAP government has been accused of
focusing on photo opportunities and not taking concrete steps to defuse the
situation or go to the affected areas.huffingtonpost
Hindus, Muslims both suffered in violence: Kejriwal
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, addressing the Delhi Assembly
regarding the spate of violence in the National Capital on Wednesday, said that
people of both Hindus and Muslims had suffered due to the violence."People
of Delhi don’t want riots, just a regular life. Then why did the riots happen?
This was not done by the aam aadmi, it was done by outsiders," he said.He
then listed the names of those who have died and also mentioned their religion
to illustrate that people of both religions were affected. "People of both
religions died, a policeman also died. So who benefited from the riots? Hindus
and Muslims both got affected. The families of those who have lost family
members have nothing to do with any communal agendas."
'Delhi Cops Beating Injured Men, Forcing Them to Sing National Anthem'
A video of police personnel in riot gear thrashing five people lying
injured on the side of a road has gone viral on social media. The video shows a
policeman capturing the incident on his mobile phone while the injured men are
being forced to sing the national anthem. The cops can also be heard hurling
abuses and repeatedly using the word ‘Azadi’ while beating the men. Official Twitter
account of Shaheen Bagh wrote that the clip was shot violence in Delhi in the
view of protests against CAA.Alt News found an aerial view of the same incident.
A person in the background can be heard describing the police brutality. It may
be noted that one can spot eight police personnel at the scene.Alt News spoke
with one of the victims who sent us a video testimony. “Police had brutally
thrashed 5-6 (men). [They] broke someone’s hand, someone’s leg. My hand and leg
are also broken. There are 8-10 stitches on my head. I am unable to speak.
Policemen were saying do you want azaadi?” he said. According to the victim,
the incident took place near Krishna Marg bus stop in Kardam Puri locality of
Shahdara at around 5:45 PM.In conclusion,Alt News was able to independently
verify that the video showing police brutality in the vicinity of Delhi’s
Jafrabad was shot during violent clashes on Feb.24, 2020.thewire
Delhi violence: Video of inflammatory slogans at BJP MLA’s march
surfaces
New Delhi :BJP MLA Abhay Verma on Tuesday night led a march in his area
in Laxmi Nagar of east Delhi, during which people were allegedly chanting
“Police ke hatyaaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko” (Shoot the people, who murdered
the policeman).In a video of the march, the group was also heard chanting “Jo
Hindu hit ki baat karega, wohi desh pe raj karega” (People who talk about the
welfare of the Hindus, they will only rule in the country) and “Jai Shree Ram”.
vWhen contacted Verma confirmed that both the slogans were raised, but that it
was by “common people” in the area and not his supporters. “You see the videos,
I’m waving my hands and asking people not to raise the slogans. But in a mob,
who will stop whom,” Verma said.In the
video, a person walking very close to Verma, on his right side, is raising the
slogans, while others surrounding him completed the slogans. Verma is seen
waving his hands, at least when the group was chanting “Hamara vidayak kaisa
ho... Abhay Verma jaisa ho”.thehindu
BJP MLA Abhay Verma leads East Delhi march with ‘Goli maaro saalo ko’ as
mob violence continues
BJP avenged electoral loss by inciting riots in Delhi:RJD leader
Tejashwi
Patna:Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday
gave his two-cents on the violence erupting in the national capital. "BJP
has avenged their (electoral) loss in the national capital," said RJD
leader and sitting leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly. Tejashwi trained his guns on BJP in power at
the Centre by claiming, "After such a big (electoral) loss, BJP has sent a
message to the nation that if you defeat us, we will burn you."indiatoday
"Exercise Caution": US Advisory For Its Citizens In Delhi Amid
Clashes
New Delhi: Amid clashes in parts of Delhi over the controversial
citizenship law, US today advised its citizens to "exercise caution".
The advisory comes a day after US President Donald Trump concluded his first
state to India. Today, in an elaborate advisory, US advised its citizens to
"exercise caution". "US citizens in India should exercise
caution in light of violent demonstrations in northeast Delhi and avoid all
areas with demonstrations," the official statement read. ndtv
Delhi violence:Journalists have been attacked by communal mobs, say
media organisations
Press Club of India and Indian Women’s Press Corps have expressed
serious concern over the attack on journalists covering the communal violence
in northeast Delhi.“Several of them have been hospitalised. They have been
punched and attacked by communal mobs, and police were either absent or have
not come to help. Shockingly, mobs were checking religious credentials of
journalists,” said joint statement. thehindu
Delhi violence: I&B ministry asks TV channels not to air content
promoting ‘anti-national attitude’
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has asked all private satellite
TV channels to be cautious about content that may instigate violence or promote
“anti-national” attitudes. “It is hereby reiterated that all TV channels are
advised to be particularly cautious with regard to any content which is likely
to encourage or incite violence, or contains anything against the maintenance
of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes,” advisory read.The advisory
also asked television channels not to air any content that contained attack on
religions or communities or visuals or words that could be contemptuous of
religious groups or which promote communal attitudes.scroll
‘Hindu ho? Bach gaye’ Express
journalist’s account from Karawal Nagar
Indian Express journalist Shivnarayan Rajpurohit on being confronted by
a mob that assaulted him, snatched his phone and smashed his spectacles in
Northeast Delhi. Rajpurohit recounted,"It was around 1 pm. I stopped to
write down the mobile number of a bakery shop whose confectionery items and
furniture lay singeing in middle of a road at West Karawal Nagar.A man in his
40s walked up to me and asked: “Who are you? What are you doing here?” I
introduced myself as a journalist. “You can’t report from here,” he threatened
and consigned my notebook into the burning heap of bakery items.Amid this, a
group of around 50 people surrounded me and the clamour to check my phone grew
because they were convinced I had clicked photos of violence. They thumbed
through my recent pictures and found no photo or video of the unrest. But they
were not taken in and deleted all my photos and videos before returning the
phone to me. “Why have you come here?” “Are you from JNU?”. These questions
were asked before group asked me to leave if I cared for my life.This was a
precursor to what I was about to encounter." He continued, "Again
some men accused me of clicking pictures. A youth, with his face covered, told
me to hand over my phone. Reluctant to part with it, I told him all photos had
been deleted. He shouted back: “Phone de.” He then stepped behind me and landed
a rod on my thighs twice, which made me unsteady for a moment. Expletives
poured in. Some sane voices filtered through the din: “What’s more precious to
you: Your phone or life?” I gave the phone to the youth. They cheered and the
youth disappeared into the crowd. I was spared momentarily until another mob
followed me.A man, seemingly in his 50s,removed my spectacles, stepped on them
and slapped me twice for “reporting from a Hindu-dominated area”. They checked
my press card. “Shivnarayan Rajpurohit, hmm. Hindu ho? Bach gaye.” Not
satisfied, they wanted more proof whether I was a real Hindu. “Bolo Jai Shri
Ram”. I was silent."
Delhi violence: Pregnant woman out to pick daughter from school in Chand
Bagh narrates ordeal, says cops, mob beat her unconscious
As northeast Delhi witnessed massive riots on Monday, several innocent
men, women and children were caught between the clashing groups and the ensuing
police crackdown.Rubina Bano, a resident of Delhi's Chand Bagh area narrated
her ordeal. In a first-person account, Bano revealed that she was mercilessly
beaten up by male policemen with lathis and batons. She said she had heard about
the disturbance but she had only come out of the house as she had to go to pick
up her daughter from school who was appearing for her board exams. Bano was
also three-months-pregnant when the incident happened. She said she was on her
way to the school when she was stopped and ambushed by a group of policemen and
an angry mob.Bano's attackers left deep welts and scars all over her body. It
was several hours after the attack that someone found her lying bleeding and
unconscious, and her family was alerted. Bano also revealed that the policemen
were actually preventing locals from accessing government hospitals or
ambulances stationed close to the protest sites.firstpost
Muslim cemetery desecrated and shops set on fire, but police missing in
action in Delhi
New Delhi: A group of at least 200 people were gathered around a Muslim
cemetery armed with hammers, sickles and axes. This was just 100 metres from Gokulpuri
police station in Northeast Delhi. On one call, all of them raised their tools
and struck the building’s boundary wall. “Jai Shri Ram,” they said, and struck
again. There was not a single policeman in the vicinity to stop them.A part of
the mob then ran across the road and set two shops that had ‘Khan’ written on
them on fire. And still no policemen, who were clearly outnumbered, tried to
stop them. The mob that demolished the boundary wall of cemetery in Gokulpuri
was then adamant to go inside and damage the graves.“Now wait and watch. They
have challenged us and we will now show them their place,” one man from the mob
screamed.When this reporter tried to ask questions, another man said, “Let us
do our work. Just go away. And I am warning you, no one will report from this.
No video will be shot, else we will bury you in these very graves.”This
reporter (Ananya Bhardwaj) was also heckled and asked to show her phone.A
policeman on bike, doing rounds of the area, crossed at that very moment. He
saw the mob, but did not care to stop.“Do not think the police will help you.
They are with us. The entire Hindu community is with us. Go away,else you will
meet the fate of the men who have been killed. Till when will we sit and see
our men getting killed? It is our chance now,” the second man said.The mob chased
this reporter and at that moment they saw a few people videographing the
episode from the opposite carriageway. A group of men then ran to that side to
stop the men and the same mob then set a shop on fire.theprint
Delhi Violence: Sonia Gandhi says violence pre-planned, calls for Amit
Shah’s resignation
Congress president Sonia Gandhi
on Wednesday demanded resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to
control the situation in Delhi. Addressing the media, she said that the Central
government and Home Ministry are responsible for the loss of lives in the
national capital. “The Centre and the Union Home Minister is responsible for
the present situation in Delhi. The Union Home Minister should resign,” she
said. She also blamed the provocative remarks made by BJP leaders for the
unrest. She alleged that there is a conspiracy behind the violence and the
country also saw this during Delhi elections. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal said that the city police was unable to control the situation
in the national capital and Army should be deployed.
'Never felt so scared': AAP, Congress, DMK, CPI(M) leaders express
concern over Delhi violence
As death toll in the violent clashes in Northeast Delhi touches 20,
leaders across India have condemned the incidents, slamming the ruling
governments for failing to control the situation.Deputy CM of Delhi Manish
Sisodia said he had never felt scared in his own city before. "Been in
Delhi since 30 years. Never felt so scared in my own city. What is happening?
Who are these people who are burning down Delhi? I am really saddened and
embarrassed today. This is Delhi-the national capital. We have to save it,"
Sisodia tweeted in Hindi.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the violent
protests over CAA in Northeast Delhi, urging people to show restraint and
understanding.Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram
raised questions over the inefficiency of the Delhi Police.Punjab CM Captain
Amrinder Singh urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
"to sit together and resolve the crisis immediately".Leader of
Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and DMK President MK Stalin
said the violence in Delhi had reached alarming proportions with gruesome
attacks on citizens and journalists. "Union Govt, which controls police in
Delhi, must act swiftly to book perpetrators of violence and restore normalcy.
Democracy is at peril," he tweeted.CPI (M) leader and MP from West Bengal,
Sitaram Yechury questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister
Amit Shah over the deteriorating law and order situation in the national
capital.businesstoday
CBSE postpones board exams scheduled for tomorrow
CBSE postpones the English exam for Class 12 scheduled for tomorrow in
North East Part of Delhi. In a notification, it said that exams in rest of
Delhi shall be conducted as scheduled. The next date of exam for affected
students will be notified shortly, it added.
Delhi Violence Like 'Horror Film Depicting Anti-Sikh Riots,' Says Shiv
Sena
Mumbai: Observing that the violence in Delhi is akin to a “horror film”
depicting the grim reality of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday
said the “bloodbath” has brought disrepute to the national capital like never
before while US President Donald Trump was in India with the “message of love”.
Editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana lamented that Trump was welcomed in Delhi
while there was a bloodbath on the streets.PTI
Delhi violence similar to Gujarat 2002:Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik
Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, has said that the
violence in Delhi is similar to what happened in Gujarat in 2002 and raised
doubts about the role of police.Malik said, "There is continuous violence
in Delhi, the police are standing by the rioters, their role is doubtful. If
such is the situation in the national capital then what can happen in the rest
of the country. What is happening in 2020 in Delhi is looking similar to what
happened in Gujarat in 2002. There is some kind of a model like 2002 Gujarat
model."ANI
‘Won’t be another Shaheen Bagh in Delhi’:BJP leader Mishra as protesters leave Jafrabad road
New Delhi: BJP leader Kapil Mishra tweeted a short video on Tuesday
which shows the police in riot gear patrolling an empty road below the Metro
station in Northeast Delhi’s Jafrabad, one of the worst affected areas due to
violence.11-second clip has been tweeted with the caption in Hindi: “Jafrabad
is empty. There won’t be another Shaheen Bagh now.” It is a reference to the
south Delhi locality where a section of road has been blocked due to protest
against the CAA which has been going on
for more than 2 months now. The protest site below the Jafrabad Metro station
was cleared by the police on Tuesday evening.HT
Only those who say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ can stay in India, says Himachal
CM on Delhi violence
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has said only those who
say “Bharat Mata ki Jai” can stay in India amid escalating tension in North
East Delhi after groups opposing and supporting the new citizenship law clashed
over 3 days. “The person who says ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ will stay in India and
the one who does not say it, who opposes India, does not respect the
Constitution, and repeatedly dishonours it, there is definitely a need to think
about them,” Thakur told the media after first sitting of the Vidhan Sabha’s
Budget Session. The chief minister added that it was time to “strictly deal”
with those who complain too much about the situation in the country. BJP is in
power in Himachal./scroll/Indian Express
'Delhi violence reminding us of Gujarat 2002', Owaisi flays BJP on
violence in Delhi
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has slammed the Modi-led BJP government for
being the soul cause for violence in the national capital that has already claimed
20 lives. Owaisi compared the situation in Delhi with the riots in Gujarat in
2002 when Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of the state."What is happening
in Delhi cannot be called as a communal riot, this is a genocide. It reminds us
of Gujarat 2002. I pray to god that it does not escalate to the level of 2002
riots. I plead to Central government, this is not 2002, this is 2020. If you
have any shame lef, please stop this," Owaisi said.india tv
Imran Khan Targets Modi Govt Over Delhi Violence: Genie Out Of Bottle,
Bloodshed Will Get Worse
New Delhi :Even as officials grapple to restore normalcy in the
violence-hit North-East Delhi, India’s nuclear neighbour Pakistan on Wednesday
targeted the Narendra Modi government. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took
to Twitter to launch a veiled attack against India. Without specifically
mentioning violence in Delhi, Khan said that the world must take notice and act
on it. “Today in India we are seeing Nazi-inspired RSS ideology take over a
nuclear-armed state of over a billion people. Whenever a racist ideology based
on hatred takes over, it leads to bloodshed,” Khan said in a series of
tweets.“As I had predicted in my address to UN GA last year, once the genie is out
of the bottle the bloodshed will get worse. IOJK was the beginning. Now 200
million Muslims in India are being targeted. The world community must act now,”
he further said. Khan then went on to issue a farce warning against those
indulging in violence against minorities in Pakistan. “I want to warn our
people that anyone in Pakistan targeting our non-Muslim citizens or their
places of worship will be dealt with strictly. Our minorities are equal
citizens of this country,” Khan said.
newsnation
Pakistan PM claims all Indian
Muslims are being targeted, urges global intervention
Army writes to Defence, Home ministries over combat dress of police,
paramilitary
New Delhi:After photographs of paramilitary or state police personnel in
Jaffrabad, Delhi wearing “Army pattern” combat uniforms surfaced on social
media, the Army has requested Defence Ministry and Home Ministry to issue
guidelines that combat dress not be worn while handling law and order
situations, or in urban areas affected by terrorism.Sources said Army, in a
letter to Defence Ministry, said that “combat dress should not be worn” by
paramilitary forces “while being employed to handle law & order situations
as also while being deployed in urban areas affected by terrorism, as the
surroundings do not demand such a requirement”. It also said that “use of
distinctly different (both in colour and pattern) disruptive dress by CAPFs and
State Police forces should be restricted only to employment in jungle terrain
in Left Wing Extremism affected areas”.TOI
Delhi CAA violence: MANUU students call for one-day bandh, demand action
against accused
In the wake of continued violence over the new citizenship law, that
rocked the national capital on Tuesday, MANUU Students' Union (MANUU) in
Hyderabad on Wednesday called for a one-day university bandh.In order to show
solidarity, hundreds of students took out a rally from all the hostels and
gathered at the main gate of the university in Gachibowali, Hyderabad and
raised slogans demanding stringent action against the accused.indiatoday
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Shaheen Bagh protest: SC says ‘too many ifs and buts’ in interlocutors’
report, larger Issues Need to be Handled First; next hearing on March 23
The Supreme Court today deferred hearing on petitions to remove Shaheen
Bagh protestors to shift their agitation against the CAA to an alternative
site, saying the “environment is not conducive”.A bench of Justices SK Kaul and
KM Joseph passed no interim orders and fixed matter for hearing next on March
23. “Environment isn’t very conducive to hear Shaheen Bagh protests case,” the
court said. “Sanity has to be maintained by everyone when a matter is to be
heard.”“Let everything cool down first,” Justice Kaul said. “There are larger
issues that need to be handled right now. I expect both sides to act
responsibly.”The SC said that there are “too many ifs and buts” in the interlocutors’ report. The problems raised by
the report will have to be considered by the court while arriving at a
decision.The court reiterated that report will not be shared with the
petitioners or the lawyers representing the Centre and Delhi Police at this
stage.scroll/ News18 /indian express
Shaheen Bagh protests: SC rebukes Delhi Police, says timing 'unconducive'
to hear matter
Allegations of Manhandling, Detentions as Delhi Police 'Clears'
Protesters From Khureji Khas
New Delhi: Amidst news that the anti-CAA protests at Khureji Khas in
north east Delhi have been ‘cleared’ by Delhi Police, scattered protesters at the
site have been putting up social media posts of alleged manhandling,
lathicharge and an unwarranted detentions by police. Lawyers have allegedly not
been allowed to enter the Jagatpuri police station, where the detainees have
been taken.One of the lawyers present at the police station that The Wire spoke
to said police first discouraged lawyers who were present at the police station
from entering. After they waited there for more than an hour, and demanded to
be let in to meet the unspecified number of people who have been detained,
police began asking them to back off.“An official began filming us, and another
snatched away a phone from a female colleague who was filming the goings on,”
said one of the lawyers on the scene, requesting anonymity. Lawyer also alleged
that rightwing activists in saffron were present outside the police station. A
tweeted video shows police using force while shoving a woman protester into a
police vehicle.Police have also removed the bamboo framework, gateway and
awnings at the protest site as the videos below show.In video below, police can
be seen breaking CCTV cameras, allegedly at the site. Protests at Khureji have
been taking place off the road, since January 13.Late on Tuesday, police also
removed protesters sitting in at Jaffrabad, against CAA.thewire
Police Clear Khureji Protest Site with Force, ‘Attack’ Lawyers Seeking
Release of Detainees
Delhi: Lawyers allegedly get beaten up by policemen for seeking release
of anti-CAA protestor
'They want to break us': In Shaheen Bagh, anxiety and determination
after Delhi violence
“This is not the time to sit at home and watch TV,” exhorted Amna Faheem
on the mic, urging more people to come out and protest. “They want to break us.
Scare us. But it won’t work. We will carry on peacefully.” Faheem was speaking
at protest site in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area where women have occupied a road
for more than two months to protest the Modi government’s plans to bring in a
religious element to Indian citizenship. The mood at Shaheen Bagh was a mixture
of anxiety and anger on Wednesday.“It is shameful what has happened over the
past 3 days. Delhi is the capital. And here the government is sleeping?”said
Mehrunnissa, a woman protestor. “If someone is protesting peacefully how can
they be attacked. It is our right [to protest]. How can Kapil Mishra call for
violence?”scroll
Anti-CAA women protesters begin dharna at Seelampur again
New Delhi: Even as an uneasy calm prevailed in northeast Delhi after
several incidents of violence which claimed many lives, women protesters on
Wednesday were back at Seelampur to protest against the citizenship law,
opening yet another front for the administration to deal with.This was the
exact place where women have been protesting for the last two months. They had
moved to Jafrabad Metro station on Saturday but were removed by the local
police on Tuesday following objections by groups supporting the citizenship
law.Interestingly, women protesters are accompanied by men who are standing
there as a shield for the women protesters.-IANS
Adityanath slams anti-CAA protests for sullying India's image abroad
UP CM Yogi Adityanath today
underlined ruling BJP ideology of “Nation First” and slammed arson and violence
on issue of CAA.Speaking on the floor of the house in assembly, Adityanath
blamed the opposition parties for peddling lies and creating confusion in the
country on the issues of CAA, and NPR and NRC.He claimed the anti-CAA protests
were being intensified at a time when the country was progressing towards
becoming an economic powerhouse.business-standard
Former UP Governor Aziz Qureshi booked over anti-CAA speech in Moradabad
Former Uttar Pradesh governor
Aziz Qureshi was on Wednesday booked for his "provocative" speech
during an anti-CAA protest meet held in Moradabad on February 22."Qureshi
participated in an anti-CAA protest meet at Idgah Maidan in Moradabad. He
addressed the gathering there. For issuing a provocative speech and stoking
emotions, a case has been registered against him at Galshaheed police
station," SP (City) Moradabad Amit Kumar Anand said. Earlier, Qureshi had
said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have no
right to discriminate on the basis of religion, which is unconstitutional.ANI
Police issue prohibitory notices to 302 people in Aligarh
Aligarh Police has issued prohibitory notices to over 300 people
restricting their movement and warning them of action if there is any trouble
in the city, which has seen violent clashes over CAA. Officials said the
"red notices" were issued on Tuesday to 302 people in connection with
the violence on Sunday, informing them about restriction on their movement. The
notices have been issued in connection with the violence in Upper Court
locality Sunday evening when women protesters were asked to vacate a sit-in
site. The tension spilled over to Monday when clashes broke out between the
anti-CAA protesters and the police in Jamalpur locality. The police also took
some initiatives on Wednesday to maintain peace in the city and called upon all
sections of society to join hands and play a proactive role in keeping harmony,
ADGP Ajay Anand said. Meanwhile, DIG Pratender Singh said one Mohammad Tariq,
who suffered gunshot injuries on Sunday, is "stable and recovering"
at Jawaharlal Nehru hospital." The rumour of his death is absolutely
baseless," he said.PTI
7 AMU students booked for anti-CAA protest sans permission
The police booked seven students of AMU, including five females and two
males, in connection with the ongoing anti-CAA
protest on an important link road in Jeevangarh area of Aligarh. Protest
began on Monday night, a day after the violence in Aligarh when a group of
women staged a sit-in on the link road.“The protest at Jeevangarh is illegal
and does not have permission from administration. We have lodged an FIR in this
regard. Role of AMU students has been found in the protest, so a few of them
are also named in the FIR,” said SSP (Aligarh) Muniraj G.According to police
sources, one Mohd Sajjad and Shadab, active in student politics at AMU, and
five female students, are named in FIR along with the two. “For further action,
we will share the details of these accused with the AMU administration,” said
the SSP.AMU registrar Abdul Hamid said, “The university administration will
take suitable action against the students after reviewing evidence and
information provided against them.”HT
Women at Deoband to carry on peaceful anti-CAA protests
Meerut:Thousands of women who are protesting against CAA at the Idgah
ground of Deoband since January 27 are determined to continue their protest
peacefully till it meets its right end and will not give up even after the
changed circumstances post clashes in North- East Delhi which has claimed more
than 20 lives.The recent violence in Delhi has strengthened the determination
of the women protestors in Deoband though they have clearly said that they
would not resort to any kind of violence and will never reply a stone with a
stone.The Idgah ground of Deoband of district Saharanpur is all packed with
women who are sitting on a dharna in order to protest CAA. Amna Roshi,
President of Mutahida Khawatin Committee( MKC) which is leading the protest
said, “Whatsoever are the circumstances we would continue our protest until
this CAA is withdrawn, ” she said adding that the women on protest in Deoband
are not affected after the Delhi clashes and their spirits are not
deterred.thestatesman
Kafeel Khan’s wife fears threat to his life in jail
Days after Gorakhpur-based doctor Kafeel Khan’s maternal uncle was shot
dead, his wife on Wednesday wrote to authorities stating that she feared a
threat to his life and demanded that the detained paediatrician be provided
better security in jail.Dr. Khan is lodged in Mathura jail, after being booked
under National Security Act for allegedly delivering a provocative speech at a
protest against CAA at AMU.Shabista Khan wrote to Chief Justice of Allahabad
High Court, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and DGP (Jail) of the State
asserting that she fears he could face a murder attempt and that “some innocent
prisoner would be falsely implicated” by administration to shift responsibility
.Ms. Khan demanded that her husband be kept away from “active criminals” and be
lodged with ‘ordinary prisoners’ in the jail, and also be provided security.“My
husband is being mentally tortured in jail and is being subjected to inhuman
behaviour,” she alleged. Nusratullah Warsi, a businessman and Dr. Khan’s
maternal uncle was shot dead late on Saturday in Gorakhpur. In June 2018, Dr.
Khan’s younger brother Kashif Jameel was grievously wounded after being shot
thrice.thehindu
Hapur DM appoints magistrates at police station level to prevent
anti-CAA violence
Hapur: Taking note of the violence against CAA, DM of Hapur on Wednesday
divided the district into 3 zones and appointed magistrates at the police
station level to prevent any such incident in the area.A directive issued by
the district administration stated that DM has appointed Deputy Collector Satya
Prakash as magistrate for the entire tehsil area.Further, Tehsildar Gajendra
Singh has been appointed in Kotwali area, Tehsildar Judicial Renuka Dixit in
Babugarh and Thana Pawar Kumar Magistrate in Hapur village area, letter
added.ANI
Gauhati HC rejects Assam woman’s 8 documents, mother’s testimony for
citizenship
Agarwala :On Feb.18, Gauhati High Court dismissed a petition claiming
citizenship by a woman from Assam, incarcerated at a detention centre in Jorhat
since Jan.2019.Nur Begum, declared foreigner by Foreigners’ Tribunal, Jorhat,
on January 24, 2019, petitioned the High Court defence of her citizenship.Nur
Begum submitted 8 documents, including a 1966 voters’ list bearing her
grandfather’s name. To establish her relationship with her grandfather, she
submitted three documents: Class IX certificate from a provincialised school, a
Gaon Burah (village headman) certificate, and a caste certificate stating that
she belongs to the ‘Jolha’ community. All of them bore her father’s name, Raju
Hussain, alias Rajen Ali.In addition, she submitted 1997 voters’ list, which
established the relationship between her projected father and grandfather.
However, the court was not satisfied with the documents, which sought to
establish her relationship with her projected father.The court ruled that “all
certificates rendered itself as inadmissible in evidence, inasmuch as the
authors were not examined to prove the certificates and the contents thereof”.In
other words, the court affirmed that the issuing authority of the linkage
documents failed to vouch for their authenticity in court.“The court was of the
opinion that she could not prove her linkage with her father because of lack of
oral testimony to prove the contents of the 3 documents,” Nur Begum’s lawyer
HRA Choudhury said.indianexpress
Case Against Poet Imran Pratapgarhi For Asking "Why No Shaheen Bagh
In Hyderabad"
Hyderabad Police has registered a case against well-known poet Imran
Pratapgarhi for his statement asking why there was "no Shaheen Bagh in
Hyderabad". According to Charminar Police, the complaint was registered by
Sub-Inspector S Guruswamy, who was on duty at QQ Stadium on Feb.24 where an
Ehtaji Mishaira (Poetry Program) against CAA, NRC and NPR was held.Permission
for the said event was granted by Hyderabad Additional Commissioner of Police
to the program organisers with certain guidelines including that poetry program
should be held on February 24 from 6 pm to 9 pm, and no speaker should give
provocative speeches in the program.However, the police said that the program
was started by the organisers at 6 pm and continued till 9:48 pm even after
police officers asked them to end the event by 9 pm. The program was attended
by around 3,000 members at QQ stadium. According to police, while addressing
the meeting Pratapgarhi said, "Mujhe hairath hai us Hyderabad mein koi
Shaheen Bagh kyu nahi hai (I am surprised why there is no Shaheen Bagh in
Hyderabad)", which is "provocative" and may cause fear to any
section of the public.Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir took to Twitter to
condemn the police action."Shame on TRS Government and Hyderabad Police
for targeting a poet for no-fault," he added.ANI
''''Maoist'''' posters against CAA surface in Kerala village
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/maoist-posters-against-caa-surface-in-kerala-village/1744622
Kannur:Handwritten posters allegedly put up by Maoists, calling for a
"revolt" against CAA, have surfaced in a village near here on
Wednesday. The posters, which were found pasted at Ambayathod this morning,
flayed the central and state governments over the amended Citizeship law and
called for a "joint action" by Dalit, Tribal and Maoist groups. The
posters, in the name of Western Ghats Special Zone Committee of CPI (Maoist),
also cautioned against the "communal agenda" of "fundamentalist
organisations" such as PFI and SDPI in backdrop of anti-CAA protests.
"Resist the attempts of PFI and SDPI to implement their fundamentalist
communal agenda by making use of the communist-Maoist and Dalit organisations,"
it read in Malayalam.PTI
Kerala: Hundreds join ‘occupy Raj Bhavan’ protest
Thiruvananthapuram: The city saw one of the biggest protests in recent
history when anti-CAA protesters laid siege to Raj Bhavan under the aegis of
Welfare Party of India.30-hour protest titled ‘Occupy Raj Bhavan’ was
inaugurated by Asma Khatun (90) of Shaheen Bagh, one of the oldest women
leading the protest there. She handed over a copy of the preamble of the
Constitution to Aysha Renna of Jamia Millia Islamia University, who is one of
the young faces of the protest.Khatun said it was the brutality on their
children at Jamia that prompted mothers of Shaheen Bagh to launch the protest. Congress
leaders Adoor Prakash and MM Hassan, IUML general secretary KPA Majeed spoke at
the event. WPI state president Hameed Vaniyambalam delivered the keynote
address.On Wednesday, Bilkis (82) and Sarvari (75) of Shaheen Bagh will turn up
at the protest venue to address the agitators.TOI
Kerala: Bajrang Dal activist held for posting video on social media
abusing Muslims
Kerala police has arrested a youth for releasing a video on social media
abusing and instigating violence against the anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen
Bagh in Delhi.Agali police in Palakkad district arrested 24-year-old Sreejith
Raveendran of Kallamala in Attappadi following a complaint lodged by Mohammad
Iqbal, branch secretary of DYFI.Muslims will be taught a lesson after US
president Donald Trump leaves India. Sreejith is said to be a local
office-bearer of the Bajrang Dal.Mumbai Mirror
In Kerala, the Constitution of India is a much sought-after 'Mahr' in
Muslim weddings:bangalore mirror
Young couples in Kerala are lately using their wedding as a platform to
convey the message of religious harmony and importance of the Constitution of
India in the time of communal tension in various parts of the country over CAA.Recently,
wedding between PA Nishad, a lawyer practising in the Kerala High Court, and
Najma Thabsheera, an LLM student at Calicut University, saw the groom
presenting the bride copies of the Constitution of India and the Quran to his
bride as 'Mahr' during their wedding held on Feb.16. In Islam, a 'Mahr' is a
payment in the form of money or possessions paid by groom."Apart from
sending home the message against dowry, we wanted to tell the people the
Constitution is as important as the Quran for Muslims in India. It is the
Constitution that protects the Quran in our country," Nishad was quoted as
saying by a report.
Assam: Akhil Gogoi to Hold 24-Hour Anti-CAA Dharna in Jail
Guwahati: Peasant leader Akhil Gogoi, arrested under stringent UAPA
during anti-CAA protests in Assam, said on Tuesday he will stage a 24-hour
dharna in the jail from March 1 in protest against the contentious law.A
Special NIA Court on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of Gogoi, adviser of
peasant body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), till March 7. The
organisation’s general secretary Dhairjya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal, president
of KMSS students’ wing Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), were also remanded to
judicial custody for the same period.While being produced before the court on
Tuesday, Gogoi told journalists that the movement against CAA is weakening
because people are not united.Gogoi said if BJP has to be defeated in 2021
Assembly elections in the state, “we must create an alternative force”.Gogoi, also
an RTI activist, has been in judicial custody since December 26. PTI
*J&K
AND S. ASIA*
Mehbooba’s daughter seeks direction to J&K police to produce her
mother in SC,case listed on March 18
The government dossier justifies detaining former Jammu and Kashmir
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) on
grounds such as she was “scheming, hard-headed and a daddy’s girl” with a
“short-lived marriage”, Iltija Mufti, her daughter, informed the Supreme Court
on Wednesday.In a habeas corpus petition, Ms. Iltija Mufti sought a direction
to the J&K police to produce her mother in the Supreme Court and set her at
liberty. She also sought the court to quash Feb.5, detention order of her
mother under PSA.A 3-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra issued notice to J&K
govt. It then listed the habeas corpus case on March 18, nearly a month later.
The habeas corpus petition of another former Chief Minister of J&K, Omar
Abdullah, is also pending in the Supreme Court.The petition said Ms. Mufti had
been termed ‘Kota Rani’ in the dossier. It said the name was an insult as it
referred to a “Muslim queen who rose to power by dubious means such as by poisoning
her opponents”.
SC seeks J&K govt’s response on plea challenging Mehbooba’s
detention under PSA
Under scanner for 11 deaths in
Jammu, 3,400 bottles of cough syrup sold
At least 3,400 bottles of cough
syrup ColdBest-PC from the batch suspected to have contained a poisonous compound
— which allegedly led to deaths of 11 children in Ramnagar area of Udhampur
district in Jammu region between Dec.2019 and Jan.2020 — have been sold since
Sept.last year.“Around 3,400-3,450 (bottles) have been consumed already because
the batch was in market since Sept,”said Himachal Pradesh Drug Controller
Navneet Marwah. “We are trying our best to track down consumers through sales
receipts, but this is an old batch. It’s a 60 ml bottle, so if someone took 5-6
ml in each dose, it would finish in 10-12 doses,” he said.About 5,500 bottles
of the cough syrup, manufactured by Himachal-based Digital Vision Pharma, were
sold in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu), Shillong (Meghalaya) and Tripura, in Sept.2019.
Between Dec and Jan, at least 17 children experienced adverse effects in
Ramnagar area of Udhampur. Eleven of these children died from acute kidney
failure. While investigations are still on, initial findings point to the cough
syrup as the cause of death.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan, Wife And Son Sent To Jail For A Week By UP
Court
Rampur: Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan, his wife Tanzeen Fatima and their
son Abdullah Azam, a former MLA, have been sent to jail for seven days by a
court in western Uttar Pradesh's Rampur town. The next hearing of the case will
be on Monday.The Khan family had been ignoring summons by the courts in various
cases lodged against them in the last year by the Yogi Adityanath government,
as a result of which warrants were issued against them. Azam Khan, MP from
Rampur has cases of land grab, encroachment, book theft, power theft, statue
theft, buffalo theft, goat theft against him, while his son Abdullah Azam was
booked by the local police for forgery in birth date documents.A local court in
Rampur had earlier ordered attachment of the properties of the three after
non-bailable warrants were issued against them in one of the cases and they
still refused to appear in court. Samajwadi leader had made several attempts to
get anticipatory bail but the same was denied by the court.Visuals from the
Rampur jail showed the politician and his family being brought to prison in a
police jeep and hundreds of Samajwadi Party workers collected outside the jail
complex raising slogans in his favour. "He is a big leader. BJP
government, ever since they came to power, is foisting false cases on him to
malign him. But Azam Khan respects the law and the law will give him
justice,"said Naresh Uttam Patel, the state president of the Samajwadi
Party.ndtv
UP Cabinet nod to replace ‘Urdu, Arabi-Farsi’ in Lucknow’s Chisti
varsity with ‘languages’
Lucknow :In a significant decision, the state Cabinet on Tuesday cleared
a proposal seeking amendment in the Uttar Pradesh State University Act 1973, to
rename of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University, a state
university, as “Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti Languages University, Lucknow”.Sources
said that in proposal it was cited that in the state, apart from Urdu, Arabic
and Farsi languages, literary and cultural studies as well as research takes
place in other languages as well such as Hindi, Sanskrit, Pali, and other
Indian languages. Not just this, there is a need to study not just English but
foreign languages as well like French, German, Japanese etc. Moreover, since
there is no specific university for languages in Uttar Pradesh thus, Khwaja
Moinuddin Chisti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University can serve as a useful center for
study and research of not just Indian but also foreign languages.indianexpress
Malegaon blast case: No effective progress in trial, Bombay HC directs
NIA to explain delay
Bombay High Court has said there
has not been any ‘effective progress’ in the trial of 2008 Malegaon blast case
and asked NIA to explain the delay.A division bench of acting Chief Justice
Bhushan P Dharmadhikari and Justice NR Borkar was hearing a plea by Samir
Kulkarni, one of the accused seeking speedy trial, stating that NIA and
co-accused were deliberately delaying the proceedings.BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya
Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit are among the accused facing the
trial.Kulkarni submitted that the High Court in October last year had ordered
the Special NIA court to expedite the trial, but only 14 witnesses have been
examined since then.After perusing reports submitted on Tuesday, the bench
said, “Prima facie, we find that there has been no effective progress in the
trial as of now.”The bench also directed NIA to explain as to why the trial was
being prolonged and posted the further hearing to March 16.indianexpress
Time is ripe for bringing in uniform civil code: Karnataka Minister Ravi
Karnataka Minister C T Ravi today said "time is ripe" for
bringing in Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, as there was demand for
"equality" from across the board now. Pointing at opposition parties
and those opposing CAA and NRC seeking equality, he said, as those who desired
for inequality in the past are now seeking equality, the time was right to
bring in UCC now. "As a BJP spokesperson if I have to say- time is ripe to
bring in Uniform Civil Code, why because, everyone is speaking about equality;
there is no time ripe than this to bring in UCC,"Ravi said. He said,
"There is some kind of acceptancy now,all these days those who were
opposing are now asking for equality. Those who were feeling that BJP had the
lease on chanting ''Bharat Mata ki Jai'' are now saying ''Bharat Mata ki Jai''
and are also chanting ''Vande Mataram''. They are holding national flag and
roaming around, so the time is ripe. This is my opinion holding a responsible
position in the party, he added.PTI
Communal Violence in Gujarat: Govt to place parts of Khambhat under
Disturbed Areas Act
Khambhat:On the third day after communal violence broke out in Khambhat,
a town in Anand district, the Gujarat government announced that it would place
parts of the town under the Disturbed Areas Act, blaming its demographic
situation for repeated incidents of violence. The continuing hostilities
between the communities are being blamed on an eight-year-old land
dispute.Clashes broke out in Akhbarpura area of the town on Sunday, leading to
arson and rioting in which 13 people were injured.RAF was called in on
Tuesday.On Tuesday, Khambhat remained shut following a bandh called by members
of Hindu community, even as sporadic incidents of violence was reported from
various parts of the town. After the Sunday violence, four separate FIRs were
registered, over 2,000 people were booked and 47 people were arrested under
charges of rioting, arson and attempt to murder.According to FIR, a mob armed
with stones, sticks and other sharp-edged weapons gathered at Akhbarpura over a
stone-pelting rumour.Several members of Muslim community locked their homes and
took refuge in madarasas, police said.indianexpress
Former IPS officer DG Vanzara gets post-retirement promotion by Gujarat
govt
Gujarat govt has given a post-retirement promotion to former IPS officer
DG Vanzara to the post of IG on Tuesday. Dahyaji Gobarji (DG) Vanzara had
retired from the IPS as DIG on May 31, 2014, after eight years in jail for his
alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings by Gujarat Police. However, in
2017 and 2019, CBI courts had acquitted him of all charges in two fake
encounter killing cases. Vanzara is now entitled to pension and arrears of
salary pending from Sept.2007.An IPS officer of 1987 batch, Vanzara along with
RK Pandian and Dinesh MN (Rajasthan cadre) was first arrested in April 2007 by
a team of Gujarat CID for his alleged involvement in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and
his wife Kauser bi fake encounter case. He was later also charged for the
encounter killing of Ishrat Jahan and three others and Tulsiram
Prajapati.indianexpress
Jawed Ashraf to be India's next envoy to France
New Delhi: Seasoned diplomat Jawed Ashraf was on Wednesday appointed
India's next Ambassador to France. Ashraf, a 1991-batch Indian Foreign Service
officer, is presently serving as Indian High Commissioner to Singapore.
"He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," Ministry of
External Affairs said.PTI
In UP, village head wishes "bright future" in death
certificate
Ever heard of someone wishing a 'bright future' for the dead? In a
bizarre incident in Unnao district, a village head issued a death certificate
with the wish for an elderly man who had died last month.The incident took
place in the Sirwariya village in Asoha block where an elderly person Laxmi
Shankar died after a prolonged illness on January 22.His son went to the
village head Babulal and requested him to issue a death certificate that he
needed for some financial transactions.Babulal not only issued the death
certificate, but also wished "a bright future" for the deceased on
the document.IANS
55 Rajya Sabha seats to go to polls on March 26
New Delhi:Election Commission has announced elections to 55 Rajya Sabha
seats spread across 17 states.A notification for the biennial elections will be
issued on March 6. The last date of filing nominations is March 13. The polling
is scheduled for March 26 and the results will be announced the same day.Out of
the 55 seats going to polls, BJP currently occupies 18 and Congress 11.
indianexpress
Bar Association "Deeply Concerned" Over Supreme Court Judge's
"Effusive Praise" For PM
New Delhi: Bar Association of India (BAI) has expressed concern and
dismay over the use of "effusive terms of praise and adulation" by
Supreme Court Judge Justice Arun Mishra for PM Narendra Modi, saying such an
act served to dilute the perception of impartiality and independence of the
judiciary.It is a foundational obligation of the judges to maintain a discreet
and dignified distance from the executive branch of the govt, it said.BAI
President Lalit Bhasin said in a statement on Tuesday that such act also
diminishes the confidence of the public as the judges of the top court are
expected to decide cases against the executive branch while upholding
constitutional principles and the Rule of Law as paramount. Ndtv
Rajasthan bus accident: 25 killed, 3 injured after vehicle falls into
river in Bundi
Kota: At least 25 people died and three others sustained injuries as a
private bus carrying a wedding party fell into a river on Kota-Dausa highway in
Bundi district Tuesday morning, police said.The wedding party with 28 persons
on board was headed to Sawai Madhopur from Kota early morning when the driver
apparently lost control of the bus while traversing a bridge near Papdi village
under Lekhari police station limits, Lakheri Sub-Inspector Rajendra Kumar told
PTI over the phone.PTI
Delhi Once Again Tops List Of World's Most Polluted Capital Cities:
Report
Delhi topped the list of most polluted capital cities in the world in
2019, according to a new report which also revealed that 21 of the world's 30
most polluted cities are in India. According to the World Air Quality Report
2019 compiled by IQAir Air Visual, Ghaziabad is the most polluted city in the
world, followed by Hotan in China, Gujranwala and Faisalabad in Pakistan and
then Delhi in fifth place. 21 Indian cities which are in world's 30 most
polluted cities, in the order of their ranking, are, Ghaziabad, Delhi, Noida,
Gurugram, Greater Noida, Bandhwari, Lucknow, Bulandshahr, Muzaffarnagar,
Baghpat, Jind, Faridabad, Coraut, Bhiwadi, Patna, Palwal, Muzaffarpur, Hisar,
Kutail, Jodhpur and Moradabad.According to country-wise data, India ranked
fifth in world's most polluted countries with Bangladesh on top of the list followed
by Pakistan, Mongolia and Afghanistan. However, the report also mentions that
Indian cities have shown improvement from last year.PTI
*WORLD*
Malaysia's Pakatan Harapan coalition backs Anwar as PM
Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim today announced Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope)
coalition nominated him as its candidate for prime minister.Anwar's People's
Justice Party (PKR) members also announced they are putting his name forward as
the country's leader.The announcement follows the resignation on Monday of
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is currently running Malaysia in an acting
capacity.Earlier on Wednesday, Mahathir delivered a national address and
apologised for the "political turmoil" he caused."As a normal
human being I am bound to making mistakes. I apologise if my resignation was
wrong," the veteran leader said."If it is possible I will try to
establish a govt that does not favour any party. Only the interests of the
nation will take precedence."In a statement, Anwar said he opposed
"any efforts to form a backdoor government"."Pakatan invited
Mahathir to chair a meeting to restore Pakatan Harapan, but he disagreed to
attend the meeting on Tuesday,"said Anwar. "Therefore, presidential
committee has decided that Anwar Ibrahim is the prime minister nominee for
Pakatan."We wait for the decision of the king," he later told a news
conference.To try to end the crisis, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has been
meeting all 222 elected members of parliament over two days.aljazeera
PA: Building 3,500 new settlement units puts region at risk
Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned an Israeli decision to build 3,500
new settlement units in E1 area, stressing this would undermine security in the
region, Al Watan Voice reported.According to Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the official
spokesman of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, this decision comes in the context of
the Israeli policies aiming to destabilise the region.Yesterday, Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction of 3,500 new settlement
units in area E1, which lies between occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
This is in addition to 46,000 new settlement units which will be built in the
occupied West Bank.“I instructed the ministry’s planning teams to prepare plans
to expand communities in Judea and Samaria [occupied West Bank],”Minister of Construction
and Housing Yifat Shasha Biton said. “We currently have plans to build 46,000
housing units,” he added. He continued: “This number will increase three times
after the implementation of deal of the century.”middleeastmonitor
Hamas denies reports of meeting with Israel leaders
Hamas denied reports that meetings were held with Israeli leaders, a
statement said.“Hamas views Israel as an illegal and occupying entity,” the
statement, a copy of which was sent to MEMO, said.Hamas condemned the reports
about the claimed meetings with “Israeli enemy” and stressed that all of these
reports “are completely false and baseless”. The resistance group said that
these reports intended to “demonise Hamas and distort its image, its stances
and its leaders.” Hamas called on the media to be cautious in order not to
“fall into traps set by Zionist media and some of its arms.”MEMO
Report: 56 wounded in Israel crackdown on Palestinians in Jordan Valley
Some 56 people were wounded in an Israeli crackdown on Palestinians in
the north of the occupied Jordan Velley in the northeast of the West Bank , the
Palestinian Red Crescent said.According to Anadolu, six of the wounded were
shot with live ammunition and five were shot with rubber coated metal bullets
and were admitted to hospitals.Eight had suffered tear gas inhalation and needed
medical treatment in hospital.Palestinians gathered in the area in order to
protest against the US “peace deal”, which gives the Israeli occupation the
power to annex most of the occupied West Bank.
21 Palestinians in Gaza lose one or both eyes from Israel forces’ fire
during protests
Almost two dozen Palestinians have lost one or both eyes as a result of
Israeli forces’ repression of Great Return March protests in the Gaza Strip,
according to Israeli human rights NGO B’Tselem.Over the last two years,
B’Tselem reported, 19 Palestinians have lost their vision in one eye, while at
least two more have lost their vision in both eyes.Overall, “more than 200
people have been killed, some 8,000 wounded by live fire, about 2,400 wounded
by rubber-coated metal bullets, and almost 3,000 wounded by tear gas
canisters.”MEMO
Sanders says may relocate US embassy back to Tel Aviv if elected
Leading US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said he
would consider moving US embassy in Israel back to Tel Aviv if elected
president. Sanders's comments about revisiting US President Donald Trump's
controversial decision in 2018 to relocate the embassy from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem came during Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate."The answer
is, it is something that we would take into consideration," Sanders said
before calling Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally of Trump, a
"racist". Sanders went on to
say while he was proud of his Jewish heritage, he stood against Netanyahu's
policies.aljazeera
Russia-backed Syrian forces kill over 20 civilians in Idlib
Over 20 civilians were killed in Syrian government attacks on targets,
including schools, in a relentless advance on the northwestern province of
Idlib, the final major territory in Syria still controlled by opposition
fighters. According to UK-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights, govt aerial bombing killed at least nine children and three teachers in
Idlib city on Tuesday.Another four people, including a mother and her two
children, died in government shelling of the town of Binnish, northeast of
Idlib city, the monitor said.At least 6 children were among 10 civilians killed
by a Russian air attack on a shelter for displaced families in Maarat Misrin, a
town just north of Idlib city on the road to the Turkish border, said Yahya Jaber,
a rescuer in the civil defence emergency response force.aljazeera
Turkey vows to drive Syrian forces back from Idlib
Turkey plans to push Syrian government forces away from its military
observation posts in northwest Syria's Idlib region by the end of February,
President Tayyip Erdogan said, despite advances by the Russian-backed military.
"We are planning to liberate our observation posts from the surrounding
[Syrian forces] by the end of this month, one way or another," Erdogan
told his party's parliamentarians in a speech on Wednesday.aljazeera
Sudan: Demonstrators demand release of leaders of Al-Turabi’s party
Dozens of supporters of Popular Congress Party (PCP) in Sudan
participated, on Tuesday, in a protest in front of the Public Prosecution
headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, to demand the release of leaders of the
party detained in connection with 1989 coup plot. Supporters of the PCP,
founded by the late Hassan Al-Turabi, raised banners that read, “Where is the
rule of law” and “Where are the freedoms?”Protesters also chanted slogans such
as “No to politicised justice,” “Try them or release them,” “Freedom… Peace …
and Justice”, “Freedom for us and others,” reported Anadolu Agency’s
correspondent.
Qatar invites Pakistan to attend signing of US-Taliban peace deal
Qatar has invited Pakistan to
attend the signing of the landmark peace deal between the US and the Afghan
Taliban in Doha on Saturday.Qatar's ambassador to Pakistan Saqr bin Mubarak, on
behalf of Qatari Foreign Minister, extended an invitation to Foreign Minister
Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.Qureshi
welcomed the peace deal between US and Taliban, saying Pakistan had always held
the view that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.He said
Pakistan and Qatar have played a "pivotal role" in furthering the
Afghan reconciliation process. Qureshi also expressed the confidence that the
peace deal will lead to intra Afghan dialogue.AFP
Maldives hires Amal Clooney to fight for Rohingya Muslims at UN court
Colombo: The luxury tourist destination of Maldives has hired prominent
human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to represent it at UN's highest court in
seeking justice for Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslims.Maldivian government
said Wednesday it will formally join the mainly Muslim African state of Gambia
in challenging Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown that sent around 740,000
Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh. In a unanimous ruling last
month, International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Buddhist-majority Myanmar
to implement emergency measures to prevent the genocide of Rohingya -- pending
a full case that could take years.Amal Clooney successfully represented former
Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed and secured a UN decision that his 2015
jailing for 13 years was illegal.AFP
HRW: At least 21 civilians killed in Cameroon
HRW has accused Cameroon's armed forces of taking part in killing of at
least 21 civilians this month in a region where troops are battling anglophone
separatists.In a statement on Tuesday, US-based rights group said 13 children
and one pregnant woman were killed by govt forces and armed Fulani herders in
Ngarbuh village on February 14.The incident occurred in a remote part of
Northwest region - one of 2 English-speaking regions gripped by conflict sparked
by demands for independence from majority-Francophone Cameroon. aljazeera
Coronavirus spreads in Middle East and beyond
The coronavirus is spreading in Middle East, Europe and other parts of
the world, while parts of China begin to lower their emergency response level
as the number of new cases reported there continues to slow.More deaths have
been reported in Iran and Italy, while South Korea on Wednesday said an 11th
person had died of the disease there. Globally, at least 80,000 people have
been diagnosed with the illness. An man in his 80s died in Tokyo after catching
the new coronavirus, Japan's broadcaster NHK said, citing a govt source. A 12th
person has died in northern Italy of coronavirus, while the number of confirmed
cases has risen to 374, an increase of more than 50 on the day before, head of
Civil Protection agency said.Iran's state television says 19 more people were
killed by the coronavirus and the total number of confirmed cases rose to
139.The official cited in the report urged limiting nonessential
travel.aljazeera
Afghan:Fears people with coronavirus will enter via Iran
In Afghanistan,where healthcare infrastructure is already under strain
because of decades of violence, fears of a coronavirus outbreak have put
authorities on alert.Public gatherings have been banned but the border with
Iran remains open.An open border has the potential to allow those infected to
enter.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
In India, Trump validates Modi’s divisive agenda:Rana Ayyub ,
washingtonpost
India’s politics of hate have erupted for all the world to
witness:Barkha Dutt , washingtonpost
Modi And Shah Must Take Blame For Mob Takeover Of Delhi:Sudheendra
Kulkarni
'I was scared they would catch me for being a journalist, molest me for
being a girl, lynch me for being a Muslim': First person account from Maujpur:
Ismat Ara
Another Huge Modi Success In Trump's Visit And RSS' Reaction:Swati
Chaturvedi
‘Never thought Hindu-Muslim riots are possible in Delhi, we’ve always
co-existed peacefully’:theprint
Delhi riots: Just 10km from PMO-Home Ministry, Jafrabad burns. What does
it mean?Mukesh Rawat
Urgent Need to Restore Peace in Delhi: Jamaat Urges CM, MPs and MLAs to
Visit Affected Areas
Delhi violence: Communalism runs deep in Indian society and its police
force, this is the feudalism that can undo the nation: Markandey Katju
How Delhi Riots Brought Back Babri Masjid Memories in a Once Peaceful
Hindu-Muslim Neighbourhood
Newspaper Editorials Condemn Delhi Police, Worry About India’s
International Image:While The Hindu, HT and TOI expressed their stance on riots
in editorials, Indian Express chose not to
What Foreign Media Said On Delhi Violence And Donald Trump's India Visit
Trump Says Modi Cited Rise in Muslim Population as Testament to
Religious Freedom in India
Cop out in Delhi: Police response invariably reflects the bias of the
ruling party:Prakash Singh
Did India deal differently with Muslim refugees after Partition, as
claimed by PM Modi in Parliament?Atikh Rashid
We were wandering the streets, waiting: Family of Shahid Alvi, who was
shot dead in northeast Delhi:caravanmagazine
First person: I watched a mob set a shop on fire in Delhi, chanting ‘Jai
Shri Ram’:Vijayta Lalwani
Two Sides Of Delhi 20kms Apart - One Was Burning And The Other Was
Welcoming Donald Trump: Bobins Abraham
‘Don’t Click Photos, Just Enjoy the View’: Mob’s Warning Just Before I
Saw Fellow Journalists Brutalised
Delhi pogrom 2020 is Amit Shah’s answer to an election defeat:SHIVAM VIJ
'Mob with saffron flags who chant Modi's name...': MSNBC journalist
Chris Hayes slams Modi-Trump meeting amid Delhi violence
Why Delhi violence has echoes of the Gujarat riots:Soutik Biswas, BBC
Delhi violence: Chand Bagh and Bhajanpura — Adjacent colonies at war
until RAF rolled in
Police response invariably reflects the bias of the ruling party:Prakash
Singh
Sandeep Phukan Analysis: Centre, Delhi govt. are both responsible for
inadequate response to riots in city
Anti-Muslim violence in Delhi serves Modi well:Mukul Kesavan,
theguardian
Modi Urges Calm as New Delhi Violence Rages for 3rd Day:nytimes.com
Delhi violence: Roads of Maujpur, Jaffrabad deserted as forces begin
flag marches
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 7:21 PM).
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