09 Feb. 2020:
14 Jamadi-2, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 127
*DELHI POLLS*
After Delhi polls, AAP Cites Videos, Says Voting Machines Tampered
New Delhi: Delhi's ruling AAP has cited videos to back their claim that
efforts are being made to tamper with the Electronic Voting Machines from the
assembly elections. Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who
made the claim yesterday, tweeted a couple of videos, saying they were of voting
machines being taken away illegally."Does the reserve (forces) not go with
EVM? This official was caught with an EVM by people at Saraswati Vidya Niketan
School in Babarpur assembly constituency," read the tweet with one of the
videos.The other, which showed voting machines being carried across a street,
read,"EC should also probe where these EVMs are being taken. There are no
centres nearby".But Election Commission officials in the poll body said
all the EVMs used for polls have been sealed in front of the party agents and
have been brought to the strong rooms directly from the polling stations.Exit
polls have predicted that AAP will win clear majority and retain power.But
since the election ended yesterday, AAP has been on its toes regarding EVMs. Late
in the evening, the party claimed that it received information that officials
were trying to take away EVMs in an "unauthorised
manner"."Information has been received that officials are trying to
take away EVMs at several places in an unauthorised manner. EVMs should have
been sealed and have gone straight to strongrooms. How are these machines with
the officials?" AAP MP Sanjay Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.Late in
the evening, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with senior party leaders,
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and election strategist Prashant Kishor - who crafted
his campaign -- to discuss the safekeeping of the voting machines.The counting
of votes will be held on Tuesday.ndtv
‘Absolutely shocking’: Kejriwal
lashes out at EC over delay in voter turnout figures
Irked by the Election Commission’s delay in releasing the final voter
turnout of the Delhi Assembly polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Sunday said it was ‘shocking’ that the body could not come up with the figures
even ‘several hours’ after voting concluded.Lashing out at EC on Twitter, AAP
chief said, “Absolutely shocking. What is EC doing? Why are they not releasing
poll turnout figures, several hours after polling?”Voting for Delhi Assembly
polls concluded on Saturday evening. While EC is yet to officially disclose the
final voting percentage, according to last known figures, a little more than 60
per cent votes were polled. AAP’s national spokesperson Sanjay Singh too raised
the same concern in a press conference, demanding answers from the poll body
for the delay. Claiming that the EC had released the final numbers within an
hour from the conclusion of voting in the Lok Sabha elections, he said the body
needs to answer why are they taking so long to count the total number of votes
polled in a small place like Delhi.“Within one hour in Lok Sabha elections,
Election Commission tells the voting percentage. Why so much delay in a small
state like Delhi?” he said. “EC should clarify what game has been going on
since yesterday.Elections were over yesterday, but no Election Commission
official has yet made any authorised statement on voting percentage” he added.
62.59% voting: Election Commission defends delay in turnout figure,
rebuts AAP video
The turnout in the Delhi assembly poll was 62.59%, Election Commission
said today - more than 24 hours after voting and amid much concern about the
delay and tampering of EVM from AAP. Denying there was any delay, Commission
also brushed away AAP's claim of irregularities.Final figure- up from yesterday's
provisional figure of 57%-- came out in "good time", Commission
said."It is a process, as and when it is finalised, it is shared with
you," said Chief Election Officer Ranbir Singh. The data, he said, had to
be collated through night and Returning Officers were busy.ndtv
Delhi Assembly Election: Congress leader Kirti Azad claims foul play
with EVMs
Congress leader Kirti Azad on Sunday claimed foul play in connection
with EVMs, alleging that Home Minister Amit Shah is behind "this dirty
game.""Photos and videos of foul play with the EVMs have surfaced. I
think that Home Minister Amit Shah is the mastermind of this dirty game,"
Azad told ANI.He also said that for the past couple of years, the exit polls
did not turn out to be correct."In the exit polls held earlier in Haryana,
it was told the Congress would get three seats, but we got 31 seats. Similarly,
in Rajasthan, MP, and Chhattisgarh, we were told the BJP will form the
government but the Congress came to power. So, I have seen the exit polls
failing. I have full confidence the Congress will get a good number of seats in
Delhi," he added.The Congress leader also said that Manoj Tiwari has the
ability to do well in politics but he has to "mature."ANI
Will be victory of development, if Kejriwal wins: Congress leader Adhir
Ranjan Chowdhury
New Delhi: In the wake of the predicted landslide victory of AAP in the
exit polls for Delhi Assembly elections, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
today argued that BJP only put forth communal agenda during the electioneering
phase in Delhi while AAP solely worked on developmental agenda. He went on to
assert that if Arvind Kejriwal manages to form government in Delhi, then it
will be a "victory of development" in national capital. Reacting to
exit polls that suggest yet another resounding win for AAP, Congress leader said,
"We fought this election with all our strength. In this election, BJP put
forth all the communal agendas and Arvind Kejriwal ji put forth developmental
agendas. If Kejriwal wins, then it will be a victory of the developmental
agendas."Meanwhile,Congress candidate KTS Tulsi created a political storm
when he claimed that Congress sacrificed itself to ensure AAP's victory in
recently-held elections. He explained that Congress did not campaign for
elections heavily because it did not want to cut votes of AAP candidates. The
grand old party wanted to ensure that BJP remains out of power in the national
capital at all costs, he added.timesnownews
Exit Polls Will Fail, Results Will Be In BJP's Favour:Delhi BJP Chief
Manoj Tiwari
New Delhi: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Sunday said that as per the survey
conducted by his team, the results of the Assembly elections in Delhi will be
in his party's favour."Our teams have conducted surveys and results will
come in favour of the BJP. We will get more than 48 seats as per the survey
done by us by talking to people and going to booths," Delhi BJP president
Tiwari told ANI.When asked about the exit polls that show AAP gaining a
majority, he said, "These exit polls are going to fail."On the
protests in Shaheen Bagh, BJP MP said, "People who are protesting there
are misguided and the protest is politically motivated.They (protestors) say
CAA will take citizenship away which is not the case. They say take NRC back
but NRC has not come yet, so it is politically motivated.""Some
(protestors) are already leaving and rest will go away after Feb11," he
added.ANI
My sixth sense is saying BJP will form govt in Delhi: Manoj Tiwari
'Not exact': BJP leaders dismiss exit polls predicting resounding AAP
victory in polls; AAP optimistic, Congress cautious
BJP leaders unanimously dismissed Saturday's exit polls that predicted a
resounding victory for AAP in the Delhi elections as the Kejriwal-led outfit
remained optimistic and the Congress chose sounded a note of caution. Delhi BJP
chief Manoj Tiwari predicted that all the polls would be proven wrong on 11
Feb.BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi, speaking to NDTV after a meeting called by
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said that the exit polls were "not
exact". "Exit polls don't have their math right. Also, the data is
collected only till 4 or 5 pm... exit polls have got it wrong before as well"
Lekhi said, admitting that exit poll results were discussed at the meeting.
"Our voters came late in the day and voted till evening," she added
as per NDTV report.Shyam Jaju, BJP in-charge for Delhi polls, echoed Lekhi's
sentiment. “Exit polls have proved to be wrong in the past. This time, too, result
will surprise everyone,” he told HT. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said his
party will wait for the “exact polls” and stressed that BJP will come to power.
Senior AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday said the
party is winning the Delhi elections by a huge margin. Congress' spokesperson
Randeep Singh Surjewala said that exit polls are only indicators, and there are
several instances where these have “horribly gone wrong”. Delhi Congress chief
Subhash Chopra told ANI: “All exit polls are going to fail. BJP will not get
even 20 seats and Kejriwal is not going to form a govt in Delhi.firstpost
India Today exit poll: Majority of Purvanchali, Haryanvi vote went to
AAP
India Today-Axis My India exit poll has found that among the Purvanchali
community that the BJP was banking on, 55 per cent have voted for AAP.According
to the exit poll, Arvind Kejriwal looks set for a third term in Delhi with a
clear majority. In the 70-member Delhi assembly, AAP is expected to win between
59 and 68 seats. In the 2015 Delhi elections, AAP had won 67 seats.BJP led by
Manoj Tiwari, who is a Purvanchali icon, is predicted to secure only around
2-11 seats and stand a distant second in the contest with AAP.indiatoday
AAP 1st choice for women and first-time voters, shows India Today exit
poll
AAP has emerged as the favourite among women and first-time voters in
the 2020 Delhi assembly election, shows India Today-Axis My India exit
poll.Most people who voted for the AAP and were polled in the survey said they
were voting for the party on account of its good work on ground in the past
five years. The survey found that there is a "strong pro-incumbency",
particularly on account of schemes like free water and electricity. Among
women, Kejriwal govt's decision of giving free bus and metro tickets was quite
popular, survey found.
Muslim voters prefer AAP over Congress, shows India Today exit poll
Congress that has for decades enjoyed the support of Muslims voters has
much to worry as its influence over the community is fast eroding in Delhi, the
India Today-Axis My India exit poll has found.The exit poll for 2020 Delhi
election found that as many as 69 per cent Muslim voters in Delhi voted for
Kejriwal-led AAP, while just 15 per cent reposed trust in Congress. Nine per
cent among the Muslim voters voted for the BJP.When asked about the reason for
voting in favour of AAP, Muslim voters said it was on account of its winability
against the BJP. In other words, Muslim voters of Delhi voted for AAP because
they felt it was better poised to defeat BJP in comparison to the
Congress.indiatoday
Most Muslim-dominated Constituencies in Delhi Record High Voter
Turnouts, Highest in Seelampur
Amid a lukewarm response from voters on polling day, most of the
assembly constituencies with a significant Muslim population in Delhi recorded
a voter turnout higher than the overall turnout in capital with Seelampur witnessing the highest voter footfall across
all 70 constituencies.According to ECI voter turnout app, the total turnout in
Delhi was recorded at 61.7 per cent till midnight, a decline of nearly six
percentage points over 2015 polls when a 67.12 per cent of the voters came out
to vote.news18
Authorities arrest 2 for gunrunning in Delhi-NCR
New Delhi:2 men were arrested for allegedly supplying illegal weapons to
criminals based in Delhi and NCR, police said on Sunday.The accused have been
identified as Santoshi, 50, and Pritam Singh, 20, both residents of Madhya
Pradesh’s Morena district. They were arrested on Friday, police said.11
semi-automatic pistols and 10 single-shot pistols with 50 live cartridges were
recovered from the accused, the police said, adding that these were brought to
the national capital to be supplied to criminals in Delhi-NCR.PTI
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Shaheen Bagh protesters remove barricades to let a Hindu funeral
procession pass
New Delhi :Amid accusations by several politicians that protests at
Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship Amendment Act were causing traffic snarls
and inconvenience to nearby residents, a video went viral on Sunday showing
protesters removing barricades to let a funeral procession pass.“We respect
each other and by allowing the procession to pass through, we have not done
anything unusual. We have allowed buses and ambulances also,” a protester told
ANI. The stretch at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh has been closed for over 50 days,
since December 15, after hundreds of women begun a sit-in to protest against
CAA and NRC. The diversion has thrown traffic out of gear in South East Delhi
and on Delhi-Noida expressway. Owing to continuous protests, the diversion,
which was meant to be a temporary measure, has been extended.Meanwhile, the
Supreme Court will hear on Monday petitions against the closure of a key road
in the capital due to anti-CAA protests in Shaheen Bagh. “We understand there
is a problem. Will take it up Monday,” Justice SK Kaul said. Earlier, Delhi
High Court had disposed of the plea by asking police to look into
it.indianexpress
Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi counters CM Ashok Gehlot on CAA, says
Citizenship 'is subject of Centre and not state'
Udaipur: Contradicting Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Assembly
Speaker, CP Joshi has said that Government of India has passed CAA and the
state government is bound to implement it as per the Constitution."Under
the Constitution, citizenship is a subject of the Centre and not of the
state," said Joshi at the annual award distribution ceremony of Mira Girls
College in Udaipur.However, chief minister Ashok Gehlot has repeatedly declared
that CAA and NRC will not be implemented in the state.PTI
CAA Is "Divisive, Discriminatory", Revoke
"Immediately": Goa Archbishop
Panaji: Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao, has urged central
government to "immediately and unconditionally revoke the CAA" and
stop quashing "right to dissent".He also appealed to the government
not to implement the proposed countrywide NRC and NPR. Diocesan Centre for
Social Communications Media, a wing of the Goa Church, in a statement on
Saturday said, " Archbishop and Catholic community of Goa would like to
appeal to the government to listen to the voice of millions in India, to stop
quashing the right to dissent and, above all, to immediately and
unconditionally revoke CAA and desist from implementing NRC and NPR."CAA,
NRC and NPR are "divisive and discriminatory" and will certainly have
a "negative and damaging effect" on a multi-cultural democracy like
ours, the church said.PTI
CAA for friends of India, Sri Lanka is family: Lanka minister
New Delhi:After Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa backed India's decision
bringing the CAA by calling it an "internal" matter of India, the
same was resonated by his minister Arumugan Thondaman.Sri Lanka's Minister of
Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development, Thondaman, who
represents the Tamil community in the Rajapaksa cabinet, in a conversation with
India Today said that the citizenship legislation is for minorities from
"friendly" and "neighbourhood" nations but Sri Lankan Tamil
refugees needn't have been included in it since "they are
family".Calling it an "internal" matter, Thondaman said,
"It is your internal matter. I am convinced that the relationship we have
with India is different from others. It is like the stepmother or your own kid.
We are your own kid. They are friendly but we are family."India Today
indiatoday
Hyderabad: Flash Protest at Night Against CAA-NRC-NPR After Police ‘No’
for Sit-in
As the city police refused permission to women for holding a sit–in at
Dharna Chowk for Sunday, people poured into the streets Saturday night and held
spontaneous protests against the CAA and NRC at Mallepally area here. The
protest was attended by women in considerable numbers and they also protested
against the refusal of permission for sit-in. The permission had been sought by
Joint Action Committee, an amalgam of civil society groups that holds public
protests against CAA and NRC.Well-known activist Khaleda Parveen led the
protesters who carried banners and placards with slogans against the new
citizenship law—termed both divisive and discriminatory.caravandaily
No talk in party or Cabinet on NRC…Modiji is a global leader.Why would
he want such conflict: Shahnawaz
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain has asserted that the protest in
Shaheen Bagh is backed by the Opposition and he has said that the Centre has
given citizenship to more than 500 Muslims from Pakistan since 2014. Hussain
said, "I have spoken about the NRC in my party, there is no such thing… I
am on several forums, where all kinds of issues are discussed. And as a BJP
spokesperson, I am among the first to be briefed on issues. I am fully briefed
that there has been no discussion at the level of the party or Cabinet on the
NRC… Modiji is a global leader. Why would he want such conflict within the
country?… I keep reassuring the Muslim community that I am not a showpiece in
the government. I put forward their concerns, and the response that I have got
from the government, I am trying to convey that."indianexpress
‘BJP has not put up a ‘no exit’ board’: Naqvi on Muslim leaders quitting
party over CAA
Bhopal:In the wake of some Muslim leaders from Madhya Pradesh quitting
BJP in protest against the CAA, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas
Naqvi on Sunday said his party has not put up a board of “no exit” or “no
entry”.He said those who have misunderstandings about CAA should think with an
open mind and get their misconceptions cleared as the new law is not a threat
to any Indian citizen.Naqvi assured Indian Muslims that their citizenship was
“100 per cent protected”.Asked about Muslim leaders from the Congress-ruled
Madhya Pradesh quitting BJP in protest against CAA, Naqvi said, “BJP is a big
political party. BJP has neither put up a board of ‘no exit’ nor of ‘no entry’.
People come to BJP and those who don’t want to stay in the party go away.” To
another question, the Union minister denied that BJP failed to convince its
Muslim leaders that the CAA was in the country’s interest.PTI
Half of Bangladesh will be empty if Indian citizenship offered: MoS Home
Reddy
New Delhi :Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said
Sunday that half of Bangladesh’s citizens would leave that country and cross
over if Indian citizenship was promised to them.“Half of Bangladesh will be
empty (vacant) if India offers citizenship to them (Bangladeshis). Half of
Bangladeshis will come over to India if citizenship is promised (to them). Who
will take responsibility? KCR? or Rahul Gandhi?” PTI quoted Reddy as
saying.Speaking at Santh Ravidas Jayanthi celebrations in Hyderabad, Reddy
challenged Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to prove in what way
CAA was against the people living in India.“They seek citizenship for
infiltrators. The Government of India is ready to review the CAA if it has one
word against anyone of 130 crore citizens, but not for Pakistani or Bangladeshi
Muslims,” Reddy further said.indianexpress
CAA: Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Offers To Settle 25 Pakistani Hindu Refugee
Families In Muzaffarnagar
BJP MLA Vikram Saini has offered to re-settle 25 Pakistani Hindu refugee
families in Kawal village in Muzaffarnagar district to counter the anti-CAA
propaganda.Kawal village was the focal point of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar
riots.The BJP MLA has said he would facilitate the settlement of 25 Pakistani
Hindu refugees in Kawal village in Muzaffarnagar and has already given
financial aid to five of them.ians
Thousands gather in support of MNS 'mahamorcha' demanding ouster of
illegal Bangladeshi, Pak immigrants
Mumbai:Thousands of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers have
gathered on the streets of Mumbai participate in the 'mahamorcha' at Azad
Maidan, demanding the ouster of illegal Bangladeshi and Pakistani
immigrants.Raj Thackeray-led MNS has organised the march demanding eviction of
illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh who have been living in India.A
large contingent of police personnel has been deployed along the route of MNS'
morcha in Mumbai.indiatoday
7 Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested in UP's Jhansi, Cops Say They Didn’t
Have Valid Documents
Jhansi (UP): 7Bangladeshi nationals were arrested here as they did not
have any valid documents for staying in the country, police said on
Sunday.Jhansi SSP D Pradeep said, "As many as seven Bangladeshi nationals
were arrested during routine checking near the bus stand in Babina on
Friday."Babina — a cantonment town in Jhansi district — stands for British
Army Base in North Asia.Those arrested were staying at a hotel near the bus
stand and did not have valid documents for staying in India, SSP said, adding
that the seven belong to Dhaka.The arrested were identified as Mamoon Sheikh,
Milan Sheikh, Aslam Sheikh, Falan Sheikh, Sijer Sheikh, Mukul Sheikh and Monu
Vaid, police said.news18
‘Next violence in Uttar Pradesh will be over joblessness’
The Epicentre of 2013 communal riots, Kawal in Uttar Pradesh’s
Muzaffarnagar district has barely managed to put the cracks forced open by the
violence behind. Now, the village is viewing with trepidation the offer by its
MLA, Vikram Saini, to facilitate settlement of 25 Hindu Pakistani refugee
families in the village as a counter to protests against CAA. Sitting in the
courtyard of his 2-storey home — one of the biggest in Kawal — Saini, BJP MLA
from Khatauli, who also faces an attempt-to-murder charge in 2013 riots case,
says, “I want to do this in national interest. 25 families include seven who
are already living in Muzaffarnagar. I want 5 bighas where these families can
be settled. If such land cannot be found, I’ll donate own. We are planning to
build 2-bedroom houses with a toilet.”While CAA rules are yet to be framed, UP
has begun preparing a tentative list of refugees in the state who will be
entitled for citizenship under the Act, subject to verification of documents.
At least 32,000 refugees have been identified by the government across 21
districts, including Muzaffarnagar.Most of the houses in Kawal, a village of
about 10,800 people as per the 2011 Census, are brick-and-tile structures.Pankaj
Saini, who has been a shiksha mitra for the last few years and hopes to be
appointed a permanent government teacher “one day”, voices the concern of most
in the village when he says, “How does the govt plan to provide livelihood to
the refugees? The next violence in the state will be due to joblessness and the
government’s faulty employment generation policies.”indianexpress
Police charge and arrest anti-CAA/NRC activists at Kolkata Book Fair
Kolkata Book Fair, world’s largest in terms of footfall, witnessed a double-faced
role of the Mamata Banerjee government on Saturday evening as police roughed up
anti-CAA/NRC student activists, both boys and girls, before arresting them in
batches.Even 73-year-old Asit Baran Roy was not spared when he joined human
rights group APDR members to demand an audience with the arrested youth. A
policeman grabbed his throat and almost chocked him. Dipak Byapari, a youth was
taken to hospital as he received head injury. Kith Roddur, a girl was not able
to walk to police ambulance after receiving blows and kicks from uniformed men
and women. She was reportedly admitted in a city hospital later.Raja Biswas, a
media worker and cultural activist who had recently undergone a heart surgery,
said that he met the similar treatment inside the police control room at the
fair ground. His crime was that he had tried to save a girl from being dragged
away. His glasses were broken as he tried to shield his face from the police
blows. Srijan Dutta, a student from Jadavpur University who was informing his
friends about the arrests over phone was whisked away.
Over 400 protesters booked for Mumbai’s ‘Shaheen Bagh’, but participants
say won’t budge
Mumbai: Police in Mumbai have begun registering FIRs against Muslim
women leading a Shaheen Bagh-like protest against the CAA and NRC at Mumbai
Bagh. The protest entered its 14th day Sunday. FIRs are being lodged on a
complaint filed by the assistant commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC), Alka Sassane. The protesters have been charged under IPC Section
341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and over 400 of them have been issued
police notices in this regard. Over the past 14 days, notices have also been
issued to 50 protesters under Section 149 of the CrPC, which empowers police to
take action in order to prevent cognisable offences. This notice reads that police have been
asking the protesters to leave the venue since the night of 26 January but they
have refused. theprint
Allowing NPR drive in Tamil Nadu will invite ‘opposition’ from people, warns
MK Stalin
Chennai: DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday urged the AIADMK government
to not allow NPR drive in Tamil Nadu, saying any move to go ahead with it would
invite “stern opposition” from the people.He also renewed DMK’s demand for an
anti-CAA resolution in the state assembly and said only such a move would be an
“atonement” for supporting the Citizenship Amendment Bill in
Parliament.theprint
Anti-CAA Protest in Bhopal: Iqbal Maidan women to send black flags,
letter to BJP & opposition in UP
Bhopal: Women of Bhopal have come together to fight against the
oppression of protestors in Uttar Pradesh by the state police.Women staged a
protest at Iqbal Maidan in the city on Saturday. One of the protestors told
Free Press they would send a letter and a black flag to the opposition parties
and the party in power there.The black flag would act as a reminder to their
duty as opposition, she said.The women raised slogans and gave speeches against
the violence catered by the UP police on the silent and peaceful
protestors.freepressjournal
SP-BSP is on agenda of RSS, is not giving support in CAA movement -
Maulana Taukir Raza
Bareilly: Maulana Toukir Raza Khan, the national president of Ittihad-e-Milt
Council (IMC) and a member of Ala Hazrat family, has once again attacked the
government over citizenship law, population register and citizenship register.
Not only this, he has also targeted Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP. Tauqeer Raza
has said that all the alleged secular parties including SP and BSP are working
on RSS agenda.newstracklive
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Mobile internet services snapped in Kashmir on Afzal Guru death
anniversary
Mobile internet services (2G) were temporarily snapped in Kashmir as a
precautionary measure to ward off any law and order incidents on 7th death
anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Market places were also
shut and public transport remained off the roads following a Hurriyat
Conference’s call for a bandh on Sunday and Monday. Hundreds of police and
paramilitary personnel were deployed on the streets of Srinagar, which bore a
deserted look. Authorities put up barbed wires and barricades at various parts
of the city to avert any kind of violent protests. On Saturday, J&K police
summoned for questioning two journalists for publishing and circulating a
statement of JKLF which called for 2-day shutdown in the Valley.indianexpress
Journalists Questioned After FIR Against JKLF
Srinagar: 2 journalists were called for questioning by Jammu and Kashmir
police after reporting on a Kashmir Valley shutdown call issued by banned
separatist outfit JKLF to mark the hanging of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat. The
police, who have also filed a FIR against JKLF, said the journalists were only
questioned and not detained.However, journalists' groups in the newly-formed
union territory have criticised the action, calling it harassment and alleging
the cops were defining what they could and could not report. Some journalists
met the police yesterday to seek release of their colleagues.The journalists in
question had carried full JKLF statement of the shutdown call, which is
believed to be the first by separatists since the centre's August 5 decision to
withdraw special status to J&K.
Omar Abdullah's Twitter Clout Behind Tough New Charge: Government
Dossier
New Delhi: Among the charges listed out in a dossier against former
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who has been detained under the
stringent PSA, is his "ability to garner votes even during peak militancy
and poll boycotts".The dossier says 49-year-old Vice-President of National
Conference also "favours radical thoughts which he has turned into
actions", though it does not cite any evidence to back this claim.The
dossier claims that Omar Abdullah, who has been a former junior foreign
minister and commerce minister, can influence people for any cause and
specifically cites his ability to bring voters out in the wake of boycott calls
by separatists."The capacity of the subject to influence people for any
cause can be gauged from the fact that he was able to convince his electorate
to come out and vote in huge numbers even during peak of militancy and poll
boycotts," it says.ndtv
‘Why did BJP join hands’: Mehbooba’s daughter ‘rebuts’ reasons for PSA
against her
New Delhi :Days after former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba
Mufti was booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), her daughter
Iltija Mufti has come out with a “point by point rebuttal” of the reasons the
authorities have cited for the move.Iltija, who now operates Mehbooba’s Twitter
handle, has claimed on the social media website that the PDP chief was slapped
with the PSA because of her refusal to sign “an illegal bond that no statements
against scrapping of Article 370 will be made”.“However, BJP can exploit
Article 370 esp in election campaigns inc Delhi but those most affected by it
cannot utter a word. Why is BJP scared of a debate?” Iltija tweeted on
Sunday.She further said the authorities have claimed the PSA was invoked
against Mehbooba for ” provocative statements that led to ‘incitement of
violence’”, wihout citing any such specific statements. “GOI should
substantiate this with evidence.Examples like BJP ministers who actually
incited violence in Delhi with ‘Desh ke gadaron ko’ slogan followed by
shootings,” Iltija said.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
Reservation in job promotions not fundamental right: Supreme Court
New Delhi:The Constitution does not confer any fundamental right to
claim reservation in the matter of promotions in public posts, the Supreme
Court has ruled adding a state cannot be compelled to do so if it chooses not
to. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta which referred to
earlier decisions of the court in this regard said. “,,,Article 16 (4) and 16
(4-A) are in the nature of enabling provisions, vesting a discretion on the
State Govt to consider providing reservations, if the circumstances so warrant.
It is settled law that State Govt cannot be directed to provide reservations
for appointment in public posts. Similarly, the State is not bound to make
reservation for SC and ST in matters of promotions”.“However, if they (state)
wish to exercise their discretion and make such provision, the State has to
collect quantifiable data showing inadequacy of representation of that class in
public services”, the bench said.It added that “if the decision of State Govt
to provide reservations in promotion is challenged, State concerned shall have
to place before the Court the requisite quantifiable data and satisfy the Court
that such reservations became necessary on account of inadequacy of
representation of SC and ST in a particular class or classes of posts without
affecting general efficiency of administration as mandated by Article 335 of
the Constitution”. The SC was deciding a group of appeals pertaining to the
reservations to SC’s and ST’s in promotions in the posts of Assistant Engineer
(Civil) in PWD, Govt of Uttarakhand.
"Reservations For Jobs, Promotions Not A Fundamental Right":
Top Court
File Review Plea or Amend the Constitution, Congress Tells Govt on SC’s
Reservation in Jobs Order
Bengaluru: Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday demanded
that the union government either file a review petition in the Supreme Court or
amend the Constitution to make reservation a fundamental right in the wake of
the recent apex court order."At least now the Government of India should
wake up. They can either take up this matter and amend the Constitution related
to Article 16(4)(b) or (c) after consulting the law department or file a review
petition asking that a Constitution Bench should hear the case," Kharge
said at a press conference at the Congress office here.PTI
Seers, VHP slams BMAC for planning to approach SC to stake claim on
Babri Masjid debris
As Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) is planning to approach the
Supreme Court to stake a claim on the debris of demolished mosque in Ayodhya,
VHP and seers have strongly opposed the proposed move.Priest of Hanumangarhi
temple Mahant Raju Das said, "The committee is unnecessarily trying to
create a controversy. Each and every portion of Ramjanmabhoomi land will be
used for the temple construction and there was no Babri mosque. The Supreme
Court's verdict has also come in our favour. Babar was cruel and he exploited
Indians. BMAC convener Zafaryab Jilani is a senior lawyer and he should stop
such tactics. This dispute is permanently resolved now."Another seer of
Hanumangarhi temple said, "The mosque-like structure built on birthplace
of Lord Ram was demolished in 1992. There are some organisations who want to
raise unnecessary issues just to create controversy. Such a petition will not
be entertained by the top court."VHP central secretary Rajendra Singh
Pankaj said, "The archeological survey report and the SC judgment have
made it clear that the land is the birthplace of Lord Ram where a grand temple
construction will begin soon. We will not give even a sapling from there to
anyone. We hope that the construction work will begin on the auspicious day of
Ram Navmi."indiatoday
Ram temple will be built under Nritya Gopal’s leadership: UP BJP chief
Uttar Pradesh BJP president
Swatantra Dev Singh has said the Ram temple in Ayodhya would be constructed
under the leadership of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who heads Ram Janmabhoomi
Nyas.He made the comment in response to a question about unhappiness among some
seers over Das not being included in the board of trustees of the Shri Ram
Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra that the Centre has constituted to oversee
construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Speaking in Varanasi, he said,
“Mahant Nritya Gopal Das is an ideal for all of us. Ram temple (in Ayodhya)
will be constructed under his leadership. The campaign (for constructing Ram
temple) has reached this point under his leadership.”Asked why Mahant Nritya
Gopal Das was not made a trustee, Singh said, “I can’t comment on it. What I
want to say it that everyone wants construction of the Ram temple.”HT
Loudspeakers in UP mosques will popularise govt schemes
UP Power Corporation has now decided to use loudspeakers installed in
mosques to make announcements for the state govt’s new scheme which allows
farmers to pay their tube well bill in easy instalments. The scheme called ‘UP
Kisan Asaan Kisht Yojana’ is aimed at enabling tube well owners to pay their
bills in easy instalments without interest. The power corporation wants maximum
number of farmers to register for the scheme.According to Pashchimanchal Vidyut
Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) officials, announcements will be made in all 14
districts under its jurisdiction.14 districts of west UP that fall under PVVNL
jurisdiction are Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Gautam Buddha
Nagar, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Moradabad, Sambhal, Amroha, Rampur
and Bijnor. PVVNL managing director Arvind Mallapa Bangari, said, “It is good
that loudspeakers that have caused undue tensions in the past will be put to
some good use now. I feel that announcements through loudspeakers will spread
the word faster and ensure maximum registration for the scheme.”IANS
6.1 lakh Waqf properties across India, most in UP, West Bengal,
Karnataka
As the Supreme court hears a PIL alleging non-enumeration of waqf
properties across the country, data accessed by TOI shows that there are more
than 6.1 lakh immovable properties owned by various State Waqf Boards (SWBs),
more than a quarter of which (1.6 lakh) are in UP, while nearly 3% of these
properties across India have been encroached upon.According to the data from
the national Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) project, as on Jan.31,
there are 6,16,732 properties owned by various SWBs.Of these, UP has 1.5 lakh
Sunni and 12,229 Shia Waqf properties, followed by 80,480 in West Bengal and
54,194 in Karnataka. The ministry of minority affairs (MMA) and the Central
Waqf Council do not distinguish between Shia and Sunni ownership in other states.Just
these 3 states account for nearly half (49%) of all Waqf properties in India,
while Tamil Nadu (53,486) is close on the heels of Karnataka, Kerala stands in fifth
position with 42,348 properties.TOI
Veteran RSS ‘pracharak’ Parameswaran dies
Kochi:P Parameswaran, one of senior-most ‘pracharaks’ of RSS and former
leader of the erstwhile Jana Sangh, passed away in the early hours of Sunday,
Sangh Parivar sources said. He was 91. The founder director of Bharatheeya
Vichara Kendram took his last breath at 12.10 am while undergoing Ayurvedic
treatment at Ottappalam in Kerala’s Palakkad district, according to the
sources.Parameswaran, who had worked with leaders like Deendayal Upadhyaya,
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani during Jana Sangh days, was honoured with Padma
Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian award in 2018 and Padma Shri
in 2004.PTI
"If You Want To Work In India, Work For Hindu Empowerment":
RSS Leader
Panaji: RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Saturday said
that anybody who wants to work (in India) will have to do so with Hindu
community and for their empowerment. Joshi referred to his communication with
an intellectual who had said that India should become a
"supre-rashtra" in the year 2020.PTI
16-yr-old Muslim boy wins Geeta quiz in Jaipur
A16-year-old Muslim teenage boy has won the Bhagwad Gita quiz
competition organised here by Hare Krishna Mission in association with Akshay
Patra Foundation. The two-round quiz show lasted for over six months, that saw
participation by over 5,000 students.Abdul Kagzi, a class 9 student left the
judges surprised with his apt knowledge on the subject and enormous knowledge
on Sanskrit hymns and verses. This year, the theme was 'Knowing Shri
Krishna.'IANS
A top public sector bank told employees to restrict the circulation of ₹2,000
notes
A top public sector bank’s employees were told by the senior management
not to dole out ₹2,000 notes during bank withdrawals. They were also instructed
to not stock the denomination at ATMs as well. As per an email viewed by
Business Insider India, at least one public sector bank has issued instructions
to senior management to keep ₹2,000 notes out of circulation.But customers need
not panic as the bank employees were told to accept ₹2,000 notes from
individuals making a deposit. The email states, “This will be formally
communicated soon.”Sources at the bank — whose identity we confirmed, requested
anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly — said that after
the directive was issued, senior officials called branch managers to confirm
that it was being executed in the morning.They were told to ensure that only
denominations of ₹500, ₹200 and ₹100 are loaded into ATMs. businessinsider
India's Import Tax Hike on Crude Palm Oil Has Only Added to the
Industry's Confusion
The commencement of Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
Agreement (MICECA), which led to reduction in import duty differential between
crude and refined palm oil products to 7.5% from the usual 10%, stirred up the
hornet’s nest in the Indian palm oil refining industry. In addition to this
agreement, the consecutive hike in “crude” palm oil export tax by Indonesia and
Malaysia both for Jan.and Feb.2020, to protect their own refining industry
against rising feedstock prices, forced Indian refiners to seek a hike in
import tax on “refined” palm oil products by New Delhi. However, the customs
notification released after the presentation of the Budget for the year 2020-21
seems to have caused confusion in the industry. As per the notification, the
import tax on “crude” palm oil has been hiked to 44% from the existing 37.5%,
without a suitable rise for “refined” products. This is against the actual demand
and further reduces duty differential to 1%, putting Indian refiners at risk of
losses.thewire
*WORLD*
Israel blocks Palestinian agricultural exports via Jordan
Israeli military has blocked Palestinian agricultural exports through
Jordan in latest escalation of a months-long trade war that comes amid fears of
renewed violence in the region over a controversial Middle East plan backed by
the United States.Following Defense Minister Naftali Bennett's instruction, the
Israeli military said it would not allow the Palestinians to transfer their
products through their land crossing to Jordan, the occupied West Bank's only
direct export route to the outside world.Western-backed Palestinian Authority
said Israeli forces at checkpoints blocked vegetable shipments that were on
their way to be exported abroad.In a statement, Palestinian Ministry of
Agriculture said vegetable exports to Israel were worth $88m last year,
comprising 68 percent of the occupied West Bank's overall vegetable
exports."Yesterday, the director of Israeli crossings informed all exporters
and all relevant parties that all Palestinian agriculture products would be
banned from export to world markets through the Jordanian crossing starting
Sunday," Palestinian Agriculture Minister Riyal al-Attari told Voice of
Palestine radio.The deputy Palestinian economic minister, Tariq Abu Laban, said
that the decision to ban the export of Palestinian goods was in response to the
Palestinian government's decision to ban the import of Israeli calves.PA
claimed most of the 120,000 head of cattle they imported monthly from Israel
were imported and that therefore, they preferred to import directly from
abroad.The move appeared to be aimed at reducing the Palestinians' economic
dependence on Israel. Palestinians say their actions are aided at pressuring
Israel into revoking its ban, while Israel says normal trade will be restored
the moment Palestinians reverse the cattle ban that started the crisis in the
first place.aljazeera
Israel plans West Bank annex after ‘deal of century’
Israel’s prime minister said his government has begun editing West Bank
maps to include areas his country plans to annex, reports Anadolu Agency. The
move comes after Donald Trump released a “deal” to end the Israel-Palestine
conflict.Benjamin Netanyahu said lands that will be part of Israel are at the
mapping stage and sovereignty will be applied to all land covered by the map,according
to daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Netanyahu said the new map will cover all the
illegitimate settlements in the West Bank and the Agvar region.
Turkey won’t allow ‘Deal of Century’ to threaten peace
Turkey will never allow the peace in the region to be disrupted by the
US’ so-called “Deal of Century” Mideast peace plan, said Turkey’s president
today. Recep Erdogan’s remarks came in a statement he sent to the current 3rd
Conference of the Inter-parliamentary Jerusalem Platform in Malaysia’s capital,
Kuala Lumpur.In his message to the platform, Erdogan underlined the meaning and
the importance of such a conference in this critical period and added that “the
so-called ‘Deal of Century’ [which] declares Jerusalem the capital of Israel is
nothing more than a dream that threatens peace in the region. We will not allow
this dream to come true.middleeastmonitor
Syria: Assad army takes Idlib
crossroads town despite Turkish warnings
Syrian army has taken control of a strategic northwestern crossroads
town, its latest gain in a weeks-long offensive against the country's last
major rebel bastion.Saturday's advance on Saraqeb came shortly after Turkey
sent additional troops into the region and threatened to respond if its
military observation posts in Idlib, set up under a 2018 truce, come under
attack."Army units now exercise full control over the town of
Saraqeb," state television reported, showing footage of the town's
streets, deserted after weeks of bombardment.Saraqeb is considered a strategic
prize for the government as it seeks to regain control of the M4 and M5
highways that meet in the town.M5, Syria's longest highway, connects second
city Aleppo to the capital Damascus and continues south to the Jordanian
border.With Saraqeb recaptured, little more than half of Idlib province remains
in rebel hands, along with slivers of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia
provinces. aljazeera
US soldiers killed after man in Afghan army uniform opens fire
2 US soldiers have been killed and six others wounded when an individual
in an Afghan army uniform opened fire on them with a machinegun in eastern
Afghanistan, US military said.The incident, which took place in Nangarhar
province, occurred after a combined US and Afghan force completed a
"key-leader engagement" at a base in Sherzad district, Colonel Sonny
Leggett, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement on
Saturday. aljazeera
Thai commandos kill rogue soldier who shot dead 26 people
A soldier who went on a shooting rampage in northeastern Thailand,
killing at least 26 people, has been shot dead by security services after he
holed himself up in a shopping centre.Police and military sources told Reuters
they had killed 32-year-old Jakrapanth Thomma
on Sunday morning, a few hours after a failed raid on the Terminal 21 mall in
Nakhon Ratchasima left one member of the security forces dead and two
injured."The police have killed the perpetrator and rescued eight
hostages. Some were wounded," said a member of the security sources who
declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the
media.aljazeera
India Among 20 Countries Likely To Import Coronavirus, Says German Study
New Delhi: India is among 20 countries likely at risk of importing the
coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to a study by Germany's Humboldt University
and Robert Koch Institute.An extensive computational/mathematical model for
"expected global spread of the novel coronavirus" found India ranked
17th on a list of countries most likely to import the deadly virus that has
killed over 800 and infected nearly 40,000 others in mainland China
alone.According to the study, conducted by analysing air traffic patterns
connecting 4,000 airports worldwide with over 25,000 direct connections between
them, the "relative import risk" for India was found to be 0.219 per
cent."Relative import risk" is the percentage of infected individuals
travelling from an affected area - in this case China - with another country -
in this case India - as their final destination.ndtv
Coronavirus outbreak LIVE: 5 suspected cases reported in Pakistan; 811
deaths in China so far
Five people with symptoms of coronavirus were rushed to a hospital
Sunday after they arrived in Pakistan from a flight from China, news agency PTI
report quoting local media reports. The suspected patients, which include four
locals and a Chinese national, were on the Air China flight carrying 177
passengers that landed in Islamabad on Friday. Meanwhile, the death toll in China
due to coronavirus surged to 811 Sunday, surpassing the number of fatalities of
the SARS epidemic of 2002-03. SARS had killed 774 people and sickened 8,098,
mainly in mainland China and Hong Kong. Overall, the new virus has affected
37,198 people so far.In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday offered
assistance to China to deal with the outbreak. In a letter addressed to Chinese
President Xi Jinping, PM Modi expressed solidarity with the premier and also
conveyed his condolences at the unfortunate loss of lives due to the
outbreak.indianexpress
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
BJP losing Delhi will be just punishment for shameless attempt to divide
and rule:Tavleen Singh
Delhi Exit Polls Prove That BJP Desperately Needs a New
Strategy:NILANJAN MUKHOPADHYAY
Dalitality: Prejudice persists, waiting for Ambedkar’s dream:Suraj
Yengde
How I challenged my parents’ Islamophobia:Divya Sethu
The Contrasting Police Responses to a Play Against CAA and Reenactment
of Babri Demolition:Sukanya Shantha
Psychology of ‘Bhakts’: Simplistic, baffling, unfair but real:Ankur Dang
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/psychology-of-bhakts-simplistic-baffling-unfair-but-real
CAA-NRC protests: Shaheen Bagh and Biryani are anti-national
NRC-CAA move likely to stoke a statistical collapse:SA Aiyar in
Swaminomics
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 8:10 PM).
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