10 March 2020: 14
Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 153
*MP POLITICAL CRISIS*
MP Live: Kamal Nath Govt stares at fall; 22 MLAs, 6 ministers resign, Scindia to join BJP
Disgruntled Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is all set to join BJP
today, sources told Outlook. The decision was finalised late last night and
could also see 4-5 more Congress MLAs joining BJP apart from the 17 who flew to
Bengaluru on Monday, sources said. BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan is likely
to be made Chief Minister again. BJP legislative party will meet in Bhopal
later this evening where it will elect Chouhan as it's leader, sources
said.Days after the Kamal Nath government survived a scare of being toppled, a
fresh crisis erupted in Madhya Pradesh politics on Monday with sulking party
leader Jyotiraditya Scindia raising a banner of revolt. Scindia's rebellion
virtually forced Nath to call a late night cabinet meeting where 20 of his ministers resigned to reportedly
accommodate disgruntled rebel leaders and Scindia loyalists. Sources close to
Scindia said that ex Gwalior royal is seriously weighing his options on
severing ties with the Grand Old Party. Scindia, his close aide said, could
launch a regional party or even defect to BJP. In either scenario, survival of
the Nath government, which presently has a slender majority in 230-member MP
Vidhan Sabha, will become untenable. Congress MLA from Hatpiplya in Madhya
Pradesh, Manoj Choudhary, resigns, taking number of those who have quit to
22.With Jyotiraditya Scindia all set to join BJP, Kamal Nath government now
looks almost certain to fall. BSP and SP MLAs are currently meeting former MP
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. They are expected to announce support for
BJP later today. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written a letter
to state Governor Lalji Tandon seeking immediate removal of six ministers who
belonged to the camp of expelled leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.MP Governor Lalji
Tandon is presently in Lucknow. But he is likely to cut his 5-day visit short
and return to Bhopal by this evening.outlookindia
List of 22 MLAs Who Resigned
Following is the list of 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs including
ministers belonging to the Jyotiraditya Scindia camp who have resigned so far.
Ministers: 1. Tulsi Silawat 2. Govind Singh Rajput 3. Dr Prabhuram Choudhry 4.
Imarti Devi 5. Pradyumna Singh Tomar 6. Mahendra Singh Sisodia. Other MLAs:7.
Hardeep Singh Dang 8. Rajyavardhan Singh 9. Brajendra Singh Yadav 10.Jaspal
Jajji, Suresh Dhakad 11.Jaswant Jatav 12.Santram Sironia 13.Munnalal
Goyal,14.Ranveer Singh Jatav 15.OPS Bhadoria 16.Kamlesh Jatav 17.Giriraj
Dandotiya 18.Raghuraj Kansana 19.Aidalsingh Kansana 20.Biasahulal Singh.
21.Pankaj Chaturvedi (State spokesperson)
and 22.Manoj Choudhary.news18
Jyotiraditya Scindia Meets PM Modi, Amit Shah In Delhi; Resigns
Amid political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, rebel Congress leader
Jyotiraditya Scindia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence 7 Lok
Kalyan Marg in New Delhi on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also
accompanied Scindia to the prime minister's residence.Sources say Scindia is
likely to join BJP after some of his MLAs flew to BJP-ruled Karnataka
triggering a crisis in one and a half year old Kamal Nath government.According
to sources, all the formalities for Scindia joining the BJP have been
completed.Sources said, Scindia will formally join BJP in presence of party
president J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah at the party headqaurters on
Tuesday evening.After the formal joining, a meeting of BJP election committee
will be held in which Scindia will be declared BJP candidate for Rajya Sabha
polls from Madhya Pradesh, sources said.Scindia may also be made union minister
in the Modi government while his loyalist MLAs will be made cabinet ministers
in Madhya Pradesh, sources added.IANS
Sonia Gandhi Expels Scindia For
Anti-Party Activities
Moments after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national
capital on Tuesday, disgruntled Congress leader and former Guna MP Jyotiraditya
Scindia tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was
now time for him to move on.Gandhi immediately expelled him from the Congress
for anti-party activities, as the crisis looming over the Congress government
in Madhya Pradesh deepened."Congress president has approved the expulsion
of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Indian National Congress with immediate effect
for anti-party activities," according to a statement from AICC general
secretary K C Venugopal.PTI
BJP Had Arranged Chartered Planes To Move Congress MLAs To Bengaluru:
Digvijaya Singh
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday parried questions on
the exact number of MLAs supporting the party in Madhya Pradesh amid a
political crisis triggered by the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia and 14
MLAs loyal to him. Repeating his allegation that BJP was trying to destabilise
Congress-led government, Singh told reporters that BJP had arranged three
chartered planes for Bengaluruon Monday to fly out some MLAs loyal to
Scindia."We want to know why Bengaluru is used everytime to destabilise
governments?" he questionned.When asked about the number of MLAs
supporting Congress in the current political scenario, Singh only
said,"Just wait".He said an atmosphere of uneasiness has been
prevailing in BJP since Kamal Nath government started cracking a whip on
various mafias."We (the state government) are exposing Vyapam scam,
e-tendering scam, Madhyam scam.. In the honey-trap case, BJP men were found to
be involved. This will be exposed," he said.PTI
“But for his surname even Jyotiraditya Scindia has little to show as
mass leader”: Prashant Kishor
Poll strategist and former JDU leader, Prashant Kishor has hit out at
Jyotiraditya Scindia for his decision to quit the Congress party to join BJP.
Kishor said that Scindia’s credential as a so-called mass leader meant nothing
without his surname.He tweeted, “Amazing that those who usually find fault with
#Gandhis leading Congress because of their surname are finding a #scindia
leaving #INC as big jolt for the party! Fact is but for his surname even
@JM_Scindia has little to show as mass leader, political organiser or
administrator.”jantakareporter
19 MP Cong MLAs, MPs seek police protection in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: As many as 19 Madhya Pradesh Congress rebel MLAs and MPs
sought police protection during their stay in the city, a party source said on
Tuesday."We are the MLAs/MPs of Madhya Pradesh state. We have come to
Karnataka state voluntarily on some important work, regarding which we require
protection and escort from local police for our safe movement and safe stay in
and around Bangalore," said lawmakers in a signed letter to the Karnataka
DG and IGP.A police official confirmed receiving the letter dated Monday.The
rebels came to Bengaluru on Monday in two batches by chartered aircraft and are
reportedly staying in a resort on the city''s outskirts.IANS
BJP leader says 30 Congress MLAs likely to resign
UP BJP leader Bhupendra Singh arrived in Bhopal as the political
developments on Tuesday threatened the Kamal Nath government in Madhya
Pradesh.He said, "I have come to Bhopal with the resignations of 19 MLAs
who are currently in Bengaluru. The number can increase till 30 by evening as
many people are willing to join BJP."firstpost
Kamal Nath writes to Madhya Pradesh Governor to remove six ministers
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written to Madhya Pradesh
Governor Lalji Tandon and recommended the immediate removal of six ministers.
The six ministers are Imarti Devi, Tulsi Silavat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra
Singh Sisodia, Pradyuman Singh Tomar, and Prabhu Ram Chaudhary.
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
Usman Saifi guarding Ram temple in riot-hit Northeast Delhi, arrested;
Several families say male members picked up
New Delhi: Usman Saifi had been religiously guarding a Ram temple in
Gali Number 18 of Mustafabad’s Nehru Vihar for over a week now. Ever since
riots broke out in Muslim-dominated area of Northeast Delhi, Saifi and his
neighbours were conscious of not letting tensions simmer for too long.“He knew
that if anything happens to the temple, it will be the Muslims of the area who
will be blamed.” his wife Salma said.Saifi, 45, was picked up by Delhi Police
from outside the temple late Sunday and detained. His neighbours say the police
accused him of rioting and took him to Dyalpur station at 12:45 am.“So many
people guard the temple, not just him. I don’t know why they only targeted him”
Salma said.At the temple, the shock of Saifi’s arrest still confounds the
temple guard, and those who witnessed his arrest.Muslim men in the
neighbourhood say they have been sitting outside the Ram temple in Mustafabad
ever since the riots began.“We can’t afford any slander, or any sort of
allegations thrown our way. So, we would sit outside the temple every night and
guard it,” said a Mustafabad resident, who was guarding the temple Sunday night
with Saifi.“The police suddenly came in their car, put a pistol on Saifi’s head
and took him away. He didn’t even get a chance to defend himself,” the
eyewitness added.A temple guard also says he had seen Saifi every night since
the riots.“I don’t know anyone by their name. But I have seen him here sitting
outside the temple. These men were not just guarding the temple, but also
themselves — by ensuring they are not accused of anything,” guard said on
condition of anonymity.At Mustafabad relief camp, several families have
approached the police and the legal help desk stationed there.“Since last
night, we have been getting several complaints of arbitrary arrests. We are
trying to help these people locate the stations where their arrested or
detained kin is kept,” said a Supreme Court advocate at the legal help desk.At
the help desk, a woman named Fatima tried seeking help, alleging that her
husband and 17-year-old son were picked up by the police Monday afternoon, when
the three of them were crossing the Shiv Vihar bridge.Several other families
claimed male members of their family were picked up late Sunday.ThePrint
3 men picked up by police in midnight swoop, families clueless
NEW DELHI:Around 1 pm on Monday, families and relatives of 3 residents
of Nehru Vihar were waiting outside the Dayalpur police station to meet them
and know why they had been held. “Ye to goonda raj hai (This is rule of
lawlessness),” said a relative, exasperated after an over 12-hour ordeal.Around
12.30 am, Habib, Usman and Mohammed Yameen, all in their late thirties and
early forties, were picked up by Delhi Police from Nehru Vihar’s E2 Block.
Their relatives claim they were guarding the area, especially a temple in the
vicinity. In almost every locality since riots broke out in the city, locals
guard the area themselves to ensure no untoward incident takes place.“Like
every other night, they were guarding the area. There are only five Hindu
families in our block. We don’t want any outsider to come and target the temple
and blame our community for it, so a few of us keep vigil,” said Alanoor,
Usman’s brother, who also lives in the area.Recounting Sunday night’s events,
Habib’s nephew Azeem said that while they (Habib and others) were sitting, a
police van came and suddenly picked him up. “Habib called Usman for help and
when the latter intervened, they picked him up as well. Locals gathered and
tried to argue but a policeman pulled out a pistol. They all then fled,” said
Azeem. Families of the three then reached the police station but were asked to
come at 8 am on Monday, they said. “We reached here at 6 a.m. but the police
didn’t let us speak to them. We aren’t even being told why they have been
held,” said Shoaib, Usman’s nephew.Another person identified as Nafees, a
resident of Sanjay Chowk, was also held by police on Saturday evening. His
family claims the police are actually looking for Nafees’s brother Gulfam. Noor
Mohammed (86), another relative of Habib, said what the police are doing is
one-sided and it’s wrong. “It’s never one-sided in a riot,” he said.thehindu
Being framed, I took loan of Rs 20 lakh, which they are showing as
funding says PFI member Danish; court sends him to 4-day police custody
A 32-year-old alleged member of PFI was arrested by Delhi Police Special
Cell Monday for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to incite communal riots in
several parts of Delhi. He was produced before a Delhi court, which sent him to
4-day police custody.The accused has been identified as Trilokpuri resident
Mohd Danish.Danish, while being taken away by police, said: “I’m being wrongly
framed. I took a loan of Rs 20 lakh, which they are showing as funding. The
truth will come out. I used to visit Shaheen Bagh and take part in protests…
I’m innocent.”In Trilokpuri’s Block 27 Monday, a group of people huddled around
Danish’s brother, discussing the arrest. The family has alleged Danish was
picked up on fabricated charges of inciting violence during anti-CAA
protests.“The only reason he was arrested is because he is associated with PFI.
The group is actively involved in social work, and Danish worked tirelessly for
humanitarian causes. If the government thinks working for PFI is a crime, why
isn’t the organisation banned? It is baseless that he would incite violence,”
said Mohd Aslam, Danish’s brother.Danish is pursuing law from a Ghaziabad
university and runs a mobile repair shop in the area with his brother. Two
weeks ago, his family claimed, police had taken Danish for “routine
questioning” before letting him go.An active social media user, Danish has been
critical of the new citizenship law, proposed NRC, and other government
policies. “It is clear the government wants to suppress critical voices. He was
an easy target. Our fight will continue in the courts,” said Aslam.The family
also claimed Danish was at home when violence broke out in Northeast Delhi. “We
have CCTV footage to prove he never left the area,” claimed Aslam.indianexpress
Police picking up boys after asking their name:Mustafabad residents
NEW DELHI:An eerie calm pervaded narrow bylanes of Mustafabad on the eve
of Holi as those affected by the riots ambled down their paths to
rehabilitation with gloom in their eyes and files containing details of their
dead, missing or detained kin tucked beneath their arms.Mirza Muzaffar Ali, who
owns and operates locally popular Baba Juice Corner in the area, claimed he
hadn’t seen such an atmosphere, laden with apprehensions about “what it could bring”
prior to the festival, in 6 decades.“In my 66 years, I have never seen an
atmosphere like this. There is a lot of police deployment in the area,
generally because of what happened and also because of Holi...People,
especially young boys, are being picked up... residents like us are used to
things like that around festivals but now it is happening on a much larger
scale...in all my life I haven’t seen or felt such fear and apprehension prior
to Holi – not even when, and after, Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992,” Ali
said.Meanwhile, women, children and senior citizens queued up on the main
Mustafabad Road leading towards Karawal Nagar for hours to get their hands on
relief material ranging from rations and clothes to stationery and footwear.As
small pyres for traditional Holika Dahan materialised at Bhagirathi Vihar
across the road, residents alleged that 4 to 5 boys from each bylane on both
sides of the street – but “mostly from just one community” – had been picked up
by the police for their alleged involvement in the riots which claimed 53 lives
across communities.“Bas naam poochte hain aur utha lete hain...Har gali se 4 se
5 ladke utha rakhe hain [They just ask your name and pick you up. Four to five
boys have been picked up from each bylane],” alleged Sultan Mirza, a resident
of Mustafabad.“The time of day doesn’t matter; police just come and whisk the
boys away whenever they want. A significant number of those detained for the
riots are from here,” claimed Ali Mehdi, another resident.While the families of
those placed under detention since Feb.24, according to residents, made rounds
of police stations and the Karkardooma Courts complex here on Monday, some of
them, such as Shahdab Alam’s father Dilshad Ali, are waiting for the next court
hearing to catch a glimpse of their kin.27-year-old was detained from the
Samrat Medical Store, the biggest and most popular among around two dozen such
establishments in the area where he has been employed for 8 years, on February
24 and is now under arrest after a fortnight in detention “despite proof of
non-involvement provided by his Hindu employer,” Ali alleged.“He and his
colleague, Arshad, had gone to take part in a religious congregation near Karol
Bagh on Monday morning and returned in the afternoon. When the violence was
unfolding, my son and Arshad were in the shop. Their employer even showed the
police CCTV footage to establish their innocence – but both of them were picked
up,” Ali claimed, adding that the police had “shown his arrest” from a
different location.thehindu
Delhi violence: Life between hospitals, police stations for many whose
relatives are still untraced
A welder, a generator set trader, a scrap dealer, and a mother of two —
all of them ventured out between February 22 and 26, when riots gripped
Northeast Delhi, but none of them have returned so far.Their hearts pounding,
family members of those missing have lifted shrouds off the faces of several
unidentified bodies over the last two weeks, inside mortuaries and beside
nallahs, while some are awaiting reports of DNA tests.According to police
records, between February 22 and 26 at least 15 missing person reports were
filed in stations across the district. However, not all missing cases are
connected with the riots that have claimed at least 53 lives, police said.Over
the last two days, some families have seen their worst fears come true. Feroz
(25), who had gone missing on February 24 from Pusta Road at Karawal Nagar, was
found dead on Sunday, a family member said. His family had even pasted
‘missing’ posters across the area.Mohammad Haroon, father of an 18-year-old,
had checked at least 25 bodies in mortuaries before his son was finally found —
alive — on Sunday. “He is physically unhurt but mentally a little disturbed. We
are still not sure how he went missing,” said Haroon.Family members of
23-year-old Mohsin, who went missing on February 26, said the Noida resident
ran a business of renting out generator sets.indianexpress
Accused in Delhi violence, Tahir Hussain's step-brother Shah Alam lands
in police custody
Delhi Police Crime Branch on Monday arrested Shah Alam, step-brother of
suspended AAP councillor, Tahir Hussain. Shah Alam is an accused in the
violence that tore through Delhi’s North East district on February 23, 24 and
25. A team of Delhi Police personnel has also arrested 3 people who were
sheltering Shah Alam.While Shah Alam's name came up in the violence reported
from northeast Delhi's Chand Bagh area, no FIR has been registered in this
regard as of yet. Reports assert that Delhi Police Crime Branch gained
information about Shah Alam's involvement in the violence during the initial
investigation.One Aarif and Aabid have also been arrested for the death of
Rahul Solanki during the riots. indiatoday
Delhi Violence: Police sent minor to jail, incorrectly quoting his age
as ’18 years’
In the aftermath of 3 days of
unprecedented violence, everyday a new heart wrenching story emerges from
northeast Delhi. One such story is from Chandbagh near Mustafabad where Delhi
Police sent a 14-year-old minor to jail, incorrectly attributing him to be above
18 years. Police even registered 11 serious charges against the minor. What
adds insult to the injury is that Court Magistrate did not bother to confirm
the minor’s age on seeing the chargesheet.On Feb.25, 14-years-old Amaan Ali
went missing during Delhi riots at Chandbagh. After days of searching, his
family found out that Amaan was locked up in a jail in northeast Delhi, on
charges of inciting violence. A total of 11 charges under Indian Penal Code had
been registered against him, including allegations of damaging property,
possessing unlicensed weapons, burning property and participating in the
violence.His mother, Rabia Khatun, informed that she had sent Amaan to look for
her 10-year-old son on Feb.25. Her younger son had gone out to play when massive
violence broke out in Chandbagh. Extremely worried, she sent her older son,
Amaan, in search of her younger son. Her younger son returned after a few hours
but Amaan went missing. For 5 days family searched for him everywhere when
ultimately they were informed that he was lodged in a jail in criminal
charges.twocircles
Delhi: Rashes to urinary tract infections, illnesses take a toll at
relief camps
New Delhi :Skin allergies, urinary tract infections (UTI), breathing
problems, and lack of sleep due to stress — these are some of the ailments that
have afflicted Northeast Delhi residents currently seeking refuge at the
Mustafabad Eidgah following riots in the district. At Eidgah relief camp, set
up by Delhi Waqf Board and where over 1,000 families are staying, two medical
camps have been opened by Holy Family Hospital and other doctors to provide aid
and medicines for residents. At a Delhi government relief camp in Shastri Park,
riot victims said ambulances provide them medical aid.Skin allergies in the
form of rashes from wearing the same clothes for too long was a common problem
reported at the Eidgah camp among young children. Shama Parveen (30), mother of
a one-and-a-half year old boy named Taimur, said, “He has only one pair of
clothes and has developed slight rashes on his body.”Anshu Anthony, an organiser
of the Holy Family Hospital camp, said: “Because of lack of cleanliness and
from staying in a common place for long, toddlers are developing skin rashes.
We are giving them new clothes and Dettol.” With many women also complaining of
UTIs, doctors collected their blood and urine samples and sent them for
testing.Diabetic issues and difficulty in breathing were ailments seen in the
older women. Others were also provided medication for high blood pressure.
Ruksaana (55), who is at the Shastri Park camp, said, “Because the diet is
mostly rice, my sugar levels have risen. They gave me pills.”Noor Jahan (48)
developed breathing difficulties and chest pain, and was given glucose.
indianexpress
School burnt in Delhi riots sealed, owner Faisal Farooq arrested
Delhi police have sealed a private school that was torched in the
communal violence in north-east Delhi and arrested its owner in connection with
the riots that raged through the area in Feb, killing 53 people and injuring
over 400 others.On Feb.24, rioters had barged into the building of Rajdhani
Public Senior Secondary School, Shiv Vihar, and burnt some classrooms and
vandalised property. School principal Sadaf Faisal said a team of Delhi
police’s crime branch sealed the school on Friday evening. “2 officials from
the crime branch visited our school without any prior notice on Friday evening
and sealed 16 rooms and the main gate. We have not even been told on what basis
they sealed the school,” she said. Faisal said that Delhi police crime branch
also arrested her husband and the owner of school, Faisal Farooq, on Saturday
evening. “We have no idea why we are being punished? My husband and I have
worked in the field of education throughout our lives. We do not know why
police are trying to defame us by linking my husband’s name to the violence,”
she said. The school on Monday moved a Delhi court, challenging the sealing and
detentionof its owner. Shams Khwaja, the lawyer representing the school, said,
“The court has sought explanation from the Delhi police on why they have sealed
the school. We have also challenged the illegal arrest of the school owner.”A
senior police officer privy to the case said, “We have arrested owner of
Rajdhani Public School, Shiv Vihar, and are probing his role in the riots.”The sealing
of school has triggered panic among students and their parents with many of
them visiting the school on Monday.HT
Muslims bore brunt of Delhi riots: Delhi Minorities Commission head
Head of a quasi-judicial body in India has claimed that the communal
violence that jolted parts of union capital Delhi recently was “well-planned”
and “one-sided”. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Chairman of the Delhi
Minorities Commission Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, who toured the riot-affected
areas along with other members of his body, said that they found maximum damage
had been inflicted on houses and shops of Muslims. Khan said, "It was
one-sided violence. Most of the damage has been done to Muslim properties,
houses, shops, and even mosques have been burnt. Muslims bore the major brunt.
We assessed that the violence in the northeast district of Delhi was
well-planned, and people had been brought from outside, to inflict maximum
damage, with local support. For instance, at Bhajanpura, we found that
Muslim-owned shops, like a travel agency and motorcycle showroom, were looted
and torched while Hindu-owned shops nearby were left untouched. It is a telling
commentary and shows that homework had gone into engineering riots.In Shivpuri,
Muslims are a small minority. It is worst affected area. We found Muslim homes
selectively burnt and damaged. The nearby Aulia Mosque was gutted. 2 gas
cylinders were lying on the floor of the mosque, which had not exploded. Our
team members found that most of the houses were blasted using gas cylinders
taken from other houses. It was a highly planned riot." Speaking on status
of minorities in India, Khan said,
"On papers, minorities have the same rights as the majority community. But
if you look closely, Muslims represent just 2-4% in government jobs, although
they make 15% of the population. Even in Parliament, Muslims as per their
population should be represented by at least 85-90 MPs. But there are only 22
Muslim MPs at present. There is a huge under-representation of minorities in
the system." Anadolu Agency
Iran: 146 NGOs, students write to UN on anti-Muslim violence in India
Tehran: In a letter to UNHRC chief Michelle Bachelet, a large of number
of citizens, students, and NGOs have denounced the anti-Muslim cruelty in
India, urging the international body to take urgent action to stop the
brutalities.In their letter, Iranian signatories said,“We hope and request that
through effective and serious actions by the UNHRC, the main purpose of this
letter, which is to help achieve a peaceful life for the people of India with
different religions and ethnicities, will be fulfilled and it also becomes a
positive role model for others.” The letter was signed by 1,140 Iranian
citizens, 146 NGOs, and student organizations. tehrantimes
Delhi violence: Chaos, confusion as victims apply for compensation
New Delhi: Families of the injured people in Delhi riots are facing another
challenge – to receive FIR from the police authorities. The Delhi government's
announcement of compensation requires certain documents that the family has to
procure, among them is the FIR filed by the police.As most of the injured
families were tending to their loved ones in the hospital, while others had a
curfew imposed in their area, they were not able to go and file a complaint,
which is why the police authorities visited the injured in the hospital and
took their complaint.However, many people have complained they are having
difficulty getting access to it, which in return is making the compensation
process tedious. Nafeeza, a resident of Jafrabad, whose husband was shot in the
leg, was unable to get out of the house due to curfew."We stayed at home
for two days, after which we took him to the hospital. There was a curfew in
our area, how could we have gone to the police station at this time," she
said. Nafeeza has alleged that the police has refused to giver her the FIR.On
the other hand, police officials have said that a lot of FIRs have been filed,
which is creating a chaos in the process. "We have at least 100 FIR in
just one police station," he said.millenniumpost
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Yogi govt not to take down hoardings, to challenge Allahabad High Court
order
Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has not removed the
controversial hoardings, naming and shaming those accused of violence during
protests against CAA, despite the high court order.Sources said that Chief
Minister has asked the law officials to prepare a petition challenging the high
court order.The petition would be filed later this week.Asking the government
to remove the posters "forthwith", Allahabad High Court, on Monday,
had asked it to submit a compliance report to the registrar general by March
16.Another media adviser, Mritunjay Kumar, in a tweet, said, "The high
court order on removing the posters of the rioters should be understood in the
right perspective. Only their poster can be removed, not the cases filed
against them."Admitting that the court is 'above all', he spoke of 'many
options'.IANS
CAA protests: 57 named in posters hail Allahabad HC order as ‘victory of
democracy’
People whose names, photographs and addresses were put up on posters in
Lucknow have welcomed the order of Allahabad High Court which issued directions
to Lucknow DM and Police Commissioner to remove the banners. They said the rule
of law will now prevail in UP instead of the “lawlessness” of Yogi Adityanath
government. Claiming that enough damage has already been done, they said they
are happy the govt will not be able to do the same to others.Social activist
and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar, whose photo was also in the poster, said, “The
HC order reinforces my faith in the Constitution and judiciary of the country.
It is a clear message to the state government that the state would be run by
the rule of law.”Advocate Mohammad Shoaib, who is the chairman of the Rihai
Manch that was formed to seek justice for innocent Muslims framed in terror
cases, said, “Govt wanted to threaten and defame us by putting up
banners…Passing the order…the court has upheld its
responsibility.”indianexpress
CAA protest: Firozabad families cough up Rs 4 lakh in damages
Firozabad administration has recovered Rs 4 lakh from people allegedly
involved in violence during anti-CAA protests on Dec.20.The recovery was made
from families in Nalband area, which, according to officials, saw the maximum
destruction to property in the city. The recovery process is now being carried
out in other areas.“The damage to public property following arson comes to Rs
45 lakh. More than 40 lakh is still due and the administration is making
efforts to recover it,” said Aditya Prakash Shrivastava, ADM. According to
officials, at least 26 families have been served notices for damages. Most of
the accused say they were not present in the area during the violence, while
some claim had been held arbitrarily as the clashes broke out.indianexpress
Aligarh Police Goes Door-to-Door to Probe Who are Linked to Anti-CAA
Protests
Aligarh:A video clip has emerged on social media, which showed Aligarh
police going door-to-door to ask people whether their family members were
participating in the anti-CAA protests. The police probe raised protests, as
this is seen as an attempt to silence and intimidate the peaceful protesters.The
video carried the logo of pro-govt Republic TV. A team of cops was seen
knocking on doors and asking such questions to the families. US-based human
rights activist Arjun Sethi has shared the video.Stated he, “Another disturbing
video out of India, this time from Aligarh. Police are showing up at the homes
of peaceful protesters seeking to intimidate & silence them. Sending
strength to everyone speaking truth to power in India.”However, Republic TV
termed the police action as “door-to-door campaign” by Aligarh police.
Bollywood actor Ali Fazal also took note of the video and slammed the police
action. “What the hell is this,” Ali commented about the video.Aligarh had
witnessed a massive police crackdown on anti-CAA protesters.Clarion India
CAA, NRC,NPR: Women Organisers of Deoband’s Shaheen Bagh Stand Firm on
Their Resolve
The women-only demonstrations against CAA and NPR, or Shaheen Baghs,
have been going on since January, not only in big cities like Delhi and Lucknow
but even a small but renowned town of Deoband. Deoband's demonstration is also
witnessing one of the rarest phenomena where women have been holding an
impressive sit-in protest since 27 January in the vicinity of and very close to
world-famous Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband. This protest has been led by
3 women — two sisters and one sister-in-law— from the same family. One of the
Deoband women sit-in organisers, Amna Arooshi said, "what prompted us to
organise this sit-in is the seriousness of the issue, zeal to stand up against
injustice and protect our identity as a religious community." All 3
organisers Amna Rooshi, Iram Usmani and Salma Ehsan said in one voice said, ‘We
are with the Shaheen Bagh Delhi protestors. Whenever they call their protest
off, we will end ours as well. We are with them whatever decision they
make.’clarionindia.net
Shaheen Bagh creates a new perception about women power: Jamaat Women
Wing
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s women wing secretary, Atiya Siddiqua has said
Shaheen Bagh has heralded change and created a new perception about women
power. The women’s department of the JIH Delhi organized a symposium on the
topic – ‘Women’s struggle against CAA-NRC-NPR’ here at Press Club of India.JIH
Co-Secretary, Rahmathunnisa also addressed the symposium and said: “we believe
in justice, equality and fraternity and hence our struggle against the CAA is
against injustice. India’s economy is sinking and the government must focus on
the challenges confronting the nation and not on taking away the citizenship of
its own citizens.”Central theme of the symposium was to appreciate the manner
in which women have recently come out in large numbers to defend civil
liberties, democracy and freedom in the country. The entire world is
appreciating the courage and resilience of the women-protestors who have become
an inspiration and a rallying point for the fight against discrimination and
injustice. They have stood up to the excesses perpetrated on innocent citizens
and articulated their point of view most eloquently.The others who spoke on the
occasion include Ms Sucharita(Lok Raj Sangathan), Ms. Pushpanjali,(DU) and
Shaista Rafat of JIH Delhi. Fatima Tanveer of JIH-Delhi conducted the
proceedings.theindianawaaz
Shaheen Bagh residents light ''Holika pyre'' but don''t play Holi
New Delhi: Shaheen Bagh, where the women''s sit-in protest against the
CAA has been going on since December, on Monday night lit the pyre of
''Holika'' as per tradition but did not play Holi on Tuesday in view of the
deaths during the riots in northeast Delhi. Ritu Kaushik, who is associated
with the Shaheen Bagh agitation, said: "We have lit the pyre of CAA, NPR
and NRC along with hatred as per the tradition and hope peace prevails in the
country."Taseer said: "We lit the ''holika'' but did not celebrate
Holi in remembrance of the people who lost their lives in the riots and Shaheen
Bagh is a symbol of resistance... its not about religion so we celebrate every
religion here."IANS
Mangaluru anti-CAA protests: HC grants bail, different sites, same
accused
Karnataka High Court has granted bail to 16 youths accused by police of
attacking Mangalore North police station in the violence related to anti-CAA
protests on Dec.19 on the grounds that the same people have been named in other
similar cases in different locations at the same time.Mohammed Suhal and 15
others, who are accused of attacking police station, were also allegedly part
of a group of 21 persons granted bail by the High Court on Feb.17 after finding
no prima facie evidence to link them to the mob violence last December.
Following an appeal by Karnataka government, the Supreme Court had on March 6
stayed grant of bail to the 21.High Court Justice John Michael Cunha had
granted bail to 21 — Mohammed Ashik and others — citing the partisan behaviour
of police and failure to register cases lodged against police by 2 victims of
alleged police firing.In a second bunch of bail pleas relating to the Mangalore
incidents of Dec, which is among 31 cases registered by police over violence linked
to the anti CAA-protests, the High Court ordered the release of 16 youths on
the grounds that the cases filed against the accused were overlapping. The
court observed in a Feb.27 order, granting bail to the 16, that of 31 police
cases registered over the violence, four cases were “registered against the
very same petitioners alleging that they were members of unlawful assembly at
different places between 4.00pm to 4.45pm on the same day”.indianexpress
"Was Investigating Officer in civil clothes?", Karnataka HC in
matter concerning questioning of minor students in Bidar Sedition case
While dealing with a PIL concerning the illegal questioning of minor
students of Shaheen Education Society in Bidar, the Karnataka High Court today
asked whether Investigating Officer who did questioning was in civil clothes or
police uniform.Division Bench of Chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice
Ashok S Kinagi asked, "Was the Investigating Officer in civil
clothes?Photographs submitted by petitioners show otherwise..."The HC went
on to direct,"Give respondents coloured copies of the photos in which
officers are seen in uniform while questioning children."The petitioners also
submitted additional documents, including letters by parents of students who
were questioned/interrogated. These letters state that the children of Shaheen
School were interrogated without obtaining their consent.On this point, AG
Navadgi said that the parents of the students were pressurized to write such
letters.In its order, HC further directed Investigating Officer to file an
affidavit regarding the photographs produced by the petitioner. These photos
show that the policemen were in uniform while counselling was conducted at the
school on Jan. 28, and March 3 and 4.This affidavit is to be filed within one
week. The matter is listed for March 26, for orders. The HC had recently issued
notice in PIL, but had refused to pass interim orders, stating that the
interrogation of students cannot be stopped altogether.barandbench
Anti-CAA stir: 102-year-old readies CV as BJP puts him to freedom
fighter test as a “Pakistani agent”
Bengaluru :“I have been writing my CV,” says HS Doreswamy, peering
closely at a bunch of papers he has been scribbling on. In the dim light of his
ground-floor residence in south Bengaluru, 102-year-old reads out a summary of
his life, from his birth in the city in 1918 to a family of landed gentry to
his participation in the Quit India movement and Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan
movement, and, most recently, a campaign to revive lakes in Bengaluru. “You can
read it and tell me if there is anything anti-national in it,” he says.A
familiar figure in civil society movements in Karnataka for decades, Doreswamy
finds himself at centre of a political storm. It began when BJP MLA from
Bijapur, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, called him a “fake freedom fighter” and a
“Pakistani agent” last month, seeking proof of his involvement in the
Independence movement. Several senior BJP leaders, including Union minister
Pralhad Joshi, backed Yatnal.Last Tuesday, in response, Congress produced a document,
dated 1971, signed by SSP of Bengaluru Central Jail, attesting that, as a
25-year-old unmarried man, Doreswamy had been imprisoned there from “Dec.18,
1942 (and) released on Dec.8, 1943”.Of the many allegations made against
Doreswamy by BJP leaders is his “connection” with Amulya Leona Noronha,
19-year-old held on Feb.20 for “sedition” over slogans she had raised at an
anti-CAA rally, on the basis of a photograph which shows him at her residence
in Koppa. Doreswamy says he is as surprised.“I have been in public life for 60
years. We have differences in ideology but I have friends in BJP and RSS too. I
never expected that BJP as a whole would attack me like this.”Admitting he has
been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the centenarian adds, “I have
criticised every government. That is a citizen’s privilege. During Emergency, I
wrote a letter to then PM Indira Gandhi, saying, ‘You are ruling in the name of
democracy, but behaving like a dictator… If this continues, I will go house to
house telling people you are a dictator’.” Remembering how RSS used to be a
“weak force”, with “no freedom fighters among them”,Doreswamy believes the
failure of successive govts facilitated BJP’s rise. Accusing RSS of targeting
the young, 102-year-old, who moved close to his daughter’s house three months
ago after his wife’s death, says, “They invite them to shakhas to play, and
then poison their minds with anti-Muslim hate.”“He is the conscience of our
state,” says historian Ramachandra Guha, calling the campaign against Doreswamy
“shocking and scandalous”.indianexpress
62-year-old man held for abusive language against PM Modi at anti-CAA
protest
Mumbai:A 62-year-old man from Parbhani in Maharashtra was arrested on
Monday for allegedly using abusive words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi
during an anti-CAA protest, police said.A video of the accused, identified as
Sheikh Gani Sheikh Rehman, purportedly using derogatory language against the PM
during the sit-in protest near Parbhani Collector's office has gone viral, a
police official said.After an FIR was lodged by local leaders of BJP, police
arrested Sheikh, he said.PTI
Shaheen Bagh, Jafrabad shooters in limelight for wrong reasons
Days after violence in Delhi, 2
gun-wielding men who created ruckus in Shaheen Bagh and Jafrabad, are basking
in dubious glory on the social media for their misdeeds. Mohammed Shahrukh Khan
was nabbed last week for brandishing a gun at a police personnel during
communal riots that rocked northeast Delhi in the last week of February.
Similarly, Kapil Gujjar was taken into custody and later released on bail for
firing shots in the air at the Shaheen Bagh protest area on February 1.Since
then, videos of both the gunmen have gone viral on social media.A video went
viral on social media platform TikTok soon after Gujjar was released on bail
where he is seen in a t-shirt with "fearless Bhagat" printed on it,
and being welcomed by his well-wisher with gusto, amid loud cheering and music.
The video has garnered over 35,000 likes and has been shared widely across the
platform.In other videos, the youth can be seen smiling at the camera while
waiting outside the courtroom. Most of these clips have patriotic songs playing
in the background.Similar kind of videos are being posted, in favour of ill-famed
Shahrukh Khan on the same social media website. In the clips, he is being
referred to as "miya bhai" and widely extolled by application
users.IANS
Raichur Shaheen Bagh dharna set to enter 50th day
RAICHUR: The resolve of women taking part in the anti-CAA protest at
Raichur’ Shaheen Bagh, which will enter 50th day on March 15, shot up with
thousands of supporters cutting across communities turning up at Mahatma Gandhi
stadium to mark the International Women’s Day.Anti-CAA, NPR and NRC sit-in dharna
led by women was launched on the eve of Republic Day. With determination
reinforced, there is no turning back for these women. The dharna will continue
until government withdraws CAA that is discriminatory towards people of certain
faiths, they say.Striking a balance between household chores and social cause,
nearly 600-700 women have been participating in the sit-in since the day of its
launch at Tipu Sultan Garden near deputy commissioner’s office.Salma Khanum, a
convener of the indefinite sit-in, said: “Women are hitting the streets to
protest anti-people policies of the government. This is a new wave of women
uprising that will save the country from the clutches of the fascist regime. It
was only a few in the beginning and now we are nearly 700.”TOI
Madras HC allows conduct of anti-CAA meeting in Thoothukudi
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court today granted permission for the
conduct of an anti-CAA meeting in Thoothukudi on March 13.The court was hearing
the petition filed by A. Kidar Bisme of Thoothukudi who sought permission to
hold the meeting after the police denied permission for the same.Granting
permission for the event, Justice G. R. Swaminathan imposed a set of conditions
for the organiser to follow during the conduct of the meeting.The court allowed
the petitioner to conduct the meeting at VVD Signal with a maximum of 750
people from 6 pm to 10 pm and ensure that the traffic was not affected.
Further, the court allowed a stage to be erected to hold the meeting and
directed the volume level of the amplifiers be kept within the permissible
limit.thehindu
Frightening Parallels: NRC-Excluded in Assam and Rohingya Refugees
Mohammed Sanaullah, a retired
army officer from home in Kalahikash village, 60 km from Guwahati was declared
a ‘foreigner’ after his name did not figure in NRC list. On May 27, 2019, when
he went to a Foreigners’ Tribunal set up to deal with cases like his,
53-year-old war veteran was placed under arrest and sent to a detention camp in
Goalpara in Assam.“Where was I sent if that was not a detention centre? He is
denying buildings that physically exist. I will never forget the 11
excruciating days I spent in the detention camp,” Sanaullah said after meeting
him in his village in late Jan. He has appealed against the order in the
Guwahati High Court, and is currently out on bail.Assam’s NRC list published in
2019 has left 1.9 million people out of those ‘deemed’ Indians. They now have
to approach foreigners’ tribunals to ‘prove’ they are Indian citizens. A large
proportion of those excluded are women. An appeal to a tribunal would cost a
minimum of INR 50,000 per case. If even a million of those excluded appeal –
and it is likely that most will – this will be a minimum cost of INR 50
billion borne by the poorest of the
poor.Meanwhile, authorities have already set up six detention centres in old
jail facilities and are building new ones.No one has thought of the effect all
this will have on the ecosystem in river- and forest-rich Assam. At least one
detention centre – the one in Goalpara – is coming up in a floodplain. And
putting residents of river islands – especially women – in detention centres
has long-term adverse effects on the islands themselves.NRC exercise carried
out in Assam has effectively created a stateless population twice the size of Rohingya
refugees.thequint
*J&K, SOUTH ASIA & india *
Day after arrest, Kashmiri couple’s kin claim they were framed due to
identity
A day after Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested a couple from Kashmir,
alleging that they had links to the Islamic State and that they were
instigating protests against the CAA, the couple’s family on Monday accused the
police of framing the couple because they are “Kashmiri Muslims”.Jahanzaib Sami
(36) and wife Hina Bashir Beg(39), who belong to Srinagar’s Shivpora, were
arrested from Delhi’s Jamia Nagar on Sunday morning and booked under IPC
sections for sedition and criminal conspiracy and UAPA.“We were not informed by
Delhi Police about the arrest. The landlord called my brother’s friend and he
told us. We informed a cousin in Delhi and he was allowed to meet my brother
after several hours and told that they had been brought in for questioning and
would be released in the evening,” Jahanzaib’s sister Sehrish Sami said at her
residence in Kashmir. “By 3 pm, it was circulated in the media and we were
shocked to see a different story, allegations after allegation levelled by
Delhi Police,” she added. According to the family members, the couple married
in October last year and soon moved to Delhi after the Srinagar-based IT firm
Jahanzaib worked with temporarily shifted operations to Delhi due to Internet
shutdown in the Valley. A relative said, “He (Jahanzaib) was never interested
in any such topic. He wouldn’t even talk about Kashmir issue. He never took
part in any protest here. If he was not interested in the Kashmir issue, then
how come he suddenly got interested in CAA issue? Police’s allegations are totally
false and concocted.”Sehrish questioned if it is “wrong to follow your religion
and keep religious literature at home”, she said. “Just because they are from
Kashmir, a big hype has been created. They have been framed because of their
identity i.e Kashmiri Muslims,” she added. The family members said local police
visited their house on Sunday. “We told everything they asked,” said Sehrish.
Kashmiri couple arrested for alleged IS links was forced to move to
Delhi by the lockdown in Valley
Home Ministry Shelves Rs 200-Crore Relief Package for J&K’s West
Pakistan Refugees
Jammu: Saying it did not receive authentic claims, Union home ministry
has shelved a Rs 200-crore package for the relief and rehabilitation of West
Pakistan refugees living in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir since
1947.As per the CAA, Hindus and other minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Bangladesh will have special citizenship rights in India. But West Pakistan
refugees – almost entirely Hindus and Sikhs – living in Jammu and Kashmir since
1947 without property rights and voting rights in the assembly elections up
until August 5, 2019 have now lost their relief package, on account of
unavailable documents.This admission was made by the Union home ministry before
the Rajya Sabha’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. The
committee, in its 224th report on Union home ministry’s demand for grants for
the year 2020-2021, had asked the MHA why there was a decrease in the
allocation of funds for the relief and rehabilitation of West Pakistan
refugees.The MHA responded by saying that the decrease in allocation in revised
estimates 2019-20 over budget estimates 2019-20 was due to a decrease in
provision for assistance to these families, as “authentic claims” had not been
received. thewire
*OTHERS*
'Leave Before Holi Or Else...': Mob Threatens Muslim Community In
Haryana Village:Ground Report
At a time when heartwrenching stories of Delhi violence survivors are
still making headlines, an incident of Muslim community being threatened to
leave their houses has been reported from a village in Jhajjar district in
Haryana.On February 29 around 50-60 men barged into Muslim colony in Nikhil
Vihar Colony of Isharhedi village in and threatened them to leave the place
before Holi or face serious consequences.Jhajjar district is located near West
Delhi's Najafgarh area. Around 20-odd Muslim families have been residing
peacefully in Nikhil Vihar, a Hindu dominated area, for over a decade. All of
them are migrants from West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and work as a mason,
carpenter, and labourers.Gulfam Khan, the complainant, in this case, told The
Logical Indian that the men selectively targeted Muslim houses and broke
nameplates on doors. "They threatened to see us if we all did not leave
the place till Holi festival by selling our houses at any price or even without
selling from here," said Khan."Some of the people who were from
outside this colony used slurs and abusive language to instil fear in the minds
of women and children," he added.Noor Begum, one of the women from the
colony, said that such was the fear of the incident that many families left the
colony. "Even other families who live here have shifted young girls and
children to other places for their safety in case the threat turns real,"
said 45-year-old Begum.Stressing on the brotherhood and camaraderie being
enjoyed by Hindus and Muslim families in their locality, she said that they
always participate in each other good and bad times. Expressing her concern,
Baby Khan, another woman who was present when the incident occurred said that
now another worry for them is whether to send their wards to school for the
exam or not. "If we send children, there is a fear for their security and
if we make them miss then one academic year would be jeopardised," she
said.Urging the state government to take immediate action for prevention of any
untoward happening by communal elements, the members of left organisations met
Rohtak Divisional Commissioner and demanded action on it.Inderjit Singh of one
of the organisations said that they personally visited the area and found that
the fear is real." Haryana govt and police should identify the accused or
anti-social elements behind triggered panic in the area and put them behind
bars," he demanded.Meanwhile, DSP(Jhajjar) Ashok Kumar said that a case
had been registered against unidentified persons and a probe has been launched
in the case. thelogicalindian
Karnataka: BJP govt scraps welfare scheme for Muslim brides, Congress
calls it anti-minority
Bengaluru: BJP govt in Karnataka on Monday scrapped the Shaadi Bhagya
Scheme that was launched by Congress government in the state in 2013.Under the
scheme, Rs 50,000 was given to Muslim brides for marriage expenses after they
submitted their Aadhar and BPL cards.While the previous coalition government
had allocated Rs 60 crore budget for the scheme, BJP govt decided to
discontinue the scheme. Congress called the move by the state government as
"anti-minority"."They have launched a scheme for the majority
community. I welcome that. But why are you discontinuing one scheme? It is a
small scheme where marginalized people get a little help from the govt,"Congress
MLA Rizwan Arshad told reporters."He (CM) has wilfully reduced the money
allotted to all the schemes," he added.MLAs from the minority community in
the state have demanded a meeting with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.ANI
Karnataka: Scheme for rehabilitation of riot-hit Muslims languishes
It was floated with the idea of
giving Muslim youth arrested for taking part in communal riots, but released
without conviction or on good behavior, a second chance, but three years on
Mane Malige scheme is limited to the paper it was typed on.The scheme,
government records show, provides financial assistance to Muslim youth to
compensate for "social stigma" and loss of education during their
time in jail. Launched in 2017-18 under Siddaramaiah government, the scheme
never took off. Thanks to political uncertainties in the subsequent two
fiscals, it was buried.Congress’ UT Khader, a former minister from Mangaluru, a
hotbed of communal clashes, said he was unware of the scheme, while former BJP
minority welfare minister Prabhu Chauhan indicated his department was
broke.Chauhan said he was unable to concentrate on the department due to lack
of funds on account of the floods in North Karnataka.The minister said there is
special emphasis on the coastal districts and Mangaluru, which witnessed
rioting during the anti-CAA stir. "We will disburse Mane Malige scheme
funds to those families who lost bread winners in the riots," Patil
said.TOI
Filmmakers Detained, Questioned for Nearly 24 Hours for Photographing
RSS HQ
Mumbai: A naive curiosity of wanting to see RSS headquarters and take
selfies in front of the structure in Nagpur landed two Bengaluru-based
filmmakers in illegal police detention and a flurry of interrogation for nearly
24 hours.The two filmmakers – Niki Nirvikalpa and Falah Faizal, who were
invited as jury members at the recently concluded Raipur international short
film festival, had been to Nagpur for a few hours last week before heading to
their hometown, Bengaluru.“Here, over 30 policemen, some from the local police,
some from the state ATS and even the intelligence bureau questioned us,” Niki
told The Wire soon after his release.Although Nirvikalpa and Faizal were both
illegally detained, they claim their mobiles were accessed by the police, and
every contact number scanned through. “They also sought access to our email
accounts and social media accounts,” Niki said.thewire
MP: Church functionary assaulted for allegedly converting people to
Christianity
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-man-assaulted-over-forced-conversion-6307493/
Bhopal :A functionary of a Pentecostal church in Sehore was assaulted by
a group of men after he was accused of converting people to Christianity.Isaac
Paulose (47) has said he was attacked on March 4, while he was returning home
after dropping his son at school when he was waylaid on an isolated stretch of
road by bike-borne assailants.“A bike stopped in front of my car and two riders
asked me to come out. I had barely come out when the duo was joined by riders
on 2 other bikes. They beat me up mercilessly with chains, rods and sticks,’’
he said.He was then rushed to the same hospital and referred to a Bhopal
hospital because his injuries were serious. The assault has left Paulose with
multiple fractures and head injuries.Church pastor Uttar Kumar Deep alleged
that Paulose was attacked after being accused of converting people to
Christianity. The pastor alleged that the attackers ran their bikes over him
and also made him chant “yeshu’’ (Christ).Paulose has also alleged that he was
attacked after being accused of converting people to Christianity.Indian Express
Govt to launch mahua-based alcoholic drink at Rs 700 for a 750 ml bottle
New Delhi :The government is set to launch a mahua-based alcoholic
beverage in the market for the first time. Called Mahua Nutribeverage, it will
be available as early as next month for Rs 700 for a 750 ml bottle, and will
come in six fruit-based flavours.The beverage has a high nutritional value and
relatively low alcohol content, at 5 per cent. It has been developed by
IIT-Delhi after 2 years of research in collaboration with TRIFED (Tribal
Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India). Pravir Krishna, MD,
TRIFED, said, “We are currently awaiting licenses from the excise department
after which it will be sold at all the five Tribes India outlets in Delhi.” He
added that even as they plan to sell the beverage across the country, each
state will have to acquire the relevant clearances on its own.The marketing is
being undertaken under the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s value-addition scheme
launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur in 2018. indianexpress
Minority welfare: Bihar govt-run coaching centres help minority students
clear exams, get jobs
Patna :Even though Muslims account for 17 per cent of Bihar’s
population, according to a senior official, they make up only 2.5 per cent of
the state’s police and less than 4 per cent of the other services. A decade
ago, these numbers were even lower. And it was to remedy this lack of
representation that Bihar’s Minority Welfare Department started a pilot
programme to train Muslim students and help them clear different types of
public services examinations.Amir Subhani, Additional Chief Secretary of
Minority Welfare Department, said “As Haj Bhawan had been lying largely unused
after pilgrimage season, we came up with the idea of utilising the vast space
with a devoted coaching centre for minority boys and girls who needed some kind
of motivation to do well in life. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar promptly approved
the idea. It is very good to see girls not just coming out of their homes but
also showing their increasing preferences for uniformed services. It is a
success story under construction. We are trying to replicate it in maximum
possible places”.Since 2010, Haj Bhawan Coaching and Guidance Cell has been
providing almost free coaching to Muslim boys and girls in preparing for
prelims, mains and interview stages of competitive examinations in
Bihar.indianexpress
12 injured as accident sets off communal violence in Meerut
Meerut :About 12 people were injured in a clash between members of two
communities at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening.The altercation
started after two motorcyles collided in the Lisadi Gate area. The incident
took a communal turn after members of the motorcyclists’ communities arrived,
and started throwing bricks at each other.The police intervened quickly to stop
the situation from escalating. Both sides have lodged complaints at Lisadi Gate
station, but the police are yet to arrest anyone. Injured have been admitted to
a government hospital.“With the festival of colours round the corner, the
police at sensitive pockets in Meerut are on high alert and that is why a major
clash at Lisadi Gate could be averted,” police officer Prashant Kapil, who is
in charge of Lisadi Gate station, said over the phone. “Both factions have
lodged complaints and FIRs have been filed. We will take action against both
groups. The police will not let the atmosphere get vitiated before Holi.”
indian express
Meats pieces thrown by Muslims outside temple in UP’s Hathras? Police debunks
false claim
One Navneet Gautam tweeted a video with the claim that Muslims are
throwing pieces of meat outside a Hindu temple in ‘Nai ka Nagla’ neighbourhood
of UP’s Hathras on Feb.13. In the video, a lane is visible where dogs can be
seen loitering around the “pieces of meat”. The tweet also had a rhetorical
question – “how long will Hindus be treated like this?” Gautam’s tweet was
retweeted over 2,700 times and watched over 38,000 times.Many other users on
Twitter and Facebook shared video with the same claim. A website named ‘Haryana
Ab Tak’ also reported the incident claiming that people are furious over meat
thrown near a temple in Hathras. Hathras Police tweeted a graphic in response
to Gautam’s tweet and informed that a local municipality official visited the
place where the said incident took place. It was found that things lying on the
ground outside the temple were not pieces of meat but feathers of a chicken and
other waste material that was thrown by a shopkeeper in a dustbin near the
temple. The police said that street dogs in the locality pulled out the waste
and spilt it all across the lane outside temple. “Hathras police didn’t get any
information about Muslims throwing pieces of meat near the Hindu religious
place -translated,” states the clarification.Despite police statement, Gautam
has not taken down his tweet.altnews.in
Delhi 1985 transistor blasts: 30 acquitted, but long case took heavy
toll
DIn 1985, a young Dalvinder Singh was expecting the result of his Class
XII examinations to come out soon, hopeful that a promising future lay ahead of
him. The result was brought to him while he was in police custody.Singh was one
of the 59 men and women accused in the transistor bomb blasts of May 10, 1985,
that happened in Delhi and adjoining areas of Haryana and UP. The explosions
killed 49 and injured 127 people in the capital alone.A Delhi court on March 5
acquitted 30 of the 59 accused, including Singh, saying that the “investigation
conducted in these cases was defective, lopsided, unfair and suffered from
various lacunae”.Nearly 35 years after his life was turned upside down, Singh
is now hopeful of making a fresh start: “Saari zindagi khatam ho gayi iss mein
(all my life has ended in this case)… I was 17 years and 8 months old at the
time. The officer who brought my result had said, ‘Pass ho gaya, Dalvinder.
Mithai lao’.”After he was released on bail in 1986, Singh took admission in
Deshbandhu College, but had to drop out after the second year as his family
began fearing for his safety. He ran a few businesses with his brothers — an
electric car parts factory and a pen factory — but they too had to be closed,
either due to family issues or because he couldn’t pay attention.“After the
charges were framed in 2006, I was required to be in court every day from
morning to evening… I got married late, hoping to clear the case first and
establish myself a little. My mother died in 1993 and my father in 2011. Both
of them would have been happy today,” he said.Many others who were acquitted by
the court said the support from their families and community kept them going.
When Manmohan Singh was arrested, his wife was pregnant with their first child.
He went on to spend six months in jail, during which time his first son
Amanpreet was born.Tej Partap, the son of accused Tarjeet Singh, said, “Many
Sikh youngsters were falsely implicated in the case. My uncle, Sarvjeet Singh,
and father were among them. They were in their early 20s then. They spent
almost a year in jail.”indianexpress
Delhi high court refuses bail to terror accused Imam
NEW DELHI: Delhi high court has dismissed the bail plea of an alleged
operative of LeT saying there was enough material to show he was conspiring to
carry out terror attacks in the capital and its neighbouring regions.Justice
Brijesh Sethi found no ground to grant bail to Mohd Rashid, an imam at a mosque
in Nuh, Haryana, who was arrested in 2013.The court noted that the records
revealed that Rashid with accused Shahid conspired to carry out terror attacks
and also raised funds in the name of jihad. Appearing for the prosecution,
additional public prosecutor Neelam Sharma told the court that the allegations
against Rashid were serious, which was why he had been booked under UAPA.In his
petition, Rashid sought parity, arguing that Shahid was granted bail already.
But the court pointed out there was no evidence to show Shahid was in touch
with LeT commander to whom Rashid has been linked.TOI
UP: A man, Sanjay cooks parts of human hand in dinner, stunned wife
rushes to cops for help
BIJNOR: On her return from a weekly market, exhausted wife of a
32-year-old Bijnor man was amused to see him home early, cooking something for
the dinner. But, an otherwise careful look shook her to the core, and she felt
nauseatic. There was a human hand and fingers on the platter.The man, a
drunkard, had discreetly brought the human flesh in a polybag from a nearby
crematorium, and was frying it on a pan when his wife entered. And she ran for
her life, alerting the neighbours and police. The man, Sanjay, was locked in
his home in Bijnor’s Tikkopur village till police came.In the initial probe,
police found that the man, who is a drunkard, had even attacked his father a
few days ago. “He has apparently picked up the hand from a crematorium. A probe
has been set up in the matter,” a police officer said.TOI
‘Arabic becoming popular second language option’
Madurai: A few days ago, more than 150 students of Class XI and Class
XII in the district kicked off their state board exams by sitting language
paper in Arabic. If the misconstrued concept that Arabic is only Muslim’s
language is broken, it could become a much more popular second language option
for students, said a teacher at Al-Ameen Higher Secondary School, K Pudur, from
where majority of the students appeared for the Arabic exam.“Arabic is easy to
learn such as Hindi, French or Sanskrit. However, many people stigmatize it
with Muslims. I’ve seen many Hindu students show interest in Arabic as well. If
not for the stigma, it can garner more interest,” said Hamza Mubarak, Arabic
master at Al-Ameen School. He said that on average, it takes only three months
to learn reading and writing Arabic and just one or 2 years to become
fluent.The headmaster of Al-Ameen School, S Sheikh Nabi, said that the school’s
students want to learn the language mainly of their own interest and that
demand has increased in recent years.The teachers said that these days the
language is highly useful for job opportunities in Gulf countries.TOI
FIR lodged against Nithyananda case investigators for showing porn to
children in ashram
A special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences court in Ahmedabad
filed complaints against several police officers investigating a case of
abduction against religious leader Nithyananda, for allegedly showing
pornographic content to children at his ashram, PTI reported. FIR was lodged on
the basis of a complaint petition filed by a follower of the religious leader
on Friday.A case was registered against 14 police officials, including members
of the Child Welfare Committee at Vivekanandanagar police station in Ahmedabad.
Earlier in Nov, police here had charged the controversial godman and two of his
women disciples for wrongful confinement and abduction of two girls and a boy
who were living in his ashram.The police investigation at the ashram took place
after Janardana Sharma and his wife, in a habeas corpus petition, alleged that
children were kept under “illegal confinement” in the ashram.scroll
*Coronavirus*
Coronavirus: 3 test positive in Karnataka and 6 in Kerala; India has 56
cases, global toll crosses 4000
As many as 9 new cases of the novel coronavirus, officially known as
COVID-19, were reported in India on Tuesday. This included three new cases from
Karnataka, taking the total number in the state to four, and six from Kerala.
The overall number of cases is now 56. However, there have been no deaths so
far.The global toll from the infection passed 4,000 on Tuesday and countries
around the world ramped up their restrictions to limit the spread of
infections. However, no new cases were reported in China outside Hubei
province.Italy announced severe nationwide restrictions on travel. The
country’s 60-million people will only be able to travel for work, medical
reasons or emergencies until April 3. All schools and universities, which were
closed nationwide last week until March 15, will now not reopen before next
month.Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has urged the
international community to help lift the “inhuman” sanctions the United States
has imposed against his country given the coronavirus epidemic, Tehran Times
reports. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had on Saturday called
US sanctions on his country “medical terrorism”.scroll
IAF Brings Back 58 Indians From Coronavirus-Hit Iran
The aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster, was sent to Tehran from Hindon airbase
near Ghaziabad on Monday evening.IAF spokesperson Group Captain Anupam Banerjee
said the aircraft evacuated 25 men, 31 women and two children. It brought swab
samples of 529 Indians to carry out laboratory tests and check whether they
carry coronavirus infection.About 2,000 Indians are living in Iran, a country
that has witnessed increasing numbers of coronavirus cases in the last few
days. Official said Indian citizens who have returned from Iran have been
quarantined at a medical facility in Hindon."IAF has activated necessary
medical protocols and has put required facilities in place to provide fellow
citizens with adequate care and support," Banerjee said.PTI
India's celebration of festival of colours muted amid coronavirus fears
India’s Hindu festival of Holi was subdued on Tuesday with fears of the
coronavirus putting a damper on the usually boisterous celebration marked by
the throwing of coloured powder and dousing with dyed water.2-day spring
festival is a rowdy explosion of colour, with people smearing each other’s
faces with green, yellow and red powder.But the coronavirus, which has infected
nearly 40 people in India, looks set to spoil the fun this year.“Avoid participating
in large gatherings,” the Ministry of Health said in notice warning of the
danger of the virus, while wishing everyone a “Happy and Safe Holi”.Reuters
Experts warn against ‘false hope’, say summer may not help tackle
coronavirus
New Delhi:The summer heat may not necessarily kill or significantly
weaken Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes the novel coronavirus disease
(Covid-19), say some experts, who have warned against “false hope” following an
analysis from China that said the number of cases decreased after average
temperatures crossed 8.72 degrees Celsius.Epidemiologists say that while rising
temperature and humidity may lead to modest declines in the potency of
Sars-CoV-2, countries should not depend on warm weather to slow transmission,
as the new virus may not react to seasonal changes in the way that other
seasonal viruses causing flu and common cold do.The China study found that in
cold regions, every 1°C rise in average temperatures led to an a cumulative
increase in cases by 0.83, while in the higher-temperature group, every 1°C
increase in the minimum temperature led to a fall in the cumulative number of
cases by 0.86.HT
Moulvis, monks step in to educate people about protection from
coronavirus
Jammu :Moulvis and monks have stepped in to make people in Jammu and
Kashmir and Buddhist dominated Ladakh aware of the steps to protect themselves
from coronavirus.2 patients each in Jammu and Ladakh have so far been suspected
suffering from coronavirus. One of these patients in Jammu was on Monday
reported positive.The authorities in Kashmir have sought the help of mosques
and shrines as there are apprehensions about some people not disclosing their
actual travel history which makes the job cumbersome and poses a serious
threat.thestatesman
Mukesh Ambani loses Asia’s richest crown to Jack Ma in $5.8 billion rout
Mukesh Ambani is no longer Asia’s richest man, relinquishing the title
to Jack Ma after oil prices collapsed along with global stocks.The rout,
exacerbated by mounting fears that the spread of the novel coronavirus will
thrust the world into a recession, erased $5.8 billion from Ambani’s net worth
on Monday and pushed him to No. 2 on the list of Asia’s richest people,
according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Ma, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
founder who relinquished the No. 1 ranking in mid-2018, is back on top with a
$44.5 billion fortune, about $2.6 billion more than Ambani.Oil plunged the most
in 29 years on Monday as Saudi Arabia and Russia vowed to pump more in a
struggle for market share. The slump comes just as the coronavirus is spurring
the first decline in demand in more than a decade. That raises questions about
whether Ambani’s flagship Reliance Industries Ltd. will be able to cut net debt
to zero by early 2021, as he has pledged. The plan hinges on a proposal to sell
a stake in the group’s oil and petrochemicals division to Saudi Oil Co, world’s
biggest crude producer.Bloomberg
Surat diamond industry hit by coronavirus, suffers loss of Rs 600 crore
in Jan
Surat :Surat diamond industry has faced a loss of around Rs 600 crore in
January this year as the major export destinations such as US, Hong Kong and
China are grappling with coronavirus outbreak.Surat has the highest number of
diamond polishers – around 5 lakh work in around 4,500, small, medium and big
diamond factories.Chairman of Gujarat unit of Gem Jewellery Export Promotion
Council, Dinesh Navadia said, “rough diamonds are cut and polished at the
small, medium and big factories in Surat. They are then sold in the local
markets here. Traders buy these diamonds and sell them in Mumbai, from where
these are exported to different foreign countries.”indianexpress
*WORLD*
US begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan: US official
US troops have started to leave Afghanistan for the initial troop
withdrawal required in US-Taliban agreement, a spokesman for US Forces in
Afghanistan announced on Monday, amid political chaos in Kabul that threatens
the deal.US will cut the number of forces in the country to 8,600, according to
a statement by US Forces Afghanistan spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett."In
accordance with US-Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the
US-Taliban Agreement, US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) has begun its
conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days," Leggett said
in the statement quoted by US media."USFOR-A maintains all the military
means and authorities to accomplish our objectives -including conducting
counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and ISIS-K and providing support
to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces," he added.
"USFOR-A is on track to meet directed force levels while retaining the
necessary capabilities." aljazeera
US calls for a UN vote on Taliban deal: diplomats
US has called for a Tuesday vote at UN Security Council to endorse
Washington's deal with Taliban that is supposed to pave the way to peace in
Afghanistan, diplomats said.US military has begun withdrawing troops as part of
the pullout agreed in Feb.29 agreement with Taliban.The request for a UN vote
came after negotiations on a draft resolution, diplomats said on
Monday.Intra-Afghan negotiations are also set to begin by Tuesday to work out a
permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.The agreement also proposes an
intra-Afghan dialogue with the government in Kabul and the release of 5,000
Taliban members from prison - although that part of the deal remains in
contention.Taliban has so far refused to speak to Western-backed Afghan
government, saying it is a "puppet regime".Intra-Afghan talks are to
begin on March 10 but no specific details have been given.Those talks are also
now in peril, after Afghanistan's rival politicians Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah
held competing presidential inaugurations on Monday.aljazeera
Dozens of Palestinians face 'terrorism court' in Saudi
Saudi Arabia has put dozens of Palestinian activists on trial, accusing
them of supporting the Gaza-based rulers Hamas.According to Arabic press
reports, 68 Palestinian and Jordanian citizens faced the "special
terrorism court" in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, beginning on
Sunday.Families of the accused said their relatives were being prosecuted
without legal representation. The detainees were arrested by Saudi secret
police in April of last year.Among those arrested was Mohammed al-Khudari, 81,
a long time Palestinian resident of Saudi Arabia and a retired physician
suffering from colon cancer, according to his family who spoke by phone from
Gaza.Al-Khadari's son, Hani - an IT professor at a Saudi university with no
apparent political activities - was also detained.Abdul Majed, Mohammed
al-Khudari's brother, told Al Jazeera both relatives were placed in solitary
confinement for seven months. He said the next court date would be May
5.aljazeera
Erdogan demands 'concrete support' from EU, NATO over Syria
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan has demanded more support from his
NATO and European Union allies over the war in Syria as fighting rages in
Idlib, and a refugee crisis unfolds at Turkish-Greek border. Erdogan flew to
Brussels for talks with EU and NATO leaders after tensions rose over the fate
of tens of thousands of refugees trying to enter EU-member Greece since Ankara
said last month it would no longer try to keep them on its soil.After talks on
Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Erdogan said he wants
Turkey's Western partners to do more to support his country to cope with
millions of refugees from Syria."The crisis stemming from Syria, with its
security and humanitarian aspects, is threatening our region and even all of
Europe,"Erdogan said."No European country has luxury to remain
indifferent."aljazeera
Egypt judiciary sentences 112 detainees to life in prison
On Monday, the Military Court in Egypt sentenced 112 detainees to life
in prison, alleging that they have been affiliated to Hasm Movement that the
Egyptian authorities classify as terrorist, and involved in case No. 64 of
2017, Northern Military Prosecution Cairo, known as Assistant Attorney General
or Case of Hasm Movement (HM).The court also sentenced three defendants to
aggravated imprisonment for 15 years, in addition to issuing a 15-year sentence
against seven detainees, aggravated detention for ten years against 17
detainees, aggravated imprisonment for five years against 22 detainees, a
five-year conviction against five oppositionists, aggravated imprisonment for 3
years against 44 defendants, and a three-year sentence against six detainees,
while acquitting 80 others.middleeastmonitor
Egypt : Death of detainee Mousaad Al-Baali due to medical neglect
Detainee Mousaad Al-Baali died after being transferred to Al-Sadat
Hospital in Menoufia Governorate, due to the deterioration of his health
condition as a result of deliberate medical neglect.Activists said that the
hospital administration was intransigent in handing over Al-Baali’s corpse to
his family, claiming that no orders had been received to do so. middleeastmonitor
Egypt Parliament approves inclusion of companies and unions in terrorism
lists
Egyptian parliament approved by a majority of the draft law of terrorist
entities lists, which provides for expanding the definition of “terrorist
entity” to include new categories, such as companies and unions, under the
pretext of combating “money laundering and financing terrorism.”The amendments
approved by Parliament included “redefining the crime of financing terrorism,
and adding new regulations to be imposed on entities added to lists of
terrorist groups and terrorists.”Jurists and activists considered these
amendments as an expression of the authority’s desire to expand the
jurisdiction of the security services and Public Prosecution in confiscating
the funds and property of oppositionist and prisoners of
conscious.middleeastmonitor
Britain's Labour Party Suspends Anti-racism Campaigner Accused of
Islamophobia
London: Britain's opposition Labour party has suspended an anti-racism
campaigner over accusations of Islamophobia, the activist revealed on
Monday.Trevor Phillips, who has headed several high-profile public bodies
including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said he had been suspended
after he suggested Muslims were "different".The former broadcaster
told BBC radio: "They say I've accused Muslims of being different. Well,
actually, that's true. The point is Muslims are different and in many ways, I
think that's admirable."We cannot continue to simply say differences don't
matter, it's a form of disrespect."Times paper reported that Phillips, 66,
was being investigated by Labour over comments about Pakistani Muslim men
sexually abusing children in northern English towns, which has become a
tinderbox issue in British politics.news18
Muslim Coalition Asks Joe Biden to Explain His Racist Rant Against Arabs
New York:A video has surfaced of a political speech, in which a much
younger Joe Biden, in a very passionate and very dramatic fashion, states that
Arabs are a violent people who were fighting among themselves and would
continue to do so even if Israel was to be physically moved to another place by
God himself.Muslim Peace Coalition, USA, has sharply criticised Joe Biden’s
statement terming it cunningly racist. Reacting to the statement, Dr. Shaik
Ubaid, co-chair of the Coalition, said, “Arabs fought much less among
themselves than the Europeans did and even the Jewish kingdoms and tribes
fought among themselves; and to make such a statement was cunningly
racist.”clarionindia.net
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Anti-CAA protests gave us poetry to resist, but hard plumbing of
alternative politics yet to be worked out:Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Indian express
Courts must intervene to address violations of child rights in UP,
J&K:Madan B Lokur, indianexpress
The root cause of present economic situation is death of demand:Yashwant
Sinha, indianexpress
Jurists like Justice S Muralidhar affirm values of
constitutionalism:Prashanto Chandra Sen, indianexpress
After Delhi riots, government has to revisit its approach on CAA: By
Pranab Dhal Samanta, ET
No, Kejriwal didn’t admit of having family ties with RSS; clipped video
viral:Jignesh Patel
Video of couple having sex in public is not from Shaheen Bagh:theprint
Faizan Died (After) Singing National Anthem His Mother Had Sung
Voluntarily on Republic Day:Accounts of 3 Families:THE CITIZEN
Is Maha Govt’s Scheme for Foreign Education of Minorities
Helpful?Rosamma Thomas
Delhi: Is Justice Being Done for Victims of Communal Carnage?Subodh
Varma
BJP has incited hatred it can no longer stop:Pragya Tiwari , aljazeera
Explained: Why the Police Fails at Handling Riots:N.C. Asthana
Compiled and edited
by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:40 PM).
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