15 March 2020: 19
Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 156
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
NPR boycott call will be withdrawn, if NPR amended ‘doubtful’ citizen
rule: Anti-CAA Umbrella groups
New Delhi: 2 umbrella groups against the new citizenship regime on
Saturday jointly demanded that the Centre amend the rules to preclude people
being marked “doubtful” citizens during NPR update.At a news conference, We the
People of India and the Alliance against CAA-NRC-NPR announced they would
withdraw their call to boycott NPR, scheduled to begin next month, if the
amendment was made.However, they underlined they would continue their movement
against the new citizenship matrix, represented by CAA and NRC, which they find
“discriminatory and divisive”. The demand comes 2 days after Union home
minister Amit Shah said that no one would be marked “doubtful” even if they
failed to provide all the information sought for the preparation of the NPR.We
the People of India includes several progressive parties and NGOs such as
Swaraj India, Left groups and United Against Hate. The Alliance includes Muslim
groups such as the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. “We welcome
the spirit of the home minister’s statement and now seek legalisation and
formalisation of the same by way of Union government amending the Citizenship
(Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003,”
their resolution said.“Such an amendment may remove any reference to NPR in the
above mentioned Rules of 2003. Alternatively, the government may delete Rule
3(5), 4(3), 4(4) which allow NPR to be used for identifying citizens as
doubtful and their deletion from the National Register of Indian Citizens.“Govt
may also suitably amend Rule 7(2) and 17 to ensure that providing information
in NPR is voluntary and that no one would be penalised for failure to provide
information. We believe that these amendments would give effect to the home
minister’s statement on the floor of the House and set at rest the widespread
apprehensions about NPR.“As soon as Union government carries out the above
mentioned amendments, we would be prepared to withdraw the call for boycotting
NPR. The movement against CAA and NRC and the entire discriminatory citizenship
regime shall, however, continue in peaceful, non-violent and democratic
manner.”Bureaucrat turned activist Harsh Mander, a signatory to the
declaration, said: “Citizens are scared that the government will snatch away
their citizenship. Whether their fear is real or imaginary, it does exist and
the solution to their fear is the responsibility of the government. They will
get rid of their fear only if the rules are amended. Only then can they believe
that it cannot happen in future.”telegraphindia
Anti-CAA Protestors Vowed To Continue Boycotting NPR Unless Home
Minister Give Assurance In Writing: indiatomorrow
Amit Shah must walk talk: NPR boycott call will be called off if he
amends law
Protests to continue until CAA-NPR-NRC withdrawn:Shaheen Bagh
protestors,
Refusing to believe Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s half-truths on the
issue of NPR, women protestors and social activists have demanded that the
government amend the existing law to ensure that as a result of NPR, no citizen
will be marked as ‘doubtful’.It has been 91 days since the sit-in protest at
Shaheen Bagh began and the women have decided that they will continue the
movement until the law is revoked. “People are intelligent, and we remember
what Amit Shah has said about the chronology of implementation. He is simply
throwing crumbs at us. They think we are unlettered women, so we do not
understand anything. But we have long experience and that is why we are out on
the streets,” explained 70-year-old Noornisa, who has been at Shaheen Bagh
since the beginning. “We want to know why these questions are being asked.
After conducting the NPR exercise, a year later with the same data, they will
enact NRC. We have no grounds to retreat now,” said Prakash Devi, another
protestor at Shaheen Bagh. One of the women demonstrators, 50-year-old
Meharunissa said, “If the Home Minister can pass CAA in Parliament, then he can
amend the existing law in Parliament too. This is a fight for the poor of the
country and for our next generation. If we don’t fight now, the next generation
will also be enslaved.”nationalheraldindia
No fear of coronavirus, say Shaheen Bagh protesters
After Amit Shah’s Jibe, ‘United Against Hate’ Says ‘Proud of Our
Activities’
New Delhi:In his address to the Lok Sabha during the debate over Delhi
violence, Home Minister Amit Shah made a mention of the United Against Hate
(UAH). He said UAH called for blocking of streets during Donald Trump’s India
visit. Shah’s words implied that the group was responsible for provoking
Hindutva forces to indulge in violence. “United Against Hate –name sounds so
pious, but see what they talk about,” Shah had said.Before his address, BJP MP
Meenakshi Lekhi also made similar allegations against the group. She blamed
Umar Khalid, a well-know youth leader associated with UAH, for his public
statements and said, “They call themselves United Against Hate, but they
themselves spread hate.” Similar allegations were made by Tejaswi Surya,
another BJP MP from Bengalore.The comments by the members of ruling party led
by the home minister targeting UAH is seen as a concerted attempt by the
government to go after the activists in order to scuttle the country wide
protests against CAA-NRC raging from the last three months.Khalid Saifi, who is
a vocal member of the group, was arrested by the police on February 26 at the
Khureji sit-in site.Home Minister Amit Shah’s jibe at the UAH is seen as a
consequence of the efforts of the group to expose the Hindutva agenda which is
rooted in hate and is exclusionist in nature.Following the utterances of the
BJP leaders in Parliament, UAH released a statement that denied the allegation
made against it. “We are appalled at this bogus allegation thrown at us,” the
statement said. It accused the BJP of “weaving a false narrative” about Delhi violence.The
statement defended the speech of Umar Khalid and said that he was talking about
“Uniting India” while rulers were “diving India”.clarionindia
Tamil Nadu :Muslim leaders demand Assembly resolution against CAA, NRC,NPR
CHENNAI: Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam met Muslim leaders from the
Federation of Tamil Nadu Muslim Political Parties and Organisations to discuss
issues pertaining to the NPR, NRC and the CAA
at the Secretariat on Saturday. The Muslim leaders said they had
presented four demands to the Chief Secretary, including one for an Assembly
resolution against the NPR, NRC and CAA.Speaking after the meeting, M.H.
Jawahirullah, president, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, said: “We reiterated in our
petition that the NPR is not needed to provide welfare schemes and that the
Census is enough for it. The NPR is useless and was brought in only for the
NRC.”He also said Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami should call an
all-party meeting to discuss the issue. Jawahirullah said Federation of Tamil
Nadu Muslim Political Parties and Organisations will wait a few days for the
State government’s response, but will continue the agitations against CAA, NPR
and NRC. But necessary precautions against COVID-19 would be taken, he added.thehindu
Take a stand against CAA and NPR: Muslim, Dalit organisations urge
Telangana CM KCR
Joint Action Committee (JAC) against CAA and NRC on Saturday said that
it would stage a protest in front of the Telangana Assembly, if Chief Minister
K Chandrasekhar Rao does not take a stand against the controversial law. JAC,
comprising 40 Muslim and Dalit organisations, also asked KCR to cancel the
process of the NPR by March 18, failing which its members would storm the
Assembly. Speaking to reporters, JAC convenor Mohammed Mushtaq Malik also said
that their leaders were being harassed by police. He urged CM to withdraw the
cases that had been filed against those who participated in anti-CAA protests,
including Million March in January.thenewsminute
AMU Students Taking Out Peaceful March Against Death of Anti-CAA
Protester Tariq Stopped by Police
Aligarh: Student protesters tried to take out a candlelight march at AMU
here to mourn the death of a youth who had died of gunshot injuries sustained
in violent clashes here during protests over the amended citizenship act last
month, but were blocked at the main gate itself, police said. 60 students
including 50 unnamed persons have been booked by police at the Civil Lines police
station in connection with the protests at AMU campus on Saturday night. Ten
students were named for violating Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code.The
protesters tried to march towards the collectorate, which is located close to
AMU, to submit a memorandum to senior district officials but were thwarted from
doing so by police personnel who reached the spot and blocked them at Sir Syed
Crossing, the main university campus gate, according to Civil Lines Circle
Officer (CO) Anil Samania.Earlier in the evening, a group of protesting
students had announced that they were going to hold a candlelight march to
mourn the death of Mohammad Tariq Munawwar, a youth who was injured on February
23 at Upper Kot and succumbed to his gunshot injuries late on Friday night at
Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College Hospital inside AMU, where he was being
treated.The protesting students were demanding the arrest of 2 persons who were
booked in the case but are still at large. CO Samania said that the main
accused Vinay Varshney has already been arrested and the police were following
up on the matter."The protesters were insisting on proceeding towards the
collectorate and they were not ready to hand over their memorandum at Babey Sir
Syed gate where senior district officials were ready to accept memorandum,"he
claimed.Later, the memorandum was handed over to officials, he said.On
Wednesday, police had arrested Varshney, a prominent BJP leader from the city,
who was the main accused in the shooting incident that left Tariq injured.PTI
UP books 27 anti-CAA protesters under gangsters Act — a law
controversial since 1986 launch
As many as 27 protesters allegedly involved in December 2019 protests
against CAA in Uttar Pradesh have been booked under UP Gangsters and
Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act 1986 by the Yogi Adityanath
administration.Brought under a Congress-led government, the law has been
controversial from the start.According to a 13 March press note released by
police in Lucknow, one of the epicentres of the protests, protesters have been
slapped with the gangsters Act because investigations had confirmed that they
“conspired as a gang to commit anti-government activities… thereby causing
panic among the public”.ThePrint takes a look at origin and provisions of the
Act, and the sections that have been invoked against the accused.UP Gangsters
and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, was brought in by then
Congress government, led by chief minister Vir Bahadur Singh, in 1986. The main
aim of the Act was to bring to book the 2,500 known gangsters in the state at
the time. It defines a gangster as “a member or leader or organiser of a gang
and includes any person who abets or assists in the activities of a gang
enumerated in clause (b), whether before or after the commission of such
activities or harbours any person who has indulged in such activities”.However,
within 6 months, state government stopped invoking the law as certain legal
loopholes came to light, including its generalised definition of gangsters and
a provision that was allowing easy bail. 27 people booked under the Act have
been accused of firing at police with an “intention to kill” and setting a
police outpost on fire in Lucknow’s Satkhanda area. They have also been accused
of damaging and looting other government offices and setting public/private
vehicles on fire.ThePrint
Firozabad, which recorded one of the highest death figures during
anti-CAA protests, reports tales of pain and police excess
According to police records, Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh is
among the regions which accounted for the highest number of deaths during the
recent protests against CAA and NRC. Of 24 deaths in the state, 7 were
reported from this district, documents compiled by the state police
show.Firozabad, which lies to the east of Agra, also witnessed some of the most
violent clashes between the police and protesters. In all, Uttar Pradesh police
has arrested over 1,200 people and detained at least 5,500 people in connection
with the violence. The last available figures for Firozabad put the arrests in
the district at 250.Among these is Ahmed Nabi, a 52-year-old Firozabad cancer
patient who finally received chemotherapy in the first week of March. It was
due on 28 Dec. Ahmed, who is suffering from stage-2 oral cancer, was arrested
on 20 December when he was on the way to his crockery shop, said his younger brother
Vakeel Nabi. “On 23 Dec, special court ordered Firozabad District
Administration to admit him to hospital,” he said. “But the police did not act.
The courts were closed from 25 Dec.to 1 Jan. They violated a court order to
ensure he missed his chemotherapy that was due on 28 December,” he alleged. The
police has denied this charge. When asked to comment, Firozabad SP Sachindra
Patel said, “We have complied with the court order.” Vakeel said, “When he told
the police about his medical condition, the police said, 'We will treat your
cancer here'. I met my brother at the police station on the night of 21 Dec. He
was barely conscious.”Vakeel further alleged that the police forced him to sign
on a blank paper and made him hold a desi pistol to get his fingerprints on it.
Patel responded by saying, "There is a lot of material (about the protests
and ensuing arrests) available (in the public domain)."firstpost
Hoarding shaming: As SC refers to larger bench, UP brings a law to
recover damage to property during protests
Lucknow :A day after its challenge to Allahabad High Court order
directing it to take down name-and-shame hoardings, carrying photographs and
details of people accused of violence during anti-CAA protests, was referred to
a larger bench of the Supreme Court, UP Cabinet Friday cleared the draft Uttar
Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020.State
Cabinet Minister Suresh Khanna said decision had been taken in view of the
Supreme Court’s observations on different petitions regarding damage to public
property. “An incident has been highlighted in newspapers recently. We have
decided to bring an ordinance for same. UP Cabinet has unanimously cleared the
Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance,
2020,” he said.While hearing different petitions, the SC, Khanna said, had
observed that public and private properties get damaged during political
processions, illegal agitations, strikes etc, and that there was need for a
strict law. He said the court had also observed that such protests should be
videographed, and there ought to be a provision to compensate the
loss.indianexpress
UP Government goes after families of anti-CAA-NPR-NRC protestors
Ultrasound clinics in Allahabad, renamed Prayagraj, will shut down
between Monday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 18 in protest against the
administration sealing the clinic of Dr Madhavi Mittal on specious
grounds.Doctors in the city seem convinced that the raid and the act of sealing
was done because of Dr Mittal’s activist husband taking a leading role in the
anti-CAA-NPR-NRIC protests continuing at Mansoor Park for the past two months.
Dr Mittal’s husband Ashish is an activist and state general secretary, All
India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS).The clinic has been in operation in the Civil
Lines area of Allahabad for the past 30 years and had never been raided before
or served with any notice of any kind. But the sudden raid conducted by a team
of Health department officials led by Deputy CMO and SDM Sadar, in the absence
of Dr Mittal who was out of city, took the medical fraternity by surprise. No
show-cause notice had been served, claimed Ashish Mittal.nationalheraldindia
Congress Workers Arrested for Putting Up 'Anti-Adityanath' Posters in
Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow: On Saturday, Congress party worker Sudhanshu Bajpai and his
friend Ashwani Yadav were arrested from Bajpai’s residence in Lucknow, for
putting up a poster outside BJP’s city office.The poster, with large
photographs of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath and deputy chief
minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, lists the “criminal records” of Adityanath,
Prasad and 5 other BJP leaders – Sangeet Som, Suresh Rana, Sanjeev Balyan,
Sadhvi Prachi and Umesh Malik.thewire
UP: FIR against posters ‘naming & shaming’ CM, BJP leaders with
criminal cases
Lucknow: Messages of support crop up on posters of anti-CAA protesters
Messages saying “I support you” were found written on hoardings with
photographs of those who have been accused of vandalism during an anti-CAA
protest in Lucknow and supposed to pay for the damages. The hoardings are put
up around 100 metres from the site of the women’s sit-in at Ghanta Ghar against
CAA and NRC in Thakurganj police station area.Next to a photograph of Rihai
Manch founder Mohammad Shoaib, a message reads, “I support you and I support
Mohd Shoaib advocate”. Next to a photograph of a person named Mohammad Sharif,
someone wrote, “I support Sharif”. Several other people’s photographs had
similar messages.indianexpress
Anti-CAA march put off on Maha CM''s assurance
Thane:A proposed long march against CAA-NRC-NPR regime from Bhiwandi in
Thane district of Maharashtra to Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on Monday has been
deferred on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray''s assurance, its organiser said today.The
march was planned by Samvidhan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti from Bhiwandi bypass to
Vidhan Bhavan, a distance of around 56 kms.The leaders of the Samiti met CM and
Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad today, a release said.CM told delegation that a
sub-committee of the Cabinet has been set up to submit its report on CAA, NPR
and NRC. PTI
Rajasthan govt considers moving SC against CAA
Jaipur:Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan is
contemplating a move to challenge CAA in the Supreme Court.“The state
government is considering filing a petition against CAA in the Supreme Court,”
sources said.The petition is likely to be filed in the SC on Monday.Gehlot has
been vociferous about the issue and repeatedly attacked Central government over
the controversial legislation.He has demanded its withdrawal for maintaining
peace and harmony in the country.PTI
Anti CAA NRC protest in Bhopal: Iqbal Maidan Satyagrah reaches Day 74,
Children give message on No-NRC, CAA & coronavirus through colours
BHOPAL: Children made paintings on Covid-19 at Iqbal Maidan at Iqbal
Maidan on Saturday morning.It was part of Bhopal Shaheen Bagh painting
competition, organised on 74th day of demonstration ‘Satyagrah,’ at the Maidan
against NRC-CAA-NPR.More than 60 children took part in the contest with great
zeal.Rimsa Rais made sketch of a human body showcasing symptoms of corona virus
including reduce your risk – learn hands with soap and water or alcohol- based
hand rub, cover nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing with a tissue,
thoroughly cook meat and eggs.Rumana Mirza made a painting of people wearing
masks to create awareness about Covid-19. She made work on paper with
pencil.Besides, some children also painted works sending out message of No NRC,
No NPR and No CAA. Ayusha Rasheed painted a map of India with pencil on paper
and wrote – Hum Bharat Ke Lo Hai Samvidhan Bachayenge Kutchh Nahi
Batayenge….’.She also wrote in her painting ‘Asahyog aandolan – Hum NPR mein
sahyog nahi karenge…’.freepressjournal
Bengaluru’s Bilal Bagh shows new protest culture — one that replaces
angry men with women of quiet strength
On Bengaluru’s Tannery Road, minaret of Masjid-e-Hazrath Bilal towers
over everything else. Nowadays, minaret is also the wayfinder for “Bilal Bagh”,
a road converted into a 24x7 protest site against CAA and NRC.For the past 30
days and counting, Muslim women are staging a continuous, peaceful, sit-in
protest at Bilal Bagh. And on any given day, hundreds of others from around
Bengaluru arrive here to join them.A casual observer, at first, might mistake
the shamiana as the site for a boring family function, but as you approach, the
speeches and songs heard inside, and the skits performed, reveal Bilal Bagh.
Only women are allowed inside the shamiana, while men stand on the periphery
where a photo exhibition circles them. But the stories best told in Bilal Bagh
come from the Bagh’s core, where a makeshift stage is. Khatun Jannat, 19, first
came to Bilal Bagh a few days before the protest's one-month anniversary. She
saw women sitting cross-legged on the carpet or perched on chairs talking among
themselves, or paying close attention to what was happening on the stage.
Jannat also spotted a few volunteers — dressed in neon jackets over their
salwar-suits, distributing packets of biscuits and tea — and walked up to them.
She whispered that she wanted to recite a poem on stage. firstpost
Central government is willing to relax CAA rules, says CM Ibrahim
Hubballi: Former Union minister and Congress MLC CM Ibrahim on Saturday
said that the central government had responded in the affirmative to his
suggestions on tweaking CAA, NPR and NRC.Ibrahim said that Union minister of
state for PMO Jitendra Singh had assured him of introducing the required
amendments, which the former said, would go a long way in soothing the jangled
nerves of the Muslim population in India. “I had written to PMO suggesting a
few changes to CAA, and responding to the same, Singh invited us to New Delhi
last week. We drew his attention to Nehru-Shoukat Ali Pact, which contained a
stipulation that only minorities ought to be allowed to migrate from Pakistan
to India and vice-versa,” said the former Union minister.TOI
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
Delhi riots: 718 cases registered, 3,400 people detained or arrested
New Delhi :Police have filed over 700 cases and arrested or detained
3,400 people in connection with the communal violence in northeast Delhi last
month, officials said on Saturday.In total, 718 cases have been filed out of
which 55 were registered under the Arms Act, police said.Of the 3,400 people
detained or arrested, 60 people have been held under the Arms Act, they
said.PTI
Delhi: 3 PFI members held for alleged involvement in riots get bail
A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to 3 alleged members of PFI, who
were arrested for their alleged “involvement” in anti-CAA protests and the
communal riots in north-east Delhi.Metropolitan Magistrate Prabh Deep Kaur
granted bail to Parvez Alam, PFI Delhi unit president, Mohammad Ilyas, its
State secretary and ‘active’ member Mohammad Danish noting that the offences
invoked in the FIR are bailable in nature.The court has directed the 3 persons
to cooperate with the police in its investigation and not to leave the country
without permission of the court.“IO [investigating officer] has nowhere
mentioned that any non-bailable offences has been disclosed or has come out
during investigation till now,” the judge said.The judge reminded that it is a
settled principle that in bailable offences, it is the duty of IO to offer bail
to the accused persons at the first instance. The court directed the IO to give
a written explanation with respect to his failure to offer bail to the accused
persons.The court order came while hearing State’s plea for grant of police
remand for the accused.thehindu
Aurangabad:29 PFI members booked for unlawful assembly, wrongful
restraint
Aurangabad: The city police have booked 29 workers of PFI , who staged a
‘Jail Bharo’ agitation at Roshan Gate area on Friday. Some of them have been
arrested on the charges of unlawful assembly and wrongful restraint.Authorities
informed that the party workers had organised an agitation, without any
permission, against Delhi police blaming them for their alleged complicity in
the Delhi riots.As per the complaint lodged by police naik Shaikh Arshad, the
group of PFI members gathered at Roshan Gate area which caused inconvenience to
the commuters.TOI
Police played communal role in Delhi violence, petitioners tell HC
An affidavit filed in Delhi High Court in connection with a batch of
petitions relating to the Delhi violence claims that "the police played a
communal role in encouraging, abetting, supporting, protecting and aiding the
assailants." "The victims speak in one voice: that the police played
a communal role in encouraging, abetting, supporting, protecting and aiding the
assailants," stated an affidavit filed on behalf of various petitioners,
including Shaikh Mujtaba Farooq, through senior advocate Colin Gonsalves.The
affidavit claimed, "The communal attack began with the hate speeches on
February 23 by leaders of the BJP as described in the petition. The main
attacks took place between February 23 and 26. During this period more than 54
persons were killed, over 600 injured, more than 1,000 houses and shops were
destroyed, 19 mosques, 2 madrasas and 3 shrines were destroyed, and a large
number of persons are missing. More than 1,000 families were
affected."Stating about the hundreds of FIRs registered by the police in
connection with the riots, the affidavit said that the FIRs have not been put
up on any website as is the practice, and required by law. "This has led
to a situation of deliberate opaqueness," they claimed."Hence the
petitioners request at the outset that all FIRs registered by the Delhi Police
be put up on the website of the Delhi Police," affidavit read.The
petitioners further claimed in the document that while most of FIRs have the
police as the informant, FIRs do not have the names of the accused and
"very few FIRs" have been registered in the names of the victims.A
division bench of the High Court presided over by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and
Justice C. Harishankar had on March 12 adjourned the hearing on a batch of
petitions to March 20 as the Centre had sought more time to file the
affidavit.IANS
Delhi Court Orders FIR Against VHP Leader For Hate Speech in Lal Kuan
Communal Violence Case
New Delhi: Tees Hazari court has ordered the registration of an FIR
against VHP leader Alok Kumar for inciting violence against Muslims in Old
Delhi’s Lal Kuan, nine months ago, NewsClick has reported.The court’s order
came on February 23, a day before communally targeted violence began in north
east Delhi, leading to the death of 53, nearly 300 injuries and immense
destruction of property. Several ground reports have it that Muslims suffered
significantly more losses than Hindus.One of the original petitioners who had
asked that FIRs be registered against the likes of BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who
is believed to have incited violence in north east Delhi through hate speeches,
is activist Harsh Mander. In turn, Mander has been extraordinarily accused by
Delhi Police of inciting violence himself.thewire
Hindus worried as Bangladesh witnesses ripple effects of Delhi riots:Sunday
Guardian
New Delhi: Far from the Indian capital, the ripple effects of the recent
Delhi riots are being felt in Bangladesh. While the situation in Delhi is now
calm and no violence has been reported after 25 February, Bangladesh is
witnessing protests. Recently, Delhi witnessed communal violence.In Bangladesh,
On 6 March, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to the country on 17 March. PM Modi was
scheduled to visit Bangladesh on 17 March to mark the 100th birth anniversary
of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The trip has now been
cancelled and though both sides have cited the coronavirus scare as the reason
behind calling off the trip to Dhaka, sources say that Indian intelligence
officials were not sure about the PM’s security in Dhaka.The rocky relationship
between the 2 countries surfaced after Assam’s NRC was published and CAA came
into existence. Recently, Speaker of Bangladesh’s Parliament cancelled her
visit to India and now the country’s major opposition, BNP’s protests across
the country have intensified the crisis.Protests in Bangladesh against CAA and
the Delhi riots have so far left 12 people injured. Most of these injuries
happened in the southern island of Hatiya, and Chittagong region.“Thousands of
people gathered outside the Anderkilla Shahi Jame mosque in Chittagong city on
6 March. The protesters were raising inflammatory speeches and communal
slogans. A call for revenge was also given during the protest. While the mob
kept raising communal slogans, most Hindu residents of the area remained
indoors fearing a 1992 like violence in the city,” Saumen Banerjee said. A
large protest was also witnessed outside the medieval era Kadam Mubarak
mosque.Banerjee, who belongs to Chittagong Hill Tracts area and works as a
dockyard engineer, said: “Ever since Sheikh Hasina has come to power, she’s
been holding back the crazy radicals all the time and people hope that this
time again, she will succeed in doing same. But for now, situation is tense, at
least in the city.According to Banerjee, Hindus are concentrated largely in
Chittagong city and parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and historically, these
areas have been the hubs of communal tension.
In Bangladesh, Protest Against PM Modi On Hold, Only Until He Pays A Visit
The anti-Indian protests planned during Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka
has now been put on hold in view of the former's deferred trip to Bangladesh.
But his Bangladeshi detractors claim they will be out in the streets in numbers
whenever the Indian prime minister touches down in their country.“Our protests
have been held back, they have not been called off,” says Kafi Ratan, member of
the Bangladesh Communist Party’s presidium. “We will take to the streets in
large numbers to protest whenever he comes to Dhaka,” he adds.The communists,
the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam and sections of students had held a series
of protests in Dhaka and other Bangladeshi cities this month to express displeasure
with the BJP-led government in India in the wake of the Delhi riots.They had
plans of holding a series of protests next week but decided to hold them back
since the Indian Prime Minister’s scheduled 2-day visit to Dhaka from March 17
had been deferred because of the coronavirus outbreak.outlookindia
Press Council of India report on Delhi riots puts media & Delhi
Police in the dock
The communal violence in Delhi last month covered approximately 6 square
kilometres and should have been nipped in the bud by Delhi Police. But
shoot-at-sight orders were not given till Feb.26, 3 days after the violence
began and only after the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the
area.The fact-finding report by Press Council of India questions both police
inaction and complicity as also the failure of the media to ask the right
questions, despite reporters and photojournalists risking their lives to
present reasonably accurate, first-hand accounts from the
ground.nationalheraldindia
For Delhi Riot Victims, Legal Camps Offer Lone Hope for Justice
New Delhi: On hearing that a legal camp has been set up in Lane No. 5 of
Chaman Park in Mustafabad area by the Citizens Collective for Peace, a group of
individuals and civil society organisations, Rukhsana had immediately set off
for it.A resident of Bapu Nagar, which was one of the many colonies to witness
large scale arson and violence over three days beginning February 24, she was
among the lucky ones who escaped with injury or loss of property. But she lost
her livelihood as the families she worked for as a domestic help had to flee
the area.“Now I am not getting work. I also do not have an ‘aadmi’ (husband), I
am a widow. If you can do something for me, please do. I have not received any
assistance from the government. My children are young. I just need ration for a
few months and some clothes,” she said to The Wire as she emerged from inside
the legal camp being run by “Lawyers for Detainees”.While the large number of
lawyers and law students at the camp have already helped over 400 people get
their FIRs registered, file police complaints and compensation forms, there is
little they can do in Rukhsana’s case as no Delhi government compensation
scheme covers women like her who have lost their source of livelihood in the
violence.thewire
Delhi Violence: Shaheen Bagh Protesters Demand Fair Probe
New Delhi: The women of Shaheen Bagh demanded on Friday a fair probe in
the communal violence in northeast Delhi and a compensation of Rs 1 crore to
the victims.“There should be an inquiry about how the people came to Delhi from
UP and during the violence,” a group of women at the site said at a late-night
press conference. “We want a fair probe into the violence in Jaffrabad, Shiv
Vihar and Maujpur.”The women said their protest against CAA, NRC, NPR and
police action at Jamia Millia Islamia completed its 90 days at Shaheen Bagh on
Friday.“ Home minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha that no Muslim needs to be
scared. We want to tell the home minister that not only Muslims, but other
minorities are also scared,” a protester said.As a precautionary measure
against the coronavirus pandemic, the women said the protesters were being
provided with masks and hand sanitisers.“ Woman are regularly cleaning their
hijabs. No need to be scared of coronavirus,” protesters added.PTI
Umar Khalid spoke of triggering riots in Delhi, claims Devendra Fadnavis
Mmubai: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday claimed ex-JNU student
leader Umar Khalid gave a anti-CAA speech in Maharashtra's Amravati last month
saying violence should be triggered in Delhi during US President Donald Trump's
visit Fadnavis, who said several anti-CAA protests were staged to create
anarchy, also alleged that two ministers were present in this programme where
Khalid spoke. Demanding that the state govt take action against Khalid,
Fadnavis said, "I exposed (in House) how the state govt is not making
clarification on CAA, NRC and NPR to ensure there is no peace"."The
board of the programme (in which Khalid gave the speech) had photographs of two
state ministers. What he (Khalid) said in his speech, happened in Delhi. But
the state government is not even acting against him," Fadnavis alleged.PTI
Actions of cops during NE Delhi riots to be assessed
New Delhi :To assess the action of each police personnel deployed in
Northeast Delhi when riots broke out from February 23 to 25, JCP(Eastern Range)
has asked them to provide details of their place of duty and action taken by
them when violence took place in their area.A letter has been sent by JCP
(Eastern Range) Alok Kumar to DCPs of all districts, specialised units such as
Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing, Delhi Armed Police as well as all
district police personnel. “The name of ACPs, SHOs, inspectors, who performed
law and order duty in Northeast Delhi during riots, along with their place of
duty, timing of duty and action taken by them during riots may be intimated by
return signal. This may be treated as most urgent,” the letter states.Further,
data compiled by the Delhi Police suggests that Khajuri Khas area saw the most
violence, with 153 FIRs being registered — the highest in an area, among the
700-plus filed so far. More than 100 FIRs have been filed at Bhajanpura and
Gokulpuri as well, indicating that these areas were particularly hit by
violence.indianexpress
'Hindus Love Muslims' Poster Pinned Outside Dwarka Mosque That Was
Attacked
New Delhi: A poster saying ‘Hindus love Muslims’ was pinned outside the
mosque in South-West Delhi that was attacked last month on February 28 at 2 am
by a few men allegedly shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.The poster was signed ‘Hindus of
Dwarka,. The Wire had reported last month that broken glass bottles and stones
were found near the mosque’s premises. While DCP Dwarka had refuted claims that
the incident had taken place, when The Wire visited the mosque, the police were
making arrangements to fix the windowpane that had been shattered – allegedly
by a pelted stone – so that further panic could be avoided.Imran Khan, a member
of the managing committee of the Shahjahanabad Society (a Muslim-majority
housing complex) and Abrar Ahmed, the convener of the Masjid Society Trust
suspected that 10-12 stones were pelted in quick succession st the mosque and
were well-aimed.thewire
Delhi riots: Police arrest 5 more in Ankit Sharma murder case; IB
staffer was killed during last month's communal violence
Delhi Police has arrested 5 more
persons in connection with IB staffer Ankit Sharma's murder during the communal
violence in northeast Delhi last month, officials said.The accused have been
identified as Feroz, Javed, Gulfam and Shoaib from Chand Bagh area and Anas
from Mustafabad, they said. Police said they identified the accused through
CCTV footage and information provided by eyewitness and local informers.PTI
"Shouting Jai Shri Ram, They Fired Bullets On Me When I Was Going
To Buy Ration Rice," Says Noor-e-Ilahi Resident Rizwan
NEW DELHI:"It's them who came in large numbers and started
stone-pelting. There was no provocation from our side" Said Muhammad
Rizwan hailing from Noor Ilahi area near Bhajanpura in North East Delhi. Rizwan
has been admitted with bullet injuries at Al Shifa Hospital, Okhla here. It was
on 24th Feb, Rizwan told India Tomorrow " I went out for buying my share
of ration rice. There was a large crowd on the opposite side of the road.
Muslims from our streets started gathering to know what's happening. The mob
then started pelting stones on us without any provocation. I could hear them
shouting Jai Shri Ram" Rizwan added that then they started firing and he
was hit on his abdomen. The bullets pierced through his stomach and cut his
intestinal walls. He was taken to GTB Hospital where his bullets were removed.
Rizwan also told a couple of others also were shot of which one succumbed to
his injuries. Muhammad Usman, brother of Rizwan alleged that his brother was
treated badly at GTB Hospital. "There was leakage after first operation.
After the second operation, he was kept in ventilator as his condition
worsened. Efforts for stitching went incomplete for the third time. He was then
discharged and sent home even as his wife resisted" - Usman added. He was
later taken to Al Shifa Hospital where his condition is stable. An operation to
join his cut intestine is yet to be done.India Tomorrow
Delhi riots: Received 4,000 distress calls day Trump arrived, probing
role of people from UP's Deoband area, police tells MHA in report
New Delhi: Delhi Police has told Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that its
control room received 4,000 distress calls from riot-hit North East Delhi
district, on the day US president Donald Trump landed in Ahmedabad. These calls
made by the residents were about large gathering of pro-CAA and anti-CAA groups
and incidents of stone-pelting, arson, firing and clashes with police teams on
the ground.Significantly, the Delhi Police has informed MHA that they are
probing the role of people who came in large number from Deoband in western
Uttar Pradesh, few days before the violence and allegedly stayed in Mustafa Bad
and other areas of North East Delhi. The linkage between outsiders and active
criminals of all police stations of the northeast Delhi districts is being
investigated to unearth the larger conspiracy.A total 1,922 rioters have been
identified by the police. Of these, 336 belongs to Uttar Pradesh.firstpost
‘Gated’ colonies: Delhi’s riot-scarred neighbourhoods are fortifying
themselves with new barriers
Mohammed Wasil looks after Masjid Aqsa in the Chaman Park neighbourhood
of North East Delhi. Until last fortnight, his duties involved paying the
utility bills for the mosque, overseeing its upkeep and keeping it clean. But
now another job has been added to that roster: creating fortifications to
protect the place of worship from attack.Wasil matter-of-factly explained the
geography of the area. “Just on that side of the road is Shiv Vihar,” he said.
“All through the riots there were constant attacks from that side. Many
attempts were made to burn down the mosque.”Wasil’s solution was to build a
large, metal gate just outside the lane where the mosque stands. This week, he
was overseeing the construction. “No one will come to save our mosque,” said
Wasil. “We need to do it ourselves. That’s why we are making this gate.”Wasil
isn’t the only one building barricades. Rocked by a week of communal rioting in
the final week of February, several parts of North East Delhi are building
metal gates, walling off their neighbourhoods to stay secure in case of any mob
attacks.The metal gates stand as symbols of the fear that still courses through
these narrow lanes.scroll
Bid to deport ‘anti-India’ reporter, says Prasar Bharati, MEA says no
New Delhi :The national public
broadcaster Prasar Bharati said Friday on its official Twitter handle that MEA
has asked the Indian Embassy in US to look into a request “for immediate
deportation” of Eric Bellman, the South Asia Deputy Bureau Chief of Wall Street
Journal, for “anti-India behaviour”.The tweet by PBNS News came a week after
I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar had intervened to revoke a 48-hour ban on
two Malayalam news channels for their reporting on Delhi riots — for allegedly
“siding” with one community and being “critical towards Delhi Police and
RSS”.Later on Friday, Prasar Bharati withdrew tweet on Bellman after MEA’s
official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar posted on Twitter: “A complaint was
registered against @EricBellmanWSJ, @WSJIndia by a private individual on
Government’s Online Grievance Redressal platform. Referring the complaint to
related office is a routine matter as per standard procedure. No such decision
on deportation has been taken by us.”MEA sources said the issue has been
referred to Under Secretary (Consular) in MEA, and not the Indian Embassy in
the US — as incorrectly reported by the public broadcaster.Earlier, on Feb. 28,
public broadcaster had directed another set of tweets at Wall Street Journal,
claiming that a report published in the newspaper on the death of IB staffer
Ankit Sharma in the Delhi riots was wrong.indianexpress
Delhi: Cab driver claims attacked, but CCTV shows him rioting
New Delhi :A 26-year-old private cab driver, who had approached
Northeast district police claiming he was a riot victim, turned out to be an
accused after police found footage from a CCTV camera in Brahmpuri that
purportedly showed him holding a sword and pelting stones.Police sources said
Surendra Soni, a resident of Brahmpuri, was also arrested in 2013 on
molestation charges.“On Feb.25, he had lodged a police complaint, alleging he
was attacked by a group when he was heading home, and that he had received a
gunshot injury on his left hand. An FIR of attempt to murder was then
registered at New Usmanpur police station,” said a police officer.During their
investigation, police found footage purportedly showing Soni carrying a sword
and standing with a group of people in Brahmpuri’s gali number 13 at 2.50 am on
Feb 25.Others beside him can be seen firing several rounds and pelting stones
at a group, which fires back.“Soni was again questioned by police, and they
showed him the footage as well. He admitted to the crime. He then claimed that
people were gathering in his street, so he came out of his house to help his
neighbours, and he fired and pelted stones in self-defence,” the officer
said.Later, police also arrested a 22-year-old man, Nasir alias Arbaz, who was
purportedly seen firing several rounds from a country-made pistol in the
footage.indianexpress
*MP POLITICAL CRISIS*
MP floor test: ‘All is well’, says Kamal Nath; Congress MLAs return to
Bhopal from Jaipur
New Delhi :A day ahead of the crucial floor test in Madhya Pradesh
Assembly, Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Sunday maintained that his government
would prove their majority in the Assembly on Monday. “All is well,” he told
reporters outside Vallabh Bhawan.Several other ministers also exuded confidence
that the party would survive the test. State minister and independent MLA
Pradeep Jaiswal told ANI: “We have the numbers. CM is confident. Wait and
watch. Kal pariksha (floor test) hogi koi zaroori nahi hai, abhi toh corona
chal raha hai (It is not necessary that the floor test will be held tomorrow
due to coronavirus).”Meanwhile, Congress MLAs who had been camping in Jaipur
also returned to the MP capital today.“After landing at Bhopal airport, we are
being taken to a hotel in buses. Instead of returning home, we will stay in
Bhopal as the budget session of the assembly will start on Monday,” a Congress
MLA told PTI.The party has issued a 3-line whip asking its legislators to
attend the session and to vote with the government.Late on Saturday, Governor
Lalji Tandon had directed the Congress government to prove its majority during
the Budget session which is scheduled to begin tomorrow.The Governor said the
test would take place immediately after his address in the House. The voting
would take place via division and the proceedings would be recorded by an
independent videographer, he said. Nath’s meeting on Sunday had triggered
speculation that the government could recommend postponement of the assembly
session. CM had met the Governor on Friday to ask him to investigate the
circumstances into which 22 Congress MLAs were taken to Bengaluru, and their
resignations letters were submitted to Speaker N P Prajapati by a former BJP
minister in Bhopal.The chief minister also wrote to Union Home Minister Amit
Shah, seeking his intervention to release 22 Congress MLAs kept at a resort in
Bengaluru, and to allow them to attend the budget session of the Assembly.With
these 6 resignations, the number of Congress members in the house has been
reduced to 108. BJP has 107 members. 4 Independents, one SP, and 2 BSP members
are with the Congress. There are 2 vacancies in 230-member House.indianexpress
*J&K, SOUTH ASIA & india *
Ghulam Nabi Azad meets Farooq Abdullah after his release, seeks
statehood, release of other detained leaders
Srinagar: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on
Saturday met NC president Farooq Abdullah, who was released from home detention
after seven months, and demanded that all detained leaders from Jammu and
Kashmir be freed and democracy restored.After a 2-hour meeting with Abdullah at
the latter's residence in Gupkar area of the city here this afternoon, the
Congress general secretary told reporters that for the progress of Jammu and
Kashmir, its leaders should be released and "not kept in cages like a
parrot".Calling for release of all other leaders and individuals, including
former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, to restart the
political process in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said elections should be held and
statehood restored to Jammu and Kashmir. He was dismissive of the recently
floated Jammu Kashmir Apni Party led by former finance minister Altaf Bukhari,
saying the region cannot be run through "agency created parties".Azad
said he met Abdullah on behalf of his party as well as all those MPs and
parties who have been raising their voice inside Parliament and outside for the
release of Jammu and Kashmir leaders. "First and foremost, democracy
should be restored in Jammu and Kashmir for any political process to
start," Azad said.Azad, who is also a former chief minister of Jammu and
Kashmir, said the political process should be started soon.PTI
J&K parties must unite to bring back those detained in prisons
outside state, says Farooq Abdullah
Amit Shah Assured Restoration Of Statehood: JK Apni Party Chief Altaf
Bukhari
Chief of newly-formed 'JK Apni Party' Altaf Bukhari met Union Home
Minister Amit Shah on Sunday during which the minister allayed fears of
demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir and also assured for the early return
of statehood. Emerging after a nearly two-hour-long meeting with the home
minister, Bukhari, a businessman-turned-politician who led a delegation of the
party, said various issues, including the apprehension of people of a possible
demographic change, early restoration of statehood and release of political
prisoners were discussed."The home minister made it clear that there was
no question on the issue of any demographic change," Bukhari said.He said
the home minister also reiterated that the government was committed for early restoration
of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and also said that the process of
delimitation would be completed in the most scientific manner at the
earliest.PTI
Will work with all sections to restore J&K’s statehood, Modi tells
ex-PDP leader’s new party
A 24-member delegation of the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party
on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PTI reported. Modi assured the
delegation that the government will work with all sections of the society to
restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.The delegation was headed by the party’s
president Altaf Bukhari. Projecting the party as an alternative to the regional
parties such as the National Conference and PDP, Bukhari sought full statehood
and domicile rights to protect residents’ land and jobs.scroll
'Kashmiris Don't Want to Die Cheaply' Says Former RAW Chief on Absence
of Mass Protest
New Delhi: In an interview that reveals some of the details of the
secret contacts with former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah
prior to the revocation of his detention under the Public Safety Act on March
13, former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat says that he visited Srinagar to meet
Abdullah and that the government had cleared the visit and, additionally,
national security adviser Ajit Doval was fully aware of it.Dulat – who said he
visited Abdullah in Srinagar on February 12 – has known the National Conference
patriarch for decades and interceded with him on behalf of earlier governments
on at least two previous occasions. Speaking to Karan Thapar for The Wire, he
says Farooq Abdullah will respond if the Centre reaches out and that he has
always done so.In a detailed interview which will be put up on The Wire’s
website at 10 pm on Saturday, Dulat
revealed details of how this secret visit came to happen and the sort of
clearance and support he got from the government in Delhi as well as the
Intelligence Bureau in Srinagar.thewire
Kashmiris more worried about statehood than article 370: Ex RAW Chief
Dulat
Families Demand Release of Kashmiri Detainees Over Coronavirus Risks
Srinagar: The family members of Kashmiri prisoners who have been lodged
in different jails across India since Article 370 was scrapped, have expressed
concern in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has gripped the entire
world.Human rights activists, advocates and families have demanded the immediate
release of their kin on humanitarian grounds.“The threat of the coronavirus
epidemic increases the risk to their health and safety for political prisoners,
who should never have been imprisoned in the first place,” said Michael Page,
deputy Middle East director at HRW.thewire
NIA court frames charges against Yasin Malik for killing of IAF
personnel in 1990
Jammu:A NIA court in Jammu on Saturday charged JKLF chief Yasin Malik
and six others in the killing of 4 IAF officers in Kashmir in 1990. The court
said there was enough prima facie evidence to prosecute Malik in the case.The
other accused included Ali Mohammad Mir, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi alias Mustafa,
Javed Ahmed Mir alias Nalka, Nana ji alias Saleem, Javed Ahmed Zargar and
Showkat Ahmed Bakshi. All six were charged for the attempt to kill the IAF
personnel. The judge has also directed jail superintendents to produce both the
accused — Yasin Malik and Showkat Ahmed Bakshi — through video conferencing on
March 16. indianexpress
*ECONOMY*
Excise duty hiked on petrol, diesel by 3 per litre; govt move to mop up
gains from fall in global oil prices
Excise duty on petrol and diesel was on Saturday hiked by Rs 3 per litre
as the government looked to mop up gains arising from fall in international oil
prices.This move is an attempt to increase government revenues at a time when
tax collections have fallen amid the weakest economic growth in over six years,
according to Reuters.The excise duty on the fuels was hiked by Rs 3 per litre,
the government said in a gazette notification.firstpost
You are a heartless bank – ‘Nirmala Sitharaman blasts SBI chief’ in
alleged leaked audio
New Delhi: A purported audio clip of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
taking State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar to task has gone
viral.Sitharaman, who has been known to lose her cool as finance minister – and
as defence minister in the first term of PM Modi – can be heard calling
country’s largest state-run lender “heartless” and “inefficient” in the
purported audio clip.The clip was uploaded on YouTube Friday and was widely
shared Saturday.The purported comments are said to have been made at a meeting
between Sitharaman and bankers in the last week of February on issues faced by
Assam and other Northeastern states. The meeting was attended by Assam Finance
Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and officials of the department of financial
services.The finance minister, it could be gathered from the purported
conversation, was upset that 2.5 lakh bank accounts belonging to tea garden
workers in Assam had become non-operational due to a lack of acceptable KYC
requirements.theprint
Statement condemning Sitharaman’s attack on SBI chief withdrawn by bank
association
An association of bank officers on Saturday criticised Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman for allegedly rebuking State Bank of India Chairperson
Rajnish Kumar on a public forum, but soon withdrew its statement. In its
original statement, the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation had called
Sitharaman’s attack on India’s largest bank “unsavoury”.The association’s
criticism was for a purported audio clip of Sitharaman at an event last month,
which has been widely shared on social media. The finance minister can be heard
calling the country’s largest state-run lender “heartless” and “inefficient” as
bank accounts of some 2.5 lakh tea garden workers in Assam were not functional.
Scroll.in could not independently verify the authenticity of the clip.scroll
Banks Wrote Off Rs 6,60,000 Crore Worth Bad Loans Since Modi Came to
Power
New Delhi: Banks operating in India have written off bad loans worth Rs
660 thousand crore since 2014, as per RBI data studied by NewsClick. The
quantum of loans that were written off amounts to half of the total
non-performing assets or bad loans that were recorded in the financial books of
the banks.Data published by RBI also shows that as much as Rs. 237 thousand
crore was written off from the financial books of the banks in financial year
2018-19 alone.The graph shown below charts the steep rise in the amount being
written off, often referred by banks as technical write-offs, allowing them to
clean up their books, as the banks fail to recover the loans.NewsClick
*OTHERS*
Allahabad HC Stays Varanasi Court's Order To Commence Hearing On Kashi
Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque Land Title Dispute
In a recent order, Justice Ajay Bhanot of the Allahabad High Court
stayed the decision of a trial court to proceed with the hearing of the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute.A trial court in Varansi on February
4, while hearing the original suit filed in 1991, relating to the long standing
land title dispute between the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Trust and the Anjuman
Intazamia Masjid, ordered that it will commence hearing forthwith.The trial
court observed that the stay imposed by the Allahabad High Court on proceedings
of the dispute was no longer in subsistence and hence, it could proceed with
the hearing.In the backdrop, the Allahabad High Court had vide order dated
October 13, 1998, in case titled Anjuman Intezamiya Masajid Varanasi v. Ist
Additional District Judge, Varanasi & Ors., WP No. 32565/1998 (now
registered as MUA227 No. 3341/2017), imposed an interim stay on the hearing of
the dispute in question. "Untill further orders by this court further
proceeding pursuant to order dated 23.09.1998 in suit no. 610 of 1991 pending
in the court of 2nd respondent shall remain stayed," the high court had
ordered.livelaw.in
Babri Masjid demolition trial: CBI court fixes Mar 24 for questioning
accused
Lucknow: A special CBI court hearing 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case
in Ayodhya has fixed March 24 for examining and questioning the accused.After
the Supreme Court's strict direction in July, 2019 to complete the trial in
nine months time, now the special CBI court has taken up the case and the 351th
witness, the then CBI joint Director and chief investigator M Narayanan
recorded his statement.Though Mr Narayanan recorded his statement way back, the
cross examination by the counsel of the opposite side was completed on
Friday.It is to be mentioned here that Mr Narayanan, who investigated the case
as chief investigator, was the last witness on befalf of the CBI in the case,
which was lodged by the Ramjanambhoomi police station SHO and Ramjamanbhoomi
chowki in-charge on December 6,1992.Special CBI judge( Ayodhya matter) S K
Yadav will now record the statement of the 32 accused under section 313 of the
CrPC from March 24.On the first day, three accused VHP leader Champat Rai
Bansal, Faizabad BJP MP Lallu Singh and Prakash Sharma have been sent summons
to appear before the court to record their statements.The accused in the case
include former deputy prime minister LK Advani and senior BJP leaders MM Joshi,
Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh and Sadhvi Ritambhara.UNI
Cong leader Ikbal, aide sent to judicial custody in connnection with
1992 riots
Surat Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court on Saturday sent
Congress party whip with Surat Municipal Corporation, Ikbal Belim, and his
friend, Rahim Rana, to judicial custody after a non-bailable warrant was issued
against them in a case of rioting after the demolition of Babri mosque in
1992.According to the case, after the demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya,
riots broke out in different parts of the country, including Rajiv Nagar in
Udhna, Surat, where vehicles were torched and shops were looted and set on
fire. Udhna police registered a case and named 26 accused, including Belim and
Rana. All the accused were arrested and were later granted bail. However, the
case recently came up in JMFC court in Surat. On Saturday, after being informed
about the warrant, Belim (65) and his friend Rana (72), both residents of
Limbayat area, reached the police station. Police took the duo to JMFC court of
Additional Civil judge MB Rathore. They applied for a regular bail, which was
rejected by the court that sent them to judicial custody at the Surat district
Central jail.Defence lawyer Feroz Pathan said, “Bail applications of the
accused were rejected as the sections under which the case is charged doesn’t
permit trial and lower court to grant bail. We will file a bail application in
sessions court next week. Some of the accused are dead and others have gone
back to their native places.”indianexpress
Video clip that convicted two juveniles in Pehlu Khan lynching was not
put on record in acquittal of six
Jaipur :A juvenile Justice Board in Rajasthan’s Alwar district sentenced
and sent 2 teenagers convicted for April 1, 2017 lynching of Pehlu Khan to a
‘surakshit bal grah’ (special home) for three years, the maximum punishment for
such cases. The board led by Principal Magistrate Sarita Dhakad had, last week,
convicted the two teenagers — both minors when Khan was lynched — after finding
them guilty on the basis of video evidence.“ Juvenile Justice Board sentenced
the two today to spend three years each in a correction home,” Bhiwadi SP
Amandeep Singh Kapoor said.The case against another minor accused is currently
under trial in a juvenile court in Alwar.indianexpress
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad launches political party
New Delhi :Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Sunday made his political
debut by launching ‘Azad Samaj Party’. The day of the launch, is significant as it marks 86th birth
anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram. After announcement of his party, Azad
tweeted, “Sahab Kanshi Ram tera mission adhoora, Azad Samaj Party karegi poora
(The incomplete mission of Kanshi Ram will be completed by Azad Samaj Party).”
We were told non-violence is cowardly: Dalit activist who quit RSS
In late 1980s, Bhanwar Meghwanshi, a 13-year-old from the Dalit
community, started attending RSS’ shakhas in Rajasthan, without knowing much
about the organisation. Over the course of around four years, Meghwanshi grew
to harbour a visceral hatred for Muslims and began to take immense pride in his
Hindu identity. He dedicated himself to the cause of RSS’s Hindu Rashtra, even
receiving military training by the organisation. But after facing
discrimination within the RSS, he realised that its vision is different for
caste Hindus and Dalits. Meghwanshi is
now a journalist and an activist. His book Main Ek Karsevak Tha—I Was a
Karsevak—was first published in Hindi in 2019 and its English translation, I
Could Not Be Hindu: The Story of a Dalit in RSS, was published by Navayana in
January this year. That month, Sushil Kumar, an independent journalist, spoke
to Meghwanshi about RSS’s process of indoctrinating its cadre, its
glorification of violence and its vision for a Hindu Rashtra.caravanmagazine
4 Gujarat Congress MLAs resign ahead of Rajya Sabha polls
New Delhi :Ahead of the upcoming elections to four Rajya Sabha seats in
Gujarat, four Congress MLAs on Sunday have submitted their resignations to
Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi.Trivedi told PTI that he accepted their
resignations. He said he will announce the names of the legislators in the
Legislative Assembly on Monday. “Four Congress MLAs tendered their resignation
to me on Saturday, and I will announce their names in the Assembly tomorrow,”
he said.With the resignations, the Congress strength in the 182-member Assembly
has come down to 69.indianexpress
*Coronavirus*
PM Modi proposes Covid-19 emergency fund, other measures; SAARC leaders
echo sentiment
After his proposal was welcomed with open arms by India's South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) contemporaries, PM Narendra Modi
on Sunday hosted a video-conference meet of leaders of all SAARC member
nations. Prime Minister opened the discussion by mentioning India's efforts and
action plan to limit the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).The
conference witnessed participation from Sri Lankan President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister
KP Sharma Oli, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to Pakistani
Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza.indiatoday
Coronavirus: 107 confirmed cases in India, Maharashtra, Kerala highest
numbers
The number of coronavirus cases in India on Sunday rose to 107,
including foreign visitors, even as the Centre and state governments boost
measures to combat it. India has reported that two people have been killed
after contracting the virus so far – one in Karnataka on Thursday, and the
other following day in Delhi.As of Sunday afternoon, Maharashtra has reported
the highest number of positive coronavirus cases at 31, followed by Kerala with
22, and Uttar Pradesh with 11 cases. 3 people each have been cured and
discharged in Kerala and UP, 2 in Delhi and one in Telangana.scroll
Coronavirus: 452 Indians stranded in severely-hit Italy and Iran brought
back
A total of 218 Indians, including 211 students, stranded in
coronavirus-affected Italy arrived in India on Sunday, Minister of State for
External Affairs V Muraleedharan said. In a separate trip, 234 citizens – 131
students and 103 pilgrims – stranded in Iran were also brought back to the
country, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar announced.“218 Indians including 211
students from Milan landed in Delhi,” Muraleedharan tweeted about the Indians
evacuated from Italy.“All will be quarantined for 14 days. Government of India
is committed to reach out to Indians in distress, wherever they are!” He
further thanked Italian authorities, and Indian officials in Italy for
coordinating evacuation.scroll
Iran coronavirus toll jumps, more countries tighten restrictions
Kazakhstan has announced the state of emergency in a bid to contain the
coronavirus outbreak in the country. In Austria, the government banned
gatherings of more than five people, as Philippines seals off Manila in the
most aggressive response to pandemic yet seen in Southeast Asia.In other
developments, US President Donald Trump was tested for the virus, with the
result coming back negative. Meanwhile, Begona Gomez - wife of Spanish PM Pedro
Sanchez - has been diagnosed with virus..aljazeera
Coronavirus: Al-Aqsa Mosque shut, Palestinians suspend prayers at
mosques, churches, Israel restricts public gatherings
The Islamic authority that oversees Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem has
announced that the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock will close their doors
to worshippers as a precaution against the new coronavirus, adding that outdoor
prayers will still be allowed at the complex that houses Islam's third holiest
site."Islamic Waqf department decided to shut down the enclosed prayer
places inside the blessed Aqsa mosque until further notice as a protective
measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. All prayers will be held in the
open areas of Aqsa Mosque," director of Al-Aqsa mosque, Omar Kiswani, told
Reuters on Sunday.On Saturday, Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs ordered
mosques and churches to be closed in all the governorates in the occupied
Palestinian territories until further notice as part of efforts to curb the
coronavirus, official Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.Mosques across
occupied West Bank called through loudspeakers for Muslims to perform the
regular daily prayers at home rather than at mosques, aiming to restrict
gatherings of people, according to Wafa.Meanwhile, Israel's Health Ministry
announced on Sunday that 200 Israelis have so far tested positive for the
coronavirus.The ministry announced that as of Sunday all educational
institutions, shopping centres, restaurants and places of public gathering are
closed while gatherings of more than 10 people have also been banned.aljazeera
Over 6,000 Dead Globally From Coronavirus; Italy Worst Hit After China
Paris: A spike in deaths from the coronavirus in Spain has pushed the
global toll past 6,000, according to an AFP tally compiled from official
sources.The worldwide death toll rose to 6,036, with 159,844 infections after
105 died in Spain.While China remains the country with the most deaths with
3,199, the pandemic is now spreading more rapidly in Europe, with 1,907 deaths
in the continent's worst-hit country Italy.AFP
*WORLD*
More than 4.8 million children born into war in Syria: UN
More than 4.8 million children have been born into war since Syria's
brutal conflict erupted nine years ago, the UN children's agency has said,
adding that thousands of others were killed or wounded in the
conflict."The war in Syria marks yet another shameful milestone
today," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive director, as the conflict
entered its tenth year."Millions of children are entering their second
decade of life surrounded by war, violence, death and
displacement."aljazeera
Afghan gov't delays Taliban prisoner release, endangering deal
Afghan govt has postponed its plan to release Taliban prisoners, a
senior official said, a decision that could sabotage a deal signed last month
between the armed group and US.Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the National
Security Council, said on Saturday the releases were being delayed because more
time was needed to review the list of Taliban prisoners."We are ready to
start the process the way it is described in the presidential decree but we
won't release anyone if there is no guarantee that they will not return to
fighting," he said."Taliban have to show flexibility."aljazeera
New Zealand Honours 51 Worshippers Killed in Terror Attacks on Mosques
People in the New Zealand city of Christchurch honored the 51 worshipers
who were killed in a mass shooting a year ago in small but poignant ways
Sunday, after a planned national memorial event was canceled due to fears it
might spread the new coronavirus.Outside Al Noor mosque, dozens of leather-clad
bikers from the Tu Tangata club performed a traditional Maori haka. They were
welcomed by mosque imam Gamal Fouda, who said people of all beliefs and
cultures were stopping to pay their respects, and they were all united as New
Zealanders.One of those who survived the shooting at the Linwood mosque was
Mazharuddin Syed Ahmed, who said that marking anniversaries was not typically a
Muslim tradition but they were doing it so the wider community could grieve and
remember. He said the shootings had provoked an outpouring of love and
compassion.AP
Building unity in New Zealand a year after Christchurch attacks
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
By challenging status quo, PM Modi has made vested interests
uncomfortable: Akhilesh Mishra, indianexpress
Voices from Assam’s detention camps are a reminder of events that led to
the Rohingya refugee crisis:Vidya Krishnan, Third Pole
Delhi Police hits a new low with oppressive measures to end the Shaheen
Bagh Protest:Yusuf Ansari, Twocircles.net
[Interview] Anti-CAA Protestors' Posters With Address are Invitation To
Mob Violence: Advocate Karuna Nundy
Politics Behind Kanhaiya Kumar Sedition Case: Have AAP, BJP Joined
Hands?Preetha Nair, outlookindia
Should Anti-CAA Protests be Suspended Due to Coronavirus Threat?Syed
Ubaidur Rahman, newsclick
Idea of India: Two former ambassadors skirmish on Shaheen Bagh:Saeed
Naqvi
In Photos: 14 Mosques were Burnt by Hindutva Mobs in Delhi Pogrom
To all Kashmiri Hindus, where is the empathy you taught me?Tusharika
Mattoo
Delhi Violence: Reality Check Punches Holes in Amit Shah’s Claims in Lok
Sabha:Tarique Anwar , newsclick
‘We admire the political debate in India… Violence can be worrying… but
India, with rule of law, can resolve it’:Ambassador of France to India
Backstory: Only Unbiased Journalism, Not Riot Videos, Can Bring Justice
on Delhi’s Violence:Pamela Philipose, thewire
Rights Groups Lament Slow Pace of Disbursal of Compensation for Delhi
Violence
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by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:00 PM).
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