NEWS DIGEST, AFTERNOON
03 March 2020:
07 Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 147
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
UN Human Rights chief goes to Supreme Court against CAA, India says
'Internal Matter'
Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has filed an
application in the Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act
(CAA).This rare intervention by the topmost world body on human rights drew a
strong response from the Ministry of External Affairs which argued that the the
law was an internal matter of India. “We
are clear that the CAA is constitutionally valid and complies with all
requirements of our constitutional values. It is reflective of our
long-standing national commitment in respect of human rights issues arising
from the tragedy of Partition of India. We strongly believe that no foreign
party has any locus standi on issues pertaining to India's sovereignty,” said
the official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday.The
Permanent Mission of India in Geneva was informed on Monday evening by the
office of Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, that it had
filed an “intervention application in respect to CAA”. Ms. Bachelet had been
expressing her concern about the fallout of both CAA and NRC on India’s
population in recent months. Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
also said that the CAA and the NRC had potential to turn India’s Muslims into
stateless subjects.Former External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh has
described U.N. rights body’s move as “absolutely unprecedented in the
diplomatic history of India”.Former Permanent Representative of India at United
Nations Chinmaya Gharekhan agreed with
Singh and said, “This is also objectionable as UN is an intergovernmental
body and they are not supposed to approach the Supreme Court.”thehindu
Iran speaks out: Condemn wave of violence against Muslims in Delhi
New Delhi :Iran became the fourth Muslim-majority country to officially
react to the riots in Delhi, with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif condemning the
“wave of organised violence against Indian Muslims” and urging authorities to
not let “senseless thuggery” prevail.Zarif, a diplomat-minister known for his
careful choice of words, tweeted on Monday night: “Iran condemns the wave of
organised violence against Indian Muslims. For centuries, Iran has been a
friend of India. We urge Indian authorities to ensure the wellbeing of ALL
Indians & not let senseless thuggery prevail. Path forward lies in peaceful
dialogue and rule of law.”Zarif’s tweet came after Indonesia, Turkey and
Pakistan had spoken out against the riots over the last week. Malaysia and
Bangladesh had earlier criticised the CAA and the proposed NRC.
India summons Iran envoy to protest Delhi riots remark
India on Tuesday summoned Iranian ambassador Ali Chegeni and lodged a
strong protest with him over the comments made by Iran's foreign minister Javad
Zarif over the current bout of violence in Delhi.Official sources said the
Iranian envoy was told that Zarif commented on a matter that is purely internal
to India."Iranian Ambassador in Delhi was summoned on Tuesday and a strong
protest was lodged over the comments made by Zarif on the matter internal to
India," a source said.PTI
'Modi Ethnically Cleansing Religious Minorities: US Congresswoman On Delhi Violence Cortez
Narendra Modi government attracted more criticism over the violence in
Delhi with US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling out president
Donald Trump for entering an arms deal with India. Cortez said in a tweet,
“President Trump is engaging in arms deals with Modi while his administration
is ethnically cleansing the country’s religious minorities. We must not enable
this rise in sectarian violence.” Cortez shared a report by The Guardian that
called Delhi violence a “Hindu nationalist rampage”. Cortez’s comments come
after Democratic presidential candidate and senator Bernie Sanders’s reaction
to the violence in northeast Delhi. Sanders too had criticised Trump for his
show of great friendship with Narendra Modi at a time when Delhi was burning.
“Over 200 million Muslims call India home. Widespread anti-Muslim mob violence
has killed at least 27 and injured many more. Trump responds by saying, “That’s
up to India.” This is a failure of leadership on human rights,” Sanders had
tweeted. huffingtonpost
Protests In 21 US Varsities Against Delhi Violence
Washington: A student-led group from the Yale University has called for
demonstrations across 21 varsities in US against the violence in Delhi, which
has claimed the lives of 46 people in the Indian capital, a report said.“A Holi
Against Hindutva” demonstrations have been organised by Students Against
Hindutva, a South Asian student activist group, the American Bazaar newspaper
said in the report on Monday.In a statement on Monday, Shreeya Singh, founder
of the group, said: “This fight is the most patriotic fight I have ever fought
for, and I believe it is the diaspora’s duty to stand behind the protesters
risking their lives day after day for India’s secular soul.”On the
demonstration plans, the organisers said that they will ask participants to be
dressed in black as opposed to Holi’s traditional white attire and will also
supply only white coloured powder.The universities where the demonstrations
will take place are Yale University, Cornell University, UCLA, Claremont
Colleges, UC Davis, Harvard University, Princeton University, Brown University,
Dartmouth University, Purdue University, American University, Bard College at
Simon’s Rock, University of Pennsylvania, Northeastern University, Columbia
University, Wellesley College, University of Illinois, Chicago, Rutgers, UC San
Diego, Michigan State and Duke.IANS
‘How to Prove We Are Not Bangladeshi?’: In Aftermath of Delhi Riots, a
Frenzy Over Documents
New Delhi: 20-year-old Mohammed Akbaruddin* has come back home for the
first time in five days. Along with the rest of his 11-person family,
Akbaruddin fled Shiv Vihar’s Phase 7 on Tuesday (February 25), when a mob which
arrived in a bus bearing petrol bombs, swords, stones and batons invaded the
streets and wreaked havoc in the area.Even now, he hasn’t come back for long.
“I will head back (to my relatives’ house in Muslim-majority Mustafabad) again
as soon as I get my documents out,” he says.When violence broke out on February
25 and they had to flee, Akbaruddin tried to protect the family’s most precious
assets – their documents. “I quickly collected everyone’s birth certificates,
Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards, and hid them in the latrine,” he says.In
three short sentences, he explains why that was his first instinct.Fortunately,
the documents survived the violence. Relieved, Akbaruddin has placed them
carefully in an old, worn silicon suitcase. His house did not suffer much
damage; most of his belongings are intact. But the first thing he goes looking
for are the documents.“Yeh sab document ki wajah se hi to ho raha hai (This is
all happening because of the documents),” he says.thewire
List of 48 people who died during
violence:The Polis Project
List of 48 people who died during
violence was originally published by The Polis Project. Polis
Project while mentioning list of died
poeple, said, "Our list of deaths has been compiled from the following
sources between 24 Feb, 2020 and 2 March, 2020. We will be updating this list
as new information becomes available. The sources are:Deaths recorded at
hospitals which have been released to the public.Deaths reported by Firstpost,
Indian Express, The Wire, Quint and Print.in.Deaths reported in other print
news stories filed by credible journalists.." Names of 48 people who died
during violence are: Aamir, 30, M, Aftab,
18, M, Akbari, 85, F, Akil Ahmad, 40, M, Amaan, 17, M, Anwar Kassar, 58, M,
Arshad, 22, M, Ashfaq Hussain, 22, M, Ayub Shabbir, 60, M, Babbu Salmani/Babbu
Mohammad 33 M, Faizaan, 23, M, Hashim, 17, M, Ishtiyak Khan, 24, M, Mahroof
Ali, 30, M, Mehtab, 22, M, Mohd. Furqan, 30, M, Mohd. Monis, 22, M, Mohd.
Irfan, 32, M, Mohd. Shahbaan, 22, M, Mohd. Yusuf, 52, M, Mohsin, 22, M, Mubarak
Hussain, 28, M, Muddassir Khan, 35, M, Musharaff, 35, M, Nazeem Khan, 35, M,
Parvez Alam, 50, M, Salman, 24, M, Sayid, 19, M, Shahid Alvi, 23, M, Shan
Mohd., 35, M, Suleiman, 22, M, Zakhir, 26, M, Alok Tiwari, 24, M, Ankit Sharma,
26, M, Atul Gupta, 45, M, Bir Bhan Singh/Vir Bhan Singh, 50, M, Constable Ratan
Lal, 42, M, Deepak Kumar, 34, M, Dilbar/Dilbur Negi, 20, M, Dinesh Kumar, 35,
M, Nitin Paswan, 15, M, Pravesh, 48, M, Prem Singh, 27, M, Rahul Solanki, 29,
M, Rahul Thakur, 22, M, Sanjeet Thakur, 32, M, Vinod Kumar 50 M and an unknown, 70, F (Listed in GTB Hospital
list).firstpost
Bodies float in labyrinthine drains of northeast Delhi; 11 found
Northeast Delhi’s drains serve many purposes. For some, they serve as a
convenient way to dispose household garbage. For others, they are prominent
geographic markers that help first-time visitors navigate the maze of
interconnected lanes. These drains have now grabbed headlines for a different
reason. Around eleven bodies, all likely those of people killed during the
communal riots that roiled northeast Delhi last week, have been fished out from
different points in these drains in the last five days, according to reports
from hospitals and the district administration.The riots have killed at least
47 lives and left around 350 injured.The first body recovered on February 26
was that of Ankit Sharma, a staffer with the Intelligence Bureau, whose family
said that he was attacked by a mob during the violence. The last five bodies
recovered from the drains on Sunday and Monday are unidentified.HT
"Like I Have No Right To Live In India": Retired CRPF man Aish
Mohammad In Delhi Shelter
New Delhi: Having served in CRPF for 22 years and retired as a head
constable in 2002, it is difficult for 58-year-old Aish Mohammad to come to
terms with his situation in a makeshift relief camp in northeast Delhi.Mohammad
is among hundreds of victims of last week's violence in Delhi who have taken
shelter at the relief camp in an Eidgah in Mustafabad.He had a house in the
nearby area of Bhagirathi Vihar which was set ablaze by a violent mob on
Feb.25."200-300 rioters came and threw stones, fired bullets and then set
fire to the house. I was inside with my 26-year-old son. We went to the terrace
and jumped into the neighbour's house. My niece was set to get married on 29th
March so all jewels were kept and they robbed it all," he told NDTV.Mohammad
has sent his wife and his 2 sons to his hometown of Bulandshahar. While the
first floor of his house was burnt and so were the two motorbikes that belonged
to him and his son, he has decided to stay back to save what little is left of
his house."In 1991, I even served in Kashmir and suffered injuries. Now
after what has been done in the riots I feel I do not have a right to live in
this country," he said.ndtv
Delhi Riots: Doctor Called Riot Victim 'Extremist', 'Terrorist' During
Treatment, Says Report
At least one doctor in GTB Hospital made communal remarks against a
Delhi riot victim by referring to the person as “ugravadi”
(militants/extremists) and “atankvadi” (terrorists) during treatment. Another
doctor in LNJP asked the victim the full form of NRC and CAA, while yet another
doctor in the same hospital accused another patient of indulging in violence. These are some of
the most shocking claims made in a report released by the public health
advocacy group Jan Swasthya Abhiyaan (JSA) on Monday afternoon. The claims in
the report are based on information accessed by volunteers from the group who
were working on the ground with patients in two Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi govt
hospitals and elsewhere from 25 Feb.till 1 March.“Patients and volunteers both
reported that injured persons (are) being called “ugravadi” and “atankvadi” by
doctors,” notes the report, released on Monday. HuffPost India has not been
able to independently corroborate the claims because volunteers who worked with
the families of the victims said the latter refused to speak with reporters. In
an interview, Inayat Kakkar of JSA revealed the names of the government
hospitals where these incidents reportedly occurred. In the third instance,
according to the report, the doctor from LNJP hospital purportedly told the
patient during treatment, “What will you do if we treat you? You will go back
on the streets and be violent.”A response from the hospitals was not
immediately available. This report will be updated when they respond.
122 Houses, 322 Shops & 301 Vehicles Completely Damaged: Govt's
Interim Report
An interim report of Delhi government has recorded destruction of
properties during 3-day long massive violence in the northeast Delhi.According
an interim report prepared by northeast Delhi district administration, at least
122 houses, 322 shops and 301 vehicles were gutted or completely damaged during
the violence that started Sunday afternoon and continued for three days. The
figure was recorded till Sunday morning. This is likely to go up when the final
report is submitted.After the instructions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,
18 teams led by SDMs are conducting a damage assessment survey across riot-hit
localities in Delhi.indiatomorrow
'Muslims approaching with swords to down shutters in Tughlakabad': Delhi
Police busts another rumour
Delhi Police on Monday busted yet another rumor running through the
national capital thick and fast. It said a rumor about Muslims approaching with
swords to down shutters in Tughlakabad was found to be "fake."In a
tweet, Delhi Police said: " A call was received that "Sharma market
MB Road TKD rumor fail rahi hai ki muslim talwar lekar aa rahe hain shop band
karlo." Found to be rumour/fake,
Legal Action is being taken. We again appeal don't believe
rumors."indiatvnews
Police arrests 40 in connection with riot-related rumours, receives
1,880 distress calls after false alarm of violence
Fake, hate-mongering WhatsApp forwards can land you in jail: Delhi govt
committee on peace
Forwarding fake news on WhatsApp can lead to three years of
imprisonment, the newly-formed Delhi Assembly Committee On Peace and Harmony
said.Delhi Assembly has constituted a new committee named 'Committee on Peace
and Harmony' and its first meeting was held on Monday. The committee discussed
the reasons behind communal riots in India with a focus on the recent riots in
Delhi.The committee is headed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj who announced that it
will launch a massive campaign against fake news.The committee will launch a
phone number and an email-ID wherein people can complain against hate content
and fake news. The committee has also recommended rewards for whistleblowers on
whose complaints FIRs get registered.indiatoday
Delhi riots: 'My brother died after police beating’
Naeem says his brother Faizan died after he was beaten by police during
religious rioting in Delhi last week. Video of the incident has gone viral.Delhi
police have not responded to a BBC request for comment on Faizan's death. They
have faced criticism for failing to stop the rioters and, according to some
reports, standing by as Muslim homes and mosques were attacked.bbc
Paramilitary conducts flag march in northeast Delhi; no new incidents of
violence reported
New Delhi:Paramilitary forces conducted flag marches and damage
assessment teams scoured the violence-hit areas in northeast Delhi, where the
situation remained tense but peaceful on Tuesday.Help trickled in the
heavily-guarded riot-hit areas, with people carrying sacks of ration and milk
cans in their vehicles.However, many complained of receiving no medical or
legal help from the government.Hundreds of violence-hit people, displaced from
Shiv Vihar, one of the worst-affected areas, have taken refuge at shelter homes
in Chaman Park.They claimed that no help had come from the central or Delhi govt.The
violence hit the businesses hard. Many shops continue to remain shut.PTI
Man Seen Pointing Gun At Delhi Cop Last Week Arrested From UP
New Delhi: The man who was seen pointing a gun at an unarmed policeman
in Delhi last Monday during the clashes that took place in northeast Delhi has
been arrested in Uttar Pradesh. In a chilling video from Jaffrabad area, the
man in red shirt, holding a gun, was seen confronting an unarmed Delhi Police
officer, intimidating him and forcing him to back away with his hands raised
before firing repeatedly into the air.The gunman, who was arrested from western
Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, has been identified as Shahrukh, a 33-year-old
resident of Delhi's Seelampur. He has no previous criminal record but his
father is out on bail on drug trafficking charges.A suspect was arrested last
week but, on Thursday, police clarified he had nothing to do with the shooting.In
a video of the stand-off, shot on a mobile phone by an eyewitness standing on
the roof of a nearby building, police officer Deepak Dahiya - who seems to be
dressed in riot gear - is standing in the middle of the street as Shahrukh and
at least six other goons approach him.ndtv
Kapil Mishra gets Y+ security, guards to man him 24x7 after BJP leader
claims threat to life
Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been accused of inciting mobs and
prompting the massive violence in Delhi, has been given Y+ category security
owing to a threat to his life. MHA sources, on the other hand, said department
was not informed about the decision. Kapil Mishra will now be given
round-the-clock security by armed personnel under the Y+ category security,
said top sources from Delhi Police.Delhi Police sources have said Kapil
Mishra's security has been heightened after he allegedly received death
threats. Opposition has sought FIRs against Kapil Mishra and other BJP leaders
for hate-mongering during Delhi election campaign and ahead of the communal
violence in northeast Delhi.indiatoday
Kapil Mishra Crowdfunds Rs 71 Lakh For Delhi Riots Victims, But Only For
Hindus
BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been blamed for triggering the riots in
Delhi, has collected over Rs 71 lakh through crowdfunding to help “Hindu
families who are the victims of Delhi riots”. huffingtonpost
PM at BJP MPs’ meet: ‘Peace, unity and harmony prerequisites for
development’
New Delhi :Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed on the need
for peace, harmony, and unity in society saying it is a prerequisite for the
country’s development.Addressing BJP parliamentary party meet before the
Parliament session, Modi asked all MPs to take lead in ensuring peace, harmony
and unity in society. He said, “vikas is our mantra; peace, unity, and harmony
are prerequisites for development.”On Monday, both BJP and Congress members
shoved and pushed each other in Lok Sabha as Opposition parties, protesting the
communal violence in Delhi, united in both Houses of Parliament to demand the
resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In Rajya Sabha, AAP, Congress and
SP came to the Well, shouting slogans against BJP, Shah and the Prime
Minister.indianexpress
Parliament : Govt Ready to Discuss Delhi Riots Day After Holi, Says
Speaker as Oppn Din Paralyses LS
The government is ready to hold a
discussion on the issue of violence in Delhi after Holi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om
Birla said on Tuesday. Amid uproar in the House by members demanding an
immediate discussion on the issue,the speaker said the matter can be taken up
after the festival.Proceedings have been disrupted in Lok Sabha over the issue
of Delhi violence as Opposition members sought an immediate discussion on the
matter. Sending out a stern message, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said
members from Opposition and Treasury sides who cross over to the other side
during uproar in the House will be suspended for the session. Birla's
announcement in the House came a day after some Congress and BJP members pushed
and shoved each other in the House as tempers rose over the issue of violence
in Delhi.Opposition members sought to raise the issue of Delhi violence as soon
as the Speaker decided to take up the Question Hour. Citing earlier discussions
among various parties, the Speaker said it was decided that howsover serious
the issue is, the same can be raised during the Zero Hour.news18
Modi and Kejriwal Discuss Delhi Violence, Relief Measures but Not Hate
Speech
New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged Prime
Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at Parliament House that those responsible
for the violence in North East Delhi should not be spared. Talking to the media
following the meeting, which took place around 11 am, Kejriwal said: “I told
him (Modi) we should make sure such riots do not happen again in the national
capital. Those who are responsible for the clashes – even if they belong to any
political party – should not be spared, I told the prime minister.” He said he
urged action against people irrespective of “how influential they were”.Delhi
Police has so far registered 369 FIRs in connection with the violence and has
arrested over 1,200 people. Kejriwal said that during the meeting, he had
lauded the Delhi police for acting promptly to “check rumours in the last few
days”. He said Modi too “agreed that such violent incidents should not be
repeated in Delhi.”During the meeting with the PM, Kejriwal’s first after
becoming the Delhi CM for the third successive time, the latter said he
discussed relief measures which need to be taken urgently for those hit by the
violence.
Delhi violence: Relief operations underway, residents say could do with
more outreach from leaders
Inside narrow lanes singed by communal riots, relief and recovery vans
have started rolling in, along with teams of the local administration assessing
damage and handing out compensation forms to people.Having realised the
futility of converting night-shelters into relief camps, a large, dedicated
tent has also been pitched, with a capacity to take in at least 1,500 people. A
week after city witnessed violence that left 47 dead, efforts by the
administration have started to take a cohesive shape. What, however, continues
to elude the impoverished working class neighbourhoods is a sustained political
outreach, leaving members of both two communities more distanced than ever
before. Residents across the area — be it Mustafabad, Karawal Nagar or Babarpur
— lamented that as the violence raged, and then ebbed, no prominent AAP leader,
“jinko humne vote diya”, showed up. Even local MLAs were missing from action,
people said.The newly elected MLA of Mustafabad, Haji Yunus, admitted he has
been to Shiv Vihar, among the worst-hit areas, “only once so far”. “The point
is there’s no one living in Shiv Vihar. Families have left and taken shelter in
relief camps. I am making myself available there. On the day of violence, I was
in the Assembly,” he said.Northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari has so far been
absent from ground.indianexpress
First, mobs attacked protest sites. Now, Delhi police has threatened to
evict them, say protestors
In the aftermath of the communal violence in Delhi that has left 47
people dead, it has become clear that the women’s protests against CAA and NRC
were not only the pretext for the mobs that attacked Muslims in North East
Delhi – they were also one of the main targets.The mobs vandalised and
dismantled protest sites inside the neighbourhoods of Khajuri Khas, Chandbagh,
Mustafabad and Kardampuri. In many instances, such as Kardampuri, the communal
violence began with an attack on the women’s protest site.But in Seelampur,
where the first protest took root in the area, after women sat down on the side
of a road in December, the demonstration defiantly continues.Now, however, the
protesters claim that the officer who heads the Seelampur police station, under
the guise of an Aman Committee meeting, has attempted to coerce the protesters
to do what the mobs failed to achieve: call off the protests.“The [SHO] told
our men that he is asking us politely and lovingly to vacate the protest site,”
said Asghari, one of the women protestors. “If we don’t, he will not be
responsible for anything that follows.”One of the men who attended the meeting
with the police officer on March 1 said a beat officer named Pradeep had done a
round of colony a few days ago. He had collected names and addresses of all the
men whose homes were in the front row of the two lanes of the colony lie
adjacent to the protest site. The residents believe police narrowed down on
these homes because they suspect them to be providing logistical support for
the protests.The men were then asked to assemble at the Seelampur police
station. At first they thought they were attending an Aman Committee meeting.
The agenda turned out to be quite different. According to the resident who
attended the meeting, police officer instructed the men to ensure the women
wind up the protest in the next 24 hours. He repeated what Asghari had alleged
– that the police officer pointed to the death of a constable as a reason for
the anger among his force, and that he would not be able to control this anger
for much longer.scroll
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Chhattisgarh govt school students take part in pro-CAA rally organised
by ABVP; probe ordered, show-cause notice sent to principal
Rajnandgaon: Students of a government school took part in a rally
organised by ABVP last week in support of CAA and NRC in Rajnandgaon district
of Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh. 28 Feb. incident prompted district education
authorities to issue show-cause notices to the school principal and Block
Education Officer (BEO) and order a probe. The students of the Government High
School for Girls in Ambagarh Chowki town, clad in uniform, took part in
pro-CAA-NRC rally organised by RSS-affiliated ABVP.After coming to know about
the rally, show-cause notices were issued to the school principal and BEO,
seeking their replies. "Further action will be taken accordingly (based on
their replies), said HR Som, District Education Officer (DEO).There is a state
government directive banning participation of students in such (political)
rallies, he said. Under what circumstances the students took part in the rally
is being probed, Som said. Meanwhile, the DEO, in a circular to principals of
all government schools and BEOs of the district, asked them to ensure students
do not take part in any rallies without permission.PTI
Assam: Congress MLA suspended on NRC Issue, opposition staged walkout
opposing CAA
Congress MLA, Sherman Ali Ahmed was suspended from Assam assembly for
the day on first day of the budget session on Monday for raising NRC- related
issue in House and removed from the House by marshals. During question hour,
MLA of Baghbar assembly seat, Sherman Ali, repeatedly questioned on appointment
of Hitesh Dev Sharma as state coordinator of NRC.During question hour, congress
MLA raised the issue of Sharma’s appointment, but he was denied permission of
discussing the matter by Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami and warned not to waste
time of the House, saying Sharma was qualified for the post. The congress MLA
continued that Sharma has lost his credibility and trust of the people for his “communal
and bias mindset” and said that he is not “worthy and competent for the post of
state coordinator of NRC”. Goswami repeatedly stopped Sherman Ali in raising
the issue and asked him to take his seat. Despite being denied the permission
for raising the issue in the House, Sherman Ali remained persistent on
discussion of the issue and continued to obstruct the proceedings of the
House.Goswami then suspended the Congress MLA from the House for the day, but
he refused to leave. Finally, Congress MLA was removed from the Assembly by
marshals.Later, addressing media outside the House, Sherman Ali alleged that
his suspension exposed the undemocratic attitude of the government. He also
alleged that the intention of government behind the appointment of Sharma as
state coordinator of NRC was to destroy four years of hard works.India Tomorrow
Kolkata: Police arrest fourth person, allegedly a BJP supporter, for
shouting ‘goli maaro’ slogan
Kolkata Police today said they have arrested a fourth person, allegedly
a BJP supporter, for shouting the slogan “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro salon
ko [shoot the bloody traitors]” during a march to Union Home Minister Amit
Shah’s rally in the city. Sujit Barua, 51, a resident of Sodepur in North 24
Parganas district, was taken into custody on Monday night after the police
identified him in CCTV footage.scroll
All-faith peace marches planned in Calcutta
Calcutta:Representatives of various faiths and the civil society on
Monday condemned the chants of “goli maaro” that were raised in the heart of
Calcutta by alleged supporters of Union minister Amit Shah on Sunday. The
disapproval was voiced at a news conference titled “Against Goli Maaro…slogan”
convened by a citizens’ forum on Monday. The representatives described the sloganeering
as a “blatant attempt” to trigger violence.Those present at the press
conference said it was important that a counter slogan of “Gale laga lo sabko”
was launched to spread peace. Abdur Rafiq, president, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,
West Bengal, said the slogans were raised with an intention to whip up communal
frenzy in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Bengal in 2021.“Amit Shah did
not utter a word on the Delhi riots in his speech at the Shahid Minar ground.
His supporters are now busy laying the ground for riots in Bengal,” Rafiq
said.telegraphindia
Yogi govt denies charges by Kafeel Khan’s wife
2 days after wife of Kafeel Khan, who is booked under National Security
Act, alleged that her husband faced a threat to life in Mathura jail, where he
is lodged for anti-CAA protests, DM claimed that Khan was 'fully secure' in the
jail."Kafeel Khan, who has been booked under NSA for alleged inflammatory
statements during an anti-CAA protest in Aligarh, is absolutely fine and fully
secure in Mathura jail. Allegations of 'inhuman' treatment being meted out to
him are baseless," Mathura DM Sarvagya Ram Mishra said on Monday.SSP of
Mathura district prison, Shailendra Maitrey, said that Khan's condition is
being monitored every half an hour and the report is written in the gate book.
He said, his ECG is normal and blood pressure was also in control.He said that
Khan was demanding checkup from a cardiologist.IANS
Karnataka: Man booked for sedition for ‘pro-Pakistan’ slogan, family
says he is mentally unstable
A 43-year-old man was arrested on Monday and charged with sedition after
he allegedly chanted pro-Pakistan slogans before mini Vidhan Soudha, a complex
housing government offices, at Kundapur in Karnataka’s Udupi district. The man,
identified as Raghavendra Ganiga, is believed to be mentally unstable. Ganiga
stood before the government offices around 10 am and shouted “Pakistan
Zindabad” multiple times, the police said. He then moved to a corridor and
continued to shout the slogan.scroll/PTI
‘Kagaz nahi dikhayenge’ signs spring up in Ahmedabad’s minority areas
Ahmedabad: The communally sensitive Ahmedabad which has had a history of
riots — including the 2002 massacre — has been the site of peaceful protests
against CAA , NPR and NRC for at least
45 days.A feature of these protests has been boards and placards outside houses
that signal the intention not to cooperate with officials carrying out
population surveys. The signs say “Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge” (we won’t show any
documents).These messages are seen in front of houses in Rakhial, Bapunagar,
and Saraspur which mainly have Muslim populations. Along with anti-CAA,
anti-NPR and anti-NRC slogans, notices of residents read: “No government
official should enter this house for any kind of survey”. Local residents said
that they began this non-cooperation movement to register their peaceful
protest against the citizenship law.Naziya Ansari, 42, a resident of Rakhial,
said that “Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge” signs in the neighbourhood are a tool of
protest. TOI
Census 2021: Here are 31 question govt will ask you!
Centre has issued a gazette notification regarding a list of 31
questions which will be asked by enumerators for collecting information through
the house listing and housing census schedule in connection with the 2021
Census ranging from Internet facility to smartphone being used may be
asked.This exercise will be conducted between April 1, 2020 and Sept.30, 2020. Questions
like the residence number, the purpose of the residence, number of family
members, whether the head of the family belongs to Scheduled Caste or Tribe
community and whether Internet facility is available will be asked.IANS
* Coronavirus*
Coronavirus: 40 Students Of Noida School Sent To Isolation For 28 Days
After Parent Tests Positive
Shriram Millennium school in Sector 135 Noida today decided to shut down
the premises for two days and also postpone its annual examinations after a
student's parent tested positive with COVID-19 on Monday.A total of 40 students
of the school have been tested for the virus and sent to a 28-day isolation,
Chief Medical Officer of Gautam Buddh Nagar said.A senior school official, who
requested anonymity, has also confirmed about the developments. "Yes the
said patient of COVID-19 is a parent of our student, we have taken all
precautionary measures and are in constant contact with the Health Ministry to
monitor situation," senior official said.CMO of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Anurag
Bhargava said: "School will be closed for a day or two now. During this
time it will be sanitized. The process of sanitizing the school will take one
to two days. It takes more than an hour to sanitize a room, our medical team
has told the school about the treatment," CMO added."A total of 40
people have been tested in Noida. The reports will take a few hours."He
specifically asked all to "ignore rumours". "We have all the facilities
to tackle the situation. We have isolation ward developed," Bhargava
said.Noida campus of the school has been shut down and officials from the
Health Ministry have reached the spot to sanitise the school as well as take
samples for further tests to verify if others in contact with the student or
his parents have been infected with COVID-19 virus.On Monday, two cases of
COVID-19 were found positive one of them was from Delhi who is currently under
treatment and is being closely monitored. According to the Health Ministry, the
person who has tested positive from Delhi has a travel history to Italy.IANS
Coronavirus: 6 suspected cases who came in contact with Delhi patient
quarantined in Agra
A day after a case of coronavirus
was detected in Delhi, fumigation is on at two schools in Noida. In one of the
schools, children of COVID-2019 patient’s study, the Ministry of Health and
Family welfare said on Tuesday. On the other hand, six suspected cases, who
came in contact with the Delhi patient have been quarantined in
Agra.indianexpress
Updates: Govt Cancels Visas Issued To Nationals Of Italy, Iran, S Korea,
Japan Before March 3
The deadly novel Coronavirus disease has fast spread to several
countries including India where two positive cases were detected on Monday --
one each in New Delhi and Telangana. Union Health Ministry held a meeting with
the Rajasthan Health Dept officials over coronavirus. RK Singh, ACS Health
said: "All the hotels where the Italian tourist stayed are being
sanitized. People who came in contact with the infected person, their samples
are taken."Regular visas/e-visas issued to nationals of Italy, Iran, S
Korea, Japan on or before Mar 3, who have not entered India, suspended, says
Govt advisory. Hotels and tourists sites in Agra have been instructed to inform
the office of the Chief Medical Officer as soon as visitors from Italy, Iran or
China arrive, so that they can be screened for coronavirus infection, news
agency PTI reported.outlookindia
6 coronavirus deaths in US, China cases slow
WHO has warned that the world was in "uncharted territory" as
the number of people infected with the new coronavirus went past 90,000.US
reported six deaths from the coronavirus, as the outbreak that started in China
continues to spread to new countries around the world and the WHO urges
countries to step up containment measures to rein in the infection.In South Korea,
the country with the most severe outbreak outside China, the number infected
continues to grow with three more deaths reported on Tuesday morning.In China,
the infection seems to be slowing. It reported 125 new cases on Tuesday, the
lowest since January.The number of deaths from the virus has reached 3,110
globally, according to WHO's latest figures.
*OTHERS*
Madras HC rules working women giving birth to child after twins in first
delivery not entitled to maternity benefits
Madras High Court has ruled that if a working woman gives birth to a
child in the second delivery after twins in the first, she is not entitled to
maternity benefits as it should be treated as the third child."As per
existing rules, a woman can avail such benefits only for her first two
deliveries. Even otherwise it is debatable as to whether the delivery is not a second
delivery but a third one, inasmuch as ordinarily when twins are born they are
delivered one after another, and their age and their inter-se elderly status is
also determined by virtue of the gap of time between their arrivals, which
amounts to two deliveries and not one simultaneous act," the court
said.The first bench, comprising Chief Justice AP Sahi and Justice Subramonium
Prasad stated this while allowing the appeal from Ministry of Home Affairs. It
set aside the order 18 June 2019 order of a single Judge, who extended 180 days
of maternity leave and other benefits to a woman member of CISF under the rules
governing the Tamil Nadu government servants. The admissibility of benefits
would be limited if the claimant has not more than two children, the bench said
"This fact, therefore, changes the entire nature of the relief which is
sought for by the woman petitioner, which aspect has been completely overlooked
by the single judge", the bench said.PTI
Chinmayanand sexual harassment case: SC rejects plea against Allahabad
HC order granting him bail
The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea challenging the Allahabad High
Court order granting bail to former BJP MP Chinmayanand in a sexual harassment
case, PTI reported. The Supreme Court also sought the response of Uttar Pradesh
government in a separate plea seeking transfer of the case against Chinmayanand
to a Delhi court.On Feb. 5, Chimayanand was released from Shahjahanpur prison
in Uttar Pradesh, two days after the Allahabad High Court granted him
bail.scroll
Imam booked for ‘provocative’ speech at funeral event in J&K
Srinagar:J&K police on Monday filed a charge sheet against two
persons, including an Imam (preacher), for “provocative speeches” at the
funeral of lecturer-turned-militant Mohammad Rafi Bhat in May of 2018.
Ganderbal police said it presented a charge sheet against the 2 accused,
identified as Muhammad Rafiq Shah, a resident of Shuhama, Ganderbal and Bashir
Ahmad Lone, a resident of Brein Nishat for their involvement in FIR,
“pertaining to provocative speech at Chunduna Ganderbal”. They were booked
under UAPA.The police on Monday presented the charge sheet against the duo
before the court.Sources said the case after the conclusion of investigation
was forwarded to the J&K government for obtaining sanction to launch
prosecution, which has been granted. Sources said Shah, an Imam, was associated
with the now-banned socio-religious group J&K Jamaat-e-Islami.thehindu
I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life & work
inspire us, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he will be handing
over his social media accounts to women who inspire and urged people to share
stories of such women with him."This Women's Day, I will give away my
social media accounts to women whose life & work inspire us. This will help
them ignite motivation in millions."Are you such a woman or do you know
such inspiring women? Share such stories using #SheInspiresUs," he
tweeted.PTI
India will turn 'peaceful' if Modi's 'bhakts' follow PM's move in
quitting social media: NCP leader
Mumbai: The country will turn "peaceful" if Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's "bhakts" follow him in quitting the social media, NCP
said on Tuesday, taking a dig at the prime minister over his tweet that was
thinking of giving up his social media accounts.NCP chief spokesperson and
Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik also said that Modi's decision will be
"in the interest of the country".His comments came a day after Modi
said he is contemplating giving up social media presence. "This Sunday,
thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
& YouTube. Will keep you all posted," the prime minister said on the
micro-blogging site.firstpost
SC dismisses review plea by Maharashtra CM Fadnavis in forgery, criminal
defamation cases
The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by former
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis against its October 2019 verdict
directing him to face trial for suppressing information about two pending
forgery and criminal defamation cases in his 2014 election documents.“We find
no ground to interfere in the review petitions. The same are dismissed,” a
three-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra observed in an order dated
February 18 and published on Tuesday.The Bench, also comprising Justices Deepak
Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, had reserved the case for orders on February 18
itself.thehindu
UP: Bhim Army chief meets Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president to
discuss new anti-BJP front
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Monday met Suheldev Bhartiya
Samaj Party President Om Prakash Rajbhar to discuss the possibility of a new
anti-BJP front in Uttar Pradesh before 2022 Assembly elections.“For an
alliance, I would say that anything can happen and there are always
possibilities in politics,” Azad told media persons after meeting Rajbhar. “In
the coming days, we will come forward to stop the BJP with a powerful alliance.
If we need someone’s help then we will take their help too.” Invoking Dalit
leader Kashi Ram, Azad said he wants to follow the ways in which Kashi Ram did
politics.Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party General Secretary Arvind Rajbhar told
PTI that Azad will join an Opposition front known as Bhagidaari Sankalp Morcha,
comprising eight parties, led by Rajbhar. scroll
No Jobs. Engineering Graduate, MBA Work As Parking Attendants In Chennai
Chennai: S Aditya, 21, a BE graduate, now works as a car parking
Attendant in Chennai, promoting the Chennai Corporation's app for smart car
parking among commuters at Pondy Bazaar for a salary of Rs 18,000 per month.
This position actually requires just a Class 10 qualified candidate. But there
are about 50 engineers and MBA holders who have taken up the same job
outsourced to a private company.Mr Aditya says he's not usurping the
opportunity of a lesser qualified person. "If a Class 10 qualified boy or
girl is doing this job, they would take four to five hours to explain the
technology. We would take only 2 to 3 minutes," he said.Rajesh, an MBA
with 21 years of experience, has also joined as team leader, taking a 55 per cent
salary cut after the firm he worked for shut down. He's the only breadwinner in
his family and has a 6-year-old child to look after."After MBA or BE,
after finishing college there are no jobs. So if we are looking for a job even
for less than Rs 10,000, people are willing to work," Rajesh said.With
jobs scarce, some 1,500 highly qualified candidates applied for 50-odd jobs.
The company offered jobs only for around 50.B Rizwana Khathu, assistant project
manager, SS Tech & Toorq Media Services, said that among 1,000 members they
have selected only 50 and have given them training.Last year, 4,600 engineers,
MBAs and research scholars had applied for 14 posts of sweepers at the Tamil
Nadu assembly. The government had then denied it failed to generate
employment.ndtv
In Tamil Nadu, a Movie That Says Dalits Are Waging 'Love Jihad' Draws
Crowds
Draupathi claims to be an indie Tamil film. It has no stars. Many of the
actors, including the male lead, are wooden. The sequences are tepid and the
sets and props are minimal, although the female lead does infuse some energy.On
Sunday, the third day of its release, Draupathi was one of the few movies
running to packed halls across Chennai. Couples with children were in the
audience at the hall where I watched the movie (I could only get a corner seat
on the second row from the screen).Trade pundits are wondering if Draupathi
will be the season’s sleeper hit. The film’s trailer logged more than 5 million
views on YouTube, generating controversy and low-cost publicity for the
film.Draupathi depicts the OBC reaction to Dalit politics. Anger drives the
film – a sense of injustice over Dalits having gone too far just as elsewhere
some Hindus feel Muslims have gone too far, egged on by political appeasement.
The film’s immediate provocation, according to the director G. Mohan, is a
string of recent Tamil movies championing Dalit struggles. “I am from the city
and do not let caste affect me. Why are these movies accusing me of something I
have not done?” he has asked.thewire
*WORLD*
Taliban Resume Operations Against Afghan Forces, End Partial Truce
A deadly blast shattered a period of relative calm in Afghanistan on
Monday and the Taliban ordered fighters to resume operations against Afghan
forces just two days after signing a deal to usher in peace.No group
immediately claimed responsibility for the attack at a football ground in Khost
in eastern Afghanistan, where three brothers were killed, officials told
AFP.The blast occurred around the same time the Taliban ordered fighters to
recommence attacks against Afghan army and police forces, apparently ending an
official "reduction in violence" that had seen a dramatic drop in
bloodshed and given Afghans a welcome taste of peace.The partial truce between
US, the insurgents and Afghan forces lasted for the week running up to the
signing of US-Taliban accord in Doha on Saturday and was extended over the
weekend. "The reduction in violence... has ended now and our operations
will continue as normal," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid
told."As per (US-Taliban) agreement, our mujahideen will not attack
foreign forces but our operations will continue against Kabul administration
forces.”Taliban's military commission circulated instructions for fighters to
resume operations, according to a document provided by an insurgent.Soon after,
an Afghan army commander informed that Taliban were attacking army positions in
the northwest province of Badghis. At least one soldier was killed.Since the
deal signing, Taliban have been publicly claiming "victory" over
US.AFP
Israel poll: Exit polls show Netanyahu holds edge over rival
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gained seats in Israel's
election on Monday, according to early exit polls that put him almost within
grasp of a right-wing governing coalition.But it is unclear whether Netanyahu
can clinch a parliamentary majority needed to claim victory.Exit polls on
Israel’s main TV channels projected Netanyahu's Likud Party and its religious
and nationalist allies would capture 60 seats, leaving it one seat short of the
majority needed to claim victory.Netanyahu's Likud Party won about 37 seats,
ahead of his rival Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White alliance,
according to media channels.The early results came after a hard-fought campaign
for the country's third election in less than a year.If final results give
Netanyahu a parliamentary majority, it would pave the way for a new term and
give him a boost as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges.aljazeera
Sri Lankan President dissolves Parliament, calls for elections on April
25
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday dissolved the
Parliament and called for elections six months ahead of schedule, AP reported.
According to the presidential decree signed by Rajapaksa, elections will now be
held on April 25.Rajapaksa, a former defence secretary who won the November 16
General Elections by more than 13 lakh votes, used his constitutional powers to
dissolve the 225-member legislature. Sri Lankan constitution gives powers to
dissolve Parliament after completing four-and-a-half years of a five-year
term.scroll
Biden bounces back in Democratic race on eve of Super Tuesday
With one lopsided result in one Southern US state and a pair of
prominent withdrawals, a lot has changed in the race for Democratic
presidential nomination.Saturday's results in the South Carolina primary, in
which Joe Biden trounced frontrunner Bernie Sanders by more than 28 percentage
points, had already thrown a ratchet into the convoluted race, puncturing the
aura of inevitability that surrounded Sanders.Then, the unexpected withdrawals
of Pete Buttigieg on Sunday night and Amy Klobuchar on Monday afternoon turned
what had been a multi-person race into one with four viable candidates, all of
them in their 70s and from states in the northeast corner of the country -
Sanders, Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg.The fifth Democrat still
standing, Tulsi Gabbard, is polling just over 1 percent in national
polls.aljazeera
UN envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame resigns, citing 'stress'
UN envoy for Libya has resigned citing health reasons after nearly three
years in the post.Appointed in July 2017, Ghassan Salame had recently been
mediating three-tiered talks between Libya's warring sides on economic,
political and military tracks.In a tweet on Monday, Salame cited "this
level of stress" as a reason behind his intention to step down as the UN's
envoy for the war-wracked country. "For two years, I tried to re-unite
Libyans and restrain foreign interference […] but for health reasons I can no
longer continue with this level of stress," wrote Salame.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Why India’s Muslims Are in Grave Danger:RAVI AGRAWAL , foreignpolicy
‘India’s Citizenship Act is discriminatory’: Lord Alton’s speech in UK
Parliament’s Upper House
Kanhaiya Kumar Interview: ‘When Your Dinner Table Is Polarised, Will The
Bureaucracy Remain Untouched?
Coronavirus: Myths gain ground despite a crackdown | India Today Insight
Citizenship Protests: Political Activists Face Torture, Arrests In
India:By Shakir Husain, India Tomorrow
What next for India's Muslims? More suffering and a further crackdown on
their rights by Modi govt:Gareth Price, independent uk
Delhi to Shillong:Violence in both places was foreshadowed by
polarisation on citizenship issue:indian express Editorial
Delhi Violence An Attempt To Turn Poll Defeat Into Victory Of
Hate:Brinda Karat
Delhi Riots: Video of Relief Distribution Circulated With Distorted
Claims
AAP Govt Green Light to Prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar for Sedition is Bad in
Law:Markandey Katju
Despite Sec 144 in Jamshedpur, We Let Our Shoes Protest For Us
How Indian journalists were attacked during Delhi violence:aljazeera
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 2:51 PM).
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