03 March 2020:
07 Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 147
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
CAA lacks objectivity, not in sync with international covenants, UN
Human Rights chief moves SC
UN Human Rights Council has moved an intervention plea in the Supreme
Court criticizing the Citizenship Amendment Act, as it puts Muslim migrants at
risk and also has issues of reasonableness and objectivity, which may not be in
sync with India's commitment to international covenants.The application was
filed by Michelle Bachelet Jeria, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. High
Commissioner has sought to intervene as amicus curiae (third-party) in the
case, citing her mandate to protect and promote all human rights and to conduct
necessary advocacy established pursuant to UN General Assembly
resolution."While reducing the risk of refoulment for certain communities,
the CAA unequally places other communities at such risk. Accordingly, the
narrow scope of the CAA, which extends protection from return only on religious
grounds and limited to the specific ethno-religious groups, may not be
sufficiently objective and reasonable in light of the broad prohibition of
refoulment under international human rights law," said High Commissioner
in plea. The application said that for the purpose of this intervention
application, in the present case, the question is therefore not a matter of the
general purpose of the law, but whether the differentiation drawn within the
law (CAA), namely the exclusion of persons from scope of the law, on the basis
of their religion is sufficiently objective and reasonable. The application
says CAA protects Afghan, Bangladeshi and Pakistani Buddhist, Christian, Hindu,
Jain, Parsi and Sikh migrants who meet the conditions set out in the CAA from
being returned to a country where they would face persecution on religious
grounds, by addressing their irregular migration status by providing them with
an expedited pathway to citizenship. "While this is a worthy and
commendable objective, it raises a number of issues related to India's wider
human rights obligations in the context of the fundamental principle of
non-refoulment," added the plea. India Today
UNHRC seeks intervention over CAA, says ‘law puts Muslim migrants at
risk, has issues of objectivity’
CAA internal matter, India tells UNHRC; Natwar Singh call it ‘absolutely
unprecedented’
After UNHRC filed an application in the Supreme Court against the CAA in
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 MEA. Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also said
that CAA and NRC had potential to turn India’s Muslims into stateless subjects.Ex-External
Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh has described UN rights body’s move as
“absolutely unprecedented in the diplomatic history of India”.Former Permanent
Representative of India at UN 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
UN plea in SC Over CAA 'Interference' But Govt Responsible for
'Mess':Ahmed Patel
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has attacked govt over UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights filing an application in the Supreme Court over
CAA, saying it is "unwarranted interference" but it is Modi
dispensation that is to be blamed for the "mess"."No doubt that
UN's intervening application is a case of unwarranted interference in our
matters," Patel said in a tweet."But who is to blame for this mess?
The Government of India for creating a window for such interference by enacting
a law which breaches global standards on human rights," the Congress
treasurer said.news18
Iran speaks out: Condemn wave of violence against Muslims in 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
Indonesian protesters gather outside Indian embassy to condemn violence
against Muslims
Hundreds of Indonesian Muslims held a protest outside the Consulate
General of India in Medan, Indonesia on Monday over the recent violence against
Muslims in India.The protesters carried a banner reading "Narendra Modi
racist, stop the genocide."They also held posters of Indian PM Modi
reading "dead or alive."news.yahoo
Delhi riots: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind hails Hindu-Muslim ties, calls for
healing touch
New Delhi:During the recent communal clashes in northeast Delhi, the
communal brotherhood and harmony came to the fore and helped save many lives,
according to the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) here on Tuesday.This was stated by
the JIH after a team of senior Jamaat leaders, led by its president Sadatullah
Hussaini, visited the areas hit by riots that started on February 23.Amid
violence people of different faiths helped each other, said Hussaini. "In
many cases, Hindus saved the lives of Muslims and vice-versa. It also endorses
the opinion that the riots were orchestrated and executed by outsiders,"
said Hussaini.The need of the hour was providing the healing touch to the victims,
he added.In a statement, he also raised questions over the conduct of the
police. "The role of police was appalling. In many instances, they were
bystanders at the best and active collaborators at the worst. The victims and
survivors are traumatised and in despair," he said.So much was the fear
that injured were not coming forward for medication apprehending that the
police would take action against them only, he added.Stating that one of the
worst hit areas was Shiv Vihar, the JIH leader said the riot-affected families
shared with them their plight and also how 7-8 families were forced to live in
one house as refugees. "They need to be rehabilitated immediately,"
he said. The delegation also visited the Jafrabad Eidgah, which had the
capacity to shelter around 2,000 people. "The Jamaat is helping with
essential commodities at the relief camps in coordination with like-minded
NGOs, the Delhi government and the local populace," he said.The attacks
indicated meticulous planning and specific targeting of Muslims, their
businesses and places of worship, the JIH said. The Gokulpuri tyre market with
over 200 shops were razed, it said and added, gas cylinders were deployed to
cause maximum damage.The JIH has set up a control centre to coordinate relief
activities, being supervised by its Secretary Mohammed Ahmed.The centre would
carry out a survey, assess the scale of damage, help victims with documentation
required for claiming compensation. It would also organise psychological
counselling and medical relief for the riot victims.IANS
People are traumatized and in despair, need healing touch: JIH Prez after
visiting violence hit areas
People in Delhi’s riot-hit areas are traumatized and in despair: Jamaat
List of 49 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 49 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, Aqib, 18, 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
Delhi violence: 436 cases filed, over 1,400 held or detained
Delhi Police has arrested 436 FIRs and arrested or detained 1,427 people
in connection with the communal violence in northeast Delhi, an officer said on
Tuesday. 45 of the cases were registered under the Arms Act, the officer
said.According to police, PCR did not receive calls of rioting in the past six
days.The situation in the riot-affected areas is under control, the police
said.PTI
Man files habeas corpus in Delhi HC over illegal detentions of brothers,
hearing on Mar 6
Delhi High Court will hear on Friday a habeas corpus petition in the
alleged illegal detention of two persons in connection with the violence in
north-east Delhi last week.The plea filed by one Firoz Khan seeking the release
of his two brothers -- Mohd Sabir and Bhure Khan -- was listed before a
division bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul. However, the same could not
be taken up today as the bench was on leave.The plea raising question against
the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Delhi
Police Commissioner will now be heard on March 6.The petitioner stated that on
February 24, two brothers of the petitioner were returning from their work from
the factory at Mandoli when at about 6:05 pm, one of the brothers namely Bhure
Khan called from his mobile number to his brother-in-law namely Shamshadt hat they
have been detained/apprehended by the police and are being taken to Dayalpuri
police station.ANI
427 shops torched, over 420 people injured until now due to Delhi
violence: Manish Sisodia
Addressing a press conference, Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish
Sisodia said, "As per data received, 427 shops have been burnt in
northeast Delhi. It is my request to the shopkeepers to file FIR with the
police to initiate action and ensure reimbursements. Meanwhile, over 420 people
have been injured in the violence that took place in the area."
Bodies are still being recovered but govt is mum: Mamata Banerjee slams
Centre
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has slammed the Centre for lack of
action. She alleged that even now, as bodies are being recovered, the central
government still chooses to remain quiet. "Why so many people were killed
in Delhi? Remember, this is Bengal. What happens in Delhi, does not happen in
Bengal," Banerjee asserted.
Lawyers' body offers free legal aid to Delhi riot victims
The Supreme Court Advocates
on-Record Association (SCAORA) on Tuesday expressed deep anguish at the loss of
lives and property in the recent spurt of communal violence in northeast
Delhi."SCAORA's Executive Committee express deep anguish on the loss of
lives and property and offer their condolences to the bereaved families,"
said the resolution issued by SCAORA secretary Joseph Aristotle.IANS
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
‘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
"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
Gun-weilding man Shahrukh charged with attempt to murder, fired 3 shots
'in a fit of rage':police
The gun-wielding man who was arrested for pointing a gun at an unarmed
policeman during the Delhi riots, has been booked under charges for attempt to
murder, among others, Delhi Police said on Tuesday. At a press briefing
regarding the arrest, ACP Ajit Kumar Singhla said that the police is yet to
recover his pistol with which he fired three shots "in a fit of rage".
The police also said that the man, identified as Shahrukh Khan, told the
interrogators that he had fired shots in a fit of rage after he saw stone
pelting happening in Jaffrabad-Maujpur area of northeast Delhi."He had
bought the pistol 2 years ago from a friend in Bihar," Singhla said,
adding that the police are investigating whether 33-year-old has any links with
any organisation and whether he had planned the firing.Singhla also said that
the police are looking into whether Shahrukh has any links with former AAP councillor
Tahir Hussain, who has been named as an accused in the killing of Intelligence
Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma. He also added that while Shahrukh's father has a
case of narcotics and fake currency against him, he doesn't have a criminal
record himself.Shahrukh was arrested from a bus stop in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli
on Tuesday morning, Singhla said. In a video that went viral last week,
Shahrukh could be seen pointing his country-made pistol at the policeman on the
Jaffrabad-Maujpur road.Singhla said that Shahrukh is interested in modelling
and makes Tik Tok videos.firstpost
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
Govt running away from debate on Delhi riots, its stand ''vote of
no-confidence'' in Parliament: Cong
New Delhi:Alleging that the government was "running away" from
debate on the Delhi riots, the Congress on Tuesday said the centre''s stand
against immediate discussion on the issue was the biggest "vote of
no-confidence" in the institution of Parliament.Congress'' attack came
after Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted for the second day
Tuesday amid unrelenting demands for an immediate discussion on last week''s
communal violence in the national capital.Congress spokesperson Abhishek
Singhvi said the reason given for not allowing a discussion in Parliament on
the Delhi riots was that the debate will be allowed after normalcy is
restored.PTI
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.
BJP leader filed PIL in HC challenging decision to grant compensation to
Delhi violence victims
A PIL was on Tuesday filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the
announcement made by Delhi government to grant compensation to the victims of
the communal violence in north-east Delhi.The petition, filed by BJP leader
Nand Kishore Garg through advocate Shashank Deo, stated that the perpetrator of
the riots must be denied compensation and must not be treated as victims.The
High Court is likely to hear tomorrow the public suit, which seeks directions
to strike down the order of compensation to all victims riot as being
unreasonable and arbitrary.ANI
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, demonstration defiantly continues.Now, however, 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
'They took down their pants, and said, 'yeh lo azaadi''
New Delhi: 2 separate groups of women from the riot-hit areas of
north-east Delhi, one of which was present at the Chand Bagh protest on Monday,
and one which was present at the violence perpetrated at Shiv Vihar, have told
The Wire that members of a right-wing mob pulled down their pants, exposed
their genitals to them and said, “Yeh lo azaadi.” (‘Here, take freedom.’)
‘Azaadi’ is part of the rallying cry that protesters across the city have been
using to ask for freedom – from CAA, from NRC, from the reign of Narendra Modi
and Amit Shah.“I was standing at the Chand Bagh protest site when 2 members of
our protest had been detained by the police. The women of the protest came out
to confront the policemen and ask where they had been taken. A group of right-wingers
came up to us, shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and 4 men there pulled their pants down
and pointed their genitals at us, and shouted ‘Yeh lo azaadi’,” says Asifa*,
who did not want her name to be published for fear that she would be
arrested.“Our men came out and made a line in front of us, to protect us, and
the mob started throwing stones at them. The police went behind the protest and
started throwing tear gas shells into the protest site, so we could not respond
because we were coughing and crying. There were women and children there. The
police lathi charged us,” Asifa adds.She fell unconscious during the tear
gassing. Others there – including elderly women and pregnant women – sustained
injuries after being lathi charged by the police. If the threat of sexual
violence was wielded against Muslim women in Chand Bagh, eyewitnesses that fled
the mobs from Shiv Vihar say there were many instances of sexual assault
there.thewire
‘Bloodiest haircut ever' for 2 Mustafabad Barbers who helped save
hundreds of lives during riots
New Delhi: It was 12 in afternoon on Feb. 24. Mohd Shahzaad, a barber,
had just finished giving the latest ‘mohawk-style’ haircut to a 17-year-old boy
when a doctor called him on his mobile from the nearby Al Hind Hospital.Located
adjacent to the hospital in Old Mustafabad, Shahzaad’s barber shop was also
bang opposite another small salon, owned by Wasim, his protégé.The duo had been
called to help with dressings and run small errands for the hospital before.
But what met them on Monday afternoon when they arrived at Al Hind was beyond
their imagination.When sectarian violence broke out in several northeast
neighbourhoods on Sunday night, including Mustafabad, Al Hind was the only
hospital that remained open in the area and provided critical first aid and
conducted surgeries on victims affected by the riots.“There were a handful of
patients with head and other injuries. We knew there were disturbances since
Sunday night but we didn't realise how bad it was until we reached Al
Hind," Shahzaad, 25, told News18 inside his barber shop a week after the
incident.The barber-duo initially started by shaving hair off injured persons
and getting them ready for surgeries or further treatment.news18
North East Delhi residents remove nameplates after violence broke out
A nameplate in a house or a
hoarding in a shop is generally put up as a mark of identity. But when the
communal violence broke out in northeast Delhi last week, these were among the
first things some of the residents removed as they moved to safer places.A
number of dark, narrow lanes deep inside Shiv Vihar, among the worst-hit areas,
are empty. Similarly, many Hindu families in the area that borders Mustafabad
have fled after locking their homes, while some among them took down or damaged
their nameplates in a bid to hide their identity.Deepak Rajora, 32, fled to his
relative's home in Ghaziabad when violence started on February 24. "But
before running away, I took down the nameplate bearing the name of my father,"
he said.Yaqoob Malik, 55, tore off the hoarding reading 'Malik Cloth House'
outside his shop in Shiv Vihar fearing that the mob would target it.PTI
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
Centre discussing preparations for NPR with states, no documents to be
collected during exercise, Union minister tells LS
Centre on Tuesday said it was discussing with state govts the
preparations for the update of NPR from 1 April to 30 Sept.Union Minister of
State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha that no document will be
collected during the exercise, which will be carried out along with the
house-listing phase of Census 2021."The government is in discussion with
the states having concerns in regard to the preparation of NPR. The demographic
and other particulars of each family and individual are to be updated/collected
during the exercise of updation of NPR. No document is to be collected during
this exercise," he said replying to a written question.Home Ministry
sources said the central government has already started the outreach to allay
the apprehensions of states by meeting chief ministers critical of the
exercise.PTI
Will request Centre to conduct NPR on 2010 format, resolution in
upcoming assembly session: Andhra CM
A week after Bihar Assembly resolved that NPR exercise should be done
strictly according to the 2010 format, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan
Mohan Reddy on Tuesday said his government will also introduce a similar
resolution in upcoming assembly session."Some of the questions proposed in
the NPR are causing insecurities in the minds of minorities of my state. After
elaborate consultations within our party, we have decided to request the
Central Government to revert the conditions to those prevailing in 2010,"
Reddy said in a tweet."To this effect, we will also introduce a resolution
in the upcoming assembly session," he added. Earlier, YSRCP govt in the
state issued the order to conduct the NPR exercise and Housing Listing and
Housing Census as part of Census of India 2021 to be taken up for 45 days
between April and Sept. 2020.dnaindia
NRC: Likely to issue rejection slips from March 20, says Assam
government
Assam government on Monday said authorities plan to issue rejection
slips to more than 19 lakh applicants who were excluded from the NRC exercise
from March 20, PTI reported. Rejection certificates are required for the people
to approach the foreigners tribunal to establish their citizenship.The final
NRC list – an exercise to update the citizens’ database – in Assam was
published on August 31. It excluded around 6% of the state’s population. The
government now wants to conduct the exercise across India to identify
undocumented immigrants.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary
said work related to the scanning of “speaking orders” is going on and around
12% of it is left. He said this to Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed while replying
to a written query in the ongoing Assembly session.“After this work gets
completed, there is a plan to issue the rejection slip from 20/03/2020,”
Patowary said on behalf of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.To enable those
excluded from the NRC to file appeals, the Assam government expanded the
network of foreigners tribunals in 2019. However, no NRC-related case has gone
to trial in the tribunals even after nearly seven months of the list being
published. This is because NRC authorities are yet to issue formal rejection
memos known as “speaking orders” to people left out of the registry.scroll
185 students detained on their way to anti-CAA protest at Ramlila Maidan
New Delhi: A total of 185 students were detained by police Tuesday while
they were going to Ramlila Maidan here to protest against the new citizenship
law and the recent communal riots in northeast Delhi.According to police, the
protesters were detained from different locations in the national capital and
taken to several police stations. All detained students were later released,
police said.“In total, 185 protesters were detained and taken to nearby police
stations of Kamla Market, Hari Nagar and Bawana,” DCP(Central) Sanjay Bhatia said,
adding that all the protesters have been released.Many students, however,
claimed that several hundred of them were detained from different locations in
the city.Around 200 students gathered at Jantar Mantar Tuesday morning in
response to a protest call given by the Young India Coordination Committee,
which comprises members from various student bodies. Former IAS officer and
activist Kannan Gopinathan was also present.Former JNU Students’ Union
president N Sai Balaji, who was leading the march, said, “We had submitted the
application for permission on February 27. We were informed on Monday about the
permission being rejected. It is last-minute intimation”.PTI
Haryana: Muslim Families threatened to leave locality before Holi
Jhajjar: 20-odd Muslim families living in Isharhedi village of Jhajjar district
on Delhi-Haryana border are gripped in intense fear after a mob entered
forcefully into the house and asked community members to vacate the area before
Holi or be ready to face consequences.According to TOI, On March 1, An FIR had
been lodged at Bahadurgarh police station, the complainant has told that 60-70
people belonging to 20-35 age group came to the colony on February 29 and asked
them to vacate their houses before Holi or face consequences for not doing so.A
carpenter belonging to the area told TOI that they are living in fear after the
incident. “He told the minor members from our families are sent to other places
like Delhi,” he added.newsd.in
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 govt 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 4 years of hard works.India Tomorrow
5 foreigners asked to leave India for participating in anti-CAA
protests: Govt
New Delhi:5 foreigners were asked to leave India for violating visa
norms by participating in anti-citizenship law protests, Lok Sabha was informed
on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said this in a
written reply to a question.PTI
All Bangladeshis living in Bengal are Indian citizens: Mamata
West Bengal chief minister Mamata
Banerjee said on Tuesday all who came from Bangladesh and have been casting
votes in elections were Indian citizens and did not require to apply for
citizenship afresh.Banerjee also slammed the Modi government for its handling
of the communal riots in Delhi and asserted she will not allow West Bengal turn
into another Delhi."Those who have come from Bangladesh are citizens of
India...they have got citizenship. You don't need to apply for citizenship
again. You have been casting your votes in elections, electing PM and CM...now
they are saying that you are not citizens...don't believe them," she told
a public meeting here.She also asserted she will not let "even a single
person" to be driven out of Bengal. The West Bengal chief minister said no
refugee living in the state will be deprived of citizenship.PTI
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
Kolkata: Religious heads to lead all-faith protest against violence in
Delhi on March 8
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: Delhi-NCR schools send advisories to parents, may declare
holiday if need arises
Alerted by the coronavirus case reported in Delhi-NCR, schools in the
region have sent out advisories to parents suggesting that they not send their
wards to attend classes even in case of mild cough or cold and saying they may
declare holidays if the need arises. Two private schools in Noida cancelled
classes on Tuesday for the next few days as a precautionary measure after a
student's father tested positive for coronavirus."Please ensure you
absolutely do not send your child to school even in case of a mild cough,
sneezing or cold. We are ensuring that staff would make children periodically
wash their hands after every half an hour. Please ensure you do the same for
yourself, your domestic staff and children at home," said Monica Sagar,
Principal, Shiv Nadar School, Gurugram, in a note sent to parents.Another
school in Dwarka sent an advisory to parents saying, "Please do not make
the children wear masks if they are well as it causes more bacteria to be
trapped near the mouth area and chances of infection because they tend to touch
it often. If they have a cold, it is recommended they wear a mask and stay at
home".Schools are also organising sensitisation sessions for children to
brief them about the symptoms of COVID-19 as well as precautionary measures.The
two Noida schools also announced their closure in messages sent to the parents,
a day after the Union Health Ministry reported two fresh cases of coronavirus
in the country -- one of them in Delhi.Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on
Tuesday called an urgent meeting with Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain and
other top officials on the government's preparations to deal with
coronavirus.nationalheraldindia
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
Coronavirus in India: 6 confirmed cases as Covid-19 outbreak knocks on
Indian doors
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
COVID-19 | Iran orders troops to fight coronavirus outbreak as death
toll rises to 77
Iran’s supreme leader put the Islamic Republic’s armed forces on alert
on March 3 to assist health officials in combating the outbreak of the new
coronavirus — the deadliest outside of China — that authorities say has killed
77 people.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s decision was announced after state media
broadcast images of the 80-year-old leader planting a tree wearing disposable
gloves ahead of Iran’s upcoming arbor day, showing how concern about the virus
now reaches up to the top of the country’s Shia theocracy. Iranian media
reported that 23 members of Parliament now had the virus, as did the head of
the country’s emergency services.After downplaying the coronavirus as recently
as last week, Iranian authorities said on March 3 they had plans to potentially
mobilize 3,00,000 soldiers and volunteers to confront the virus. It wasn’t clear
if Mr. Khamenei’s order would set them in motion helping sanitize streets,
direct traffic and track possible contacts those ill with the virus had with
others, as initially suggested.There are now over 2,530 cases of the new
coronavirus across the Mideast. Of those outside Iran in the region, most link
back to the Islamic Republic.AP
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.
*J&K
AND S. ASIA*
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
Pulwama attack:| NIA arrests father-daughter duo, say officials
NIA on Tuesday arrested a father-daughter duo for their alleged
involvement in the Pulwama attack last year.The arrest comes days after NIA
arrested 22-year-old Shakir Bashir Magrey, an alleged JeM operative. The
accused had tracked the movement of CRPF convoys and allegedly helped assemble
the bomb used in the attack that killed at least 40 paramilitary
personnel.Officials said Tariq Ahmad and his daughter Insha Tariq (26) were
questioned by the police and later handed over to NIA. Preliminary reports suggest that the duo
played role in the Lethpora attack. “The conspiracy regarding the attack had
taken place in their house,” an official said.
thehindu
*OTHERS*
UN asks India to mediate between Israel and Palestine
New Delhi: UN is exploring ways to engage India for mediation between
Israel and Palestine to resolve the protracted conflict between the two in the
Middle East.A delegation of UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People was on a 2-day visit to New Delhi beginning
from Monday.The team includes UN Ambassadors and Representatives of Senegal
(Committee Chair); Indonesia and Malaysia (Committee Members); and the State of
Palestine (Committee Observer).According to an official statement, the
delegation 'intends to engage India, a country with good relations to both the
State of Palestine and Israel, in looking for ways how it could play a more
proactive role in the settling of the question of Palestine'.UN group will
focus on enhancing the political and diplomatic support of India for a peaceful
solution of the question of Palestine; and engaging Indian counterparts on
synergies in capacity building for staff and institutions of the State of
Palestine. The visit would also focus on enhancing the coordination of the UN
committee bureau and India on capacity building projects for the State of
Palestine, including within the context of South-South and Triangular
Cooperation.UN team will hold meetings with Minister for External Affairs S
Jaishankar, and senior officials in the Ministry, political leaders, and think
tanks.IANS
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
Goa Court Dismisses Extremist Hindu Group's Lawsuit Against Juggernaut
Books
New Delhi: A Goa court has dismissed a Rs 10-crore civil defamation law
suit filed by the Sanatan Sanstha against Juggernaut books and author Dhirendra
K Jha for his book Shadow Armies: Fringe Organisations and Foot Soldiers of
Hindutva published in 2017. Sanatan Sanstha had said that the material in the
book ‘defamed’ the organisation and had sought Rs 10 crore in damages in 2018
civil law suit filed in Goa where the organisation is headquartered. In a
statement put out by Juggernaut, Jha is quoted as having said:“I feel a sense
of relief and vindication. Persons who feel deeply uncomfortable by my research
and my work attempted to silence me by alleging defamation and unleashing a
punishing process on me and my publisher. But truth is a defence against
defamation and, in this case, justice and the truth have thankfully
prevailed.”The book profiles 8 right wing Hindu supremacist organisations –
including the Sanatan Sanstha – and their leaders. It details the nature of the
links of the organisations to BJP and RSS. thewire
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
No proposal on Muslim reservation, says CM Thackeray days after NCP minister’s
5% quota claim
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief
Minister and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday nipped NCP efforts
at one-upmanship, by declaring that the state government had not taken any
decision regarding the 5% reservation to Muslims in education in Maharashtra. The
announcement comes days after NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik declared on
the floor of the House that the state government will soon promulgate an
ordinance to implement Muslim reservation in educational institutions from the
coming academic year. While Thackeray targeted the BJP by saying that the
former ally was unnecessarily banging its head over the issue, the real target,
many believe, was the NCP.“At a time when such an issue has not even come up in
front of the government, some people are banging their heads on it. We haven't
yet talked about it. I haven't yet taken a stand on it. Why this premature
issue? They should conserve their energy,” he said during a press conference at
Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday.news18
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
BJP MLA calls freedom fighter Doreswamy ‘Pak agent’; Opposition protests
Bengaluru:BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal’s “derogatory” comments
against centenarian freedom fighter HS Doreswamy rocked Karnataka Assembly as
it met for the budget session on Monday with ruling BJP and Opposition crossing
swords.Opposition parties thronged the well of the House, demanding that they
be allowed to raise the matter and forcing repeated adjournments.Yatnal’s
recent comments against Doreswamy, calling him a “fake freedom fighter” and
“Pakistani agent” sparked a row, with opposition parties up in arms against him
in the last few days.Congress has even been demanding revocation of his
assembly membership. According to Congress leaders, Yatnal’s comments are in
violation of the Constitution as by disrespecting a freedom fighter like
Doreswamy, he had disrespected the freedom movement, which is in “violation of
our fundamental duties.” Yatnal has made it clear that there was no question of
withdrawing his statements against Doreswamy and even called him a “mouthpiece”
in favour of JD(S) and Congress.Several BJP legislators have come out in
defence of the Vijayapura city MLA, questioning the Congress and the freedom
fighter for their alleged comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Veer Savarkar.
Arsonists set fire to holy books inside Assam mosque
Guwahati: Unidentified arsonists entered a mosque in Assam’s Baksa
district late on Sunday and allegedly set fire to religious books, triggering
an agitation in the area amid appeals for restraint from administration.The
incident at Kalpani Jame Masjid in Salbari, part of the autonomous Bodoland
Territorial Region and around 120km from Guwahati, came to light during prayers
on Monday morning.By the time Baksa SP Prateek Vijay Kumar reached the area
with his team, members of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union and All Bodo
Minority Students’ Union were in the middle of a sit-in outside mosque,
demanding the arrest of those behind the arson. “BTC elections are due.
Political parties will try to give this election a communal colour by trying to
disrupt harmony,” said Minhajul Imran, member of the state minority students’
union. Salbari area has a mixed population of Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Local
residents alleged that Kalpani mosque had been target of miscreants since the
final NRC was published.TOI
India has 3rd highest trade-related illicit financial flow globally
escaping govt’s tax net: Report
India has the third-highest trade-related illicit financial flow among
over 135 countries with a whopping USD 83.5 billion escaping the govt's tax net
owing to trade-based money laundering tactics, according to a report released
on Tuesday by US-based think tank Global Financial Integrity (GFI).GFI
classifies as illicit flows funds which are illegally earned, transferred,
and/or utilised across an international border. Primary sources of illicit
flows include grand corruption, commercial tax evasion, and transnational
crime.A drug cartel using trade-based money laundering techniques to use the
illegal proceeds of narcotics sales to purchase used cars, which will be
exported to the drug source country and sold, is an example of illicit
financial flow, it said.PTI
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*
Likud's Netanyahu in lead to form Israel's next govt
With 90 percent of votes counted, Joint List has so far won a record 15
Knesset seats in Israel's election, a historic success for the Palestinian-majority
electoral alliance.But their strongest ever showing may be eclipsed by Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who appears likely to secure a record fifth
term after his Likud party won at least 36 seats in Monday's vote, the third in
less than a year.His right-wing bloc currently holds 59 seats, just two shy of
forming a majority government.The Blue and White alliance of his main rival,
former chief of the armed forces Benny Gantz, holds 32 seats and 56 in his
bloc.As the tally has been delayed, the final result is expected by late
Tuesday.Israeli public opinion expert and political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin
told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu's most likely option to break the deadlock is to
try to convince Knesset members who are part of a faction within centrist
parties to break away in order to secure a parliamentary majority.The Joint
List, meanwhile, remains the third-largest party in the Knesset.Despite talk of
"voter fatigue" among citizens, voter turnout was 71 percent, the
highest since 2015.Al Jazeera
For Palestinians, Netanyahu, Gantz are 'two sides of same coin'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in Israel's
election over his main challenger, former military chief of staff Benny Gantz,
although it appears he may just be short of securing a parliamentary majority
to form the next government.For Palestinians, however, the outcome of the
election would make little difference."Israeli leaders are two sides of
the same coin when it comes to dealing with the Palestinians," Wasel Abu
Yousef, a member of the PLO executive committee, told Al Jazeera.He said that,
despite their differences, Israel's political heavyweights all agree to keep
"denying the Palestinians' right to self-determination [and] right of
return, keeping the illegal settlements and to never ending the occupation of
Jerusalem."Following the release of exit polls, Saeb Erekat, the PLO's
chief negotiator and top aide of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a
statement that "settlement, annexation, and apartheid have won".Al
Jazeera
Russia to Hamas: ‘US’ deal of century will not achieve peace’
Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh arrived in the Russian
capital Moscow on Sunday along with a delegation of senior officials from the
movement and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other senior
officials, the Palestinian group said in a statement.During the meeting, Lavrov
welcomed Hamas to Russia and highlighted its importance at “this critical
time”.Lavrov reiterated that Russia rejects the US “peace plan” for the Middle
East and does not think it is a plan that achieves peace and security in the
region.Lavrov reiterated the importance of Palestinian unity and pointed out
that Russia is ready to help Palestinians unite in order to stand strong
against the “deal of the century”.middleeastmonitor
US’ Pence: By supporting Palestinian rights, Sanders is siding with Israel’s
enemies
US Vice President Mike Pence has claimed that US presidential hopeful
Bernie Sanders is siding with Israel’s enemies as a result of his support for
Palestinian rights.At a speech at controversial American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) conference, Pence claimed that US President Donald Trump
should remain in the White House because of his pro-Israel stance.He said: “In
the days ahead, we must ensure the most pro-Israel president in history must
not be replaced by one who would be the most anti-Israel president in the
history of this nation. That’s why we need four more years of President Trump
in the White House.”Pence, who is an Evangelical Christian and staunch Israel
supporter, then went on to falsely claim that Sanders supported the
Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against
Israel and had “slandered” AIPAC conference after he refused to attend, saying
it was a platform for leaders who “express bigotry”.middleeastmonitor
Tunisia and Jordan discuss unifying Arab positions on Palestinian issue
Tunisian Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi discussed with his
Jordanian counterpart, Atef Tarawneh, Monday, the unification of Arab positions
on the Palestinian issue, and bilateral cooperation between the two countries
in all fields.“Jordan is of great importance as it represents the first line of
defence of the central cause of the nation, which is the Palestine and
Jerusalem cause,” Ghannouchi said in a joint press conference with the
Jordanian parliament speaker, after the meeting held today at the Tunisian
parliament. Ghannouchi added: “We discussed with the Jordanian delegation
several files to develop cooperation between the two countries at the
parliamentary level and joint committees and the economic and political level
and at all levels, in addition to the Palestinian issue.”
Ghannouchi praises parliament endorsement of Fakhfakh government
Tunisian Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi praised the results of the
vote obtained by the new government saying that the fact that the government of
Elyes Fakhfakh won the confidence of 129 deputies is an honourable result given
the tensions taking place in the political field.Ghannouchi indicated that
there was a fear that the new government would not obtain the required votes,
but it had exceeded expectations.He mentioned the government contract document
and mentioned that the Prime Minister has indicated that his priorities are
mainly social.Head of Ennahda movement and speaker of the Tunisian Parliament
stressed that tension is a constant aspect of politics, except that our country
manages politics by political means rather than military and secretive
means.middleeastmonitor
Egypt court sentences former army officer and 36 others to death
An Egyptian criminal court today sentenced to death a former Egyptian
military officer, who defected from the army and joined jihadists, along with
36 other militants, for their alleged responsibility for a number of terrorist
attacks in the country.Hisham Ashmawi and other defendants were convicted of 54
charges after carrying out several terror attacks including assassinations of
policemen, according to local media.The ruling comes after the defendants’ case
was referred to the Grand Mufti, Egypt’s highest Islamic religious authority.
Under Egyptian law, death sentences must be referred to the Mufti before they
are officially issued, although the Mufti’s opinion is not
binding.middleeastmonitor
Iran's enriched uranium stocks 5 times over nuke deal limit: IAEA
Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is more than 5 times the limit
fixed under a landmark 2015 deal with world powers, UN nuclear watchdog said on
Tuesday.An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report said as of February
19, 2020, the Iranian stockpile stood at 1,510 kilogrammes, as opposed to the
300kg limit set under the agreement.Some analysts consider this level could
provide sufficient material to produce a nuclear weapon. However, it would
still need several more steps, including further enrichment, to make it
suitable for use in an atomic bomb.Al Jazeera
UN: Syrian regime committed war crimes
Syria’s Assad regime committed war crimes attacking medical facilities
around the Idlib de-escalation zone, the United Nations Commission into Syria
said on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.“In attacking medical facilities,
pro-government forces repeatedly committed the war crime of deliberately
attacking protected objects and intentionally attacking medical personnel,”
said UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria at the launch of its newest report at a
press conference.The commission also said it has “reasonable grounds” to
believe that Russian aircraft participated in bombing incidents around August
last year.“Russian Air Force did not direct the attacks at a specific military
objective, amounting to the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks in
civilian areas.”middleeastmonitor
Syria opposition recapture Jabal Al-Zawiya in Idlib
Syrian opposition retook the Jabal Al-Zawiya area of the south-eastern
countryside of the governorate of Idlib, Anadolu reported.Sources from the
opposition told Anadolu that their brigades pushed the Syrian regime army from
a number of villages in the area, recapturing the entire region.During three
days of fighting, the opposition forces controlled 12 villages in the Idlib
governorate.Jabal Al-Zawiya is an important area because it is the gate of the
M4 highway which connects the city of Aleppo with Latakia.middleeastmonitor
EU says Turkey in tough situation with migrants but must not let them
into Europe
European Union’s chief executive, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed
sympathy with Turkey over the conflict in Syria on Monday but said it was
impermissible for Ankara to let refugees and migrants on its territory cross
into Europe, Reuters reports.Greek police clashed over the weekend with
thousands of migrants seeking to enter the EU from Turkey, which has kept a lid
on migration from the Middle East into Europe since 2016 in exchange for funds
to help refugees.“I acknowledge that Turkey is in a difficult situation with
regards to the refugees and the migrants. But what we see now cannot be an
answer or solution,” she told a news conference.middleeastmonitor
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) deal, 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
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 Delhi Police Did Nothing to Stop Attacks on Muslims: Hartosh Singh
Bal,nytimes
Welcome to India’s rent-a-diplomat Kashmir tours, where the truth is on
holiday:Mirza Waheed, the guardian
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
Police Should Have Stopped Kapil Mishra From Making Inflammatory
Remarks: former Delhi police commissioner Ajay Raj Sharma
How Muslim ghettos came about in Delhi:Atikh Rashid
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released
at: 8:18 PM).
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment