04 March 2020:
08 Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 148
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
India suffers 'alarming' decline in civil liberties, discriminatory
citizenship law, suppression of anti-CAA protests, Kashmir ranked 'not free':
Freedom Report
New Delhi:In the latest edition of Freedom in the World, an annual
report published by pro-democracy nonprofit Freedom House, India has suffered
the largest decline in its political rights and civil liberties score among 25
most populous democracies because of Narendra Modi govt’s “alarming departures
from democratic norms,” while Kashmir’s status has declined from “Partly Free”
to “Not Free.”This 2020 report gives a damning assessment of Modi govt’s
“pattern of Hindu nationalist policies,” including the persecution of religious
minorities, abruptly revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, adoption of CAA,
which it calls a “discriminatory citizenship law,” and “aggressive” suppression
of anti-CAA protests that followed. 195 countries are ranked out of 100 using
25 indicators within seven categories:electoral processes, political processes
and pluralism, functioning of government, freedom of expression and belief,
association and organisational rights,
rule of law, personal autonomy and individual rights. India, which is ranked
‘Free,’ dropped from 75/100 in 2019 to 71 in 2020. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka are ranked 38, 39 and 58 respectively. China is ranked 10. “Indian govt
has taken its Hindu nationalist agenda to a new level with a succession of
policies that abrogate the rights of different segments of its Muslim
population, threatening the democratic future of a country long seen as a
potential bulwark of freedom in Asia and the world,” Sarah Repucci, Freedom
House’s Senior Director of Research and Analysis, writes in the report. On
Kashmir, the score declined in 14 of the 25 categories on which the ranking is
based. It was zero in categories like freedom of assembly and whether people
are able to make free political choices. On whether Kashmir has an independent
judiciary, the report said, “Courts are politicised and act as an extension of
Indian executive and military authority. The government and security forces
frequently disregard court orders.”Kashmir, the report said, “experienced one
of the largest single-year score declines of the past 10 years in Freedom in
the World, and its freedom status dropped to Not Free.”The report also mentions
the implementation of NRC in Assam as an example of the Modi govt’s Hindu
nationalist policies.In addition to NRC, CAA and the suppression of protests,
the report says there is rising intimidation in the academic space and
educational system, with the government aiming to control the discussion of
politically sensitive topics.huffingtonpost
Report on democracy
setbacks singles out US, India
‘Adjournment for a month unjustified’: SC asks High Court to hear Delhi
riots pleas on Friday
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the
Delhi High Court to hear matters related to the northeast Delhi violence on
March 6 while observing that the one-month adjournment by the HC was
“unjustified”.CJI SA Bobde, heading a bench that also comprised Justices BR
Gavai and Surya Kant, requested the Delhi High Court to deal with the matter
expeditiously while asking it to explore the possibility of peaceful resolution
of the dispute. “We think that adjournment (in Delhi HC) of such a long period
is unjustified. We also do not want to assume jurisdiction when HC is seized of
the matter. All other connected matters in the same subject which have been
adjourned to a later date may be advanced and taken up along with this matter,”
CJI Bobde said.Replying to CJI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the
situation was not conducive. “We have received 7000 videos. We said right now
the situation is not proper. We will when the situation is conducive,” Mehta
said.“We don’t think that violence can be curbed by court orders. In an
injunction, there are specific people. But in a matter like this, there are not
specified people,” CJI Bobde shot back.Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, who is
representing the petitioners, said there would have been no riots had the “main
persons” been jailed while referring to alleged hate speeches made by BJP
leaders.“We also have some experience of riots. Your statement is not
absolutely true. Sometimes when you catch leaders and jail them, it flares up,”
CJI said, citing Mumbai riots. On Feb.27, while hearing a plea seeking
registration of FIRs against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh,
and Kapil Mishra and others for allegedly making provocative statements that
sparked mob attacks in northeast Delhi, Delhi HC had adjourned the hearing to
April 13.indianexpress
Won’t hear activist Harsh Mander until he clarifies his alleged ‘justice
on street’ remark: SC
During a hearing of a petition against hate speech by BJP leaders in
Delhi, the Supreme Court Wednesday asked activist Harsh Mander if he had made
remarks against the top court. The court said it won’t hear him unless he
clarifies on the matter. Mander’s counsel, however, denied that he made any
such statement. The apex court’s reaction came after a video of Mander speech
went viral in which he is allegedly saying “there is no trust left in the
courts and that ultimate justice has to be on the streets”.Mander had filed a
petition seeking registration of FIRs against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag
Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh and Abhay Verma for their alleged hate speeches in
the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections.The top court declined to hear
Mander’s petition after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta produced transcripts of
his reported speech at Jamia.“Many have violated the majesty of law. Are you
also one of them? Chief Justice of India SA Bobde asked Mander’s lawyer Karuna
Nundy as the Supreme Court made it clear that he won’t be heard today.indianexpress
Harsh Mander also made hate speech, Solicitor General claims at SC
Hearing on FIR against Mishra
Delhi violence: High Court dismisses plea against AAP govt’s
compensation to victims
Delhi High Court today dismissed a petition
challenging AAP’s decision to provide compensation to two victims of the
violence that rocked the national Capital last week, PTI reported. “The
compensation is being awarded on a no fault basis,” a bench of Justices DN
Patel and C Hari Shankar said. “There is nothing wrong with it.” The court
added that it cannot interfere because providing the compensation is a policy
decision of AAP govt. However, it asked the state to ensure that compensation
is paid only to the victims of the riots.scroll
Delhi Riots: Tahir Hussain Moves Court For Anticipatory Bail As Police
Flip-Flops On His Rescue
As Delhi Police went back and forth on whether it had rescued Tahir
Hussain during the riots last week, the suspended AAP councillor on Tuesday
moved a Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail in the case lodged in connection
with alleged killing of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma.On Tuesday,
Delhi Police ACP Ajit Singla had said at press conference that Hussain had been
rescued, corroborating the statements made by the councillor last week.“On the
intervening night of Feb.24-25 some people told us that a councillor was stuck
and feeling insecure, he was then rescued from the lane,” Singla said.Hours
later, the police issued a statement, saying “Tahir Hussain did not require
rescuing”. “He was named as accused... upon recovery of the body of Shri Ankit
Sharma. His house was searched and he was found absconding. Efforts are being
made to arrest him,” the statement said, according to NDTV.Hussain has denied
any involvement in Ankit Sharma’s death after the IB employee’s family alleged
that his supporters were involved in the case.Delhi police has named Hussain as
an accused in the case, charging him with murder, rioting and arson.Today, a
Delhi court deferred the hearing on the anticipatory bail plea of Hussain, who
is currently absconding, in connection with an FIR lodged against him.
Delhi violence was well-planned, outsiders were brought in as part of
conspiracy: Delhi Minorities Commission
Delhi Minorities Commission has alleged that last week’s communal
violence in North East Delhi was well-planned and one-sided, The Hindu
reported. The commission made the remark in an assessment report after visiting
the affected areas. “We have said that
the violence was one-sided as that’s what we felt from what people told us,”
Zafarul-Islam Khan, the commission’s chairperson, told the newspaper. “They
said that it was not possible for outsiders to pinpoint shops and houses owned
by Muslims. So there had to be insiders who were helping the outsiders.”Khan
told The Wire that nearly 1,500 to 2,000 outsiders were brought to North East
Delhi and most of them were kept in schools for nearly 24 hours before
launching the attacks as part of a planned conspiracy. He claimed it had now
been established that police presence was minimal on Feb.24 and Feb.25, when
most of the violence took place.“Our revelation is that this was planned
violence,” Khan told the news website. “For this people had been brought from
outside. It is for the police and intelligence to find from where they had
come.”Khan alleged that the police did not “save anything” and instead “allowed
properties and people to be burned, allowed the rioters to damage houses and
even to blast them”. “It was only after 2 days that the police became active,”
he said. “The violence lessened on Feb.26 and ended the following day. Police
will have to answer for its acts – there are no two ways about this.”According
to The Hindu, the commission said it had found extensive damage to Muslim homes
and shops everywhere its delegation went.The commission also said that
compensation announced by the Delhi government was inadequate and should be
doubled. Khan said a fact-finding committee would be formed, comprising
journalists, human rights activists and civil society members.scroll
Over 2,000 Outsiders Occupied Two Schools to Carry out Delhi Riots, Says
State Minorities Panel Report
Delhi riots international conspiracy, CIA & NIA should investigate:
National Minority panel member
NIA and CIA should jointly investigate the Delhi communal riots that
killed over 45 people, a member of National Commission of Minorities, Atif
Rasheed, has said, suggesting an international conspiracy. He was part of the
NCM delegation that visited the riots-affected areas in Delhi and had met the
injured in hospitals on 29 Feb.“This is a well-organised crime but it will be
wrong to call it communal riots. I think there is a possibility of
international links and the timing is suspect,” Rasheed, who is also BJP leader,
told ThePrint.
UNHCHR plea may leave India embarrassed on global platforms over CAA:
experts
New Delhi: CAA continues to be a bane for India on the global stage with
the latest embarrassment coming in the form of an intervention plea filed by
UNHCHR in the Supreme Court.According to experts and foreign diplomats, the
move will result in a major loss of face for India at the global stage. “Since
Parliament passed CAA, there have been a host of leaders and organisations that
have spoken out against it calling it discriminatory. Even internally, the
government has faced backlash from citizens in the form of protests,” a senior
researcher at the Indian Council for World Affairs said.“The government has
been trying to explain to the world that CAA is in people’s best interest but
the loss of face the Centre is facing due to it is something which it was not
prepared for. Now with the UN human rights body also expressing concern over
CAA, India will have to answer a lot of questions on the global platform,” Ajit
Singh, a research scholar at the Institute of Conflict Management said.A former
ambassador to China said, “At the global level, India is known to uphold values
of human rights and is often cited as an example. But with UNHCHR’s concerns,
India’s image will definitely take a beating.” newindianexpress
UK expresses concern over
potential impact of CAA
London:UK government has reiterated its concern over the potential
impact of CAA and said it is continuing to follow the events in India
closely.In response to an urgent question on “Recent Violence in India” tabled
by Pakistani-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Khalid Mahmood in House of
Commons on Tuesday, UK’s Minister of State in Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(FCO) Nigel Adams said UK engages with India at all levels, including on human rights,
and also referred to the country’s “proud history” of inclusive government and
religious tolerance.“UK government also have concerns about the potential
impact of the legislation (CAA),” said Adams, Minister for Asia who was
standing in for UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is on a visit to
Turkey.“It is because of our close relationship with the government of India
that we are able to discuss difficult issues with them and make clear our
concerns where we have them, including on the rights of minorities. We will
continue to follow events closely and to raise our concerns when we have with
them,” said minister.While Mahmood, who had tabled the urgent question for an
FCO statement, described the govt response as “facile”, another Pakistani-origin
MP Nusrat Ghani called on the government to relay UK Parliament’s concerns to
the Indian authorities.British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said the
violence had brought back “painful personal memories” from the 1984 Sikh riots
while he was studying in India and fellow Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill also
referenced 1984 in her intervention. Other MPs sought to highlight the steps
taken by the Indian authorities to restore “peace and tranquillity” in
Delhi.PTI
Iranians in Tehran stage protest against “massacre of Indian Muslims”
TEHRAN:A group of Iranians, including university students, rallied in
front of the Indian embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, to protest against the brutal
violence against Muslims in India and the global media's silence over the
ongoing crisis.The protesters voiced their deep concern over what is happening
in India and the recent eruption of violence against Muslims in the country.
The protesters urged India government to respond about its anti-Muslim
measures.mehrnews
In UP's Bulandshahr, 2 Muslim Men Thrashed On Video, Allegedly Over
Delhi Violence
Bulandshahr: 2 Muslim men were brutally assaulted in western Uttar
Pradesh's Bulandshahr district on Monday. One of the men who was assaulted has
also claimed the attackers abused them with religious slurs and accused them of
cow slaughter. They were also threatened acid attacks, he further alleged.In
shocking videos that emerged online today, a group of 6 to 7 men can be seen
surrounding the two victims and repeatedly kicking and punching them, even as
they cry out in pain and beg for mercy; at one point one of the attackers, a
man wearing yellow pants and an orange jacket, grabs a lathi and attacks a man
cowering near the rear wheel of a silver car parked by the side of the
road.Continuing to beg for mercy and addressing their attackers as
"bhai" (brother), the two men then back up against the car, where
they are fenced in and threatened with more violence.It is unclear who shot the
video of the attack, in which some other men can be seen sitting on motorcycles
and casually observing the horrific assault. "We were on our way to the
market to buy carrots...you can ask the store. They (attackers) parked bikes in
front of us and dragged us away. There were around 6 or 7 men. They asked us,
"You think this is Delhi?" one of the men told reporters after the
attack.He also said that his friend and he had been dragged to a location where
others were waiting with chains and weapons."We had nothing to do with the
Delhi violence," he said, adding, "We're all brothers here".ndtv
Over 1,000 riot-affected people moved to Delhi’s Mustafabad relief camp
since Monday; helpdesks set up to assist with compensation claims
New Delhi: Over a 1,000 riot-affected people moved into a Delhi
government's relief camp in Mustafabad in the past 24 hours and they are being
provided with all basic facilities, officials said on Tuesday.According to a
statement, the relief camp has witnessed a massive response from the
riot-affected victims from the adjacent areas.In this camp, the Delhi govt has
set up all the essential facilities and providing doctors, medicines, food,
clothing, bedding and toilet facilities, the statement said. "To provide
medical treatment to the victims, the Delhi government and various NGOs have
set up medical help desks with doctors and a full stock of medicines," it
stated."Over a 1,000 people moved to this Mustafabad relief camp in the last
24 hours from the areas like Shivpuri, Mustafabad and Karawal Nagar," it
stated.PTI
Cops told us to throw stones towards Muslims, says resident who took
part in communal violence
Members of the Hindu mob have confessed that Delhi Police has helped
them pick stones and throw them towards Muslims, reveals video evidence
released by BBC.“We did not have enough stones here, so the police brought some
and told us to throw them,” said Himanshu Rathor in the video.The video also
details incidents of violence by the cops against the
Muslims.nationalheraldindia
Delhi Police Contradicts Its ACP's Claim, Says Tahir Hussain Lied About
Being Rescued
Delhi Man in Viral Clash Image Angry with IS Exploiting Crisis for
Revenge:news18
As Mohammad Zubair sits nursing his head injuries and swelling on his
hands and feet caused during the recent Delhi riots, his face breaks into a
smile on seeing guests pouring in to enquire about his health.The only time he
frowns is when he is informed about how his viral image is being used by the
Islamic State to establish itself in India. He has no idea how to deal with
it."'Zulm hai yeh hum par' (this is cruelty on me)," says Zubair, who
is recovering at his relative's place in Delhi's Inderlok. Hitting out at the
terror group for sharing his image and calling for retaliatory action in
'Wilayat Al Hind' (province in India), Zubair sought to be left alone at this
hour of crisis.An image of Zubair has been widely circulated in which he is
seen bowing down helplessly as a mob using stumps, swords and rods rages at him
at Bhajanpura market in northeast Delhi that witnessed one of the worst
communal riots in decades.He says the photo has become synonymous with Delhi
riots, but he feels as much helpless with what IS is trying to do with the
same.news18
Parliament proceedings adjourned for the day amid ruckus over Delhi
violence
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Wednesday after witnessing
an uproar from the Opposition over the Delhi violence. The government on
Tuesday said it was ready for a discussion on the communal violence in Delhi in
both Houses after Holi. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha
Ghulam Nabi Azad and his deputy Anand Sharma gave suspension of business notice
under Rule 267 over Delhi violence. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien
also gave suspension notice to discuss the “healing needed after deaths in
Delhi”.scroll
Assam: Gauhati High Court sets aside Foreigners’ Tribunal order, calls
it ‘a perversity’
Gauhati High Court has set aside an order by a Foreigners’ Tribunal in
Jorhat district of Assam that declared a 65-year-old man foreigner, stating
that proof beyond all reasonable doubts is not required for establishing one’s
citizenship, Indian Express reported. The court made the observation while
delivering the verdict on a writ petition filed by Mohammad Iddrish Ali
challenging the order passed by the Foreigners’ Tribunal.
Delhi violence: Congress team makes first visit, Rahul Gandhi says hate
won’t benefit anyone
A Congress delegation led by former party chief Rahul Gandhi visited
North East Delhi on Wednesday to assess the damage caused by last week’s
communal violence, PTI reported. The delegation, whose first visit came six
days after the violence died down, went to a school that was burnt and a nearby
mosque in Brijpuri locality. Gandhi said India was being divided and no one was
benefiting from this. He said hate and violence were enemies of development and
had destroyed the school that was to be the future of India. “Violence benefits
no one, it only harms people and Bharat Mata,” he said. “Everybody has to work
together and take India forward at this time,” Gandhi added, according to ANI.
The delegation included party leaders KC Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, K
Suresh, Mukul Wasnik, Kumari Selja, Gaurav Gogoi and Randeep Surjewala.scroll
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR
stir*
200 New Foreigners Tribunals In Assam To Hear Pending Cases Till NRC
Appeals Start
After six months of no work since they were appointed, the members of
the 200 new Foreigners Tribunals in Assam will be soon disposing off the
pending cases till the process of National Register of Citizens appeals starts,
a state government official said. The Ministry of Home Affairs has given its
nod to the state government’s proposal.“We have got the approval from the
Ministry of Home Affairs,” said a senior state government official referring to
the state’s request that members who were appointed to lead the 200 new FTs
should be allotted the pending cases since NRC appeals are yet to start. These
members had no work since September 2019, when they were appointed.The state government
is also expected to shortly appoint around 1,600 additional employees for the
new FTs who have already been selected.The existing 100 FTs have around 1.3
lakh pending cases, some of which are expected to be allotted to the new
tribunals till the NRC appeals process starts.“MHA communicated its endorsement
to our proposal on Thursday. We will soon write to the Special DGP (Border) to
distribute the pending cases in foreigners tribunals among the new members so
that they start work,” said a second state government official.outlookindia
From March 20, those 'excluded from NRC', will start getting 'rejection
slips' along with 'cause of exclusion'
Gauhati HC Comes to Rescue of Man Declared 'Foreigner' in Spite of
Inclusion in 2 Voters' Lists
Gauhati high court has denounced as ‘perversity’ an order by a
Foreigners’ Tribunal in Assam’s Jorhat, which had ruled that a man whose name
had appeared in voters’ lists of 1985 and 1989 was a foreigner.In its report,
The Indian Express has noted Mohammad Iddrish Ali, who has been in a Jorhat
detention camp since September 21, 2019, had submitted 11 documents to the
foreigners’ tribunal. These included the voters’ lists of the above two years,
which bore his name, along with those of 1965 and 1970, which had his father
and uncle’s names.However, the court had not been convinced and had pointed out
that if Ali had been born in 1953, as he has claimed, then his name should have
appeared in the 1975 voters’ list.“We have no doubt that the Tribunal has
committed an error while appreciating Exhibits 6 & 7 [voters’ lists of 1985
and ‘89],” Gauhati high court Justices Manojit Bhuyan and P.J. Saikia said in
their order.Ali can now apply for bail.Ali reportedly, is originally a resident
of Nagaon village but moved to Golaghat with his family after a flood submerged
the Dhing village in 1983.Being declared a D-voter is a common action preceding
the final act of detention by a Foreigners’ Tribunal. The process itself is
mired in arbitrary decisions. In many cases, like Ali’s, the particular
geography of the Brahmaputra Valley makes it impossible for residents to prove
their citizenship considering that their homes are inundated by floods often.
Gauhati High Court sets aside Tribunal order on ‘foreigner’, calls it
‘perversity’
Gujarat: Petition in HC after police deny permission to anti-CAA protest
Ahmedabad:Gujarat chapter of Association of Protection of Civil Rights
(APCR) moved a petition in Gujarat High Court (HC) last month after the
Limbayat police station denied permission to hold public meeting “to protest
against CAA, NRC and NPR…” at a private property twice last month.The petition
further claims that while the petitioner is otherwise not required to seek any
permission from the police as the public meeting is at a private place and usage
of loudspeakers is allowed between 6 am and 10 pm, the association was
constrained to obtain police permission after “…police inspector of Limbayat
police station threatened the petitioners with shutting down of the public
meeting…”The petition has submitted that the police’s reasoning for rejection
of their first application dated Jan.28, was on the ground of alleged stone
pelting in the area of Limbayat during the nationwide strike against CAA on
Jan.29. The rejection had come on Jan.30. A second application for permission
was moved on Feb.5, which too was rejected on Feb.8, citing the same ground of
alleged stone-pelting.ACPR comprises advocates and members of the civil
society. Bharatiya Yuva Morcha, the second petitioner, is an affiliated wing of
Bharat Mukti Morcha with youth and student members.The petition has also
submitted that police stations under jurisdiction of Surat Police Commissioner
has been denying permissions to hold public meetings and protests, particularly
if the said meeting or protest is for withdrawal of CAA-NRC-NPR. The matter is
now expected to be heard next on April 8.Meanwhile, another group of women have
also started staging a protest in Amlipura area in Rander for the last few
days. As number of protesters grew, a tent has been put up by the
organisers.indianexpress
Anti-CAA protesters allege harassment by Delhi police once again
In another incident of the unruly behaviour of Delhi Police, several
activists of All India Railway Apprentice Association were allegedly detained
and assaulted by Delhi Police as they came to participate in a march against
CAA, NRC, NPR on Tuesday. The call for the march was given by a group of
organisations against the Citizenship Act called Young India.Former President
of Jawahar Lal Nehru University and AISA National President N Sai Balaji said,
“Delhi Police had detained around 500 activists, assaulted and kept without
phone yesterday when they came to participate in the Young India march from
Ramlila Maidan. Ashish Mishra, their convenor's phone was taken away. They were
arrested not from Ramlila but from Jantar Mantar. We couldn't contact them
throughout the day. We got to know about their whereabouts only when they got
released in the night.” He tweeted about it too. Ashish Mishra, convenor of All
India Railway Apprentice Association said, “ we were detained from New Delhi
railway station at 9 am. We were subjected to unruly behaviour and our phones
were seized. We were first taken to Parliament Street police station and then
later on to the one at Barakhamba Road. We were only freed by 11 pm in the
night.”nationalheraldindia
At Delhi's Anti-CAA Sit-In Protests, Women Continue Their Struggle
New Delhi: Despite the riots across North East Delhi last week –
triggered by Hindutva mobs wanting to ‘clear’ anti-CAA sit-in protests –
protesters in other parts of the city are standing their ground.“We will keep
sitting here till CAA and NRC are withdrawn,” a protestor at Shaheen Bagh told
The Wire.Early last week, as the policed ‘cleared’ the sit-in at Khureji Khas,
women’s groups called for people to show up in large numbers to protect the
remaining sites. On Feb. 26, The Wire sensed confusion at Shaheen Bagh, as one
protestor said, “Today is the last day here”, but another refuted the same
claim by saying, “No, our protest will continue undeterred.”Literally
translating to the reservoir of the queen, Hauz Rani sit-in protest started in
the last week of Jan. Right from the very beginning, women here have stood firm
against police threats in Hauz Rani’s Gandhi Park. Situated on the road across
Max Hospital, Gandhi Park carries a poster of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.One of the
protestors, said, “This dark law that they have brought in (referring to CAA),
what was the need to bring it? We just want that our prime minister withdraw
this law…We are protesting peacefully, please let us. And if you have so much
trouble with it, then withdraw it, and we will all go back to our respective
houses…Why does RSS keep demanding that we must go back to Pakistan? Why will
we go to Pakistan? If we wanted to go, we would have left with Jinnah. India is
our birth place. We will live here and die here. We will not move from here.
You need to stop dreaming that Muslims will leave India. Modi Ji, stop seeing
this dream. Let the country function according to the constitution.”thewire
Supreme Court interlocutors urge Shaheen Bagh activists for Holi gift
Supreme Court-appointed interlocutors Sanjay Hegde and Sadhna
Ramachandran on Tuesday visited the Shaheen Bagh protest site to initiate
second round of talks with protestors.Indirectly urging protestors to clear the
protest site by Holi, the interlocutor said, "We expect our sisters will
send love to India on the occasion of Holi from Shaheen Bagh. Sisters can give
Holi gift in advance. We will celebrate Holi this month. We will hug each other
on Holi."IANS
* Coronavirus*
Coronavirus outbreak in India: Cases rise to 28, Health Minister says
27,000 people under surveillance
With 22 more novel coronavirus cases confirmed in the country on
Wednesday, taking the total number of infections to 28 so far, Union Minister
Prakash Javadekar said the government was proactively engaged in dealing with
COVID-19 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring situation daily.Giving
a breakdown of the number of cases, Union Health Minister Harsh Vadhan said, “A
total of 28 COVID-19 cases have been detected in India so far. Among them, one
person was from Delhi, 6 of his relatives in Agra, 16 Italians and their Indian
driver, one in Telangana and 3 earlier cases in Kerala.” Vardhan also said
27,000 people had been placed under community surveillance. Over 3,000 people
have died of coronavirus worldwide, while some 90,000 people have been
infected.Meanwhile, responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State
for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said 17 Indians had been infected with
coronavirus abroad — 16 cases were reported from Japan on the cruise ship and
one from UAE. indian express
Coronavirus: Modi announces he will not participate in Holi events to
avoid spread of infection
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he will not participate in Holi
events this year in light of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The number
of cases of the deadly virus in India rose to 28 on Tuesday, the health
minister said.“Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings
to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus,” Modi tweeted. “Hence, this
year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.”scroll
"No Holi Gatherings At Rashtrapati Bhavan": President Kovind
Amid Coronavirus Scare
New Delhi: Amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak that has gripped
countries worldwide including India, President Ram Nath Kovind has announced
that as a precautionary measure Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the
traditional Holi gatherings this year. Holi, the festival of colours, will be
celebrated on March 10.ndtv
‘Centre creating hype around coronavirus to divert attention from Delhi
riots’: Mamata
Kolkata: BJP-led Union government is creating hype around novel
coronavirus to divert attention from the Delhi riots, West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed while addressing a gathering of party workers
on Wednesday. “No one knows how many actually died (in Delhi riots). And to
make people forget the real ‘corona’ (the virus), they are using the TV
(channels) to create a hype around coronavirus. So that people do not ask how
so many people died and how would there would be justice?” Banerjee said in
Malda district.“They demand probes by CBI
when a rat bites a person in Bengal. And here there is no judicial
inquiry even after so many people were murdered. We demand a judicial probe to
be led by a Supreme Court judge,” she said.HT
Iran toll rises to 92 as global outbreak deepens
Governments around the world are scrambling to contain the spread of
COVID-19, which is growing globally even as transmission in China, where the
virus originated at the end of last year, continues to show signs of slowing.There
are more than 93,000 cases around the world - the overwhelming majority in
China - but as deaths are reported in Italy, Iran and the United States,
authorities are considering new quarantine zones and travel restrictions.Friday
prayers in Iran have been canceled across all provincial capitals amid the
country's growing coronavirus outbreak, state television said. Friday is the
main congregational day of prayer in Islam, and traditionally an important
event for Iran's clerical rulers.The announcement comes as Tehran and other
areas canceled Friday prayers last week over the outbreak.aljazeera
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Social media curbs removed in J&K after 7 months
J&K administration today removed restrictions from social media
usage across Union Territory almost 7 months after a communication clampdown on
the eve of Centre’s August 5 announcement to scrap the special status of the
erstwhile state under Article 370. The
directions came after a review of the situation by J&K Home department. The
order, that was issued without the requisite whitelisted websites, stated that
internet access shall be available across Union Territory of J&K with speed
restricted to 2G and “these services shall not be made available on pre-paid
sim cards”. Additionally, for fixed-line internet, connectivity shall continue
to be made available “with mac-binding at unlimited speeds”.Internet services,
landline, and mobile phones were snapped across J&K on the eve of Centre’s
announcement last year to scrap the special status. From January, landlines,
postpaid mobile services, and internet facilities to essential services like
hospitals were restored in phases in Kashmir.indianexpress
J&K: Social media ban revoked after nearly seven months but 2G
internet speed remains
J&K HC quashes PSA detention of J&K Jamaat spokesman
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today quashed the detention order
of the chief spokesperson for Jamaat-e-Islami J&K Zahid Ali.The orders in
this regard were passed today by a single Bench of Justice Tashi Rabstan, which
was hearing a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of Jamaat
spokesman under Public Safety Act.Ali has been under police detention since of
Feb.22, 2019. In March 2019, he was ordered to be booked under PSA. Later on,
Zahid Ali challenged the detention before the High Court, which quashed the
orders.But he was not released and detained again under PSA by the authorities
concerned by passing a subsequent detention order against him, which has now
been set aside by the High Court, his counsel said.Jamaat spokesman was first
detained by the police during midnight raid from his residence in Feb.2019 and
was shifted to the Shergari police station in Srinagar. After a week he was
shifted to Geanderbal police station where from he was moved to Central Jail,
Srinagar, after being booked under PSA.The Tribune
J&K police asked to book ‘killer’ cough syrup maker
Jammu and Kashmir administration has directed
the police to register a case against the Himachal-based pharmaceutical company
whose cough syrup allegedly killed nine children in Udhampur district.Sources
said the move came after the administration Tuesday received a final lab report
confirming the presence of a deadly compound in ColdBest-PC syrup that caused
the deaths in Ramnagar area.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
SC removes ban on cryptocurrency trading in India
The Supreme Court has struck down a ban on trading of virtual currencies
(VC) in India, which was imposed by a Reserve Bank of India order in April
2018. The court in its 180-page judgment said that the ban proposed on trading
of virtual currencies was not proportionate and that RBI itself had not found
any adverse impact or harm done by the activities of these VC exchanges.The top
court allowed a batch of pleas challenging 2018 circular of RBI, which
prohibited banks and financial institutions from providing trading services
with relation to virtual currencies, which includes cryptocurrencies. Popular
forms of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum use blockchain technology
and operate independent of a central bank.RBI order had banned trading of all
virtual currencies in India. Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)
was the petitioner in this case on behalf of all the virtual currency trading
companies.“We welcome the SC verdict. The industry is looking forward to work
closely with the regulators including RBI to mitigate all possible risks
related to virtual currencies and foster the growth of these game changing
innovations,”Naveen Surya, Chairman, Fintech Convergence Council of IAMAI
said.“We have allowed writ petitions,” a bench headed by Justice R F Nariman
said while pronouncing the verdict, noted PTI.In the judgment, the bench noted,
“While we have recognised elsewhere in this order, the power of RBI to take a
pre-emptive action, we are testing in this part of the order the
proportionality of such measure, for the determination of which RBI needs to
show at least some semblance of any damage suffered by its regulated
entities.”According to the judgment, RBI’s circular was not proportionate. It
also pointed out the contradiction in the RBI’s stand where it insisted that
virtual currencies are not banned in India, but the circular had then gone on
to ban all trading around them.indianexpress
NRIs Can Now Own 100% In Air India Via Automatic Route
The government on Wednesday permitted NRIs to acquire up to 100 per cent
stake in disinvestment-bound Air India through the automatic route. Briefing
the media, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Cabinet has approved the
decision to raise the limit for NRIs to own stakes in the public carrier from
the current 49 per cent."Regarding the strategic sale of Air India, NRIs
can now acquire 100 per cent stake in the airlines. Earlier it was 49 per
cent," he said.The decision comes at a time when the government is looking
to sell 100 per cent stake in the national carrier and has set a 17 March
deadline for submitting bids.ndtv
Coronavirus impact: Oil at $50/barrel may cut India’s import bill by $17
billion in FY21
India’s crude import bill may decline by a massive $17 billion or 17%
year-on-year in FY21 if the Indian basket price remains subdued around the
current level of $50/barrel through the next fiscal, in what could give a big
relief to the country’s current account.The price of the Indian crude oil
basket, which stood at $64 per barrel in January, dropped to $55 in February.
Brent crude oil prices rose on Monday, reversing a drop to multi-year lows last
week, as hopes of a deeper cut in output by Opec and central bank stimulus
countered worries about damage to demand from the spread of coronavirus. According
to an FE analysis, the imports may fall to $84 billion in FY21, against $101
billion this fiscal, if the price of domestic crude basket averages $50 per
barrel. Similarly, the fall in imports may be to the tune of $25 billion in
FY21 to $76 billion, if the price crashes to $45 per barrel. In case, prices again
inch up and touch $55 a barrel, the import bill may drop by just $8 billion
next year.financialexpress
Rs 446.52 Crore Spent on PM Modi's Foreign Visits in Last Five Year, Lok
Sabha Informed
An expenditure of Rs 446.52 crore has been incurred on the foreign
visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last 5 year, Ministry of External
Affairs said today. Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State
for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the expenditure includes cost of
chartered flights.According to the data given by him, a cost of Rs 121.85 crore
was incurred in 2015-16 while an expenditure of Rs 78.52 crore was incurred in
2016-17.PTI
UP cancels 1,300
appointments by SP govt
Lucknow:Citing “irregularities” in selection process, BJP govt in Uttar
Pradesh has cancelled the appointment of 1,300 people, who were recruited under
Samajwadi Party’s tenure in various posts of UP Jal Nigam Department.1,300
appointees include 853 junior engineers, 122 assistant engineers and 325
clerks.Jailed SP MP from Rampur, Azam Khan, was Minister for Jal Nigam during
2016-17 when the recruitments were made. Vikas Gothalwal, MD of UP Jal Nigam,
said the appointments were cancelled based on different inquiry reports,
including that of SIT formed by the incumbent govt in 2017 to investigate
alleged corruption in the recruitment process during the previous govt’s rule.
Sources said SIT found that due selection process was not followed and sought
permission to chargesheet Azam Khan, then managing director and then chief
engineer of Jal Nigam and a private firm, which was hired to conduct the
recruitment exams.indianexpress
Uttar Pradesh: Court rejects bail pleas of Azam Khan, his wife and son
A local court here rejected the bail applications of Rampur MP Azam
Khan, his MLA wife Tazeen Fatima and son Abdullah Azam Khan in a case related
to the alleged forgery of Abdullah’s birth certificate.Additional Advocate
General at Allahabad High Court, Vinod Diwakar, said the police also sought 10
days’ police custody of Azam, Tazeen and Abdullah for interrogation in a case
related to embezzlement of Enemy Property in Rampur.“In the double birth
certificate case, their bail was rejected by the court Tuesday. They will
continue to stay in jail. In the Enemy Property case, we have also submitted an
application seeking custody remand of Azam, his wife and son for 10 days… The
police wanted to question the trio in the case. The court has set the date for
hearing on the application for remand on March 7,” said Diwakar, who was
present in the Rampur court for the hearing on Tuesday.indianexpress
Uttar Pradesh Congress slams Akhilesh for ‘abandoning’ Azam Khan
A day after Mohd Azam Khan's brother-in-law Zameer Ahmad Khan said that
the former was upset with his Samajwadi Party (SP) for not supporting him in
his hour of crisis, Congress has stepped in to corner SP for 'abandoning' their
leader.Uttar Pradesh Congress minority cell president Shahnawaz Alam has said
that by not standing in support of Azam Khan, the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has
sent out clear signals about his future politics."It is shameful that a
leader who has given thirty years of his life to a party is being isolated in
this manner. If the SP cannot stand behind one of its tallest leaders, then how
can the party be expected to protect the minorities who are often implicated in
false criminal cases?"IANS
Kuldeep Sengar Held Guilty For Death Of Unnao Rape Survivor's Father In
Police Custody
Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar who is facing life imprisonment for the
rape of a woman in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao has now been held guilty by a Delhi
court for the custodial death of the survivor’s father. ANI reported that the
Tis Hazari court held seven accused in the case guilty, while acquitting four
others. Unnao rape case saw a new twist when the car in which the survivor, her
mother and an aunt were travelling in was hit by a truck with covered number
plates in July 2019. The survivor, who fought for her life in hospital, had
accused Sengar of rape and the family had said that Sengar had use every method
of intimidation after she had accused him. huffingtonpost
‘All legal remedies exhausted’: Delhi govt seeks fresh death warrant for
Dec 16 gangrape convicts
Delhi government today moved a city court seeking a fresh date for the
execution of 4 convicts in Dec.16, 2012 gangrape-murder case.The move came
hours after President Ram Nath Kovind dismissed mercy petition of Pawan Gupta,
one of the convicts in the case. Delhi govt, while moving the court, stated
that convicts have exhausted all of their legal remedies.On Monday, a Delhi
court had deferred the hanging of 4 death row convicts pending disposal of
Gupta’s mercy plea. The convicts—Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Gupta (25), Vinay
Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) —were to be hanged together on
March 3 at 6 am. This was the third time the death warrants were stayed by the
court.On the same day, the Supreme Court had rejected Pawan’s curative petition
challenging the rejection of his review petition against the death sentence
awarded to him. Gupta was the only one among the convicts who had not filed a
curative petition. The curative petitions filed by the other three were already
dismissed.indianexpress
Nirbhaya Case: President Kovind Rejects Mercy Petition of Convict Pawan
Gupta
2012 Delhi gangrape: High Court rejects plea seeking direction to NHRC
to check convicts’ health
Delhi High Court today declined to hear a plea seeking direction to NHRC
to assess the mental and physical health of 4 convicts in 2012 Delhi gangrape
and murder case, PTI reported. A bench comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and
Justice C Hari Shankar said the plea was not maintainable because it was not
first moved by NHRC.scroll
MP: 4 MLAs ‘rescued’ from Haryana hotel, rest taken by BJP to Karnataka,
alleges Congress
Madhya Pradesh Congress media chief Shobha Oza today claimed that 4 out
of eight MLAs allegedly held hostage at a hotel in Gurugram, Haryana, were
“rescued” around midnight, The Hindu reported. This came a day after the
Congress claimed that its lawmakers were being forcefully kept at the hotel,
and accused BJP of being involved.“We have rescued four MLAs, including BSP’s
Rambai, the rest have now been taken by BJP to Karnataka,” Oza said. Out of the
eight legislators, 4 are part of the Congress, 2 from BSP, one from Samajwadi
Party, and the other is an Independent candidate.Oza claimed that senior
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh along with Madhya Pradesh’s Higher Education
Minister Jitu Patwari and Urban Development Minister Jaivardhan Singh had
reached the hotel in Gurugram’s Manesar town to meet MLAs but were not allowed
entry. However, they reportedly managed to rescue four MLAs. Videos of the
episode purportedly showed police in civilian clothes preventing BSP MLA Rambai
from exiting the hotel. Congress leader Jitu Patwari claimed that BJP had
offered Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore to his party’s MLAs, and added that they
found the lawmakers had been assaulted, reported ANI.scroll
Law amended in Haryana: Sex with minor wife is rape
Haryana Assembly Tuesday passed a Bill declaring child marriages as
‘void ab initio’ on the pattern of Karnataka, which had introduced such law
almost two years back. The move comes more than a year after the Supreme Court
criminalized sexual relations between a man and his minor wife.Prohibition of
Child Marriage (Haryana Amendment Bill, 2020) was introduced by Women and Child
Development Minister Kamlesh Dhanda. It was passed unanimously by the House.The
Bill seeks to amend Section 3 (I) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,
2006.indianexpress
*WORLD*
Malaysia's new PM delays parliament by two months
Malaysia's newly-appointed prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has postponed
the start of the parliamentary session originally scheduled for March 9 by two
months, after his rivals claimed to have more support and threatened his
fledgeling coalition with a confidence vote.Muhyiddin was sworn in on Sunday
following days of confusion after a power grab among a disgruntled group of
politicians in the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition led to the sudden
resignation of prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof
said in a statement that he had received a letter from Muhyiddin stating the
session would start on May 18. No reason was given for the delay.aljazeera
Two Turkish soldiers killed in Syria on eve of key Moscow meeting
Turkish defence ministry says two of its soldiers have been killed in
northwest Syria in an attack by Syrian government forces, as fighting in the
war-torn country's Idlib province continues on the eve of much-anticipated
talks between the presidents of Turkey and Russia.Following Wednesday's attack,
which also left six Turkish troops wounded, Ankara's forces retaliated by
striking Syrian military targets, the defence ministry said in a statement.aljazeera
US conducts first air strike against Taliban since peace deal
US has carried out an air raid against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan,
a US forces spokesman said a day after President Donald Trump spoke to a senior
Taliban leader by phone."US conducted an air strike on March 4 against Taliban
fighters in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand, who were actively attacking an ANDSF [Afghan
National Defence and Security Forces] checkpoint," said Colonel Sonny
Leggett in a tweet on Wednesday, adding that it was a "defensive
strike".The raid, the first against the Taliban in 11 days, comes days
after the US and Taliban signed a deal aimed at ending the nearly 19-year-old
war in Afghanistan- US's longest.Taliban leadership promised the international
community it would reduce violence, Leggett said, referring to the deal signed
in the Qatari capital, Doha, on February 29.He said, however, US was committed
to peace but called on the Taliban to stop "needless attacks" and
uphold their commitments. According to Leggett, Taliban fighters had carried
out 43 attacks on checkpoints in Helmand on Tuesday.The Taliban had, earlier on
Wednesday, killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a string of
overnight attacks, government officials told AFP.aljazeera
Want good relations with all including India for rebuilding Afghanistan: Taliban
Taliban wants good relations with all countries, including India, and to
work with them for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, a spokesman for the group
has said.In an interview with Turkey’s Anadolu agency days after the group and
US signed an agreement that paves the way for the withdrawal of all foreign
troops from Afghanistan in the next 14 months, Taliban political spokesman
Suhail Shaheen said his organisation has “no issue with any country”.Shaheen was
responding to a question regarding India, where apprehensions have been raised
about US-Taliban deal.He said, “We have no issue with any country, neither want
to have an issue with anyone, we want to establish good relations with all
countries and work with them together in the reconstruction process of
Afghanistan after withdrawal of foreign forces.”Shaheen contended those who
didn’t welcome the agreement had “only exposed themselves that they do not want
peace in Afghanistan”. He added, “They have to reconsider their policy.” In a
related development, Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada has spoken of the
group’s plans to have “positive bilateral relations” with regional
countries.“The Islamic Emirate believes in maintaining positive bilateral
relations with the world and especially with the regional countries and is
committed to the principle of good neighbourly relations with its neighbours,”
he said in a message posted on the Taliban’s website.The reference to
“bilateral relations” has raised eyebrows in Delhi. An official, who declined
to be named, said:“Intra-Afghan dialogue is yet to start and the Taliban isn’t
part of the government in Kabul and they’re already talking of things like ties
with other countries.”Indian government is yet to frame a policy on engaging
Taliban, though the Indian envoy to Qatar was present at the ceremony in Qatar
when Taliban and US signed the deal.HT
Super Tuesday: Biden wins 9 states, Sanders takes California
A resurgent Joe Biden has scored sweeping victories across the United
States with the backing of a diverse coalition and progressive rival Bernie
Sanders seized Super Tuesday's biggest prize with a win in California as the
Democratic Party's once-crowded presidential field became a two-man contest.The
two Democrats, lifelong politicians with starkly different visions for the US's
future, were battling for delegates as 14 states and one US territory held a
series of high-stakes elections that marked the most significant day of voting
in the party's 2020 presidential nomination fight. The winner of the primary
season will take on President Donald Trump in the November general election.The
other two high-profile candidates still in the shrinking Democratic field, New
York billionaire Mike Bloomberg and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren,
were teetering on the edge of viability. Warren finished in a disappointing
third place in her home state and Bloomberg planned to reassess his candidacy
on Wednesday after spending more than half-a-billion dollars to score a single
victory - in American Samoa.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Amid Anti-Muslim Riots In Delhi, A Search For Any Concern At US
Conservatives' Event Attended By Trump:
Christopher Mathias,
huffingtonpost
Young Kashmiris think India and Pakistan can resolve their differences
over Kashmir:Samir Ahmad, Yelena Biberman , washingtonpost
Fact Check: Delhi govt advert for riot victims morphed with communal
twist
Najeeb Jung: 'LG Baijal, Modi, Shah and Kejriwal Have Let Us All Down
With Their Silence'
Delhi violence aftermath: Muslims change their names, avoid Islamic
greetings, do away with hijab to stay safe:Ismat Ara, firstpost
Bill to crack down on communal violence languished in Parliament for 9
years:HT
India should return to its
secular roots | HT Editorial
Nearly 2,000 People Were Brought in for Riots, Says Delhi Minorities
Panel Chief:Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar
Defence of CAA exposes the moral emptiness of the ruling
dispensation:Alok Rai
Slowdown has bottomed out, but a sustained recovery will require
boosting credit flow:Saugata Bhattacharya
Global Pressure Increases Against CAA and Delhi
Violence:P.K.BALACHANDRAN
Delhi Riots: Government Sets up Camps, Starts Processing Compensation
Claims
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