*12 DEC. 2019: 14 Rabius Sani 1441: Vol: 12, No: 81*
*INDIA- CAB & NRC*
Assam on boil over CAB; 3 dead in police firing amid protests over Citizenship Bill; CM, ministers, BJP MLAs houses attacked;flights, trains cancelled
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/3-dead-in-police-firing-in-guwahati-amid-protests-over-citizenship-bill-2147930
https://www.news18.com/news/india/citizenship-bill-protests-live-one-protester-injured-in-police-firing-dies-as-thousands-defy-curfew-in-assam-2421263.html
Guwahati:3 protesters were killed and many others injured in police firing in Assam's Guwahati amid a raging agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill this evening. The incident occurred even as thousands of protesters descended on the streets in defiance of a curfew imposed on the city after the parliament cleared the contentious legislation. Earlier today, the government had extended the suspension of Internet services in 10 districts of Assam for another 48 hours, and deployed army personnel in four areas where clashes between protesters and police were witnessed. The residences of several politicians, including CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister Rameswar Teli, were attacked by protesters as violence continued unabated. Suspension of Internet services in 10 districts of Assam was extended for another 48 hours, starting today noon. Guwahati and Dibrugarh were placed under indefinite curfew even as protesters targeted homes of Sarbananda Sonowal, Rameswar Teli and BJP MLA Binanda Hazarika. Reports suggested that while the initial agitation held by student groups was peaceful, it turned violent after angry mobs joined in. 5 columns of the army -- each comprising 70 personnel -- have been deployed in Assam. Two of the army columns deployed in Guwahati have carried out flag marches, PTI quoted a senior officer as saying. Army personnel have also been deployed in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Jorhat districts, the news agency reported.In a major reshuffle in the midst of the violence, Assam government replaced Guwahati Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar with IPS officer Munna Prasad Gupta. Assam Additional DGP(Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwal was also transferred, with IPS officer GP Singh being appointed in his place.Even as violence continued unabated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted today morning that the people of Assam have nothing to worry about because "no one can take away your rights". Sonowal also said in a video message that he was "resolutely committed to protect the identity, rights, heritage and culture of Assamese people", and urged them to continue on the path of progress "while keeping alive our ancient values of peace, harmony and brotherhood".While IndiGo announced that all its flights to and from Dibrugarh in Assam have been cancelled, SpiceJet is offering refunds and waiver of cancellation or change fees for all flights on Guwahati-Dibrugarh route until Friday. Other airlines such as Vistara and GoAir also announced the cancellation of flights to the two cities while waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees.Thousands of people had descended on the streets of Assam in protest even as Rajya Sabha cleared the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The clashes that followed were of a magnitude unseen since the violent 3-year movement by students that ended with the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985.According to police, HQRS of AGP-- BJP's ally in Assam -- was attacked by people protesting against CAB in Guwahati's Ambari area. 2 railway stations in Dibrugarh's Chabua and Tinsukia were also set on fire, a Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson said. In Tripura, three columns of Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force commanded by army officials, were pressed into service on Wednesday. A defence spokesman had earlier said that two columns of the army were deployed in Tripura.Internet services in Tripura have already been suspended for 48 hours, starting 2 pm on Tuesday. The opposition Congress has also called for a shutdown in the state to protest the bill, which makes it easier for non-Muslim migrants to gain Indian citizenship. While opposition parties have accused the bill of discriminating against Muslims, protesters in the Northeast claim that it will end up robbing the region of its identity.
As Assam's Anger Boils Over, Modi Tweets to a Land Without Internet, Sonowal Appeals For Calm
https://thewire.in/politics/assam-cab-protests-modi-sonowal
3 die in police firing in Assam, several Injured, houses of several ministers, BJP MLAs attacked
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/three-die-in-police-firing-in-assam-several-injured-houses-of-several-ministers-and-bjp-mlas-attacked-vehicle-of-dgp-also-attacked
BJP Leader Jatin Bora Quits Party over CAB
https://www.newsnation.in/cities/north-east/bjp-leader-jatin-bora-quits-party-as-a-mark-of-protest-against-citizenship-amendment-bill-247256.html?fbclid=IwAR02x3IfU5z8FYMbnegSfTlXIAYO8-zw5Ee11NAFyfjrM5HMewrRCD_Qagg
IUML moves SC against CAB, says it is unconstitutional
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/iuml-moves-supreme-court-against-cab-says-it-is-unconstitutional/article30284099.ece?homepage=true
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) today moved the Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019, a day after it was passed by the Rajya Sabha, saying the law violated basic and fundamental value of the Constitution that “all should be treated equally alike” and should be struck down for violation of the fundamental right to equality under Article 14. IUML is first off the block even as more Opposition parties are expected to move the apex court against the Bill, which ostensibly bestows the benefit of Indian citizenship by naturalisation to illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, except Muslims. The petition said the Bill flagrantly “discriminates” against religiously persecuted Muslim immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Petition was filed by advocates Haris Beeran and Pallavi Pratap. The petitioners include prominent IUML leaders and MPs such as P.K. Kunhalikutty, E.T. Mohammed Basheer, Abdul Wahab and K. Navas Kani. “The Preamble of our Constitution envisages that India is a secular country and therefore every law which is passed by the Parliament has to be religion neutral. No law can be passed by the Parliament if the basis of such a law is religion. That strikes at the root of the concept of secularism which is the basic structure of the Constitution. The present Amendment Act excludes a particular community/religion...This is not only unreasonable but against the principles enunciated under Article 14 of the Constitution,” it said.thehindu
Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Home Minister cancel India visit over citizenship bill
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/amit-shah-bangaldesh-minorities-cab
https://www.news18.com/news/india/after-bangladesh-foreign-minister-home-minister-too-cancels-india-visit-amid-citizenship-bill-protests-2422391.html
New Delhi: Hours after Bangladesh’s foreign minister AK Abdul Momen called off his scheduled 2-day visit to India, the neighbour’s home minister Asaduzzaman Khan has also cancelled a visit.After India passed the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Bangladesh foreign minister Abdul Momen said that allegations made by the Indian home minister in parliament about the repression of minorities were inaccurate. Less than 24 hours later, he cancelled his trip to New Delhi.In possibly first major diplomatic fallout from the passage of the legislation, Momen has cancelled his visit to Delhi at the last hour on Thursday.Just a day earlier, Indian Ministry of External Affairs had announced the travel itinerary of Bangladeshi minister. He was scheduled to arrive today evening, attend the ministerial keynote session of Delhi Dialogue and Indian Ocean Dialogue on Friday and then hold a breakfast meeting with external affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday morning.However, just hours before his arrival in India, Bangladesh high commission confirmed that the foreign minister has cancelled his visit. ANI reported that Momen has claimed that the cancellation was done as his junior minister and foreign secretary were both out of the country.The cancellation has occurred in the backdrop of critical statements from Dhaka on CAB.As per agency reports, Momen termed “untrue allegations of minority repression in Bangladesh by Home Minister Amit Shah, saying whoever gave them the information, it is not correct”.Momen further told Dhaka Tribune that Shah should stay in Bangladesh for a few months to check the state of communal harmony.“What they are saying in regard to torture on Hindus is unwarranted as well as untrue…There are a very few countries in the world where communal harmony is as good as in Bangladesh. We have no minorities. We are all equal. If he [Amit Shah] stayed in Bangladesh for a few months, he would see the exemplary communal harmony in our country,” he added. Bangladesh minister said that his country was concerned with the matter if it would change the countries’ relationship.“They (India) have many problems within their country. Let them fight among themselves. That does not bother us. As a friendly country, we hope that India will not do something that affects our friendly relationship,” he said. He also informed Dhaka Tribune that after studying it “minutely”, Bangladesh may take “this matter up with them”.“In our country, religious harmony is at a very high level. No one from other religions is oppressed here. We have respect for all religions. We see those (minorities) in equal eyes and as the citizens of Bangladesh,” he said.He also warned that any deviation from India’s position as a secular nation would weaken these ties. Thewire/news18
Bangladesh worried CAB-NRC will hit golden chapter in Delhi-Dhaka ties
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bangladesh-worried-cab-nrc-will-end-golden-chapter-in-delhi-dhaka-ties/story-4jnC04ABmgjvZQdZV85OPK.html?fbclid=IwAR3if-8ahxlD3AdP5mR7qb6H8fAaQPzVafTF4b7u9bid8iVVEbrHjItVPsw
Afghan envoy says Kabul respects its minorities
https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/exclusive-afghan-envoy-says-kabul-respects-its-minorities-1627542-2019-12-12
New Delhi:Even as Parliament has passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill which allows granting of citizenship to persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan; Afghan envoy has rejected the idea of state persecution of minority communities in his country.Ambassador Tahir Qadiry said: "In the last few years, since the fall of Taliban Afghan people and government, especially this government, has been respecting the minorities, like the Sikh community, our great brothers and sisters as we have in Afghanistan. We have huge respect for them, we have seats for them in parliament, seats in the lower house as well, we also have their representative at the presidential palace." The Afghan government has made a concerted effort in its own country to ensure inclusion and assimilation of its citizens of the minority community.India Today
No, Pakistan's non-Muslim population didn't decline from 23% to 3.7% as BJP claims
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pakistan-bangladesh-non-muslim-population-citizenship-amendment-bill-bjp-1627678-2019-12-12?fbclid=IwAR3JkcKIpXPn-vCqEohfRCEBwvJ9DGB1YXy6gpwINe6aeZcp6bFkEqwcSaU
While moving the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at the time of Independence, non-Muslims comprised 23 per cent of Pakistan's population and that by 2011 their share was reduced to 3.7 per cent.With regards to Bangladesh, he claimed that in 1947, non-Muslims comprised 22 per cent of its population and their share in 2011 fell to 7.8 per cent.Amit Shah's verbatim quote in Hindi:"1947 main Pakistan ke andar alpasankhyakon ki aabadi 23 pratishat thi, aur 2011 main wog ghat kar 3.7 pratishat ho gayi. Bangladesh main 1947 main aplsankhyakon ki aabadi 22 pratishat thi aur 2011 main wo kam ho kar 7.8 pratishat ho gayi. Kahan gaye ye log? Ya toh unka dharm parivartan hua. Ya wo maar diye gaye, ya bhaga diye gaye, ya Bharat aa gaye."On Wednesday, while moving CAB in the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah reiterated his claim, saying Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen a decline of up to 20 percentage points in their populations of religious minorities."Whan ke alpshankyak kahan gaye? Ya toh vo maar diye gaye, ya unhone Bharat main sharan liya (Where did the minorities disappear in Pakistan and Bangladesh? Either they were persecuted or they took shelter in India)," Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha.This has been a position maintained by BJP and its supporters. To highlight the persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan (particularly of Hindus), BJP and right-wing Hindu organisations in India have been citing similar figures to argue that non-Muslims were brutally persecuted in an Pakistan after the Partition of 1947. But how true are these numbers? Has population of non-Muslims in Pakistan really shrunk to 3.7 per cent today from a high of 23 per cent? What is the basis of this claim? IndiaToday's analysis of Pakistan's Census data shows that these claims are faulty.As per this census, the share of Muslims in Pakistan's overall population in 1951 was 85.80 per cent, while the share of non-Muslims was 14.20 per cent. (Pakistan here refers to East and West Pakistan taken together).india today
CAB attempt to reduce Muslims into second class citizens in India: US lawmaker
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cab-attempt-to-reduce-muslims-into-second-class-citizens-in-india-us-lawmaker/articleshow/72484784.cms
Washington: India's Citizenship Amendment Bill is an attempt to reduce minority Muslims into second class citizens, a Muslim-American Congressman has said as the contentious bill got the clearance from both the Houses of Parliament. "This move is yet another attempt to effectively reduce Muslims in India to second-class citizens,” said Congressman Andre Carson, who is one of 3 Muslim members currently serving in US Congress. Carson also raised his concern for the removal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir."When Indian Prime Minister Modi announced the unilateral changes to Jammu and Kashmir's status, I expressed my grave concern about its implications for the future of Kashmir,” he said.Calling it a dangerous move that disregards international norms, Carson said that government has ignored the democratic will of the Kashmiri people, undermined the rich tradition of Indian constitutionalism and raises huge questions about the future of India.PTI
Assam anti-CAB protests: BJP and RSS under fire, houses of CM Sonowal, other top leaders attacked
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/dec/12/assam-anti-cab-protests-bjp-and-rss-under-fire-houses-of-cm-sonowal-other-top-leaders-attacked-2075091.html?fbclid=IwAR27Ue1Yqkp0NIjHATZ8bZYTpoVDniuhyTNQBkEOsL7ChjK7mzTYagidgTA
Guwahati: As Assam burns with anti CAB protests, RSS and BJP leaders from the state including Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal are being rigorously criticised.The protesters attacked the house of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union minister Rameswar Teli and several other BJP leaders.Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal's house which is located at Dibrugarh in Upper Assam came under attack yesterday night as protestors pelted stones at his house.While Union Minister Rameshwar Teli's residence in Dulijan also came under rage of protestors.A BJP MLA Prashanta Phukan's house in Upper Assam was vandalised by the protestors.There are also reports that in many places RSS office has also been attacked. Thousands of people hit the streets in Assam opposing the controversial CAB.The protesters clashed with the police and set afire several government vehicles. They also pelted stones at the houses of several BJP leaders.UNI
Nobel Winner Ramakrishnan Slams Amit Shah’s Argument, Condemns CAB
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/nobel-laureate-venkatraman-ramakrishnan-slams-amit-shah-argument-condemns-cab?fbclid=IwAR2eOrWlyohEGXCm5PSDQ11c2abphbOq6mfGocnzLZ1Gm51YIxaHEFRelg8
In a hard-hitting interview, Indian-origin Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has slammed the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), which was passed by Parliament.Ramakrishnan, who had won Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, described the CAB as a dangerous piece of legislation that goes against the Constitution, and serves to “distract from the very hard task of making progress on education, technology and general economic advancement.”the quint
Members of Minority Communities Across the World Raise Concern Over CAB
https://thewire.in/rights/open-letter-citizenship-amendment-bill
Members of minority communities from countries across the world have written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah expressing concern over the passage of the CAB.The letter, which has been signed by several human rights activists, journalists and lawyers, states that the Bill “discriminates against those already facing discrimination in their countries” on the basis of religion.The signatories also note that the Bill has been passed at a time when the Indian government’s “citizenship project under the banner of NRC” is underway which would effectively put thousands of Muslims in detention centres upon their failure to produce documents proving their citizenship. The letter also draws attention to a statement by Amit Shah during an interview where he had said that the CAB would ensure that those Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Christians who are unable to procure the necessary documents would be granted citizenship owing to their religion. Noting the conspicuous exclusion of Muslims, the signatories point out that Muslims comprise the largest religious minority in India and maintain that the CAB coupled with the NRC would only aggravate their fears and discrimination against them.thewire
Imran Khan asks world to ‘step in before it is too late’ after Indian Parliament clears CAB
https://theprint.in/india/imran-khan-asks-world-to-step-in-before-it-is-too-late-after-indian-parliament-clears-cab/334264/
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today accused the Indian government of moving systematically with a “Hindu supremacist agenda” and said the world “must step in before it is too late.”In a series of tweets, Khan referred to the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill which would grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before 2015 after facing religious persecution there.“India, under Modi, has been moving systematically with its Hindu Supremacist agenda,” Khan said in a tweet.This agenda, “accompanied by threats to Pakistan under a nuclear overhang, will lead to massive bloodshed and far-reaching consequences for the world,” he said.Khan said the “world must step in before it is too late.”PTI
Opposition protest against I&B Ministry advisory in the backdrop of Assam violence over CAB
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/opposition-protest-against-ib-ministry-advisory-in-the-backdrop-of-assam-violence/article30283682.ece
A one-page advisory issued by Information and Broadcasting Ministry to television channels, asking them to exercise caution and ensure that nothing that incites violence is telecast, has been objected by the Opposition. The advisory, coming in the backdrop of the ongoing violence in Assam on the contentious the CAB, does not explicitly refer to the State violence or the protests related to CAB. Signed by Ministry Director Amit Katoch, it states that from time to time Ministry had issued advisories asking the channels to strictly adhere to “Programme and Advertising Codes” as prescribed in the “Cable Television Networks (Regulation) ACT, 1995.” Reiterating the provisions in the Act, the advisory asks news channels to be cautious about any content which “is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes or contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation.” Trinamool leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O’ Brien equated it with 1975 Emergency. Congress leader Pranav Jha said in a tweet, “By issuing this advisory, is the Government actually ordering the Media to not show protests against #CAB ? After internet ban, this is Media ban. Repression at any cost. Condemnable to say the least”. thehindu
Maharashtra police IG Abdur Rehman resigns over Citizenship Amendment Bill
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/dec/11/maharashtra-police-ig-abdur-rehman-resigns-over-citizenship-amendment-bill-2074750.html?fbclid=IwAR2eWSx3JHV40sfOP_edEwAwK9895LDk8szJHS_3e60xGl7VcfPw42twBtc
Inspector General of Police Abdur Rehman, who was appointed as the head of the investigation wing of the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission earlier this year, resigned on Wednesday protesting passage of the CAB by the parliament.Rahman, a member of the Indian Police Service, has been working for more than twenty-one years at different positions in Maharashtra. He has also authored named “Denial and Depreviation” on the plight of the Muslim community. The book talks about the discrimination faced by Muslims today after Sachar Committee and Rangnath Mishra Commission Report. “The proposed CAB clearly discriminates against people belonging to Muslim community. The bill is totally unconstitutional and against very basic feature of equality before law… I condemn the bill. As a civil disobedience I’ve decided not to continue in the service and thus not to attain office from tomorrow. I’m quitting the service finally,”he said on Twitter. newindianexpress
Urdu writer Shirin returns Sahitya Akademi Award in CAB protest
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/senior-urdu-writer-shirin-dalvi-returns-sahitya-akademi-award-in-cab-protest?fbclid=IwAR0BUOM0zfXEdWV0MyBrzRsHh-U72pVFCAyulD4VWPsgfrhJc8MaiQeaXk4
Mumbai: Senior Urdu journalist and writer Shirin Dalvi has decided to return her State Sahitya Akademi Award as a mark of protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Calling the Bill ‘divisive and discriminatory’, Dalvi says that it is an attack on our Constitution and secularism. She said that she decided to return the award, which she had received in 2011 for her literary contributions, to stand with her ‘community and fight for secularism and democracy’.The Quint
Protest in Udupi against CAB
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/protest-in-udupi-against-bill/article30283454.ece
Udupi :Members of the district units of Students Islamic Organisation of India, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, WPI, Dalit Damanitara Horata Samiti and Karnataka Rashtra Samiti staged a dharna in front of Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Wednesday against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Yasin Kodibengre, secretary of the State unit of SIO, said that the Union government had attacked the soul of the Constitution by tabling this Bill in Parliament. It was against the basic tenets of the Constitution. This was not just an attack on Muslims but on all citizens of the country, he said.G. Rajashekhar, writer, Amrit Shenoy, vice-president of the State unit of Karnataka Rashtra Samiti, Vittal Thottam, Shabbir Malpe, Afwan Hoode, Shahrukh Tirthahalli, Idris Hoode, and others were present.thehindu
On Ashfaqulla, Bismil's martyrdom day: Left parties to organise joint nationwide protest against Citizenship Bill on Dec.19
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/left-parties-to-organise-joint-nationwide-protest-against-citizenship-bill-on-december-19?fbclid=IwAR23SrdBuzVyQtu-8M3O7gm4MjBVm8FUiEbsvXpzAMOPj-WkmEzB6a0Tqw0
Left parties will organise a nationwide joint protest on Dec.19 against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, according to a statement issued by these parties today.CPI, CPI (Marxist), CPI(Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation,All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, in a joint statement, alleged that the bill was completely violative of the Constitution and aimed at destroying the secular democratic foundations of India."The Left parties strongly oppose this bill that links citizenship with the religious affiliation of an individual, the very antithesis of secularism. This bill aims to further sharpen the communal divide and social polarization in the country, which is dangerously detrimental to the unity and integrity of our country," the statement read.The left parties also said that the passage of the Bill, along with the "proclamations by this Modi-Shah BJP government" to extend NRC to the entire country, is the "twin combination to change the character of the Indian Republic – from a secular democratic one into an 'Hindutva Rashtrathe RSS political project."Dec 19 has been chosen as the day of the protest as on this day in 1927, Ram Prasad Bismil, who rendered the stirring patriotic call, 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna', rousing Indian people in the freedom struggle, was hanged in Gorakhpur jail. Ashfaqulla, a co-accused, was hanged at the Faizabad jail and another co-accused Roshan Singh was hanged at the Naini jail."This unity, overriding religious affiliations won India its freedom from the British. This, today, is being ruptured by the RSS-BJP," the statement by the Left parties said.PTI
AMU students continue protest against CAB, hold ‘open talk, demand quashing of FIR against 520 students
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/amu-students-continue-protest-against-cab-hold-open-talk/story-AHd77eZtSwak6gdUoCs6EM.html
AMU students today continued their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Bill which was passed both by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.The students held an open talk at Bab-e-Syed gate of the university and appealed to the President to return the bill for a review.“We now appeal to President of India to return the bill for a review because religious bias makes this bill very much against Article 14 and hurts the secular fabric of the nation. Why exclude Muslims? How can a particular community be targeted?” questioned former vice president of AMUSU Hamza Sufiyan. Speakers reiterated their commitment to fight CAB and rejected it in its present format. The local administration ensured heavy security at AMU circle during the event.Dr Kafeel Khan, lecturer who was suspended from the department of paediatrics at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, activist and political analyst Yogendra Yadav and Fawad Shaheen were present as speakers at the ‘Open Talk’.AMU students have been staging protests since Monday. They had taken out a procession on the campus and burnt copies of CAB. Police had registered a case against 20 students by name and 500 unidentified people for violation of prohibitory orders.Former secretary of AMUSU Huzefa Aamir Raashdi has written an open letter to PM Narendra Modi on the issue.AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA) has dubbed the day of the passage of CAB by Parliament as “one of the darkest days” in the history of independent India. AMUTA held an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening and passed a resolution stating that the passing of the bill marks a “defeat for justice”. AMUTA announced it would hold a peaceful protest on Friday with the teachers marching from the staff club to Faiz Gate, where they will hand over a memorandum, addressed to President of India, to the district authorities.The resolution also condemned the lodging of an FIR by police against 520 students for holding a protest on the campus on Tuesday night.The teachers demanded immediate quashing of FIR.The students too have announced they will hold a protest march after Friday prayers.HT
Protest Against CAB: FIR Against 500+ AMU Students for Defying Section 144
https://thewire.in/rights/protest-against-cab-fir-against-500-amu-students-for-defying-section-144
Madarsa students stage protest against CAB in Deoband, Saharanpur
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/madarsa-students-stage-protest-against-cab-in-saharanpur/story-LpJuEapcPvqc7ZH2FChe0K.html
A group of madarsa students staged a protest against the CAB in the Deoband area of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.“Around a 100 people came out of a local madarsa to stage a protest in the evening. Traffic on the road was affected for half an hour because of the protest,” said SP, Saharanpur, Dinesh Kumar P. “The protest was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported,” he added.It was rumoured that the protestors turned violent and pelted vehicles with stones. But the SP denied any such violence. The local police were preparing to lodge an FIR against some protestors for blocking the road.HT
Darul Uloom VC condemns students' protest
http://www.uniindia.com/darul-uloom-vc-condemns-students-protest-against-cab/north/news/1819216.html
Darul Uloom Deoband Vice-Chancellor Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani has criticised the madrasa students for creating a ruckus in the city, staging a 'dharna,' and creating a jam on the national highway while protesting against the CAB.In a statement today, VC said that the way the madrasa students had protested was not justified in any manner and the institute has not had any such tradition. He said that neither Darul Uloom nor the management was responsible for this act of the students.UNI
Students protest against CAB at Jamia Millia
http://twocircles.net/2019dec11/433616.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University students participated in a protest gathering called by Muslim Students Federation (MSF) against the “anti-Muslim provisions” of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and NRC. A large number of students attended the protest gathering at the University. They rejected the Bill which goes against the secularism ensured by the Indian constitution and pledged to protect the constitution. Students raised slogans such as, “India belongs to all” and “Say no to Hindu nation”. Many protesters called upon the constitution and B.R. Ambedkar to fight against the CAB. Ateeb Khan, national secretary of MSF, shared his concern, “The Bill is against the Muslims of India. After this Bill, NRC will be introduced across the country to make terrible conditions for Muslims”. He mentioned crimes against humanity by Nazi German camps and warned against the similar possibility in India.Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) also condemned the Bill. In a statement, the secretary of JTA Majid Jamil said, “The government has designed the Bill to exclusively target the Muslims. Jamia has played a great and decisive role in the freedom movement of India. The time has come for the nation to protect the constitution and the very spirit of national constitution”. JTA has called for a protest on the campus on Dec.13.According to various reports students at different universities across the country such as AMU, IIT– Bombay and University of Hyderabad have been protesting on the issue. On being asked about the follow up on the protest, MSF -JMI President Tariq Abrar said, “We will wait to see if the Bill gets passed in the lower house. If it does then we will take our fight to the streets and to the Supreme Court.”On Tuesday,TCN
Delhi University Students Hold Protest, Burn Copies of Citizenship Bill
https://www.news18.com/news/india/delhi-university-students-hold-protest-burn-copies-of-citizenship-bill-2422429.html
Delhi University students burnt copies of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill here today as part of a protest against the proposed legislation which they dubbed as "unconstitutional" and "communal".Protest at the university's Art Faculty was called by various students' bodies, including the Left-backed AISA and SFI, and autonomous women students' collective Pinjra Tod, under the banner of Collective-DU.Other organisations and students from Assam also took part in the demonstration.The protesters described the CAB as "illegal" and also took out a march in the university campus." CAB has been brought by RSS-BJP to further the Sangh Parivar's agenda of a 'Hindu Rashtra'," Delhi University (DU) AISA secretary Madhurima Kunda said.The protest was joined by Sandipan Talukdar, a journalist from Assam; Sajjad Hussain, also a journalist; former DUTA president Nandita Narain; and DU professor N Sukumar.PTI
Raging Protests against CAB: SIO Calls for Parliament March on Friday
https://caravandaily.com/raging-protests-against-cab-sio-calls-for-parliament-march-on-friday/
New Delhi:After the CAB was passed in parliament, the protest and agitation is continued to rage across the country. One of the largest student organisations in the country SIO (Student Islamic Organisation) has called for the parliament march against CAB and nationwide NRC on Friday.“I appeal to students community from all campuses across Delhi,UP, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan to join the long march to Parliament. We will fight back , and we will refuse to be silenced that you want us to be silent. We will continue to speak . Let’s come out of our small comfortable zone to find alternate articulation and different language of resistance,” said national president of SIO Labeed Shafi announcing the march against the controversial legislation which is facing flak from all around. The march will be held at 3 pm with the sole demand of revoking CAB and rejecting nationwide NRC. Telengana chapter of SIO has also called for statewide protest on Friday. It has urged the citizens to take part in the protest against CAB and called it “unconstitutional”. On Friday, social and civil society groups also called for press meeting on the “unconstitutionalCAB” at Press Club in New Delhi.caravandaily
‘Citizenship Act and NRC a lethal combo’: JD(U)’s Prashant Kishor says he is ‘not giving up’
https://scroll.in/latest/946619/citizenship-act-and-nrc-a-lethal-combo-jd-u-s-prashant-kishor-says-he-is-not-giving-up
JDU Vice President Prashant Kishor today kept up his opposition to his party’s stand on the contentious amendments to Citizenship Act of 1955. Kishor tweeted that the amendments, along with NRC, could turn into a “lethal combo”.scroll
*BABRI MASJID CASE*
After SC dismisses Babri Masjid judgment review petitions, Muslim side calls it 'unfortunate'
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-after-sc-dismisses-ayodhya-judgment-review-petitions-muslim-side-calls-it-unfortunate-2805345
The Supreme Court dismissing all the review petitions filed against Nov.9 Ayodhya judgment was 'unfortunate', said Muslim petitioners on Thursday.Zafaryab Jilani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, "It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has not entertained our review petitions. We cannot say what should be our next step, we will consult our senior counsel, Rajeev Dhavan."Arshad Madni of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind also reverberated the sentiment. "We are sad about it," he said, referring to the Supreme Court dismissing all the review petitions in the Ayodhya judgment, "The Court had accepted that Babri Masjid was demolished and considered the people who demolished it as guilty, but still the Court gave judgment in their favour."Most of the petitions from the Muslim side had mentioned that the verdict was given in favour of the "illegally" placed statue in the mosque. It also said that those who committed illegal acts were given the disputed land and the decision to give 5 acres of land to Muslims at an alternate site cannot be called proper justice.The SC today dismissed all the review petitions challenging the Ayodhya judgment which granted the disputed 2.7-acre land to the Hindus for construction of Ram temple while allotting an alternative plot to Muslims.Apart from Chief Justice SA Bobde, 5-judge bench included Justices DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, SA Nazeer, and Sanjeev Khanna.Justice Khanna is the only judge excluded from the 5-judge Constitution bench that delivered the November 9 judgment in the Ayodhya case.dnaindia
Ayodhya verdict: Nyas, VHP welcome rejection of review petitions
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/ayodhya-verdict-nyas-vhp-welcome-rejection-of-review-petitions/story-wFGWfmQISHgsR476BLeh8I.html
Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and VHP have welcomed the Supreme Court’s rejection of all review petitions filed against its verdict in Ayodhya land title dispute case.“The SC today removed all roadblocks in construction of Ram Mandir,” said Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.“Today, Ram Mandir has been liberated from all court proceedings,” Das added. Reacting to the court’s decision, Sharad Sharma, regional spokesperson, VHP, said: “The SC has put an end to all court proceedings related to Ayodhya title suit.”Welcoming the decision, Mahant Dhinendra Das, head of Nirmohi Akhara, said: “The court has ended all speculation by rejecting the review petitions. These petitions were filed just to further complicate the case.”Iqbal Ansari, the Muslim litigant who had refused to file a review petition, said: “I knew the fate of all review petitions. My stand was clear since the beginning.I was never in favour of a review petition.”HT
24 days on, Nagpur Police yet to nab lawyer booked for ‘offensive’ Ayodhya post
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/24-days-on-nagpur-police-yet-to-nab-lawyer-booked-for-offensive-ayodhya-post-6163052/
Nagpur :Almost a month after lawyer Mukul Phadke had posted an “objectionable post” about the Ayodhya issue on a WhatsApp group, Nagpur police are yet to arrest him.Phadke had posted the remark on a group called Pristine Lawyers on Nov.12. A lawyer, Adil Mohammad Shafi , had filed a police complaint against Phadke for “writing an objectionable post hurting the sentiments of Muslim community and aimed at creating communal tension.” Adil had mentioned in his complaint that Phadke’s Facebook page also contained similar posts. Phadke had moved the Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail. The court is yet to decide on his plea but had not put any restriction on his arrest. The case had come up for final hearing on Wednesday but was put off again till Dec.13, when the final order is expected. DCP, Zone 2, Vinita Shahu said, “My officers have told me that complainant had moved the court for compromise. So, we haven’t gone ahead with the arrest.” Adil Mohammad, however, said, “It is completely wrong. I haven’t moved any such application. In fact, the court hasn’t put any restriction on the police to arrest Phadke but the police are dragging their feet.”Asked about the “compromise” story, Investigating Officer Amol Deshmukh denied having put out any such information. ” There is no compromise move by the complainant,” Deshmukh said. indianexpress
Babri Masjid, Article 370, ‘Hindu-Muslim’ barred from plays in Pune college theatre contest
https://scroll.in/latest/946555/babri-masjid-article-370-hindu-muslim-barred-from-plays-in-popular-college-theatre-contest
A popular inter-college theatre competition in Pune has barred plays on “sensitive” topics such as the Babri Masjid, Article 370, and “Hindu-Muslim” matters, PTI reported. “Firodiya Karandak” contest began 45 years ago and is held every year. Its next edition will take place in Feb.2020.“To maintain social harmony and law and order, organisers, from this year, have decided not to permit entries with sensitive subjects like Hindu-Muslim, Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370, India-Pakistan, Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid or the subjects that comment on any caste or religion,” said one of the rules of the contest, announced on Wednesday.The organisers said that a group that presents a play on any such subject would be disqualified.scroll
*OTHERS*
J&K: Article 370 petitioners seek transfer of case to SC’s larger Bench
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article-370-petitioners-seek-transfer-of-case-to-larger-bench/article30286128.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi :The petitioners challenging the abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir today urged the five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court to refer the case to a larger Bench. Appearing before the Constitution Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana, senior advocate Dinesh Dwivedi, appearing for economist Prem Shankar Jha,, said there was a “direct conflict” of opinion between two judgments, one of 1959 and the other of 1970, about the nature and extent of Article 370. President's notification on Aug.5 abrogated the special status of J&K by blunting Article 370, which sources the privileges accorded to the erstwhile State in accordance with the assurances which was made in the Instrument of Accession signed between J&K ruler and Government of India.However, the two past judgments, both by 5-judge Benches of the SC, gave contradictory viewpoints on Article 370. 1959 one, Prem Nath Kaul versus State of Jammu and Kashmir, indicated that Article 370 was applicable only till the J&K Constitution was enacted on Jan.26, 1957. After that, no further changes could be made to the relationship between India and J&K.But the judgment reported in 1970 Sampath Prakash versus State of Jammu and Kashmir case ignored the 1959 verdict and concluded that Article 370 was permanent in nature and a “perennial source of power” for Centre to govern its relationship with the State of J&K.Dwivedi, seconded by senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, said Justice Ramana's Bench was third 5-judge Bench examining a case concerning the use of Article 370. The petitions should be referred to a larger Bench. The Constitution Bench heard submissions till 1 p.m. today and scheduled the next hearing for Jan.21.thehindu
2002 Gujarat riots: Nanavati report junks evidence by 3 former IPS officers, indicts then JCP
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-gujarat-riots-nanavati-report-junks-evidence-by-3-former-ips-officers-indicts-then-jcp-6162741/?fbclid=IwAR3tdcII1szoa_ORGX6q78ojt8mkl5tzTOH7toA04Yp1XfRycNtVB6pwvmE
Ahmedabad :Even as Nanavati Mehta Commission junked evidence provided by 3 former IPS officers in its detailed report on Ahmedabad incidents during the Gujarat riots of 2002, especially pertaining to Gulberg Society and Naroda Patiya massacres, it has indicted then JCP MK Tandon over his failure to “assess seriousness of the situation and bring in additional force to control the mob”.The report in detail states the role of then JCP (Sector 2) MK Tandon, under whose jurisdiction, Naroda Patiya and Gulberg Society fell, mentioning how the senior police officer left the two areas just before violence erupted and returned only after the killings happened.A total of 97 persons (including one Hindu), were killed in Naroda Patiya on Feb.28, 2002, while 44 persons (39 Muslims and 4 Hindus), including ex Congress MP Ahsan Jafri, were killed in Gulberg Society massacre. The Commission, however, chose to ignore evidence provided by IPS officers RB Sreekumar, now retired, and Rahul Sharma, who took voluntary retirement and practises law in Gujarat HC, and Sanjiv Bhatt who was dismissed from service and is in jail in a drug planting case.Sreekumar had, through 9 affidavits filed before the Commission suggested that the government had not done enough to control the riots. Sharma had collected records of calls made from Feb.27 to March 4, 2002, from two private mobile service providers — Celforce and AT&T — as evidence and presented before the Commission, while Bhatt had claimed he was in the meeting that then chief minister Narendra Modi called at his residence on the evening of the train carnage, where he had allegedly said “Hindus be allowed to vent their anger”.Tandon, now retired, is the only senior officer whose role in controlling the riots, has been found to be inadequate, by the commission.indianexpress
Dang: Hindu Outfit Calls for a Rally Demanding Religious Identification of Tribals
https://thewire.in/communalism/gujarat-dang-district-tribal-religion-identification
Mumbai: After Hindu right-wing outfits decided to call for a rally demanding “proper identification” of people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) who have converted to Christianity in the tribal Dang district of Gujarat, the situation there has become tense.According to Indian Express, Rashtriya Janjati Sangh, a Hindu outfit, has called for a rally on Dec.16 in Dang with the primary demand that all tribal Christians must change their religion on their school’s leaving certificate (LC) from Hindu ST to Christian ST. This demand has been made as a way of “marking”, ahead of 2021 census drive. Local tribal activists have alleged that the demand has been made with an intention to flare communal tension in the region and was designed to coincide with Christian festivities. RSS is backed by VHP and a tribal king, Dhanrajsinh Suryavanshi, who is also a member of the BJP.The district administration has denied giving permission for a rally and has said that any attempts to create unrest in district will be dealt with strictly.thewire
‘This is a question of credibility’: Supreme Court orders judicial inquiry into Hyderabad encounter
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/there-should-be-impartial-inquiry-into-hyderabad-encounter-says-sc-6163234/
The Supreme Court today ordered a judicial inquiry into the killing of 4 men accused of raping and murdering a veterinary surgeon in a police encounter in Hyderabad. A commission headed by its former judge V S Sirpurkar has been given six months from the date on which it starts inquiry to complete the process.3-judge bench headed by CJI SA Bobde, said, “We are of the considered view that there should be an inquiry. Let there be an impartial inquiry. There are aspects of your version that needs probing.” The bench, also comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna, was hearing a PIL by Advocates GS Mani and Pradeep Kumar Yadav.indianexpress
Nirbhaya rape-murder convict review plea to be heard by Supreme Court on Dec 17
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nirbhaya-rape-murder-convict-review-plea-supreme-court-december-17-1627754-2019-12-12
A 3-judge Supreme Court bench will hear the review plea filed by Akshay Singh, one of the four convicts in Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, on Dec.17. Akshay, the only one of the four Nirbhaya rape-murder convicts not to have filed a review plea, moved the SC earlier this week asking the court to reconsider its 2017 judgment in which it had upheld the convictions of the four men for 2012 rape and murder of the 23-year-old woman who came to be called Nirbhaya.India Today
Rajya Sabha Passes Bill to Extend SC/ST Reservation in Legislatures by 10 More Years
https://thewire.in/caste/sc-st-quota-reservation-extend
Rajya Sabha today passed a Constitution Amendment Bill to extend reservation to SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by another 10 years.Reservation for members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), given for the past 70 years in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is due to end on Jan.25,2020. The Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill, which saw heated exchange between the treasury and opposition benches, was approved unanimously in Rajya Sabha.PTI
Maharashtra cabinet announced, Sena keeps Home, Urban Development
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-cabinet-announced-sena-keeps-home-urban-development-1627771-2019-12-12
Maharashtra cabinet has been announced. After days of suspense, Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi govt-led by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has announced its cabinet portfolios.Interestingly, Shiv Sena has retained key portfolios of Home Ministry as well as Urban Development. Sena will also keep Industry and Environment with itself.NCP, which is the second-largest party in the alliance, has got Rural Development, Water Resources, Finance, Housing and Health, Cooperatives, Food and Civil Supplies.Congress has been given Higher and Technical Education, Revenue, School and Medical Education and PWD.CM Uddhav Thackeray, who took an oath to the office on Nov.29, has not kept any portfolios for himself. Sena's senior leader Eknath Shinde will have Home, Urban Development, Forest, Environment, Water supply, Irrigation, Tourism, PWD and Parliamentary Affairs.Congress's Chhagan Bhujbal has been put incharge of Rural Development, Water Resources, Social Justice, Excise and FDA.indiatoday
Centre's Access to Information on Electoral Bonds' Donors Is Unfair: Opposition
https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-electoral-bonds-donor
New Delhi: The prospect of BJP using classified information on donors of electoral bonds to its advantage was raised by a number of opposition leaders at a ‘jan manch’ (people’s conclave) on the electoral bond scheme organised by various people’s movements and groups here on Wednesday.Congress MP Rajeev Gowda led the charge by stating that when Arun Jaitley, as finance minister, announced the electoral bond scheme, he claimed that it would usher in transparency in political funding. But, Gowda said, information obtained through RTIs has revealed that the scheme was pushed through by the Centre despite objections being raised against it by the Election Commission, the Reserve Bank of India and the law ministry.thewire
Final Privacy Bill Could Turn India into ‘Orwellian State’: Justice Srikrishna
https://thewire.in/law/privacy-bill-india-orwellian-state-justice-bn-srikrishna
Justice (retired) B.N. Srikrishna, who headed the panel that formulated the first draft of India’s Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, has criticised the final version, calling it “dangerous” and a piece of legislation that could turn the country into an “Orwellian state”.The retired judge noted that the Modi government had removed the safeguards present in the original draft.“They have removed the safeguards. That is most dangerous. The government can at any time access private data or government agency data on grounds of sovereignty or public order. This has dangerous implications,” Srikrishna told the publication.The final version of PDP Bill that was tabled in the Lok Sabha this week, and then sent to a joint select committee, allows the Centre to exempt any government agency from the privacy rules under various grounds including anything that is “in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India”thewire
Karnataka: Panel Recommends Retention of Text on Tipu Sultan in School Curriculum
https://thewire.in/politics/karnataka-tipu-sultan-school-textbooks
A panel constituted by Karnataka government has recommended against BJP’s demand to remove content related to 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan from school textbooks.A few months ago, BJP MLA Appachu Ranjan had appealed to primary and secondary education minister Suresh Kumar and chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa to drop content related to Tipu Sultan from school textbooks. Content related to the ruler is taught in Class 6, 7 and 10 of the state board.As per a report in Deccan Herald, committee, comprising academicians and historians had submitted the report to the Karnataka Textbook Society on December 9 and expressed an opinion that chapters on the ruler of Mysore currently prescribed in textbooks are only introductory in nature about the life of Tipu Sultan.“It is impossible to teach the history of Mysore without the introduction to Tipu,”committee noted in its report.“We have not arrived at any judgment based on the controversy. Being historians, it was our duty to submit a factual report,” one of the members of the committee has been quoted as having told Deccan Herald. The committee is of the opinion that since textbook’s content is only introductory in nature and is factual, it should remain in the school curriculum.thewire
Twin Shocks for Economy: Retail Inflation Spikes to 3-year High, Industrial Production Shrinks by -3.8%
https://www.news18.com/news/business/twin-shocks-for-economy-retail-inflation-spikes-to-5-54-index-of-industrial-production-shrinks-by-3-8-2422299.html
New Delhi: In twin shocks for the economy that is battling a prolonged slowdown, the retail price based consumer inflation has spiked to a three-year high while the index of industrial production has contracted, official data showed.According to data released by the statistics office on Thursday, consumer inflation spiked 5.54 percent in November on the back of costlier food items, compared to 4.62 percent in the month of Oct.As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the inflation in the food rose to 10.01 per cent. This compares with 7.89 per cent October and (-) 2.61 per cent in the year ago-month. The previous high of CPI was 6.07 in July 2016.On the other hand, the Index of industrial production contracted by -3.8 percent in October, official data showed. The dip has mainly been due to poor performance by power, mining and manufacturing sectors. Factory output, as measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had expanded 8.4 per cent in October 2018.A slowdown was witnessed in the manufacturing sector, which declined by 2.1 per cent in October as compared to 8.2 per cent growth a year ago.news18
JNU students boycott exams over fee hike issue
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/jnu-students-boycott-exams-over-fee-hike-issue/articleshow/72490605.cms
JNU students boycotted the exams on Thursday over the hostel fee hike issue, even as the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies (SSIS) saw students appearing for their papers.Sources said exams were also held in School of Engineering and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship.PTI
*WORLD*
Rohingya refugees reject Aung San Suu Kyi's 'lies on genocide'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/rohingya-refugees-reject-aung-san-suu-kyis-lies-genocide-191212032133790.html
Rohingya refugees have accused former Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi of lying to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)in a testimony in which she denied that her country's armed forces were guilty of genocide against the mostly Muslim minority group."World will judge their claim of no genocide with evidence," Mohammed Mohibullah, chairman of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, told AP. "A thief never admits he is a thief, but justice can be delivered through evidence. World has obtained evidence from us," he said at Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar."Even if Suu Kyi lies, she won't be spared. She will certainly face justice.World should take steps against her,"he said.aljazeera
Myanmar cannot be trusted to put own soldiers on trial: Gambia
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/myanmar-trusted-put-soldiers-trial-gambia-191212080207071.html
Myanmar cannot be trusted to hold its soldiers accountable for alleged atrocities against its Rohingya minority, and measures to stop the violence need to be taken immediately, a lawyer presenting a genocide case against it said on Thursday.Speaking on the third and final day of hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case brought by Gambia under the 1948 Genocide Convention, the west African country's lead lawyer repeated its demand for "provisional measures" to restrain the Myanmar military until the case is heard in full.Paul Reichler, said Myanmar had not even tried during the hearings to deny most of the accusations of extreme violence made against its military, known officially as the Tatmadaw, nor of the mass deportation of Rohingya following a 2017 crackdown.aljazeera
ICJ speech: Suu Kyi fails to use 'Rohingya' to describe minority
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/aung-san-suu-kyi-fails-word-rohingya-icj-speech-191212102606322.html
Britons vote in high-stakes election dominated by Brexit
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/hold-britons-vote-election-dominated-brexit-191211125208804.html
London:Voting is under way in the United Kingdom's snap general election, with millions expected to deliver their verdict on the Brexit crisis engulfing British politics.Thursday's ballot will shape how, or whether, the UK will finally exit the European Union after months of parliamentary deadlock over how to execute the result of its 2016 referendum on membership of the bloc.The vote brings to an end a febrile campaign period during which Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party and Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party have offered starkly different visions for resolving the impasse and rebuilding the UK after a decade of austerity.Johnson wants to action a swift exit from the EU, while Corbyn is committed to holding a second referendum over the issue.Polls opened at 7am (7:00 GMT) and close at 10pm local time (22:00 GMT), with final results expected by early Friday morning.aljazeera
Trump impeachment: House panel poised to approve charges
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/trump-impeachment-house-panel-poised-approve-charges-191212131631581.html
Washington, DC:A key committee of the Democrat-led US House of Representatives is poised to approve two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.After working late into the night on Wednesday in an unusually solemn meeting, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to continue that session on Thursday before voting on whether to advance two impeachment articles to the full House for approval next week."President Trump has not only abused his power in the upcoming election he has used a foreign power to do it," said Representative Zoe Lofgren, a senior Democratic member of Judiciary Committee.aljazeera
Amid Criticism, Trump Signs Order Targeting Anti-Semitism at Universities
https://thewire.in/world/amid-criticism-trump-signs-order-targeting-anti-semitism-at-universities
Washington: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to prohibit federal funding for colleges and universities that allow anti–Semitism, but the move drew some criticism for potentially limiting free speech. The order would extend protections against discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights Act to people subjected to anti–Semitism on college campuses.“This is our message to universities: If you want to accept the tremendous amount of federal dollars that you get every year, you must reject anti–Semitism. It’s very simple,” Trump said during a Hanukkah reception at the White House.J Street, a liberal Jewish-American lobbying group, criticised the order.“This executive order, like the stalled congressional legislation it is based on, appears designed less to combat anti–Semitism than to have a chilling effect on free speech and to crack down on campus critics of Israel,” it said in a statement.Pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement over Israel’s policies towards Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza Strip has gained support among some university students in recent years.The movement, however, has received a bipartisan rebuke in the US Congress and many states have passed anti-BDS measures.Some critics argue that participating in boycotts is protected by Americans’ constitutional right to free speech and that legitimate criticism of Israeli policies could be stifled under the name of combating anti–Semitism.Reuters
Iraq protesters form ‘mini-state’ in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iraq-protesters-form-mini-state-in-baghdads-tahrir-square/article30283880.ece
With border guards, clean-up crews and hospitals, Iraqi protesters have created a mini-state in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, offering kinds of services they say their government has failed to provide."We've done more in two months than the state has done in 16 years," said Haydar Chaker, a construction worker from Babylon province, south of the capital.Everyone has their role, from cooking bread to painting murals, with a division of labour and scheduled shifts.Chaker came to Baghdad with his friends after the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage to the Shiite holy city Karbala, his pilgrim's tent and cooking equipment equally useful at a protest encampment. Installed in iconic square whose name means "liberation", he provides 3 meals a day to hundreds of protesters, cooking with donated foods.In the morning he coordinates with the surrounding tents, dividing sacks of rice, sugar, flour and other ingredients then assigning meals, drinks and sandwiches for volunteers to prepare.AFP
Suspected militants attack kills 70 soldiers in Niger; official
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/niger-official-suspected-jihadist-attack-kills-soldiers/article30283395.ece
Niger:Suspected militants ambushed a military post in western Niger and killed at least 70 soldiers, a presidential adviser said late Wednesday, marking the deadliest attack on the West African country’s forces in recent memory.The bloodshed comes just days ahead of a summit in France where French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to meet with West African leaders to discuss the French military’s role in Sahel region. A tweet sent from President Mahamadou Issoufou’s account late Wednesday said that he was returning early from an overseas trip in Egypt following the developments near Niger’s border with Mali. AP
Algeria holds presidential vote despite push for boycott
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/algeria-holds-presidential-vote-push-boycott-191212053659076.html
Polls have opened in a controversial presidential election with critics saying all candidates should be purged because of their ties to the unpopular former govt. Today’s vote is the first since former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced out after a 2-decade-long rule in April in the wake of nationwide peaceful protests.The vote has been deferred twice since the unprecedented leaderless protest movement, commonly referred to as the Hirak, erupted in Feb.Polls opened at 07:00 GMT and will close at 21:00 GMT, though that can be extended. Preliminary results are expected from 23:00 GMT onwards, however, final results likely won't come until at least Friday.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Citizenship law and proposed nation-wide NRC will revise the conception of group rights in India:Christophe Jaffrelot
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/redefining-the-republic-citizenship-amendment-bill-6162526/
Opposition during UPA years, and Supreme Court judgments, must share responsibility for the current economic mess:Kapil Sibal
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/enablers-of-a-slowdown-6162527/
indian express Editorial: Modi govt has bulldozed a poisonous bill through Parliament
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/brute-majority-citizenship-amendment-bill-6162515/
Religious basis of citizenship would be a negation of secularism, liberalism, equality and justice:Faizan Mustafa
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/betrayal-of-the-republic-citizenship-amendment-bill-6160572/
The morning after CAB: It will be a mistake to rely just on Supreme Court:Pratap Bhanu Mehta
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-morning-after-citizenship-amendment-bill-6162497/
Citizenship Amendment Bill is nothing but an ‘irrational fear’ of Muslims:Muddassir Ahmad Qasmi
http://twocircles.net/2019dec11/433613.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Partition Lies and Amit Shah's Theatre of the Absurd:Prem Shankar Jha
https://thewire.in/history/amit-shah-citizenship-amendment-bill-partition-congress
Citizenship Amendment Bill and NRC Will Together Destroy Our Country:Farah Naqvi
https://thewire.in/communalism/nrc-citizenship-amendment-bill-hindu-muslim
BJP needs CAB and NRC to cling to power in the long run:Faraz Ahmad
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/bjp-needs-cab-and-nrc-to-cling-to-power-in-the-long-run
Citizenship Amendment Bill: Gateway to Hindu Rashtra?Zafar Agha
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/gateway-to-hindu-rashtra
Amit Shah,de facto PM, bulldozing history through statements on Partition:Shamsul Islam
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/amit-shah-de-facto-pm-bulldozing-history-through-statements-on-partition
2002 Gujarat riots: Killing of 24 in Anand probably due to a ‘misunderstanding’:indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-gujarat-riots-killing-of-24-in-anand-probably-due-to-a-misunderstanding-6163361/
Gujarat riots: ‘Vadodara police was too exhausted, Ahmedabad force was short-staffed’:indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-gujarat-riots-nanavati-panel-report-vadodara-police-was-too-exhausted-ahmedabad-force-was-short-staffed-6163343/
Bollywood's Panipat irks Afghans over founding father's portrayal
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/panipat-irks-afghans-founding-father-portrayal-191210053601818.html
As civil disobedience, I will register as Muslim and invite the consequences: Harsh Mander INTERVIEW
https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/harsh-mander-civil-disobedience-register-muslim?fbclid=IwAR1vfhwDmFr9qnfsqLHTSVlWvOuVFUrFra_BlMLiqHE9CGz0ViHKvsaqjks
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:40 PM).*
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