*26 DEC. 2019: 28 Rabius Sani 1441: Vol: 12, No: 93
*india: anti-citizenship act stir*
Opposition castigates Army chief for criticising CAA protestors, reminds him of his office’s limits
https://scroll.in/latest/947972/opposition-castigates-army-chief-for-criticising-caa-protestors-reminds-him-of-his-offices-limits
Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat’s criticism of people leading protests against the Citizenship Amendment did not go down well with Opposition parties today, PTI reported. The demonstrations saw some violence in parts of the country, especially UP and Assam, with the police being accused of using excessive force.“As we are witnessing in large number of universities and colleges, students the way they are leading masses and crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns,”Rawat said at an event in Delhi earlier in the day. “This is not leadership...leaders are those who lead people in right direction.” Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa lashed out at Rawat. “Army chief speaking against CAA protests is wholly against constitutional democracy,” he tweeted. “If Army chief is allowed to speak on political issues today, it also permits him to attempt an Army takeover tomorrow!!” Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said he agreed with Rawat, but added that “leaders are not those who allow their followers to indulge in genocide of communal violence”. “Do you agree with me General saheb?” he asked.MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said leadership was about knowing limits of one’s office. “It is about understanding idea of civilian supremacy and preserving the integrity of the institution that you head,” he added.CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury accused Rawat of breaching the limits of his role. Yechury tweeted the formal statement of the party, and said: “Army chief’s statement underlines as to how the situation has degenerated under Modi Govt where the highest officer in uniform can so brazenly breach the limits of his institutional role.”He wondered whether India was going the Pakistan way of politicising the military.scroll
Controversy over Army Chief's "political" view on Citizenship Law protest
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/army-chief-general-bipin-rawat-says-on-citizenship-law-protests-leaders-are-not-those-who-lead-masse-2154552?pfrom=home-topscroll
Rawat accuses universities of stoking anti-CAA tensions, but reports indicate most violence occurred off-campus
https://www.firstpost.com/india/bipin-rawat-accuses-universities-of-stoking-anti-caa-tensions-but-reports-indicate-most-violence-occurred-off-campus-7827861.html
Former Navy chief Ramdas says Gen. Rawat wrong in making political comments
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-navy-chief-ramdas-says-gen-rawat-wrong-in-making-political-comments/articleshow/72982477.cms
Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas on Thursday termed as "wrong" Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat's remarks against the nationwide protests over the new citizenship law, saying people in the armed forces must follow the decades-old principle of serving the country and not any political forces.Ramdas said all the three services have an internal code prescribing that they must be neutral and not partisan, adding that these rules have been bedrock of armed forces for decades."The rule is very clear that we are serving the country and not the political forces and to express any political views as we have heard today are quite a wrong thing for any serving personnel whether he is the top gun or at the bottom rank. It is not proper," Ramdas told PTI.PTI
BJP misread mood on citizenship law, union minister admits:Report
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-misread-the-mood-on-citizenship-law-a-minister-admits-report-2154534?pfrom=home-livetv
Mumbai: The government did not anticipate the protests against a new citizenship law that have raged across the country and is now scrambling to control the damage, members of the ruling BJP have said.In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biggest challenge since taking office in 2014, hundreds of thousands have protested against the law offering citizenship to immigrants from non-Muslim minorities who have fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. BJP leaders were taken aback by the backlash, some party members told Reuters. They said they had been prepared for some anger from Muslims, but not widespread protests that have convulsed most major cities for two weeks.Now the party and the government are reaching out for help in defusing the crisis to allies and opponents sidelined when bill passed earlier this month, the sources said."I really did not see the protests coming... not just me, other BJP lawmakers were also unable to predict this kind of anger," Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan told Reuters.While there is no threat to his big parliamentary majority, PM Modi's reputation as a master strategist with his finger on the pulse of the people has taken a hit.Three other BJP lawmakers and two Union Ministers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were mobilising party supporters from all walks of life to start community dialogues and dispel discontent over the law and the register."I believe that the political math behind the clearance of this law was not taken into account," said one of Union Ministers, an apparent reference to lack of consultation with allies and opposition parties."We are all in damage control mode," said the other Union Minister, adding that BJP and allies have launched a campaign to explain that the law is not discriminatory.RSS, which is the ideological parent of the BJP, has also launched a movement across urban slums to counter opposition to the bill.Analysts say various reasons for discontent were coalescing."It's evident that people are protesting against the law and also venting against Modi's autocratic style of leadership," said Sanjay Kumar, director of research institute the Centre for Study of Developing Societies. "The economic crisis gives further incentive... I don't see these protests fading very soon."When PM Modi, a veteran politician, came to power 5-and-a-half years ago, he promised growth, jobs and development. But he was criticised for haphazard tax reform and shock demonetisation of high value currency notes in his first term - which contributed to an economic slowdown - as well as intolerance for dissent and ignoring anti-Muslim hate crimes."I feel they can't create jobs and hence they are passing such a disturbing law," said Ghanshyam Tiwari, a student protesting in the city of Lucknow this month."For the first time in India's history a law has been framed on the basis of religion," Prithviraj Chavan, a senior Congress leader, told Reuters. "The ruling party's strategy to make India a Hindu-first nation has backfired."Reuters
Either repeal Citizenship Act or bring Muslims under it: AIMPLB chief Maulana Rabey Nadwi
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/either-repeal-citizenship-act-or-bring-muslims-under-it-aimplb/1804318/
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) chief Maulana Rabey Hasani Nadwi has demanded that the Modi Govt either repeal or bring Muslims under the ambit of the Citizenship Act. The law was amended earlier this month to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims coming to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh due to religious persecution there.Nadwi said in a statement that CAA is not right for the country and for the community. He said the country is witnessing disturbances due to the law.“Keeping meeping Muslims out of its ambit amounts to damaging the secular nature of India. It is also adversely affecting the respect that our country enjoys across the world,” he said. AIMPLB chief also made an appeal to the people to not indulge in violence, damage public property and protest in a democratic manner.“Our democracy gives everyone the right to protest, but people should refrain from acting in a violent or aggressive manner,” Maulana Nadwi who also is the rector of Nadwa, said.financialexpress
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind writes to all CMs, urges them to stop NPR
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/dec/26/jamaat-writes-to-all-cms-urges-them-to-stop-npr-2081065.html
New Delhi:Prominent Muslim organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has written to all CMs, urging them to stop stop the process of NPR until the Centre announces rollback of the proposed NRC and repeals the Citizenship Amendment Act. Stating that NPR should not be seen in isolation, JIH said, “The combination of three creates a situation in which Muslims of India will be stripped of their citizenship and sent to detention centres as has been played out in the state of Assam.” The letter addressed to CMs by JIH president Syed Sadatullah Hussaini states, “We urge you to disallow the implementation of the proposed NRC in your state. As “law and order” is a state subject, you are quite within your constitutional rights to ensure the non-implementation of NRC. We also urge you to stop the process of NPR until the Centre assures the nation that it will not implement NRC and shall roll back CAA.”The letter says the states can play a crucial role in upholding the idea of India as a constitutional, secular and plural democracy. “We are confident that you will not disappoint the people...Jamaat is mobilising the peace and justice-loving citizens and submitting memorandums to various ministries and district collectors against CAA and NRC.newindianexpress
New NPR questions related to NRC, Govt conspiracy: Congress
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congresss-ajay-maken-says-new-npr-questions-are-related-to-nrc-Govt-conspiracy-2154781?pfrom=home-topstories
New Delhi: Congress today claimed that details collected from the fresh questions included in National Population Register are linked to NRC, and are part of a conspiracy by the Govt to push citizens' list in "garb of NPR".NPR - a data base linked to population census- announced by the Govt on Tuesday, requires people to declare the "date and place of birth of both parents" for the first time. In the last NPR, data was collected on 15 criteria. This time data on 21 points will be collected. These include last place of residence, passport number, Aadhaar ID, Voter ID card number, drivers' license number and mobile phone number, which were not asked before."In this (NPR), a person like me might have a problem- if a person like me is asked where your father and mother were born, my parents were born in Pakistan. Where will I get their details," Congress leader Akay Maken said at a press conference today."Then there is another provision that infringes upon our right to privacy.They ask, 'if available', provide Aadhaar number, mobile number, voter id number, driving licence number. What is the need for licence number, Aadhaar number and my phone number in (proving) usual residence," he added."Many BJP leaders are saying that people would be asked to provide these details 'voluntarily'. I would like to draw your attention- it is written 'if available'. So if you say no, it means you don't have your Aadhaar number. Can I say I don't have my mobile number? Nowhere it is written that it is voluntary. So those who don't give these details will be marked, and they would be omitted from NRC which will be prepared on NPR's basis."The questions they have added now, all these questions are related to NRC, and in no way the questions they have added are required for usual residence definition."This is a conspiracy of the Govt to present NRC in the garb of NPR," he added.ndtv
Neither CAA, nor NPR linked to NRC; opposition carrying out false propaganda: Ram Madhav
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/neither-caa-nor-npr-linked-to-nrc-opposition-carrying-out-false-propaganda-ram-madhav/article30402946.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said neither the CAA nor the NPR has any link with the NRC and alleged that the Opposition is carrying out a false propaganda to malign the PM Modi-led Govt. Seeking to dispel fears that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is against Muslims, he said in the past too India has granted citizenship to those fleeing persecution in their native countries.PTI
Chidambaram says Congress' NPR form had different context from BJP's; terms Centre's population log part of 'sinister agenda'
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/p-chidambaram-says-congress-npr-form-had-different-context-from-bjps-terms-centres-population-log-part-of-sinister-agenda-7827711.html
Days after BJP replugged a video of Sonia Gandhi enumerating for NPR, Congress leader P Chidambaram lashed out at the ruling party for conflating Congress-era exercise with what BJP has planned to undertake in the shadows of nationwide protests against NRC— a so-called log of 'true' Indian citizens to weed out 'illegal immigrants' from the country. BJP had also earlier released a video of former PM Manmohan Singh batting for granting of citizenship to persecuted minorities in neighbouring countries, under CAA. Chidambaram said that under the UPA, the stress was on residency and not citizenship, as under the BJP's version of the exercise. He alleged that NPR approved by BJP Govt was different and dangerous in terms of the "text and context" of the data collection done in 2010.firstpost
'NDA allies not consulted,no respect given': Akali leader slams BJP for exclusion of Muslims in CAA
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/nda-allies-not-consulted-no-respect-given-akali-dal-leader-slams-bjp-for-exclusion-of-muslims-in-caa-2435517.html
New Delhi:Fissures in BJP-led NDA have begun to surface after the passage of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, in the Parliament as allies open up about their dissatisfaction with Union Govt. Recently, NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal urged the Modi Govt to make the “necessary amends” in the Act to include Muslims in its ambit.SAD leader Naresh Gujral said that BJP must learn from late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee how to respect the allies and urged the Govt to reconsider the changes proposed by NDA supporters. “Otherwise we may rethink our support if amends were not made,” he said.Urging the Govt to include Muslims in the list of refugees in the newly amended Citizenship Act, Gujral warned BJP that his party was "against NRC" and are thus unhappy with the way the allies are being treated in NDA. Besides, referring to key legislations like the Citizenship Act, SAD leader criticised BJP-led NDA for not encouraging debates over bills and said that discussion and consultations with allies “unfortunately do not take place”. “This is why bulk of NDA allies are unhappy," he said.“As I've said, I've talked to many other allies and nobody is really happy. Nobody is happy with the fact meetings don't happen from time to time and I think some amends needs to be made," he said with regard to withdrawing support from the Union Govt.Gujral clarified that even though SAD voted for the CAA in the Parliament, party chief Sukhbir Badal had said that Muslims must be included.MP categorically stated that SAD opposes the nationwide implementation of NRC over creation of "insecurity in minds of minority communities."News18
Sambhaji Bhide claims Hindu society is '100% impotent' when it comes to nationalism, while praising new CAA
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/sambhaji-bhide-hindu-society-impotent-nationalism-caa-protests-citizenship-law-573745
Controversial right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide has said the Hindu society is "napunsak" (impotent) when it comes to nationalism even as he praised the new citizenship law.He also said that expecting nationalism from Muslims in India is "stupidity"."When it comes to nationalism, Hindu society is 100 % 'napunsak'. Like an infertile person is of no use for reproduction, similar traits are shown by Hindu society when it comes to the national interest. We lack the understanding about the national interest," Bhide told reporters in Sangli in western Maharashtra.Bhide, who heads Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan and an accused in the 2018 Koregaon Bhima violence case, said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) binds Indians, contrary to the false perception being created by some people. "This new Citizenship Act is very good for our country," he said. He also lauded PM Narendra Modi for abrogating the special status of J&K and the practice of triple Talaq among Muslims.PTI
Police launched unprovoked & brutal attack on students and staff in Jamia: PUDR report
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/pudr-fact-finding-team-says-2-attacks-on-jamia-protesters
A fact-finding team of People's Union on Democratic Rights (PUDR) on the violence in Jamia Millia Islamia said its report has found that there were two attacks by the police on the protesters in the university campus, with the first one on Dec. 13. The second incident happened on Dec. 15.The report said, "that ahead of Dec. 15 the police stopped the protesters on 13th and lathi-charged and tear-gassed them while they were trying to march towards Parliament."It said Delhi Police barged into the campus and used brute force against the students. The police on Dec. 15 also used brute force strategically and in a planned manner and this was like a force against the enemy, not against the protesters.The report said that students were protesting since Dec. 12. The fact finding team met the student eyewitnesses and other individuals.It said that the use of police force was unwarranted as the police say that this was to only stop stone pelting, but the use of force and firing of 400 teargas shells and people being beaten on the head and abdomen shows otherwise.nationalheraldindia
In absence of union, Jamia panel leads protests against NRC, citizenship law
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-absence-of-union-jamia-panel-leads-protests-against-nrc-citizenship-law/story-Z7evIQZGKFVNKvbTU86kyK.html
New Delhi: As students of Jamia Millia Islamia continued to demonstrate against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the absence of an official students’ union stood out. Jamia’s last students’ union was disbanded in 2006 and the matter is currently sub-judice.“Having an elected body means that the collective voice can be known through union,” said Professor Rizwan Qaiser, who was the secretary of Jamia Teachers’ Association when the last students’ union was disbanded. A senior official of the varsity said the administration had no role in the matter. “Many among those who were leading the movement till Dec. 15 were injured or scared or had lost their phones. Everything was scattered, campus was closed, and spontaneous protests continued. So, we set up Jamia coordination committee (JCC) which has representatives from around 15 students’ outfits on campus,” said Safoora Zargar, an independent member of the committee and an Mphil student.JCC has been involved in organising peaceful protests since.In order to take decisions on modes of protest and innovative ideas of demonstration, JCC conducts general body meetings with over 45 students ‘representatives from different outfits, including AISA, SFI, DISC, CYSS, and Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO). The students also arrange for talks by academicians and carry out awareness campaigns on CAA in the locality. HT
‘Spineless’: In open letter, Jadavpur University students ‘rusticate’ Chancellor
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/spineless-in-open-letter-jadavpur-university-students-rusticate-chancellor-6184960/
Kolkata :In an open letter, Jadavpur University (JU) students have announced their decision to rusticate West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the university Chancellor. The letter, which was written on Tuesday, also had a report card that described the Governor as “spineless”.The letter was published after the Governor had tried to enter the campus to attend a court meeting on Monday and JU convocation on Tuesday, but faced back-to-back resistance from university students and staff on both the days.In their letter, the students’ body wrote “You (Dhankhar) are being informed of your rustication from the position of Chancellor of Jadavpur University. The students’ body of Jadavpur University has also decided to disown you from the position of the West Bengal Governor.”In the report card published in the letter, students wrote that the Governor’s general knowledge was less than satisfactory, arguing capability was poor, sense of history was nil and strength was unwavering dedication to ignoring violence against students, activists and Muslims. They also wrote that his overall character was spineless.indianexpress
‘Don’t fear anybody’: Mamata asks students to carry on with CAA protests
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/warn-bjp-not-to-play-with-fire-mamata-banerjee-assures-students-to-continue-caa-protests-6185834/
Leading yet another protest march over the amended Citizenship Act, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee today asked students to carry on with their protests and “not fear anybody”.Warning BJP against “playing with fire”, CM Mamata also asserted that peaceful protests will continue as long as the new citizenship law is not withdrawn. “Do not fear anybody. I warn BJP not to play with fire,” Banerjee told protesting students, adding that she would always be by their side. CM, who was leading a protest march from Rajabazar to Mullick Bazar in central Kolkata, also alleged that BJP was threatening students, PTI reported.“We express our solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia, IIT Kanpur and other universities who are protesting against CAA and NRC,” she said.indianexpress
How young lawyers are working ‘like a tsunami’ to help detained CAA protesters
https://theprint.in/india/how-young-lawyers-are-working-like-a-tsunami-to-help-detained-caa-protesters/340811/
New Delhi: “Protestors have been detained, lawyers needed at Kalkaji PS”. This was one of the first messages that started doing the rounds on social media on 15 Dec., after at least 40 students were detained following protests at Jamia Millia Islamia. Within an hour, several dozen lawyers reached the police station, demanding to meet those detained.Since then, as protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act have spread across the country, such SOS messages have become a routine affair.Hundreds of lawyers have joined forces to help the detainees, pooling in resources, running from pillar to post to meet them, consulting with the family members, and issuing advisories and explainers to inform protesters about their rights.For 29-year-old Mishika Singh, it began with a message circulated over WhatsApp, stating that a legal team working under the supervision of senior advocate Prashant Bhushan would be present during the protests around Mandi House and ITO in Delhi.A few lawyers finally managed to get an order from a magistrate, who not only allowed advocates to meet the detainees, but also noted that detention of minors in a police station was a “flagrant violation of law”.theprint
CAA:Prakash Ambedkar demands resignation of Amit Shah
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/caa-prakash-ambedkar-demands-resignation-of-amit-shah
Mumbai:Accusing BJP and RSS for trying to divide the country, Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi President Prakash Ambedkar demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.Ambedkar accused Shah of creating a mass unrest in the country by bringing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).Accusing the Govt for spreading 'misinformation' on the detention camps, Ambedkar claimed that these detention camps have been existing in places like Assam, but nobody knew how many people were kept there, and even in Navi Mumbai one detention camp exist. IANS
MIT Students, Teachers express solidarity protests against Citizenship Law, NRC
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-act-protests-what-mit-students-teachers-said-on-indias-citizenship-law-protest-2154573?pfrom=home-topstories
New Delhi: The "enormity" of the new citizenship law and the citizens' list NRC combined will "irrevocably redefine Indian citizenship", wrote over 130 students, faculty, staff and alumni of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as they expressed solidarity with the student protests that have erupted across India.They said the democratic and secular foundation of the country is "under imminent threat".Condemning the police action on the students of Delhi's Jamia Milia Isliamia and AMU, as well as the crackdown on protests in other parts of the country, 135 students, faculty, staff and alumni of the prestigious university praised those who hit the streets in protest.Students across the world, including those from Oxford University and Harvard University, have expressed concern over the use of police force during the protests.ndtv
Ground Report: In Mangaluru, a Police Which 'Fires, Storms Hospitals, Shouts Anti-Muslim Slurs'
https://thewire.in/communalism/mangaluru-caa-protests-police-ground-report
Mangaluru:“It is tiring,” says 10-year-old Sabil.“People keep asking me what I saw that evening. What did I see? Nothing…just my father drop dead in front of my eyes,” he adds. Anger and sadness rush in at once.“Finished him right in front of my eyes’.” Sabil’s father Abdul Jaleel was one of the two victims of police atrocity in Mangaluru, in the Dakshina Kannada district, on Dec. 19. Jaleel, according to his younger son Sabil had just stepped out of their house to offer Asr namaz, at around 4 pm, when he was hit by a stray bullet fired by the police, on his left eye.The bullet had passed through and Jaleel had died instantly. The police have maintained they had resorted to firing only to disperse the “unruly crowd” that had allegedly turned violent. The protesters had gathered against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). But, Sabil says, they were neither unruly, nor violent.Jaleel, a 49- year-old worker at the fish market nearby was a resident of the Bandar area in Mangaluru city. On that fateful evening, he had decided to get home earlier than usual.“‘Police have acted so cruelly. There is no guarantee that they won’t repeat it again’,” says Sakina, Jaleel’s sister-in- law. Sakina, lecturer at Badriya College in Mangaluru, tells The Wire that Jaleel was never particularly interested in political news. “I am sure he hadn’t even heard of CAA. He has never participated in any protest and I am certain, he had no role here too,” Sakina adds. Mangaluru police, after killing two persons and injuring several more in the violence, have also booked them in cases of rioting and attempt to murder, among others. The police’s claims do not match the several video clips that have been released in the past week. 78 people have been named and another 1,145 “unknown persons” are mentioned in FIRs across different police stations of Mangaluru city. Chilling CCTV footage of the police entering the hospital and kicking at the door of the ICU door have since gone viral. thewire
Anti-CAA protests: 1,000 lawyers distance themselves from Bar Council of India stand
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-caa-protests-1000-lawyers-distance-themselves-from-bci-stand/article30400485.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi :Close to 1,000 lawyers from across the country have distanced themselves from the statements made by Bar Council of India (BCI) on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the protests against it.The lawyers disassociated themselves from BCI’s resolution dated Dec. 22, stating that it did not represent the views of the Bar. “While the individual office-bearers of BCI are free to express their opinions in their personal capacity, the use of the BCI’s platform to express the personal views of some is a disservice to the principles that the BCI stands for,” said a statement released by them on Thursday.The lawyers said the resolution did not speak for all advocates as several of them had condemned the disparate impact of the CAA on minorities and the excesses of police forces.thehindu
Anti-CAA protests continue unabated in Assam
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/anti-caa-protests-continue-unabated-in-assam-11577211707708.html
Protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act continued unabated across Assam on Thursday, primarily under the aegis of student bodies AASU and AJYCP, with agitators vowing not to relent till the law is scrapped. Opposition Congress, which has kickstarted an 800-km 'padyatra' from Sadiya in eastern Assam to Dhubri in the western end of the state, reached Demow in Sivasagar district with thousands of participants.The largest anti-CAA gathering took place at Tangla in Udalguri district under the banner of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU).PTI
No NIA custody for Assam activist Akhil Gogoi arrested over protest, sent to jail
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/probe-agency-raids-guwahati-home-of-assam-activist-akhil-gogoi-arrested-over-protest-2154571?pfrom=home-topscroll
Guwahati: Assam activist Akhil Gogoi, arrested under the stringent UAPA earlier this month amid protests over the new citizenship law, has been sent to judicial custody till Jan.10. NIA, which had raided his home in Guwahati this morning, had asked for further custody in court today, but it was rejected. Akhil Gogoi has been accused of having links with a banned Maoist group. The activist tried to use the anti-citizenship law movement in Assam to help the Maoists establish base in the state, the probe agency officials have claimed. In today's raids, NIA seized Akhil Gogoi's old laptop and several documents, including RTIs filed by him,his wife Geetashree Tamuly said. "They also took a diary that he wrote when he was jailed the last time. He wanted to write a book on his experiences in the jail. We requested the officials to let us keep a copy but they didn't allow," she said. Akhil Gogoi was arrested on Dec. 12 amid widespread protests against the amended Citizenship Act across the state. 5 days later, he was sent to NIA custody by a special court in Guwahati. ndtv
Over 60 student outfits join hands to fight CAA, NRC, NPR
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/over-60-student-outfits-join-hands-to-fight-caa-nrc-npr/article30392034.ece
Over 60 student unions and youth organisations have come together to form Young India National Coordination Committee (YINCC) in order to consolidate student-led protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the proposed nationwide NRC, and updating of the NPR.Launching their campaign, the students said the protests had started at various campuses across India and they would now be able to take the movement further in a planned manner.“Indians are resisting the dangerous design of the divisive amended Citizenship Act and the NRC with heroic grit and braving all repression. The students and youth of the country are leading the fight against the threat that CAA-NRC poses to the democratic and inclusive character of India enshrined in our Constitution,” the students said.They added that an pan-India NRC would disenfranchise crores of Indians, including Muslims, poor and underprivileged. On the other hand, NPR was not a simple population-counting exercise but a first step towards declaring citizens as “doubtful” or illegal citizens, the students said. Rahul Chettri, from the Dibrugarh Students’ Union, said that the fight against CAA-NRC in Assam was to protect the State’s unique culture, but the agitation at AMU and Jamia Millia got nationwide importance. The students have planned to observe Jan. 1 as the beginning of a year of struggles for the rights and dignity of the people.thehindu
CAA protests LIVE: Left parties call for week-long protests from Jan 1-7
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/citizenship-amendment-act-live-updates-nrc-pm-modi-npr-protests-jp-nadda-6185605/
Left parties, including CPI(M), CPI, CPI(M-L)-Liberation, All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party, have called for week-long protests from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, against the CAA, NRC, NPR, mounting miseries of people due to economic slowdown, and in solidarity with the all India General Strike on Jan. 8.
Daryaganj violence: Court to pronounce order on bail plea of 15 accused on Dec. 28
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2019/dec/26/daryaganj-violence-court-to-pronounce-order-on-bail-plea-of-15-accused-on-Dec.-28-2081237.html
A Delhi court reserved till Dec. 28 the verdict on a bail petition moved by 15 accused who were arrested after a protest in Delhi's Daryaganj area against CAA turned violent last week. Sessions Judge Satish Kumar heard the bail plea of 9 accused today and later reserved the verdict. Delhi Police had arrested 15 people and detained 40 on Dec. 20 after police and protestors clashed in the area. All 15 accused were then sent to 14-days judicial custody.Initially, 6 accused moved the court seeking bail. On their petition, the court had issued a notice to the Delhi Police and slated the matter for hearing to Dec. 28. Other 9 approached the court seeking bail later.ANI
German student expelled for protesting against CAA says political freedom needs support of millions
https://scroll.in/latest/947971/german-student-expelled-for-protesting-against-caa-says-political-freedom-needs-support-of-millions
A German exchange student at IIT-Madras sent back to his country for participating in protests against the Citizenship Act on Wednesday said the demonstration show that political freedom and rule of law need the support of millions of people. Jakob Lindenthal thanked his supporters and well-wishers for “all the huge solidarity...legal advice and shelter”.“These events [the protests against the Act and NRC] show that political freedom and rule of law need support of millions of open eyes and loud voices,” Lindenthal, who landed in the Dutch city of Amsterdam wrote on Facebook. Scroll
Media images of ‘NPR 2020 forms’ spark confusion
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-population-register-2020-form-images-spark-confusion/article30397870.ece
NEW DELHI:Confusion prevailed after images of forms of ‘National Population Register (NPR) 2020’ seeking details on “place of birth of father and mother” started doing the rounds on social media, even though Home Minister Amit Shah clarified a day ago that there was “no link between NPR and NRC.”A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spokesperson told The Hindu that the form or the schedule to collect data for the NPR has not been finalised yet.Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted an image of ‘NPR-2020’ saying that “NPR will be raw Data of NRC.” “HM @AmitShah says NPR is register of population, NRC is register of citizens. if that is so how is it relevant to ask whether my parents were born in India or abroad? See encircled red box. Nothing but elements of NRC being smuggled into NPR. NPR will be raw Data of NRC,” Mr. Tewari said.
‘RSS PM lies to Bharat Mata’: Rahul Gandhi hits out at Modi over ‘no detention centres’ claim
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-on-detention-centres-assam-pm-narendra-modi-caa-nrc-rss-6185438/
New Delhi :Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday for his claim that there were no detention centres in India, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged that “RSS’s Prime Minister lies to Bharat Mata”. Gandhi attached a video, which purportedly shows an under-construction detention centre in Assam. “RSS’s Prime Minister lies to Bharat Mata,” Gandhi said in the tweet in Hindi with the hashtag ‘Jhoot Jhoot Jhoot (lies, lies, lies).indianexpress
PM’s ‘no-talks-on-NRC’ remark a tactical retreat: JD(U)’s Prashant Kishor
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-awaiting-supreme-court-order-on-nrc-process-will-be-back-jdu-prashant-kishor-6185486/
JD(U) vice-president Prashant Kishor, who has been critical of the proposed implementation of nationwide NRC, dubbed PM’s rhetoric of “Abhi toh NRC ki koi charcha hi nahi hui hai“, as a “pause and not a full stop”.“The claim of “Abhi toh NRC ki koi charcha hi nahi hui hain” is nothing but a tactical retreat in the face of the nationwide protest against #CAA_NRC. It is a pause and not full stop,” Kishor wrote on Twitter.indianexpress
Kuwaiti MPs urge help for Uighurs, Indian Muslims
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/kuwaiti-mps-urge-help-for-uighurs-indian-muslims/1683745?fbclid=IwAR0QG94XNwcybigKO_v_UB7v_j87KaDRYxQzDtLSViqlwRjXQqTMO13iKyw
Kuwaiti lawmakers have called on their government to intervene to stop persecution of Muslims in East Turkistan and India. A group of 27 MPs signed a statement in which they underlined solidarity with Uighur Muslims against China's systematic campaign against their community. Kuwaiti lawmakers voiced concern over recent restrictions against Muslims in India.Protests have erupted in India against a new law granting citizenship to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians -- but not Muslims -- who migrated from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.Activists have called the law discriminatory, fearing that it was aimed at disenfranchising Indian Muslims. However, PM Narendra Modi has rejected such claims.Anadolu Agency
Won’t pursue NRC in Bengal, says State BJP chief in a U-turn
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/wont-pursue-nrc-in-bengal-says-state-bjp-chief-in-a-u-turn/article30397298.ece?fbclid=IwAR2qTRnxf72jJgT8b9c6qKiP-JpHvOGLLKP9CVoK9-PcKfcYWt5oUQcXkiA
After repeatedly campaigning for NRC in West Bengal, State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said NRC is “a matter of future”, indicating that the party would not pursue it in Bengal. Exactly a year ago, Mr. Ghosh told The Hindu that NRC is inevitable in Bengal and the party has publicly advocated for it. Asked about its implementation, Mr. Ghosh said, “When would it take place and what would happen is a matter of future.” “NRC was implemented in Assam owing to a Supreme Court order. Rajiv Gandhi made the agreement saying they will do the NRC. BJP did not make the agreement [and] it went to court. On the basis of the court order, it was implemented [in Assam], this has to be made clear,” Mr. Ghosh told journalists in Jalpaiguri. While connecting the NRC with Rajiv Gandhi, BJP is now trying to “distance itself from it and shift the onus on the Congress,” say observers. He clarified that the Central government will take a call, if need be.“If there is a need for countrywide NRC, the Central government will think about it,” said BJP MP. Ghosh, a senior member of the RSS, always advocated the NRC in Bengal. Even after last November’s defeat in three Assembly bypolls, he said it is ‘premature’ to hold the NRC responsible for the defeat.thehindu
Parties, activists question Mumbai Police chief remarks defending CAA, NRC
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/the-curious-case-of-the-commissioners-comments/22326189
Mumbai:Mumbai police chief Sanjay Barve has raised eyebrows after he came out in support of the Citizen (Amendment) Act (CAA) and NRC while addressing preachers from the Muslim community on Wednesday. MAHA Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) partner NCP, asked him to refrain from making political comments and focus on law and order. Congress and NCP are completely against the law. Shiv Sena had voted in favour of the bill in Lok Sabha and walked out of the Rajya Sabha when it was tabled. CM Uddhav Thackeray has also assured Muslims that the law will not be implemented in the state and no one has to worry about their citizenship. According to sources, Mumbai police's intelligence department has shared inputs about unrest in the Muslim community over CAA and NRC. Following the inputs, Barve called a meeting with community and religious leaders, during which he said, "I was born at home and I don't have a birth certificate. This doesn't mean I will be thrown out of the country. I will prove my citizenship whenever required. Indians living here legally won't be impacted by CAA and NRC. If I have nothing to worry about, then how are Muslims going to lose their citizenship? Misinformation is being spread among Muslims and they have been misguided about the law."When asked about his remarks blaming the leftist ideology, he said, "Misconceptions and rumours are there, we know they are being spread through social media. There are some people trying to disturb peace and harmony; we know who are they but we are keeping the city safe." "Barve's job is to maintain law and order in the city. He should refrain from making political comments. If he said something like this, it is serious. Our stand is clear that we will not support any law which is biased towards any religion," said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik.Reacting sharply to Barve's comments, former chief minister Ashok Chavan said, "This is a mass movement by the people of India, the entire country is protesting against the law; the commissioner's statement is wrong. I want to know if this is the government's stand."Officers at such high position should be guarded about what they are saying publicly," said retired IPS officer, P K Jain. mid-day
Gujarat scribe Desai, fasting against CAA, thrown out of Sabarmati Ashram, picked up by police
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/gujarat-scribe-nachiketa-desai-fasting-against-caa-thrown-out-of-sabarmati-ashram-picked-up-by-police?fbclid=IwAR0pkR5x-te2MuvGKvBZGchneYcPM6FrYn6ZKtt3kuab_Hp1DTObvfIuu0k
Sabarmati Ashram is a natural venue for a person moulded in Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals to sit on a protest against state repression and draconian laws. It was from here that Gandhi had launched famous Salt Satyagrah. Therefore, it was natural for journalist, activist and Gandhian Nachiketa Desai to sit down in a corner of Bapu’s ashram when he decided to lodge a peaceful protest against the CAA and the police brutality unleashed on the protesters in BJP-ruled states including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi. Bapu had done innumerable peaceful protests like this. But what even the colonial British spared Gandhi, the Constitutionally elected government of Gujarat did not to Nachiketa Desai.On Wednesda, Desai reached the Sabarmati Ashram and sat on a protest fast. As the word spread, the Ashram management came rushing and bundled Desai out of the Ashram in no time, not ready to listen to any reasoning from Desai.nationalheraldindia
Won’t protest:Ahmedabad's Nirma University students made to give undertaking
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/wont-protest-nirma-university-students-made-to-give-undertaking-6184928/lite/?__twitter_impression=true
Ahmedabad :Nirma University’s Institute of Law has sought an undertaking from a few of its students who took part in a recent protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that they would refrain from participating in any protest in the future.The university also sent an advisory to their parents, asking them to “counsel” their wards.A few students of Institute of Law from Ahmedabad-based private university participated in a protest outside Gandhi Ashram on December 17. Out of more than a dozen students who participated in the protest, around five were asked to give the undertaking. They were identified by the university from pictures published by local newspapers.indianexpress
*CAA-NRC protests:CRACKDOWN IN UP*
Anti-CAA protests: 1,113 arrests, 5,558 preventive detentions, 19 dead in UP
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-caa-protests-1113-arrests-5558-preventive-detentions-19-dead-in-up/article30402858.ece?homepage=true
Over 1,100 people are under arrest and 5,558 kept in preventive detention following violence related to the anti-citizenship amendment act protests, officials said on Thursday, putting the death toll in police clashes across the State at 19. Giving details of the protests that have rocked the country’s most populous state since last week, police officials said 5 people were killed in Firozabad, 4 in Meerut, 3 in Kanpur, 2 each in Sambhal and Bijnor and one each in Muzaffarnagar, Rampur and Lucknow.The tally does not take into account 8-year-old killed in Varanasi on Dec. 20. “8-year-old was not killed in police action but in a stampede when protesters were retreating,” a senior police official said.The state police cracked down on possible troublemakers and kept 5,558 people in preventive detention. As many as 351 policemen were also injured in the anti-CAA protests, he said.1,113 arrested include social activist and Congress worker Sadaf Jafar and noted theatre artist Deepak Kabir who are being kept in a Lucknow jail.PTI
Citizenship Act:Now 295 people of 8 UP districts get notices to pay damages of Rs 1.9 crore during protests
https://scroll.in/latest/947966/citizenship-act-after-rampur-seven-up-districts-start-recovering-damages-from-suspected-protestors
2 days after it came to light that UP’s Rampur district administration has asked 28 people to explain why they should not pay for damage worth Rs 14.86 lakh caused during anti-Citizenship Act protests, HT eported that such notices had also been sent to people in 6 other districts.According to senior officials, 295 people in districts of Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Sambhal, Rampur, Bijnor and Bulandshahr have received notices in connection with property damage worth at least Rs 1.9 crore. Sambhal's ADM Kamlesh Awasthi told PTI that the notices had been sent to 26 people involved in the protests. Till now, the police have arrested 48 people and identified 55 for their alleged involvement in violence protests. The police have put out a series of reward posters and videos across the state to identify suspected protestors. Police in Sambhal have released posters of 150 such people. The highest claim of damages – Rs 56.7 lakh – was reported from Muzaffarnagar district, but ADMAmit Singh told HT that the claims assessment process would go on till Dec. 30.At least 100 people in Lucknow district received the notices. In Kanpur, 15 people were asked to explain why they should not pay for damage worth Rs 10.97 lakh, said SP Anant Deo Tiwari. 50 people were served the notices in Muzaffarnagar, according to DM Selva Kumari J.Show-cause notices were issued to 43 people in Bijnor district for damage worth Rs 19.70 lakh, while Bulandshahr administration is looking to recover Rs 6 lakh from suspected protestors. In Meerut, 12 notices were issued while 33 were issued in Gorakhpur.Districts such as Varanasi, Agra, Gorakhpur, Aligarh, and Hapur are still carrying out assessments and may send the notices to more than 200 people today.scroll
UP anti-CAA stir: Sambhal admin.issues notice to 26 people for damaging property during protests
https://www.firstpost.com/india/uttar-pradesh-anti-caa-stir-sambhal-district-administration-issues-notice-to-26-people-for-damaging-property-during-protests-7828251.html
Over 200 Detained During Protest Outside UP Bhawan against 'Police Atrocities'
https://www.news18.com/news/india/over-200-detained-during-protest-outside-up-bhawan-against-police-atrocities-2436765.html
New Delhi: Over 200 people were detained on Thursday after they staged a demonstration outside UP Bhawan in Delhi against the alleged police atrocities in the state during protests against the amended Citizenship Act, officials said.Scores of people from all walks of life had gathered outside UP Bhawan to protest against the alleged "undemocratic onslaught on organisations and activists in the state".The protesters who came from Jamia Nagar, Nangaloi and Seelampur were detained and taken to nearby police stations, a senior police officer said."A total of 213 people detained from outside UP Bhawan for protesting without permission. They were detained and taken to the Mandir Marg police station and Connaught Place police station," the officer said.The protesters also demanded release of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad who was arrested in connection with the violence in Old Delhi's Daryaganj recently.PTI
Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey writes to CM, deplores UP govt’s vengeance against protesters
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/magsaysay-awardee-up-adityanath-vengeance-protesters-caa-1631662-2019-12-26
Lucknow:Failing to get an appointment with UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey on Thursday wrote an open letter to him stating that the "vengeance" with which the UP Govt was acting against protesting activists is condemnable and called for "more maturity and restraint". Pandey, an academic and a social activist, has also alleged in his letter that "anarchist elements" were responsible for violence though action is being taken against people who have adopted peaceful means of protests and have faith in the country's Constitution. "If you (CM) will send social activists, who have faith in the Constitution, to jail because your police in unable to identify the anarchist elements, then peaceful means of expressing dissent against Govt in a democracy will be eliminated and anarchist elements will easily be able to mislead common people," he said. He pointed out that in FIRs registered over violence during protests in Lucknow, most of the accused are Muslims.PTI
UP police shot and killed Muslims who weren't even protesting: activist Kavita Krishnan
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/uttar-pradesh-police-muslims-killed-caa-protests-kavita-krishnan_in_5e044bdce4b05b08babc8cc7
As protests continue across the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), UP has emerged as the state which is not permitting even a modicum of dissent. Under CM Yogi Adityanath, UP Police is detaining thousands of people, raiding Muslim homes, and using unrest as a licence to shoot people in contravention of the law. This week, HuffPost Indiareported that children between the ages of 13 and 17 were picked up in a raid and tortured by the police in Bijnor. Women protestors in Lucknow said the police beat them with their batons and hurled abuses at peaceful protestors.HuffPost India spoke with women’s rights activist Kavita Krishnan, who has returned from a fact-finding mission in Meerut, along with political activist Yogendra Yadav and Nadeem Khan, the founder of United Against Hate.Krishnan says policemen in Meerut chased people into narrow lanes and shot them from the back. “Many of them were not protestors at all,” she said. “The people who have died are largely labourers and very very poor workers.”huffingtonpost
'Reign of terror in UP': Police framing false charges against anti-CAA protesters, govt spreading lies about NPR, NRC, claim activists
https://www.firstpost.com/india/reign-of-terror-in-uttar-pradesh-police-framing-false-charges-against-anti-caa-protesters-govt-spreading-lies-about-npr-nrc-claim-activists-7827991.html
New Delhi: Rights activists on Thursday alleged that there was a "reign of terror" prevailing in UP and the police was framing false charges against people to crack down on protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC.Rights activist Harsh Mander, at a press conference here, said according to law the Govt could use the details gathered in NPR to identify people as "doubtful citizens" and then use it for NRC.He alleged that the central Govt was spreading "blatant lies" on NRC and NPR to forward their divisive agenda.Citing "police brutality" against AMU students, he alleged that it seems the entire state is at "an open war with a segment if its citizens". "A reign of terror is prevailing in UP," Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav said.firstpost
Anti-CAA protests: Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen, other film artistes for judicial probe into UP violence
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/uttar-pradesh/anti-caa-protests-anurag-kashyap-aparna-sen-and-other-film-artistes-for-judicial-probe-into-uttar-pradesh-violence/cid/1730446
Declaring that they don't support any form of vandalism, a group of film industry insiders, including Anurag Kashyap and Aparna Sen, today asked for an independent judicial probe into the violence against anti-CAA protesters in UP.The appeal to courts was read out at a press conference here by actors Swara Bhasker and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. Stating that they "do not endorse or support any form of violence or vandalism", the group said the "sacred right" of citizens to protest peacefully had been violated in the state.The letter -- signed by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Aparna Sen and Alankrita Shrivastava as well as actors Kubbra Sait, Mallika Dua, Konkona Sen-Sharma, Ayyub and Bhasker -- urged Indian courts "to take suo motu cognizance of what has ensued in UP and request that a judicial inquiry be instituted into the loss of life and limb and damage to property". PTI
Actors Condemn 'Excesses' of UP Govt in Responding to CAA Protests
https://thewire.in/rights/actors-condemn-excesses-of-uttar-pradesh-Govt-in-responding-to-caa-protests
UP Minister refuses to visit family of 2 Muslims killed in violence during anti-CAA protests
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/up-minister-refuses-to-visit-family-of-2-muslim-victims-of-violence-during-caa-protests
An UP minister has created a major controversy by refusing to visit the families of the two Muslim men who died during anti-CAA violence in Bijnor.Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal went to meet Om Raj Saini, who was injured in the violence that took place in the Nehtaur area last week, and met his family. He did not bother to look up the families of Anas and Suleiman who had died in violence and lived in the same area. Later, when asked why he did not visit the families of Anas and Suleiman, the minister replied, "Why should I go to the homes of rioters? Those who are rioting and want to inflame passions -- how are they part of society? Why should I go there? This is not about Hindu-Muslim. Why should I go to rioters?"IANS
In Lucknow hospital, two teenagers with gunshot wounds, neither of them a protester
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-lucknow-hospital-two-teenagers-with-gunshot-wounds-neither-of-them-a-protester-6184923/
Lucknow : Among the 3 people who suffered gunshot injuries during the Dec. 19 protest against the new citizenship law in Lucknow are two teenaged students recuperating at a hospital here. While both were shot in the abdomen, neither of the two — 15-year-old Mohammad Jeelani and 17-year-old Mohammad Shameem — have been identified by police as injured protesters. The third person succumbed to his injuries a day after the violence.indianexpress
UP sees most deaths and violence in anti-CAA protests: The stories we know so far:indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-citizenship-law-protests-yogi-adityanath-6185483/
Rethink about long term implications of NRC and CAA: BHU professors urge Centre
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rethink-about-long-term-implications-of-nrc-and-caa-bhu-professors-urge-centre/story-JdswIgEcepQrKtseGMYtbP.html?fbclid=IwAR0JqkvDGxFqDwk6NOJA2Z_xOGA6dvFXXVHLsBPtjf4RXSj_8HC1OcBc8dk
Varanasi: 51 professors of Banaras Hindu University carried out a signature drive on Wednesday against NRC and the CAA and appealed to the Govt to rethink about long term implications of these exercises. Prof RP Pathak, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, BHU, who participated in the signature drive, linked the CAA to NRC and said they were against the idea of India.“This is completely against the spirit of freedom struggle and the idea of a pluralist democracy. This is not acceptable in the land of Gandhi and Tagore,” Pathak said.Pathak further alleged that an attempt to divide the society on communal lines was being made to make the real issues of the day affecting the common man take a backseat, against Indian tradition and philosophy of inclusiveness. Another Professor, who didn’t wish to be named, urged the Govt to rethink about the implications.“We request the Govt to rethink about the long term implications of this act and hope national interest would prevail over partisan politics,” he said.HT
Human Rights Commission Issues Notice To UP Cop Over Police Action On Protesters, destroying their property, sealing shops
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/human-rights-body-issues-notice-to-up-cop-over-police-action-on-protesters-2154375?fb&fbclid=IwAR2-KOrD49NRwI9lPvqms1sPv7VjuC1KJH59X89dBlrU8Xnhyu3TwQD_qnE
New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the police chief of Uttar Pradesh after receiving various complaints that allege "violation of human rights" in police action during the ongoing anti-Citizenship Act protests in the state, officials said.A complaint was received by NHRC recently, seeking intervention in the alleged incidents of violation of human rights by the state police."Other complaints were also received in connection with the matter, which has been taken on record. The complaint was registered on December 23 and subsequently, a notice was issued by NHRC to the director-general of police of Uttar Pradesh, seeking a report in four weeks," a senior official of the rights panel said.The complainant has alleged that subsequent to the passage of CAA, "There have been many incidents of human rights violations by the state authorities in Uttar Pradesh"."Youth have been killed, internet has been suspended, and the police themselves are destroying public property. The right to peaceful assembly has also been violated," according to the complaint submitted to the NHRC.In the complaint, it is also alleged that "police officials have been destroying property of many individuals and have targeted Muslim population by sealing their shops".PTI
Anti CAA protests: “Muslims have only two places, Pakistan or Kabristan”, says UP police to 72 year old man
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/youve-only-two-places-pakistan-or-kabristan/cid/1730395?ref=top-stories_home-template&fbclid=IwAR0_dxUR9ESaaedBlbdwHJM_1WhJ2cKapnKdudPbvckdzx8jBjCh8w1Z8Iw
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/anti-caa-protests-up-police-tells-72-year-old-man-muslim-have-only-two-places-pakistan-or-kabristan?fbclid=IwAR2jUwTxVEprr7kwfnJiUzAF3027OvgjJLbTAim7zOTULNBMZPcrdfNqAHs
Around nearly 30 police officials barged into two-storey house of Haji Hamid Hasan, a 72-year-old timber trader in Muzaffarnagar town in western Uttar Pradesh around 11 pm on Friday and went on the rampage. Some officials were in plainclothes.According to a report in Telegraph, Hassan alleged that he was assaulted with a rifle butt when he protested and beaten with sticks. Police official vandalised the house, breaking washbasins, bathroom fittings, bed, furniture, fridge, washing machine and utensils, he said.“I cried and begged for mercy but they were very brutal. They told me Muslims have only two places, Pakistan or Kabristan,” he narrated the ordeal while showing the scene of destruction inside his house and the injury on his leg.Hasan said that the rampage continued for 30 to 40 minutes. “After destroying everything, they looted at gunpoint jewellery and cash of Rs 5 lakh kept in the almirah. I recently bought the jewellery for the weddings of my two grand-daughters.” Hasan said as reported by Telegraph.Fatima, Hasan’s wife had hid up in a room with their two granddaughters, Ruqaiya Parveen, a postgraduate in science, and Mubashira Parveen, a graduate.Telegraph
Meerut police crackdown: Relatives aghast as FIR names 3 dead
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/meerut-police-crackdown-firs-lodged-against-three-dead-hunt-on-for-thousands-of-unknown-persons/article30397599.ece
“I was offering namaaz at around 3 p.m. on Friday when incessant firing in the vicinity interrupted me. I immediately rushed downstairs to enquire whether my son Mohsin had returned home,” recalls Nafeesa Parveen of the fateful Friday.An hour later Mohammad Mohsin, 28, was found lying outside a local restaurant barely 300 metres away from home, bleeding profusely in Meerut’s Lisari Gate area. He had allegedly sustained a bullet injury in the police crackdown on protesters against CAA.According to eyewitnesses and residents of Lisari Gate, a large crowd had gathered outside the Baghwali mosque in the area after Friday prayers to demonstrate against CAA, when policemen lathi-charged them. The protesters retaliated by throwing stones at the police, who responded with rubber bullets, tear gas shells and subsequently live rounds of fire. the wire
Citizenship Act protests: UP Police release reward posters, videos of suspects involved in violence
https://scroll.in/latest/947901/citizenship-act-protests-up-police-release-reward-posters-videos-of-suspects-involved-in-violence
Uttar Pradesh Police have put out a series of reward posters and videos to identify those allegedly involved in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act last week, NDTV reported.In one of the videos taken in Meerut, a man in a blue jacket is seen walking around with a gun. The police said they retailated because of the attacks they faced from “violent mobs” between December 19 and 21. They have also announced a reward of Rs 25,000 each for information on 3 wanted persons in Kanpur, Firozabad and Mau, according to Indian Express.In Mau district, police have released a poster carrying photographs of 110 people. These people were allegedly involved in the violence when vehicles were set on fire and stones were thrown at police. “3 FIRs were lodged in connection with the incident in which 21 people have been arrested so far,” Mau SP Anurag Arya told the newspaper. “We identified 110 other miscreants involved in the violence. Since we have no information about these 110 people, we released posters carrying their photographs.”scroll
College teacher suspended, varsity student expelled for anti-CAA protests
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/college-teacher-suspended-varsity-student-expelled-for-anti-caa-protests/story-D23SeBeXAYlJbqWpkC8viO.html
Lucknow: A PG college teacher was suspended for allegedly mobilising people for a protest against the CAA on the campus. Confirming the news, Shia PG College manager S Abbas Murtaza Samshi said on Wednesday the action was taken against contractual teacher Robin Verma on basis of media reports that Verma was arrested by Lucknow police and sent to jail. Verma was among 285 protesters who took part in the anti-CAA protest on Dec19.HT
AMU appoints student seriously injured in 15 Dec violence as assistant professor on compassionate grounds
https://www.firstpost.com/india/aligarh-muslim-university-appoints-student-seriously-injured-in-15-dec-violence-as-assistant-professor-on-compassionate-grounds-7824421.html
AMU has decided to appoint research scholar Mohammad Tariq, who suffered severe hand injury during 15 December violence on the campus, as an ad-hoc assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry on "compassionate grounds".According to his friends, who are now looking after him at trauma centre, Tariq is the future breadwinner of his family as he has an aged father, unwell mother and six other siblings to look after. Tariq belongs to a nearby city of Firozabad from a family of daily wage earners.Asked to get a photograph of him clicked, Tariq refused, saying "I don't want my mother, who is a heart patient, to know the extent of my injuries".Recalling the sequence of events, which took place on that fateful night, Tariq said, "I do not want to say anything beyond the fact that I was not part of the protest but all that I remember is that I was running at the road near the university guesthouse when I fell down and the rest is blank."According to doctors, Tariq's injury was caused due to an explosion. AMU spokesperson Prof Shafey Kidwai said Tariq is eligible for the post to which he has been appointed as he fulfils all the requirements and the vice chancellor has special powers to appoint him on compassionate grounds.firstpost
Activist Parents Jailed For Citizenship Protest in UP's Varanasi, Baby Ayra At Home
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-act-protests-activist-parents-jailed-for-citizenship-protest-in-ups-varanasi-b-2154456?pfrom=home-topstories
A 14-month-old in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi has been without her activist parents for a week after they were arrested and jailed last Thursday by Uttar Pradesh Police for attending a protest against the citizenship law. There has been controversy over arrests in Varanasi last week over the protests against the citizenship law.Over 60 people have been arrested in Varanasi for protesting despite a ban on large gatherings. Among them are well-known activists Ekta and Ravi Shekhar. They run an NGO called Climate Agenda that focuses on air pollution.The couple was picked up by the police during a protest organised by Left groups in the city on December 19. Ayra, their 14-month-old daughter, is now being taken care of by her relatives at their home.ndtv
*OTHERS*
Ayodhya Verdict: Babri Masjid Action Committee to file curative petition, seek debris from mosque
https://www.newsnation.in/india/news/babri-masjid-action-committee-to-file-curative-petition-against-ayodhya-verdict-248861.html
After Supreme Court dismissed a batch of review petitions filed against its judgment in the Ayodhya Ram Temple case, Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) mulls over filing a curative petition against the top court's verdict. Along with this, BMAC in a meeting, which was held on Wednesday at Islamia Degree College in UP's Lucknow, decided to file a seprate petition seeking the debris of the Babri Masjid to be given to them.A curative petition is the last judicial corrective measure that can be pleaded for in any judgment passed by the top court.The Govt has started working on setting up a trust within the next few week as mandated by the SC while delivering Ayodhya verdict, PTI quoted a Govt official as saying. newsnation
Babri panel to move SC over Babri mosque debris
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/babri-panel-to-move-sc-over-babri-mosque-debris/1694454
SC grants interim bail to 'misguided' youth convicted of Karnataka church blast
https://www.news18.com/news/india/sc-grants-interim-bail-to-misguided-muslim-youth-convicted-of-karnataka-church-blast-2435587.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has released on interim bail a Karnataka church blast case convict, who was dubbed by the high court as a misguided Muslim youth indulging in anti-national activity.Izher Baig, along with seven others, was handed out life term by the Karnataka High Court under charge of waging a war against India and creating religious disharmony after being held guilty of carrying out serial blasts in the state between June and July 2000.While the HC maintained that life imprisonment to such accused should be an eye-opener to misguided elements in the society, the Supreme Court bench led by Justice Deepak Gupta has granted bail to Baig for one month after noting that “a balance has to be struck between the seriousness of the crime and the rights of the accused”.It further took into account the fact that Baig has already been behind bars for more than 19 years. “He has a mother who is more than 70 years old and according to the medical record, the mother is suffering from various ailments… The appeal cannot be heard now. We, therefore, grant interim bail to the applicant, Izher Baig, for one month only,” stated the court order.The apex court’s order releasing one of the convicts in this case appears lenient in the backdrop of the strong words used by the Karnataka High Court in its 2014 judgment.News18
Hindu-Muslim divide won’t happen: RSS chief
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hindu-muslim-divide-wont-happen-rss-chief-bhagwat/articleshow/72971616.cms
Hyderabad: Asserting that Hinduism believes in the principles of unity in diversity and harmony, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said efforts being made to divide Hindus and Muslims would never materialise. Invoking Tagore, Bhagwat said though British wanted to divide the people, they failed. “This is not possible in this country.” He recalled Tagore had criticised the British while observing that Hindus and Muslims won’t just finish each other by fighting among themselves but will rather find a way-out and that path will be of a ‘Hindu rashtra.’He said politicians alone cannot change the destiny of the country. “RSS believes in a vision where everyone is happy and everyone works in this direction.” Recalling Swami Vivekananda’s words, Bhagwat said, “ People may worship many gods and goddesses, but they they should workship ‘Bharat mata’ first.” He said they were of the firm belief that Hindu rashtra should be the guiding force to the world as a ‘vishwa guru.’TOI
RSS ideologue backs transfer of Muslim academic from BHU religious department
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/rss-ideologue-backs-transfer-of-muslim-academic-from-bhu-religious-department-573957
Once again indicating that only Hindus are qualified enough to teach at Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan department of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), RSS functionary has backed the transfer of Muslim professor from the department.RSS ideologue and joint general secretary Krishna Gopal has said that the department is about the teaching of Hindu rituals. "When BHU was set up in 1916, before that an Act was passed in the Parliament in 1915. There were 2 clauses in it -- one, the religious education of the Hindu students will be compulsory, and second, no non-Hindu would be the member of the court of the university. Later both the clauses were removed," Gopal said at an event in New Delhi celebrating 158 birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.He added that only those students come to the university who are interested in Hindu rituals and religion."Till 1952, religious education was compulsory in every department of BHU for Hindu children, but later on it became optional. But the department kept working," he said.Khan had resigned from his post at the SVDV Department and joined the Arts Faculty where he will teach Sanskrit, BHU sources said. India TV
Bangladesh denies visa to Mamata Banerjee's minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bangladesh-denies-visa-to-mamata-minister-siddiqullah-1631445-2019-12-25?fbclid=IwAR0CG1G0n8jpI0Z7siMtbcZsJiARtbOpKfafONy4-83NcCTKJmb2enwcsKQ
Bangladesh Govt has denied visa to West Bengal minister and influential Muslim leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury. According to Chowdhury, despite following due procedure for visa application, he was denied visa by Bangladeshi authorities.However, no reason has been cited for the denial, claims the minister. Sources in the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata said the visa was denied on 'technical' grounds. Chowdhury was scheduled to travel to Bangladesh today."I have got a NoC from the Ministry of Home Affairs for my tour. Even the CM is aware of it. But now I have to cancel it at the last moment," the minister said.He was scheduled to attend the centenary celebrations of a madrassa in Bangladesh's Sylhet apart from attending to some personal commitments. Jamiat-E-Ulma Bengal has termed the development as extremely unfortunate and unprecedented.indiatoday
Modi govt gives ₹1 lakh crore less to the military forces in year 2019-2020
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/modi-govt-gives-1-lakh-crore-less-to-the-military-forces-in-year-2019-2020
India Army, Air Force and Navy were forced to prioritise their requirements again after Modi Govt failed to provide more than Rs one lakh crore to the three services in 2019-20, reported Deccan Herald. According to a report by team of lawmakers who scrutinised defence budget for the current financial years, reveals that the slash in budget was ₹53,035 crore for Indian Air Force, followed by Indian Army of ₹30,687 crore and Navy of ₹23,048 crore.nationalheraldindia
Delhi Election 2020: Election Commission holds meeting to review poll preparedness, election due by Feb.22
https://www.newsx.com/national/delhi-assembly-election-2020-election-commission-meeting-delhi-election-on-february-22-aap-congress-bjp.html
A meeting of the top officials of the Election Commission of India (ECI) led by Sandeep Saxena, senior deputy Election Commissioner, and Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi is underway to discuss upcoming Delhi Assembly Election 2020 dates, reports said. The meeting was also attended by DGs of Expenditure and Media, senior officers of Delhi Police, civic bodies, and other departments. The election in Delhi is due by Feb.22, 2020. The ruling AAP, BJP and Congress have already started their campaigns for the election to the 70-member assembly in Delhi. The election in Delhi is expected to be fought on local issues.newsx
‘My voice not being heard’: Savitri Bai Phule quits Congress less than a year after joining it
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/savitri-bai-phule-quits-congress-will-form-new-party-6185664/
New Delhi :Savitri Bai Phule, who had switched from BJP to Congress earlier this year, resigned from the grand old party Thursday and announced that she will form her own outfit, ANI reported. Stating that her “voice is not being heard” in Congress, Phule tendered her resignation. Congress, which welcomed Phule in May this year, had hoped that her strong Dalit connection would help the party in East UP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Phule, however, failed to garner enough votes from Bahraich — a seat where she was the sitting MP.Phule had quit the saffron party in Dec. last year, alleging that BJP was playing “divisive politics” and was “misusing money to construct temples and statues.”indianexpress
And then they came for me — IAS, IPS officers share fears under Modi govt in WhatsApp groups
https://theprint.in/india/governance/and-then-they-came-for-me-ias-ips-officers-share-fears-under-modi-govt-in-whatsapp-groups/340807/
New Delhi: Hounding of senior officers, protests across the country and attempts — perceived and real — to change the constitutional ethos of the country have sparked a kind of unrest among civil servants, who have taken to WhatsApp groups to share their concerns and grievances.Several IAS, IPS and IRS officers who ThePrint spoke to said there is a palpable sense of vulnerability, insecurity and concern among officers, which they are wary of expressing publicly, but do so in the safety of closed WhatsApp groups with their peers from the services.While several officers who support Govt policies have started taking to Twitter and Facebook to throw their weight behind the Govt, those critical or skeptical are taking to closed WhatsApp groups to express their fears.theprint
Panel works on how to split assets between J&K and Ladakh UTs
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/panel-works-on-how-to-split-assets-between-jk-and-ladakh-uts-6184981/
New Delhi :Although the committee for division of assets between the newly formed Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh submitted its preliminary assessment two months ago, many contentious issues remain. These pertain to division of immovable assets owned by the erstwhile state in Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mumbai, besides allocation of Govt officials of various state departments to the two UTs.3-member committee for division of assets between the two UTs, headed by former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, submitted an interim assessment report in October where it recommended certain guidelines for division of assets. The final report of the Committee is expected by the end of the current financial year.The committee, sources said, created an index which measured the backwardness, area, remoteness along with the historical deprivation suffered by Ladakh.indianexpress
3 soldiers killed in exchange of fire with Pak troops at LoC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/three-indian-soldiers-killed-in-exchange-of-fire-with-pak-troops-at-loc-6185671/
Pakistan Army on Thursday said that two of its soldiers were killed in unprovoked firing by the Indian troops along the Line of Control (LOC).The army also claimed that three Indian soldiers were killed in the exchange of fire.“Responding to committed ceasefire violations (CFVs), in Haji Pir Sector Pakistan Army troops damaged Indian post, killing 3 Indian soldiers including a Subedar, few injured too,” the army’s media wing, ISPR said.On Wednesday, a junior commissioned officer of Indian Army was killed in unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops along the LoC in Rampur sector of J&K, the official sources said.PTI
China says it helped India and Pakistan defuse tensions during conflict this year
https://scroll.in/latest/947883/china-says-it-helped-india-and-pakistan-defuse-tensions-during-conflict-this-year
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the state-run People’s Daily on Tuesday that Beijing supported the efforts of both India and Pakistan to defuse tensions and manage differences through dialogue, during a particular conflict between the two countries this year, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. However, Wang did not expressly clarify which conflict he was talking about.“During India-Pakistan conflict, China supported the efforts of the two sides to defuse tensions and manage differences through dialogue,” Wang said, perhaps referring to the Pulwama attack in February and India’s subsequent strike in Balakot. scroll
Terror attacks in Punjab being planned by pro-Khalistan outfits with Pak's support: Intelligence sources
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-terror-attacks-in-punjab-being-planned-by-pro-khalistan-outfits-with-pak-s-support-intelligence-sources-2806891
Khalistani terrorists are planning to carry out terror attacks in Punjab, sources in the Intelligence agency claimed.Intelligence agencies' sources told Zee News that the Khalistani terrorists have escalated their efforts to smuggle weapons from Pakistan to Punjab to carry out terror attacks in the latter.The Sources reveal that terror groups like Babbar Khalsa and Khalistan Zindabad Force are in contact with their Pakistani handlers to smuggle weapons across India-Pakistan border. Based on the intelligence input, the Govt has ordered BSF, NIA, RAW and IB to monitor the activities of these Khalistan-backed terrorists and surveil the bordering areas of Punjab to prevent the smuggling of weapons in the state.Meanwhile, intelligence sources on Wednesday revealed that JeM is planning a major attack on the sacred city of Ayodhya. dnaindia/ZEEnews
"Alliance Talks In Mall, We Never Knew": BJP's Haryana Ally Faces Revolt
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjps-haryana-ally-faces-revolt-alliance-talks-in-mall-we-never-knew-2154455?pfrom=home-topscroll
Trouble has erupted for the ruling BJP's Haryana ally Dushyant Chautala, with a senior leader of his Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) quitting his party post in a huff. Ram Kumar Gautam, an MLA, resigned on Wednesday as the party's vice president after going public with his criticism of Dushyant Chautala.Dushyant Chautala "should not forget that he became Deputy Chief Minister with the support of his party legislators," said Ram Kumar Gautam, 73, in a rant against JJP chief whose support helped BJP form government in Haryana after elections in October delivered a hung verdict.Dushyant Chautala was called out for joining hands with a party he had campaigned aggressively against in the election. Videos of him targeting the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also circulated on social media.Mr Gautam said the JJP-BJP alliance was sealed without the knowledge of most leaders of the party.ndtv
Economic slowdown puts a question mark on 14 per cent GST compensation
https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/slowdown-puts-a-question-mark-on-14-per-cent-gst-compensation-6184930/
New Delhi :As Centre grapples with lower GST collections, a fresh tension now engulfs the Union Finance Minister-chaired GST Council with a certain section questioning the assumption of a 14 per cent “high” revenue growth rate covered by a compensation mechanism mentioned in GST(Compensation to States) Act.“With inflation hovering around 4-5 per cent and India’s growth expected to be 5-6 per cent, it will be difficult for Union government to provide compensation to states at 14 per cent annualised rate,” a Finance Minister of a BJP-ruled state said.With an increase in GST rate ruled out for now, the focus has shifted to the actual growth rate of taxes collected by states, but subsumed under GST since July 2017. In the three years preceding 2015-16, the growth rate in taxes for non-special category states was just 8.9 per cent. This is significantly lower than the 14 per cent growth rate assumed over the 2015-16 base year while committing compensation.Including the special category states, all-India average tax growth had worked out to 10.6 per cent in 3 years preceding 2015-16.indianexpress
NSUI workers shout ‘terrorist go back’ to Pragya Thakur in Bhopal, BJP MP to take legal action
https://scroll.in/latest/947924/nsui-workers-shout-terrorist-go-back-to-pragya-thakur-in-bhopal-bjp-mp-to-take-legal-action
Workers of the National Students’ Union of India, the student wing of Congress, on Wednesday shouted “terrorist go back” to BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, ANI reported.Thakur went to meet students of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication in Bhopal when the incident took place. Two female students were protesting against the university administration’s decision to not allow them to take their examinations and staged a sit-in protest at the college gate from Tuesday, according to HT. The students said they did not have the required attendance to give their exams due to an illness.scroll
As world witnessed the last eclipse of 2019, Netizens flood social media with hilarious memes
https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/solar-eclipse-2019-last-eclipse-2019-memes-6185773/
New Delhi :As several people observed the last solar eclipse of the year 2019, pictures of the annular eclipse, which happens when the moon is farthest from the Earth, poured in on social media.Seen in Saudi Arabia, India, Sumatra, Borneo Asia, netizens were able to capture the “dark disk”, which forms when the moon does not completely block the sun. In India, while the eclipse started roughly at around 8:00 am, it wasn’t easily visible in many parts of the country.While some of the best views were seen from south India, the clouds in the capital reduced visibility. Soon, several memes surfaced on social media, making the most of the celestial phenomenon.indianexpress
*WORLD*
Erdogan announces plan to send troops to Libya
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/erdogan-announces-plan-send-troops-libya-191226090214331.html
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has announced military backing for Libya's internationally recognised Govt of National Accord (GNA), now that north African country requested it.In a speech in Ankara today, Erdogan said on Jan. 7 he will present a bill to the Turkish Parliament on deployment legislation."Since there is an invitation [from Libya] right now, we will accept it," Erdogan told members of his AK Party. "We will present the motion to send troops [to Libya] as soon as Parliament resumes.""God willing, we will pass it in Parliament on Jan. 8-9 and thus respond to an invitation" from Tripoli-based GNA, he said. ollwoing Erdogan's announcement, interior minister Fathi Bashagha told reporters in Tunis that Libya's internationally recognised Govt will officially request military support from Turkey if the war over the capital escalates. Turkey and Qatar support the GNA, while Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and France, support Haftar.Regarding Haftar's backers, Erdogan said on Thursday: "They are helping a warlord. We are responding to an invitation from the legitimate Govt of Libya...That is our difference."aljazeera
WHO voices concern over humanitarian situation in Idlib
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191226-who-voices-concern-over-humanitarian-situation-in-idlib/
Nearly 130,000 civilians have been displaced in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, World Health Organization said. Some 12 million people are in need of medical assistance in Syria as regime and Russian jets pound civilian settlements, according to a statement.So far, 14 dispensaries and two hospitals have been closed down and 42 other healthcare facilities risk closure if attacks continue in the region, it added.Richard Brennan, acting regional emergency director for WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean, said: “recent military tensions in the region have led to civilian casualties, injuries and intensification of human suffering.”As the regime and Russian forces intensify attacks, more than 2,000 civilians have fled Idlib in the past 24 hours, according to sources on the ground who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.middleeastmonitor
Syria missile attack kills pro-Iran fighters: Monitor
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/syria-missile-strike-kills-pro-iran-fighters-monitor-191226004051688.html
5 pro-Iran fighters were killed by unidentified missiles on Wednesday evening in Syria's eastern province of Deir Az Zor, a war monitor said."Missiles of unidentified origin targeted the headquarters of 47th Brigade of pro-Iranian militias in the town of al-Bukamal, in the east of Deir Az Zor province, killing 5 fighters," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.SOHR chief Rami Abdul Rahman said drones may have been responsible for raids,which caused "loud blasts".aljazeera
Israel: Netanyahu faces party leadership challenge
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/israel-netanyahu-faces-challenge-likud-party-holds-primaries-191226075813270.html
Polls have opened across Israel in the ruling Likud Party's primary vote, in which a veteran lawmaker will try to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu - the PM's first serious internal challenge in over a decade in power. Former Minister of Education Gideon Saar, who officially launched his bid to unseat Netanyahu earlier this month, argues that he will be better placed to form a Govt in national elections in March after Netanyahu failed to do so twice in two repeat elections this year.aljazeera
Israel to reinstitute ‘assassinations policy’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191226-israel-to-reinstitute-assassinations-policy/
Israel’s foreign minister on Thursday said Tel Aviv would return to “the policy of assassinations” against Palestinian resistance figures in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reports. In statements he made to Israel’s army radio, Yisrael Katz indicated that there was “an intelligence effort to identify the rockets’ launchers and work to eliminate them.” He stressed: “Intelligence efforts are currently focused on determining who is responsible for ordering missile launch instructions in order to work to eliminate him.”On Wednesday evening, Israel’s iron dome anti-missile system intercepted a missile reportedly fired from Gaza Strip towards the country’s south while PM Benjamin Netanyahu was attending an election rally in Ashkelon province.MEMO
Second deadly attack in Burkina Faso as global condemnation grows
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/deadly-attack-burkina-faso-global-condemnation-grows-191226051341079.html
At least 11 soldiers were killed in Burkina Faso on Wednesday as Burkinabes were mourning dozens of victims who had died in double attacks targeting the country's north a day earlier.There was worldwide condemnation after Tuesday's attacks, the worst assault in the country for five years, in which at least 35 civilians, mostly women, and seven soldiers were killed in Arbinda town and at a military base in the volatile Soum province. According to the army, 80 assailants also died in gunfire exchanges.Early on Wednesday, an army patrol near Hallale in Sahel region - in Soum province as well - was ambushed, according to Radio Omega. As well as the 11 soldiers, at least 5 fighters were killed in the assault some 60km from the first attacks.aljazeera
Suu Kyi party official killed in Myanmar's Rakhine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/aung-san-suu-kyi-party-official-killed-myanmar-rakhine-191226064608665.html
An official from Aung San Suu Kyi's political party has been killed in Rakhine state after planning a show of support for the leader's recent defence of Myanmar against genocide allegations at The Hague, according to a party spokesman.National League for Democracy's (NLD) Ye Thein, party chairman in Buthidaung township, had been held for weeks by the Arakan Army, an armed group fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, the spokesman said on Thursday. Rebels in Myanmar's Rakhine region said Thein died on Monday, two weeks after being taken for organising protests against the accusations of committing genocide faced by Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.aljazeera
All is well with Muslims in Xinjiang, Beijing tells Muslim countries
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/all-is-well-with-muslims-in-xinjiang-beijing-tells-islamic-countries/story-zGg1CZH96cMdKZhs6NmrEO.html
Beijing :Faced with international pressure over alleged persecution of Uyghur Muslims, China told a gathering of selected journalists from Islamic countries to not believe in the “fabricated” western narrative of detention camps and religious repression in troubled Xinjiang, saying the anti-terrorism policies in the province “do not target Muslims” and their “normal” religious rights are fully protected.“Our anti-extremism and anti-terrorism efforts are not against any particular religion or ethnic group,” Xu Guixiang, the deputy director of the publicity department of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) said.Xi’s press interaction with journalists from Islamic countries including Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia apart from India-- which has more Muslim population than several Muslim-majority countries-- was more of an appeal to discard what Xu and his colleagues called “false and fabricated western propaganda”.HT
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Media images of ‘National Population Register 2020 forms’ spark confusion
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-population-register-2020-form-images-spark-confusion/article30397870.ece
India's Foreign Minister Refused To Meet Me:Pramila Jayapal
https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/indias-foreign-minister-refused-to-meet-me-2154547?pfrom=home-topstories
Nationwide NRC, NPR won’t provide accurate listing of Indian citizens or weed out illegals; govt knows this all too well:Praveen Swami
https://www.firstpost.com/india/nationwide-nrc-npr-wont-provide-accurate-listing-of-indian-citizens-or-weed-out-illegals-govt-knows-this-all-too-well-7827001.html
Seizure of properties in UP : Who paid for the destruction of properties in Gujarat riots?By Dr. Javed Jamil
http://muslimmirror.com/eng/seizure-of-properties-in-up-who-paid-for-the-destruction-of-properties-in-gujarat-riots/
'CAA & NRC Force Democracy To Give Way To Majoritarianism': Law Teachers Across Globe Express Solidarity With Student Protestors
https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/caa-nrc-force-democracy-to-give-way-to-majoritarianism-151080
'Muslims living in India for generations will become Stateless': MIT students, faculty, alumni condemn CAA, NRC; full text
https://www.firstpost.com/india/muslims-living-in-india-for-generations-will-become-stateless-mit-students-faculty-alumni-condemn-caa-nrc-full-text-7827191.html
Image from 2016 shared as Muslim man hurling stones in recent spate of CAA protests
https://www.altnews.in/image-from-2016-shared-as-muslim-man-hurling-stones-in-recent-spate-of-caa-protests/
WATCH- NPR: The backdoor for NRC
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/videos/watch-npr-the-backdoor-for-nrc
CAA-NRC protests: Looking ahead:Salman Khurshid
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/caa-nrc-protests-looking-ahead
CAA gives no parameters to measure religious persecution; political will needed to mitigate fear among Assamese:Tonmoyee Rani Neog, Rimpi Borah, Chinmoyee Das
https://www.firstpost.com/india/citizenship-amendment-act-gives-no-parameters-to-measure-religious-persecution-political-will-needed-to-mitigate-fear-among-assamese-7827571.html
Congress’ CAA-NRC strategy — vocal protests but no communal overtones:DEEKSHA BHARDWAJ
https://theprint.in/politics/congress-caa-nrc-strategy-vocal-protests-but-no-communal-overtones/340627/
Indian military isn’t politicised like China, Pakistan but the seeds have been sown in 2019:LT GEN H S PANAG
https://theprint.in/opinion/indian-military-isnt-politicised-like-china-pakistan-but-the-seeds-have-been-sown-in-2019/340910/
CAA Will Un-Make India By Poisoning Relationships of Trust, Affinity Across Religions:Malini Sur
https://thewire.in/communalism/citizenship-amendment-act-trust-religion-india
Why Modi ‘Retreated’ From the NRC and Why it Will Remain on BJP’s Agenda:Sushil Aaron
https://thewire.in/communalism/narendra-modi-nrc-bjp
In UP, Modi Follows Up on Yogi Govt's Attempts to Shift Focus to Destruction of Property
https://thewire.in/politics/anti-caa-protests-uttar-pradesh-modi-property
Existing Govt infrastructure is not conducive to launch NRC:Mudit Kapoor
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/citizenship-amendment-act-state-incapacity-and-nrc-protests-6184823/
*Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:02 PM).*
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