*28 DEC. 2019: 1 Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 93
*CAA-NRC protests:UP CRACKDOWN*
UP top cop defends colleague, telling anti-CAA protesters 'go to Pakistan', says choice of words would have been better had things been normal
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/meerut-sp-tells-protesters-go-to-pakistan-viral-video-6188661/
After the video of a top police officer asking local residents to tell protesters to “go to Pakistan” during clashes against the new citizenship law went viral, Meerut ADG police Prashant Kumar Saturday defended his colleague’s actions, saying the “choice of words” would have been better had the situation been normal. He added that even though the situation on the ground was “extremely volatile”, the officers showed “a lot of restraint”.“Stones were being pelted, anti-India and pro-neighbouring country slogans were being raised there. The situation was very tense. PFI pamphlets were being distributed. This happened despite all appeals, including those by religious leaders,” Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.He added, “Yes, if the situation was normal then the choice of words could have been better but that day, the situation was extremely volatile. Our officers showed a lot of restraint. There was no firing by the police.”In the video clip, which was shot at Lisari Gate and went viral on social media, SP City Akhilesh N Singh is heard saying: “Kahan jaoge, is gali ko theek kar doonga (Where will you go, I will sort out this lane),” referring to four protesters police were chasing.The officer then turns to three persons and says: “Yeh jo kaali aur peeli patti baande huye hain inse keh do Pakistan chale jao…khaoge yahan ka, gaoge kahin aur ka… Yeh gali mujhe yaad ho gayi hai. Aur jab mujhe yaad ho jaata hai toh mein naani tak pahunch jaata hun (The ones tying black and yellow bands, tell them to go to Pakistan. You eat here but sing praises of another place… This lane is now familiar to me. And once I remember, I can even reach your grandmother).” In the video, the officer, surrounded by other personnel, can also be seen warning the three men standing at the junction of two lanes. “Agar kuch ho gaya toh tum log keemat chukaoge… Har ek-ek aadmi ko jail mein bandh karoonga (If something happens, you guys will pay the price. Every man from each house will be arrested),” the official can be heard saying.indianexpress
Priyanka Gandhi attacks Yogi govt over Meerut cop’s ‘go to Pakistan’ remark, says, BJP communalised police
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/priyanka-gandhi-attacks-yogi-govt-over-meerut-cops-go-to-pakistan-remark-says-bjp-communalised-police
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday mounted an attack on UP's Yogi Adityanath government and the conduct of some of the senior police officers in the state.From her official Twitter handle, Priyanka tweeted a video in which a police officer in Meerut is seen making communal statements against the Muslim community. She wrote on Twitter: "Indian Constitution does not allow anyone to use such language. When you are occupying a high post, your responsibility increases manifold. The BJP has poisoned the institutions so much so that these officers have no respect for the constitutional oath they have taken."IANS
Arrest of septuagenarians leaves families aghast, civil society outraged in Lucknow
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/arrest-of-septuagenarians-leaves-families-aghast-civil-society-outraged-in-lucknow/article30420117.ece?homepage=true
LUCKNOW:Malka Bi’s mobile phone displays the desperate message she sent to the official numbers of five senior police officers at 1:08 am on December 20. It was a little more than an hour after four policemen whisked away her husband Mohammad Shoaib ,72, in a jeep purportedly for interrogation.Since Internet and SMS services were disabled following the violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, a few hours earlier, her messages did not get delivered. Mohammad Shoaib, a senior advocate and socialist activist, had been placed under house arrest since the evening of December 18 to prevent him from attending the protest at the Parivartan Chowk.It was around midnight on November 19 that four cops said he was summoned by the circle officer and took him with them. Mr. Shoaib, who suffers from blood pressure and thyroid ailments, was already in bed.“He then went to his room and changed his trousers. I didn’t even get to see his face when they took him. He didn’t take his spectacles or carry his mobile,” said Ms. Malka.Clueless and desperate to know her husband’s whereabouts, Ms. Malka then dialled the number of the district police chief and informed him that her husband needed to take his medicines. Ms. Malka says the officer sent two policemen to her house to fetch the medicines. The two also told her not to worry and assured her Mr. Shoaib would be back in an hour or at the latest by the next morning. For two days, however, she didn’t hear anything about him.“On the third day, when I heard he is in jail, I was relieved. Initially, I didn’t know where they took him, or where they would dump him or kill him. Koi theek thodi hai [what’s the guarantee],” said Ms. Malka, recalling the anxious moments.Among the more than 1,200 persons arrested by the U.P. police over the violent protests in the State, Mr. Shoaib heads the Rihai Manch, an organisation with which he has helped acquit more than a dozen persons ‘falsely’ implicated in terror cases, bringing him under police radar several times. In 2008, he was also brutally assaulted by fellow lawyers in Lucknow and Faizabad, in the court compound as they did not want him appear for terror accused.According to the FIR lodged at Hazratganj police station on December 19, Mr. Shoaib faces several serious charges like rioting, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy, though his name does not feature in it.Ms. Malka alleges foul play in the police version as her husband didn’t even attend the protest and was under house arrest.The family of S.R. Darapuri, a retired IPS officer and an Ambedkarite Dalit political activist, is also asking similar questions, as like Mr. Shoaib he was under house arrest on the day the protest took place but was also sent to jail. He turned 76 on December 16.The civil society in Lucknow is outraged over their arrests, as well as that of cultural activist Deepak Kabir, Congress worker Sadaf Jafar, Ambedkarite scholar Pawan Rao Ambedkar and Robin Verma, a teacher-activist who works with Mr. Shoaib, and has demanded their immediate release.thehindu
CAA protests: Victims narrate incidents of police brutality in Lucknow, Mangaluru
https://scroll.in/latest/948116/caa-protests-victims-narrate-incidents-of-police-brutality-in-lucknow-mangaluru
UP Police's 'clerical mistake', not 10,000 but 1,000 AMU students booked for CAA protest
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-polices-clerical-mistake-not-10000-but-1000-amu-students-booked-for-caa-protest
Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday clarified that a case has been registered against 1,000 unidentified students of Uttar Pradesh's AMU instead of 10,000 as stated in several reports. "There was a clerical mistake in the report, case registered against 1,000 students and not 10,000," SSP Akash Kulhari said.The case has been filed in connection with the violence which broke out during protests against the newly amended citizenship law on December 15. FIR which was registered on December 24 on a complaint filed by Commandant 104 Battalion stated that on December 15 at 8:30 pm, students had gathered around the university's circle to protest."They unlawfully raised anti-national slogans. The students then pelted stones on the personnel and also vandalized the official vehicles," the FIR copy stated.ANI
AMU students invite police officials for iftar after observing day-long fast agianst CAA
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/amu-students-invite-police-officials-for-iftar/1695723
Aligarh: In an effort to restore goodwill, AMU students sat with police officials posted at the campus during an iftar after concluding a day-long fast observed in solidarity with the victims of violence during the protests against the new citizenship law last week.They interacted during the evening meal on Friday near the Babe Syed Gate of the university. Led by former president of the students union Faizul Hasan, some AMU students protesting against the amended citizenship law invited police officials to join them for iftar."This Gandhian outreach was part of a mission to maintain peace while continuing their peaceful protest against CAA. We offered prayers for those who lost their lives," Hasan said Saturday.Circle Officer (Civil Lines) Anil Samania said, "We appreciate this gesture of goodwill and duly responded by participating."PTI
‘Movement against citizenship law not for a particular community, but to save Constitution’
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/movement-against-citizenship-law-not-for-a-particular-community-but-to-save-constitution-6188380/
In Muzaffarnagar, police and Hindutva groups attack Muslims in attempt to recreate 2013 riots
https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/muzaffarnagar-police-hindutva-groups-attack-muslims-attempt-recreate-2013-riots
On 20 December, a day after the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath vowed to “take revenge” against those who had destroyed property during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the state police stormed Muzaffarnagar. That day and night, Mehmood Nagar and Khalapar—both Muslim-majority neighbourhoods in the city—descended into violence, with a rampage by UP police. According to residents, the police force used tear gas, lathi charges, and opened fire on the Muslim locals. Noor Mohammad, a young resident of Khalapar, was shot in the head and died.The police denied firing any live bullets and claimed it only responded to the protestors turning violent, but numerous accounts from the two neighbourhoods narrated a different sequence of events. Multiple residents noted that as the protestors grew in number, the police acted with brute force to quell the protest march, joined by men in civilian clothes, who were differently identified as members of BJP, Bajrang Dal and RSS. The locals said that the police and the members of the Hindutva groups terrorised the two Muslim neighbourhoods at night, and entered houses at random to attack its residents, destroy their belongings, and loot their money and jewellery.That afternoon, Nisar a doctor and a resident of Muzaffarnagar, was in his clinic on Meerut road, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, when he noticed crowds of people walking past. The crowd was walking north towards Meenakshi chowk and growing larger by the minute. “It was after the Friday prayers, around 2.30 pm,” Nisar, who asked for his last name to remain confidential, told me. “The crowd consisted mostly of Muslim youth and they had decided to protest peacefully against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed NRC,” referring to the National Register of Citizens. I also spoke to Arif, a journalist who requested not to be identified by his organisation or his full name, was reporting from Meenakshi Chowk at the time. “The crowd was mostly leaderless and the youth consisted of locals as well as those from surrounding towns and villages,” Arif said. “They had decided to meet the district magistrate and hand over a letter pointing out that they were opposed to the CAA, but they intended to do it peacefully.”caravanmagazine.in/
Bijnor Hindu Gunshot Victim's Account Contradicts 'Communal' Angle Pushed by UP Police
https://thewire.in/rights/uttar-pradesh-police-firing-bijnor-omraj-saini
Meerut: The town of Nehtaur in Bijnor district was thrown into chaos on December 20, when Uttar Pradesh police tried to forcefully disperse a protest taking place after the afternoon namaz. On the main roads, as people were exiting the mosque, police allege the protest turned violent. Locals dispute this claim. The police had begun to lathi-charge the crowd, many of whom say they were simply on the streets at the wrong time. Guns were fired – the police, after first saying that no police bullets were shot, now claim that they were first fired on by the protestors, which caused them to shoot back in self defence.Two Muslim men died in the crossfire. One was Suleiman, who according to a statement by SP Sanjeev Tyagi, had shot at a policeman who returned fire, killing him, and the other was Anas, who the police allege was killed by a country-made gun.A third man was also shot around this time – a Hindu by the name of Omraj Saini. Saini is lying under a blue blanket in a hospital bed at a private hospital in Meerut, where his family brought him after he was shot. He barely escaped death. Saini’s son-in-law, Ramesh, says that the only guns being fired at the time were by the police. Asked if anyone saw where the bullet came from, Ramesh says, “There were a lot of bullets being fired).” But whose bullets were they? Ramesh answers, “Police ki goli chal rahi thi (The police’s).” Were there only police bullets which were fired? Ramesh says, “Haan (Yes).”SP, Tyagi, in a statement to The Wire, said that an FIR had been filed by Omraj Saini. Tyagi said that Omraj told him that he was on his way home from the jungle, and a Muslim group shot him on a communal basis.Tyagi told us he had not yet visited Omraj at the Meerut hospital nor seen his injury report, but his complaint had come in and had been filed. However, Omraj Saini, in his statement to The Wire, disputes both the narrative and the complaint. He said that he was on his way back from the jungle, and was on the road near Agency Chauraya when he saw a crowd, and then he was hit by a bullet. SP Tyagi has gone so far as to say that Omraj had seen the faces of those who shot, and had said that if he saw the faces again he would be able to recognise them for the police. When we spoke to Omraj and asked if he knew who shot him, or if he had seen their faces, he said he had not. When asked if he had made a complaint or filed an FIR, he said no, but asked us to speak to his family, who might have done. His brother Subhash also says that no FIR has been filed – he had accompanied Omraj to the hospital, and had been with him the entire time.Subhash also strongly disputes Tyagi’s allegation that there were communal sensitivities in the region, saying, “Hindus and Muslims have never fought here. thewire
Muslims Were Never Targeted in Such a Brutal Manner in UP
https://caravandaily.com/muslims-were-never-targeted-in-such-a-brutal-manner-in-up/?fbclid=IwAR0qsKVzyBtke5oS3VV25tSOvcHmtaS4JmvfFvrDSPwOcTA5LjKd0hWw_Jw
Meerut police shot at protesters, claim families of deceased
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/meerut-police-shot-at-protesters-claim-families-of-deceased
Police firing killed 1, others may be dead due to their own illegal weapons: UP DGP
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/only-1-dead-in-police-firing-others-could-be-dead-by-their-own-illegal-weapons-up-dgp-exclusive-1632069-2019-12-27
UP DGP Om Prakash Singh on Friday said only one person has died in the police firing in the state. He also said the 19 people who have lost their lives during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Uttar Pradesh, that turned violent, could have died by the illegal weapons they were carrying.indiatoday
‘I’ll Give Away My Property if Police Gives Evidence of My Son Damaging Public Property’
https://www.newsclick.in/ill-give-away-my-property-if-police-gives-evidence-my-son-damaging-public-property
Lucknow: Mohammad Wakeel, 33, is dead. He was killed when a bullet, reportedly from a prohibited .32 bore was pumped into his stomach by an unknown person in Lucknow on December 19. Wakeel’s father, Sharfuddin, who is still mourning the death of his only working son says, “My son was innocent. He had gone out to buy some medicine for his seven-month pregnant wife and was shot.”The distraught father says, “I was not with him. He had come home after driving his e-rickshaw and went out to get things that his wife and mother wanted. We received a phone call at around 1530 hours and the person at the other end told me that Wakeel has been shot,” adding,“We immediately rushed him to King George Trauma University and later Wakeel was declared dead.”Denying that his son was part of a protest against the amended Citizenship Act in Lucknow on December 19, Sharfuddin says, “My son was sane enough to know what was right and what was wrong. He did not participate in the protest and was even riding his e-rickshaw that day but had come home after seeing that the city was shut. He was shot in his stomach.”newsclick.in
Muslim man saves UP policeman from agitated mob during CAA protest in Firozabad
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/muslim-man-saves-up-policeman-from-agitated-mob-during-caa-protest-in-firozabad
While the whole nation is witnessing agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the NRC, a Firozabad man came forward to rescue a policeman at the time of need and urgency when he was surrounded and beaten by a mob during protest on December 20.Policeman Ajay Kumar who was rescued by Haji Qadir, said "He came like an angel in my life. Had it not been for him, I would have been killed".Kumar added, "Hajji Qadir Sahab took me to his home. I had injuries on one of my fingers and head. He gave me water and his clothes to wear and assured me that I will be safe. He took me to the police station later", who suffered injuries to his hand and head by angry demonstrators on December 20. On asking about the incident, Qadir told that he was offering Namaz when he came to know that a policeman had been surrounded by a mob.nationalheraldindia
Action of UP authorities against anti-CAA agitators is illegal: Markandey Katju
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/action-of-up-authorities-against-anti-caa-agitators-is-illegal-markandey-katju
The action of Uttar Pradesh (UP) authorities to seal and attach properties of “rioters” during the anti-CAA protests is “illegal”, former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Markandey Katju has said, while also raising questions over the role of the apex court in impartially discharging its duties.In a long Facebook post, Katju explained that Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), under which the protesters have been booked by the police, has no provision for immediate sealing or confiscating the properties of the accused by an executive authority, such as the District Magistrate or SDM. “So while I have no sympathy with those who rioted and damaged property in the recent agitations against the Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) in towns in UP, in my opinion the action of UP authorities is wholly illegal,” Katju wrote.nationalheraldindia
In Yogi’s UP, blind eye to property destroyed by police and BJP, Sangh supporters
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/yogi-ji-who-will-pay-for-damages-caused-by-police
The spokesman of Uttar Pradesh Government issued a press note earlier this week stating that 498 people were issued notices for arson during anti-CAA protest across the state with maximum 148 being booked in Meerut. A sum of Rupees 6 lakhs were even collected from the people by way of compensation for damage to public property, the state claimed. While the state took recourse to a Supreme Court guideline and an order of the Allahabad High Court, it conveniently disregarded the part of the guideline which maintained that the penalty could be levied and collected only after a trial and conviction. Without a trial and conviction, the notices and the collection, say legal experts, are illegal.While the CM and his ministers and officials are silent on this part of the guideline, they are also quiet on the property damaged by policemen in uniform. A large number of video clips and footage have emerged to show policemen destroying even CCTV cameras, private vehicles, parts of mosques and individual homes. The argument that the police had to break doors to get inside is unconvincing in view of the clips circulating on social media. Complaints are pouring in against the police with graphic details of how the policemen tormented people, particularly Muslims in Muzaffarnagar, Rampur, Kanpur, Bijnor and Sambhal while arresting alleged rioters. They forcibly entered houses at night while they could have cordoned off the area and arrested the people in the morning. They are seen damaging property and misbehaving with women. Videos show police damaging cars and 2-wheelers parked in lanes and bylanes of the localities. Going by the complaints property worth several Crore are said to have been damaged by the police in Lucknow alone.“This govt is harassing innocent people. First, the people were beaten up and booked in false cases and now the family members are receiving recovery notices. If the government is so keen about recovery it should also pay compensation to people whose properties were damaged by police,” Akhilesh Yadav, national president of SP said. nationalheraldindia
Muslims in Bulandshahr Pay Rs 6 Lakh for Damage to Public Property During Anti-CAA Protests
https://www.news18.com/news/india/muslims-in-bulandshahr-pay-rs-6-lakh-for-damage-of-public-property-during-anti-caa-protests-2437853.html
Members of the Muslim community in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh handed over a demand draft of Rs 6,27,507 to the district administration on Friday. The administration was present in the Upper Kot area of the district to ensure that Friday prayers were conducted peacefully.After the prayers, members of the community met DM Ravinder Kumar and SSP Santosh Kumar and handed over the demand draft. The locals also handed over roses to officers of the district administration."With this, Bulandshahr has made a good start, they have realised that the government property has been bought from the tax-payers money. It is their own loss and damage,” Kumar said. "The people in Bulandshahr have come with an 'avedan' (request) letter and a demand draft of Rs 6,27,507. People have felt this (violence) should not have happened." he added.However, there have also been several reports and CCTV footage showing the police burning properties of local residents in the state.news18
124 Arrested By UP Cops For "Inciting Content", 19,000 Social Media Accounts Reported
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-cops-arrest-124-in-a-week-for-inciting-content-on-social-media-2155025
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested 124 people in the last one week for posting "inciting content" on social media. The crackdown by the police comes at a time when the state is on the edge after violent protests in many parts over the new citizenship law.Close to 20,000 social media, with over 9,000 Twitter and Facebook profiles, have been reported.ndtv
After UP, Questions Raised on Bihar Police’s Role During Protest Against CAA-NRC
https://www.newsclick.in/UP-Questions-Raised-Bihar-Police-Role-During-Protest-Against-CAA-NRC
Patna: After police brutalities in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Opposition leader, Tejashwi Yadav, has raised questions on the role of state police during protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens. He has cited the Bihar police’s crackdown against those protesting against CAA and NRC in Aurangabad town during RJD’s shutdown on December 21.“Police under Nitish Kumar is terrorising Muslims and vandalising public property. The police has even told residents, ‘You want azaadi? Wait, we'll give you azaadi’,”, Tejashwi said on December 28.This is the first time Tejashwi, former deputy chief minister, has accused state police of terrorising Muslims for protesting against CAA and NRC. However, a senior police officer of ADG rank at the police headquarters denied the allegations against police but refused to say anything on this matter.newsclick.in
‘We Are Example For the Country’: UP CM Yogi Praises His Crackdown
https://www.thequint.com/news/protesters-have-been-silenced-chief-minister-yogi-justifies-up-crackdown?fbclid=IwAR2LZSbyOFVW-VCvehLvYZzDX2rK8HWd6iQw5huPM0R4I4CRLchaQeGSzuA
Justifying Uttar Pradesh crackdown on protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter on Friday, and wrote that the state government’s actions have “shocked every protester.” The official Twitter handle of the office of chief minister tweeted, “Every rioter is shocked. Every troublemaker is shocked. Seeing the strictness of the Yogi government, everyone is silent. Do anything, now the compensation will be from the one who did the damage, this is Yogi ji's announcement. Every violent protester will cry now because there is a Yogi government in UP.”He ended his tweet with the hashtag ‘#TheGreat_CmYogi’.THE QUINT
Revenge of ‘yogi’ in Adityanath’s ‘Ram Rajya’: high level judicial inquiry needed to examine excesses
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/the-revenge-of-the-yogi-in-adityanaths-ram-rajya-high-level-judicial-inquiry-needed-to-examine-excesses?fbclid=IwAR2lWuwpJJdZqiJUMhMub_xhQj7bkFlmwI776blw-iPGWg4hXQAJqW9wg00
OTHER: anti-citizenship act stir*
Saudi planning OIC meeting on Kashmir; Imran warns of Muslim genocide
https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2019/12/27/saudi-planning-oic-meeting-on-kashmir-imran-warns-of-muslim-genocide.html
A prominent Pakistani newspaper has reported that Saudi Arabia has conveyed to Pakistan that it was planning to convene a meeting of foreign ministers of members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.Dawn reported on Friday that the plan was conveyed by "Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud during a meeting with (Pakistan) Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi" on Thursday.Faisal was on a visit to Pakistan to convey the Saudi government's "gratitude" to Islamabad for not participating in a conference of Islamic nations in Kuala Lumpur. Faisal also met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.According to a statement on the meeting by the Pakistan Foreign Office, Qureshi raised the issue of India's abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and NRC and the “systematic targeting of minorities in India, particularly Muslims". The statement added the "two Foreign Ministers discussed OIC’s role in the advancement of the cause of Kashmir". Imran tweeted a video of an RSS march in Hyderabad this week, comparing it to practices of the Nazi party. Imran claimed RSS action would lead to “genocide of Muslims”.Imran tweeted, “The int community should wake up before RSS on the move leads to genocide of Muslims that will dwarf other genocides. Whenever militias like Hitler's Brown Shirts or RSS are formed, based upon hatred of a certain community, it always ends in genocide.”Imran has repeatedly brought up fears of RSS and BJP provoking conflict and had described the government of Narendra Modi as being Fascist.theweek
Devendra Fadnavis accidentally ends up 'reaching' anti-CAA protest venue, deletes tweet after goof-up
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/devendra-fadnavis-accidentally-ends-up-reaching-anti-caa-protest-venue-deletes-tweet-after-goof-up
in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the August Kranti Maidan. But while tweeting images of the protest he goofed up and wrote, "reached Azad Maidan", but later deleted the tweet.After reaching the venue where demonstration took place in support of the CAA, Fadnavis shared pictures of the demonstration featuring a large number of people with banners and the National Flag. "Reached Azad Maidan in Mumbai and joined the massive gathering of citizens to support the #CitizenshipAmendmentAct !" he tweeted. But after realising that he goofed up, Fadnavis deleted the tweet.There were 2 protests in Mumbai on Friday, one was at Azad Maidan which was anti-Citizenship Amendment Act while other one was at August Kranti Maidan which was in support of CAA.freepressjournal
BJP will take Assam down the path of violence: Rahul Gandhi
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fear-bjp-will-take-assam-down-to-the-path-of-violence-rahul-gandhi/articleshow/73006576.cms
GUWAHATI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said Assam might return to the path of violence due to policies of the BJP governments at the Centre and the state.Gandhi, who is in Guwahati to address an anti-CAA rally and pay homage to four youths killed in the city in police firing during protests, said that wherever BJP goes, it destroys peace and tranquility in that place.
“I remember saying it several times in the past that the day BJP comes to Assam, peace will be destroyed and development will halt. Today as I pay homage to the martyrs killed in the police firing, I am sad on how those words have come true,” he said at the Khanapara veterinary ground here.“Wherever I go, I tell everyone to look up to Assam. After great deal of diversity, violence, people of Assam united and peace returned to the state and development started swiftly. The Assam Accord was the foundation of peace in Assam. Today I am sad, I fear that the state might return to its old path of violence due to BJP,” Gandhi said.
TRS govt permits communal RSS march, not allowing secular Cong Rally : TPCC Prez
http://www.uniindia.com/trs-govt-permits-communal-rss-march-not-allowing-secular-cong-rally--tpcc-prez/south/news/1835357.html
Hyderabad:Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President and Nalgonda MP Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday said that the TRS Government had permitted a march conducted by RSS in the city and not allowing a Secular Rally to be taken up by the Congress Party.Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, Mr Reddy strongly condemned TRS Government for denying permission to the Congress party to take out 'Save Nation, Save Constitution' rally from Gandhi Bhavan to Dr. Ambedkar statue at Tank Bund on the occasion of its 135th Formation Day on Saturday. He said police had no objection when RSS workers held a march with their long sticks on city roads. But it was objecting to a peaceful rally with National flags proposed to be taken out by the Congress party.UNI
Mamata gives Rs 5 lakh compensation to kin of deceased during anti-CAA protest in Mangaluru
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/mamata-gives-rs-5-lakh-compensation-to-kin-of-deceased-during-anti-caa-protest-in-mangaluru
A delegation of TMC on Saturday handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh compensation to the family of a person who died during protests against Citizenship Amendment Act on December 19 in Mangaluru.The delegation, led by TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi and Rajya Sabha MP Md Nadimul Haque, gave the compensation to the family members of Nousheen, one of the two people who died allegedly in police action during the protest against citizenship act.ANI
“Can a man who cannot tolerate Muslim names tolerate Muslims?”: Zakir Nagar’s women against CAA
https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/zakir-nagar-women-protesting-caa
Every evening for the past week since 16 December, the residents of Zakir Nagar, a locality in south Delhi’s Okhla area, have stood on the street holding a candlelight vigil to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens. The locality is a little over a kilometre away from the Jamia Millia Islamia university, that has been the center of anti-CAA protests and subsequent police bruality. The purpose of the vigil is also to register the locality’s opposition to the police’s violent crackdown on the students of Jamia.The protests in Zakir Nagar are part of nationwide demonstrations against the CAA since the law was enacted on 12 December. Across India, the police have clamped down on protests by beating people, firing tear gas shells and detaining hundreds.When I visited the Zakir Nagar vigil on the night of 23 December, people were peacefully lined up on either side of a road leading to the local mosque. Children sang the poet Muhammad Iqbal’s Saare Jahan Se Accha. Men distributed biscuits and tea to the people braving Delhi’s cold December nights. Amidst the vigil, the participants engaged in conversations about the consequences of the newly enacted law. Emotions ran high at the protest in Zakir Nagar, but the fear of the Narendra Modi-led government was not one of them.caravanmagazine.in
Japan, Norway, Hungary investments in Assam in backburner over anti-CAA protests
https://indiablooms.com/news-details/N/57758/japan-norway-hungary-investments-in-assam-in-backburner-over-anti-caa-protests.html
Guwahati: Besides losing mileage with Japan over postponement of Annual India-Japan Summit at Guwahati due to the recent violence during anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, in the state, investment of at least Rs 4000 crore by foreign companies in the state has also been put on the backburner, Assam Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said here today.Addressing a press conference, Patowary said, “The whole scenario in Assam would have changed with the India-Japan Summit here. The state lost immense vital mileage with Japan.”He further said investment of Rs 2000 crore for a bamboo-related industry in the state by a top Norwegian company, and another investment of similar amount by a company from Hungary for manufacturing electric buses in the state have come under doubt due to the violence.UNI
Kerala Governor Arif Khan faces ire on CAA from delegates at Indian History Congress
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/dec/28/kerala-governor-arif-mohammed-khan-faces-ire-on-caa-from-delegates-at-indian-history-congress-2082054.html
KANNUR: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan faced protests from some delegates and students during his opening address at Indian History Congress (IHC) here on Saturday, with BJP slamming it as "government- sponsored." The protests were held both inside and outside IHC venue - Kannur University. Khan, who was the Chief Guest at the functon, was addressing the delegates, when he touched upon the protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) referred to by earlier speakers - KK Ragesh, CPM Rajya sabha MP and historian Irfan Habib.This led to the objections being raised by some delegates at the venue. "You have every right to protest. But you cannot shout me down", Khan said repeatedly as some of the delegates, sitting in front, took exception to the governor defending the CAA in his speech. Some delegates shouted "Kerala Governor shame shame" as Khan concluded his speech.Expressing concern over the incident, Indian History Congress Secretary said, "some the delegates were peacefully standing and holding placards. They were roughed up by police".A JNU delegate, Mercy, who is from Assam, said her state was burning. "My state is burning. There is shut down in Kashmir since the past few months. I will not be bogged down. My people have been silenced. I cannot remain silent and pretend everything will be fine," she said. The delegate, who was picked up by police, was later let off.Police have also taken into custody at least 12 pro Congress Kerala Students Union and Youth Congress activists and 5 workers of the Muslim Students Front, who showed black flags at the governor in Kannur as he arrived for the function. Khan has been facing a slew of protests over the Citizenship Act since the past few days.PTI
Citizenship Act protests: ‘Mind your own business,’ P Chidambaram tells Army chief Bipin Rawat
https://scroll.in/latest/948120/citizenship-act-protests-mind-your-own-business-p-chidambaram-tells-army-chief-bipin-rawat
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday hit out at Army chief Bipin Rawat for his comments on students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Uttar Pradesh, The Hindu reported.Army chief's comments led to outrage from the Opposition, many of whom reminded Rawat of the limits of his office. But Union minister and former Army chief VK Singh defended Rawat, asking the Opposition not to politicise everything.Inaugurating the “Save India Save Constitution” march organised by the Congress in Thiruvananthapuram, Chidambaram said it was a disgrace that the BJP government at the Centre was now taking the help of the Army and state police chiefs to oppose students who had protested against the Act in a democratic manner.scroll
Indian students in Israel protest against CAA, NRC in front of Indian embassy, they also condemn shut down in Kashmir
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/indian-students-in-israel-protest-against-caa-nrc-in-front-of-indian-embassy/1695125
Tel Aviv:About 2 dozen Indian students from various research institutes in Israel staged a silent protest in front of the Indian embassy here on Friday against the amended citizenship law and the proposed National Register of Citizens, terming them acts of "state-sponsored instrument of class and religious persecution".Holding Indian flags and posters with captions - "CAA is non-secular", "students at work, country under construction", "we built statue of liberty, now we want social unity" and "criticism is integral to any democracy, listen to youth''s ''mann ki baat''", the students mainly from Weizmann Institute and Tel Aviv University stood in front of the Indian mission for several hours, braving inclement weather.The students also condemned the violence and use of "excessive force against our fellow peers and other citizens in India".They termed the CAA and NRC as "acts of state-sponsored instrument of class and religious persecution"."We call upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to curb our fundamental right of freedom of expression and peaceful protest," the students said in a statement. "CAA in combination with the proposed NRC fundamentally contradicts the right to equality and secularism as per Article 14 and Article 15 of our Constitution respectively and can be used as a tool for harassment of bonafide Indians, as is already being witnessed in Assam. Where is the promise Ambedkar made?" it said.With the "abuse of state machinery" to suppress the voice of dissent, destruction of property, the arrests of academics and students, the civilian casualties, India continues to be in search of achhe din, it said.The students also accused the Indian government of spreading misinformation and attempting to incite communal riots and dividing the society on the basis of caste and religion.They also condemned the "shut down of basic human rights in Kashmir for over 144 days".Several Indian researchers at Israeli institutes told PTI that the protest was sparked after intense internal debates in the student community.They said while a lot of them were agitated against "police brutality" on students, most of them did not want to come out in protest on the issue of CAA and NRC.Meanwhile, local daily Ha''aretz published a full page story on its Thursday issue with the headlines, "Indian Prime Minister wants a Hindu Rashtra and the Muslim citizens are paying the price for it".PTI
'Stop Brutality Against Protestors': Indian Techies across globe, pen Open Letter Against CAA, NRC
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-stop-brutality-against-protestors-indian-techies-pen-open-letter-against-caa-nrc/344754
A group of Indian and Indian-origin professionals working with tech giants like Google, Uber, Amazon and Facebook have written an open letter against the new religion-based citizenship law and the planned national register of citizens, terming them as "fascist".They urged business leaders like Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella and Mukesh Ambani to "take a stance and publicly denounce the fascist acts by the Indian government".The letter by 'TechAgainstFascism' on online publishing platform Medium also urged the leaders to refuse to shut off the Internet at the "government's whim" and to ensure that content moderation is not skewing pro-government.This comes at a time when thousands of Indians across the country are protesting the amended citizenship law and the planned NRC. On several occasions, these protests turned violent and have left around 20 dead and several injured in clashes with the police."We - engineers, researchers, analysts, and designers - of the technology industry, unflinchingly condemn the fascist Indian government and the brutality it enacts on citizens. The state-sponsored brutality against protestors must stop immediately," the letter said.These employees -- who claim to be located across San Francisco, Seattle, London, Israel and Bengaluru -- added that the opinions expressed are their own and do not reflect those of their employers.The employees called upon technology leaders like Sundar Pichai (Alphabet), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Jack Dorsey (Twitter), Dara Khosrowshahi (Uber), Mukesh Ambani (Jio), Gopal Vittal (Bharti Airtel), Kalyan Krishnamurthy (Flipkart), and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe) to "take a stance and publicly denounce the fascist acts by the Indian government".PTI
CAA May Affect Status Of India’s Muslims: US Congress report
https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/in-tandem-with-nrc-caa-may-affect-status-of-india-s-muslim-minority-congressional-research-service
India’s amended citizenship law, along with a NRC, planned by the Modi government "may affect the status" of Muslim minority in the country, a report by Congressional Research Service has said. The report also said that for the first time in independent India's history, a religious criterion has been added to the country's naturalisation process. CRS is an independent research wing of US Congress which prepares reports periodically on issues of domestic and global importance for the lawmakers to take informed decision. These are not considered as official reports of the U.S. Congress."In tandem with a NRC planned by the federal government, the CAA may affect the status of India's large Muslim minority of roughly 200 million," said the CRS in its first ever report on the amended citizenship law.“India’s Citizenship Act of 1955 prohibited illegal immigrants from becoming citizens. Among numerous amendments to the act since 1955, none contained a religious aspect,” the CRS said in its two-page report.The changes sparked significant controversy, including large-scale and sometimes violent protests. Opponents of the CAA warn that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP are pursuing a Hindu majoritarian, anti-Muslim agenda that threatens India's status as an officially secular republic and violates international human rights norms, it said. CRS claims that the amendment's key provisions allowing immigrants of six religions from three countries a path to citizenship while excluding Muslims may violate certain Articles of the Indian Constitution, in particular Articles 14 and 15.PTI
Expert had told House panel on CAB: Don’t name religions, just say persecuted minorities
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/expert-had-told-house-panel-on-cab-dont-name-religions-just-say-persecuted-minorities-6188200/
New Delhi :Prominent Constitutional expert and former secretary general of the Lok Sabha, Subhash Kashyap, had warned the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill two years ago that the legislation should omit any “reference to religions like Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, etc.” — and use only “persecuted minorities”.Tendering evidence before the JPC on CAB 2016, Kashyap suggested that “persecuted minorities” would include all those whom the legislation aimed to cover. “My view was that it would have meant the same thing. I had said it to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. It was not necessary for them to specify Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, etc. They could have achieved the purpose without that, too,” Kashyap said. Indian Express.
CAA protest: In show of solidarity, Kerala church choir performs wearing skull caps, headscarves
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/caa-protest-in-show-of-solidarity-kerala-church-choir-performs-wearing-skull-caps-headscarves-6188245/
As protests continue across the country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a church in Kerala decided to show its solidarity this Christmas season by having Christmas carollers wear skull caps and headscarves during their performance.On December 23, in front of the altar at St Thomas Mar Thoma Church in Kozhenchery in Pathanamthitta district, the male carollers donned skull caps and the women wore headscarves and performed Mappila — traditional songs sung by the Muslim community — renditions of traditional carols.Mar Thoma Church is a non-Catholic Christian community and the St Thomas Church at Kozhenchery is a prominent parish.Daniel T Philip, the church’s assistant parish priest, “We wanted to pledge solidarity with all communities, including Muslims, who are worried about the new citizenship law. As we are celebrating Christmas, there is a grave concern among minorities, particularly among Muslims, whether they would become refugees in this country. We wanted to share their concern and express solidarity with them.”indianexpress
Jamia Students Observe Day-log Hunger Strike against Alleged Police Brutality During Anti-CAA Protests
https://www.news18.com/news/india/citizenship-act-protests-live-updates-uttar-pradesh-up-bhawan-internet-shut-delhi-yogi-jamia-police-2437049.html
Jamia Millia Islamia students on Friday observed a day-long hunger strike against alleged police brutality during the protests against the amended citizenship law.The students demanded an impartial judicial inquiry into the deaths and violent action during the agitation, release of illegally detained protestors and the arrest of those involved in violence. Their other demands included medical aid to those injured in alleged police brutalities, compensation to those whose property were destroyed in police action and end to arbitrary communications blackout.The Jamia Coordination Committee, which comprises various political parties on the campus, alleged police have responded to peaceful protests violently and brutally since the agitation began on Dec.12. The students were joined by members of the public in their protest against the "outrightly discriminatory" Citizenship Amendment Act and the "genocidal step" of creating an NRC, they said."If the government does not take immediate tangible action on these demands by January 1, we will give a call for nationwide hunger strikes in other universities and relay hunger strike will be held in Jamia for these demands," the JCC said.PTI
Kerala: BJP deflecting focus from Citizenship Act protests, allege Jamia students
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/dec/28/bjp-deflecting-focus-from-citizenship-act-protests-allege-jamia-students-2081766.html
KOZHIKODE: Aysha Renna, Ladeeda Farzana and Shaheen Abdulla, three Keralite students of Jamia Millia Islamia University, have become the faces of resistance now.The protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) kick-started by Jamia students and the way the three bravely fought police excesses in their university have had reverberations across the country. Newindianexpress caught up with the students, who were here to participate in a programme, titled ‘Festival of Ideas and Resistance’, on Friday. “Many brutal atrocities on the protesters are going unreported in Uttar Pradesh. Mohammad Sageer, an eight-year-old boy, was playing in Varanasi’s Bajardiha area when a crowd came running to protect themselves from the police. Sageer died of police baton-charge,” laments Shaheen, an MA Convergent Journalism student who hails from Villyapally near Vadakara. Aysha, MA History student from Kondotty, told New indianexpress that BJP’s round-the-clock functioning IT Cell focuses more on her alleged “Islamic politics” rather than the issue the students raised.“The comment about Yakub Memon in my Facebook page in 2015 has been used by BJP IT personnel now to deflect the attention from what is actually happening today against Muslims and other minority sections,” said Aysha. Later, speaking at the function organised by Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), the three students, including Ladeeda, BA Arabic student from Kannur, said they would not be satisfied even if the CAA-NRC plans are dropped, but they would uphold the politics of SIO till BJP steps down. newindianexpress
Protests at UP Bhavan, Jama Masjid, many detained
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/protests-at-up-bhavan-jama-masjid-many-detained/cid/1730713
Protesters, who had come to UP Bhavan here to demonstrate against FIRs filed by UP police against AMU, were detained on Friday by Delhi police.Ahead of the protest, UP Bhavan was corralled under heavy police deployment. Roads approaching the building located in the posh diplomatic area were barricaded at several pointsProtesters who managed to reach the building were forcefully detained in police vans. Despite protesters demanding a reason for their detention, police didn't give any.A protest was also staged at Jama Masjid during the day. Exactly a week back, the site of protests at nearby Delhi Gate had turned violent after few protesters resorted to pelting stones at the police standing behind the barricades. To contain them, the police had trained water cannons at them followed by a lathicharge in which several protesters were badly injured.Flag marches were conducted in some areas of the northeast district in the national capital and heavy police force was deployed in parts of the city ahead of Friday prayers and protests calls by some organisations against the amended citizenship act, police said.The police organised flag marches in northeast Delhi's Seelampur, Jafrabad, Welcome and Mustafabad areas, they said.Heavy police deployment was also witnessed in Jamia Nagar, Jama Masjid and Chanakyapuri areas, the police said. telegraphindia
CAA protests: Hundreds march towards PM residence with hands tied, stopped by police
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/caa-protests-hundreds-march-towards-pm-residence-hands-tied-stopped-police-1502838054.html
New Delhi:Hundreds of people with their hands tied marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to demand the release of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and to protest against the amended Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were stopped by the police on Friday.Amid heavy security arrangement and drone surveillance, the protesters including Bhim Army members started from Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Jor Bagh in the national capital and were stopped by police at a barricade en-route PM Modi’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. They participated in the march with their hands tied, saying they did it so that they could not be blamed for violence and arson during the protest.“We have tied our hands and are protesting so tomorrow they do not attack us and lie that we were not protesting peacefully,” said Majid Jamal, one of the participants in the protest.thestatesman
Delhi Police film protests, run its images through face recognition software to screen crowd
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/police-film-protests-run-its-images-through-face-recognition-software-to-screen-crowd-6188246/
New Delhi :Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ramlila Maidan rally on Dec.22 — where he said there was no talk of NRC — was the first political rally where Delhi Police used a facial recognition software to screen the crowd.This was also the first time Delhi Police used a set of facial images collected from footage filmed at the city’s various protest events to filter “law and order suspects” at the Prime Minister’s rally.Following a Delhi High Court order in a case related to missing children, the Delhi Police had acquired Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) software in March 2018 as a tool to identify lost and found boys and girls by matching photos.Sources said Delhi Police has so far created a photo dataset of over 1.5 lakh “history-sheeters” for routine crime investigation. Another dataset meant for monitoring sensitive public events has over 2000 images of terror suspects and — the latest addition — alleged “rabble-rousers and miscreants”.indian express
Splinter In JD(U) Over CAA? Minority Cell Leader Tenders Resignation After Prashant Kishor
https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/politics/jdu-differs-on-caa-minority-cell-leader-tenders-resignation-after.html
JD(U) leader Khwaja Shahid, on Friday tendered his resignation from the party after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's stand over the newly implemented Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Shahid's resignation, who held the post of JDU's minority cell, comes after the party leaders supported CAA and also days after party Vice President Prashant Kishor aired his concerns over the Act and offered his resignation. Kishor also deleted his designation from his Twitter bio. However, CM Nitish Kumar has not accepted his resignation yet. However, Party President and CM, Nitish Kumar opposed NDA alliance, as he stated that asserted that NRC will not be implemented in the state. Kumar's statements made him the first from NDA camp to have voiced disapproval of the proposed move to have an all India NRC which triggered country-wide tension and protests. republicworld
Rahul Gandhi says ‘NRC, NPR more disastrous than demonetisation’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-foundation-day-rahul-gandhi-narendra-modi-caa-nrc-npr-protests-6188600/
New Delhi :Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the National Popular Register (NPR) and the NRC will prove to be “more disastrous for the people” than the note ban in Nov.2016. Speaking on the sidelines of the party’s 135th foundation day at the AICC headquarters in the national capital, Rahul alleged that the basic idea behind the exercises was to ask all poor people whether they are Indian or not.“His (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) 15 friends will not have to show any document and the money generated will go into the pockets of those 15 people,” he said, referring to his allegation that the government was working for the benefit of “15 crony capitalists”. “This will be more disastrous for the people than demonetisation. This will have twice the impact of demonetization,” he added.indianexpress
CAA: More than 2 lakh take out rally in Aurangabad
https://en.maktoobmedia.com/2019/12/28/caa-more-than-2-lakh-take-out-rally-in-aurangabad/?fbclid=IwAR2t43q_bbZcJwzZGVXELXu45KaH3pgIZi_RcepgAxR-lcNEtQKYx_4rcO0
More than two lakh people under the banner of 20 Muslim organizations and other parties include Congress on Friday took out a rally to voice their anger and protest to the Citizenship Amendment Act, NRC in Aurangabad in Maharashtra.The organizations that participated in Friday’s massive rally were Jamiat-e-Hind, Jamathe Islami Hind, AIMIM, Muslim Awami Committee, Tameere Millat, Muslim Lawyers Forum, Doctors Forum and Raza Academy.Congress, NCP, RJD and Samajwadi Party workers alo joined the rally.The Aurangabad city police have deployed heavy bandobast.maktoobmedia.com
Gujarat: Modasa observes bandh to protest CAA and NRC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-modasa-observes-bandh-to-protest-caa-and-nrc-6188486/
Modasa :Hundreds of shops at multiple market places in Modasa town of Aravalli district, including Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) wholesale market, were closed on Friday as the area observed a shutdown in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC. Bandh, called by Aravalli Muslim Coordination Committee, was observed in select pockets of Modasa, even as Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel arrived in the town to inaugurate a newly built circuit house.The area wore a deserted look since Friday morning as shops were shut in market complexes from Hajira to College Road in Modasa town. The otherwise busy ‘Makhdoom’ intersection of Modasa was also near empty.“This is our way of holding a symbolic protest against the draconian CAA, NRC and now NPR. We have realised that it is a prolonged fight and we have a long way to go. When the protests against CAA had begun across India, the residents of Modasa decided to wait and watch. The escalation of violence in Ahmedabad during the protests weakened our spirits but then we realised that by doing a non-violent protest, we can ensure that the spirit of our community doesn’t weaken further. We were told by the police that no permission will be given for a rally or a protest, so we decided to shut down our businesses for a day as a symbolic protest,” said Suleiman Khan, convener, Muslim Coordination Committee.The biggest effect of the bandh was seen at APMC market complex, which is the single biggest agricultural market in Aravalli and Sabarkantha, as it observed complete shutdown with over a 1,000 shops remaining closed on Friday.Indian Express
Gujarat: BJP leaders greet Pakistani nationals with flowers in Rajkot
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-leaders-greet-pakistani-nationals-with-flowers-in-rajkot-6188546/
Rajkot :Amid protests against the new citizenship law across the country, BJP Thursday organised an event where families of Sodha community from Pakistan who are living in Rajkot on long-term visa (LTV) were greeted with flowers.The party organised a meeting of intellectuals and party workers in Swaminarayan Gurukul, a school run by monks of Swaminarayan sect on Gondal Road of the city, to “raise public awareness about the Citizenship Amendment Act and to welcome Pakistani nationals living in India”.Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya, Rajkot MP Mohan Kundariya, BJP’s Rajkot district unit president Devraj Sakhiya, former minister Jasuben Korat, local BJP MLAs and other local leaders of the party presented bouquets of flowers to the Pakistani nationals.indianexpress
Muslims to lose property for opposing Narendra Modi’s new Indian citizenship law:Times UK
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/muslims-to-lose-property-for-opposing-modi-s-new-indian-citizenship-law-hn86nbfzl?fbclid=IwAR0n8WGLBTJjpEK9-Fby-mDn9vzE3kX887hJ_O99-j0wOy95q_JgJ7XKUK0
Several hundred mostly Muslim men face having their property confiscated after being given “unpayable” fines for allegedly vandalising police batons, motorbikes and loudspeakers during protests against a new Indian citizenship law. Residents described the unprecedented fines as being part of a clampdown involving arbitary arrests and intimidation by Hindu nationalist government in the state of Uttar Pradesh against the Muslim community over the demonstrations. Paramilitary and police forces were deployed in Uttar Pradesh today and the internet was shut down in an attempt to curb violence. Security drones were spotted flying over western regions of the state, where protests turned violent after last week’s Friday prayers.
Cong calls for another 'independence movement' against Modi govt'
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/12/28/cong-calls-for-another-independence-movement-against-modi-govt.html?fbclid=IwAR3WClS5Q692IKcWaDH4BnkNmOKGced2EyG-v8GyXYeFnAHh-SA6Cxdhqzs
Gujarat unit of the Congress took out a 'Save Constitution' flag march from Sabarmati Ashram to the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Usmanpura in the city to mark the party's foundation day.Thousands of workers took part in the march, where several leaders, including party's Gujarat in-charge Rajiv Satav, state unit chief Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly, Paresh Dhanani, were present.Addressing the workers before the march, Satav said, "Under BJP government (at the Centre), which has been in power since the last six years, the country seems to be going backwards. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) does not respond to the questions on economic slowdown, unemployment, and farm distress, among others, affecting the people of the country.""On our foundation day, we pledge to launch a fight for the second independence and work to once again make the country what Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) had dreamt of," he said.PTI
*OTHERS*
145 Days On, No Word On Restoring Internet In Kashmir; Students, Businesses Worst Sufferers
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-145-days-on-no-word-on-restoring-internet-in-kashmir-students-businesses-worst-sufferers/344764?fbclid=IwAR2qmV7n_BL_E_xk8sriCGlzCujST5B2sb-WkaJIa26oFY_fVP34Lu018nQ
There is no word on when internet services will be restored in Kashmir, where the blackout has completed 145 days, officials said on Friday even as mobile internet facility was resumed in Ladakh's Kargil district.Internet services were suspended on August 5, the day the Centre announced nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.There is no word on when internet services will be restored in the Valley, the officials said.BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday had said broadband internet facilities were being restored in Kashmir in a phased manner and the local administration will restore the broadband services in more sectors after a security review.In the Valley, the business community and students are the worst sufferers due to the internet shutdown."Almost every paperwork related to business is now to be done online. Although the government has set up facilitation centres at various places, these are not enough. For example, I have to shut my shop for a day to be able to give GST returns. It is not only cumbersome but humiliating as well, said Farooq Ahmad Khan, a businessman.Hundreds of students, who aspire to appear in various competitive examinations, have to make frequent visits to the internet kiosks set up in offices of deputy commissioners of various districts and some educational institutions.outlookindia
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya loses his own Twitter poll, gets brutally trolled
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bjp-it-cell-head-amit-malviya-loses-his-own-twitter-poll-gets-brutally-trolled?fbclid=IwAR2Y--A7nDDWhISOsknkKCWeSriaz77eAYdi-gT6j_tgJGwWIXMGD4qDVuE
BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya has lost his own Twitter poll on Saturday. On Friday morning, he had conducted a poll on veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.Malviya had written, "Rajdeep Sardesai should handle PR for ISIS." He had given four options for the Twitter users to vote- agree, strongly agree, disagree and he is irrelevant.However when the poll ended on Saturday morning, 33% Twitter users voted for 'disagree' while 28% voted for 'agree' and 26% people voted for 'strongly disagree'. 13% users voted for 'he is irrelevant'. 144,287 Twitter users voted in the poll conducted by Malviya.Sardesai had replied to his tweet saying that he should carry on with this brazenly slanderous and incendiary campaign. "My friend, carry on with this brazenly slanderous and incendiary campaign. My new year resolution is to stay calm! Have a peaceful and happy new year.. may spirit of India shine bright," he had written on Friday.Amit Malviya was brutally trolled on Twitter after he lost his own poll. freepressjournal
Hyderabad police go slow on ‘sedition’ probe against two sisters
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/271219/hyderabad-police-go-slow-on-sedition-probe-against-two-sisters.html
Hyderabad: When they first registered a sedition cases against two Muslim women — both daughters of a cleric — in Saidabad for spreading communal hatred during a congregation against the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya in mid-November, the Hyderabad police had come in for sharp criticism for acting in haste.Now, more than a month later, the Hyderabad police appear to have had second thoughts over their own move as they have reportedly decided not to pursue the case any further and eventually close the matter for good. Officially though, they maintain that the case is “under investigation.”On November 15, the Saidabad police had registered a sedition case under section 124A of the Indian Penal Code against the daughters of well known cleric Maulana Abdul Aleem Islahi — Shabista and Zille Huma — and a group of women for allegedly spreading communal hatred during a congregation held at Idgah Ujale Shah in Saidabad against the Ayodhya verdict.The investigators have not even summoned Shabista and Zille Hume or any other woman present during the congregation to question them. DECCAN CHRONICLE
Samjhauta Blast Case: PUDR Report Raises Questions About NIA's Investigation
https://thewire.in/rights/pudr-report-samjhauta-blast-case
New Delhi: A recent report by human rights group People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) has raised a series of questions on the role of NIA in the 2007 Samjhauta blast case. Tilted ‘A Compromised Investigation’, PUDR in its report has accused NIA of carrying out ‘a biased investigation’ and turning a blind eye to ‘Hindu’ Terror.“A biased investigation is visible in the lack of safety for witnesses leading to a large number turning hostile, the absence of key evidence linking the accused to the crime, NIA’s unexplained rush to file chargesheets, and the crucial loss of time as investigating agencies turned a blind eye to Hindu terror outfits in the initial years after the blast,” the human rights group said in its note circulated with the report.According to Radhika Chitkara, one of the PUDR researchers who worked on the report, there was ‘unexplained rush to frame charges and file chargesheets’ in the case. “Turning a blind eye to the possibility of ‘Hindu’ Terror, mishandling of investigations and evidence are other important aspects of the case as indicated in the judgement,” she told The Wire.thewire
Unemployment biggest worry of urban Indians, reveals Survey
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/unemployment-biggest-worry-of-urban-indians-survey
Concerns about joblessness is on the rise in India as a new survey has revealed that unemployment is what worries 46 per cent of urban Indians the most.The results revealed that in November at least three per cent more urban Indians were worried about unemployment than those in October, according to the latest report of "What Worries the World" survey by market research firm Ipsos.The survey indicated that some of the other issues worrying Indians include financial and political corruption, crime and violence, poverty and social inequality and climate change."Government will need to put a greater emphasis on job creation as lack of jobs continues to bother urban Indians, as more youngsters keep getting added to the job market. Also, tighter controls are needed to address other niggling issues," Parijat Chakraborty, Country Service Line Leader, Public Affairs & Corporate Reputation, Ipsos India, said in a statement.IANS
In new holiday list, Ladakh drops Martyr’s Day, Sheikh Abdullah birthday
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-new-holiday-list-ladakh-drops-martyrs-day-sheikh-abdullah-birthday-6188374/
Srinagar :2 holidays observed by the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir do not figure in the holiday list for year 2020 for the Union Territory of Ladakh.Earlier, July 13 was observed as Martyrs’ Day, commemorating the deaths of 22 people killed when the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh opened fire on them on this day in 1931. Meanwhile, December 5 is the birth anniversary of former J&K prime minister and chief minister Sheikh Abdullah, who was also the founder of the National Conference.However, neither finds place in the new holiday list prepared for the newly formed Union Territory of Ladakh. An order dated December 26, which was issued by General Administration Department of the UT of Ladakh, states that the list has been prepared with the order of Lt Governor of Ladakh.indianexpress
Move to merge cadres: With postcards, petitions to PM, railway officers intensify stir
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/move-to-merge-cadres-with-postcards-petitions-to-pm-railway-officers-intensify-stir-6188263/
New Delhi :From next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start receiving thousands of postcards from serving Railway officers demanding a rollback of his Cabinet’s decision to unify all railway cadres into one.Thousands of postcards are being readied to be sent to Modi and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, signed by civil servants and others from Railways, demanding two unified services — one technical and one non-technical — instead of one for civil servants. A separate petition addressed to the PM and Goyal, signed by aggrieved officers from all 68 divisions of Indian Railways, is being mobilised, too, rebutting the justification for one unified cadre.“Merger of services will hurt the development of Railways and safety of passengers. #NoToIRMS #yestotwoservices #SaveIndianRailways,” say the postcards, addressed to Prime Minister of India, Raisina Hill, New Delhi. Some postcards simply say “No To IRMS” and “Yes to two services”.indianexpress
Railway officials write to PM Modi, oppose move to merge 8 services
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/railway-officials-write-to-pm-modi-oppose-move-to-merge-8-services-6188362/
Delhi temperature drops to 2.4 degrees, brace for coldest New Year's Eve: IMD
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/delhi-temperature-drops-to-2-4-degrees-today-might-be-second-coldest-dec-since-1901-11577510057783.html
Delhi continues to shiver morning as the national capital recorded its coldest day of the season today. At 6.10 am, the temperature plummeted to 2.4 degrees Celsius, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). The national capital is all set to witness the coldest New Year's Eve as heavy downpour is expected in the city, according to the Met department.The Safdarjung observatory, which provides official figures for Delhi, recorded the lowest temperature of the season at 2.4 degrees Celsius in the morning.At 8.30 am today, Delhi temperature recorded as 1.7 Degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 3.1 Degrees Celsius at Palam and 1.9 Degree Celsius at Aya Nagar, according to IMD officials.livemint
*WORLD*
UN condemns human rights abuses against Myanmar's Rohingya
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/united-nations-general-assembly-condemns-human-rights-abuses-against-myanmar-s-rohingya-muslims/cid/1730964?ref=latest_home-template
UN General Assembly approved a resolution Friday strongly condemning human rights abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, including arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and deaths in detention. 193-member world body voted 134-9 with 28 abstentions in favor of the resolution which also calls on Myanmar’s government to take urgent measures to combat incitement of hatred against the Rohingya and other minorities in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states.General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion.AP
China to rewrite Quran, Bible to 'reflect socialist values' amid crackdown on Uighur Muslims
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/12/27/china-to-rewrite-quran-bible-to-reflect-socialist-values
China plans to rewrite the Quran and Bible to "reflect socialist values" amid a crackdown on the country's religious minority groups, according to local reports.Modified versions of the Quran and the Bible will exclude any content deemed to go against the beliefs of the country's Communist Party, a top party official said. Content seen by censors as a deviation from the party's beliefs will be amended or re-translated, the party official added.Although the Bible and Quran were not specifically named, the party has called for a "comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times".China has faced growing international condemnation for rounding up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in a network of internment camps.Beijing initially denied the existence of the camps, but now says they are "vocational training centres" necessary to combat terrorism.alaraby.co.uk
Taliban attack on Afghanistan army base kills 10 soldiers
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/taliban-attack-afghanistan-army-base-kills-10-soldiers-191228082839195.html
At least 10 Afghan soldiers have been killed in a Taliban attack on a military base in the southern Helmand province, officials said.The Taliban dug a tunnel into the base, located in the volatile Sangin district, and blew it up before its fighters attacked the compound, Nawab Zadran, spokesman for 215 Maiwand Army Corps in southern Afghanistan told AFP news agency on Saturday. "There were 18 soldiers in the base at the time of the attack providing security for the people of Sangin. Four soldiers were wounded and four repelled the Taliban attack bravely," he said.Provincial spokesman Omar Zawak confirmed the attack and said the soldiers were killed by the powerful blast inside the base.In a statement sent to media, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.
Massive car bomb kills at least 76 in Mogadishu
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/massive-car-bomb-kills-at-least-76-in-somalia/article30419830.ece?homepage=true
MOGADISHU: A massive car bomb exploded in a busy area of Mogadishu on Saturday, leaving at least 76 people dead, many of them university students, officials said.The blast occurred at a busy intersection southwest of the Somali capital where traffic is heavy because of a security checkpoint and a tax office.The wounded were carried on stretchers from the site, where the force of the explosion left charred and twisted remains of vehicles.Mogadishu’s Mayor Omar Mohamud Mohamed told a press conference that the exact number of dead was not yet known, but that around 90 people were wounded.AFP
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
A society that creates hurdles to exhaust the honest or wound them, paves the path for its own perdition:Ashok Lavasa
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-difficulty-of-being-honest-prevention-of-corruption-act-ashok-lavasa-election-commission-of-india-6188078/
NRC is restricted to Assam, there is no talk at any level regarding its extension to rest of India:Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister for Minority Affairs
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/caa-protests-citizenship-amendment-act-nrc-the-perils-of-misinformation-6186441/
CAA neither redresses ‘errors’ of Partition nor does it address religious persecution. It attacks secularism:Atul Nanda, advocate general of Punjab
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/caa-protests-citizenship-amendment-act-amit-shah-bad-in-law-poor-in-history-6186432/
India is witnessing revival of non-violent movements, to protect constitutional values:Christophe Jaffrelot
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/christophe-jaffrelot-on-caa-nrc-protest-caa-protest-christophe-jaffrelot-on-non-violence-christophe-jaffrelot-on-gandhis-india-citizenship-amendment-bill-national-register-of-citizens-6188108/
Even if a law passes the legal test, it may still be repressive:Kapil Sibal
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/kapil-sibal-on-caa-kapil-sibal-on-nrc-citizenship-amendment-bill-caa-protest-national-register-of-citizens-nrc-protest-6188091/
CAA, NRC need to be debated objectively:Priyanka Deo
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/librals-on-caa-librals-on-nrc-caa-protest-nrc-protest-caa-nrc-protest-caa-nrc-violence-nrc-violence-caa-violence-citizenship-amendment-bill-protest-6188099/
Frequent transfers, apathetic personnel: How UP Police's laxity made CAA protests spin out of control:indiatoday
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/frequent-transfers-apathetic-personnel-how-up-police-s-laxity-made-caa-protests-spin-out-of-control-1632117-2019-12-28
NDA Crumbles Under Youth Power on CAA
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/9/18086/NDA-Crumbles-Under-Youth-Power-on-CAA?fbclid=IwAR1fcVmFUmHGJ4kSu1DwznzR-3pkv1SH9JzxAufd-lxMDCwZ-TvCRfxGztQ
Fear stalks Uttar Pradesh as people are reminded of Kashmir at every step:Sunita Shahi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/fear-stalks-uttar-pradesh-as-people-are-reminded-of-kashmir-at-every-step
Ask 19 questions on CAA-NPR-NRIC when BJP workers come home
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/ask-19-questions-on-caa-npr-nric-when-bjp-workers-come-home
* Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:59 PM).*
Posts
0 comments:
Post a comment