*07 DEC. 2019: 09 Rabius Sani 1441: Vol: 12, No: 76*
*INDIA- RAPE & ENCOUNTER*
Was Hyderabad encounter 'fake'? Telangana HC orders preservation of bodies till Dec 9
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/was-hyderabad-encounter-fake-telangana-hc-orders-preservation-of-bodies-till-dec-9
A group of human right activists on Friday wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court seeking its intervention into the alleged extra-judicial killing of four persons accused of raping and murdering a veterinary doctor. "Mumbai based lawyers, including me filed a letter petition before CJI, National Human Rights Commission of India, Telangana HC and DGP demanding registration of FIR against police personnel for killing four accused in custody in the name of encounter," advocate Gunratna Sadavarte told ANI."This is absolute violation of rule of law and constitutional guarantees. We request the court to immediately monitor the case to ensure that the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court are followed and send its own observer to elicit on the ground facts surrounding the encounter," the letter read.It also sought direction to Telangana DGP to pass the order to preserve the bodies of four accused.The letter also demanded the formation of a special team of autopsy surgeons to undertake independent video graphing of the post mortem. "We seek the formation of a special team of forensic experts to undertake an independent examination."Taking cognizance of letter Telangana High Court on Friday directed authorities to preserve, till December 9, the bodies of all 4 accused gunned down by police near Shadnagar town during investigation into woman veterinarian's gang-rape and murder.The court issued the direction after an emergency hearing late Friday evening. Various human rights and women's organisations made a representation in the office of Chief Justice, requesting judicial intervention into what they called "extra-judicial killings" of the four accused. The matter will come up for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice RS Chauhan on Dec. 9. One of the human rights activists, Devi, told ANI that the "brutal killing" did not bring justice to victim or security to women."...it is too early to judge that they were the culprits, how can we trust police?" asked Sandhya Rani, one of the activists who wrote to Chief Justice of Telangana HC.Sandhya Rani, one of the activists who wrote to Chief Justice of Telangana High Court over #TelanganaEncounter: It was a barbaric rape & murder, we also demand severe punishment for real culprits but it is too early to judge that they were the culprits, how can we trust police?"You [the police] did not go by the book and showed your true insensitive colours. To cover it up, you went for the brutal killing. This did not bring justice to the victim or security to women across the country. We want judicial enquiry into the encounter case by an unbiased agency as per the law," Devi said. While, the encounter triggered a chorus of praise from people across the country who saw it as speedy justice, concerns were also raised over it being alleged custodial killing."People are welcoming the killing because they have lost trust in the rule of law. Justice in this country is always delayed. On average, rape cases take five years in the courts," rued Devi. She added that the people are "mistrustful" of the police system and do not have faith that justice will be imparted to the victim.freepressjournal
As Hyderabad Encounter Questions Mount, HC Wants Video of Killed Suspects' Post-Mortems
https://thewire.in/law/telangana-high-court-encounter-killing-post-mortem
Hyderabad: Uneasy calm covers village of 3 of 4 accused
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/hyderabad-vet-rape-and-murder-uneasy-calm-covers-village-of-three-of-the-four-accused/article30218960.ece?homepage=true
Gudigandla:There is an uneasy calm at Gudigandla, a village around 45 km from Mahbubnagar. It is marked by unusual presence of police and curious onlookers who are trying to get a glimpse of happenings near three houses. The houses are of Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Chintakunta Chennakeshavulu, three of the four accused in the Disha case who were killed by police in an exchange of fire on Friday.Off the Raichur-Mahbubnagar road, a dirt road over an open drainage leads to the house of Chennakeshavulu. At the outset, Renuka, his 18-year-old wife, seems calm. But as soon as Chennakeshavulu's name or incident is mentioned, she breaks down.Renuka, an orphan who is pregnant, is shocked at the death of Chennakeshavulu. She says, “How can they (police) kill anybody before they are taken to court? I don't know all this. I only want my husband.”Before she was informed of the exchange of fire by locals and some media persons, she was under the impression that Chennakeshavulu would eventually return home.“If this had not happened, he would have been in jail. At least, he would have been alive. Many people have committed such crimes, so why my husband was killed. I just want him to come back,” she cries as she continues to question what the future holds for her.A 10-minute drive from Gudigandla leads to Jakkulare. This is where the prime accused in the Disha case, Mohammed Arif’s parents live in their single-room dwelling. Villagers say Arif’s parents Hussain and Molan Bee are engaged in agricultural work.A few irregular-shaped stepping stones lead to their house. While Arif’s father does not wish to speak, his mother, who is sobbing, sits on her haunches on the floor outside their home comforted by locals.“I heard from the others he was killed. I don’t know anything. He just came home one day and said that the lorry was being driven and that a woman died. He told us to go to sleep and then he slept. The police came after midnight and they took him away. Who will feed me now? What will I do? I don’t know anything,” she says.thehindu
Hyderabad rape-murder case: ‘Could have been in jail, given dog food… Did you have to kill them?’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-vet-rape-murder-case-families-police-chatanpally-6154435/
Hyderabad: NHRC team begins probe into ‘encounter’ of accused in vet rape-murder case
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-encounter-rape-case-nhrc-probe-6155556/
Hyderabad:A day after National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ordered an inquiry, a team from the human rights body Saturday began on-the-spot investigation into the police “encounter” in which the four accused in the rape and murder of a Hyderabad woman veterinarian were shot dead by Telangana police Friday morning. According to PTI, the team also visited the hospital where the bodies of the accused were kept after post-mortem. The bodies of the accused have been asked to be preserved by the Telangana High Court till December 9. The apex human rights body in the country had earlier said the encounter was a matter of concern and needed to be investigated carefully. “Commission is of the opinion that this matter is required to be probed very carefully. Accordingly, it has asked its Director General (Investigation) to immediately send a team for a fact-finding, on-the-spot investigation into the matter,” the NHRC had said. The team is also likely to visit the encounter site at Chattanpalli village and also the place where woman was allegedly raped.indianexpress
Justice must never take form of revenge: CJI Bobde a day after Hyderabad ‘encounter’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shraad-arvind-bobe-chief-justice-of-india-hyderabad-encounter-telangana-police-6155528/
New Delhi :A day after Telangana Police killed all the four accused in the November 27 rape and murder of a woman veterinarian in an exchange of fire, Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde pointed out that the “justice must never take the form of revenge”.“Recent events in the country has sparked off the old debate with new vigour. There is no doubt that the criminal justice system must reconsider its position and attitude towards time, laxity, and the eventual time it takes to dispose of the criminal matter,” CJI Bobde said while addressing a gathering in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur. “But I don’t think justice can ever be and ought to be instant, and justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character of justice if it becomes revenge.”New Delhi indianexpress
Nitish Kumar blames porn sites for rapes, would write to the Centre seeking ban
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nitish-kumar-blames-porn-sites-for-rapes-would-write-to-the-centre-seeking-ban-6154345/?fbclid=IwAR36zMDHYWHbGOa7pzdeC8zmT-j0h-Nyt0mCVdfc64iPciiyu-o-sqTkpWw
Gopalganj:Blaming porn sites for the rising incidence of sexual crimes against women, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday urged the Centre to ban all such internet platforms which proffered voyeuristic pleasure through video clips of rapes purportedly filmed by the perpetrators themselves.Referring to the infamous rape and murder case of Hyderabad after which a couple of similar incidents have been reported from Buxar and Samastipur districts, Kumar said he was planning to write a letter to the centre seeking a complete ban on such sites across the country.PTI
Happiness over Hyderabad encounter shows people have lost faith in justice system: Kejriwal
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/happiness-over-hyderabad-encounter-shows-people-have-lost-faith-in-justice-system-kejriwal/story-kqx9zCeEGRnCDBDxRgfeFP.html?fbclid=IwAR1zyXHYWTNXkbA9ETzagsfAkatkwI3R0amS1hbgcyoWXkoH8fOqxHZpSDg
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that people are “expressing happiness and satisfaction” over the police encounter of the four persons accused of rape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Telangana because they are “agitated” over such incidents taking place across the country. He also expressed concern over “loss of trust” in the criminal justice system.“People across the country are agitated over reports of horrible rape and murder incidents happening across the country. People are in anger over rape cases that have come to light of late - whether it is Unnao or Hyderabad.That’s a reason why people are expressing happiness and satisfaction over the police encounter in Hyderabad,” said Kejriwal on the sidelines of an event.He further said, “It is also something to be worried about, the way people have lost their faith in the criminal justice system. This demands introspection and all governments must come forward and work together towards strengthening the criminal justice system and investigating agencies.”HT
Unnao rape victim succumbs to burn injuries at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/unnao-rape-victim-succumbs-to-burn-injuries-at-delhis-safdarjung-hospital/article30225424.ece?fbclid=IwAR21yLVFfF2vmrEp7SNtna0r_ka8pN3BbMohws7fbWMxm5MS-7fbE_pDpWg
New Delhi:23-year-old Unnao rape survivor, who was airlifted to Delhi and admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital after she was set on fire by five persons on December 5, succumbed to her injuries on Dec.6 night.Dr. Shalabh Kumar, HOD (Burns and Plastic), Safdarjung Hospital, said, “She suffered cardiac arrest at 11.10 p.m. We tried to resuscitate her, but she could not survive and at 11.40 p.m. she died.”Dr. Kumar said that petrol had been used by the assailants to set her on fire and as a result she suffered 90% burns. The woman’s mother, sister and brother were in the hospital and have been informed, he added.On Dec 5, woman was airlifted to Delhi from a hospital in Lucknow for further treatment. She was attacked outside Sindupur village in Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh when she was on her way to a court in Rae Bareli to attend a hearing in the rape case.During the treatment, she told doctors at Safdurjung repeatedly not to let the accused go free. She asked the doctors if she would make it out alive and pleaded with them, “Save me....I want to live.”thehindu
Live: Massive protest in Unnao, Delhi over rape victim's death
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/unnao-over-rape-victims-death-live-updates/liveblog/72415370.cms
Delhi: People from all walks of lives took out a candlelight march from Raj Ghat to India Gate in the national capital on Saturday, demanding justice for the Unnao rape victim, who breathed her last on Friday after she was set ablaze while on her way for a court hearing in the Uttar Pradesh town.Protests were held on Saturday evening as UP ministers Swami Prasad Maurya and Kamal Rani Varun along with local BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj reached the village of the Unnao gangrape victim to meet her family.TOI
UP Police gets active, thrashes Cong youth workers protesting Unnao rape
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/watch-up-police-gets-active-thrashes-cong-youth-workers-protesting-unnao-rape?fbclid=IwAR1_buC5Y5xtZd9AMtHIhESslr044HBSy66uPrX9a5i1cBUiC_mXqenKNK8
With 86 Rapes, 185 Sex assaults In 2019, Unnao Becomes UP's "Rape Capital": Report
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/with-86-rapes-185-sex-assaults-in-2019-unnao-becomes-ups-rape-capital-report-2144742?fb&fbclid=IwAR2vL-AXQw_CPfbKlBL77yO4ASyu6U4kPuVA5V3_O-Z7J_73_QRsVipjVPU
Unnao: With 86 rape cases having been reported in Unnao from January to November this year, this district now qualifies to be known as the "rape capital" of Uttar Pradesh.Unnao, with a population of about 31 lakhs, is located about 63 km from Lucknow and around 25 km from Kanpur.According to reports, 185 cases of sexual harassment of women have also been reported from this district during the same period.Some of the prominent cases, apart from that of Kuldeep Sengar and the Thursday's incident in which the rape victim was set ablaze, are the rape of a woman in Purwa for which FIR was lodged on November 1 this year.IANS
103 suspected criminals killed in encounters in 2 years:UP police
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/103-suspected-criminals-killed-in-encounters-in-2-years-say-up-police/article30229295.ece?homepage=true
UP police have killed 103 suspected criminals in alleged encounters over a period of more than two years.This was the claim made by the State police in response to taunts by BSP chief Mayawati that the police in Uttar Pradesh were keeping criminals as “State guests.”Ms. Mayawati on Friday, while hailing the police encounter of the four accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case as “praiseworthy,” had called on UP police to change and “take inspiration” from their counterparts in the Telangana capital.In a response to this on Twitter, the State police claimed it had killed “103 criminals”, while 1,859 were injured in 5,178 “police engagements in the last more than 2 years,” which corresponds to the time period of the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in U.P. since March 2017. The police also said that 17,745 criminals surrendered or cancelled their own bails to go to jail during the period.thehindu
"Now nobody can touch me": Rape-accused Nithyananda in viral video
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nithyananda-rape-accused-in-viral-video-now-nobody-can-touch-me-2144585
New Delhi: Self-declared godman Nithyananda, who has been accused of rape and sexual abuse, surfaced in a video recently, declaring that "nobody can touch me" and that no court can prosecute him. The controversial figure is wanted by Gujarat Police in a case of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children at his Ahmedabad ashram."I will show my integrity to you by revealing the reality and truth to you. Now nobody can touch me, I can tell you the truth - I am Param Shiva. Understand? No stupid court can prosecute me for revealing the truth. I am Param Shiva," says Nithyananda, wearing a rust-coloured turban and robe.The undated video has been in wide circulation on social media since November 22. Nithyananda appears to be giving a sermon from an undisclosed location."By being here you declared your integrity and allegiance to me... I promise you, no more death for you all," he is seen telling his followers.41-year-old recently announced that his "country" is called Kailaasa, and is the "biggest Hindu nation" without boundaries.On Friday, the government cancelled his passport and rejected his application for a fresh one. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said that it has sensitised all its missions and posts abroad about locating Nithyananda.Asked about reports that he has founded his own country, Kumar said, "Setting up a website is different from setting up a nation."ndtv
*BABRI MASJID CASE*
Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict failure of justice, say AIMPLB backed 7 review pleas
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-s-ayodhya-verdict-failure-of-justice-say-fresh-review-pleas/story-pH6wkbcA5MgBtjion4EVrJ.html
New Delhi: The judgment of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya matter has resulted in the failure of justice by sanctioning serious illegalities, at least 7 separate review petitions filed in the Supreme Court on Friday said. The review petitions were filed by individuals, who were parties to the case, on the day marking 27th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid. The pleas have the backing of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), an AIMPLB press release said. “The petitions have been filed by 7 litigants. One petition has 2 petitioners,” said AIMPLB secretary and senior board member Zafaryab Jilani.The petitioners submitted that the SC verdict took advantage of the destruction of the mosque to award the title of the disputed land to Hindus, effectively holding that had the mosque not been destroyed, the judgment would have ordered it to be destroyed.“The effect of the direction in the judgment is to destroy the mosque if it still existed. Giving antecedent title to the Hindus, means that the site belonged to them in 1992. The judgment thus takes advantage of the destruction of the mosque by in effect holding that, had the mosque not been destroyed in 1992, this judgment would have ordered it to be destroyed.” The petitioners said the title could not have been awarded to Hindu parties based on exclusive possession of the site since it has been admitted that Muslims entered and prayed there till 1949. HT
48 academicians and activists will move SC against Ayodhya verdict
https://theprint.in/india/48-academicians-and-activists-will-move-sc-against-ayodhya-verdict-on-monday/331643/
New Delhi: At least 48 academicians and activists will file a review petition in the Supreme Court next week against its verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, with economist Prabhat Patnaik as the lead petitioner.Activist and former IAS officer Harsh Mander, one of the petitioners, told ThePrint that the petition will be filed before 9 Dec. The petitioners have demanded that their plea be heard by a full bench of the top court. Some of the other prominent names behind the fresh petition are historian Irfan Habib, author Farah Naqvi, sociologist Nandini Sundar, activist Shabnam Hashmi, poet and scientist Gauhar Raza, author Natasha Badhwar, activist Aakar Patel, economist Jayati Ghosh, historian Tanika Sarkar, and retired diplomat and former Aam Aadmi Party member Madhu Bhaduri.The summary of the petition, which has been accessed with ThePrint, says the verdict treated the Babri Masjid case as a dispute between the Hindus and Muslims in India.It further adds that the case was between “self-styled organisations which claim to represent the sentiments and interests of Hindus and Muslims, but have no explicit mandate to do so, nor empirical evidence that they enjoy wide support of people of these faiths”.The verdict also substitutes the names of the litigating individuals and organisations as “Hindus” or “Muslims”, argues the petition.“VHP, a militant Hindutva outfit and close affiliate of RSS, does not represent Hindus at large, any more than Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Waqf represents India’s Muslims [sic],” it says. “…The Supreme Court has itself expanded the scope of the case from a Title Suit for ownership and possession of property to a debate about the faith of Hindus and Muslims… but it has never heard Hindus and Muslims beyond the petitioners in the case; by doing so it has given every Indian the right to seek relief of the court on the issue of the title suit,” it adds.The petition goes on to argue that the Supreme Court had “erroneously used differential standards of proof for both parties”.“It held that ‘the Muslims’ had failed to prove that they had exclusive possession of the inner courtyard, however it was enough in the case for ‘the Hindus’ to show that they believed that the Ram Janamsthan lay under the central dome of the mosque,” the petition says. The Print
Babri Masjid demolition anniversary observed across India
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/27th-babri-masjid-demolition-anniversary-observed-peacefully-across-india
NEW DELHI: 27th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition was peacefully observed in different parts of the country on Friday. 16th century mosque was razed to ground by a Hindu mob on this day 27 years ago in Ayodhya town of Uttar Pradesh.Around two dozen civil organizations jointly held a grand event near the Parliament House in the National Capital. Before the public conference, hundreds of people of these groups marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar area in the heart of the city, seeking justice both in the demolition case and title suit involving the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi.Organizers of the Delhi event included: WPI, PFI, United Muslims Forum, Citizens For Democracy, Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (Delhi), Campus Front of India, Communist Ghadar Party of India, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, CPI (ML) New Proletarian, NCHRO, New Democratic Party of India, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, Women India Movement, SDPI, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Lokpaksh, Students Islamic Organisation of India, National Women Front, All India Imams’ Council and Sikh Forum.Representatives of some of these organisations addressed the gathering. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the verdict of the top court in Babri Masjid title suit and also demanded punishment to culprits responsible for demolition of 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on Dec. 6, 1992.Addressing the gathering, Malik Motasim Khan, Community Affairs Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said that all sections of the society, including Muslims and Hindus, as well as the idea of India feel defeated by the verdict of the Supreme Court.Mohammad Suleman of Indian Union League said: The message should go to the peace-loving people of the country that the Supreme Court has delivered judgment in the Babri case, not justice. They should know we are not satisfied and why we are not satisfied with the verdict. Moreover, when the Supreme Court has itself said that the demolition of the Babri Masjid was a criminal act, then the culprits of the demolition should be punished.”Adv. Shahid Ali of United Muslim Forum said: “The purpose of our program today was that those responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid should get punishment. We have been holding this protest for the last 26 years. Now the SC has also said that the demolition was a criminal act.”Peaceful protest demonstration was held in Maharashtra also.
Over 400 members of Tamil Nadu Muslim group arrested for protests on Ayodhya verdict
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/dec/07/over-400-members-of-tamil-nadu-muslim-group-arrested-for-protests-on-ayodhya-verdict-2072650.html
Tiruchy: Amid heavy police deployment, over 400 cadre belonging to Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) staged a demonstration on Friday in Tiruchy against the Supreme Court order on the Babri Masjid demolition. Raising slogans that Dec.6 is a black day in Indian history, TMMK cadre demanded a reconsideration of the Supreme Court order which awarded the disputed territory in Ayodhya for construction of the Ram temple. “It is a place which belonged to Muslims.There was a proper mosque built in the area, how can they place Hindu idols inside it and claim its the birthplace of Ram? Even ASI gave no confirmation what was below was a Hindu structure,” said a protester. With the protest being held without the permission of police, all cadre involved in the demonstration were arrested.Similarly, SDPI held a demonstration in the city and 525 were arrested and lodged in a private wedding hall.newindianexpress
Ayodhya Judgement: ‘Justice, Constitution and India’ Got Defeated
https://caravandaily.com/ayodhya-judgement-justice-constitution-and-india-got-defeated/
New Delhi:Marking 27th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, prominent social organisations ANHAD and Karwan-e-Mohabbat organised the first public protest against the Ayodhya verdict here on Friday. The meeting aimed at erasing an impression that the people, particularly Muslims, have accepted the Supreme Court judgement on Babri Masjid without any “dissent”.The order of the court on Masjid-Mandir case came under sharp scrutiny in the meeting as speakers said that, in the judgement, ‘justice, Constitution and India’ got defeated. They urged the Muslim community to turn down the offer of five-acre land awarded by the court in lieu of the mosque land; and reject it with thanks to the government.Caravan Daily
BJP Govt Might Quash Shrines Protection Act, Warns Mani Shankar Aiyar
https://caravandaily.com/bjp-govt-might-quash-shrines-protection-act-warns-mani-shankar-aiyar/
New Delhi:Congress leader and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has warned that the right-wing BJP ruling India will have no qualms in quashing the 1991 Protection of Places of Worship Act.He was speaking at a conference held on Ayodhya judgement at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The conference, attended by activists, academicians and students, discussed the larger implications of the Ayodhya verdict. “It took this government only an hour to tear down Article 370. So, what will prevent this government from repealing the Protection of Places of Worship Act 1991,” Aiyar asked. He likened the Ayodhya judgement to the verdict on Afzal Guru by the Supreme Court, and said he did not think that evidence acted as the basis for the verdict. Instead, the court thought Afzal Guru should hang to satisfy collective conscience of the society.”caravandaily
BJP contacts clerics, build opinion against review plea
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/bjp-to-contact-clerics-build-opinion-against-review-plea/articleshow/72398183.cms
UP BJP will reach out to prominent Muslim clerics and ulemas in state and exhort them to accept the Supreme Court verdict favouring construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya with an open mind, even as All India Muslim Personal Law Board backed Muslim litigants gear up to file review petition against the verdict.UP BJP has roped in its minority wing to contact prominent clerics in all districts for the purpose. Chief of UP BJP minority wing Haider Abbas said reaching out to clerics and ulemas would ensure the message goes is to a large section of Muslim population.Abbas said members of the minority wing in various districts have been asked to begin the exercise as soon as possible.Sources said the minority wing of BJP will highlight and praise the decision of Sunni Central Waqf Board of not filing a review petition. " We will have to ensure the construction of temple," Abbas told TOI.TOI
Gorakhpur:Hindu outfits celebrate demolition of Babri mosque; AIMIM observes black day
https://in.news.yahoo.com/gorakhpur-hindu-outfits-celebrate-demolition-141710659.html
Gorakhpur;Bajrang Dal and VHP here on Friday celebrated 27th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque as 'Shaurya Diwas' while the AIMIM observed it as a black day.Members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal gathered at the Kali temple in the Daudpur area of Gorakhpur, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. AIMIM on the other hand demonstrated outside the office of the district magistrate, seeking punishment for those behind razing of the disputed structure. Members of AIMIM also handed over a memorandum addressed to the president to City Magistrate Umesh Mishra in this regard.PTI
*CAB NRC*
Modi govt is sure of its Rajya Sabha numbers again, will table citizenship bill on Monday
https://theprint.in/india/modi-govt-is-sure-of-its-rajya-sabha-numbers-again-will-table-citizenship-bill-on-monday/331686/
New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is all set to introduce the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, in Parliament Monday and is confident of passing it in both the Houses without a hiccup.The bill, which was approved by the union cabinet on 4 Dec, seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan if they faced religious persecution there.The bill is expected to have a smooth passage in 545-member Lok Sabha, where ruling BJP has 303 members. The government is, however, also confident of getting the bill passed in 245-member Rajya Sabha where it has 81 MPs.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said the government is confident of passing the bill in both Houses like it did with J-K Reorganisation Bill, 2019, in August and triple talaq Bill in July. Upper House currently has 238 members as 7 seats are vacant. BJP claims to have the support of 130 MPs — above the halfway mark of 119 — as it expects BJD, AIADMK, and TRS, among others, to vote for the bill. Congress-led opposition, meanwhile, has the support of 105 members.“Overall, we have numbers in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. There is enough to pass the bill with the help of like-minded parties,” Joshi said. “We had certain issues with the bill in the past, particularly about the Northeastern states’ ethnic identity, but Home Minster (Amit Shah) has addressed this issue in the newly drafted bill. They have included inner line permit, so we will support,” JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi told ThePrint.Another BJP ally, Akali Dal, which has 3 members, will also support bill.The government is also hopeful of getting support from AIADMK, which has 11 members. AIADMK had supported BJP government during the passage of the J-K Reorganisation and triple talaq bills. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s BJD had 7 members in the House and is likely to support the bill.Sources said that in order to appease BJD, BJP even withdrew its nominee, Ashwini Vaisnav, Thursday from the AIIMS’ governing council election to facilitate the victory of BJD candidate.Hinting at support for the bill, YSR Congress Party MP Vijaysai Reddy said: “We have supported the government on certain bills. India is a big, democratic country and it has certain responsibilities to accommodate refugees who are not part of their country.” YSRCP has two members in Rajya Sabha.The government is also hopeful of getting the support of TRS, which has 6 members in the House.A few opposition members, however, told ThePrint that they don’t have numbers to stall the bill and will demand the government to send the bill to a Parliamentary select committee for scrutiny.ThePrint
‘War Cry’ in Assam against CAB
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ran-hunkar-against-cab/article30225550.ece?fbclid=IwAR1Ogq9UsXrNwqBc-u1aJnbGJZbk48FJP-oiz6rMRsKLfyaeF4abOATSue0
Guwahati:Students staged a ‘Ran Hunkar’ or a ‘War Cry’ against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill in the city’s premier Cotton State University on Friday in which several intellectuals and artistes participated.All Assam Students’ Union, along with 30 indigenous organisations, staged protests against the Bill across Assam and burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Eminent academic and intellectual Hiren Gohain; journalist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan; popular singer, composer and actor Zubeen Garg and singer Manas Robin were among those who addressed the meet which was attended by students from different colleges.All speakers were unanimous that CAB cannot be accepted and the protests will continue till it is withdrawn.“It is heartening to note that all students’ organisations of the State have protested against the Bill and students of Cotton State University have raised a war cry against CAB which threatens the very identity of the indigenous people,” Gohain said. Garg said that no Assamese can accept the Bill. PTI
Calls of Bandh in Northeast ahead of tabling CAB in Lok Sabha by Govt
https://www.news18.com/news/india/amid-calls-of-bandh-in-northeast-govt-to-table-citizenship-amendment-bill-in-lok-sabha-on-monday-2415517.html
With CAB, Centre wants to change demography of northeast: Manipur MP
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/with-cab-centre-wants-to-change-demography-of-northeast-manipur-mp-1625758-2019-12-06?fbclid=IwAR1I3tP_ezsiS4H-JtoR3Ep0cl-CAMto6GnjiRZxac8G6-bi9VBn32kKbKA
Govt is trying to alter the demographic profile of the Northeast by "dumping" outsiders in the volatile region under the garb of the citizenship bill, a Lok Sabha member from Manipur alleged.Lorho Pfoze of the Naga People's Front (NPF), which is in alliance with BJP in Manipur, cautioned the Modi government against passing the CAB in its current form and asked him to pay heed to emotions and sentiments of the people of northeast."Union govt views the northeast as a region which harbours a lot of discontent against the country, particularly because it has not blended with mainland India. This is why we think that all outsiders would be dumped in the region under the garb of CAB," Pfoze, who represents outer Manipur constituency, told PTI.PTI
NRC is a conspiracy to target people from UP & Bihar, says AAP, will hold protest Sunday
https://theprint.in/politics/nrc-targets-people-from-up-bihar-says-aap-will-hold-protest-sunday/331945/
New Delhi: The government’s plans to implement NRC across the country is a “conspiracy” to target people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh claimed on Saturday.The party will hold a protest on Sunday at the Jantar Mantar here against BJP-led central government’s plans, he said, adding that the demonstration will be led by the Aam Aadmi Party’s purvanchali unit head Gopal Rai.Purvanchalis are people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh settled in the national capital and they play an important role in any election here.PTI
*KASHMIR & SOUTH ASIA*
How communication blackout is forcing young entrepreneurs out of Kashmir Valley
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-a-land-without-internet-how-the-communication-blackout-is-forcing-young-entrepreneurs-out-of-kashmir-valley/article30219792.ece?homepage=true
The office of FastBeetle was buzzing with activity on August 4. It was business as usual for the company, located in the historic premises of the Indo-Kashmir Carpet Factory in Srinagar, often referred to as Asia’s largest carpet factory. Phones rang constantly and the staff were busy replying to the steady stream of email enquiries. Sheikh Sami Ullah, 28, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, exuded confidence and pride when he spoke about the success of the venture in the otherwise unpredictable market of Kashmir. Sami Ullah did not know then that that the Kashmir he knew would change irrevocably the next day.It was only a year ago that FastBeetle, an online courier service for local businesses, was founded, but it tasted success quickly. “We had a modest beginning like any other start-up. However, from just a dozen merchandises on the web, the online platform grew to market 200-plus locally made goods in less than a year. The dashboard of customers reflected a dedicated 15,000 customer base. The turnover touched ₹2 crore in a year,” Sami Ullah says.As its customer base grew, FastBeetle got the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Shahid Chaudhary, to launch its mobile application on July 24, 2019. The start-up tied up with known local apparel brands like Tul Palav and Hangers and even approached online market giants Flipkart and Amazon for joint future plans. Soon it opened offices in Baramulla, Anantnag and Sopore. “It was unbelievable that eight employees and six delivery boys could create such magic. The future looked safe and secure,” says Sami Ullah, whose father works in the government.Sami Ullah researched the market for a year before the company’s launch. “We did not want to launch a start-up only to have it fail. Many others joined and we paid from our pockets to realise the dream. The Internet was our lifeline,” he says.thehindu
NRI businessman Mubeen Shah, detained in Article 370 crackdown, gets ‘temporary release’
https://theprint.in/india/nri-businessman-mubeen-shah-detained-in-article-370-crackdown-gets-temporary-release/331943/
Agra: Dr Mubeen Shah, a NRI businessman detained in the aftermath of August 5 crackdown on political leaders and businessmen in Jammu and Kashmir, was “temporarily released” on Saturday.Shah, who is based out of Malaysia, walked out of Agra Central Jail and was received by his brother Niyaz, who had been fighting in the Supreme Court to seek his release.Refusing to talk to the media citing that the case was sub-judice, Niyaz drove away with his brother, Mubeen, who was detained on Aug.7 and immediately shifted to the central jail in Agra. The release order issued by Home Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir union territory said “…govt hereby orders the temporary release of Dr Mubeen Shah…presently under detention… from Dec.7 to March 6, 2020 subject to conditions laid down in the bond”.PTI
‘Happy to breathe air of freedom…but same being denied to Kashmir people’: Chidambaram'
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/p-chidambaram-congress-inx-case-kashmir-6155644/
Dubbing the central government “retrograde”, veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram Saturday said that freedom was being denied to 75 lakh people in the Kashmir valley.The former Union Minister, who was in Chennai for the first time after being released from prison after 106 days for his alleged involvement in the INX media case, also said that he was very happy to breathe the air of freedom.“But at the same time, in several parts of the nation, freedom is being snatched away and voices of freedom are being choked…and you should not forget it at all,” he told reporters.Alleging that freedom is being denied to people in the Kashmir valley, Chidamabaram said, “As we speak now, freedom is denied to 75 lakh people in the Kashmir valley,” adding if freedom of one person was denied, it meant denying it for all the people.“Freedom cannot be separated, yours is mine and mine is yours and if I do not protect your freedom, you cannot protect mine,” Chidambaram was quoted as saying by PTI.Attacking the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, the senior Congress leader alleged that a “right-wing retrograde (government)” is moving towards “a fascist type of government that usurped freedom,” adding that the people need to be more careful.indianexpress
J&K former minister Harsh Dev Singh put under ‘house arrest’ again
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-former-minister-harsh-dev-singh-put-under-house-arrest-again-6154478/
Jammu : Two months after he was allowed to move out of his house following the lifting of restrictions on opposition leaders in Jammu by the administration, former minister and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh was once again put under house arrest at his Gandhi Nagar residence by UT Police on Friday.The move came after he along with other party leaders including former MLA Balwant Singh were distributing pamphlets appealing people to observe bandh on Saturday in protest against the continued suspension of mobile internet and establishment of the toll plaza on the Jammu-Kathua national highway at Sarore.While Harsh Dev Singh claimed that he has been put under house arrest and a police contingent has been deployed outside his residence to prevent him from moving out, SSP Jammu Tejinder Singh denied it. The latter, however, admitted that he has been asked to stay indoors so as to prevent him from disturbing public order.indianexpress
India refuses to meet Nepal PM’s special envoy to discuss Kalapani row amid souring ties
https://theprint.in/diplomacy/india-refuses-to-meet-nepal-pms-special-envoy-to-discuss-kalapani-row/331569/
New Delhi: Modi government has refused to meet Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s special envoy Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was expected to arrive on a trip to New Delhi earlier this week to discuss the contentious issue of Kalapani.Kalapani is a 35 square kilometre area, which is claimed by both India and Nepal as an integral part of their territories — India as part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district and Nepal as part of its Darchula district. Madhav Kumar Nepal, ex PM of the landlocked country and senior leader of the Nepal Communist Party, was expected to visit India to discuss the latest row between New Delhi and Kathmandu over Kalapani, sources told ThePrint.Nepal was planning to visit New Delhi between 4-5 Dec and wanted to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge him to “immediately establish” a foreign secretary-level dialogue mechanism to settle the border dispute, the sources said. But, they added, the Indian government refused to meet the special envoy. Nepal eventually cancelled his plan to come to India.theprint
*OTHERS*
RBI survey shows consumer confidence in India at its lowest since Modi became PM
https://theprint.in/economy/rbi-survey-shows-consumer-confidence-in-india-at-its-lowest-since-modi-became-pm/331212/?fbclid=IwAR0sdT5RIMcVQnStyorLar0xhmBVL_CdcvmGE6a4xJKbonJFCgUONlJ1VMQ
Mumbai: Consumer confidence in India dropped to its lowest since at least 2014, the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.The current situation index fell to 85.7 in Nov.from 89.4 in Sept., according to the Reserve Bank of India’s consumer confidence survey, where 100 is the dividing line between pessimism and optimism. The future expectations gauge — that takes into account the one-year ahead perceptions — fell to 114.5 from 118.0.The drop coincides with a deepening slowdown in Asia’s third-largest economy and increased worries about employment. The yearlong crisis in the shadow-banking sector has tightened lending, affecting domestic consumption that makes up about 60% of the nation’s economy. All this contributed to growth cooling to a new six-year low in the quarter ended Sept.The central bank’s survey was conducted in 13 big cities and 5,334 households. Consumers were surveyed about perceptions and expectations on the general economic situation, the jobs scenario, the overall price situation apart from income and spending.
Instead of gigantic statues, India should build modern schools and universities: Raghuram Rajan
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/instead-of-gigantic-statues-india-should-build-modern-schools-and-universities-raghuram-rajan-1625781-2019-12-06?fbclid=IwAR30WizvLoX6bKliLaJztrXVUxkun4YXxAomOBQnK9WZ-pkTMdf2RL9xh-o
New Delhi: Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has said Hindu nationalism does not just foment social tensions but also detracts India from its economic growth. Rajan said the Narendra Modi government is no exception to having a tendency "to want more power, especially given the social and political agenda it is focused on".Raghuram Rajan said this in an essay titled 'How to fix the economy' written for the India Today Magazine.Reflecting on the socio-political agenda of Modi government, Raghuram Rajan said, "Instead of building gigantic statues to national or religious heroes, India should build more modern schools and universities that will open its children's minds, making them more tolerant and respectful of one another, and helping them hold their own in the competitive globalised world of tomorrow."Rajan writes that majoritarianism is popular the world over and India is no exception. "There is a tendency for those in power to want more control, and this government is no exception, especially given the social and political agenda it is focused on...Apart from fomenting social tension, which India can ill afford, Hindu nationalism will detract from economic growth-which will exacerbate social tension further," Rajan writes in the essay.India Today
Over 63% votes cast in second phase of polling in Jharkhand
https://www.thehindu.com/elections/jharkhand/over-63-votes-cast-in-second-phase-of-polling-in-jharkhand/article30231704.ece?homepage=true
RANCHI:An estimated 63.36% votes were cast on Saturday in the second phase of election for the Assembly in Jharkhand where one person was killed in firing by security personnel near a polling booth.The voting figure is likely to go up as reports from remote places are awaited.Polling in the 20 constituencies had begun at 7 a.m. amid tight security. It ended at 3 p.m. in 18 of them while in the rest two - Jamshedpur (East) and Jamshedpur (West) - the polling ended at 5 p.m., Election Commission sources said.PTI
Jharkhand elections: In town where Tabrez tied up, beaten, parties avoid his family
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jharkhand-elections-in-town-where-tabrez-ansari-tied-up-beaten-parties-avoid-his-family-6152844/?fbclid=IwAR3M2y8XgO3DbGja4f0rBPlOR4wECbSvyRmRpyt0UPqJldCtWiQ0ntfyEUw
Kharsawan :In June, Kharsawan, a nondescript Jharkhand town about 60 km west of Jamshedpur, hit the national headlines, and notoriety, when a man named Tabrez Ansari was reportedly tied to a pole, beaten and forced to say Jai Shri Ram. Ansari, caught for an alleged act of theft, succumbed to head injuries four days later.The incident sparked widespread criticism of the state government’s ostensible administrative lapses, with many political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemning the incident.Six months on, as Kharsawan Assembly constituency gets ready to vote in the Vidhan Sabha elections on Saturday, there is no mention of Ansari by any candidate, including incumbent Dasrath Ghagrai of JMM and his main opponent, BJP’s Jawahar Lal Banra.BJP is seeking votes on the promise of double-engine growth – with governments in both the state and at the Centre – and the JMM’s main plank is the ruling party’s “anti-tribal decisions and five years of misrule”.After Ansari’s death, his wife Sahista Parween, 19, has moved to her mother’s home on the outskirts of Kharsawan. As campaigning ended on Saturday, Sahista said, “Many political leaders come up to the end of the colony, seeking votes; no one comes to us. They probably fear that they would lose votes.”Muslim votes are not a deciding factor in Kharsawan, and the family believes political parties don’t want to be seen as sympathisers of one community.indianexpress
Delhi CM Kejriwal plans to develop full syllabus on Ambedkar, releases booklet today
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/delhi-cm-kejriwal-plans-to-develop-full-syllabus-on-ambedkar-releases-booklet-today/story-ujDVCg7NdpY6AtBQGKuXAJ.html?fbclid=IwAR2kl57LNUS3-zCf3dTrg848b-N_Q51hOw1fyf2eblhAalwlnvYPc2EQwqQ
New Delhi:Delhi government introduced a booklet on the life and works of B R Ambedkar in the curriculum for classes 6 to 8 on Friday.“By describing Ambedkar just as a leader of Dalits, people have belittled his contribution to the society,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said while launching the textbook.“Only a few people know that he contributed to the formation of RBI, women empowerment, farmers welfare. We want to tell everything to our children,” he said.The chief minister hoped that private schools will also incorporate the booklet in their curriculum.”This booklet is just the first draft. We will refine it, include the suggestions of teachers and students. After a few years, we will be able to develop a full syllabus on Ambedkar, which can be taught in every school of the country,” he said.Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said Ambedkar could not be taught just in the form of a biography.PTI
CBI books sitting Allahabad high court judge SN Shukla in bribery case
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-books-sitting-high-court-judge-sn-shukla-in-bribery-case/story-GHVS8LXO0MFnkorrFsMArM.html
New Delhi: CBI has registered a case against sitting Allahabad high court judge Justice Shri Narayan Shukla alleging that he accepted bribe in lieu of giving a favourable order for a Lucknow-based medical college. Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences was disbarred from taking admissions by government in May 2017. Justice Shukla has been named as prime accused along with retired Odisha high court judge IM Quddusi, who was earlier arrested in Sept.2017, and four other private persons in the matter. After registering the latest case in its larger alleged “judicial corruption” probe on Thursday, CBI teams on Friday morning raided residences of Justice Shukla in Lucknow, Justice Quddusi’s residence in Delhi and five other places and recovered several incriminating documents related to investments and financial transactions.HT
Statue of Unity surpasses daily average footfall at Statue of Liberty
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/statue-of-unity-surpasses-daily-average-footfall-at-usa-s-statue-of-liberty/story-r4uQpzGB54GS4oiFmKTxZP.html
New Delhi:In just over a year of its unveiling, Statue of Unity has surpassed the footfall at 133-year-old Statue of Liberty in US, with an average of over 15,000 tourists visiting the monument in Gujarat daily. “With 74 per cent increase over the daily average of the first year, that is, Nov.1, 2018 to Oct.31, 2019, daily average of 15,036 is now registered in the first month of this second year. “This has further increased to 22,430 on weekend days. Statue of Liberty of New York, attracts around 10,000 visitors a day!” a statement by Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd said.Statue of Unity is a statue of Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of the country. With a height of 182 metres, it is the world’s tallest statue.PTI
'Childhood conversion': HC saves Christian woman stuck with Muslim name
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/childhood-conversion-hc-saves-christian-woman-stuck-with-muslim-name/articleshow/72404480.cms
KOCHI: The has come to the aid of a woman who was born a Christian but her name and religion were changed to Islam by her father when he got ‘converted’ while she was a school student.The father had later deserted the family, leaving behind Islamic names for his wife and child in the child’s educational records.A division bench comprising justices AM Shaffique and TV Anilkumar considered an appeal filed by the state government challenging justice Anu Sivaraman’s judgment allowing the woman from Manjeri in Malappuram to change her name and religion in SSLC book.Government had argued before the division bench that changing woman’s caste and religion and her father’s name, which were wrongly recorded in SSLC book, are not permitted as per Kerala Education Rules or the relevant government order.TOI
*WORLD*
First round of resurrected US-Taliban peace talks open in Qatar
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/resurrected-taliban-peace-talks-open-qatar-191207105319486.html
US has resumed talks with the Taliban in Qatar, three months after President Donald Trump abruptly halted diplomatic efforts that could end the US's longest war.US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Saturday held the first official talks since September with the Afghan group in Qatar's capital, Doha, a US State Department spokesperson said.The renewed talks were expected to pave the way for direct talks between the Taliban and the government in Kabul and, ultimately, a possible peace agreement after over 18 years of war."US rejoined talks today in Doha. The focus of discussion will be reduction of violence that leads to intra-Afghan negotiations and a ceasefire," said spokesperson.The meetings in Doha, where the Taliban maintains a political office, follow several days of talks in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, where Khalilzad met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Taliban has so far refused direct talks with Ghani, calling him a "US puppet".During a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit to a US military base in Afghanistan last month, Trump said the Taliban "wants to make a deal".Even during the stall in talks, Khalilzad has in recent weeks made a whistle-stop tour of nations with a stake in Afghan peace, including Pakistan.He recently arranged a captive swap in which the Taliban released an American and an Australian academic whom they had held hostage for three years.Meanwhile, the US military in its daily report said overnight on Saturday that US air attacks killed 37 members of the armed group and operations by Afghan National Security Forces killed 22 other rebels.Taliban, which now holds sway over nearly half of Afghanistan, has continued to carry out near-daily attacks against military outposts throughout the country.Trump has expressed frustration with US's longest war, repeatedly saying he wants to bring the estimated 12,000 American soldiers home and calling on Afghanistan's own police and military to step up.Meanwhile, the Afghan government is embroiled in a fresh election standoff. Presidential polls on Sept.28 ended in accusations of misconduct and corruption, with no results yet announced.aljazeera
Afghans leave Iran in thousands as economy worsens
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/afghans-leave-iran-thousands-economy-worsens-191207111012876.html
Thousands of Afghan workers and refugees are leaving Iran each week because of the dire economic situation caused by United States sanctions.They say rising prices and the falling value of the Iranian rial makes it impossible to survive.For some Afghans, the desperation for work now outweighs the dangers they once ran from.aljazeera
US lawmakers snub Trump with ‘two-state’ resolution on Palestine
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-lawmakers-snub-trump-with-two-state-resolution/1666375
New York: US lawmakers passed a resolution affirming support for a two-state solution to the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians on Friday in a move seen as a rebuff to the Trump administration’s pro-Israel policies. Democratic-led House of Representatives voted 226 to 188 for the non-binding resolution that refers to decades of US policy against Israeli settlement-building on Palestinian land and its “moves toward unilateral annexation of territory”.The document has been viewed as a snub to President Donald Trump, a Republican, who has reversed decades of US policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017, shifting US embassy there the next year, and cutting US cashflows to Palestinians.California Democrat Alan Lowenthal, who introduced the document to the House earlier this year, tweeted that he was “proud” to secure backing from some Republicans to a resolution that affirms “our support for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians”.“We took a stand for a just peace which safeguards human rights and security, and stands against unilateral annexation and settlement expansion,” Lowenthal wrote to his 32,000 Twitter followers shortly after H. RES. 326 was passed.Anadolu Agency
Abbas opposed to opening of US field hospital in Gaza
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/abbas-opposed-to-opening-of-us-field-hospital-in-gaza/1666421
Ramallah: Palestinian leader said he would not allow a US field hospital to open in the Gaza Strip. “Such steps show that Deal of Century is being realized section by section,” Mahmud Abbas said at a meeting of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Ramallah.Deal of Century is US President Donald Trump’s backchannel plan to reach peace between the Palestinians and Israel.Funded by American NGO, Friend Ships, the hospital is planned to be opened in northern Gaza near the Israeli border.Anadolu Agency
Tensions flare as unidentified gunmen kill protesters in Baghdad
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2019/12/killed-central-baghdad-assailants-fire-live-rounds-191206190824237.html
Iraqi officials have raised Friday's death toll to at least 20 after a bloody night of attacks by unidentified gunmen that targeted anti-government demonstrators near the main protest camp in Baghdad.More than 130 others were also wounded by gunfire and stabbings near Tahrir Square, the main protest camp in the Iraqi capital, AP reported, citing health and security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.It was the most violent flare-up in the capital for weeks and came a week after parliament accepted Adel Abdul Mahdi's resignation following two months of huge protests demanding his departure and the overhaul of the country's political system.Gunmen on pick-up trucks late on Friday attacked a large building near al-Sinak bridge where anti-government protesters had been camped out for weeks, witnesses told the AFP.aljazeera
Mysterious Israeli-based group is using Facebook pages to spread fake news and target politicians
https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/mysterious-israeli-based-group-is-using-facebook-pages-to-spread-fake-news-and-target-politicians/articleshow/72402953.cms
A Guardian investigation finds that a 'mysterious' Israeli-based group is coordinating with over 21 Facebook pages to spread fake news.The group has over a million followers and even makes money from digital advertising.It has come under the scanner for targeting two US politicians, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar — members of 'the squad' — with posts islamophobic posts.It's just another day at Facebook as a mysterious Israeli-based Facebook group used 21 different pages on the social networking platform to spread fake Islamophobic news.An investigation by the Guardian finds that not only does the group have over a million followers helping circulate thousands of fake news posts that go out every week — but it's also making money off of it.The more traffic the pages generate, the more revenue they gain from digital advertising. And, they've been at it for over 2 years. Their pages aren't restricted to the US but span to other countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, Israel, and Nigeria.Most of the posts by the Israeli-based group are aimed at amplifying Ismaphobia by focusing on celebrating comments from far-right parties while disparaging Muslim and left-wing politicians. Similarly, BBC's investigation found the ' hyper-nationalism' was behind the fake news menace in India last year. The group in question been targetting 2 US politicians in particular — Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar — who are the first Muslim women to serve in US Congress. They're both known as members of ' the squad', a group of progressive women of color in US politics.businessinsider.in
Norway to distribute 10,000 Qurans to fight racism
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/norway-to-distribute-10-000-qurans-to-fight-racism/1665190#
Stockholm:Norway's Muslim associations have announced they would distribute 10,000 Qurans with Norwegian translations in an effort to fight racism and hate.It will be a collaboration with the Islam Literature Association and the Minhaj-ul-Quran mosque, the Norwegian Muslim Arts and Culture Association reported. The decision came after an extreme right-wing group tried to burn a copy of the Muslim holy book during a protest in Kristiansand, a city populated with migrants.Stop the Islamization of Norway (SION) members were prevented from the desecrating by police, however, the group’s leader threw the Quran in the garbage.Turkey, Pakistan, Iran reacted strongly to Nov. 16 incident by issuing their formal condemnations."We want to respond to negative actions by spreading love and knowledge as taught by the Holy Quran," said Muslim Arts and Culture Association in a statement that indicated the Qurans would be handed out via the Internet.Turkey's Ambassador to Oslo Fazli Corman said his office closely follows developments that concern the welfare of Norway’s Muslim community. Corman said just before the incident in Kristiansand, Justice and Immigration Minister Joran Kallmyr said the burning of the Quran is considered freedom of speech and told the police not to ban any burning of the Quran.After receiving reactions from Muslim community, Kallmyr held a meeting with Islam Council of Norway." Anadolu Agency
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Encounters should not be encouraged by political leadership:Julio Ribeiro
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/criminals-in-uniform-hyderabad-rape-murder-case-police-encounter-6154562/
Why CAB-plus-NRC fantasy is BJP’s next Ram Mandir-plus-Article 370 gambit:SHEKHAR GUPTA
https://theprint.in/national-interest/why-cab-plus-nrc-fantasy-is-bjps-next-ram-mandir-plus-article-370-gambit/331706/
As India becomes de facto Hindu Rashtra, BJP looks for new ways to polarise voters:SHIVAM VIJ
https://theprint.in/opinion/india-becomes-de-facto-hindu-rashtra-bjp-looks-for-new-polarisation-ways/331220/
Citizenship Bill can be another Article 370. If only Left would stop its wrong noise:SESHADRI CHARI
https://theprint.in/opinion/citizenship-bill-can-be-another-article-370-if-only-left-would-stop-its-wrong-noise/331143/
Third ‘encounter’ of non-Maoists in Telangana in 10 years, two led by same cop
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hyderabad-telangana-rape-accused-encounters-cyberabad-police-commissioner-v-c-sajjanar-6153291/
Ambedkar’s legacy is being re-engineered to suit the Hindutva agenda:Badri Narayan
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/bhimrao-ambedkar-without-caste-dalit-buddhism-6154535/
Centre Continuing to Push 'Anti-People Agenda’ in Parliament: PUDR Report
https://thewire.in/government/centre-anti-people-agenda-parliament-pudr-report
Hyderabad encounter: On our way to becoming a mobocracy?Zafar Agha
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/hyderabad-encounter-on-our-way-to-becoming-a-mobocracy
Proposed citizenship law is immoral, will unleash a legally-sanctioned regime of discrimination:Gautam Bhatia
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/citizenship-amendment-bill-union-cabinet-strangers-in-their-own-land-6154534/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:50 PM).*
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