16 Jan 2020: 20 Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 109
*anti-citizenship act stir*
Home ministry 'fact-checks' report suggesting Aadhaar or passport required for NPR, but confusion over 'voluntary' furnishing of ID prevails
https://www.firstpost.com/india/mha-fact-checks-report-suggesting-aadhaar-or-passport-required-for-npr-but-confusion-over-voluntary-furnishing-of-id-prevails-7914401.html
Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday clarified that the authorities will not ask for any documents during the house-to-house survey for updating National Population Register and that information provided by individuals would be accepted and recorded. Ministry of Home Affairs Spokesperson tweeted:"As quoted in a news item, "Have Aadhar, Passpot? You will have to share details for NPR...Voter id, DL Info also Mandatory", gives a wrong impression that these documents would have to be compulsorily given for NPR exercise. Such a connotation is not correct.@TOIIndiaNews". The ministry added: "It is reiterated that NO DOCUMENTS WOULD BE ASKED BY THE ENUMERATORS FOR THE NPR EXERCISE. If the respondents want to present documents for verification, they are free to do so. There would be no compulsion from the side of the enumerators."The clarification came in response to a TOI story claiming that those who possess documents like an Aadhaar card or passport must furnish them during the process of NPR, whereas those who do not possess these documents in the first place, won't be asked to provide such details. The article quoted sources to make this claim and further added that this cleared a prevailing impression that a respondent can choose not to provide information relating to the documents even if it is readily available.However, it is on the latter count that the MHA clarification fails to clear the ambiguity. As also pointed out by several Twitter users in response to the government's tweet, the MHA says nothing about whether an individual has the right to withhold the information despite possessing those documents. And if so, what are the consequences of choosing not to share the documents.As pointed out by TOI, there does exist a rarely invoked law — Rule 17 of the Citizenship Rules, 2003 — that fines a person up to Rs 1,000, and a jail term of and jail up to three year, if they purposely give wrong information or withhold facts. It is not clear whether this law will be applicable/ invoked in case a citizen chooses not to disclose Aadhaar or passport details.firstpost
Before starting NPR, 'last-minute changes in pretest form possible' as per requirements:home ministry
https://www.firstpost.com/india/before-finalising-and-starting-npr-last-minute-changes-in-the-pretest-form-possible-as-per-requirements-says-home-ministry-7914411.html
NPR 2020 | Aadhaar, passport holders must share details: Home Ministry
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/npr-2020-aadhaar-passport-holders-must-share-details-home-ministry-4824221.html
PAN column dropped from NPR ‘after 30-lakh sample tests’
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pan-column-dropped-from-npr-after-30-lakh-sample-tests/articleshow/73286817.cms
The column on PAN will not figure in NPR enumeration that begins on April 1. The decision was taken after test results showed that majority of respondents were reluctant to share it.“73 districts were covered in the test, where samples of nearly 30 lakh individuals were collected. In 80% cases, respondents provided details voluntarily but were hesitant to share PAN details, following which we decided to drop the column in NPR,” a senior official said.economictimes
Aadhaar, passport details to be shared during NPR? No clarity from MHA yet
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/aadhaar-passport-details-be-shared-during-npr-no-clarity-mha-yet-116207
Ahead of Census, NPR exercise roll out in April, Centre starts preparations
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/ahead-of-census-npr-exercise-roll-out-in-april-centre-starts-preparations-11579174361060.html
As the government gets ready to roll out its Census and NPR exercise in April 2020, home ministry is set to take stock of the situation on Friday. Senior officials in the ministry will meet chief secretaries of states and Census directors.Minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai and home secretary A.K Bhalla will meet chief secretaries in the national capital to discuss census and NPR exercise amid uncertainties over the documentation process for NPR.While the Centre will start its preparations, non-BJP ruling states plan to strongly oppose NPR exercise. livemint
States, UTs except Bengal and Kerala notified NPR much before CAA: Sources
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jan/16/states-uts-except-bengal-and-kerala-notified-npr-much-before-caa-sources-2090173.html
Assam: Those applying for citizenship under CAA may get window of just 3 months
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/assam-those-applying-for-citizenship-under-caa-may-get-window-of-just-3-months/1710291
Centre may give a relatively smaller window of just three months to those who want to apply for Indian citizenship in Assam under the newly-enacted CAA, officials said today.Some Assam specific provisions are expected to be incorporated in the rules to be issued for the implementation of the CAA.There is a possibility of giving a smaller window of just three months for those living in Assam to apply under the CAA, an official, privy to the development, said.The move came in view of the continuing protests against the CAA in Assam where protests have been going on since the legislation was passed by Parliament in Dec. CAA rules are expected to be issued in next 2 weeks, official said.PTI
Yogi’s drive to identify to identify non-Muslim immigrants under CAA runs into problems
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/yogis-drive-to-identify-caa-beneficiaries-runs-into-problems
The drive initiated by Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government to identify non-Muslim immigrants in the state seems to have run into rough weather. In Pilibhit, where the maximum number of about 35,000 illegal immigrants has been identified, it has now been found that information is being sought by the state government on an unverified document. A large number of families from Bangladesh settled here several decades ago.The survey began last month even before the bill was notified. Moreover, the feedback email on questionnaire is a Gmail ID -- [email protected] -- which is not a government server.It is not known how the state government is drawing up the lists without having the verification criteria.After the report was put up by a news website, Home Department officials feigned complete ignorance about the issue.A spokesman said: "This was an unofficial and preliminary exercise to assess the number of illegal migrants in the state. The document is meant to collect basic beneficiary information. No list of potential beneficiaries has yet been sent to Delhi."The document has eight columns asking for name, father's name, place of stay in India, and where did they come from and when. It does not mention any requirement of proof, or documents.DM of Pilibhit claimed they are checking documents of the refugees, but denied any knowledge of the unsigned document.IANS
CAA: Adityanath's Govt Used Unsigned Document To Make List Of 32,000 Refugees, Says Report
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/caa-yogi-adityanath-uttar-pradesh-refugees-list_in_5e2046f4c5b63211760eb4b0
UP: 33 charged for provoking children to pelt stones amid anti-CAA protests
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/33-arrested-for-anti-caa-violence-charged-for-provoking-kids-to-pelt-stones-120011600620_1.html
Muzaffarnagar : SIT probing the anti-CAA violence in Uttar Pradesh has charged 33 arrested people for provoking children to pelt stones during the protests here against the amended law.According to an official, an additional charge under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, has been imposed on 33 people who were arrested earlier for allegedly indulging in violence during the clashes that broke out here on December 20 last year during protests against the CAA.The section was added after receiving permission from CJM Ravikant Yadav. Meanwhile, 35 of 46 people from whom the government had sought replies for their alleged involvement in arson and loss of public property during the protests have denied their participation in the incidents.PTI
Investigate UP Police for using ‘excessive and unlawful force’ during CAA protests:International Commission of Jurists
https://scroll.in/latest/950049/caa-protests-investigate-up-police-for-using-excessive-and-unlawful-force-says-human-rights-body
International Commission of Jurists, a global human rights organisation, has called on the Modi government to investigate “the use of excessive and unlawful force by UP police against demonstrators” protesting against CAA. At least 19 people were killed in the state during last month’s protests – most of them from firearm injuries.In a briefing paper, the rights organisation said first-hand interviews with witnesses and victims had allowed it to establish that the police used “unnecessary, excessive and indiscriminate” force to quell the demonstrations.“The high death toll of peaceful protestors in UP highlights the use of excessive force by police, in contravention of international standards of policing and human rights,” said ICJ Secretary General Sam Zarifi. “The state and federal govs must investigate any death or injury that occurs during protests by law enforcement officials and to ensure access to justice to victims and their families.”It said many people had reported that they had not been able to get their medico-legal certificates and “victims’ families reported inability to access postmortem reports”.scroll
As women sit-in continues, over 200 booked in Prayagraj
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/as-women-sit-in-continues-over-200-booked-in-prayagraj-6218674/
Lucknow :An FIR was registered against 19 people, and over 200 unidentified others, over an indefinite dharna being organised by women against the new citizenship law at Mansoor Ali Park in Prayagraj. One of the organisers of the sit-in, Sarah Ahmed (26), is among those named in FIR.The sit-in began on Sunday afternoon in Prayagraj and the ongoing agitation has seen mainly women protesters.“When we reached Park on Sunday, there were 60-70 women and around 200 men raising slogans and holding placards against the new law. The people there were told about Section 144 being in place. They were asked to disperse, but they did not listen,” states the complaint lodged by the police.Station House Officer, Roshan Lal, said no arrests had been made yet. “There are 300-400 people still there,” Lal said.Sarah Ahmed, one of the organisers of the sit-in, said the protesters would not be deterred. “We will sit here indefinitely or till our demands are met… of revocation of CAA… We won’t be intimidated. It is our right to hold peaceful protests…”indianexpress
Uttar Pradesh women follow Shaheen Bagh; 'Dharna' against CAA spreads to smaller towns
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/uttar-pradesh-women-follow-shaheen-bagh-dharna-against-citizenship-act-spreads-to-smaller-towns-795213.html
Following the footsteps of the indefinite dharna (sit-in) against the CAA by women at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, Muslim women have embarked upon 'dharnas' at many places in Uttar Pradesh putting the state authorities in a quandary.On Thursday over two hundred Muslim women embarked on a 'dharna' against CAA inside Jama Masjid in UP's Rampur town, about 325 kilometres from here.District police officials tried their best to get the women to call off their protest but they remained adamant and made it clear that they would continue their 'dharna' until the CAA was scrapped. 'Dharnas' of the similar kind were also being held at Kanpur, Bareilly and Deoband towns, reports said. In Kanpur, people from all walks of life have joined the sit-in, which is held for 3 hours every day. In Deoband around a thousand Muslim women have embarked on a sit-in against the CAA at Idgah grounds.Interestingly, all these sit-ins were organised by the women and there was hardly any presence of politicians though the latter have extended them support.deccanherald
Muslim women start stir in Rampur to demand release of anti-CAA protesters
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/muslim-women-start-stir-in-rampur-to-demand-release-of-anti-caa-protesters/articleshow/73280848.cms
Newly-Convened Alliance Underscores Potential Impact of CAA-NRC on Dalits, Adivasis
https://thewire.in/rights/caa-nrc-dalits-adivasis-obcs
New Delhi: “Modi government has perpetuated exclusion as an ideology; CAA and NRC are a part of the same agenda,” said Anil Chamadia, convenor of the newly-formed Alliance Against CAA-NRC-NPR, which has been contending that the controversial enumeration of citizens may impact Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs as much as Muslims. At a press briefing in the national capital, Chamadia announced that Alliance had organised nation-wide demonstrations against CAA-NRC on the death anniversary of the Hyderabad Central University student Rohith Vemula on January 17, 2020.“We understand that Rohith Vemula’s forced suicide was a clear case of institutional murder. We have seen how across campuses of India, Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, women, and minorities have been insecure ever since the Modi government came to power six years ago. Today, if CAA-NRC is implemented, people of all marginalised communities will be filled with such insecurities,” he said. Sonajharia Minz, a professor at JNU, said that CAA-NRC and NPR violate the constitutional doctrine of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and that such laws can “emerge only out of Manuwadi mindset”. Manuwadi is a common term to describe people who are influenced by the ancient Hindu text Manusmriti that standardised the discriminatory caste system based on varnasrama dharma.Delhi University professor N. Sukumar pointed out that Dalits, Adivasis, and the poor will be impacted the most by CAA-NRC.thewire
Dalit and tribal rights activist call for withdrawal of CAA in Budget session
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/dalit-and-tribal-rights-activist-call-for-withdrawal-of-caa-in-budget-session
Nationwide human chains against CAA, economic policies on Jan 30
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/nationwide-human-chains-against-caa-economic-policies-on-jan-30-795058.html
Coming in support of the anti-CAA protesters, students' protests and economic policies of Modi government, a joint group of over 100 organisations will organise a human chain across the country on January 30.January 30 marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and hence, coincides with a call by Opposition partiesIn Delhi, the plan is to organise a human chain at Raj Ghat though a final decision is not taken yet. While admitting that Delhi is in an election season, the organisers want parties like Congress and AAP to keep electoral considerations apart and join the protest in unison to send a message across the country.Jan Ekta Jan Adhikaar Andolan (JEJAA), which consists of 111 organisations belonging to tribals, students, workers, lawyers and disabled among others, will also observe January 23, the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, as 'Save Democracy Day' while it will also organise reading of the Preamble of the Constitution in mass meetings at district level on Jan 26, Republic Day.JEEJA consists of organisations like Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, Progressive Writers Association, National Alliance of People's Movement, CITU, DYFI, SFI, AISA, AISF, AITUC, All India Bank Employees Association, Lawyers Collective, NCPRI, All India Forum for Right to Education, All India Coal Workers' Federation, All India Agriculture Workers Union and Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan among others.deccanherald
Goa NDA ally resigns from government body in protest of CAA, NRC
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jan/15/goa-nda-ally-resigns-from-government-body-in-protest-of-caa-nrc-2089970.html
Panaji: Vice-chairperson of Goa govt's State Minorities Finance and Development Corporation and president of the women's wing of the Goa Forward party, Ashma Sayed, on Wednesday, resigned from the post as a mark of protest against CAA and NRC, which she claims are aimed at dividing India. Goa Forward is a member of the pan India NDA.Sayed was appointed as a vice chairperson of the newly formed corporation aimed at facilitating loans and assistance to members of the minority communities in Goa in 2018, sometime after the formation of BJP-led coalition government, which was supported by the Goa Forward party..IANS
NRC will adversely impact nearly 4 lakh Goans: Alliance against CAA-NRC-NPR
http://epaper.gomantaktimes.com/FlashClient/Show_Story_IPad.aspx?storySrc=http://124.30.219.86/GomantakTimesEpaperData/GomantakTimes/GTGOA/2020/01/16/Main/GomantakTimes_GTGOA_2020_01_16_Main_DA_003/44_882_968_2346.jpg&uname=#
Panaji: NRC has already caused havoc in Assam and if implemented in Goa, will adversely affect at least 4 lakh per- sons, mostly belonging to marginalised sections of the society who don't have any birth certificate to prove their nationality, said members of newly formed Goa Alliance against CAA-NCR-NPR, a platfform to create ill effects of 3 citizenships related Centre's policies."There are around 3.5 to 4 lakh tribals in Goa according to the 2011 census. Amongst these, nearly 1.5 lakh don't have any birth certificate as in earli- er days deliveries used to be done by mid-wives at homes. Official govern- ment identity documents like ration card, Aadhaar Card, PAN card, voter Identity card all as invalid for proving citizenship. So all these people who are sans birth certificates, how are they supposed to prove their nationality?" questioned activist and member of GACNN, Rama Kankonkar while inter- acting with media. Moreover, of 16 lakh population of Goa, names of 30 per cent of them have been spelt wrongly on Aadhaar cards. Fishermen and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders (foreign citizens of Indian origin al- lowed to work in India indefinitely) will be also directly affected. "There are 2.5 lakh fishermen in Goa. Many have migrated to Portugal and now their children are working here with OCI status. They have land here. This entire NRC and NPR can be used to cancel citizenship of such people and grab as overseas citizens of India forced to their land. There are around 4 lakh Portuguges passport holders. They will all get affected," kankonkar said. Another member of the GACNN Ad vocate Albertina Almeida said along with NRC-NPR, CAA has the potential make lives of young OCI card holders more difficult."CAA has the provision of booking OCI card holders at any pretext and cancel their citizenship. They will be them classified as doubtful citizens and send them to detention centres. This lethal combination of NRC-NPR- CAA is not only unconstitutional but also unethical,"she said. Asif Hussain appealed to citizens to "join forces to bring pressure to bear on Government to repeal the CAA" and GACNN has therefore decided to launch a State-wide gomantaktimes.com
Alliance against CAA-NRC-NPR to spread awareness in Goa
https://webpcache.epapr.in/index.php?in=https://d2na0fb6srbte6.cloudfront.net/read/imageapi/clipimage/2511945/d58be905-6f9b-4d66-9afb-fd7b4266f35a
Noise around CAA distraction for India: Harman CEO
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/noise-around-caa-distraction-for-india-harman-ceo/articleshow/73290536.cms
New Delhi: India needs to protect its data “interests” like US and China do, albeit without differentiating between Indian and foreign companies, Dinesh Paliwal, Agraborn CEO of audio products and technology company Harman International, said.“You can put a very strong wall and fence — that Indian data cannot be taken out of India as is China’s rule. That’s okay. But, you cannot say this data belongs to India and only Indian corporations can use it,” Paliwal told ET in an interview. Paliwal, who is also on the board of US-India Business Council, said issues such as those concerning abrogation of Article 370 in J&K and CAA have been “misinterpreted” and are a “distraction” for India.“Of course, a lot of these issues — of Kashmir or CAA — are misinterpreted and even my children fight with me and ask why are we doing it? I have to explain it to them and tell them to read more (about it),”he said.economictimes
England, Germany, Switzerland: Anti-CAA protests break barriers, shake the world
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/caa-protest-world-students-international-foreign-modi-india-1637241-2020-01-16
Blackpool in England turns into a ghost town every winter. The beachfront is deserted once the snow starts to fall. Except for the odd bachelor party, January is a quiet month. There is no major university here that manages to grab the attention of foreign students.And so on January 4, as residents walked onto the high street for a bit of Sunday morning shopping, they couldn't help but wonder why three students stood in the cold holding a banner."There aren't many Indians here. But you don't need a large number to make your stand clear. If you can find even one person to connect over a common calling, you have your protest," says Sumeet Bose, 33, a merchant navy officer who is in Blackpool for a short-term course. Bose and his two classmates stood for three hours in the biting wind to protest against the proposed CAA and NRC.Over 800 miles away in Switzerland, Harshal Kate, a 29-year-old researcher from Alibaug, attempted to approach the protest entirely on his own before finding support for his cause online.In Sydney, 60 Indians distributed flyers that had details of the CAA written down outside a Starbucks outlet.From the streets of Germany's Munich to the campuses of Colombia University in New York and Tampere University in Finland to the neighbourhoods of Cape Town in South Africa, a small but vocal community of young liberals are standing up against what they feel goes against the very ethos of their homeland.indiatoday
Amid CAA protests, Chennai Police Commissioner bars protests in city for 15 days
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/amid-caa-protests-chennai-police-commissioner-bars-protests-city-15-days-116187
Even as several groups in Chennai continue to protest against CAA, City Police Commissioner AK Viswanathan promulgated an order prohibiting all protests, meetings, assemblies etc. for the next 15 dates. Order has been brought into effect under section 41 of Tamil Nadu City Police Act 1888, which grants police the “power to regulate assemblies, meetings and processions in public places.” The order that is passed will not apply to any procession or demonstration for which permission has already been granted. thenewsminute
Muslim, Dalit leaders go on hunger strike against CAA, NRC in Hubballi
https://www.deccanherald.com/state/hubballi-dharwad/muslim-dalit-leaders-go-on-hunger-strike-against-caa-nrc-in-hubballi-794732.html
Hubballi:Leaders of Muslim community, Dalit organisations, Congress Party, and others are staging a hunger strike at Dr BR Ambedkar Circle in Hubballi, opposing the CAA and NRC. Raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they demanded the withdrawal of CAA and not to implement NRC. "India is witnessing such a dictatorship for the first time. BJP government is trying to divide people into the lines of religion, through CAA and NRC. This move is a threat for peace and harmony in the country," said AICC member Shakir Sanadi, who led the protest. Sayed Tajuddin Quadri, Moulana Niyaz Alam, Moulana Nayimuddin and others took part in the hunger strike. deccanherald
Khureji In East Delhi Turning To Be Another Shaheen Bagh
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/khureji-in-east-delhi-turning-to-be-another-shaheen-bagh
New Delhi:Khureji, in East Delhi falling in Krishna Nagar assembly constituency, is turning to be another Shaheen Bagh with hundreds of women, mostly Muslim, sitting on round the clock protest, braving the chilling winter, against CAA since January 13.On Wednesday, senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan and rights activist Ravi Nair from South SAHRDC also visited the place and addressed the protesters. They asked them to continue the peaceful protest and assured them that there was no alternative for the government than taking back the citizenship law as it was unconstitutional and could not stand the legal scrutiny in a court of law. Unlike Shaheen Bagh where the police could not muster courage to make a bid to evict the protesters forcibly, Delhi police tried to remove the protesters by use of force in the intervening night of January 14 & 15. However, the protesters faced the police boldly and made them retreat though the police had damaged their tent erected on the land belonging to Khureji village graveyard and which did not block traffic. Narrating what happened in the night, activist Khalid Saifi, who is extending support to the local women activists, said that hundreds of police personnel led by 12 to 14 police officers including Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Sharma along with several inspectors and ACPs descended at the protest site at 3 am. They asked the women protesters as well as the men assembled there to leave immediately. The policemen also disconnected the power supply and began removing the tents. Some of policemen, according to protesters, were covering their faces. When Saifi and others confronted the police and asked them the logic behind raiding the protest site at odd hours, the police reportedly told them that they simply wanted the protest to end. But a huge crowd of people assembled there after learning police crackdown and began shouting slogans against the police. Sensing that the situation would go out of control, Saifi said that policemen immediately left venue.Sayma Chaudhary, a BA(2nd year) student of Delhi University, said that the crowd at the protest site increased from 500 to 2,000 now, after the police crackdown.India Tomorrow
Police detain 30 students protesting against CAA from Turkman Gate area, Delhi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/police-detain-30-students-protesting-against-caa-from-turkaman-gate-area-delhi
Around 25-30 students who were protesting against the CAA and alleged brutality by the police in Jamia Millia Islamia were detained by the Delhi Police today from Turkman Gate area.The detained students were taken to Rajinder Nagar police station. The students have alleged that they were detained forcibly.IANS
Shaheen Bagh: Today rains fail to dampen the spirit of women protesters
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/shaheen-bagh-thursday-afternoon-rains-fail-to-dampen-the-spirit-of-women-protesters
New Delhi:Unseasonal rains on Thursday afternoon in this bone-chilling cold could not dampen the spirit of the women protesters at the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh Road.Hundreds of women protesting against the CAA continued their agitation under makeshift tarpaulin tent in the middle of the road despite the fact that it was leaking from several places. Volunteers extending support to the protesters fixed the leaks with the help of extra tarpaulin sheets they managed to arrange from the shops in adjoining Abul Fazal Enclave.The volunteers also arranged food for the women protesters as they could not move out of the tents due to the rains. They brought food packets in an e-rickshaw from a hotel in D-block of Abul Fazal.Women protesters said that the government might have expected that protesters would leave the venue due to the rains. “But we are not going to give up the protest till our demand of scrapping of the dreaded CAA and withdrawal of the proposed NRC is accepted by Central government”, said the protesters, including septuagenarian Bilqis and Sarvari, sitting on a wooden bed covered with a cotton mattress and covering themselves in dupattas and woolen shawls.ormer Rajya Sabha MP Obaidullah Khan Azmi addressed the Shaheen Bagh protesters in the evening, urging them to continue their fight against “oppression” of the present government at the Centre. India Tomorrow
Shaheen Bagh Anti-CAA Women Refuse To Vacate Road, Say Protection of Constitution Is More Important Than Anything Else
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/shaheen-bagh-anti-caa-women-refuse-to-vacate-the-road-say-protection-of-constitution-is-more-important-than-anything-else
'They tried to stifle the voices of our children': Meet the women protesters who have been occupying a New Delhi street for a month: CNN
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/14/asia/shaheen-bagh-muslim-intl-hnk/
'Women Don’t Give Up.' Why Female Protesters Are at Forefront of India's Resistance Movement:Time
https://time.com/5765702/india-protests-women/
One Month Into Police Crackdown at Jamia Millia, A Reflection On The Walls
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/one-month-into-police-crackdown-at-jamia-millia-a-reflection-on-the-walls?fbclid=IwAR3U_Xinky2Fe90ZxJkK7_phjeAPsaX1R8RBqj2phYSf0JU8Crkn4nO4X0M
New Delhi:On December 13 and 15, Jamia Millia Islamia witnessed one of the largest police crackdowns in its history, with students being attacked brutally by the Police and paramilitary forces – even those studying in the library were not spared. Mute spectators to the sad events were the large walls of the premier central university, helpless in itself. On completion of one month of the crackdown, a group of students turned artists are helping them to speak out. As said, a picture can speak thousand times more than words.From Chandrasekhar Azad of the freedom struggle to Ladeeda Farzana and Aysha Renna, the sheroes of anti-CAA struggle, the walls of Jamia too speak of resistance. “Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis axed, burned, mob lynched, forcefully disappeared, raped, stateless What More?” asks one painting. “May we have courage to speak up before it’s too late,” says another.Fadil Abdulla, a second year graduation student at the university, told India Tomorrow that though he is not a professional artist he feels it to be his moral responsibility to speak out in all the possible ways he can. “When rulers ignorant of the basic principles of governance reign the country, it’s the least we can do,” he adds.indiatomorrow
Cops broke my hands, asked me to read kalma: Jamia Millia students recount Dec 15 ordeal as NHRC probes violence
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-millia-islamia-students-on-delhi-police-alleged-violence-nhrc-probe-1637276-2020-01-16
New Delhi:Amonth after Delhi Police allegedly beat up students inside Jamia Millia Islamia's campus on December 15, students have demanded strict action against the force and victims have recounted the ordeal they faced to a team from NHRC.A 4-member NHRC team visited Jamia on Tuesday and Wednesday, and recorded statements from students who were injured or witnessed police brutality inside the university library on December 15.At least 40 students provided written statements. NHRC team, headed by a DSP-rank officer, will visit the university again on Thursday and Friday to record statements from more students, and from university employees and security personnel.Mohd Mustafa, one of first Jamia students to give his testimony to NHRC, said, "I broke down while recounting the fateful evening of December 15. I could have never imagined that those who are meant to protect us will beat us mercilessly, for no fault of ours.""I told the team of NHRC about how men in uniform barged into the university library when my friends and I were completing our project, at around 6 in the evening. They beat up every student who came in their way. They broke both my hands and I kept pleading them that I'm not a protestor but a student. I was bleeding but that did not stop the cops", Mustafa said.Another Jamia student, Shayan Mujeeb, whose legs were broken in the police's lathi charge, told India Today TV, "I was in my class when the police barged in with lathis and tear gas shells and started charging at students. They did not even spare female students".indiatoday
CAA protests: Jamia moves court for registration of FIR against Delhi Police over Dec. 15 violence
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jamia-millia-islamia-moves-court-for-registration-of-fir-against-delhi-police-over-dec-15-violence/article30573238.ece
Jamia Millia Islamia will move court for the registration of an FIR against the Delhi Police in connection with the police action on students in December last year, university officials said on Wednesday.PTI
FIR on AMU complaint to be filed only if HC directs: Police
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/fir-on-amu-complaint-to-be-filed-only-if-hc-directs-police-6218902/
Lucknow :Pointing Out that the matter related to violence on the campus of AMU on December 15 last year was subjudice, Aligarh police said Wednesday that an FIR into a complaint filed by AMU Tuesday could be registered only after a court directive.“How can we lodge an FIR when the matter is subjudice in the High Court? Their [AMU] complaint was against police personnel. The court has directed for a NHRC inquiry, which is underway. How can we lodge an FIR in the middle of all this?” said Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhary.On Tuesday, AMU Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor had said the varsity had lodged a complaint demanding an FIR against police personnel for entering a university hostel on December 15 last year. Shafe Kidwai, member and in charge of Public Relations of AMU, said on Wednesday that the university was exploring “all options” regarding registration of an FIR. “The matter was discussed and we are seeking legal opinion too. We are figuring out how to go about it,” said Kidwai.Meanwhile, the varsity on Wednesday announced that all examinations in AMU have been postponed.indianexpress
AMU VC meets protesting students, assuages feelings
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/amu-vc-meets-protesting-students-assuages-feelings/story-CepgZGC2f83bEPampvjV8M.html
Aligarh:In an unexpected turn of events, vice chancellor of AMU Prof Tariq Mansoor today met students sitting on protest on the campus and assured that the varsity administration was fully committed to providing them security and a congenial atmosphere .VC, who is facing criticism for allowing police on campus on the night of December 15, said that police entry was an aberration and the university should function on its own. VC emphasised that the university administration was providing all assistance to NHRC team. Expressing deep regrets, Prof Mansoor said, “I deeply regret that students suffered injuries and the inconvenience they faced when they were asked to vacate hostels.”Meanwhile, the protest against CAA continued as teachers under the banner of AMUTA staged a march on the campus. The students also staged a march with placards in their hands. The Tricolor was conspicuous in all protests.HT
Only Muslims are Indians by Choice, Rest All are Indians by Chance: Harsh Mander
https://caravandaily.com/only-muslims-are-indians-by-choice-rest-all-are-indians-by-chance-harsh-mander/
Mangaluru:Harsh Mander, former IAS Officer asserted that the nation’s fight against the fascist forces like BJP and its parent organisation RSS began over 100 years ago when Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa and led the freedom movement against the British.He was speaking at anti-CAA, NRC protest in Mangaluru on Wednesday. Mander added that the fight against CAA and NRC is also a fight for saving the secular fabric of this country. He added that the fight began over hundred years ago when organisations like Hindu Mahasabha popped up with their vision to turn the country into a Hindu country, reports VarthaBharati. “Do not give, anybody the right to ask you to prove your citizenship or patriotism towards India, especially to those who never participated in the freedom movement of this country. Never allow them to ask you about your citizenship” Harsh said. Harsh said only Muslims are Indians by choice and people of all the other religions are Indians by chance. He added that after partition, Muslims had the option to go to Pakistan which was created on the basis of their interest and based on the principles of their religion.caravandaily
'Don't forget Gujarat': Hateful slogans at BJP's pro-CAA rally in Kerala
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dont-forget-gujarat-hateful-slogans-bjps-pro-caa-rally-kerala-116137
A rally of men can be seen marching through Kozhikode's Kuttiyadi town, ostensibly attempting to garner support for the contentious CAA. Several saffron flags with the BJP's lotus stick out from the crowd. However, on listening in closer, the protesters are hardly chanting pro-CAA slogans. Instead, they can be heard raising open and violent threats to Muslims. "Don't forget Gujarat. Keep that in mind before you play," protesters can be heard shouting in unison.The communal slogans refer to the Gujarat riots which killed nearly 800 Muslims, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the state's Chief Minister in 2002.The incident took place during a 'Save the country' public meet organised by BJP in Kozhikode at 5 pm on Monday. Several videos of the rally have been posted on social media since. TNM heard the slogans being raised in the videos and most of them cannot be written about. thenewsminute
Opposition Questions Silence of SC, Rights Body
https://caravandaily.com/opposition-questions-silence-of-supreme-court-rights-body/
NEW DELHI:Several high-profile individuals, victims of the police high-handedness in UP in the course of the current protests against CAA and other anti-Constitutional acts of Modi government, narrated the ordeal they had in recent days, at an event held here. Meanwhile, Opposition parties questioned silence of the Supreme Court, NHRC and other watchdog institutions over “unprecedented” police brutalities” in UP. CPI (M), CPI, RJD and Loktantrik Janata Dal among other political parties here jointly presented before the media some high-profile personalities who were roughed up by UP cops. Former UP IG Police, SR Darapuri, social activist Sadaf Jafar, Prof Pawan Rao Ambedkar and theatre actor and activist Deepak Kabir shared their harrowing experiences. They spent almost 3 weeks in police custody after their arrest on December 20 in the course of the protests against the CAA a day ago in Lucknow. Opposition leaders vowed to bring the guilty cops to book and carry forward the movement against the new citizenship law. They alleged that the Yogi Adityanath government has turned Uttar Pradesh into a “police state”. They highlighted the blatant violations of human rights by BJP-led Yogi govt.76-year-old Darapuri said despite being a former IG rank police officer, the police violated all his rights.The former police officer also sensed political vendetta behind his arrest and said he had been pursuing the fake encounter cases in the state. Caravan Daily
Anti-CAA Slogans Raised At RSS Outfit's Muslim Clerics Conference
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/anti-caa-slogans-raised-at-rss-outfits-muslim-clerics-conference
NEW DELHI:Slogans against the controversial CAA were raised at a conference of Muslim clerics called by RSS outfit Muslim Rashtriya Manch in support of the law at the Constitution Club of India here on Thursday. RSS leader Indresh Kumar was present on the stage.As soon as RSS leader Indresh Kumar went up to the stage and was about to take his chair in the centre, around one dozen people from among the audience stood up and started raising slogans against CAA. They went up to the front of the stage and took out placards from their pockets and shouted slogans, shows a video posted by ANI on Twitter.The protesters raised these slogans: "Down with Enemies of Constitution, Withdraw CAA, We Oppose CA".RSS outfit had organized event called “Rashtriya Ulama Conference” in support of CAA.Some Muslim clerics sharing stage with RSS leader included Kaukab Mujtaba and Suhaib Qasmi.indiatomorrow
RSS effort to reach out to Muslim clerics on CAA turns out to be damp squib
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/rss-effort-to-reach-out-to-muslim-clerics-on-caa-turns-out-to-be-damp-squib
Protest against CAA, NRC and NPR in Kerala by GIO
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/protest-against-caa-nrc-and-npr-in-kerala-by-girls-islamic-organisation-of-india20200115191021/
Kochi: A Muslim women's group named "Girls Islamic Organisation of India" here on Wednesday protested against CAA, NRC and NPR.State president of GIO, Afeeda Ahmed said, "The movement against CAA started as a student protest in Delhi. A large number of Muslim students were also present during the protest there. Here we are holding a three-day protest.''ANI
CAA, NPR and NRC part of a malevolent plan: Teesta Setalvad
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/caa-npr-and-nrc-part-of-a-malevolent-plan-teesta-setalvad/articleshow/73291363.cms
Kozhikode: Human rights activist Teesta Setalvad said that CAA, NRC and NPR were part of a malevolent project which targeted not just Muslims but also adivasis, dalits, migrant labourers and nomadic tribes in India. Inauguration the anti-fascist declaration organized at corporation stadium on Wednesday that was attended by writers, activists and cultural leaders, Teesta said that the proposed NPR (set to begin in April 2020) was nothing short of the base which will be converted into NRC.She said that in NPR exercise done by UPA in 2010, the place and date of birth of one’s parents were not asked as proposed in the upcoming NPR.TOI
IUML’s 2 pleas in SC: Declare CAA unconstitutional, govt must clear stance on NRC, NPR
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/iuml-files-two-pleas-in-sc-against-caa-and-for-clarity-on-govt-stance-on-nrc-npr-6219456/
New Delhi : IUML Thursday filed two petitions in the Supreme Court, one on NRC and NPR processes, and the other challenging the new citizenship law.IUML sought clarity on the government’s position in relation to the NRC and NPR processes as there was “widespread confusion and panic among the people”. In its petition, it quoted “contradictory” statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju and Industries Minister Prakash Javadekar.“Since 2014, the Ministers of the Union Respondent including the Hon’ble Prime Minister have been giving contradictory statements on the NRC and its implementation across the country and its link to the NPR exercise being carried out across the country,” the petition read.IULM appealed to the apex court to stay the January 10 notification that brought the Act into force.indianexpress
Welfare Party Challenges CAA in Supreme Court
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/welfare-party-challenges-caa-in-supreme-court
New Delhi:Welfare Part of India (WPI) has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the contentious CAA and urged the apex court to strike it down.Since the CAA was passed by the Parliament on December 11, more than 60 petitions have been filed against CAA in the Supreme Court. The top court is likely to hear these petitions on January 22. Filed through its president Dr. SQR Ilyas, the petition of WPI has sought abrogation of CAA terming it unconstitutional and discriminatory.India Tomorrow
Over 2 lakh protestors showed up in Mangaluru to oppose the CAA
https://scroll.in/video/950046/watch-over-two-lakh-protestors-showed-up-in-mangaluru-to-oppose-the-citizenship-amendment-act
Over 2 lakh people gathered at a protest against the CAA in Karnataka’s Mangaluru on Wednesday. The protest was organised primarily by Muslim Central Committee of the region, the report added.Not only did hundreds of thousands travel overland, hundreds of people also arrived at the protest site in boats, journeying from Ullal to Adyar in Mangaluru. Social activists Harsh Mander and Kannan Gopinathan also participated in the protest.scroll/NDTV
Amarinder Singh seeks a day’s time for resolution on CAA
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amarinder-singh-seeks-a-days-time-for-resolution-on-caa/article30576868.ece
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday did not rule out the possibility of bringing a resolution against the amended citizenship law during the ongoing two-day Assembly session.“Wait till tomorrow,” Singh said when asked by reporters if the government will bring in a resolution, on the lines of Kerala, against the CAA. Punjab’s Congress government had on Tuesday said it will proceed according to the will of the House on the issue of CAA, NRC and NPR.PTI
People brave rain to attend anti-CAA protest in Delhi University
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/people-brave-rain-to-attend-anti-caa-protest-in-delhi-university/article30576712.ece?homepage=true
NEW DELHI:Scores of people attended a protest meeting against the CAA in the Delhi University’s Arts Faculty on Thursday, which was addressed by social activists amid heavy police presence.Among those who addressed the crowd were activist Medha Patkar, Tushar Gandhi, retired judge Kolse Patil, lawyer Karuna Nundy and journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani. With protesters standing through a spell of rain and continuing to raise slogans, speakers lauded them for their determination calling it a “people’s movement” and a fight to “save the Constitution”.“Your movement would define the future,” said Patil, who attacked Prime Minister, Home Minister, RSS and the Sangh parivar. He urged students to read former RSS chief Golwalkar’s works to be able to attack it, to read author Rana Ayub’s “Gujrat Files” to learn about Gujrat riots. More people must study social sciences and economics as opposed to mathematics and science, he said.thehindu
Flash protests in Hyd turn into cat-and-mouse game between cops and protesters
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/flash-protests-hyd-turn-cat-and-mouse-game-between-cops-and-protesters-116234
As of Thursday morning, communication through the WhatsApp group "Flash protest Hyderabad" and similar WhatsApp groups mobilising protests against the combined impact of the CAA, NPR and NRC processes, have been stopped. The group admins of these WhatsApp groups fear their communication over the messaging app is unsafe and have collectively migrated to an app they feel offers better privacy."We wanted to filter out some people due to security reasons," said Fahad* one of the organisers, when asked if they fear police informers. "There has been an information leakage. We inform the group just 15 minutes before where the flash protest will happen but a couple of times the police were already at the protest venue waiting for us. We are not sure who is leaking but are taking measures and just being careful."In Hyderabad, protesting against CAA-NPR-NRC has become a cat and mouse game between the protest organisers and the Hyderabad city police, and at the moment, the protestors seem to be ahead of the cops. thenewsminute
Delhi court grants anticipatory bail to man accused of instigating violence during Seemapuri protest
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/delhi-court-grants-anticipatory-bail-to-man-accused-of-instigating-violence-during-seemapuri-protest/1710142
A Delhi court today granted anticipatory bail to a man, who, according to the police, had allegedly instigated a crowd to pelt stones at cops during a protest against the amended citizenship law in east Delhi''s Seemapuri. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Malhotra granted the relief to Haji Tahir, a social worker, on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety of like amount and asked him to join investigation as and when required by the police.The court further directed him to not indulge in any activity that may disturb public peace.When the court asked if there was any evidence to substantiate the allegations, the police said they do not have any CCTV footage or video clip to show that Tahir instigated the crowd.Advocates Zakir Raza and Abdul Gaffar, appearing for Tahir, told court that he has been falsely implicated and he went to the spot along with SHO and offered roses to the police officials.PTI
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Modi to Invite Imran Khan to India as Part of SCO Summit This Year, Play Host if He Comes
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/narendra-modi-imran-khan-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-invitation
New Delhi: India will be inviting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan for the annual meeting of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) later this year.Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar confirmed to reporters that the invitation will be sent out to all members.“India will be hosting the SCO heads of government later this year. It is held annually at the prime ministers’ level and discusses the SCO’s program on multilateral and trade cooperation. As per established practice and procedure in SCO, all eight members of SCO, as well as four observer states, and other international dialogue partners, will be invited to attend the meeting,” he said on Thursday at the weekly briefing.SCO has eight members – India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – and four observer states, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.If Khan does accept the invitation, it will be the first time that a Pakistani will visit India since Nawaz Sharif came to New Delhi for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in May 2014.thewire
China should reflect on global consensus: MEA day after Beijing pushes for Kashmir debate at UNSC
https://www.news18.com/news/india/attempt-made-by-pakistan-to-misuse-platform-says-mea-day-after-china-pushes-for-kashmir-discussion-at-unsc-2460461.html
India on Thursday hit out at China for helping Pakistan in trying to raise the Kashmir issue at UNSC, saying Beijing should seriously reflect on the global consensus and refrain from such actions in the future.The overwhelming majority of UNSC was of view that it was not the right forum for such issues, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a briefing when asked about the developments in New York."An attempt was made by Pakistan, through a UNSC member, to misuse the platform," Kumar said. "An overwhelming majority of UNSC was of the view that the UNSC was not the right forum for such issues and it should be discussed bilaterally.""Pakistan's attempt to peddle baseless allegations, showing an alarming scenario, failed as it lacked credibility," Kumar said. Responding to Beijing raking up the Kashmir issue, Kumar said, "In our view, China should seriously reflect on this global consensus, draw the proper lessons, and refrain from taking such action in the future."news18
UNSC discusses Kashmir situation for 2nd time in 5 months
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-makes-fresh-bid-to-raise-kashmir-issue-in-unsc/article30572996.ece?homepage=true
“Pakistan’s practice of using false pretenses to distract from addressing the malaise that afflicts it has run its course today,” India’s UN envoy Syed Akbaruddin told The Hindu after the informal “closed consultations” at UNSC, the second such meeting in 5 months, had concluded on Wednesday afternoon. It was learnt that the situation in Kashmir was to be raised at the meeting.“We are happy that neither the alarmist scenario painted by the representatives of Pakistan nor any of the baseless allegations made repeatedly by representatives of Pakistan in UN fora were found to be credible today,” Akbaruddin said.The ambassador said the discussion was viewed as a “distraction” and that “many friends” had pointed out that bilateral mechanisms were available to address issues between India and Pakistan.Russia called for differences between India and Pakistan to be settled bilaterally. “Russia firmly stands for the normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan,” a Russian diplomat at the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, tweeted. “We hope that differences will be settled through bilateral efforts based on 1972 Simla Agreement and 1999 Lahore Declaration.thehindu
India should support, be part of US-led Taliban peace talks: Former Afghan President Karzai
https://theprint.in/diplomacy/india-should-support-be-part-of-us-led-taliban-peace-talks-former-afghan-president-karzai/350422/
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said India should support and be a part of the US-led peace talks with the Taliban.“We support the American peace process. We hope to make it successful and we hope all countries, especially our friends in India, should be on board and support the peace process,” Karzai told ThePrint Thursday.India has made it quite clear in the last few years that it will not negotiate with the Taliban, and maintained that a dialogue for negotiations has to be led by the Afghan government.Karzai is in India to attend the Raisina Dialogue that started Tuesday. arzai also said Afghanistan hoped the peace process would smoothly continue, and that an intra-Afghan dialogue would begin soon. Intra-Afghan dialogue is a key feature in Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s proposed 7-point plan. The plan includes the Afghan government speaking to Taliban, as well as Pakistan and other stakeholders, after the departure of foreign troops from there.The former Afghan President added: “It isn’t our war. It isn’t our conflict. It’s somebody else’s. Why should we be dying fighting someone else’s war? It’s Afghans being put against another Afghan.”Karzai also said India is an important “friend” of Afghanistan, but Pakistan is their “brothers” and “we need them for peace in Afghanistan”.“…We have to convince Pakistan about this…We’ve serious complaints against the Pakistan government and their military for interfering in Afghanistan,” he said.Karzai also said Pakistan and Iran are Afghanistan’s “most influential neighbours”.theprint
Iran calls US arrogant and ignorant, seeks India's help to defuse crisis in Middle East
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/iran-calls-us-arrogant-and-ignorant-seeks-indias-help-to-defuse-crisis-in-middle-east/540734
New Delhi: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif termed the situation in the Middle East as dangerous and blamed the United States for its arrogance and ignorance.They don't know what is happening in the region and they are arrogant enough not to look for correct answers but simply to be gun-happy and take absolutely unacceptable and illegal measures, said Zarif talking to Times Now and called the US arrogant and ignorant.Answering to the question of whether India can play a constructive role in the region the Iranian foreign minister called New Delhi an important player with an important presence in Chabahar.The Iranian foreign minister is in Delhi to participate in the 'Raisina Dialogue'.Zarif’s statement comes after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today where the latter said that India has a strong interest in peace, security and stability in the region.timesnownews
Jaishankar discusses evolving situation in Gulf, progress of Chabahar port with Iranian counterpart
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/external-affairs-minister-jaishankar-holds-talks-with-iranian-fm-javad-zarif/story-bJNXTfWGpg4LvRFxxHuJAO.html
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif on Thursday held extensive talks on fast-evolving situation in the Gulf region in the wake of frayed ties between Iran and the US over killing of Commander Qasem Soleimani.In the meeting over breakfast, Zarif apprised Jaishankar about the overall situation and Tehran’s position over it.It is learnt that the two ministers also deliberated on various aspects of bilateral ties between India and Iran including progress of the Chabahar port project.HT
US-led Indo-Pacific bloc divisive: Russia minister
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/us-led-indo-pacific-bloc-divisive-russia-minister/
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday strongly criticised US-led Indo-Pacific initiative, calling it a “divisive approach” to disrupt existing regional structures and contain China’s influence in the region.“Why call it Indo-Pacific? The answer is to contain China. Indian friends are smart enough to understand the trap. We should not be divisive,” Lavrov said at the ongoing Raisina Dialogue. “We have to be careful with the terminology, which looks benign but might be something else.” Russian minister also slammed the US for what he called disregarding international rules and norms while selectively talking about rules-based global order for its self-interests.indianexpress
Trump didn't know India-China share border, Modi was shocked: New book
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/donald-trump-narendra-modi-india-china-border-1637242-2020-01-16
US President Donald Trump once left Prime Minister Narendra Modi shocked and concerned by telling him India and China didn't share a border, a new book by two Pulitzer-winning journalists claims."It's not like you've got China on your border," Trump told Modi, and the Indian premier's eyes "bulged out in surprise", Washington Post journalists Phillip Rucker and Carol Leonning report in A Very Stable Genius, according to the US newspaper.The book's title is a shout-out to Trump's own description of his mental acumen.Rucker and Leonning write that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expression "gradually shifted, from shock and concern to resignation" after Trump's remarks, and that one of the US president's aides felt Modi probably "left that meeting and said, 'This is not a serious man. I cannot count on this man as a partner'," the Post reports.indiatoday
Bipin Rawat Advocates Putting Young Kashmiri Children in 'De-Radicalisation Camps'
https://thewire.in/security-security/cds-bipin-rawat-9-11
New Delhi: Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2020 here, chief of defence staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat pointed a finger at nations that sponsored terror and urged the international community to isolate them.But he also suggested a controversial remedy for dealing with Kashmiri children influenced by “radicalisation”: that they be “put in de-radicalisation camps”.“Terrorism is here to stay so long as there are states that will sponsor terrorism and use terrorists as proxies, make weapons and funding available for them. The war on terror is not ending, it is something which is going to continue, we will have to live with it until we understand and get to the roots of terrorism,” he said. Rawat also said that terrorism can be put to an end only by waging a war against it as the US did after the attacks on 9/11. “We have to bring an end to terrorism and that can only happen the way Americans started after 9/11, they said let’s go on a spree on the global war on terror. To do that you need to isolate the terrorists, anybody who is sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task,” he added.However, US is still fighting those wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, almost 20 years after the 9/11 attacks and many experts question the impact it has had on combating terror. Candidates for the US presidential election have described these wars as “endless” and are debating ways for the country to exit the region. A recent report said that apart from resulting in thousands of deaths, the wars have cost the US more than $6 trillion.Rawat also said that online radicalisation could be checked if the right persons were targeted.Asked whether he supported negotiations with the Taliban, he said peace talks should be initiated with everybody provided they give up the “weapon of terrorism”.Rawat also denied allegations of the Indian military being “heavy-handed” and claimed the forces used pellet guns “sparingly”, according to a report in News18. “Radicalisation can be countered. We saw it happening in Kashmir… Today, we see that young children are also being radicalised. They need to be identified and then we need to put them in de-radicalisation camps. The Indian army has not been using hard tactics… Pellet guns are a non-lethal practice. It is sparingly used,” Rawat said, speaking at the event.
Young Children Being Radicalised, Need to Identify & Put Them in De-radicalisation Camps: Bipin Rawat
https://www.news18.com/news/india/young-children-being-radicalised-need-to-identify-and-put-them-in-de-radicalisation-camps-says-bipin-rawat-2459711.html
Role of Davinder Singh in Parliament attack will be probed, says J&K DGP
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/role-of-davinder-singh-in-parliament-attack-will-be-probed-says-dgp/article30574703.ece?homepage=true
Srinagar:Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh has said that the security agencies would probe the role of arrested DSP Davinder Singh in the Parliament attack case.“If during the investigation, anything regarding the (Parliamant) attack is established, it will be looked into too. His previous activities will be probed,” DGP Singh said in a press conference in Jammu.thehindu
J&K: 5 more Kashmiri political leaders released from detention
https://scroll.in/latest/950112/j-k-five-more-kashmiri-political-leaders-released-from-detention
J&K administration on Thursday released five more Kashmiri political leaders from detention, Scroll.in has learnt. They have been detained at MLA Hostel in Srinagar since August 5. 5 leaders were identified as Peoples Democratic Party leader Nizamuddin Bhat, National Conference leaders Showkat Ganai, Salman Sagar, Altaf Kaloo and Mukhtar Bandh.With this release, 21 leaders of various parties in Kashmir are still in detention at MLA hostel. scroll
‘Why send propagandists?’: Congress asks Centre on plan to send 36 Union ministers for J&K visit
https://scroll.in/latest/950084/why-send-propagandists-congress-asks-centre-on-plan-to-send-36-union-ministers-for-j-k-visit
Congress today attacked the Centre over its decision to send 36 Union ministers to J&K, questioning the need for this if everything was normal in the region. “Amit Shah says all is normal in Kashmir,” Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted. “If so, why send 36 propagandists to Kashmir?Why not allow non-propagandists to go and understand the situation prevailing there?”Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari tweeted that sending 36 ministers to Kashmir was a sign of panic, not normalcy. “Abrogating Article 370 was a blunder & no quick fixes will work, Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again,” he said quoting a famous poem.scroll
Police bust JeM module in Srinagar, say terror attack averted ahead of Republic Day
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/police-bust-jem-module-in-srinagar-say-terror-attack-averted-ahead-of-r-day/article30577184.ece?homepage=true
J&K police said on January 16 that it averted a major militant attack ahead of the Republic Day in Kashmir by arresting five militants of the JeM in Srinagar, and recovered arms and ammunition.“A body vest fitted with shrapnel and bar bearings, besides a huge quantity of explosive material, was recovered from the arrested persons,” DIG of police V. K. Birdi said.Those arrested were identified as Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh, Umar Hameed Sheikh, Imtiyaz Ahmed Chikla alias Imran, Sahil Farooq Gojri and Naseer Ahmed Mir, all residents of Srinagar.thehindu
*OTHERS*
Kerala Catholic Church taking right-wing stand on ‘Love Jihad’ and CAA: Reformists
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-catholic-church-taking-right-wing-stand-love-jihad-and-caa-reformists-116219
The statement by Syro Malabar Catholic Church synod – the high profile meeting of its Bishops – that ‘Love Jihad’ was real and was used to target Christian women has drawn flak from reformist groups within the church. The reformists groups allege that the statement made by the top leaders of the church instilling discord between religions was part of a hidden agenda. The groups allege that the top leaders of the church are trying to divert people’s attention from real problems by raking up the love jihad bogey. Reformist groups have come out saying that the church is shooting in the dark by generalising a few incidents.“There might be a few cases, but we do not agree to the generalisations made by the synod that there is a hidden agenda to convert Christian girls by a particular religion. Inter-religious marriages have been happening in the past also, it is not right to say everyone is part of such controversial cases. Just like the right wing, the Church is trying to create a Christian communal feeling,” says Riju Kanjookaran, general secretary of Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (AMT), speaking to TNM.Joint Christian Council, another reformist group, also stated that it does not agree with the Syro Malabar Church’s statement on love jihad. “There are few incidents but these are rare. We can’t generalise and call it love jihad. In every religion there are a few bad persons but we cannot generalise a religion based on them,” says Felix J Pulloodan, working president of the council.AMT alleges that those raising the controversial claims are involved in various cases related to the church. “We’re also part of the church, but common believers like us never make these claims. It is the top officials who constantly try to divert the people’s attention in order to cover up other pressing matters,” Riju says. It is not only in the 'love jihad' issue that the church agrees with the right wing. Even when it came to CAA, Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council supported BJP government.A recent newspaper column by Father Varghese Vallikkatt, spokesperson and secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council, also underlines the church’s pro-BJP stand in supporting CAA.Expressing KCBC’s clear allegiance to BJP, Fr Varghese also adds that “no other party except BJP has understood or taken a stand on how to tackle political Islam”.Riju and others say such a stand exposed the selfish stand of the church's leaders.Syro Malabar chief Cardinal Alencherry recently received severe criticism for accepting BJP’s pro-CAA pamphlet.thenewsminute
End quota of Dalits embracing Islam, Christianity: VHP-backed body urges PM
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/end-quota-of-dalits-embracing-islam-christianity-vhp-backed-body-urges-pm/articleshow/73269167.cms
VHP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end reservation granted to Dalits and OBCs who have embraced Islam or Christianity. In a letter to the PM, general secretary of the Samiti Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said Dalits and OBCs were being converted into Christianity and Islam under a conspiracy. He said religious conversions amongst Dalits exposes the hypocrisy of Muslims and Christians who claim that they believe in social equality and that there is no casteism in their religions.TOI
Nirbhaya case: Execution of convicts put off for indefinite period of time
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/nirbhaya-case-execution-of-convicts-put-off-for-indefinite-period-of-time
Mukesh Kumar, one of the four convicts on death row in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, moved the Patiala House Court on Wednesday apprising it about the pendency of his mercy petition before the President of India, following the Delhi High Court refusal to interfere with the death warrant issued against all the four convicts.Following this, the court on Thursday directed Tihar jail authorities to file a proper report by Friday about the status of the scheduled execution after the jail authorities said they have written to the Delhi government on the issue in view of pending remedies available to the convicts.Mukesh filed the mercy petition on Wednesday evening after the Supreme Court rejected his curative petition. This has effectively put off the execution — originally fixed at 7 AM on January 22 as per a Delhi court order pronounced on January 7 — of the four convicts for an indefinite period of time because of the way the system works.As per Sunil Gupta, former law officer at Tihar Jail in Delhi, there is a prescribed procedure for dealing with a mercy petition filed by a convict on death row. “After a convict files a mercy petition, the concerned jail superintendent sends it to Delhi govt, along with a letter, stating the stay on execution till the time the government takes a final decision on mercy petition,” he said.nationalheraldindia
As court stays death penalty, Nirbhaya's mother wants convicts to be hanged on Jan 22
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/court-stay-deathpenalty-nirbhays-1637460-2020-01-16
Odisha: Akali Dal condemns attack on Sikh businessman in front of police in Bhubaneswar
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/punjab-akali-dal-condemns-attack-on-sikh-businessman-in-front-of-police-in-bhubaneswar/articleshow/73279297.cms
Bhubaneswar: As opposition BJP and Congress slammed the commissionerate police over Tuesday’s brutal assault on businessman Parvinder Pal Singh in the presence of police in Laxmisagar area, Akali Dal on Wednesday came down heavily on the police inaction and negligence.In a tweet, Akali Dal’s national spokesperson Manjider S Sirsa said Singh was attacked as latter had opposed recent demolition of Mangu mutt in Puri. “Shocked and angry to see such a merciless hate attack on Amritdhari Sikh Parvinder Pal Singh ji in Bhubaneshwar; the attack looks planned and with full support of local administration. Singh was attacked cos he protested against demolition of Sikh Heritage Mangu Mutt in Puri. I condemn this attack which is a blot on Indian democracy & appeal to Odisha police to take action against culprits,” tweeted Sirsa. TOI
Ground report: In Telangana's Bhainsa, uneasy calm prevails after clash
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ground-report-telanganas-bhainsa-uneasy-calm-prevails-after-clash-116164
An uneasy calm prevails around Bhainsa town in Telangana as the streets remain largely empty, barring the presence of police and other security personnel. Locals have grouped at the corners of streets or by 'chabutras' and speak in hushed tones.It has been less than 24 hours, since clashes broke out in the town over a petty issue, which escalated rapidly and led to arguments between members of Hindu and Muslim communities, followed by assault, stone-pelting and arson.On the ground, locals from both communities have seen their vehicles burnt, homes vandalised, and in some cases, valuables looted. On Sunday evening, around 20-30 km between Bhainsa and Nirmal, a huge religious gathering was held. This was attended by members of the Muslim community from all parts of erstwhile Adilabad district and neighbouring Maharashtra as well.That same night, few Muslim youths were riding their motorcycles and allegedly created a ruckus in Koraba galli, which led to a few Hindu youth stepping out of their homes. A confrontation ensued and soon violence broke out. Soon, more people from both sides gathered as several calls were made. According to police sources on the ground, around 150 people faced off, and stone pelting took place.It was also alleged that some plastic material and bottles filled with petrol were used to spark a fire, randomly targeting vehicles that were parked outside households.thenewsminute
Situation peaceful in Telangana's Bhainsa town after clash, 61 detained so far
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/situation-peaceful-telanganas-bhainsa-town-after-clash-61-detained-so-far-116188
SC rejects telecom firms' plea for relief on govt dues
https://in.reuters.com/article/india-telecoms/supreme-court-rejects-telecom-firms-plea-for-relief-on-government-dues-idINKBN1ZF1DQ?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter
India’s top court on Thursday rejected petitions by mobile operators including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea seeking a review of its order to pay a bulk of nearly $13 billion in dues to government.The Supreme Court late last year upheld a demand by the country’s telecoms department that wireless carriers pay 920 billion rupees ($12.98 billion) in overdue levies and interest, a decision that almost threatens the survival of Vodafone Idea.Reuters
Malaysia talks to India over palm curbs as wider trade dispute looms
https://in.reuters.com/article/india-malaysia-trade/malaysia-talks-to-india-over-palm-curbs-as-wider-trade-dispute-looms-idINKBN1ZF0CM
Malaysia is talking to the Indian government and trade officials in a bid to resolve concerns over New Delhi’s new palm oil import restrictions, a minister in Kuala Lumpur said on Thursday amid a trade spat between the countries.India’s Hindu nationalist government has repeatedly objected to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaking out against recent policies which critics say discriminate against Muslims. Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation.Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources, that New Delhi could also restrict imports of petroleum, aluminium ingots, liquefied natural gas, computer parts and microprocessors from Malaysia.However, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said New Delhi had not imposed any curbs on imports from Malaysia and Turkey, and that the government was not contemplating any restrictions on the two countries. In some good news for Malaysian palm sellers, Bangladesh’s farm minister told Reuters his country was open to buying more from Malaysia if it offers competitive rates.Reuters
Economic Slowdown: Govt Budgets Are Extremely Dishonest Now, Says Economist Laveesh Bhandari
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/economic-slowdown-modi-govt-needs-to-change-investment-unfriendly-climate-says-economist-laveesh-bhandari_in_5e1f65f9c5b674e44b91aa29?ncid=other_trending_qeesnbnu0l8&utm_campaign=trending
NEW DELHI:To help India tide over the economic slowdown, the Narendra Modi government needs to do five things, says economist and entrepreneur Laveesh Bhandari: present an honest budget which reveals the full extent of the fiscal deficit; ensure that government departments make payments they owe to other private and government entities on time; do away with the notion that the rupee’s exchange rate needs to be stable; discontinue import duties to protect domestic industry; and avoid indulging in a spending spree. The empirical economist, who was among the economists and businessmen invited by NITI Aayog recently to attend a meeting presided over by Modi for discussing the economic slowdown, told HuffPost India in an interview, “I think the first thing which is really critical is to recognise that the government budgets are extremely dishonest as of now. It has gotten so bad that even parts of the government may not be knowing what is really happening.”huffingtonpost
Slowdown pangs: India’s December exports fall, imports down 8.83%
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/economy/slowdown-pangs-indias-december-exports-fall-imports-down-883
The sluggish global economy, along with the domestic slowdown, dented India's external trade as both exports and imports showed a downtrend in December.India's exports fell by 1.80 per cent in December on a year-on-year basis to $27.36 billion from $27.86 billion reported for the corresponding period of the previous year.However, on a sequential basis, exports were higher than the $25.98 billion worth of merchandise that were shipped out in November.IANS
BJP’s 2,410 crore income is 2/3rd of 6 national parties
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/flick-past/bjps-indian-rupee2410-crore-income-is-23rd-of-6-national-parties
Ruling BJP has shown the highest income amongst the political parties at ₹2,410.08 crore during the financial year 2018-19, which forms 65.16 per cent of the total income of six national parties put together. According to analysis of income and expenditure of national political parties for FY 2018-19 by ADR, BJP declared a total income of ₹2,410.08 crores but spent only 41.71 per cent (₹1,005.33 crores) of the total income. While the Congress total income was ₹918.03 crore of which the party spent 51.19 per cent (₹469.92 crore).Six national parties (BJP, Congress, CPM, BSP, Trinamool and CPI) have declared a total income of ₹3,698.66 cr, collected from all over India.Congress declared the second-highest income of ₹918.03 crore which forms 24.82 per cent of total income of 6 national parties.nationalheraldindia
Himachal IG Zaidi suspended in Kotkhai custodial death case
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/himachal-ig-suspended-in-custodial-death-case-6219541/
Shimla :Himachal government has again suspended Inspector General of Police ZH Zaidi, DGP Sitaram Mardi said Thursday but refused to disclose the reason for suspension.When asked why Zaidi was suspended, DGP said he has been suspended by the home secretary, “talk to him to know the reason why he was suspended”. Zaidi was posted as CEO of the state wakf board.Previously, Zaidi was suspended in 2017 after his arrest in connection with the custodial death of a Nepalese national in the Gudia rape and murder case and then reinstated in November last year.Sources said he has been suspended again after IPS officer Soumya Sambasivan recently told a CBI court in Chandigarh that she was being pressured by Zaidi to change her statement in the custodial death case.Eight police personnel, including IG Zaidi and DSP Manoj Joshi, were arrested by CBI on August 29, 2017, while DW Negi was arrested on November 16, 2017.PTI
MP: School principal suspended for distributing notebooks with Savarkar image
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mp-govt-suspends-school-principal-for-distributing-notebooks-with-savarkar-image-6219140/
Congress government in MP has suspended the principal of a government-run school at Malwasa in Ratlam district after it distributed free notebooks with Veer Savarkar on its cover.Principal R N Kerawat was suspended Tuesday night, over two months after the notebooks carrying pictures of the Hindutva ideologue were distributed to the students of his school by an organisation, PTI reported.“The divisional commissioner (Ujjain division) suspended R N Kerawat, principal of Malwasa’s government high school, on Tuesday on the basis of an inquiry report,” Ratlam district education officer K C Sharma said.indianexpress
To understand Islam, start by visiting a mosque in Bengaluru
https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/to-understand-islam-start-by-visiting-a-mosque-in-bengaluru/articleshow/73281451.cms
A tweet informing Bengalureans that Sunday, January 19, was being observed as ‘ Visit my mosque day’ by a charitable trust is being welcomed by many.The poster says that this is an initiative of the Rahmath Group, registered in Mumbai. One of the spokespersons of the group, Sadiqh Sailani said, “We are an NGO and our mission is to serve humanity, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.Besides packing and distributing fruits to many hospitals, we conduct Quranic classes, English and computer science classes, spiritual and meditation classes, distribution of aid to needy families and hold discussions on areas that need improvement. This Sunday’s programme is for people from all religions, who have a healthy curiosity about Islam and want to understand the religion. We will take them on a tour of the Modi Masjid, tell them about our practices and dispel any misconceptions they may have. This will be followed by a Q and A session and lunch. We’re also asking invitees what kind of food they prefer. We have to be sensitive to vegetarians.”bangaloremirror
Tamil Nadu government takeover of Waqf Board challenged, HC orders notice
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-nadu-government-takeover-of-waqf-board-challenged-hc-orders-notice/articleshow/73268948.cms
Madras high court has ordered notice to the state government on a PIL moved by a lawyer challenging the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to take over the administration of Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.Admitting the plea moved by advocate K Fazlur Rahman, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha directed the state minorities welfare department to respond to the plea by February 28.According to the petitioner, the state waqf board comprises a chairperson, one and not more than two members elected from each of the electoral colleges consisting of Muslim MPs from the state, Muslim MLAs, Muslim members of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu.In case there is no Muslim member of the Bar Council, the state may nominate any senior Muslim advocate from the state, he added. This apart, the Waqf Act mandates that at all times the number of elected members of the board shall be more than number of nominated members.TOI
Centre signs new package to permanently settle Mizoram’s Bru migrants in Tripura
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/bru-migrants-mizoram-tripura-home-ministry-package-6220039/
Agartala :Centre Thursday signed a quadrupartite agreement to resolve the 22-year-old Bru displacement crisis in Tripura and announced that over 30,000 Bru migrants, who are languishing in six relief camps since October 1997, would be settled in the state.The government has also declared Rs 600 crore package for resettling them.Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the agreement signing ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday evening with Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga and leaders of Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF), the largest forum of Bru migrants.The agreement would basically redirect the entire package, previously announced for repatriation to Mizoram, which includes Rs 1.5 lakh housing assistance to the migrants into three installments: Rs 4 lakh one-time cash assistance for sustenance to be handed over after 3 years, Rs 5,000 monthly cash assistance, and free ration for two years to migrants who wish to be permanently settled in Tripura.indianexpress
*WORLD*
Son of noted Muslim preacher Ahmed Deedat shot in South Africa
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/son-noted-muslim-preacher-shot-south-africa-200116112904952.html
A South African activist and son of a deceased prominent Muslim preacher is fighting for his life in a hospital after he was shot outside a court in the coastal city of Durban on Wednesday.Police colonel Thembeka Mbele said 65-year-old Yousuf Deedat - son of Sheikh Ahmed Deedat - was shot in the head as he walked towards the Verulam family court on the outskirts of Durban with his wife.Mbele said an unknown suspect opened fire, shooting Deedat in the head. He was later rushed to a hospital for medical attention, while the suspect fled in a car in an unknown direction."He is in critical condition in a local hospital. While his injuries remain severe, we remain hopeful for Deedat's recovery," Deedat's family said in a statement late on Wednesday.They also requested the family's privacy be respected.Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, who died in 2005, was a prominent South African Muslim missionary who held several interfaith public debates with evangelical Christians.He was known across the world as a respected public speaker and writer who published several widely-distributed booklets on Islam and Christianity. He was founder of the Islamic Propagation Centre International, which aims for Islam to be heard and understood across the world.His son Yousuf is a famous community activist and Muslim scholar in Durban. Police said they were still investigating the reason behind his shooting.aljazeera
Syria's war: More than 20 killed in air raids on rebel-held Idlib
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/syria-war-21-killed-attacks-idlib-market-shops-200116071519043.html
At least 21 people have been killed in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province as Syrian government forces and their Russian allies intensified an air offensive on the country's northwest, according to rescue workers who operate in opposition-held areas.A new ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey, which support opposing sides in Syria's conflict that has lasted over eight years, went into effect on Sunday but violence has continued.Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, said air raids and barrel bombs on Wednesday struck a vegetable market in the town of Ariha, as well as repair workshops in an industrial area, a few hundred metres away from the market.aljazeera
Rouhani: Iran enriching more uranium than before 2015 deal
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/rouhani-iran-enriching-uranium-2015-deal-200116092747030.html
Iran is enriching more uranium than it did before it agreed to the landmark nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday. Iran has gradually scaled back its commitments under the nuclear accord - signed with US, China, Russia, Germany, France and the UK - in retaliation for Washington's withdrawal from the pact in 2018 and its reimposition of devastating sanctions.aljazeera
Egyptian police detain four Turkish news agency employees in raid
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egyptian-police-detains-four-turkish-wire-employees-raid
Egyptian police have raided Turkish public news wire Anadolu Agency’s Cairo office and detained four employees, the agency said in a statement.Anadolu said that police took the employees, including a Turkish citizen, to an unknown place early on Wednesday.“They didn’t give any explanation or show any reason for the detentions,” Anadolu's deputy general manager Metin Mutanoglu said. Turkish foreign ministry strongly condemned Egypt for detaining Anadolu employees.
Russia gets new PM: Career bureaucrat, longtime chief of tax service, Mikhail Mishustin never had political ambitions
https://www.firstpost.com/world/russia-gets-new-pm-career-bureaucrat-longtime-chief-of-tax-service-mikhail-mishustin-never-had-political-ambitions-7917171.html
Moscow: Mikhail Mishustin never had any political ambitions as a career bureaucrat and his name didn’t came up as a top candidate to become Russia’s next prime minister.But the 53-year-old Mishustin, the longtime chief of Russia’s tax service, was tapped for the post by President Vladimir Putin. The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the Duma, quickly appointed Mishustin as prime minister on Thursday.Putin put Mishustin’s candidacy forward on Wednesday night, several hours after Dmitry Medvedev resigned along with the whole cabinet. Just before that, Putin proposed sweeping changes to the constitution that could keep him in power well past the end of his term in 2024.As a career bureaucrat who has been in charge of Russia’s taxes for the past 10 years, Mishustin has always kept a low profile and stayed away from politics. He doesn’t belong to a political party and in rare interviews prefers to talk about innovations in tax administration.AP
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
It is a huge mistake to dismiss the opposition to CAA as anti-national, anti-Hindu or anti-democratic:C Raj Kumar ,indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dont-call-them-anti-national-caa-protest-6218560/
For the Sake of India, Arvind Kejriwal Must Be Re-Elected in Delhi:Avay Shukla, Rtd. IAS , The Wire
https://thewire.in/politics/arvind-kejriwal-aap-delhi-elections
Kashmir: Who Is Police Officer Davinder 'Torture' Singh?Ishfaq-ul-Hassan | India Tomorrow
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/kashmir-who-is-police-officer-davinder-torture-singh
'I Felt Like A Jew In Hitler's Germany': Sadaf Jafar On Police Detention
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/amp/india-news-i-felt-like-a-jew-in-hitlers-germany-sadaf-jafar-on-police-detention/345729?fbclid=IwAR1xgCr1GvtDn5pQ86Ivdj9Q3Dbach1G2J4IFv74RIDiRA6tIyIGEf5EYXI
A change of course and heart:After Jamia nightmare, some see rays of hope:Pheroze L. Vincent , telegraphindia
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/a-change-of-course-and-heart/cid/1736220?ref=top-stories_home-template
Not a lone black sheep: Why J&K Police, Army and CAPF will have more like DSP Davinder Singh:LT GEN H S PANAG
https://theprint.in/opinion/not-a-lone-black-sheep-why-jk-police-army-and-capf-will-have-more-like-dsp-davinder-singh/350205/
Indian liberals missed mark yet again by protesting ‘la ilaha illallah’ in CAA debate:FATIMA KHAN
https://theprint.in/opinion/indian-liberals-miss-mark-again-by-protesting-la-ilaha-illallah-in-caa-debate/349740/
SC’s decision not to decide on validity of Kashmir restrictions is not just deferral, it is abdication:Chintan Chandrachud, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/abdication-not-deferral-jammu-kashmir-communication-lockdown-6218567/
Using force to suppress the ‘Other’ cannot lead to peace:Dev Athawale, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/anti-caa-nrc-protest-india-constitution-bjp-government-muslims-6218566/
Impression that government prioritises non-economic agenda over development must be addressed:Amartya Lahiri , indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indian-economy-bjp-government-unemployment-modi-gdp6218563/
Centre holds the aces: Frankenstein of NRIC is rea :CP Geevan
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/centre-holds-the-aces-frankenstein-of-nric-is-real
RTI Exposes Rampant Sexual Harassment of Women Sportspersons at SAI Centres:thewire
https://thewire.in/sport/rti-sai-sexual-harassment
Time Has Come For India to Recognise Why Assam Protests Against CAA:thewire
https://thewire.in/rights/assam-anti-caa-protests
Watch: 'UP Police Kicked and Beat Us in Custody,' Say Activists Arrested in Lucknow
https://thewire.in/communalism/up-police-muslims-caa-protests
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 1:54 PM).
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