20 Jan 2020: 24 Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 112
*INDIA*
Hundreds of huts of 'illegal Bangladeshi immigrants' razed in Bengaluru, turns out all are Indians; civic officials "not informed"
https://www.news18.com/news/india/hundreds-of-huts-of-illegal-bangladeshi-immigrants-razed-in-bengaluru-turns-out-all-are-indians-2465113.html
https://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/bengaluru-huts-razed-days-after-bjp-mla-arvind-limbavallitweet-civic-officials-say-they-were-not-inf-2166791?pfrom=home-topstories
Bengaluru:Days after BJP MLA Arvind Limbavalli tweeted a video of shantytowns in North Bengaluru’s Kariyammana Agrahara area, claiming that settlements belong to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the houses were razed to the ground on Sunday and rendered thousands homeless. The electricity and water supply to the location was cut off 3 days ago.After the demolition of the shanties, the residents, mostly migrants from Assam, Tripura, some even from North Karnataka, were allegedly asked to vacate land."The assistant executive engineer of the area gave a letter to the police saying demolition should take place. We were not aware of such a letter. No senior officials of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were informed about this, including the commissioner," D Randeep, Special Commissioner for Mahadevapura, BBMP said. Earlier, on Jan.11, Bengaluru police issued a notice to the owner of survey no. 35/2 that said that the sheds were built on the land without proper approval. The cops claimed that the sheds housed illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and the notice asked owner to clear the encroachments and furnish details of residents."We have not asked anyone to move. We have asked the owners to furnish details of residents there. This is after 60 Bangladeshi illegal immigrants were detained from North Bengaluru in Oct. 2018,"said MN Anucheth, DCP, Whitefield, adding that he did not know of police asking them to vacate. However, the action comes after a tweet from MLA of the constituency. The demolition took place days after BJP MLA Arvind Limbavalli tweeted: "Few people have taken shelter under illegally constructed sheds located in Kariyammana Agrahara of Bellandur which is within jurisdiction of our Mahadevapura Assembly constituency (sic)."He also shared a clip showing the shacks in the area. In a series of tweets, he said "illegal activities were taking place in the sheds". "Illegal activities were taking place in those Sheds and the environment was spoiled without cleanliness, hence the area was a site of illegal activity. This was brought to my notice through social media," he wrote in one of the posts on Jan. 12. On Jan. 18, BBMP wrote a letter to the police asking for protection during removal of encroachments in the said land. However, “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” had shown their valid identity cards, which revealed most are from Northeast India and North Karnataka."The sheds were demolished around 12 noon on Saturday. People in civilian clothes asked us to clear the space. There was also a cop with them. We are not Bangladeshis. We have proof that we are Indians. We have come here to work and earn a living," said Ahadur Rahman, a migrant from Assam."We don't know what happened. I work as a mason here. We can't find a place to live. We have been asked to move from here," said Karanna, a native of Koppal in North Karnataka's Gadag district. All the residents have valid identity cards, including Aadhaar, pan and voter ID. Besides, those from Assam have also shown their names in NRC.news18/NDTV
Bengaluru: Over 100 makesift houses razed, cops claim residents ‘illegal Bangladeshis’
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-eviction-drive-illegal-bangladeshis-6225876/
*anti-citizenship act stir*
Documents reveal that as far back as 2015, PMO said Aadhaar should be linked to NPR
https://thewire.in/Govt/pmo-aadhaar-national-population-register
New Delhi:That Aadhaar numbers should be mandatorily collected during the updating process for NPR was not merely recommended by Union home ministry but has also been a longstanding direction of PMO. As far back as 2015, PMO had said that NPR should surely be linked with Aadhaar, official documents, a copy of which is with The Wire, reveal.At an April 16, 2015 meeting presided over by PM’s principal secretary at the time, Nripendra Mishra, discussions regarding Aadhaar, seeding and updating those numbers with NPR took place.The meeting was also attended by the director-general of UIDAI, which authorises Aadhaar, mission director of direct benefit transfer (DBT), then Registrar-General of India (RGI) C. Chandramouli, additional principal secretary to the PM P.K. Mishra and many other high-level officials.The minutes of the meeting, accessed by The Wire, note that the following decision was taken after the discussion: “For Non-NPR States, seeding of NPR with Aadhaar must be started by July, 2015. For this purpose, a proposal may be prepared jointly by the Mission Director, DBT, RGI, DG-UIDAI.”The minutes also show that PMO’s preferences were given significant attention when the decision to update NPR in April 2020 was taken. Ministry of Home Affairs was made a part of this file on the basis of which the decision to link Aadhaar with NPR was taken. The file has been marked as “very urgent”.thewire
Kerala decides to not implement NPR, will cooperate only with Census 2021
https://scroll.in/latest/950504/kerala-Govt-decides-to-not-implement-npr-will-cooperate-only-with-census-2021
Kerala Govt on Monday said it will inform the Centre that it has decided not to implement the proposed NPR in the state. It added that the state Govt would not cooperate with any work related to updating NPR, but will fully cooperate with Census 2021.The decision was taken at a special Cabinet meeting chaired by CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Cabinet said that any move to implement NPR against the backdrop of the NRC would cause deep insecurity in the state,The Hindu reported. Therefore, the state has decided to inform the registrar general, and census commissioner under Union Home Ministry that they could not cooperate with the preparation of NPR. Govt added that district collectors had reported that any move to link the Census process with NPR would trigger public law and order problems.scroll.in/
*New caution to govt: NRC fear will stalk Hindus too*
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/caa-nrc-new-caution-to-Govt-nrc-fear-will-stalk-hindus-too-2166463?amp=1&akamai-rum=off
New Delhi: Much of the resistance to CAA and its prequel, NRC, has advocated that it is Muslims who will be marginalised and forced to prove they belong in India.Ahead of the Supreme Court's review, NRC is now being deemed both discriminatory and dangerous by even long-term supporters of BJP and its Govt. Publicly, they are stating that NRC must be vetoed because it will allow a power surge through those who have the authority to review whatever evidence you offer of your citizenship; bribes will have free play; and it is not just minorities but the majority of Hindus who will find themselves cornered - pay up or be declared "doubtful". Mohandas Pai, a well-known BJP sympathiser - rightly or wrongly often called a BJP troll - tweeted: "All will suffer in the hands of corrupt lower level officials, who will demand large bribes, who can threaten you, disqualify you: with a broken Justice system the pain is not worth it".This new approach by analysts on the likely harassment of India's majority community is making large numbers of Hindus worried. Popular author Chetan Bhagat writes in TOI: "Sarkari babu will enjoy this extra power boost. Oh, and there will still be a rate. It's just that the stricter the criteria are, the higher the rate will be ... If you don't pay the rate, is it that hard for the babu to reject your genuine birth certificate (good luck proving its authenticity in court for next 20 years)". The message these different analyses agree on: that Hindu majority will face serious and widespread harassment too.India's Nobel Prize winner Abhijit Bannerjee strongly points out that so much power given to officials is dangerous: "I'd be petrified by that thought and even if I were - you know just the fact that somebody will come and say 'Look, I'm in charge of making this list I could put doubtful next to your name... or I could not. And maybe you could pay me Rs.10,000", he said in a recent interview.ndtv
*NRC Secular, But A Secular Harassment For All: Chetan Bhagat To NDTV*
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nrc-secular-but-a-secular-harassment-for-all-chetan-bhagat-to-ndtv-2166516?pfrom=home-topstories
New Delhi: There will be abuse the moment NRC is executed, author Chetan Bhagat told NDTV today, elaborating on an article he wrote for TOI in which he argued it "would cause secular harassment to all" and "must be shelved". Bhagat also pointed to the image problem faced by BJP, a party seen by many as practicing "identity-based politics" and one that "causes a lot of anxiety, especially in minority community", as more reasons to reconsider NRC."I'm not saying the fear is rational... the fear is real. BJP has always tried to polarise... that's what people think," Bhagat said, noting that if NRC had been floated by another Govt, "if there was trust", it may have been better received."All kinds of documents will be missing... there will be huge anxiety. Even if you have papers, bureaucrats could reject them. Then what will you do? Go to court?" he asked, pointing out that Govt would also struggle to deal with the crores who might be excluded.NDTV
*Can’t do terror politics just because we have numbers: BJP’s Chandra Bose on CAA*
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/can-t-do-terror-politics-just-because-we-have-numbers-bjp-s-chandra-bose-on-caa/story-j6STzJkdFl7i1jFuwympUK.html
New Delhi: West Bengal BJP vice-president and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose has said that a law should not be thrust on the citizens in a democratic country. He was speaking about CAA passed by Parliament.“Our job is to explain to people that we are right and they are wrong. You cannot be abusive. Just because we have numbers today we cannot do terror politics. Let us go to people explaining benefits of CAA,” Bose said on Sunday, according to ANI.“Once a bill has been passed as an act, it is binding on the state Govts, that is the legal position but in a democratic country you cannot thrust any act on the citizens of our country,” he added.Bose also said that he has suggested some modifications to the bill which will puncture the entire Opposition campaign. “We need to specifically state that it is meant for persecuted minorities, we should not mention any religion. Our approach should be different,” he said.HT
*Impossible for Hindu minorities to show proof of religious persecution: Assam Minister Biswa Sarma*
https://theprint.in/india/impossible-for-hindu-minorities-to-show-proof-of-religious-persecution-himanta-biswa-sarma/351680/
Guwahati: Amid anti-CAA protest, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it is impossible for the person to go back to Bangladesh and collect a copy of police report to show the proof of religious persecution.“If a person has to prove it then he has to go to Bangladesh and collect a copy of the police report. Why would the police station in Bangladesh give that proof? So, said that it is not possible to prove the concept of religious persecution under CAA,” Sarma, who is also a BJP leader, said on being asked about his recent statement on CAA over religious persecution. ANI
*50 lakh Muslim infiltrators will be chased out of India if needed: Bengal chief BJP Dilip Ghosh*
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/50-lakh-muslim-infiltrators-chased-out-india-needed-bjp-dilip-ghosh-1638331-2020-01-19
Raking up another controversy, BJP West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh has said that 50 lakh Muslim infiltrators will be identified and "chased out of the country" if needed. This comes as the Bengal BJP chief was attacking West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee on the issue of appeasement. He said, "50 lakh Muslim infiltrators will be identified, if needed they will be chased out of the country. Firstly their names will be removed from voters' list then Didi can't appease anyone.".India Today
*Modi pursuing Jinnah’s dream, wants to deport Muslims to Pak or Bangladesh: Adhir Chowdhury*
https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/modi-pursuing-jinnahs-dream-wants-deport-muslims-pakistan-bangladesh-adhir-chowdhury-1502847104.html
Burdwan :Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury today said PM Narendra Modi is trying to accomplish the dreams of Mohammed Ali Jinnah and that’s why he is aiming to deport the entire population of Indian Muslims to Pakistan or Bangladesh through CAA and NRC.He was addressing a ‘No CAA, No NRC’ meeting organised by his party in front of Burdwan town’s iconic Curzon Gate. “Indian Muslims had refused to respond to Jinnah’s vehement provocations for their bulk migration to Pakistan; rather our Muslims insisted that India alone was their country.thestatesman
*After Hasina, Hamid Karzai Makes Negative Comment On New Citizenship Law*
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/after-sheikh-hasina-former-afghanistan-president-hamid-karzai-makes-negative-comment-on-new-citizenship-law
New Delhi:After Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed questioned the contentions CAA passed by the Narendra Modi Govt, former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai made negative comment about the law on Sunday.Karzai, who was here to attend the Raisina Dialogue, told The Hindu in an interview that “all Afghans have suffered over years of conflict, irrespective of religion”.He categorically stated that “Afghanistan has no persecuted minorities”. Karzai said in the interview, “(CAA) was India’s decision, and they may have had reasons for it and the law brought to Parliament. We don’t have persecuted minorities in Afghanistan…the whole country is persecuted. We have been in war and conflict for a long time. All religions in Afghanistan: Muslims and Hindus and Sikhs, which are our three main religions, have suffered”.India Tomorrow
Students protest at Mandi House against CAA, NRC in Delhi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/students-protest-at-mandi-house-against-caa-nrc-in-delhi
Hundreds of students marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on Monday to protest against CAA and NRC. Students, belonging to different universities, raised slogans demanding "azaadi" from the new citizenship law and carried posters which read "We stand united against CAA', ‘If you were decent, you would have understood dissent’, 'Secularism up, Communalism down down'.They marched through Lutyens Delhi escorted by police while raising slogans. The students also lauded protesters at Shaheen Bagh and Jamia, who have been on a sit-in against CAA for a month.PTI
Shaheen Bagh protesters look ahead for Jan 22 Supreme Court hearing on CAA
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/shaheen-bagh-protesters-look-ahead-for-jan-22-supreme-court-hearing-on-caa-1502847436.html
With the protests against the contentious CAA entering 37th day at Shaheen Bagh on Monday, the protesters seem to be rigid on their stand and are not willing to quit without any concrete decision on the Act.However, no serious efforts to convince the protesters have been seen yet from the authorities except some low-rung police officers persuading them. Meanwhile, protesters are looking ahead for Jan. 22 Supreme Court hearing on the matter.Meanwhile, the protesters are looking ahead for Jan.22 Supreme Court hearing on the matter.“We will not go back an inch. We are getting unprecedented support and look towards the SC with hope,” Mohd Ehtesham, a protestor at Shaheen Bagh was quoted saying by IANS.Expressing eagerness for the SC’s decision on Jan. 22 on CAA, former Union Minister and a veteran lawyer Salman Khurshid said, “One hopes the Supreme Court will be able to find a solution that balances the competing aspirations within the federal structure and constitutional morality, keeping in mind the conventions that need to be respected.”thestatesman
Shaheen Bagh Sit-in: Cops Hold out Veiled Threats; Women Remain Resolute
https://caravandaily.com/shaheen-bagh-sit-in-cops-hold-out-veiled-threats-women-remain-resolute/
Kashmiri Pandits Join Resistance Celebrations at Shaheen Bagh
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/9/18193/-Kashmiri-Pandits-Join-Resistance-Celebrations-at-Shaheen-Bagh?fbclid=IwAR1qlzXEb5nTgPT7l0yQ9lDvER-ibllAM1CytwShrCmdE7_ZkgNtv0gro8A
New Delhi: Shaheen Bagh, a Muslim majority locality in south Delhi, has become a symbol of the huge protests across India against govt’s citizenship proposals. On Sunday evening despite a harsh winter, thousands of people raising slogans of freedom gathered here to celebrate Jashn-e Shaheen.Crying Hum kya chahtay: Azadi! and Bol ki lab azad hain teray (What do we want: Freedom! and Speak for your lips are free / Say that your lips are free) thousands showed up here to celebrate resistance with artists like Kunal Kamra, Ankur Tewari, Maya Krishna Rao and many others who performed in solidarity with the people of Shaheen Bagh .Some prominent Pandit Kashmiris including MK Raina and Inder Salim were also invited to speak to the people present.A woman protestor in her forties said, “We feel the pain of Kashmiri Pandits who left everything back in Kashmir and ran. We the people of Shaheen Bagh stand in solidarity with them in their agony.”thecitizen
Anti-CAA stir: Lawyers read Constitution preamble outside Bombay HC
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/838701-anti-caa-stir-lawyers-read-constitution-preamble-outside-hc
Mumbai:Agroup of lawyers on Monday read out the Preamble to the Constitution of India outside the Bombay High Court gate here to protest CAA and "some action" being taken against people across the country for opposing it. Over 50 lawyers, including senior counsels Navroze Seervai, Gayatri Singh and Mihir Desai, read out the preamble in unison, and later said no one can divide the country and its citizens on the basis of religion. Lawers said CAA seeks to provide citizenship to refugees belonging to six religious communities but leaves out one -Islam, which is "constitutionally wrong". Advocate Mubin Solkar said the objective behind reading the preamble was to "instill confidence among crores of people across India that our Constitution says the country is secular and a democratic republic".Another lawyer, Tahira Shaikh, said the Constitution did not allow anyone, including the Govt, to divide or distinguish its citizens on the basis of religions and hence what is being done is wrong. PTI
Citizenship Act 'dharna': Two women arrested; Protests continue in Aligarh town
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/citizenship-act-dharna-two-women-arrested-protests-continue-796437.html
After booking several women, who have been on an indefinite dharna against the controversial CAA in Aligarh town, about 400 kms from here, two protesters were arrested by the police on charges of violating prohibitory orders.According to the police sources here, more arrests could be made if the protesters did not call off their dharna.The protests by the women against the CAA in Lucknow, however, continued for the fourth day despite all efforts by the officials to force them to lift their dharna.Sources said that officials were contemplating to book the protesters for violating section 144 and breach of peace. The venue of the protest was flooded with security personnel and the protesters were facing difficulties in getting food and water supplies.As the street lights had been switched off by the officials, the protesters were burning candles at nights. There was, however, no dearth of enthusiasm.''We are receiving support from every section of the society.....our protests will continue,'' said a woman protester.Similar dharnas continued at Rampur, Kanpur, Bareilly and Aligarh towns also, according to the reports.deccanherald
Bareilly clerics to chalk out country-wide stir against CAA
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bareilly-clerics-to-chalk-out-country-wide-stir-against-caa/story-9yNjWRdgnl3ndLHhOVvByJ.html
Bareilly Muslim clerics from various religious outfits would be meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday to chalk out a country-wide stir against the citizenship law.“A delegation of Bareilly clerics led by Salman Miyan, vice-president of Jamat-e-Raza Mustafa, has left for Delhi to take part in this meeting,” said Samran Khan, media in-charge of the organisation. While the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamait-e-Ulema Hind, the two largest Muslim religious bodies, have yet not officially taken a decision on attending the meeting, sources said several members of these two outfits would take part in Tuesday’s meeting in their individual capacity.Shaher qazis from many cities would be present at the meeting, according to Khan.“The delegation (of Bareilly clerics) will also go and meet protestors of Shaheen Bagh, JNU and Jamia Millia students,” said Khan, adding they had received invites from those leading the anti- CAA protests.Maulana Tauqir Raza, chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, has already announced that Muslim women will take part in the agitation planned by him at Islamia College ground here on Jan. 25.HT
"Illogical, Immoral, Ill-Timed", Says Ramachandra Guha On CAA
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-act-ramchandra-guha-says-act-illogical-immoral-ill-timed-highlights-2166980
New Delhi: Eminent historian Ramachandra Guha speaks to NDTV about the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, which he says is "illogical, immoral and ill-Timed". Guha also spoke about protests against the act, saying that it is heartening to see people come together. NDTV
Hasina's statement emboldens anti-CAA protesters in Assam
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/hasinas-statement-emboldens-anti-caa-protesters-in-assam-796454.html
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's statement that CAA was not necessary led the anti-CAA protesters in Assam allege that the Citizenship Act was amended only to protect Hindu vote bank politics of the ruling BJP.Adviser of influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjya said on Monday that even as BJP was claiming that CAA was required to provide citizenship relief to the Hindu migrants, who faced religious persecution, Hasina's statement made it clear that there was no such persecution in the neighbouring country."Bangladesh is a friendly country and now PM Narendra Modi should reply to Hasina's statement that the CAA is not necessary. Also even as BJP had earlier said that the CAA was for the victims of religious persecution, BJP leaders are now saying that the proof of persecution was not necessary to apply for Indian citizenship in Assam. This proves that the CAA was amended only to protect the Hindu vote bank of BJP," Bhattacharjya said at an anti-CAA rally at Mangaldoi in Darrang district.deccanherald
Modi Govt didn't take states in confidence before passing CAA: Tarun Gogoi
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-Govt-didn-t-take-states-in-confidence-before-passing-caa-tarun-gogoi-1638552-2020-01-20
Guwahati:Former Assam CM and senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that before passing CAA, Modi Govt didn't take states in confidence."India is a union of states and you (PM Narendra Modi and his Govt) must respect the states. PM Modi is talking about 'Team India' and to follow that you have to take everybody into confidence. Mere passing a law is not enough," Tarun Gogoi said.indiatoday
‘Will stick to stand on CAA’, say Akalis after BJP dumps them for Delhi polls
https://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/will-stick-to-stand-on-caa-say-akalis-after-bjp-dumps-them-for-delhi-polls/story-jkdK9Do4lynLsBfaoDPMLI.html
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has said its stand on CAA is what upset BJP and it decided to not have an alliance for Delhi Assembly elections.“BJP was upset with us for our opposition to citizenship amendment act passed by NDA Govt. But SAD has its own stand and we will stick to it. Senior leaders of our party are meeting in Delhi to draw out a strategy,” said SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema. A senior BJP leader told HT that BJP will not be fighting the elections in Delhi SAD, its long standing alliance partner.HT
*Muslim community being cornered via legal route: DU professor Deshpande*
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/jan/20/muslim-community-being-cornered-via-legal-route-university-of-delhi-professor-satish-deshpande-2091910.html
Hyderabad: An attempt to corner the Muslim community was underway through a legal route, said Satish Deshpande, a sociology professor from University of Delhi, while delivering the ninth SR Sankaran Memorial Lecture on ‘Casteism and Communalism organised by CDS, on Sunday. "Today’s communal agenda is to overthrow the existing reality — equality of all religions. Our Constitution doesn’t recognise the difference between religions. The communal agenda is to 'correct' personal law, so that due recognition will be given to the Hindus, that is the communal agenda," he said.The professor further said that an attempt to create a unifying national project of othering Muslims was on its way, and all other sections of the society are invited to participate in it.newindianexpress
A month after UP police made sweeping arrests, bail orders show that it is unable to offer evidence
https://scroll.in/article/950409/a-month-after-up-police-made-sweeping-arrests-bail-orders-show-that-it-is-unable-to-offer-evidence
When protests over CAA erupted around the country on December 19, UP Police decided to take pre-emptory action.It imposed prohibitory orders across the entire state, arrested at least 1,200 protestors, detained thousands more – including minors – and opened fire in a number of places across the state, leading to over 20 deaths.But a month later, the police is struggling to substantiate its decision to take such sweeping and in many cases brutal action.An analysis of 13 court orders from Muzaffarnagar, Varanasi and Lucknow by Scroll.in showed that judges are granting bail to many of those arrested because the police have been unable to put forward evidence.“The specific role of the accused has not been outlined,” said one bail order for 14 men who were arrested in Muzaffarnagar, echoing orders from other parts of the state.scroll
Bihar's Subzibagh: ‘Not about religion, protest against bid to create rift’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-not-about-religion-protest-against-bid-to-create-rift-caa-nrc-6225145/
Patna : It is 10.30 pm. Subzibagh in Patna is abuzz. Traffic moves unhindered on one half of the road. The other half has about 70 rows of plastic chairs facing a stage. On the stage are teenagers chanting Azadi slogan on a microphone. Residents of Subzibagh and nearby areas have been peacefully protesting against CAA, NRP and NRC since Jan. 11. It is a round-the-clock protest that is being attended by people of all age. Protesters include businessmen, students, housewives and the elderly.“We have not created any forum. It is a spontaneous protest that is gaining momentum. It has support from all communities,” says Sameer, a post-graduate student. Another organiser says, “We are not letting traffic be disrupted. This protest is not about religion. It is against the Govt’s attempt to tamper with the Constitution and create a rift among Hindus and Muslims.”Sakeena, a middle-aged woman at the protest, says, “Some of us come after we complete domestic chores and eat dinner.”indianexpress
BR Ambedkar's Grandson calls NPR 'evil design'. Akhilesh suggests method to avoid caste-based discrimination
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/br-ambedkars-grandson-calls-npr-evil-design-a-up-leader-suggests-method-to-avoid-caste-based-bias-2465627.html
Lucknow/Nagpur: As Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar called Centre's NPR exercise an 'eve design', chief of a regional giant in UP came up with a suggestion to put off any caste or religion-based discrimination.While BR Ambedkar's grandson in Nagpur said that NPR was aimed at ferreting out information about the caste and ideology of people in the country, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow pitched for conducting a caste census.SP chief said Census is going to take place again. But again we are not going to be counted. The reason is that the day the caste census takes place, Hindu-Muslim conflict will come to an end, he said without elaborating. He added that once this happens nobody will be upset with Yadav brothers. SP chief claimed that the NRC and the recently enacted CAA are anti-poor. In an apparent reference to the recent criticism of NRC and NPR, he said the poor will find it difficult to get their date of birth certificates. "Earlier there were no calendars and the birthdays of most people in villages were based on festivals," he said.Meanwhile in Nagpur, Ambedkar said, "The motive of the Govt is to get caste and ideology information of every family. This is an evil design of the Narendra Modi Govt.
*Back in UP, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar takes on state govt over CAA ‘killings’*
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cops-killed-people-during-anti-caa-protest-chandrashekhar-azad-after-meeting-family-members-of-those-killed/story-q7vhfO96Jw2V2QwkW7oU1O.html?fbclid=IwAR2rw7wwex_YpkDrczuAmcEoIjG_4AqyvnGm4uzzmIvAw9e5NAexBMxr3DA
Meerut:Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Sunday met with the family members of five people who were killed during a protest against CAA and NRC in UP’s Meerut . Since the leader was denied permission to visit their houses, he met them at a public place.Azad alleged the family members narrated horrific tales of police atrocities during the interaction and accused UP police of opening fire on people during the protest.“Cops had killed people during protest against the CAA and stern action should be taken against the guilty policemen,” he said. Azad also said the Bhim Army has moved the high court over the matter, which would hear it on Jan. 23.HT
FIR against 'unidentified' for controversial hoarding, calling 'Get rid of CAA, NRC by returning to Hinduism' in UP
https://www.newkerala.com/news/2020/9497.htm
Varanasi: An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons for a controversial hoarding near Varanasi railway station. The hoarding near the Englishiya Line crossing read, "Hindu dharma mein ghar vapasi karo... CAA, NRC se chhutkara pao (Get rid of CAA, NRC by returning to Hinduism)".Inspector Ashutosh Ojha said that the FIR under section 295 A and 505 of IPC has been lodged."Investigation has been launched in the case and those involved in putting up the hoarding would be identified soon," he added.According to sources, a lesser known outfit, Hindu Samaj Party, had placed the hoarding on the busy road.The outfit's state Vice President Roshan Pandey,had made a video viral on social media with his message in which he claimed to have put up the hoarding in response to the protest being staged at Shaheen Bagh, New Delhi. Hoarding, which also has photographs of some Muslim women wearing saffron pagdi, was removed by police late Saturday evening.It came up at a time when CM Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Smriti Irani and other leaders were in Varanasi to address a rally in support of CAA at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. IANS
BJP workers cause mayhem in MP during violent pro-CAA rally, assault female IAS officers
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/bjp-workers-cause-mayhem-in-madhya-pradesh-during-violent-pro-caa-rally-assault-female-ias-officers/279495/
BJP workers physically assaulted female IAS officers after they decided to stage a rally in favour of the CAA despite being denied permission to do so. In a viral video clip, a BJP worker is seen pulling Deputy Collector Priya Verma’s hair causing her hair band to fall off.In another video, Rajgarh Collector Nidhi Nivedita is seen slapping a man as he showed aggression towards her. Priya Verma later told news agency PTI that some men from the crowd misbehaved with her and Nivedita. She denied that they resorted to high-handed behaviour, as alleged by the BJP. Another IAS officer Shruti Agarwal too was allegedly assaulted along with a few other police personnel by BJP workers.“Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC are in place in the district. While we were doing our duty, a crowd came from the other side and misbehaved with us,” she said. Verma said a man pulled her hair from the back while another kicked her in the waist. jantakareporter
Slaps, Hair Pulling - In MP, Officials vs Pro-CAA Protesters
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/slaps-hair-puling-in-madhya-pradesh-deputy-collector-priya-verma-officials-vs-pro-caa-protesters-2166682?pfrom=home-topscroll
Hundreds March With Candles Against CAA From Jamia To Shaheen Bagh
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hundreds-attend-massive-anti-caa-candlelight-march-from-jamia-gate-to-shaheen-bagh-2166554
New Delhi: Hundreds, including women and children, on Sunday evening took out a massive anti-CAA march from the gates of Jamia Millia Islamia to Shaheen Bagh as the chorus to demand repealing of the amended Citizenship Act grew louder in Delhi.The march was high on symbolism with some locals dressed up as Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Three men assumed the identity of martyred revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, one of them in prison clothes and tied in chains.The protesters, chanting "Azadi" and "CAA-NCR Par Halla Bol", and other slogans also paraded a mock "detention camp" portrayed with a cell on wheels inside which sat little children of multiple faiths and chanted slogans.ndtv
Bihar Police arrests 13 minors from Aurangabad during CAA protests, passes them off as 'adults' in FIR
https://www.firstpost.com/india/bihar-police-arrests-13-minors-from-aurangabad-during-caa-protests-passes-them-off-as-adults-in-fir-7928021.html
Bihar police have arrested 13 minors and identified them as "adults" over anti-Citizenship Amenment Act protests on 21 December 2019 in town of Aurangabad turned violent. All arrested are Muslim youths.Firstpost had earlier reported that Bihar Police had altered the age of two minor boys and passed them off as adults in FIR. The next hearing is on 28 Jan. when the Juvenile Justice Board will decide on their age.Lawyer for the minors Meraj Khan said after the board's decision he would move for their bail plea. Most of the minors are aged between 14 and 17, Khan said and added that while one is 13, another one is as young as 12. 12 minors have been lodged in adult prison for the past one month with hardened criminals, Khan said. Only one was sent to a juvenile home after he sustained serious injuries in both his hands during police lathicharge. "It is a straightforward case. We have their birth certificates, documents and we have presented them before the Juvenile Justice Board on 16 Jan.. On 28, the board will declare them juveniles."When contacted, Aurangabad SP Dipak Baranwal said that the case is an "old one now" and he "does not remember the details". On 21 December, town of Aurangabad had observed a protest at Ramesh Chowk, where most of the gatherings and speeches are usually held. RJD and its allies had called for a bandh to rally against CAA and NRC. But the peaceful protests turned violent near the end.The police in Aurangabad had arrested 46 people the same day, and named more than 80 in its FIR. Among those picked up by the police were four of Mohammad Enamul Rab's relatives, who were taken from their homes, which included his younger brother Saddam,his uncle Mukhtar, brother-in-law Rizwan, and another brother Imran.One of Rab’s brothers, Saddam, is 12, as is recorded in his school certificate, which Firstpost examined.firstpost
Punjab: Thousands of women take to streets against CAA, NRC in Ludhiana; write an affidavit in blood
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/punjab-thousands-of-women-take-to-streets-against-caa-nrc-in-ludhiana-write-an-affidavit-in-blood
Thousands of women have been protesting the CAA every day in Punjab. This has been going on for days now. Women from every community have been coming together to take part in these demonstrations in several cities. In Ludhiyana, women of all communities have written an affidavit in blood against the new Citizenship Amendment Act. Such a thing is being witnessed in Punjab for the first time.On Sunday too a large number of women took to streets in Ludhiana to protest and took out a long march. Many well-known personalities too joined the demonstration. The student leader of Punjab University Chandigarh Kanupriya, Navdeep Kaur and Nasreen Sultana and Rahnuma Khatoon from Fateh Channel led this agitation and handed over the affidavit written in blood to the Shahi Imam of the historic Jama Masjid of Ludhiana.People of all sections, community and religion took part in this demonstration.In this affidavit in blood, women have written that they will continue to protest unitedly till the last drop of their blood against this Act which has been created as a part of the conspiracy to break the Constitution. nationalheraldindia
Ahmedabad: BJP’s claim that Muslims won’t be affected by CAA a jumla, says Jamia student Asif Iqbal
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/ahmedabad-bjps-claim-that-indian-muslims-wont-be-affected-by-caa-a-jumla-says-jamia-student-asif-iqbal-tanha-6224995/
Ahmedabad :BJP’s statement that Indian Muslims have no danger from CAA is like a poll “jumla” (rhetoric) which is very similar to PM Narendra Modi’s promise made before the general elections that citizens would get Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts, Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha said here on Sunday.The interaction with the mediapersons on police clampdown at Delhi’s Jamia Millia in December was organised by Gujarat Alliance Against CAA, NPR & NRC, a group formed by various civil rights activists of Gujarat. Tanha was accompanied by another student of the university, Ayesha Renna, who has become the face of the agitation against the new citizenship law at Jamia after a video showing her stopping police from attacking fellow protesters went viral on the social media last month.“Has the Central Govt been able to satisfy the people of the country? Have the people received Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts? It is a jumla by the Govt to say that Indian Muslims have no danger from CAA. It is a lie.”Lauding people of Gujarat for holding anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests, Renna said that it is like striking at the heart of Modi and Shah.Local leaders such as Mujahid Nafees, head of the Minority Coordination Committee, also criticised CAA and NRC, calling them against the ethos of India’s constitution.
NPR a procedural stage for NRC: apex court lawyer
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/npr-a-procedural-stage-for-nrc-says-apex-court-lawyer/articleshow/73392350.cms
Agra: Supreme Court lawyer Nizamuddin Pasha has said that NPR is nothing more than a procedural stage in NRC for establishment of citizenship.While delivering a lecture on CAA/NRC/NPR in AMU campus to educate its faculty members about the new law, he addressed the queries raised by AMU teachers and cleared their doubts. Pasha said that answer to the question whether it is constitutional or not can be decided only at the end when everything is done.TOI
West Bengal Assembly to pass resolution against CAA, says Mamata Banerjee
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/west-bengal-assembly-resolution-against-citizenship-amendment-act-mamata-banerjee-6226368/
After Kerala and Punjab, West Bengal may be the third state to pass a resolution against CAA. CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that her Govt would pass a resolution against CAA in three to four days.Banerjee also appealed to North-East states not to implement NPR.indianexpress
Leave country if you can’t accept Vande Mataram, says BJP minister; Twiiter calls him ‘communal cow’
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/leave-country-if-you-cant-accept-vande-mataram-says-sarangi-netizens-call-him-communal-cow-504538.html
Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi attacked the Congress for spreading misinformation about the CAA, saying that those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, and Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country."Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country," said Sarangi in a press conference in Surat.However, Sarangi's comments did not go down well with the people on Twitter, who called him communal for the loose statement.indiatimes
Anti-CAA-NRC stir: From PhD scholar to homemaker, women lead big protest in Ranchi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anti-caa-nrc-stir-from-phd-scholar-to-homemaker-women-lead-big-protest-in-ranchi-6225029/
Ranchi :A homemaker left her ailing in-laws behind at home, a businesswoman locked up her stationery shop, and a doctoral student missed her class. All of them went to Ranchi’s Doranda Urs Maidan — along with 70,000 others — to protest against the new citizenship law, NPR, and the proposed NRC.Jharkhand has seen several anti-CAA protests — ‘Samvidhan Bachao, Desh Bachao’ gathering at the Maidan on Saturday was the largest in the state so far. Professor Rizwan Ali, one of the coordinators of the event, said more than 30,000 of the protesters were women.A woman who identified herself as Rani Parween held up a sign that said, “Let us live in peace, take back the black law”. She said she had joined various protests against CAA earlier, but had made extra effort to be present on Saturday.By the afternoon, the protest ground was teeming with women from all strata of society. Nushi Begum, who came with her husband and their daughter who studies in Class 7, said they had decided to keep their shop closed to be able to attend the protest.indianexpress
I-League Derby: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Fans Protest CAA-NRC
https://www.thequint.com/sports/football/east-bengal-fans-hold-anti-caa-nrc-protest-during-i-league-derby?fbclid=IwAR0ZrXSOuoof7mT-bba7uj_Dn1v5vZZ_BqiR75CRCkd-0FbmdL9funfyk-o
Fans of both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan on Sunday, used the occasion of Kolkata I-League derby at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata to voice their protest against CAA and NRC.Some East Bengal fans displayed a giant tifo (a choreographed display to form a large image or sign) to protest against NRC and CAA. A massive turnout of 63,756 football fans watched the match on Sunday.Another display showed Batul the Great, a popular superhero Bengali comic strip character created by Narayan Debnath to protest against NRC and CAA.thequint
Over 100 lawyers agree to argue for woman holding 'Free Kashmir' poster during anti-CAA stir in Mysuru
https://www.news18.com/news/india/over-100-lawyers-agree-to-argue-for-woman-holding-free-kashmir-poster-during-anti-caa-stir-in-mysuru-2465587.html
Bengaluru: As many as 129 lawyers from across the state have extended support to argue for Nalini Balakumar, the woman who was booked on sedition charges for holding a ‘Free Kashmir’ poster during an anti-CAA protest in Mysuru. Last week, the Mysore Bar Association announced that its lawyers would not represent Balakumar as she was involved in ‘anti-national activities’. The association’s president Anand Kumar even requested lawyers from outside to not take up her case.However, a Bengaluru-based lawyer Jagdish, who was accompanied by several others from the profession, submitted Balakumar’s bail application before Second Additional Metropolitan and District Court in Mysuru on Monday.news18
Kannan Gopinathan questions Modi govt’s vision on CAA, NRC; compares it to ‘crazed pack of dogs’
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/kannan-gopinathan-questions-modi-govts-vision-on-caa-nrc-compares-it-to-crazed-pack-of-dogs
In a candid conversation with Telegraph, ex bureaucrat Kannan Gopinathan spelt out some very unpleasant realities. Scathing in his critique of the BJP Govt he has compared it to a crazed pack of dogs that will chase any car that enters the mohalla. He said, “They don’t know what to do when they get closer to the car. They start something and don’t know how to conclude or steer. They are so short-sighted that they cannot think beyond elections.”“But CAA-NPR-NRC is going to be the most thoughtless act and they can’t even imagine what will happen to this exercise in hatred. It will also promote bribery and corruption as it did during NRC process in Assam. Even if they identify, say, one crore of so-called infiltrators, what will they do with them? They can’t push them back to any other country nor can they build detention centres and feed them; they’ll need a whole state to keep them confined.” he added.nationalheraldindia
* Rashid held in Varanasi: Class-8 agreed to pass on 'sensitive info' including photos of anti-CAA/NRC protests' to Pakistan*
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/isi-agent-in-varanasi-love-in-karachi-helped-pakistan-with-info-1638420-2020-01-20
New Delhi: On Sunday, UP ATS arrested Mohd Rashid, an alleged ISI agent, who was working in Varanasi and was passing on information to his handlers in Pakistan since March 2019.In the month of July 2019, military intelligence agencies received inputs regarding a youth from Varanasi passing on critical information to Pakistani Intelligence agencies over WhatsApp. The agency worked on this input through months of discreet surveillance and analysis with the support of other central agencies.Rashid (23) was staying with his maternal grandfather and uncle in Chandauli, in Varanasi district as his parents Mohd and Shehzadi Begum got divorced and remarried. With education till Class 8, he had worked at a tailoring unit and medicine store in Varanasi. Later he started fixing flex signboards for a living. Rashid has relatives in Karachi and had visited them twice in 2017 and 2018-19 to attend some marriage functions. He used to stay with his aunt Hasina, her husband Shagir Ahmed and their son Shajeb in Orangi Town in Karachi. He reportedly fell in love with one of his cousin during his Karachi visit. He was also tasked to send information on sensitive places and protests and rallies in India. They promised him money and assured to help him marry his cousin in Karachi. He also sent videos and photos of recent protests at BHU and anti-CAA/NRC protests in Lucknow on being asked by his Pakistani handlers. Indiatoday
50% jump in people held for illegally entering Bangladesh
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/50-jump-in-people-held-for-illegally-entering-bangladesh/story-hyEvgsjFssTh8rSIWroVmL.html
The number of people caught while trying to cross over to Bangladesh from India increased by over 50% with a total of 2,971 people arrested by BSF in 2018 as compared to 1,800 in 2017, according to latest data from NCRB. A large number of those who were caught trying to illegally emigrate were women and children. NCRB “Crime in India 2018” report says that out of 2,971 people arrested in 2018 while making an “outward movement” to Bangladesh, 1,532 were men, 749 women and 690 children. This corresponding numbers was 1,477, 268 and 55 in 2017.On the other hand, “inward movement” from Bangladesh came down marginally to 1,118 in 2018 in comparison to 1,180 in 2017. NCRB data does not explain the motives of those arrested by BSF, which manages the international borders in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Assam.HT
*OTHERS*
*SC declines stay on electoral bonds scheme, asks Modi govt and EC to respond in 2 weeks*
https://theprint.in/india/governance/judiciary/sc-declines-stay-on-electoral-bonds-scheme-asks-modi-govt-and-ec-to-respond-in-2-weeks/351967/
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response of the Centre and the Election Commission on a plea seeking stay on the electoral bond scheme meant for funding political parties.The top court, however, refused to grant an interim stay on the electoral bond scheme.A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant asked Centre and the Election Commission to file their responses within two weeks to the interim application filed by NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ for staying the scheme.Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, alleged that the scheme is a means for channelising unaccounted black money in favour of the ruing party.Bhushan also referred to a document of RBI while seeking stay of the scheme.“We will see that. We are listing it after two weeks, the bench said.PTI
Transparency Activists Lament SC's Refusal to Grant Interim Stay on Electoral Bonds
https://thewire.in/law/transparency-activists-supreme-court-electoral-bonds-scheme-interim-stay
The Supreme Court’s decision to not grant an interim stay on the electoral bonds scheme has not gone down well with transparency activists, who said the move would prevent voters from knowing who is funding the political parties in elections that are scheduled soon and are expected later this year.Meanwhile, an immediate impact of the court order would be felt on the Delhi assembly elections, for which the Centre has begun the sale of electoral bonds for ten days. Responding to the latest Supreme Court ruling, Anjali Bhardwaj of National Campaign for People’s Right to Information said it was “disappointing” that the Supreme Court has refused to stay the “opaque” electoral bonds scheme.She said, “Information obtained under RTI Act had revealed that the Govt pushed through the scheme despite serious objections raised by Election Commission of India (ECI) and RBI.”Former CIC and transparency activist Shailesh Gandhi termed the SC’s disinclination to staying the scheme as an “unfortunate development”. “It is a scheme which even the layman understands is flawed. So ideally the court should stop it because not staying it means you allow it to continue.”thewire
SC declines stay on electoral bonds scheme; BJP earned ₹14.50 billion through bonds in 2019
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/sc-declines-stay-on-electoral-bonds-scheme-bjp-earned-indian-rupee1450-billion-through-bonds-in-2019
‘Not in name of religion’: Plea in SC wants minorities commission scrapped
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/plea-in-sc-wants-minorities-panel-scrapped-a-g-says-refer-to-5-judge-bench/story-HFCeML1sifjBjpiK6gKjqK.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of central Govt on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the National Commission for Minorities set up under a 1992 law.The plea filed by six petitioners, who claimed to be followers of Sanatan Vedic Dharam, alleged that Hindu community is being discriminated against on the grounds of religion as a number of beneficiary schemes carrying a budget of Rs 4,700 crores have been initiated in favour of some religious minorities even though the Constitution does not conceive special provisions in the name of any religion.Attorney General KK Venugopal who was asked to give his views on the matter told the court today that the issue involves constitutional questions and should be heard by a five-judge constitution bench.The court gave the Centre four weeks to respond to the petition and listed the next hearing in March.HT
SC seeks Centre’s response on plea challenging NIA Act
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-seeks-centres-response-on-plea-challenging-nia-act/article30606236.ece?homepage=true
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Govt’s response on a petition challenging the NIC (Amendment) Act of 2019, saying the law concentrated police powers in one centralised agency which would act on the “whims and fancies” of Central Govt.A Bench led by Justice Rohinton F. Nariman issued notice to the Govt on a writ petition filed by Umar M., secretary of the Solidarity Youth Movement based at Kozhikode in Kerala.thehindu
Delhi gangrape case: SC rejects convict’s plea claiming he was juvenile in 2012
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2012-delhi-gangrape-case-supreme-court-convict-juvenile-plea-verdict-6226055/
New Delhi :The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the petition of Pawan Gupta, one of the death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case, who claimed that he was a juvenile at the time of the offence.While upholding the Delhi High Court verdict, an SC bench of Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bushan and AS Bopanna said there was no ground to interfere with the HC order that rejected Pawan’s plea and his claim was rightly rejected by the trial court too. Gupta moved top court on Friday challenging the HC’s order dismissing his claim of being a juvenile in Dec.2012. 4 convicts — Mukesh (31), Pawan Gupta (24), Vinay Sharma (25) and Akshay Kumar Singh (33) — are scheduled to be hanged on Feb.1.indianexpress
Muzaffarpur shelter home case: Brajesh Thakur, 18 others convicted by POCSO court
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/muzaffarpur-shelter-home-case-brajesh-thakur-18-others-convicted-by-pocso-court-6226125/
New Delhi :A POCSO court has convicted 19 persons, including the main accused Brajesh Thakur in Muzzafarpur shelter home case Jan. Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Kulshreshtha convicted the Thakur under multiple counts of aggravated penetrative sexual assault and gangrape.The shelter home was run by Thakur, ex MLA of Bihar People’s Party (BPP). Accused included 12 men and eight women.The accused people broke down before the judge right after the verdict was announced. They told the judge that they did not touch anyone inside the shelter home, some women buried their heads and sobbed.Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Kulshreshtha has set Jan.28 to hear arguments on quantum of sentence.indianexpress
RTI Reveals Glaring Loopholes in JNU Admin's Claims on Campus Violence
https://thewire.in/rights/rti-reveals-glaring-loopholes-in-jnu-admins-claims-on-campus-violence
New Delhi: A RTI query filed under the ‘life and liberty’ clause by an activist has now revealed 5 discrepancies in claims of JNU administration and Delhi police regarding the recording and storage of footage through CCTV cameras during the violence on campus on Jan. 5.According to RTI activist Saurav Das, who asked a number of questions, replies furnished by CIS office of JNU have cast doubts on the claims made by the university and the police.A member of National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, Das said the replies have proved several assumptions. Most importantly, he said, RTI registered by Delhi police on the complaint of JNU administration had stated that there was vandalism at JNU on the first and fourth of this month. Students of Left-affiliated parties were blamed for this. Replies show that on Jan. 1, at least, there was no violence, said Das.“RTI also reveals that JNU does not have CCTV footage of the main gate for Jan. 5. It also says that the footage was not uploaded to the cloud computing system,” he said.thewire
SC issues notice to UP govt over PIL against name change of Allahabad to Prayagraj
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-notice-to-up-govt-on-allahabad-name-change-prayagraj-1638397-2020-01-20
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to UP Govt after hearing a plea filed by a petitioner challenging the validity of Allahabad's name being changed to Prayagraj.The petitioner has said that the state Govt cannot change the names of railway stations, central universities and other institutes as they are controlled by central govt.UP Govt changed the name of the historic city of Allahabad to Prayagraj in a move which BJP justified was to correct the wrongs made by Mughal emperor Akbar 500 years ago.The move came under heavy criticism from the Opposition, scholars and historians who said govt is tampering with history.indiatoday
Dalit-only schools on table:150 Ambedkar Navodaya Vidyalayas set up in Dalit dominated districts
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/dalit-only-schools-on-table/cid/1737273?ref=top-stories_home-template
New Delhi:Modi Govt is considering a chain of exclusive residential schools for Dalit children to try and thwart criticism of its record on social justice, but some activists have drawn a parallel with America’s former racial segregation policy.The proposal before the social justice and empowerment ministry is to start 150 Ambedkar Navodaya Vidyalayas on the pattern of the countrywide Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, which teach talented children from poor families.Like the Jawahar Vidyalayas, Ambedkar Vidyalayas will conduct classes from VI to XII and hold entrance tests, but all their pupils will be from the Scheduled Castes. These schools will be set up in districts with high Dalit populations.Ashok Bharati, president of the All India Ambedkar Mahasabha, a Dalit rights advocacy group, rejected the idea of exclusive schools for Dalits, saying it would perpetuate inequality.He cited the erstwhile “Equal but Separate” doctrine in America that allowed, among other things, separate schools with equal facilities for African American and White children. He said this policy was legally challenged on the ground that it perpetuated racial discrimination.“By setting up exclusive schools for Dalits, Govt would be perpetuating the caste system. There are already so many misconceptions among people about the reservations for the deprived sections in education,” Bharati said.telegraphindia
Students have exam, PM Modi wasting their time with Pariksha Pe Charcha, says Kapil Sibal
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-wasting-students-time-with-pariksha-pe-charcha-kapil-sibal-1638473-2020-01-20?fbclid=IwAR0bIDgziwvfKUj32ZXnNOgJQOaZQd1sDbE7AG2kawWB65Q--LwWLX7R9FA
New Delhi:PM Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of school students and teachers in New Delhi today ahead of the upcoming board and entrance examinations. Congress leader Kapil Sibal taunted PM Modi saying he is wasting the time of these students ahead of the examinations. Sibal said that PM is wasting the time of the students instead of letting them prepare for their crucial examinations.Sibal said that "if there have exams, then the PM is wasting their time. They should be allowed to prepare for their exam". Congress leader also said that PM should hold an event where people freely talk about their degrees and accomplishments with each other.".indiatoday
First Army head , General Cariappa in 1971: Scrap Constitution, need military rule
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/general-cariappa-in-1971-scrap-constitution-need-military-rule-6224999/
New Delhi :Weeks after Indira Gandhi won a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections of 1971, first Indian to head Indian Army, General K M Cariappa, who was later made Field Marshal, underlined in a clarificatory note that he was in favour of “a military rule, only as a temporary measure to put things right in the country”. Exhorting Indians to “wake up” and “SPEAK”, he asserted that 90 %would “vote for a President’s cum Military Rule to save Democracy”.The signed note of April 7, 1971 was recently discovered in Karnataka’s state archives. It was written as a clarification for the public after Cariappa had met then PM, Home Minister and Speaker of Lok Sabha following a Parliamentary debate about his comments advocating these measures while informally speaking to the press in Dhanbad in March 1970.Cariappa was heavily criticised for those remarks, including in Parliament. It was then reported that he had met these leaders to apologise for his remarks, which he denied, asserting that he had “not gone back one inch”.indianexpress
JP Nadda elected unopposed as BJP president
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jp-nadda-bjp-chief-amit-shah-6225619/
New Delhi :Jagat Prakash Nadda was elected unopposed as the national president of BJP on Monday, taking over the reins from Amit Shah. Nadda had been appointed the BJP working president last year, after Amit Shah’s elevation to the Cabinet as Home Minister.The announcement was made by senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who is in charge of BJP’s organisational election process, at the party headquarters in New Delhi. PM Narendra Modi will also arrive at the headquarters to felicitate him in the evening.indianexpress
Azam Khan declared absconder for third time in a month
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/azam-khan-declared-absconder-for-third-time-in-a-month-6225097/
Lucknow :In more trouble for Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan, a local court of Rampur has declared him an absconder after he failed to appear before it despite summons issued against him for allegedly violating the model code of conduct during Lok Sabha polls last year — a third such case against him in a month.The other two cases in which Rampur MP has been declared an absconder are related to alleged fraudulent birth documents of his son Abdullah, an MLA, and an alleged threat case filed by Azam’s neighbour.indianexpress
Why was Kaseem not held for 14 yrs: HC to Telangana govt.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/kaseems-is-unique-case-explain-why-not-held-for-14-years-hc/article30601190.ece?homepage=true
Hyderabad :Observing that case of arrested associate professor of Osmania University Chinthakindi Kaseem ‘acquired unique colour’, Telangana High Court on Sunday directed Advocate General to explain why the police failed to act against the professor in cases registered against him in 2012 and 2019.A Bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A. Abhishek Reddy passed direction, after hearing contentions of counsels of Govt and the professor for over 2 hours at CJ’s residence here at Banjara Hills. Following Bench’s order in Kaseem’s habeas corpus petition which was heard the previous day, Mulugu Police of Siddipet Commissionerate brought him to CJ’s residence amidst tight security. After recording the arrested professor’s statement, the Bench noted that it was ‘rather surprising that police had never moved against Kaseem for past 14 years despite accusing him of involvement in 5 criminal cases’. Thehindu
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
PM Wants Ministers to 'Make Up for Lost Time' in J&K, Says No Political Comments
https://thewire.in/politics/pm-jammu-kashmir-ministers-visit
New Delhi: A day before members of the Union council of ministers reached J&K as a part of the Centre’s outreach programme, PM Narendra Modi directed them to refrain from making any political statements during their visit and focus only on connecting with the people to “make up for lost time”, according to a report in the Indian Express.Ministers are scheduled to visit several districts of J&K to spread awareness about Govt policies “particularly in the last five months after the abrogation of Article 370″.In a letter sent to the J&K chief secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, minister of state for Home Affairs G. Krishan Reddy wrote that minister would visit the Union territory for “disseminating information about the importance of the Govt policies with regard to the overall development of the Union Territory of J&K”.As per the outreach programme, ministers will visit different districts in both the divisions of UT between Jan. 18 and Jan. 24.According to sources quoted by the Indian Express, the PM has also asked ministers to stay overnight in the villages they are visiting instead of returning to Jammu or Srinagar.thewire
'Difficult to Predict But We're Prepared': CDS Bipin Rawat on War Scenario with Pakistan
https://www.news18.com/news/india/difficult-to-predict-war-scenario-with-pakistan-but-we-are-always-prepared-cds-bipin-rawat-2465643.html
Thanjavur: Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Monday said it was very difficult to predict if a scenario of a war with Pakistan would emerge or not but all the defence services were prepared to take on any challenge. Top general, who inducted the Sukhoi-30 MKI squadron here, was responding to a question about any possibility of a war emerging between India and Pakistan. "All the defence services are tasked to be prepared for any option that may emerge.PTI
‘De-radicalisation camps will be good’: J-K Police chief backs General Bipin Rawat’s proposal
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/de-radicalisation-camps-will-be-good-j-k-police-chief-backs-general-bipin-rawat-s-proposal/story-ZVuJVcYqTwgrM5yHT37fbP.html
New Delhi:J&K’s DGP Dilbagh Singh has backed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat’s idea of starting a programme for counter-radicalisation of youth in the union territory.Asked if there is a need for de-radicalisation centres in Kashmir, Singh said such camps would help “those who have gone astray.”“If any such facility comes up in Kashmir that will be a good sign, it should happen. It’ll definitely help people, especially those who have gone astray,” Singh said according to ANI.“If some sensible kind of arrangement is made where good people from the civil society and experts who deal with the subject and relevant aspects of religion and other things... I think that will be a good development. That kind of things should be welcomed,” the police chief said.HT
30 years in exile, Kashmiri pandits demand one place for their settlement in Kashmir
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/30-years-in-exile-kashmiri-pandits-demand-one-place-for-their-settlement-in-kashmir/article30602179.ece?homepage=true
Jammu:Despite the social media having been deluged by displaced Kashmiri pandits’ video clippings vowing to “return and die” in the Valley, the community on Sunday appeared to be plagued by self doubts over the prospects of their return.They demanded that PM Narendra Modi should settle the community living as “refugees in their own country” for the past 30 years at one place in the Valley.In the backdrop of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film Shikara on exodus of Kashmiri pandits, to be released in February, several Kashmiri pandits have taken to social media to express their love and willingness to return to their homeland in the Valley to “live and die” there.“Haji Sahib, we will come back. We will live and die in Kashmir. Our ashes will be immersed in river Vitasta in Kashmir,” is one such video clipping among many similar ones doing the rounds on social media.PTI
Gandhi wanted to spend 15 Aug, 1947 in Pak:M J Akbar's Book
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gandhi-wanted-to-spend-15-august-1947-in-pakistan-book/articleshow/73380440.cms
New Delhi: Mahatma Gandhi wanted to spend August 15, 1947, first day of freedom, in breakaway Pakistan rather than in India, says a new book by former Union minister M J Akbar.This was, however, neither tokenism nor a gesture of support for a country carved out of multifaith India in the name of one religion, Islam, the author writes in "Gandhi's Hinduism: The Struggle Against Jinnah's Islam"."It was a promise of defiance. Gandhi simply did not believe in the partition of India, and the creation of new, 'unnatural' borders by an arbitrary scalpel in a fit of what he described as momentary madness," he says.The book analyses both the ideology and the personality of those who shaped the fate of the region, and spells out the blunders, lapses and conscious chicanery that permeated the politics of seven explosive years between 1940 and 1947.Gandhi, a devout Hindu, believed faith could nurture the civilisational harmony of India, a land where every religion had flourished, it says.TOI
“Ban was Better Than This”: People Miff at Restoration of 2G Internet in Kashmir
https://caravandaily.com/ban-was-better-than-this-people-miff-at-restoration-of-2g-internet-in-kashmir/
Srinagar:While 2G internet on postpaid mobile phones has been restored in 10 districts of Jammu division and 2 districts of Kashmir division – Kupwara and Bandipora respectively, common people and students here feel that administration has amused them by restoring 2G services with certain kind of restrictions.“There is no point of restoring 2G services with certain kind of restrictions; we are not able to access anything we need. It is the same as it was before when there was no internet. I think the ban was better than this. At least the issue was being reported before, now it won’t be,” said Rehaan, a Govt servant. caravandaily
Dubai declared ‘reciprocating territory’ by India
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/dubai-reciprocating-territory-india-6226390/
New Delhi :Last week, Ministry of Law and Justice issued an Extraordinary Gazette Notification, declaring UAE to be a “reciprocating territory” under Section 44A of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908.The notification also declared a list of courts in UAE to be “superior Courts” under the same section.Apart from Dubai, the other countries declared to be “reciprocating territories” are:UK, Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, New Zealand, the Cook Islands (including Niue) and Trust Territories of Western Samoa, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea,Fiji, Aden.Essentially, orders passed by certain designated courts from a ‘reciprocating territory’ can be implemented in India, by filing a copy of the decree concerned in a District Court here.The courts so designated are called ‘superior Courts’.The decision is believed to help bring down the time required for executing decrees between two countries.indianexpress
India moves to seek closer military ties with Sri Lanka: aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/india-moves-seek-closer-military-ties-sri-lanka-200120062906351.html
Sri Lanka and India have pledged to strengthen military ties and widen maritime links with neighbours after security talks, the president's office said on Sunday, as New Delhi moves to counter Chinese influence in the region.China, a longtime regional rival of India, has been widening its footprint in the region, including building ports and expressways and upgrading airports in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.India's NSA Ajit Doval met on Saturday with recently elected Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed setting up a maritime research coordination centre, Rajapaksa's office said in a statement.It did not give details of the proposed centre but said other nations in the region should be included as observers.It said the two countries also discussed closer military and coastguard cooperation."Sri Lanka-India military ties go back a long way so it's nothing new, but what is important is clearly a greater incentive for these ties because of China factor," said Jabin Thomas Jacob, Associate Professor at Shiv Nadar University in Noida, India.The meeting followed Gotabaya's visit to New Delhi last November for talks with PM Narendra Modi, who offered $450m in aid to Sri Lanka after his landslide victory in the presidential election.aljazeera
*ECONOMY & POLITICS*
India's richest 1% hold 4-times more wealth than poorest 70%: Oxfam study
https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/india-s-richest-1-percent-hold-4-times-more-wealth-poorest-70-percent-1638356-2020-01-20
Davos:India's richest 1 %hold more than four-times the wealth held by 953 million people who make up for the bottom 70 %of the country's population, while total wealth of all Indian billionaires is more than full-year budget, a new study said today.Releasing the study 'Time to Care' in Davos ahead of the 50th Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF), rights group Oxfam also said the world's 2,153 billionaires have more wealth than 4.6 billion people who make up 60 %of the planet's population.The report flagged that global inequality is shockingly entrenched and vast and the number of billionaires has doubled in the last decade, despite their combined wealth having declined in the last year."The gap between rich and poor can't be resolved without deliberate inequality-busting policies, and too few Govts are committed to these," said Oxfam India CEO Amitabh Behar, who is here to represent the Oxfam confederation this year.The issues of income and gender inequality are expected to figure prominently in discussions at the five-day summit of WEF, starting Monday. WEF's annual Global Risks Report has also warned that the downward pressure on the global economy from macroeconomic fragilities and financial inequality continued to intensify in 2019.Concern about inequality underlies recent social unrest in almost every continent, although it may be sparked by different tipping points such as corruption, constitutional breaches, or the rise in prices for basic goods and services, as per the WEF report.Regarding India, Oxfam said the combined total wealth of 63 Indian billionaires is higher than the total Union Budget of India for the fiscal year 2018-19 which was at Rs 24,42,200 crore.indiatoday
63 Indian Billionaires Have More Money Than Union Budget For 2018-19: Oxfam
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/63-indian-billionaires-have-more-money-than-the-union-budget-for-2018-19-oxfam-2166578?pfrom=home-topstories
Inflation will push Indian bond yields higher: Aditya Birla fund
https://theprint.in/economy/inflation-will-push-indian-bond-yields-higher-aditya-birla-fund-says/351906/
Mumbai: Even as RBI takes a page out of US Federal Reserve’s playbook to push down borrowing costs, yields in the nation are headed higher as price pressures are unlikely to abate soon, according to Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd.Inflation is expected to remain elevated over the next 6-12 months, said Maneesh Dangi, who oversees $23 billion of debt assets. That view is at odds with most economists who say last month’s spike in consumer prices will start to cool once new harvests come in.An increase in inflation and fears of a wider fiscal deficit led to yields jumping in early December, prompting RBI to resort to a Fed-style Operation Twist to cheapen long-term borrowings. Yields have eased since the first tranche was announced, but data last week showing a spurt in inflation to more than a 5-year high has put authority’s accomodative stance at risk.theprint
India ranks 7th lowest on countries providing equal opportunity to all: WEF report
https://www.indiatoday.in/business/davos-2020/story/india-ranks-7th-lowest-on-countries-providing-equal-opportunity-to-all-wef-report-1638550-2020-01-20
Davos :India has been ranked very low at 76th place out of 82 countries on a new Social Mobility Index compiled by the World Economic Forum, while Denmark has topped the charts.The report, released ahead of the 50th Annual Meeting of WEF, also lists India among the five countries that stand to gain the most from a better social mobility score that seeks to measure parameters necessary for creating societies where every person has same opportunity to fulfil his potential in life irrespective of socioeconomic background.Increasing social mobility, a key driver of income inequality, by 10 %would benefit social cohesion and boost the world’s economies by nearly 5 %by 2030, WEF said.PTI
Social Mobility Index: India ranks low at 76th place; Denmark tops
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/social-mobility-index-india-ranks-low-at-76th-place-denmark-tops-6225345/
Malaysian PM rules out trade action over Indian palm oil boycott, again criticises CAA
https://in.reuters.com/article/malaysia-politics-mahathir-palmoil/malaysias-mahathir-says-no-trade-action-on-india-after-palm-oil-boycott-idINKBN1ZJ07Y?il=0
Malaysia will not take retaliatory trade action against India over its boycott of palm oil purchases amid a political row between the two countries, PM Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday.India, the world’s largest edible oil buyer, this month effectively halted imports from its largest supplier and the world’s second-biggest producer in response to comments from Mahathir attacking India’s domestic policies.“We are too small to take retaliatory action,” Mahathir told reporters in Langkawi, a resort island off the western coast of Malaysia. “We have to find ways and means to overcome that,” he added. Premier of Malaysia has criticised New Delhi’s new religion-based citizenship law and also accused India of invading the disputed region of Kashmir.Mahathir again criticised India’s citizenship law on Monday, saying he believed it was “grossly unfair”.Reuters
No meeting planned on palm oil with India in Davos:Malaysian minister
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/01/20/no-meeting-planned-on-palm-oil-with-india-in-davos-says-minister/
Kuala Lumpur: International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking today said no meeting has been scheduled between him and his Indian counterpart during World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week amid the palm oil spat between the two countries.However, he said, “along the way, we may bump into each other and a hello always leads to something good”.Leiking said he had not established any contact with Indian officials in Davos or received any invitation for a discussion with them.“The only invitation to Davos is through Malaysian Govt. There are no plans to meet anyone in particular but we may bump into them,” he said.freemalaysiatoday
Piyush Goyal not to meet Malaysian counterpart in Davos amid palm oil row
https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/piyush-goyal-not-to-meet-malaysian-counterpart-in-davos-amid-palm-oil-row-120011900544_1.html
India’s growth premium to hit 0.1 %mark, 7-years low, according to IMF reports
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/indias-growth-premium-to-hit-01-per-cent-mark-7-years-low-according-to-imf-reports
India’s growth premium over the emerging economies (EMs) is likely to touch a 7-year low mark in 2019-20 (FY20), an 18-year low, according to data released by IMF. It will drop to 0.1 per cent, expected to be the lowest since 2012-13.On the other hand, GDP in India is expected to grow by 5 %in FY20, against 3.9 %growth in EMs in the calendar year (CY) 2019.The growth rate of India is lowest compared to other growing economies like Europe, US, Japan.nationalheraldindia
India may fall short of FY20 tax revenue target by ₹2.5 lakh cr, says ex finance secretary Garg
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/india-may-fall-short-of-fy20-tax-revenue-target-by-indian-rupee25-lakh-cr-says-ex-finance-secretary-subhash-garg
Govt's tax collection is likely to fall short of its estimate by ₹2.5 lakh crore or 1.2% of GDP in 2019-20, former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said on Sunday while calling for the scrapping of dividend distribution tax.Garg in a blog said that from the tax revenues' perspective, 2019-20 is proving to be a dysfunctional year."Tax revenues to see a shortfall of ₹2.5 trillion (1.2 %of GDP). Time to junk DDT and reform personal income tax," he said.The govt had budgeted gross tax revenues of Rs 24.59 lakh crore.PTI
In Kolhapur, citizen groups battle price rise with own mutton shop, trigger shutdown by retailers
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-kolhapur-citizen-groups-battle-price-rise-with-own-mutton-shop-trigger-shutdown-by-retailers-6225002/
Kolhapur :SURGE in food inflation across the country has played out in a peculiar manner in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur, where citizens’ groups have opened a shop to sell mutton at lower prices as part of their agitation against the price rise.In November, when retail price rose to Rs 580 per kg, Kolhapur Mutton Darvadh Virodhi Kruti Samiti, an umbrella body, set up Samyukta Rajarampuri Mutton Shop that sold the meat at Rs 480 — and continues to do so. “Initial plan was to open 4-5 shops on our own, converting commercial spaces into mutton shops, as the sellers were on a strike for 2 weeks against the agitation. We did not want to cause inconvenience to the public,” said Dilip Desai, a member of Samiti, which set up the shop on Nov.24. Shashikant Shetke, who manages Rajarampuri shop, says business has been brisk with sales of over 10 goats on weekends and 2-3 on weekdays. “We want to keep the shop open to provide residents access to mutton priced lower than other retailers,” he said.Over 150 shops remained shut across the city for two weeks, opening only last Thursday at a price agreed upon by the administration and sellers — Rs 520 per kg with assurance of quality control and adherence to civic and FDA guidelines.Kamble of Kolhapur Khatik Samaj says most sellers — a majority from SC communities and over 20 %from Muslim OBCs — remain socio-economically poor, without access to basic facilities including health and education, and are solely dependent on their mutton shops.indianexpress
*WORLD*
*No more arms: World powers pledge to halt Libya weapon transfers*
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/arms-libya-protagonists-pledge-halt-weapon-transfers-200119205759338.html
Berlin: Several foreign powers signed a landmark agreement to limit external interference in the war in Libya and to push the country's warring factions towards a peaceful end to the fighting.Speaking to journalists after a much-anticipated summit in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday's agreement advances a political process and rules out a military solution to the conflict, which escalated. "We reached an agreement on a comprehensive plan to support a ceasefire in Libya," said Merkel, acknowledging the road to peace in Libya would be long and arduous."We all agree that we should respect the arms embargo and that the arms embargo should be controlled more strongly than it has been in past," added German leader, though she confirmed potential sanctions for violators were not discussed. Sunday's deal marks a new stage in diplomatic attempts towards ending the country's most recent bout of fighting, which began when renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar's eastern-based forces began an assault on the capital, Tripoli last April, leading to more than nine months of fighting in which more than 2,000 people have been killed, according to UN.aljazeera
UNICEF: Haftar’s attacks have displaced 90,000 children
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-unicef-haftars-attacks-have-displaced-90000-children/
Children in Libya are still suffering greatly amid the violence and chaos resulting from the country’s long civil war, a senior UNICEF official has warned. Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore made her comments in a statement issued a day before the start of the Berlin Conference on the situation in the North African state.“Since last April,” she added, “with the eruption of hostilities in Tripoli and western Libya, the conditions of thousands of children and civilians have deteriorated, and random attacks in populated areas have killed hundreds of people.”middleeastmonitor
Iraq protesters block roads as they step up calls for reform
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/iraq-protesters-block-roads-step-calls-reform-200119233834826.html
Baghdad:Protesters closed large roads in cities across Iraq on Sunday night, escalating their campaign for political change, as the clock ticked down the final hours to their deadline for the Govt to meet their demands for reform. In Najaf, demonstrators burned pictures of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and tore down posters of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis the former leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), or Hashd al-Shaabi, the umbrella grouping of Iraq's mostly Shia militias.On Baghdad's Palestine Street, young men hurled Molotov cocktails onto the Mohammed al-Qassem highway overpass, as they attempted to block the road late into the night. For several hours the demonstrators goaded police, banging railings with sticks and metal poles, retreating only temporarily when security forces fired tear gas canisters towards them.aljazeera
Iraq's Shia armed groups meet over 'US aggression': Spokesman
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/iraq-shia-armed-groups-met-aggression-spokesman-200119195055712.html
The leaders of major Shia armed groups in Iraq gathered in Iran's city of Qom earlier this month to coordinate efforts to expel US' troops in Iraq. Mohammad Mohie, spokesman of the Iran-backed Shia paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah, told Al Jazeera on Sunday that the meeting held on Jan. 13 aimed to coordinate future action among the armed groups."That meeting was very important to coordinate our actions, activities and the resistance for the next step," Mohie said.Al Jazeera
Jordan parliament bans import gas from Israel
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-jordan-parliament-bans-import-gas-from-israel/
After days of anger towards the gas deal with Israel, on Sunday Jordanian parliament approved a draft motion stipulating a ban on importing gas from Israeli occupation, Al Jazeera reported.The motion was sent to Govt to approve as a law. Parliament Speaker Atef Tarawneh announced that the majority of MPs approved the motion, and sent it to the Govt to be made law, as a matter of urgency.This measure came amidst wide-scale popular protests in the Jordanian streets against the gas deal, which, Jordanians argue, renders their energy sector under the mercy of the Israeli “enemy” and allows the kingdom to be subjected to Israeli “extortion”.middleeastmonitor
Israel bans Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque from entering
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-israel-bans-imam-of-al-aqsa-mosque-from-entering/
Israeli occupation authorities handed over a deportation order on Sunday to Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, banning him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week, Palestinian media reported.Sabri announced that Israeli occupation police detained him and investigated him at Al-Qashleh Police Station in the centre of occupied Jerusalem, over claims of “inciting violence during the Friday sermon.” Sabri added: “The Israeli police handed me a one-week deportation order and asked me to be present at police station for investigation next Saturday.” He disclosed that they informed him the deportation order could be renewed.Early on Sunday, Israeli occupation forces raided the house of Sabri and handed him an order to attend the police station for investigation.MEMO
Head of Israeli party: ‘We will ostracise Hamas and negotiate with PA’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-peretz-we-will-ostracise-hamas-and-negotiate-with-pa/
Amir Peretz, head of Israeli Labor-Gesher (now merged with Meretz party), announced on Sunday that he will ostracise Hamas and only negotiate with Palestinian Authority (PA), if his party wins the Knesset elections slated for 2 March, Quds Press reported.During a cultural event held in the settlement of Holon, Peretz declared: “Hamas will never get any money from Israel. We will isolate it and start political dialogue with the PA.”He added: “We will reform the policy of the coming Govt and head for peace talks at the same time, we will not ignore the issues of welfare and social justice.”Regarding elections and Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Peretz asserted: We will replace him and his policy. We will represent the social conscience and political compass.”MEMO
Hamas denies rift with Egypt over Haniyeh’s Iran visit
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-hamas-denies-rift-with-egypt-over-haniyehs-iran-visit/
The tour of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is going ahead according to the plans and objectives set by the Palestinian resistance movement, Taher Al-Nono, Haniyeh’s media advisor, revealed.In a press release, Al-Nono announced: “This tour is aimed at mobilising political support for the Palestinian cause, particularly the status quo in Jerusalem, amid the Israeli aggression on the city and the ‘deal of the century’.”MEMO
One-third of Israeli youths do not enlist in army citing ‘mental’ issues
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-one-third-of-israeli-youths-do-not-enlist-in-army-citing-mental-issues/
Israeli army has expressed its concerns that one-third of eligible Israeli youths have not enlisted so far this year for reasons related to “mental health”, Yedioth Ahronoth reported .The data published by Israeli paper showed that 32.9% of young men will receive an exemption from compulsory national service in the Israel Defence Forces. The figure for young women stands at 44.3 per cent. Furthermore, an average of 15 %of young Israelis drop out during their military service. According to Jerusalem Post, nearly half of male soldiers — 47.9 %— do not complete their military service.MEMO
Tunisian President meets 3 candidates for PM
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-tunisian-president-meets-three-candidates-for-prime-minister/
Tunisian President Kais Saied met three candidates for the position of PM at Carthage Palace on Saturday. The meetings were part of the ongoing consultation process to select a candidate to form the new Govt.Those who met President on Saturday were former Minister of Finance Hakim Ben Hammouda; former Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation Mohammed Fadhel Abdelkefi; and former Minister of Finance Elyes Fakhfakh. Other candidates who have been seen by the President include three women.In mid-November, Saied asked Habib Jemli to form a Govt, after his name was proposed by Ennahda Movement, which was the biggest parliamentary party after the legislative elections on 6 October. However, on 10 Jan. MPs said that they had no confidence in the Govt that Jemli put together.middleeastmonitor
*'One missile targeted the mosque': Over 100 Yemeni soldiers killed in attack on camp*
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/missile-and-drone-attacks-kill-scores-yemeni-soldiers
Over 100 Yemeni soldiers have been killed in missile and drone attacks blamed on Houthi rebels, on a mosque in a military camp in the central province of Marib, medical and military sources said on Sunday."We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on a mosque by the Houthi militias... which left more than 100 dead and dozens injured," Yemeni foreign ministry said on Twitter.An army spokesman said that the dead included soldiers and civilians, and that the Houthis would face a "ruthless" retaliation to the strike.Missiles struck the mosque at the al-Nasr camp, located about 170km east of the capital Sanaa, during evening prayers.Medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the casualties were transported, told AFP that at least 83 soldiers were killed and 148 injured in the strike.Islah party (Muslim Brotherhood) controls most of Marib so there is little opposition to Hadi and his forces in the province.Qahtan, a pro-Hadi soldier in Marib, told Middle East Eye that Marib had become the stronghold for pro-Hadi forces as it was safe for them and they did not face any opposition.“I was a soldier in Aden and then in Shabwa and we used to face opposition not only from UAE-backed forces but also from residents who support UAE," he said.“We withdrew to Marib where people supported Hadi and his Govt but it seems that now there is another kind of danger in Marib,” referencing attack on Saturday.Mohammed Taher, a fighter in Marib said, “pro-Hadi forces have two enemies nowadays, Houthis and UAE-backed forces and it is difficult to face them both.”Middle East Eye
Myanmar Govt-appointed panel finds no 'genocide' against Rohingya
https://in.reuters.com/article/myanmar-rohingya/myanmar-Govt-appointed-panel-finds-no-genocide-against-rohingya-idINKBN1ZJ10B
A Govt-appointed panel established in Myanmar to probe allegations of abuses in Rakhine state in 2017 that drew global outrage said on Monday they had found no evidence of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority.More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine state during weeks of brutal violence, during which the United Nations says gang rapes and mass killings were carried out with “genocidal intent”. Hundreds of villages were burned to the ground and later razed and scraped.The commission of inquiry said there were “reasonable grounds” to conclude members of the security forces among “multiple actors” were responsible for possible war crimes and serious human rights violations during a military-led crackdown against the group in 2017.These included the “killing of innocent villagers and destruction of their homes”, it said.Reuters
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Extraordinary horrors inflicted on Muslims of UP:Deb Mukharji, Ex-ambassadorm,telegraphindia
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/extraordinary-horrors-inflicted-on-muslims-of-up/cid/1737276?ref=top-stories_home-template
CAA stir: From Shaheen Bagh to Bhopal, sounds like Satyagraha across India
https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2020/jan/19/caa-stir-from-shaheen-bagh-to-bhopal-sounds-like-satyagraha-across-india-2091359.html
Women battle dirty tricks of ‘cheapest people on earth’:Piyush Srivastava, telegraphindia
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/women-battle-dirty-tricks-of-cheapest-people-on-earth-in-lucknow/cid/1737290?ref=top-stories_home-template
India needs to stand guard as US leaves Afghanistan:Shishir Gupta, HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-needs-to-stand-guard-as-us-leaves-afghanistan/story-8GovESjMxB2HAoXLDjqbdL.html
Married women, labourers saw ‘extremely poor’ listing during ID pilot in 2000s:HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/national-id-pilot-in-2000s-saw-poor-documentation/story-MGsTqXPbXPHxo7a7qcPH9L.html
‘Do You Hate Me as I Am a Muslim?’: RJ Sayema’s Video Warms Hearts:thequint
https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/rj-sayema-video-kashmiri-pandits-twitter-reactions
How will military generals solve economic issues? Why Pakistan is stuck in a broken carousel:Husain Haqqani, theprint
https://theprint.in/opinion/how-will-military-generals-solve-economic-issues-why-pakistan-is-stuck-in-a-broken-carousel/351891/
Amit Shah’s unwitting attack on BJP-RSS hypocrisy was his biggest contribution as party chief:D.K. Singh, theprint
https://theprint.in/opinion/politically-correct/amit-shah-attack-on-bjp-rss-hypocrisy-biggest-contribution-as-party-chief/351947/
Muslims are protesting not because their religion is in danger, but for the imperilled Constitution:Javed Anand ,indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/led-by-the-people-indian-constitution-caa-protests-6225047/
Students are protesting because of our education, not despite it:Noumaan Anwer, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/students-as-protesters-caa-protests-6225050/
CAA: States have an obligation:Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/states-have-an-obligation-caa-indian-constitution-article-131-6224979/
EsmaiI Qaani: New 'shadow commander' of Iran's Quds Force:Arwa Ibrahim , aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/esmaii-qaani-shadow-commander-irans-quds-force-200118191907985.html
Nitish’s human-chain proved counter-productive in current political environment:Soroor Ahmed, nationalheraldindia
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/nitishs-human-chain-proved-counter-productive-in-current-political-environment
Modi govt has unleashed the might and breadth of its fascist vision on India:Ranjona Banerji, nationalheraldindia
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/modi-govt-has-unleashed-the-might-and-breadth-of-its-fascist-vision-on-india
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 6:17 PM).
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