*09 Jan 2020: 13 Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 103
*anti-citizenship act stir*
CJI Bobde rejects urgent hearing on plea to declare CAA ‘constitutional’, says 'country going through troubled times, endeavour to maintain peace'
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chief-justice-sharad-bobde-scoffs-at-plea-to-declare-caa-constitutional/article30521922.ece
Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde today said the country was already going through difficult times and an endeavour should be made to maintain peace. The oral comments from CJI came while hearing a petition seeking “aggressive” implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which fast tracks benefits of citizenship to illegal immigrants who belong to six minority religions but excludes the same treatment to Muslims.“Country is going through difficult times. Endeavour should be for peace. Such petitions don’t help,” CJI Bobde told the lawyer, who made an urgent mention for early hearing of the petition. The petition filed by a Mumbai-based woman, Puneet Kaur Dhanda, wanted the court to declare the Act “constitutional”. But CJI Bobde scoffed at the prayer, explaining to Ms. Dhanda’s lawyer that any law passed by the legislature was anyway attached with “a presumption of constitutionality”. It was now for the SC to independently review the law for elements of unconstitutionality in it. “How can we just declare it (CAA) constitutional? There is anyway a presumption of constitutionality. You have been a student of law, you would know...” CJI said. He said the court had already listed over 60 petitions challenging the legality of the Act for hearing on January 22. The CJI remained non-committal when the lawyer sought for an urgent hearing of his petition favouring the CAA. Ms. Dhanda had asked the court to direct Election Commission of India to take “strict action” against political parties which were “spreading false rumours and violence in the country”.The petition also sought legal action against those protesting against the CAA. The protesters said the Act was a sure step towards NRC. She said an “anti-India stand has become fashion of many students belonging to these institutions (JMI and JNU) which, otherwise, are famous for the achievements of their legendary students”.Ms. Dhanda asked the Supreme Court instead to clarify and declare that the CAA was “not against the spirit of constitution of India and in no sense against any citizen of India”.thehindu
CJI Bobde refuses to hear PIL demanding CAA be declared constitutional; SC bench says these petitions don't help in bringing peace in nation
https://www.firstpost.com/india/cji-sa-bobde-refuses-to-hear-pil-demanding-caa-be-declared-constitutional-sc-bench-says-these-petitions-dont-help-in-bringing-peace-in-nation-7882801.html
Govt is ready to change CAA if it affects even one out of 130 crore citizens: Union Minister Reddy
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/ready-to-change-caa-if-it-affects-even-one-out-of-13o-cr-citizens-kishan-reddy/article30522674.ece?homepage=true
Government is ready to change the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) if “even one citizen of the 130 crore is adversely affected by it,” asserted Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday. “Our Government has brought forth the CAA with full responsibility as a special drive to provide citizen status to refugees from the neighbourhood who had faced religious persecution,” he explained. Stating that the Government had not expected such a “vicious false propaganda against the CAA”, the Minister said Muslim citizens have no ground to fear and assured that even in the census operations about to commence for NPR, no document need to be shown and urged them not to believe “wrong stories being circulated in the social media.”Participating in the ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Telangana Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ) here, Reddy said although BJP did mention about the NRC, the Government has not taken it up and there has been no discussion in Union Cabinet. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the final word on NRC, it does not matter what anyone else has said,” he averred.The Minister stated that the Government is still trying to frame rules and regulations for the CAA, and as of now it does not have any precise figure on the number of refugees. “Government has taken note of apprehensions in some States about CAA, including those in the Northeast and its intent is not to bulldoze them into accepting it,” Reddy allayed.He stated that the Government is still trying to frame rules and regulations for the CAA, and as of now it does not have any precise figure on the number of refugees. “Government has taken note of apprehensions in some States about the CAA, including those in Northeast and its intent is not to bulldoze them into accepting it,”Reddy allayed.thehindu
Sedition charges against over 3000 anti-CAA protestors dropped:Jharkhand CM Soren
https://scroll.in/latest/949253/sedition-charges-against-caa-protestors-in-dhanbad-dropped-says-jharkhand-cm-hemant-soren
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said that sedition charges filed against more than 3,000 people in Dhanbad city for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act have been dropped. Police had filed the charges on Tuesday, naming seven people and 3,000 unnamed protestors.“Laws are not made to frighten and silence the people but to instill a feeling of safety among the public,” Soren said in 3 tweets. “My government will work towards being the voice of the people. We have recommended taking back the sedition cases registered against 3,000 people and also asked for action against official concerned.” The chief minister also appealed to the people of Jharkhand to respect the law and order in the state. State Home Secretary Sukhdev Singh said that he had spoken to DGP KN Choubey about lifting Section 124 A (sedition) of IPC imposed against protestors. “FIR was lodged as the protest procession with huge number of people was taken out without permission, though we did make elaborate security arrangements after getting information about march,” an unidentified sub-divisional officer told The Telegraph.FIR, which Scroll.in accessed, shows that the protestors have been charged under 11 sections of IPC.Around 4,000 people had reportedly taken part in the protest from Ara Mor neighbourhood in Wasseypur to Randhir Verma Chowk in the city. They carried banners against the amended citizenship law and slogans were raised about Hindu-Muslim unity and “azaadi [freedom]”.One of the demonstrators, Md Noushad, said that they had asked for permission from the district authorities several times but only verbal assurance was given. scroll
CAA-NRC Live: Candle Light March at Jama Masjid; Shaheen Bagh Protest Continues
https://thewire.in/rights/caa-nrc-live-updates-january-9
New Delhi: For almost a month now, citizens protests against the controversial CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC have spread throughout the country. Universities, colleges, highways, mosques, churches, and city centres have become active sites of resistance. Hundreds of people sat at Jama Masjid in Delhi on Wednesday with candles and posters to protest against the amended citizenship law, NRC and NPR. Residents, mostly from all parts of Old Delhi – Lal Kuan, Gali Kasim, Bhuja Pandi and Ajmeri Gate – participated in the protest, where they also expressed solidarity with the students of JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia.Children were also part of the candle march that started from Lal Kuan, passed through Chawri Bazaar and ended at Gate No. 1 of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, where crowd sat on the stairs of the mosque and raised slogans.Braving rain and cold, anti-CAA protestors continued their agitation at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh for 25th day on Wednesday. 2 protestors on a liquid diet remained centre stage, demanding the withdrawal of the contentious legislation.Zainul Abidin, around 45, had launched a hunger strike to protest CAA and the proposed pan-India NRC. He was joined by Mehrunissa, around 40, over a week ago.Besides them, a trio of elderly women, now famously known as ‘Dabang Dadis’ of Shaheen Bagh, stayed put at the protest venue at Sarita Vihar-Kalindi Kunj road in South East Delhi since December 15. Shaheen Bagh resident Syed Taseer Ahmed told PTI said the protest would continue until the CAA is repealed and government assures that NRC proposal has been dropped. “The people’s spirit is unfazed by slight rains,” he said.thewire
Won’t be divided: women lead anti-CAA march to Jama Masjid
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/wont-be-divided-women-lead-anti-caa-march-to-jama-masjid-6207038/
Bengaluru: College students opposing CAA allegedly heckled by BJP, threatened with JNU-style attack
https://scroll.in/latest/949301/bengaluru-college-students-opposing-caa-allegedly-heckled-by-bjp-threatened-with-jnu-style-attack
Students of Jyoti Nivas College in Bengaluru on Wednesday alleged that a group of men claiming to be BJP workers threatened a JNU-style attack on them if they refused to sign a poster supporting the CAA, Deccan Herald reported.The suspected BJP activists heckled the students. This was followed by heated arguments, according to videos on social media. “A team of BJP activists had put up a poster outside our college and were forcing us to sign on the poster and help them gain support for CAA,” said a student.Some videos also showed the suspected BJP workers shouting slogans in support of the citizenship law. The students claimed they were told that they were not Indians and should go back to Pakistan if they did not support the law. “You are not concerned about citizenship, you are concerned about yourself… you are not Indians,” a man was heard telling them.The matter was resolved after some police personnel intervened. Scroll
Gujarat School Backtracks After Asking Students to Congratulate Modi for CAA
https://thewire.in/education/gujarat-school-modi-caa
Mumbai: Management of a private school in Ahmedabad has apologised after parents raised objections against its decision to make students write a message on postcards praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).According to a report in the Indian Express, students from Classes V to X of the Little Star school were made to write postcards favouring the CAA law.The postcard message read: “Congratulations. I, a citizen of India, congratulate honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for CAA. I and my family support this act.”The school management, according to report, has since apologised and called exercise a “misunderstanding”. The postcards were returned to the parents, who tore them up, the news report says.The teachers in the all-girls school, affiliated to the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Education Board in the Kankaria area of Ahmedabad, wrote the congratulatory message on the blackboards and asked the students to copy them on postcards.thewire
'Students are forced to be part of CAA, it is unacceptable': Furious parents after Gujarat school makes students pen down pro-CAA postcards to PM
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/students-are-forced-to-be-a-part-of-caa-it-is-unacceptable-furious-parents-after-gujarat-school-makes-students-pen-down-pro-caa-postcards-to-pm-modi
Mamata says will fight against CAA, NRC alone; will skip Sonia Gandhi's meet on Jan 13
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-skips-january-13-opposition-meet-1635278-2020-01-09
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not take part in 'Opposition meet' called by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at Parliament House on January 13. Top leaders of opposition parties, including the Congress, are likely to meet on January 13 to discuss the situation arising out of violence on various university campuses and protests in the country over the CAA. Mamata said she has decided to fight the CAA and NRC alone because "CPM and Congress are playing dirty politics in Bengal"."CPM and Congress are resorting to hooliganism in Bengal. They are indulged in violent activities in Malda and are responsible for torching the vehicles," Mamata Banerjee said while speaking at the Bengal Assembly on Thursday.Mamata's decision to skip the meet comes a day after the Left and the Congress had called for a nationwide bandh against the central government's economic policies.She said instead of protests, these parties are resorting to complete shutdown and trying to ruin the state's economy by pursuing "cheap politics" of strikes.indiatoday
AMU to Reopen in Phases Since Closure after Dec 15 Violence: Official
https://www.news18.com/news/india/aligarh-muslim-university-to-reopen-in-phases-since-closure-after-dec-15-violence-official-2449719.html
Aligarh: AMU, which had been closed for winter vacation before time after December 15 violence on the campus during an anti-CAA protest by students, will open in phases beginning from January 13, a varsity statement said on Tuesday.The opening of the varsity was earlier scheduled for January 6, but it was postponed owing to persisting tension over the changes in the citizenship law.In the first phase, faculties of Medicine, Unani Medicine, Management Studies and Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology will open on January 13 and the suspended examinations of these faculties will commence from January 16, the statement said.The faculties of Commerce, Science, Life Science and Agricultural Sciences will open on January 20 in the second phase, it added.In the third phase, the faculties of Arts, Social Sciences, International Studies, Theology, Polytechnics and the Community College will resume functioning on January 24. University schools from class one to eight will reopen on January 9, said the statement, adding classes 10 and 12 will begin from January 13 and classes nine and eleven will commence from January 17. PTI
Mangaluru: Muslim organisations’ meet on CAA, NRC on January 15
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/muslim-organisations-meet-on-caa-nrc-on-january-15/article30517434.ece
Muslim organisations have now decided to hold the meeting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the NRC, and NPR on city outskirts on January 15. The city police had not given them permission to hold the event at Nehru Maidan on January 4 on the grounds that central parts cannot be allowed to be choked and asked the organisations to scout alternative venues outside the city.Former MLC and DK and Udupi Muslim Central Committee president K.S. Mohammed Masood told reporters here on Wednesday that the protest meeting will be held at Shah Garden, opposite the Kannur Kendra Jumma Masjid on NH 75. Qazis of Mangaluru and Udupi will participate in the event.thehindu
CAT topper not scared to take part in protests on JNU issue,CAA
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cat-topper-not-scared-to-take-part-in-protests-on-jnu-issue-iimcat-ac-in-6206657/?fbclid=IwAR26xt4BddlF8vV90fVwuwQ3m5UTBfZ7ejsJOZyH53jrbJJZF3yMp6Uw_o8
Kolkata:Jadavpur University (JU) student Deborshi Chanda, one of the 10 candidates to have scored 100 percentile in Common Admission Test (CAT), said on Wednesday that he will not shy away from taking part in any rally to protest against the attack on women students and teachers of JNU and similar attacks in other higher educational institutions. Chanda is a student of electrical engineering of Jadavpur University and has presently taken admission in its School of Energy Studies in 2019-20 session. “I had participated in the rallies taken out by my fellow students in the varsity campus and outside. I had also joined in shouting slogans denouncing the move to silence free thinking. I have made known my stand on the issue and will do so in future too…I am not afraid,” the young man told PTI. Chanda had scored a perfect 100 percentile in CAT, the results of which were announced few days back and is the only candidate from West Bengal to have achieved the feat.To a question about JU students taking the lead in the series of protests against the attack on JNU, Jamia Milia students and against CAA in the past one month, he said “I am with them. I am proud of my friends in JU and my institution.PTI
Hundreds of People Protest in Mumbai Against CAA, Violence at JNU
https://www.news18.com/news/india/hundreds-of-people-protest-in-mumbai-against-citizenship-law-violence-at-jnu-2451277.html
Mumbai: Hundreds of people, including senior citizens, youths and women, took part in a march in sururban Bandra against CAA and the recent violence at JNU in Delhi. During the march, protesters also raised slogans against government over NRC and NPR.People, who gathered under the banner of 'Voice of People', held placards like 'Boycott NRC', 'Stop dividing India', 'Don't divide us', 'Save Constitution', etc."Common people, particularly the poor and Muslims, stand to be affected the worst by this Act. After demonetisation, the people are afraid that they will again be forced to stand in queues,"Irfan Macchiwala, one of the protesters, said.Another protestor Mustak Ansari said, " government should focus on the development and progress of nation. It should work towards ending unemployment and inflation. But it is instead coming up with issues which seek to divide India on the basis of religion."PTI
Hyderabad: Cops issue notices to accused of Million March cases
https://www.siasat.com/hyderabad-cops-issue-notices-accused-million-march-cases-1786893/
Hyderabad police have intensified investigation into Million March criminal cases registered against the public and members of the Joint action committee against CAA and NRC. Investigators of various police stations have issued notices to many youths under CRPC section 41(A) for allegedly violating the conditions of police permission for January 4, Million March at Dharna Chowk Indra park.By issuing notices, police have started summoning those youths who have actively taken part in Million March and their names are included in over 20 FIRs issued by various police stations across the city.siasat
If you use stones, we will reply with bombs: Telangana BJP MP Bandi Kumar to AIMIM, TRS
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2020/jan/09/if-you-use-stones-we-will-reply-with-bombs-telangana-bjp-mp-bandi-sanjay-kumar-to-aimim-trs-2087029.html
Warangal: Karimnagar BJP MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar kicked up a controversy with his searing criticism of AIMIM and TRS, even threatening to use bombs and knives if their activists attack BJP workers with stones. MP, in an apparent attempt to rake in political benefit for BJP ahead of the municipal polls, went for the jugular of the two parties for their "anti-Hindu" rants. He also dragged TRS working president KT Rama Rao into the controversy while pummelling the 2 parties."BJP will fly the saffron flag on Golconda fort sooner than later," he said, implying that his party will win the 2023 Assembly elections. He accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of funding the rallies taken out against CAA and NRC and helping the leaders of its ally AIMIM to rally people behind them which would help TRS at the time of elections.newindianexpress
Naga People’s Front suspends MP Kenye for voting in favour of CAA
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/naga-peoples-front-suspends-mp-kenye-for-voting-in-favour-of-caa/article30521170.ece?homepage=true
Guwahati:Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) has suspended Rajya Sabha member K.G. Kenye from primary membership of the party almost a month after he voted in favour of CAA. NPF is no longer a friend of BJP in Nagaland but is part of the BJP-headed coalition government in adjoining Manipur.On Wednesday, the NPF’s Disciplinary Action Committee treated Mr. Kenye’s support to the Bill as an anti-party activity and decided to suspend him.thehindu
‘Centre threatening unity of India’, says Sharad Pawar after flagging off Yashwant Sinha led-3000-km protest march against CAA, NRC
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-threatening-unity-of-india-says-sharad-pawar-after-flagging-off-3000-km-protest-march-against-caa-nrc/story-7ObNkJq0TSxA0LVLlAmVXP.html
Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday morning flagged off 21-day-long Gandhi Peace Yatra, a 3,000-km march from Mumbai to New Delhi, led by former Union minister Yashwant Sinha to oppose CAA, NRC, and to protest against “state’s violence”.Pawar flagged off the event at Gateway of India in Mumbai by unravelling a green-coloured flag. The march will end at Rajghat in Delhi on January 30. It will travel through six states, including those ruled by BJP like Gujarat, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.“The steps taken by the Indian government are threatening the unity of India. Many communities including minorities do not have the capability to prove where they come from, or how long they have stayed in India. Even though they are part of free India, they will be forcefully put in detention camps,” said Pawar.Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Yashwant Sinha said, “This is to protest CAA, NRC and NPR brought by the government, and the violence it has unleashed on many sections of the society. Many state governments are also participating in this violence. The message we are giving through this march is that we are united and will always stand united.”Also present at Gateway of India were former chief minister of Mahrashtra Prithviraj Chavan, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar, and All India Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament, Nadimal Haque, who was representing party chief Mamata Banerjee, and Maharashtra minister Nawab Mallik.HT
Protest by Muslim women against CAA, NPR, NRC in Kolkata
https://in.news.yahoo.com/protest-muslim-women-against-caa-151531279.html
Kolkata:A group of Muslim women have started an indefinite sit-in demonstration at the Park Circus Maidan here to protest against the CAA, NPR and the proposed nationwide NRC.Initially started by around 20-30 women on January 7, the protest gained momentum on Wednesday as the numbers swelled with many more women joining to express solidarity, Nazma, one of the protesters said on Wednesday.'We will be sitting at the spot till the government repeals CAA and call off NPR and the proposed NRC. We also condemn the attack on students of Jamia Milia Islamiaand JNU and arrest of the guilty,' she said.Asked if the movement is on the lines of the protest by women of Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi against CAA, Nazma said 'We think there will be more Saheen Baghs all around the country if the act is not repealed, if attacks at educational institutions are not stopped.Zeeshan Ali, a young man present at the site, said: 'We are here to express support to our sisters.' PTI
3 Cops Suspended in UP After Video of Them Thrashing Man Goes Viral
https://thewire.in/government/3-cops-suspended-in-up-after-video-of-them-thrashing-man-goes-viral
Deoria: 3 policemen have been suspended and an FIR registered against them after they were seen in a video brutally beating a man allegedly involved in a mobile theft case in Deoria, a senior police official said on Thursday. The man, Sumit Goswami, was picked up by police on Wednesday from Mahen village following a complaint he stole a mobile phone. Three constables took him to a police station and beat him brutally.An unidentified man made a video of the policemen thrashing Goswami and it has gone viral on social media.Taking note of the video, SP Shripati Mishra ordered a probe into the incident by the circle officer. Based on his report, 3 constables Chandramauleshwar Singh, Lal Bihari, and Jitendra Yadav were suspended, SP said.PTI
‘Brutally thrashed and labelled urban naxal’: Theatre actor Kabir recalls police brutality over CAA in UP
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/brutally-thrashed-and-labelled-urban-naxal-theatre-actor-deepak-kabir-recalls-police-brutality-over-caa/article30522134.ece?homepage=true
Theatre actor and cultural activist from Lucknow Deepak Kabir today alleged that Uttar Pradesh police not only brutally thrashed and abused him in custody but also labelled him an “urban naxal.”The term ‘urban naxal’, used by right-wing groups and activists and popularised by leaders of ruling party BJP, is evoked to link activists and academicians critical of the government to Naxals. Kabir, 44, was released from the Lucknow district jail after a local court granted him bail in connection with violence in State capital during protest against CAA on December 19.He was arrested by police on December 20 when he had allegedly gone to the Hazratganj police station to inquire about the whereabouts of his activist friends after they had been picked up by police following the protests.Kabir said that SHO of Hazratganj first snatched his phone, threw off his cap and dubbed him a “mastermind” of the violence. “He said, ‘you are a krantikari (revolutionary), right...’Kabir recalled, adding that his submission that he had come to the police station on his own will to look for his friends fell on deaf ears.Following this, around 12-15 policemen escorted him to a hall and took turns to beat him with batons and their arms and was kicked for at least 10 minutes, Mr. Kabir alleged. “SHO told them to tie my hands and legs and beat me as much as they can,” he said.thehindu
BJP minority cell secretary in Madhya Pradesh Akram Khan resigns over CAA, NRC
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-minority-cell-secretary-in-madhya-pradesh-akram-khan-resigns-over-caa-nrc/article30521924.ece?homepage=true
BJP’s secretary for the minority cell in Madhya Pradesh has quit from his post over the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC, charging party workers of making indecent remarks against a particular community. “I respect the party’s decision on CAA and NRC and have been serving it for 25 years,” Akram Khan told reporters. “But some colleagues have been making indecent comments against a particular community, which is unbearable and hurting sentiments.”thehindu
'Marathi girl lamented plight of Kashmiris peacefully': CM Uddhav backs protester who held up 'Free Kashmir' poster
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/marathi-girl-lamented-plight-of-kashmiris-peacefully-uddhav-backs-protester-who-held-up-free-kashmir-poster
Mumbai: Shiv Sena has extended its support to Mehak Prabhu, who landed into eye of a storm for holding a "Free Kashmir" poster at a protest against JNU violence in Mumbai on Monday, saying that she lamented the plight of Kashmiri's in a peaceful manner but Opposition portrayed her act as treason.In its mouthpiece Saamana, the party said, "Mumbaikar Marathi girl lamented the plight of people of Kashmir in a peaceful manner. However, Opposition is terming it as an act of treason. There can be no worst example by the Opposition parties." The editorial further slammed Opposition for targeting the state government on the matter.Mehak Prabhu clarified, "I reached where the protest was happening at Gateway of India. Like anybody else who believes in democracy, I also joined that protest. We were standing for justice to JNU students." Prabhu said in a video posted on Facebook, "I saw a bunch of people who were painting placards on every issue like NRC, CAA and for JNU students. There was a placard lying on the side which said 'Free Kashmir'. The first thing which came to my mind when I saw that placard was about the basic constitutional rights of Kashmiris." freepressjournal
Shiv Sena supports woman who held ‘Free Kashmir’ poster, slams Fadnavis for targeting CM
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shiv-sena-supports-woman-displaying-free-kashmir-poster-slams-fadnavis-for-targeting-cm-6207879/
Mysuru Student Charged with Sedition for Carrying 'Free Kashmir' Placard at JNU Solidarity Rally
https://www.news18.com/news/india/mysore-student-charged-with-sedition-for-carrying-free-kashmir-placard-at-rally-for-jnu-2452299.html
Bengaluru: Days after the appearance of a 'Free Kashmir' poster at a Mumbai rally caused controversy, a protester in Mysuru has been booked for sedition after she was seen carrying a similar placard at a rally in support of students of the JNU.The student, who is yet to be identified, was participating in a flame-torch-bearing procession on the Mysore University campus organised by Dalit Students' Association and the Mysore University Research Students' Association on Wednesday. The associations were issued a notice by the varsity registrar after the matter blew up when local media found a video displaying the placard. Until then, it was just another protest in solidarity with the JNU Students' Union. It soon snowballed into a controversy, with the Left-leaning SFI, one of the protest organisers, being accused of dividing the nation."What do you mean by 'Free Kashmir'? It is something we have been facing in this country for the past 72 years, we cannot continue to suffer these kinds of issues," said Karnataka Higher Education Minister CN Ashwathnarayana. news18
Indian man's account of experience in Thailand after CAA will make you hang your head in shame
https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/wtf/after-caa-heres-what-the-world-thinks-of-india-its-shameful-503787.html
Protests in the wake of passing the CAA and planned NRC, have made International headlines. Day in and day out there are protests in different cities, but what most of us forget is the changing impression of the situation outside of India. In a Facebook post, a user named Kishore V. Mariwala shared an incident - he was holidaying in Thailand and the local residents' view about what was happening in India shocked him. Mariwala was in Thailand for a sailing holiday and was making arrangements to hire a yacht and skipper. In the post he explains, 'At office, the receptionist took down all the necessary details & then asked me: ”Sir, you are from India. Are you a Hindu”? I said “yes, why are you asking this”? She just called her boss, the manager. He came out& they both talked something in Thai language. The manager turned to me and said “Sir, all our skippers except one have gone with our other yachts. The only one left is a Muslim. I hope you don’t mind that”. “Sir”, he said, “we read in the newspapers that Hindus don’t want Muslims near them so we were worried about it”!'Mariwala said that he was shocked beyond words to hear what the Thailander had to say. indiatimes
Demand to release innocent people held in protests against CAA
https://www.siasat.com/demand-release-innocent-people-held-protests-against-caa-1786907/
New Delhi: A group comprising of 22 Human Right activists, social activists, social organisations, politicians, political analysts, educationists, intellectuals, clerics, a former MP and Former Minister of UP Govt, a former Union Minister of Finance, a former judge of High Court, advocates etc. in a joint statement have demanded the Uttar Pradesh Government to immediately release all the innocent people arrested in protests against CAA/NRC/ NPA.They also demanded to initiate an impartial inquiry into the police atrocities and exemplary action against officers who violated the law. While they welcomed any impartial investigations about any untoward incident that took place during the protests, they appealed to the people of the country to be vigilant and to voice against the denial of our constitutional right to freedom of expression. The statement said: “Since the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill by both houses of the Parliament massive agitations and rallies have been happening in almost all cities and villages of the country. This was very spontaneous outburst of popular anger against the legislation that goes against the values the country has been built upon”.siasat
Govt spreading hatred through CAA-NRC: Ayodhya sant Mahant Jnandasji
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-spreading-hatred-through-caa-nrc-says-ayodhya-sant-6207232/
Gangasagar :A religious leader from Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya on Wednesday accused Central government of spreading hatred by introducing the new citizenship law and the proposed implementation of NRC.“The poor can’t show all the documents (to prove their citizenship). How will they keep their documents for more than 20 years?.. So, how does the government expect that the poor will furnish all the documents. But they are also Indian citizens,” Mahant Jnandasji Maharaj of Akhil Bharatiya Sree Panch Ramanandi Nirbani Akhara of Ayodhya said. “We are sant. We have no religion, no caste. We all are kutumbo (guest). Muslims are also kutumbo. So, why has Central Government separated Muslims from others. They (central government) are spreading hatred across the country. If they included Muslims (in the CAA), nothing would have happened,” Jnandasji said.On Mamata Banerjee, he said, “She is very honest. Her soul is pure. She has the guts to fight, and she always stands on the side of truth.” He also criticised the Modi Government for scrapping high-value notes in 2016. “Nobody has benefitted from demonetisation. Is terrorism finished after the move? Or, has inflation been tamed? They are basically fooling the people. This will not last for long.”indianexpress
Delhi court allows Bhim Army chief Azad to be treated at AIIMS
https://theprint.in/india/delhi-court-allows-bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-to-be-treated-at-aiims/346886/
A Delhi court today allowed an application filed by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad who had sought his medical treatment at AIIMS. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arul Verma ordered that Azad be provided treatment at AIIMS for polycythemia. Azad’s application had claimed he is suffering from polycythemia, a condition that thickens the blood and may lead to a cardiac arrest.He had submitted that he is undergoing treatment under the supervision of his doctor at AIIMS, and therefore demanded that authorities be directed to either provide him treatment or take him to AIIMS.theprint
Scientists Who Signed Anti-CAA Letter Come Under Government Scanner
https://thewire.in/education/vijay-chauthaiwale-iiser-pune-mohali-iit-jnu-jamia-milia-aligarh-anti-caa-letter
Bengaluru:Last month, nearly 2,000 scientists and science students from around India signed a public letter condemning the proposed changes to the Citizenship Act as antithetical to the country’s constitutional principles.Since then, The Wire has learned that the heads of multiple institutes whose scholars had signed the letter were contacted by senior government officials and asked for confirmation of their scholars’ actions and, in some cases, possibly an explanation. The influential BJP leader Vijay Chauthaiwale, who is also a member of the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, shared a document listing all the signatories with other board members, the chief secretary of Maharashtra, the heads of CSIR, IIT Bombay, IISER Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the secretaries of the Departments of Biotechnology and Higher Education.thewire
Mangaluru: Fearing link to NRC, residents object to sharing information with ANMs
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/caa-nrc-fear-anms-face-difficulty-in-collecting-information/article30523908.ece
Mangaluru:A couple of days after the staff involved in National Rural Livelihoods Mission exercise faced resistance in providing information fearing its link to NRC, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) too are facing the heat during their survey of houses.Nearly 1,300 ANMs in Dakshina Kannada are involved in the household survey for ‘Nagarikarige Ondu Savalu’ programme. It identifies the best house and a government building each in a gram panchayat in terms of measures taken to prevent vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya. Each ANM has to visit 100 houses in her area with a set of 13 questions relating to steps taken to prevent breeding of vector carrying mosquitoes. They are asked to note the mobile number of the house owner, his/her Aadhaar number, and signature. thehindu
CAA Protests: Religion should never be a criterion for citizenship, says Bengaluru Archbishop
https://newsd.in/caa-protests-bengaluru-archbishop-says-religion-should-never-be-a-criterion-for-citizenship/
Bengaluru: Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado told presspersons today appealing to the Central government to grant citizenship to undocumented migrants on the basis of each individual case, and not on the basis of their religion. In a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Vala, Archbishop said that religion should never be the criterion for granting citizenship, and asked the government to change course if necessary for the good of the country and the people.newsd.in
MP Swapan Dasgupta gheraoed at Visva Bharati University over CAA
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dasgupta-gheraoed-at-visva-bhararti/article30516907.ece?homepage=true
kolkata: Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, who on Wednesday was scheduled to give a lecture at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, on the issue of CAA, faced protests by students. Dasgupta was scheduled to deliver the lecture, ‘CAA-2019: Understanding and Interpretation’ as a part of the lecture series of the university. The students, who continued their protest for several hours since Wednesday afternoon, called off their ‘gheraoing’ of Dasgupta at the university around 10.30 pm. Earlier in the day, Dasgupta had tweeted, “How does it feel to have a mob attack a peaceful meeting on CAA and intimidation [by] students? This is what is happening to a meeting I am addressing at Vishwa Bharati now. Locked into room now with mob outside.”The protesting students had said they would not allow the university set up by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to be used for “furthering political interest of the party.”“When there is a nationwide strike how can such a lecture be held at the university. Most of those who are attending the lecture are outsiders,” said Somnath Sau, a supporter of the SFI.
*JNU VIOLENCE*
JNU protests LIVE: Delhi Police lathicharge students marching towards Rashtrapati Bhawan over ‘failed’ HRD meeting
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/jawaharlal-nehru-university-students-protest-live-updates-delhi-police-jnusu-citizens-march-6207527/
After holding an almost two-hour-long meeting with HRD ministry, NUSU president Aishe Ghosh termed the meeting as “unsatisfactory” giving a call to continue the march to Rashtrapati Bhawan. “We’re in no position to compromise with HRD ministry. It’s still thinking whether VC should be removed,” Ghosh said. However, within moments of the call to protest, the Delhi Police stopped the march. Delhi Police lathicharged and detained few students who were marching towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan this evening.A scuffle broke out between the protesters heading towards Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Delhi Police as the officers tried to stop the march. The police then lathicharged and detained a few students. JNUSU president along with other members held a meeting with the Ministry of HRD seeking removal of varsity’s Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar, following his inaction on Sunday’s campus violence. Earlier today, hundreds of people, including students and teachers, protesting against Sunday’s mob violence on JNU campus were stopped by the Delhi Police on Thursday near Shastri Bhawan.“If you wanted to silence us, you should have killed us. Not an inch Back. March for us, march for the students of this country, march for public education,” a Twitter post by the student’s union read . Former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar also appealed to people to join the march in large numbers.At Delhi's protest march, called by the JNUSU today at Mandi House, former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar questioned the intentions of BJP-led government and asked what issue does Centre have with government-run educational institutions. The protest march, which began at Delhi's Mandi House, has been joined by RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha, Kiran Walia and CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat and LJD leader Sharad Yadav. The Delhi Police has escorted delegation of teachers' association, students' union office bearers of the varsity to meet HRD officials. indianexpress
Thousands March in Delhi Demanding Removal of JNU Vice Chancellor
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/thousands-march-in-delhi-demanding-removal-of-jnu-vice-chancellor
HRD gave JNU VC ultimatum last month during fee hike uproar, Secy was shunted out
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hrd-gave-jnu-vc-jagadesh-kumar-ultimatum-last-month-during-fee-hike-uproar-secy-was-shunted-out-6207057/
New Delhi :Under pressure from protesting students and teachers to quit, JNU V-C M Jagadesh Kumar may well dig his heels in. For, barely a month ago, he had his way.Indian Express has reliably learned that Kumar was given an ultimatum on December 11 to either accept a compromise formula to end the standoff with agitating students or resign. In less than 48 hours, the then Higher Education Secretary R Subrahmanyam was himself shunted out.indianexpress
JNU violence: Police unable to explain why they could not catch a single attacker
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/police-unable-to-explain-why-they-could-not-catch-a-single-attacker/article30518048.ece?homepage=true
Delhi Police has been unable to give a cogent explanation as to why over 100 of its personnel were unable to nab any of the masked goons who attacked students and teachers on JNU campus on January 5 and were able to escape.A senior police officer deployed at JNU on the day of the incident said, “The attackers outnumbered us and our effort was to end the violence.”However, police are unable to explain why they were not able to catch a single attacker.On Wednesday, Delhi police said they have received a total of 11 complaints from students and teachers in connection with JNU violence.7 complaints are from Left-affiliated groups and 3 from BJP-affiliated ABVP. One is from JNU professor Sucharita Sen.“All the complaints have been forwarded to the Crime Branch SIT for further probe. 2 FIRs of vandalism at CIS room have also been forwarded to Crime Branch,” said a senior police officer. The officer added that more than 50 mobile videos of violence have been submitted by students and teachers to SIT.“The videos will be sent to forensic to clear the mask faces that will help in identification,” said the officer.Security guards and locals admitted that they have witnessed outsiders armed with sticks and baseball bats entering JNU campus.thehindu
JNU attacks: In colleges, universities, and outside, protests rage across the country
https://scroll.in/video/949213/jnu-attacks-in-colleges-universities-and-outside-protests-rage-across-the-country
Crime Branch’s special team probing JNU violence yet to crack DU, Najeeb cases
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/unit-probing-jnu-yet-to-crack-du-najeeb-cases/story-lq1TRsdxDSLMgYN8GWjNXO.html
8 JNU mess staff who saved 30 from being attacked
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/eight-jnu-mess-staff-who-saved-30-from-being-attacked/story-XJiYhmeiy7nBmFxGgvZQBP.html?fbclid=IwAR1FOvZ1w0FcUZILLaA1_ceuZ6-jxo-Zxamsf-zwlpyz7jNqkdU24t24Hgo
VC Sent SOS at 6:45pm But Sought Cops' Intervention After an Hour: Police Report to Fact-finding Panel on JNU Violence
https://www.news18.com/news/india/vc-sent-sos-to-cops-at-645pm-but-sought-help-after-an-hour-police-report-on-jnu-violence-2451223.html
Delhi Police has submitted a report to the fact-finding committee about sequence of events on Sunday when violence had unfolded at JNU and the response time of police officers.The fact-finding committee, headed by JCP Shalini Singh, has visited a number of hostels on JNU campus, Periyar Hostel and Sabarmati hostel, and spoken to some students about the incident.Police officers have submitted a detailed report of their response to calls from the university on January 5 when the violence broke out on the campus.Sources said, around 2pm, there were two separate gatherings of student group. While members of ABVP gathered near a statue of Swami Vivekanand, Left-backed union members and students grouped near a bust of Pandit Nehru. A scuffle broke out between the two groups when they decided to disperse. Around 6.45pm, VC reportedly sent a message to police that the situation could become tense and forces deployment be increased at the sources.However, his phone was unreachable (he hadn’t till then asked police to intervene). Around 7.30-7.45pm, police got a written letter from the university authorities seeking intervention into the matter. By the time, the cops went in, the mob had dispersed. Police sources said all fight and attack happened between 7 and 7.30pm.News18
As masked men ran riot on JNU campus, V-C told police: Be stationed at gates of JNU
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/as-masked-men-ran-riot-on-jnu-campus-v-c-told-police-be-stationed-at-gates-of-jnu-6207129/
At 6.24 pm Sunday — by the time JNU had already seen violence at Periyar hostel and an attack on faculty and students at Sabarmati dhaba — Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar sent a WhatsApp message to DCP (Southwest), the ACP and the SHO of Vasant Kunj (North) police station. But instead of requesting them to enter the campus and bring the mob of masked men under control, he told police to be “stationed at the gates”.“Considering the volatile situation in JNU campus, I request you to station police at the gates of JNU campus so that they can quickly reach the trouble spot in the campus if a law and order situation arises,”Jagadesh Kumar wrote in the message, which is now part of an enquiry report prepared by a fact-finding committee formed to “probe the sequence of events” and “negligence on part of police”.indianexpress
JNU forms panel to probe Jan 5 violence on campus: VC
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jnu-forms-panel-to-probe-jan-5-violence-on-campus-vc/article30521804.ece?homepage=true
NU has formed a 5-member committee to probe January 5 violence on the campus that had left around 35 people injured, and recommend measures to ensure safety of students, V-C M. Jagadesh Kumar said. The panel will also probe lapses, if any, in security, Kumar told PTI.PTI
Over 300 International Academics Condemn 'Politically Motivated' JNU Attack
https://thewire.in/rights/international-academics-condemn-jnu-attack
Over 300 academics from international institutions of higher education have signed a statement condemning the attacks by “politically motivated hoodlums” on the students and faculty members of JNU. They said the attack constitutes one of most “egregious examples of violence, repression, and mob impunity directed against Indian universities since 1947”. The signatories include Arjun Appadurai, Priayamvada Gopal, Akeel Bilgrami, Sheldon Pollock, Homi K. Bhaba, Francesca Orsini, Dibyesh Anand, Dipesh Chakrabarty among several others.Accusing the university’s administration, especially vice-chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, of ‘dereliction of duty’, the statement says, “This active abandonment of responsibility includes administrative blindness to partisan mob violence, complicity with the Home Ministry’s repression of lawful and peaceful protest against a viciously discriminatory CAA, and open collusion between rampaging hooligans and the current regime.”The signatories demanded the the immediate resignation of VC Kumar, the appointment of a non-partisan investigative panel to identify the “criminals who broke into the campus” and a judicial initiative from the Supreme Court to “hold the Delhi Police to account for their actions against students as well as non-action against criminals”.thewire
JNU violence: 250 international academics demand V-C’s resignation
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jnu-violence-250-international-academics-demand-v-cs-resignation/article30521819.ece
JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh to NH: India is moving towards Nazism under Modi
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/jnusu-president-aishe-ghosh-to-nh-india-is-moving-towards-nazism-under-modi
Two days after Delhi police filed 3 FIRs against JNUSU president, Aishe Ghosh – who is pursuing MPhil/PhD from the School of International Relation – for indulging in vandalism in the campus and criminal intimidation; she visited doctors at AIIMS on Wednesday afternoon to get her dressing done.Ghosh received serious head injuries when “unidentified attackers” allegedly belonging to RSS’ student wing AVBP hit her near Sabarmati hostel on Sunday evening. She fell unconscious due to excessive bleeding, following which she was admitted to AIIMS, where she was discharged at 4 am on Monday. Though severely-injured, Ghose neither buckled under the agonising strain nor chose to stay back. She joined the battle against the “Fascist regime,” the very next day and addressed a press conference, a public meeting in JNU that was attended by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, political leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Yogendra Yadav.nationalheraldindia
Several Youth Organisations From Across India Condemn JNU Violence
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/several-youth-organisations-from-across-india-condemn-jnu-violence
New Delhi:As many as 20 youth and students’ organisations from all over India have condemned the violence and assault on JNU students allegedly by ABVP and their supporters. These organisations are a part of the newly formed “Young India National Coordination Committee”.They also strongly criticised the role of the police who failed to prevent goons from entering the campus and remained a mute spectator in the entire orgy of violence.India Tomorrow
Lahore, Karachi students & activists back JNU, Jamia Millia students
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/lahore-karachi-students-activists-back-jnu-jamia-millia-students/articleshow/73163848.cms
Bathinda: ‘Hum Dekhenge’ poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s daughter Salima Hashmi joined students and civil society activists in Pakistan who gathered at the press clubs in Lahore and Karachi on Wednesday to show solidarity with the victims of JNU violence and police action against anti-CAA protesters at Jamia Millia Islamia and AMU.At the protests in Lahore and Karachi, several students, teachers from various universities and civil society activists condemned the “merciless beating up” of students from JNU, and earlier Jamia Milia Islamia and AMU. Protest at Press Club Lahore was organised by the ‘Progressive Students Collective’, themed on Faiz’s poem, and nearly 200 people attended it. The protest at Karachi Press Club had a similar gathering and it was organised by the Inter-University Feminist Union.Hashmi participated in the protest at Lahore. Also, noted writer and poet Fahmida Riaz’s daughter Veerta too attende the protest.In Lahore, activist Arooj Aurangzeb, who has gained popularity for reciting the 1921 poem ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’ at Faiz Festival in November at Lahore, too gave a speech. Protesters claimed that they were holding the protest in support of Indian students who faced violence for protesting against fee hike and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.A joint statement expressing solidarity with Indian and Pakistani students was issued by the organisers.TOI
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
15 Foreign Envoys In J&K, Itinerary Includes Lunch With Political Leaders
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/15-foreign-envoys-in-j-k-itinerary-includes-lunch-with-political-leaders-led-by-altaf-bukhari-2161296
Srinagar: Envoys from 15 nations -- including US -- are in Jammu and Kashmir for a two-day visit to check on the ground situation in the newly created union territory.Besides US, the team comprises envoys from South Korea, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Guyana, Argentina, Norway, Philippines, Maldives, Togo, Fiji, Peru, Bangladesh and Vietnam. he European Union was also on the list, but sources said the envoys had declined, saying they did not want a "guided tour".They wished to meet the three detained former Chief Ministers and would visit at a later date, sources said.Government sources told NDTV that envoys of the European Union have welcomed the idea of a trip to Jammu and Kashmir, but many of them said it was short notice this time and they look forward to going at a later date."The purpose of the visit was to display measures taken by the government to bring normalcy. There will be more diverse interactions with such groups visiting in Jammu and Kashmir with progressive normalisation of the situation," the foreign ministry said.NDTV
16 Envoys Including US Ambassador Visit J&K; EU Skips, Wants More Access
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/envoys-from-eu-australia-to-skip-governments-2-day-tour-of-j-k-sources-2160886
India grants diplomats access to restive Kashmir for first time in months
https://in.reuters.com/article/india-kashmir/india-grants-diplomats-access-to-restive-kashmir-for-first-time-in-months-idINKBN1Z80V8
EU Envoys Opt Out Of J&K Visit, Stress On Meeting Deatined CMs
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-envoys-from-16-countries-including-us-to-visit-jammu-and-kashmir-today/345386
Envoys of 15 countries reached Srinagar today on a 2-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, first visit by diplomats since the abrogation of the erstwhile state's special status on August 5. However, European Union (EU) countries are understood to have conveyed that they would visit the Union Territory on a different date and are also believed to have stressed on meeting 3 former CMs-- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti -- who are under detention.PTI
Mehbooba Mufti's PDP Expels 8 Leaders Who Met Foreign Envoys' Delegation In J&K
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mehbooba-muftis-pdp-expels-8-leaders-who-met-foreign-envoys-delegation-in-jammu-and-kashmir-today-2161442
Srinagar: PDP today expelled eight party leaders who met a delegation of foreign envoys visiting Jammu and Kashmir, saying that they had "gone against the will of the people" by negotiating with the government.Mufti-led party said that its disciplinary committee has recommended the expulsion of these leaders from the party's primary membership.PTI identified the expelled leaders as Dilawar Mir, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Zaffar Iqbal, Abdul Majeed Padroo, Raja Manzoor Khan, Javaid Hussain Baig, Qamar Hussain and Abdul Rahim Rather. All of them are former MLAs.NDTV
NC Says Foreign Envoys Brought to J&K to Endorse Centre's Claims; PDP Alleges Attempt to Normalise Clampdown
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/nc-says-foreign-envoys-brought-to-j-pdp-alleges-attempt-to-normalise-clampdown-2452275.html
Srinagar: National Conference (NC) has said it was "disappointed" with the way the government brought envoys from various countries to Jammu and Kashmir to "endorse" its "claims of normalcy", while PDP said that the move was an attempt to “normalise its clampdown”. NC alleged that the envoys have been brought to the Valley on a "guided tour", where access has been limited to "handpicked individuals who toe government line"."The National Conference is disappointed with the way foreign envoys have been brought to the valley to endorse the Centre's claims of normalcy," it said."NC wishes to ask these envoys that if the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is "normal", then why are scores of people, including 3 former chief ministers, under detention for almost 160 days and why have the people been denied access to the internet for over 5 months?" a statement issued by the party said.The party described the visit of enjoys from 15 countries to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday as a "repeat visit" of European Members of Parliament to the erstwhile state earlier. PDP also said that the visit was an attempt by the government to "normalise its clampdown" in the Valley, daring the Centre to allow the dignitaries to meet the detained political leaders."The envoys, who are here as part of the government's diplomatic outreach to rebut Pakistan's propaganda on the Kashmir issue, met some political leaders, including former PDP leader Syed Altaf Bukhari, soon after their arrival.PTI
Govt adopting double standards by allowing envoys to visit J&K, not Indian politicians: Congress
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/govt-adopting-double-standards-allowing-envoys-visit-jk-congress-jairam-ramesh-1635349-2020-01-09
New Delhi: Congress on Thursday accused the government of adopting double standards by resorting to "guided tours" to Jammu and Kashmir for foreign envoys, but not allowing Indian politicians to go there."Government adopting double standards by allowing foreign envoys to visit J&K, but not Indian politicians," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said at a press conference."We demand that the government allows unfettered access to J&K to all politicians and not resort to guided tours for envoys," he said.PTI
Kashmir: Talk of New Political Party Gains Grounds as Eight Politicians Meet J&K LG
https://thewire.in/politics/kashmir-politicians-meet-lg-new-political-party
Srinagar: For first time after the dilution of Article 370, a group of eight Kashmir-based politicians, including three former ministers, met J&K Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu at Jammu to “take forward” the political process in the restive region.The meeting led to speculation that the much talked about formation of a new political group in J&K has begun to take shape. The top leadership of both NC and PDP continues to be under detention. “How long can we remain silent and watch uncertainty grow in Kashmir,” said G.H. Mir, chairman of the Democratic Party Nationalist. He was one of the eight members to meet the LG at Raj Bhavan. “We have to make a fresh beginning to take Jammu and Kashmir out of this mess,” said Mir.thewire
Kashmir’s problems won’t be solved by coercing PM, Home Minister: PDP’s Muzaffar Hussain Baig
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmirs-problems-wont-be-solved-by-coercing-pm-home-minister-pdp-leader-6208261/
Stepping away from his party’s line once again, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said Jammu and Kashmir’s problems couldn’t be solved by “coercing” the prime minister, home minister or NSA, and all talks had to be held in a “dignified and civilised manner”.“My opinion is that if you want to talk about issues relating to people of J&K, you will have to talk in a dignified and civilised manner. You can’t achieve anything by coercing the prime minister, home minister or NSA,” Baig was quoted by ANI as saying.indianexpress
Kargil Police Asks Admins of Whatsapp Groups to Register with Local Police
https://thewire.in/government/kargil-police-asks-admins-of-whatsapp-groups-to-register-with-local-police
New Delhi: Police in Kargil sector in the recently created Union Territory of Ladakh have issued an order asking WhatsApp group admins to register themselves with their nearest police posts “within two days”. Since 2018, district administration in some parts of Kashmir Valley have been issuing such orders even though information technology experts have been questioning these move citing various grounds. In July 2018, Kishtwar district magistrate Angrez Singh Rana issued a similar order following a report by district SSP Abrar Choudhary that WhatsApp groups “were spreading rumours, false information and unconfirmed and baked information”.thewire
Bangladeshi's attack Indian border outpost; 1 BSF jawan injured
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bangladeshis-attack-indian-border-outpost-1-bsf-jawan-injured
Shillong:Suspected Bangladeshi nationals have attacked a border outpost in Meghalaya, assaulting 2 BSF jawans and snatching their weapons, resulting in injuries to one of them, police said.Another group from the neighbouring country barged into the house of a Meghalaya resident and looted money, mobile phones and a gun, besides injuring the head of the family, a senior officer said.The incidents took place at around midnight on Wednesday at Amdoh and Rongtila, which are about 5 km from India-Bangladesh border, West Jaintia Hills SP Lakador Syiem said. "A group of 10-15 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly surrounded 2 BSF personnel near the Rongtila border outpost (BOP), assaulted them and snatched their weapons, causing injuries to one of them," he said.PTI
Punjab:Shiromani Akali Dal Taksali leader sees hand of Indian agencies in Nankana Sahib attack in Pak
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/taksali-leader-sees-hand-of-indian-agencies-in-nankana-sahib-attack-6207979/
Chandigarh : 2 days after Pakistan arrested the main accused in the vandalism at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in that country, ex Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), leader Bir Devinder Singh has claimed that the mob attack at Sikh shrine seemed to be “covert operation of Indian intelligence agencies”.Bir Devinder has made the statement on his Facebook wall stating that incident was caused because of the “nervousness” over the growing bonhomie among Sikhs and Muslims after the opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor. “Intelligent people in Sikh community, having the knack to read between the lines, were already watchful of such sinister designs of Government of India. The opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor has caused deep sense of disquiet to the majoritarian and authoritarian rulers of Delhi.NSA Ajit Doval was reportedly contemplating to evolve a strategy for thwarting the emerging bonhomie among the Sikhs and the Muslims as a consequence to Kartarpur Sahib corridor initiative by Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan,” alleged Bir Devinder.He also went on to say that the top ideologues of RSS were apprehensive of likely emerging scenario of an interfaith dialogue between Sikhism and Islam (Sufism) in times to come.“So a well thought of strategy was thus worked out to upstage the emerging understanding between two significant minorities. Consequently a hostile vandalism at Nankana Sahib was stage managed through secret agents, under the aegis of coveted cross border operations, which was cunningly crafted by the Indian intelligence agencies to achieve guileful hidden objectives,” he said.Bir Devinder added that he would not be surprised if the movement of Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib through the corridor is obstructed with mischievous intent. “We should intensely examine every nuance of geo-political developments with clinical precision rather than overreacting instantaneously without understanding the surreptitious designs of the majoritarian regime,” he said.Bir Devinder also referred to the killing of a Sikh youth in Peshawar but stated that this did not appear to be crime against the Sikh community.Sikh community should be wiser enough to read the nuance, between the lines; rather than reacting vociferously, unmindful of serious insinuation and consequences,” he said.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
Judge Loya's death case may be reopened: Maharashtra Home Minister
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/loya-case-may-be-reopened-says-maharashtra-home-minister/article30524141.ece?homepage=true
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh today said that a “few people” had asked him for time to present new documents in the case relating to special CBI judge B.H. Loya. If the fresh evidence had substance, he would think of reopening the case, he said.Loya’s sudden death in Nagpur after a heart attack in December 2014 turned controversial after news reports suggested foulplay. The judge was at the time hearing Soharabuddin fake encounter case involving then BJP president and now Union Home Minister Amit Shah.Asked who he was meeting, Mr. Deshmukh said he could not divulge the names.thehindu
Judge Loya’s death may be reinvestigated if there is substantial evidence, says Maharashtra minister
https://scroll.in/latest/949287/judge-loyas-death-may-be-reinvestigated-if-there-is-substantial-evidence-says-maharashtra-minister
Hyderabad police in a Twitter row over response to tweet on ‘jihadis’
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/row-over-police-response-to-tweet-on-jihadis/article30515882.ece
Cyberabad Police found themselves embroiled in a controversy after their Twitter handle responded to a tweet of a Twitter user who claimed that there were several ‘wannabe jihadis’ working for software companies in the city. He sought to know whether police have done background checks of such employees.In a series of tweets, the Twitter user, one Suresh Kochattil used the word ‘peacefuls’, widely considered a pejorative, to describe Muslims, as he sought to know that given with US-Iran standoff, whether the police have done ‘risk assessment’ of ‘wannabe jihadis’ working in American software companies.“Many wannabe Jihadis work for American software companies in Hyderabad? After #Iran threatened to hit US assets, has @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice @RachakondaCop done background check/risk assessment of these Peacefuls? Or cops are clueless? @KTRTRS @TelanganaDGP @USCGHyderabad,” he tweeted. Cyberabad Police Twitter handle replied in the affirmative, thanked him for alerting them and said that there are ‘specialised wings’ which work on gathering intelligence. Both tweets were widely shared.In another tweet, the Twitter user said that ‘each peaceful is a suspect’. Hours later, MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi criticised Cyberabad Police’s tweet and demanded a clarification. In another tweet, he took a swipe at Cyberabad Commissioner of Police V C Sajjanar, as he invoked the encounter post the Disha case, and said that terrorism has no religion.“@cpcybd sir you say “yes sir” please enlighten me how many such “jihadis” are working in software companies; kindly give the number if not please clarify what you meant. Will you reply to an MP or only a bhakt?” Owaisi tweeted.Apart from Owaisi several netizens from Hyderabad and other parts of the country tweeted their shock and disapproval of the Cyberabad Police’s tweet.Meanwhile, Students Islamic Organisation on Wednesday accused Cyberabad Police’s Twitter response as ‘islamophobic’. SIO state president Talha Fayyazuddin urged police not to encourage those who are ‘tools of hate’.
Accenture Boss Backs Out Of RSS Event After Backlash On Social Media
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/accenture-md-rama-ramachandran-backs-out-of-rss-event-after-backlash-on-social-media-2161038?pfrom=home-topscroll
Chennai: Rama Ramachandran, Managing Director of IT giant Accenture, has reportedly pulled out of an event organised by RSS, BJP's ideological mentor, in Chennai next month.The move follows a massive backlash on social media, seeking a boycott of Accenture and Zoho, another tech giant whose top bosses had agreed to participate in the event amid nationwide protests against the citizenship law.In the revised invite, Mr Ramachandran's name has been deleted. Sources in RSS said that Ramachandran had earlier agreed to attend the event titled "Resurgent Bharath".ndtv
Maharashtra district polls: BJP loses 5 zilla parishads, including RSS bastion Nagpur
https://scroll.in/latest/949249/maharashtra-district-polls-bjp-loses-five-of-six-zilla-parishads-including-rss-bastion-nagpur
BJP in Maharashtra lost Zilla Parishad elections in Nagpur on Wednesday. Nagpur is HQRS of BJP’s ideological parent, RSS, and Lok Sabha seat of Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Of 58 seats in Nagpur, Congress won 31, BJP 15, NCP 10, Shiv Sena one and the Peasants and Workers Party one seat, The TOI reported. BJP also lost the seat in Gadkari’s native village Dhapewada.Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, collectively known as Maha Vikas Aghadi, contested the polls together.Zilla Parishad elections in Nandurbar district on Wednesday saw BJP and Congress win 23 seats each. Shiv Sena won seven seats and NCP 3. In Washim, no party came close to securing a majority. Of 52 seats, Congress won 9 seats, BJP 7, Shiv Sena 6, NCP 12, Janvikas Aghadi 7, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi eight, and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana one, while 2 seats went to Independents.In Palghar district, Shiv Sena won 17 of 57 seats, NCP 14, Independents 12, Congress one and BJP 12. In Akola, Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi emerged winner with 23 seats, followed by 11 seats for Shiv Sena, 7 for BJP, and 5 for Congress. NCP bagged 3 seats.BJP, however, emerged victorious in Dhule, winning 39 of the 56 seats. It won 103 of the 332 seats in 6 districts that went to the polls, the most for any party.scroll.in
ABVP loses all seats in Sanskrit University of Varanasi
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/abvp-loses-all-seats-in-sanskrit-university-of-varanasi-1635304-2020-01-09
Varanasi:The student wing of Congress, NSUI registered a victory on all 4 seats in the students' union elections in Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya in Varanasi.It defeated RSS' student wing ABVP.NSUI's Shivam Shukla won the President seat by defeating ABVP's Harshit Pandey by a huge margin while Chandan Kumar Mishra became the Vice President, Avnish Pandey won the General Secretary seat and Rajnikant Dubey secured the Librarian post.IANS
Parliament Budget session from January 31; to be held in 2 phases
https://www.indiatoday.in/business/budget-2020/story/parliament-budget-session-from-january-31-to-be-held-in-2-phases-1635226-2020-01-09
New Delhi:The budget session of the Parliament will be held in two phases -- from January 31 to February 11 and March 2 to April 3 - as Nirmala Sitharaman gears up to present her second Union budget on February 1.The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has asked for the first phase of the budget session to be held from January 31-February 11 and the second session from March 2-April 3 after a short recess, reported ANI quoting sources.All eyes will be on upcoming parliament budget session in view of the ongoing CAA row and economic slowdown.Meanwhile, Nirmala Sitharaman will on February 1 present the Union budget 2020-21, which experts say will be more of a balancing act rather than a pedestal for aggressive expansion.India Today
'Where is our Finance Minister?': Tharoor asks after Modi-Shah meet top economists without Nirmala
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/where-is-our-finance-minister-shashi-tharoor-asks-after-modi-shah-meet-top-economists-without-nirmala?fbclid=IwAR3KCOROKgqsBTBuFoN6l9IYS_7kI1P1CGWEmiVUczIoc4M6BU8p688ZROo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a two-hour meeting today with over 30 industry experts and economists to review and take their views on steps to revive Indian economy on growth and employment. According to sources, Modi addressed the economists on the five-trillion-dollar economy target. Sources said the Prime Minister took suggestions on boosting consumption and generating demand in the economy. Home Minister Amit Shah, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari were also present.However, surprisingly Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was not present at this meeting which was held ahead of the Union Budget.Congress MP Shashi Tharoor asked, "Where is the Finance Minister? Or has the Duo forgotten they have one?"freepressjournal
World Bank lowers India GDP growth projection for 2019-’20 from 6% to 5%
https://scroll.in/latest/949288/world-bank-lowers-india-gdp-growth-projection-for-2019-20-from-6-to-5
World Bank has lowered its projection for India’s economic growth from 6% to 5% in 2019-’20 fiscal year, but said it would recover to 5.8% in the following year. The projection for 2019-’20 is in line with the estimates given by Indian government and RBI.In its report, the World Bank said tighter credit conditions in the non-banking sector in India were contributing to a substantial weakening of domestic demand. “In India, activity was constrained by insufficient redit availability, as well as by subdued private consumption,” the report said.scroll
Trump administration doesn’t want India to degrade its defence capabilities: US official on CAATSA
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-admin-doesnt-want-india-to-degrade-its-defence-capabilities-us-official-on-caatsa/article30521731.ece?homepage=true
Trump administration does not want to make a decision that degrades the defence capabilities of India which is its ‘Major Defence Partner’, a senior US official has said, referring to the potential sanctions under CAATSA which prohibits countries from purchasing significant military equipment from Russia.US has said in the past it was working with countries, including India, to help them identify and avoid engaging in potentially sanctionable activities under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).PTI
Nirbhaya case convict Vinay Sharma's files curative petition, last legal option against death sentence
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-nirbhaya-case-convict-files-curative-petition-last-legal-option-against-death-sentence/345398
One of the convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case has filed a curative petition before the Supreme Court.Vinay Kumar Sharma's curative petition is his last legal option against the death sentence by the Supreme Court.A Delhi Court had issued a death warrant against all four convicts on January 7 and they are scheduled to be executed on January 22 at 7 am. The court also said that the four convicts can use their legal remedies within 14 days.outlookindia
Former member of Dawood’s gang Ejaz Lakdawala arrested in Patna by Mumbai Police
https://scroll.in/latest/949300/former-member-of-dawood-ibrahims-gang-ejaz-lakdawala-arrested-in-patna-by-mumbai-police
Fugitive gangster Ejaz Lakdawala – a former aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim – has been arrested, Mumbai Police said, reported NDTV. Lakdawala has been remanded to police custody till January 21, according to ANI. Lakdawala is wanted in over 25 cases of attempt to murder, rioting, and extortion.scroll
NIA files chargesheet against 11 people in Tamil Nadu’s ‘Ansarullah’ terror case
https://theprint.in/india/nia-files-chargesheet-against-11-people-in-tamil-nadus-ansarullah-terror-case/346993/
New Delhi: NIA filed a chargesheet Wednesday against 11 accused in connection with its probe in “Ansarullah” terror module case of Tamil Nadu, federal probe agency said.The prosecution complaint was filed before a special court in Chennai and the agency had pressed charges under IPC (for criminal conspiracy) and UAPA against the accused, an NIA spokesperson said.The case pertained to an instance where the accused and their associates, while being in UAE, “conspired and conducted religious classes with the objective of establishing Islamic rule in India through a violent jihad and by promoting unlawful activities”, he added.Those named in the chargesheet are — Hassan Ali, Harish Mohammed, Mohammed Ibrahim, Mohammed Sheik Maitheen, Meeran Ghani, Gulam Nabi Asath, Ahmed Azarudeen, Toufiq Ahmed, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mohammed Afzar and Farook.PTI
UAPA Tribunal upholds ban on pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uapa-tribunal-upholds-ban-on-pro-khalistan-group-sikhs-for-justice-6207956/
New Delhi :Centre’s ban on pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has been upheld by the UAPA tribunal headed by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D N Patel.The tribunal has held that it was clear from the evidence on record that activities of the group were “unlawful”, “disruptive” and “threaten the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India”. Justice Patel also said that the evidence proves that SFJ was “working in collusion with anti-India entities and forces”.PTI
*WORLD*
US House to vote on preventing Trump from Iran war
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-house-to-vote-on-preventing-trump-from-iran-war/article30520270.ece?homepage=true
Democratic-led US House of Representatives will vote today to prevent President Donald Trump from waging war with Iran after he ordered the killing of a top general, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Pelosi said that Democrats will move forward because their concerns were not addressed in a closed-door briefing to lawmakers Wednesday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top officials. "President has made clear that he does not have a coherent strategy to keep the American people safe, achieve de-escalation with Iran and ensure stability in the region," Pelosi said in a statement. "Our concerns were not addressed by president's insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the administration's briefing today."Under 1973 War Powers Act, the administration needs to notify Congress on major military actions but Trump, unusually, has kept classified his rationale for a strike that killed powerful Iranian general Qasem Soleimani while he was in Iraq.AFP
US, Iran back down from military conflict
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/us-iran-back-down-from-military-conflict-latest-updates-32809
Trump says no US troops hurt in Iran air raids, Tehran 'appears to be standing down'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/trump-continues-options-imposing-sanctions-200108145539264.html
US President Donald Trump has said that Iranian missile strikes on bases in Iraq did not harm any US troops stationed there and damage was minimal, an outcome he said showed Tehran wanted to de-escalate a standoff. Iran "appears to be standing down", Trump said at White House amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over US killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week. Trump announced the US would immediately impose new "powerful" sanctions until "Iran changes its behaviour". The comments were Trump's first televised remarks since Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at 2 Iraqi bases housing US troops. Trump also said there were no Iraqi casualties."The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is best deterrent," Trump said in a speech that struck a noticeably different tone than his tweets following the attack on Soleimani in which he threatened to "fully strike back" if Iran attacked any US citizen or site. Tehran's foreign minister said Iran took "proportionate measures" in self-defence and did not seek an escalation.aljazeera
Soleimani and strategic impact of US sanctions on Iran
https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/soleimani-strategic-impact-sanctions-iran-200107193046117.html
World reacts after Iran fires missiles at US targets in Iraq
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/governments-urge-diplomacy-iran-tensions-escalate-200108041741889.html
At UN, US justifies killing Iranian commander as self-defense
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/at-un-us-justifies-killing-iranian-commander-as-self-defense/article30520813.ece?homepage=true
US told UN that killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani was self-defense and vowed to take additional action “as necessary” in Middle East to protect US personnel and interests.In a letter to UNSC, US Ambassador Kelly Craft said US also stands “ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations with Iran, with goal of preventing further endangerment of international peace and security or escalation by Iranian regime. Reuters
Iran sending messages to militias not to move against American targets: Pence
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/iran-sending-messages-to-militias-not-to-move-against-american-targets-pence/article30521224.ece?homepage=true
US Vice President Mike Pence has claimed that US has received some “encouraging intelligence” that Iran has asked its militia not to move against American targets or civilians after the assassination of a top commander of its powerful Revolutionary Guards.Pence’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump said in an address that no Americans were harmed in the attack by Iran on US bases in Iraq.“We are receiving some encouraging intelligence that Iran is sending messages to those very same militias not to move against American targets or civilians. And we hope that that message continues to echo, Pence told CBS News on Wednesday night. Pence stood alongside President Trump when the latter addressed the nation from the White House wherein, he did not announce any fresh military action in response to Iran’s ballistic missiles hitting US military base in Iraq.In his first interview, Mr. Pence said that US is safer today after killing of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards General Qasem Soleimani, which was ordered by Trump.PTI
Iran crisis: US 'ready for serious negotiations' with Tehran
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51043559
US-Iran tensions: UN chief Guterres says world cannot afford another war, asks all parties to exercise maximum restraint
https://www.firstpost.com/world/amid-us-iran-tensions-un-chief-antonio-guterres-says-world-cannot-afford-another-war-asks-all-parties-to-exercise-maximum-restraint-7883041.html
In the wake of an Iranian ballistic missile attack on airbases which house US forces in Iraq, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he would continue his active engagement to de-escalate tensions and avert full-scale war, which "world cannot afford."In a statement released by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres re-iterated the "passionate appeal for peace" he made, after tensions rose dramatically across the whole Gulf region, following the killing of the top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in a US drone strike.PTI
Appreciate US exempting Chabahar from sanctions, hope Iran situation de-escalates soon: India
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/appreciate-us-exempting-chabahar-from-sanctions-hope-iran-situation-de-escalates-soon-india-6208359/
New Delhi :India was closely monitoring the simmering US-Iran tensions and would like the situation to “de-escalate as quickly as possible”, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.“We are closely monitoring the situation. Peace, security and stability in the region is of utmost importance to us. We are talking to several stakeholders. External Affairs Minister has spoken to players in the region,” Kumar was quoted by ANI as saying.indianexpress
Imarn Khan directs Qureshi to visit Iran, Saudi, US as part of Pak's efforts to defuse tensions in Gulf
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/824287-khan-directs-qureshi-to-visit-iran-saudi-us-as-part-of-paks-efforts-to-defuse-tensions-in-gulf
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia and US as part of Pakistan's efforts to defuse the tensions in the Gulf region following the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone strike. Khan has also asked Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to contact "relevant military leaders" to convey Pakistan's willingness for peace.In a tweet on Wednesday, Khan said, "I have asked FM Qureshi to visit Iran, KSA & USA to meet with respective foreign ministers, Secretary of State; & COAS Gen Bajwa to contact relevant military leaders to convey a clear message: Pakistan is ready to play it's role for peace but it can never again be part of any war." Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi also said Pakistan would not become part of any war."The region cannot afford a war. It is not in anyone's interest and will impact the global economy," he said.Earlier, Qureshi told the Senate that Pakistan was keeping close look at the situation and would try that it should not escalate.According to a Pakistan Army statement on Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper telephoned General Bajwa and discussed the situation in the Middle East. PTI
Houthis not behind Saudi Aramco attacks: UN monitors
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/monitors-houthis-saudi-aramco-attacks-report-200109062732396.html
A report by UN sanctions monitors has said that Yemen's Houthi rebels did not carry out an attack in September that set ablaze two major Saudi oil facilities, Reuters news agency reported.US, European countries and Saudi Arabia accused Iran of being behind the attack on Saudi Aramco oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais that was claimed by the Houthis. Iran has denied any involvement.According to the report seen by Reuters on Wednesday, the independent UN experts to the Security Council Yemen sanctions committee said: "That despite their claims to the contrary, Houthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 Sept.2019."The investigators, who monitor sanctions on Yemen, also said they do not believe that "those comparatively sophisticated weapons were developed and manufactured in Yemen." They were not tasked with identifying who was responsible for the Saudi attack. UN investigators said they doubted that the drones and land-attack cruise missiles used in the September 14 attack "have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Houthis.""The panel notes that Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/ northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory," the report said, according to Reuters.aljazeera
Ukraine does not rule out attack as cause of plane crash in Iran
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/ukraine-rule-attack-plane-crash-iran-200108175322733.html
Authorities in Ukraine are not ruling out that one of the country's planes, which crashed early on Wednesday in Iran killing all 176 passengers and crew, was brought down by a missile or an attack amid a sharp escalation of tension between Tehran and Washington.Ukrainian International airliner bound for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, plunged from the sky minutes after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran.aljazeera
Imran Khan to visit Kuala Lumpur to placate Malaysia: Report
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/imran-khan-to-visit-kuala-lumpur-to-placate-malaysia-report-4797351.html
Prime Minister Imran Khan will be travelling to Malaysia this month to placate Kuala Lumpur after Pakistan skipped a summit of Muslim nations reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to a media report. Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the December 19-21 summit hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, but skipped the event at the 11th hour due to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - key financial backers of the cash-strapped country.Official sources confirmed that Khan is scheduled to travel to Kaula Lumpur by the end of January, The Express Tribune reported.PTI
4 Mediterranean countries call Turkey-GNA deals 'void'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/mediterranean-countries-call-turkey-gna-deals-void-200109062417867.html
France, Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have condemned deals signed between Turkey and Libya's United Nations-recognised government assigning Ankara rights over a vast area of the eastern Mediterranean.A statement issued on Wednesday by the foreign ministers of the four countries, after a meeting in Cairo, declared the agreements "null and void" and said they undermined regional stability.Their Italian counterpart, who also took part in the meeting in Egypt's capital, did not sign the statement.The two agreements denounced by the four Mediterranean states are a military pact and a maritime deal, signed in late November by the head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.aljazeera
US envoy: Next plan is to let Israel annex West Bank
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200109-us-envoy-next-plan-is-to-let-israel-annex-west-bank/
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said that America’s next step, after recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, is annexation of the occupied West Bank, Ma’an reported.In a press conference held jointly with the Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett, Friedman said that he has been doing his best since he become ambassador to “fix” the issues which remain outstanding after the 1967 war.“Since coming here l’ve worked to add one more item to a busy agenda: helping to find a fix to the issues that still linger from the Six Day War.”There are three important issues, he said, Jerusalem, which US has already recognised as Israel’s capital and relocated its embassy to, the Golan Heights, which America has recognised Israel’s sovereignty of, and the West Bank.middleeastmonitor
Israel’s plan to isolate Al-Aqsa, end Waqf role
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200109-israels-plan-to-isolate-al-aqsa-mosque-end-waqf-role/
Since the start of the year, Israel has been implementing a plan to isolate and suffocate Al-Aqsa Mosque and change its status.Deputy Director of Muslim Waqf Department in occupied Jerusalem, Najeh Bkerat, said the occupation is increasing the frequency of its violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the performance of Talmudic rituals within its compound, restricting the movement of Muslim worshippers, and thus imposing a new reality in the mosque.According to Brekat, Israel has also threatened to close the Rahma Gate in an effort to increase its presence in the compound and get a foothold within its walls.Finally, Israel seeks to impose its sovereignty on Al-Aqsa Mosque by interfering with the powers of the Islamic Waqf, including by preventing the Muslim body from carrying out any work inside the compound, in addition to hindering restoration and reconstruction activities.middleeastmonitor
Poll shows Israel’s third election in a year will continue political stalemate
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200109-poll-shows-israels-third-election-in-a-year-will-continue-political-stalemate/
Israel’s third election in a year is set to continue the longstanding political stalemate, according to the results of a new poll conducted for Israeli news site Walla.According to the poll, as things stand Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) are set to win the largest number of seats (35), two more than Likud’s 33.The Joint List would win 13 seats, while Shas, Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, and United Torah Judaism would all secure eight seats each.The poll gave the New Right Party six seats, Labor five seats, and Meretz four.MEMO
Members Of Muslim Community In Australia Travel To Fire-Hit Area To Cook Food For Firefighters
https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/human-interest/members-of-muslim-community-travel-to-fire-hit-region-to-cook-meals-for-exhausted-firefighters-503834.html
One would believe that a few bouts of rain might have brought some relief to the firefighters in Australia who have been working round the clock to douse the raging bushfires. But the extent of the fires is such that there is hardly any breathing space for them. In order to help the firefighters, a Muslim group traveled to a ravaged town to help those affected by the fires. These members of the Newport Islamic Society cooked meals for firefighters who have been working tirelessly at the Johnsonville Volunteer Fire Brigade, over the weekend. These firefighters have been trying to control the fires raging in East Gippsland for the past week. “It was very emotional to see how tired and drained they were. They were just exhausted,” Daily Mail Australia quoted volunteer, Lookman El Kurdi, as saying. indiatimes
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Growing radicalisation of Hindus threatens the Indian republic and the Constitution:Samar Halarnkar
https://scroll.in/article/949101/the-growing-radicalisation-of-hindus-threatens-indias-republic-and-the-constitution
A new, fractured global order is upon us. India’s response must evolve accordingly:Shashi Tharoor, indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/reading-between-faultlines-6206904/
Soleimani’s assassination has no ethical justification, brings global order to the brink:Sarjan Shah, indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/drone-delivered-injustice-us-airstrike-iran-general-qassem-soleimani-6206907/
JNU is one of India’s great universities. Its autonomy — at all levels — must be nurtured and replicated:Yoginder K. Alagh, indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/jnu-violence-notes-from-a-former-vc-yoginder-alaghs-diary-6206911/
Delhi Polls: Can CAA Cause Muslim Shift The Way Babri Did in 1993?ADITYA MENONUP, thequint
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/citizenship-amendment-act-muslims-delhi-assembly-elections-shaheen-bagh-jamia
I saw cops break open the door of the mosque: First eyewitness deposes in Suleman Usman Bakery case trial
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/i-saw-cops-break-open-the-door-of-the-mosque/articleshow/73162880.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
No open attacks on Priyanka, firming up Muslim vote base without hardcore polarisation: Akhilesh Yadav finetunes strategy in UP: Aman Sharma, ET
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/no-open-attacks-on-priyanka-firming-up-muslim-vote-base-without-hardcore-polarisation-akhilesh-yadav-finetunes-strategy-in-up/articleshow/73165542.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Why Kejriwal Is More Dangerous Than Ever For Modi:Ashutosh, Opinion, NDTV
https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/why-kejriwal-is-more-dangerous-than-ever-for-modi-2160864?pfrom=home-topstories
It’s Time to Tell Amit Shah and Narendra Modi, ‘Hum Sab JNU’:Siddharth Varadarajan, thewire
https://thewire.in/politics/its-time-to-tell-amit-shah-and-narendra-modi-hum-sab-jnu
Justice Dilip B. Bhosale Resigns as Lokpal Member, 9 Months After Appointment:Ashwini Shrivastava, thewire
https://thewire.in/law/justice-dilip-b-bhosale-lokpal
By amending citizenship act, government has given ideological treatment to law it believed was sick:Tahir Mahmood, scroll
https://scroll.in/article/948966/by-amending-citizenship-act-government-has-given-ideological-treatment-to-law-it-believed-was-sick
Desperate to bridge fiscal gap Modi-Shah regime decides to sell iconic 5 PSUs :Mala Jay, nationalheraldindia
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/desperate-to-bridge-fiscal-gap-modi-shah-regime-decides-to-sell-iconic-5-psus
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:16 PM).*
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