NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
18 March 2020: 22 Rajjab 1441: Vol: 12, No: 159
*INDIA*
Aim was to improve services, not spy, says Govt over call records of all users as Cellphone operators red-flag ‘surveillance’
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/aim-was-to-improve-services-not-spy-centre-denies-call-surveillance-2196815
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/call-data-records-government-surveillance-6319528/
New Delhi: Government today denied asking for call details of citizens after excerpts of a letter by telecom operators to the Department of Telecom were reported today, raising concerns about state surveillance."There were complaints of call drops from various places, after which the government asked for call data records randomly and in bulk to investigate how many attempts it took to connect calls and the number of call drops," official sources said."The government's aim was to improve telecom services, not spy on citizens," they asserted, pointing out that mobile operators were liable to pay fines for call drops. A group of telecom operators has written to the government expressing concern over the Department of Telecom (DoT) asking for call data records of users. Call data records have "personal and sensitive information" and should not be shared, the Cellular Operators' Association of India has written in its letter to DoT last month."DoT is clarifying its mandate under the Telegraph Act to collect such data and it is being done purely for network management purposes - to improve call quality and help resolve issues. We are awaiting final clearance from the DoT on its response," the COAI told NDTV.The cellular operators had urged the government not to ask for call data records (CDRs) on an ad hoc basis and without specifying the purpose. NDTV has learnt that following the letter, DoT reached out to COAI and there may be discussions soon."CDRs sought for specific routes/areas may lead to allegations of surveillance, especially in the state like Delhi having numerous VVIP zones having offices and residences of Ministers, MPs, Judges etc," said the letter by COAI on Feb.12, addressed to Anshu Prakash, the Department of Telecom.Pointing to the sensitive information in call records, the operator say in their letter that "utmost precaution is required to be exercised while providing as well as seeking such CDRs". The letter pointed at SOPs established by the telecom department. These included ascertaining the identity of subscriber, examining the justification carefully, detailing the purpose for seeking their call records and not using the data for any other purpose.The operators said "despite such detailed and clear process", various units of DoT were not adhering to the process and "continue to seek voluminous CDR details on regular basis in contravention to the above referred instructions". DoT units "continue to seek one day CDR details from the licensee on monthly basis like Andhra (1st and 5th day of the month), Delhi (18th Day), Haryana (21st Day), Himachal Pradesh and J&K (last day of the previous month), Kerala and Odisha (15th Day), Madhya Pradesh and Punjab (last day of previous month and first day of current month) etc," cellular operators said.The department also continued to seek additional CDR details on ad hoc basis, they said. In the Delhi circle, with nearly 53 million subscribers, Indian Express has learnt, CDRs of consumers were sought by the DoT for February 2, 3 and 4 this year. Incidentally, protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act were on at the time; campaigning for Delhi elections ended on February 6 and polls were held two days later. NDTV/ Indian Express
Govt Creating 'Orwellian State': Opposition Slams Collection of Call Records of All Citizens as Absolute Transgression of Right to Privacy
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/govt-creating-orwellian-state-opposition-slams-collection-of-call-records-of-all-citizen-as-absolute-transgression-of-right-to-privacy
New Delhi:“A sinister pre-meditated orchestrated plot has been put in place in order to unleash a mass surveillance programme on the citizens of India, which is an absolute transgression of Right to Privacy guaranteed by the Supreme Court in a 9-0 judgment,” said Congress today while strongly condemning the central government move to collect CDRs of all citizens in certain states.Address the media Congress spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari said: “The reports which have emerged in the public space are extremely disturbing because the government has decided that it will carry out mass surveillance against the citizens of India.”We strongly condemn and we deprecate this assault on the fundamental freedom which have been provided in the Constitution and have been interpreted by the Supreme Court. An ‘Orwellian State’ is sought to be created and we would ask the government, we would hold the government to account that in violation and transgression of the rules, which were tightened by the then UPA govt in 2013, with regard to obtaining call detail records, with regard to electronic interception of telephones and with regard to cyber communication. Why and how are these things being violated with impunity on a daily basis,” asked Tewari.Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also targeted the government over the issue. “#ModiShah now forcing telco operators to provide call records of all users. What next Shah? Will you GoliMaro everyone whose conversations go against you? This is is illegal & unacceptable,” she tweeted.Some journalists have also raised concern over the issue.Ravi Nair tweeted: “In violation of user privacy guidelines mandated by the SC, Modi govt is seeking Call Data Records of all mobile subscribers across several states for specific days over the past few months including the areas of Delhi where many judges &bureaucrats reside.”indiatomorrow
Cong accuses govt of carrying out surveillance on citizens
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/cong-accuses-govt-of-carrying-out-surveillance-on-citizens-cites-media-reports-120031801356_1.html
Bureaucrat Who Planned Modi Govt's Tracking Database Now Fears A Police State
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/modi-govt-tracking-database-police-state-fears_in_5e70cb5ec5b6eab7793ca8f5?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
New Delhi:The senior bureaucrat tasked with laying the foundations for the Indian government’s controversial Social Registry warned that a centralised, cross-linked database of this scale could compromise the privacy and security of over a billion Indians, but his warnings were ignored, documents reviewed by HuffPost India establish.The Social Registry, as HuffPost India has previously reported, is intended to automatically track the social and economic lives of citizens — in a bid to continuously estimate their eligibility for government assistance.However, as work on the registry progressed, Manoranjan Kumar, then Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Rural Development, realised that such a system could easily be misused by governments. Kumar asked for the system to have adequate privacy safeguards in place at a time when “the policing system and bureaucracy that is not hesitating to show crumbling morality”. HuffPost India has written to the Ministry of Rural Development and will update this article if the ministry responds.huffingtonpost
*Anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
1,000 women write to chief ministers to de-link Census from NPR
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/03/18/1000-women-write-to-chief-ministers-to-de-link-census-from-npr.html
More than 1,000 women from across India have written to state CMs requesting to de-link NPR from Census house listing maintaining that it presents a “clear danger to women”.The letter reads, “Women, irrespective of caste and religious community, will be hugely affected by NPR-NRIC citizenship regime being rolled out by Central government, that puts all our citizenship rights to test, in an arbitrary and frightening manner. The combination of NPR and NRIC will force each person to prove their citizenship, and disproportionately put at risk the women, the weakest, and the most marginal people of our country”.The updation of NPR is scheduled to begin from April 1, 2020 along with house listing for the Census of India, 2021. The letter has been signed by activists, writers, academics, lawyers, doctors, farmers, professionals, anganwadi workers and women from all walks of life from more than 20 states and has been sent to chief ministers of all states.The letter, released on Tuesday evening, reads, “We write to you as Indian women who are opposed to NPR. Women constitute nearly 50% of India’s population, and this opposition is based on clear evidence from our own lives.”The letter also calls into question Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark that no one shall be marked “doubtful” during the NPR exercise.The signatories to the letter have asked that the sanctity of the Census operations be protected and for that chief ministers of every state must de-link the NPR and the Census, sending enumerators out only with the census schedule.theweek
Boycott NPR: Socio- religious leaders, activists appeal to citizens
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/boycott-npr-civic-leaders-appeal-to-citizens
NEW DELHI:Around 40 renowned faces of the civil society, including judges, human rights activists, journalists, academicians and clerics, have made a joint appeal to the citizens of the country to boycott the process of NPR which the central government has announced to start across the country from April 1.Referring to NPR, CAA and NRC, they said “these are divisive, discriminatory, against the letter and spirit of the Indian Constitution and antithetical to the ethos of our freedom struggle and civilisational values.”“We have already rejected or given call for boycott of NPR, since NPR is the first step towards unfolding of this new citizenship regime. Further we have also opposed clubbing of NPR with the decennial Census as it puts at risk the sacrosanct, confidential and vital data gathering under the Census. Various state governments have also passed resolutions in their assemblies or issued orders opposing the implementation of NPR in its present form,” reads the joint appeal signed by around 50 people including Harsh Mandar, Yogendra Yadav, Yashwant Sinha, Syed Sadatullah Hussaini, Maulana Mahmood Madani, Sandeep Panday and Justice Kolse Patil.While welcoming Shah’s remarks, the civic leaders have urged him to make amendments in the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 to incorporate his verbal assurances.They also made it clear that they would withdraw the boycott call as soon as the central government carries out the mentioned amendments in the concerned laws.India Tomorrow
There Will Be Constitutional Crisis If Centre Insists On NPR: Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-there-will-be-constitutional-crisis-if-centre-insists-on-npr-kerala-finance-minister-thomas-isaac/349005
Even though Home Minister Amit Shah sought to dispel concerns about NPR last week, more than 12 states have come out in opposition against the exercise, which is set to begin from April 1.Kerala was the first state to pass a resolution against CAA and it has also suspended the updation process of NPR in the state. In an interview to Outlook, state finance minister Thomas Isaac said that their government wouldn’t conduct NPR at any cost. He warned that if the Centre insists, it will even disrupt the Census operation, which will take place along with NPR. The Minister said, "If they are going to insist on NPR, even census operation will be in danger. It was never interrupted even during Second World War. It’s very important that census operation takes place. The state government has taken the position that we will faithfully carry out the census exercise. But we can’t force people if a large section of population refuses. Now a large section is agitating against census too. We haven’t done any training for NPR in the state and we refused to print forms for the same."outlookindia
No documents will be collected for NPR, govt yet to take a call on NRC, Govt informs Rajya Sabha
https://www.firstpost.com/india/no-documents-will-be-collected-for-npr-govt-yet-to-take-a-call-on-nrc-mos-home-nityanand-rai-informs-rajya-sabha-8165051.html
New Delhi: No document will be collected from anyone during the exercise to be carried out to update National Population Register, Union minister Nityanand Rai said on Wednesday.Rai also said in Rajya Sabha that till now, the central government has not taken any decision to prepare the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the national level. "No document is to be collected during the updation of NPR 2020," Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home, said replying to a written question.PTI
With 2 weeks to scheduled census start, uncertainty clouds NPR
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/with-2-weeks-to-scheduled-census-start-uncertainty-clouds-npr/article31092698.ece
New Delhi:At least 13 States, and Delhi, covering almost 60% of the total population of India, are opposed to the updation of NPR in the format being prepared by the Centre, even as the nationwide exercise is scheduled to kick off in barely two weeks time on April 1.Home minister Amit Shah told Parliament last week that people could choose to not respond to questions, but Chief Ministers and activists have said that this is no guarantee that they would not face any problems in the future.thehindu
Hundreds of women in India brave virus threat to protest citizenship law: Arab News
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1642991/world
New Delhi: Hundreds of women took to the streets in the Indian capital New Delhi on Tuesday, in defiance of the government’s orders against mass gatherings, to continue protesting against the new citizenship law.The activists demanded chief ministers from 29 Indian states de-link the census from the NPR saying: “It would render many woman as stateless, regardless of caste and community, as the majority of them leave their natal homes upon marriage without any documents in tow.”Humera Sayed, 26, said she was not afraid of the coronavirus outbreak despite the warning issued by the government to avoid public assembly.“For me coronavirus is less dangerous than CAA and NRC that threaten the very existence of the Muslim community in India,” Sayed, who has been sitting at the protest site in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area since mid-Dec, told Arab News.“If the government is really concerned about the safety of Muslim citizens, then why did it fail to protect their lives in the recent wave of violence in Delhi that claimed so many lives?” she added. Activists believe NPR is the precursor to the proposed NRC, an exercise in identifying the genuine citizens of India. Muslims in India fear that NPR and NRC would render them stateless if they failed to provide citizenship documents, but that Hindus, for example, would be protected under the CAA. “Coronavirus does not challenge our existence, you can be cured of coronavirus, but the law that govt has brought in threatens the very existence of the Muslim community in India,” said Zikra Mojibi, a postgraduate student at the protest in Delhi.
Coronavirus: Child rights body seeks report on Shaheen Bagh protest amid ban on large gatherings
https://scroll.in/latest/956556/coronavirus-child-rights-body-seeks-report-on-shaheen-bagh-protest-amid-ban-on-large-gatherings
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Wednesday sought a report from the district magistrate of South East Delhi about the ongoing protest at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh locality against the CAA amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, PTI reported.The child rights body in a letter to the authorities said it had received a complaint about huge number of people being present at the protest site despite the repeated advisories against large gatherings. “You are kindly requested to take necessary action in view of advisory issued by the State Government and the Central Government regarding safety and prevention for COVID-19 and submit a report to the Commission within three days from the date of issue of this letter,” it said.The Delhi government on Monday banned gatherings of more than 50 persons – including ongoing protests – till March 31 to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 infection. After initially defying the order, the protestors at Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday said they will limit the number of people at the sit-in to less than 50. The volunteers also said that necessary arrangements such as thermal scanners and masks for demonstrators are being made to avoid the spread of infection.scroll
402 Gram Sabhas in 15 Odisha Districts Pass Resolutions Condemning CAA, NPR
https://thewire.in/government/odisha-gram-sabha-caa
New Delhi: In an extraordinary feat, 402 gram sabhas in 15 districts of Odisha have passed resolutions urging the state government to stop the implementation of the contentious CAA and pull out from NPR exercise.Eleven state governments, including those of Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, have passed such resolutions in their respective assemblies but this is the first time that gram sabhas have taken such a step to pressurise the government to act against the NPR-CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC.Soon after the resolutions were passed in the villages, a memorandum was sent to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and the district collectors of the 15 districts.The gram sabhas that have passed resolutions belong to Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Bargarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Jharsuguda and Jajpur districts of the state. A citizens’ collective, Campaign for Survival with Dignity (CSD), Odisha Nari Samaj, and other such social organisations had been canvassing in these villages against the NPR-CAA-NRC combine. “A memorandum on the basis of these resolutions has been sent to the Odisha chief minister and Collectors of the concerned districts,” Narendra Mohanty, convening body member of CSD told The Hindu.
B''luru''s anti-CAA protest continues amid COVID-19 fears
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/blurus-anticaa-protest-continues-amid-covid19-fears/1771785
Bengaluru:A group of women continued to protest the CAA at Bilal Bagh in the city amid Coronavirus scare."I am not scared of Coronavirus. Even if I fall sick and if that it is such a big issue, first annul the CAA and NRC," said a lady protesting at Bilal Bagh.She said if the government is so concerned about the protesters'' safety, it can arrange for our protection."Remove the CAA and the NRC, we will go back to our homes and relax. Do not subject us to the difficulties like that of Assam," she said.The protesters appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to undo the CAA and the NPR.Most of the women, numbering around 50, are wearing masks to avert Coronavirus contracting them and are maintaining distance between each other.The protesters have fumigated and sanitized the site of their showdown.IANS
BJP destroying constitutionalism, denigrating democratic system: Sibal
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/bjp-destroying-constitutionalism-denigrating-democratic-system-sibal-ians-interview/1771695
New Delhi:Top of the line legal eagle, Congress leader and former Union minister Kapil Sibal wears many hats, adept as he is at multi tasking. Speaking to Sandeep Bamzai, Editor in Chief and Executive Editor Deepak Sharma of IANS TV on several contentious issues, he rejected the notion of religion being used as the basis of granting of Indian citizenship, debunking the very template of the controversial CAA.Using his long years of intellectual heft sharpened on the whetstone of law and legality, he explained why Ranjan Gogoi should not have accepted a Rajya Sabha nomination. According to him, it is the former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who himself said that any judge who accepts a sinecure would be blot on the institution, which means it has now got nothing to do with law but his own credibility.He agrees that nature abhors a vacuum and it is incumbent on the Congress to step and once again become the people''s choice. His worry is that democracy has become a facade and the days of night are right here. Sibal said, "That you were born in India, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, or that your parents were born here - they may be Hindu Muslim whatever. Or you were residing here for 10 years as a Hindu or Muslim or anybody, so both under the constitution and Citizenship Act of 1955, religion has never been the basis for grant of citizenship.So there is a fundamental constitutional issue which is now pending in the Supreme Court. Apart from that NPR/NRC issue will integrate into the CAA. NPR will be the basis and then NRC will be prepared. NPR is going to be prepared in such a fashion that even a low level officer will be entitled to say that, I doubt the citizenship of this particular individual. Home Minister said in Parliament that he has given an assurance. But that assurance is of no value because under Rule 44 of the rules pursuant to a notification by the government of India under the Act, the power is given to the local registrar and enumerator to doubt the citizenship of anybody."IANS
Court asks UP to respond to plea challenging new law against CAA protests
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/up-govt-to-respond-to-petition-challenging-new-ordinance/1772340
Lucknow;Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a counter-affidavit by March 25 on a PIL challenging the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance.The ordinance was hurriedly brought in last week after the High Court and Supreme Court indicted the Yogi Adityanath government, wanting to know under which law it had put up hoardings of anti-CAA protesters accused of damaging property along with their names, photos, and addresses.The division bench, comprising of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Samit Gopal, on Wednesday listed the matter for hearing on March 27. The PIL has been filed by petitioners Maha Prasad and others.The petitioners'' counsel pointed out that the ordinance was arbitrary in its very nature as its provisions allowed the persons to be exposed to public, as criminals without their adjudication for any criminal charge.A similar petition is to come up before the Lucknow bench of the high court on Thursday that has been filed by one of the accused who figures in the Lucknow hoardings - senior advocate Mohammad Shoaib.Meanwhile, the High Court has asked UP government to file its compliance report by April regarding removal of the anti CAA protesters'' hoardings across Lucknow.IANS
UP hoardings: 13 get notice to pay more, or face jail
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-hoardings-13-get-notice-to-pay-more-or-face-jail-6319542/
More than a dozen people in Lucknow who had been issued recovery notices for damage related to violence during anti-CAA protests in December will now have to pay 10% extra within a week or face jail. Lucknow administration on Tuesday issued “recovery certificates” and “demand notice” to 13, whose cases come under jurisdiction of Hasanganj Police Station.They are among the 57 people, across four police stations of Lucknow, served notices for recovery of overall Rs 1.55 crore for the destruction of property and assets during Dec.19 protests within 30 days or face attachment of properties. 13 include Osama Siddiqui, Mohd Hashim, Dharmeveer Singh, Mohd Kaleem, Mohd Kaleem, Muqtar Ahamad, Mohad Zakir, Mohd Salman, Mubin, Wasim, Mohd Shafiuddin, Mahenur Choudhury and Hafiz-ur-Rehman.indianexpress
Chennai’s Shaheen Bagh temporarily calls off anti-CAA protest over coronavirus
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chennai-s-shaheen-bagh-temporarily-calls-off-anti-caa-protest-over-coronavirus-fears-1656721-2020-03-18
Chennai:In the wake of the outbreak of novel coronavirus, anti-CAA protesters at Washermenpet, who had been staging a sit-in against the new citizenship law for over a month, temporarily called off the agitation in the wee hours of Wednesday. Drawing inspiration from Shaheen Bagh protesters in Delhi, scores of women in Chennai had launched a massive agitation against the new citizenship law. The protest was, however, called off following a request by the government and religious leaders who urged for postponement as a measure against the novel coronavirus outbreak. A meeting was held late night by committee members at Washermenpet and the protest was temporarily called off at 1 am on Wednesday.Chennai
Over 5,000 In Chennai Defy Coronavirus Advisory, Gather For CAA Protest
https://www.ndtv.com/chennai-news/coronavirus-outbreak-over-5-000-in-chennai-defy-virus-advisory-gather-for-citizenship-amendment-act-2196868?pfrom=home-topscroll
Chennai: Defying government advisories to avoid large gatherings as precaution against coronavirus, more than 5,000 people took to the streets in Chennai today in protest against CAA, delivering a frightening scenario of the virus infecting people at an exponential rate.India, at stage 2 of the outbreak (meaning the virus is still locally transmitted), has taken several measures to stop its spread, including shutting down public places.In what could become a nightmare for those fighting the virus, a huge crowd gathered at the Chepauk area near Marina Beach demanding the withdrawal of the controversial citizenship law and a resolution in the Tamil Nadu assembly against the CAA, NRC and NPR.The protesters, all members of the group Thowheeth Jamaat, also held similar demonstrations in other districts.Holding placards against the CAA, NRC and NPR, the protesters raised slogans that conveyed that while coronavirus had taken three lives, the citizenship law protests had claimed the lives of 80 people across the country.ndtv
Ranchi's :“Shaheen Bagh” Protest to continue despite coronavirus threat
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/kadru-protest-to-continue-despite-coronavirus-threat/cid/1754674
Ranchi:“Shaheen Bagh” of the state capital on Tuesday presented a picture in stark contrast with the other streets of Ranchi.Despite widespread fear and panic over novel coronavirus, the protest against citizenship matrix near Haj House at Kadru continued with equal zeal.Around 100 women were seen staging a sit-in around 4pm. The protest by women, mostly Muslims, that started on January 20 completed its 60th day on Tuesday. Will the women continue their protest or withdraw it in view of the coronavirus threat and the related government orders against crowded events? “We are aware of the government’s decision and would consider ways to help check spread of coronavirus,” said Nussy Begum, who has been protesting at Kadru from Day One.“We are concerned and may downsize the gathering and only a few women would sit for the protest maintaining a safe distance,” Nussy said.“The women are here not to create any problem but to uphold their constitutional rights,” said Tanweer Ahmed, who handles the media on behalf of the protesters Ahmed said they were also considering the best possible ways to facilitate upcoming festivals Sarhul and Ram Navami. The anti-CAA-NRC-NPR protesters from Dhanbad on Tuesday withdrew their plan to agitate in front of the Assembly after meeting minority welfare minister Haji Hussain Ansari in Ranchi, who they said had promised a House resolution against NPR.telegraphindia
COVID-19: Better to die here than in detention centres, say Mumbai Bagh protesters
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/covid-19-better-to-die-here-than-in-detention-centres-say-mumbai-bagh-protesters/article31094760.ece?homepage=true
Mumbai:As the situation due to spread of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic continues to be fluid, women protesters at Mumbai Bagh said they would comply with all safety precautions, but won’t call off their protest, which has now entered its 51st day. Despite thinner crowds, the older women are firm on remaining at the site and continuing their protest until the Assembly listens and passes a resolution against CAA, NRC, and NPR in the State.Mariam, a regular protester who also manages activities at Mumbai Bagh, said “We are following all the necessary precautions here. We have made sanitisation mandatory. All of us offer prayers five times a day and we have to wash our hands before that as well. People are being provided with masks, women’s faces are ordinarily also covered by burqa and we are requesting people with any sign of illness to not come to the protests, specially young children and elderly women,” she said. A visit to the spot on Tuesday showed that efforts have also been taken to space out the women. A disinfectant was being sprayed, and a team of paramedics, made up of protesters who are also practising doctors, is routinely briefing the crowd on sanitisation and the importance of maintaining cleanliness. “If anyone reports a fever or signs of sickness, they can go and get themselves checked,” Dr. Vasika Seliya, a nearby resident and member of the medical teams, said.thehindu
Anti-CAA protesters plan to call off agitation in Rajasthan
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/anti-caa-protesters-plan-to-call-off-agitation-in-state/articleshow/74681424.cms
Jaipur: Following the state govt’s directive on social distancing, the 24/7 anti-CAA protest running across the state are contemplating to call off the protest to join the nation’s fight against the spread of the virus. Considering the prevailing situation, Naim Rabbani, coordinator of the Jaipur’s Shaheen Bagh in told TOI, “Since the state has initiated several steps in containing the spread of the virus, the protest committee has called a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to take a call on the status of the protest.”Both the protest sites in Jaipur-Shaheed Smarak and Karbala Maidan have been drawing Muslim women from huge numbers every day. Similarly, Samvidhan Bachao Samiti of Chittorgarh has called a meeting on Wednesday for the same.TOI
Maharshtra: Solapur Shaheen Bagh suspended for 15 days
https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/others/solapur-shaheen-bagh-suspended-for-15-days/articleshow/74679424.cms
Solapur Shaheen Bagh has announced that the protest is suspended till March 31 and a review will be taken about the future course of action later. Haseeb Nadaf, organiser of the Solapur Shaheen Bagh protest, told Mumbai Mirror, “We had a meeting with the district collector, where he appealed to us to cooperate and stop the spread of the coronavirus as per the central government’s advisory. Considering the larger point of public health safety, we have decided to respond to this appeal and we have suspended the protest.”In Aurangabad too, protesters have decided to cancel all the speeches which used to take place throughout the day. Abdula Rafe, leader of the Shaheen Bagh protest, said, “We had a meeting with the police and collector. We understand their concerns about the possible spread of the coronavirus if we continue the protest in similar ways. That’s why we have decided that not more than three people will be on the stage and at the site, not more than 12 people will be sitting at one time.” He also said that if the state government decides to withdraw the NPR, CAA and NRC, they will immediately stop the protest.Imtiaz Jaleel, AIMIM MP of Aurangabad, had a meeting with Shaheen Bagh protesters at Aurangabad. “We discussed the risk of continuing the protest at length. We strongly support the protesters’ demands but at this time, we must all fight the virus. The outcome of the meeting is positive.”Ibrahim Khan of the Pune Shaheen Bagh protest also informed that the number of protesters has been cut down to 50. “We will not organise any speech for some time. We are making sure that everyone will sit at a distance,” he added. At Kalyan, the orgnisers are meeting on Tuesday night to decide the future of the protest there. Mohesin Sheikh told Mumbai Mirror, “We understand that the health advisory and the infection may spread across. We may take a call to reduce the number of protesters by tomorrow.”Feroze Mithiborwala, who is coordinating Mumbai Bagh protest at Nagpada, said that they do understand how big the coronavirus spread risk is and have already changed the sitting arrangement. PUNE mirror
CAA protests: Calcutta HC sets aside govt's leave India notice to Polish student
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/calcutta-hc-sets-aside-centre-s-leave-india-notice-to-polish-120031800751_1.html
Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside a 'Leave India' notice to a Polish student by the Union government for allegedly participating in an anti-CAA rally here.Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya directed the central government not to give effect to the notice served on the Poland citizen, who studies at the Jadavpur University.The high court had earlier restrained the central government from giving effect to its 'Leave India' notice to the Polish student, till it passes an order on his petition challenging the notice.Kamil Siedczynski, the student from Poland who is enrolled for a Masters' degree in the Department of Comparative Literature at Jadavpur University, was served a 'Leave India' notice dated February 14 from FRRO, Kolkata.PTI
Member of panel that picked Jamia V-C changes mind, tells President: Remove her
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jamia-millia-vc-najma-akhtar-president-kovind-6319445/
New Delhi :A member of the search committee tasked to look for candidates to be appointed as V-C of Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi has written to President Ram Nath Kovind to recall the appointment of Dr Najma Akhtar, who currently heads the university.In his letter to President on written on March 8, Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, a member of the search committee formed in 2018, claimed that CVC had denied vigilance clearance to Akhtar in an office memo (OM) dated Jan.10, 2019.Ramaswamy quoted paper reports to claim that CVC had recommended not considering Akhtar for any post-retirement assignment or re-employment in any organisation, institution or university under the ambit of HRD Ministry.His letter does not spell out what was CVC objection or why it denied vigilance clearance to Akhtar.3 months ago, Akhtar, Jamia’s first woman V-C, had criticised Delhi Police for barging into the Jamia campus following violence during anti-CAA protests in south Delhi.Soon after police entered the campus, vandalised the library and beat up students on the night of Dec.15, Akhtar had put out a video message criticising the police, and saying she stood with her students. The next day, she called a press conference where, surrounded by senior officials, she reiterated that police entry and action on the campus were without permission and condemnable.Besides Ramaswamy, Professor DP Singh and Justice (retired) MSA Siddiqui were members of the Search Committee.When contacted, Ramaswamy said he did not wish to discuss the matter. The Delhi High Court is already seized of a petition challenging Akhtar’s appointment to the post of V-C.
*DELHI VIOLENCE*
Delhi riots: Police acted swiftly but high population density, narrow lanes added to challenges, Govt tells RS
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-police-acted-swiftly-but-high-population-density-narrow-lanes-added-to-challenges-govt-tells-rs-6320399/
Union Home Ministry today said in the Rajya Sabha that the Delhi Police acted swiftly and promptly in a professional manner during the riots in the national capital last month, adding that the high population density of the area and narrow lanes were a challenge in the movement of forces and vehicles.In a written reply, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said, “North East District of Delhi has the highest density of population in India with several pockets of mixed population areas. The Delhi Police acted swiftly and promptly in a professional manner, but the high population density of the area and narrow lanes/ by-lanes added to the challenges in the movement of forces and vehicles.”While containing the violence, over 100 policemen had suffered injuries, Reddy added. Delhi Police had ensured that the disturbances were contained and not allowed to spread to other parts of the city, he said.indianexpress
Hate Speech Ignited, Police Facilitated: Former Bureaucrats to President on Delhi Violence
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/4/18464/Former-Bureaucrats-to-President-on-Delhi-Violence---Hate-Speech-IgnitedPolice-Facilitated
As many as 89 former civil servants, in a letter to the President of India, have expressed serious concerns over hate speeches and questioned the role of police over Delhi violence. They wrote a letter after sending a fact-finding mission to the riots-hit areas of north east Delhi. Former bureaucrats in their letter stated, "It is with deep anguish and concern that we, the members of the Constitutional Conduct Group (“CCG”) comprising former civil servants, write this letter to place before you some major issues in the aftermath of the widespread violence in North-East Delhi. On 12th March, 11 members of CCG visited violence affected areas of North East Delhi including Shiv Vihar, Brijpuri and Mustafabad.It is distressing that, even more than two weeks after the violence, the group did not see much evidence of any serious outreach by political parties to provide mental or physical support to victims of violence. There is no serious effort to re-establish much needed confidence building measures between communities." The observations of the group which visited the affected areas are summarized in their letter: "In Aulia Masjid of Shiv Vihar, almost the entire building was found burnt and charred. A local resident pointed out that several cooking gas cylinders were thrown into the Masjid and set alight to ensure its total destruction. The building was saved by the fire brigade which responded to frantic distress calls from a member of the Hindu community. The group was informed that the miscreants were continuously shouting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram; Azadi dilate hain; Andar ki baat hai, police hamare saath hain”. We were also informed that the electricity lines were deliberately cut and electricity meters were burnt, throwing the entire area into darkness and forcing the members of the Muslim community to run for survival in the ensuing violence, pandemonium and panic." They futher wrote: "The group also visited the Eidgah Relief Camp set up by Delhi Waqf Board. It has given refuge to approximately 1200 displaced Muslims, including women and children, who fled their homes after the violence. There was no medical facility provided by the Delhi Government." The letter said, "the group met several displaced families from Karawal Nagar whose houses were looted or burnt. They informed that they were rescued by paramilitary forces on 26th Feb. Some of them showed handwritten complaints given to the police which bore the daily diary entry number from the police station. Some others mentioned that online FIRs filed by them are not being accepted for payment of compensation." In their letter they recommended, "We request the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry headed by a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court to enquire into the present incidents. The Commission should be specifically authorised to look into the failures of the administrative leadership of Lieutenant Governor and Police Commissioner of Delhi. It should also be mandated to inquire into the role of hate speech by political leaders and electronic and social media in dividing communities, spreading hatred and setting them against each other" They wrote, " The attitude and conduct of the Delhi Police during the build-up of tension over the CAA-NPR-NRC protests and the outbreak of violence in North East Delhi has once again underscored the urgency of correcting the institutional bias of the force."thecitizen
'My house was first to be set on fire':Stories of suffering from Shiv Vihar
https://thewire.in/communalism/my-house-was-the-first-to-be-set-on-fire-stories-of-suffering-from-shiv-vihar
New Delhi: As soon as you enter the Shiv Vihar area of Delhi, you get a sense of uneasiness and fear. Shops and schools stand burned and vandalised. The locality is also peppered with few CRPF and police personnel enjoying the last bits of the winter sun. A masjid in the area has been converted to a makeshift camp and people who were earning an honest, modest living until a few weeks ago, stand in queues, trying to make sure their family gets the next meal.Many have lost their life earnings, their belongings, their homes but they still call themselves lucky because they didn’t lose their lives.Walking through the narrow lanes of Shiv Vihar, Karwan-e-Mohabbat team met some survivors of the anti-Muslim riots that engulfed Northeast Delhi.Mohammed Mehtab’s home was the first one to be burned down when a mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram” attacked their area. According to him, the mob came fully prepared to attack Muslims and their homes. They came armed with rods, hockey sticks, chains, petrol bombs, revolvers and more.Mehtab and his family left the area the night before the violence started, when he said mobs came on motorbikes and raised slogans, flashing weapons. He saw it as a warning of what was to come. Mehtab is glad he didn’t ignore it.He hasn’t returned to his house since the family fled for their life. “I am very scared to go to that area, I don’t know what may happen”, he says.thewire
Ghettoisation Of Riot-scarred Delhi: Iron Gates Spring Up To Separate Communities
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-ghettoisation-of-riot-scarred-delhi-iron-gates-spring-up-to-separate-communities/348952
Iron gates are coming up in riot-hit Northwest Delhi as communities—both Hindus and Muslims—try to ring-fence their localities from potential intruders and rioters in the future. Gated colonies exist in Delhi but such community-specific ‘ghettos’ are, perhaps, a first in the national capital, indicating the fear that has become part of the lives of the riot-scarred people.People who had fled their homes are returning to their residences, trying to pick up their lives from the rubble of burnt out houses and shops, destroyed by armed mobs last month in one of the worst communal conflagrations in Delhi in recent times. More than 40 people were killed in the riots.The pictures show how the riot-scarred neighbourhoods are fortifying themselves.Besides riot-hit Maujpur and Karawal Nagar, such gates have also come up in Seelampur which escaped the riots. Local residents say they are too scared and don’t want to leave anything to chance.outlookindia
Delhi riots: For family of BJP man Mohsin Ali, an endless wait
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-karawal-nagar-bjp-6319621/
The “alleged human body”, says post-mortem report, was found near Karawal Nagar’s Yamuna Pushta road on Feb.26, right next to an overturned car, burnt, mangled and decomposed. It was not until Feb.29, when a team of doctors at GTB Hospital performed an autopsy on the charred bones, that one could be sure the remains were of a person. But since the identity had to be established, samples were sent for a DNA test on March 3. 2 weeks on, the report is yet to come out. “the results will come out but at least there is no doubt that it was a human being,” said Haider, whose friend Mohsin Ali has been missing since last month.An office-bearer of BJP’s minority cell in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur, 23-year-old Ali was driving through the area on Feb.25 where the body was found. The social media account of the 23-year-old paints the picture of a vibrant young man with a distinct interest in politics, with albums dedicated to his pre-wedding shoot and meetings of the minority cell. His posts speak highly of BJP and PM Narendra Modi, while also batting for Hindu-Muslim amity.indianexpress
Delhi riots: Peace committee gets 7,732 complaints of false info
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/ne-delhi-riots-peace-committee-gets-7-732-complaints-of-false-info/story-SFU3g46JlI4J0qi57XIf8I.html
New Delhi:Formed in the aftermath of the communal violence in north-east Delhi last month, Delhi Assembly’s Committee on Peace and Harmony has so far received 7,732 complaints of misleading information, hate messages and provocative content circulated through WhatsApp and social media, committee member and AAP MLA Raghav Chadha said on Tuesday.Of the total complaints received, 2,210 have been screened by the committee till now, he said. Out of the total screened, 504 were found to be “inflammatory, provocative and incriminating” in nature in the light of the communal violence in north-east Delhi last month.Chadha on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the committee. After the meeting, he said, “Today, the committee had summoned 2 complainants and both of them were heard at length. After recording their statements and a preliminary enquiry, a fit case for registration of FIR was made out.” The committee – which has members of both AAP and BJP – had earlier announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for each case in which a complaint would qualify as a fit case of FIR. Till Tuesday, Delhi government had disbursed compensation to tune of around Rs 13.52 crore, it said.HT
Team of doctors who visited violence-hit areas: calls for ramping up medical services to riot victims
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/report-calls-for-ramping-up-medical-services-to-riot-victims/article31094154.ece
Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum (PMSF), one of the first groups to send medical relief to riot-hit parts of north-east Delhi, on Wednesday came out with a report on the medical emergency in the wake of violence here. The report details the role of police and calls for ramping up of medical services.A team of about 8 doctors, under the banner of PMSF, had made repeated attempts to reach Al Hind Hospital in Old Mustafabad, which had reportedly been overrun with victims with grievous injuries, on February 24 and 25. However, they were allegedly stopped by the police as well as rioters, the group said. Ambulances were only able to reach the area following a High Court directive to the police to ensure safe passage, it added.Al Hind Hospital, which catered to about 30-40 patients a day, had more than 200 patients on February 24 itself, the report reads. The report also calls into question the “sincerity and quality” of medical response from the government. thehindu
Vandalised medical shop in Gautam Vihar opens shutters weeks after violence
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/vandalised-medical-shop-opens-shutters-weeks-after-violence/article31094129.ece
New Delhi: In what can be called the first few glimpses of rebuilding lives, a medical shop run by Salman was finally opened on Monday in riot-hit Gautam Vihar. The shop was entirely vandalised and looted by a mob during the violence on Feb 25. Showing a video shot by a neighbour which is still on his phone, Salman explained how the shutter was broken and articles in the shop were taken away by men, some of whom had covered their faces with handkerchiefs. Recalling the incident, Salman said, he and his brother Waseem closed the shop in a hurry, leaving behind the day’s earnings and ₹2 lakh which they had to pay to a distributor. Being the only Muslim-run shop on the stretch, Salman had asked his neighbours to take care as his house in Yamuna Vihar is about 3 km away from the shop and the neighbours tried their best, he said.thehindu
What Did Umar Khalid Exactly Say in His Speech in Amravati?
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/umar-khalid-amit-shah-delhi-police-meenakshi-lekhi-devendra-fadnavis
Delhi Police has filed an FIR against activist and former JNU research student Umar Khalid in connection with the communal violence that took place in Northeast Delhi in Feb. FIR alleges that “Khalid made an incendiary speech instigating people to block the streets during US President Donald Trump’s visit to India on 24-25 Feb.so that propaganda can be carried out at an international stage that minorities are being oppressed in India.”On 11 March, during the debate on the Delhi communal violence in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi and Tejaswi Surya accused Khalid of instigating the violence in Delhi by appealing to people to protest on the streets during US President Trump’s visit to India. Another claim regarding Khalid’s speech was made by BJP leader and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. According to Fadnavis, “Khalid in his rally in Amravati had said riots will take place in Delhi, much before the actual riots took place.”The speech that the Delhi Police and Amit Shah are referring to, is one that he made in Amravati on 20 Feb. If one listens to the entire speech, it doesn’t seem to be instigating violence anywhere. It doesn’t even directly call for the blocking of roads. “When Donald Trump comes to India on 24 Feb., then we will say that PM and the government of India are trying to divide the country. They are destroying the values of Mahatma Gandhi, and the people of India are fighting against them. If those in power want to divide India, the people of India are ready to unite the country.”This is the exact quote of what Khalid said, regarding the protests around President Trump’s visit to India. As is evident, he makes no mention of the visit in rest of his speech. The part alleged by Fadnavis – that Khalid predicted the riots in Delhi – couldn’t be found anywhere in the speech.thequint
Over 1000 social media accounts were operated from Pakistan to incite violence, report security agencies: Zeenews
https://zeenews.india.com/india/delhi-riots-over-1000-social-media-accounts-were-being-operated-from-pakistan-to-incite-violence-report-security-agencies-2270097.html
New Delhi: Security agencies on Tuesday said that over 1000 social media accounts were being operated from Pakistan to incite Delhi riots. The details shared by the agencies also revealed that the accounts were being operated from Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. The security agencies have also shared reports of 70 such social media handles which shared multiple tweets with the hashtag #DelhiRiots2020, #DelhiBurning, #ShameonDelhiPolice, #DelhiPoliceTruth, and #DelhiPoliceMurders. The tweets were done between Feb.25, and March 3, the time period when Delhi riots happened. The report further revealed that some tweets were also done with the Pakistan government's official Twitter account.zeenews
Delhi: For over 20 days, 2 riot-hit families await return of their 'teenage' sons from jail
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/caa-delhi-riots-arrested-families-jail-6320470/
New Delhi : 2 families – living three km apart – have been counting days ever since their sons were picked up by the police during riots and anti-CAA protests in northeast Delhi on February 25 and 26.“It’s been 22 days since my son was jailed,” said the mother of a teenager who was arrested from Chandbagh and lodged in Madoli jail.The police have booked him under IPC sections for rioting, assault on police, arson, unlawful assembly and vandalism. Sections of the Arms Act are also invoked against him.Another teenager from Khureji Khas was also arrested under identical charges. Both families said their sons were below 18. Aadhaar card of the Chandbagh teenager, a Class 5 dropout, which the family showed, has his date of birth as Nov.26, 2006. His mother said his son was arrested when he had gone to look for his younger brother on February 25 evening when the riots were raging in the locality. “We could not search for him due to restrictions on movement during riots… He is not even 13. How can the police arrest him?” the mother, a domestic help, asked. 3 days later, the family received a call, saying he was lodged in Madoli jail.Abdul Gaffar, a lawyer who is representing both the teenagers pro bono, argued that the police are required to establish the identity and age of an arrested person. “They did not do this in the Chandbagh case and relied on what the child told them,” he said.
*MP POLITICAL CRISIS*
MP crisis: SC says won’t interfere with floor test, asks Speaker to decide on Congress resignations; adjourns matter for tomorrow morning
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-live-updates-supreme-court-floor-test-digvijaya-singh-congress-bjp-6319762/
Hearing pleas concerning whether or not a floor test should be held in the crisis-hit Madhya Pradesh, the Supreme Court Wednesday turned down the proposal for producing 16 rebel MLAs of the Congress in judges’ chamber. It also observed that they may or may not go to the Assembly but they cannot be held captive. The bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta declined the offer of the rebel Congress MLAs, saying it would not be appropriate and also refused to send its Registrar General to meet them. It subsequently deferred the hearing for tomorrow at 10.30 am. The apex court said it is not going to come in the way of the legislature to decide who enjoys the trust but it has to ensure that there is a free exercise of choice which these 16 MLAs can make. “As a constitutional court, we have to discharge our duties,” said the bench, adding, as of now it knows that 16 rebel MLAs in Madhya Pradesh tilt the balance one way or the other. The SC ordered the Speaker to decide quickly on the resignations. The bench was hearing cross petitions filed by former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Congress on the ongoing political crisis in the state. During the hearing, the state Congress also sought a deferment of the trust vote called by the BJP till completion of by-polls to fill seats vacated by 6 MLAs whose resignations have been accepted.indianexpress
Digvijaya detained after trying to meet rebel MLAs staying at Bengaluru resort
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/digvijaya-singh-detained-after-trying-to-meet-rebel-madhya-pradesh-mlas-staying-at-bengaluru-resort/article31096750.ece?homepage=true
Bengaluru:Former MP Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh was taken into preventive custody along with several other party leaders on Wednesday morning as he turned up outside the resort wanting to meet rebel Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh staying there.At present, Mr. Singh and the other Congress leaders are being held at Amrutahalli Police Station where Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar has arrived.Singh plans to meet Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to urge him to be allowed to meet the rebel MLAs.thehindu
*J&K, SOUTH ASIA & India*
Give details of Omar Abdullah’s release in 7 days or will hear sister’s plea: SC to Centre
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sc-questions-centre-on-omar-abdullah-s-release-seeks-details-in-7-days-1656833-2020-03-18
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre on the release of former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah.Asking the government to inform the court if it is planning to release Omar Abdullah from custody, the Supreme Court gave the Centre one week. "If you are releasing Omar Abdullah, release him soon or we will hear his sister's plea against his detention on merit," the Supreme Court told Centre on Wednesday.The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by Sara Abdullah Pilot, seeking release from detention of her brother Omar Abdullah. On March 5, the SC had said that it will hear, after Holi break, the petition filed by Sara Pilot, challenging her brother's detention under the Jammu and Kashmir PSA.On March 2, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had told the Supreme Court that Omar Abdullah has been a "very vocal critic" of the abrogation of Article 370 and his presence would pose an "imminent threat to public order".The administration also objected to the petition filed by Omar Abdullah's sister challenging his detention under Jammu and Kashmir PSA.indiatoday
JK economy has collapsed due to restrictions imposed since last Aug: Cong
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-economy-has-collapsed-due-to-restrictions-imposed-since-last-august-manish-tewari/1902334/
Targeting the government over restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir since August last year, the Congress on Wednesday said the economy of the region has collapsed due to the measures and demanded immediate release of former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. Initiating a discussion on the budgetary proposals and demand for grants for the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, Congress member Manish Tewari urged the government to “open ears” and “listen” to the voices of people as he claimed a “dangerous situation” is developing there.He said that social peace is important for economic development of a place. Tewari alleged that the decisions of August 5, 2019 to abrogate provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divide the state into Union territories, have demolished the economy. He said that growth of key sectors, including agriculture and tourism, are declining.PTI
Journalism in Kashmir in 'state of repression': International Press Institute
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/journalism-kashmir-state-repression-media-watchdog-200318064232321.html
Srinagar: Press freedom in Kashmir is "under a serious threat from security forces", International Press Institute (IPI) has said in a report published on Tuesday.Raising concerns about the conditions of journalists in the disputed Muslim-majority region, the global media watchdog urged India's Hindu nationalist government to end restrictions and harassment of journalists placed following revocation of the region's special status last August."Journalism in Jammu and Kashmir is under a dramatic state of repression," Ravi R Prasad, director of advocacy at the Vienna-based IPI, said in a statement."The state is using a mix of harassment, intimidation, surveillance and online information control to silence critical voices and force journalists to resort to self-censorship."
J&K: Internet restrictions to continue
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-internet-restrictions-to-continue-6319605/
J&K administration Tuesday ordered continued restriction of mobile data speed citing the “security scenario” and reports by law enforcement agencies. However, the directions will be reviewed again on March 26. The home department said the decision was taken “on consideration of the overall security and the reports of the law enforcement agencies inter-alia bringing out the necessity of speed related restrictions on mobile data services to prevent misuse of social media applications, as also taking note of recent terror activities, and non assessment of the available alternatives”.
Govt gave internet access to journalists, banks during Kashmir shutdown: Union Minister for Telecom Dhotre
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/govt-gave-internet-access-to-journalists-banks-during-kashmir-shutdown-dhotre-814984.html
Professionals, including journalists and bankers, and select public premises were given internet access for carrying out their work during the time of shutdown in Kashmir, Parliament was informed today.Minister of State for Telecom Sanjay Dhotre in a written reply to Lok Sabha said that state governments are empowered to issue orders for temporary suspension of internet services to maintain law and order in the state or part there of under the provisions contained in the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.He further said that records related to internet shutdowns ordered by state governments are not maintained by either Department of Telecom or Ministry of Home Affairs.Dhotre said that government is conscious of the requirements and difficulties likely to be faced by the general public and professionals including journalists etc due to measures taken for safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, maintaining public order and for prevention of loss of human life and property.deccanherald
‘World prays for coronavirus vaccine, Kashmir demands high-speed internet’: Turkish Radio and TV
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/world-prays-for-coronavirus-vaccine-kashmir-demands-high-speed-internet-34673
Srinagar:Fardeen Malik, who works for a non-profit in Kashmir, desperately wants to socially distance himself from people as a preventative measure against the coronavirus infection. To begin with, he wants to work from home. But he can’t because the Indian state has denied the region the high-speed internet that could enable him to do so. Malik told TRT World that most of his co-workers were complacent but that may change soon since the neighbouring Jammu region has 3 people who have tested as positive, and 6 cases have been reported from Ladakh with one from Kargil district. “I wash my hands often. I avoid contact with my colleagues who call me a paranoid hypochondriac,” Malik said.“I have to travel about 70 kilometres to and fro every day only to worry myself to death at office,” he said.trtworld.com
India Rejects Reference to Kashmir in Pakistan-China Joint Statement
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/india-kashmir-pakistan-china-cpec
New Delhi: After Pakistan and China discussed Kashmir during the visit of Pakistan President Arif Alvi to Beijing, India reiterated its dismissal of any comment on “internal affairs” and objected again to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistani head of state was on a 2-day visit to Beijing, the first to China since COVID-19 outbreak took on epidemic proportions. A joint statement issued at the conclusion of the visit stated that it was a “singular expression of Pakistan’s solidarity with its “iron brother””.The joint statement noted that there was an exchange of views “on the situation in J&K”.“Chinese side underscored that it was paying close attention to the current situation and reiterated that the Kashmir issue was a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on UNSC resolutions and bilateral agreements,” the diplomatic document said.It added that the China “opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation”.In response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said that India rejected the reference to J&K in Pakistan-China joint statement. “Union Territory of J&K is an integral part of India. Issues related to J&K are internal matter of India. We expect other countries including China not to comment on matters that are internal affairs of India and also to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity just as India refrains from commenting on internal issues of other countries,” he said.Kumar also registered India’s protest over the “so-called illegal CPEC”. Joint statement had described CPEC as “transformational” and “hoped that the international community will support such efforts that underpin economic development”.Pointing out that CPEC was in Indian territory, Kumar said, “India is resolutely opposed to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in Pakistan occupied J&K. We call on parties concerned to cease such actions. Such illegal activities will never be accepted by India.”thewire
Parliament : Lok Sabha passes Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill
New Delhi : Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2020. The Bill authorises payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of Jammu and Kashmir for the services of the financial year 2019-2020.indianexpress
*OTHERS*
Appointments After Retirement: Tale of 2 Gogoi brothers
https://thewire.in/government/ranjan-gogoi-brother-anjan-gogoi-nec?fbclid=IwAR1HT0DVUAjvWQGcP3lZzDeSkUhUrPHEQrRnrYty_WDB37YVSNBeIWjP-LM
New Delhi: Barely 2 months before President Ram Nath Kovind nominated retired CJI Ranjan Gogoi to Rajya Sabha on the recommendation of the Modi government, Rashtrapati Bhavan had also nominated Gogoi’s elder brother – (Retd) Air Marshal Anjan Gogoi – as a full-time member of North Eastern Council (NEC), nodal agency for the economic and social development of the northeastern states under Department of North East Region (DoNER) Ministry.A nominated member of the NEC holds the rank of a minister of state.A retired senior official of the NEC, who did not want to be named here “for personal reasons”, told The Wire, “There is no bar in nominating a member to the NEC from any background. However, what is generally kept in mind is that since it is a regional advisory body, the person nominated should be very much involved in policymaking around the socio-economic conditions of the north east.”He added, “In the 40 years’ history of the NEC, Anjan Gogoi must be the first retired senior defence official to be appointed as its nominated member by the President.”Anjan Gogoi retired on Feb.28, 2013, as Air Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command, Gandhinagar. Commissioned as an officer in 1973, though Gogoi had served in some parts of the Northeast, most of his postings had been outside of the region. According to local news reports, Anjan Gogoi, after taking over as a full-time member, attended consultative meetings of NEC at its Shillong Secretariat along with another nominated member Biman Kumar Dutta on February 13 and 14. They discussed ways to encourage the central govt’s Start-Up India programme in the region in addition to tailoring an exclusive tourism policy for the state.The Wire
'Shameless', 'disgraceful', 'sexual pervert': Katju blasts ex-CJI Gogoi
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/03/17/shameless-disgraceful-sexual-pervert-katju-blasts-ex-cji-gogoi.html
Retired supreme court judge Markandey Katju on Tuesday responded fiercely to the nomination of former chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha. “I have been a lawyer for 20 yrs and a judge for another 20. I hv known many good judges & many bad judges. But I have never known any judge in the Indian judiciary as shameless & disgraceful as this sexual pervert Ranjan Gogoi. There was hardly any vice which was not in this man,” justice Katju tweeted.Katju had spoken out against Gogoi before. In January, he responded to the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate a woman employee who had been dismissed after accusing Gogoi of sexual misconduct, calling Gogoi a “rascal and a rogue”.
Ex-SC judges say Gogoi in RS clouds judiciary’s independence, he says am for nation-building
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ranjan-gogoi-rajya-sabha-6319537/
‘The Telegraph’ gets Press Council notice for ‘Kovind-Covid’ wordplay on former CJI’s RS nomination
https://scroll.in/latest/956516/the-telegraph-gets-press-council-notice-for-kovind-covid-wordplay-on-former-cjis-rs-nomination
Press Council of India on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to the editor of The Telegraph for its frontpage headline for the news report about former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha.The council said the headline violated the Norms of Journalistic Conduct. It said that the council was of the view that “satirical comments ridiculing and denigrating the first citizen of the country is uncalled for and beyond the call for fair journalistic comment”.In its frontpage headline on Tuesday, The Telegraph said, “Kovind, not Covid, did it” – a reference to the raging COVID-19 global pandemic.scroll
No inciting slogans, violence at JNU gate on Jan 5: Govt
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/no-inciting-slogans-violence-at-jnu-gate-on-jan-5-govt/1771940
Union Home Ministry on Wednesday said no chanting of inciting slogans, violence and assault were noticed at the North Gate of the JNU on January 5 when a mob of masked people barged into the campus.In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said the Delhi Police have reported that on the receipt of the request from the Vice Chancellor, JNU, on January 5, police personnel were deployed inside the Campus to control the violent situation."Professors, injured students and security guards have been examined and CCTV footages have been obtained for analysis to identify the rioters," Reddy said in the reply to a question by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. The Congress MP had asked whether it is a fact that on January 5, "Delhi Police had closed the JNU North Gate and a group of people assembled outside the gate and they chanted slogans inciting violence and assaulted and manhandled many other individuals including eminent citizens who were present there."Raddy said as per the Delhi Police, the JNU North Gate was closed and there was a proper deployment of police personnel to ensure that there is no unauthorized entry of any outsider inside the University.IANS
NHRC seeks action in case of Assam man assaulted for selling beef
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nhrc-seeks-action-in-case-of-assam-man-assaulted-for-selling-beef/article31099733.ece?homepage=true
NHRC has issued a notice to the Assam government asking why a Muslim man assaulted almost a year ago for selling beef should not be paid ₹1 lakh as compensation. The commission instructed the State’s Chief Secretary to reply within 6 weeks from March 12. It gave a similar deadline to the State’s DGP to submit an action-taken report against the police officials found guilty of letting the assault happen.Some vigilantes had assaulted 68-year-old Shaukat Ali for selling beef in his restaurant at a weekly market in north-eastern Assam’s Biswanath Chariali town. There were allegations that the local police were mute spectators when the vigilantes assaulted him on April 7, 2019.thehindu
SC pulls up Centre, telecos for doing self-assessment of AGR dues fixed by court
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-pulls-up-centre-telecos-for-doing-self-assessment-of-agr-dues-fixed-by-court/article31097431.ece?homepage=true
The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and telecom companies for doing self-assessment or reassessment of the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues fixed by the apex court in its verdict given on October 24 last year.The top court, which was also anguished by frequently published newspaper articles on the AGR issue, said all Managing Directors of telecom companies will be personally responsible and will be held for contempt of court for any such future newspaper articles.PTI
Inquiry panel summons NCP chief Sharad Pawar as witness in 2018 Bhima-Koregaon violence case
https://www.firstpost.com/india/inquiry-panel-summons-ncp-chief-sharad-pawar-as-witness-in-2018-bhima-koregaon-violence-case-8163581.html
Pune: Koregaon Bhima Inquiry Commission has summoned NCP chief Sharad Pawar to depose before it as a witness in the 2018 caste-violence case, the panel's lawyer Ashish Satpute said on Wednesday.Pawar will have to appear before the commission in Mumbai, as the scheduled hearing by the commission was shifted there in view of coronavirus outbreak. The hearing, which was scheduled to be held in the last week of March, will now be held between 30 March and 4 April. Apart from Pawar, the commission has also summoned then SP (Pune Rural) Suvez Haq, then Additional SP, Sandip Pakhale, then Additional Commissioner, Pune, Ravindra Sengaonkar, and then Collector Saurabh Rao, Satpute added.PTI
Gujarat HC nod to sale of shops by Hindus to Muslims in disturbed area
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/hc-nod-to-sale-of-shops-by-hindus-to-muslims-in-disturbed-area/articleshow/74681361.cms
Gujarat high court has granted permission to sale of shops by Hindus to Muslims in a Vadodara area, where the state government has imposed the Disturbed Areas Act. The HC said that the authorities do not have to verify except the free will of the seller and fair price of the property, that it is not a distress sale and without fear.In this case, the authorities denied permission for sale of the properties by Hindus to Muslims on consideration that it would reduce the strength of Hindu traders in the area. This happened after the initiation of a police inquiry whether law and order would be disturbed if Muslims purchase properties in the area, which falls under the Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provisions of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991, which requires prior permission for sale/purchase of properties involving people belonging to different faiths.The high court has quashed the orders by Vadodara deputy collector and the secretary denying permission to sale/purchase of properties by two brothers Dinesh and Deepakbhai Modi to Muslim traders Onali Dholkawala and Iqbal Tinwala.TOI
Hindi crime web series have an upper caste, anti-minority bias: thequint
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/operation-parindey-bhaukaal-zee5-mxplayer-muslims-sikhs-hindutva
“To nab every Pabbi and Monty Singh, there will be many Abhinav Mathurs in this country”.This is the punchline delivered at the end of Sanjay Gadhvi’s Operation Parindey, an under-55-minute short film on Zee’s OTT platform ZEE5. It is not clear what the protagonist (played by Amit Sadh) is trying to say, but juxtaposition of Sikh “villains” and Hindu “hero” isn’t entirely subtle.In another web series – Bhaukaal on Times Group’s MX Player – this is even more direct. The hero, police officer Naveen Sikera, says “Eid Mubarak” to the villain Shaukeen Khan before ordering his men to shoot him.Operation Parindey and Bhaukaal are both part of the rising number of “inspired by true events” crime shows on Indian Over Top (OTT) platforms.And in some of these series, the dramatisation of events end up pushing a certain majoritarian narrative.For instance in Operation Parindey, which is based on the infamous jail break that took place in Nabha in Punjab in 28 Nov.2016, Khalistan and Pakistan angle is constantly overplayed.The jail break is shown as Pakistan’s retaliation against the 2016 surgical strikes, when there’s no substance to back this.The antagonist here is Monty Singh, based on Harminder Singh Mintoo, leader of Khalistan Liberation Force, who escaped from Nabha Jail in 2016.He is weirdly shown as calling up his handlers in Pakistan and greeting them with “Asalaam Alaikum” soon after escaping from jail.The portrayal of Sikhs in Operation Parindey is largely negative – they are shown either as militants, gangsters or incompetent policemen. On the other hand, most of the “good guys” have Hindu names and there are no turbaned Sikhs among them.MX Player’s Bhaukaal is similarly inspired by real life UP cadre IPS officer Navneet Sikera’s stint as SP in Muzaffarnagar in early 2000s.Here the protagonist Naveen Sikera spars against two gangs led by Dedha brothers and Shaukeen Khan. However as first season progresses, it is Khan who emerges as the main antagonist.The filmmakers put a great deal of effort to build up Khan as a cruel, sadistic and menacing character, while also showing him as a practicing Muslim.There’s also a manipulative Muslim politician dressed like Azam Khan thrown into the mix.thequint
'Non-Hindu' Sara Ali Khan's 'Ganga aarti' participation at Varanasi temple creates controversy: freepressjournal
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/non-hindu-sara-ali-khans-ganga-aarti-participation-at-varanasi-temple-creates-controversy
Varanasi: Actor Sara Ali Khan's much publicized visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, has drawn the ire of local pandits and saints.The actor was shooting for 'Antrangi Re' when she visited Kashi Vishwanath temple and participated in 'Ganga aarti' on Sunday.er mother and actor Amrita Singh was with her.Kashi Vikas Samiti has now raised objections to the actor's visit on the grounds that Sara Ali Khan in a non-Hindu.Chandra Shekhar Kapoor, the secretary of the Samiti, said, "The actor's visit to temple is against traditions and established norms. It also raises questions on the security of the temple when there is a signboard clearly stating that the entry of 'non-Hindus' is prohibited."Local pandits and seers are also upset over Sara attending the 'Ganga aarti' and Kashi Vishwanath temple. Rakesh Mishra, a priest said that Sara would be known by the religion of her father, Saif Ali Khan, who is a Muslim.
Meenakshi Lekhi’s Claim About ‘No Riots in Guj Post 2002’ is False
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/meenakshi-lekhi-claim-about-no-riots-in-gujarat-post-2002-is-false
While addressing Lok Sabha on the violence that broke out in parts of northeast Delhi, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi claimed that most incidents of rioting have taken place under the Congress regime adding that the only incident of riots, which everyone is always reminded of, was in Gujarat in 2002 and there has been no such case post that in the state. According to NCRB data from year 2014, 57 cases of communal violence/riots were reported from the state of Gujarat while the total number of cases of riots in the state were 1,354. NCRB recorded the number of victims for these 57 cases to be at 107.For the year 2015, number of cases of riots that were recorded were 1,751 while those of communal violence/riots stood at 45. While for the year 2016, number of communal riots/violence in the state stood at 62 with 105 victims. Similarly for 2017 and 2018, the total number of cases of riots in state stood at 1,740 and 1,898 respectively. Cases of communal violence/riots were 44 and 39 respectively.thequint
Gujarat: Third accused sent to judicial custody in 1992 riots case
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/gujarat-third-accused-sent-to-judicial-custody-in-1992-riots-case-6318826/
Surat :Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Surat on Tuesday sent a third accused — after a Congress leader and his aide — to judicial custody after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him in a case related to the riots that broke out in Surat following the demolition of Babri mosque in 1992. A total of 26 accused were arrested earlier by police for rioting as well as under TADA charges.The third accused is Shakeel Shamshuddin Ansari, a resident of Unn in Surat and father of seven children. He sells bakery items on truck in Unn area in Surat. Earlier he was residing in Limbayat area.On March 15, Udhna police reached his house in Unn area and informed him that a non-bailable warrant has been issued against him by the Surat district court in a rioting case. Shakeel accompanied the police to JMFC court on Sunday from where he was sent to judicial custody, after his bail application was rejected.indianexpress
Court to hear Nirbhaya convicts' plea seeking stay on execution tomorrow
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-court-to-hear-nirbhaya-convicts-plea-seeking-stay-on-execution-on-thursday/349010
A Delhi court will hear tomorrow the plea seeking stay on the execution of death penalty of four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case.The counsel for the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case moved the court on Wednesday seeking quashing of their death penalty, saying the second mercy plea of one of them is still pending.The convicts -- Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay (31) -- are scheduled to be hanged on March 20 at 5.30 am.Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana issued notices to Tihar jail authorities and the police on the plea and said he will hear it tomorrow.The Public Prosecutor opposed the plea saying it was not maintainable.Convict Akshay Singh had on Tuesday filed a second mercy petition before President Ram Nath Kovind.On the same day, another convict, Pawan Gupta had also moved the Supreme Court with a curative petition against dismissal of his review plea rejecting his juvenility claim.outlookindia
5 mosque trustees booked for disallowing man's burial
http://www.uniindia.com/five-mosque-trustees-booked-for-disallowing-man-s-burial/west/news/1920672.html
Thane: 5 Trustees of a mosque have been booked for allegedly disallowing the burial of a 64-year-old man, and thereby desecrating his body, police said here on Tuesday. The accused have been identified as Nazeem Raza, Shamim Raza, Yusuf Raza, Shakil Pani and Mansoor, all of whom, are the Trustees of the Quater Gate Masjid in Bhiwandi town here. Giving further details of the case he said that one Razzab Ali Hasrat Ali Ansari, 64 of the town passed away on the late night of March 2, the deceased was taken to the graveyard for burial. However, the accused objected saying that the late person belongs to a different sect of Islam. UNI
*Coronavirus UPDATES*
Coronavirus India updates March 18: Govt confirms 276 Indians infected abroad, cases cross 150 in country
https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-india-updates-march-18-6319741/
A total of 276 Indians have been infected with the novel coronavirus abroad, including 255 in Iran, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The government’s clarification came a day after reports emerged that a large number of Indian pilgrims in Iran had tested positive for the infection. Out of 276, 12 are also from UAE, five from Italy and one each from Hong Kong, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Rwanda.Within the country, the total number of confirmed cases has climbed to 153, including 14 who have recovered and 3 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in its latest bulletin. Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of cases, followed by Kerala, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. While the Indian Army reported its first case, BJP MP Suresh Prabhu isolated himself at his residence for the next 14 days following his return from Saudi Arabia.indianexpress
195 Indians brought back from coronavirus-hit Iran, kept at Army facility in Jaisalmer
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/195-indians-brought-back-from-coronavirushit-iran-kept-at-army-facility-in-jaisalmer/1772286
Jaisalmer: A batch of 195 Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit Iran was brought back by a special plane on Wednesday evening, an official said here.They landed at Rajasthan''s Jaisalmer airport and were shifted to an Army''s wellness facility after screening, defence spokesperson Col Sombit Ghosh said.With the arrival of the fresh batch, the number of quarantined people at the Army facility in the Jaisalmer Military Station increased to 484, he said.The first batch of 236 people had arrived on Sunday in two flights while the second group of 53 Indians came on Monday.PTI
Karnataka under lockdown till March 31
https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-india-updates-march-18-6319741/
Karnataka will be under lockdown till March 31. All public places including malls, cinema theatre, schools and colleges, and other places will remain shut. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has formed four task-force teams to contain the spread of COVID-19 and released Rs 200 crore for preventing the epidemic.According to Karnataka health minister, the state has reported two more new cases, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 13.indianexpress
BJP activist arrested for hosting cow urine consumption event to fight COVID-19
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-activist-arrested-for-hosting-cow-urine-consumption-event-to-fight-covid-19-6320714/
Kolkata :A BJP activist has been arrested for organising a cow urine consumption event here, claiming that it will protect people from coronavirus or cure those already infected, leading to a civic volunteer falling ill after drinking it, police said on Wednesday. He was arrested late Tuesday night following a complaint filed by the victim with the police, they said.According to police officials, 40-year-old Narayan Chatterjee, a local party worker of Jorasakho area in North Kolkata, had on Monday organised a cow-worship programme at a cowshed and distributed cow urine. He vouched for its “miraculous” properties while offering gaumutra to others.PTI
Immune system can produce antibodies to fight moderate Covid-19: Study
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/coronavirus-immune-system-can-produce-antibodies-to-fight-moderate-covid-19-study/story-kbqpb9YrJw7I5fkPHMlaxH.html
A patient’s immune system can produce antibodies that fight mild-to-moderate cases of the coronavirus infection, reported a breakthrough study that experts say will be crucial in the development of a vaccine.A 47-year-old woman in Melbourne with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, produced antibodies that fought the infection and recovered in about 10 days without any medicines, the study found.The paper, published in Nature Medicine journal on Tuesday by researchers at Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, was based on blood samples tested at four different time points, which detailed how a patient’s immune system responds to the virus.To be sure, the patient was otherwise healthy, the disease was mild-to-moderate, and she was a non-smoker. She was administered intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration but not given any antibiotics, steroids or antiviral agents to treat the infection that primarily affected her lungs. She had travelled from Wuhan in China, the epicenter of the global epidemic.HT
Coronavirus scare: Himachal bars darshan at several temples; advises devotees to do it online
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-scare-himachal-bars-darshan-at-several-temples-advises-devotees-to-do-it-online-6319594/
Himachal Pradesh government Tuesday suspended the darshan at all the government-controlled temples and ordered measures to sanitise public places as the total number of people under surveillance climbed to 613, even as no person has tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state so far.Entry to several temples in the state has been suspended ahead of the Navratras from March 25 to April 2, when devotees including people from outside the state congregate in large numbers, especially at some of the major temples in Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Sirmaur districts.indianexpress
Got coronavirus symptoms?WHO says avoid self-medicating with ibuprofen
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/covid-19-got-coronavirus-symptoms-who-says-avoid-self-medicating-with-ibuprofen/story-ehGk1PkZerrQKkWBgl1LvO.html
WHO on Tuesday recommended that people suffering from COVID-19-like symptoms should avoid self-medicating with ibuprofen, after French authorities warned anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen the effects of the virus.The warnings over the weekend by French Health Minister Olivier Veran followed a recent study in The Lancet weekly medical journal that hypothesised that an enzyme that is boosted when taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen could facilitate and worsen COVID-19 infections.Asked about the study, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said “in the case of fever, take paracetamol.”His comments came after Veran sent a tweet cautioning that the use of ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatory drugs could be “an aggravating factor” in COVID-19 infections.He stressed that patients already being treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, should “ask advice from your doctor.” Paracetamol must be taken strictly according to the dose, because too high a dosage can be very dangerous for the liver.HT
Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra closed by J&K admin over coronavirus pandemic
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mata-vaishno-devi-yatra-closed-by-jammu-and-kashmir-administration-over-coronavirus-pandemic/story-YkhAR30fvOtt5Z8MhLwVUN.html
Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday suspended the Vaishno Devi Yatra in view of coronavirus outbreak.“Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been closed from today. Operations of all inter-state buses, both incoming and outgoing from J&K, are banned from today,” Department of Information and Public Relations said.HT
COVID-19: J&K bans entry of foreign tourists, closes hotels
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/03/18/covid-19-jk-bans-entry-of-foreign-tourists-closes-tourists.html
The entry of foreign tourists has been banned in Jammu and Kashmir as a precautionary measure to slow the spread of novel coronavirus.The order to ban the entry of foreign tourists was issued by Baseer Khan, adviser to the Lt. Governor, on Tuesday evening.The government has also ordered the closure of hotels, restaurants, community kitchens and banned home delivery of food in Srinagar as additional steps against the spread of COVID-19.The ban on foreign tourists came after four states in the northeast—Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland—had banned entry of foreigners as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus.theweek
Coronavirus: Railways cancels 85 trains including Rajdhani, Duronto as precautionary measure
https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2020/03/18/coronavirus-railways-cancels-85-trains-including-rajdhani-duronto-as-precautionary-measure.html
Railways has cancelled 85 trains as precaution against the spread of coronavirus and due to low occupancy, officials said. It has also issued a set of guidelines to zonal railways for its catering staff stating no employee having fever, cough, runny nose or difficulty in breathing "should be deployed in the business of food handling on Indian Railways".According to officials, central railways cancelled 23 trains, south central railways cancelled 29 trains, western railways cancelled 10 trains, south eastern railways cancelled 9 trains, east coast and northern railways cancelled 5 trains each, and north western railways cancelled 4 trains.theweek
Coronavirus: Indian Army defers all Services Selection Board interviews
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/army-postpones-all-services-selection-board-ssb-batches-commencing-from-march-20-over-coronavirus-pandemic/story-unNeCAupSk7E4pT3sfFNTM.html
Indian Army has deferred all Services Selection Board interviews that aspirants are required to clear before joining the armed forces as officers, said two government officials on conditions of anonymity, on Wednesday. They said that the decision has been taken in view of the rising cases of coronavirus infections in the country.HT
AMU suspends admission tests, around 12 varsity teachers, students advised isolation, says Official
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/amu-suspends-admission-tests-around-12-varsity-teachers-students-advised-isolation-says-official/story-4mSmcC2RSzogwJE7fUXW4J.html
Aligarh: AMU suspended till further notice all admission tests to its various schools slated earlier till March 31, an AMU notification said.Semester examinations for different classes, however, would be held as per schedule, it added.PTI
Coronavirus : 343 Indian students in Malaysia headed to India
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-live-updates-march-18-2020/article31096318.ece?homepage=true
India reported its third death from the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday. The number of COVID-19 cases tested positive in India is 153 and there are 136 active cases.According to WHO, as of March 17, there were 184,976 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7,529 deaths in 159 countries.The Hindu
No BJP protest for one month, says chief JP Nadda
https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/coronavirus-india-updates-march-18-6319741/
BJP will not hold protest or demonstration for one month due to coronavirus, the party’s chief J P Nadda said. “PM, yesterday in the Parliamentary party meeting, had desired that because of coronavirus we should avoid any type of agitation, dharna, demonstration. Keeping that in view, BJP has decided that for the next one month the party won’t participate in any agitation, demonstration,” Nadda was quoted as saying by PTI. “All party units have been asked to spread awareness about coronavirus and they must discuss the dos and dont’s in small groups. While on one hand we have to see to its that we keep ourselves clean, we also need to make sure that we do not panic,” he added.indianexpress
Word of caution on coronavirus amid dip in numbers at mosques
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/word-of-caution-on-coronavirus-amid-dip-in-numbers-at-mosques/articleshow/74681655.cms
New Delhi: Amid the novel coronavirus scare, mosques and mausoleums in the city have put their faith in cleanliness and social distancing to keep the threat at bay. The premises are being disinfected at regular intervals and people, through sermons, are being urged to religiously follow the directives issued by the state and the central government to tackle the outbreak.While there has been a dip in the number of visitors, no decision has yet been taken on suspending Namaz assemblies at the mosques. However, those coming to pray are told to be cautious and take necessary precautions, say the officials concerned.“We have witnessed a significant decline in the number of people coming to the mosque. We are yet to announce suspension of the prayers, but people are being requested via loudspeakers to wash hands frequently with soaps and carry sanitisers. They are also told to maintain a safe distance and avoid shaking hands with each other,” said Ansar, a member of the Jama Masjid mosque administration.At the nearby Shahjahan-era Fatehpuri mosque too, the imam has been urging people to avoid physical contact for the next few days. “In our taqreer before the Jumma’h prayers, we had asked people to be cautious and follow directives issued by the government. Maintaining safe distance and hygiene is the key to avoid any infection.”“We cannot ask people to stop offering prayers at mosques. We are a semi-government body and such decisions are best left to the religious organisations. I am sure they will be discussing this,” added Basit Ali, the media coordinator of Delhi Waqf Board. A massive disinfection drive is underway at the Nizamuddin dargah, the city’s most popular place for qawwali, for the past couple of days.TOI
Global coronavirus pandemic cases top 200,000
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/europe-closes-borders-curb-coronavirus-spread-live-updates-200318000201088.html
The coronavirus has now infected more than 200,000 people and killed more than 8,000 globally, with almost 80,000 people having recovered from the infection, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.WHO is calling for more "aggressive" action to curb the coronavirus in Southeast Asia after the European Union, now at the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, moved to seal off its borders.Southeast Asia is facing a wave of infections that started from an event at a mosque on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur attended by some 16,000 people. Malaysia now has the biggest outbreak in the region.Europe has moved to close its external borders as hard-hit Italy reported an additional 345 deaths from the virus, and France imposed a draconian lockdown unseen during peacetime. In the United States, meanwhile, the virus has now spread to all 50 states.aljazeera
Coronavirus: Saudi shuts mosques, calls emergency meet of G20 leaders
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/coronavirus-scare-saudi-arabia-shuts-mosques-calls-emergency-meet-of-g20-leaders-1656700-2020-03-18
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that mosques would no longer be open for the customary five daily prayers or Friday congregations, an exceptional move to limit the spread of the coronavirus which has infected 171 people in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia, which chairs the Group of 20 major economies, announced an extraordinary virtual leaders summit next week to put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy. US-allied Gulf Arab states have registered more than 1,000 infections, many linked to travel to neighbouring Iran, which is an epicentre for the outbreak in the Middle East.Oman, which reported nine new cases for a total of 33, is closing mosques, restaurants, coffee shops, tourist sites and traditional markets and malls, except groceries and pharmacies, starting Wednesday at midday. It will bar foreigners from entering and nationals from leaving, state TV said.Qatar, with three new cases bringing its total to 442, likewise shuttered mall shops not selling food or pharmaceuticals, and closed part of an industrial zone for at least two weeks, a government spokeswoman said.Prayers will continue only at the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina,holiest places in Islam, SPA reported, citing the kingdom’s top clerical body. UAE registered 15 new cases, raising its total to 113.Reuters
Iran defends response as virus deaths surpass 1,000
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/iran-defends-response-virus-deaths-surpass-1000-200318142652319.html
Iran said its coronavirus death toll surpassed 1,000 today as President Hassan Rouhani defended the response of his administration, which has yet to impose a lockdown.The COVID-19 outbreak in sanctions-hit Iran is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated.Rouhani's government said the virus has killed 1,135 people out of 17,161 cases of infection since it first emerged in the Islamic Republic a month ago."Some ask why the government isn't intervening, but I think we have intervened significantly," the president said.The health ministry said 5,710 people had overcome the virus.Iran has yet to impose any lockdowns, but officials have repeatedly called on the public to stay home for the Iranian New Year holidays starting this week.aljazeera
Italy's coronavirus death toll surges past 2,500
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/urges-world-test-test-test-covid-19-live-updates-200316234425373.html
Italy reported 345 new coronavirus deaths in the country over the last 24 hours taking its total death toll to 2,503 - an increase of 16 percent.The total number of cases in Italy rose to 31,506 from a previous 27,980, up 12.6 percent - the slowest rate of increase since the contagion came to light on February 21. Italy is the European country hardest hit by coronavirus.aljazeera
*VIEWS, ARTICLES, FEATURES*
CJI Gogoi was blot on judiciary, but other SC judges equally culpable:Justice Katju, theweek
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/02/04/opinion-cji-gogoi-was-blot-on-judiciary-but-other-sc-judges-equally-culpable.html?fbclid=IwAR2wiplgvc4vwchKQZZwjUFt2baXnX-g2se4zwUFWxyCSbU9Br22xVPAiTs
Recorded Rewards from Ram Lalla for the staunch supporters of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya:Yusuf Ansari, twocircles.net
http://twocircles.net/2020mar17/435485.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Time has come to ask: Should judges stop accepting post-retirement jobs offered by govt: Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/former-chief-justice-india-ranjan-gogoi-rajya-sabha-nomination-bjp-6319321/
Withdraw NPR, repeal NRC: With coronavirus looming, Modi needs to assure protestors they can go home;Shoaib Daniyal, scroll
https://scroll.in/article/956464/withdraw-npr-repeal-nrc-with-coronavirus-looming-modi-needs-to-assure-protestors-they-can-go-home
Girl Made DSP for a Day Used to Show Muslim SP Didn't Wear Uniform: thequint
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/girl-made-dsp-for-a-day-used-to-claim-first-muslim-sp-of-maharashtra-fact-check
OpIndia Runs Fake News On Muslims Refusing to Be Tested in K’taka:thequint
https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/opindia-fake-claim-muslims-denying-coronavirus-screening-in-karnataka
Coronavirus: Dear Muslims, there is nothing called ‘Halal hand sanitizer’:Md Hussain Rahmani, HT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/coronavirus-dear-muslims-there-is-nothing-called-halal-hand-sanitizer/story-oPVyd62E52Pyf4gawXS9JM.html
As Shaheen Bagh Fights, Where Are the Women of Aligarh?Hayaat Fatemah,thewire
https://thewire.in/women/jamia-aligarh-muslim-university-women
Will BJP's UP Model of Mobilising Scheduled Castes Work in Tamil Nadu?Vignesh Karthik KR, Jeyannathann Karunanithi, thewire
https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-tamil-nadu-mobilise-scheduled-castes-l-murugan
‘We Broke Hostel Locks at DU to Protest Unfair Curfew Timings’: thequint
https://www.thequint.com/my-report/delhi-university-women-hostels-curfew-protest
Coronavirus crisis calls for solidarity but it also begets deeper conflicts:Pratap Bhanu Mehta, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-india-6319313/
Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party mark a new phase of Dalit assertion:Rehnamol Raveendran, indianexpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/bhim-army-azad-samaj-party-chandrashekhar-azad-6319307/
States can checkmate Modi govt on NRC in 3 easy steps: delink, defer, diffuse:YOGENDRA YADAV
https://theprint.in/opinion/states-can-checkmate-modi-govt-on-nrc-in-3-easy-steps-delink-defer-diffuse/378381/
Coronavirus: Why Kashmir needs full speed internet:Sadiq Shaban, Deputy Opinion Editor gulfnews
https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/coronavirus-why-kashmir-needs-full-speed-internet-1.70472677
Ranjan Gogoi’s nomination to Rajya Sabha will fuel debate around CAA, NRC; ex-CJI likely to counter Opposition Assamese candidate AJit Kumar Bhuyan:Kangkan Acharyya
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/ranjan-gogois-nomination-to-rajya-sabha-will-fuel-debate-around-caa-nrc-ex-cji-likely-to-counter-opposition-assamese-candidate-ajit-kumar-bhuyan-8164761.html
Will Coronavirus Be the New Fulcrum of US-China Geopolitics?Oliver Turner and Inderjeet Parmar, thewire
https://thewire.in/world/coronavirus-us-china-trump
'India Could Be Next Coronavirus Hotspot, in Worst Case up to 60% Could Be Infected':Karan Thapar, thewire
https://thewire.in/health/india-coronavirus-ramanan-laxminarayan
Ranjan Gogoi's RS Nomination Calls All His Judgments Into Question, Says Legal Expert:Nikhila Henry
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/ranjan-gogoi-cji-rajya-sabha-supreme-court_in_5e71d66dc5b6f5b7c53adfd3?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
Maoists adopt new propaganda strategy, amp up rhetoric on CAA, NRC, NPR to drive new offensive against State:Debobrat Ghose , firstpost
https://www.firstpost.com/india/maoists-adopt-new-propaganda-strategy-amp-up-rhetoric-on-caa-nrc-npr-to-drive-new-offensive-against-state-8164071.html
Siyasat Jadid: How one of UP’s oldest Urdu dailies is battling for survival in the digital age: newslaundry
https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/03/17/siyasat-jadid-how-one-of-ups-oldest-urdu-dailies-is-battling-for-survival-in-the-digital-age
So many questions on Muslim Faces of Chandra Shekar’s ‘Azad Samaj Party’: twocircles
http://twocircles.net/2020mar17/435488.html
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