*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN–‘ISLAMOPHOBIA’: INDIA*

Police fire teargas shells, resort to lathicharge after thousands of desperate migrant workers defy social distancing in Gujarat’s Surat

http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/police-fire-teargas-shells-resort-to-lathicharge-after-thousands-of-desperate-migrant-workers-defy-social-distancing-in-gujarats-surat/289595/

Police in Gujarat’s Surat were forced to fire teargas shells and resort to lathicharge after its clash with thousands of desperate migrant workers spiralled out of control on Monday. Video of thousands of desperate migrant workers defying social distancing norms in a bid to find transportation to return to their native places went viral on social media.The incident took place in the BJP-ruled Gujarat, which has become the second worst-hit state of the coronavirus pandemic. The state has reported 290 deaths that form nearly 25% of total COVID-19 deaths registered across India.A report by PTI said that desperate migrant workers clashed with police near Vareli village on the outskirts of Surat while demanding that arrangements be made to send them back to their native places. They were accused of throwing stones at the police prompting them to retaliate with teargas shells and lathicharge.There were also reports of several migrant workers hitting streets in Rajkot demanding that they be sent back to their hometowns.jantakareporter

 

Watch: In Gujarat, migrants say they paid for their own train tickets in contrast to what BJP has claimed

https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/watch-in-gujarat-migrants-say-they-paid-for-their-own-train-tickets-in-contrast-to-what-bjp-has-claimed/articleshow/75531345.cms

Even as BJP claimed that it is paying 85% of the ticket fare for migrants, an Ahmedabad Mirror investigation has revealed that this is not true, at least in Gujarat. Mirror has video evidence where migrants say they paid for tickets.Mirror spoke to over 20 migrants who left for Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and MP, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh from Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara and they unequivocally said they were asked to shell out money for all destinations except Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. BJP was caught unaware when Congress president Sonia Gandhi flagged the issue of poor migrants having to shell out money to reach to their home states amidst lockdown and announced that Congress will pay the travel cost of all migrants across the country.A confused BJP attempted to get into a damage control mode and was looking for reasons to justify that Mrs Gandhi’s demand was wrong to cover up their Central govt’s lackadaisical attitude on the issue.ahmedabadmirror

 

Congress will pay for rail travel of migrant workers, says Sonia Gandhi

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-will-pay-for-rail-travel-of-migrant-workers-says-sonia-gandhi/article31497707.ece?fbclid=IwAR0DMtFduv2ga7nVfLtY-JkpZ9araKCCcwGexaYXuplt35Me87A_rCTVqrg

The State units of Congress or Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) will bear the cost of rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labour, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said in a statement on Monday.She called it ‘disturbing’ that the Railways and the Union government were charging the migrants even for distress travel when it could spend nearly ₹100 crores on a public programme in Gujarat, a veiled attack on the Namaste Trump programme to welcome US President Donald Trump.“What is particularly disturbing is that the Central government and Rail Ministry are charging them for train tickets in this hour of crisis,”  Gandhi said.

 

If Railways refuses, make PM CARES pay fare: Swamy calls govt ‘moronic’ for charging migrants

https://theprint.in/india/if-railways-refuses-make-pm-cares-pay-fare-swamy-calls-govt-moronic-for-charging-migrants/413983/?fbclid=IwAR269WjFhC0Ep0LsXOC08rY76nu3DoPCPGhEkpv29OxOHtACPbRBGAQVPs8

Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy slammed Narendra Modi government Monday for charging rail fares from migrants seeking to return home amid the nationwide lockdown.In a tweet, Swamy called the government “moronic” and said: “Indians stranded abroad were brought back free by Air India. If Railways refuse to budge then why not make PM CARES pay instead? (sic)”Swamy’s statement echoed Congress’ criticism of the government for charging migrant labourers returning home. Calling migrant workers “backbone” of India’s economy and “ambassadors” of nation’s growth, party Monday announced that it would pay for the train fare of migrants.theprint

 

From May 7 Onwards, India to Bring Back 'Distressed' Nationals Stranded Abroad

https://thewire.in/government/repatriation-covid-19-gulf-countries-flights

The government on Monday announced that repatriation flights to bring back Indian nationals stranded abroad will start from Gulf countries May 7 onwards. Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the government will be “facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner”.

 

Govt Paid to Evacuate Indians Stranded Abroad, But Migrant Workers Have to Bear Own Train Fare to Return Home

https://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/while-indians-stranded-abroad-pay-nothing-for-evacuation-it-costs-migrant-workers-to-return-home-2603091.html?__twitter_impression=true

New Delhi:Over 1,000 Indians were rescued from coronavirus-hit countries by Air India and they did not have to shell out any money for the service.India was among the first countries to rescue its citizens from COVID-19 hotspots around the world, operating special flights to bring back those stranded in China, Italy, Japan and Iran.However, unlike migrant workers who at times have to pay extra fare for their journeys back home, stranded Indians were flown back in special evacuation flights operated by Air India and paid for by govt. Between Jan.31 and March 22, Air India operated 5 special flights to evacuate over 1,000 Indian passengers from China, Japan and Italy. It also flew Indians, who had returned from Iran, to ITBP quarantine facilities in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer from Delhi. For all these special flights as per protocol, passengers weren’t charged the commercial fare. Air India billed it to Ministry of External Affairs.Sources in Ministry of Civil Aviation said for every such evacuation exercise, the national carrier steps in. "Air India operated these flights and as a PSU, it raised a bill. The cost is paid by govt of India," said a source.The first rescue operation was from COVID-19 epicentre of Wuhan in China. Air India used its Boeing 747 jumbo aircraft and rescued over 640 Indians from Wuhan in two consecutive flights on Jan.31 and Feb.1. For this alone, the government had to pay Rs 6 crore in expenses. In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan had said, "Air India has raised a bill of Rs 5,98,90,352 for operating 2 special flights to China."Later in Feb, Air India rescued Indians who were stuck on board quarantined Japanese cruise ship Diamond Princess, off the coast of Yokohama.At least 119 Indians and 5 foreign nationals were rescued by Air India on Feb.26. Around the same time, an aircraft of IAF was sent to Japan to bring back 76 stranded Indians.In March, Air India operated two flights from Italy-- from Milan and from Rome -- bringing back 218 and 263 passengers, respectively. For each of these flights, Air India spent crores of rupees, but the burden of cost did not lie with the passengers."The government of India bears the cost of all such evacuations of Indian citizens. And that has been the practice from the past and continues till date,” said Kapil Kaul, an aviation expert.However, the same cannot be said about the govt's handling of the crisis of thousands of migrant labourers who have been desperately trying to return home since the lockdown was imposed over a month ago. While Kerala govt the poor labourers to pay base fare of Rs 875 for being transported to Jharkhand, special trains that left Maharashtra for different state also charged migrant workers basic fare.Additional Chief Secretary(MHA)Vishwas Mehta said all arrangements are being made by Centre, but no tickets are being provided for free. CNN-News18

 

Under Opposition Pressure, Modi Govt Decides to Not Charge Workers Rail Fare

https://thewire.in/politics/opposition-pressure-modi-govt-migrant-workers-rail-fare

New Delhi: Union government has finally buckled under criticism stemming from the opposition and other quarters by deciding to not charge migrant workers heading home for rail travel.Although no official notification has been released yet, the Centre left it to Lav Agarwal, the health ministry’s joint secretary who conducts press briefings on COVID-19 epidemic, to confirm that the Centre would bear 85% of the travel costs of labourers headed home, while the states will contribute 15% of the rail fare.On Monday, upon being asked whether migrant workers were being charged for being ferried home, Agarwal said the lockdown measures had asked people to stay wherever they were but based on the requests from the states, “permission was given to run special trains.”“Be it the government of India or the Railways, we have not talked about charging from workers. 85% of the transportation cost is borne by the Railways, while states have to bear 15 percent of the cost,” he told reporters.owever, the government took the decision only after the Congress and the CPI(Marxist), followed by many other opposition leaders, ran a persistent campaign against it.Even as the Modi government’s decision to run special trains for migrant workers was welcomed by all, its decision to charge the passengers for the travel received much flak.

 Jamia Asks Stranded Students To Vacate Hostels, Students Request Varsity To Reconsider Its Decision

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/jamia-asks-stranded-students-to-vacate-hostels-students-request-varsity-to-reconsider-its-decision

NEW DELHI:Jamia Millia Islamia has asked its students stranded in its hostels, who could not go back to their homes earlier and stayed back, to vacate their rooms and leave for their native places as the university is making transportation arrangements as per the directions of the central government in this regard.The excuse given for getting the hostels vacated is that areas in neighbourhood of the university like Zakir Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Abul Fazal and Shaheen Bagh have been declared corona hotspots. The order to vacate the hostels have been issued by university registrar A P Siddiqui on May 1. The registrar in his order, also said that the “hostels are also required for sanitisation, maintenance and for contingent quarantine facilities”. “Therefore, the hostels are required to be vacated completely with no exceptions”, the university order said.The registrar, in its order, has asked provosts (boys and girls hostels) to initiate the process for getting hostel vacated urgently. However, students have opposed the university directive and appealed to the authorities to reconsider their decision before implementing it because the university has no transport arrangement of its own and there is also no assurance of security of the students during journey and until they reach their homes.Azeem, a student from Jharkhand said that as per Ministry of Home Affairs order, the special trains to be launched for students, migrant workers and stranded labourer would drop them only at the railway stations, nearest to their homes.   Another student identifying himself as Torab from Bihar said the university has not taken responsibility of students’ security. The students have also been issued a declaration proforma for vacating the hostels and travel to their home towns. They have been asked to fill up the proforma and submit it to the university.India Tomorrow

 Modi govt behaving like East India Company: Congress

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/centre-behaving-like-east-india-company-congress

Congress on Monday compared the lockdown with demonetisation and accused the government of behaving like the East India company for not planning before the announcement of the lockdown as it caused suffering to millions."The commonality between lockdown and demonetisation is that the BJP government failed the basic rule of governance-think and act rather than act without thinking," said the Congress.Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, "Both in the lockdown and demonitisation, BJP government behaved like the East India Company by looting the common man, ignoring the pain of the weaker sections of society, focussing on filling government coffers rather than pocket of the people of India."IANS

 

India’s manufacturing sector activity hits record low in April amid lockdown: PMI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/indias-manufacturing-sector-activity-hits-record-low-in-april-amid-lockdown-pmi

The country's manufacturing sector activity witnessed unprecedented contraction in April amid national lockdown restrictions, following which new business orders collapsed at a record pace and firms sharply reduced their staff numbers, a monthly survey said on Monday.The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 27.4 in April, from 51.8 in March, reflecting the sharpest deterioration in business conditions across the sector since data collection began over 15 years ago.PTI

 36% companies in India mull salary freeze: Report

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/36-companies-in-india-mull-salary-freeze-report

With businesses and economic activity almost halted for over a month now amid the coronavirus crisis and the nationwide lockdown, around 36 per cent companies in India are considering a freeze in salary hikes to manage their costs, according to a report by Korn Ferry.In India, the most commonly implemented measures for rewards and benefits are promotion and salary hike.The report said that 23 per cent organisations have suspended the promotion increases and 18 per cent organizations deferring ordelaying salary increases.IANS

 

Indian Economy Can Recover Quickly If Govt Takes Right Steps: Abhijit Banerjee

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/abhijit-banerjee-indian-economy-gdp-coronavirus_in_5eafda4ac5b639d6e5790548

The economic crisis India is facing due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns is “probably bigger” than the 1991 balance of payments crisis, which resulted in the country liberalizing its economy, said Nobel Prize-winning economist Abhijit Banerjee. In an interview to HuffPost India, Banerjee, who is the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also warned that India’s GDP could go down by 10-15%.Banerjee, who shared the prize last year with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer, also called for increased spending on anti-poverty programmes, and suggested that the government shed all concerns regarding macroeconomic instability and go for printing money to tide over a limited fiscal space.huffingtonpost

 

UP Lockdown 3.0: Aarogya Setu app must for all in hotspots, says Yogi govt

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-lockdown-30-aarogya-setu-app-musts-for-all-in-hotspots

 Lucknow : Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh has made it mandatory for “eve­ry person” living in hot­spot zones to download the Arogya Setu app as Lockdown 3.0 begins from Monday.Awanish Awasthi, home secretary, told media on Sunday, “Each person in each family in the hotspot will have to download the app compulsorily. It aims for surveillance management of the hotspot. District administration, police and health staff which check and ensure that all download it. Those who can’t do it will be provided assistance.”The country has been divided into three zones — Red, Orange and Green — based on coronavirus risk-profiling. Uttar Pradesh with 75 districts currently has 19 red, 36 orange and 20 green zone districts.The red zone districts include large and highly populated cities like Noida, Agra, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi with several hotspots in each district. This essentially covers almost half the UP’s 22 crore population.Notably, cyber security experts and opposition leaders have raised privacy and data security issues associated with the app making many people apprehensive about it.freepressjournal

 

COVID-19: Smartphone without ''Aarogya Setu'' app will draw punishment for user in Gautam Buddh Nagar

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/covid19-smartphone-without-aarogya-setu-app-will-draw-punishment-for-user-in-gautam-buddh-nagar/1823916

Noida (UP):Not having the ''Aarogya Setu'' app on smartphones while out in a public place in Noida or Greater Noida will be considered a violation of the coronavirus-forced lockdown and attract punishment, according to new guidelines issued by the police.Action will also be taken against people going outdoors without a face mask or spitting in public places, according to the police in Gautam Buddh Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh.PTI

 

 Database on those stranded, download Aarogya Setu app: Delhi govt’s SOP on migrants

https://theprint.in/india/governance/database-on-those-stranded-download-aarogya-setu-app-delhi-govts-sop-on-migrants/413835/

New Delhi: A database on those stranded in the capital, “encouraging” them to download the Aarogya Setu app and medical screening of every individual — the detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) issued Sunday by the Delhi government for the movement of migrant workers, students and tourists covers a wide range of issues.

 

"Excuse For Surveillance State...": Shashi Tharoor On Aarogya Setu

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shashi-tharoor-on-aarogya-setu-app-excuse-for-surveillance-state-2223182?pfrom=home-topstories

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday expressed concerns over the central government's decision to make the Aarogya Setu mobile application mandatory for public and private employees. He said the coronavirus pandemic must not become an excuse for creating what he called a "surveillance state"."The government's requirement that the Aarogya Setu app is now mandatory for all employees, public or private, raises serious privacy and data protection questions. COVID-19 must not become an excuse for creation of a "surveillance state" in India," he tweeted.

 

 

No Salary Since Dec, Allahabad University PhD Scholars Question Varsity's Donation to PM-CARES

https://thewire.in/education/allahabad-university-phd-salary-pmcares

New Delhi: At Allahabad University, several PhD students have been waiting for their promised fellowship money since Dec. Lockdown has delayed the process even further and a lot of outstation students, who could not return home, have had to take loans from their family and friends to manage everyday expenses.With students and even some faculty members left in the lurch, the university has meanwhile donated a hefty amount to PM-CARES fund – a new public charitable trust set up on March 28, of which PM is chairman and members of which include the defence minister, home minister and finance minister.The acronym stands for PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations.While The Wire has not been able to confirm the exact amount, some students have alleged that it could be close to Rs 44 lakhs.In his story on Delhi University teachers taking exception to DU V-C Yogesh Tyagi donating the Rs 4 crore that had been collected from staff members for PM’s National Relief Fund to PM-CARES, The Wire‘s Ajoy Ashirwad Mahaprashasta has charted how UGC sent emails to central universities asking that the contributions be made to PM-CARES Fund.“It’s a govt institution and they can donate to PM-CARES. We are okay with that. But the university should at least find some way to resolve our matter in such an emergency situation. It has been over 45 days since the university is shut and we haven’t heard anything from them,” said a PhD student, who has had to borrow money from their father. The Wire

 

Pregnant women in Jammu and Kashmir to be screened

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pregnant-women-in-jammu-and-kashmir-to-be-screened/article31504470.ece?homepage=true

SRINAGAR:Jammu & Kashmir has made COVID-19 testing of all pregnant women mandatory, as a local court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of the deaths of two pregnant women in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.“A drive has been started for carrying out advance testing of pregnant women for the coronavirus. This is being done so that they feel no neglect at the time of admission [for delivery]. We will ensure the reports of the tests arrive ahead of their delivery dates,” Dr. Shabir Ahmad, who works in the Anantnag hospital, said.

 

Study shows you are 4 times more likely to catch coronavirus indoors than outside

https://theprint.in/health/sharing-indoor-space-major-infection-risk-finds-china-university-study-on-covid-19-spread/413935/

New Delhi: As debate rages over the nature of the spread of Covid-19, a study by Chinese researchers conducted early this year has shown that a majority of the infections are transmitted indoors.Currently awaiting peer review, the study was conducted by six researchers of Southeast University in China’s Nanjing, the University of Hong Kong and the University of Beijing. Using data from 320 cities in China between 4 January and 11 February, they found a higher number of infections occurred in closed spaces, though more people were likely have been infected in a single instance outdoors. It also stated that “sharing indoor space is a major SARS-CoV-2 infection risk”.The study, released on 7 April, could raise questions over lockdown policies implemented in several countries, particularly the closing down of open public places like parks and markets.According to WHO, coronavirus is spread through droplets of various sizes, which occur “when a person is in close contact (within 1m) with someone who has respiratory symptoms”. Studies have so far shown that transmission may occur through fomites i.e. objects or materials that can carry infection.theprint

 

India’s tally of coronavirus cases surges past 42,500; death toll climbs to 1,389

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-tally-coronavirus-cases-death-toll-news-update-health-ministry-1674099-2020-05-04

New Delhi:India registered a jump of 72 deaths and 2,553 cases in the last 24 hours, ending Monday morning, as the number of coronavirus-related fatalities rose to 1,373.According to the Union health ministry, the total coronavirus cases in India climbed to 42,836on Monday morning.The number of active coronavirus cases in India stood at 29,685, while 11,761 people have recovered and one patient migrated, the ministry said. The total number also includes 111 foreign nationals.At 548, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum of the nationwide deaths due to coronavirus. Gujarat comes second with 290 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh 165, Rajasthan 71, Delhi 64, Uttar Pradesh 45, and West Bengal 35.

 

1,074 Covid patients cured in last 24 hrs in India — sharpest daily spurt in recoveries

https://theprint.in/health/1074-covid-patients-cured-in-last-24-hrs-in-india-sharpest-daily-spurt-in-recoveries/414253/

Union health ministry’s Covid-19 briefing Monday brought a cause for cheer — India has reported the sharpest daily spurt in recoveries so far, with 1,074 people cured in the past 24 hours. “Till now, a total of 11,706 people have been cured and, if we see in the past 24 hours, 1,074 people have been cured. It is such positive news… this is the highest number in terms of cured patients noted to date,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.theprint

 

Long queues outside liquor shops, social distancing goes for a toss as govt relaxes lockdown

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/long-queues-outside-delhi-liquor-shops-no-social-distancing-1674136-2020-05-04

New Delhi:People in huge numbers started queuing up outside liquor shops in Delhi from early morning on Monday. The queues were seen as early as 7.30 am in some parts of the national capital where around 150 liquor shops were reopened as the lockdown entered the third phase.The scenes were similar across several states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra.People were seen gathering outside the liquor shops from early morning even before the shops could open for sales. Liquor shops across the country were shut down with the lockdown that was announced on March 24.In Kashmere Gate, police had to resort to lathicharge outside a liquor shop where people refused to follow social distancing norms and were seen standing very close to each other in the long queues.Meanwhile in Delhi, police was forced to shut down one such liquor shop in Jheel Chowk area due to overcrowding. Crowds gathered in huge numbers and refused to abide by the social distancing norms.India Today

Hours After They Open, Some Delhi Liquor Shops Closed After Large Crowds

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-india-locdown-long-queues-social-distancing-challenge-as-liquor-shops-open-2222863

 

Opening Liquor Shops will Increase Crimes against Women: Activists

https://clarionindia.net/opening-liquor-shops-will-increase-crimes-against-women-activists/

NEW DELHI:As India entered phase-3 of the lockdown on Monday due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, women who already face domestic violence may have to suffer more for the govt’s decision to open liquor shops, according to women’s rights activists. Social activist and Director of Centre for Social Research (CSR), Dr. Ranjana Kumari said, “According to the govt’s own National Family Health survey data, there is a direct link between alcohol use and violence by men. So certainly it will escalate. Already there are two times more cases of domestic violence reported to NCW.”She added that there was a rise in the number of women calling for help. Another women’s rights activist Shamina Shafiq told IANS that there are chances that women and children will fall prey to domestic violence due to alcohol consumption by men. Another women’s rights activist Yogita Bhayana told IANS that it is a strange decision taken by the govt. IANS

 

 

 

Delhi RWAs urge govt to shut down all liquor shops in city

https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-rwas-urge-govt-to-shut-down-all-liquor-shops-in-city/story-rm7gY0FH9iEhSi7feMTb5I.html

New Delhi:After long queues outside liquor shops in the national capital took social distancing norms for a ride, the Resident Welfare Associations (RWA’s) in the city have urged the government to immediately close down all liquor vends and review arrangements.Several Resident Welfare Associations in Delhi have strongly objected to opening of liquor shops in most parts of the city despite entire Delhi being declared as a Red Zone with over 4,459 coronavirus cases .

 

 

Long queues form outside liquor shops in Maharashtra

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/long-queues-form-outside-liquor-shops-in-maharashtra/article31499026.ece

Maharashtra government has allowed standalone shops of non-essential commodities, including liquor vendors, to open in red zones such as Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Malegaon.Huge queues were seen across the cities and those celebrating the relaxation in the rules defended the government’s move, saying liquor brings in major revenue to the State coffers and that drinkers are helping boost the economy. “The government has delayed the decision and has lost revenue,” said a senior citizen, who had reached a wine shop as early as 8.30 am in Pune to be in the queue. Speaking to a local television channel, he said he was eager to have his peg after a gap of more than a month.thehindubusinessline

 

Social distancing norms went for toss outside liquor shops in Chhattisgarh

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/social-distancing-norms-went-for-toss-outside-liquor-shops-in-chhattisgarh/videoshow/75531473.cms

After the government gave certain relaxations in lockdown 3.0, people were seen standing in long queues outside a liquor shop in Rajnandgaon. Social distancing norms went for a toss as people did not maintain 1-metre distance. Irrespective of police force deployment, chaos was created outside the liquor shops.ANI

 

 

150 Tablighi Jamaat Members Break Ramzan Fast To Donate Plasma For Covid Treatment

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-150-tablighi-jamaat-members-break-ramzan-fast-to-donate-plasma-for-covid-treatment/352059

Some 150 members of the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi have broken their Ramzan fast to donate blood plasma for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, members of the religious organisation that was roundly criticised for being a super spreader of the Coronavirus in the country, have told Outlook.The donation of plasma is taking place at the three quarantine centres in Delhi, said Dr Mohammad Shoib Ali, who is coordinating the plasma collective drive on behalf of the Delhi health ministry. Since it is mandatory to eat before donating plasma, Tablighi Jamaat donors are breaking their fast for the day on being advised by community elders that such a such a 'disruption' to save lives was allowed in Islam.Sadiq Pasha, a jamaat volunteer from Namakkal in Salem district in Tamil Nadu, was among those who donated plasma despite keeping fast on Monday. “I was on Roza today, but I had to break it as a donor is made to eat something before he could donate blood plasma.,” Pasha, who has a welding store in Namakkal, told Outlook.Mohammad Usman, who belongs to Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh and was on a two-month duty at Markaz, was instrumental in convincing Jamaat volunteers to donate blood plasma.Outlook

 

Ghaziabad: In quarantine for 32 days, Tablighi Jamaat members protest

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/ghaziabad-in-quarantine-for-32-days-tablighi-jamaat-members-protest/articleshow/75523307.cms

GHAZIABAD: A group of 20 Tablighi Jamaat (TJ) members and their contacts did not eat food on Sunday to register their protest for not being allowed to go home even after spending 32 days in quarantine at Sunder Deep College.Health officials informed their list have gone to police for verification and they would be released once they get the approval. Meanwhile, more than 50 TJ members were released from quarantine facilities on Sunday. Health officials said another 150 will be released by Monday.Owing to several FIRs registered against TJ members, including foreigners, the health department had decided not to release anyone without getting a nod from the police.Chief medical officer Dr NK Gupta told that all inmates would be released when the verification report comes. Those who have completed the quarantine period have been released after consulting the police.

 

35 Tablighi Jamaat members booked for withholding information

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/35-tablighi-jamaat-members-booked-for-withholding-information/articleshow/75524405.cms

NOIDA: At least 35 people who had attended theTablighi Jamaat event in Delhi in March have been booked for allegedly withholding information about their travel history. They were already in quarantine for 14 days and were booked after they tested negative.Police said most the Jamaat attendees were from Jharkhand, Gujarat and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and were staying in Greater Noida villages for some time. They will now be sent to Luksar jail with a medical certificate saying they have tested negative for Covid.

 

15 Tablighi Jamaat members sent to 14-day judicial custody in UP

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/15-tablighi-jamaat-members-sent-to-14-day-judicial-custody-in-up/article31501558.ece

MUZAFFARNAGAR;15 members of the Tablighi Jamaat, including Bangladesh nationals, were produced in a court here, which sent them to 14-day judicial custody, an official said on Monday.While 12 of them belonged to the neighbouring country, two were from Assam and one from U.P.’s Moradabad.PTI

 

MUMBAI :Bail plea of 10 Indonesian nationals who attended Tablighi Jamaat rejected

https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/bail-plea-of-10-indonesian-nationals-who-attended-tablighi-jamaat-rejected/story-neqzd4TsxIsyQnck70VOqO.html

MUMBAI :The metropolitan magistrate court on Monday rejected a bail plea of 10 Indonesian nationals who had been arrested in April after they attended the Tablighi Jamaat gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi and failed to disclose this information to the police. The 10 accused will remain in judicial custody till May 11.A total of 12 people, including the arrested accused (six men and six women) from Indonesia had visited Delhi in March for the religious meet. After attending the meet they came to Mumbai on March 7 and were staying at an apartment in Bandra. Two of them are currently still under quarantine.HT

 

Ahmed Patel questions NHRC silence on stigmatisation of a community

    https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ahmed-patel-questions-nhrc-silence-on-stigmatisation-of-a-community/1823132

New Delhi: Amid pandemic and targeting of the Muslim community by certain sections of the society and the media, Congress Treasurer Ahmed Patel has opened up and has questioned the "silence" of the National Human Rights Commission, an apex body on the human rights.Congress leader said on Monday that the NHRC''s silence on the "Stigmatisation of a community" referring the blame of the spread of the COVID-19 attributed to the community by various quarters in the BJP and even by some chief ministers. However, he did not take the name of the Muslims, but he was apparently referring to the harassment of the Muslim vendors through various means.Ahmed Patel said that it''s "contrary" to the WHO guidelines.IANS

 

 

 

Bombay HC seeks response from govt on plea challenging shifting more than 1,200 from hotspots

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bombay-hc-seeks-response-from-govt-on-plea-challenging-shifting-more-than-1200-from-hotspots-6393271/

Bombay High Court Nagpur bench sought response from the Maharashtra Government and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on a plea challenging the latter’s decision to shift more than 1200 persons, including women and children, from COVID hotspots in Nagpur to an institutional quarantine.A single judge bench of Justice Anil S Kilor heard through videoconference on Sunday an urgent plea filed by local resident Mohammad Nishat, who alleged that civic authorities illegally detained nearly 1408 persons from Satranjipura and Mominpura areas, claiming that they were high-risk contacts of those who tested positive for COVID-19.The operation in Satranjipura area in east Nagpur started late on April 27 night and went on till April 28 morning.indianexpress

 

 

COVID-19: Udupi Qazi appeals DC to continue lockdown till end of Ramadhan

http://www.uniindia.com/covid-19-udupi-qazi-appeals-dc-to-continue-lockdown-till-end-of-ramadan/south/news/1979691.html

Mangaluru: Udupi Qazi, Alhaj Bekal Ibrahim Musliyar has requested Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner to extend the lockdown in Coastal Karnataka till the end of Ramadhan. Qazi asserted that Muslims in the region have been co-operating with the authorities and have barred Iftar gatherings, prayers, taraweehs and congregational prayers at mosques, dargahs and elsewhere during the holy month of Ramadhan under the instructions of State Waqf Board, he said in a statement issued here on Sunday. He said that relaxation in the lockdown at the time of Eid can result in increased traffic and movement in the region and that it can lead to spread of COVID-19 once again. UNI

 

‘Muslim traders’ entry in village banned’: Cops launch probe after Islamophobic poster in BJP-ruled MP goes viral

http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/muslim-traders-entry-in-village-banned-cops-launch-probe-after-islamophobic-poster-in-bjp-ruled-madhya-pradesh-goes-viral/289566/

 A poster calling for the ban of Muslim traders’ entry into a village in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh has sparked a new controversy. Cops have launched a probe after the latest episode of brazen Islamophobia was put on display triggering a strong backlash on social media.The banner in question was placed outside Pemalpur village in Madhya Pradesh, which is now being governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, the BJP. The poster in Hindi read, “Muslim traders are banned from entering the village. By order: All residents of village Pemalpur.”jantakareporter

 

 

News18 misreports scuffle between police and locals in Kurla as cops manhandled after namaz

https://www.altnews.in/news18-misreports-scuffle-between-police-and-locals-in-kurla-as-cops-manhandled-after-namaz/

During May 1 broadcast of News18 Hindi’s debate show ‘Aar Paar’, moderator Amish Devgan played a video of an altercation between locals in a Muslim-dominated area in Kurla Pipe Road and Mumbai police. “There is big news coming from Kurla. A huge crowd has assembled from the mosque after namaz. The police was manhandled when they reached the area. We are showing you these visuals…” said Devgan, 33 minutes into the broadcast.News18 had also tweeted the said portion of the broadcast claiming that police was manhandled in Mumbai’s Kurla while dispersing a crowd that emerged from a mosque. The tweet was later taken down.The clip is floating on social media with the same claim. One Yana Mir on Twitter claimed that the police was abused because they stopped locals from offering Friday prayers. The police press release says that sub-inspector Kakasaheb Nagwe and his team was patrolling in Kurla Pipe Road when Rizwan Zuber Memon began abusing them from the second floor of a building. He asked the cops to not shut down shops in locality. Rizwan claimed that he works with NIA and threatened the policemen of getting them fired from their jobs. A crowd gathered due to the commotion and Rizwan fled the scene. Therefore, the second claim that the altercation was between worshippers exiting a mosque and the police is also false.  News18 anchor Amish Devgan falsely claimed during a broadcast that policemen were manhandled in Kurla, Mumbai while attempting to disperse a crowd gathered at a mosque during the lockdown.altnews

 

2018 image of Muslims offering prayers in UP shared as recent from Tamil Nadu

https://www.altnews.in/2018-image-of-muslims-offering-prayers-in-up-shared-as-recent-from-tamil-nadu/

An image of a group of men, wearing a skull cap, offering namaz is getting shared on social media. It is being shared with the claim that a group of 700 men offered namaz amid the lockdown in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district. Facebook user Vijay Ajay posted the image with the claim in Tamil on April 30. The image is credited to ‘Alamy stock photo’ and ‘Jaya Murgan’.Alt News found that the image is from Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad city, now known as Prayagraj. According to the stock photo agency Alamy, the image was shot on May 17, 2018. altnews

*CORONAVIRUS – WORLD*

Global conference seeking to raise $8bn for coronavirus vaccine

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/global-conference-seeking-raise-8bn-coronavirus-vaccine-200504072211277.html

World leaders are due to hold a virtual conference to raise $8.3bn for efforts to develop a vaccine and treatments against the new coronavirus.The United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia and the European Commission, are co-hosting the online event, which is part of a month-long international investment drive before the Global Vaccine Summit on June 4. Monday's conference is scheduled to start at 14:00 GMT.The fundraising drive aims to pool resources worldwide to develop a vaccine and effective treatments as quickly as possible and to make them universally available at affordable prices. The funds will mainly be allocated to established international health organisations and research networks. The letter was signed by European Council President Charles Michel, Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Norway's Prime Minister, Erna Solberg.However, leaders warned that more money would still be needed to manufacture and deliver "available, accessible and affordable" medicines across world.aljazeera

 

China says US's Pompeo 'insane' over coronavirus lab theory

[

China's state broadcaster CCTV attacked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's "insane and evasive remarks" over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.Pompeo on Sunday said "enormous evidence" showed the virus originated in a lab in China, doubling down on previous claims that have been repeatedly denied by the World Health Organization and various scientific experts.Titled "Evil Pompeo is wantonly spewing poison and spreading lies", the harshly worded commentary cited WHO executive director Mike Ryan and Columbia University virologist W Ian Lipkin, who claimed the virus is natural in origin and was not man-made or leaked from a laboratory."These flawed and unreasonable remarks by American politicians make it clear to more and more people that no 'evidence' exists," the commentary said.

 

Turkey to start easing coronavirus restrictions: Erdogan

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/confirmed-coronavirus-cases-exceed-35m-worldwide-live-updates-200503234441560.html

Turkey will start easing coronavirus containment measures as of Monday, President Tayyip Erdogan said, lifting intercity travel restriction in seven provinces and easing a curfew imposed for senior and youth citizens at the weekend after weeks.Turkey has around 130,000 confirmed cases, the highest total outside Western Europe, the United States and Russia. Ankara has rolled out measures to contain the outbreak, but Erdogan said Turkey would start easing them in May, June and July as the spreading pace begun slowing over the past two weeks.

*OTHERS*

Sedition charge against me won’t stand in court: DMC head Zafarul Islam Khan

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dmc-head-zafarul-khan-sedition-6392488/

Delhi Minorities Commission Chairperson Zafarul Islam Khan, against whom the Delhi Police has invoked charges of sedition, Sunday said that “no amount of intimidation” will make him change his “views and convictions”. Khan, who had assumed charge of the commission in June, 2017, said that the charges of sedition against him were “baseless” and would not stand in any court of law.“The charges of sedition against me are baseless and will not stand in any court of law. These are similar to the slapping of UAPA on students who were peacefully protesting against CAA-NRC. This is sheer misuse of authority by the rulers of the day, but these will be thrown out in courts. Some top legal experts in the country have told me that the police claims against me will fall flat in courts,” Khan said. FIR against Khan, filed on the basis of a complaint made by a doctor, describes a social media post made by him as “provocative that intends to cause disharmony and create a rift in the society”. In April 28 post, which Khan has not taken down, he had thanked Kuwait for “standing with Indian Muslims”. He rejected suggestions that his post hinted towards violence. “Our PM and External Affairs Minister are busy fire-fighting and talking to their counterparts in Arab World, our envoys in Arab countries are issuing clarifications, some of our Indians in Gulf, who abused Islam and Muslims, are facing the music. This is the avalanche I meant and this has taken place as a result of the misdeeds of the hate mongers themselves. By their riots, lynchings and polarisation politics, they give a bad name to our country,” he said.Khan said he made the post in the context of the reaction from the Arab world, including OIC, speaking against “persecution of Indian Muslims”.“One such reaction came in shape of an official decision of Council of Ministers of Kuwait to intervene in this matter with the OIC and the world community. I saw, rather belatedly, a copy of this decision of the Kuwaiti government… I liked this gesture and decided to thank Kuwait for it. This is how that tweet in question was written,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind demands withdrawal of FIR against DMC chief Zafarul Islam Khan: times now

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/jamaat-e-islami-demands-withdrawal-of-fir-against-dmc-chief-zafarul-islam-khan/586551

New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President Syed Sadatullah Hussaini has expressed serious concern over reports of an FIR registered by Delhi Police's Special Cell against Delhi Minorities Commission Chairman Zafarul Islam Khan under grave sections of the Indian Penal Code.In a media statement, the JIH President said: "Speaking on and drawing the attention of the government towards the various injustices perpetrated on the minorities is part of his official duty. If the news of this FIR is true, then it is apparent that not only the trusted individuals but also even important democratic institutions are no longer safe from the police transgression. This is a matter of great concern for the entire nation."  IANS / timesnownews

 

No incident of discrimination against minorities under Modi govt: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/04/interview--no-incident-of-discrimination-against-minorities-under-modi-govt-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-2138842.html

Muslims in India have been following lockdown guidelines “strictly and honestly” during the ongoing month of Ramzan, said Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in an interview to Sana Shakil. On Islamophobia, he said it was unfortunate that people are defaming India through ‘fake’ propaganda. Naqvi said, "I have been in constant touch with all the stakeholders to ensure all the guidelines of lockdown and social distancing are strictly followed during the holy month of Ramzan. I personally talked to state wakf boards, religious leaders, representatives of social organisations and other stakeholders to create awareness among Muslims so that they offer prayers and fulfill other religious obligations including Iftaar during the Ramzan while staying inside their homes.We are happy that by and large, every section of the Muslim community in India has been strictly and honestly following the guidelines of lockdown and social distancing during Ramzan." He claimed, "There is not a single incident of discrimination against any section of society including minorities under the Modi govt. Socio-economic, religious, constitutional and educational rights of every section are absolutely safe and secure in India. All the sections including minorities are strongly moving forward on the path of ‘development with dignity’ under Modi govt.I have no complaint against any foreign organisation or individual. My objection is about those in our country who are trying to defame India through ‘fake, fabricated propaganda’ and ‘self-created misinformation campaign’ to mislead people."newindianexpress

 

'Arnab Goswami Is Arrogant, Antics Hampering Investigation, Browbeating Police' : Maharashtra Govt Moves SC Against Interim Protection

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/arnab-goswami-is-arrogant-antics-hampering-investigation-browbeating-police-maharashtra-govt-tells-sc-156197

An application by Maharasthra Government on behalf of Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai (Zone III) has been filed in the Supreme Court alleging that Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, was "browbeating" the police.On April 24, the Republic TV Editor-In-Chief was granted interim protection by the Supreme Court from any coercive action for a period of three weeks in light of multiple FIRs filed against the journalist, alleging defamation against Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi as well as for communal statements on his Daily show.Stating, inter alia, that the Goswami' was abusing the interim protection granted by the Court by "heckling and badgering" investigating authorities and thereby hampering proper investigation, the application has prayed for restraining him from such acts.The application states that after questioning Goswami for FIR lodged, he cast aspersions on the Mumbai Police on his prime time show "Republic Bharat", stating that it was biased.livelaw

 

#ArrestArnab trends after new police complaint filed against Arnab

http://www.jantakareporter.com/entertainment/arrestarnab-trends-after-new-police-complaint-against-arnab-goswami-in-mumbai-days-after-fir-actress-kavita-kaushik-and-mulk-director-anubhav-sinha-target-republic-tv-founder/289505/

Hashtag #ArrestArnab has once again become a top trend on the internet after a new police complaint was filed against BJP ally Arnab Goswami in Mumbai. This was days after FIR actress Kavita Kaushik and filmmaker Anubhav Sinha targeted the Republic TV founder for allegedly promoting communal tension amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fresh police complaint, the complainant has accused Arnab Goswami and two others of hurting religious sentiments by making a derogatory remark regarding a mosque located in suburban Bandra. According to the police complaint, the controversial TV anchor had played in his programme on 29 April a video clip of the migrant workers’ gathering outside the Bandra station. He had gone on to question the motive behind the gathering by laying special emphasis on the mosque allegedly in a bid to demonise the Muslim community.jantakareporter

 

Anti-CAA protests: Jamia student activists reel in fear as Delhi police summons another JCC member for questioning

http://twocircles.net/2020may04/436463.html?fbclid=IwAR2B4r_npBPZx6KIHMLeQnhCynk3NdY7FPwiJif6UOQPqVFuyAuzhXd46Uc

 Delhi Police on Saturday summoned another member of Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) Mohammed Tasleem for ‘questioning’ in relation with Delhi violence that broke out earlier this year.26-year-old Tasleem is a second-year student of M.A International Relations at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.A student leader from Jamia, Ramees confirmed to TwoCircles.net that Tasleem had been called in for questioning. “On Saturday at around 3pm Tasleem texted from Jamia Nagar police station on a WhatsApp group about his interrogation,” Ramees said.

 

As arrested and pregnant Jamia student is slandered online, husband keeps faith in judiciary

https://theprint.in/india/as-arrested-and-pregnant-jamia-student-is-slandered-online-husband-keeps-faith-in-judiciary/414238/?amp&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR3xCioIyrcgiqY8PYw9-Eq4aGYVF7lyB7q3ACDvEM3W6Gcxy4i36k2eh1c

New Delhi: Family members of arrested Jamia Millia Islamia student Safoora Zargar say they are “appalled and upset” by the attempts made to slander her on social media, but her husband says he is keeping faith in the country’s judicial system.Zargar, a 27-year-old M.Phil. student from Jamia, is over 3 months pregnant, and was arrested by the Delhi Police’s special cell on 10 April. She was later denied bail and, on 21 April, charged under stringent UAPA. She was associated with Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), and was part of the anti-CAA protests organised by university students in December and January. She was arrested for allegedly leading the anti-CAA protest at Jaffrabad metro station in Feb. On Monday, three weeks after her arrest, her family found a hashtag in her name, #सफूरा_जरगर, trending on Twitter, hours after Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra commented on her pregnancy.theprint

 

Kapil Mishra Slammed for Making Lewd Comments on Safoora’s Pregnancy

https://clarionindia.net/kapil-mishra-slammed-for-making-lewd-comments-on-safooras-pregnancy/

NEW DELHI:Controversial BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has been accused of instigating Delhi violence, has been slammed for passing lewd remarks against Jamia Millia student Safoora Zargar’s pregnancy.Safoora is under detention. She has been arrested by the Delhi police, amid the Corona lockdown, on a trumped-up charge of conspiracy to carry out violence during the recent riots in Delhi. Her arrest evoked a lot of outrage in the country while the Amnesty International called it “cruel and brutal” crackdown.alluding to the pregnancy of Safoor, Mishra, who has a penchant for issuing communally loaded statement against Muslims, remarked that his speech did not make her pregnant.In a tweet, Congress leader Salman Nizami questioned the arrest of Safoora saying the pregnant woman has been jailed but Mishra who incited the riot is free.“Activist Safoora Zargar (pregnant) is in Jail during Ramadan, hatemongers like Kapil Mishra who incited riots are FREE. Crime of being a Muslim in Modi’s INDIA. Have some SHAME! #ReleaseSafooraZargar,” tweeted Nizami.Clarion India

 

1100 Feminists Across India Condemn Crackdown On Anti-CAA Women Activists In Delhi

https://countercurrents.org/2020/05/1100-feminists-across-india-condemn-crackdown-on-anti-caa-women-activists-in-delhi?fbclid=IwAR1Qcic98v786aQB0igkb1IQLDwQrVgvh0-AOxoOvC8NVM0LXuFgOW8nl3Y

1100 feminists from all over India – organisations and individuals across religion, class, caste, ethnicity, ability, sexuality and genders – issued a solidarity statement today, condemning the targeted crackdown on muslims and women activists in Delhi, who were at the forefront of the peaceful protests against the unconstitutional CAA-NRC-NPR.The signatories noted that Delhi Police, at the behest of Union Home Ministry is brazenly rounding up people under the cover of the Covid lockdown. The statement denounces false narratives that try to link anti-CAA protests with the violence in Delhi, demands action against actual instigators and perpetrators of communal violence, including BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra and Pravesh Verma, seeks full disclosure of arrests and detentions from Delhi Police, withdrawal of false cases and immediate release of all political prisoners.countercurrents

 

Promising Independent Scribe Latest Victim of Delhi Police’s Crackdown on Jamia

https://clarionindia.net/promising-independent-scribe-latest-victim-of-delhi-polices-crackdown-on-jamia/

NEW DELHI – Yet another student of Jamia Millia Islamia was summoned by Delhi Police for interrogation on May 2.  Md Tasleem, the latest victim of the police crackdown on campus, is a postgraduate student of West Asian studies at the department of International Relations. He was questioned on the northeast Delhi riots.“I was asked questions related to my involvement and whereabouts in the anti-CAA movement at Jamia and other protest sites and during northeast Delhi riots”, said Tasleem.Clarion India

 

Bois Locker Room: Delhi schoolboys create group to share lewd photos, chats on classmates

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bois-locker-room-delhi-schoolboys-create-group-to-share-lewd-photos-chats-on-classmates-1674303-2020-05-04

New Delhi:Leaked screenshots from an Instagram group allegedly run by teenage boys have gone viral on Indian social media. Why? Because of their graphic sexualisation as well as sharing of private photos of underage women.On Sunday, screenshots from an Instagram group called "Bois Locker Room" were shared by social media users. The screenshots reveal chats between a group of schoolboys from Class 11 and 12 sharing photos of underage women, followed by lurid discussions on their bodies.The group was also allegedly used to share nude/morphed photographs of the women.The original posts that uncovered the controversy.According to reports, the group is run by and has membership of 16 to 18-year-old boys from posh schools in South Delhi, all of whom were involved in the objectification of their classmates and other women, some as young as 14. The list of members of the group chat has also been released publicly.indiatoday

 

 

In Supreme Court, Centre and J&K Admin Oppose Pleas for 4G Network in Kashmir

https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-jammu-kashmir-4g-internet

New Delhi: Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration justified in the Supreme Court on Monday the restriction on 4G service in UT saying high speed internet might be used for sending information about troop movement, and referred to Saturday’s tragic deaths of security personnel in an encounter with terrorists.The top court, dealing with PILs seeking restoration of 4G service in UT, said it has to deal with the legal question of ensuring balance in view of health and security concerns raised by the petitioners and the governments.The submissions of Centre and the UT were opposed before a bench, headed by Justice N.V. Ramana, by senior lawyers Salman Khurshid and Huzefa Ahmadi who were representing parties seeking restoration of 4G, on grounds such as right to access doctors is an inherent under Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution and it’s deprivation should be judged in view of the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.They also alleged that the right of children to access schools through the high speed internet service have been hampered.PTI

 

BJP Chief In Ladakh Quits Over Autonomous Hill Council Row

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-chief-in-ladakh-chering-dorjay-quits-over-autonomous-hill-council-row-2223269

Srinagar: BJP's chief in Ladakh has resigned from the party, citing loss of power of the Autonomous Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil districts after Ladakh was made into a Union Territory.In his resignation letter to the party's national chief JP Nadda, Chering Dorjay alleged the BJP leadership has been "ignoring concerns" of the people of Ladakh. Dorjay said the administration has also failed to evacuate stranded Ladakhis amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The resignation is a setback for BJP in the region. Mr Dorjay was leading celebrations in Ladakh after the region was separated from Jammu and Kashmir in August .In his letter to BJP national president, Dorjay said the people of Ladakh have sacrificed a lot to achieve autonomous status. "UT administration has rendered autonomous Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil districts completely ineffective by not allowing them to function as per the council Act," said Mr Dorjay in his letter. "I have expressed my doubts about these problems well in time to the party high command," he said.In Kargil, a section of people have been demanding restoration of statehood.Mr Dorjay, who was also a minister in former PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir, made his disappointment known after his request to bring stranded people from Ladakh was not heard.All the BJP councillors of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council also protested outside the Lieutenant Governor's office in Leh over the plight of the stranded people.ndtv

 

Vacate All Areas Of J&K Under Illegal Occupation, India Tells Pakistan; Protests 'Material Changes' In PoK

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-india-protests-pakistans-efforts-to-bring-material-change-in-pok-territories/352027

The government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it in Jammu and Kashmir, India said on Monday and protested the former's efforts to bring "material change" in areas under its occupation.Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a demarche to Islamabad protesting Pakistan Supreme Court's order on Gilgit-Baltistan. India has also asked Pakistan to vacate the occupied territories.In a recent order, the Pakistan Supreme Court allowed the amendment to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 to conduct the general elections in the region.outlookindia

 

3 CRPF Jawans Killed In Militant Attack In Kashmir's Handwara

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-three-crpf-jawans-killed-in-militant-attack-in-kashmirs-handwara/352052

3 CRPF personnel were killed Monday in a militant attack at Kralgund area of Handwara, around 80 km north of Srinagar. “3 causalities are being reported. It was Alfa-92 company,”  a CRPF spokesman based in Srinagar told Outlook, adding that security forces have sealed the area and search is on for other attackers. On Sunday, four Army personnel, including the commanding officer of the Rashtriya Rifles’ 21 Battalion, were killed in an encounter with militants in Handwara. A police officer was also killed in the encounter. Outlook

 

No Justification for Detention of Mehbooba: Omar Abdullah

https://clarionindia.net/no-justification-for-detention-of-mehbooba-omar-abdullah/?fbclid=IwAR3SJWhnU89EBd7zTn3pwtC0wkqJ0kW8vLnwW_INq2gu7EVTMfNAxyRqYng

SRINAGAR – Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that there is no justification for continued detention of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other mainstream leaders detained after the abrogation of Article 370 and demanded that they must be set free.Abdullah, in a tweet, said: “Over the next few days the PSA detention orders of Mehbooba Mufti, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shah Faisal and others are due to expire. There was no justification for their detention much less an extension.”Abdullah was released in March after the J&K government revoked his detention orders underPSA, more than seven months after he was detained.IANS

 

Independent journalist Rizwana Tabassum commits suicide in UP’s Varanasi; FIR against local leader

https://newsd.in/independent-journalist-rizwana-tabassum-commits-suicide-in-ups-varanasi-blames-sp-leader/?fbclid=IwAR0dhktoErWM9BuUMjEdWsw3tekfwB3aUbDx6AftECXDQnt3Ysl-m-CDXvY

Varanasi: 28-year-old freelance journalist Rizwana Tabassum has committed suicide in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Monday.A suicide note has been found in the room in which she has accused a local youth leader, an FIR has been filed against a local leader Shamim Nomani in Lohta police station. The police reportedly said that body has been sent for postmortem.According to Varanasi Sadar CO, Abhishek Pandey, a case has been registered against Lohta resident, Shamim Nomani on the charge of abetment of suicide under Section 306 on Rizwana’s father complaint.Police said that Rizwana has left a note at her house by writing ‘Shamim Nomani is responsible’. On the condition of anonymity, a friend of Rizwana told that Shamim and Rizwana had a friendship for a long time but no one is aware of what happened suddenly.newsd.in

 

Transparency Activists Question Centre's 'Compliance Report' on CIC Appointments

In its status report, the Centre has claimed that the process of appointments was ‘completed’ even though four vacancies still remain.

 

Transparency Activists Question Centre's 'Compliance Report' on CIC Appointments

https://thewire.in/government/supreme-court-cic-appointments

New Delhi: The status report filed by the Centre on April 24, 2020, in the ongoing Supreme Court case regarding the non-appointment of information commissioners and lack of transparency in the appointment process has left transparency activists flummoxed. While the Centre claimed that “the process of appointment in respect of Information Commissioners in Central Information Commission has been completed within three months as directed” by the Supreme Court in its order of December 16, 2019, four posts of information commissioners are still vacant in the panel.thewire

 

 

Remembering Tipu Sultan: Some Lesser-known Facts About the Tiger of Mysore

https://www.news18.com/news/india/remembering-tipu-sultan-some-lesser-known-facts-about-the-tiger-of-mysore-2605177.html

Sultan Fateh Ali Khan Sahab, also known as Tipu Sultan, was laid to rest on May 4, 1799. Remembered as the first freedom fighter from India, Tipu Sultan is known for his bravery and skills. He had strongly resisted the conquest of British East India Company in southern India and he was reluctant to welcome them on his soil. Tipu ruled the kingdom of Mysore, which he inherited from his father Haidar Ali. His bravery, valour and skills were so talked about that French commander-in-chief Napolean Bonaparte once sought an alliance with the ruler of Mysore.On his 221st death anniversary, here is a look at some lesser-known facts about him: Tipu Sultan was a Muslim ruler who ruled over a majority Hindu population and worked effortlessly to make his kingdom known to one and all. He introduced many modern crafts and administrative innovations, including the new coinage system, calendar and a new land revenue system. Tipu never gave up to the Britishers, fighting bravely against them in several wars, including the Second Anglo-Mysore War. He was also famously known as the Tiger of Mysore. While some relate it to the claim that he once killed a tiger with his bare hands, others relate it to his persona and grandeur.news18

*WORLD*

Report: Russia, Turkey, Iran agree to remove Syria’s Assad

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-report-russia-turkey-iran-agree-to-remove-syrias-assad/?fbclid=IwAR2z8L3l1E0aUXpFHzMVitM_v22BBD79mXqnWa_lgfzI6stthaedjFcj70c

Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) expects that Russia, Turkey and Iran will reach a consensus to remove the head of Syrian regime, Bashar Al-Assad, and establish a ceasefire in exchange for forming a transitional government that includes the opposition, members of the regime and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).RIAC, which is known to be close to the decision-makers in the Russian government, said in a report that a Russian organisation named Foundation for Protection of National Values, affiliated with the security services and the office of President Vladimir Putin, has been conducting an opinion poll in Syria.This would send a very clear political message, conveying that Syrian people do not want Al-Assad to remain president.The report stated that, since the beginning of its military intervention in Syria, Moscow has been keen to avoid being presented as defender of Al-Assad, adding that in negotiations it has stressed that “Syrian people will decide whether or not Al-Assad will remain in power”.Russia has become more serious about making changes in Syria, RIAC explained, not least because protecting Al-Assad has become a burden.MEMO

 

 IS Steps Up as Iraq & Syria, Grapple With Coronavirus:AP

https://www.news18.com/news/world/renewed-mayhem-islamic-state-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-coronavirus-2603597.html

Baghdad: The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding 3 security personnel in the first week of Ramadan.Days later, a 3-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in northern province of Salahaddin — deadliest and most complex operation in many months.The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy PM of northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon." He said IS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000.In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for US-allied Kurdish-led forces.IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in govt-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq.Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, 3 Iraqi military officials and experts said. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. 2 days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud.“IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said.

 

British MPs urge government to impose sanctions on Israel if it annexes West Bank

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-british-mps-urge-government-to-impose-sanctions-on-israel-if-it-annexes-west-bank/

Almost 130 British members of parliament have urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose economic sanctions on Israel should the country’s new coalition government carry out its plans to annex the Palestinian territories of the occupied West Bank.In a letter last week, signed by the Conservative Party’s former chairman Lord Chris Patten and its former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, makes it clear to Johnson that the annexation is illegal and would be a blatant violation of international law, as reported by British newspaper the Guardian.Organised by Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), the letter and its signatories condemn the invasion plan “as a mortal blow to the chances of peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on any viable 2-state solution.” It stated that Israel is using “cover of Covid-19 pandemic to seek to implement this egregious plan. It is vital that UK does everything in its power to prevent this.”

 

Israel's court resumes hearing on Netanyahu-Gantz coalition deal

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/israel-court-resumes-hearing-onnetanyahu-gantz-coalition-deal-200504082756347.html

Israel's Supreme Court has started the second day of a hearing to determine if a coalition agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and main rival Benny Gantz is valid as the former faces corruption charges.On Sunday, the court heard "arguments on the question of bestowing the duty of forming a government on a Knesset member against whom an indictment has been filed", according to Chief Justice Esther Hayut.

 

Terrorism was Israel's 'pretext' to turn Jordan into Palestine, says Ehud Barack

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-terrorism-was-israels-pretext-to-turn-jordan-into-palestine-says-ehud-barack/

The goal of the First Lebanon War was to bring down the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and turn the country into Palestine, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has said in a shocking admission about the true intention of the Zionist state.Israelis were told that the objective of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon was to remove forces belonging to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and end the threat posed by the resistance group to its northern communities. Barack admitted that this was untrue, explaining that the real goal was to use the “pretext of Palestinian terror” to force PLO back to Jordan where they would take over government from the Hashemite Kingdom.“The idea was to use the pretext of Palestinian terror, which they (PLO) were providing us with, to attack them in south Lebanon and turn that into a leverage [Israel can use] and join the Christian (forces) in Beirut,” Barak said in an interview with Maariv, the sister publication of the Jerusalem Post.middleeastmonitor

 

Israel ‘renovation’ of Ibrahimi Mosque to involve seizure of Palestinian land

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-israel-renovation-of-ibrahimi-mosque-to-involve-seizure-of-palestinian-land/

Israel has seized municipal power from Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in order to “renovate” the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied city of Hebron.The renovations will include the installation of an elevator to allow people with disabilities, including tourists and Jewish worshippers, to access the holy site.Permission for the move has been granted by Defence Minister Naftali Bennett. The far-right minister has also instructed Coordinator of Govt Activities in the Territories (COGAT), General Kamil Abu Rukon, to take all necessary action, including the expropriation of land close to the site to advance what is essentially another illegal Israeli settlement project.Old City of Hebron, Al-Khalil in Arabic, includes Ibrahimi Mosque and is known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs. It is a highly contested site and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017.middleeastmonitor

 

Netanyahu hides prisoner swap details from his cabinet

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-netanyahu-hides-prisoner-swap-details-from-his-cabinet/

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be hiding from his cabinet the details of the ongoing talks with Hamas about a prisoner swap, Quds Press reported on Sunday. Members of the cabinet are believed to be angry with him.Cabinet ministers asked for information about the talks from the Israeli national security commission, but the latter abstained from giving any details.According to Israel Hayom, the government might pay a high price for the deal, as happened with the deal to release Sergeant Gilad Shalit in 2011. “However, the officials participating in laying down the terms of the deal said that this one will be responsible and Israel will not repeat the mistakes of the past,” it said.

 

Israel to build new Jewish cemetery in occupied West Bank

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-israel-to-build-new-jewish-cemetery-in-occupied-west-bank/

Israel’s occupation authorities are to build a new cemetery for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, PIC reported. The cemetery will be located near the village of Azzun Atmeh.According to local researcher Abdul Kareem Ayyoub, the cemetery will be the largest allocated for illegal settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory. Built entirely on Palestinian land, it is estimated that the site will have space for 30,000 burials.Ayyoub added that the plan will lead to the destruction of about 35 acres of Palestinian-owned agricultural land planted with olive and almond trees. The land belongs to villagers in Az-Zawiya and Mas-ha, as well as Azzun Atmeh.middleeastmonitor

 

PA arrests 21 Palestinians in first 10 days of Ramadan

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200504-pa-arrests-21-palestinians-in-first-10-days-of-ramadan/

Palestinian Authority in Ramallah has arrested 21 Palestinians in the first ten days of Ramadan due to their political views and charitable activities, Arab48.com has reported. The families of those and others arrested by PA have revealed that dozens more were summoned for investigations over their political views, social media posts or involvement in charitable activities outside scope of Fatah’s umbrella.middleeastmonitor

 

 

First Hindu pilot in Pakistan Air Force

https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/first-hindu-pilot-in-pakistan-air-force-1.71313379

 For first time in Pakistan’s history, a Hindu has been selected as a pilot in the country’s air force. The youth named Rahul Dev has been recruited as a general duty pilot officer in the Pakistan Air Force.According to Pakistani media, Rahul Dev hails from Tharparkar, the largest district in Sindh province, where a large population of the Hindu community resides.All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat Secretary Ravi Dawani expressed happiness over Dev’s appointment. IANS

 

Former Pope says opponents are attempting to ‘silence’ him

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/former-pope-says-opponents-are-attempting-to-silence-him/article31504401.ece?homepage=true

BERLIN:Traditionalist former Pope Benedict XVI accuses opponents of wanting to “silence” him while associating gay marriage with “the Antichrist” and attacking “humanist ideologies” in a new authorised biography published on Monday in Germany. 93-year-old, whose original name is Joseph Ratzinger, claims in Benedict XVI — A Life that he has fallen victim to a “malignant distortion of reality” in reactions to his interventions in theological debates. “The spectacle of reactions coming from German theology is so misguided and ill-willed that I would prefer not to speak of it,” he said.AFP

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Ramadan marks revelation of Quran, which places knowledge above all: Rahamathunnissa A , national secretary, women’s department, Jama’at-e-Islami Hind

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ramadan-2020-moon-sighting-muslims-in-india-rahamathunnissa-a-6392220/

By incarcerating scholars, Modi government contradicts values of Hinduism:Gurpreet Singh

https://countercurrents.org/2020/05/by-incarcerating-scholars-modi-government-contradicts-values-of-hinduism?fbclid=IwAR31K_Jqm-5NtL4inMD9fVfEJKmMu3WBXmhDvwDU96dh7uLOxI2tOuDYcT4

There is a crisis of truth in India, Rana Ayyub on World Press Freedom Day

https://en.maktoobmedia.com/2020/05/03/there-is-a-crisis-of-truth-in-india-rana-ayyub-on-world-press-freedom-day/?fbclid=IwAR0iJ5uLRnfH_fiqtDM-eL3Q5okf-7GFLK2POXFNxEZ4chPc6hQ3g1fHGIw

Centre’s ‘Clarification’ on Who Can Go Back Home Leads to Even Less Clarity:Kabir Agarwal

https://thewire.in/government/migrant-workers-railways-mha

Mandatory Imposition of Aarogya Setu App Has No Legal or Constitutional Basis:Gautam Bhatia

https://thewire.in/law/the-mandatory-imposition-of-the-aarogya-setu-app-has-no-legal-or-constitutional-basis

The first plague in history ended the Byzantine empire, was considered an act of God:Adrija Roychowdhury

https://indianexpress.com/article/research/coronavirus-covid-19-the-first-plague-in-history-ended-the-byzantine-empire-6393584/

‘Ek Ramzan aisa bhi’: No gathering, no feast, and prayers for the world to heal

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/ramzan-ramadan-2020-pandemic-6392874/

BJP’s tightrope walk on identity politics: Saffrons have to take a call after normalcy is restored;Amulya Ganguli/IPA

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/bjps-tightrope-walk-on-identity-politics-saffrons-have-to-take-a-call-after-normalcy-is-restored

Tap here for relief: 90% of India’s workforce are without food or shelter, but govt requires smartphone apps to deliver help:Devparna Acharya

https://www.firstpost.com/health/covid-19-lockdown-3-0-tap-here-for-relief-90-of-indias-workforce-are-without-food-or-shelter-but-govt-requires-smartphone-apps-to-deliver-help-8329881.html

India cracks down on Muslims under cover of coronavirus:Stephanie Findlay and Jyotsna Singh

          https://www.ft.com/content/34ad9282-74d7-4a85-a629-a9655339c366

The case against Zafarul Islam, and why Delhi Police must be questioned for invoking sedition: Yusuf Ansari, TwoCircles.net

http://twocircles.net/2020may04/436468.html?fbclid=IwAR2tfLAtZ2MMYZnQf8sx2yamgXeWK7IpjnB0w6gZm2vO9llpF3ana1MSPf0

 

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 11:55 PM)*