*INDIA- CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

Modi govt opposes plea on declaration of PM CARES funds in Bombay HC

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/modi-govt-opposes-plea-on-declaration-of-pm-cares-funds-in-bombay-hc

Centre on Tuesday opposed and sought dismissal of a petition seeking declaration of funds received by Prime Ministers Citizens Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM CARES), a public charitable trust created by the government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court that petition, filed by advocate Arvind Waghmare, should be dismissed.A similar petition against setting up of the PM CARES fund was dismissed by the Supreme Court in April, he informed a division bench of Justices S B Shukre and A S Kilor.The bench, however, noted that the petition before it was seeking different reliefs, and directed the Union government to file an affidavit in response to the plea within two weeks."File an affidavit stating whatever is your (Union government's) stand, the court said.Waghmare in his petition sought a direction to the government to declare funds received and expenditure of the same on the governments website periodically.As per the plea, the PM CARES trust, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairperson and ministers from departments of Defence, Home and Finance as its members, was created with the prime objective of dealing with the emergency or distress caused by the coronavirus.PTI

 

AIIMS Medic Who Criticised Quality of PPE Now Faces Disciplinary Action

https://thewire.in/rights/aiims-doctor-expelled-rda

New Delhi: Dr Srinivas Rajkumar T, the AIIMS whistle-blower who told the media that the N95 masks provided by the hospital for its medical staff don’t meet the safety standards set by health ministry has been expelled from Resident Doctors Association (RDA)and now faces disciplinary action from hospital’s administration as well.Dr Srinivas, who was general secretary of RDA, received a show cause notice from the AIIMS registrar for his May 25 tweet in which he said there were quality issues with N-95 masks made in Indian and that the statistic issued by the health ministry and ICMR were false. According to the notice, he must provide AIIMS administration with a reply by June 3 or face punitive action. For the past 2 weeks, Dr Srinivas has been providing information to the media on this issue via Twitter and WhatsApp. He was quoted in the press on May 29, when 50 more healthcare workers and other staff members at AIIMS tested positive for the novel coronavirus over a 48-hour period, bringing the number of cases at India’s premier healthcare research institute on that date to 195.  2 members of AIIMS staff also died due to COVID-19. On May 30, Dr Srinivas spoke to The Wire about PPE via a video call.“Yes, I have been expelled from the RDA and this is the result of continuous pressure from the administration,” Dr Srinivas said on Monday. “I stand by what I said and everything I said is verifiable and based on facts. Every letter we wrote to the media raised important issues and we want a change in the condition of healthcare workers at AIIMS.” The minutes of the meeting of RDA’s executive committee on May 29 recorded the statements of at least 13 doctors, including Dr Srinivas. The meeting concluded with the removal of Dr Srinivas as general secretary.The majority of the doctors who attended this meeting said that Dr Srinivas should not have “maligned the image of AIIMS” in the media, at least without consulting other members of the executive committee.But the decision was not unanimous. At least 3 doctors said he should be allowed to make a statement in his defence and issue an apology rather than be expelled.thewire

 

Book Dr. Aarti Lalchandani and cancel her medical licence immediately , demands medical fraternity

http://muslimmirror.com/eng/book-dr-aarti-lalchandani-and-cancel-her-medical-licence-immediately-demands-medical-fraternity/

New Delhi:  Kanpur Medical College principal, Dr Aarti Lalchandani has attracted fierce criticism and condemnation for her extremely “vituperative outpourings” against the Muslim community in connection with Covid-19 cases. In a 5-minute video rant, she purportedly referred to Tablighi Jamaat members as “terrorists” and asking“why we are giving them VIP treatment… ,exhausting our resources, these people  should be punished in “solitary confinement” in jails or “sent to jungles and locked up in dungeons”.After this video emerged, prominent members of the medical fraternity and activists reacted sharply demanding to cancel Dr Lalchanda's medical license immediately and to book her under IPC sections and to initiate inquiry against her. Terming her as a blot on medical profession, they also demanded action  against  AIIMS-New Delhi director Dr Randeep Guleria  for blaming ‘Muslim community’ for the spread of COVID pandemic and adding that such people have alleged  “backing” of RSS and its frontal organisations. Prof(Dr) Vikas Bajpai, Member National Executive, Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum, said  people like Lalchandani have cost the  country a lot in terms of being unitedly able to tackle the ongoing pandemic.Dr Bajpai, alleged that such people have the direct patronage of the RSS and it’s frontal organizations.

 

Police complaint filed against Kanpur doctor for Islamophobia, SC lawyer says ‘determined’ to pursue case against her bigotry

http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/police-complaint-filed-against-kanpur-doctor-aarti-lalchandani-for-islamophobia-supreme-court-lawyer-says-determined-to-pursue-case-against-her-bigotry/292547/

A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a complaint with Kanpur Police against Dr. Aarti Lalchandani, principal of Ganesh Vidhyarti Medical College after she was caught making Islamophobic comments in a sting video. Faced with global outrage, Lalchandani has now apologised but many activists feel that a mere apology wouldn’t be enough since she has done enormous damage in vilifying Muslim community of India. In his complaint, SC lawyer Ali Zaidi wrote, “I am making this complaint for registration of an FIR under the sections as mentioned below against Dr. Aarti. Zaidi said  that he will file a complaint through 156(3) if the Kanpur Police did not act on his complaint against Lalchandani. He has also filed a complaint against her in the state medical council.Faced with condemnation, Lalchandani has issued a statement stating how she loved Muslims and she was always available to help them. Janta Ka Reporter

 

Tablighi Jamaat members : Covid was not their only enemy, they fought hatred too: TOI spl report

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/covid-was-not-their-only-enemy-they-fought-hatred-too/articleshow/75800381.cms

During this period, Namakkal-based businessman told TOI they fought through bouts of homesickness, deaths of friends and the backlash from a section of their countrymen accusing them of spreading the virus. Worse, they were isolated during the month of Ramzan, which is a time for special prayers, diet and charity, spent with family members.But they stuck together. “We kept speaking to each other. We felt so proud when doctors at AIIMS said our blood had helped many Covid-19 patients recover,” said Anees. About 200 members of the Jamaat from Tamil Nadu have donated their plasma after recovering.“We are thankful to the Tamil Nadu, Delhi and central governments,” said Anees. The govts arranged comfortable bus services to and from the station, as well as the special train that is bound for Tirunelveli via Egmore.Thamin Ansari, a 48-year-old rice trader from Kancheepuram, recalled how they were isolated at a government facility in Badarpur on the outskirts of Delhi. “The staff who took care of us were very kind,” he said, reminiscing how food would be given to them before sunrise before they began their fast during Ramzan. Though a request for south Indian cuisine was turned down, Ansari and his friends did not mind. “We were given fruits and juice to break our fast. Whatever food was left, we returned it to the staff.” The period, he pointed out, was the longest in his life he had gone without having non-veg food. “But it’s ok, at least we got tasty food.”In the face of hatred, the members of Jamaat donating plasma was an act of supporting the govt in its initiatives, Ansari said. “We stayed strong. Our scriptures say that if Allah has introduced an illness, He will provide the cure as well.”On the way back from Delhi, a Jamaat member in Andhra Pradesh took permission from the state government and brought them food when the train stopped at Vijayawada station. “This was to help us break our fast after sunset,” Anees said. The Jamaat members realise that they will have to be in quarantine centres of the Tamil Nadu government for at least seven days. “Our only request is to be relieved a few days early, to be home for Eid,” Ansari said.

 

Social distancing, masks, sanitisers must in religious places from June 8

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/social-distancing-masks-sanitisers-must-in-religious-places-from-june-8-120060101161_1.html

New Delhi :Social distancing norms and use of masks and sanitisers will be a must in religious places from June 8 as people will be returning to the shrines, which have been closed for over 2 months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.In-charges and managements of temples, mosques and gurudwaras in the city said preparations are underway to ensure all safety measures are in place as they throw open their doors for the devotees amid the pandemic.The steps needed to adhere to detailed guidelines of Centre and Delhi government, and standard operating procedures for religious places that are yet to be issued will also be implemented, they said. Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari said stickers will be affixed on the floor and verandas of the mosque to ensure social distancing during namaz."We have also decided to discontinue using carpet on which people offer namaz at the mosque and ask people to carry their own musalla'. We will also suggest them to do 'wuzu' and avoid using mosque tanks," Bukhari said, elaborating steps to be taken to keep people safe from the infection.The namazis will also be advised to wear masks and carry sanitisers, and strictly adhere to social distancing norms to keep themselves and others safe from coronavirus, he said.Fatehpuri Masjid's Shahi Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmed said awareness will be key to keeping people safe during the congregational prayers."We have already been emphasising on social distancing and other precautions. All the steps as advised by the governments in their guidelines will be fully implemented," he said.The main temples in the city are also ensuring various steps, including use of thermal devices, to keep the devotees safe.Delhi Sikh DSGMC said social distancing norms will be strictly enforced at the shrines with focus on Sis Ganj Sahib, Bangla Sahib and Rakabganj gurudwaras that attract large numbers of devotees.Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto said the churches will act according to the government guidelines about precautions to check coronavirus infection, whenever they are issued.business-standard.

 

Uttar Pradesh: Entry in mosques with restrictions

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/entry-in-mosques-with-restrictions/articleshow/76145517.cms

LUCKNOW: Wear a mask while offering namaz, bring your own janamaz (prayer mat) and skull cap and don’t stand shoulder to shoulder with other namazis, are some of the directives issued by Islamic Centre of India (ICI) to mosques  on Monday. 16-point advisory comes in the backdrop of govt’s decision to reopen places of worship from June 8 in a phased manner. Head of ICI and Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali issued the advisory which said that after initial 15 days of reopening of mosques, a new advisory can also come up following circumstantial changes. As per the advisory, there will be no carpets or mats in the mosque. Instead namaz will be offered on bare floors which will be cleaned with disinfectant regularly. If someone cannot pray on the floor, they should bring their own ‘janamaz’. Skull caps in mosque are not to be used and four groups of namazis are to be formed maintaining 6 feet distance between each of them and a 15 minute gap between 2 groups. Only ‘farz’ compulsory 5 times of prayer to be offered in mosques.  The advisory also asks for children below 10 years of age and elders above 65 years of age to pray at home and dismisses embraces and handshakes by everyone coming to the mosque.

Advisory issued for prayers in mosques in UP

https://www.thestatesman.com/coronavirus/advisory-issued-for-prayers-in-mosques-in-up-1502895217.html

 

 

80-year-old porter Mujibullah who helps migrants for free at railway station is social media hero

https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/80-year-old-coolie-lucknow-station-migrant-workers-6438525/

An 80-year-old who works as a porter at the Lucknow railway station is being widely praised on social media after a video report emerged of him helping workers who are headed home for free. After the government started Shramik Special trains to transport workers to their home states, Mujibullah Rehman has been helping travellers with their luggage for free at the Charbagh railway station. According to ANI, Rehman works at the station for around 8-10 hours daily. The video shows Rehman wearing a mask along with the uniform of railway porters, waiting for the trains to arrive on the platform. He can also be seen carrying luggage for passengers.Many praised him for his kindness.

 

Kerala: Class X student takes own life allegedly due to lack of access to virtual classes

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala/kerala-class-x-student-takes-own-life-allegedly-due-to-lack-of-access-to-virtual-classes-6438832/

Kochi :On a day virtual classes began for lakhs of students studying in government and aided schools in Kerala, a 10th-grade student in Malappuram district Monday took her own life reportedly out of anguish that she did not have the technological means to access the classes, her family said. Education Minister C Raveendranath has ordered the district education officer to file a report on the case.Police found the charred remains of 14-year-old Devika, a resident of Mangeri near Valanchery, in a plot close to her home, hours after she was reported missing. She belonged to a Dalit family and her father was a daily-wage earner.‘Preliminary evidence suggests it’s a suicide. But the circumstances of her death are under investigation, ‘ said KM Shaji, circle inspector who’s heading the investigation. He refused to divulge more details.

 

Remdesivir approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients, says Health Ministry

https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/remdesivir-approved-for-emergency-use-to-treat-covid-19-patients-says-health-ministry20200602190908/

Health Ministry said on Tuesday said that Remdesivir has been approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients."Central Drug Control Standard Organisation (CDCSO) has given permission for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients based on the available evidence. Remdesivir has been approved for emergency use to treat COVID-19 patients. In terms of what protocol, what doses, it is not available with me now. Particular organisations produce available evidence based on that permission for use is given," said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, at a press conference here on Tuesday.ANI

 

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramalu Attends Mega Rally at Chitradurga in Complete Violation of Covid-19 Norms

https://www.news18.com/news/politics/karnataka-health-minister-b-sriramalu-attends-mega-rally-at-chitradurga-in-complete-violation-of-norms-2649689.html

In complete violation of government norms in place to contain the spread of coronavirus, Karnataka Minister of Health and Family Welfare B Sriramulu took part in a mega rally organised to welcome him to Chitradurga district on Tuesday. The minister was in the district to offer 'baagina' to the Vedavathi river when he was welcomed at Parashuramapura in Challakere taluk.Sriramulu, who is also the district in-charge minister, waved at his supporters with folded hands as they showered flower petals and shouted slogans and indulged in hooting and clapping all along.As a huge garland of apples was put around the senior BJP leader, hundreds gathered without any social distancing, many of whom were not even wearing masks.

 

Coronavirus | Fatality per lakh population is 0.41%, compared to 4.9% in the world, says Health Ministry

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-update-joint-press-conference-by-health-ministry-and-icmr-spokesperson/article31731499.ece?homepage=true

ICMR spokesperson, on Tuesday, said that “ICMR is conducting sero-survey to determine the extent of transmission of virus. About 34,000 individuals are being tested and the results are expected to be out within a week or so.”“We are far away from “peak”, in comparison to other countries, we are in a much better condition,” said the ICMR spokesperson. During the joint press conference, Union Health Ministry spokesperson said “Wrong and doubtful conclusion is bring drawn when we say that in terms of number of cases, our country is in the seventh place, the comparison should be made primary in terms of our country’s population.”thehindu

 

 

Mismatch in Delhi Govt’s data continues; Corona App, health bulletin show different figures

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/mismatch-in-delhi-govts-data-continues-corona-app-health-bulletin-show-different-figures

Delhi government on Tuesday released a mobile app that will give the live status of the number of hospital beds, ventilators and ICU beds available in the capital. With the app, they presumably hoped to be more accurate with the figures. However, already there are already discrepancies between data released on the app, the daily health bulletins and the reality in each hospital.At Lok Nayak Hospital, which is a dedicated COVID-19 Hospital, the Corona dashboard app states that of the 64 ventilators, 47 are occupied. Interestingly, the health bulletin states that there is only one person on the ventilator at LN Hospital and 37 positive cases in ICU. The app does not give information about the number of people in ICU.The reality in the hospital is different. “Both of these numbers are wrong. As of June 1, there are five patients on ventilators in the hospital. In the Medicine Ward, of the 16 ICU beds, 11 have been filled as of June 1. In the paediatric ICU, of the eight beds, six have been occupied,” said a health worker at LN Hospital who did not want to be identified.

 

 

*CORONA-WORLD*

Wuhan Doctor Who Worked with Whistleblower Dies 4 Months after Contracting Coronavirus

https://www.news18.com/news/world/wuhan-doctor-who-worked-with-whistleblower-li-wenliang-dies-from-coronavirus-report-2649771.html

BEIJING:AWuhan doctor who worked with coronavirus whistleblower Li Wenliang died of the virus on Tuesday, state media reported, becoming China's first COVID-19 fatality in weeks.Hu Weifeng, a urologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, passed away after being treated for COVID-19 and allied issues for more than four months, state broadcaster CCTV said.He is sixth doctor from Wuhan Central Hospital to have died from virus, which emerged in the central Chinese city late last year.Cases have dwindled dramatically from the peak in mid-Feb as the country appears to have brought the outbreak largely under control.Wuhan Central Hospital has yet to give a formal statement on Hu's death. In early February it said some 68 staff members had contracted coronavirus.The death of their colleague Li Wenliang in February triggered a national outpouring of grief and rage against the government as he documented his final days on social media. 34-year-old ophthalmologist was reprimanded by authorities after he warned colleagues about the virus in late Dec.Beijing has since named him a national martyr, but suppressed much of the dissent and criticism sparked by his death.AFP

 

Indonesia to skip Hajj pilgrimage over coronavirus fears

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/indonesia-cancels-hajj-pilgrimage-coronavirus-concerns-200602094706810.html

Indonesia has cancelled plans to attend the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, removing the largest contingent of worshippers at the annual gathering.More than 220,000 people from the world's biggest Muslim-majority country were set to take part in this year's Hajj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetime if able.But the global pandemic has plunged the ritual into doubt, with Saudi authorities yet to announce a final decision on whether it will go ahead with the end-of-July celebration."The government has decided to cancel the Hajj 2020 as the Saudi Arabian authorities failed to provide certainty," Fachrul Razi, Indonesia's religious affairs minister, said during a news conference in the capital, Jakarta.

 

*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Leaders of several Opposition parties condemn anti-CAA activists arrest in Delhi

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/cry-against-delhi-arrests-of-anti-caa-protesters/cid/1777748

New Delhi: Leaders of several Opposition parties on Monday condemned the arrests, during the lockdown, of people who had protested against the new citizenship matrix.“There’s a need for a united political movement to oppose this government,” CPI general secretary D. Raja said during an online news conference. “The home minister, whom the Delhi police report to, must be held accountable for all that the Delhi police are doing.”Several activists, mainly students, have been arrested during the lockdown and charged under anti-terror UAPA. The police have linked their protests to communal riots in Delhi. “Today every street in the US is seeing an agitation against the killing of one man by a policeman,” Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said. “In India, we are in a situation where we see people being lynched or tortured or killed every day, for the simple reason that they belong to one particular religion. Every person with democratic values must rise against these arrests.”Senior lawyer and NCP leader Majeed Memon questioned the police’s intent in not filing FIRs against BJP politicians who had made hate speeches in the run-up to Delhi riots. “Delay in lodging FIRs puts a serious burden on the prosecution, and as a lawyer I have got offences disproved (because of) the fact that FIR was not filed in time…,” he said.RJD MP Manoj Jha urged fellow politicians to act immediately to give hope to those being prosecuted. “We need to send a message to all the activists that your fight is a constitutional fight. … we won’t allow your lives to be wasted.”telegraphindia

Oppn MPs Slam Detention, Witch Hunt of anti-CAA Activists, Students

https://clarionindia.net/oppn-mps-slam-detention-witch-hunt-of-anti-caa-activists-students/

 

Citizenship of Muslims Not in Danger With CAA, Attempts Made to Create Confusion: Amit Shah

https://www.news18.com/news/india/citizenship-of-muslims-not-in-danger-with-caa-they-have-been-mislead-amit-shah-2648321.html

In an interview with CNN-News18 on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said CAA will not take away the citizenship of Muslims, adding that Congress party has attempted to instigate people and the BJP is now working on clearing confusion over the issue.“There has been a deliberate attempt to create confusion among the people regarding the CAA. They’ve been misled to believe that their citizenship will go away with the implementation of CAA,” he said.Shah said Congress leaders like Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad said CAA cannot take away citizenship, “then why did their party president go to Ram Lila Maidan to instigate people to come on the road to protest it?”Shah said the right message has been sent to people. “These kind of things don’t run long. We have communicated the idea of CAA through media and discussion in the House and it has percolated down to the people,” he said.Shah reiterated that “we will bring NRC, however, now we will consider it after clearing the confusion on CAA first”.news18

 

 

Delhi Riots: Delhi Police files two charge sheets in Chand Bagh and Jafrabad Cases, Both Mention Umar Khalid

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/delhi-riots-delhi-police-files-two-charge-sheets-in-chand-bagh-and-jafrabad-cases-both-mention-umar-khalid

Delhi Police on Tuesday filed two charge sheets in connection with the violence in the national capital's northeast area in February, which had left at least 53 people dead and 200 injured.The charge sheets have been filed in the Karkardooma court by the Crime Branch. Both mention the name of former JNU student Umar Khalid. 3 special investigation teams were constituted to investigate the cases registered during the riots.First charge sheet has been filed against suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act. The chargesheet running into 1030 pages says that Tahir Hussain funded the riots and he was also the mastermind behind the riots. 15 persons, including Hussain, were arrested in this case. Investigation has revealed that there was a "deep rooted conspiracy" to cause riots in northeast Delhi."Tahir Hussain, a politician of AAP and sitting councilor in EDMC, Delhi, played a pivotal role in the incident," the police said in an official statement.His younger brother, Shah Alam was also arrested. Tahir Hussain's licensed pistol, which was used by him during the riots, was seized during investigation. "He was found connected to Khalid Saifi and Umar Khalid who are part of a larger group of persons who were organising riots and protests in Delhi," the statement added.Another charge sheet has been filed against two 'Pinjra Tod' activists Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita in connection with the Jafrabad riot case."This case was registered for murder and riot that took place on February 22. One man died due to the gunshot injury during the riot," the police said. The police said that both Natasha and Devangana were actively involved in hatching the conspiracy to cause riots near Jafrabad Metro Station in Delhi.India Tomorrow

 

Delhi Court grants bail to Pinjra Tod activist in anti-CAA Daryaganj protest case

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/rocky-delhi-court-grants-bail-to-pinjra-tod-activist-in-daryaganj-protest-case/article31731934.ece?homepage=true

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita, arrested by the crime branch in connection with the violence in Daryaganj during a protest against the citizenship amendment law last year.The court noted that though Ms. Kalita participated in the protest against NRC bill, "but so far as the investigation been carried out till now, no direct evidence attributable to the accused has been found to bring her for the offences under Sections 25/353 of IPC"."CCTV footage also reportedly does not specifically show the accused to be involved in any violent activity," Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Abhinav Pandey said adding, "It is also not been indicated that any incriminating material was recovered from the laptop and the phone which was seized from the accused"."In such a situation, the inference whether the accused incited or participated in the mob violence or had intended to participate in a peaceful protest only which lateron acquired a violent nature, can only be reached upon after appreciation of evidence in course of trial," the judge said.The court also took into account the fact that Ms. Kalita, an MPhil student at the JNU, was not a habitual offender or a previous convict.

 

Muslim Families That Fled Their Homes During Delhi Violence Still Afraid to Return Home

https://thewire.in/communalism/delhi-violence-muslims-fear

New Delhi: It has been three months since north-east Delhi was engulfed in a frenzy of communal violence.Terror-stricken Muslim families fled their neighbourhoods to seek refuge in the locality of Mustafabad, in Loni (Uttar Pradesh). Meeting several of them one realised something important – be it families from streets 5 and 6 of Prem Vihar, which did not witness houses being set ablaze, or Shiv Vihar, one of the worst-affected areas in the violence, they were equally vehement about not returning home. Such is the fear psychosis that has been generated by the virulence of communal violence in north-east Delhi in Feb.Irshad Ali, his wife and three small children spent the night of Feb.25 under a tarpaulin roof near a garbage dump in Loni, across the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. “After Anwar was burnt alive three lanes away, we were in complete panic,” said Irshad. Subsequently, Irshad moved to a makeshift dwelling on his brother’s vacant plot in Mustafabad, which has a considerable Muslim population. His family was grateful that their neighbours let them use their wash-room every morning. Irshad’s wife Shadia said she washed their clothes at the community hand pump in the lane.

 

SC issues notice in NIA plea challenging Delhi HC order questioning Gautam Navlakha’s hasty transfer to Mumbai

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/bhima-koregaon-case-supreme-court-seeks-reply-of-gautam-navlakha-on-nias-plea

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice in a plea filed by NIA challenging a Delhi High Court order questioning the hasty overnight transfer of Gautam Navlakha from Delhi to Mumbai, legal news website BarandBench.com has reported.The Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Indira Banerjee issued notice in the plea filed by the NIA today and fixed the matter to be heard on June 15.The NIA had moved the Supreme Court against the order of the Delhi High Court which had opined that the NIA acted in "unseemly haste" in moving Gautam Navlakha from Delhi to Mumbai while his plea for interim bail in the Bhima Koregaon case was still pending before it. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra, S A Nazeer and Indira Banerjee issued notice to Navlakha, who has been recently taken to Mumbai from Delhi's Tihar Jail. The top court posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NIA, submitted that this order was "patently without jurisdiction."PTI

 

RSS worker killed in communal clash over goat grazing in Madhya Pradesh, 19 arrested so far

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jun/01/rss-worker-killed-in-communal-clash-over-goat-grazing-in-madhya-pradesh-19-arrested-so-far-2150867.html

BHOPAL:  A young RSS worker was killed in a clash between two communities over the trivial issue of goat grazing in communally sensitive Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. The clash happened between residents of adjoining Hapala and Dipala villages in Khandwa district on May 18, in which 10-11 persons from both the sides were injured and hospitalized later.The injured included 28-year-old RSS worker Ramesh Phoolmali and his sister. While his sister was admitted at a hospital in Khandwa, the RSS worker was referred to Indore with critical head injuries.After battling for life for 13 days, RSS worker succumbed to injuries at the hospital in Indore on Sunday.The slain RSS worker’s kin and villagers demanded that all persons involved in the killing be arrested, monetary compensation be given to the bereaved family and one member of the family also be given govt job on compassionate grounds. “As many as 22 persons have been booked in connection with the incident and 19 of them have already been arrested. Efforts are being made to nab the remaining accused,” Khandwa SP Vivek Singh said. The SP  has reiterated that the clash on May 18 had happened over the issue of grazing of goat and investigations so far have not revealed any possibility of RSS worker having been killed in any kind of mob lynching.newindianexpress

 

First Year of Modi 2.0 Was "Disappointing and Disastrous": Welfare Party

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/the-first-year-of-modi-20-was-disappointing-and-disastrous-welfare-party

Welfare Party of India’s (WPI) president Dr. SQR Ilyas has called the first year of Modi 2.0, a catastrophic misrule filled with tyranny and anarchy.In a statement issued on Tuesday, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first term, “undermined the judiciary, the Reserve Bank of India, CBI, Central Vigilance Commission and central universities”.He said that “in the first year of his second term, he has blatantly played the communal agenda of anti-Muslim sentiment, like a dictator with great impunity and scant regard to the Constitution”.India Tomorrow

 

Six Years of New India Scary, Horrifying and Intimidating: Tushar Gandhi

https://clarionindia.net/six-years-of-new-india-scary-horrifying-and-intimidating-tushar-gandhi/

NEW DELHI – In his reaction to BJP’s celebrations on the completion its first anniversary of its second innings in power last month, Tushar Arun Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said the ‘new-India’ that the party had promised during its election campaign has, in fact, come into effect. He described the six years of new India as scary, horrifying and intimidating.”Tushar Arun Gandhi was interacting with students on a Facebook page live on Monday.Expressing concern over growing intolerance in the society, he candidly admitted, “We are divisive and deeply flawed irrespective of religion and ethnicity”.Addressing the issue of the ‘spread of hatred and communalism in the times of coronavirus’, the author of the book, ‘Let’s Kill Gandhi’, rued that Indian society is divided into numerous factions, socially and politically at many levels.

 

 

 

Adesh Kumar Gupta replaces Manoj Tiwari as Delhi BJP chief

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/adesh-kumar-gupta-replaces-manoj-tiwari-as-delhi-bjp-chief-6438916/

BJP on Tuesday removed Manoj Tiwari as chief of party’s Delhi unit, appointing former mayor of North Corporation and first-time councillor Adesh Kumar Gupta in his place. Gupta was elected as mayor in 2018 by the party. He is presently the member of the standing committee, a top decision-making body of the North Corporation from West Patel Nagar ward.Senior leaders in the party said the appointment was done keeping the corporation election in mind.  The next MCD elections will be held in 2022.

 

Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma walks out of Tihar

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/jessica-lal-murder-convict-manu-sharma-walks-out-of-tihar

Jessica Lal's murderer Manu Sharma walked out of the Tihar Jail on Tuesday, a decade after he was send to serve his life sentence. This came after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal approved his premature release late last month. Manu Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, was sentenced to life for killing Jessica Lal in 1999 in a sensational murder case. The trial court had acquitted him, but the High Court reversed the verdict and convicted him while the Supreme Court upheld the life sentence in April 2010.IANS

 

 

Photojournalists condemn Solicitor General’s remarks made in Supreme Court, demand apology

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/photojournalists-condemn-solicitor-generals-remarks-made-in-supreme-court-demand-apology

All India Working News Cameramen Association (WNCA), the representative organisation of photo and video journalists in the country, has strongly condemned remarks made by the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta.Appearing before the Supreme Court in the course of a hearing on the ‘migrant crisis’ on May 27, Mehta had compared photo and video journalists to a ‘vulture’ by narrating an incident involving an international news photographer in court.In a statement issued on Monday, S.N. Sinha, President, and Sondeep Shankar, General Secretary of WNCA, said by capturing and recording the migrants’ tragedies in their cameras, the photojournalists, at considerable risk to their well being, were bringing images and bearing witness to the worst humanitarian crisis in the country since the partition.

 

 

 

Maharashtra, Gujarat brace for Cyclone Nisarga amid COVID-19 lockdown; 'severe cyclonic storm' likely to make landfall near Alibaug tomorrow

https://www.firstpost.com/india/maharashtra-gujarat-brace-for-cyclone-nisarga-amid-covid-19-lockdown-severe-cyclonic-storm-likely-to-make-landfall-near-alibaug-tomorrow-8439791.html

The cyclone, denominated Nisarga as per cyclone naming system in South Asia, is set to make landfall in north Maharashtra and adjoining south Gujarat coast between Harihareshwar and Daman, close to Alibag around noon on 3 June. It intensified into a cyclonic storm from a deep depression today evening, said Indian Meteorological Department, adding that it is likely to further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours.Upon landfall, Cyclone Nisarga is expected to have a speed of 105-110 kmph and is likely to cause heavy rains in south Gujarat and coastal Maharashtra, the IMD has said.firstpost

 

Cyclone Nisarga : Section 144 imposed in Mumbai to restrict movement of people near beaches

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cyclone-nisarga-live-updates-mumbai-imd-storm-news-ndrf-rescue-maharashtra-gujarat-1684570-2020-06-02

Mumbai Police has restricted movement of people along promenades, beaches, and parks in view of cyclonic conditions in the city. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed. Beaches were to open from Wednesday after relaxations in lockdown.

 

4 Minors Among 21 Killed In Landslides In Assam's Barak Valley amid Heavy Rain, Several Injured

https://www.news18.com/news/india/4-minors-among-20-killed-in-landslides-in-assams-barak-valley-several-injured-2649273.html

At least 21 people were killed in landslides in Barak Valley in Assam's Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts on Tuesday morning. Among those killed are four minors.Several others have been injured and rescue operations are presently underway. The region has been witnessing heavy rains since Monday which triggered the landslides.Assam Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said he has instructed District Deputy Commissioners to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to families of the deceased within 24 hours.The northeastern state is reeling under the onslaught of severe floods which have impacted around 3 lakh people.On May 27, one person lost his life as the flood situation in Assam worsened with nearly three lakh people suffering in the deluge across 11 districts, news agency PTI reported.

 

 

Betul Police issue censure, warning to cops over attack on lawyer

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/betul-police-issue-censure-warning-to-cops-over-attack-on-lawyer/article31731317.ece?homepage=true

BHOPAL: Betul Superintendent of Police (SP) has censured a Sub-Inspector involved in the thrashing of a diabetic lawyer on March 23 while he was on his way to a hospital for treatment.Based on the analysis of an inquiry report prepared by a Sub-Divisional Office of Police, D.S. Bhadoria, the SP, has also warned the former in-charge of the Kotwali Police Station under which the incident had occurred. The analysis was prompted by the release an audio clip by lawyer Deepak Bundele, in which two officials are heard telling him he was beaten up as the police mistook him for a Muslim since he sported a beard.“We infer that Sub-Inspector Kapil Saurashtriya, named by the lawyer in his complaint, manhandled him and did not deal with the situation properly, whereas Inspector Rajendra Dhurve has been given a warning on record as he showed no control over the Sub-Inspector,” Hoshangabad Deputy Inspector General of Police Arvind Saxena told The Hindu.

 

*SOUTH ASIA*

"Increasing China Forces Moved Up To North Of India On LAC": US Secretary Pompeo

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chinese-forces-moved-up-to-north-of-india-along-lac-says-mike-pompeo-2239068

'Washington: China has moved up its forces along LAC with India, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday, asserting that authoritarian regimes take these kinds of actions.Several areas along LAC in Ladakh and North Sikkim have witnessed major military build-up by both the Indian and Chinese armies recently, in a clear signal of escalating tension and hardening of respective positions by the two sides even 2 weeks after they were engaged in two separate face-offs. "We see even today increasing forces of China moved up to the north of India on the Line of Actual Control there on the Indian border," Pompeo told Marc Thiessen and Danielle Pletka of AEI's ''What The Hell Is Going On'' Podcast. Communist Party of China (CPC) continues to hide and delay the global response to coronavirus pandemic that began in Wuhan. It has taken actions destroying the amazing freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, he said. "Those are just 2 pieces of the behaviour of this regime of CPC. The nature and the activity that they're undertaking, the continued efforts to steal intellectual property, to advance in the South China Sea," he said. PTI

 

China Has Sent Large Number of Troops to Border, Won’t be Right to Assign Motives Amid Talks: Rajnath Singh

https://www.news18.com/news/india/china-has-sent-large-number-of-troops-to-border-wont-be-right-to-assign-motives-amid-talks-rajnath-singh-2649573.html

Admitting that China has sent a large number of troops to LAC, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India hopes to resolve the stand-off through diplomatic and military level talks.Singh, speaking to CNN-News18, said he was informed by Army Chief MM Naravane that a meeting between Indian and Chinese military leaders will be held on June 6, and expressed confidence that the issue will be settled peacefully.“This has happened before too and a solution was found,” he said, referring to 73-day Doklam stand-off of 2017.Refusing to ascribe any motives to China’s actions at the LAC in eastern Ladakh in the middle of a pandemic, Singh said it would be wrong to speculate or express doubts when talks are already underway. He said he would have definitely said something were talks not being held.“They (Chinese leadership) have also said they want to solve the dispute through dialogue,” he said.

 

Chinese products should be boycotted, banned in Goa: State BJP chief

https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/chinese-products-should-be-boycotted-banned-in-goa-state-bjp-chief20200602175814/

Chinese products should be boycotted and banned in Goa, state BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Tuesday while urging people in the state as well as party workers, to buy made in India products."While China was indulging in 'masti' (fun), Prime Minister Narendra Modi handled the situation efficiently," Tanavade said during a press conference at Goa BJP headquarters"Chinese products should be boycotted and banned in Goa. Instead, people should opt for made in India products," he added.ANI

 

 

2 militants shot dead in J&K’s Pulwama

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/militant-shot-dead-in-jks-pulwama/article31728493.ece?homepage=true

SRINAGAR:Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday said security forces killed two militants during a search operation in Pulwama’s Tral.“Two militants have been killed in the Tral operation. The operation has concluded. Arms and incriminating material were recovered from the encounter site,” a police spokesman said. The militants were encircled in a pre-dawn operation in Saimoh area in Tral. “There was exchange of fire before the militants were neutralised,” the police said.Internet has been stopped in the area as a precautionary measure.

 

 

 

*WORLD*

Keep your mouth shut: Houston police chief tells Trump over George Floyd protests

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/please-keep-your-mouth-shut-houston-police-chief-tells-us-president-trump-over-george-floyd-protests/story-SzvQ88N7627HxEADlNmczN.html

New Delhi: The police of the Houston city in the US state of Texas has advice for President Donald Trump after his comments to governors following the murder of an African American at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Houston Police chief Art Acevedo’s reaction came after Trump, who last week tweeted “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” urged governors to get tough on the violent protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in police custody in Minneapolis. A white officer has been charged and three others fired.Widespread protests have raged all over US following George Floyd’s death on May 25, starting with Minneapolis. Protesters have attacked and vandalised stores as well as police property.“Let me just say this to the President of the United States, on behalf of the police chiefs of this country: Please, if you don’t have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut,” Acevedo said while peaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.hindustantimes

 

George Floyd death: Trump threatens military force against protesters nationwide

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/george-floyd-death-trump-threatens-military-force-against-protesters-nationwide-622596

President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to deploy US military unless states quickly halted the violent protests that have convulsed cities from coast to coast, speaking in White House Rose Garden as tear gas canisters could be heard exploding just a block away.Trump said he was recommending that governors deploy National Guard in sufficient numbers to “dominate the streets.” If governors fail to take action, the president said, he will mobilize “thousands and thousands” of US soldiers and “quickly solve the problem for them.”AP

 

Sundar Pichai says Google stands with black community; had opposed Muslim ban earlier

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/010620/sundar-pichai-says-google-stands-with-black-community-had-opposed-mus.html

Washington: Google stands in support of racial equality, the tech giant’s Indian-American CEO Sunder Pichai has said, expressing solidarity with the African-American community in US in wake of protests sparked by the death in police custody of African-American George Floyd.Pichai said that the company has decided to share its support for the racial equality in solidarity with the black community and in memory of Floyd on Google and YouTube home pages in the US.“Today on US Google & YouTube homepages we share our support for racial equality in solidarity with Black community and in memory of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery & others who don’t have a voice,” Pichai wrote on Twitter. Earlier when President Trump had imposed a ban on immigrants from Muslim nations, Pichai had said, “It is “disheartening to see the intolerant discourse playing out in the new...But we must speak out — particularly those of us who are not under attack.”However, he has steered cleared of commenting on similar issues in India, where CAA paves way for people of every religion except Islam from India’s neighbouring countries to seek citizenship in India. PTI

 

UK's Iraq war crimes probe dismisses thousands of complaints

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/uk-iraq-war-crimes-probe-dismisses-thousands-complaints-200602101947972.html

All but one of the thousands of complaints linking British soldiers to Iraq war crimes have been dropped, according to an independent investigator looking into the allegations in UK.Andrew Cayley, director of the Service Prosecuting Authority, told BBC radio on Tuesday that it was "quite possible" that none of the original allegations would lead to a prosecution.Cayley did not provide details of the allegation in the remaining case.British combat troops fought alongside US and other coalition forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent war that lasted eight years.Former lawyer Phil Shiner and a team in Germany's capital Berlin drew on the accounts of more than 400 Iraqis who allegedly witnessed or experienced crimes ranging from rape and torture to mock executions and other atrocities between 2003 and 2009.

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

 

Cultural Genocide: China Continues to Destroy Uyghur Mosques and Islamic Symbols:Jessica Aya Harn

https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-current-affairs-news/cultural-genocide-china-continues-to-destroy-uyghur-mosques-and-islamic-symbols?fbclid=IwAR2LQfhctDaGweejT1T5pxmfx7oBxsvHiBNN8aM_mBfIqF5Qc_nBwVR4FNw

Judiciary should not unwittingly lend its shoulders for somebody else’s gun to rest and fire:Former CJI R C Lahoti

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-india-judiciary-transperancy-covid-rc-lahoti-6437883/

'I flew from Mumbai to Bagdogra during lockdown, it wasn't easy; confusing guidelines, squabbling state govts, cancelled flights only complicated it':Sukanya Ray

https://www.firstpost.com/health/coronavirus-outbreak-mumbai-to-north-bengal-journey-made-complicated-by-confusing-guidelines-squabbling-govts-and-cancelled-flights-8435901.html

Exit of Anandabazar Patrika Editor Heightens Concerns of Press Freedom, Staff Cutbacks

https://thewire.in/media/exit-of-anandabazar-patrika-editor-heightens-concerns-of-press-freedom-staff-cutbacks

Inside Saifullah Mir’s Journey From Medical Technician To Hizbul Mujahideen Chief

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/saifullah-mir-hizbul-mujahideen-chief-kashmir_in_5ed5071ec5b677940f137535?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage

An Endless Witch Hunt of Anti- CAA & NRC Activists by the State

https://clarionindia.net/an-endless-witch-hunt-of-anti-caa-nrc-activists-by-the-state/

Ground Report: Inside a Mumbai Hospital Caring for Critical COVID-19 Patients:

Sukanya Shantha

https://thewire.in/health/mumbai-covid-19-st-george-hospital

US Police Officers Involved in Brutal Violence Often Have a History of Complaints

https://thewire.in/world/us-police-officers-involved-in-brutal-violence-often-have-a-history-of-complaints

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:26 PM)