*SOUTH ASIA- INDO-PAK, J&K*

Corps commander-level talks on LAC: India asks China to withdraw troops to pre-May 4 positions

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/corps-commander-level-talks-on-lac-india-asks-china-to-withdraw-troops-to-pre-may-4-positions-1691564-2020-06-22

India has asked China to withdraw its troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector to pre-May 4 positions, sources in the Indian Army said. During the ongoing Corps commander-level talks, India has told China to submit a timeline of troop withdrawal from the LAC areas, sources said.India and China are holding the second round of Corps Commander-level talks on the Chinese side of the border to discuss and resolve the violent face-off between the Indian and the Chinese troops in Ladakh.The high-level talks between India and China come a week after 20 Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel, were killed in a violent clash between the two sides in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, the biggest military confrontation between the two countries in over five decades.

 

India-China faceoff: Video war escalates as undated footage of Indian, Chinese troops clashing emerges

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-china-faceoff-video-war-escalates-as-undated-footage-of-indian-chinese-troops-clashing-emerges-1691571-2020-06-22

Even as India and China continue to indulge in military and diplomatic talks to disengage from heightening border hostilities, a new undated video showing Indian soldiers pushing back Chinese troops at a border area has emerged.Amid snowcapped mountains, a group of Indian soldiers can be seen jostling and pushing back four-five Chinese officials and armymen. In the video, Indian soldiers can also be repeatedly heard asking the PLA officers to go back and eventually the argument turns into a fistfight.As seen in the 5.30 minute-long video, despite being told repeatedly to leave, the Chinese remain firm and one PLA soldier even lunges towards the Indian jawans after which the Indian soldiers surround them and a violent brawl ensues.While the date and time of the video clip remain unclear, the soldiers can be seen wearing coronavirus face masks, which indicates that the video is recent.

 

‘Ladakh face-off a turning point, India will have to change its China policy’: General VP Malik

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ladakh-face-off-a-turning-point-india-will-have-to-change-its-china-policy-general-vp-malik/story-2XBnOfC6TYd5C7nbJs20sN.html

India has the capability to fight war on two fronts with China and Pakistan, former army chief General VP Malik has said. General Malik was speaking to Hindustan Times’ sister publication Hindustan.“We can easily fight the war at two fronts. We should not worry too much, our forces have the capability,” General Malik said. He also said that Indian Army’s skill, determination and ability to fight mountain warfare is better than China’s.The former army chief made these remarks while discussing the stand-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

 

Russia hosts India, China ministers tomorrow, Rajnath to attend parade

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/russia-india-china-trilateral-meet-rajnath-singh-6470192/

New Delhi :As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosts the Russia-India-China trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting on June 23 and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh heads to Russia Monday to attend the Victory Day parade on June 24, Moscow is emerging a key player amid the tension between New Delhi and Beijing.Over the last few weeks, Moscow has been more engaged with New Delhi. This flows from the understanding that Russia has leverage over Beijing because of recent proximity, while New Delhi has had a history of robust bilateral ties with Moscow. During the Doklam crisis in 2017, Russian diplomats in Beijing were among the few briefed by the Chinese government.In fact, the phone call between Indian Ambassador to Russia, D Bala Venkatesh Varma, and Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov took place just two days after the border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in which 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel-rank officer, were killed.

 

 

Believe It Or Not, China Has Been Grabbing Land For Forty Years, Say Ladakh Residents

https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/india-news-believe-it-or-not-china-has-been-grabbing-land-for-forty-years-say-ladakh-residents/303357

Rigzin Spalbar saw it coming. “The Chinese army clashed with our soldiers on May 5. They had all kinds of weapons—iron rods, barbed wires and knives. Why did we go unarmed this time?” asks the former chairman of the Ladakh Hill Development Council.“What you saw on the border, we have been warning about for a long time. China has been usurping our land for the past 70 years,” says Spalbar. “This time, they have taken over higher points. Our soldiers used to patrol up to Pangong Tso’s Finger 8 (The points where the slopes jut into the lake are known as fingers). The Chinese have not only come up to Finger 4, but also built a road. Same is the case at Galwan Nala. Now the road to Daulat Beg Oldi is in their range. Unless they are pushed back or there is an agreement to restore the earlier status of the LAC, they will continue to move forward.”Asgar Ali Karbali, a former legislator from the Kargil region, echoes Spalbar’s statement. “China has been occupying land in Ladakh for the past 40 years—first inch by inch and now, kilometre after kilometre,” he says. “Since the establishment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it has been aggressively taking over the areas around its land routes.”outlookindia

 

Telangana : Jamaat Islami Hind delegation visits martyr’s family to pay respects

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/jih-delegation-visits-martyrs-family-to-pay-respects/articleshow/76492161.cms

HYDERABAD: A delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) led by its Telangana president, Moulana Hamid Mohammed Khan, on Saturday paid a visit to the family of Colonel B Santosh Babu to pay their respects. Moulana Khan said that people across the country and especially of Telangana will remember the bravery and sacrifice of the colonel to defend the country’s borders. He also condemned the Chinese incursion. “No compromise should be made with the territorial integrity of the country. We need to find a peaceful, justified and permanent solution to this problem so that we can focus on reviving the economy and fighting the pandemic,” the JIH president said.

 

Ladakh standoff: Why is China praising Modi? asks Rahul Gandhi

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ladakh-standoff-why-is-china-praising-modi-asks-rahul-gandhi-1691603-2020-06-22

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again trained his guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Sharing a newspaper article about China's preception of PM Modi's speech after an all-party meeting on Ladakh face-off, Rahul Gandhi questioned why was Chinese media praising him."China killed our soldiers. China took our land. Then, why is China praising Mr Modi during this conflict?" Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.Rahul Gandhi's tweet comes in the reference of coverage of PM Modi's speech in Chinese government-mouthpiece Global Times.India Today

 

 

Mahesh Jethmalani calls for NIA investigation in Rahul Gandhi’s agreement signing with China in 2008

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/mahesh-jethmalani-calls-for-nia-investigation-in-rahul-gandhis-agreement-signing-with-china-in-2008

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani has slammed Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for their agreement signing with China in 2008. Jethmalani also urged the government to initiate a probe by NIA under UAPA and secure the agreement. Taking to Twitter, Jethmalani wrote: “This picture of Rahul Gandhi signing an agreement in 2008 in China with Sonia and Xi in the background has possible sinister implications for the country’s security. NIA must initiate an investigation under the UAPA and secure agreement.”Mahesh Jethmalani told news channel Republic TV, that the agreement for cooperation between Congress and China's ruling Communist Party is extremely strange and questioned what was the motive behind signing such an agreement. He also demanded the agreement be made public.freepressjournal

 

*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Delhi violence: HC gives day’s time to police for instruction on Zargar''s bail plea in UAPA case

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ne-delhi-violence-hc-gives-days-time-to-police-for-instruction-on-zargars-bail-plea-in-uapa-case/1873598

Delhi Police Monday urged the Delhi High Court to grant them a day’s more time for seeking instructions on a plea by Jamia student Safoora Zargar, who was pregnant and arrested under the anti-terror law --UAPA--, seeking bail in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February.Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, allowed the request after Zargar’s counsel said she has no objection to it and listed the matter for Tuesday.Zargar, M Phil student of Jamia Millia Islamia University, is more than four months pregnant. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi Police, sought a day’s time to take instructions on the issue and said it will be in “larger interest” if he is given indulgence.ASG Aman Lekhi also joined Mehta and said they are ready with the arguments on merits of the case but they do not intend to proceed on merits at this stage.Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, appearing for Zargar, said the woman is in a delicate state and is in a fairly advanced stage pregnancy and if the police need time to respond to the plea, she be granted interim bail for the time being.The high court asked SG Tushar Mehta to come back with instructions on Tuesday.The police has also filed a status report in response to the bail plea.The hearing in the high court also witnessed exchange of words between Mehta, Lekhi on one side and Delhi government standing counsel (criminal) Rahul Mehra who objected the appearance of the two senior law officers on behalf of Delhi Police in the case. Mehra contended that unlike another North East Delhi violence matter in which requisite approval was sought by the Delhi Police to be represented by a team of lawyers led by the Solicitor General, no such procedure was followed in this case. The high court concluded the hearing, asking the counsel for Delhi Police to sort out their battles by tomorrow.PTI

Safoora Zargar was one of main conspirators, pregnancy no ground for bail: Delhi Police tells court

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/safoora-zargar-was-one-of-main-conspirators-pregnancy-no-ground-for-bail-delhi-police-tells-court/story-4mY5SWUL4vW1P2EBmpjLiI.html

39 Deliveries in Tihar Jail in 10 Years, Safoora Zargar Can't be Special Case, Says Delhi Police, Opposes Bail

https://www.news18.com/news/india/39-deliveries-in-tihar-jail-in-10-years-safoora-zargar-cant-be-special-case-says-delhi-police-opposes-bail-2681161.html

Anti-CAA protests in Lucknow: Gangster Act invoked against 15 in Dec 19 violence case

https://zeenews.india.com/india/anti-caa-protests-in-lucknow-gangster-act-invoked-against-15-involved-in-dec-19-violence-2291324.html  

Lucknow: Lucknow Police on Monday imposed Gangster Act against 15 rioters under Kaiserbagh Police Station in connection with the loot and setting a police outpost ablaze on December 19 last year in a protest against the Citizenship Act. According to the police, out of the fifteen accused, six have been arrested while the hunt for the other nine is still on. Assistant Commissioner of Police Kaiserbagh IP Singh said, "police decided to book them under Gangster Act as investigations have confirmed that they acted as a gang and intentionally targeted police outpost and police personnel during the violence.""The police have sufficient evidence against them to justify imposing of Gangster Act against them," Singh said.ANI

 

 

Policemen Seen Brutally Assaulting Muslims, But 4 Months Later FIR Has No Suspects

https://thewire.in/communalism/delhi-police-muslims-assaulted-fir

New Delhi: In Feb.this year, a 23-year-old Muslim man, Faizan, was brutally assaulted along with four others by policemen in uniform. The assaulting officers were captured on camera, and were seen assaulting and forcing Faizan to sing the national anthem. Faizan succumbed to his injuries a few days later. But despite pressing video evidence, shot on a mobile camera, Delhi police have not named any policemen as accused in the case.According to a report in HuffPost India, FIR lodged at Bhajanpura Police station makes no mention of the clearly documented video footage of police assaulting Faizan. It also contradicts on-record police statements that Faizan was in police custody following his assault, and claims that Faizan died after he went missing from GTB hospital in Delhi.The video had gone viral and sparked outrage across the country. While the family is yet to get the copy of the post-mortem report, the police have already begun pressurising witnesses to change their statements in the case, the HuffPost article says. DCP Rajesh Deo has told HuffPost that the investigation is pending and, “If there are any discrepancies, they will come out in the further investigation.” Three months have passed since Faizan’s death, but the police are yet to file a chargesheet in the case.

 

Delhi Police is acting on a script already reached by its political masters: Professor Apoorvanand

https://caravanmagazine.in/law/delhi-police-acting-political-masters-apoorvanand-interview

Apoorvanand, a professor of Hindi at Delhi University, is a vocal human-rights activist. In recent years, he has written and spoken out against the rising tide of Hindutva under the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. Since December, when nationwide protests against the CAA, and NRC, began, Apoorvanand has regularly voiced his opposition to the act. He has also expressed his opposition to the government crackdown on academic spaces, such as police excesses at Jamia Milia Islamia in mid December, as well as the attacks on students in Jawaharlal Nehru University in early January by members of student groups aligned with the BJP. He discussed the Delhi Police’s investigation into the Delhi riots which, he said, appears to create a pre-determined narrative. He said, "Before the actual act of physical violence comes verbal and psychological violence. This was what we saw directed against the anti-CAA protests. The protestors were largely Muslims and [non-Muslim] supporters of minorities. But Muslims, United Against Hate, Not In My Name [another activist collective], Pinjra Tod, professors and teachers—all of them are being targeted in this verbal and psychological violence. Unfortunately, it seems like Delhi Police is not interested in investigating the actual perpetrators of the violence, but is trying to act on a script that has already been reached by its political masters."

 

Delhi riots: Bail to school owner, court says no evidence of PFI link

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-bail-school-owner-pfi-link-6470209/

Granting bail to the owner of a school who was arrested in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots in February, a Delhi court has observed that the police “chargesheet is bereft of material showing the links of applicant with PFI, Pinjra Tod group and Muslim clerics”.The court also said “it is prima facie not established that the applicant was present at the spot at the time of incident”.Faisal Farooq, owner of Rajdhani Public School, was among eight people arrested in a case of rioting outside the school in the Shiv Vihar area on February 24. He has been in jail rebuts Delhi Police on links with PFI, presence at spot since March 8. Farooq also owns Victoria Public School, and both his schools were damaged in the riots.

 

 

Delhi HC Extends Interim Protection Granted to Delhi Minorities Commission Chief Zafarul Islam

https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/delhi-hc-extends-interim-protection-granted-to-delhi-minorities-commission-chief-zafarul-islam-158715

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to submit its status report to the Delhi Minorities Commission Chief Zafarul Islam Khan in an FIR registered against him alleging posting of communal statements.While directing the state to serve a copy of the report to the Petitioner, the Single Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri further extended the interim protection of the Petitioner till the next date of hearing.Earlier, the Delhi High Court had granted interim protection from any coercive action to Zafarul Islam Khan, the Chief of the Delhi Minorities Commission.Moved through Advocate Vrinda Grover, the plea for anticipatory bail called for an urgent relief of protection for arrest and coercive action in a 'frivolous', 'motivated' and 'untenable' case.While informing that Delhi Police has lodged an against Khan under sections 124A and 153A of the IPC, the petition claims that the allegations contained in the FIR against the Petitioner are devoid of legal merit, distort facts, and is a gross abuse of process of law.

 

Sharjeel Imam's 'anti-Hindu hate speech' resulted in looting of temple donation boxes, claims UP Police

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/sharjeel-imams-anti-hindu-hate-speech-resulted-in-looting-of-temple-donation-boxes-says-up-police/609712

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh has levelled serious charges against Sharjeel Imam saying his contentious speech resulted in the looting of temple donation boxes. The UP government has told the Supreme Court that the FIR lodged by the UP Police against Imam should not be clubbed with ones lodged in Delhi, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.The UP Police said that his 16th January ‘anti-Hindu hate’ speech in Aligarh led to large scale arson during which temple donation boxes were looted.

 

 

 

ED books 20, including two Pak nationals, for money laundering

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/headshoulder532-kg-heroin-haulheadline-ed-books-20-including-two-pak-nationals-for-money-laundering/story-pSGeGh4wNlfTIMqRMcMabI.html

e Enforcement Directorate (ED) has booked 20 persons, including at least two Pakistanis, under money laundering charges in the case of seizure of 532-kg of heroin and 52-kg of mixed narcotics at the Attari border in June 2019. The Customs had seized the contraband, being smuggled in a consignment of rock salt from Pakistan, at the Integrated Check Post (ICP).The accused have been identified as Ranjeet Singh, alias Rana (kingpin); Tariq Ahmad Lone; Farook Lone; Sohaib Noor and Amir Noor, the Pakistan nationals; Jasbir Singh; Nirbhail Singh; Sandeep Kaur; Ajay Gupta; Iqbal Singh; Amit Gambhir, alias Bobby, a resident of Amritsar and others.

 

Citing ‘Inhuman Treatment’ of 11 Activists, Brinda Karat Writes to Amit Shah, Seeks Early Bail, Jail Decongestion

https://www.newsclick.in/Brinda-Karat-Writes-Amit-Shah-on-Bhima-Koregaon-Activists

New Delhi: Flagging the “inhuman” treatment of 11 political detainees in the Bhima Koregaon case amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic and overcrowded jails in Maharashtra, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has written to Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for early clearance of their bail applications as well as moving them to hygienic facilities and giving immediate instructions for decongestion of prisons. Most of the jailed civil rights activists are aged above 60 years.Expressing serious concern over the health of the activists in “unhygienic” jails, especially the deteriorating condition of poet Varavara Rao and of Gautam Navlakha, who have co-morbidities and continue to be kept in quarantine, the CPI(M) Polit bureau member has flayed NIA, which falls under the Home Ministry, of “consistently opposing the bail applications.”Both Rao and Navlakha were sent to Taloja jail, where two deceased inmates were recently found COVID+. The other political detainees in the same jail are Anand Teltumbde, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Arun Ferreira, Sudhir Dhawle, Rona Wilson and Vernon Gonzales.

 

 

 

Rajya Sabha: Modi gains the Upper House edge despite NDA still short of majority

https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-modi-gains-the-upper-house-edge-despite-nda-still-short-of-majority/1999701/

BJP-led NDA has further cemented its strength in the Rajya Sabha after the just concluded biennial elections. This is the first time since 2014 when the ruling alliance has crossed the 100-mark and is comfortably placed in the Upper House despite all the talk about the opposition’s unity. While majority still eludes the NDA by a distance, there are indicators to suggest that any challenge to its Legislative agenda can be easily surmounted. The Modi government continues to enjoy a brute majority in the Lok Sabha, its numerical disadvantage in the Rajya Sabha, however, has hindered the government’s plans. This was clearly visible in the first term (2014-19) when the opposition parties stalled several key legislation like triple talaq, CAA and others.In 2018, when the BJP lost states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the party’s goal of gaining a majority on its own in the Rajya Sabha appeared to be far from being achieved. However, the BJP relied on its strength in the state assemblies and banked on defection from other parties this election, especially the Congress, that helped it to boost its strength in the House.

 

 

 

Madras HC Acquits Man Sentenced To Death For Dalit Son-In-Law's Murder

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-madras-hc-acquits-man-sentenced-to-death-for-dalit-son-in-laws-murder/355229

 The Madras High Court on Monday acquitted the prime accused and modified the death sentence awarded to five others to life imprisonment in 2016 killing of a 22-year old man in full public view in Tirupur district in Tamil Nadu.Passing orders on appeals, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and M Nirmal Kumar acquitted B Chinnaswamy, father of Kausalya, whose husband Shankar was hacked to death in front of her in Udumlapet town and relieved him from all charges including that of criminal conspiracy.The bench sentenced the five other accused to life imprisonment for a minimum of 25 years without any right to remission.Chinnaswamy and the others had been sentenced to death by a lower court in connection with the horrific daylight killing which was caught on camera and evoked public outrage.The High Court also confirmed the acquittal of Kausalya's mother and two others.PTI

 

 

Roads Cracked, Houses Damaged As Two Earthquakes Jolt Mizoram Within 12 Hrs

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-roads-cracked-houses-damaged-as-two-earthquakes-jolt-mizoram-within-12-hrs/355234

An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hit Mizoram in the early hours of Monday, causing damage to houses and cracks on roads at several places, an official said. No casualties have been reported, the official of the state Geology and Mineral Resource Department said.Quoting the National Centre for Seismology, he said the earthquake occurred at 4.10 am and the epicentre was at Zokhawthar in Champhai district on the India-Myanmar border.The tremors were felt in several parts of the state, including state capital Aizawl, he said.Several houses and buildings in Champhai district, including a church in Zokhawthar, have been damaged due to the quake, he said.

 

A treasure house of manuscripts, Darul Uloom busy restoring them

 https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/a-treasure-house-of-manuscripts-darul-uloom-busy-restoring-them/story-wgDNCJWgudDU46IpriYfdP.html

To woo research scholars from across the world, Islamic seminary Darul Uloom of Deoband is working on restoring over 1500 rare manuscripts, some as old as 800 years, placed in its 150-year-old library.These manuscripts are on various topics such as Unani medicines, law, history, religion, culture and Sufism.“They are very rare. A few are perhaps so rare that one will not be able to find another copy of them anywhere in the world. They can be a treasure trove for research scholars,” said librarian Mohammad Shafeeq Qasmi.“The collection includes more than 100 manuscripts on Sufism, a handwritten Quran by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a huge Quran and a 750-year-old Manuscript written by author Imauddin Zakaria about animals,” said Qasmi, who took the degree of Fazil from Darul Uloom before joining as librarian here in 2015.e said the idea of restoration of these manuscripts came from seminary’s deputy vice chancellor Maulana Abdul Khalik Madrasi.

“These were our heritage and a treasure for research scholars who could serve the society and the religion by incorporating knowledge of our forefathers and great visionaries in their research work,” Maulana Khalik had said while ordering the restoration process.

 

*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

Jagannath Chariots Set To Roll In Puri Tomorrow After Supreme Court Ruling

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-sc-agrees-to-hear-petitions-seeking-to-recall-its-order-putting-puri-rath-yatra-on-hold/355217

The Supreme Court Monday said it would allow Puri’s Rath Yatra, scheduled to start from June 23, saying it cannot "micro-manage" the rituals and left it to the wisdom of state, Centre and temple management to deal with that issue. A bench headed by CJI SA Bobde was informed by Odisha government that it will coordinate with temple management and Centre to make things smooth during Rath Yatra. The bench also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheswari and AS Bopanna was informed by the Centre that Rath Yatra can be conducted without compromising on citizen's health and with co-operation of state and temple trust.The top court said it is considering the issue of conducting Rath Yatra in Puri only and not at other places in Odisha."The tradition of centuries may not be stopped," the Centre said, while seeking modification of the apex court’s June 18 order staying the yatra."It is a matter of faith for crores. If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years as per traditions," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, said. Puri Rath Yatra is attended by lakhs of people from across the world and is scheduled to be held from June 23.outlookindia

 

Pleas in SC against Blacklisting over 3,500 Foreigners for Alleged 'Tablighi Jamaat Activities'

https://www.news18.com/news/india/pleas-in-sc-against-blacklisting-over-3500-foreigners-for-alleged-tablighi-jamaat-activities-2680527.html

Multiple pleas have been filed in the Supreme Court by foreign nationals, who are presently in India, challenging the Centre's decisions of blacklisting over 3,500 citizens of 35 countries for their alleged involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities. Four writ petitions, including one by a Thai national who is seven months pregnant, have challenged the Centre's decision of April 2 by which 960 foreigners were blacklisted and another subsequent decision on June 4 by which over 2,500 foreign nationals were blacklisted for 10 years from travelling to India.

# "The impugned decision, by its very unilateral nature, infringes the principle of natural justice, particularly 'audi alteram partem' by blacklisting the said foreigners present in India without first granting an opportunity of being heard or notice of any form, and resultantly depriving the aggrieved foreign nationals of their right of locomotion and travelling back to the country of their citizenship," the plea filed by the Thai woman said.The petitions, filed through advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi and drafted by advocates Ibad Mushtaq and Ashima Mandla, contended that the en masse blacklisting of over 3,500 foreigners from 35 nations, who are currently in India without affording any opportunity to prima facie defend themselves, is an egregious and blatant violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.It said that the sudden blacklisting, apart from registration of FIRs against such foreigners, led to the forfeiture of their passports by state authorities, thereby resulting in a complete deprivation of their personal liberty sans procedure established by law. "The impugned decision, therefore, has been passed arbitrarily against the aggrieved foreign nationals, being devoid of any documentary proof or evidence to substantiate the allegations of alleged Tablighi activities, and in the absence of any opportunity being afforded to defend or to explain, is an affront to not only the right to life and personal liberty, guaranteed under Article 21 but also to the rudimental principles of natural justice," the plea said.Thai woman said that she is in seven months pregnant and having been quarantined in March, like the other petitioners, she was released from quarantine only in late May.She said she is still at a facility under restricted movements, without the avenue to go back to her home nation and experience the birth of her child with security and dignity, with her loved ones.

 

 

 

Chargesheet against 10 Tablighi members for violating lockdown norms in Muzaffarnagar

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/chargesheet-against-10-tablighi-members-for-violating-lockdown-norms-in-muzaffarnagar/cid/1782907

A chargesheet has been filed against 10 Tablighi Jamaat members from Kerala and Karnataka for assembling here in violation of the lockdown orders imposed to combat the coronavirus threat, police said on Sunday.According to the prosecution, the members of the Tablighi Jamaat have been charged under the IPC and the Epidemic Diseases Act.PTI

 

 

Coivd Deaths : Muslim Graveyards Run Out Of Space In Delhi

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-muslim-graveyards-run-out-of-space-in-delhi-as-coivd-19-deaths-continue-to-rise/355225?fbclid=IwAR3OF4LM6EUp0vi9-zZX1_RB2J-spatuq15zP_iQKsTRBQgGZSApcQYsCOU

As the number of Covid-19 deaths continues to rise in Delhi, Muslim cemeteries are running out of burial space. Relatives of patients who died due to Covid-19 have complained that they had to run around to look for space to bury dead bodies.Though Delhi has several cemeteries scattered all across the city, the state government has identified only 6 burial grounds for Covid-19 deaths to contain the infection.Out of these, 2 are under East Delhi Municipal Corporation, three under South Delhi Municipal Corporation and one with North Delhi Municipal Corporation.  2 in East Delhi – Shastri Park and Mulla Colony – have stopped taking bodies due to lack of space.“The burial ground at Shastri Park has received over 100 bodies in two months. It is spread over an acre and can’t take more bodies now,” said Suleman Ali, whose NGO ‘Bhrashtachar Nirodhak Samiti’ looks after it.  The second burial ground at Mulla Colony has even less than one acre of land. Its caretaker, Mohammad Vakil, said that the burial ground has received 17 bodies in less than a month and now it has met its capacity.PTI

 

Job loss certainty highest among villagers & Muslims

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-job-loss-certainty-highest-among-villagers-muslims/cid/1782757

Job loss rates have been similar in rural and urban areas but the perceived “surety of losing work” is higher in the rural areas and the highest among Muslims among communities, a survey of 1,405 workers across nine Hindi-speaking states has found.“The survey revealed that the perception of uncertainty about future of work was the highest among women and inter-state migrants, and certainty of job loss highest among Muslim workers,” says the study, titled “Labouring Lives: Hunger, Precarity and Despair amid Lockdown”.“Discrimination against Muslim workers in connection with the Tablighi Jamaat issue came up in the interviews.” The researchers have added: “Contrary to expectations, rural and urban areas have very little difference in terms of job loss. This indicates that without adequate state support, it would be extremely difficult for the poor to survive in the lockdown period, irrespective of location.”Of those surveyed, 43 per cent felt uncertain about finding work after the lockdown, and a tenth felt sure they would not get their previous jobs back.

 

Kashmir's Double Lockdown Has Left 1.5 Lakh Transport Workers Without Jobs

https://thewire.in/labour/kashmir-lockdown-transport-sector-jobs

Srinagar: Riyaz Ahmed, a driver from Srinagar city’s Dalgate area, earns his living by ferrying tourists from the otherwise busy TRC taxi stand number 1. For the past few weeks, he has been bringing his vehicle from home and parking it in the yard of the quiet taxi stand. Sometimes he washes his vehicle, restarting it a few times before heading home after a couple of hours. He has been out of work since March. There are no tourists around.“I don’t have enough money to even buy medicine for myself,” Riyaz said after a pause, when asked how he’s surviving in the lockdown without any earnings.Following another government-imposed lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus from mid-March, drivers and other people who made a living from the transport sector in Kashmir are living in misery.

Every year, Riyaz looked forward to the new tourist season so that he could make enough for the rest of the year by ferrying tourists from hotels to different tourist locations in the Valley. But the August 5 lockdown (after the Centre revoked J&K’s special status) and abrupt departure of all the tourists from the Valley following government advisories came as a big blow for him and others associated with the transport sector. And they’re yet to recover. This year’s complete lockdown from March to contain the spread of COVID-19 further shattered their hopes of earning enough to survive this year.

 

 

With 9,440 Covid-19 patients cured in last 24 hours, India's recovery rate stands at 55.77%

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/with-9440-covid-19-patients-cured-in-last-24-hours-indias-recovery-rate-stands-at-55-77/articleshow/76508514.cms

NEW DELHI: With 9,440 COVID-19 patients cured in the last 24 hours, COVID-19 recovery rate of India has increased to 55.77 per cent, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday."During the last 24 hours, a total of 9,440 COVID-19 patients have been cured. A total of 2,37,195 patients have been cured of COVID-19 so far. The recovery rate is 55.77 per cent among COVID-19 patients," the Ministry tweeted. It said that total number of recovered patients has crossed number of active patients by 62,808. "Presently, there are 1,74,387 active COVID-19 cases and all are under active medical supervision," the Ministry said. "India also continues to widen the gap between recovered and active COVID-19 cases. COVID cases per lakh population is 30.04 while global average is more than its triple at 114.67. India has one of the lowest COVID cases per lakh population in the world," the Ministry said in a series of tweet.ANI

 

TN Ramps Up Covid-19 Testing Capacity But Experts Say More Tests Conducted in Districts With Few Cases

https://www.news18.com/news/india/tn-ramps-up-covid-19-testing-capacity-but-experts-say-govt-conducting-more-tests-in-districts-with-few-cases-2680797.html

As the Tamil Nadu government ramped up its testing capacity, experts have criticised its strategy of conducting more tests in districts with low Covid-19 cases. The government tested 31,401 people on Sunday alone, taking the overall figures in the state to 8.92 lakh. It was the second consecutive day during which the testing of people surpassed 30,000-mark.However, experts have questioned the government's rationale of conducting more tests in areas with fewer cases. The government conducted 12,530 tests per million in Nilgiris as against 6,050 per million in Madurai district which has seen a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases recently.16,195 tests per million were conducted in Theni district, where cases stood at 185 and 13,265 samples were tested per million in Kanyakumari that recorded 151 cases until Friday, June 19.However, according to a TOI report, Health secretary J Radhakrishnan denied the charge and said that the state had scaled up testing in capital city Chennai and also in the neighbouring high-prevalence districts. He said that government was following standard procedures while conducting the tests. However, experts believe that the government has not been testing enough samples in Chennai and its neighbouring districts. Quoting eminent virologist Dr Jacob John, TOI reported that if tests were being conducted on people with symptoms, there would be a chance of diagnosing at least 30 per cent more Covid-19 cases.

 

More than 4,00,000 COVID tests conducted in West Bengal as govt ramps up testing

https://www.timesnownews.com/kolkata/article/more-than-400000-covid-19-tests-conducted-in-west-bengal-as-government-ramps-up-testing/610002

West Bengal crossed the 4,00,000 lakh mark on Sunday after the government ramped up testing in the state. So far 4,01,491 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in West Bengal with over 13,500 positive cases detected. The West Bengal government has emphasised on mass testing to trace and isolate the positive cases in the state which will help in controlling the spread of the contagious virus.  West Bengal government had aimed at conducting 10,000 tests per day long time back but due to cyclone Amphan, there was a decrease in the rate of testing. However, things are back to normal again and West Bengal has managed to conduct over 10,000 COVID-19 tests for three days straight from Friday to Sunday.Times Now

 

Coronavirus testing in Delhi: Follow LG order on COVID testing scrupulously, HC tells AAP govt

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/coronavirus-testing-in-delhi-follow-lg-order-on-covid-testing-scrupulously-hc-tells-aap-govt/1999632/

Delhi High Court Monday said it expected the AAP government to “scrupulously” follow the directions issued by LG on June 8 in connection with testing of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan issued the direction while disposing of two pleas challenging the Delhi government health department’s June 2 decision to exclude asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic patients from COVID 19 testing.PTI

 

‘Covid-19 testing more than tripled in Delhi, situation seems to stabilize’: Highlights of Delhi CM address

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/covid-19-testing-more-than-tripled-in-delhi-situation-seems-to-stabilize-highlights-of-delhi-cm-kejriwal-s-address/story-yyOZkSTGsrqfP5rvZiOMBO.html

Covid-19 testing has more than tripled in the national capital and people should not face any difficulties now, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in an address on the prevailing coronavirus situation in the national capital on Monday. Kejriwal said that all those under home-isolation will be provided with pulse oximeters to measure oxygen levels every few hours.“Once you are well, you can return it to the govt,” Delhi CM said adding that Covid-19 situation, as of now, seems to be stabilizing. "We have more than tripled the rate of our Covid-19 testing in the past days. From around 5,000 tests per day, the figure has gone up to 18,000 tests. With the help of Central govt, rapid tests have also started in the national capital. I feel people should not feel any problems in getting tested for Covid-19 now," he said. Coronavirus cases in Delhi now inch toward the 60,000-mark. The national capital has 59,746 positive cases with 33,013 recovered patients and 2,175 fatalities. With this, it has overtaken Tamil Nadu as the second worst-hit state.

Delhi Takes Over Tamil Nadu In COVID-19 Cases, Becomes Second Worst-hit

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-delhi-takes-over-tamil-nadu-in-covid-19-cases-becomes-second-worst-hit/355243

 

Aggressive testing unearths more Covid cases in Andhra

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/aggressive-testing-unearths-more-cases/articleshow/76499408.cms

VISAKHAPATNAM: The cumulative tally of coronavirus cases jumped to 8,929 in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The state has witnessed a spike in Covid-19 cases in the last three weeks, with nearly 5,253 cases being detected in June alone or during ‘Unlock 1.0’.In absolute terms, June’s infections account for nearly 59% of the caseload in the state. However, the surge in Covid-19 infections is being primarily attributed to the increase in testing across the state. For instance, the state tested nearly 24,500 people between 9 am on Saturday and 9 am on Sunday – almost a threefold increase compared to the average daily tests conducted in May. The state has tested nearly 3.04 lakh people since June 1, representing a case positivity rate of 1.7% this month and average daily tests of nearly 15,000.TOI

 

Hyderabad hospital declares woman Covid-19 free then says she died of it

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hyderabad-hospital-declares-woman-covid-19-free-then-says-she-died-of-it/story-vh1SlEf768lt5Su6xDw2vL.html

A 55-year-old woman from Hyderabad’s old city area was declared dead due to Covid-19 on Sunday night, three days after her death at Osmania General Hospital (OGH), where she was first declared negative for the virus due to alleged mix up of test reports.The body of Begum Jani, a widow from Sadatnagar in Yakutpura area, was shown to her family members on Monday, before it was laid to rest by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation authorities, who handle the last rites of Covid-19 patients.Begum’s daughter Nishat told Hindustan Times that her mother had been suffering from inflammation in her jaw due to removal of a tooth. “On the morning of June 18 she was admitted to the OGH where doctors said she had developed an infection. But by late in the night, we got a call from the hospital that she had passed away,” Nishat said.The family members were told that Begum Jani had tested negative for Covid-19 but when they went to the hospital the following morning, they were told that there was some mistake in the test report, as there was another patient of the same name in the hospital who got admitted June 17.

 

 

Donald Trump says he urges health officials to slow down COVID testing, saying increased tests lead to more cases

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/coronavirus/news/us-president-donald-trump-says-he-urged-team-to-slow-covid-19-testing/articleshow/76504307.cms

US President Donald Trump has said he is encouraging health officials in his administration to slow down coronavirus testing, arguing that increased tests lead to more cases being discovered. The president has claimed on several occasions that surges of COVID-19 in several states can be explained by greater numbers of diagnostic tests. At his first rally since the outbreak forced nationwide shutdowns in March, Trump told the crowd in Tulsa, Oklahoma that testing was a "double-edged sword." US-- which has more deaths and cases than any other country -- has carried out more than 25 million coronavirus tests, placing it outside the top 20 countries in the world, per capita."Here is the bad part: When you do testing to that extent, you are going to find more people, you will find more cases," Trump argued."So I said to my people 'slow the testing down.' They test and they test." However, a White House official told AFP that Trump "was clearly speaking in jest to call out the media's absurd coverage. We are leading the world in testing, and we are proud to have conducted 25 million plus tests."The campaign of presidential challenger Joe Biden called Trump's order to slow testing "appalling" and "a transparent attempt to make the numbers look better."AFP

 

Singapore mosques to resume Friday prayers from June 26

https://www.thestatesman.com/world/singapore-mosques-resume-friday-prayers-june-26-1502902120.html

Mosques across Singapore will resume Friday prayers from June 26, which will be limited to 50 people per session, it was reported on Sunday.Mosques will provide two half-hour prayer sessions every Friday, with a half-hour interval between the two sessions to ensure safe crowd management, the Straits Times quoted the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) as saying on Sunday.Congregants will have to reserve prayer spaces for daily and Friday congregational prayers using an online prayer booking system developed by Muis.

 

 

Lack of global leadership is 'greatest threat' in fighting pandemic, says WHO

https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-who/lack-of-global-leadership-is-greatest-threat-in-fighting-pandemic-says-who-idINKBN23T1QI?il=0

DUBAI: The lack of global leadership and unity to fight the coronavirus is a bigger threat that the outbreak itself, the head of WHO said on Monday, adding that politicisation of the pandemic had made it worse. He did not elaborate but the WHO has been criticised by some members states, especially US  which says it was too weak, too slow and too “China-centric” in tackling the disease. Other members have called for a review into the pandemic, with Australia urging the WHO to have more powers, enabling it to respond more quickly to a health crisis. Reuters

 

*WORLD*

 

'Fear is overcoming me': Egypt cracks down harder on media amid pandemic

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/fear-overcoming-me-egypt-steps-crackdown-media-amid-pandemic

When the editor-in-chief of Egypt's most prominent investigative media outlet was arrested by security forces last month outside Cairo's notorious Tora prison complex, Leena al-Deeb grabbed her phone to inform her best friend, a local journalist.She saw that he had already texted her, writing: "Lina Atallah was arrested.""I WAS JUST GOING TO TELL YOU. God help us. What a time for journalism," the 26-year-old television producer wrote back, echoing the angst-ridden sentiments shared by many reporters in Egypt who are forced to navigate a challenging and often dangerous media landscape.Atallah, a prominent investigative journalist for Mada Masr, one of the few independent news websites in Egypt, paid a small fine and was released several hours after her detention following an outcry of international support.Still, many other local, less-known journalists are not that lucky, and continue to languish behind bars without trial.Egypt was already the third-worst jailer of journalists in the world, but since the coronavirus permeated its borders, the government has increasingly vied for even more control over the state narrative - accelerating its crackdown on journalists by arresting or deporting those who confront state figures.

 

 

 

Saudi continues to target dissidents despite Khashoggi backlash

https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/saudi-arabia-continues-to-target-dissidents-despite-khashoggi-backlash-37481

Less than two years after the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi officials at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, the country continues to target dissidents living abroad.That’s according to Omar Abdulaziz, a Saudi national and dissident based in Canada who told the Guardian, that Canadian authorities were still targeting him.“They (Saudis) want to do something, but I don’t know whether it’s assassination, kidnapping, I don’t know – but something not OK for sure,” Abdulaziz, a friend of the late Khashoggi, said   Neither the Canadian police or the Saudi government is willing to comment on the alleged incident, but it has been confirmed by Abdulaziz’s attorney.The information comes just a year after the Palestinian activist based in Norway, Iyad Baghdadi, revealed that the CIA had warned him through Norwegian intelligence services that he was the target of an unspecified threat emanating from the Saudis.Baghdadi has been living in Norway since 2014 when he was forced out of the UAE for his activism.Both Baghdadi and Abdulaziz knew Khashoggi and the latter was working with the slain Saudi dissident to establish a network of dissidents in the kingdom, who did their activism online to counter Saudi propaganda efforts.

 

 

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

Has The Asian Century Been Subverted By Chinese Belligerence?Manish Tewari

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-has-the-asian-century-been-subverted-by-chinese-belligerence/355219

Delhi: Two get bail for FIR error, gap of four months between 'rioting' and arrest

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-two-get-bail-for-fir-error-gap-of-four-months-between-rioting-and-arrest/articleshow/76501271.cms

 

 

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:57 PM)*