*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Delhi violence: HC transfers pleas for SIT, preserving CCTV footage to Bench headed by Chief Justice

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-violence-hc-transfers-pleas-for-sit-preserving-cctv-footage-to-bench-headed-by-chief-justice/article31905924.ece

Delhi High Court on Wednesday said two pleas seeking setting up of an SIT on northeast Delhi riots and directions to Delhi Police to preserve CCTV footage of the violence would be heard by another Bench, of Chief Justice before whom similar petitions are pending.A Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh was informed that various petitions seeking similar relief are already pending before a Bench headed by Chief Justice D.N. Patel in view of the Supreme Court directions.The Bench, which conducted hearing through video conferencing, said the two petitions filed by Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind be listed along with other riots-related pleas before the Bench headed by the Chief Justice on July 13. Jamiat said in its pleas that Delhi Police should be directed to preserve CCTV footage of the riot affected areas from Feb.23 to March 1 and should not remove the debris without collecting evidence from the site.It also sought FIRs against those involved in the violence and setting up of a SIT comprising retired judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court.PTI

 

Delhi violence: HC seeks police reply on Ishrat Jahan’s plea against extension of time for complete probe in UAPA case

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-violence-hc-seeks-police-reply-on-ishrat-jahans-plea-against-extension-of-time-for-complete-probe-in-uapa-case/article31905790.ece

Delhi High Court Wednesday asked Delhi Police to respond to a plea by former Congress municipal councillor Ishrat Jahan, booked under anti-terror law UAPA in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi in February, challenging an order extending time for completing the investigation by 60 more days.Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, issued notice to Delhi Police and asked it to file written arguments within 10 days.The court also allowed Jahan’s counsel to file written arguments and some additional documents related to the case.Additional Public Prosecutor Amit Chadha accepted the notice on behalf of Delhi Police and sought time to file the reply after which the court listed the matter for further hearing on July 7.PTI

 

Video conferencing facility suspended after ‘large scale violence’ in Tihar: Pinjra Tod member to Delhi HC

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/video-conferencing-facility-suspended-after-large-scale-violence-in-tihar-pinjra-tod-member-to-delhi-hc

Pinjra Tod member Natasha Narwal on Wednesday alleged before the Delhi High Court that "large scale violence" took place in Jail No. 6 following which video conferencing facilities had been suspended for the inmates, BarandBench.com has reported.Narwal is presently in judicial custody in connection with cases registered for Delhi riots.The statement was made before a single Judge Bench of Justice C Hari Shankar who was hearing Natasha Narwal's petition seeking a direction to Tihar Jail authorities to allow her access to her counsel by way of video conferencing.The matter would be heard next on June 29.nationalheraldindia

 

He didn’t think of his parents while flashing gun at cops? HC on Shahrukh Pathan

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/he-didnt-think-of-his-parents-while-flashing-gun-at-cops-hc-on-shahrukh-pathan

Delhi High Court, while hearing regular bail application filed by Delhi riots accused Shahrukh Pathan, said on Wednesday that "he didnt think of his parents when he was flashing the gun in pubic?""He did not think of his parents when he was flashing the gun publicly? But when he got into trouble, he is recalling his parents now," said a single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.The observation came in response to the submissions made by Advocate Asghar Khan, the counsel for the petitioner, while the court was hearing the application filed by Pathan, the man who had flashed a gun at the cops during the riots in Delhi this year.Khan submitted before the high court that his client is a victim of circumstances. He added that the accused has no criminal antecedents, and there's no evidence of anyone getting injured by alleged acts of the accused."I have the responsibility of my family. Till today my father is on death bed, he is 76 years old. My mother is also on death bed and is very old; I am a victim of the circumstances," Khan submitted on behalf of Pathan. After hearing the arguments at length, the court said that it was not inclined to grant bail to the accused, following which Khan sought permission to withdraw the petition.The court granted him the permission and dismissed the matter.IANS

 

Delhi violence: In riot case, FIR may not contain name of rioter, says court

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/delhi-violence-in-riot-case-fir-may-not-contain-name-of-rioter-says-court/1875500

New Delhi:In a riot case, FIR may not contain the name and description of a rioter, a Delhi court observed on Tuesday and said it is during the course of investigation that the identity gets disclosed.The court said this will dismissing a bail plea of a man arrested in a case related to the burning of a mosque during the communal violence in north east Delhi.Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav did not grant bail to Kundan considering the gravity of the allegations against him in the case.During the hearing, held through video conferencing, advocate Rakesh Pal Singh, appearing for Kundan, told the court that he has been in judicial custody for more than three months and his custodial interrogation was no longer required in the case.Kundan has not been named in FIR and has been falsely implicated in the case, claimed his counsel.Additional Public Prosecutor Taufeeq Ahmed, appearing for the state, opposed the bail plea saying Kundan has been identified in the case by two independent eye witnesses. According to the eye witnesses, Kundan was throwing small gas cylinders, and putting bikes and bicycles on fire inside the mosque in the Khajuri Khas area in order to increase the intensity of a fire and to create a blast inside the mosque. Ahmed said that the accused’s role was also being investigated in 12 other cases related to the February riots.PTI

 

 

Family, Activists Welcome Safoora Zargar’s Bail Order

https://clarionindia.net/family-activists-welcome-safoora-zargars-bail-order/

NEW DELHI — After the Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a pregnant PhD student and anti-CAA activist, Safoora Zargar, charged with UAPA (Anti-terror law) in the Delhi violence case, her family and friends and justice-loving people felt relieved even as many were surprised over the government’s change of heart.The state, which was hell bent on keeping her behind bars, submitted in the court that Zargar should be granted bail on “humanitarian grounds”. Only a day ago the solicitor general Tushar Mehta had told the court that pregnancy was no ground for granting bail.Her family welcomed the court order as her bail application had been rejected thrice since April when she was arrested and lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.“It is such a relief to us all. Safoora has been through a lot. She is expecting, as you know, and was lodged in the jail during this pandemic, doubling our worry. Thanks to God Almighty, she can finally come home and rest,” her husband was quoted in the media as saying.

Senior police officers accused in Delhi violence; complainants continue to face intimidation

https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/senior-police-officers-accused-in-delhi-violence-complainants-face-intimidation

At least one deputy commissioner, two additional commissioners and two station house officers of the Delhi Police participated in criminal intimidation, unprovoked firing, arson and looting during the violence that swept northeast Delhi in late February, according to complaints filed by eyewitnesses. One complainant wrote that she saw three senior officials in Chand Bagh—Anuj Sharma, an ACP at the Gokulpuri police station, Tarkeshwar Singh, who was the SHO of Dayalpur police station at the time, and RS Meena, the SHO of Bhajanpura police station—fire at and kill protesters. “I was frightened after seeing that, and wondered who would save us that day,” she stated. “The police officials are killing us.” The Caravan is in possession of numerous complaints filed by residents of northeast Delhi that name senior police officials as leading, participating and encouraging targeted violence against Muslim residents of region during the violence.caravanmagazine

 

Delhi Riots Instigated by BJP’s Kapil Mishra, Not Anti-CAA Protesters: Minority Panel Chief

https://clarionindia.net/delhi-riots-instigated-by-kapil-mishra-not-anti-caa-protesters-dr-zafarul-islam-khan/

NEW DELHI — In an exclusive interview with Clarion India, Dr Zafarul Islam Khan, Chairman of the Delhi Minority Commission, has accused the BJP, especially its leader Kapil Mishra, of instigating the communal violence in the northeast Delhi that occurred in February 2020. Dr Khan said that rather than taking action against the real perpetrators, Delhi Police have falsely implicated students and activists in terror cases by linking two different things — the riots and the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).During the lockdown amidst Covid-19, Delhi Police have booked scores of anti-CAA-NRC students and youth activists from the prestigious Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), under a draconian anti-terror law – Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) accusing them of “hatching conspiracy to incite violence” in the northeast Delhi which occurred just after BJP leader Kapil Mishra made a provocative speech on February 23.

 

Cases of Hate Crime, Communal Tension Mount in Bihar, Thanks to Forthcoming Election

https://clarionindia.net/cases-of-hate-crime-communal-tension-mount-in-bihar-thanks-to-forthcoming-election/

NEW DELHI – Incidents of hate crimes and communal tension are on the rise in Bihar. During the last one month three to four such cases have been reported. Two weeks back, 25-year-old Abdul Wahid, a daily wage-earner, was brutalised in a village in Sitamarhi district after the attackers confirmed his religion. A few days later, a Muslim youth in Motihari was thrashed and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by alleged right-wing activists.Now reports of communal tension are coming from West Champaran where two communities have locked horns over a burial ground. The bone of contention is an unused government land inside the Muslim population of a village. Local Hindus want this land to be converted into a cremation ground.The land is adjacent to a state-run Urdu medium school. According to press reports, recently two attempts have been made to cremate bodies at this plot. This is despite the fact that the village already has a separate cremation ground. Muslims, too, have their own graveyard.

 

 

Modi govt has unlocked corona pandemic, petrol-diesel prices: Rahul Gandhi

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/modi-govt-has-unlocked-corona-pandemic-petrol-diesel-prices-rahul-gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at the Modi government over the increase in fuel prices and the mounting COVID-19 cases in the country, saying it has "unlocked" the coronavirus pandemic and petrol-diesel prices."The Modi government has 'unlocked' the corona pandemic and prices of petrol-diesel," he said in a tweet.PTI

 

Diesel burns hole in pocket, surpasses petrol in Delhi

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/diesel-burns-hole-in-pocket-surpasses-petrol-in-delhi

Diesel has become the most expensive auto-fuel in the country overtaking petrol for the first time in a long while as the oil marketing companies on Wednesday raised its pump prices by 48 paisa while keeping the price of the other fuel unchanged.In the Capital, diesel is now priced at Rs 79.88 per litre while petrol prices remains at Tuesday level of Rs 79.76 a litre. This makes diesel the most expensive auto fuel in the basket for the first time in the Capital.IANS

 

 

 

Announcement of Film on Muslim Freedom Fighter from Kerala Leads to Hate Campaign

https://thewire.in/film/announcement-of-film-on-muslim-freedom-fighter-from-kerala-leads-to-hate-campaign

New Delhi: The announcement of a film on the life of Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji, a freedom fighter in the Malabar region of Kerala who fought the British in the early 20th century, has led to a hate campaign against the proposed film and its crew, The Hindu reported.The film, said to be titled Variyamkunnan, is set to be directed by Aashiq Abu and the title role will be played by Prithviraj Sukumaran. It is expected to be released in 2021, to coincide with the 100th year anniversary of the Malabar uprising led by Variyamkunnath. “He stood up against an empire that ruled a quarter of the world. Etched out his own country with an army that waged a never before war against the British. Though history was burned and buried, the legend lived on! The legend of a leader, a soldier, a patriot. A film on the man who became the face of the 1921 Malabar revolution. #Vaariyamkunnan. Filming begins in 2021. On the 100th anniversary,” Prithviraj wrote on social media.The right-wing Hindutva aligned ecosystem swung into action to threaten the crew and said that the film will not be allowed to be shot. OpIndia, for instance, referred to Variyamkunnath as a ‘jihadi’ and a ‘terrorist’ in an ‘article’ posted on June 23. It accused the freedom fighter of murdering ‘thousands’ of Hindus in 1921. The article also said that his reign led to destruction of ‘hundreds’ of Hindu temples.

 

COVID Spread: As PIL Seeks Pan Masala Ban, Company Says, 'We Donated 10 Cr to PM CARES'

https://thewire.in/health/covid-spread-as-pil-seeks-pan-masala-ban-company-says-we-donated-10-cr-to-pm-cares

Lucknow: Can a company’s donation to the PM CARES fund serve as a license to ignore the risks associated with its product at a time of COVID-19?This is the question which emerges from the plea taken by Dharampal Satyapal Ltd – manufacturer of the ‘Rajnigandha’ brand of pan masala – in the course of a public interest litigation (PIL) moved before the Allahabad high court this week.The PIL seeks a ban on the sale and use of pan masala in view of its potential to spread the deadly corona virus (its users tend to spit). In response, Rajnigandha stated in its affidavit that it “is aware of its responsibilities in this grim moment. The applicant has contributed Rs 10 crores to the ‘PM Cares’ fund and has spent another Rs. 10 crores to aid and assist organisations involved in the fight against corona.”

 

Unnao: Journalist Who Reported on 'Sand Mafia' Killed

https://thewire.in/media/shubham-mani-tripathi-journalist-killed-unnao-sand-mafia

New Delhi: A reporter for a Kanpur-based newspaper was killed on June 19 in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, allegedly at the behest of a ‘sand mafia’ and illegal land grabbers active in the region.According to a report in NewsClick, journalist Shubham Mani Tripathi (25) was shot by “unidentified persons” near the Gangaghat area of Unnao district while he was returning home with a friend on a motorcycle. He was rushed to a hospital in Kanpur, where he died. He worked for a newspaper named Kampu Mail.On his Facebook profile, Tripathi wrote on June 14 that an illegal construction by ‘famous land mafia’ had been demolished due to a report he had filed. He said the mafia was angered by this action and had registered a fake application against him to the district magistrate.According to a press release issued by the police, three people have been arrested and the arrest of two others is being sought. One of the arrested persons told the police that a “local real estate figure Divya Awasthi arranged the journalist’s killing” in retaliation for Tripathi’s articles and Facebook posts. This statement appears to be the same person that Tripathi referred to in his post on June 14.

 

UP Police Books 4 for 'Objectionable' WhatsApp Posts on PM Modi, Amit Shah

https://thewire.in/rights/up-police-whatsapp-post

New Delhi: In yet another instance of attack on free speech, the Uttar Pradesh police has booked four persons for putting out “objectionable” WhatsApp posts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union home minister Amit Shah.The police acted on a complaint by a Firozabad-based Bharatiya Janata Party leader Satyendra Gupta that the posts on the private Whatsapp group could incite public sentiments.The posts were put out in a group called “Ordnance Factory, Hazratpur”, run by two factory workers Vinod Yadav and H Malik, Amar Ujala, a national Hindi daily, reported. All members of the group worked in the Ordnance factory.

 

 

TN IS case: NIA files chargesheet against 12

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/nia-files-chargesheet-against-12/article31901592.ece

CHENNAI:NIA has filed a chargesheet in the special court here against 12 persons for their involvement in fraudulent procurement and activation of SIM cards used by IS for their activities in the country.The accused are Pachaiyappan, 37, of Kancheepuram district; A. Rajesh, 34 of Chennai; T. Anbarasan, 27; Abdul Rahiman, 44; Liyakath Ali, 29, of Salem; Mohammed Haneef Khan, 29; Imran Khan, 32; Mohammed Zaid, 24; Ejaz Pasha, 46, and Mahboob Pasha, 48, are from Bengaluru and Khaja Mohideen, 52, is from Cuddalore district. They were charged under sections 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) 465(Punishment for forgery), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating) of IPC, provisions of Arms Act and UAPA. NIA said investigation revealed that after the release of the key conspirator and IS terrorist named Khaja Mohideen on bail in a case relating to the murder of a Hindu leader, in Feb.2019, he conspired with one Liyakath Ali with the intention of furthering the activities of IS in India.The case was originally registered by Q Branch, Chennai on December 28, 2019, based on a complaint filed by Territorial Sales Manager, Airtel, Kancheepuram that some Airtel SIM cards were fraudulently activated using identity documents of various persons without their knowledge for unlawful gain.

 

 

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

India, China Agree To Maintain Diplomatic, Military-level Communication To Resolve Ladakh Standoff: MEA

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-india-china-agree-to-maintain-communication-to-resolve-dispute-mea/355356

India and China on Wednesday agreed that expeditious implementation of the previously agreed understanding on disengagement of troops from standoff points in eastern Ladakh would help ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas, Ministry of External Affairs said.The 2 sides held diplomatic talks through video conference to explore ways to ease tension along the Line of Actual Control in the eastern Ladakh region. MEA said the situation in the region was discussed in detail and the Indian side conveyed its concerns over the violent face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15. PTI

 

China calls for India’s withdrawal from Galwan Valley

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pla-says-india-crossed-lac-june-15-clash-happened-on-chinas-side/article31904521.ece?homepage=true

Officials from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said China had demanded a withdrawal of Indian personnel and facilities from Galwan Valley at June 6 Corps Commander talks.A clash on June 15 in the valley, which India has said took place when a violent face-off occurred during the de-escalation process agreed to at the talks, claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers.Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Defence Ministry on Wednesday accused India of breaking June 6 agreement, and claimed India had agreed to not patrol in the valley or build facilities there.The valley begins from the confluence of the Galwan and Shyok rivers, but LAC runs east of the confluence in the valley. China, however, is now demanding an Indian withdrawal from the entire valley and limiting India to the Galwan estuary where it meets Shyok. Wednesday’s comments from Beijing suggest it is describing LAC at the “estuary" of the river.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: “It is the Indian side that went against the bilateral agreement. Indian side at first agreed to withdraw personnel from Galwan Valley and so it did, and it dismantled its facilities as requested by the Chinese side. During the first Commander meeting on June 6, the Indian side committed to no trespassing of the Galwan Valley for patrolling and for building. 2 sides agreed to set up observatory posts at the two sides of the Galwan river estuary, but the Indian side went against this agreement and asked China to dismantle China’s posts, and also it crossed LAC”, which led to the clash.India, however, said the clash was triggered by China violating the June 6 agreement, and setting up a post on India’s side of LAC. Indian officials said the LAC that both sides had been observing has been east of the confluence of the Galwan and Shyok, near Patrolling Point 14, where clash occurred. On Wednesday, PLA Senior Colonel and Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said “China has sovereignty over Galwan Valley” and “for many years, Chinese border guards have been patrolling and performing their duties here.”

 

Chinese Structures, Soldiers Spotted In Galwan Valley In New Satellite Images

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chinese-structures-soldiers-spotted-in-galwan-valley-in-new-satellite-images-2251440?pfrom=home-bigstory

A day after India and China agreed to start the process of disengagement along LAC in Ladakh, high resolution satellite images appear to show the presence of Chinese structures on both sides of the Line of Actual Control in the Galwan river valley. In clashes there on June 15, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in action. Senior officers in the Indian Army believe the Chinese suffered approximately 45 casualties, including a Colonel who was killed in the fighting.The image shown here is near Patrol Point 14, where the clashes on June 15 are reported to have taken place. Earlier satellite images of May 22 showed the presence of a single tent at this spot. The new images, however, appear to show possible defensive Chinese positions at the site. The new images also show shelters or accommodation having been constructed along the rock-face leading up the LAC. These were absent earlier.

 

 

Data | Is an economic boycott of China feasible for India?

https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-is-an-economic-boycott-of-china-feasible-for-india/article31903776.ece?homepage=true

Amid border clashes, calls for boycotting Chinese products have intensified. While India relies heavily on imports from China, a much smaller portion of China’s imports are from India. India’s unicorns are also heavily dependent on investments from China. An economic boycott seems infeasible.In FY19, 5.1% of India’s exports were destined for China, while only 3% of China’s came to India. Also, 13.7% of India’s imports were from China, while only 0.9% of China’s were from India. Imports from China accounted for over 14% of India’s total imports in FY20 (until Feb.), the highest share among all the nations. Exports to China accounted for over 5% of India’s exports, the third highest. The chart depicts the imported products for which India depends on China the most. For instance, 76.3% of all antibiotics imported by India are from China.India is heavily dependent on China for electronics and pharmaceutical products. Many Indian unicorns (start-ups with valuation of over $1 billion) have a Chinese investor. The chart depicts the estimated investment by Chinese companies in select start-ups.thehindu

 

‘Govt Managing Headlines, Not India-China Crisis’: Expert Manoj Joshi

https://www.thequint.com/videos/news-videos/government-managing-headlines-instead-of-india-china-crisis-manoj-joshi

"It seems the government is busy managing headlines, instead of the India-China crisis," says Manoj Joshi, China Expert and Distinguished Fellow of Observer Research Foundation, in an exclusive interview with The Quint's Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia.Manoj Joshi, while explaining the chronology, said that first the news of the death of three of our soldiers in the deadly clash with Chinese troops came in. And there was source-based news that five Chinese soldiers were killed. But by the evening, news came in that 20 soldiers were killed in action, along with the source-based news of 43 Chinese soldiers being killed in clash.“Similarly, earlier it was said that all our soldiers have returned to the Indian side of LAC. But later, The New York Times published that 10 Indian soldiers were reportedly captured by China,” added Joshi“Why is the government providing half-baked information? Why is the government hiding facts?” asked Joshi.

 

Foundation stone for Islamabad’s first Hindu temple laid

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/foundation-stone-for-islamabads-first-hindu-temple-laid/article31904420.ece?homepage=true

Pakistan has started the construction process of a ₹10 crore Hindu temple -- the first in Islamabad.The Krishna temple will come up in a 20,000 sq ft plot at the capital’s H-9 area.The groundbreaking ceremony for the temple was performed by Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi on Tuesday.PTI

 

 

*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

 

India's GDP Could Contract 5.3% Due to COVID-19 'Disorder': India Ratings

https://thewire.in/economy/indias-gdp-could-contract-5-3-due-to-covid-19-disorder-india-ratings

New Delhi: India’s real gross domestic product in Financial Year 2020-21 could contract 5.3%, said India Ratings and Research on Wednesday as it flagged the “disorder” caused to the economy by Covid-19 and the nationwide lockdown to contain the disease.“This will be the lowest GDP growth in Indian history and the sixth instance of economic contraction, others being in FY58, FY66, FY67, FY73 and FY80,” said the ratings agency in a press release. It expects nominal GDP to contract 3.4% for the year and gross value added to contract by 5.5%.“The disorder caused by the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded with such a speed and scale that the disruption in production, breakdown of supply chains/trade channels and total wash out of activities in aviation, tourism, hotels and hospitality sectors will not allow the economic activity to return to normalcy throughout FY21,” the agency said.“As a result, besides contracting for the whole year, GDP will contract in each quarter in FY21. However, the agency believes the GDP growth would bounce back in the range of 5 per cent-6 per cent in FY22, aided by the base effect and return of gradual normalcy in the domestic as well as global economy.” The estimate for FY22 is much lower than what other forecasts say. Some estimates expect low-base effect to push GDP growth for FY22 to as high as 8-9%. Separately, the government still expects that growth will bounce back in the second half of FY21, though it agrees with the Reserve Bank of India’s statement that GDP will contract this year.

 

IMF Predicts Sharp Contraction Of 4.5% In Indian Economy In 2020, A Historic Low

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/business-news-imf-predicts-sharp-contraction-of-45-in-indian-economy-in-2020-a-historic-low/355360

IMF on Wednesday projected a sharp contraction of 4.5 per cent for the Indian economy in 2020, a "historic low," citing the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic that has nearly stalled all economic activities, but said the country is expected to bounce back in 2021 with a robust six per cent growth rate.IMF projected the global growth at –4.9 per cent in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below the April 2020 World Economic Outlook (WEO) forecast."We are projecting a sharp contraction in 2020 of -4.5 per cent. Given the unprecedented nature of this crisis, as is the case for almost all countries, this projected contraction is a historic low,” Indian-American Gita Gopinath, IMF’s Chief Economist, told PTI as she released World Economic Outlook Update here.

 

Bengal Extends Lockdown Till July 31, Schools, Colleges To Stay Shut

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengal-extends-lockdown-till-july-31-no-train-or-metro-services-to-be-allowed-2251649?pfrom=home-topscroll

Kolkata: The coronavirus lockdown in Bengal has been extended till July 31, the Mamata Banerjee government said Wednesday evening, explaining that during this phase of the lockdown schools and colleges will stay shut and train and metro services will not run.The current phase of lockdown in the state - which targets only areas affected by the COVID-19 virus - is due to end June 30, the same day that the fifth phase of the national lockdown (also called "Unlock1") is scheduled to end.Bengal has 14,728 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, with 580 deaths linked to the virus. There are 9,218 active cases in the state.

 

 

 

 

Amit Shah model vs Kejriwal model in Delhi’: AAP Govt asks Centre to scrap rule requiring Covid patients to visit govt facility for assessment

https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/delhi/sisodia-asks-home-minister-to-scrap-rule-requiring-covid-patients-to-visit-govt-facility-for-assessment/cid/1783416

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said he has written to Union home minister Amit Shah to request him with folded hands to scrap the new system requiring every Covid-19 patient to visit a government-run centre for clinical assessment.Arguing that new system puts pressure on the govt's facilities with rising number of cases, Sisodia said there would be chaos in the city in the next few days if it was not scrapped.He told reporters there are two models in Delhi --- Shah's model which requires every coronavirus patient to visit a Covid care centre and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's model under which medical teams of district administrations go to the homes of infected persons to check on them.This is not a fight between Shah's model and Kejriwal's model, he said, adding that there should be a system in which people don't face problems.He said the Union home minister himself is overseeing measures being taken to deal with the Covid-19 situation."I request the Union home minister with folded hands to scrap the new system as people have been facing a lot of problems," Sisodia said at the online media briefing.Sisodia had written to lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday on the same issue but said AAP govt is yet to get a response.He said Covid patients are being taken in buses to the care centres for their clinical assessment.Baijal last week issued an order making it mandatory for every new Covid-19 patient to visit a care centre for clinical assessment to ascertain whether he or she requires hospitalisation or home isolation. Around 4,000 people tested positive on Tuesday. It is not feasible for all of them to visit Covid care centre for clinical assessment, deputy chief minister said.

 

ASCI Flagged 50 Ad Campaigns By Ayurvedic, Homeopathic Drug Makers Offering 'COVID-19 Cure' in April

https://thewire.in/government/asci-flagged-50-ad-campaigns-by-ayurvedic-homeopathic-drug-makers-offering-covid-19-cure-in-april

Mumbai: Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) said it found 50 campaigns by ayurvedic and homeopathic drug makers offering a cure for COVID-19 in April alone and had flagged them to the union government for action.The advertisements were across media platforms and were found to be violating Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) order dated April 1, prohibiting publicity and advertisement of AYUSH-related claims, the self-regulatory body said in a statement.The disclosure from ASCI for April comes a day after the government issued a gag order against Baba Ramdev’s company Patanjali Ayurved from advertising a drug as COVID cure within hours of him launching it.ASCI said the AYUSH Ministry had sought its help to alert them about such advertisements and that it launched a drive to act against such misleading advertisements claiming prevention or cure for COVID. The body also made public the list of the 50 companies found advertising the COVID-cure or prevention in April.PTI

 

Complainant in Bihar seeks FIR against Baba Ramdev over COVID medicine claim

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/complainant-in-bihar-seeks-fir-against-baba-ramdev-over-covid-19-medicine-claim/article31905842.ece?homepage=true

A criminal complaint has been filed in a Bihar court against yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna, alleging that they have misled and put at risk the lives of lakhs of people by claiming to have developed a medicine to treat coronavirus.The complaint seeking registration of an FIR on cheating, criminal conspiracy and other charges was filed in court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Mukesh Kumar in Muzaffarpur on Tuesday by Tamanna Hashmi, who identifies himself as a social worker and is often in news for his numerous court complaints against politicians over various issues. The court posted the matter for hearing on June 30.The complainant has named Ramdev, the convenor of the Patanjali Research Institute, and his aide Balkrishna, the organisation’s chairman, as accused.PTI

 

Post Lockdown, Social Boycott of Gujjars Continues in Punjab Village

https://thewire.in/communalism/post-lockdown-virtual-boycott-of-gujjars-in-punjab-village-continues

Kapurthala: For Sher Ali and his fellow Gujjars, it was a quiet, uncomplicated life grazing cattle and selling milk on the outskirts of Sial village in Kapurthala district, Punjab, till COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdown brought two rude shocks. Gujjars, who originally hail from Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, are traditionally cattle-herders and live isolated on the outskirts of villages. Around 100 Gujjars have been settled outside Sial for the last 15 years. Sial has around 300 voters, of which 45 are Gujjars. A Gujjar, Kasim Ali, is also a member of Sial panchayat.“Some of our relatives and friends are still settled in Jammu, Basohli, Doda, Bhadarwah and Udhampur cities of J&K and Chamba, Dalhousie and Pathankot in Himachal Pradesh. However, we settled in Punjab,” Sial Gujjars told The Wire.For them, the lockdown has changed life for the worse.

 

Shramik Special Trains: Railways feigns ignorance, Labour Ministry says 3,700 trains were run for migrants

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/rtis-on-shramik-special-trains-railways-feigns-ignorance-labour-ministry-says-3700-trains-were-run

Ministry of Railways, which is responsible for running one of the largest rail networks in the world, does not know how many Shramik Special Trains were deployed to transport migrants to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Besides, when asked, it chose to pass the buck.On other hand, Ministry of Labour and Employment claims that 3,700 Shramik Special Trains were deployed to ferry 50 lakh migrants to their respective states.Who is speaking the truth or why 2 important ministries of the Modi govt are contradicting each other on an important issue deserves to be investigated.

 

J&K Hosp Bars Entry Without COVID Test, Woman Gives Birth Outside

https://www.thequint.com/coronavirus/waiting-for-covid-report-woman-delivers-baby-outside-jk-hospital

A woman gave birth to a baby in the backyard of Community Health Centre Sumbal in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday, 24 June, as hospital authorities refused to admit her, citing her pending COVID-19 test report.Zareefa Begum, wife of Mohammad Saleem Najar, was taken to the hospital on Tuesday morning after she complained of severe pain.At the hospital she was told by a doctor to get tested for COVID-19 before getting admitted. As her samples were taken, her pain grew, making family members anxious."She was in pain and we took her to Sumbal hospital. As we reached, a lady doctor told us to get her tested for COVID-19 first. After the test, her pain doubled but authorities still didn't provide any help. They said to get her test result first, which would have taken at least one or two days," her brother Riyaz Ahmad told The Quint.

 

 

Frequent gun battles affect online education in COVID-affected Kashmir

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/frequent-gun-battles-affect-online-education-in-covid-affected-kashmir

Holding a smartphone in his hands, Arshad Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar's uptown area, is lounging in a recliner waiting to appear in an online examination. The virtual examination is slated to begin half an hour later. Soon Ahmad's brother enters his uncluttered room and informs him about a gunfight breaking out in town. Ahmad frantically phones one of his teachers apprising him that he may not be able to take his test. Barely a few minutes later, the internet vanishes."It is for the second time I have failed to take my online exams. Earlier, the university postponed the examination due to a similar issue," says Ahmad, a post-graduate student. The gun battles in Kashmir are always followed by cutting off of data services for days altogether. After government announced a nationwide lockdown to stave off the transmission of COVID virus in the last week of March, the graph of gun battles between militants and security forces considerably shot up in Valley, causing substantial damage to militant networks. At least 83 militants were shot since March in Jammu and Kashmir. Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, during a recent press briefing, said that 106 militants have been killed till now this year. Over the past few weeks, gun battles are taking place on a daily basis across the Valley. nationalheraldindia

 

 

Poverty Forced 19-Year-old Chand Mohammed To Cremate Covid Bodies

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/poverty-forced-19-year-old-chand-mohammed-to-handle-covid-bodies

NEW DELHI, JUNE 24—Poverty forced the 19-year-old Mohammed Chand to take up the high risk job of handling bodies of Covid-19 patients at the Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital and transport them to cremation grounds and graveyards.Chand, who has seven members in his family including his parents, three sisters and a brother, took up the job of a sweeper in the LNJP hospital in first week of June. He was not an employee of the hospital but hired by a private company that has been outsourced by the hospital for house-keeping and other odd jobs like handling the dead bodies.Speaking to India Tomorrow at his residence in Seelampur in trans-Yamuna area, Chand said that he never liked the job. “But poverty forced me to take up the  sweeper’s job”. He was hired at monthly salary of Rs. 18,000, with his working hours stretching from 12 noon to 8 pm. His family lives in a rented house.India Tomorrow

 

'Ridiculously Expensive': NRI Recounts Experience Aboard Vande Bharat Flight

"I felt deeply jealous of the Pakistanis and Filipinos who went home for free," the man wrote in a social media post.

 

'Ridiculously Expensive': NRI Recounts Experience Aboard Vande Bharat Flight

https://thewire.in/rights/vande-bharat-flight

New Delhi: A social media post recounting his harrowing experience with the Vande Bharat flight by an NRI who travelled from Canada to Kerala with his family of three, has gone viral.According to a report in the NewsMinute, the man Siva* said that he had left Kerala to go to Canada with his family over a year ago to earn more money and clear pending debts. Along with his wife, Siva was able to find a job and work in Montreal. However, after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, like thousands of other expatriates, he was stranded.In a post on Facebook titled ‘Vande Bharat Mission and Corona Tourism’, he recounted his ordeal and said that his family had to utilise all their savings to make the payment for the trip back home. After the pandemic broke, Siva had to book fresh tickets through the central government’s Vande Bharat Mission, which were priced at Rs 1,38,000 per ticket and ended up costing him over Rs 4 lakh for tickets for the entire family.

 

 

India Coronavirus Updates, 24 June: Over 73.5 lakh samples tested till June 23, says ICMR; Delhi’s infections top 70,000

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-coronavirus-updates-24-june-6473716/

With a record 15,968 coronavirus cases reported in the past 24 hours, the total count in India crossed the 4.5 lakh-mark. The death toll has gone up to 14,476 as Covid-19 claimed 465 lives in 24 hours. Of the 4,56,183 cases, over 2.5 lakh have recovered, while 1.8 lakh are still active infections. Maharashtra has reported 1,39,010 cases, followed by Delhi at 66,602 and Tamil Nadu at 64,603. Maharashtra has reported 6,531 coronavirus deaths followed by Delhi at 2,301 and Gujarat at 1,710.Delhi, which has the second-highest cases, on Tuesday reported close to 4,000 new cases, more than any state has disclosed in the last 24 hours. Even Maharashtra, which has more than double the number of cases in Delhi, has never reported these many new infections. Delhi, whose caseload is currently growing at almost twice the national growth rate, can potentially overtake Mumbai as early as today. Mumbai, which has 68,410 cases, is growing much slowly, and on Tuesday added only 842 new cases.Another state where increased testing has triggered a surge in confirmed cases has been Telangana. Delhi, Telangana and Tamil Nadu are likely to drive the India number for the next few days. But the numbers could start flowing in from other places as well, as new rapid antigen tests are deployed. Follow Coronavirus in India LIVE UPDATES

 

 

*WORLD*

US Senate confirms Indian-American scientist Sethuraman Panchanathan as head of National Science Foundation

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-senate-confirms-indian-american-scientist-sethuraman-panchanathan-as-head-of-national-science-foundation/article31875976.ece?utm_source=taboola

US Senate has confirmed eminent Indian-American scientist Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation, a top American body supporting fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering.Panchanathan, 58, from the Arizona State University, would head the NSF, the top American science funding body that has an annual budget of USD 7.4 billion.

 

Indian Restaurant Vandalised In US With Hate Messages Scrawled On Walls

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indian-restaurant-vandalised-in-us-with-hate-messages-scrawled-on-walls-2251226?pfrom=home-topstories

Washington: An Indian restaurant in the Sante Fe City of New Mexico, owned by a Sikh, was broken into and vandalised with hate messages scrawled on its walls, a media report said Tuesday.The damage caused to India Palace restaurant is estimated to be worth USD 100,000, local Santa Fe Reporter said adding that the vandalisation is being investigated by local police and FBI.Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) has condemned the incident."This kind of hate and violence is unacceptable and swift action must be taken to ensure the safety and security of all Americans," said Kiran Kaur Gill SALDEF executive director.

 

 

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

Good, Bad and Ugly of the Delhi Police Riot Chargesheets:Sarim Naved

https://thewire.in/communalism/the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-the-delhi-police-riot-chargesheets

With New 'Cure' for COVID-19, Patanjali Continues to Do 'Science' by Press Release:Vasudevan Mukunth

https://thewire.in/the-sciences/patanjali-baba-ramdev-covid-19-cure

In Considering Bail for a Pregnant Woman, the Personhood of Her Fetus Has to Be a Factor: The Wire

https://thewire.in/law/in-considering-bail-for-a-pregnant-woman-the-personhood-of-her-fetus-has-to-be-a-factor

Indian Journalism Is In Deep Crisis, All In Name Of ‘Balance':Sidharth Bhatia

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-indian-journalism-is-in-deep-crisis-all-in-the-name-of-balance/355326

Indians who made Covid ‘Muslim virus’ after Tablighi Jamaat are cheering Odisha’s Rath Yatra:TINA DAS

https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/indians-who-made-covid-muslim-virus-after-tablighi-jamaat-are-cheering-odishas-rath-yatra/447717/

The Quint Exclusive on Delhi Riots : RSS Members Arrested for Murder, Rioting

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/delhi-riots-rss-vhp-members-accused-murder-rioting-arrested-delhi-police

 
 

 

 

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:31 PM)