*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Gehlot and Pilot in fresh tussle but ‘no immediate threat’ to Congress govt in Rajasthan

https://theprint.in/politics/gehlot-and-pilot-in-fresh-tussle-but-no-immediate-threat-to-congress-govt-in-rajasthan/459375/

New Delhi: There is no immediate threat to the Congress government in Rajasthan, sources in the party told ThePrint, amid allegations by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot that the BJP was trying to topple his government.On Sunday, sources said Deputy CM Sachin Pilot headed to Delhi along with a few Congress MLAs to apprise the central leadership of how he was being “sidelined”, and that efforts were on to remove him as president of the party’s state unit.The Congress’ central leadership has intervened, the sources said.There was no official confirmation from the Congress on reports of Pilot meeting interim president Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi, but a senior party leader said the “matter will be resolved today”. The central leadership of the Congress hasn’t said anything on the matter officially, though party sources said all developments are being monitored continuously.A senior leader said a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would be held tonight. “In this meeting, it will become clear how many MLAs are with Gehlot and how many are missing. The chief minister is quite confident that he has the numbers,” said the Congress leader. Pilot met Patel Saturday night and apprised him of the entire situation, the party sources said, adding that there was no clarity on his current whereabouts. ThePrint approached Pilot through text messages and calls, but there was no response. A close aide of the deputy CM, however, said he won’t be attending the CLP meeting.

Rajasthan: CM Gehlot calls meeting of party MLAs; Congress state in-charge says govt stable

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-political-crisis-congress-kapil-sibal-ashok-gehlot-sachin-pilot-bjp-6502093/

Sachin Pilot Says Enough, Ashok Gehlot Calls 9 PM Meet: 10 Points

  

Claiming 23 MLAs on His Side, Sachin Pilot in Delhi With His Loyalists As Rajasthan Crisis Alarms Congress:news18

https://www.news18.com/news/politics/claiming-23-mlas-on-his-side-sachin-pilot-meets-ahmed-patel-to-complain-of-gehlots-sideline-attempt-2712321.html

Rajasthan's deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot arrived in Delhi on Sunday morning with some of his loyalist MLAs and may talk to party leadership regarding the developing political crisis in the state.Pilot is expected to speak to party's interim president Sonia Gandhi, a day after he met her close aide and senior party leader Ahmed Patel. The flurry of meetings comes amid a slugfest over the BJP's alleged attempts to topple the Congress-led Rajasthan government.According to sources, Pilot told Patel at a meeting late on Saturday night that chief minister Ashok Gehlot was trying to sideline him and was given assurances that “injustice will not be allowed to happen to him”.

 

"We're True Congress Soldiers": U-Turn By 3 MLAs Close to Sachin Pilot

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rajasthan-mlas-who-went-to-delhi-with-sachin-pilot-say-we-are-with-congress-no-controversy-2261519?pfrom=home-bigstory

Rajasthan Congress today claimed they stand together behind Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, denying the daylong crisis in the party seen to have been triggered by Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, who is camping in Delhi. "The Congress stands united," said the party at a press conference where three MLAs 3 MLAs who visited Delhi yesterday and is seen as part of the Sachin Pilot camp, also appeared.One of them, Rohit Bohra, had earlier told NDTV that his visit to Delhi was "personal" and it was there that he met with the other two MLAs, who also had their own errands to run. The MLAs, who had gone to Delhi yesterday, were back n Jaipur by this afternoon.

 

Told You So: Jyotiraditya Scindia Tweet On Sachin Pilot

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jyotiraditya-scindia-on-rajasthan-congress-crisis-sad-to-see-my-erstwhile-colleague-sachin-pilot-too-being-sidelined-2261496

Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose defection to BJP earlier this year contributed to Congress collapse in Madhya Pradesh, taunted his former party as it faced a rerun in Rajasthan with Sachin Pilot seen to attempt a split."Sad to see my erstwhile colleague Sachin Pilot too, being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Shows that talent and capability find little credence in the Congress," Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted.

 

 

Stumped By Chirag Paswan, Sushil Modi Plays Pacifist On Bihar Polls

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/stumped-by-lok-janshakti-party-leader-chirag-paswan-bihar-deputy-chief-minister-sushil-modi-plays-pacifist-on-state-polls-2261261?pfrom=home-topstories

Patna: Taken aback by alliance partner Chirag Paswan's apparent endorsement of Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav's stand on the upcoming assembly elections and a reflexive snub from its other ally Janata Dal United, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi has deferred the decision to Election Commission. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Modi, one of the most senior leaders of NDA in Bihar openly acknowledged that no one knows what will happen in the three months ahead.But, he said, the alliance will abide by Election Commission's decision to either hold the elections or postpone it in view of the condition of the coronavirus pandemic. There is no point making any political statements on the expected decision of the election body, he said.Although Modi did not name Chirag Paswan, his attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashvi Yadav was clear when he said, "There are some weak students who are looking for an excuse from now and anticipating defeat they are indulging in pressure politics."

 

Vikas Dubey Killing: UP and MP Police Dispute Escape Bid Versions

https://thewire.in/government/vikas-dubey-up-police-madhya-pradesh-escape-versions

New Delhi: In an attempt to justify its claim that Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter when he tried to flee, UP STF said that the Kanpur-based gangster had made similar escape bids when he was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police in Ujjain.However, UP STF’s claim was soon countered by MP police when it said that Dubey had not made any such attempt to escape while in its custody. UP STF, which had reached the outskirts of Kanpur while bringing Dubey from Ujjain, had earlier said that the gangster was killed when he snatched a policeman’s 9mm pistol when the police vehicle overturned in an accident and made an attempt to escape. A day after, even as multiple loopholes and contradictions were pointed out in UP police’s version of events leading up to killing of the don, STF claimed that Dubey had tried to escape on two occasions while being ferried on a motorcycle by MP police from one police station to another after being arrested at the Mahakal temple in Ujjain.MP police, however, denied STF’s claim, and said that Dubey was neither brought to the police station on a motorcycle nor did he make any bid to escape.thewire

 

Vikas Dubey Is 119th Accused to Be Killed in an 'Encounter' Since Adityanath Became UP CM

https://thewire.in/government/vikas-dubey-is-the-119th-accused-to-be-killed-in-an-encounter-since-adityanath-became-up-cm

Gangster Vikas Dubey, who was gunned down by Uttar Pradesh police in Kanpur on July 10, was the 119th person to be killed by the state police in claimed ‘encounters’ or ‘cross-firing’ cases. 6 people have been killed in 5 such ‘encounters’ since the July 3 gun battle in which eight cops, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, who had gone to nab Dubey, were gunned down. Questions are now being raised if these incidents would mark another spurt in such ‘encounters’ in the state. A report in the Indian Express has pointed out that while Supreme Court guidelines have it that all such ‘encounters’ should result in an FIR and magisterial inquiry, in all 74 cases that have been investigated since March 2017 when Yogi Adityanath took over as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, none of the cops under investigation have been indicted. Many of these ‘encounters’ had taken place under suspicious circumstances.thewire

 

UP cop, suspended for alleged role in Vikas Dubey case, moves SC seeking protection

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-cop-suspended-for-alleged-role-in-vikas-dubey-case-moves-sc-seeking-protection-6502379/

A police officer, suspended and arrested for his alleged role in passing on crucial information about a raid to nab history-sheeter Vikas Dubey, has moved the Supreme Court seeking protection citing the spate of encounters in which the gangster and his aides were killed.The plea, filed through his wife Vinita Sirohi, apprehended that her husband Krishn Kumar Sharma may be eliminated through “illegal and unconstitutional means”.PTI 

 

In this Gujarat town, no place to bury dead as high-caste residents flood Dalit burial ground with sewage

http://twocircles.net/2020jul11/438007.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29

Gujarat: Dalits in PM Narendra Modi’s wealthy state of Gujarat are named and shamed during their entire lives but, for 5,000-strong Scheduled Caste community in Viramgam, there is no respite from humiliation even after death.Gallons and gallons of sewage water by upper-caste residents have turned the one-acre only-for-Dalits cemetery on the outskirts of historical town into an inaccessible island with hardly any place to bury the dead. For the past 6 months, no-frills graves of the relatives of the socially-disadvantaged Vankars, Chamars, Rohits, Dangasia, Shetwa etc in Mukti Dham have been surrounded by dirty water which has not only played havoc with 1,000-odd precious plants in the mosquito-infested burial ground but poses a serious health hazard to grief-stricken mourners and nearby population.“Cemetery where our kinsfolk lay buried has turned into a swampland. They were humiliated when they were alive. And now even after they have died, upper caste people is heaping insult on them by purposefully discharging their solid and liquid waste into our final resting place,” Kirit Rathod, convener of Dalit Adhikar Manch, said. If social worker Dr Mahendra Jadav is to be believed, when an elderly Dalit citizen passed away last week, his body had to be taken to a public crematorium 5 kms away and disposed of thereby burning it to ashes instead of the usual, customary burial at the flooded cemetery in Viramgam, 60 kms from Ahmedabad.TwoCircles

 

TN Police arrest 86 for spreading hatred against Muslims

https://ummid.com/news/2020/july/10.07.2020/tn-police-arrest-86-for-spreading-hatred-against-muslims.html#:~:text=Chennai%3A%20The%20Tamil%20Nadu%20Additional,linking%20them%20with%20Covid%2D19.&text=Of%20them%2086%20have%20been%20arrested%2C%20the%20DGP%20said.

Tamil Nadu Additional DGP  V. Baskaran, has informed the Madras High Court that 86 people have been so far arrested in the state for spreading communal hatred against the Muslim community, linking them with Covid-19. A division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha is hearing a PIL filed by ASA Umar Farooq seeking action on over 700 complaints filed in various police stations across the state but remained pending.ASA Umar Farooq, through a writ petition prayed for a direction to the authorities concerned to stop the media and other agencies and individuals from communalizing Covid-19 issue.In response, DGP filed a counter affidavit before the division bench stating that so far there are 159 cases that have been registered against 356 people. Of them 86 have been arrested, DGP said.As per the report, Madurai tops list with 19 cases followed by Erode (17) and Pudukottai (12). In Chennai, 8 FIRs are registered against eight accused.The court after recording the submission has adjourned the hearing to July 13.

 

Delhi riots: Kapil Mishra named in 2 complaints, court seeks police response

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ne-delhi-riots-kapil-mishra-named-in-2-complaints-court-seeks-police-response-6501394/

New Delhi A Delhi Court has sought a status report from the Delhi Police on 2 pleas for registration of an FIR against BJP leader Kapil Mishra and others for their alleged complicity in the Delhi riots. 2 applications under CrPC section 156 (3), seeking direction for registration of FIRs, were filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Karkardooma Court, who issued notice to the Delhi Police and directed them to file a status report, said the applicants’ lawyer Mehmood Pracha. He added: “The complainants approached the court only after Delhi Police refused to register an FIR against accused named in the complaints of heinous crime.”2 applications for FIR against Mishra have been filed by Zakir Malik and Mohd Jami Rizvi. Mishra, when contacted, said that “some forces who want to divert the attention from truth are trying to fabricate false complaints against Delhi Police and me”.

 

Delhi police arrest doctor for issuing fake medical documents for kin of Delhi riots accused

https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/article/delhi-police-arrest-doctor-for-issuing-fake-medical-documents-for-kin-of-delhi-riots-accused/620167

Delhi police has arrested a doctor for allegedly issuing fake medical documents recommending surgery of kin's of Faisal Farooque - an accused in the Delhi riots case. The latest twist came after the cops found a doctor issuing certificate for a bail application filed on the basis of a medical certificate. Lawyers had sought for bail on the basis of these documents, police sources say.During course of the investigation, Delhi police found that a doctor, Gajendra Nayyar (61) had issued similar documents to secure the release of others under trials earlier as well after which his licence to practice was suspended by the Delhi Medical Council. Nayyar and his associate Mukesh Sangwan were arrested by the crime branch."Further investigations are underway to establish the other cases in which the duo was involved", said Delhi police

 

Protests Against CAA, NRC: NSUI leader Anas Rehman held, Cong says bid to silence party workers

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/protests-against-caa-nrc-nsui-leader-held-cong-says-bid-to-silence-party-workers-6501461/

Lucknow :Days after the arrest of the state chairman of the Congress minority cell in the same case, the Lucknow police on Friday arrested state vice-president of the party’s student wing, NSUI, in connection with the violence during anti-CAA protest in Lucknow in Hazratganj police station area in December last year.SHO, Hazratganj, Anjani Kumar Pandey said, “Anas Rehman, 27, was arrested in connection with violence in Lucknow in a case lodged at Hazratganj police station. He was sent to jail after being presented in a court. His role in the violence had come to the fore during our investigation into the case.” Rehman was arrested from Balaganj area, where he resides.Congress leader and activist Sadaf Jafar, activist Mohammad Shoaib, and 32 other have also been booked in the same case. The sections invoked in the case are for rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy among others.Congress state chief Ajay Kumar Lallu alleged that the arrests of Alam and Rehman were an attempt by the government to silence Congress workers who are raising the issues of people on the margins.

 

Anti-CAA Protest: HC Asks UP What Law Allowed It to Seek Rs 64 Lakh Damages from Ex-IPS Officer

https://www.news18.com/news/india/anti-caa-protest-hc-asks-up-what-law-allowed-it-to-seek-rs-64-lakh-damages-from-ex-ips-officer-2712165.html

Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government on a recovery citation of Rs 64 lakh issued to retired IPS officer Sarwan Ram Darapuri in connection with an anti-CAA stir here.Darapuri has been accused of instigating violence during the protest, which took place on December 19 last year. He was arrested on December 20, but later granted bail. The Lucknow administration had issued the recovery citation in order to make up the losses caused to the state exchequer, owing to arson and violence that took place during the anti-CAA protests.A bench of Justice Rajan Roy on Friday, on a writ petition moved by Darapuri challenging the recovery citation, further asked the state government if there was any provision of law permitting such recovery on the date of the alleged incident.Darapuri has claimed in his petition that "the recovery citation was issued in an illegal manner."The petitioner also alleged that there was no proof against him of inciting violence.The court asked the state government to "satisfy it as to under what authority of law, the recovery citation to the tune of Rs 64 lakhs has been issued".The bench also expressed concern over issuance of recovery citation without issuing any notice.It has fixed July 14 as the next date of hearing.PTI

 

Bhima Koregaon case: Family of jailed poet Varavara Rao claims his life is in danger

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhima-koregaon-case-family-of-jailed-poet-varavara-rao-claims-his-life-is-in-danger-6502139/

Hyderabad:Family members of Telugu poet and activist Pendyala Varavara Rao, who is currently in Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail in Bhima Koregaon violence case, claimed that his life is in danger and appealed Centre and Maharashtra govt to provide him with immediate medical care.Behind bars since 2018, Rao’s interim bail plea citing ill health and susceptibility to Covid-19 was rejected by a special court on June 27.“The state is trying to kill him. His brain is getting damaged. Our only demand at the moment is to get him medical care or leave him to the family. We will take care of him. The constitution of India gives everyone the right to life. Varavara Rao’s life is in danger. Please don’t kill him in jail,” said N Venugopal Rao, Rao’s nephew.

 

Office of profit cloud over WB Urban Development Minister  Firhad Hakim, EC seeks clarification from Chief Secy

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/office-of-profit-cloud-over-firhad-hakim-ec-seeks-clarification-from-chief-secy-6501493/

Election Commission(EC of India has written to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha asking him if State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim is holding two offices of profit.Earlier, there was no conflict of interest when Hakim was both a councillor and an MLA. However, after his tenure as Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor got over, he became Chairman of KMC’s Board of Administrators, a post which has triggered the question.On July 1, Vijay Kumar Pandey, one of the directors (Law) of the poll body, wrote the letter received by the state secretariat. He asked the government why Hakim should not be dismissed as MLA. Commenting on the letter, a senior IAS officer said, “question is baseless. We will answer at the right time.” Responding to the EC letter, Hakim said: “There is no question of giving up my membership of the Legislative Assembly. I am not taking any salary or any advantage from the post of Chairman of the Board of Administrators. I am not taking any allowance, car or enjoying any other perks. BJP and Governor jointly want to disturb us. The court has already asked me to continue my duty, and I will do that accordingly.”indian express

 

Kerala gold smuggling case: NIA nabs key accused Swapna Suresh, Sandeep Nair

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kerala-gold-smuggling-case-nia-nabs-key-accused-swapna-suresh-sandeep-nair-2831901

A day after NIA officially took over the high profile Kerala gold smuggling case, two main accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, who were absconding, have been nabbed by the agency from Bengaluru on Saturday.Swapna is named as the second accused and Sandeep has been named as the fourth accused in FIR taken by NIA and both have been slapped with UAPA along with first accused Sarith PS and third accused Fazil Fareed. Already, Sarith PS was arrested by the Customs, while Fazil Fareed is still at large. NIA officials yesterday conducted a detailed interrogation of Sarith after reaching customs office in Kochi where he is in custody.

 

Over 60 former bureaucrats urge Centre to withdraw draft Environment Impact Assessment policy

https://scroll.in/latest/967280/over-60-former-bureaucrats-urge-centre-to-withdraw-draft-environment-impact-assessment-policy

A group of 63 former bureaucrats on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and environment minister Prakash Javadekar, asking them to withdraw the proposed Environmental Impact Assessment Policy 2020 and replace it with a more public and habitat-friendly policy.“It is clear that what the amended policy [EIA] really intends to do is to considerably dilute the existing process of granting environment clearances and to prevent any public scrutiny of the project proponents’ actions,” the former officers said in their letter. “Many of the changes have, in fact, been proposed to circumvent the past decisions of the National Green Tribunal and the Courts.”

 

Hindu Groups Call For Ban On Assamese TV Serial For 'Promoting Love Jihad'

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-hindu-groups-call-for-ban-on-assamese-tv-serial-for-promoting-love-jihad/356523

An Assamese TV serial has landed in the eye of a storm after many Hindu individuals and organisations started calling for a ban on the show for allegedly promoting what is being termed as 'love jihad'.The serial, which follows the journey of a Hindu girl who has to fight against the society, is being aired on Rengoni TV, a regional channel.While some have taken to social media to express their angers over TV serial, Hindu groups have reportedly taken to streets to protest against it."Such serials who promote love jihad and other anti-national programs should be banned as soon as possible ...!" said one Twitter user.Few organisations have also called for boycotting the series claiming that it encourages ‘love jihad’. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has started an online signature campaign calling for the broadcast of TV serial to be stopped. Preety Kkongana, who plays the role of the protagonist, and the production house of the show say that 'Begum Jaan' has nothing to do with 'love jihad' and the actual story is completely different.The actors who worked in the series are being targeted online. Kkongana has also been threatened with rape and murder by few miscreants.“2 persons namely – Bikram Nath and Kishor Das – have been threatening me and harassing me mentally for a long time. Bikram Nath has even threatened me with rape, acid attack and murder. Kishor has used abusive words against me on social media and spoke of rape and murder. This is extremely disturbing for me and I’m worried for myself and my family. They have also called me a prostitute,” Kkongana told Outlook.Following the ordeal, actor filed an FIR on Friday.This allegation of promoting love jihad has been denied out rightly by the production house. AM TVs, under which the serial is made. It said that there is nothing about the girl and boy falling in love or marrying in the serial.

 

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

Ashraf Sehrai, Kashmiri Separatist Tipped To Replace Syed Ali Shah Geelani Arrested

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mohammad-ashraf-sehrai-kashmiri-separatist-tipped-to-replace-syed-ali-shah-geelani-arrested-2261366

Srinagar: Senior Kashmiri separatist leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai was arrested in Srinagar Sunday morning.Mr Sehrai, 76, was tipped to be the new leader of the Hurriyat Conference, the biggest separatist amalgam in Kashmir, after lifetime chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani resigned last month.Officials say Mr Sehrai has been booked under the stringent PSA and will likely be lodged in Jammu Jail. The police have said that some members of the Jama'at Islami were also arrested as part of a fresh crackdown on separatists in the Kashmir Valley.Syed Ali Shah Geelani's resignation letter alleged corruption in separatist ranks and accused Hurriyat constituents of "conspiracy and resorting to lies against him".In the days and weeks following the withdrawal of special privileges for Jammu and Kashmir, a large number of separatists and political leaders were jailed. However, most of the senior separatist leadership, including Mr Geelani, Mr Sehrai and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were not arrested.Almost the entire mainstream leadership, including three former chief ministers- Omar Abdullah and his father, Farooq Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti-were arrested and charged under PSA. Following Mr Geelani's resignation, there were attempts to revive the separatist camp and reclaim its space. Today's arrests are aimed at circumventing any such attempt.

 

Jammu court asks suspended J&K IPS officer not to write defamatory social media posts

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ips-officer-basant-rath-jammu-and-kashmir-court-6501331/

A Jammu court on Saturday restrained suspended IPS officer Basant Rath from publishing any post or material by any means of communication which is defamatory or derogatory against six people who claimed to be “acquainted” with DGP, Jammu and Kashmir, Dilbagh Singh. Second Additional Munsiff, Jammu, Jeewan Kumar Sharma’s order came on a suit seeking court’s directions to restrain Rath from making any defamatory, derogatory, libelous or slanderous posts/material on social media. They also sought directions asking Rath to withdraw defamatory posts already made against them on social media.The suit is filed by businessmen Parveen Kumar Mittal, Saurabh Dng, Rahul Bansal, Davinder Verma, Amit Kohli, and Virender Dubey, a medical practitioner.

 

 

Pakistan Ulema Council supports construction of Islamabad's first Hindu temple

https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/jul/11/pakistan-ulema-council-supports-construction-of-islamabads-first-hindu-temple-2168444.html

Islamabad: An umbrella group of Muslim organisations in Pakistan has extended its support to the construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad and denounced the controversy over the issue, according to a media report on Saturday.Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), whose members include Islamic clerics and legal scholars of different Islamic traditions, also said the Constitution of Pakistan categorically defines the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims living in the country, Dawn newspaper reported."We denounce controversy over construction of the temple. This [making it controversial] by extremist clerics is not correct. PUC will call a meeting and will also present its point of view to Council of Islamic Ideology (CII)," PUC chairman Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said on Friday. CII is a constitutional body responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues to Pakistan government. Pakistan's religious affairs ministry has written to the CII to seek its opinion on the government's funding for the construction of the temple in the capital city amid opposition from some Muslim groups.PTI

 

Juvenile accused denied bail in 2019 Tarn Taran blast case

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/juvenile-accused-denied-bail-in-2019-tarn-taran-blast-case-6501288/

Amritsar :Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Tarn Taran, has denied bail to an accused booked under UAPA and being prosecuted by NIA in a 2019 blast case.A blast had taken place at a vacant plot in the outskirts of village Pandori Cola, Tarn Taran on Sept.4, 2019, in which two persons who had died and a third was injured. The three were digging a pit at site when the blast had occurred.The juvenile accused was not named in initial FIR and was nominated in case after his name came up during investigation.Later, NIA took up investigation of case under UAPA.According to NIA submission, accused was involved with his association in explosion.“It was found by NIA that a Pro-Khalistan terrorist gang was formed with association of accused and applicant/juvenile was also member of that gang. All the accused persons came into contact with each other in the year 2015 during protest organised by them against sacrilege incident of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and formed a terrorist gang due to similar religious thoughts and started meeting at Amritsar and Tarn Taran,” NIA told the court.The defence, however, argued that the accused had no history any terror activities, and as such the only allegation against him is that he was involved in planning of terror acts.“This alleged involvement is yet to be proved at the time of trial…He is in custody for more that 10 months,” the defence argued.

 

No buffer zone on LAC, only suspended patrolling to avoid flareup on border

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-buffer-zone-on-lac-only-suspended-patrolling-to-avoid-flareup-on-border/story-agU8TnnMk0EjhdLzfz6GFM.html

Soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army and Indian Army have moved back at least 600 metres from the four friction points in east Ladakh where they were in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation, people familiar with the developments told Hindustan Times after an on-ground verification by the army. PLA soldiers, who had maintained an aggressive posture, have also taken a step back at other locations along 1,597 km Line of Actual Control in the western sector.Initial reports had indicated that the PLA troops had moved 1.5 km from the stand-off point.Military officials said this implied that there was no buffer zone.

 

India posting key diplomat to Taiwan amid China tension

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-posting-key-diplomat-to-taiwan-amid-china-tension-6501447/

In what is being read as a strong impetus to its ties with Taiwan amid the border tensions with China, India has chosen a senior diplomat handling Indo-US relations as its new envoy to Taipei.Sunday Express has learnt that Gourangalal Das, currently Joint Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs, will be the next envoy to Taiwan.A formal announcement on the appointment is expected soon. This comes at a time when there are calls within the strategic community for upgradation of New Delhi-Taipei ties. China and the US have also been sparring over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

 

‘Strategic surveillance & info warfare needed against China’: Gen Parnaik

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/strategic-surveillance-info-warfare-needed-against-china-gen-parnaik/

The key to dealing with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is to deal with them from a position of strength, said former Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General KT Parnaik (retd).Gen Parnaik, who commanded the Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command of the Indian Army from January 2011 till June 2013, led the formation during Depsang valley standoff with China in April-May 2013. Speaking to paper in the backdrop of the recent face-off with China, former Army Commander underlined the need for infrastructure development, non-kinetic and long-range weapon systems, and strategic surveillance, along with a well-planned ‘information warfare’ to achieve ‘dissuasive deterrence’ against China.

 

Ladakh clash: ‘What happened under Modi’s rule?’ Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre over border tensions

https://scroll.in/latest/967269/ladakh-clash-what-happened-under-modis-rule-rahul-gandhi-attacks-centre-over-border-tensions

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched another attack on the Centre over its approach to the border tensions with China, and asked what exactly transpired that Beijing “took away” India’s land when PM Narendra Modi is at the helm of affairs.Gandhi cited a report by The Wire, which quoted defence expert Ajai Shukla as saying that the govt is misleading the media on Chinese disengagement along the Line of Actual Control, and that the de-escalation process at Galwan Valley is disadvantageous to India. “What has happened that under Modi ji’s rule, China took away Mother India’s sacred land?” Gandhi asked in a tweet.

 

*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

India Coronavirus Updates

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-coronavirus-updates-12-july-delhi-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-6501792/

 India’s coronavirus tally rose by 28,367 on Sunday, taking the total number of cases to 8,49,553. And the death toll climbed to 22,674, with 551 deaths being reported in the last 24 hours, data from the Health Ministry showed. There are around 2,92,258 active cases in the country, while 5,34,620 have recovered from the infection.According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), nearly 1,15,87,153 samples have been tested so far with 2,50,151 samples tested on Saturday. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 2,46,000 followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,34,226 and Delhi at 1,10,921.

 

Amid Covid surge, Uttar Pradesh announces lockdown on weekends

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-coronavirus-lockdown-weekend-6502043/

 Uttar Padesh government has decided to observe a lockdown every weekends to contain the spread of the virus.With coronavirus cases continuing to rise in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has decided to enforce lockdown every weekends to prevent it from further spreading.“The lockdown on weekends will be implemented from the coming Saturday and Sunday especially in the crowded areas. The markets and offices will remain closed on these days. However, the banks will remain open,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi told PTI.“This is being done basically to stop the spread of infection through unwanted physical movement. Economic activities will, however, not suffer,” he added. The lockdown will remain effective in both urban and rural areas of the state. “It (lockdown) will be in place for the month of July at least,” Awasthi said.On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh recorded another peak in the daily new cases of novel coronavirus with 1,403 new infection while capital Lucknow recorded 202 new cases – the highest in the state. With this, the state’s caseload has gone up to 35,092. In the past 24 hours, 25 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 have died, taking the state’s Covid toll to 913.indianexpress

 

Pregnancies, unsafe abortions to rise due to pandemic: Population Foundation of India

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pregnancies-unsafe-abortions-to-rise-due-to-pandemic-6501492/

Covid-19 pandemic is likely to result in increased pregnancies, and a resultant increase in population as well as unsafe abortions, given the lack of access for women to the government’s reproductive health schemes during this period, according to a policy paper of Population Foundation of India (PFI) released on Saturday. UNICEF had declared a forecast earlier that the highest number of births during a nine-month pandemic period would take place in India.

 

18-Year-Old Diabetic Covid Patient Dies After 3 Hospitals Refused Admission: Parents

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/diabetic-covid-patient-18-dies-after-3-hospitals-refused-admission-parents-2261287?pfrom=home-topstories

Kolkata: Parents of an 18-year-old man, who was diabetic and tested positive for COVID-19 before his death in a government hospital in Kolkata, on Saturday alleged that he died because of negligence as he was refused a bed by three medical facilities.Even at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) where Subhrajit Chattopadhyay died on late Friday night, admitted him only after his mother threatened to commit suicide if he was not treated there, class 12 students father claimed. Director of Health Services Ajoy Chakraborty said that the matter would be definitely looked into."He was a juvenile diabetes patient and had complained of breathlessness on Friday morning. We took him to ESI Hospital at Kamarhati where they told they did not have any bed in ICU.

 

Jammu: Poor Facilities at Quarantine Centre Force People to Slip Away

https://thewire.in/rights/jammu-poor-facilities-at-quarantine-centre-force-people-to-slip-away

Jammu: 8 migrant workers who were quarantined at a centre in Samba district of J&K slipped away through the back gate along with 4 children on Saturday,  This is only the latest in a series of incidents where people housed at Radhasoami Satsang Beas Ashram, now repurposed into a quarantine centre, have fled. Many who have slipped away have accused the administration of gross negligence and mismanagement, which they say forced them to leave centre even before their samples were collected. Earlier, videos were posted on social media on July 9, showing people destroying property inside the quarantine centre and fighting among themselves. This was not the first incident of vandalism at the centre. One day previously, people had also destroyed some property, alleging that the centre lacked even basic facilities and accusing the administration of apathy.

 

Aishwarya Rai and Aaradhya Bachchan test positive for coronavirus

https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/aishwarya-rai-bachchan-tests-negative-for-covid-19-6501339/

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan on Sunday revealed that wife and actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya Bachchan have tested positive for coronavirus. He added Jaya Bachchan and other family members, meanwhile, have tested negative for COVID-19.Abhishek took to Twitter to share the news. He tweeted, “Aishwarya and Aaradhya have also tested COVID-19 positive. They will be self quarantining at home. BMC has been updated of their situation and are doing the needful.The rest of the family including my Mother have tested negative. Thank you all for your wishes and prayers 🙏🏽”The news comes a day after Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan confirmed that they have contracted COVID-19.

 

Anupam Kher’s mother, brother, sister-in-law and niece test positive for COVID-19

https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/anupam-kher-mother-brother-sister-in-law-and-niece-coronavirus-6501772/

Bollywood actor Anupam Kher on Sunday took to Twitter to share that his mother Dulari, brother Raju, sister-in-law Rima and niece Vrinda have tested positive for coronavirus.In a video, Anupam said that while he has tested negative for the disease, a few of his family members were not as fortunate. The actor’s mother, brother, sister-in-law and niece have contracted coronavirus. He added that all of them are stable and have been found ‘mildly COVID positive.’

 

‘Don’t know Delhi, had nothing to eat’ — AIIMS buries 7-month-old as family heads home to MP

https://theprint.in/in-pictures/dont-know-delhi-had-nothing-to-eat-aiims-buries-7-month-old-as-family-heads-home-to-mp/458988/

New Delhi: It was a lonely last journey for Azhar, a 7-month-old Covid-19 patient who was buried at the Jadid Qabristan Ahle Islam in Delhi’s ITO area Saturday by the staff of the cemetery.His parents, ThePrint learnt, had left Delhi for their home in Madhya Pradesh Friday, after stealing one last glance at their infant son. Out of money, they were struggling to eat and staying in Delhi was proving difficult too.Azhar, a patient of multiple cutaneous hemangiomas, a neurological birth defect, was admitted to a hospital in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on 22 June. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to AIIMS Delhi. On 9 July, Azhar’s father Akhtar, mother Sajida and aunt Rubina came to Delhi, and the child was admitted to the hospital the same evening. On the morning of 10 July, his family was told that Azhar, who had tested positive for coronavirus, had passed away.By evening, Akhtar, Sajida and Rubina were on their way home to Bhind. Asked why they left without burying their son, Akhtar told ThePrint over the phone that it was a decision driven by helplessness. He said he saw Azhar’s face one last time, and authorised the hospital to bury him.“We did not know anything in Delhi, we had not had anything to eat since we came here, it was a hassle to stay in the capital city… We also did not have any idea about burial in Delhi, so we decided to go back to Bhind,” he added.

 

*WORLD*

Erdogan rejects global criticism over Hagia Sophia decision

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/erdogan-rejects-global-criticism-hagia-sophia-decision-200711173640326.html

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has rejected international condemnation over the decision to change the status of Istanbul's landmark Hagia Sophia from a museum to a mosque, saying it represented his country's will to use its "sovereign rights".In the past, he has repeatedly called for the stunning building to be renamed as a mosque and in 2018, he recited a verse from the Quran at Hagia Sophia. "Those who do not take a step against Islamophobia in their own countries ... attack Turkey's will to use its sovereign rights," Erdogan said at a ceremony he attended via video-conference on Saturday.On Saturday, police had put up barriers around Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia resurrection paves way for 'Al-Aqsa liberation': Erdogan

 

Ankara: We do not pursue a ‘Brotherhood’ or ‘Neo-Ottoman’ policy

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200711-ankara-we-do-not-pursue-a-brotherhood-or-new-ottoman-policy/

Turkish presidency Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin denied the fact that his country is following a “[Muslim] Brotherhood” or “Neo- Ottoman” approach in its policies, denouncing the “black propaganda” launched by Gulf countries against Ankara. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Kalin denounced Arab circles accusing Ankara of building its policies on the basis of the Muslim Brotherhood and Neo-Ottomanism.Kalin stressed: “These are baseless allegations designed to distort the reality of Turkish foreign policy, and there are no concrete facts that prove these allegations.” Kalin added that what he calls the “black propaganda” that some Gulf countries are adopting against his country “does not have the support of the Arab street,” calling on the leaders of those countries to “realise that their actions against Turkey indeed widen the gap between them and their people.”

 

Egypt court upholds jail terms for Muslim Brotherhood members

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/egypt-court-upholds-jail-terms-for-muslim-brotherhood-members/1893062

Cairo:An Egyptian court turned downan appeal by Muslim Brotherhood member Mahmoud Makawi Afifi, upholding a 20-year prison sentence by a criminal court over his involvement in violence that took place in 2012, it was reported. The case involved violence against protesters who were holding a sit-in in front of the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo, during which journalist El-Husseini Abu-Deif was killed, reports the Al Ahram paper.On Saturday, the Court of Cassation also upheld the verdict against the late deposed President Mohamed Morsi and Brotherhood leaders including Mohamed El-Beltagy, Issam El-Erian, and six others in the same case.The Brotherhood leaders were sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison.The Court of Cassation''s ruling is final and cannot be appealed. Affi was convicted by a criminal court in April 2014. He was sentenced in absentia to 20 years imprisonment, and was later arrested and convicted again in a retrial. IANS

 

UN renews Syria aid via Turkey but one of two access points shut

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/renews-syria-aid-turkey-access-points-shut-200712054420871.html

 UNSC has approved aid deliveries to Syria from Turkey, but only after caving in to Russian pressure to close one of the 2 access points into the war-torn country.Following a week of division and seven ballots, UNSC on Saturday passed a proposal submitted by Germany and Belgium allowing the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing point for one year. Western nations say the closure of the second access point will cut a lifeline for 1.3 million Syrians in the country's northwest. Authorisation for the continued transport of aid to Syria, a system in place since 2014, expired on Friday night. 15-member UNSC had been deadlocked, with most members pitted against Syrian allies Russia and China over the issue.

 

500,000 Hong Kongers cast ‘protest’ vote against new security laws

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/500000-hong-kongers-security-law-protest-vote-6502366/

Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens queued to cast ballots over the weekend in what the Chinese-ruled city’s opposition camp says is a symbolic protest vote against tough national security laws directly imposed by Beijing.The unofficial poll will decide the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest Legislative Council elections in September, when they aim to ride a wave of anti-China sentiment stirred by the law to seize control for the first time from pro-Beijing rivals.While the primaries are only for the opposition camp, observers are watching closely as they say the turnout will serve as a test of broader opposition to the law, which critics say will gravely undermine the city’s freedoms.Reuters

 

 

Sudan Allows Alcohol Consumption After 30 Years of Islamic Law

https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/sudan-allows-alcohol-consumption-after-30-yrs-of-islamic-law

Sudan abolished a law against apostasy that carried the death penalty and loosened prohibitions on drinking alcohol, removing some of the most notorious restrictions of ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir’s Islamist rule.Authorities have also officially outlawed female genital mutilation, a step previously announced, Justice Minister Nasur Aldin Abdul Bari said Saturday in an interview on state TV. It was the first widely publicized explanation of the amendments made last week. “We are keen to demolish any kind of discrimination that was enacted by the old regime and to move toward equality of citizenship and a democratic transformation,” Abdul Bari said. Punishment by whipping, commonly enacted by morality police for alleged infractions during Bashir’s reign, was also abolished. BloombergQuint

 

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

Why the Hagia Sophia Masjid Isn’t the ‘Secularism’s Doom’ It’s Being Made Out to Be:Indrajit Hazra

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/Undertheinfluence/why-the-hagia-sophia-masjid-isnt-the-secularisms-doom-its-being-made-out-to-be/

Watch | Arrest of AMU Student Turns Spotlight Back on Police Violence in Campus

https://thewire.in/rights/watch-sharjeel-usmani-jnu-student-police-violence

Adityanath Leaves Amit Shah Far Behind as Modi’s Heir Apparent After Kanpur 'Encounter':Harish Khare

https://thewire.in/government/new-india-kanpur-vikas-dubey-national-narrative

What Public Reactions to Police Brutality in the US and India Say: Maja Daruwala

https://thewire.in/rights/police-brutality-george-floyd-jayaraj-bennix-public-reaction

Vikas Dubey Encounter: Constitutional Democracy Is Now A Theatre, Public Fantasy Guiding Principle:Mohammad Sajjad

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-vikas-dubey-encounter-constitutional-democracy-is-now-theatre-public-fantasy-the-guiding-principle/356405

NPR Can Address Limitations Of Demographic Data In India, Revolutionise Discourse On Inequality:Nandita Saikia,  Bandita Boro, outlook india

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-world-population-day-npr-can-address-limitations-of-demographic-data-in-india/356463

Debacle of summit diplomacy:P Chidambaram

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-china-border-talks-modi-xinping-p-chidambaram-6501178/

Congress Must Accept It Needs Sachin More Than Gehlot:Ashutosh

https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/congress-must-accept-it-needs-sachin-pilot-more-than-ashok-gehlot-2261480

 

*Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:45 PM)*