*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Supreme Court judgements have contributed to ‘Hindu-isation’ of India: Advocate Rajeev Dhavan

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/ram-mandir-supreme-court-babri-masjid-rajeev-dhavan_in_5f228940c5b656e9b097a249?ncid=other_facebook_eucluwzme5k&utm_campaign=share_facebook&fbclid=IwAR3j7IUddcsVkrRSVTpR_1BdmU0m8CsTOK6m1zHIn0dp_qcQ4_ojuniirX4

New Delhi:Supreme Court advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who fought for Sunni Waqf Board and other Muslim parties in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit, said that judgments going back to sixties have given a nod to the idea that India was innately Hindu and that is now fructifying into an affirmation of “muscular nationalism.” In an interview, Dhavan said, "The first judgment on this, in my view, was a judgement in 1966 called Yagnapur Das Ji, where Justice (Pralhad Balacharya) Gajendragadkar indicated that everybody is a Hindu. But there are many denominations and sects that say that we are not Hindus. For temple entry, they may be all Hindus, which were the facts of the case, but he said we must take an expansive view of Hindu to cover everybody. It covered everybody (Jains, Buddhists) except Christians and Muslims. This to my mind was the first judgment of expansive Hindu-isation. The second judgment came in 1995-1996 - argued by Ram Jethmalani — when the SC said that ‘Hindutva’ is a way of life. A 3 judge bench decided that you can appeal to your own religion, but not slander their religion. This in practical terms means a Hindu can go on and on about the greatness of Hinduism as long as he does not tell Christians and Muslims that their religion is bad." The advocate said, "Muslims proved their possession from 1858 because there were land grants by the British. Against the entire evidence it was decided that Hindus were in possession throughout from 1858 even though a judgment of 1886 clearly says Muslims have title and Hindus have a prescriptive right to pray. Hindu side did not have to prove possession at all. 1886 judgment clearly said that they were not owners. The (Ayodhya) judgment is the oddest in the history of the SC." He added, "The court has always expanded its Hinduism to the extent that it has always wanted to. The first judgment is for a mahayana Hinduism. The second one appeals to religion in elections. When you look at the Gujarat riot cases, the SC showed sympathy, but didn’t exactly support the Muslims except on narrow points of law. When judgments co-opt a movement, you find the judiciary responding to, running away from or running on to muscular nationalism.That is how a transformation in the country has taken place. Mild at first and then it becomes stronger because of the rath yatra and Babri Masjid and stronger and stronger and stronger until we reach CAA. So Hindu fundamentalism was always there but its muscularity has suddenly made it offensive. Ex-CJI (Ramesh Chandra) Lahoti (2004-2005), just before he retired, was very concerned about cows not being killed. So he wanted to reverse the 5 judge bench of 1958. The retiring CJI suddenly put cows on the anvil and decided the cow was indeed sacred and we should not kill it. (In 1958, a 5-judge bench in Mohd. Hanif Quareshi & Others vs The State Of Bihar, ruled against a complete ban on cow slaughter, confining it to “useless” cows. In 2005, a 7-judge bench in State Of Gujarat vs Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab ruled in favour of a complete ban, famously stating that the “the value of dung is much more than even the famous Kohinoor diamond”). What was going on in the country was not just Ayodhya. What was going on was that the cow movement, the conversion movement, muscular nationalism was playing out against the minorities at various levels. "huffingtonpost

 

‘Wait of centuries has ended’: PM Modi at Ram temple event in Ayodhya

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/narendra-modi-ayodhya-ram-mandir-top-quotes-6540573/

After performing ‘bhoomi pujan’ of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra  Modi Wednesday said the wait of centuries has ended and that India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya. Beginning his speech with ‘Jai Siya Ram’, the Prime Minister told the gathering that a grand temple will be built for ‘Ram Lalla’, the infant Ram, who had been living in a temporary tent for years. He said that the construction of Ram temple is an instrument to unite the country.“India is creating a golden chapter on the banks of Saryu…The whole country is thrilled and emotional. The wait of centuries is ending today. Millions of people today cannot believe that they are able to see this auspicious day of their lives.”“A grand temple will be constructed for our ‘Ram Lalla’ who had been living in a tent for years. Breaking up and then standing up…Today, Ramjanmabhoomi has been freed from this interference that had been going on for centuries.”“Many people made sacrifices for Ram temple, I pay respect to all of them.”“Shri Ram’s temple will become a modern symbol of our culture, a symbol of our eternal faith, a symbol of our national spirit, and this temple will also become a symbol of the collective resolve power of crores of people. This temple will continue to inspire generations of faith, reverence and resolve.”

Ram Mandir an instrument to unite India, 5 Aug.as important as 15 Aug: PM Modi

 

Babri Masjid will remain a mosque, SC verdict allowing construction of Ram Temple was unjust, says AIMPLB

https://www.firstpost.com/india/babri-masjid-will-remain-a-mosque-sc-verdict-allowing-construction-of-ram-temple-was-unjust-says-aimplb-8672731.html

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) asserted that the Babri Masjid will remain a mosque and that the Supreme Court's verdict allowing the construction of a Ram Temple was "unjust and unfair". In a press statement, the organisation's general secretary Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani said, "It has always been our position that the Babri Masjid was never built by demolishing any mandir or any Hindu place of worship."The statement further read, "The apex court also accepted that the placing of idols on 22 Dec., 1949, in the masjid was an illegal act. The Supreme Court also accepts in its judgment that the demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 Dec., 1992, was an illegal, unconstitutional and criminal act. It is indeed regrettable that after accepting all these facts, the apex court in an extremely unjust verdict handed over the land of the masjid to the people who had placed idols in the mosque in a criminal manner and were party to its criminal demolition."AIMPLB noted that according to the Islamic Shariah, "at whichever place a masjid is established, it remains a masjid there forever till eternity. Hence the Babri masjid was a masjid before, is a masjid today and shall Inshallah remain a masjid".

"Babri Masjid Was A Mosque, Is A Mosque, Will Always Remain A Mosque Even After Its Usurpation", Says All India Muslim Personal Law Board

 

Akal Takht jathedar shrugs off invitation to Ayodhya bhoomi pujan

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/akal-takht-jathedar-shrugs-off-invitation-to-ayodhya-bhoomi-pujan/story-cSwtHoZjchXliBnFankZsL.html?fbclid=IwAR0ZoKjmy-Ev6etjP9Z3CHZEaHErhej98ztcH7NQHhkpO-NH4dAn3DRccYw

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Tuesday shrugged off the invite to bhoomi pujan of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The invitation, sent by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, was delivered by Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, the Sikh wing of pro-Hindutva organisation, RSS on Monday afternoon. When asked if he would be attending the event on Aug.5, jathedar said, “I have not read this invitation.” When told that the contents of the invitation had been published in the papers, he said, “I have not read the papers.” Many are seeing his response as an indication that he won’t go to the event. Rashtriya Sikh Sangat general secretary Sandeep Singh, who delivered the invite, said, “Though we gave the invite on Monday, our national president had sent it to him on Whatsapp 2 or 3 days ago. We can only request his presence. It’s up to him to attend or not,” he added.Notably, the trust planned to ensure the presence of jathedars of all 5 Sikh Takhts at the event. However, there is no possibility of attendance of the jathedars as a considerable section of Sikh community is against it.

 

BJP Leaders Are Praising Violent Kar Sevaks Who Tore Down Babri Masjid

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/bjjp-leaders-are-praising-violent-kar-sevaks_in_5f2a68bec5b656e9b0a200c9

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech on Wednesday after laying the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, said that he bows down to those who worked to make the dream of the temple come true. Even before his speech, BJP leaders on Twitter had already begin doing so, and in a worrying manner—by openly praising the kar sevaks who tore down the Babri Masjid, along with a video from Dec.5, 1992, a dark day for Indian democracy. While last year, the Supreme Court did allow the building of a Ram temple where the mosque once stood, in 2017, it had also referred to the demolition of the mosque as a crime that “shook the secular fabric of the Constitution”.Not just trolls, office holders of BJP were also celebrating the demolition, which also led to riots that killed thousands.

 

Bhoomi Pujan: Over 300 Concerned Citizens Make 'Last Appeal' to PM Modi to Not Attend

https://thewire.in/communalism/ayodhya-bhoomi-pujan-modi-ram-temple-nfiw-last-appeal

New Delhi: Hundreds of concerned citizens, on Tuesday, made a ‘last appeal’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the eve of his visit to Ayodhya to attend the publicised bhoomi pujan of Ram temple, to not act upon this ‘political decision to cater to his constituency of fundamentalists.’Over 200 members of National Federation of Indian Women, and a hundred other representatives of women’s movements, political leaders,academics, journalists and concerned citizens of the country have signed appeal which requests PM “to desist from participating in a public function that will have long term negative ramifications for the democratic, secular fabric of the country.”The statement of the appeal, signed by NFIW president Aruna Roy and NFIW general secretary Annie Raja, notes that prime minister’s decision to participate in this function comes amidst the economic collapse and the coronavirus pandemic that quickened it.

 

Ram Temple: How ‘Legal’ And ‘Proper’ Is PM Modi’s Presence In Ayodhya Today? Prof Faizan Mustafa Explains

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/inauguration-modi-ram-temple-ayodhya_in_5f2997f5c5b68fbfc8888150

Dr Faizan Mustafa, Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad talks about legality and propriety of Prime Minister Modi inaugurating Ram Temple, given that he is the head of govt in a country that calls itself secular, and what secularism means in a country where the state often manages places of worship, religious institutions, and pays the salaries of those who run them.  In an interview, Mustafa said, "Ideally, a Prime Minister of a secular state should not attend publicly any religious event of any religion. Ideally, it should be done only in a private capacity. But legally there is no prohibition on him attending as PM. But I think if the President of India goes there, it would send a very big signal because the President of India represents everyone. "

 

#BabriZindaHai Storms Twitter As Modi Lays Stone for Ram Temple in Ayodhya

https://clarionindia.net/babrizindahai-storms-twitter-as-modi-lays-stone-for-ram-temple-in-ayodhya/

NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Temple at Ayodhya on the debris of the Babri Masjid on Wednesday (August 5), netizens with secular and democratic minds condemned the act by storming the Twitter with hashtags #BabriZindaHai and #BabriMasjid which trended throughout the day internationally. In a tweet, Labeed Shafi, president of the Students Islamic Organisation of India, questioned the priority of the government of India. He said, “In the middle of a global pandemic which is spreading faster in our country day by, with the economy collapsing all around us and numerous political prisoners locked up in our jails, do we really need to ask why so much time, effort and resources are being spent on organising this one ‘grand’ event to shore up the government’s support among its core ‘bhakt’ base?” Rana Ayyub, celebrated journalist and activist, called the stone-laying ceremony a ‘dystopian’ development. She recalled the demolition of the Babri Mosque, and tweeted, “Aug. 5 will become another infamous date for Muslims in India—a day of increased repression in Kashmir, with the added insult of a grand function in the city of Ayodhya, where Babri mosque’s destruction led to a nationwide attack on Muslims in 1992”.Netizens also blasted the reaction of Indian National Congress towards the Ayodhya event

 

Indian Americans to Protest New York Celebration of Babri Mosque Demolition

https://clarionindia.net/indian-americans-to-protest-new-york-celebration-of-babri-mosque-demolition/

NEW YORK; Coalition to Stop Genocide in India, a broad coalition of Indian Americans and US-based civil rights organisations and activists will hold a massive protest at Times Square on Wednesday evening in response to a celebration of the construction of a Ram Temple in India.The celebration, reportedly organised by an entity that calls itself the American India Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), seeks to glorify the demolition of the historic Babri Mosque in India, on whose ruins the temple is going to be built.The Coalition to Stop Genocide in India includes dozens of organisations, including Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Coalition Against Fascism in India, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), Boston Coalition, Organization for Minorities in India (OFMI), South Asia Solidarity Initiative, Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA), Ambedkar King Study Circle (AKSC), Council for Minority Rights in India (CMRI) and North American Indian Muslim Association (NAIMA).“We strongly reject such a vulgar celebration of hate, bigotry and chauvinism, and call upon all people of conscience to stand in solidarity with India’s religious minorities,” IAMC President Ahsan Khan said.

 

Bhoomi poojan in Ayodhya will establish self-confidence for making India self-reliant: Mohan Bhagwat

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhoomi-poojan-in-ayodhya-will-establish-self-confidence-for-making-india-self-reliant-mohan-bhagwat/story-i39nyzjVadqLOuLYfscqkL.html

The ground breaking ceremony of a Ram temple in Ayodhya has spread joy across the country and will establish the self confidence needed for making India self-reliant, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said. Recalling the three-decade-old struggle of RSS and its ideological family members for the construction of the temple, he hailed the contribution of veteran BJP leader LK Advani, late VHP president Ashok Singhal and Mahant Ramchandra Das Paramhans.

 

500-years-long wait is over, wishes of India’s 135 crore people fulfilled: Yogi on Ram Mandir bhoomi poojan

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/500-years-long-wait-is-over-wishes-of-india-s-135-crore-people-fulfilled-yogi-on-ram-mandir-bhoomi-poojan/story-Au7UebFujK9LqEMkaHTMVN.html

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Ram temple has marked the end of a 500-year-long wait and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for paving way for construction of the temple through a democratic and constitutional process.“A 500-year-long wait for this historical day culminated today because of Prime Minister Modi. The wishes of India’s 135 crore people and the well-wishers of Sanatan Dharma followers have been fulfilled,” said Adityanath who began his address with couplets from the Ramcharitmanas of sage Tulsidas.

 

Ram Rajya is in the Constitution, Ambedkar one of the best Ram Bhakts: Subramanian Swamy

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/aug/04/ram-rajya-is-in-the-constitution-ambedkar-one-of-the-best-ram-bhakts-subramanian-swamy-2179067.html?fbclid=IwAR00TVEzEbxRINOIiL9O3wsE_sXM2fcu8hLhqZIHbUgEhb7bIHVns411PIQ

CHENNAI: As the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir is laid, the question of what a Ram Rajya will imply for the country has constantly been raised. According to BJP MP and Economist Dr Subramanian Swamy, it implies the "implementation of the Indian Constitution, in a nutshell."  Swamy said, "This is true because all the concepts of Ram and what he propagated is there in Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights and in advocacy of language in the Constitution."Upon being asked if the people who wrote the Constitution of India were 'Ram Bhakts', Swamy insisted vehemently, "Absolutely, Ambedkar was one of the finest. Nehru made him bitter and towards the end of his life, he became very harsh. But if you see his seminar papers at Columbia University in 1915 and subsequently his books, he is perhaps the most articulate spokesman for Hindutva I can think of. I have read every one of those books and that's why I revere him."When asked if he had been invited to the laying of the foundation stone at Ayodhya, he was quick to say, "No."

 

Temple bhoomi pujan will pave way for ‘Ram rajya’: Sumitra Mahajan

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/temple-bhoomi-pujan-will-pave-way-for-ram-rajya-sumitra-mahajan/story-kkNiDMQp9cCF2tCqchP6VM.html

The foundation laying of Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday will pave the way for the concept of Ram Rajya to take shape in the country, former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said.Mahajan, who watched the live telecast of the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony in Ayodhya with other party leaders here, told this to reporters.“After years of penance by many people, the construction of Ram temple finally began in Ayodhya. People across the world are feeling happy and satisfied over it,” she said.

 

PM Modi laid foundation of Hindu Rashtra by attending Ram Temple bhoomi pujan, says Owaisi

https://theprint.in/india/pm-modi-laid-foundation-of-hindu-rashtra-by-attending-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-says-owaisi/475663/

Hyderabad: Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by taking part in the ‘Bhoomi pujan’ at Ayodhya, had failed to uphold the structure of the Constitution, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said his attendance at the event was a “victory of Hindutva over secularism”.“Prime Minister of India going over there and attending this Bhoomi Poojan… today is a victory of Hindutva over secularism.

 

Had SC not permitted, Babri Masjid would still be there: Asaduddin Owaisi on Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/had-sc-not-permitted-babri-masjid-would-still-be-there-asaduddin-owaisi-on-ram-mandir-bhoomi-pujan-1707841-2020-08-05

Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad interacted with India Today in an exclusive interview to share his views on the Ram temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' in Ayodhya scheduled for Wednesday."Ram Janmabhoomi movement was started by the RSS by giving responsibility to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and later, the BJP took it up by passing a resolution in Palampur in 1991. BJP under Mr Advani's leadership started the Rath Yatra, wherever it went, it created havoc, created a communal riot," Owaisi said.He went on to add, "BJP in power went to Supreme Court when Kalyan Singh was chief minister and gave an assurance that Babri Masjid would not be touched. Had the SC not given permission, (Babri) Masjid would still be there."Asaduddin Owaisi further added, "I want to know from BJP, what is your religion as PM? Your constitutional oath asks that you not favour any religion. If the PM goes it will assert that his religion is greater than others."

 

Cong placates Kerala ally Muslim League over Priyanka Gandhi’s Ram temple endorsement

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cong-placates-kerala-ally-muslim-league-over-priyanka-gandhi-s-ram-temple-endorsement/story-KXZ8XlPXp4mLGGIkMj4MMI.html

Congress party heaved a sigh of relief after Muslim League, one of its oldest allies, diluted its tough position on general secretary Priyanka Gandhi’s statement lauding Ram temple construction and limited its criticism to terming it “inappropriate and untimely” in a party resolution passed on Wednesday.The resolution passed in an emergency meeting of the League’s executive committee in Malappuram also asked Congress leaders not to dilute their secular credentials. In her tweet Priyanka had said “boomipoojan” will be “an occasion for national unity, fraternity and cultural congregation.”“The Congress is a secular party. We are upset with statements of some of its leaders including that of Priyanka Gandhi, which we feel are inappropriate and untimely,” said the resolution. The League has also asked its leaders not to air their opinions freely on this issue.

 

‘Lord Ram can’t appear in injustice, hatred’: Rahul tweets as Ayodhya witnesses historic event

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lord-ram-cannot-appear-in-injustice-hatred-rahul-gandhi-tweets-as-ayodhya-witnesses-historic-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan/story-QeR7oYTis6ybkL0VPJkUQI.html

Lord Ram is justice, he is compassion and the manifestation of love; he can never appear in hatred, cruelty and injustice, tweeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as India witnessed the historic moment of the foundation laying of Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday.Taking to Twitter, the former Congress chief posted, “Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram” is the manifestation of the best human qualities that form the core of humanity.

 

Delhi CM Kejriwal congratulates country on occasion of Ram temple bhoomi pujan

https://theprint.in/india/delhi-cm-arvind-kejriwal-congratulates-country-on-occasion-of-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan/475363/?fbclid=IwAR0J6FMbr8SaYdb1plw5e8u1BD0F6sKzQZ9FFJNRiBOw5o_tyAIayTWKb30

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday congratulated the entire country on the occasion of the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “Congratulations to the entire country on the occasion of bhoomi pujan. May we continue to receive Lord Ram’s blessings. “With his blessings, our country will get rid of hunger, illiteracy and poverty, and India becomes the most powerful nation in the world. May India show the path to the world in times to come. Jai Shri Ram! Jai Bajrang Bali,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.PTI

 

'Be proud of your party's contributions in demolition of our Babri Masjid': Owaisi hits out at Priyanka Gandhi

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/be-proud-of-your-partys-contributions-in-demolition-of-our-babri-masjid-owaisi-hits-out-at-priyanka-gandhi

Hours after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi put forth a statement welcoming the Ayodhya Ram temple foundation event, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi took to Twitter to voice criticism.Owaisi responded to the comments stating that he was "glad that they are not pretending anymore"."It's okay if they want to embrace this extremist ideology of Hindutva but why all this hollow talk about brotherhood? Don't be shy, please be proud of your party's contributions to the movement that demolished our Babri Masjid," he retorted.

 

Shiv Sena ad on Babri Masjid demolition ahead of Ram temple ceremony triggers controversy

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/shiv-sena-s-ad-on-babri-masjid-demolition-ahead-of-ram-temple-ceremony-triggers-controversy-1707888-2020-08-05

Ahead of Ram Mandir’s bhoomi pujan ceremony by PM Modi in Ayodhya today, an advertisement in Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ has triggered a controversy.The controversial advertisement on Babri Masjid demolition in Saamana Wednesday’s edition shows a picture of Babri Masjid demolition with a photo of Balasaheb Thackeray. Along with Balasaheb Thackeray’s photo, a statement reads, “I am proud of the men who did this”.The advertisement, given by Shiv Sena secretary Milind Narvekar, also has photos of Maharashtra CM and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and minister Aaditya Thackeray. BHOOMI PUJAN LIVE UPDATES HEREInterestingly, the Shiv Sena is miffed over no invitation to the grand and historic event in Ayodhya. In articles in Saamana on Wednesday, the Shiv Sena has said that it played a pivotal role in Babri Masjid demolition, but still has not been invited for Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan ceremony.

 

To ‘liberate’ Kashi and Mathura, mosques should give way to mandirs, says Karnataka minister

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/to-liberate-kashi-and-mathura-mosques-should-give-way-to-mandirs-says-karnataka-minister/story-a9QCdlTwEhRC7QGzmIslkI.html

K S Eshwarappa, a senior minister in Karnataka declared shortly after the ground breaking ceremony for the Ram temple in Ayodhya that the focus would be next on “liberating” Kashi and Mathura.Eshwarappa who is the panchayat raj and rural development minister in chief minister B S Yediyurappa’s cabinet was speaking at an event in Shivamogga district where puja and havans were organized to mark the bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya.“A mark of slavery has been erased. Two more remain at Kashi and Mathura, which need to be (erased) and where the mosques should give way to mandirs.”The minister who is also a former president of the Karnataka unit of the BJP said that all efforts should be carried out to ensure that other marks of slavery (ghulamgiri) are erased to build a strong India.

 

Ayodhya bhoomi pujan: Pune Rural Police issues prohibitory orders against messages that can ‘lead to communal disharmony’

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/ayodhya-bhoomi-pujan-pune-rural-police-issues-prohibitory-orders-against-messages-that-can-lead-to-communal-disharmony/

In the backdrop of the bhoomi pujan ceremony for the Ram temple, scheduled to be held in Ayodhya on Wednesday, the Pune Rural Police has issued prohibitory orders against sending or posting messages which can potentially lead to communal disharmony or a law and order situation.SP for Pune Rural jurisdiction, Sandeep Patil, said that orders under the provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act have been issued by sub-divisional police officers for their respective jurisdictions in the district.

 

Pakistan condemns construction of Ram temple in India

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/pakistan-condemns-construction-of-ram-temple-in-india/1932583

Pakistan on Wednesday reiterated its condemnation of construction of a Hindu temple on the site of 16th-century Babri Mosque in neighboring India. "The flawed judgment of the Indian Supreme Court paving the way for construction of the temple not only reflected the preponderance of faith over justice but also the growing majoritarianism in today’s India, where minorities, particularly Muslims and their places of worship, are increasingly under attack," said a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry."Since then, OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation] has passed numerous resolutions condemning the heinous act of demolishing the centuries-old mosque," the statement said, adding: "Future generations of Muslims would continue to be cognizant of the new illegitimate structure which the Hindutva-driven BJP has campaigned for, and is bent upon constructing as part of its agenda of converting India into a ‘Hindu Rashtra.’ Today’s event in Ayodhya reflected an unrelenting drive in this direction."Anadolu Agency

 

 

K Chakravarthi, police chief during 2002 Gujarat riots, dies at Mumbai Hospital

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/k-chakravarthi-dies-gujarat-riots-6540337/

Ahmedabad :Former Gujarat DGP K Chakravarthi, who was the state police chief during the Gujarat riots of 2002, died at a hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday night. According to Gujarat Police officials, a two minute silence was observed in the memory of Chakravarthi at 12 pm Wednesday at Police Bhawan in Gandhinagar. K Chakravarthi served as DGP of Gujarat Police from April 1, 2001 to January 31 2004, and it was under his tenure that the state witnessed the worst communal riots in the history of modern India.

 

Delhi High Court upholds Army ban on personnel accessing Facebook and Instagram

https://theprint.in/judiciary/delhi-high-court-upholds-army-ban-on-personnel-accessing-facebook-and-instagram/475705/

Delhi High Court Wednesday refused to direct the Army to withdraw its 6 June policy that banned its personnel from accessing social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.The court observed that warfare and international rivalries today are not confined to accession or territory, but also affect the economic and political stability of a country.A bench led by Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw dismissed a petition filed by serving Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel P.K. Choudhary, who had sought the withdrawal of the policy on the grounds that it was “arbitrary executive action”.

 

Sharjeel was in touch with Tablighi Jamaat to mobilise anti-CAA protest: Police

 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sharjeel-was-in-touch-with-jamaat-to-mobilise-anti-caa-protest-police/story-SvDCWFgQZsmqTTRVXg8mQJ.html

JNU student, Sharjeel Imam was in touch with members of the Tablighi Jamaat and residents of Okhla to mobilise crowd for anti-CAA protests outside Jamia Millia Islamia campus last year,Delhi police told a city court last Saturday.Referring to the violence and road blockade of December 15 in the charge sheet against Imam, police have attached a WhatsApp message that they had allegedly retrieved from Imam’s cell phone. The message has been taken on record and verified by Central Forensic Science Laboratory, according to the submission by the police.In the charge sheet, the police have quoted the message which Imam purportedly posted on the WhatsApp group,Muslims of JNU, that was created by Imam on December 5, according to the police.The message sent at 9.57:15 am on December 15 reads....”Yesterday dozens of people from our group were present at Jamia...The following decisions were taken. 1) We will talk to various organisations of Jamia tomorrow and try to work for a joint plan of chakka jam.....Some important roads like Mathura road need to be blocked..2) The zuhar namaaz will be offered in Jamaat ki Markaz Masjid and there will be talk to Jamaat seniors about our plan. 3) We shall from groups of 10 or more than start touring Okhla using mike.....”When contacted, Imam’s lawyer, Ahmad Ibrahim said, “We do not have anything to say now. We would see everything at the stage of trial.” Tablighi Jamaat has rejected the police claims and denied any association with the riots.

 

Dr Kafeel Khan’s Wife Launches Campaign to Get Him Freed

https://clarionindia.net/dr-kafeel-khans-wife-launches-campaign-to-get-him-freed/

GORAKHPUR: Jailed paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan’s wife Dr Shabista Khan has launched a campaign on the social media seeking support for her husband’s release.The campaign was launched on the eve of the hearing of the Habeas Corpus plea in Allahabad high court.The campaign, #DrKafeelKhanKoAzaadKaro, was trending on Twitter on Tuesday evening.Shabista Khan, in a video message, urged people to come with her to run a campaign for release of her husband. According to Kafeel’s brother Adeel Ahmad Khan, the Habeas Corpus plea has been filed by their mother Nuzhat Parveen.IANS

 

‘No Evidence’ to Link Former Councillor Tahir Hussain to Delhi Riots, Says Counsel

https://thewire.in/government/tahir-hussain-confession-delhi-riots-police-javed-ali

New Delhi: Former municipal councillor Tahir Hussain was himself a victim of the northeast Delhi riots and his ‘confession’ which Delhi police has obtained and filed as an attachment with the chargesheet is not admissible in court, said his advocate Javed Ali.Ali spoke to The Wire on the alleged confession document which went viral on some social media sites earlier this week.With regards to the ‘confession’, which was recorded by the police soon after Hussain’s arrest in early March and now constitutes a part of interrogation reports submitted in court, Ali said “such confessions are written and typed by the police before they take the person’s signature on them”. As such, he said, these have no legal validity. Pointing out that only a confessional statement made before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC is admissible in the eyes of law, he insisted that “Tahir Hussain has never given any such statement”. He also insisted that the police have no evidence to support its claims.

 

Contempt case against Prashant Bhushan for posting tweets: SC reserves verdict

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/contempt-case-against-prashant-bhushan-for-posting-tweets-sc-reserves-verdict

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order in the suo motu contempt case initiated against advocate Prashant Bhushan for allegedly bringing disrepute to the institution through two of his tweets, legal news website BarandBench.com has reported.The Bench of Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai, and Krishna Murari heard the matter at length before reserving its order.Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, arguing for Bhushan, reiterated the stand taken in the written reply filed before the Supreme Court. He added that neither of the tweets in question hamper the administration of justice.Dave read out a critique of the ‘ADM Jabalpur’ verdict where the judges were personally criticized in an Indian Express piece. "Even in that case, though extremely uncharitable remarks about judges were made, no contempt proceedings were made out".

Prashant Bhushan refuses to apologise: Regret if misunderstood

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/prashant-bhushan-refuses-to-apologise-regret-if-misunderstood-6539611/?fbclid=IwAR18WviU4HA49r5i4PkOaNz8K7-RBtjaq_mmapqKCxNgofJFMbjSOMxsB8E

 

 

 

Jamaat: HC seeks response from Centre on foreigners' pleas to quash FIRs

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/jamaat-hc-seeks-response-from-centre-on-foreigners-pleas-to-quash-firs-120080400848_1.html

Delhi High Court sought response of Centre and the police on two separate pleas by 23 foreigners seeking quashing of FIRs against them for attending the Tablighi Jamaat event here and allegedly indulging in missionary activities in violation of visa norms and breaching anti-COVID-19 guidelines.Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, conducting the hearing through video conferencing, asked the Centre and Delhi Police to file their status reports on the issue before the next date of hearing, August 10, when similar petitions are also listed.The high court also asked the police to submit a tabulated summary of all the FIRs and charge sheets, filed or to be filed before the trial court, along with their present status.

         

“His head was blooming like a lotus,” recalls mother of slain 9-year-old Dalit boy killed in Ramabai Nagar violence

http://twocircles.net/2020aug04/438420.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29

Mumbai: “His head was blooming just like a lotus”, recalls Mangesh Shivsharan’s mother, who collected parts of his nine-year-old son’s brain, after he was hit by a bullet fired by police in Mumbai. As many as 10 Dalits were killed and 26 injured by SRPF led by PSI Manohar Kadam on 11 July 1997 in Ghatkopar’s Ramabai Nagar of Mumbai. The residents had witnessed Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue garlanded with sandals at dawn on Friday, causing anger among them and this resulted into protests.The crowd reportedly enforced rasta roko, blocking the Eastern Express Highway and lodged a complaint to the Beat No.5 of Pantnagar Police Station which is situated within Ramabai Nagar. In no time, a total of 4 vans of SRPF arrived near the statue and began firing into the crowd. “The distance between the statue and the police force was fifty steps when they opened fire in the alleys of the colony”, said Jaywant Hire, a senior journalist and a social activist from Ramabai Nagar.TwoCircles

 

UPSC Registers 40% Increase in Number of Successful Muslim Candidates This Year

https://www.news18.com/news/india/upsc-registers-40-increase-in-number-of-successful-muslim-candidates-this-year-2758205.html

UPSC has registered a 40 per cent increase in the number of Muslims who have cleared the exams this year. A total of 40 Muslim candidates have cleared UPSC examination this year, sources in the ministry of minority affairs said, compared to 28 candidates last year. In terms of percentage, Muslim candidates have fared slightly better than last year. In 2019, the Muslims constituted almost 4 per cent of the total successful candidates and this year, they constitute about 5 per cent of the total candidates who have cleared the exam.

 

Rajasthan HC issues notice to Speaker on appeal seeking stay on merger of six BSP MLAs

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-hc-issues-notice-to-speaker-on-appeal-seeking-stay-on-merger-of-six-bsp-mlas/story-GhZtQY4axQHUv5tmBtJAaN.html

 Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday asked state assembly Speaker CP Joshi to respond by Thursday to the petition filed by BSP seeking an immediate stay on the merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress. 6 MLAs, who won the BSP ticket, had joined the Congress in Sept.2019 and the Speaker had approved the merger next day. MLAs are Sandeep Yadav (Tijara), Wajib Ali (Nagar), Deepchand Kheria (Kishangarh Bas), LakhanMeena (Karauli) and Rajendra Gudha (Udaipurwati). BJP had opposed the merger and sought the disqualification of the six MLAs in February 2020. Joshi on July 30 rejected the disqualification petition. Besides BSP, BJP MLA Madan Dilawar had filed a petition with the single bench of Rajasthan High Court seeking a stay on Speaker’s order. The single bench sought reply from Joshi and the six MLAs by August 11.

 

Rajasthan HC reserves order on petition seeking quashing of probe against Union minister Shekhawat

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-hc-reserves-order-on-petition-seeking-quashing-of-probe-against-union-minister-shekhawat/story-YUIquHJwxFmqUAwtv3PAaL.html

After hearing arguments for three hours on Wednesday, a single bench of Rajasthan High Court reserved its order on the petition filed on July 28 seeking quashing of a lower court order that directed investigation against Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and others in a cooperative society scam case.Jaipur additional district judge no. 8 Pawan Kumar, on July 21, directed the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police to probe the alleged role of the Union minister, his wife Naunad Kanwar and their alleged friends Rajendra Baheti and Kevalchand Dakliya in the Rs 884-crore Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society fraud case. The fraud case was registered by the SOG in August 2019.

 

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

‘India’s move in J&K illegal’: China on one year of Article 370 abrogation

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-s-move-in-j-k-illegal-china-on-one-year-of-article-370-abrogation/story-IcqbXZrz2PuONlbXth4dIJ.html?fbclid=IwAR22jMaEgUfCpjknWDqBCoWuJhCZNKHPVKXalO3_Qc1E56mgvf5lycDJngA

China on Wednesday said that “unilateral” changes India made to the status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir by splitting it into two separate union territories in 2019 were illegal and invalid.China also called on India and Pakistan to resolve dispute over Kashmir through dialogue and consultations.Responding to a query on the impact of New Delhi’s decision one year later, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that Beijing has been closely following the situation in Kashmir.“China follows closely the situation in Kashmir region. China’s position on the Kashmir issue is clear and consistent. This issue is a dispute leftover from history between Pakistan and India. That is an objective fact as laid out by UN Charter, UNSC resolutions and the bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India,” spokesperson Wang said at the regular ministry briefing on Wednesday.“Any unilateral change to the status quo is illegal and invalid. This issue should be properly resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultations between the parties concerned,” Wang said.Wang added that Pakistan and India are neighbours “...that cannot be moved away. Co-existence serves the fundamental interests of both and the common aspiration of the international community.”Wang did not separately mention the areas over which New Delhi and Beijing have disputes in the region.HT

 

'New Kashmir Looks Frightening': Kashmir Times Editor Anuradha Bhasin On A Year After Article 370

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/article-370-ram-mandir-ayodhya-kashmir_in_5f29850ac5b656e9b0a0c5c4

Day after the Modi government abrogated Article 370 in a shock move, Anuradha Bhasin, the editor of Kashmir Times, approached the Supreme Court. At a time when the then-state of Jammu and Kashmir had been put under complete lockdown — with suspension of telephone services, internet and mobile phone connectivity — Bhasin filed a writ petition demanding the lifting of the restrictions, arguing that it was impossible for journalists to do their jobs under the circumstances. A year later, while the suspended services are now somewhat functional, Bhasin says the future and the present of the media in Kashmir have never been bleaker, with journalists being charged under terror laws and under Public Safety Act. As Prime Minister Modi visits Ayodhya to lay the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, Bhasin said it was a calculated move linked to the assertion of Hindutva.As Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim majority state which was demoted into two union territories, stuggles to come to terms with the events of the past year, Bhasin said BJP and RSS’s idea of a “new” Kashmir was nothing but frightening. In an interview with HuffPost India, Bhasin looked back on the year that has been, the grim state of the media at the moment, and the anxieties that the abrogation of Article 370 has triggered.

 

BJP celebrates first anniversary of revocation of J-K’s special status in Kashmir

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-anniversary-article-370-revocation-j-ks-kashmir-6540462/

BJP’s Kashmir unit on Wednesday celebrated the first anniversary of the revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and accused those protesting the constitutional changes of being sympathisers of ISIS.BJP leaders and workers unfurled the national flag at the party office and distributed sweets.“We are celebrating the completion of one year of abrogation of Article 370 (provisions) and the positive changes that it brought in Jammu and Kashmir,” BJP leader Altaf Thakur told reporters at the party office in Jawahar Nagar here.

 

BJP can gather and celebrate, we can’t even meet in my father’s lawn: Omar Abdullah

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-can-gather-and-celebrate-we-cant-even-meet-to-discuss-whats-happening-in-jk-omar-abullah-6540568/

A meeting called by former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah at his residence on Wednesday could not be held due to strict restrictions put in place by the Union Territory’s administration, his son and former CM Omar Abdullah said on Twitter.The meeting of mainstream political leaders was planned to discuss the situation arising out of the abrogation of Article 370 provisions in 2019 and to chalk out a joint political strategy for the restoration of the special status through democratic means.Omar Abdullah, who is the vice president of NC, questioned how BJP gets to celebrate the first anniversary of the abrogation while Kashmir leaders can’t meet in his father’s lawn.“One year later the authorities are still too afraid to allow us to meet much less carry out any normal political activity. This fear speaks volumes about the true situation on the ground in Kashmir.”

Meeting of parties called by Farooq Abdullah not held due to restrictions imposed by authorities: NC

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meeting-of-parties-called-by-farooq-abdullah-not-held-due-to-restrictions-imposed-by-authorities-nc/story-UiIuFjZmjxh1fPqAV1qk5J.html

A meeting of some political parties called by Jammu and Kashmir’s veteran leader Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday to discuss the situation arising out of the abrogation of Article 370 provisions a year ago could not be held due to strict restrictions imposed by authorities, his National Conference said.Abdullah had invited leaders of several political parties to his residence on Gupkar Road to chalk out a joint political strategy for restoration of the special status through democratic means.National Conference MP from Anantnag in south Kashmir Hasnain Masoodi and PDP’s Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Mir were turned away from Gupkar Road citing restrictions imposed by the authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the district, NC leaders said.

 

J&K: Places of worship can reopen from August 16

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-places-of-worship-can-reopen-from-aug-16-6539682/

J&K administration has decided to allow all places of worship in UT to reopen from Aug.16.Pointing out that this will be subject to observance of SOPs, which would be issued separately, an order issued by Chief Secretary and Chairman of State Executive Committee of Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department BVR Subrahmaniyam said “religious processions and large religious gatherings shall, however, remain strictly prohibited’’.Apart from this, schools and colleges, cinema halls, swimming pools,amusement parks, spas, theatres, bars, auditoriums and assembly halls will remain shut.

 

J&K: Most habeas corpus cases dragged on as court slammed govt on due process

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-article-370-habeas-corpus-detention-psa-6538085/?fbclid=IwAR1PKYf81wnnuNXA1Sik8ZMyrroxA5cPtLRz8FYbRqEi8JRmwXbAb_O9O8U

JUST 10  months ago, the Srinagar wing of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court was confronted with an unprecedented situation — a staggering 250-plus habeas corpus petitions challenging detentions under the draconian Public Safety Act filed in the first seven weeks post abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state on August 5, 2019.While the High Court disposed of cases in about 160 petitions filed between August and December 2019, at least 270 habeas corpus petitions remain pending, according to data available on the e-courts platform. But records of cases dealt conclusively by the High Court show that 61 per cent of the cases dragged on over 3-4 hearings, only to be eventually either “dismissed” or “settled” after the court was informed by the government that the petitions had turned infructuous because the detention order under PSA had already been revoked.The writ of habeas corpus is considered one of the most basic protections a citizen is guaranteed under the Constitution against unchecked state power – of taking people into custody without any charges; and the High Courts are specially empowered to issue orders related to this writ, act swiftly, and order the government to produce the detainee before the court and ensure due process.

 

*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

52,509 fresh cases, 857 deaths in 24 hours but recovery rate at new high of 67.19%

https://theprint.in/health/daily-covid-tracker-latest-india-coronavirus-numbers-5-august-2020/475587/

New Delhi: For the second consecutive day, India tested over 6 lakh samples for Covid-19, bringing down the positivity rate.However, with 25-30 per cent of the tests being conducted as rapid antigen tests, which is not the gold standard RT-PCR test, it may still be too early for relief until a breakup of antigen tests results is released.Deaths are continuing to rise as are cases. Maharashtra has upped its testing game and Delhi seems to be testing less with every passing day.The total active cases in the country is now nearing 6 lakh, which is less than a third of the total Covid burden in the country. In the last 24 hours, 52,509 fresh cases were reported.Daily Covid deaths continue to rise. In the last 24 hours, 857 more deaths were reported taking the total to 39,795. This is 2.2 per cent of the new cases reported 15 days ago on 21 July.

 

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan recovers from Covid-19, discharged from hospital

https://theprint.in/india/mp-cm-shivraj-singh-chauhan-recovers-from-covid-19-discharged-from-hospital/475687/

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was discharged from a private hospital here on Wednesday after recovering from coronavirus infection, an official said.Doctors have advised Chouhan, who was in the hospital for 11 days, to stay in home-quarantine and monitor his health for a week, the official added.

 

India crosses two crore Covid tests, more than six lakh daily tests on last two days

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-crosses-two-crore-covid-tests-more-than-six-lakh-daily-tests-on-last-two-days/story-QsIXJQkFtu5skYeHPUHR6M.html

 Union health ministry has released data to show that India is continuously ramping up its Covid 19 testing capabilities to cross two crore cumulative tests mark including more than 6 lakh samples tested over 24 hours for two consecutive days.The health ministry release follows WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan’s observations that India had not conducted an adequate number of tests compared to some other countries like Germany, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan that she claimed had “successfully” managed the disease.

 

Bill Gates urges US to help poorer countries get vaccines

https://theprint.in/world/bill-gates-urges-us-to-help-poorer-countries-get-vaccines/475197/

San Francisco: Microsoft Corp. founder and philanthropist Bill Gates urged the U.S. to take a more global approach in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, saying while the nation leads in research, “we’ve only taken care of ourselves” in producing and procuring a vaccine.Gates said he has encouraged congressional lawmakers to consider adding $8 billion to the economic relief bill currently being debated that will be devoted to helping less-developed nations procure an eventual vaccine to stop the spread of Covid-19.

 

 

 

*WORLD*

Death toll in huge Beirut explosion rises to 113, nearly 4,000 injured

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/death-toll-in-huge-beirut-explosion-rises-to-113/1932677

Death toll in Tuesday’s huge blast that ripped through Lebanon’s capital Beirut has risen to 113, the country’s health minister said on Wednesday.Nearly 4,000 victims were injured and dozens of them are still missing, Hamad Hassan said.A fire at a warehouse containing explosives at the Port of Beirut led to a massive blast Tuesday, causing massive material damage in several neighborhoods of the capital.Lebanese President Michel Aoun cited ammonium nitrate as the source of the explosion, which leveled a three-story building and was heard across the city and its suburbs.The Supreme Defense Council in Lebanon has declared Beirut a disaster-stricken city and announced a state of emergency in the capital for 2 weeks.Tuesday's explosion deepens woes of the country that has been suffering from a severe economic crisis and intense political polarization for months.

 

Lebanon to place Beirut port officials under house arrest

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-eyes-state-emergency-deadly-beirut-blast-live-200804234925493.html

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared following a massive explosion. Lebanon's Information Minister Manal Abdelsamad said that the military would oversee the house arrest of those responsible for storage and guarding at the Beirut port since June 2014.Abdelsamad told reporters that these poeople would be put under house arrest "as soon as possible" after their identities were determined by an investigative committee that was formed followinf the blast.The house arrests would be done "within the next five days", which is when the committe is expected to reveal its findings and hand them over to the judiciary. Lebanese cabinet has decided to place port officials under house arrest until investigations determine who is responsible for the blast, a governmental source told Al Jazeera following an emergency session. Officials said they expect the death toll to rise further as emergency workers dig through the rubble to search for survivors.Beirut's city governor Marwan Abboud said up to 300,000 people have lost their homes and authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter.The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials linked the blast to some 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.Aoun assembled the country's High Defence Council following the explosion.Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for a day of mourning on Wednesday.

 

Lebanon declares emergency in Beirut, approves urgent funding

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-eyes-state-emergency-deadly-beirut-blast-live-200804234925493.html

Lebanon's cabinet declared a two-week state of emergency in Beirut and handed control of security in the capital to the military.The cabinet approved an exceptional allocation of 100bn Lebanese pounds to deal with the crisis. The sum is notionally worth $66m based on the official exchange rate of 1,500 pounds to the dollar, but is effectively worth some $13m based on the latest rate on the parallel market, which stood at around 7,500 in the days before the explosion.

 

France opens probe into blast after 21 citizens wounded: prosecutors

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-eyes-state-emergency-deadly-beirut-blast-live-200804234925493.html

Prosecutors in France opened an investigation after 21 French citizens were wounded in the devastating blast in Beirut, the Paris prosecutor said.The prosecutors opened a probe into "involuntary injury" using their jurisdiction to investigate acts committed abroad, Paris prosecutor Remy Heintz said in a statement.    

 

Turkish aid group helps Beirut victims, Ankara offers field hospital

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-eyes-state-emergency-deadly-beirut-blast-live-200804234925493.html

Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is among those searching for survivors in Beirut, and Ankara has offered to build a field hospital and help as needed."We've relayed our offer to help…[and] we are expecting a response from the Lebanese side," a senior Turkish official told Reuters.Members of the IHH group were digging through debris to look for people and recover bodies, and the group mobilised a kitchen at a Palestinian refugee camp to deliver food to those in need, said Mustafa Ozbek, an Istanbul-based official from the group.

 

Turkish report: Egypt sends forces to support Assad in Syria

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200805-turkish-report-egypt-sends-forces-to-support-assad-in-syria/

Egypt has sent nearly 150 soldiers to Syria to fight in the ranks of the Assad regime, military sources told Anadolu Agency.The soldiers had been sent to the Aleppo countryside, Idlib area in coordination with Iranian Revolutionary Guards via the Hama Military Airport.The troops were later deployed in the Khan Al-Asal area in the western countryside of Aleppo and around the city of Saraqib in the southern countryside of Idlib.Egyptian soldiers are deployed with light weapons and accompanied by Iran-backed groups on the front lines against Syrian opposition factions.

 

Saudi Arabia constructs uranium ore facility with help from China

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200805-saudi-arabia-constructs-uranium-ore-facility-with-help-from-china/

Saudi Arabia has constructed a facility for extracting uranium “yellowcake” from ore with help from China, Western officials revealed to the Wall Street Journal. According to the officials, the facility is located in a sparsely populated area in the north-west of the Kingdom. The Saudi Energy Ministry said in a statement, however, that it “categorically denies” having built the facility in that area, although it acknowledged that it has contracts with China on uranium exploration within certain other areas of the country.“Yellowcake” is a powdered and milled form of uranium ore, an element occurring naturally throughout Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The ore is processed chemically into a fine powder before being put through further processes to enrich the uranium, enabling it to power nuclear energy plants and even be used in nuclear weapons if highly enriched.

 

Al Jazeera probe 'professional', says Malaysia police chief

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/al-jazeera-probe-professional-malaysia-police-chief-200805102845480.html

Malaysia's police chief has insisted investigations into an Al Jazeera report are being conducted "professionally" and rejected concerns about worsening media freedom, a day after the broadcaster's office was searched.Authorities are investigating the news network's programme, titled Locked up in Malaysia's Lockdown, after the government was angered by its critical look at the treatment of migrant workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

India's Day of Shame:Arundhati Roy

https://thewire.in/rights/august-5-kashmir-ayodhya-bhoomi-pujan-ram-mandir-china

India marks another day of erasure and insult against its Muslim citizens: Rana Ayyub, washington post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/04/india-marks-another-day-erasure-insult-against-its-muslim-citizens/?fbclid=IwAR3q9H6GIZxqTGgtYVLoOdqh_cLfFhEAEOLrs9r_pRvRIYYLuWC3Ld9fR74

Ayodhya’s Ram temple is first real colonisation of Hinduism by political power:Pratap Bhanu Mehta

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ayodhya-temple-ram-i-will-not-find-you-there-6539473/?fbclid=IwAR0vNu2--Id1dAYfLTxCECNlQVxRWe8pT4xWCp5e_2iCNhQVT4BHbLCpO3M

Demolition Men Do Not Build Nations, They Destroy Them:Siddharth Varadarajan

https://thewire.in/communalism/sangh-parivar-august-5-kashmir-ayodhya        

Ayodhya — History will be the judge:M R Shamshad

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ayodhya-ram-mandir-babri-masjid-demolition-national-shame-to-pride-of-nation-6539270/

Humiliating Kashmiris to Polarise India on Religious Lines:Upendra Kaul

https://thewire.in/uncategorised/jammu-kashmir-article-370-august5-humiliating-kashmiris-polarise-india-religion

What exactly did Aug.5 decisions achieve in Jammu and Kashmir?Ipsita Chakravarty

https://scroll.in/article/969452/what-exactly-did-the-august-5-decisions-achieve-in-jammu-and-kashmir?fbclid=IwAR3fDDew5XhD6BwwLvf3xl636vSUUoQAHZfS7hREuR5DBWbm1XV2CldcM3c

Excluded from Law-Making for Two Years, Kashmiris are Angry and Alienated:Umer Maqbool

https://thewire.in/government/excluded-from-law-making-for-two-years-kashmiris-are-angry-and-alienated

A Year After Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, Outcomes Are Barely Understood:Syed Ata Hasnain

https://thewire.in/security/kashmir-article370-abrogation-success-security

One Year On, it is Clear India is Occupied By Kashmir:Naeem Akhtar, spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party

https://thewire.in/rights/india-occupied-kashmir-august-5-naeem-akhtar

In SC's Dealings With Prashant Bhushan Over Contempt, Shades of Arundhati Roy's Case:V. Venkatesan

https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-contempt-prashant-bhushan-arundhati-roy

Gujarat model may have been a myth, but Kashmir model is coming your way: Saifuddin Soz , Salman Soz

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/jammu-and-kashmir-article-370-abrogation-special-status-august-5-anniversary-6539572/

Kashmir annexation ejects locals from official machinery:Iftikhar Gilani ,Anadolu Agency

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/kashmir-annexation-ejects-locals-from-official-machinery/1931975?fbclid=IwAR3fDDew5XhD6BwwLvf3xl636vSUUoQAHZfS7hREuR5DBWbm1XV2CldcM3c

At Ayodhya, we will see dismantling of the old, and the bhoomi pujan of the new republic:Suhas Palshikar

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/ayodhya-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-pm-narendra-modi-6537822/?fbclid=IwAR3F6kQvVDJqZobGd7gf0EGUED_A09JOOrjHbQAxnmpC1aZ3QNBg_5qPcVQ

August 5 ceremony may gladden many hearts. But will it gladden the heart of the deity?Syeda Hameed

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ram-temple-ayodhya-august-5-bhumi-poojan-6539532/

Israeli democracy is facing a stress test as Netanyahu is in serious political trouble:ZEV CHAFETS

https://theprint.in/world/israeli-democracy-is-facing-a-stress-test-as-netanyahu-is-in-serious-political-trouble/475727/

Bhoomipujan 2020 is like Balakot 2019, surgical strike that washes all sins:SHIVAM VIJ

https://theprint.in/opinion/bhoomipujan-2020-is-like-balakot-2019-the-surgical-strike-that-washes-all-sins/475700/

Ram temple, the last resort:VENKITESH RAMAKRISHNAN

https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/ram-temple-the-last-resort/article32189471.ece?fbclid=IwAR2jRc-Vlnl2ZHcDP2XwjyqrSVlE4FZA3XOuCI1Of-1VPxHgL4XcC5cq56A

Modi's 'Bhoomipujan' For Ram Mandir Puts Question Mark Over India's Secularism, Is India Headed To Become A Hindu Rashtra?Pramod Chunchuwar | India Tomorrow

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/modis-bhoomipujan-for-ram-mandir-puts-question-mark-over-indias-secularism-is-india-headed-to-become-a-hindu-rashtra

Ayodhya bhumi pujan: Would Lord Ram have sanctioned just war that caused mosque to fall by unjust means?Ajay Kumar

https://www.firstpost.com/india/ayodhya-bhumi-pujan-would-lord-ram-have-sanctioned-just-war-that-caused-mosque-to-fall-by-unjust-means-8673591.html

Unseen photos of how Babri Masjid demolition was planned and executed in 1992:PRAVEEN JAIN

https://theprint.in/in-pictures/unseen-photos-of-how-babri-masjid-demolition-was-planned-and-executed-in-1992/474297/

In Kashmir, the axe likely to fall on Urdu as the official language  :Gulzar Bhat

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/in-kashmir-the-axe-likely-to-fall-on-urdu-as-the-official-language

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:06 PM)