30 SEPT. NEWS DIGEST

INDIA

 CBI Court Acquits All Accused Including Advani, Joshi,  Says 'Babri Masjid Demolition Not A Result Of Planned Conspiracy'

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-babri-verdict-cbi-court-acquits-all-accussed-says-demolition-not-result-of-planned-conspiracy/361184

Nearly 30 years after Babri Masjid was demolishd, a special CBI court in Lucknow pronounced its judgement on the case on Wednesday. CBI court in its judgement has acquitted all the 32 accused and has cited lack of evidence. The court in its judgement said that the demolition was not a result of a planned conspiracy and there is not sufficient proof against the accused. “They have been acquitted for lack of evidence,” defence lawyer KK Mishra said.CBI judge SK Yadav, had directed all 32 accused to be present during the proceedings on Wednesday. However, Twenty-six out of the 32 accused were present in the special court when the judgment was pronounced. 32 accused in the case of Babri demolition included high profile leaders like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Sakshi Maharaj, Sadhvi Rit Ambhara (VHP Leader) and Champat Rai.Mr Advani, 92, and Mr Joshi, 86, were exempted from attending on health grounds. Uma Bharti has contracted coronavirus and Kalyan Singh is recuperating from it. outlookindia

 

Babri Demolition Verdict A Farce; Contrary To Findings Of Inquiry Commission: Justice MS Liberhan

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-babri-demolition-verdict-a-farce-contrary-to-findings-of-inquiry-commission-justice-ms-liberhan/361185

Justice (retired) M.S. Liberhan, who was appointed by P.V. Narasimha Rao government, in December 1992, to head a commission of inquiry into the demolition of the Babri Masjid, has called Wednesday’s verdict by the special CBI court in the demolition case “an utter farce”.Speaking to Outlook soon after special CBI judge SK Yadav acquitted all accused in the demolition case after concluding that the destruction of the Babri Masjid was “not the result of a pre-planned conspiracy”, the former chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh and Madras high courts said, “I need to read the verdict for the details but the court’s conclusion that the demolition was not the result of a planned conspiracy is completely contrary to the findings of my commission”.The Justice Liberhan Commission, often accused of spending an inordinately long time – nearly 17 years – to complete its inquiry, had examined 100 witnesses before submitting its report to Union government in June 2009. The Liberhan report had held 68 individuals, including BJP stalwarts LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Rithambhara, Kalyan Singh, Vinay Katiyar and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Bal Thackeray, Ashok Singhal, Lalji Tandon (all deceased) among others, “guilty of inciting communal discord” ahead of the destruction of the Babri Masjid. Though not all 68 people held ‘guilty’ by the Liberhan commission were named as accused in the demolition trial, Advani, Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Bharti and Vinay Katiyar were among those charged in the case by CBI for criminal conspiracy and making incendiary speeches. All of them have now been acquitted by the special CBI court.Liberhan told Outlook that the trial, in his opinion, “was compromised for reasons I do not wish to comment on” and that the “investigation and whatever followed from it were an utter farce”. outlookindia

 

Babri Mosque Verdict Will Be Challenged In HC: AIMPLB Member, Jilani

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-babri-mosque-verdict-will-be-challenged-in-hc-says-aimplb-member-jilani/361208

Senior lawyer and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Zafaryab Jilani on Wednesday said the verdict of the CBI special court acquitting all the 32 accused in the Babri mosque demolition case will be challenged in High Court. Jilani has claimed that there were hundreds of statements provided by the witnesses,  IPS officers and journalists alleging that the accused persons were sitting on the dais while inflammatory speeches were being given befor ethe mosque was demolished. Jilani claimed that there were clear evidences under 153-A (promoting enmity, hatred between different communities), 153-B (assertion prejudicial to national integration) against Advani and others.Meanwhile people are sharing old vidoes on social media where BJP Leader Pragya Singh openly confesses to have broken the Babri Mosque. The lawyer has also claimed that victims and witnesses have a right to appeal in this case. "We are victims, several of our people were witnesses in the case. I too was among them," he said adding that from the Muslims' side both the victims and the witnesses would file appeal. He also added that AIMPLB might be a party to the appeal.

 

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind disappointed at CBI Court’s verdict in Babri Masjid demolition case

https://indiatomorrow.net/2020/09/30/jamaat-e-islami-hind-disappointed-at-cbi-courts-verdict-in-babri-masjid-demolition-case-aimplb-to-challenge-the-order/

NEW DELHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has expressed disappointment at the verdict given by the designated CBI Special Court in the Babri Masjid demolition case in which all the 32 surviving accused have been acquitted.JIH President Syed Sadatullah Hussaini said, in a statement, said, “The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind expresses disappointment at the Babri Masjid demolition case verdict today. Even after 28 years, the justice that people were seeking has not been delivered. The designated court has acquitted all the accused citing lack of evidence notwithstanding the fact that just 10 months back the Supreme Court of India had called the demolition a criminal act and a violation of the law. How the court arrived at the conclusion that there was no conspiracy to demolish the Masjid and that the act was spontaneous and not pre-planned, is difficult to understand?”“The entire Ramjanmbhoomi movement and the Rath Yatra launched by L K Advani, one of the main accused in the case, was nothing but a mission to construct a temple at the exact same site where the Masjid stood. If the self-proclaimed mission repeated by the accused several times to replace the existing mosque with a temple, hundreds of times and recorded in full public view, is not evidence of a conspiracy of the criminal act perpetrated by thousands of frenzied ‘kar-sevaks’ on 6 December 1992, then what is?” the JIH president asked.India Tomorrow

 

RSS welcomes Babri case verdict, calls for harmony

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/babri-masjid-demolition-verdict-live-updates-reactions-cbi-court-acquits-all-32-accused-lk-advani-mm-joshi-uma-bharti-temp-1726894-2020-09-30

RSS on Wednesday welcomed the special CBI court's verdict acquitting all accused in the Babri masjid demolition case and called for harmony in society to face challenges before the country."Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh welcomes the special CBI court's decision to acquit all the accused in the demolition of the controversial structure."After this decision, all sections of the society should come together in unity and harmony and work successfully to face the challenges before the country, and work towards the progress of this country," RSS general secretary Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi tweeted.

 

Babri demolition: ‘Travesty of justice,’ says Opposition as special court acquits LK Advani, others

https://scroll.in/latest/974515/babri-demolition-verdict-vindicates-beliefs-says-lk-advani-muslim-leaders-left-criticise-order

Opposition parties, including the Congress and CPI(Marxist), on Wednesday criticised the decision of a special court to acquit several politicians in a criminal conspiracy case related to the Babri Masjid demolition. CPI(Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury called the order a “travesty of justice”. “All charged with criminal conspiracy to demolish Babri Masjid acquitted,” he said. “It self imploded? The Constitution Bench headed by then CJI had said that demolition was an “egregious” violation of law. Now this verdict! Shame.”

 

Verdict counter to SC judgment, against ‘Constitutional spirit’: Congress on Babri case

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/verdict-counter-to-sc-judgment-against-constitutional-spirit-congress-on-babri-case-6647090/

New Delhi :Reacting to the acquittal of senior BJP leaders by a special CBI court in the Babri Masjid demolition case, Congress Wednesday said the verdict runs counter to 2019 Supreme Court judgment as also the “Constitutional spirit”. The party asked the central and Uttar Pradesh govts to file an appeal against the decision of the special court.“The decision of the special court to acquit all the accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case runs counter to the SC judgment as also the Constitutional spirit. The SC in its judgment dated Nov.9, 2019 pronounced by 5-judges clearly held that demolition of Babri Masjid as a clear illegality and ‘egregious violation of the rule of law’,” Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala said.“But the Special Court exonerated all the Accused. It is clear that the decision of the Special Court runs counter to the decision of the SC,” he added. Surjewala further said the “entire country (had) witnessed a deep-rooted political conspiracy by BJP-RSS and its leaders” to destroy the country’s “communal amity and brotherhood for usurping power at any cost”.

 

Huge Mosque Coming Down Within 5 Hours Without Planning is Impossible, Says Then Home Secretary on Babri Verdict

https://www.news18.com/news/india/huge-mosque-coming-down-within-5-hours-without-planning-is-impossible-says-then-home-secretary-on-babri-verdict-2921773.html

Madhav Godbole who was Narasimha Rao’s home secretary when Babri Masjid was demolished by a mob of kar sevaks on Dec.6, 1992, said he is aghast at Wednesday’s verdict exonerating top right-wing leaders, including LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, of the crime. A report in HuffPost India quoted Godbole as questioning how the act of bringing down a “huge” mosque within five hours could not be planned in advance.“Quite frankly, I am aghast with this verdict because, firstly, a huge mosque of this size coming down within a period of five hours without any planning or without any preparation on the part of anybody is impossible to believe,” he said, adding that the decision is a “commentary on our judicial system, criminal law system”.

 

DMK accuses CBI of not acting fairly in Babri case, calls it a “caged parrot”

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece?homepage=true

DMK president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday alleged CBI has failed to act fairly in the Babri mosque demolition case and that it has become a “caged parrot” of the BJP-led Centre.Despite the Supreme Court’s judgment that “the entire structure of the mosque was brought down in a calculated act of destroying a place of public worship,” the CBI failed to prove the conspiracy in the case and it was a blow to the rule of law, he said.

 

 

CBI must appeal against Babri verdict: IUML

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/cbi-must-appeal-against-babri-verdict-iuml

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Wednesday demanded that the CBI should appeal against the Special CBI court Lucknow's verdict acquitting all 32 accused in the Babri mosque demolition case.Senior IUML Lok Sabha member P.K. Kunhalikutty told the media: "One wonders if justice has been delivered in this case."IANS

 

Babri Masjid case: Verdict vindicates my commitment towards Ram Janmabhoomi movement, says Advani

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdicts-reactions-6644761/

With the Special CBI court acquitting all the accused in Babri Masjid demolition case, 28 years after the mosque was pulled down by a frenzied mob in Ayodhya, BJP veterans who are among those given a clean chit have welcomed the verdict, saying it “vindicated” “BJP’s commitment towards Ram Janmabhoomi movement” and that it proved “no conspiracy was hatched”.“I wholeheartedly welcome the judgement by the Special Court in Babri Masjid Demolition Case. The judgement vindicates my personal and BJP’s belief and commitment toward the Ram Janmabhoomi movement,” former deputy PM and BJP’s 92-year-old Margdarshak mandal member LK Advani said. Advani said he is now looking forward to the completion of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. Murli Manohar Joshi said,“It’s a historic decision by the court. This proves that no conspiracy was hatched for December 6 incident in Ayodhya. Our program and rallies were not part of any conspiracy. We are happy, everyone should now be excited about Ram Mandir’s construction.” Lallu Singh, BJP MP from Faizabad, within which Ayodhya falls, and one of the accused, said that the judgment proved that the authorities then had “framed” BJP leaders in the case. There were also several reactions from within the BJP, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who said that the verdict proved that justice prevailed however late it may be. “I welcome Babri Masjid demolition case verdict by a special court in Lucknow, which has acquitted LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti Kalyan Singh and 32 others. This has proved that justice has prevailed however late it maybe,” Singh tweeted.UP CM Yogi Adityanath said he spoke to Advani and Joshi over the phone and congratulated them on the verdict.  He also slammed Congress for “hatching conspiracy”.Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut congratulated Advani and others on behalf of his party and said, “I and my party Shiv Sena, welcome the judgment and congratulate Advani ji, Murli Manohar ji, Uma Bharti ji and the people who have been acquitted in the case. Verdict saying demolition wasn’t a conspiracy and a result of circumstances, was the expected judgment. We must forget that episode. If the Babri Masjid wasn’t demolished we wouldn’t have seen any Bhoomi Pujan for Ram Mandir.”

 

Babri Masjid verdict a vindication of truth & justice, Ram bhakts have suffered: VHP

https://theprint.in/india/babri-masjid-verdict-a-vindication-of-truth-justice-ram-bhakts-have-suffered-vhp-says/513734/

New Delhi: VHP Wednesday hailed Babri Masjid demolition verdict as a vindication of “truth and justice”. VHP’s international working president Alok Kumar said, “Today’s judgment in the criminal case relating to disputed structure in Ayodhya is a vindication of truth and justice.”

 

Feeling same humiliation I felt on Dec.6, 1992: Asaduddin Owaisi on Babri masjid demolition verdict

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/feeling-same-humiliation-i-felt-on-december-6-1992-asaduddin-owaisi-on-babri-masjid-demolition-verdict-1726938-2020-09-30

Asaduddin Owaisi, Lok Sabha MP and AIMIM chief criticised the special CBI court's verdict acquitting all 32 accused in 1992 Babri masjid demolition. Asaduddin Owaisi said, "This judgement satisfies the collective consciousness of hindutva and its followers and its ideology.""I am feeling the same humiliation I felt on December 6, 1992," AIMIM leader Owaisi went on to add. The MP said to reporters that "justice has not been done (in this case)".While citing India's highest court, Asaduddin Owaisi asked, "Supreme Court had said that it was a calculated act of destroying a place of worship. I am unable to understand that if this was an egregious violation of rule of law, was the mosque martyred using magic on December 6? Were idols kept inside on the nights of Dec.28 and Dec 29 in 1949 by magic? Were the locks opened using magic when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister?"He further remarked, "Violence pays for you politically. You can estimate that wherever Advani's Rath Yatra went, there was bloodshed. Innocent people were murdered, properties were burnt, families were uprooted and destroyed."

 

'No One Demolished Babri Masjid?' Twitter Users Wonder After CBI Court Acquits All Accused

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/babri-masjid-twitter-lk-advani-uma-bharti-murli-manohar-joshi_in_5f742f31c5b66377b27ab718

Right after the verdict on Babri Masjid demolition was delivered, people took to Twitter to wonder how the mosque was demolished if there was no conspiracy to do so, and if there was no one responsible for it. People wondered how they would keep faith in the judiciary after a verdict like this.

 

CBI to decide on challenging after consulting legal department

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece?homepage=true

CBI will decide on filing an appeal against the special court verdict acquitting all 32 accused in Babri Masjid demolition case after consulting the legal department, its counsel said.“After a copy of today’s verdict is received, it would be sent to the CBI headquarters where it would be studied by the legal department and a decision on filing an appeal would be taken as per its suggestion,” CBI counsel Lalit Singh said.

 

Whatever had to happen happened on Nov.9 last year: Ayodhya litigant Ansari

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece?homepage=true

Iqbal Ansari, the main litigant in Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, appealed Muslims to honour the verdict. “It is good that all have been acquitted. Whatever had to happen happened on Nov.9 last year. This case should also have ended the same day.“This is CBI’s case and the court has given its ruling today. I appeal to Muslims not to take any further action in this. Just as they honoured the November 9 decision, this verdict too needs to be accepted similarly,” he said.

 

A complete travesty of justice: Yechury over Babri verdict

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-babri-masjid-demolition-case-verdict/article32728552.ece?homepage=true

CPI(M) chief Sitaram Yechury tweeted: "A complete travesty of Justice. All charged with criminal conspiracy to demolish Babri Masjid acquitted. It self imploded? The Constitution Bench headed by then CJI had said that demolition was an “egregious” violation of law. Now this verdict! Shame."

 

'Brutalised by The Entire System': Outrage After UP Police Forcibly Cremate Hathras Rape Victim at Night

https://www.news18.com/news/india/brutalised-by-the-entire-system-outrage-after-up-police-forcibly-cremates-hathras-rape-victim-at-night-2921011.html

Uttar Pradesh police’s forced cremation of 19-year-old Dalit woman, who died on Tuesday after she was gang-raped allegedly by four upper caste men, in the middle of the night against her family’s wishes has evoked outrage and anger across the nation. The police’s actions have been described as gross inhumanity, and have led to demands of immediate action against the cops as well as the administration for denying the rape victim dignity even in death, and heaping humiliation and misery on her family after they have already suffered such trauma. Former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had termed the gang-rape and murder the "class-specific jungle raj" of UP, condemned the manner in which the woman cremated. “A daughter of India is raped, facts are suppressed, and in the end the right to funeral is also taken away from her family. It is abusive and unjust.” Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the cremation by police and district administration against the wishes of the family as inhuman. “The government did not protect her while she was alive. The government did not provide timely treatment when she was attacked. After the death of the victim, the government took the last rites of the daughter from the family. Gross inhumanity,” she said.She demanded the resignation of UP chief minister Adityanath, saying that instead of protecting the victim and her family, his government became complicit in depriving her of every single human right, even in death. "You have no moral right to continue as Chief Minister," she tweeted.NEWS18

 

UP police ‘detained’ Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, its Delhi unit head, allege their associates

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/up-police-detained-bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-its-delhi-unit-head-allege-their-associates

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and its Delhi unit head Himanshu Balmiki have been detained by the Uttar Pradesh police while on their way to Hathras accompanying the family of 19-year-old Dalit gang-rape victim, his associates alleged on Wednesday.According to functionaries of the Azad Samaj Party, which was launched by the Bhim Army chief in March this year, Azad and Balmiki went missing after 10 pm on Tuesday while they were on their way to Hathras accompanying the family of the gang-rape victim who died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday.PTI

 

From Delhi to Lucknow, Congress holds protests following death of Hathras gang rape victim

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/from-delhi-to-lucknow-congress-holds-protests-following-death-of-hathras-gang-rape-victim

Thousands of Congress workers and activists hit the streets on Tuesday over the death of the Hathras gang-rape victim – a 19-year-old Dalit girl whose tongue was chopped off after the rape.Allegedly raped by four men in Hathras district on September 14, the girl died at Safdarjung hospital in Delhi, where she was undergoing treatment, this morning.

 

UP Police Locked Us Up, Didn't Allow Us to See Body, Cremated Her at 3 am: Hathras Victim's Family

https://thewire.in/rights/hathras-dalit-victim-cremated-uttar-pradesh-police

Hathras: For a fortnight, the Dalit gang rape victim from Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district fought for her life. Her limbs were paralysed and her tongue was brutally wounded.Those arrested for the crime were four upper caste Thakur men, Sandeep (20), his uncle Ravi (35) and their friends Luv Kush (23) and Ramu (26). Even before the latest violence, Sandeep had allegedly harassed the victim so much that she would scarcely leave the house. As the country burst into outrage, fresher hell lay waiting for the family of the woman.On Wednesday morning, family said that they were not allowed to even look at the victim’s dead body before police hurriedly completed the last rites in the dead of the night, without any rituals that the family would have liked to perform.When this correspondent reached the house of the 19-year-old woman who had been the victim of such grievous sexual and physical assault by 4 Thakur men of her village that she eventually succumbed to her injuries – her family were more angry than sad.Distraught, the victim’s mother attempted to speak several times but failed. Eventually, she said, “My daughter is unlucky to have been born in a village of Thakurs.” ‘Thakurs’ are a feudal and aggressive ‘upper’ caste group identified by their surname. The community enjoys political influence in the state and the chief minister too belongs to the Thakur community.The family alleged that at around 2.30 am, they were locked up in the house by Uttar Pradesh Police and the body of their daughter was taken away for cremation.“They burnt her body without any proper Hindu rituals at about 3 am. Didn’t she deserve even that much dignity?” asked a family member.

Hathras: 'We Did Not Even See Her Once,' Rape Victim’s Brother Recounts A Night Of Horror

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/hathras-rape-victim-up-police_in_5f7441dbc5b66377b27aec42

 

Hathras gangrape: Delhi women’s panel chief writes to CJI, accuses UP government of cover-up

https://scroll.in/latest/974501/hathras-gangrape-pm-modi-has-called-for-strict-action-against-accused-says-adityanath

Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal on Wednesday wrote to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and other top court judges asking them to take note of the Hathras gangrape and give strict punishment to the accused. She accused the Uttar Pradesh govt and the police of covering up the crime.

 

Kailash Vijayvargiya on Hathras gangrape: ‘Vehicles can overturn anytime in Yogi’s UP’

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hathras-gangrape-case-reactions-kailash-vijayvargiya-bjp-up-yogi-adityanath-congress-6649130/

Amid nationwide outrage and mounting Opposition criticism over the death of a 19-year-old Dalit woman, who was raped and murdered allegedly by four upper caste men in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday said “vehicles can overturn anytime in Yogi Adityanath’s state”. “The accused have been arrested. The case has been sent to a fast-track court. The accused will be sent to jail… Yogi (Adityanath) is the Chief Minister. Main jaanta hun ki unke pradesh mein kabhi bhi gaadi palat jaati hai (I know that in his state, vehicles can overturn anytime),” ANI quoted Vijayvargiya as saying.

 

Crime against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes saw a rise of 7% and 26% in 2019: NCRB

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/crime-against-scheduled-castes-scheduled-tribes-saw-a-rise-of-7-and-26-in-2019-ncrb/article32730990.ece?homepage=true

Crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) saw an increase of over 7% and 26% respectively in year 2019 compared to 2018, according to the annual Crime in India 2019 report published by NCRB on Wednesday. Due to “non-receipt of data” from West Bengal for 2019, the 2018 data has been used to arrive at national and city-wise figures, the NCRB said.A total of 45,935 cases were registered for committing crime against SCs, showing an increase of 7.3% over 2018, when 42,793 such cases were recorded. At 11,829 cases, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of crimes against SCs in 2019, followed by 6,794 cases in Rajasthan and 6,544 cases in Bihar, the report said. In the number of cases of rape of women belonging to SCs, Rajasthan topped the list with 554 cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 537 and Madhya Pradesh at 510 cases.

 

After China Brings up '1959 LAC Alignment', India Says That Proposal Wasn't Accepted

https://thewire.in/diplomacy/after-china-brings-up-1959-lac-alignment-india-says-that-proposal-wasnt-accepted

New Delhi: After China reiterated that LAC with India was the one defined in 1959, India on Tuesday rejected that contention as being contrary to the border agreements that call for a clarification of LAC.The Chinese foreign ministry, in a statement issued to Hindustan Times, said that the alignment of the LAC was very clear – in context to a question of the ongoing military stand-off with India in eastern Ladakh.“Firstly, China-India border LAC is very clear, that is the LAC on November 7, 1959. China announced it in the 1950s, and the international community including India are also clear about it,” said China’s ministry of foreign affairs.In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India has “never accepted the so-called unilaterally defined 1959 LAC”. “This position has been consistent and well known, including to the Chinese side,” he added.

 

HC declines to entertain PIL against Twitter over anti-India tweets; says approach Centre first

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hc-declines-to-entertain-pil-against-twitter-over-anti-india-tweets-says-approach-centre-first/article32729507.ece?homepage=true

Delhi High Court today declined to entertain a PIL seeking action against social media platform Twitter for being allegedly involved in conspiracy to promote anti-India propaganda such as Khalistan movement, saying the plea was based on claims and no representation about it was made to Centre. A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said “none of the issues in the petition have been flagged before Union of India” and the plea was made on claims of a Member of Parliament and news reports in the public domain. The bench also noted the contention of Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma that the petitioner should first approach the executive with her grievance before moving the court.PTI

 

Delhi Court Rejects Bail Plea of Journalist Rajeev Sharma, Arrested Under Official Secrets Act

https://thewire.in/media/delhi-court-rejects-bail-plea-of-journalist-rajeev-sharma-arrested-under-official-secrets-act

New Delhi: If a journalist, who is an important brick in the Fourth Pillar of democracy, decides to act with the intention to destabilise and negatively impact the sustainability and survival of democracy, that would be a darkest day in the Free Press Movement, observed a Delhi court while dismissing the bail plea of freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma arrested in an espionage case.The court said if released on bail, Sharma arrested under the Official Secrets Act, may attempt to hamper the investigation.PTI

 

 

 

Bodies of Rajouri youths killed in encounter will be exhumed, say police

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bodies-of-rajouri-youths-killed-in-encounter-will-be-exhumed-say-police/article32731669.ece?homepage=true

SRINAGAR: 3 families from Rajouri, whose kin were killed in an encounter on July 18 in south Kashmir’s Shopian, will be allowed to exhume their bodies, the police said on Wednesday.“Since DNA samples matched with the families, the three dead bodies will be exhumed and handed over to families after the due process of law,” IGP Vijay Kumar said.The district administration of Rajouri has approached the families to begin the process.“We have been called by the Rajouri administration for consultations. We demand immediate exhumation of bodies of our sons, compensation, and punishment to those involved in fake encounter,” Muhammad Yousuf, father of one of the victims, said.The graveyard where the bodies were buried after the encounter is located in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, far from civilian areas.

 

Shopian encounter: 2 civilians, questioned by Army, sent to 7-day police custody

https://scroll.in/latest/974509/shopian-encounter-two-civilians-questioned-by-army-sent-to-7-day-police-custody

Shopian chief judicial magistrate remanded two civilians, who were being questioned in the July 18 encounter case by the Indian Army, to seven-day police custody, Indian Express reported. 3 young men, who were alleged to be militants, were killed by security forces in July.Unidentified officials told the newspaper that the two civilians worked as “informers” of the Indian Army and were suspects in the killing that took place in Amshipora of Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district. A third suspect in the case, who is detained, has not been arrested.

 

J&K power corporation’s lax supervision behind hydel project delay: CAG

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-power-corporations-lax-supervision-behind-hydel-project-delay-cag-6638322/

Jammu: Comptroller and Auditor General of India has attributed the non-completion of the 48-MW Lower Kalnai Hydel Power Project in Doda district to “lax supervision and control over the execution of contract” by Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDCL). During the tenure of the National Conference-Congress coalition government, JKSPDCL awarded the contract on EPC to M/s Coastal Projects Limited in Sept.2013 for completion of work within 48 months. An agreement was signed in April 2014 and work on the project began in June the same year. The government of the erstwhile state had in August 2013 granted approval for the project with an estimated completion cost of Rs 567.87 crore, including escalation during construction.Nine months later, PDP-BJP government took over the reigns of Jammu and Kashmir in March 2015, and senior BJP leader and Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh was allocated the portfolios of power and housing and urban development.

 

J&K LG receptive to discussion on financial support to unemployed youth, artisans & craftsmen in Kashmir: Soz

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/jandk-lg-receptive-to-discussion-on-financial-support-to-unemployed-youth-artisans-and-craftsmen-in-kashmir-soz

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz said on Wednesday that in a meeting with J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, he had raised several issues of public interest including financial support to unemployed youth, artisans and craftsmen in Kashmir, who are suffering financial stringency during COVID-19. “In my first meeting with Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha last evening, I raised several issues of public interest including financial support to unemployed youth, artisans and craftsmen in Kashmir, who are suffering financial stringency during COVID-19,” Soz said.

 

Inter-ministerial panel to hear Sudarshan TV’s stand on ‘UPSC Jihad’ show tomorrow

https://theprint.in/india/inter-ministerial-panel-to-hear-sudarshan-tvs-stand-on-upsc-jihad-show-tomorrow/513684/

New Delhi: Inter-ministerial committee (IMC), which decides if private television channels have violated broadcast rules and the degree of violation, will hear the Sudarshan TV case Thursday. I&B Ministry has informed the channel of the development. Sudarshan TV has run into trouble after airing episodes of its controversial show Bindas Bol, which claimed that there was an alleged “conspiracy” by Muslims to infiltrate the civil services.In a letter to the channel dated 29 Sept., accessed by ThePrint, I&B ministry has called the representatives of Sudarshan TV channel for a personal hearing to present their position before the IMC Thursday. IMC can only recommend action — the final call is taken by the I&B ministry.

 

Arnab Goswami case: SC issues notice to Maharashtra Assembly for breach of privilege motion

https://scroll.in/latest/974519/arnab-goswami-case-sc-issues-notice-to-maharashtra-assembly-for-breach-of-privilege-motion

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in the plea by Republic Media Network Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami challenging the breach of privilege motion moved against him in Assembly earlier this month, Live Law reported. The court said the matter will be argued after a week.The plea was heard by a bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, Bar and Bench reported. The privilege motion had been passed for Goswami’s criticism over state government inaction in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

 

NBA chief Rajat Sharma urges advertisers to stay clear of hate-mongering TV news channels

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nba-chief-rajat-sharma-urges-advertisers-to-stay-clear-of-hate-mongering-tv-news-channels-1726967-2020-09-30

New Delhi:News Broadcasters Association (NBA) President Rajat Sharma has urged television advertisers to withdraw support to hate-mongering TV channels who have forgotten the distinction between fact and fiction.Sharma highlighted how some TV news channels were broadcasting "drama and fiction" in the name of news. He said such content is not only harmful to the TV news business but hurts the society in general."We have seen videos of reporters going overboard, harassing witnesses, chasing those who have been called for questioning by agencies, even using four-letter words on air. It is not a secret who is doing it," Sharma told during the interview, highlighting recent coverage of major events by certain TV news channels.

 

‘Glossy statement to divert attention from illegal activities’: Centre on Amnesty India halting work

https://scroll.in/latest/974447/glossy-statement-to-divert-attention-from-illegal-activities-centre-on-amnesty-india-halting-work

Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday rebutted human rights organisation Amnesty International India’s allegations of being forced to shut its operations as the Indian government froze its bank accounts. The Centre accused the group of violating foreign funding laws, and called its allegations unfortunate, exaggerated and “far from the truth”.Centre, in a statement tiled “Human rights cannot be an excuse for defying the law of the land”, rejected the allegations.

 

Amnesty International India to move Karnataka HC against freezing of bank accounts

https://scroll.in/latest/974510/amnesty-international-india-to-move-karnataka-hc-against-freezing-of-bank-accounts

Amnesty International India on Tuesday night said it will approach the Karnataka High Court against the freezing of its bank accounts, reported Live Law. Earlier in the day, the human rights organisation had cited “reprisal” from the government for winding down its operations – a decision that will put about 150 employees out of jobs. The group called the authorities’ action a part of an “incessant witch-hunt”. Executive Director Avinash Kumar said the case was likely to go on over the next few months. “Timelines are hard to estimate due to the nature of the Indian judicial system and uncertainty due to the emergency measures enforced by the government of India and various state governments to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic that have led to restricted functioning of India’s courts,” he told ThePrint.

 

'Accused cannot be jailed for infinity as co-accused yet to be identified': Court grants bails to 2 persons in Delhi riots case

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/sep/29/delhi-riots-accused-cannot-be-jailed-for-infinity-as-co-accused-yet-to-be-identified-says-court-2203556.html

A Delhi court Tuesday granted bails to 2 persons in a case related to riots in north east Delhi, saying they cannot be jailed for "infinity" merely on account that co-accused have to be identified and arrested. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav granted the relief to Javed and Gulfam on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety of like amount each.Gulfam and Javed were arrested in May and July respectively, in the case in which one Bhai Sahab was grievously injured when he was allegedly attacked by a mob of rioters in Chand Bagh Pulia area during the communal violence. The court said the duo have not been named in FIR and there were no specific allegations against them. "The applicant (Gulfam) cannot be made to incarcerate in jail for infinity merely on account of the fact that other persons who were part of the riotous mob have to be identified and arrested in the matter," it said in its similar but separate orders passed in the two bail applications.The court further directed them not to tamper with evidence and to install "Aarogya Setu" app on their mobiles.PTI

 

Mumbai court discharges 12 Tablighi of Indonesia

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bandra-court-discharges-12-indonesian-nationals-6638934/

Mumbai :Over a month after Bandra police dropped charges of attempt to murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder against 12 Indonesian nationals, part of Tablighi Jamaat, a court on Tuesday discharged them of all other charges. After the Bandra police filed a chargesheet against them last month on other charges related to allegations of violation of the lockdown, visa conditions and other relevant sections of Epidemic Act, the group, through their lawyer Ishrat Khan, had filed a discharge plea before the metropolitan magistrate’s court. The plea stated 12 Indonesian nationals had come to India on Feb. 29 and attended the congregation of the jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi.  An FIR was filed by Bandra police against them, including on charges of IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), claiming the men were responsible for spreading Covid-19 in the city and causing deaths. In its chargesheet, however, these 2 sections were dropped with the police stating that there was not sufficient evidence for the charge. Khan had submitted in the discharge application that there was no iota of evidence against them to show that they violated govt orders or were responsible for the spread of the disease.

 

Will take talks on CAA-NRC forward after pandemic, says Bilkis of Shaheen Bagh

https://scroll.in/latest/974471/will-take-talks-on-caa-nrc-forward-after-pandemic-says-bilkis-of-shaheen-bagh

Bilkis Bano, an 82-year-old woman who featured in Time magazine’s list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2020, for protesting against CAA in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh neighbourhood, on Tuesday said she would continue to oppose the new citizenship laws till their demands are met, The Wire reported. “If we don’t raise our voice, if we don’t come out of our houses, how will the government know that we have an issue?” she asked.Bano was speaking at a press conference organised by Saheli, PUCL, National Federation of Indian Women and others on Tuesday, to celebrate her recognition by the Time magazine.Besides Bano, former member of the Planning Commission Syeda Hameed, general secretary of NFIW Annie Raja, journalist Bhasha Singh, Delhi University’s Poonam Batra and PUCL’s Vertika Mani, were other speakers. The press conference was moderated by Vani Subramanian from Saheli. 82-year-old Bano, who is fondly known as the “Dadi of Shaheen Bagh”, said that their fight right now was with the coronavirus. “Then we will take forward our conversation on NRC and CAA,” she added. “The students who have been incarcerated should be released. How will they get educated behind bars? My wish is that they study and reach great heights in their lives.”

 

Aurangabad : Jamaat-e-Islami Hind protests against farm bills, seeks its' immediate rollback

http://www.uniindia.com/~/aurangabad-jamaat-e-islami-hind-protests-against-farm-bills-seeks-its-immediate-rollback/States/news/2182690.html

Aurangabad (Maharashtra):Jamaat-e-Islami Hind(JIH) here on Wednesday protested against the recent passage of three farm bills in the parliament, and demanded to withdraw the proposed legislations. Led by JIH city chief Wajed Qadri, the protestors staged a demonstration in front of the District Collectorate and raised number of slogans against the bills, which continues to be in eye of the Opposition's storm. Mr Qadri alleged, "The bills were passed in hurry without any vast discussions. Due to these bills, farmer will suffer trouble. If investment came from corporate in farming, there will be no guarantee for benefit of farmers.""Thousand of farmers from different states came on the roads in protest of these bills," he highlighted, adding that NDA's old ally Akali Dal also opted out from the central government over the "anti-farmer bills".Submitting a memorandum to Collector Sunil Chavan, JIH demanded to supply seeds and fertilizers to farmers, provide interest-free loans to them and purchase cotton at the MSP.UNI

 

Weaver’s in UP decry lack of govt support amid lockdown, worry for future

http://twocircles.net/2020sep29/439164.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29

UP: “While the country is struggling to fight the pandemic, UP government seems to have unleashed a war against the weavers,” says Manish, who is a social activist and a member of Bunkar Sajha Manch.The weavers of the region have come under the banner of “Bunkar Saajha Manch” to fight unitedly for weaver’s rights. This includes all the bunkars from Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Devariya, Banaras and Mau. The power loom sector occupies a pivotal position in the Indian textile industry. The Indian textile industry contributes significantly to Indian economy. It is the second-largest employer after the Agriculture sector in India and is considered largest in the world with a massive raw material and textiles manufacturing base. It employs around 60 million people in textile manufacturing activities. India Textile Industry has 3 main segments which include the mill sector, handloom sector and decentralized power loom sector. The power loom weavers in UP went on a strike on Sept.1 in protest against the new power tariff imposed on them. They demanded the old tariff system be restored calling their strike as an ultimatum to the govt. “If they don’t listen to our demands then we will come on roads and protest,” said a power loom weaver who resides in Azamgarh. TwoCircles

 

Data | 92% Indian women take part in unpaid domestic work; only 27% men do so

https://www.thehindu.com/data/92pc-indian-women-take-part-in-unpaid-domestic-work-only-27pc-men-do-so/article32729100.ece?homepage=true

More than 90% of Indian women participated in unpaid domestic work at home in 2019 compared to 27% of men. On the other hand, only 22% of women participated in employment and related activities compared to 71% of men. Though subtle regional variations existed, more than 84% of women participated in unpaid domestic work across all States, regardless of men's participation in such work and women's participation in employment and related activities. The data are based on a National Statistical Office survey conducted between Jan.and Dec.2019. The table lists % of men/women aged 15-59 who participated in various activities in a day in 2019.

 

Uttar Pradesh: Bypoll to be held in 7 Assembly seats on Nov 3

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-bypoll-to-be-held-in-seven-assembly-seats-on-nov-3-6642800/

Lucknow :Election Commission on Tuesday announced that byelections to the seven Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held on November 3. The seven seats are Naugawan Sadat in Amroha district, Bulandshahr Sadar in Bulandshahr district, Tundla in Firozabad district, Bangermau in Unnao district, Ghatampur in Unnao district, Deoria and Malhani in Jaunpur district. Five of them fell vacant with the death of incumbent MLAs, including two ministers in the BJP government — Kamlarani Varun from Ghatampur and Chetan Chauhan from Naugawan Sadat — who died of Covid-19.

 

Juvenile held for temple hundi breakings; AP police unravels mystery

http://www.uniindia.com/juvenile-held-for-temple-hundi-breakings-ap-police-unravels-mystery/south/news/2181837.html

Kakinada: The breaking of Hundis and committing theft of cash in two age old temples in this port city was, at last, found out to be the handiwork of a juvenile ,but not of any communal forces.The crime wing police could unravel the mystery behind the hundi breaking incidents ,with the help of the CC cameras data ,almost within a week of the incidence .The first theft took place on September 21 night in which some miscreants entered the main temple of Bhimeswara swamy in the Temple street and broke open the two hundis in the Kumaraswamy temple inside the premises.UNI

 

AIIMS report on Sushant death: Congress targets BJP, calls controversy political ploy to diminish Mumbai’s stature

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aiims-report-on-sushant-death-congress-targets-bjp-calls-controversy-political-ploy-to-diminish-mumbais-stature-6637587/

Mumbai :Hours after a doctors’ panel from AIIMS in New Delhi allegedly ruled out poisoning as the cause for actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, the Congress took on BJP for casting aspersion on Mumbai Police’s investigation in the case. “The AIIMS report leaves BJP’s face completely blackened. It has exposed its plot. People won’t forgive BJP for the way the Mumbai Police was defamed in the case and Maharashtra was insulted,” said state Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant, who has been consistently alleging a BJP hand in the entire controversy. Sawant also accused BJP of using the Bihar Police, which had questioned the Mumbai Police’s investigation in the case, as a tool for playing politics. The party said that CBI, ED and NCB were sent to Mumbai as part of a “political conspiracy” to malign the state in violation of the federal spirit of India.

 

Bhiwandi Govt Hospital Staff Extort Money from Poor Patients for Services That are Supposed to be Free

https://clarionindia.net/bhiwandi-govt-hospital-staff-extort-money-from-poor-patients-for-services-that-are-supposed-to-be-free/

MUMBAI: It is an incident that Sabina Ansari is unlikely to ever forget in her life. A pregnant woman had been rushed by her family to Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) hospital in Bhiwandi for delivery of the child.Much after midnight about a fortnight ago, the woman was admitted to the maternity section, but some of the staff members told the relatives that they would have to shell out Rs1,500 to them (of course, without the official receipt, as it was a demand for bribe) for the delivery, or else take her to another govt hospital in Thane, about 20km away.The poor woman pleaded with the hospital staff that the money would be brought the next morning, but they refused to help her and went to sleep. “It was shocking, as the woman was in pain and needed help,” recalls Ansari, an activist and member of the Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ), Bhiwandi. “But they refused to even look at her.” Finally, some of her friends and relatives helped deliver the child at around 3.45 am in the maternity section, even as the hospital staff were sleeping. They finally woke up and saw the relatives help the woman deliver the child. They did not intervene, but instead took the child away and refused to let the mother have it, demanding money.Dr Intekhab Shaikh, president, MPJ, Bhiwandi, said: “We had to intervene and get the child released from the nurses. We also sent letters to the hospital administration, the local MLA and others. Two of the staff, who were on a contract basis, were suspended.”Clarion India

 

 

*CORONAVIRUS-LOCKDOWN*

 

 

All Necessary Precautions Will be Taken, Says SC, Refuses to Postpone Civil Services Exam Due to Covid

https://www.news18.com/news/india/all-necessary-precautions-will-be-taken-says-sc-refuses-to-postpone-civil-services-exam-due-to-covid-19-2921699.html

The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to postpone UPSC civil services preliminary exam, to be held on October 4, because of COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country. A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the Centre to consider granting one more chance to those aspirants who may not appear in their last attempt allowed for the exam due to the pandemic. It also refused to consider the plea for clubbing of this year's exam with that of 2021 saying this will have a cascading effect. The bench was hearing a plea seeking postponement of the Civil Services Exam for two to three months, so that the flood/ incessant rains recede and the COVID-19 curve flattens.

 

Just 6.6% exposed to Covid till August: New sero-survey

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-covid-19-august-sero-survey-6637821/

An estimated one in 15 individuals aged 10 years and above were exposed to the novel coronavirus infection by August, indicating that a large part of the population is still susceptible to the virus, according to the second nationwide sero-survey. Releasing the findings on Tuesday, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said 6.6 per cent of 29,082 people (aged 10 years and above) surveyed from August 17 to Sept.22 showed evidence of past exposure to Covid-19. The prevalence was higher for adults (aged 18 years and above) at 7.1 per cent. This is a significant increase from 0.73 per cent prevalence found in the first sero-survey, conducted between May 11 and June 4, among adults in 70 districts. The second survey was conducted in the same districts, but children (above 10 years) were included.

 

West Bengal: No Lockdown Dates In October, SoP Released For Durga Puja Pandals

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/west-bengal-lockdown-dates-durga-puja-mamata-banerjee_in_5f744a71c5b6374c5586e11c

There will be no lockdown in West Bengal in October, keeping in mind that this month is the largest festival season in the state with the Durga Puja beginning from Oct.23. The West Bengal government, however, announced a series of measures the puja pandals will have to take this year. In a notification on Monday, West Bengal government issued a list of do’s and don’ts for Durga Puja committees to follow this year.

 

85% deaths and 76% cases from 10 states in 24 hours, Maharashtra records over 15,000 cases

https://theprint.in/health/85-deaths-and-76-cases-from-10-states-in-24-hours-maharashtra-records-over-15000-cases/513712/

New Delhi: After a day’s respite, daily Covid deaths crossed the 1,100-mark once again and the positivity rate is on the rise as well.In the past 24 hours, 80,472 new cases were reported and 76 per cent of these were from 10 states and Union Territories. Maharashtra has contributed the maximum number of cases, registering nearly 15,000 in the past day, followed by Karnataka with more than 10,000 cases. India continues to report a declining percentage of active cases vis-a-vis total positive cases. Presently, the active cases account for only 15.11 per cent of the total positive cases recorded in the country, standing at 9,40,441. From 33.32 per cent on 1 August to 15.11 per cent on 30 September, the active cases have less than halved in two months.

 

India does not give a ‘straight count’ on COVID-19 death: Trump 

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/india-does-not-give-a-straight-count-on-covid-19-death-trump

US President Donald Trump has said that India does not give a "straight count" on the COVID-19 deaths.During the presidential debate on Tuesday night between him and Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden, they both sparred on the extent of the deaths caused by the pandemic.Biden said that the 200,000 people who died of the coronavirus were 20 percent of the global death toll of 1 million while the US population is only 4 percent of the world.IANS

 

Unlock 5 guidelines likely to be issued today: India Today

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/unlock-guidelines-mha-relaxations-coronavirus-1726844-2020-09-30

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to announce a series of new relaxations for the next phase of the lockdown. MHA had earlier allowed Metro trains to resume services. It had also said that more restrictions will be eased in the coming days and activities would slowly be permitted in areas outside the containment zones. While restaurants, malls, salons and gyms were allowed to resume services in September, more economic activities may be allowed from October in adherance with the coronavirus protocols.I&B Ministry secretary, Amit Khare, had suggested MHA a sitting arrangement formula for movie theatres to open. According to the plan, alternate seats in the first and next rows will be kept vacant to maintain social distancing.Amid all the restrictions, the tourism sector is the one to have taken a massive hit and is struggling to revive itself from the stark losses faced in the past five months.October may change the current state as tourist destinations will finally open their doors to travellers. Schools have already started on a voluntary basis for students of Class IX-XII and the same is likely to continue. Primary classes are likely to remain shut and will continue through online teaching. Universities and colleges have started taking admission tests and the new academic year may begin with online classes.

 

*WORLD*

 

 

 

Azerbaijan, Armenia clash as France, Turkey trade barbs: Turkey urkey says French solidarity with Armenia supports occupation in Azerbaijan

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/over-2000-armenian-soldiers-killed-turkish-state-media-live

Fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia entered a fourth day on Wednesday in the biggest eruption of the decades-old conflict since a 1994 ceasefire.At least 2,300 Armenian soldiers have been killed or wounded by Azerbaijani troops since the conflict began on Sunday, Azerbaijan’s defence ministry has said, according to Turkish media outlet Anadolu Agency.French President Emmanuel Macron said Turkey’s “warlike” rhetoric was encouraging Azerbaijan to reconquer Nagorno-Karabakh. The Kremlin said Russia’s military was closely following developments over Nagorno-Karabakh and again urged the opposing sides to end hostilities.Armenia posted pictures on an online government platform of the wreckage of a plane it said was a SU-25 warplane, shot down by a Turkish fighter jet on September 29. Turkey and Azerbaijan have denied Yerevan’s claim that a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down the Armenian plane, killing the pilot. On Wednesday Armenia’s defence ministry named the pilot as Major Valeri Danelin.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that French solidarity with Armenia amounted to supporting Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan.He was speaking in an interview with state-run Anadolu news agency after French President Emmanuel Macron said Turkey’s “warlike” rhetoric was encouraging Baku to reconquer Nagorno-Karabakh.

 

Armenia transports hundreds of PKK militants to fight Azerbaijan

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200930-armenia-transports-hundreds-of-pkk-militants-to-fight-azerbaijan/

Armenia has been transporting hundreds of militants from the Kurdish terror group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and what Turkey believes is the group’s Syrian branch, the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), in its renewed fight against Azerbaijan over the Armenia-occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkish security sources claim.Around 300 militants belonging to the Kurdish groups were transported by Armenia from various countries in the Middle East and placed in Nagorno-Karabakh, where they have subsequently begun training Armenian militias in battle and guerrilla tactics against Azerbaijani forces over the past month or two, they added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Will do what is necessary’ – Turkish foreign minister

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/over-2000-armenian-soldiers-killed-turkish-state-media-live

Turkey will back Azerbaijan with “every means available” in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says.“We will do what is necessary … if Azerbaijan wants to resolve this [conflict] on the field,” Cavusoglu tells state news agency Anadoluafter being asked whether Turkey is providing military support to Baku.Azerbaijan currently has the “capacity” to handle the situation on its own, Cavusoglu says.

 

Armenia not ready for Russia-mediated peace talks: PM

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/over-2000-armenian-soldiers-killed-turkish-state-media-live

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said peace talks with Azerbaijan under Russian mediation would be inappropriate, as fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region entered a fourth day.

 

Kuwait swears in new emir after Sheikh Sabah’s death

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/sheikh-nawaf-al-ahmad-al-sabah-becomes-kuwaits-new-ruling-emir

Kuwait has sworn in its new emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, to receive the body of his half-brother, the late ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah who died in the US at the age of 91.The body of Sheikh Sabah, an acclaimed diplomat and mediator who ruled for 14 years, is expected to arrive in Kuwait City later on Wednesday. He died on Tuesday in Minnesota where he had been undergoing treatment in hospital since July.According to the royal court, the funeral will be “restricted to the emir’s relatives” – a move likely designed to avoid large crowds amid the coronavirus pandemic.Kuwait’s new leader, 83-year-old Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf, was sworn in at about 08:00 GMT during a session of the National Assembly. The Gulf state has already begun a 40-day period of national mourning. The new leader is popular within the ruling al-Sabah family and is reported to have been a consensus choice for ruler. He also enjoys a reputation for modesty and has largely maintained a low profile. Significant policy changes are not expected during his reign, even after the Gulf underwent a seismic shift with Kuwait’s neighbours, UAE and Bahrain, opting to establish relations with Israel.

 

UAE announces candidacy for UN Security Council seat

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/uae-announces-candidacy-for-un-security-council-seat

UAE has announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for the 2022-2023 term, state media has said.In June 2021, the UN General Assembly will elect five member states to serve on the Security Council, which has a total of 10 non-permanent members who serve overlapping two-year terms. “My country will follow the same steps and principles upon which it was founded to maintain international peace and security in cooperation with the members of the council,” Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in New York.

 

HRW warns of threat to free-speech following rescinding of job offer to critic of Israel

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200930-hrw-warns-of-threat-to-free-speech-following-rescinding-of-job-offer-to-critic-of-israel/

Prominent international non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has waded into the row over a decision by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law to rescind its job offer to academic Valentina Azarova following pressure from a pro-Israel donor.The “case raises serious concerns on threats to academic freedom”, warned the Director of HRW in Canada, Farida Deif, in an article published on the advocacy group’s website. Deif revealed that HRW had been in contact with both parties over the withdrawal of a job offer to Azarova, a prominent international academic. The decision to rescind the offer led to accusations that the university had caved to pressure from a pro-Israel donor.

 

Ex-UN diplomat hails global support for Palestine cause

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200930-ex-un-diplomat-hails-global-support-for-palestine-cause/

Former UN diplomat and former Algerian Foreign Minister, Lakhdar Brahimi, hailed the global support for the Palestinian cause, Al-Watan Voice reported.His remarks came after he handed over a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which, he said, aimed to internationalise the Palestinian cause, garner support for the Palestinian rights, and stop Israeli apartheid.Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio, Brahimi said: “This letter was signed by a group of Arab figures supporting the Palestinian people and their resistance, using all legitimate means against the apartheid they live and theft of their rights, dignity, and land.”

 

IRGC chief: US’ creation of Daesh allowed Iran to expand its influence

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200930-irgc-chief-us-creation-of-daesh-allowed-iran-to-expand-its-influence/

The Chief Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said the United States’ establishment of Daesh has given Tehran the opportunity to increase its influence in the region.Speaking to parliament, Salami said the option of war against Iran was not on the table, pointing out that the reconciliation offers with Washington are merely a political ploy to weaken Tehran’s will.“US’ hostility towards Iran is permanent, and it will continue to strike and break our will, even if we reconcile with it,” he said, stressing that Iran has military capabilities to defeat the US.

 

Tunisia's president discusses reactivating death penalty

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200930-tunisias-president-discusses-reactivating-death-penalty/

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday spoke about reactivating the death penalty after executions were suspended in the country for nearly 29 years.Saied’s announcement came after a meeting of the National Security Council in Carthage Palace, days after a girl was raped and brutally murdered north of the capital. The victim’s family had demanded the execution of the killer.According to a presidential statement, Saied referred to “high crime rates in the country,” calling for “dealing firmly with this phenomenon”.

 

Israeli protesters gather against plans of cancelling anti-Netanyahu demonstrations

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200929-israeli-protesters-gather-against-plans-of-cancelling-anti-netanyahu-demonstrations/

Hundreds of Israeli people gathered on Tuesday in Western Jerusalem to protest against the latest plan of restricting anti-Netanyahu demonstrations across the country.Cancellation of demonstrations is said to be a measure against the spread of COVID-19, however, protesters say it is just an excuse.

 

 

Israelis Protest Bill To Stifle Protests During Coronavirus Lockdown

https://thewire.in/world/israelis-protest-bill-to-stifle-protests-during-coronavirus-lockdown

Jerusalem: Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated outside parliament on Tuesday against a government-backed bill likely to stifle protests near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home during the current coronavirus lockdown.The proposed law, which the government said was aimed at curbing COVID-19 infections, bans Israelis from holding street demonstrations more than one kilometre (0.6 miles) from their homes.The measure, which critics said was really intended to block anti-Netanyahu protests, was approved by a parliamentary committee on Tuesday. It was expected to be ratified by the full Knesset (legislature) later in the day.Many of the thousands of protesters who have gathered weekly outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem to demand his resignation over his handling of the health crisis, and alleged corruption, have travelled there from other cities.Reuters

 

 

Palestine, India sign deals worth $36m

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200930-palestine-india-sign-deals-worth-36m/

Palestinian govt and India’s representative to Palestine, Sunil Kumar, yesterday signed protocols worth $36.1 million to build developmental projects in the fields of education, health and media.Palestinian Minister of Education, Marwan Awartani, and Kumar signed the first agreement to build two schools in the governorates of Jenin and Tubas at a value of $2.1 million.The second deal was signed by the Health Minister Mai Kaileh and Kumar at a value of $29 million to build the Indian hospital for orthopaedic, paediatric, gynaecology and internal medicine in Beit Sahour area in the south of the occupied West Bank.The third agreement was signed by the General Supervisor of the Official Palestinian Media, Ahmed Assaf, at a value of $5 million to purchase equipment and machines for the new national printing press.

 

US: First Black Muslim festival to launch amid anti-racism uprising

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/30/black-muslim-festival-a-first-of-its-kind

Amid a global anti-racist movement following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Na’ima B Robert hosted an online conversation about what it means to be Black and Muslim.“A lot of the people who were at that conversation continued to come back … and as we had these weekly conversations, I woke up one morning and thought, wouldn’t it be awesome to have all of this in one month?” Robert, an author, told Al Jazeera by phone from London.The first Black Muslim Festival will take place from October, a month-long event featuring prominent Black Muslim voices from across the globe discussing a range of topics.

 

Essex react after Muslim player gets sprayed with alcohol during Bob Willis Trophy celebrations

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/article/essex-react-after-muslim-player-gets-sprayed-with-alcohol-during-bob-willis-trophy-celebrations/660032

Essex County Cricket Club has pledged to bridge the cultural gap after players of the domestic side courted controversy while celebrating the Bob Willis Trophy win at the monumental Lord's cricket stadium. The players representing County Cricket Club made headlines for all the wrong reasons after a Muslim player was reportedly sprayed with alcohol during the trophy celebrations. It all happened on Sunday when Essex were adjudged the winners of Bob Willis Trophy at Lord's. During the celebrations, one of the players representing Essex side was pictured pouring alcohol over his Muslim teammate which sparked a huge furore. The cricketer, who was named as 12th man for the summit clash between Somerset and Essex was at the receiving end during the beer-drenched celebrations by his teammates. Issuing a public statement in the wake of the disturbing incident, Essex has said that the county cricket club prides themselves on their work within multi-diverse communities throughout the county and the surrounding areas. Essex added that the county club has had a multi-diverse team with players from different backgrounds, religions, and races, where cricket is at the heart of these communities.

 

*OP-ED*

 

L.K. Advani, the Provocateur in Chief:Kabir Agarwal

https://thewire.in/politics/the-provocateur-in-chief-l-k-advani

 

Nirmala Sitharaman is wrong. Political protest by itself is not criminal:Scroll

https://scroll.in/article/974476/nirmala-sitharaman-is-wrong-political-protest-by-itself-is-not-criminal

 

As China-Pakistan ties become wider, India must prepare for implications:Shalini Chawla, indian express

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/china-pakistan-india-fatf-6636049/

 

Policing during the pandemic has underscored need for soft skills:PN Rai, indian express

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coronavirus-lockdown-policing-police-reforms-soft-skills-6636032/

 

Ayodhya conspiracy case: How the Babri Masjid demolition trial has progressed over the years:Manish Sahu , indianexpress

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/babri-mosque-demolition-1992-ayodhya-conspiracy-verdict-advani-6637402/

 

Modi-Trump bonhomie overdone, Biden might be better for India:ET Consulting Editor

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/expert-view/idea-of-a-great-bonhomie-between-trump-and-modi-overdone-biden-might-be-better-swaminathan-aiyar/articleshow/78398304.cms

 

Babri Masjid demolition | Key conclusions by Liberhan Commission

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/babri-masjid-demolition-key-conclusions-by-liberhan-commission/article32730876.ece?homepage=true

 

In Mathura, the Ayodhya playbook is being deployed again to claim Hindu rights over Idgah mosque:Sruthisagar Yamunan

https://scroll.in/article/974389/in-mathura-the-ayodhya-playbook-is-being-deployed-again-to-claim-hindu-rights-over-idgah-mosque

 

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq