9 SEPT. 2020 NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY

INDIA

Fresh Chinese buildup seen on north bank of Pangong Lake day after firing incident: India Today report

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/fresh-chinese-buildup-seen-on-north-bank-of-pangong-lake-1720079-2020-09-09

Afresh buildup of Chinese troops has started on the ridgeline of Finger area on the northern bank of the Pangong Lake in Ladakh soon after the skirmish on the southern bank on Monday night.Sources have said there has been an enhancement in deployment and increased activity of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) that are clearly visible since Tuesday evening.“Movement of troops, increased numbers and new temporary defences being set up are clearly visible. The increase in deployment by Chinese has been corresponded by the Indian forces,” said a government official privy to the developments.There has been no violence or faceoff but troops from two sides are in a short range from each other, the sources further added. “They are within clear visible range and Indian troops are keeping a close watch on the activities,” an official added.Even though the Chinese continue to sit atop Finger 4 ridgeline, the Indian Army as a counter has taken over other heights to put pressure on PLA that is holding on to the heights in Ladakh since the past four months when the standoff started in early May.Mountain spurs jutting out into the lake at more than 14,000 feet are referred to as fingers.

 

China plotting big conspiracy against India as it deploys three battalions along LAC: Zee news report

https://zeenews.india.com/india/china-plotting-big-conspiracy-against-india-as-it-deploys-three-battalions-along-lac-2308472.html

Amid the simmering tensions between Indian and Chinese troops at LAC in Ladakh, China has started deploying its soldiers in large numbers near LAC. On Monday, the Indian Army succeeded in foiling the incursion of People's Liberation Army (PLA) into Mukhri area of ​​Chushul, but more such actions are expected from China in the coming days. On September 1, China had deployed a battalion of the PLA Ground Force near Rechin La at LAC and has also deployed two battalions near the Spangur lake.

 

Preparing for Moscow, Delhi, Beijing work hotlines to dial down tensions

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/preparing-for-moscow-delhi-beijing-work-hotlines-to-dial-down-tensions-6588655/

A day after the first incident of firing along the Line of Actual Control in 45 years, New Delhi and Beijing were working the diplomatic hotlines to dial down the tension ahead of the proposed meeting in Moscow between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.Monday’s incident came four months after the border standoff began early May and a violent clash on June 15 that killed 20 Indian soldiers and resulted in an unspecified number of Chinese casualties.Diplomats in Delhi and Beijing were in touch with each other since Monday evening, Indian Express has learnt, after first gunshots were fired. Special Representative-level talks are likely to take place in the coming days.NSAAjit Doval, who last had a video conference with Wang Yi on July 5, was briefed by officials from military, intelligence and MEA, sources said. Subsequently, he briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi since Jaishankar had left for Moscow via Tehran Tuesday morning — he reached Moscow in the evening. New Delhi’s assessment, as of now, is that Beijing is “rattled” after a series of pre-emptive steps by Indian troops along the LAC on the south bank of Pangong Tso since August 29-30.

 

China Confirms 5 Missing Arunachal Men "Found By Their Side": Minister

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chinese-army-confirmed-that-5-men-missing-from-arunachal-pradesh-have-been-found-by-their-side-union-minister-kiren-rijiju-2292337

New Delhi: The centre has said China has confirmed that five men missing from Arunachal Pradesh have been found on "their side" and the process is on to bring them to India."China's PLA has responded to the hotline message sent by Indian Army. They have confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal Pradesh have been found by their side. Further modalities to handover the persons to our authority is being worked out," Union Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted.China's PLA has responded to the hotline message sent by Indian Army. They have confirmed that the missing youths from Arunachal have been found by their side.

 

Jammu and Kashmir: Govt refuses to extend 4G internet services outside Ganderbal and Udhampur

https://scroll.in/latest/972595/jammu-and-kashmir-government-refuses-to-extend-4g-internet-services-outside-ganderbal-and-udhampur

Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday refused to extend high speed mobile internet, or 4G services outside 2 districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur, citing inputs from security agencies about “terror modules” trying to lure youths into terrorist organisations, PTI reported. However, 4G services in Ganderbal and Udhampur would continue till September 30.Internet services were cut off in Jammu and Kashmir last year on August 5, hours before the Centre revoked Article 370 of the Constitution and split the state into two Union Territories. The low-speed or 2G internet service on mobile phones was restored on January 25, although outages continue to be imposed intermittently amid a complete ban on 4G network. In August, the government restarted high-speed mobile data service in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts on a “trial basis” as part of “calibrated easing of restrictions”.

 

Omar Abdullah to vacate govt accommodation in Srinagar

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/omar-abdullah-to-vacate-govt-accommodation-in-srinagar/article32558840.ece?homepage=true

Srinagar:Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday wrote to the J&K administration and announced his decision to shift from his official residence on Gupkar Road within 10 weeks.“I now find myself in unauthorised occupation of this accommodation, as no attempt has been made to regularise the allotment to me on security or other grounds. This is a situation that is unacceptable to me. I have never held on to any government property I was not entitled to,” Abdullah wrote in the letter addressed to the Administrative Secretary of Estates, Hospitality and Protocol Department.

 

Ladakh Editor Arrested for Another Man's Comment Against BJP MP on FB Group Run by Him

https://thewire.in/politics/ladakh-editor-tsewang-rigzin-jamyang-tsering-namgyal

New Delhi: Tsewang Rigzin, Leh correspondent of the popular Jammu-based daily State Times, was arrested on September 5 on the basis of a police complaint lodged by the BJP MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal from Ladakh.Rigzin was granted bail the same evening.In the run-up to the May 6, 2019 Parliamentary elections in Ladakh, which was won  by Namgyal, Rigzin – as the general secretary of the Leh Press Club – was instrumental in filing an FIR against the then Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Vikram Singh Randhawa for allegedly bribing journalists at a press meet “to influence the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections” just a day before the polling day.

 

Indian Journalists Union condemns arrest of editor for post on Facebook about BJP MP

https://scroll.in/latest/972586/indian-journalists-union-condemns-arrest-of-editor-for-post-on-facebook-about-bjp-leader

Indian Journalists Union has condemned the arrest of Tsewang Rigzin, the editor of the Ladakh-based newspaper State Times. The union said that it felt that Namgyal was angry with Rigzin for his reportage and social media posts raising matters concerning public welfare. The union demanded that the case against Rigzin be dropped. It also asked Press Council of India Chairperson Justice CK Prasad to take action to protect freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

 

French defence minister Florence Parly to visit India for Rafale induction

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/french-defence-minister-florence-parly-to-visit-india-for-rafale-induction/story-CPKMlA2T5VgIp80Q67CtUM.html

French defence minister Florence Parly will make an official visit to India on September 10 to attend the ceremony marking the induction of the first batch of Rafale combat jets into IAF and to take forward cooperation in key areas such as Indo-Pacific and joint exercises.This will be Parly’s third official visit to India since 2017, and one of her first trips abroad since the outbreak of Covid-19.

 

RSS to go by what ‘samaaj’ thinks on Kashi, Mathura mosques, after seers’ call to remove them

https://theprint.in/india/rss-to-go-by-what-samaaj-thinks-on-kashi-mathura-mosques-after-seers-call-to-remove-them/498515/

New Delhi: With Hindu seers reviving demand for the removal of mosques from “holy sites” in Kashi (Varanasi) and Mathura, RSS is inclined towards re-thinking its decision not to get involved in any Ayodhya-like movement in the future.Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP), an apex body of 14 akhadas or organisations of saints and seers, passed a resolution in Prayagraj Monday to “liberate Kashi and Mathura” by removing the 2 mosques. ABAP sought the support of RSS and its affiliate, VHP, which had launched the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple movement in the 1980s. After getting a favourable verdict in the Ayodhya title suit, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had suggested the Sangh was not inclined to push for the removal of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and Shahi Idgah in Mathura. However, Tuesday, a day after ABAP resolution, Sangh seemed inclined to re-visit its stated stance on the Kashi and Mathura mosques.“It will not be our initiative. If the samaaj (society) thinks, we will see,” said a top RSS functionary Tuesday. He maintained that Kashi and Mathura are “not our subject” and Sangh “will not prod the samaaj”.But this latest stance on taking a call on the Kashi and Mathura mosques after gauging “what the people think” suggests a nuanced shift from the earlier stance of non-involvement in any Ayodhya-like movement in the future.

 

Union home ministry requests fund of Rs 50,000 crore to set up real-time surveillance: Report

https://scroll.in/latest/972608/union-home-ministry-requests-fund-of-rs-50000-crore-to-set-up-real-time-surveillance-report

Union home ministry has asked 15^th Finance Commission, which determines how tax proceeds will be divided between the Centre and states, for Rs 50,000 crore for capital expenditures, largely to set up real-time surveillance and intelligence gathering technologies, Economic Times reported. The ministry wants this fund to be evolved separately and exclusively managed by it. In a letter to the finance commission headed by NK Singh, the ministry said the proposed National Internal Security Fund would address the shared responsibility of the Centre and states to ensure internal security. “States have a shared responsibility for internal security but not for defence,’’ the home ministry argued in the letter sent in March.

 

Delhi riots: HC dismisses plea that questioned extension of probe period

https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-riots-hc-dismisses-plea-that-questioned-extension-of-probe-period/story-rLZXDNtXxKGxQF4syV0YRP.html

Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed the plea filed by Khalid Saifi, an accused in the north-east Delhi riots case, challenging a trial court order that granted more time to the investigating agency to conclude its probe in the case.A single judge bench of justice Vibhu Bakhru, while rejecting the plea said the trial court order cannot be faulted on the grounds that the petitioner was not afforded adequate opportunity to be heard.

 

Delhi govt counsel’s non-communication with police benefiting riot-accused, says DCP

https://theprint.in/judiciary/delhi-govt-counsels-non-communication-with-police-benefiting-riot-accused-says-dcp/498286/

The tussle between Delhi Police and Kejriwal-led Delhi government over Northeast district riots cases and the counsel representing them in the high court refuses to scale down.In a fresh development, Delhi Police has shot off a letter to the government’s standing counsel in Delhi High Court, Rahul Mehra, complaining his office did not inform police officials in time about fresh bail applications filed last month in connection with the riots cases. Written on 1 Sept. by Joy Tirkey, DCP, Crime branch, the letter cites 4 instances when Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Amit Chadha — who is part of the criminal panel led by Mehra — accepted notices on behalf of the police but did not apprise the department about it.

 

Delhi: Policeman Questioned for 'Forcing' Riot Victims To Sing National Anthem

https://thewire.in/government/delhi-riots-policeman-questioned-viral-video-victims-forced-to-sing-national-anthem

New Delhi: In February, a video of 23-year-old Faizan went viral. Shot during the Delhi riots, it shows a group of policemen assaulting five men – who are lying on the floor and writhing in pain – and making them sing the national anthem and ‘Vande Mataram’. Faizan, who sustained bullet injuries, died on February 28. More than six months later, an officer of the Delhi Armed Police has been questioned in connection with the incident, according to an Indian Express report. According to Indian Express‘s Mahender Singh Manral, the Crime Branch’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding Faizan’s death was helped by another video, shot from afar. In this video, the investigators noticed that one of the policemen was carrying tear smoke munitions (TSM). The report says whenever any force goes out for deployment, personnel are issued TSM under their name from their units.

 

Probe brings hope for kin of Northeast Delhi riot victim

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/probe-brings-hope-for-kin-of-northeast-delhi-riot-victim-6588574/

New Delhi :“It’s been almost 6 months since his death now. All we want is that we get justice soon. The questioning of the policeman is a start,” said Nadeem, brother of 24-year-old Faizan.“Ab shuruaat ho gayi hai,” said Mohd Nadeem, brother of 24-year-old Faizan who died during Northeast Delhi riots in February, three days after he and 2 other men were forced to sing the national anthem and Vande Mataram by a group of policemen in Kardampuri as they lay on the ground writhing in pain. On Tuesday, Indian Express reported that Delhi Police Crime Branch has questioned a policeman posted with Delhi Armed Police over suspicion that he was among the personnel caught on camera.“It’s been almost six months since his death now. All we want is that we get justice soon. The questioning of the policeman is a start,” said Nadeem. He said on February 24 the video was made, and it came to light a day later.

 

‘I Was Called a Terrorist From Shaheen Bagh’: Sharjeel Usmani

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/anti-caa-activist-sharjeel-usmani-claims-he-was-called-a-terrorist

Anti-CAA activist Sharjeel Usmani has claimed that he wasn’t questioned about the charges that were made against him, but about his links with Kashmir. “Do not forget the faces of those who fought for you and are languishing in jail,” said Usmani, a 23-year old activist, who was arrested by Uttar Pradesh ATS, on 8 July  in connection with the violence that broke out on AMU campus on 15 Dec. Usmani was granted bail on  2 September, by an Aligarh Sessions Court. The Quint spoke at length with Usmani, during which he narrated his experiences in jail, how his family dealt with his arrest as well as the future of the anti-CAA movement.Usmani said he was blindfolded and all his personal belongings were confiscated, which included his mobile phone and laptop from his house in Azamgarh. Usmani’s family wasn’t aware of his whereabouts for almost 24 hours. “They asked me why I have so many friends from Kashmir, they asked me whether I have any connection with Shadab Munna (named changed), someone they claim they arrested from a Madrasa in Nepal. I said no. They just asked me about AMU once for reference,” said Usmani, about the ATS interrogation.

 

Elgaar Parishad case: NIA arrests third KKM artiste, says all were in contact with Maoist leader Milind Teltumbde

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/elgaar-parishad-case-nia-arrests-third-kkm-artiste-says-all-were-in-contact-with-maoist-leader-milind-teltumbde-6588624/

A day after NIA arrested two artistes of the Pune-based cultural group Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case, the agency on Tuesday arrested one more person.Pune resident Jyoti Jagtap (33) was arrested on Tuesday, a day after Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor’s arrest.Gorkhe and Gaichor were produced before the NIA special court in Mumbai on Tuesday, and remanded to NIA custody for four days. Jagtap will be produced before the court on Wednesday.

 

Delhi HC stays coercive action against AltNews co-founder

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-hc-mohammed-zubair-altnews-co-founder-6589042/

Delhi High Court Wednesday granted relief to Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of fact-checking website AltNews, by staying any coercive action against him in the FIR registered by Delhi Police.Zubair was booked by Delhi Police’s Cyber Cell on the complaint of NCPCR for “threatening and torturing a girl child through Twitter”. FIR was registered on August 9 under Sections 67/67-A of IT Act.The court has asked the police to submit a status report within 8 weeks.

 

‘Based On Political Plans’: Alt News Founder Pratik Sinha On FIRs

https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/alt-news-founder-pratik-sinha-on-firs-against-mohammad-zubair

"We were unfortunately not given a chance to respond at the level of the commission so we will be going to the courts to ensure that this injustice, this misuse of legal apparatus, doesn’t go on further," said Alt News founder Pratik Sinha, responding to 2 FIRs that have named a co-founder of the organisation Mohammed Zubair. Zubair, along with two others, were booked under the IT Act and POCSO in Delhi and Raipur due to the allegation of threatening a minor through Twitter.Sinha said that Zubair was being targeted for the work he did as a fact-checker at AltNews that, over its three years of existence, has debunked many fake claims and narratives that were peddled by various powerful dispensations.

 

Uttar Pradesh: Munawwar Rana’s Daughters Put Under House Arrest for A Protest Call

https://clarionindia.net/uttar-pradesh-munawwar-ranas-daughters-put-under-house-arrest-for-a-protest-call/

Lucknow: 2 daughters of well-known poet Munawwar Rana have been placed under house arrest after they gave a call for staging a protest against the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh.Rana’s daughters, Sumaiya Rana and Uzma Parveen, had asked people to gather near the chief minister’s residence and beat ‘thalis’ to make their voices heard.A large number of policemen were seen outside the Silver Heights Apartments in Kaiserbagh area where they live. The police spokesman said that since Section 144 is in force in the state capital, no congregation of people could be allowed.The two sisters had also played a key role in the anti-CAA protests held in the state capital in December-January.

 

YouTube Censors News Video on Lynching Incidents

https://clarionindia.net/youtube-censors-news-video-on-lynching-incidents/

New Dlehi:A news video featuring 3 incidents of hate crimes including two reports of lynching in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana was removed from YouTube on Monday. It was restored after a few hours on Tuesday following complaints lodged by Millat Times which had run the video programme.Millat Times is a popular news portal which focuses specially on marginalised sections including Muslim community. Its director Shams Tabrez Qasmi told Clarion India that the YouTube removed his news programme titled “3 Cases of Mob Lynching in one day only”, claiming that the video violated its community guidelines. The programme was part of Qasmi’s daily show called “Khabar Dar Khabar”.Clarion India

 

UP: NHRC Sends Notice to Adityanath Govt, DGP Over Mob Beating Murderer to Death

https://thewire.in/rights/up-nhrc-sends-notice-to-adityanath-govt-dgp-over-mob-beating-murderer-to-death

 National Human Rights Commission has sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state’s police chief over reports of a man accused of committing murder being fatally thrashed by a mob in a village, officials said on Tuesday.The Commission observed that it has perused the reports of the incident of “cruel high handedness” by the villagers, taking law in their hands that too in the presence of police force, cannot be denied.“A well-equipped police team was present on the spot when the victim was brutally attacked with sticks and stones,” NHRC said.PTI

 

Govt attaches properties of US-based Sikhs for Justice leader and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, first under amended UAPA

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-attaches-properties-of-us-based-sikhs-for-justice-leader-and-designated-terrorist-gurpatwant-singh-pannun-first-under-amended-uapa/story-WrTrGsIQOyZBWPJ984DmJM.html

New Delhi:Centre on Tuesday ordered the attachment of properties of US-based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader and designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun under Section 51A of stringent UAPA. This is the first time that the government has attached property under UAPA since its amendment last year. Pannun, along with eight other men, was designated a terrorist by Union home ministry in July this year. Pannun has been running a campaign against India and motivating Sikh youngsters in his home state Punjab to join militancy, the government said.The others designated as individual terrorists under UAPA include - Paramjit Singh of Babbar Khalsa International, Hardeep Singh Nijjar of Khalistan Tiger Force, Gurmit Singh Bagga of Khalistan Zindabad Force and Ranjeet Singh from the same outfit. Properties of Pannun and Nijjar in Punjab’s Amritsar and Jalandhar respectively will be attached, the government order said.

 

Congress & ISI are behind 26/11 Mumbai attack: Former Bureaucrat RVS Mani

https://goachronicle.com/congress-isi-are-behind-26-11-mumbai-terror-attack-former-bureaucrat-rvs-mani/

Mumbai: RVS Mani, a former bureaucrat of Indian government in a no-holds barred interview with Goa Chronicle, makes shocking allegations against the highest office of Indian govt saying that credible information was known as early as Nov.21st, boat spotted but forces were redeployed to allow safe passage of boat carrying terrorists through sea-route that led to the horrific Mumbai attacks of 26/11. According to RVS Mani, Congress and ISI are behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The former bureaucrat also opens a pandora’s box on corruption within the Mumbai Police force. He alleges that a representative of IndiaBulls approached him and advised him not to pursue a legal matter against a senior police officer because he was told that Rs 500 crore were floating to ensure that a senior officer becomes Mumbai Police Commissioner. Interestingly, the current Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh’s wife is a director on the board of IndiaBulls.Goa Chronicle

 

Bharat Ratna for Narasimha Rao, says Telangana assembly; Owaisi’s AIMIM disagrees

https://www.hindustantimes.com/telangana/bharat-ratna-for-pv-narasimha-rao-say-telangana-parties-minus-owaisi-s-aimim/story-cuhM3SxbeLv8H2dOtcYtJI.html

Hyderabad:Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday piloted a resolution through the state assembly to ask Centre to confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, on former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao to mark his birth centenary being celebrated this year. K Chandrasekhar Rao, popularly known as KCR, requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the announcement during upcoming Parliament session. The assembly also resolved to request the Centre to install a statue and portrait of Narasimha Rao in Parliament annexe, besides renaming Hyderabad Central University. AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi, boycotted the discussion in the assembly, saying the party didn’t support the resolution seeking Bharat Ratna for the former PM. “AIMIM MLAs boycotted Telangana Assembly proceedings following a resolution that proposed Bharat Ratna for PV Narasimha Rao. As Prime Minister, Rao failed to protect Babri Masjid from demolition & his communal politics is well known,” the party later tweeted its opposition to the resolution.

 

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan elected unopposed as Delhi Waqf Board member

https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/article/aap-mla-amanatullah-khan-elected-unopposed-as-delhi-waqf-board-member/649634

New Delhi: AAP legislator from the Okhla constituency Amanatullah Khan was on Tuesday elected unopposed as a member of the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan was the only candidate in election of member (MLA) post. He was presented a certificate of election by returning officer and north Delhi DM Shinde Dipak Arjun, officials of the Waqf Board said.With his election as a member of the Board, Khan is likely to return as chairman of the panel for the third time in a row. Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to reduce the amount of cost imposed on a petitioner, who had challenged a public notice issued by Delhi government nominating Amanatullah Khan for election as a member of the Delhi Wakf Board.A division bench, headed by Chief Justice DN Patel, had earlier dismissed that petition with a cost of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner noting that he had not included Amanatullah as a party in the petition. The bench had also observed that "this is not a PIL at all". PTI/ANI

 

Subramanian Swamy’s ultimatum to BJP — sack Amit Malviya by Thursday or I’ll defend myself

https://theprint.in/politics/remove-amit-malviya-from-it-cell-by-tomorrow-subramanian-swamys-compromise-proposal-to-bjp/498750/

New Delhi: BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has given an ultimatum to the party to remove its IT cell head Amit Malviya by Thursday, a day after he accused the latter of running a campaign against him using fake tweets.Swamy said removing Malviya is the “compromise proposal” he has made to party president J.P. Nadda. If he is not removed, he said, it would mean the party is not willing to “defend me”.He also said there is no party forum where he can seek the opinion of the cadre and “hence I will have to defend myself”.“By tomorrow If Malaviya is not removed from BJP IT cell (which is my five villages compromise proposal to Nadda) it means the party brass does not want to defend me. Since there is no forum in the party where I can ask for cadre opinion, hence I will have to defend myself,” Swamy tweeted Wednesday.

 

BJP’s support to Kangana Ranaut a conspiracy against Mumbai, Shiv Sena says in Saamana

https://theprint.in/politics/bjps-support-to-kangana-ranaut-a-conspiracy-against-mumbai-shiv-sena-says-in-saamana/498781/

Shiv Sena, which is engaged in a war of words with actor Kangana Ranaut, has lashed out at its former ally-turned-rival BJP for supporting the actor, and said it looked like the latter was conspiring to ultimately separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana criticised the Modi government for providing Ranaut with Y+ security cover though she allegedly disrespected Mumbai.

 

Over 5L Fake Entries Found on PM Kisan Beneficiaries List in Tamil Nadu, Fraudsters Swindle Rs 110 Crore

https://www.news18.com/news/india/over-5l-fake-entries-found-on-pm-kisan-beneficiaries-list-in-tamil-nadu-fraudsters-swindle-rs-110-crore-2862095.html

More than five lakh dubious entries of farmers on the beneficiaries' list of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme has surfaced in Tamil Nadu's northern and western districts. These ineligible beneficiaries have caused the exchequer a loss of over Rs 110 Crore.However, the state agriculture department claimed that they have recovered around Rs 32 Crore so far. The department ordered a detailed inquiry in the matter after several false beneficiaries were found on the list.Responding to the scam, Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi on Tuesday said that the state has arrested 18 people in connection with the case, while three assistant directors in the department have been suspended, action has been initiated against 34 officials and 80 officials who were working on contracts were dismissed. The epicentre of the scam is Villupuram and Kallakurichi districts, he added.

 

Hindu Mahasabha leader booked for calling AMU ‘a seminary for terrorists’

https://indiatomorrow.net/2020/09/09/hindu-mahasabha-leader-booked-for-calling-amu-a-seminary-for-terrorists/

ALIGARH:National spokesman of the Hindu Mahasabha, Ashok Pandey, has been booked by Aligarh police for terming AMU students as ‘terrorists’ and calling the institution ‘a seminary for terrorists’ in an interview.Following a complaint lodged by the AMU authorities, the Civil Lines police booked Pandey. According to the FIR, Pandey had also called AMU founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan a ‘traitor’ and the university as “an institution being a classroom of terrorists” during an interview to a news channel.

 

Adani’s solar energy project in Jaisalmer temporarily stayed by Rajasthan High Court

https://scroll.in/latest/972610/rajasthan-high-court-orders-temporary-stay-on-adanis-solar-energy-project-in-jaisalmer

Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday ordered a temporary stay on Adani Group’s joint solar energy power project with the state government to build a 1,500 megawatt solar energy park near Pokhran in Jaisalmer, PTI reported. This came after local farmers challenged the allocation of nearly 990 hectares of agricultural land to billionaire Gautam Adani’s business house for the project.

 

‘Must aim to win Muslim votes’: Netaji kin Chandra Kumar Bose writes to PM Modi seeking to address issues within West Bengal BJP

 

https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/must-aim-to-get-4-muslim-votes-netaji-kin-chandra-kumar-bose-writes-to-pm-modi-seeking-to-address-issues-within-west-bengal-bjp/2078544/

BJP leader and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose said on Tuesday he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party heavyweights Amit Shah and J P Nadda, flagging certain “issues and concerns”, which, according to him, should be addressed by the saffron camp, ahead of 2021 Bengal Assembly polls.He also said that the BJP, besides capitalising on the anti-incumbency factor, should follow the ‘sabke sath sabke vishwas’ motto propagated by the PM, and “reach out to people at the booth level, while guarding against divisive politics”.PTI

 

Lockdown was ‘third attack on unorganised sector’, says Rahul Gandhi

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lockdown-was-third-attack-on-unorganised-sector-says-rahul-gandhi/article32558772.ece?homepage=true

In the fourth and final part of the video series on Indian economy, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “misled the country” by saying that the fight against COVID-19 pandemic would be won in 21 days, instead in those 21 days the “backbone of the unorganised sector was broken”.The unplanned lockdown which was imposed without prior notice was the “third attack” on the unorganised sector, he said. In the earlier parts of this series, he listed out “demonetisation” and “faulty implementation of the GST” as the other reasons that led to a collapse of the unorganised sector.

 

Covid: Centre allows schools to partially reopen for Classes 9 to 12 from Sept.21

https://scroll.in/latest/972592/covid-19-centre-allows-schools-to-partially-reopen-for-classes-9-to-12-from-september-21

Centre has said that schools can partially reopen on a voluntary basis for Classes 9 to 12 from September 21. However, online and distance learning will continue to be permitted and encouraged, a Statement of Protocol issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. “Students of class 9th to 12th shall be permitted to visit their school on voluntary basis for taking guidance from their teachers,” SOP said. “This will be subject to written consent of their parents/guardians. Such visits and teacher – student interaction must be organized in a staggered manner.”Teachers, employees of the school and students must follow physical distancing guidelines, maintaining a distance of at least six feet from each other, the SOP said. It said face covers and masks must be used, and hands must be washed frequently with soap even when not dirty. Alcohol-based sanitisers must be used wherever possible. SOP also said that everyone should monitor their own health and report any illness immediately.Students and teachers living in containment zones will not be allowed to attend school, the Centre said. Only asymptomatic teachers, non-teaching staff and students will be allowed inside the premises.

 

NEET: SC refuses to intervene in pleas seeking postponement of exams, facilities

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-refuses-to-entertain-pleas-seeking-deferment-or-cancellation-of-neet-exam/article32559056.ece?homepage=true

National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will be held on schedule on September 13 with the Supreme Court on Wednesday refusing to intervene in various petitions seeking postponement of examinations to providing facilities for aspirants.One of the petitions, represented by advocate Shoeb Alam, even sought the use of admit cards as curfew passes in containment zones.Alam said a “slight nudge” from the court would go a long way to ensure the safety of lakhs of candidates taking the exam across the country.

 

Nearly 90,000 Covid Cases In India In 24 Hours, Over 43 Lakh Total Cases

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-nearly-90-000-covid-19-cases-in-india-in-24-hours-1-115-deaths-over-43-lakh-total-cases-73-890-deaths-2292593

New Delhi: India reported a daily jump of 89,706 coronavirus infections in 24 hours, taking its tally past 43-lakh mark, the Health Ministry data this morning showed. The number of cases in the country now stand at 43,70,128. In the 24-hour period, India, which is now the second worst-hit country, reported 1,115 deaths linked to the virus, taking the total number of fatalities to 73,890. About 33 lakh patients have recovered from the infection in the country, pushing the recovery rate to 77.32 per cent.More than five crore tests for detection of COVID-19 have been conducted in the country so far, according to Health Ministry. The average Tests Per Million Per Day have increased from 237 in the second week of July to 758 in the first week of Sept., it said.Worldwide, Covid-19 has killed more than 870,000 people and infected more than 2.6 crore since it was discovered in China late last year.

 

Plasma Therapy Not Beneficial In Reducing Covid Deaths: ICMR Study

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-plasma-therapy-not-beneficial-in-reducing-covid-deaths-icmr-study/360033

Use of convalescent plasma therapy in Coronavirus-infected patients does not help in reducing mortality or progression to severe COVID-19, a multi-centric study funded by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found.The 'open-label parallel-arm phase II multicentre randomized controlled trial' (PLACID Trial) was conducted across 39 public and private hospitals across India between April 22 to July 14 to investigate the effectiveness of convalescent plasma (CP) for the treatment of COVID-19, it said.

 

Coronavirus: Oxford University vaccine trial put on hold after participant falls ill

https://scroll.in/latest/972604/coronavirus-oxford-university-vaccine-trial-put-on-hold-after-participant-falls-ill

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca on Tuesday said it has paused late-stage trials of its experimental coronavirus vaccine after a study participant developed an unexplained illness, AP reported. The vaccine, developed with University of Oxford, has been widely seen as one of the leading candidates against the infection. In a statement, the company said it is a “routine” pause because of “a potentially unexplained illness”. AstraZeneca said that in large trials, illnesses sometimes happen by chance, and added that it was working to expedite review of this to minimise any potential impact on the vaccine timeline. “This is a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials, while it is investigated, ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials,” a spokesperson said.

 

India’s child mortality rate declined between 1990 and 2019: UN

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-child-mortality-rate-declined-between-1990-and-2019-un/article32559301.ece?homepage=true

India’s child mortality rate has declined substantially between 1990 and 2019 but the country, along with Nigeria, still accounted for almost a third of all under-five deaths last year, according to a new UN report which warned that COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undo decades of progress in eliminating preventable child deaths globally.The ‘Levels & Trends in Child Mortality’ Report 2020 said that the number of global under-five deaths dropped to its lowest point on record in 2019 — down to 5.2 million from 12.5 million in 1990.Over the past 30 years, health services to prevent or treat causes of child death such as preterm, low birth weight, complications during birth, neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, as well as vaccination, have played a large role in saving millions of lives.

 

 

*WORLD*

 

Israel, UAE to sign deal at White House on September 15: Reports

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/israel-uae-sign-deal-white-house-september-15-reports-200908185750190.html

US President Donald Trump will hold a September 15 signing ceremony for the Middle East agreement normalising relations between Israel and UAE, according to reports citing senior US officials.The officials said senior delegations from both countries will likely be led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of the UAE crown prince. Netanyahu confirmed his participation on Twitter, with the Israeli leader saying he is "proud to leave for Washington next week at the invitation of President Trump and to participate in the historic ceremony at the White House on the establishment of a peace agreement between Israel and the UAE ".

 

Arab League division over Palestinian cause to dominate talks

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/arab-league-division-palestinian-dominate-talks-200908184552802.html

An Arab League meeting on Wednesday will focus on the Palestinian cause after the Israel-UAE "normalisation" deal, with analysts suggesting division rather than usual unity on the issue will dominate the discussion.The run-up to the virtual session has already left a sour taste for the Palestinian leadership.On Sunday, Palestinian Authority (PA) accused UAE and Bahrain of blocking a draft resolution that called on Arab states to adhere to 2002 Arab Peace Initiative plan before normalising ties with Israel.

 

Israel arrests more than 40 Palestinians including ex-prisoners

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200908-israel-arrests-more-than-40-palestinians-including-ex-prisoners/

Israeli occupation forces carried out a large-scale arrest campaign across the occupied West Bank, detaining at least 43 Palestinians, including a girl and one woman, reported Wafa news agency.According to Palestinian security sources, more than half are former prisoners.Amani Sarahneh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS), told Anadolu Agency that the raids targeted Hebron province, where 50 citizens including two females, identified as Amena Abdel-Ghani Abu Turki and Seham Al-Battat, were taken into custody.

 

Prominent Palestinian astrophysicist set to administrative detention by Israeli military order

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200908-prominent-palestinian-astrophysicist-set-to-administrative-detention-by-israeli-military-order/

Dr. Imad Barghouthi, Professor of Physics at Al-Quds University, Palestine, was placed under administrative detention until November 15th by an order of an Israeli military commander in the West Bank which came only hours before his scheduled release on bail.

 

UAE: Israel war on Gaza will not affect ‘warm peace’ with Tel Aviv

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200909-uae-israel-war-on-gaza-will-not-affect-warm-peace-with-tel-aviv/

A prominent Emirati official said yesterday that the controversial normalisation deal with Israel will not be affected even if Tel Aviv launches a war on the Gaza Strip.In an interview with Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Ali Al-Nuaimi, chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the UAE’s Federal Council, said that the “warm peace with Israel” can endure such crises as a “war on Gaza”.

 

Israel's largest lender bank expects UAE bank ties to follow normalisation

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200909-israels-largest-lender-bank-expects-uae-bank-ties-to-follow-normalisation/

Israel’s largest lender Bank Hapoalim expects to start working with banks in the United Arab Emirates once the two Middle East states sign a normalisation agreement, its chief executive said on Wednesday.UAE and Israel are due to sign the agreement, brokered by US, on Sept.15 at a ceremony held by US President Donald Trump.The three sides have talked up the economic opportunities that normalisation would bring and several business cooperation agreements have already been signed.

 

At least 37 million people have been displaced by America's 'war on terror' in less than 20 years

https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/at-least-37-million-people-have-been-displaced-by-americas-war-on-terror-in-less-than-20-years/articleshow/78007071.cms

 At least 37 million people have been displaced by America's "global war on terror," according to a new report from Brown University's Cost of War project. The number of displaced people could be as high as 59 million, the report states.  Displacement has caused "incalculable harm to individuals, families, towns, cities, regions, and entire countries physically, socially, emotionally, and economically," the report states.  The federal government's price tag for the war on terror is over $6.4 trillion, and it's killed over 800,000 people in direct war violence. At least 37 million people, and possibly up to 59 million, have been displaced by America's "global war on terror" since it was launched by former President George W. Bush's administration nearly 20 years ago, according to a new report from Brown University's Cost of War project."US post-9/11 wars have forcibly displaced at least 37 million people in and from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Philippines, Libya, and Syria. This exceeds those displaced by every war since 1900, except World War II," the report states.

 

US begins banning imports from Chinese firms in Xinjiang over abuse of its Uighur Muslims

https://theprint.in/world/us-begins-banning-imports-from-chinese-firms-in-xinjiang-over-abuse-of-its-uighur-muslims/498524/

The Trump administration said it has banned imports from three companies in the Xinjiang region of China over Beijing’s alleged repression of the Uighur Muslim minority group, and it plans to add curbs on six more firms and target cotton, textiles and tomatoes from the area.U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 11 issued a so-called withhold release order — which it uses to combat forced labor in global supply chains — against Hero Vast Group for using “convict labor and forced labor to produce the garments it manufactures,” CBP said in a statement Tuesday. It issued similar orders against Lop County Meixin Hair Product Co. on June 17 and Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co. on May 1, it said.Bloomberg

 

Erdogan, Rouhani hold Turkey-Iran cooperation council meeting

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200908-erdogan-rouhani-hold-turkey-iran-cooperation-council-meeting/            

Turkey and Iran today held 6th High-Level Cooperation Council meeting via video link, Ankara’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.According to the statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani co-chaired the meeting.“We have made many important decisions within the scope of the council so far, we also held the 5th meeting in Ankara in 2018,” Erdogan said.

 

Afghan VP Amrullah Saleh escapes deadly bomb attack in Kabul

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/afghan-vp-saleh-unharmed-bomb-attack-kabul-spokesman-200909044320211.html

A roadside bomb in Kabul targeted Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Wednesday morning, his spokesman said, but he escaped the attack unharmed.Initially, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said at least two civilians died but the death toll later rose to 10. The ministry said at least 15 people were wounded.The Taliban, who have pledged not to launch attacks in urban areas under a deal with the United States, denied responsibility.

 

Coronavirus pandemic hurting efforts to curb child mortality: UN

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/coronavirus-pandemic-hurting-efforts-curb-child-mortality-200909024907824.html

Progress in reducing child mortality, which fell to an all-time low in 2019, is at risk as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts health services and deprives mothers and young children of access to care, particularly in poor countries, the United Nations has warned.The joint report by UN agencies, including the UN children's fund UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), said preventable deaths among children under five dropped to 5.2 million in 2019 compared with 12.5 million in 1990, but the pandemic was "putting millions of additional lives at stake".

 

Myanmar troops confirm atrocities against Rohingya: rights group

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/myanmar-soldiers-hague-confessing-killing-rohingya-200908121409905.html   

2 soldiers who deserted from Myanmar's army have testified on video they were ordered to kill and rape Muslim Rohingya villagers, a human rights group said Tuesday.The comments appear to be the first public confession by soldiers of involvement in army-directed massacres, rape and other crimes against Rohingya in the Buddhist-majority country, and the group Fortify Rights suggested they could provide important evidence for an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court.

 

22 Killed, Dozens Battling for Life as Marble Mines Collapse in Pakistan

https://www.news18.com/news/world/22-killed-dozens-battling-for-life-as-marble-mines-collapse-in-pakistan-2861255.html

At least 22 people have been killed and dozens were battling for their lives after 6 units of the famed marble mines in Pakistan's Ziarat Ghar mountain collapsed, causing large boulders to fall on them, according to media reports on Tuesday. The mines collapsed on Monday night, instantly killing 12 miners, the Geo News reported.The death toll rose after 10 more succumbed to injuries at the District Mohmand Hospital. Majority of the deceased include labourers and few others who had gathered at the foothill in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Safi town near the Afghanistan border, about 85 km from provincial capital Peshawar.

 

*OP-ED*

 

• UP police accused of another brutal assault on Muslim man on suspicion of cow slaughter:Sunil Kashyap, caravanmagazine 

https://caravanmagazine.in/news/up-police-accused-of-another-assault-on-muslim-man-on-suspicion-of-cow-slaughter

 

• We will not be silenced: Harsh Mander on the Delhi violence case:Harsh Mander 

https://scroll.in/article/972579/we-will-not-be-silenced-harsh-mander-on-the-delhi-violence-case

 

• Poets Branded Naxals by Both Cong & BJP: What is Kabir Kala Manch?Asmita Nandy 

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/poets-branded-naxals-by-both-cong-and-bjp-what-is-kabir-kala-manch

 

• As Complaints Go Unprobed, Muslim Riot Victims Accuse Delhi Police of Bias:Seemi Pasha 

https://thewire.in/communalism/delhi-riots-2020-victims-allege-police-bias

 

• Analysis | Shots fired at LAC dim hopes of breakthrough in Jaishankar-Wang talks:Suhasini Haidar 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/analysis-shots-fired-at-lac-dim-hopes-of-breakthrough-in-jaishankar-wang-talks/article32555206.ece?homepage=true

 

• Rafale is a top class 4+ generation jet, but why are we paying three times more than what was offered in 2014?Mohan Guruswamy 

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/rafale-is-a-top-class-4-generation-jet-but-why-are-we-paying-three-times-more-than-what-was-offered-in-2014

 

• Right to Education not being properly implemented; need for a professional regulatory body:Nipun Arora/IPA 

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/right-to-education-not-being-properly-implemented-need-for-a-professional-regulatory-body

 

• Ram Madhav’s article on Kashmir: A manipulation of facts?Gulzar Bhat

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/ram-madhavs-article-on-kashmir-a-manipulation-of-facts

•   GDP contraction: Big government expenditure is a must now to revive the country’s ailing economy:K R Sudhaman/IPA 

 https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/gdp-contraction-big-government-expenditure-is-a-must-now-to-revive-the-countrys-ailing-economy

 

• Kashmiri Editors Can't Use Fear as an Excuse for Their Continued Silence:Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal  

https://thewire.in/media/kashmir-media-journalists-editors-pellets-muharram

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq