6 SEPT. 2020 FLASH NEWS

*INDIA*

India, Iran exchange views on Afghanistan

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-iran-exchange-views-on-afghanistan/article32534704.ece?homepage=true

Defence Ministers of India and Iran discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan, during their meeting in Tehran, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Iran’s Minister of Defence and armed forces logistics Brigadier General Amir Hatami at the latter’s request on September 5. Mr. Singh was on a transit halt in Tehran en route from Moscow to New Delhi where he attended Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers meeting. Iran is an Observer at the SCO. “Both the leaders emphasised upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilisational ties between India and Iran,” the Ministry said.

 

Delhi watches Beijing next step, Jaishankar and Wang may meet in Moscow

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-border-dispute-jaishankar-wang-yi-moscow-meet-6584716/

The day after Indian and Chinese Defence Ministers met in Moscow, the highest level in-person meeting between the two sides since the Ladakh standoff began early May, officials in New Delhi indicated they are watching whether General Wei Fenghe has the heft to influence the Beijing top brass on complete disengagement and de-escalation along Line of Actual Control. While both sides stuck to stated positions and blamed each other in official statements issued after the meeting, Delhi will wait for the next steps on the ground. There is a view within South Block that this time the Chinese will be tested on the sincerity of their commitment to the resolution of the crisis, especially after Indian troops occupied strategic heights along the LAC in the Chushul sector.

 

Do not make attempts to unilaterally change status quo at LAC, Rajnath tells Chinese counterpart

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/do-not-make-attempts-to-unilaterally-change-status-quo-at-lac-rajnath-tells-chinese-counterpart

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has clearly conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Gen. Wei Fenghe that China must strictly respect LAC and not make attempts to unilaterally change its status quo, asserting India is determined to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, officials said on Saturday.In the first highest level face-to-face contact between the 2 sides after border tension erupted in eastern Ladakh in early May, Singh and Wei met in Moscow on Friday evening on the sidelines of a meeting of the defence ministers of SCO.

 

12 lakh issued domicile certificates, most hold PRC, says J&K admin

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/12-lakh-issued-domicile-certificates-most-hold-prc-says-jk-admin-6584858/

Jammu :Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday said it issued domicile certificates to nearly 12.44 lakh people across all 20 districts of the Union Territory till August 31 — including to 1.44 lakh people who had come from West Pakistan and those who have been living here for the past 15 years.Giving a break-up, an official release issued here said that so far, over 10.95 lakh certificates were issued to people holding a permanent resident certificate — including an over 8.56 lakh in Jammu division and around 2.39 lakh in Kashmir.Of the remaining 1.49 lakh certificates, 77,000 lakh certificates were issued to other residents/children, 67,000 certificates were issued to students and 13,373 certificates were issued to Kashmiri migrants/children, according to the statement.

 

Coronavirus: India reports another record daily rise with 90,632 cases; tally crosses 41 lakh

https://scroll.in/latest/972336/coronavirus-india-reports-another-record-daily-rise-with-90632-cases-tally-crosses-41-lakh

India’s coronavirus tally reached 41,13,811 on Sunday, after Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported a record rise of 90,632 cases in 24 hours. The toll rose by 1,065 to 70,626. India now has 8,62,320 active cases, while 31,80,865 people have recovered, pushing the recovery rate to 77.23%.

 

FIRs against Mohammed Zubair co-founder of fact-checking site AltNews in Delhi, Raipur after NCPCR complaint

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/firs-against-co-founder-of-fact-checking-website-in-delhi-raipur-after-ncpcr-complaint-6584868/

The complaint sent by NCPCR, which is the basis of the 2 FIRs in Delhi and Raipur, mentions 3 Twitter handles, including @zoo_bear, which is run by Mohammed Zubair, fact-checker and co-founder of fact-checking website, AltNews. The other two handles are @de_real_mask and @syedsarwar20. DCP (Cyber Crime, Delhi) Anyesh Roy and Raipur SP Ajay Yadav confirmed that FIRs had been filed. Zubair called the complaint “absolutely frivolous”. “I will be responding to it legally,” he told Indian Express. Indian Express

 

Telangana to rebuild demolished mosques, temple at state secretariat

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/telangana-to-rebuild-demolished-mosques-temple-at-state-secretariat

Nearly two months after two mosques and a temple were demolished at the old state secretariat here, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday announced that the government will rebuild them along with a church in the new secretariat complex.He made the announcement when a delegation of Muslim leaders led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi called on him to demand reconstruction of the demolished places of worship. CM noted the views and suggestions of the delegation of Muslim leaders which included AIMIM leader in Telangana Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi, AIMPLB secretary Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani, AIMPLB member Mufti Khaleel Ahmed and Jamat-e-Islami Hind Telangana unit chief Hamid Mohammed Khan.

 

Mosque in Ayodhya will be of same size as Babri Masjid; Pushpesh Pant to curate its museum: Trust

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/mosque-in-ayodhya-will-be-of-same-size-as-babri-masjid-pushpesh-pant-to-curate-its-museum-trust

A mosque that will come up in Ayodhya pursuant to the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case will be of the same size as Babri Masjid, said an office-brearer of the trust formed for its construction. The five-acre complex in Ayodhya's Dhannipur village will also house a hospital, a library and a museum among others, the office-bearer said, adding that retired professor and noted food critic Pushpesh Pant will be consultant curator of the museum.

 

Northeast Delhi riots: Court pulls up investigating officer for negligence

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/northeast-delhi-riots-court-pulls-up-investigating-officer-for-negligence/articleshow/77958252.cms

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court dealing with riot cases on Saturday pulled up an investigating officer (IO) of Delhi Police for not filing replies to bail applications in the alleged murder case of head constable Ratan Lal during the February riots, stating he was dealing with an important matter in a "very callous and indolent" manner.Additional sessions judge Vinod Yadav was hearing bail applications of Sahil, Adil, Mohd Furqan, Imran Ansari and others, who are accused in the alleged murder case. "This is gross negligence on part of the IO. This is such an important matter for Crime Branch and the same is being dealt with by the investigating officer in a very callous and indolent manner. Today, seven matters were kept for two entire sessions," the court said.

 

Delhi riots: Activist Saket Gokhale seeks to meet police chief to give evidence against Kapil Mishra

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/sep/06/delhi-riots-activist-saket-gokhale-seeks-to-meet-police-chief-to-give-evidence-against-kapil-mishra-2192997.html

An activist, who was named in a criminal complaint filed by one of the authors of the controversial book ‘Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story’, has written to Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava seeking an appointment to submit a complaint against the book. Activist Saket Gokhale wrote to Shrivastava that he wants to submit evidence 'pertaining to BJP leader Kapil Mishra and his role in instigating the Delhi violence in Feb.', and a complaint against the book and its authors. He expressed also hope that political affiliations would not matter to the police.

 

Anti-caa protests in Mau: AIMIM leader among 5 charged under NSA

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anti-caa-protests-in-mau-aimim-leader-among-5-charged-under-nsa-6584844/

MAU district administration has invoked the stringent NSA against five persons, including AIMIM district president Mohamad Asif alias Asif Chandan, who are lodged in jail in a case of violence that broke out in Dakshintola area during anti-CAA protests in December last year. All five are now lodged in Mau district jail. With this, the UP police have so far invoked NSA against 13 persons booked in violence that took place during CAA protest in the state.

 

 ‘Assaulted on suspicion of theft’, daily wager Basit dies in UP; two arrested

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/assaulted-on-suspicion-of-theft-daily-wager-dies-in-up-two-arrested-6584840/

Lucknow : A 32-year-old daily wager on Friday succumbed to his injuries sustained during an alleged assault by around 10 people on suspicion of theft under Anwala police station limits in Bareilly district. 2 men have been arrested. A video purportedly showing Basid tied to a tree has been widely circulated on social media. Police said he was drunk and under the influence of drugs, and stole electrical devices from a tubewell. They said some people “who knew him reached a compromise” and let him go. Rejecting police’s version, his family said he was left dead outside their house and there was no compromise with the accused. Police have booked 7 named and 3 unnamed people.A complaint by Basid’s brother Nasir (22) reads, “Around 2.35 pm on Friday when I was at home, my brother’s dead body was brought in an e-rickshaw by Rahul, Vipin, Veeru, Manish, Vikram Singh, Sonu and Potiram, and three unidentified people. They left the body of my brother outside the house and tried to escape. Vikram was caught by the neighbours. I called a doctor who declared my brother dead. When Questioned, Vikram Singh told us that he along with his accomplices had tied my brother to a tree and beat him up in a brutal manner. I called the police and handed him over to them.”

 

Two Dalit men shot dead, three injured over land dispute in Bihar

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-dalit-men-shot-dead-three-injured-over-land-dispute-in-bihar-6584852/

Patna :Two people of the Musahar community — designated as a Scheduled Caste — were shot dead and three others were injured over a land dispute in Chandpur Bhangaha village of Purnea district on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, police said.According to them, the incident took place at around 3 am on Saturday when several armed people attacked the home of a family and assaulted five of its members before shooting two of them. The victims were identified as Anmol Rishi (50) and Subodh Rishi (45) — both daily wage workers. They reportedly succumbed to injuries while being taken to the hospital.

 

Congress slams Centre over its circular on stopping creation of jobs

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/cong-slams-centre-over-its-circular-on-stopping-creation-of-jobs

Congress   has slammed the Central government over its latest circular on stopping creation of jobs in the government. The party said "it is a very alarming situation as the country's economy is already in doldrums".Senior Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said: "The Centre came out with the circular yesterday, in which the creation of new jobs within the government has been completely stopped."

 

GST is not a tax system, it is an attack on India’s poor, says Rahul Gandhi

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gst-is-not-a-tax-system-it-is-an-attack-on-indias-poor-says-rahul-gandhi/article32534602.ece?homepage=true

Continuing his attack on the Narendra Modi government’s economic policies, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that the “GST is not a tax system, it is an attack on India’s poor”. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram also opened another flank, issuing a six- point prescription to the government on reviving the economy and advising them not to hesitate from borrowing to revive the economy.

 

 Faced with Financial Crisis in Centenary Year, Jamia Lays Off Several Guest Teachers

https://clarionindia.net/faced-with-financial-crisis-in-centenary-year-jamia-lays-off-several-guest-teachers/

New Delhi: The funds-starved Jamia Millia Islamia university, which has been hailed as numero uno in the country as also in the world, is now compelled to discontinue the services of its contractual and guest teachers. Instead, the university will engage UGC’s JRF/SRF/Post-Doctoral Fellows in session 2020-21.Sadly, Jamia, an institution that has recently hit headlines for improving its position consistently at various assessment platforms, has had to face financial constraints in its centenary yearThe decision will lay off hundreds of contractual and guest teachers who were engaged in the teaching and academic work. On the condition of anonymity, one of the teachers, who has been teaching in the university for the past seven years, told Clarion India that the decision would throw his life into a tizzy.

 

Steady rise in share of daily-wagers in suicides, 23% in 2019

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/daily-wager-suicide-rate-2019-6584738/

New Delhi :The share of daily-wage earners among those who died by suicide has been steadily rising, doubling to 23.4 per cent in 2019 as compared to six years before.At nearly a quarter of the suicides, or 32,563 of the total 1,39,123, the daily-wage earners comprised the largest chunk of such deaths recorded by NCRB last year. The data for daily-wage earners excludes agricultural labourers.Tamil Nadu saw the most number of suicides by daily-wage earners (5,186), followed by Maharashtra (4,128), Madhya Pradesh (3,964), Telangana (2,858) and Kerala (2,809).

 

*WORLD*

 Palestine factions unanimously reject attempts to liquidate Palestinian cause

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200905-palestine-factions-unanimously-reject-attempts-to-liquidate-palestinian-cause/

Secretaries-general of all Palestinian factions, inside and outside the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), have unanimously rejected attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.In the final statement of the national conference held in Beirut and Ramallah on Thursday, the Palestinian factions strongly condemned all forms of normalisation with the Israeli occupation and considered it a “stab in the backs of the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic Ummah.”

 

Fatah: Bahrain's support for normalisation 'enemy for the Ummah'

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200905-fatah-bahrains-support-for-normalisation-enemy-for-the-ummah/

A senior Fatah leader has slammed Bahrain’s support for normalising ties with Israel. Commenting on Bahrain’s veto to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the UAE-Israeli normalisation deal, Fatah Spokesman Hussein Hamayel declared: “This is a form of tyranny that makes it an enemy of the Ummah.”Hamayel stressed that: “Any decision that undermines the Palestinian interests and rights is a form of shameful tyranny.”

 

Saudi arrests famous Quran reciter Abdullah Basfar

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200905-saudi-arrests-famous-quran-reciter-abdullah-basfar/

Saudi authorities have recently arrested Sheikh Abdullah Basfar, one of the famous Quran reciters across the Islamic world, the Prisoners of Conscience revealed on Twitter.The Prisoners of Conscience Twitter account conveyed that the sheikh was arrested in August, without giving more details on how and where he was arrested.“We confirm the detention of Sheikh Dr Abdullah Basfar since August 2020,” the Prisoners of Conscience account posted.Basfar is an associate professor at the department of Sharia and Islamic Studies at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He is also the former Secretary-General of the World Book and Sunnah Organisation.

 

Erdogan raises rhetoric in Greece standoff in Mediterranean

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/erdogan-raises-rhetoric-greece-standoff-mediterranean-200905171928246.html

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece to enter talks over disputed eastern Mediterranean territorial claims or face the consequences. "They're either going to understand the language of politics and diplomacy, or in the field with painful experiences," he said on Saturday at a hospital's opening ceremony in Istanbul. The two NATO allies have been locked for weeks in a tense standoff in the eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is prospecting the seabed for energy reserves in an area Greece claims as its own continental shelf.

 

'Enough with you': Israeli protesters keep pressure on Netanyahu

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/israeli-protesters-pressure-netanyahu-200906021427474.html

Thousands of Israelis protested outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night and into early Sunday, pressing ahead with a monthslong campaign demanding that the embattled Israeli leader resign. The protests, now in their 11th week, came as Israel is coping with record levels of coronavirus infections.Demonstrators have been protesting Netanyahu's handling of the coronavirus crisis, which has led to soaring unemployment, and they say he should step down while on trial for corruption charges.

 

 Death Toll From Bangladesh Mosque Explosion Rises to 24

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/09/06/world/asia/ap-as-bangladesh-mosque-explosion-.html

DHAKA:The death toll from a gas pipeline explosion in a mosque outside Bangladesh’s capital rose to 24 on Sunday while authorities were examining how a leakage caused the accident during evening prayers.A 7-year-old boy who went to pray with his father in Narayanganj district was among the dead. The father's condition is critical. The series of explosions triggered a fire Friday night as worshipers were finishing their prayers. At least 37 people were admitted to a burn unit in a state-run hospital in Dhaka, where 24 subsequently died.

 *OP-ED*

 

·        Prashant Bhushan interview: "Self-righteous ego a must for any truth-loving person"

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/interview-with-civil-rights-lawyer-prashant-bhushan-by-krishnadas-rajagopal/article32534410.ece?homepage=true

 

·        In a barren desert without any sign of water, FM and Chief Economic Adviser saw green shoots!P Chidambaram

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-economy-slowdown-act-of-god-p-chidambaram-6584615/

 

·        Modi seems oblivious to what his Finance Minister has publicly admitted:Tavleen Singh

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-india-economy-slowdown-china-border-tavleen-singh-6584632/

 

·        Saplings cannot replace forests felled while Govt rushes to destroy the environment:Ranjona Banerji

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/saplings-cannot-replace-forests-felled-while-govt-rushes-to-destroy-the-environment

 

·        UAPA: Religious minorities and rights activists are the main target

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/uapa-religious-minorities-and-rights-activists-are-the-main-target

 

·        Why hasn’t PM Modi picked up the phone and spoken to his ‘friend’ Xi?Aakar Patel

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/why-hasnt-pm-modi-picked-up-the-phone-and-spoken-to-his-friend-xi

 

·        Race for coronavirus vaccine pits spy against spy: New York Times

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/race-for-coronavirus-vaccine-pits-spy-against-spy/

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq