10 OCT. NEWS DIGEST

INDIA

 

China attempted to seize control of LAC by force, talks won't change its aggressive stance: US NSA

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/china-attempted-seize-control-lac-force-talks-will-not-change-aggressive-stance-us-nsa-1730301-2020-10-10

New Delhi:Amid the ongoing Indo-China dispute, US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said that China has attempted to "seize" control of LAC with India by force as part of its territorial aggression.He further said that time has come to accept that dialogue and agreements will not persuade Beijing to change. "CCP's [Chinese Communist Party] territorial aggression is also apparent on its Indian border where China has attempted to seize control of LAC by force," US NSA Robert O'Brien said in a remark on China early this week in Utah. "Beijing's signature international development programme, One Belt One Road (OBOR), involves impoverished companies taking on opaque and unsustainable Chinese loans to pay Chinese firms employing Chinese labourers to build their infrastructure," he said. O'Brien also noted China's other international aid efforts that include selling surveillance systems and similar tools of repression to "pariah regimes" around the world, including Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.India Today

 

China has deployed 60,000 soldiers at LAC… India needs US in this fight: Secretary Pompeo

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/india-china-border-row-mike-pompeo-6719225/

Addressing the “threat” China poses to the Quad nations, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the country has deployed 60,000 soldiers at its border with India. He also said India “absolutely need US to be their ally and partner in this fight”.Foreign ministers from the Quad countries —US, India, Australia and Japan — met in Tokyo on Tuesday for the first in-person talks since the pandemic began. On his return to the US, Pompeo gave three interviews during which he spoke of China’s “bad behaviour”, and said the “tide’s begun to turn”. “I was with my foreign minister counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan… four big democracies, 4 powerful economies, four nations, each of whom has real risk associated with the threats attempting to be imposed by CCP. And they see it in their home countries too,” he said on The Guy Benson Show.He then told Larry O’ Connor, “But they’ve all seen it, whether it’s the Indians, who are actually having a physical confrontation with the Chinese up in the Himalayas in the northeastern part of India, the Chinese have now begun to amass huge forces against India in the north.”He said the Quad countries were developing a set of policies to present a resistance to the threats that China posed to each of the four nations. “(India) absolutely need the US to be their ally and partner in this fight,” he said.Speaking to Fox News, he said, “They’ve stacked 60,000 soldiers against the Indians in the north. When the Australians had temerity to ask for an investigation of the Wuhan virus and where it began, something that we know a lot about, the Chinese Communist Party threatened them. They bullied them.indian express

"China Has Deployed 60,000 Soldiers On India's Northern Border": Mike Pompeo

 

ED clarifies Bhim Army has no links with PFI, claims of Rs 100 crore pumped for Hathras protest false

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hathras-ed-clarifies-bhim-army-no-links-with-pfi-1729910-2020-10-09

New Delhi:Enforcement Directorate (ED) has clarified that they have found no links between Chandrashekhar Azad-led Bhim Army and PFI, which has been accused of inciting tension during anti-CAA protests.ED has also said that the talks of Rs 100 crore being recovered is untrue. ED clarification comes after former UP DGP Brij Lal claimed that the Bhim Army and other outfits were trying to mislead the family of the Hathras alleged rape victim.Meanwhile, four people with alleged links to PFI were arrested on their way to Hathras to meet the victim's family. Among them is a journalist. The former UP DGP, who is also the former chief of UP Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, alleged that PFI and its affiliate Campus Front of India became active during the Hathras protests and pumped in Rs 100 crore for instigating riots over the case. India today

 

Sedition charges against 4 going to Hathras: CFI members wanted to express solidarity with family, says outfit

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hathras-sedition-charges-cfi-members-arrest-6718977/

Muzaffarnagar: 4 days after sedition and UAPA charges were invoked against a journalist, 2 members of Campus Front of India (CFI), and a driver who were on way to Hathras to meet the family of 19-year-old Dalit victim, CFI on Friday stated in Delhi that their 2 members were “delegated by us to go express solidarity with the victim’s family”.CFI national general secretary Rauf Sharif said, “It is a student organisation’s moral duty to express solidarity with families of victims.”On Monday, journalist Siddique Kappan (41), CFI members Atiq-ur-Rahman (25) and Masood Ahmed (26), and driver Alam (26) were detained from a toll plaza in Mathura by UP Police while on way to Hathras.Sharif claimed that Rahman and Kappan were “earlier questioned by Special Cell of Delhi Police in relation to anti-CAA protests”. He said, “2 CFI members and journalist are friends.”Kappan’s lawyer Anas Indori said, “The case is baseless. In fact, one of the persons arrested is a driver from Delhi’s Trilokpuri, who was merely taking them to Hathras. Siddique is a journalist and perhaps is in touch with social activists, who decided to accompany them, as they were going in the same direction.”At the press event, Sharif said the police’s claim that pamphlets were found with the 4 are false. “The police say they had a booklet, a printed notice that said ‘Justice to Hathras’, a laptop… Is carrying a mobile and a laptop a crime? There were no pamphlets — stories are being concocted.” Indian Express

 

Attempts are being made to ‘communalise’ Hathras incident, says Jamiat Ulema

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/attempts-are-being-made-to-communalise-hathras-incident-says-jamiat-ulema-e-hind/articleshow/78580225.cms

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Arshad Madani has slammed the arrest of a 41-year-old Kerala journalist and three others and claimed that through them attempts are being made to “communalise” the Hathras incident.Journalist Siddiqui Kappan, Atikur Rahman, 28, Masood Ahmad, 28, and Alam, 37 were taken into custody on Monday while they were going to meet the family of the Dalit girl who was allegedly gang-raped and killed in Hathras.“A girl is brutally attacked by local youths. She goes through severe mental and physical trauma for days. And she dies in a Delhi hospital. Now, it is being said that it was part of an international conspiracy. A Muslim journalist who had come to report the incident has been arrested,” Madani said in a statement. “Instead of ensuring justice to the victim, some the news channels are now trying to give it the Hindu-Muslim colour,” he added. Times of India

 

Aurangabad: Punish the accused in Hathras case: Jamat-e-Islami Hind

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/punish-the-accused-in-hathras-case-jih/articleshow/78559537.cms

Aurangabad: Members of Jamat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has staged a demonstration in front of the district collectorate asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the accused involved in the alleged rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Hathras are hanged till death.They have submitted a memorandum to the PM through the district collector drawing his attention to the need for exemplary punishment to the accused in the Hathras case.The representation signed by Fahimunnisa, the city unit JIH women’s wing president, demanded immediate arrest of culprits, financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the victim’s family and stern action against the superintendent of police and the district magistrate who have played a doubtful role in the case. The women’s wing demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against people who were booked under stringent laws for raising voice against the atrocities on a Dalit woman. Times of India

Aurangabad: Jamat demands capital punishment for Hathras gang rape culprits

 

Amid criticism over Hathras probe, MHA issues advisory to states on dealing with crimes against women: 'FIR must on complaints relating to sexual offences'

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-issues-fresh-advisory-to-states-on-women-safety/article32819423.ece?homepage=true

In a fresh advisory to states, the Ministry of Home Affairs Saturday directed the police to strictly adhere to guidelines and adopt stringent action while dealing with cases related to crimes against women.The directive comes amid criticism of the Uttar Pradesh police for its handling of the Hathras case. The police has drawn flak for allegedly intimidating the kin of the deceased, refusing to hand over the body of the victim to the family, and collecting forensic samples 11 days after the crime. “It is requested that states/UTs may suitably issue instructions to all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the provisions in the law. It is also requested to monitor the cases on the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) to ensure that suitable follow up action is taken for chargesheet of the guilty in a timely manner as required in the law,” MHA said.Explaining the guidelines and laws enacted to probe cases of sexual offences, MHA told states to ensure mandatory registration of FIRs and take action against officers who refuse to register an FIR in cases of rape and other crimes against women. The hindu

 

Valmiki-dominated Hathras seat voted for BJP since 1991, yet troll army questioned Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi: National  Herald India

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/valmiki-dominated-hathras-seat-voted-for-bjp-since-1991-yet-troll-army-questioned-rahul-and-priyanka-gandhi

Hathras gang-rape incident – which triggered a nationwide outrage against the upper caste driven Hindutva ideology and the BJP governments, both at the Center and the state, for being indifferent towards the plight of the most vulnerable sections – is being seen as a turning point Uttar Pradesh’s political history.Many believe that the brutal gang-rape wherein a Dalit girl was raped by Thakurs may start the disintegration of BJP rule in India’s most crucial state electorally and unite the Opposition even as the BJP questioned Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for speaking up about the incident and reaching out to the victim’s family. Valmiki-dominated Hathras seat voted for BJP since 1991, yet troll army questioned Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. But a closer look at the political past of Hathras, which has a sizable population of the Valmiki community, suggests that it is BJP which is to be squarely blamed for the plight of Dalits in Harthras.Dominated by the Valmiki community which the victim belonged to, Hathras has been a BJP stronghold since 1991. Even during the times when Mandal politics stormed political citadels in north India, BJP managed to win the seat.

 

Official NCRB figures show Dalit women are not safe in UP: national herald india

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/official-ncrb-figures-show-dalit-women-are-not-safe-in-up

‘Crime in India 2019’ report, released recently, is a compendium of data on criminal cases registered in the country during last year. The report provides a statewise break-up of such cases. Crime against Dalits is part of this official report. It is not a secret that all criminal acts are not registered by the police for a variety of reasons. Many cases are never reported to the police. It is also well known that when it comes to lodging complaints by Dalits, how difficult it is to file such complaints especially if the perpetrators happen to be people belonging to powerful sections of society and dominant castes.

 

"Due To Caste": Woman Panchayat Leader Made To Sit On Floor For Meeting

https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/tamil-nadu-news-because-of-caste-woman-panchayat-leader-made-to-sit-on-floor-for-meeting-2308070?pfrom=home-topscroll

Chennai: A photograph showing an elected woman panchayat leader sitting on the floor during a meeting she ought to preside over - while others sit on chairs - has sparked outrage in Tamil Nadu and exposed the deeply entrenched discriminative practices. District Collector in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore, where the incident took place, has suspended the panchayat's secretary and ordered a probe after the photograph emerged on social media.The woman seen in the photograph of the President of the Therku Thittai village panchayat and belongs to the Adi Dravida community, a Scheduled Caste. She was elected to her post - a reserved seat - last year. NDTV

 

Dalit families allege land grabbing in Ranasthalam mandal of AP

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/dalit-families-allege-land-grabbing-in-ranasthalam-mandal-of-ap/article32820131.ece

Several Dalit families urged A.P. government to conduct a probe into the land grabbing in various villages of Ranasthalam mandal alleging that that the influential persons of ruling YSR Congress Party were involved in illegal activities. The families said that ₹200 crore’s worth of D-Patta lands were grabbed in Bantupalli, Sancham, Kamma Sigadam, Krishnapuram and other villages of the mandal. They staged agitations in those villages and submitted a memorandum to Ranasthalam Tehasildhar Sudhar Rani, urging her to issue notices to those land grabbers. They said that the lands have been under their holdings for the last 50 years with valid documents. "The then Collector K. Dhananjya Reddy conducted an inquiry and resumed our lands when the local leaders tried to grab them. But the same is being repeated now as they have backing from the ruling YSRCP," they alleged.  thehindu

 

TRP scam: Republic TV CFO skips summons, wants probe halted until SC hearing

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trp-scam-republic-tv-cfo-skips-summons-wants-probe-halted-sc-hearing-1730313-2020-10-10

Republic TV's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) did not appear before the Mumbai police on Saturday for questioning in connection with the Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation racket, saying that the channel has filed a petition before the Supreme Court. Republic TV's CFO Shiva Subramaniyam Sundaram requested police not to record his statement since the channel has approached the Supreme Court, the hearing of which is scheduled within a week."He did not appear before the probe team. He informed the police that the channel has approached the Supreme Court and that there will be a hearing on the matter within a week. Citing this, he requested the police not to record his statement," an official said.Mumbai Police had issued summons to Republic TV's CFO on Friday. The summons to Sundaram said there are reasonable grounds to believe that he is "acquainted with certain facts and circumstances of the matter and the same is required to be ascertained".Mumbai Police had also asked several officials from advertising agencies to join the probe.Sam Balsara, chairman and managing director of an ad agency, Madison World and Madison Communications, appeared before the crime branch on Saturday to record his statement, the official said.CIU of the crime branch is investigating the fake Television Rating Points (TRP) racket case. On Thursday, Mumbai Police claimed it has busted a TRP racket involving three TV news channels -- Republic TV, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema. India today

 

Moratorium period exceeding 6 months may result in vitiating overall credit discipline: RBI to SC

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/moratorium-period-exceeding-six-months-may-result-in-vitiating-overall-credit-discipline-rbi-to-sc

A loan moratorium exceeding six months might result in vitiating the overall credit discipline, which will have a debilitating impact on the process of credit creation in the economy, RBI  has told the Supreme Court. In an affidavit filed in the apex court in the loan moratorium case, RBI has said that a long moratorium period could impact credit behaviour of borrowers and increase the risks of delinquencies post resumption of scheduled payments.The banking regulator fled the affidavit in pursuance to the apex court's October 5 order asking the Centre and RBI to place on record the K V Kamath committee recommendations on debt restructuring because of COVID-19 related stress on various sectors as well as the notifications and circulars issued so far on loan moratorium.The top court is hearing a batch of pleas, including the one which has sought a direction to declare the portion of an RBI notification, issued on March 27, "ultra vires to the extent it charges interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period...".PTI

 

"Courts Shouldn't Interfere In Fiscal Policy": Centre Tells Supreme Court

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/government-announced-financial-packages-cant-add-more-relief-centre-tells-supreme-court-on-loan-moratorium-interest-2307942?pfrom=home-topscroll

New Delhi: The govt on Friday informed the Supreme Court that "it's not possible to give more relief to different sectors" amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, stressing that the "courts should not interfere in fiscal policy". The centre's response came days after the top court said the government's last week's affidavit on waiving "interest on interest" on loans of up to ₹ 2 crore - frozen by RBI in a 6-month moratorium granted because of the coronavirus pandemic - was "not satisfactory". In its latest affidavit, the government has said: "Policy is the domain of the government and court should not go into sector-specific financial relief. Any further relief, besides waiving of compound interest for loans up to ₹ 2 crore, is detrimental to the national economy and banking sector." ndtv

 

Assam Govt to Close State-run Madrassas and Sanskrit Tols, Faces Backlash from Minority Organisations

https://www.newsclick.in/Assam-Govt-Close%20State-run-Madrassas-Sanskrit-Tols-Faces-Backlash-Minority-Organisations

Assam government has decided to close down all state-run madrassas and Sanskrit tols (schools), announced state Education and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday.While making public the govt’s decision, the minister said, “We had announced the decision in Assembly earlier. Our policy is clear, there should be no religious education with government's funding.” He further added that the private madrassas and Sanskrit schools would be allowed to run, however, their syllabus would be ‘monitored’. As part of the move, 48 contractual teachers from the madrassas are likely to be shifted to schools under the ED. According to a report in The Telegraph, the government had made the announcement in the Assembly on Tuesday, during a discussion on budgetary allocation for the education department when some legislators were demanding provincialisation of madrassas. Adding that the madrassas could not be provincialised as the state was adopting a modern education system, he said that the rules for provinicialisation of schools will change. “It will be more need-based instead of date and year based,” Sarma told the Assembly, as per reports. “For example, if there is no school within a 5 km radius of an area, we will fund a school there or where there is a need, like in the Sixth Schedule areas,” he said.The announcement has met with severe criticism from various quarters in the state, with the most vocal opposition from the regional AIUDF party. In response to the government move, Badruddin Ajmal, AIUDF chief and MP, reportedly said that if BJP-led govt shut down government-run madrasas, his party would re-open them after coming to power in the next year's Assembly elections.Terming the move as part of the government’s agenda of “harassing Muslims and denying them basic rights” as guaranteed in the Constitution, AAMSU had issued a statement saying, “Madrassas don’t only teach Islamic scriptures and Arabic, they also teach subjects like any regular school.”Notably, BJP-led government had dissolved the Madrassa Education Board and Assam Sanskrit Board in 2018.There are 614 government-aided recognised madrassas in Assam -- 57 for girls, three for boys, and 554 co-educational, with 17 of them Urdu medium. There are nearly 1,000 recognised Sanskrit tols, of which around 100 are government-aided. The state government spends about Rs 3-4 crore on madrassas and about Rs 1 crore on Sanskrit tols in the state annually.In addition, there are around 2000 madrassas that are not run with official help in the state. Newsclick

 

Mughal aggression still on, says Assam CM Sonowal

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mughal-aggression-still-on-says-assam-cm-sarbananda-sonowal/article32819866.ece

Guwahati:Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal has invited criticism for saying all the indigenous communities and genuine Indian citizens need to unite to be fully insured against “Mughal aggression”.Speaking at an induction programme organised by State BJP for more than 700 members of two tribal groups on Friday,Sonowal said the indigenous communities should come together to defeat the “conspiracy of illegal foreigners” to take over Assam.“The bhumiputra [sons of the soil] are not fully safe and secure because the Mughal aggression is still on,” he said after the members of Bodoland People’s Front, one of the BJP’s two regional allies, and United Bodo People’s Organisation, representing Bodo people living outside the Bodoland Territorial Council, joined the saffron party. thehindu

 

Group of Ministers sets Oct.30 deadline for report on ST status for 6 Assam communities

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/group-of-ministers-sets-october-30-deadline-for-report-on-st-status-for-6-assam-communities/article32819985.ece

Guwahati:Assam’s Group of Ministers has set an October 30 deadline for submitting to the Centre its final report on granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to 6 communities. 6communities are Chutiya, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, Tai-Ahom and ‘Tea Tribe’, some of which are categorised as Other Backward Classes. The State’s tribes are opposed to granting ST status to these communities. The Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met the leaders of the 6 communities on Friday. Later in the evening, he said “60% of the issues” pertaining to granting ST status had been resolved. thehindu

 

AIUDF chief Ajmal criticised for using Urdu and Arabic in public meetings in Assam

https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-city/ajmal-criticised-for-using-urdu-and-arabic-in-public-meetings-506144

 Guwahati: Education and Health Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal for speaking Arabic and Urdu at public meetings. The senior BJP leader warned that the leftists and the ones who do communal politics create a threat to the state. AIUDF supremo has recently announced the alliance between AIUDF and Assam Congress for the elections in 2021. He has previously visited Assam's former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital to take stock of the latter's health condition. Ajmal has addressed a meeting where the posters were written in Arabic. Sentinel

 

Most content Muslims are in India… we created a space for them: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-remark-muslims-hindus-india-6719384/

Indian Muslims are the most content in the world, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said while asserting that people from all faiths have stood together whenever it has been about the essence of India.He also said any kind of bigotry and separatism are spread only by those whose self-interest gets affected. Citing that many Muslims fought in Mewar king Maharana Pratap’s army against Mughal emperor Akbar, Bhagwat suggested that in India’s history people from all faiths stood together whenever there was an attack on the country’s culture.“Most content Muslims are only in India,” Bhagwat said and wondered if there is any example world over wherein a foreign religion that ruled over the people of a country still exists there. PTI

 

Bhima Koregaon: Stan Swamy, Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde among eight named in NIA chargesheet

https://scroll.in/latest/975374/bhima-koregaon-stan-swamy-gautam-navlakha-and-anand-teltumbde-among-eight-named-in-nia-chargesheet

NIA on Friday filed a chargesheet against 8 activists, including Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde, 83-year-old Stan Swamy and Delhi University professor Hany Babu, for their alleged involvement in inciting violence at Bhima Koregaon in 2018, PTI reported. The case is related to an event organised at Pune’s Shaniwar Wada called Elgar Parishad on Dec.31, 2017. This is the first chargesheet filed by the NIA, which took over the investigation in Jan. Pune Police had earlier filed two chargesheets in connection with Elgar Parishad case against the activists. Sonia Narang, NIA spokesperson and deputy inspector general of police in the agency, said the chargesheet was submitted before a designated court in Mumbai. scroll

 

‘Gross violation of human rights’: 2,000 scholars, activists oppose Stan Swamy’s arrest by NIA

https://scroll.in/latest/975373/gross-violation-of-human-rights-2000-scholars-activists-oppose-stan-swamys-arrest-by-nia

A group of 2,000 signatories, including activists and scholars, on Friday opposed 83-year-old human rights activist Stan Swamy’s arrest by NIA in Bhima Koregaon case. The group also appealed to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren to oppose his arrest. The signatories include economist Jean Drèze, Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar, lawyer Rebecca John, author Natasha Badhwar, among others.The group noted that Swamy had raised concern about the agency presenting fabricated evidence against him.The signatories highlighted Swamy’s work to uphold the rights of Adivasis and other underprivileged groups in the state. scroll

 

8 South Asian Groups Come Out in Support of US Researcher Targetted by Hindutva Fascists

https://clarionindia.net/8-south-asian-groups-come-out-in-support-of-us-researcher-targetted-by-hindutva-fascists/

Pieter Friedrich, freelance journalist and author writes, "I am humbled and deeply touched by the outpouring of support as 8 South Asian groups have issued a letter to Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez in support of me in repudiation of a letter attacking me which Hindu American Foundation had sent to Perez in Sept.2020." He added, "In their letter, HAF had accused me of “conspiratorial, racist, and religion-based targeting of Hindu American Democrats” due to my investigative journalism of several state and federal political candidates who either have associated with India’s RSS and its subsidiaries (especially those in US) or have been heavily funded by leaders and activists in RSS-affiliated groups in the US or both. In their letter responding to HAF’s attack on him, the 8 groups have stated: “We assert that Pieter Friedrich has proven a staunch ally to progressive South Asians, including Hindus, Indian Americans, and Indians for several years now. He has an unimpeachable record of standing up for justice, and has never once been found to spread hatred for any ethnic category or group. Friedrich’s fight, as is our own, is against the ideology of Hindutva, and against those who disseminate it and weaponize it to visit violence upon other groups. Friedrich’s work does not rely on speculation and innuendo, like the HAF letter does. His work presents the facts of HAF’s and RSS-backed US representatives’ links to hate groups and hate ideologies.”Clarion India

 

Umar Khalid Case: After Police Disclose Names Of Protected Witnesses, Judge Recalls Chargesheet

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/delhi-riots-protected-witnesses-delhi-police_in_5f812fa4c5b6e5c31ffe9fe5

After a serious lapse by Delhi Police revealed the names and addresses of 15 witnesses whose identities they were supposed to protect, a Delhi judge has recalled soft copies of the related chargesheet and ordered destruction of any prints.  In an order dated 9 Oct, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat of the Karkardooma district court ordered the lawyers of the accused in FIR 59/2020 Crime Branch to return the pen drives with a soft copy of chargesheet that was filed on 16 Sept. 2019, and to destroy any prints. Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad told Rawat that at least three protected witnesses have been approached by persons with various interests, in relation to the present case. Lawyers, Rawat said, would be furnished with a new soft copy of the more than 17,000 page chargesheet of the “conspiracy case,” which pins Delhi Riots on young political activists and students, including former JNU student Umar Khalid, and invokes India’s anti-terror law, UAPA.  Speaking with The Quint, two protected witnesses said this lapse puts a very real threat to their life. One witness said they had no knowledge of being a protected witness. huffingtonpost

 

Delhi riots: Under home dept scanner, clip of woman ‘pelting stones’

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-under-home-dept-scanner-clip-of-woman-pelting-stones-6718960/

Delhi Home Department is set to share with the Delhi Police a video clip purportedly showing one Ragini Tiwari, who delivered incendiary speeches on Facebook live in the run-up to the Northeast Delhi riots, purportedly indulging in stone pelting with rioters in front of policemen at Maujpur on Feb.23. In the clip, shot by journalist Farhan Yahiya, a woman, identified by Delhi Assembly panel on welfare of minorities as Tiwari, can purportedly be seen engaging in verbal altercations with security personnel even as stone pelting between two sides rages on outside the Maujpur-Babarpur Metro station. Security personnel can be heard pointing out the absence of women police staff. The lone woman stands behind policemen for a few seconds before proceeding to pick up a piece of brick and throwing it towards the other side. The panel flagged the video with the Home Department on Oct.7. indian express

 

HAL employee arrested for allegedly supplying fighter aircraft information to Pak ISI

https://scroll.in/latest/975378/hal-employee-arrested-for-allegedly-supplying-fighter-aircraft-information-to-pakistans-isi

Maharashtra ATS on Friday arrested an employee of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for allegedly supplying secret information on fighter aircraft to Pakistan’s ISI, NDTV reported.“Nashik unit of the state ATS received reliable intelligence about the man, who was in constant touch with ISI,” DCP Vinod Rathod said. “The man, identified as Deepak Shirsath, was supplying confidential information about Indian fighter aircraft and their manufacturing unit to Pakistani spy agency through WhatsApp and social media.” scroll

 

After 23 years in jail, freedom is a ‘different kind of prison’ for innocent Kashmiri Mirza Nisar Hussain

https://theprint.in/india/after-23-years-in-jail-freedom-is-a-different-kind-of-prison-for-innocent-kashmiri-man/520603/

Srinagar: Each time a relative or neighbour walks into the Mirza household in Srinagar’s Shamswari locality, Mirza Nisar Hussain gets anxious about the questions or concerns the guest might have for him — about his “future plans”, marriage and finding a stable job.Initially, Nisar would oblige his guests and respond to the queries with vague answers. Now, 40-year-old withdraws from conversations and goes to his room, where he waits for his guests to depart.It has been more than 14 months since Nisar was released from a 23-year spell of wrongful imprisonment — he was accused of involvement in various blasts in Indian cities. After being acquitted, he returned home on 24 July 2019 with a hope to start life afresh. But less than two weeks after his release, Nisar started thinking that destiny had other plans for him. theprint

 

Kashmiris Mourn Another Life Lost as BJP Legislator’s Security Officer Killed by Militants

https://thewire.in/security/kashmiris-mourn-another-life-lost-as-bjp-legislators-security-officer-killed-by-militants

Srinagar: Mourners are crowding into a small house near Eidgah, a volatile locality situated right next to downtown Srinagar. The lawn is full of women; crying, beating their chests and shouting slogans in the name of ‘shaheed’ Altaf Hussain, the slain Jammu and Kashmir police cop who died protecting a BJP legislator on Tuesday. The locality hems a sprawling Eidgah ground where Kashmiri Muslims converge for special Eid prayers. But it had also been a site of political expression registered through large scale pro-Azadi demonstrations and stone pelting protests in the past. Yet on Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of locals were trailing behind the coffin of Hussain. His funeral prayers had been offered in the same ground before he was buried in a graveyard nearby. Hussain was deputed as PSO guarding BJP legislator Ghulam Qadir Rather at his village in Nunar in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal. According to police, the legislator was attacked while on his way to “safe cluster accommodation” at Kangan in the same district. thewire

 

I&B ministry issues advisory, asks TV channels not to malign individuals, groups

https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/i-b-ministry-issues-advisory-asks-tv-channels-not-to-malign-individuals-groups-11602244328623.html

New Delhi: The ministry of information and broadcasting has issued an advisory to private satellite TV channels asking them to broadcast content which adhere to Programme and Advertising Codes, and thus should not contain "anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths." The directive comes in the wake of the Delhi High Court asking the ministry to file a status report by 15 Oct. on measures taken to restrain the media following actor Rakul Preet Singh’s plea indicating harassment based on "conjectures". The ministry has strictly advised to not carry any programme that criticises, maligns or slanders any individual in person or groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country.livemint

 

New hashtags attack Tablighis over Covid despite court caution

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/new-hashtags-attack-tablighis-over-covid-despite-court-caution/articleshow/78588499.cms

Hyderabad: New hashtags in Hindi and English have kept up the tirade against Tablighi Jamaat and Muslims for allegedly spreading Covid-19 in India.The hashtags have emerged at a time when the Telangana high court is questioning Twitter about how it plans to tackle the existing hashtags and misinformation. Even the Supreme Court pulled up the central government on Thursday for saying that it could not stop the media from publishing reports that blame Muslims for the spread of the virus.Among the new hashtags that TOI found on the social networking site are #Jihadivirus, #Jahil_Jamati_Jehadis and #Coronajamativirus. “The rest of the world got infected by corona because of China. But India was safe with less than 100 infected until T.Jamaat deliberately spread it throughout the nation #desh_behaal_Tablighi_zimmedaar (in Hindi),” tweeted Yogi Devnath, who has received over 400 likes and 300 retweets. timesofindia

 

SC pulls up Centre on Tablighi Jamaat affidavit that claims ‘no bad reporting’ by media

https://scroll.in/latest/975270/sc-pulls-up-centre-on-tablighi-jamaat-affidavit-claiming-there-was-no-bad-reporting-by-media

The Supreme Court has pulled up the Centre for filing an affidavit stating that there “were no instances of bad reporting” on Tablighi Jamaat congregation, Bar and Bench reported. The court also lashed out at Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as the affidavit had been filed by a junior-level officer.“You cannot treat the court how you are treating it,” CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde told Mehta. “The affidavit is by some junior officer. The affidavit is evasive and says the petitioner shows no instance of bad reporting. You may not agree, but how you can say there is no instance of bad reporting shown?”Mehta said that a secretary-level officer will file a fresh affidavit and he would vet it. scroll

 

Freedom of speech shouldn’t be misused to malign a community: Jamiat

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/freedom-of-speech-shouldnt-be-misused-to-malign-a-community-says-jamiat-ulema-e-hind/articleshow/78580228.cms

Muzaffarnagar: The observations made by Supreme Court about the freedom of expression has vindicated the stand that a community was “maligned” in the guise of attack on members of Tablighi Jamaat for organising a religious event in March this year, Jamiat Ulema chief Arshad Madani said. The statement given by CJI Bobde during the hearing fully supported our stand,” Madani said, adding that, “We are not against freedom of speech but against the fake news.” Jamiat chief alleged, “An incomplete affidavit is an indication of the Centre’s intention.” A petition was filed by the Jamaat against the communalisation of the Tablighi Jamaat gathering held in Nizamuddin area of Delhi during the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March. timesofindia

 

Ram Temple Construction: Shifting of carved stones to site begins

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ram-temple-construction-shifting-of-carved-stones-to-site-begins-6718998/

Lucknow:Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Friday started shifting carved stones to be used in the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple from its Karsevak Puram workshop to the temle premises. The construction is expected to start in full swing on Oct.15.“The work of shifting the carved stones from the workshop to the Mandir premises has started. The stones will be used in construction of Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir,” Trust tweeted.Sources said that while the stones carved till now were enough to build the ground floor, th stones to be used in the other floors would be carved at the temple site. indianexpress

 

DU student beaten to death over love affair with girl of different religion

https://newsroompost.com/india/du-student-beaten-to-death-over-love-affair-with-girl-of-different-religion/549966.html

New Delhi: An 18-year-old teenaged boy was beaten to death allegedly over an affair with a girl belonging to a different religion in Adarsh Nagar. Rahul Rajput was a BA second year student, who also used to give English tuition to students. The incident took place on Oct.7 evening. The woman’s brother and a relative have been arrested and three juveniles apprehended in connection with the incident, police said. According to the victim’s family, the 18-year-old had received a call regarding tuition and he was asked to meet someone at a narrow lane near his house. He was later beaten by the girl’s brother along with 7-8 boys. Rajput was immediately rushed to BJRM hospital in an unconscious condition. However, the boy succumbed to his injuries during treatment. No visible injury was seen on the deceased’s body.According to the police, the victim was friends with a woman from his locality but her family was against the friendship.Newsroom

 

Translate worksheets before sending them to students, DoE tells Urdu medium schools

https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/translate-worksheets-before-sending-them-to-students-doe-tells-urdu-medium-schools/story-wznT2WfbqXw7Qp1f4nkJhP.html

New Delhi: Directorate of Education (DoE) has directed all Urdu medium government schools in the national capital to translate online study material or worksheets provided by the education department into the language before sending them to students, in order to ensure uninterrupted learning amid Covid-enforced restrictions.A senior official at the directorate, requesting anonymity, confirmed that they issued the order after taking cognisance of a HT report, dated Sept.29, that said students and teachers of least 20 Urdu medium government schools in Delhi were struggling without online study material or worksheets in the language. Officials at these schools, however, expressed reservations over DoE’s directions and said they do not have sufficient number of teachers, who are well acquainted with the language, to translate the material. Hindustan Times  

 

Delhi Riots Case: High Court Grants Bail to Tahir Hussain Aide, Saying Witnesses Seem Planted

https://clarionindia.net/delhi-riots-case-high-court-grants-bail-to-tahir-hussain-aide-saying-witnesses-seem-planted/

Delhi High Court, while recently granting bail to Delhi riots accused Irshad Ahmed, said to be a close aide of main accused Tahir Hussain, noted that the witnesses in the present case “seem to be planted ones”.“It is not in dispute that there is no electronic evidence such as CCTV footage or photos to implicate the petitioner in the present case. As per the statement of both the eye witnesses, they had identified the petitioner and other co-accused. However, they have not made any complaint on the date of incident, i.e. Feb.25, 2020, whereas FIR was lodged on Feb.28, 2020. Thus, the said witnesses seem to be planted ones,” said a single judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait.Releasing Ahmed on bail on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court, the court also noted: “The trial court shall not get influenced by the observation made by this court while passing the order.”IANS

 

Family of Rajasthan priest set on fire refuses to perform last rites till demands met

https://scroll.in/latest/975443/family-of-rajasthan-priest-set-on-fire-refuses-to-perform-last-rites-till-demands-met

The family of a priest in Rajasthan, who was set on fire allegedly by 5 people who wanted to encroach on a temple land in Karauli district, refused to perform his last rites till the state government fulfills their demands, ANI reported. 5 accused allegedly poured petrol on the priest, identified as Babu Lal Vaishnav, set him on fire in Bukna village on Wednesday. Vaishnav died of his injuries on Thursday night. The police said two accused have been arrested and were being interrogated. scroll

 

Madras HC allows priest’s daughter to live with her Dalit MLA husband, rejects her father’s plea

https://scroll.in/latest/975390/madras-hc-allows-priests-daughter-to-live-with-her-dalit-mla-husband-rejects-her-fathers-plea

Madras High Court has ruled that 19-year-old daughter of a Hindu priest who married 36-year-old AIDMK MLA A Prabhu earlier this month, has the right to live with her husband, News18 reported. The court dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by the woman’s father, Swaminathan, alleging that Prabhu, a Dalit, had kidnapped her. Based on Swaminathan’s plea, the court asked the woman, Soundarya, to appear before the court. Soundarya appeared before a division bench comprising judge MM Sundresh and D Krishna Kumar. In her testimony before the court, Soundarya said she had not been kidnapped, but had married Prabhu of her own free will and wanted to live with him. The court subsequently allowed Soundarya to stay with Prabhu. scroll

 

Scientists call Modi turbine suggestion impractical and outlandish

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/scientists-call-modi-turbine-suggestion-impractical-and-outlandish/cid/1794355

New Delhi:PM Narendra Modi’s question whether a wind turbine could be a 3-in-one device to extract energy, water and oxygen from the air hangs somewhere between outlandish and impractical, sections of scientists said on Friday.Modi, during a recent conversation with the head of a Danish wind-turbine maker, had asked whether a turbine could be used to harvest water from moisture in the air and oxygen too, thus serving as a 3-in-one machine. PM’s suggestion and Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen’s response that he might invite Modi to Denmark as an “idea generator” for that country’s research and engineering community have drawn political taunts and support. Some scientists, ignoring the politics, brainstormed on the challenge. telegraphindia

 

Ram Vilas Paswan's Cremation Held In Patna, Leaders Pay Last Respects

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ram-vilas-paswan-cremation-in-patna-today-leaders-pay-last-respects-2308122?pfrom=home-topscroll

Patna: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan was given a state funeral and cremated at Patna's Janardhan Ghat this afternoon, with his son and LJP chief Chirag Paswan performing the last rites. Paswan, 74, died Thursday night at a Delhi hospital where he had earlier undergone heart surgery. In visuals shared by ANI massive crowds had gathered at the ghat and cremation site as thousands paid their last respects to a veteran political figure, with senior BJP leaders - including Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who also hails from Patna - present. CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi were also present. Each of the 3 placed wreaths on the coffin bearing Paswan's body earlier today, after it was flown into Patna and hundreds crowded along the streets as he made his final journey home. ndtv

 

After Ram Vilas Paswan's Death, Only 1 NDA Ally Left In Modi Government

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/modi-government-now-left-with-only-1-representative-from-nda-allies-2307947?pfrom=home-topstories

New Delhi: Following death of LJP leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Ramdas Athawale of RPI is the only member among BJP's allies in NDA govt at Centre.However, there is no representation from BJP allies in Union Cabinet. Athawale is Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal, and Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP were from BJP-led NDA alliance in the Union Cabinet when the Modi 2.0 govt returned to power in 2019 following Lok Sabha elections.While Shiv Sena quit the NDA in late 2019, Shiromani Akali Dal left the alliance recently over the new farm legislations. Another key NDA ally, JD(U) had kept itself out of the govt. ndtv

 

Lalu gets bail, but to remain in jail

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/lalu-gets-bail-but-to-remain-in-jail-153681

Ranchi:Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted bail to former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam related to Chaibasa treasury.The case involves fraudulent withdrawals amounting to Rs 33.67 crore from Chaibasa treasury in undivided Bihar, when Lalu Prasad was the CM. RJD chief, however, will have to remain in jail as he is serving time in another case related to Dumka treasury. tribuneindia

 

Muslim-Led Parties, Once Political Untouchables, Form Alliances in Bihar Polls

https://clarionindia.net/muslim-led-parties-once-political-untouchables-form-alliances-in-bihar-polls/

New Delhi:Even as the 3-phase assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to start from October 28, Muslim-led political parties like AIMIM and SDPI, have been snubbed by secular parties by terming them as the agents of BJP.However, they have succeeded in forming alliances with some secular parties. On Thursday, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, along with other four secular parties, including Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP, Devendra Prasad Yadav’s Samajwadi Dal Democratic Party and Mayawati’s BSP formed an alliance called ‘Grand Democratic Secular Front’ (GDSF) for the crucial polls. Kushwaha, a former Union Minister, is the chief ministerial face of the alliance and Yadav is the chief of the alliance.AIMIM, which has been portrayed by secular parties as a party which cut into secular votes, is happy with the new alliance calling it a ‘breakthrough’ for the party.“This is the first time we are forming alliance with the major parties. Earlier, they did not like to talk to us. We have approached everybody for the alliance, including Lalu Yadav’s RJD and the Congress. But we were considered untouchable. This has happened with us in Maharashtra and UP, too,” said MIM Bihar’s general secretary Engineer Aftab. Clarion India

 

After Zaira Wasim, Sana Khan finds a path out of showbiz to dedicate her life to service and religion

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/after-zaira-wasim-sana-khan-finds-a-path-out-of-showbiz-to-dedicate-her-life-to-service-and-religion/articleshow/78579167.cms

On Friday, Sana Khan took to social media to announce that she’s quitting showbiz “to serve humanity and follow the orders of my Creator”. She informed that she did not wish to be contacted for any work related to the entertainment industry. Zaira Wasim had taken a similar decision last year, and, as with her, Sana’s decision comes as a surprise to friends and colleagues.The actress, who had been a part of the industry since 2005, had featured in many film. Sana, in her statement, said that she’d been pondering existential issues like whether our purpose of coming into the world was to chase wealth and fame, and what happens after we die. She’d come to the realisation that this life is for betterment of life after death through social service. mumbaimirror

 

*CORONAVIRUS-LOCKDOWN*

 

Coronavirus: India reports over 73,000 new cases, total count nears 70 lakh

https://scroll.in/latest/975426/coronavirus-india-reports-over-73000-new-cases-total-count-nears-70-lakh

India’s coronavirus count rose to 69,79,423 on Saturday as the country reported 73,272 new cases in the last 24 hours. The toll rose by 926 to 1,07,416. There are 8,83,185 active cases in the country. The recovery rate stood at 85.52%.Of the total cases in India, Maharashtra alone accounts for 15,06,018. The toll from the disease in the state is 39,732. WHO registered a worldwide record of 3,50,000 new daily coronavirus cases. scroll

 

Covid broke out in various parts of the world in 2019, we just reported first, claims China

https://theprint.in/world/covid-broke-out-in-various-parts-of-the-world-in-2019-we-just-reported-first-claims-china/520582/

Beijing: China has claimed that the coronavirus broke out in the various parts of the world last year but it was the only one to have reported and acted first, refuting the widely-held view that the deadly contagion originated in Wuhan before turning out to be a pandemic.China, besides denying US allegations that COVID-19 has emerged from a bio-lab in Wuhan, also rejected that it emanated from a wet market in central Chinese city from bats or pangolins before infecting humans.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing that “coronavirus is a new kind of virus as more and more facts emerge as reports reveal, we all know that the epidemic broke out in various places in the world at the end of last year, while China was the first to report the outbreak, identified the pathogen and shared the genome sequence with the world.” PTI

 

*WORLD*

 

Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia, Azerbaijan ceasefire comes into effect

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/armenia-azerbaijan-agree-ceasefire-from-midnight-lavrov

A ceasefire agreed by Armenia and Azerbaijan has come into effect at noon local time (08:00 GMT) to end nearly two weeks of heavy fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.Officials in the disputed region and Azerbaijani forces accused each other of firing missiles and rockets on civilian areas on Saturday morning, shortly before the ceasefire was due to start.The ceasefire was agreed upon after nearly 10 hours of “substantive” talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier on Saturday.Russia’s top diplomat said the Red Cross would act as an intermediary in the humanitarian operation once the ceasefire comes into effect.We have to “wait to see whether this ceasefire will really happen as agreed, if it will come down to the exchange of prisoners, and if the parties are really willing to return to the negotiating table to solve this decades long conflict,” she said.Under the international law, Nagorno-Karabakh is recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Nagorno-Karabkh’s ombudsman Artak Beglaryan said Azerbaijan fired missiles on civilian areas of its main city Stepanakert, which has been under regular rocket and artillery fire.At least 300 people have been reported killed in the fighting, which broke out on Sept 27. aljazeera

 

Azerbaijan, Armenia truce cannot replace lasting solution: Turkey

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/azerbaijan-front-line/azerbaijan-armenia-truce-cannot-replace-lasting-solution-turkey/2002059

Turkey on Saturday hailed the Azerbaijan-Armenia humanitarian cease-fire as an “important first step” but stressed that such measures “cannot replace a lasting solution.”Turkish Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed Ankara’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan “on the ground and at the [negotiation] table.” “The ceasefire which was declared on humanitarian grounds for the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies, is an important first step, but cannot replace a lasting solution,” it said.Anadolu Agency

 

Pakistan armed forces throw weight behind Azerbaijan

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/pakistan-armed-forces-throw-weight-behind-azerbaijan/2001887

Pakistan’s armed force chief said Friday that his forces fully support Azerbaijan’s position in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Alizada met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Nadeem Raza at the Joint Staff headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi to discuss matters of bilateral interest and regional security, according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) -- the Pakistan army's media wing.The military forces chief reaffirmed the brotherly relationship between the two countries and said it is built on strong foundations. Anadolu Agency

 

Muslim Scholars call for dialogue in Kyrgyzstan crisis

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/muslim-scholars-call-for-dialogue-in-kyrgyzstan-crisis/2001916

International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has called upon the parties of the crisis in Kyrgyzstan to engage in a serious dialogue to reach a settlement that protect the sovereignty of the country.In a statement by Secretary-General of the IUMS Ali Qaradaghi, he expressed his concern over the crisis there and called for dialogue.He called upon the Kyrgyzstani government, people, and opposition to keep the demonstrations peaceful and engage in a dialogue that "maintains the independence and sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan and prevents any outside intervention." Anadolu Agency

 

Israel seeks negotiations on maritime border with Lebanon

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201010-israel-seeks-negotiations-on-maritime-border-with-lebanon/

Lebanon has been undergoing an unprecedented political, economic and security crisis, which has backed political forces into a corner with regards to available options to save the country from total collapse.Diplomatic sources told Rai Al-Youm that the Lebanese government headed by Hassan Diab can only survive for a maximum of two more months before losing complete control.Pressed for time, the Lebanese political forces are seeking to activate the French initiative and form a national salvation government as soon as possible. On the other hand, the indirect negotiations with Israel to demarcate the land and sea borders adds to a series of complicated issues. middleeastmonitor

 

Jordan sign deal to open its airspace to Israel

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201009-jordan-sign-deal-to-open-its-airspace-to-israel/

Jordan and Israel have agreed to operate commercial flights through the airspace of the two countries, Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced.Following years of negotiations, the deal signed between civil aviation authorities will “significantly shorten flight times” from the Gulf states and Asia to destinations in Europe and North America, including flights from Bahrain and UAE, said the ministry.“It is expected that the agreement will lead to a reduction in travel prices and fuel savings,” it added.According to Reuters, the ministry said European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol, based in Brussels, helped make the aviation deal happen. middleeastmonitor

 

EU denies intent to cut aid to Palestinian Authorities

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201009-eu-denies-intent-to-cut-aid-to-palestinian-authorities/

European Union (EU) said it had no intention to cut its financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA).“EU will continue to support the PA to enable it to perform its role in the Palestinian territories and fulfill its duties to the Palestinian people,”EU’s communication officer in Jerusalem, Shadi Othman, told reporters, explaining that Europe was the “largest international financial supporter to the Palestinian people.” Othman added that the EU was encouraging the PA “to take the tax revenues from Israel.” “This is a Palestinian right, but this has nothing to do with the financial support that the union provides for the Palestinians,” he stressed. middleeastmonitor

 

Iraq expels Hezbollah Brigades from Baghdad airport

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201009-iraq-expels-hezbollah-brigades-from-baghdad-airport/

Intelligence sources reported that the Iraqi government had officially expelled the Kataib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades) from Baghdad airport and closed all its offices in the capital. Hezbollah Brigades are part of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which Washington accuses of targeting US forces and interests in Iraq.“Following consultations with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, the Director of Civil Aviation Authority, Nael Saad Abdul Hadi, decided to close the party’s offices at the airport,” Intelligence Online quoted the sources as saying. middleeastmonitor

 

Kyrgyzstan parliament to discuss new government amid unrest

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/10/kyrgyz-parliament-set-to-meet-discuss-new-govt-amid-unrest

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament is set to meet and potentially vote in a new government to end a power vacuum in the strategically important Central Asian nation which has been gripped by unrest since the Oct. 4 elections.The election results, which handed victory to establishment parties, have now been annulled, something the opposition had been calling for.Despite the annulment of the vote, tensions in the country continue as rival politicians and their supporters press claims to leadership posts and state institutions are in chaos. aljazeera

 

Yemen: 4 million displaced living in catastrophic conditions

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201010-yemen-4-million-displaced-living-in-catastrophic-conditions/

 Houthi movement in Yemen stated on Friday that 4 million displaced people live in dire humanitarian conditions in areas under its control.This came in a report issued by Houthi Supreme Council for the Management and Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (SCMCHA) and was published on the movement’s official website.The report stated: “The number of displaced families has reached 606,000, increasing the total number of refugees by the end of last August to 4.1 million, who are dispersed in 15 Yemeni governorates.” aljazeera

 

UN: Nearly 3 million migrants stranded by COVID-19

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201009-un-nearly-3-million-migrants-stranded-by-covid-19/

Coronavirus border closures and restrictions have stranded nearly 3 million migrants around the world who want to return home but cannot, the UN migration agency said on Friday, adding some had been “warehoused” in unhygenic settings, Reuters reports.The International Organization for Migration report is the most comprehensive to date on the issue, covering more than 100 countries. It includes only migrants who want to return but are unable to do so because of COVID-19 restrictions — such as seafarers stuck on decommissioned ships, miners or construction workers. middleeastmonitor

 

US presidential debate set for Oct.15 officially cancelled

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/9/us-presidential-debate-set-for-october-15-officially-cancelled

The next us presidential debate has been cancelled, Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) confirmed late Friday, after US President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, disagreed this week over the possibility of holding the event virtually.In a statement, CPD said the debate, which was scheduled to take place on October 15 in Miami, would not be held.“CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22,” the commission said.The widely anticipated announcement comes after Trump, who tested positive for COVID-19 on October 1 and is expected to resume campaigning as of Saturday, rejected the option of holding a virtual debate. aljazeera

 

Pak Jamaat-e-Islami chief rules out joining opposition alliance against Imran Khan Govt

https://www.geo.tv/latest/312507-jamaat-e-islami-chief-rules-out-joining-opposition-alliance-against-pti

Lahore: Jamaat-e-Islami Pak ameer Senator Sirajul Haq on Friday ruled out the possibility of joining opposition’s protest campaign against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying the people have already tested the parties and had no trust in them.He said the so-called mainstream political parties supported every move of the government in the past two years and this time too they do not pose any threat to the rulers. Pakistan Democratic Movement, an alliance of over 11 opposition parties, has announced a schedule of public gatherings in the next couple of months to dislodge the ‘selected’ PTI govt. geo.tv

 

Pakistan bans TikTok for failing to filter out ‘immoral’ content

https://scroll.in/latest/975384/pakistan-bans-tiktok-for-failing-to-filter-out-immoral-content

Pakistan Telecom Authority on Friday blocked video-sharing app TikTok after complaints for failing to filter out “immoral and indecent” content, ANI reported. The country’s telecommunication authority said in a statement that it had issued a final notice to TikTok and also gave the social media app time to respond and comply with their instructions to develop an effective mechanism to moderate the unlawful content. However, the authority said TikTok failed to comply with its instructions, resulting in a ban. scroll

 

                                                                                OP-ED

 

·        We Must Politicise The Hathras Rape Case: Fahad Zuberi

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-we-must-politicise-the-hathras-rape-case/361884

 

·        How Hathras can hurt the BJP in UP:Rajdeep Sardesai

https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/how-hathras-can-hurt-the-bjp-in-up/story-MuArbCFuAkfSNtowH72jBL.html

 

·        In midst of Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, Indians are backing Armenia, on the ground, and online:Neha Banka, indian express

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/in-midst-of-nagorno-karabakh-clashes-indians-are-backing-armenia-on-the-ground-and-online-6719264/

 

·        The Common Threads Of Arbaeen And Shaheen Bagh:Zehra Naqvi

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-the-common-threads-of-arbaeen-and-shaheen-bagh/361759

 

·        Why Dalit Girls? Treat the cause, not the symptoms:Rahmathunnissa A

https://indiatomorrow.net/2020/10/09/why-dalit-girls-treat-the-cause-not-the-symptoms/

 

·        Neither money nor influence, all that a Dalit labourer has is the body:V Venkateswara Rao

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/neither-money-nor-influence-all-that-a-dalit-labourer-has-is-the-body

 

·        Why Is Home Ministry's Committee on Criminal Law Reform Functioning in Secrecy?

https://thewire.in/law/criminal-law-reform-committee-transparency

 

·        Penetration of Direct-to-Home television offers a solution to TRP manipulation:S Y Quraishi

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/tv-fake-trp-barc-ratings-s-y-quraishi-6718823/

 

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq